Information
Black Spine the Riftsplitter
Marcus
Legacy Name: Uncooked
The Graveyard Mallarchy
Owner: Pureflower
Age: 9 years, 4 months, 4 days
Born: November 24th, 2014
Adopted: 9 years, 4 months, 4 days ago
Adopted: November 24th, 2014
Statistics
- Level: 103
- Strength: 257
- Defense: 10
- Speed: 10
- Health: 10
- HP: 10/10
- Intelligence: 415
- Books Read: 403
- Food Eaten: 0
- Job: The Mastermind
Founder of Black Spine
He'd been at the heart of the action when he was a younger man. Now Marcus was reduced to cycling between Black Spine recruiting stations, giving his opinion on which candidates showed promise and which ones should be shown a hasty exit through the heart of the nearest black hole.His unwilling retirement had at least given him the benefit of a handsome income, allowing him to continue expanding his antique furniture collection. He was particular to hardwoods from any planet with trees worthy of being called part of a forest. The wood had to be at least 500 years old. He was particular about that detail. No primitive trees grown by lesser life forms with short lifespans.
With the exception of mahogany. He had a special place in his heart for mahogany.
Decreasing the floor space in his warehouse-sized personal study was much more entertaining than doing his job. He sneered at the three files on his desk. (Argallan Pine; very expensive.)
These latest rookie mercenaries and half-baked assassins would be lucky to last an hour in one of his simulations. Only one in ten candidates made it through the rigorous application procedures to become full operatives of Black Spine.
He flicked the left-hand cover open. Atrios Vallaga. Originally from Planet Morgorian. Ex-military with sniper training. In looks, he resembled a lobster run over by an eighteen-wheeler but he had successfully led a weapons smuggling ring for three years without a single mark on his record. He could hold his own in a combat situation.
Marcus gave him five minutes, tops.
The massive wall of observation screens took a few minutes to power up. Marcus zoomed in on the one he wanted. Black Spine had a total of 83 stations under his command...a fifth of the total number. He could access any room on any base with the flick of a fat finger.
Atrios was cautious on entry. He assessed the situation carefully, eyes wide and legs tensed to spring.
The simulation room looked like a dried-out riverbed with only a thin trickle of water between two thick stone walls. A gentle breeze ruffled the Morgorian's dreadlocks. He whipped his head around, expecting an ambush or some great predator springing from above.
He realized too late that the real threat was the strengthening wind.
That breeze would work its way up to hurricane force and beyond, making every pebble, grain of sand and droplet of water into deadly weapons.
Marcus put on some classical music to cover the sound of screaming.
Next up was Xaleena Magovar. Planet Xleegrok. She'd been a successful mercenary in the Narnar system for nearly a decade.
Nasty little customers, the Narnars. This one might last 15 minutes.
She breezed her way through the physical test. She smirked at the intelligence test.
It was the test of character that finally got her.
"This is my final question, Xaleena. I've got an ongoing operation on Gannoden. The original residents of the planet are resisting my efforts and my own men are rapidly running out of supplies. There isn't enough time to get my current team off-planet. Do I supply them with additional weapons or wipe the planet and start over when living conditions have stabilized?"
"Wipe the planet, obviously. If they're truly dedicated to the cause, they'll be happy to die for it."
"Would you feel the same way if you were one of those trapped on the ground?"
Her smirk was really starting to irritate him. "If I was on the team, you wouldn't have a problem with those residents in the first place."
"I'm sorry, my dear. The correct answer was none of the above."
It had been a few days since his quadoctropus, Gladys, had been given a treat. He flipped the red switch and threw Xaleena's file in the chute to the incinerator.
When he saw the last file, he had to wonder if someone was playing a practical joke.
A failed initiate from the book-loving world of Knolo? She'd be in the fetal position, crying in terror, before the door to the room even closed.
As the footage revealed the extent of her talents, Marcus had to admit to himself that, old and wise as he was, even he could be caught off guard by a first impression.
She tackled all seven challenges with intense concentration, never allowing overconfidence or hesitation to cause a misstep. It took a lot to awe Marcus but that acne-scarred young lady managed to do it.
"My dear...you will be a true asset to this team!"
She held up a pale palm, staring at him through thick-framed glasses. "I want there to be an understanding between us, Marcus. Yes...I know who you are. I know what you are. I've spent a decade of my life learning all there is to know about Black Spine. I know more about your daily operations than most operatives and I'll put my considerable skills to use helping you avoid the Agency and increase your profits only if my condition is met."
"If it's within my power, it shall be done."
"My daughter Tluvia...she's only two. I'm sacrificing my ideals to give her the life of a Knolon Scholar, the one I might've had if I'd guarded my heart more carefully. You'll dissuade any attempts she makes to find out what happened to me and see to it she survives to a good old age."
"If she is anything like you, dear Tlulabelle, I doubt she'll be kept from achieving any goal she sets for herself. For my part, I'll have her name added to Black Spine's White List. Any recruiter who even looks at her sideways will have firsthand knowledge of what goes on in a black hole."
Tlulabelle nodded. "You should start me on encryption improvement. I can think of five programmers on Cyfer alone who could fill your auction sites with pictures of fluffy bunbelles on a boring day."
"Intel it is, my dear. Welcome to the team."
"I'm not your anything and don't you forget it."
So feisty. His throaty chuckle followed her out of the room.
credits:
Pet Treasure
Antique Dark Arm Chair
Antique Dark Side Chair
Antique Dark Chaise Lounge
Antique Dark Fainting Couch
Antique Dark Parlor Settee
Antique Dark Cameo Settee
Antique Dark Daybed
Antique Ashen Arm Chair
Antique Ashen Chaise Lounge
Antique Ashen Fainting Couch
Antique Ashen Parlor Settee
Antique Ashen Side Chair
Antique Ashen Cameo Settee
Antique Ashen Daybed
Antique Mild Arm Chair
Antique Mild Side Chair
Antique Mild Chaise Lounge
Antique Mild Fainting Couch
Antique Mild Parlor Settee
Antique Mild Cameo Settee
Antique Mild Daybed
Antique Light Side Chair
Antique Light Arm Chair
Antique Light Chaise Lounge
Antique Light Fainting Couch
Antique Light Cameo Settee
Antique Light Parlor Settee
Antique Light Daybed
Antique Blonde Side Chair
Antique Blonde Chaise Lounge
Antique Blonde Fainting Couch
Antique Blonde Cameo Settee
Antique Blonde Parlor Settee
Antique Blonde Daybed
Vintage Red Flowered Lamp
Vintage Green Flowered Lamp
Vintage Blue Flowered Lamp
Vintage White Flowered Lamp
Vintage Black Flowered Lamp
Antique Tamarillo Lamp
Antique Verdant Lamp
Antique Turquoise Lamp
Antique Royal Lamp
Antique Gothic Lamp
Antique Ashen Round Dining Table
Antique Light Round Dining Table
Antique Blonde Round Dining Table
Antique Mild Round Dining Table
Antique Dark Round Dining Table
Antique Ashen Dining Table
Antique Dark Dining Table
Antique Light Dining Table
Antique Blonde Dining Table
Antique Mild Dining Table
Antique Globe Drinks Cabinet
Antique Compass
Antique Telescope
Antique Clock
Antique Thirteen Hour Clock
Antique Metronome
Antique Radiator Key
Vintage Sewing Machine
Antique TV
Vintage Roll of Film
Vintage Film Camera
Vintage Typewriter
Antique Cameo Camera
Antique Instantograph Camera
Antique Bellows Camera
Antique Box Camera
Battered Antique Camera
Vintage Camera
Vintage Telephone
Vintage Perfume Bottle
Vintage Hot Rollers
Tidy Antique Grooming Set
Charming Antique Grooming Set
Affluent Antique Grooming Set
Rustic Antique Grooming Set
Gentlemanly Antique Grooming Set
Grandiose Antique Coffee Set
Magnificent Antique Coffee Set
Opulent Antique Coffee Set
Divine Antique Coffee Set
Elegant Antique Coffee Set