Marco Mendoza

**Marco Mendoza**, along with Hugo Wandschneider and Luckystar, is one of the three primary protagonists of the Flux Destiny series. He's a teenage Escape Artist with a unique power: "Animate," a unique form of karmastry that allows him to draw objects that come to life using karma that he channels through his golden hoop earrings, imbuing them with his own artistic flair.

## Biography

### Early Life

Marco was born on October 7, 1974, in Orion City, Fortuna.

## Appearance

Marco is a tall young man with green eyes, tanned skin, and shaggy auburn hair that reaches his chin. He sometimes ties back his hair into a short ponytail.

At 5' 9", Marco's lean and fit but not particularly muscular. But his striking green eyes are his most marked characteristic. He's got piercings in both ears that he uses to hang his toruses that are fashioned as golden earrings.

## Personality

Marco is a mixed bag of emotions who takes himself very seriously. After all—he's certain that one day *he* will be the President of Fortuna and it's Dreamer-in-Chief in charge of the country's entire destiny.

He hates being told what to do and can come across as brusque and abrasive, especially to those he doesn't respect. He doesn't suffer fools lightly.

He hates wasting time. Every minute lost is a lost opportunity for achieving his destiny. This attitude often gets in the way of opportunities for lasting relationships. This means that if he like you—he *really likes you.*

Marco can be a troublemaker. His biting sense of humor is often spot on. He loves to poke at other characters to cause drama, especially to elevate his own ego. This means Marco can dish it, but he can't take it. When the joke is on him and his own ego is threatened, he becomes reserved and uninterested. When pushed, he lashes out, turning the humor that would be funny in good times into weapons of insult.

He's also temperamental. When something threatens his order of the universe, he becomes visibly hostile and downright unhelpful in ways that defies reason. It's in instances where Marco's perception of self is threatened that he will come uncharacteristically unglued.

But on the other hand, Marco is deeply loyal to those he loves and respects. He's very protective of those closest to him and willing to do whatever it takes to ensure their safety and happiness.

## Relationships

### Hugo Wandschneider

Hugo is Marco's former best friend.

Marco's bond with Hugo plays a super important role in his life. To Marco, Hugo is like the little bro he's always wanted (having grown up in a house full of girls), someone he can guide and help out. He's enjoyed experienced life's twists and turns with Hugo, encouraging him to reach for his dreams. Whenever Hugo needs someone to chat with about his problems, Marco's got his back.

Even though Marco and Hugo are tight, they still face some challenges in their relationship. Sometimes, Marco's ego can get in the way, causing a clash with Hugo's own sense of who he is. Marco can be pretty bossy and opinionated, and he might brush off Hugo's thoughts or feelings if they don't match his own. This can lead to some friction between the two, especially when Hugo feels like he's not being heard or taken seriously.

Prior to the events of the next book, neither Marco nor Hugo could have predicted the major event that would soon shake the very foundation of their bond. Before the next chapter in their story began, a surprising turn of events unfolded that caused their rock-solid friendship to fracture. The unexpected incident left both of them questioning their trust in each other and struggling to come to terms with the new reality of their relationship. This life-altering moment not only challenged their ability to navigate their differences, but also forced them to confront the limits of their loyalty and understanding.

### Luckystar

In the Fortuna's Rings continuity, Luckystar is Marco's designated Clockbot assistant.

## Skills

### Karmastry

Marco is an Escape Artist with the power to use "Animate," a unique form of karmastry that allows him to draw objects that come to life using karma that he channels through his golden hoop earrings, imbuing them with his own artistic flair.

Marco’s golden hoop earrings store different polarities of karma: the right earring stores positive karma, while the left earring stores negative karma. By tapping into the power of his earrings, he can unleash devastating attacks or perform remarkable feats of karmastry. Marco can also combine his powers with other Escape Artists to perform remarkable feats, such as creating complex and advanced machines or tools. But, these powers come with the risk of payback, ranging from minor inconveniences to dangerous and potentially deadly consequences.

### Combat Karmastry

* **Practical Use: Karma Sketch** - Marco can siphon positive karma from his earrings and channel it into his hand, allowing him to draw small, simple objects in the air or on surfaces. These objects are non-living and have limited functionality, such as a key, a small hammer, or a grappling hook. Marco must have a clear mental image of the object he wishes to create and the object must be small and relatively simple. For example, he could sketch a key, but it would only work if it was an exact replica of the key that fits the lock. These objects last for about 30 seconds before evaporating and can be erased with negative karma. The payback risk for this ability is very low, and when it does occur, it's usually just an inconvenience. However, these inconveniences can become problematic if he is in combat. Marco's Karma Sketch ability is incredibly useful for a variety of situations. For example, he could sketch a key to open a locked door or create a grappling hook to climb up to a high ledge. However, his ability is limited to small, simple objects and cannot be used to create complex devices like cars or computers. To accomplish this, Marco can combine his karmastry with Hugo's Automate karmastry, allowing them to create more complex and advanced machines or tools.

* **Locomotion: Glider** - Marco can draw a paper plane glider made from karma that's large enough for one person to ride. He can use his karmastry to control the glider's movements and make it fly in any direction he desires. The glider can travel at a speed of up to 50 miles per hour and can cover a distance of at least 100 feet before it evaporates. The glider can also be used as a shield against attacks, as it can absorb and deflect incoming projectiles. However, the glider has a limited lifespan of about 30 seconds, after which it dissolves into thin air. The payback for using this technique is low to moderate, depending on how heavily it's used in combat.

* **Basic Defense: Sketch Shield** - Marco can siphon positive karma and use it to draw a small, temporary shield in the air or on a surface that can block small amounts of physical attacks. The shield lasts no more than 5-10 seconds, and can be erased with negative karma or shattered by a powerful enough attack. This technique is helpful when Marco is in a pinch and needs a quick defense against an opponent's attack.

* **Basic Payback Resistance: Rabbit Distraction** - When using karmastry, there is always a risk of attracting payback, which can be dangerous and potentially deadly. To avoid being targeted by payback, Marco can summon phantom rabbits using his karmastry to distract the Great Machine's "immune system." He can summon up to three rabbits at a time, or combine them into a larger one. Each rabbit lasts for about 10 seconds before disappearing. While the rabbits can be helpful in avoiding payback, they don't provide any actual defense against physical attacks. Instead, they serve as a distraction, giving Marco a few extra seconds to dodge or counter his opponent's attack.

* **Basic Combat:**
	+ **Paintball** - Marco can toss or shoot balls of paint made from positively or negatively-charged karma that can have differing effects. For example, positive karma paintballs can temporarily blind an opponent by covering their face. Negatively-charged karmic paintballs could be destructive and corrosive—inflicting injury or damage. The karmic paint lasts for about 30 seconds before evaporating. The karmic paint from the paintballs lasts for about 30 seconds before evaporating, leaving no trace of its existence. In addition to their combat applications, Marco can also use the paintballs for creative purposes such as marking paths or creating works of art. Overall, the Paintball basic attack is a versatile and flexible tool in Marco's arsenal that allows him to both defend and attack, depending on the situation. The payback for this attack is low to moderate, with the possibility of karmic backlash if used recklessly or excessively.
	+ **Brush Off** - This is Marco's signature move that he uses in combat situations. He can flick his wrist or snap his fingers, sending out a wave of either positive or negative karma that can cause a variety of effects. Positive karma can be used to heal, protect, or even enhance the abilities of allies, while negative karma can be used to inflict pain, slow down, or weaken enemies. Marco can also use his Brush Off to clear obstacles or debris out of his way, and create distractions for enemies. The payback risk for this technique is moderate, as it can draw unwanted attention and disrupt the natural balance of the Great Machine, but it's usually manageable in small amounts.

## Trivia

* Sometimes Marco wears two pins in his hair that are crossed like an X.
* The characters of Marco and Hugo were created on the exact same day, but Marco was given his own in-world birth date.