Maladek was the Obsidian Order codename of an operative who was a former student at the Bamarren Institute for State Intelligence, where his designation was One Ramaklan. At the Institute, he was the leader of a third-level group who were defeated by One Charaban's forces in the institute's mock battle competition. They had agreed to end the competition in a stalemate to share the glory but Charaban betrayed him. This defeat tainted him as he left the institute with his reputation tarnished.