Goldberg

> “
> “You don't get this far in life by being 'charitable' to every man and woman who begs at your feet. Take initiative, and grow the fuck up; when I'm gone, no one will be able to protect you.”
>
>
> — *Goldberg, to his protégé Joseph Pearson*
>
>
>

### Aliases

Goldberg
Kreggy Kingpin of Hyperion

## Biographical information

### Education

Hathorian National University, Archangel — Doctorate in Astrobiological Chemistry

## Mental attributes

### Moral alignment

Neutral Evil

**Robert Firestone Russell**, also known by his pseudonym **Goldberg** and also the **Kreggy Kingpin of Hyperion,** is a powerful drug dealer and producer on the aforementioned world. In control of the eponymous Goldberg Syndicate, Robert has risen to dominate several sectors of the narcotics industry of Hyperion, utilizing his veteran experience as the Deputy Director of the Department of Biochemistry Initiatives within the VISTA Biotechnologies corporation as a means to exemplify his illegal products. He is currently one of the most wanted men on Hyperion for his role in the black market and drug industry, and is being personally hunted down by VISTA's parent company, the Stapleford Group, due to his knowledge of their top secret projects.

Based in the Domed District of the Atlantis Underwater Megasprawl of Hyperion, Robert has consolidated his assets and subsequently compartmentalized them to allow fast transport and relocation in the event of compromisation of his narcotic production facilities. He recognize how many want his head, and as a result, not many are privy to his true identity or his real-time location. However, Robert has been training an accomplice by the name of Joseph Pearson, previously a lab assistant at VISTA Biotechnologies, in his drug production efforts.

## History

### Background information

Robert Firestone Russell, now known as "Goldberg", was born into a family of accomplished scientists on the world of Hyperion, with both of his parents holding Ph.D.s in biochemistry. They had met at the University of Hyperion's campus in Imperial Straits on the continent of Destino, and married not long after graduating at similar times.

Growing up, he was fascinated by the intricate workings of biological and chemical systems as a result of his parents' work, and spent much of his childhood experimenting with chemicals and organisms in his home laboratory. Gaining a scholarship to attend the Hathorian National University, he went to HNU's campus on the world of Archangel to pursue his undergraduate degree in general biochemistry. Robert went on to earn a Ph.D. researching astrobiological chemistry.

He quickly rose through the ranks of the scientific community, publishing groundbreaking research and securing numerous patents for his innovative discoveries, including the interfacing of alien neurotransmitter analogues to human neurons without nanomachinery.

He joined VISTA Biotechnologies, the most powerful subsidiary of the Stapleford Group megacorporation, as its Deputy Director of Biochemistry.

However, Robert's world was turned upside down when orders were passed down to develop a viral bioweapon that could selectively target and kill humans with a specific genotype. Horrified by the potential implications of this weapon, Robert destroyed all of the corporation's materials and data related to the project, and fled.

Stapleford executives found out what Robert had done and retaliated by by framing him for a crime he did not commit, leaving him with the blame of killing his entire family after they would not give up Robert's location. Robert was left alone, filled with rage and utterly consumed by a desire for revenge. He vowed to reap his rage against the corporation and use his own accrued expertise to fight back.

To do so, Robert donned a new persona, Goldberg, and shed all of his property and past identity to become a walking ghost. He used his knowledge of astrobiological chemistry to create a new narcotic that could make him powerful and wealthy enough to wage war against the corporation. Goldberg ultimately created "Kregourium", or kreggy, with its alien precursors sourced from the distant colony world of Kregouria. Creating a euphoric high and making most users dependent on his products, Goldberg used the profits he made from his illicit operations to assemble wealth and a network of loyal followers as a means to start to undermining the Stapleford's operations on Hyperion.

He was ruthless in his dealings with other drug lords, and soon became known as a powerful and feared figure in the criminal world, with his influence spreading throughout the criminal underworld until his alias ultimately became the "Kreggy Kingpin".

Years went by, and Goldberg's empire continued to grow. He became a wealthy man and had a loyal following of associates who were willing to do anything for him. However, Goldberg knew that he could never rest until he had accomplished his mission of destroying as much of Stapleford as he could. He continued to work tirelessly, using his connections and resources to gather information about Stapleford's operations and weaknesses while preparing his eventual attacks. His thirst for revenge remains as strong as ever.

However, he also knows that his methods are immoral, and he struggles to reconcile his actions with his former self. He remains a complex character who is driven by a desire for justice, but who has also been consumed by his own dark ambitions.