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Description
William Baker was an almost painful case of misplaced ambition. He grew up with a fairly average, drama free family, yet he felt drawn towards the streets from a young age. He looked up at the mean, powerful gangsters and decided to climb the ranks of the criminal underworld, starting up as a low level thug and taking up the alias of Flint Marko, a cooler, more unique name than the average, boring William Baker.

Flint was, never the less, short sighted, impulsive and not too bright, so he never seemed to get much further in the criminal underworld, his reputation amounting to that of a crueler than average neighborhoof bully. The last straw came when his two partners in crime, Randy Robertson and Mark Allan, were captured and sent to juvie, whilst Flint left them behing to save his own hide. Once Randy came out, he decided to make a better life for himself, and wanted nothing to do with Flint anymore.

Flint was at a low point. His criminal career was going nowhere, he had made himself an enemy of several fellow thugs, he drove away his only allies, and he didn't have enough intelligence or drive to try and make something else out of himself. His salvation came when he overheard some idle conversations at Josie's Bar. Apparently, there was this guy, calling himself "The Master Planner", who was offering any goon, hood and thug a chance at getting amazing powers. It was said that all you needed was to get a good enough physical exam and you were good to go. Flint barged into the conversation, demanding to know more about this "Master Planner".

As it turns out, the "Planner" had a lair hidden underneath the bay. By using a hidden elevator at an abandoned shack, Flint found himself at a dark, eerie laboratory, a voice through the speakers giving him instructions. After passing the necesary physical tests, Flint was taken to a chamber occupied only by what looked like a souped up tanning bed. He was told to enter, and he obliged. Once inside, he was overwhelmed by an inmense heat, which only got worse and worse. He could feel his body melting, or rather, breaking apart! His limbs, torso and finally, his head tore down into tiny, sand like particles.

The MP looked on a the result of his experiment, more dismayed at the aparent failure than the loss of the youth's life. The experiment was meant to grant the subject an exoskeleton of sorts, far more advanced than that of the Rhino's, which would allow him to command the ground itself. He was about to ask his assistants to clean up and look for another subject, when the mound of grains that used to be Flint Marko began to move. The MP looked completely still, as the grains took the form, shape and color of Flint Marko.

Somehow, Flint was now able to swith from his human form to that of a shapeshifting sand creature. Although he was distressed at first, Flint's demeanor changed as he began to test his newfound abilities. His first test was robbing a gas station. It would have been easy, if not for the interfierence of Spider-man. He was defeated, but managed to get away, free to keep on pushing his limits and finally being able to give Spider-man one of the most difficult fights of his first year.

Of course, Flint's still a near sighted fool, and in time he was captured and put away in an experimental cell at The Raft. He didn't care though. He finally was getting the reputation he always wanted. If he did so in such a sort amount of time, just think what he could acomplish once he was out. William Baker was gone and now, so was Flint Marko. In no time, The Sandman would be back to terrorize Manhattan.

As for the Master Planner, he was fascinated. Even in failure he brought in success. If he managed to create a sort of Sand Elemental, maybe he could replicate it. A water wraith, or a man with fiery powers. The sky was the limit. As for the Sandman, he could very well be a useful ally in the not too distant future...

Description
William Baker was an almost painful case of misplaced ambition. He grew up with a fairly average, drama free family, yet he felt drawn towards the streets from a young age. He looked up at the mean, powerful gangsters and decided to climb the ranks of the criminal underworld, starting up as a low level thug and taking up the alias of Flint Marko, a cooler, more unique name than the average, boring William Baker.

Flint was, never the less, short sighted, impulsive and not too bright, so he never seemed to get much further in the criminal underworld, his reputation amounting to that of a crueler than average neighborhoof bully. The last straw came when his two partners in crime, Randy Robertson and Mark Allan, were captured and sent to juvie, whilst Flint left them behing to save his own hide. Once Randy came out, he decided to make a better life for himself, and wanted nothing to do with Flint anymore.

Flint was at a low point. His criminal career was going nowhere, he had made himself an enemy of several fellow thugs, he drove away his only allies, and he didn't have enough intelligence or drive to try and make something else out of himself. His salvation came when he overheard some idle conversations at Josie's Bar. Apparently, there was this guy, calling himself "The Master Planner", who was offering any goon, hood and thug a chance at getting amazing powers. It was said that all you needed was to get a good enough physical exam and you were good to go. Flint barged into the conversation, demanding to know more about this "Master Planner".

As it turns out, the "Planner" had a lair hidden underneath the bay. By using a hidden elevator at an abandoned shack, Flint found himself at a dark, eerie laboratory, a voice through the speakers giving him instructions. After passing the necesary physical tests, Flint was taken to a chamber occupied only by what looked like a souped up tanning bed. He was told to enter, and he obliged. Once inside, he was overwhelmed by an inmense heat, which only got worse and worse. He could feel his body melting, or rather, breaking apart! His limbs, torso and finally, his head tore down into tiny, sand like particles.

The MP looked on a the result of his experiment, more dismayed at the aparent failure than the loss of the youth's life. The experiment was meant to grant the subject an exoskeleton of sorts, far more advanced than that of the Rhino's, which would allow him to command the ground itself. He was about to ask his assistants to clean up and look for another subject, when the mound of grains that used to be Flint Marko began to move. The MP looked completely still, as the grains took the form, shape and color of Flint Marko.

Somehow, Flint was now able to swith from his human form to that of a shapeshifting sand creature. Although he was distressed at first, Flint's demeanor changed as he began to test his newfound abilities. His first test was robbing a gas station. It would have been easy, if not for the interfierence of Spider-man. He was defeated, but managed to get away, free to keep on pushing his limits and finally being able to give Spider-man one of the most difficult fights of his first year.

Of course, Flint's still a near sighted fool, and in time he was captured and put away in an experimental cell at The Raft. He didn't care though. He finally was getting the reputation he always wanted. If he did so in such a sort amount of time, just think what he could acomplish once he was out. William Baker was gone and now, so was Flint Marko. In no time, The Sandman would be back to terrorize Manhattan.

As for the Master Planner, he was fascinated. Even in failure he brought in success. If he managed to create a sort of Sand Elemental, maybe he could replicate it. A water wraith, or a man with fiery powers. The sky was the limit. As for the Sandman, he could very well be a useful ally in the not too distant future...