Dear readers, tonight we print an interview from far-future Earth, part of the Candrassian Order’s on-boarding of a rather uncooperative new field agent. One whom they hope to employ to locate a missing person whose abilities may prove pivotal to the survival of the Order – and, indeed, of humanity in general.

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[[Security Interview_9373_Transcript_Partial]]

>>>Recovered interview content commences from this point, initial moments having been lost due to an equipment malfunction>>

Brother Lucient: …this blasted thing still working? I think so. The little red light’s on…

Fenris: Your recording device is made from inferior materials. It lacks robustness.

Brother Lucient: Well, perhaps if you hadn’t pounded it so hard, Ms Fenris…

Fenris: Just ‘Fenris’. And your line of enquiry displeased me.

Brother Lucient: Yes, well. Onboarding protocols are the same for everyone who wants to work with the Order, you know. So, if we could just start again, please.

Fenris: Hmph. Very well.

Brother Lucient: Now,I appreciate that some of these questions are personal, but that’s the point. I know you’ve worked with Mister Griffin before, but your profile isn’t on the system. So if he wants funding for this ‘mission’ of his…

Fenris: We are wasting time. Proceed.

Brother Lucient: So very kind of you. Now, tell me a little about where you’re from, if you please…

Fenris: Griffin and Sphinx found me in adult form, in DeepSleep, in the prehistoric asteroid facility where I was presumably manufactured. My initial socialisation DevPhase lasted three months, under their supervision. After that point, my growth stage was concluded.

Brother Lucient: …er, thank you. Um, I’m supposed to ask you about your family now…

Fenris: My core social unit consisted of myself, Sphinx and Griffin. Sphinx I’ve seen once this last decade. I’ve communicated with Griffin concerning occasional assignments. But they have been infrequent. Aside from that I have been left to operate independently.

Brother Lucient: And securing this ‘Sphinx’ person is the focus of your proposed mission, I believe?

Fenris: Indeed. His location is in the process of being confirmed. Once it has been, I am to retrieve him immediately. Griffin believes that Sphinx is required to resolve a matter of extreme urgency.

Brother Lucient: Hah! You could say that. Rumours of some form of apocalypse have begun to circulate, if you’d credit it. It all seems rather unlikely, to be honest. Griffin’s long past his prime. But in any case – next question, please: what is your current occupation?

Fenris: My time is currently devoted to a programme of genetics research, focused on fertility enhancement. In pursuit of this, I conduct applied experiments.

Brother Lucient: At the City University, perhaps?

Fenris: No. I work in a private laboratory. My work requires robust security protocols.

Brother Lucient: I’m sure it does. So, these ‘occasional assignments’ from Griffin that you referred to a moment ago. Did they involve your research?

Fenris: No.

Brother Lucient: Could you be so helpful as to provide more details?

Fenris: If I must. I usually act for Griffin as a freelance coercion specialist, in a range of operational contexts. Most involve physical violence of some sort as an underlying factor. Sometimes to protect an asset of the Order’s, but more often Griffin requires me to remove an obstacle to the achievement of whatever his objective may be.

Continue reading “Fenris (of Under a Crooked Star, by D. Whiston)” →