- "Dad... he would swap in this stone during the ceremonies and feel for the notch to make sure he never drew it from the bag."
"He would never do that."
"But he did. It's all right here, Gideon. Dad was afraid to be the Traveler. He was a coward... and a cheater. Everything he said to us was a lie." - ―Nathaniel and Gideon Malick[src]
Nathaniel Malick was a member of the HYDRA faction that worshiped the Inhuman Hive and the brother of Gideon Malick. When their father died, Nathaniel was betrayed by his brother and selected as a sacrifice to Hive.
Biography
Learning the Truth
Death of Malick Father
Nathaniel grew up alongside his brother Gideon with their father, a loyal member of HYDRA who taught them to worship an ancient Inhuman known as Hive who was exiled to a planet called Maveth thousands of years ago. In 1970, Malick the elder passed away and Nathaniel and Gideon were ordered to visit an old HYDRA officer Daniel Whitehall at the Rat prison.
Upon arrival, Whitehall addressed the Malick brothers, telling them that because they're of age, it was time for them to choose their path in HYDRA, and heavily suggested following his own scientific path, insulting their family's rituals, calling it an archaic blood sacrifice. Nathaniel remained silent as Gideon passionately defended their beliefs. Whitehall then insinuated that their father cheated to survived all past sacrificial ceremonies and instructed the boys to check a book called Paradise Lost in their father's study.
Nathaniel makes a vow with his brother
Deciding to take Whitehall's advice, Nathaniel found a notched white stone inside, which confirmed that their father was a coward who cheated to avoid being the Traveler, and informed Gideon. Gideon decided to throw the stone to the lake and promised each other they would be together to the end.[1]
Becoming a Sacrifice
Nathaniel during his first ceremony
- "I thought we had a deal. I thought..."
- ―Nathaniel Malick[src]
During their first ceremony as young adults, Gideon handed the bag of stones around to the members of HYDRA to select the sacrifice to Hive. When they opened their hands Nathaniel received the white stone and looked to his brother in horror, noting that they had a deal which Gideon had betrayed. However the ceremony was finished and Nathaniel was taken to the Monolith and sacrificed while Gideon did nothing to save him.
Upon arriving on Maveth, the planet on the other side of the portal, Nathaniel was intercepted by Hive who took him as a host, absorbing his memories including Gideon's betrayal. In 2016, Hive returned to Earth.[1] A few months after his return, Hive fell into a trap that forced him to recall random memories from random hosts, including Nathaniel.[2]
Relationship
Family
- Father †
- Sister-in-Law †
- Gideon Malick † - Brother
- Stephanie Malick † - Niece
Allies
Enemies
- Hive † - Killer and Controller
