Cornelius Hardt
Cornelius grew up in the Slum district in what is now known as Saturnet Works. He smuggled things through the different checkpoints, by building light harnesses out of the different industrial junk and other materials he had access to through his waste disposal and repurposing job. Bringing things into the slums raised his status, and soon he was the head of a group of similar scavengers. One of those who joined him was a boy named Rion Burr who he took under his wing. As time passed though the once alert and well trained group grew complacent, and little Rion’s ego grew as he did. Cornelius was blinded to this between his soft spot for the now young man, and his obsession with a data pad Rion had brought him on one of his riskier thefts. With this pad Cornelius found a description of Stack City a haven for those oppressed by the Corps.
Only Rion was as excited as his foster father and leader while the rest were ambivalent. With the need for supplies, and his already careless attitude it was only a matter of time until tragedy struck. Rion was caught after he had taken a sleeping guards laser pistol, and had gone back to try and put a rotten banana in it’s place. After he was captured he was taken to the slums and beaten publicly. Though with the rest of the gang helping with a cunning distraction during the night Rion was rescued Cornelius had to fight a guard and his description was known. He still had to do his job though or the Corps would be suspicious, and he wouldn’t be able to coordinate the scavengers, or cover their tracks.
The following month was one of the hardest the slum felt as the elderly were often taken, and not seen again, and many were questioned and tortured when they didn’t talk. One day Cornelius was brought in for questioning. The process was quick and less painful than Cornelius had anticipated. He was fired, but allowed to return to his home, supposedly because his removal from the community would be too detrimental to worker morale. Seeing this for the trap it was Cornelius quickly returned to the slum, but not the safe house in the sewers or even his own home. Finally after a week he thought it was safe, after this he rarely left the sewers unless absolutely necessary.
Enduring this treatment after Cornelius was fired was too much and those left in the slum pleaded for Cornelius to help plan the escape. Since Rion was mostly healed, and Cornelius found himself bored sitting in the sewers he agreed. at this point Cornelius let him assist in the planning and digging of an escape tunnel with the rest of the slum. Through grueling work and many willing to do anything they could as life was no longer guaranteed for anyone, the supplies were gathered, and the tunnel dug in only 8 months. Though a few had been lost escape was in sight and another plan was had. Groups would leave that night after work let out. Each gang member would lead a group through the desert to the supposed location of Stack City. After a heated argument it was decided Rion would lead the first group and Cornelius the last. Once all the unused supplies and any references to stack city were gathered in the middle of the tunnel the first group set out each leaving in 30 minute intervals. Once his group was the only one left Cornelius led them through the tunnel. He went back in once they were through and burned the papers and supplies as best he could, taking one last look at the tunnel as he left before pulling the supports keeping the sand from collapsing the tunnel. Having covered their tracks he moved into the desert with his group.
The journey was long, and his small group wasn’t used to going through the harsh desert. By traveling mainly at night and using their tarps and other coverings during the day or finding what natural covering they could though they managed to avoid the worst of the weather. Finally tired, feeling the bite of hunger and thirst they made it to Stack City. Though it was far from the paradise they had hoped for it was free from the Corps, and for Cornelius he was happy enough to not be hunted and be reunited with Rion and his friends. Though happy to be together Cornelius saw the all too familiar lack of supplies in Stack city and took it upon himself and his scavengers to go on runs for water, hunt, and forage for food as they could. Cornelius took this too far often refusing food, or going on hunts during the day when he should have been resting. This caught up with Cornelius at the worst time. Visitors from off world had come to Stack city, though they were peaceful their presence was noted by the corps and this gave them the excuse to rid themselves of the burdensome Stack City. Though the attack was defeated with the combined efforts of those in the town, and the experienced adventurers, the fight was not without casualties and wounded. Cornelius already in a sorry state from pushing himself for so long was among the wounded. Though he didn’t want to leave Rion again, he wasn’t in any position to fight, and with Rion’s assent as his son he was sedated and taken aboard.
Cornelius awoke in the hospital, where he would remain for a time. As soon as he was released to a refugee camp and given a compad, he looked for information about his home. Eventually he came upon an intelligence report that had been declassified. Though structurally intact the settlement known as stack town was completely devoid of life. He reread this small section of the report for ten minutes before falling to his knees and sobbing loudly.
He felt heavy almost pressed to the floor not moving, or doing much of anything for a long time, only thinking how he had failed his son, and the others who had trusted him to lead them to safety. Why couldn’t Rion have gone on the ship instead of him? Maybe if he had been there he could have done something, if he only hadn’t pushed himself so hard or had been more careful during the fight. Thoughts like this consumed him for a time and he felt alone, avoiding the few other refugees he recognized as he avoided the feeling of remembering better times. He had never felt this lonely or useless before always having people around him and something to work for, even the mind numbing work of sorting trash seemed better than this. He poured himself into his compad for a time still not ready to interact with people. His thirst for knowledge was still there and he concentrated on it to get through everything else. Losing himself in the history of the colony, the UNW, and those figures that emerged around it. Normal people that rose to the occasion, and formed something beyond themselves. He learned about the scream to which he had mostly been unaware of living in Stack City at the time, but wondered why his old data slab had suddenly stopped working, and the few escaped psychic residents died violently.
Dwelling back on what he read he couldn’t shake the thought he could be doing more, at least stop feeling sorry for himself locked in his small room. He took this chance to go out and try to introduce himself to the other refugees, and offer his help. It was tough going at first since he was fighting the stigma of being the grouchy old shut in who never left his house. With a little pressing, and bribery he was able to get some to open up to him about small problems in the camp. Though he couldn’t do much to fix them just having a sympathetic ear to vent seemed to improve the disposition of most. Feeling better after re engaging society Cornelius started to wear his armor again telling the happier stories of his past to those he met becoming more kind if eccentric grandpa than scary old recluse. One day Cornelius was brought into the hospital. After a final check-up he was released to the city proper, and given keys to a new living quarters. Finally able to leave the refugee camp Cornelius said his goodbyes before collecting his things and leaving. Though he had his old scrap plate armor, trusty laser pistol, and makeshift knife he thought if he was to be a true adventurer he would need more gear, and a suitable mission. Finally feeling purpose again Cornelius went into Prime to find his fortune.
Cornelius landed on Gudrun and began working almost right away to begin finding his lost contacts from home while also working to make a name for himself among the newborn United Nations of Worlds. He quickly founded a biker gang known as the "Sons of Corn" which had custom jackets made. Corn had a way of accidentally rubbing elbows with the powerful and leaving a charming impression, despite having little political sway of his own.
experienced

Children
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