The Guild Master’s General managed to convince (Future) Alexand Merek to agree to a candid interview with the reporter Cordelia (Bizzi) Gray from 101 Downtime News. Bizzi has no idea how he managed to secure this interview, but Alexand allowed the film crew to set camp in her grounds, and after a wardrobe change and an hour with the network’s makeup team, the interview is ready to commence. (For my magical son, Sam. Everyone else thought it was raining, but you knew they were all wrong.)
Bizzi (Cordelia) Gray’s back story, set on Civil Earth (1277 FD)
Katherine sits awkwardly on the sofa accepting the hospitality of the family she has come to visit, seeking information about the climate on the outside of the ship. (This issue celebrates the vanquishing of a monster in our own time, on this day, 20th January 2021)
Katherine’s back story, set onboard the Kyuunansen (3992)
Juba Apfvarzian needs to forget his past. He spends a lot of time taking drugs and drinking with his best friend and fellow drunk Alexand Merek. They met decades ago on a floating asylum ship for the criminally insane. Juba had a wife, Lucy and a son, Ayo, before he went to the asylum. When he was released, he discovered that they had both died of influenza, and he was alone. He and Alexand met up again after her release and discovered that they had a lot in common. Alexand had also lost her wife, Katherine to an unknown virus and her husband Jarad to an unbeatable war. Her son, Sam and daughter, Anastasia had been stolen when they were children. Alexand’s surviving daughter Ancille has grown up and Alexand and Juba spend a lot of their lives trying to run away from bad things. This is one of those days. (A Spanish version is now available to read, translated by Hernán Jara Droguett.) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Juba’s back story, set in The Sahara Desert (4020)
Jarad Vijay has spent the past four years, bringing up his son alone, after his wife, Alexand, was taken and placed in an asylum for crimes against the military. Once released she woke from a catatonic state. Six months have passed since she woke. Jarad hoped her recovery would enable him to rebuild their lives as a family. Unfortunately, things aren’t that simple. (Jarad and Alexand grew up together as children. They were forced into the military at a young age. Jarad left, but Alexand remained a soldier. Their lives drifted apart until a series of events brought them back together. They were married after Alexand was widowed. Jarad believes she is still grieving for her dead wife, Katherine De Somme. He is very much in love with her, but this further separation in the form of Alexand’s imprisonment, has done little for their relationship. Alexand is very traumatised by her ordeal inside the asylum and Jarad doesn’t know if he can help her recover from it.) Trivia: Why has Alexand got metal fingers? Answer: Her fingers were severed by a samurai sword, during a mission as a young woman. (See issue 9:) The sword bearer was a man dressed in a black balaclava. He appears throughout time and place. People come to know him as The Guild Master’s General, but know little about him. (A Spanish translation is now available, byHernán Jara Droguett.) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Anesidor Sumian dreams of escaping from a gradually shrinking world and the confines of a disapproving society. Her story begins with a wish and is set over a century before her first appearance in my series of novels. (A Spanish translation is now available, byHernán Jara Droguett.) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Anesidor’s back story, set in Maryland, North America (3929)