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The Protagonist Speaks

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Cyberpunk

Deborah (of Twin Rivers, by Jeremy Bender)

Dear readers, tonight with us is the antagonist from a city ruled by the Lord of Mercy, an AI god. She is here to speak about the political and moral schisms arising after the robotic Brothers complete all labor and humans are left to enjoy the fruits of this Eden.

Tell us a little about where you grew up. What was it like there?

I grew up among the Ascended, in the Keeper District. My father and his sister were both Keepers, serving with pride as the sword of the High Priest and enforcer of the the Lord of Mercy’s will until they reached 50. But they still had enough fight in them to serve for another fifty more years, if they would have been given the chance.

Their service brought us right to the base of the Hill of the Holy. It was a blessed spot. Our robot Brothers kept everything tidy, marble polished, streets clean and clear. We didn’t have to worry about the Rejectionist scum down at the base of the city, huddled against the walls like the rats they are. No, we were in the good spot, lifted up by the Lord in honor of our sacrifices.

I loved seeing my aunt and father come home, their Sentinels gleaming at the bases of their skulls and their chainmail rattling. And the stories they’d tell about being the outstretched sword of the Lord preserving everything that kept our Paradise safe. I knew, always knew, that I would never be satisfied until I became a Keeper, got my own Sentinel to communicate with the Lord, and have the chance to carry out his justice on those scum who dared marred the beauty of his works.

What do you do now?

Well, I went and made my family proud, didn’t I? I’m one of the youngest to ever become an Azure within the Keepers. Meaning, I help oversee an entire district, including a section of Founder’s Square. There’s a lot of traffic there, and that brings a lot of the rats up to the surface. You know the type: Ascenionists thinking they can modify their own bodies without permission to try to earn Unity with the Lord of Mercy on their own terms. Even the occasional Rejectionist, going wild with their implants against everything we hold dear in the city and spitting on our living faith.

But I keep order and the Orthodoxy. I won’t let their sin and debasement rise up. I won’t let another district rot away like Epoch has. No, I serve the Lord of Mercy, I do what needs to be done, and I fucking love every second of it.

What did you first think when you saw Father Yonatan trying to protect an Ascenionist?

Oh, you mean when the Priest tried to stop the reaping? Weak. That’s what I thought of him then, and that’s what I think of him now. He’s a weak man—physically, spiritually, morally—and I would love to see him defrocked.

Can you believe it? He saw Rejectionist scum eating themselves. He saw our biggest problem in this city taking care of itself, and he intervened. And not only did he intervene, but he did so so poorly that he almost got himself killed. It’s pathetic. He is a representative of the Lord of Mercy, and he is pissing away the legitimacy of our Holiest of Holies for what? Some Rejectionist bitch that would cast aside everything worth saving in this city for another pretty implant of her own.

Continue reading “Deborah (of Twin Rivers, by Jeremy Bender)” →
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Tam Haworth (of Dancing in the Purple Rain, by Judy L Mohr)

Dear readers, tonight we print a confession note from an antagonist. They’ll present quite a different view on the telepath they tried to guard, in world ravaged by pandemics and poisoned by acid rain, where experimental pharmaceuticals are used to genetically engineer the population to adapt to the toxic atmosphere.

If you are reading this, then things have gone horribly wrong. I tried my best to keep Michaella safe, watching over her ever since she was a child. But destiny has a lot to answer for, and my cover will soon be blown. When that happens… Well… The ones in control will try to wipe the memory that I ever existed from her mind. And if they are unable to wipe those memories, no doubt they will turn me into the antagonist of Michaella’s story.

Before it is too late, I need to set the record straight.

My name is Tam Haworth, and for the past twenty years, I have been Michaella’s psychiatrist. For the past ten years, I have been her handler, for the lack of a better term. It was my responsibility to ensure that Michaella was never able to fully control her abilities. I knew, just like the Pregutor knew, that if she gained full control over all of her faculties, there would be no stopping her. However, we needed her to help us keep what little control we have over the others like her.

Some of them are… shall we say violent? It is in their personality to dominate others. Michaella, on the other hand… Her heart is pure. She is caring, though lost. All we need to do is ensure that she is given a reason to fight. At that time, she will volunteer to be our champion—but a champion against what?

I have tried to explain to them that we have nothing to fear. She is the next generation—our last hope at reclaiming the Earth’s surface. We can no longer live under the false environments of the domes. The technology to keep the systems running is failing. If we are unable to find a way to live outside, the human race will die.

However, they have taken the experiments too far. And they have kept their secrets for too long.

The Pregutor has recommended that Michaella’s involvement become more active. They have recommended that she be moved into STAR.

I do not know how much longer I can prolong the inevitable. If she is given the medications that is given to all STAR… No, it is not even worth thinking about. Instead, I pray that she continues to favor the calmness of purple. I know she still has that purple stuffed cat that her mother gave her when she was born. And every time I see her purple hair, it brings a smile to my face—though I can never let the smile show.

The others can never know that I can still see what they cannot. Instead, I wear my white, embracing everything about it. I must remain in control for as long as I can—even if the control is just a façade.

Only moments before I sat down to write this message, I followed the Pregutor’s orders to send Michaella to one of the outer sectors of the city. No doubt, she will perform her duty admirably, and another threat to the Pregutor will be gone.

However, the Pregutor does not know that I have also sent another courier to the other side of the city to set into motion a chain of events that will eventually bring the Pregutor’s unfeeling control to an end.

I have chosen to sacrifice one that is very close to the child that I watch grow. I regret that such an action was necessary, but I have very few options left.

In a few hours, there will be no turning back. Events will need to unfold the way Michaella sees fit. I know that my actions will mean that my life is forfeit. No doubt, the Pregutor will choose Michaella to be the one to remove me from the equation, because I have become the threat from within.

There will be many who will see me as the evil mastermind behind everything that is about to happen. But I am doing this for the sake of the future.

They need to be set free.


Kiwi Judy L Mohr is a writer, developmental editor, writing coach, amateur photographer, and a science nerd with a keen interest in internet technologies and social media security. Her knowledge ranges from highly efficient ways to hide the bodies through to how to improve your SEO rankings for your websites. When she isn’t writing, editing, or doing something within the local writing community, she can often be found with a camera in her hand enjoying the world around her—no doubt scouting for locations to hide the bodies. (Shh… Don’t tell anyone.) Follow her crazy adventures on her blog (judylmohr.com) or on Instagram (@JudyLMohr).

You can find Tam Haworth on the pages of Dancing in the Purple Rain.

Browse our archives for past interviews, or follow the site by email (bottom-right) to know immediately when your new best-book-friend makes an appearance.

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Beryl (of Viridia, by Tim Frankovich)

Dear readers, tonight with us is a man leading a revolution. He’s here to talk about cybernetic implants and fighting immortal dragons.

Beryl? Can you hear me, Beryl?

What? Ow. Where am I? The last thing I remember was being on a train. I used my implant, and… I don’t remember. Ow. My head.

It’s all right. The confusion will pass. It’s normal in these situations.

I don’t know normal. And what is this situation?  Who are you?

Just the one asking the questions. You want to answer my questions, don’t you?

I… for some reason, I do. That’s weird. Will you answer my questions?

Not really. Tell us a little about the city of Viridia. What is it like there?

I hate it. I’ve hated it all my life. No one’s really happy here. The green dragon rules over everything. His soldiers and draconics impose his will. If you’re not useful to him, you’re dead. I know that better than most.

Sounds like you really hate the dragon.

Of course I do! I want to kill him. And the other five dragons. They’ve ruled over the cities for too long.

Do you have any cherished memories from childhood? Surely something must have been worthwhile in your early life.

I… don’t like to talk about my childhood. My parents. I didn’t have a good relationship with them after… No, I’m not talking about that. You can’t make me. And they’re dead now, anyway.

Dead? What happened?

An accident. The same one that crippled me. I wouldn’t be able to even walk now if my friend Loden hadn’t given me a cybernetic implant to control my legs.

Interesting. Does this implant do anything else?

I can use it to give extra boosts of energy to my legs. Run faster, jump higher. Wait. Why am I telling you this? It’s forbidden technology!

Continue reading “Beryl (of Viridia, by Tim Frankovich)” →
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Keira Aurora (of Cyber Knot, by Paige Etheridge)

Dear readers, tonight on the interview couch is a tattoo artist from the near future. She is here to tell us about her dystopian future, with government-pushed drugs and the security of gangs, and about cyborgs – both human and whales.

Tell us a little about where you grew up. What was it like there?

2100s Seattle. Starbucks is still a thing, but I’ve never been there. Many of the buildings of the city are empty and covered in vines. Nature has been taking back the city. Where there’s room on the outside walls, art is created. The government can’t keep up with stopping these artists. They never caught up to my art either. 

Did you have any favourite toys as a child? Any cherished memories?

I have a stuffed Unicorn which was my only toy as a child. I also held onto a Dreamcatcher from that time as an afterthought. But even when I was young, I was creating art on walls. I painted the walls of my room. I didn’t really know what I was doing at the time, but I always had my paint. My parents were too out of it to ever stop me. When I left for the last time, I also brought my paint with me. 

What do you do now?

I design tattoos which can glow in the dark. These express both the uniqueness of the individuals as well as fulfilling their needs in battle. I train with Infinity in ancient combat techniques while also honing in on the abilities left in my body after having the chip removed. 

What can you tell us about your latest adventure?

I swam with Cyborcas: Orcas with technological additions to their bodies. We don’t speak the same language, but communicate telepathically. It’s an experience unlike anything I’ve ever had with a human. It’s still unknown how Cyborcas came to be, but they are some kind of a result of the struggles Orcas faced off the Washington Coast during the 21st Century. 

Continue reading “Keira Aurora (of Cyber Knot, by Paige Etheridge)” →
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Leeth (of The Leeth Dossier series, by L. J. Kendall)

Dear readers, tonight with us is a young woman from a near future where magic has returned to the world. She’s here to tell us about life as an experimental subject, growing up at the Institute for Paranormal Dysfunction, and now working in a [redacted] department of the US Bureau for Internal Development.

Tell us a little about where you grew up. What was it like there?

Are you really sure it’s okay to answer that question? Like, really sure?

Well, okay, I guess.

I grew up in the Institute for Paranormal Dysfunction. My, uh, uncle worked there. It was pretty cool. My best friend Faith still lives there – she’s due to have pups any day now. I’m pretty excited about it! I’m gonna visit and help. I had quite a few adventures there with her.  [Giggles]  She almost blew me up, once!

Did you have any favourite toys as a child? Any cherished memories?

Toys?  Well, I had a toy bow and arrow, but I managed to get the rubber cups off the ends, and attached some weights so it still worked. Mostly though I guess I just hunted and stuff. With Faith.

What do you do now?

You’re really sure I’m allowed to answer that?

[Shrugs]  Basically I kill people. But recently I’ve also been allowed to do kind of little bits of actual spying too.

What can you tell us about your latest adventure?

Well, I really don’t think I’m allowed to talk about the stuff right before I joined the Department. Like, seriously not.

But after that, I had practically a whole year of doing nothing except training and learning how to be a kind of assassin-spy. Some parts of that were really neat; others were so dull you wouldn’t believe!  But then Mother decided I didn’t have enough social skills, so I was sent to this acting school.  Girls can be bitches, you know?  Plus I wasn’t allowed to kill anyone, even if they really deserved it.  So that kind of sucked.  But I met my other best friend, Marcie, there.

Um.  It wasn’t our fault the school burned down and stuff.

That kind of didn’t end too well, so I went off on my own for a bit. Especially when Uncle, when Uncle….

Uh, what was I saying? Um, the Department really wanted me back though, so we kind of, came to an arrangement?  Then they all thought I was The Breaker, so we agreed I’d hunt him down myself and prove I wasn’t.

So, yeah.  Basically I kill bad guys.

Continue reading “Leeth (of The Leeth Dossier series, by L. J. Kendall)” →
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James Terrin (of Fall of Zona Nox by Nicholas Woode-Smith)

 

Dear readers, tonight with me is someone from the criminal element. A master thief in the gang-dominated Galis City, crime-ridden capital of the frontier world of Zona Nox, he soon found himself forced to join the Troopers, a galactic alliance of human soldiers.

James is thrust into defending Zona Nox from the alien invasion, but as the conflict continues James realises that this war is not as simple as it may seem.

He is here to tell us about his efforts to save his world.

Tell us a little about Galis City and Zona Nox. What was it like growing up there?

Most of the street kids were born in Dead Stone. You might have heard of it. It was the old starport city before the last big push by the Xank. A lot of us got out. Even more didn’t. Galis? Skite hole. We starved, at the best of times. Other times, we were making other people starve. We stared them in the eyes, held a gun to their heads. Sometimes, the hunger was stronger than the fear. So, what was it like growing up in Galis City? At first, hell. Then, it got better. The city found its place. We became its lords. We ruled the streets. What had once beaten us, now served us. So, we suffered, but it wasn’t for nothing.

How about your family? You must have had one.

Had a family in Dead Stone. A real one. Mom and dad. They didn’t make it. After that? Well, my godfather took me in. Billy Roman, and my best friend, Andrew Roman. They registered me as James Roman for convenience sake. Didn’t mean much. Overnight, the Trooper registries meant nothing. So did family. No, no. Don’t get me wrong. I loved them. It’s just… survival, desperation – it changes things. To protect family, I had to do things no child of any family should do. I loved Billy, but I will never forgive him for that. Continue reading “James Terrin (of Fall of Zona Nox by Nicholas Woode-Smith)” →

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