The Gravedigger

**The Gravedigger** is one of the most prominent members of the Red Planet Riders.

*Information is accurate as of Chapter 13.*

## Biography

### Early life

The Gravedigger was born on Earth, and got degrees in biotech and medicine. He would migrate to Mars and develop a friendship with Nathaniel Musset - the two of them would regularly meet in a bar in Eos. However, the Gravedigger had no memories of his degrees or of Earth, it being explained away as a head injury. Living on Mars, he felt as though he had escaped hell and arrived in utopia.

He would later meet Julian's father, who convinced him that they had been friends on Earth, and that a memory override was the real reason why he had no memories of Earth. Julian's father hooked up the Gravedigger to an apparatus, which restored his true memories of Earth and his degrees and knowledge. The only thing that didn't come back was his real name, but he was fine with that.

According to Syms in Chapter 11, it was actually Nathaniel Musset who restored the Gravedigger's memories using Phantasm Flies, but because the story around Julian's father came from the Gravedigger himself, it is more likely that that is true.

Likely as a result of his memories returning, bringing with it the truth that Earth was really a utopia for the rich and powerful instead of a dying, decaying world, the Gravedigger would betray Musset by stealing the memories he valued most, namely of his son and daughter Tobias and Wren. He would then go into hiding, laying low. About three years before the events of the novel, he would come to live in Kratone and work as a gravedigger due to the previous undertaker passing away (and ironically needing a burial). Upon his arrival everyone asked for his name, to which he'd reply, 'Just call me the Gravedigger'.

During this time he would secretly be working to build up the Red Planet Riders, including getting information and money from the Keystone in order to carry out operations and perform autopsies on Phantasm Flies in order to turn them into cameras.

It is revealed at the end of Chapter 13 that the Gravedigger has a neural-link implant inside his head that allows him to communicate with the flies, like the one Francis has, however his also allows communication with the Keystone.

### Tobias's kidnapping (Chapters 1-2)

On the day of the Arrival Day festival which welcomes new migrants from Earth, the Red Planet Riders, led by the Gravedigger, swarm the festivities on their motorcycles, the Gravedigger himself taking Tobias away.

### Red Planet Rider Introduction (Chapters 3 and 6)

After bringing Tobias to the Red Planet Riders' base, the Gravedigger explains to him that the Musset Company is forcing the people into the dirty work of making Mars nice and comfortable. He also explains that the Phantasm Flies can wipe and alter memories.

### The Red Dust Ball (Chapters 8-9)

The Gravedigger attends the Red Dust Ball with Tobias and Julian, which they came to in order to get Wren out of danger. The lights all go out, and they escape on motorcycles to a Rider hideout. The Gravedigger allows the twins to talk in private in the basement, however Syms arrives and takes Wren away, leaving just Tobias.

### The Keystone (Chapters 10-11)

After he, Tobias and Julian return to the Red Planet Riders' base, the Gravedigger decides to impart more information to Tobias, in particular about how they have been doing autopsies on the Phantasm Flies and that they get information and money from an informant who calls themselves the Keystone. Using said information, they can reprogram the flies into cameras that they can use to spy on their enemies. He also mentions that Francis, one of their three apprentices that they have in the field, has a neural-link implant surgically embedded that enables him to receive and transmit information from the flies.

Tobias and Julian are later watching the footage from one of the flies in the field, which is watching Syms and Wren at the Outcrop as Syms reveals to Wren that she and Tobias are Nathaniel Musset's daughter and son. Tobias, having known this from his slowly-returning memories but never believing them, marches angrily to the Gravedigger. The Gravedigger says he kidnapped Tobias to use as leverage against Musset, and tells him Musset will be burning Mars to the ground looking for him, so he should run to draw them away, and uses Wren's life as leverage against Tobias in order to get him to do so.

### Chanterelle Colony (Chapters 12-13)

The Gravedigger watches Tobias's every move from then on using more flies to spy on him. He sees him discover Chanterelle Colony, bring Wren and Syms there, and also watches them discover the recorded message. At that moment the Gravedigger receives a message from the Keystone in the neural-link implant in his head, stating that Project Anarchy remains on schedule on all fronts.

## Quotes

"Business is business, and I'm in the death business. I'm an evil man, until you're in need of me."