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thesilliestrovingalive · 9 months ago

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Updated: April 23, 2025

Reworked Character #1: Marco Rossi

POTENTIAL TRIGGER: Viewer discretion is advised due to references to neglect, self-harm, alcoholism, SA, death, and torture.

Real name: Marchrius Dennis Rossi

Alias: Intelligent Soldier and Real Hacker

Occupation: Major of the P.F. Squad

Retirement plans: Become a mechatronics engineer, foster a bunch of kittens, and start a company that designs and develops functional computer models, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity programs for both military and civilian usage

Special skills: Proficiency in rapid firing, wielding his handgun, and handling military technology, mechatronics engineering, computer science, intimidation tactics, and drunken-style boxing

Hobbies: Creating artificial intelligence and technological viruses from scratch, calculating complex mathematical equations and running times of computer programs in his head, allowing his AI to engage in arguments with other people on the internet while he completes a crossword puzzle, taking naps at his desk, and smoking while stargazing

Likes: His quick mental calculation, considering his colleagues to be family, having time to dedicate to his hobbies, visiting cat cafes to play and snuggle with the kitties, and subway rides where there are little to no people around him

Dislikes: Large lines in front of restaurants, being put in a vulnerable position, how he's grown strangely accustomed to war, computer crashes paired with slow internet connectivity, and witnessing the torture and brutal executions of comrades

Favourite food: Chinese noodles (preferably if its mildly spicy and carbonara-flavoured) and barbecued burgers and hotdogs with onions and honey-glazed carrots

Sexuality: Sex-repulsed, aromantic asexual

Gender: Male

Age: 17 (in 2022), 23 (in 2028), 25 (in 2030), 27 (in 2032), 29 (in 2034), 36 (in 2041), 38 (in 2043), 39 (in 2044), and 42 (in 2047)

Blood type: A-

Weight: 162 lbs. (73.48 cm)

Design: He's a 5' 7" (170.18 cm) Italian-American ectomorph with a rectangular build, the physique of Rambo, broad shoulders, ivory skin, a cleft chin, and dull turquoise eyes. He sports the same hairstyle as Marco's Metal Slug Tactics portrait, but his hair is strawberry blonde and has soft waves. His features are further accentuated by well-groomed sideburns and a neatly trimmed chinstrap beard. He has occasional dark circles under his eyes and a distinctive glass prosthetic left eye in a lighter turquoise hue. This is evident from a gnarly scar: a diagonal line that snakes down from the left side of his forehead to just above the centre of his chin, a result of a knife slash that occurred after his left eye was pulled out with a rusty spoon.

He bears occasional dark circles under his eyes and a distinctive glass left eye in a lighter turquoise hue. He has accumulated several battle scars: a few stab wounds on his right shoulder; vertical cuts on his chest; a deep slice mark extending from the left side of his nose bridge to the back of his trapezius muscle; multiple lacerations and severe burns on his back; a large patch of scar tissue on his right lumbar region; and bullet wounds on both calves and one on his left thigh. To cope with his emotional pain, he has a history of self-harm, which has resulted in the horizontal scars visible on his right forearm, hips, and inner thighs.

He's well-known for his cutting-edge, cybernetic left arm crafted from sleek, high-strength metallic alloys and advanced, artificially intelligent flexi-circuits, allowing for enhanced strength, agility, dexterity, and precision. It also has micro-sensors and neural interfaces seamlessly integrating with Marco’s nervous system for intuitive control. It possesses a high-strength, serrated blade made of tungsten, capable of extending up to 12 inches (30.48 cm) from the forearm. It can temporarily deploy an energy shield that surrounds him, providing protection from incoming attacks. This shield is powered by advanced capacitors and optimised for maximum efficiency using AI technology.

Marco's military gear consists of a white headband, a metal dog tag necklace with his name, and a platinum grey sleeveless shirt. He wears a crimson vest with four pockets and an embroidered logo of the P.F. Squad on the back, alongside khaki-green army cargo pants tucked into his olive green paratrooper boots. He also wears a leather belt with a snap-on silver buckle, mahogany gloves, a sheath for his combat knife, and a gun holster for his trusty handgun. The pockets of Marco's vest contain a gilded lighter he found in Gerhardt City, a black case for his garnet-hued reading glasses, and an old photograph of pre-teen him, his father, and his childhood cat on a leash at a park during autumn. The pockets of his army cargo pants carry two boxes of cigars and a red pen.

Over his shirt, he wears a Soldier Plate Carrier System (SPCS) with a MultiCam pattern, which carries his walkie-talkie and ammo for other firearms. His right forearm is wrapped in worn gauze, and he wears two black bandoliers that form an X-shape, holding bullets for his handgun. Marco carries a khaki-green load-bearing backpack containing camping equipment, tactical explosives, portable ammo boxes, a canteen full of water, a Gatling Shot, a Thunder Shot, and a crossword puzzle book. He's always carrying around a red-orange laptop adorned with a bronze circle on the lid, housing a black six-pointed star at its centre. This custom laptop serves as his mobile command centre, where he develops malware to breach enemy cybersecurity, tackles various classified technological assignments for the military, and works on personal software projects.

He wears his father's circular, gilded watch on his right wrist, using it to check the time as a reminder of his father's enduring presence and an opportunity to seek guidance from the past. The timepiece features an ivory dial with burgundy hands and black Roman numerals from I to XII, interspersed with four thin etchings. Additional details include a secondary display bar showing the time and AM/PM indicator, while a leather strap is secured with a matching gold buckle.

Character summary: He's a charismatic and cautious leader who takes immense pride in his high intellect, computer expertise, and masculinity. He's a self-reliant introvert who prefers to accept help and emotional support from others when absolutely necessary. He often has a stoic demeanour, showcasing his seriousness and making it challenging for him to display humour or vulnerability. Due to being a workaholic, he has developed a harmful habit of neglecting his own basic needs, including eating when necessary. He mainly struggles with loneliness because he finds it difficult to form meaningful connections due to his exceptionally high intellect, which can make it challenging for others who may not be able to keep up with his level of understanding. He also struggles with undiagnosed major depressive disorder, trust issues, a fear of abandonment, and unresolved trauma stemming from past experiences. While Marco tends to internalise his emotions, he has learned to open up to trusted individuals when his burdens become too overwhelming to bear alone.

Despite his gentle and taciturn nature, he's capable of being ruthless and terrifyingly violent. Whenever he's riled up and facing the Rebel Army, Nadia has described him as having an uncomfortably serious and sadistic look with bulging, intense eyes and a grin that seems to reveal a million teeth. He secretly finds it amusing that Nadia playfully feeds into his desire for revenge. When he doesn't find a way to calm his nerves, he can fly into a deep rage at the mere mention of General Morden's name. He harbours a deep desire for revenge against Morden that extends to his army, viewing them as pests that must be eliminated. He won't stop or make room for a successor until they're wiped out, wanting to keep the title of the world's Rebel Army expert for himself.

When interrogating others, he employs a menacing tone, his aloof demeanour making those on the receiving end feel uneasy and intimidated. He doesn't hesitate to act on threats of violence made against them, a trusted comrade or a pet they rely on for warfare or guard duty. He even goes so far as to exploit their insecurities and make them question their moral standing, and with Trevor by his side, his intimidation factor is amplified.

He's a socially awkward loner who doesn't tolerate distractions and has a strong fear of losing his current friends. He tends to be a bit of a pushover when people persuade him to take a break, especially if they're persistent or offer him a chance to step away from his hard work. He often feels awkward at parties, but he manages to put on a positive, relaxed facade because he doesn't want to spoil the fun. He prefers to bring his cat along whenever he goes out drinking or partying because it helps him feel calm and less prone to panic and irritation.

When experiencing great distress in relation to past trauma, he's prone to having a full-blown mental breakdown and indulging in suicidal ideation. Whenever he's somewhat sleep-deprived or overwhelmed with stress and discomfort, he desperately tries to put on a facade that he's okay, but it’s clearly forced. In secret, he binge-eats when he's truly starving, stuffing his face and making a mess while grappling with feelings of self-loathing and sometimes even crying. Marco tends to get stressed easily, which has led to him developing a chain-smoking habit.

He privately grapples with self-harm and binge drinking, often consuming multiple beers at once, while concealing his struggles with alcoholism and suicidal thoughts from those around him. He attempts to conceal his struggles with alcoholism by either excessively partying or withdrawing socially, and privately harms himself due to his reluctance to burden others or cause unnecessary concern. Additionally, he struggles with denial, finding it difficult to accept the loss of his father and former war comrades, and resisting the idea that he needs professional mental health support.

He has a dry sense of humour that he rarely showcases, and when he does, his witty remarks often blend English and Italian. Having learned some Japanese from Tarma and Eri, he occasionally sprinkles Japanese phrases into his jokes. He deeply cares about his friends and will stop at nothing to protect them, even if it means putting his own life at risk. He finds great comfort in the presence of his best friend, Tarma, thanks to his breezy and optimistic attitude. Although he doesn't always show it, he genuinely enjoys Tarma's jokes and appreciates listening to them, even if they occasionally test his patience. He often mistakes Sophia Greenville for his mother due to their similar appearance, and he's always embarrassed when he accidentally calls her "mommy”. Nevertheless, he's deeply grateful for the maternal affection she shows him, treating him like a son and unknowingly becoming the kind of mother he wishes he had.

He cherishes his flamboyant and extremely cuddly Domestic Shorthair, Perifa. Perifa boasts copper eyes and a blue-black, reddish-orange, and white calico coat, which he diligently brushes. She was a heartwarming birthday gift from Tarma, received prior to the Survival Island Occupation. He finds comfort in spending quality time with his cat, affectionately referred to as his "dramatic little princess”. He enjoys engaging in playtime, giving gentle pets, and even using soothing baby talk to calm his feline companion. He's easily offended by people who rudely insult cats, going as far as to comfort the insulted feline and silently glaring at the person who uttered such words.

He’s in a polyamorous queerplatonic relationship with Fio and Tarma, a bond that satisfies his deep-seated longing for emotional intimacy. He’s close friends with Trevor, regularly mentoring him in computer skills like reading binary code and enjoying social time together, but their occasional marijuana use has raised concerns due to Marco's pre-existing unhealthy smoking habits. He holds Tequila in high esteem, recognizing his pivotal contributions to the success of the Regular Army and S.P.A.R.R.O.W.S. special forces unit. He deeply values his wisdom, open-mindedness, fatherly demeanour, and exceptional covert agent skills. He dislikes accompanying Nadia on shopping trips because her constant meddling and overly inquisitive nature frustrate him.

He once had a vision of creating an artificial intelligence, dubbed Adaptive Learning Interface for Cognitive Engagement (ALICE), that could mimic human development, emotions, and personality. However, he abandoned the project due to concerns that it could become rogue if provoked incorrectly, and he felt uneasy about the notion of being a "father" to such a being. He views his computer programs solely as practical tools, designed to fulfill specific purposes, rather than as "children" with distinct identities. As a result, he developed a skeptical view of artificial intelligence being fully human. This stems from his understanding that the emotions and unique personalities exhibited by AI are the result of intense programming. In his opinion, genuine emotion and personality require the physical and mental growth that comes with human ageing and development, something AI systems lack.

This has led to rocky tension between him and MS-Alice because he struggles to fully accept her as a sentient AI with realistic human emotions and growth. He finds it particularly unsettling that she sometimes confuses him with her original creator, whose memories she can't fully recall. However, over time, he comes to regard her as a daughter, treating her with increasing respect and moving beyond the notion that she's merely a tool to aid him in his duties and other tasks.

Having never experienced raising children, he had always doubted his ability to provide love and be a good parental figure because he was consumed by his own interests and mental health issues. But everything changed when he adopted an abandoned young girl and felt an obligation to provide parental care for the toddler. With the guidance and support of his friends, he discovered valuable parenting skills and named his new daughter Midori. He transformed into a loving, supportive, and overprotective father, dedicated to ensuring her happiness and safety. He made it a point to offer wise advice, hoping to spare her from his own past mistakes.

He found immense joy in watching Midori form close bonds with his friends, affectionately regarding them as uncles, aunts, and grandparents. He was particularly grateful for the ways his friends nurtured Midori's passions: Tarma and Alisa encouraged her interest in engineering, while Walter and Trevor fostered her love of music. He can't imagine a world without his adoptive daughter, who has brought him a newfound sense of purpose and motivated him to become a better father while overcoming his personal hardships.

Whenever he's had too much to drink, he starts to act rowdy, easy-going, overly affectionate, and clingy. When sexual activity is mentioned, he reacts with extreme discomfort as he finds it to be disgusting. He’ll either become nauseous or start gagging, displaying expressions of strong distaste towards the person discussing the topic. If he unexpectedly encounters someone engaging in sexual activity, he often experiences a panic attack, feeling lightheaded and overwhelmed. In such situations, he usually tries to seek comfort and support from a trusted individual to talk to and receive a reassuring hug. This experience may also trigger unpleasant thoughts related to sexual matters, leading him to fear that he's somehow perverted and disgusting. He'll only lose his temper with others if they say something extremely rude to him or his friends, intend to hurt his loved ones or tell him blatant lies. Although he tends to have a pessimistic outlook on life, he sometimes manages to see the brighter side of things.

He has a sleepwalking habit, often accompanied by vivid dreams of fighting or killing someone, which greatly annoys and frightens Tarma, who’s frequently the target of these nocturnal episodes. When sleepwalking, he's known to mumble and attack anyone who attempts to interfere with whatever kitchen knife is in his hand. The only way to wake him is to strike him hard across the face, jolting him awake and leaving him briefly gasping for air. He resents being hailed as a war hero due to his intense aversion to fame and his conviction that conflict should prompt sombre reflection, not glorification. He believes that every commander should have a thorough understanding of their subordinates and colleagues in order to maximize performance and effectively control the enemy's movements. He dislikes flirtatious advances and has low tolerance for complaining, bullying, and excessive talking, which can trigger irritability and extreme defensiveness. He feels uneasy with romantic inquiries and is secretly intimidated by Gimlet, whose relentless verbal aggression and frequent heated confrontations leave him on edge. He has a commanding presence that demands respect, and his consistently serious demeanour can make him seem intimidating and unapproachable to others.

He's incredibly introspective and prone to questioning the intentions of his friends and his own worthiness of having meaningful friendships. He defines his masculinity by embodying traits like physical strength, courage, independence, leadership, and assertiveness. However, he makes a conscious effort to avoid toxic masculinity by ensuring his behaviour doesn't harm others' feelings or self-worth. Despite this balanced approach, he admits to having some vanity regarding specific issues he considers unbefitting of his ideal masculinity, such as sagging pants and carrying toys, as he sees these as detrimental to personal dignity. Whenever he encounters a pair of glowing red eyes, he's either deeply unsettled or irresistibly drawn to them, captivated by their aura of curiosity and command. This hesitant fascination occasionally leads him to wander aimlessly until it directs him to a destination of its choosing.

He’s a consequentialist who believes people's actions are judged by their consequences. He thinks it's more logical for individuals to prioritise not causing harm to others and maximising the welfare of both themselves and others over personal gain. In his view, everyone should act in ways that benefit themselves and others, taking into account fully informed and rational preferences. He believes that all conflicts are gradually moving towards equitable unification and collective strength for humanity, paving the way for a new era free from violence, hate, and political corruption. From his perspective, all life forms have the capacity for destruction, and if their creative drive is surpassed, it can lead to severe consequences, ultimately undermining the act of creation.

Backstory: Marchrius Dennis Rossi was born on April 13, 2005 in Twin Falls, Idaho, United States. His mother, Kharissa, was a researcher for a secret government project, and his father, Salvatore Rossi, was stuck in a dead-end office job. His mother never fully discussed her secret project, citing classified information, but revealed that it involved monitoring military activity for the U.S. government. His father took schooling in the field of computer science, but he had to drop out due to high costs and find a job to support his lower middle-class family, so he ended up working in the tech department of his dead-end office job. His parents had a distant relationship, having had Marco in the hopes that a child would bring them closer together and mend their broken marriage. However, they often ignored each other and frequently got into heated arguments that resulted in broken items and things being thrown. Kharissa would often storm out of the house to unwind with a couple of drinks.

Kharissa had never wanted Marco, viewing him as an unplanned consequence and a responsibility that hindered her career. She often berated Marco for being useless and annoying, even going so far as to say that he should've died in her womb. She wasn't afraid to strike him across the face or drag him into his bedroom, locking him in there until just a few minutes before his father came home. She threatened to leave him on the street if he ever told his father about what she did to him, which made him unusually taciturn and secretly fearful of the other terrible things Kharissa might have in store for him. Meanwhile, Salvatore provided unwavering support and care, while his mother was neglectful and emotionally absent, hiding her true behaviour behind closed doors. Although he found his son to be a little odd, he thought he was perfect in his eyes and would do anything to keep him safe. But despite this, Marco shocked his parents by exhibiting a fast-growing intelligence at a very young age.

From the moment he opened his eyes, he muttered his first word, "daddy". He learned how to walk at 3 months old and showed advanced motor skills by 5 and a half months. He skipped object permanence altogether and completed his first crossword puzzle at just 1 year old, astonishingly understanding political terms. By the age of 2, he had memorised all 50 U.S. states and read two books in their entirety, demonstrating a profound understanding of their documented subjects: jurisprudence and psychoanalysis. By 4, he was answering calculus-level questions and describing his feelings about endangered animals in zoos with sophisticated vocabulary.

From the age of 2, he would occasionally see a pair of glowing red eyes in darkened corners or places drenched in darkness. He described them as always watching him and swore that they belonged to a living, breathing creature that seamlessly blended into the darkness. When he turned 5, he created an imaginary friend as an excuse to enjoy his alone time and avoid befriending the children who frequented the local park. This imaginary friend was named "Jubby", and Marco often drew him, depicting him as an anthropomorphic snow leopard with golden eagle wings, Komodo dragon legs, and a face covered in a ball of black scribbles.

Before he turned 6, his neglectful mother, Kharissa, grew fed up with how "weird" he was. She was also annoyed by his persistent fear of a glowing pair of red eyes that watched him occasionally and his uninterested attitude towards forming connections. While Salvatore was away from home, Kharissa took matters into her own hands and packed her belongings. Before leaving, she noticed Marco standing before the basement door, which was wide open. She investigated and saw the same glowing pair of red eyes, which terrified her.

Believing that Marco was attracting an evil spirit, she pushed him down the basement stairs and locked the door, hoping to contain the perceived threat. Abandoning Marco, she left the house, leaving him absolutely terrified. Marco attempted to cope with the trauma by conjuring up Jubby, but he claimed that his imaginary friend never came to his aid. This painful realisation marked the day he began to harbour resentment towards his mother, feeling unappreciated, unloved, and viewed as a burdensome presence in her life. When Salvatore returned home and discovered that Marco was trapped in the basement by Kharissa, he was infuriated. His father attempted to track down Kharissa, but it was too late. He decided that finding her was the least of his worries and instead focused on comforting his son, listening to everything he had to say about what she had done to him. This included the time when he was four-years-old and accidentally wet himself, prompting Kharissa to angrily smash an empty wine bottle over his head. This traumatic event instilled in him a lasting fear of heading down into dark basements alone.

During his time in grade 1, Marco struggled to make friends and often looked sad when he saw other children with their mothers, a concern his father noticed. To cheer him up, his father brought home a Turkish Angora with a black, orange, and white fur coat, which sparked Marco's love for felines. As a result of his childhood cat's fondness for eating bugs, he affectionately named her Grubley. At the age of eight, his father introduced him to the world of computing, igniting a passion for computer science that would last a lifetime. Salvatore was always supportive of Marco and his passions, encouraging him to excel in school, chase his dreams, and make the most of the opportunities life has to offer.

Marco knew he had an uncle, but his father forbade him from seeing him. Salvatore had warned him that his uncle was untrustworthy due to his con artist lifestyle and struggled with alcoholism. However, he was permitted to visit his aunt and grandparents, who were incredibly kind. They encouraged him to appreciate nature and the simple things in life, rather than spending all his time on the computer. He has fond memories of his grandfather teaching him how to barbecue. His grandmother, an immigrant from Italy, taught him some Italian and often shared photographs she had taken in her home country before moving to the United States.

His father unknowingly sparked his interest in the Tuatha Dé Danann, an ancient race of demigods that existed before all life, and two antediluvian places, Atlantis and Ultima Thule. He would silently observe his father spend a short amount of time researching these fascinating topics when not working. Marco would eventually discover that he has a slight hint of Tuatha Dé Danann DNA, leading him to wonder if others might also have ancestral ties tracing back to the Hadean Eon.

He was bullied by many students for being perceived as "friendless" and for having an abnormally high intelligence, leaving him feeling isolated. A few students attempted to befriend him, but he rebuffed their efforts, fearing they would eventually abandon him. He also struggled to connect with them on an intellectual level, feeling like an outsider. During high school, he was involved in a few physical altercations, but he typically managed to defuse the situations with his words or, if necessary, defend himself relentlessly. In his spare time, he mastered the unconventional art of drunken-style boxing, giving him an edge in self-defence. Despite his school troubles, he excelled in all his classes and achieved outstanding grades in mathematics and computer science courses.

Before graduating from a state technical high school, Salvatore died due to health complications caused by Huntington's disease. Shortly after, Marco's beloved cat, Grubley, peacefully passed away in her sleep. Marco was devastated by these losses, compounded by the shocking revelation that his father had been secretly battling Huntington's disease without ever sharing his struggle with him. The last gift his father gave him was a red-orange laptop, which was intended to be a graduation present. Rather than letting the tragedy consume him, he transformed his grief into a driving force, cultivating resilience and independence. To move forward, he made the difficult decision to distance himself from his remaining family, seeking to leave the past behind and forge a new path.

He began developing artificial intelligence to engage in online debates and sophisticated computer software, including anti-viruses and error-checking tools, as a means to earn a living and hone his programming skills. He went so far as to meticulously rebuild and upgrade the desktop computer in his father's old office at home, enhancing both its design and performance. Marco decided to attend officer's school at the Academy of Special Technologies and subsequently joined the prestigious Peregrine Falcons Squad shortly after graduation.

Once he joined, he was trained under Colonel Hart of the Peregrine Falcons Squad, a well-respected technique instructor in the Regular Army, and Chun Yutetsu, a combat school instructor. Marco feels immense regret for destroying the Iron Nokana because Chun Yutetsu was inside, suffering a horrific death of being burned and crushed alive. To make matters worse, Colonel Hart revealed to him that Chun Yutetsu had joined the Rebel Army after General Morden held his daughter hostage and threatened to kill her unless he piloted the Iron Nokana and provided them with crucial data on the SV-001. Marco describes Colonel Hart as a golf enthusiast and a good friend of President Marx who will never forgive General Morden as a human being and only wishes to take his last breath.

Unlike many of his peers, he quickly distinguished himself through his exceptional leadership skills and computer expertise, earning him a spot as 1st Lieutenant of the P.F. Squad. This was also when he met Tarma, forming a fast friendship after discussing their interests, reminiscing on their childhoods, and having a couple of beers. Tarma was his first real friend, whom he holds dear, despite viewing him as a “maniacal gearhead”. Through his friendship with Tarma, he discovered the value of having friends and stepped out of his comfort zone to befriend the other members of the P.F. Squad and Regular Army. He would also gradually develop a queerplatonic relationship with Tarma as he deeply cherished their friendship and came to realise that it filled a void of emotional intimacy left by his father's passing.

When the Amadeus Syndicate served as the scientific and medical branch of the Regular Army, Marco met Doctor Amadeus, the organisation's founder and Nadia's clone mother. They had a cordial relationship, and Doctor Amadeus was particularly impressed by Marco's exceptional computer skills. She intended to leverage his talents for a bioengineering experiment focused on developing the ultimate bioweapon, which he would later encounter during the White Baby Crisis.

During a battle against a terrorist attack in Minnesota, he sustained severe injuries that nearly left him paralysed and resulted in significant blood loss. He was rushed to one of the state-of-the-art medical facilities that belonged to the Amadeus Syndicate, where he received treatment and underwent surgery to repair his injuries. As Marco attempted to rest after surgery, Doctor Amadeus forced herself upon him to collect semen and DNA samples without his consent, an experience that left him severely traumatised. The experience was so distressing that Marco tried to suppress the memory, inadvertently forgetting much of the history and purpose of the Amadeus Syndicate in the process. He also swore his revenge to kill Doctor Amadeus one day for what she did to him. As a result of this event, he began to act strangely anxious and slightly aggressive when in a hospital or near Nadia for prolonged periods of time.

During the first coup led by General Morden, with the aid of his superiors, he scraped together the remnants of the Earth Federation military forces to reassemble the P.F. Squad, S.P.A.R.R.O.W.S., and the Regular Army. Marco became the main leader of the governmental resistance against General Morden. As Marco's team was approaching Gerhardt City, about to leave and head towards the base of operations of the Rebel Army, disaster struck. General Morden, Sagan, Logan, and a large group of Rebel troops ambushed them, seizing the opportunity to decimate the remnants of the P.F. Squad, S.P.A.R.R.O.W.S., and Regular Army, leaving Marco with mental and physical scars that would haunt him forever.

Marco endured unimaginable suffering at the hands of General Morden, Allen O'Neil, and the Rebel soldiers, who brutally tortured him, gouged out his left eye, and severed his left arm. After experiencing a strange tingling sensation of familiarity, General Morden realised that Marco possessed Tuatha Dé Danann heritage. Intrigued, he discreetly collected DNA samples from Marco, which would later be utilised by the Amadeus Syndicate for experimentation in bioengineering and advanced military technology. The cruelty continued as Morden forced Marco to witness the slaughter and torture of his comrades and friends. Devastated by the losses and horrors he experienced, Marco teetered on the brink of giving up. He was even convinced that his best friend, Tarma, had perished, plunging him into a deep depression.

However, Tarma managed to escape the Rebel Army's clutches and staged a daring rescue, reuniting with Marco. With Tarma's emotional support and his own newfound rage, Marco found the strength to keep fighting. Before confronting General Morden, Tarma constructed his prosthetic left arm using technological debris and cutting-edge medical technology available to the Regular Army. However, it took him a couple of weeks to adapt to his new limb. Together, they became legendary heroes, ultimately defeating Morden and restoring world peace. Marco's bravery earned him the rank of Major, but he soon grew to resent his war hero status as he realised that the media often glorifies conflict.

Shortly after the Great Morden War, Marco created a computer virus for fun, which inadvertently spread to the Regular Army's mainframe server. The virus destroyed several security systems, compromised the lowest echelons of the Regular Army, and nearly triggered the launch of a nuclear missile. Fortunately, a military scout named Trevor, whom Marco would meet years later during his recruitment into the P.F. Squad, managed to stop it. He refuses to discuss this potentially disastrous incident, even after a few too many beers.

He continued to lead the P.F. Squad together with Tarma, regarding him as the true linchpin of the elite task force within the Regular Army. Marco joined forces with Tarma, Fio, and Eri for a second mission to thwart General Morden's second coup. Although the mission technically failed, as they captured a Mars Quotidian troop from the Pipovulaj disguised as General Morden, the Regular Army's higher-ups deemed it a success nonetheless. This moment got on Marco's nerves as he deeply desired to see General Morden brought to justice and face the full consequences of his actions.

Following this success, Marco attempted to resign, but his higher-ups quickly denied his request. They insisted on his participation in a mission to eliminate the remaining remnants of the Rebel Army and other operations addressing threats to global peace such as the Pipovulaj.

After the Survival Island Occupation ended, Marco, Eri, and a contingent of Regular soldiers, led by a commanding officer, were sent to the South Pacific training island. Their mission was to investigate Rebel disturbances and scout for any surviving cadets. To his surprise, Division 6 and some cadets had already dealt with the Rebel issue and made it out alive. Marco personally congratulated them on their effort, shaking Walter's hand. This gesture left Walter overjoyed, nearly to the point of fainting. However, Marco was annoyed by Walter's excessive admiration and interest in him.

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thesilliestrovingalive · 4 months ago

Text

Updated: April 20, 2025

Reworked Character #18: Walter Ryan

POTENTIAL TRIGGER WARNING: Viewer discretion is advised due to references to death, child abuse, suicide, drug addiction, and crime.

Real name: Walter Evangelos Mulryan

Nicknames: Walt, Evan, and Ryan

Occupation: Sergeant Major of Division 6 and cadet for the P.F. Squad (formerly)

Retirement plans: He's unsure what he wants to do outside of military service

Special skills: Zoology, callisthenics, Krav Maga, the use of paradummies, and mastery of guitars, keyboards, and singing

Imperfect clone abilities: From just above his pubic region to the upper back in a semi-crescent shape, he has skin flaps that open wide when he slouches and focuses on a specific person, group or object. Once open, they reveal his Marian blue muscles coated with mucosal lilac slime and six large circular holes. The mucosal slime coats his entire muscular and internal organ systems, providing effective immunity against harmful bacteria and viruses. From these holes emerge 1 ft (30.48 cm) fleshy periwinkle tendrils that grow up to 4 ft (121.92 cm) upon exposure to air, fueled by rapid cell growth and blood flow. The tendrils become semi-hard and extremely elastic, stretching up to 12 ft (365.76 cm) and capable of breaking iron-strength objects. Their primary functions include impaling, crushing, restraining, and lifting massive objects, such as two Easter Island heads, but they also possess remarkable sensitivity to gentle touch. Tracing the bulging greenish and reddish veins triggers uncontrollable spasms and intense arousal.

When he's extremely focused on reaching his destination, the sudden rush of adrenaline coursing through his veins enables him to run at an incredible pace, nearly twice as fast as a cheetah. He possesses exceptionally acute hearing, capable of detecting sounds from 20 ft (609.6 cm) away, including the faint footsteps of cats, which enables him to easily sense the presence of others. Initially, his endurance and stamina enabled him to withstand three times the normal amount of physical pain, recover from injuries 50% faster, and remain active for seven hours without fatigue. However, following his training with the Peregrine Falcons Squad, his endurance and stamina have improved significantly. He can now tolerate extreme physical stress, recover from injuries in just one to two hours, and sustain himself for up to five days without rest.

Hobbies: Dumpster diving, phoning his Mama, frequenting karaoke bars, smoking his neon-coloured, floral-patterned bong off work, and creating new rock-inspired musical compositions either by himself or in collaboration with Allen Jr.

Likes: Trying on pretty dresses, letting Tyra put makeup on him and paint his nails, the call sounds of laughing kookaburras, the necklace his older half-sister gave him, and spending an entire day off work watching nature documentaries and writing music reviews

Dislikes: When others poke fun of his accent and use of Australian slang, his fleshy tendrils being caressed during battle, his ticklish waist, gender norms, and jungles

Favourite food: Grilled kangaroo covered in gravy and caramelised onions

Sexuality: Bicurious, heteroromantic demisexual

Gender: Male

Age: 11 (in 2022), 17 (in 2028), 19 (in 2030), 21 (in 2032), 23 (in 2034), 30 (in 2041), 32 (in 2043), 33 (in 2044), and 36 (in 2047)

Blood type: AB-

Weight: 183 lbs. (83 kg)

Design: He’s a 7 ft (213.36 cm) Greek-Australian ectomorph with a wiry build, an inverted triangular body type, slightly elongated limbs, sloping shoulders, and decently chiselled muscles that bulge unnervingly when he flexes. He has dark green eyes, golden beige skin, and brownish freckles scattered across his face, chest, and hands. Additionally, hidden behind his standard teeth lies a row of razor-sharp, carnivorous ones. He sports the same hairstyle as Walter’s card from Metal Slug Advance, but his hair is a glossy raisin black with neatly tapered sideburns that fade out halfway down. Shortly after he started dating Tyra, she painted his nails with aquamarine nail polish and did his makeup, applying fan shape steel blue eyeshadow, brownish-black mascara, and soft peach lip gloss.

He has the same cybernetic prosthetic as Marco, but it replaces his right arm. He bears several scars, mostly obtained during the Survival Island Occupation: a cut from beside his left nostril to the centre of his chin; two bullet wounds on his left deltoid; a graze wound on his left knee; a gnarled slash on the top of his left forearm, curving slightly towards the end; bite marks on his left forearm; and multiple healed scratches and skin-picking scars on his left upper arm, shoulder, and thighs. He has a tattoo featuring a vertical mauve to dusty rose to blue-grey gradient, situated just below his collarbone. The tattoo reads "Πάθει μάθος" (páthei máthos), a Greek phrase that translates to "learning through suffering”. He has a tattoo on his left lumbar region, depicting a horned viper coiled around a rotten red apple, ready to strike.

His military gear consists of a metal dog tag necklace with his name, reseda green leather wristbands, a sinopia belt with a snap-on bronze buckle, a sheath for his combat knife, and a holster for his handgun. He sports a Pacific cyan vest with four pockets, its original P.F. Squad logo on the back having been replaced by the Division 6 insignia. He wears an olivine T-shirt with a ripped right sleeve, featuring a golden-red phoenix centred on the front, its head turned to the right. The phoenix has outstretched wings, a black beak, eagle-like feet, and an emerald green eye. He wears dark green, greyish-brown, and charcoal camouflage army cargo pants, which are tucked into the same boots worn by Walter Ryan in Metal Slug Advance.

The pockets of Walter’s vest carry around a pinkish-white vape adorned with light yellow teardrop seeds that impart a vanilla strawberry flavour, an amber jewel with a bright sheen (a gift from Tyra), a white gold stick of raspberry champagne lip chap, and a butterfly knife. It also carries a photograph of his Mama with a toddler version of himself, sucking his thumb and shyly looking away from the camera, taken on a sunny day at Poipu Beach.

Over his T-shirt, he dons a Soldier Plate Carrier System (SPCS) with a MultiCam pattern, which carries around his walkie-talkie and ammo for other firearms. His left forearm is wrapped in a dirty gauze bandage, and a rust-coloured bandolier is slung over his right shoulder, holding bullets for his handgun. Walter carries a sinopia load-bearing backpack that contains camping equipment, tactical explosives, portable ammo boxes, a canteen full of water, a RMb-93, a Shotgun, and a couple of paradummies. His backpack even carries a maximum blue purple Yamaha SHS-10, a Paris green sound-cancelling, bluetooth headset, a cellphone with a metallic purple case, and a metallic purple rectangular case filled with coloured pencils in every hue of the rainbow.

It contains a Drop Shot modified by Tarma, which fires bouncing landmines that explode upon contact with fabric and travel far distances of up to 18 ft (548.64 cm), and is combined with a heavy machine gun. It also contains his diary, bound in worn alligator skin and marked with a phthalo blue silk ribbon, filled with his most intimate thoughts and feelings, observant sketches of his surroundings, and illustrations of the disturbing hallucinations that plague him.

He has three piercings: yellowish-green snake bite piercings; a white gold nostril hoop piercing on the right; a metallic blue horizontal barbell piercing above his left eyebrow; and purple-tinted silver tassels that adorn medium-sized gold hoop earrings. Walter wears a personalised friendship bracelet featuring Dilovar's name in letter beads, accompanied by alternating turquoise, amethyst, and yellow-orange beads. He wears a black cord necklace featuring a sapphire boomerang-shaped pendant, adorned with two thin zigzag stripes in yellow-orange, a gift from his older half-sister when he turned 15.

Character summary: He's a troubled and quick-tempered individual searching for his life's purpose, who excels at creating distractions through clever misdirection, verbal deception, and unorthodox tactics like animalistic sounds and decoys. After being mute for nine years of his life, he has developed a tendency to be overly talkative and expressive, often unintentionally interrupting others. Whenever he feels emotionally overwhelmed, he tends to exhibit self-soothing behaviours, such as biting his forearms, scratching himself or picking at his skin. He's surprisingly laid-back and easygoing, always supportive of his comrades and friends as he adapts seamlessly to any situation without complaint. He occasionally needs some persuasion to take action, particularly when concerns about potential risks or negative outcomes hold him back.

He's a bit of a mama's boy, evident in his weekly phone calls with his mother and occasional returns home to stay with her when he’s feeling emotionally drained. It really annoys him when people call him a "mama's boy” because he doesn't want to be perceived as weak and overly dependent on his mother. He calls his mother frequently, driven by a deep love for her and a persistent fear of losing her unexpectedly. The thought of her loss would plunge him into profound despair and existential crisis. He’s a charming and flirtatious feminist, often complimenting women and offering them physical comfort and words of encouragement. He feels more at ease in the company of women, finding their presence enjoyable and aesthetically pleasing, which is why he tends to seek out their company over socialising with groups of men.

He's an extroverted and slightly sarcastic rebel who boldly stands up for what he believes in, refusing to remain silent when something doesn't feel right or his loved ones are made to feel uncomfortable or threatened. Yet, his unfiltered honesty can sometimes come across as blunt and abrasive, occasionally landing him in confrontations. He's an endearingly curious and affectionate person who possesses a childlike enthusiasm for the things that thrill him, especially when it comes to upcoming vacations, quality time with loved ones, action-packed moments, and the latest music drops. Compared to most people in the Regular Army, he stands out as a hardcore party enthusiast, finding parties to be an exhilarating escape from the stresses of daily life. He's deeply passionate about indie, J-pop, rock, punk, grunge, dubstep, and electronica music, his loved ones, and animals, and he thoroughly enjoys discussing these interests with others.

He has zero tolerance for hypocrisy, food and resource waste, littering, dishonesty, animal cruelty, domestic violence, and the mistreatment of women and girls, considering these behaviours to be utterly unacceptable and destructive. He harbours sneaking suspicions about the Regular Army, particularly regarding the disregard many special operatives show for the innocence of individuals affiliated with the enemy. However, he keeps his concerns to himself to avoid creating tension for the special forces units he cares about. Walter has a tendency to become vengeful, confrontational, aggressive, and intimidating when he feels strongly wronged or his anger is justified. He often appears to be dismissive, standoffish, and condescending toward individuals he personally dislikes and doesn’t trust.

He has a tendency to act impulsively, often driven by the rapid escalation of tension and excitement. He usually jumps into battles without hesitation when he believes they will bring him closer to achieving his goal of true worth. He lacks some common sense, leading to inappropriate questions, misread social cues, interrupting others, and difficulties following instructions, even when they’re relatively straightforward. He also tends to mispronounce words, take unwise shortcuts, and overlook warning signs when dealing with individuals who hide their harmful intentions behind superficial kindness.

He takes immense pride in his singing voice, fueled by numerous compliments about its beauty and power, yet the attention it brings makes him feel painfully shy and uncomfortable in the spotlight. He hates the idea of fame because it causes him immense stress due to the prospect of unwanted attention and constant scrutiny. He becomes flustered when a woman or close friend compliments him, and he particularly dislikes it when people insult or poke fun at his enjoyment of traditionally “feminine” interests. He absolutely despises it when people look through his diary, considering it a blatant invasion of his privacy. When he's had too much to drink, he becomes hyperactive, argumentative, careless, and flirtatious, and his usual self-deprecating, anti-authoritarianism humour turns nonsensical and lighthearted.

He lives with atypical depression, PTSD, anorexia nervosa, white knight syndrome, and undiagnosed paranoid schizophrenia. Although he has paranoid schizophrenia, he doesn’t experience delusions, but he does experience hallucinations, which he has become desensitised to over time, and they now rarely cause him visible distress. He sees himself as a burden and a coward, overly reliant on others, and believes he's unworthy of the good fortune and happiness he has. He struggles with intense feelings of failure and worthlessness when he can't protect loved ones. Jungles evoke traumatic memories of the Survival Island Occupation, fueling his deep-seated fear of becoming lost, suffering the brutal loss of his friends, and being exploited as a sacrifice. While he'll initially refuse a mission that takes place in or primarily involves operating in a jungle, he'll quickly agree if Tyra, Dilovar or Roberto offer even the slightest bit of persuasion.

He secretly admires Marco for his significant contributions to the Peregrine Falcons Squad's successes, having heard many inspiring stories about him during his cadet days. He views Eri as a protective older sister and regards Roberto as the older brother he never had, despite being his distant cousin. He's good friends with Trevor, often doing graffiti in abandoned buildings or smoking weed and talking about random things. He's also on good terms with Nadia, enjoying food challenges, beach trips, and shopping sprees together, and he likes to try out different outfits she suggests for him. He absolutely despises Gimlet and frequently clashes with him over his unwanted advances on Tyra and his racist, sexist, and sanist bullying of many people, including cadets. However, a small part of him respects Gimlet for his role in the Arms Deal Barrage and empathises with his struggles with substance abuse.

Walter loves his adopted Martian son, Pocke, with the devotion of a caring father. He'll stop at nothing to keep him safe, and enjoys showering him with attention through conversation, playtime, and gentle affection. Pocke's silly antics and curiosity have captured his heart, but his tendency to knock things off the counter and pick up potentially hazardous objects can be slightly maddening. He has three pets that he deeply cherishes, which he bought after saving enough money following the Unforeseen Invader Conquest: Spawoise, a Moluccan cockatoo; Maristela, a sunset ball python; and Zeph, an agouti Siberian Husky with heterochromatic eyes (green on the right and amber on the left). He dislikes it when people try to teach Spawoise naughty words as it always embarrasses him when his cockatoo annoyingly repeats the same word she learned throughout the day. He also dislikes it when people make fun of his name choice for his cockatoo as they find it awkward to pronounce.

Dilovar is his closest friend and he thoroughly enjoys spending time with him, appreciating his quirky humour, lively nature, comforting presence, and awe-inspiring determination. He has a brotherly relationship with Dilovar, marked by occasional heated disputes and good-natured joking. However, he either finds Dilovar's flamboyant, playful, and joking suggestions and antics that are directed towards him to be arousing or unsettling. Initially, he clashed with Tyra, perceiving her as overly confident, showy, and disturbingly cold. Despite this, he maintained a level of respect for her, largely driven by his disgust at the idea of mistreating a woman. He was also aware of her reputation for being merciless and aggressively aloof towards those who crossed her, so he made a conscious effort not to push her boundaries. His true motivation for initiating a short-lived rivalry with Tyra was rooted in jealousy, wanting to surpass her fearlessness in combat and wilderness survival.

As they opened up and formed a platonic bond that blossomed into romance, he became increasingly protective of Tyra, often going out of his way to help her, even when she was capable of handling things on her own. His gratitude for her unwavering support, combined with his admiration of her stunning physical beauty and military prowess, fueled his growing devotion and deepened his strong romantic feelings for her. He’s incredibly affectionate towards Tyra, frequently showering her with physical affection and well-meaning compliments. He often hugs her tightly, rubs his face against hers, and showers her with love through various types of kisses, ranging from a gentle peck on the cheek to a passionate French kiss. He's quick to listen and back down when she verbally tells him to or shoots him a sharp, serious glare. He sometimes gets into heated arguments with Tyra over things they disagree on or when he does something foolish. However, he occasionally doesn't bother to fight back because he finds her intimidating when she's really angry. Instead, he’ll often give her some space after they're done arguing.

He’s a utilitarian who believes that people should not dwell on the consequences of their actions because the results only occur in the future. Instead, he thinks they should focus on happiness, which is the only intrinsic value that matters in determining our goodness or wickedness in life. He believes that actions causing unhappiness are wrong and that everyone's happiness deserves equal consideration when making decisions. He advocates for the right to self-defence, even when it may result in harm to others, particularly when faced with a genuine and immediate threat. Furthermore, he believes that proportionate defensive measures are justified against entities that violate the principle of non-aggression and pose a threat to others. He believes that the cycle of life and death are interconnected and that if one were to suddenly vanish or become overpowered, the equilibrium of the universe would collapse in on itself.

Backstory: Walter Evangelos Mulryan was born on February 14, 2011 in Rockhampton, Australia. His mother, Chloe Mulryan, whom he refers to as Mama, was once a mercenary for the Regular Army before retiring to start a family, and later became a geologist and avid adventurer. He has a Portuguese stepfather, Valério Medeiros, a construction manager who was a former member of the Serapion Fellowship who defected due to their morally reprehensible beliefs and practices, including brainwashing and human exploitation. He has two half-sisters: Lúcia Medeiros, his older half-sister and a fashion designer, and Betânia Medeiros, his younger half-sister and a dermatologist. He has a maternal aunt, whom he affectionately calls Auntie, who would often babysit him and read him books about nature and Australian history. He has a distant cousin on his father's side, Roberto, whom he first met at a family gathering in Portugal.

He often describes Mama as "one wild lady" and cherished their adventure-filled times together. However, she had a tendency to baby him excessively and shower him with disproportionate attention. When Mama was away, he would spend hours with his half-sisters, Lúcia and Betânia. They would dress him up in pretty dresses, apply makeup, and share their aspirations with him. Lúcia would tell Walter stories about her crushes, school dramas, and lessons from her courses. He felt uneasy being around his stepfather, who treated him and his half-sisters with a stern, militaristic demeanour. Valério was disproportionately strict with him, largely because he was the product of an extramarital affair. He describes Auntie as similar to Fio in terms of her demeanour, but she leans more towards conspiracy theories, and she's notably more aggressive and confrontational when defending her loved ones.

He was once extremely shy and heavily reliant on Mama, which frustrated his stepfather, who did his best to encourage self-reliance. However, his efforts were often in vain, as Walter would frequently ignore his encouragement, instead isolating himself in his room for hours until dinner or spending most of his time outdoors. When Walter turned 3, his stepfather's frustration sometimes boiled over into physical punishment or verbal belittling. This traumatic treatment left him fearful of speaking up, causing him to become mute. During this period, he learned sign language and discovered a natural musical gift, exhibiting talent in playing the guitar and keyboard, and emerging as a budding prodigy. Despite being shy, he struggled with anger issues, lashing out at his peers during playground and school interactions, frequently getting into fights and physically intimidating others, which landed him in frequent trouble.

At a New Year's Eve party, Walter, who had been mute for nine years, surprisingly spoke up, asking where Mama was, marking a turning point in his journey toward self-confidence and self-reliance. The entire family was stunned, having lost hope that he would ever regain his voice. However, Valério remained skeptical, attributing his mutism to attention-seeking behaviour and a lack of courage to assert his independence. This action would earn his stepfather a sliver of respect and pride, despite viewing Walter as an unwanted burden and a stain on his marriage to Chloe. Shortly after this moment, he would receive a diary as a gift from his Mama.

He endured school bullying for being different, struggling with self-reliance, and having interests that didn't align with traditional masculinity. He tried to focus on his studies and ignore the bullying, but the constant harassment often proved too much, leading him to lash out verbally or physically in self-defence on multiple occasions. A schoolyard scuffle would lead him to inadvertently discovering his imperfect clone abilities in secondary school. During an altercation, a girl kicked him in the groin, causing him to double over in pain. As he did, his hidden skin flaps and fleshy tendrils were exposed. In that moment, he unintentionally crushed the girl who had hurt him to death, which left him visibly shaken. After that, people saw him as a freak of nature and were terrified, including his small group of friends, who went out of their way to avoid him at all costs.

He would eventually learn from his Mama that he’s an imperfect clone of his Greek father, conceived through in vitro fertilisation using his father's sperm and bioengineered DNA. He was a scientist for the Amadeus Syndicate and one of Doctor Amadeus’ top researchers. However, he attempted to steal sensitive documents detailing unethical experiments and cloning technology, and mysteriously disappeared before Walter was born. Walter was supposed to have a twin brother, but his brother tragically died in the womb. It made him realise that this revelation seemingly contributed to Valério’s animosity toward him and the fear others harboured for him.

Over the next few years, Walter developed white knight syndrome due to repeated abandonment by friends, unsuccessful pursuit of romantic love and exploitation by partners he tried to help. Feeling inhuman and unimportant, exacerbated by his stepfather's emotional unavailability and mother's increasing absence, further eroded his self-worth. Additionally, bullying for his physical appearance and societal beauty standards led to body dysmorphia, culminating in anorexia nervosa. The cumulative stress, exacerbated by his stepfather's neglect and stringent expectations, coupled with the recent traumatic loss of his Auntie in a car accident, triggered symptoms consistent with paranoid schizophrenia, although no official diagnosis has been made. Amidst this turmoil, he found solace in playing the guitar and keyboard, singing, nature documentaries, and the support of his two half-sisters.

By the time he was in grade 11, he dropped out of high school during a difficult period of depression in the winter. Struggling to find direction in life, he experienced a crisis that led him to consider harming himself. One night, while contemplating jumping off the Neville Hewitt Bridge, a group of passersby noticed him and intervened, offering support and persuading him to reconsider. These delinquents would take Walter in, understanding his struggles and making him feel accepted, giving him hope of finding purpose in life.

From that point on, he became involved in crime, committing illicit activities such as car break-ins, vandalism, credit card fraud, and physical altercations. He also began to express his individuality through tattoos and piercings. Additionally, he developed an interest in self-defence, studying Krav Maga, and physical fitness, practicing callisthenics. He and his newfound friends started a hip-hop alternative rock band with Walter as the lead singer, which slowly grew in popularity. During a wild party at a friend's house, he developed a barbiturate addiction, had a reckless encounter with a prostitute, and received his first bong: a neon-coloured, floral-patterned one that he still treasures. Walter eventually abandoned his rock band due to his struggles with a barbiturate addiction, overwhelming fan expectations, and unwanted attention. Fans, particularly young girls who found him attractive, male peers jealous of his talent, and harsh critics, added to the pressure.

After a near-fatal drug overdose and being sent to juvenile detention for the third time, Walter's stepfather intervened, urging him to turn his life around or face homelessness. With support from Lúcia, Betânia and his Mama, Walter entered drug rehabilitation and overcame his barbiturate addiction. While caring for the household, seeking employment, and being homeschooled by his Mama and Lúcia, Walter discovered an online recruitment ad for the Peregrine Falcons Squad at age 18. Seeing this as his calling, he volunteered without hesitation, promising his mother he'd stay in touch via phone on a weekly basis.

After earning decent grades on the written tests, he enlisted in the P.F. Squad, joined by five former delinquent friends—Ivanhoe, Maximilian, Brody, Rylan, and Uriah—who sought a renewed sense of purpose and the opportunity to protect others. However, his reputation as an imperfect clone, combined with his ill temper and harsh treatment of those he disliked or distrusted, made it challenging for others to approach or trust him. His temper was notoriously volatile, frequently leading to cafeteria fights, where he and his friends would overpower their fellow cadets who dared to provoke him. On rare occasions, these altercations nearly turned fatal. As a result, his former drill instructor, known for being exceptionally strict, isolated him and his friends from the rest of the group and placed them into the "misfit batch”, alongside Dilovar and Tyra.

During training, he befriended Dilovar after a lively conversation about their shared enthusiasm for military service, bonding over beers and a weed break. He struggled to trust Tyra due to her overconfidence and aloof demeanour, which sparked jealousy when he witnessed her fearlessness during training exercises. This led to a rivalry between them, with both striving to outdo the other in the intense training courses. Their competitions frequently ended with either Tyra emerging victorious or a tie, but these encounters gradually fostered a strong friendship and deep mutual respect. Despite this, his time in the P.F. Squad helped him hone his skills in paradummy tactics and better control his imperfect clone abilities. Through their rigorous training programs, he discovered a community of trustworthy peers, developed self-confidence in his physical prowess and mental resilience, and became more laid-back and open to forming lasting, loyal relationships.

Initially hesitant to participate in the final P.F. Squad training program, he harboured a nagging feeling that something would go terribly wrong. However, with Dilovar's reassuring words of encouragement and Tyra's playful teasing about being a coward, he pushed aside his doubts and joined the others in the final training course. After being dropped off at a remote South Pacific archipelago by boat, Walter reunited with his friends from Australia and teamed up with Tyra. Together, they ventured deep into the jungle, discovering a clearing with a nearby freshwater stream, where they constructed makeshift shelters centred around a communal campfire.

While searching for Tyra, who had vanished during a hunting expedition, he stumbled upon a suspicious blood trail. It led him to an encampment of Rebel Army cadets, where he found Tyra and aided her in defending herself against them. Later that day, he stumbled upon the lifeless bodies of Ivanhoe, Maximilian, Brody, Rylan, and Uriah beside the stream, victims of a deadly ambush by Rebel Infantrymen and cadets who had seized their weaponry and equipment. The trauma of losing the people who had first welcomed him triggered a debilitating mental breakdown. Fortunately, Tyra was by his side during this incident, and her kindness and support deepened his affection for her, revealing a warmer side of her that captivated him.

He didn’t hesitate to charge forward, driven to uncover his true worth while exacting vengeance on the Rebel Army for their past transgressions. As Tyra searched for a radio tower, Walter focused on finding Formor and stumbled upon an abandoned building in a destroyed site, surrounded by discarded military vehicles and a functional SV-001. Inside, he saw Amadeus Syndicate scientists collecting body parts from the mutilated corpses of Rebel bodyguards and P.F. Squad cadets, but Walter swiftly retreated before they detected him. Later, while navigating a village of South Pacific P’isqu Runakuna huts, he encountered and battled a couple of frenzied creatures resembling mantis and simian monsters. To his dismay, they turned out to be transformed fellow cadets and Intelligence Agency agent hostages.

During his journey, he fell into a trap set by Allen O'Neil, who had disguised himself as one of his drill instructors. Allen O'Neil had deliberately misled him, ordering him to press onward under the pretense of stopping the Rebel threat. He was swiftly captured by the P’isqu Runakuna ("bird people" in Quechua), who planned to sacrifice him to Itzamná. This was after Allen O'Neil had brainwashed them into believing Walter was a worthy candidate to appease their god. In the altar room, the P’isqu Runakuna meticulously prepared their sacrificial ritual. They fed and cleaned Walter before securing him to a stake placed before an ancient statue of Itzamná. Then, they carefully positioned poison-spewing maggots on his body, which would later leave him with a lasting fear of larvae. Just as the sacrifice was about to begin, Dilovar and Hyakutaro peacefully intervened, rescuing Walter and joining forces with the natives to combat the Rebel Army.

During a chase to confront Logan, who was piloting Karn and leading his platoon, Walter was attacked by a flamethrower soldier, severely burning his right arm. The pain distracted him, and he was quickly overwhelmed by a group of six Rebel Infantrymen, including the flamethrower soldier, who viciously taunted him for not keeping a close eye on Tyra and mocked him for being a poor excuse for a soldier. A shielded soldier, wielding a machete, brutally attacked Walter, chopping off his right arm and causing him to scream in agony. This alerted Allen Jr., who rushed to his rescue and slaughtered all the soldiers pinning Walter down before they could inflict any further torture. With Allen Jr.'s assistance and encouragement, he was forced to temporarily retreat and receive urgent medical assistance from Rumi. Consumed by rage and a desire for vengeance, Walter fatally shot Logan with a Shotgun after he attempted to escape the destroyed Karn, avenging Tyra's kidnapping and harm.

Shortly after the Survival Island Occupation, he graduated with the highest honours alongside Tyra and Dilovar. He then joined Division 6 after Hyakutaro extended an invitation to him, and he rose to the rank of Sergeant Major. Later, Tarma built him a cybernetic prosthetic, which he greatly appreciates. During a mission to thwart a pirate raid on a cargo ship carrying valuable Regular Army military weapons and biotech, he unexpectedly reunited with Roberto, whom he thought he'd never see again.

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