Information


Marcus has a minion!

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

Nominate Pet for Spotlight

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:

profile template by piers.
story by Pureflower.
background from Here

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

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