Tobor Genn
Tobor is very much a reluctant member of the Aleph Corporation’s management. Loathed and reviled by most of his contemporaries, he has no affection for them, and no real loyalty, either.
As a member of the human sub-species Homo gratia, Tobor has a body adapted to low gravity and, as a result, is extraordinarily tall next to a standard human, reaching nearly nine feet tall in height. However, in order to operate in standard human gravity, he has to wear an exoskeleton to provide enough support.
But it is not his status as Homo gratia that earned him a position, but rather his telepathic abilities. As such skills are very much in demand by the intelligence division of the Aleph Corporation, he was recruited and given a generous stipend.
As he went through training, he discovered an aptitude for espionage and intelligence beyond what his talents offered, and quickly rose through the ranks. Though many loathe him, he has had the patronage of Alita Mellak, who appreciates his abilities and wisdom, and this has assisted him in reaching the upper echelons of intelligence.
But he is not really invested in the corporation. He participates for two main reasons. Firstly, the money is extremely good, and job opportunities for Homo gratia outside of their own communities are sparse. Secondly, it offers him the opportunity to provide some protection for his homeworld, and his family.
Tobor is a devoted husband and father, and it is for them he works for the corporation. His plan is to work for a few more years to build up a fund, and then return to his home world. He feels no obligation to the corporation or Alita Mellak.
But even among his own kind, he is reviled. The standard humans despise Homo gratia, and both Homo sapien and Homo gratia despise telepaths, so he does feel as though he is hated by most people. It is only the love of his family that keeps him motivated.
And he needs that motivation when dealing with the likes of Marcus Bezalian and most of the impulsive executives who run the corporation. It frustrates him how frequently the leadership pursue a path of action with little thought or reason.
Then there are the enemies he has at every level. Marcus Bezalian does not trust him, or any Homo gratia, and would never have allowed him to progress this far if it hadn’t been for Alita Mellak, and then there is his immediate subordinate, an ambitious man with a knack for interrogation, a serial killer with an official license.
Tobor works for a corporation that despises him for two separate reasons, but it allows him to secure at least some considerations for Homo gratia citizens, and it allows him to provide for his family. But there is only so long he can tolerate the venal world he moves around in.
Acknowledgements
Full figure illustration created by SBSIllustration.
Portrait character concept design by Alex Latham.