Orion

Orion is the nom de guarre of Dr. Thomas Harriman: a research scientist and spokesperson for Treadstone Industries, and a consultant with S.H.I.E.L.D. Through this alias, Doctor Harriman is able to assist the SHIELD Alpha Team - known as the Avengers - without drawing attention to SHIELD's use of non-military personnel on the team.

Los Angeles

Doctor Harriman created the Orion alter ego in response to the Mutant Registration Act. Negative sentiments from some parts of the mutant community had led to an increase in violent and criminal behaviour and, as a former soldier, he felt a sense of civic duty to use his powers to intervene. At the time a science teacher at Steve Rogers High School, he felt that a costume would be the best way to protect others from any negative backlash.

Though the costume was styled after Robin Hood, a folk hero from Dr Harriman's native Britain, the name was drawn from Harriman's fondness for and familiarity with both astronomy and classical mythology. The archery theme allowed him to use his mutant abilities - to accelerate objects away from him - covertly, without drawing the kind of attention that might allow the authorities or anyone else to infer his identity.

Ultimately, Harriman's mutant status cost him his job; briefly he worked as a vigilante "full time" before becoming an employee of Treadstone Industries, working in Applied Sciences to "reverse engineer" the physics behind mutant abilities, in search of potential scientific and technological applications. He used his resources to develop a number of non-lethal components to his archery arsenal, and also moonlighted as a member of X-Force, a vigilante group that Treadstone Industries funded.

Harriman's activities as Orion did attract a small amount of attention from local law enforcement, but never enough to make him a high priority target.

Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D

Following an attack on both Harriman personally and his place of work, he was offered a combination of protection and employment by the Strategic Headquarters, International Enforcement, Logistics and Defense. Officially he would work as a Consultant, allowing his research into finding applications for mutant meta-science to continue with international support and funding.

Unofficially, he was also evaluated as a candidate for the Avengers, a team of mutants assembled to combat mutant - and similar - threats where conventional military tactics were problematic. Using his Orion alias allowed SHIELD to avoid publicising their use of "civilians" in military operations; but connections between that costume and vigilante activity in Los Angeles was considered problematic. Tom's redesigned uniform was based upon SHIELD tactical gear, with a few additions such as a face mask for anonymity and HUD purposes, a few reinforced armour pieces for hand-to-hand combat, and a wrist-mounted crossbow for launching custom grenades.

As time wore on however, various missions and encounters caused Tom to become increasingly paranoid about the comparative weakness of his powers and his vulnerability; over time his uniform became increasingly heavily armoured.

Out of Character

Los Angeles: You Can Hide, But You Can't Run - Orion intervenes in a mugging. I Hurt Myself Today - Orion intervenes in a violent crime, but is injured.