Mark Vorkosigan

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Mark Pierre Vorkosigan is a character in Lois McMaster Bujold's sci-fi Series, the Vorkosigan Saga.

Taken from its original location as a sidebar to Miles Vorkosigan

Lord Mark Vorkosigan is Miles's clone-brother, five years removed. He was created in a plot by Ser Galen, a Komarran terrorist, to replace Miles and assassinate Miles' father Aral and Emperor Gregor Vorbarra, claim the Imperial Throne and foment chaos and revolution. Miles, under the heavy influence of his mother's Betan upbringing, refused to kill Mark or even hinder him, and only desired he come to Barrayar as a true Vorkosigan. Mark, after he killed Ser Galen (who had become both his tormentor and father-figure) refused, and went his own way. (Brothers in Arms)

However, after a few years, Mark resurfaced and infiltrated the Dendarii Mercenaries by posing as Admiral Miles Naismith, to send them on a mission to liberate more than 40 clones who were scheduled for body harvesting. The scheme was only semi-successful, as the clones were rescued, but Miles was killed by a needle grenade. While Miles' body was missing and in stasis in cryogenic freeze, Mark was returned to Barrayar, uncomfortably as Count Vorkosigan's heir if Miles died. Mark was able to convince Countess Vorkosigan to allow him to mount a rescue mission - to Illyan's dismay - for Miles. Mark was captured by Baron Ryoval, who subjected him to physical, sexual and mental torture, during which Mark developed an unusual psychosis that he later dubbed "The Black Gang", a group of specialist sub-personalities: Grunt (Mark's sexuality), Gorge (Mark's gluttony), Howl (Mark's masochism), and Killer (Mark's assassin personality). Using his split personality, he was able to kill the Baron, and sell 90% of his assets to the Baron's rival, Fell. Mark received a healthy cut of Ryoval's estate and a bioresearch firm that Mark subsidized to combat the "clone chop shops" of Jackson's Whole. He also attracted the attentions of Kareen Koudelka, the youngest daughter of Count and Countess Vorkosigan's closest family friends. (Mirror Dance)

To distinguish himself from Miles, Mark allowed himself to get grotesquely overweight. Contrary to Miles, Mark is deadly in unarmed combat, having been trained as an assassin, and having developed masochist tendencies. When he is relatively underweight, he has been described as "a small tank". His romance with Kareen deepened while they were both studying at Beta Colony. Unfortunately, his relationship became strained upon their return to Barrayar when Kareen's parents learned of their sexual relationship at Miles' famously disastrous dinner party. Countess Vorkosigan ultimately stepped in and brokered an arrangement for them. During this time, Mark invested in a business deal with the galactic scientist Enrique Borgos, who had createded a new insect livestock he called "Butter Bugs". Initially grotesque, if highly functional, Ekaterin's design changes made the newly renamed "Glorious Bugs" highly popular. (A Civil Campaign).

Mark's legal status changes depending on which set of laws is applied. There is no Barrayaran tradition or law regarding clones, but as several characters observe during the Saga, "anything done twice on Barrayar is a tradition". Mark is pushed out into Vor society as Miles' brother and, at first, potential heir to the title of Count Vorkosigan. Other Vor may challenge this, if they dare. Under the laws of Beta Colony, the birthplace of Cordelia Naismith, Mark could be Cordelia's son, Miles's son, or the son of Ser Galen, depending on how the circumstances of his creation were interpreted. Mark regards himself as a native of Jackson's Whole, where there is no law of any kind other than the "Golden Rule", as in "He who has the gold makes the rules."