Edward 'Ned' Malone (David Orth) is an American reporter. His career started when he became a newspaper boy where he eventually moved on to becoming a copyboy. He then went to work as a war correspondent where he learned to travel by hot air balloon.
In London, he loves a woman called Gladys who doesn't love him back as she thinks he isn't 'man' enough being that he's never done anything she deems as courageous in her eyes. In order to impress her and gain her love, he volunteers for the
Challenger expedition.Once they are stranded on the plateau, he meets
Veronica Layton and is instantly smitten. Their attraction for each other is quite obvious although neither of them are quite sure how to progress their relationship further as they are both pretty naïve in the ways of love.Malone himself, was a virgin until he met a woman called Kaya who infected him with a parasite then needed to procreate in order to ensure the creature would continue to survive. He obliged, which didn't go down well with Veronica and their closeness faltered somewhat.
When the explorer's had a chance to leave the plateau, Malone decided to stay with Veronica, declaring his feelings with actions rather than words.
By nature, he's not a courageous man. The fear of being labelled a coward is often the thing that propels him into action even though he's terrified. Little does he realise that that's what makes him a hero.
During a recent adventure, he 'died' and ended up in a different dimension to the others. They eventually got him back but he'd changed. He now looks for danger, deciding to live each day to it's fullest, but it's made him reckless.
His friendship with
Lord John Roxton is becoming something akin to brothers and he recently confided in him that although he cares deeply for Veronica, they are basically best friends as he thinks she is looking for a man more like Roxton - a man of action. Roxton laughs and tells him not to underestimate himself which pretty much sums Malone up - he has absolutely no idea of his true worth.As to the other members of their group, he thinks of Challenger as a great scientist and good friend.
Marguerite Krux he likes, but finds very exasperating at times.After reliving past events that he'd blocked out of the war, he left the safety of the treehouse and his friends in the middle of the night to roam the plateau alone in order to 'find himself'. His friends hope that he finds what he's searching for and that he returns to them all very soon.
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