Jarad has spent a few days alone, after Alexand disappeared again, without telling him where she was going or when she would be back. He is expecting a student to arrive in an hour, for their Russian lesson, and he is quietly seething, but extremely worried about his wife’s absence.
The Guild Masters General takes Katherine to Alexand’s father’s house, before his death, where Eric Mehmed has just finished reading a letter, informing him that his daughter has sustained life altering injuries to her fingers. (3987)
After having tidied herself up after her shower, Katherine returns to the lounge to confront Farokh about the map he accidentally saw when he found her lying unconscious. Farokh has opened up the book, and the map has been projected onto the wall, where it had been before Katherine collapsed. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Katherine’s backstory set in Saskatoon military base, India, (3990)
Five years have passed since Alexand Merek was sentenced to serve ten years in a military correction facility, for accidentally killing her friend, Baio-Yujia Sun. (See issue 25 and issue 26) When Alexand was seventeen she was selected to work for Dr. Katherine De Somme, a micro biologist and has worked in her laboratory for the past three years. However, Alexand was up late, playing piano in the entertainment bar, celebrating the release of her sister, Heyem and friend Jarad, and has turned up uncharacteristically late to work. Despite this, a friendship and trust has formed between them, allowing Katherine to share a terrible secret with her young cadet, when she eventually arrives. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Saskatoon Military base, India. Katherine De Somme and Alexand Merek (3987)
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.
This story is set seven months before issue # 1: Alexand Merek, (a week after her release from an asylum). Samuel Merevija is only four years old. His mother was taken from him and his father when he was a baby, but now she has been brought back to their family home, after spending four years in a floating asylum ship. Samuel doesn’t understand why his mother won’t speak. He has made some special things for her to try and bring her back to his world. (Characters from left to right are: Samuel Merevija, Jarad Vijay and Alexand Merek). (A Spanish translation is now available, byHernán Jara Droguett.) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.