Spitball

Spitball (the only name he will answer to) is an eleven-year-old genetically engineered boy. He was born Pekka Virtanen.

Description
This boy of eleven or twelve is vaguely reminiscent of a frog, between his slightly green skin, somewhat bulging eyes, long legs and (when seen) tongue. But for all that he looks basically human, if not exactly healthy. His brown hair is always messy.

Origin
Drs. Mikko and Elina Virtanen were among the top geneticists in the world, a husband and wife teal leading the field. They were less successful, however, in starting a family, due to infertility. They resolved to overcome the problem with a bit of genetic manipulation, then decided to manipulate a little more to make sure their son wouldn't have their health problems, and once on the slippery slope they started making more and more "improvements", so that their plans for their son merged with their work. Eventually the "perfect" child was born to parents who loved him both as a soon and as the fruit of their labors.

Except Pekka wasn't perfect. As he grew older it became more obvious that the modifications made had also caused some unintended deformities; he was also far to slow in learning to use his abilities, especially for his perfectionist father. The environment grew less loving as Pekka became a symbol of his parents' failure, and then he became more of an experiment as Mikko attempted gene therapy to put right his perceived mistake. The child, no longer even allowed outside because of his deformities, grew to hate his parents, his father especially.

And then there was the fire, in which Mikko and Pekka were supposed to have died. The exact circumstances remain unclear, but it is suspected that Auntie Rotter was involved. In any case, Pekka's father was killed, his mother survived broken by the loss of her family and life's work, and Pekka became Spitball, Auntie's second adopted child.

Powers
According to Quentin Dallimore, Spitball is a masterpiece of genetic engineering and a living chemical factory. In principle, he could manufacture any organic compound not requiring an exotic environment to synthesize and a large number of inorganic compounds. In practice, so far he has only shown the ability to synthesize a few of great utility: a corrosive, an adhesive and a compound which causes a great stinging sensation. His primary delivery mode is through his mouth (hence the name), though he has cried corrosive tears as well. He's surprisingly quick for his age, probably because of control of his own biochemistry. He has a long tongue and a superb sense of taste; it might be better to say he can perform full chemical analysis by taste.

Personality
Spitball, while funloving and very close with his friends, can be spiteful, malicious, foul-mouthed, vulgar and bullying. Which is to say that, despite his dark past, he's a not atypical eleven-year-old boy.

It seems however, that in his past someone, perhaps Auntie Rotter, has killed for him. Certainly he is very grateful to her for rescuing him from his parents and feels loyalty, and likely love, for her. That this could have affected him is an understatement.

Relations
Spitball and Porthole are best friends, and jointly the effective leaders of Auntie's Children. This has won them the dislike of Doll, who used to be leader by virtue of seniority. The rivalry between Porthole and Trick has perhaps made him more distant from Trick than he might be. He's inclined to look down on Doll, Rainbow and Di (as girls) and Toymaster (as a young spoiled brat). Toymaster's toys he sees as toys - amusing, perhaps, but not real people.

He feels he owes everything to Auntie, which puts him in an awkward position now she's been arrested. His real mother doesn't know he's alive, and he greatly fears she'll find out and come to take him back.

History
After nearly six years with Auntie Rotter, Spitball was caught in the a robbery of Boardwalk Mall, and spent some time in a Starguard cell. Following Auntie Rotter's capture he was released under irregular circumstances, and is now at Lord Markham's School for Talented Children.