Malik Bruder

Malik Bruder on the covers of each book

"*They don't know the real Malik. They don't see how he treats me when nobody's looking. Like the time I skateboarded into the truck from the Plastics Works. (...) Malik cares about me, and that's more than I can say about a lot of the people who warn me against him.*"
—Hector Amani's description of Malik, *Masterminds*

**Malik Bruder** is cloned from notorious gangster Gus Alabaster as a result of Project Osiris, a social experiment designed by scientist Felix Hammerstrom and internet billionaire Tamara Dunleavy. He was born and raised by Ellen and Henry Bruder for about fourteen years in Serenity, New Mexico, a small yet perfect town that served as the location where Project Osiris was carried out.

Malik later escaped from Serenity along with Eli Frieden, Tori Pritel, Amber Laska and Hector Amani in *Masterminds.* After the end of Osiris, Malik was adopted by Tamara Dunleavy and went to live with her and the ten other Osiris subjects in Dunleavy's mansion.

## Biography

A sample of DNA was taken from gangster Gus Alabaster by Felix Hammerstrom, who used it to clone him for Project Osiris. The result was placed inside Ellen Bruder, his host mother, and Malik Bruder was born in the fabricated community of Serenity, New Mexico around 2002. There, he was raised by Ellen and Henry Bruder becoming best friends with Hector Amani.

At six years old, Malik and Hector were each given a big electric car to play with. Once, when Hector was grounded by his father, Malik let him come over to his house to watch the TV. Malik often had Hector do his homework for him.

### *Masterminds*

#### Hanging out with Hector Amani

Upon learning that Randy Hardaway was being sent out of town, Malik teased his miserable looks and insisted that the outside world would be better than Serenity, as Malik dreamt of moving to New York City in the future. He also took about four cookies from the teacher's basket at school, three more than expected.

One day, Hector was given a skateboard and rode it clumsily towards Malik, who took him to steep Fellowship Hill for a challenge. However, while speeding down, a traffic cone truck emerged from the Plastics Works, blocking Hector's way, and Malik tackled him to safety as his friend was too afraid to jump. Malik then took him to his father's doctor's office, although Hector insisted that he was fine.

#### Sneaking into the Plastics Works

During an electrical storm, Eli Frieden was taken ill a second time, and Malik was concerned after hearing about it from his father. When he heard that Eli had received a letter from Randy earlier, Malik was dubious about it and still attempted to defend his father after Hector questioned Eli's illness. He also mocked Tori Pritel for being the most worried about Eli, but stopped after Amber Laska stomped on his foot. Soon after, the kids learned that Eli was never sick, but that Felix Hammerstrom and Henry Bruder had attempted to wipe his memory of a letter from Randy. At lunch, Malik discussed with Eli and Tori, sharing their suspicions about the town.

When Eli, Tori and Malik went to investigate the Plastics Works, Malik reached for the door, but was stopped by Tori, who noticed it was wired for an alarm. After the Surety passed by, he spotted Hector, who had followed them. Malik was furious and lunged at him, not wanting him to know what they were planning. Malik was also angry at Eli for almost getting them caught, but he had been looking at the Serenity internet and figured out that it was being tampered it.

Later, while attempting to take photos of the factory using a camera attached to a kite, they were almost caught by Dr. Bruder. That night, they examined the photos, and Malik realized there would be roof access into the factory.

The Bruders' kitchen faucet broke the night they broke into the factory, so Malik went to fetch Hector and Peter Amani, the plumber. They managed to sneak out, and it was Malik's job to toss a rope up to the roof of the Plastics Works for them to climb. After climbing, Malik volunteered to stay on the roof while the others went through the air ducts.

Each day after that, they discussed their observations with each other, and Malik saw the photos the others had taken. When researching Osiris, a word that had frequently come up in the factory, Eli found an article about the project itself, realizing it was referring to them and that they were clones of criminal masterminds. Because of this, Hector came up with the idea to escape Serenity. Although he was uncertain at first, Malik agreed after looking towards Hector for courage.

#### Escaping Serenity

When he heard from Tori that her parents had been discussing sending him away, Malik was freaked out and even more determined to leave. At night, they biked off and were followed by Amber, who had discovered their intentions. However, they suddenly fell ill after reaching the border and were rescued by Mrs. Delaney, who helped them return home after Malik threatened her not to tell anyone. Later, Malik discovered the satellite dish on a traffic cone truck, which was part of how they had been affected by the invisible barrier around Serenity.

Eli and Malik taught themselves to drive with a video game, preparing their escape. They left the park during the Serenity Day fireworks, Eli and Malik attempting to destroy the satellite dish and Hector, Tori and Amber soon joining them. However, Malik didn't spot the Surety approaching in time and was caught by Alexander the Grape before being saved by Eli. As he continued destroying the dish, Malik guided Eli into driving the plastic cone truck. As they reached the barrier, they became ill again, but Eli accelerated the truck into the barrier before they jumped.

Malik met up with the others before realizing that they hadn't seen Hector jump. Believing him to dead, Malik cried, insulting his friend's cowardice through tears. After walking south for a long time, they stumbled upon train tracks and leapt onto a boxcar, where they were finally able to rest and hydrate with the Gatorade Malik had found. When the train stopped in a rail yard, the kids headed to McNally Academy in a taxi, where they met Randy in his dormitory.

### *Criminal Destiny*

#### In Colorado

Randy taught Malik and Eli how to play poker using food as stakes, which had been taken by his roommate, Kevin, and another kid. After being delayed by the flag falling outside, Eli and Malik met up with Tori Pritel and Amber Laska. While eating, they discussed their plans and what they’d heard, quickly hiding when a teacher approached.

They soon learned that the Surety had arrived at McNally Academy, so the clones exited the building. Malik headbutted Secret Agent Man and knocked him over, but got caught in a headlock before escaping in the Surety's SUV with the others. They parked in a Park-n-Ride, then boarded a bus to Denver. Malik was excited by the busy bus depot and stood his ground after being hit by a briefcase.

The kids entered Bites and Bytes, a café where they researched cloning and ate. Amber reported Project Osiris to a police officer and was driven away, as he found her to be crazy. After failing to follow her, Eli researched the Denver Police Department, which Tori entered, and they met Amber in a bathroom in the Medical Arts Center.

They escaped out the window and boarded a tree service truck, although at first Malik refused due to his fear of bugs. After they barely escaped the wood chipper the truck was headed for, they spotted and snuck into an unoccupied house to stay the night. However, they woke up to the Campanellas (the family that owned the house they were in) returning. Eli drove to the bus station in the Campanellas' Jeep, and Malik led him to a dirty neighborhood where they abandoned the car before boarding a bus to Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

#### Meeting Tamara Dunleavy

After arriving in Jackson, the clones found a motel to stay in. Eli researched Tamara Dunleavy, the billionaire whom they planned to question, as she had once been part of Project Osiris. They found her outside the Jackson Convention Center and asked Tamara about Project Osiris, but she feigned ignorance and left.

Tori then noticed that they each had a bump beneath their necks, which Amber realized to be the computer chip that affected them past the Serenity border. After injuring herself to remove it, she extracted the chips from Malik, Eli and Tori as well.

Eli spotted Tamara Dunleavy’s driver going through their things and chased him, only for Amber to knock him out. They took his keys and boarded Tamara’s Bentley, realizing the driver had snuck them five hundred dollars. As they needed proof of Project Osiris, they decided to return to the Serenity Plastics Works.

#### Returning to Serenity

The kids stopped at a McDonald's, which Malik loved. After several teenagers intended to trash the Bentley, Malik got into a fistfight with them and won. Eli drove to New Mexico and Malik broke into a Taos pool truck, which they took to Serenity. However, the town was deserted when they arrived.

The kids entered the Plastics Works, but all evidence of Project Osiris had been burnt down except for a sheet of paper, found after an argument where Malik destroyed the vase it was in. From there, they learned the names of most of the criminals the Osiris subjects were cloned from, and Malik found out that he had been cloned from gangster Gus Alabaster, although he wasn't upset about it.

#### Breaking out C. J. Rackoff

Malik, Eli, Amber and Tori decided to head toward the Kefauver Federal Detention Facility to meet C. J. Rackoff, Hector Amani's DNA donor, almost getting caught at a gas station for being alone. They were guided to the prison by a man at a 7-Eleven and snuck into the Tumbleweed Inn for the night.

Early in the morning, Eli and Tori spotted somebody outside and woke Amber and Malik, who barely stopped Eli from attacking the intruder. He realized that it was Hector, whom they had previously believed to be dead, and Malik gave him a crushing hug. They learned Hector's story and headed to meet Rackoff, who asked them to break him out of jail in return for his help in proving Project Osiris's existence.

When driving back to the motel from a store, Tori told Malik to investigate the Bearclaw diner, which they could use with their plan. In the morning, he, Eli, and Amber headed back to steal the uniform of George, a postal worker. After Malik threatened and wrestled him, Eli knocked him out. Malik put on George's uniform and took his truck, driving past the gates of the prison without being caught.

Rackoff hid among the mailbags heading out, but just after they escaped, the Surety came. Malik then learned that Rackoff and Hector had been working against them and became furious at his friend. To escape the Surety, Amber and Malik leapt onto a wooden skid and rushed down the river, losing track of Eli and Tori.

### *Payback*

#### Visiting Gus Alabaster

Malik was knocked into the water by a branch and was saved by Amber Laska before they both swum ashore. He pushed Amber off a tree onto the roof of a camper and then jumped himself so they could get away. When they dismounted, Malik spotted a newspaper stating that Gus Alabaster, the gangster he was cloned from, had been released from prison, so he and Amber took a train to Chicago to meet the criminal and get a lead on Project Osiris. They got his address in the police station and headed to Ramsey Road, where they found Alabaster's home.

After introducing himself as Alabaster's son Bryan Jackson, Malik was taken to Alabaster himself, although Alabaster only believed his story when his dog, Counselor, showed affection towards Malik. Alabaster then insisted for him and Amber to move in with him. Malik enjoyed the luxury that Alabaster's mansion brought, and often had conversations with the gangster.

Malik also enjoyed doing errands for Alabaster's gang and was paid generously for his efforts. After he came back from picking up Amber from volunteer work at the New Hope Soup Kitchen, Torque revealed that he had overheard their conversation about Osiris and blackmailed Malik, who eventually came to dislike doing errands. At one shop, he offered a man extra money to help him before being picked up by Torque, who brought news that Alabaster had taken a bad turn. Malik refused to go without bringing along Amber, who had just gotten in trouble at the soup kitchen.
They headed to Alabaster's bed, where Malik finally told him the truth about Project Osiris and who he was before Alabaster passed. However, Malik and Amber were instantly guided away by the policemen and taken to a private airport. There, they met Tamara Dunleavy and reunited with Eli Frieden and Tori Pritel.

#### At the Dunleavy home

The four kids then learned of Tamara and Project Osiris's history. Tamara offered them a place to stay with her, and they were flown back to Jackson Hole. Not long later, Eli realized that the other clones were situated in Poseidon Resort and Water Park, having found a news article online.

Tamara agreed to send a pair of investigators to Poseidon, and they came back with photos of the remaining Osiris subjects and other Serenity residents. However, Tamara refused to let the kids take matters into their own hands. Because of this, Malik, Eli, Tori, and Amber planned to sneak out and rescue them, although Malik was frustrated and only agreed to come when everybody else did.

#### Heading to Poseidon

At night, they snuck out of the house, with Malik driving the others in Tamara's Bentley. They entered the airport but were nearly spotted by Gavin, who worked for Tamara and blocked their way. The clones went back and saw Boss Hawg's, a biker bar, the motorcycles of which they could use for transportation. Despite Malik being afraid of falling off, he showed Eli how to start a motorcycle.

They arrived at the Driggs-Reed Memorial Airport and Eli persuaded Pete Shanahan to fly to West Cay, Bahamas. However, they landed in Florida instead after Tamara revoked their clearance to land. The kids took a taxi to a marina, and Tori tried to help hot-wire a boat, but a fisherman spotted them. However, Malik knocked him out with a metal toolbox and Eli drove the boat to the water park.

#### Rescuing the other clones

They stopped at a beach and were soon spotted by a guard. However, he didn’t stop them, and Tori stole swimwear for them to use. Malik was the first to spot Robbie Miers, who became the first clone they told of Project Osiris, although they were only able to persuade him with the help of Hector Amani, who was also at Poseidon. However, Malik was ready to fight Hector for betraying them earlier and didn't trust him. They then spoke to Ben Stastny and Freddie Cinta.

Margaret Rauha and Penelope Sonas soon followed, and the kids headed towards the boat before being detained by Mrs. Laska. After escaping, they found the boat had sunk (something which Malik blamed on Hector), and they ran to the beach instead. Shortly after recruiting Aldwin Wo, C. J. Rackoff and two Surety members stopped them, but Malik was defiant. Amber knocked out the Surety and Malik knocked out Rackoff by headbutting his jaw before they ran into the hotel.

There, they met Felix Hammerstrom, who pointed a pistol at Eli and pulled the trigger just as Hector tackled and jarred his arm. As a result, the bullet shattered the lobby's fish tank and a manta ray fell, which crushed and killed Hammerstrom. Malik was spoken to by Henry Bruder, who told him that Project Osiris was over. Malik then locked Hector in a bear hug for saving Eli's life.

When Tamara arrived, she took the eleven clones home on her private jet and forgave them for their actions, but although the project had ended, they had to pretend it never happened. Back at Tamara's house, Malik and Amber argued about what Alabaster's last words to him had been, and figured out that they were "You're a gift." The four kids then ended up in a group hug.

#### After Project Osiris

In September, Malik attended Jackson Hole High School as a freshman. He became part of the JV football program, which he loved. After so many years in Serenity, Malik and the others were eager to learn more about the outside world and were content with their life in Jackson Hole.

## Personality and traits

Malik Bruder can be very abrasive and a bully, but he shows affection to the people he really cares about by expressing concern when they are in danger. However, when doing so, he still channels his emotions through anger, such as when he insulted Hector through tears while believing his friend was dead, and raged while agreeing on coming to Poseidon to protect his friends. He has a quick temper and often yells at people.

Malik can also be lazy, as he made Hector complete his homework and chores instead of doing them himself, but was also said to be a perfectionist and intelligent. Malik is skilled in a fight, which was shown when he single-handedly fought off several teenagers after they trashed Tamara's Bentley.

The things he misses most about Serenity is the delicious food and baked goods that his surrogate mother, Ellen Bruder, cooked and baked. He also hates vegetables. Malik has many phobias, such as claustrophobia (fear of tight spaces), entomophobia (fear of bugs), and acrophobia (fear of heights).

## Physical description

Malik is the biggest out of the kids that lived in Serenity. He is strong and tall, with short blond hair. On the covers of the books, Malik is seen wearing a t-shirt and jeans.

## Relationships

### Family members

"*For nearly fourteen years, this person lied to me and pretended to be my* father*! And when I think about my* mother*—*"
—Malik Bruder, *Payback*

#### Ellen Bruder

Ellen Bruder, his surrogate mother, was known for her delicious cooking and was said to be the comptroller of the Plastics Works. They were constantly nagging and yelling while together, yet cared a lot about each other and were said to be closer than close. Malik stated that she would be the most annoying even out of a city with millions of mothers, but still accepted her tight embrace. According to Hector, the two of them were codependent.

#### Henry Bruder

Henry Bruder, Malik's surrogate father, was the only doctor in the town of Serenity. He is goofy and often tells corny jokes to his patients. After the end of Project Osiris, Dr. Bruder attempted to reassure him in a gentle voice, but it wasn't enough for Malik to forgive him for his actions.

#### Gus Alabaster

Gus Alabaster was a notorious gangster that was arrested and sent to prison in 2001. He was also Malik's DNA donor because of Project Osiris.

Malik first met Alabaster in his Chicago mansion in *Payback*, determined to prove that Project Osiris is real. For most of the time, Alabaster believed that Malik is his son and calls him by his fake name—Bryan Jackson. Malik looks exactly like a younger version of the gangster, given that they have the same DNA.

Minutes away from death, Malik finally told Alabaster the truth about who he is, and was devastated when Alabaster finally died. His last words to Malik were "You're a gift."

### Friends

#### Hector Amani

Hector Amani is Malik's best friend. Malik loves driving him crazy and made Hector do all his chores and homework while in Serenity. However, Hector looks up to him and believes that Malik is caring and intelligent. Malik calls Hector "Shrimp", as Hector is the smallest and skinniest Osiris clone.

Malik was concerned when Hector hurt himself skateboarding down the hill, dragging him to his father despite Hector insisting he was fine. He also grieved when his friend was presumed dead at the end of *Masterminds*. Later, when he saw Hector again, Malik began to cry of happiness and hugged him twice.

He was enraged when Hector sold them out to the Surety in *Criminal Destiny*, and in *Payback*, it was apparent that Malik no longer trusted him. However, after Hector saved Eli from being killed by Felix Hammerstrom, Malik angrily scolded him for nearly getting himself killed, but eventually gave Hector a big hug.

#### Amber Laska

*(Main article: Amik (Amber x Malik))*

"*Oh, that Laska. When it comes to fun, she's kind of like Kryptonite.*"
—Malik Bruder, *Masterminds*

Malik calls Amber "Laska" instead of her first name. However, he does care about her, which is shown more in the later books. It was confirmed by Gordon Korman that he and Amber were dating by the end of *Payback*. At the beginning in *Masterminds,* they tended to have a rocky relationship. In *Payback,* Malik pretended that him and Amber were boyfriend and girlfriend while visiting Gus Alabaster's mansion, and they began dating before the end of the final book.

## Audiobook

* Portrayed by Mike Rylander in the entire Masterminds audiobook series.
* According to AudioFile Magazine, *"Mike Rylander also shines in the difficult task of voicing Malik, the angry, cynical teen who will earn listeners’ grudging admiration."*

## Trivia

* Malik is the third protagonist in each book.
* Confirmed to be 13, and 14 at the end of *Payback.*
* He loves Tater Tots and Bentleys.
* Bruder is German for "brother".
* In the German translation, Malik's name was changed to Malik Fratello, which also means "brother", but in Italian instead.
* Gordon Korman has stated several times that his favorite character in the series is Malik Bruder, due to his very human nature.