Tamra Bardsley got her engineering degree two years ago. But no one was willing to give her the break she needed to work in her chosen field. "Its a Man's world" she kept hearing and that would grate on her bones...
Her father had managed to get her a job working in the mines but he was apprehensive, not sure how well she would be accepted among the crew. She surprised them with her keen wit and willingness to do any of the dirty jobs, showing remarkable strength for the times it was needed and a clever use of leverage when that wasn't enough.
The mine collapse was another problem, she was stuck down at the bottom of the tunnel when it had given way, she and 4 other men were trapped.
Not giving into panic as the others were she took a deep breath and plunged further into the mine where light from her headlamp revealed a partially obscured gem. She reached for it and upon touching it, her mind met that of an alien entity. In fear she fought mind-to-mind thinking it was going to take over her thoughts and steal her body.
The entity was benign though and after some time convinced Tamra that it would help her/them to get out and away. Tamra knew that they were doomed down here and so she accepted the offer for help. The alien bid her to place the gem on her forehead and her body took on a metallic hue, her wrench was imbued with some type of Primordial power. She used this power to tunnel out of the mine and to free both herself and her crew. There was much rejoicing!
She decided to use her new found abilities to aid the causes of goodness and light. Choosing the name Spelunker as her nom-de-guerre.
In her first battle with the villain Utility, he said "What kinda name is Spelunker??" She replied, "Your going to a deep dark place..." Then knocked him out!