Mark Alvarez

Mark Alvarez was a time traveller from 2059 AD. He was a tall, solidly built man with hard, dark eyes.

He and his partner Lou Muller made a living by clandestinely retrieving lost books from the past while avoiding any trail that the Time Patrol might pick up. Alvarez had the connections to get access to a timer and he provided the muscle if there was trouble with the locals.

During one trip to 160 AD and the Roman Empire, Muller picked up a rumour that someone in the town of Vesunna in Aquitaine had a copy of Sophokles' Aleadai. They followed up and meet with Clodius Eprius privately in his villa. He agreed to sell it for seventy-five aurei but first wish to have a copy made since it was a family heirloom. This was unacceptable since it would leave a trail that the Time Patrol might pick up. Alvarez attempted to steal the scroll instead but Eprius resisted, striking him a hard blow with his stout walking stick. While Eprius turned his attention to Muller, Alvarez recovered, drew a revolver and shot Eprius dead.

Muller was horrified but Alvarez said that, with the way Eprius was shouting, he had no choice. As they left the villa with the scroll, he reminded Muller that they had researched Eprius and that his death would not leave any downtime clues. Muller then objected that a bullet would be clue enough. Alvarez replied that the local yokels wouldn't understand it and would call it the wrath of the gods and forget about it. All they had to do was sit tight for three weeks for their timer to recharge and then they would be rich.

Muller acquiesce but then realized that they left the purse of gold aurei behind. Alvarez told him to relax, it had only cost them thirty credits and that it would only confuse the issue for the locals. They arrived at their inn prepared to wait it out.