The story
There’s nothing wrong with Ely. He’s young, employed, and, most importantly, he knows what he wants: energy drink, responsive touchpad, and data connection to play Soul Slate. But when a megacorporation called Utiliterra comes after their technological secrets, he and his friends must react. Will matches wits with Andrei, the omniscient CEO, while Cristal confronts BABL, the colossal communications tower. Meanwhile, Ely just wants to be left alone, but he is inevitably pulled into the epic struggle. Finally, he accepts the frightening reality that his decisions matter. He must choose whether to advance a technology that promises comfort while threatening human sovereignty, or risk devastating consequences of resistance.
the Players
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Cristal Delcielo
Instead of destroying the devices that connected her to New Norma’s world, she would subvert them to her own advantage (retaining the option of destroying them later). Happiness is wonderful, it’s sugar for the soul. But in the end, it’s not enough to keep a healthy spirit. |
Ely Lega
His eyes focused with wonder as if seeing it for the first time. He stared deep into its center, considering its entirety, more than its physical manifestation as a mineral object. I’m pretty much checking all the boxes for what I’m supposed to be, right? |
Will Barden
A deep breath brought him to his full height and squared his shoulders. Calm, alert, energized, fearless. Will Barden was ready to play. If I could only utter simple sounds, my words could dart like droplets in a storm. Instead, they’re snowflakes, floating up and down as wind and weather buffet them to form. Symmetric crystallinity in flight stays wonderful as long as it’s intact. But when my snowy sentences alight, they melt in muddy pools upon impact. I don’t know why the Fates may have designed this awkward, cruel curse for me to bear. What’s worse, I fear I’m never going to find another soul who’s truly fit to care. What ear would wish to hear if I complain of lonely snowflakes in a summer rain? |
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Raziel Bhattacharya
Raz sat upright as the window closed between them. His eyes darted back toward his nose-held device as he drove away. Utiliterra is blurring the line between our brain functions and New Norma’s, between human and machine, between human and robot, between human and everything. |
Marisa Matyszkiewicz
She grasped the sides of the shawl and raised her arms up and out to create a thin fabric divider between them. An array of narrow, sturdy support rods sewn into the cape held it out and aloft, open and flat along her back, giving her the form of a bat with intricately patterned wings. The only important measure is the one you take of yourself; that is what ultimately defines you. |
Carla Bond
Carla’s hair had been pulled hard by a jealous girl during third grade recess. That experience alone made her the most hardened and experienced fighter of the four. Technology always wins? No. We always win. Humans win. |
Nada
The girl stood calm, focused, and unmoving, even as tons of machinery threateningly approached.
I focused hard on the Bee that was supposed to be taking care of me, and I just sent it away. Whenever it came back, I sent it away again.
The girl stood calm, focused, and unmoving, even as tons of machinery threateningly approached.
I focused hard on the Bee that was supposed to be taking care of me, and I just sent it away. Whenever it came back, I sent it away again.
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Gordon
Gordon stared ahead calmly; despite the pestering verbiage, he appeared neither aggravated nor impatient, simply otherwise occupied. A bridge contest is nuanced. While it requires logic and formulaic actions, human understanding and cooperation are also needed. Focus and play. Once your strength is measured, your path can be determined. |
Andrei Avenante
His hair extended above his parched face in scraggly bronze strands, so that his head looked like a brined troll doll. He wore a tailored, electric green business suit, a blinding yellow tie, and a horizontal bandage of the same color across his forehead. I am Andrei. |
Alisha
Alisha entered the room from the door in the green wall—or at least, what was currently the green wall. Your publications describe the use of collagen’s helical molecular structure like a tube to template the growth of silicon carbide nanowires inside of it. Is that still the best method? |
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Dirk Altmann
Widely regarded as a genius, he had thirty-one years of experience, retirement savings to spare, and no trepidations about challenging corporate suits, neon or otherwise. She has human characteristics, as we all do. But her identity has other components as well. We’re all some hybrid of native and fabricated parts. |
Burt Rame
Burt did have a penchant for chatter, an engine of buzzword generation with a certain hypnotizing charm. He was pulling hard on its starting crank, but it stalled several times before engaging. New Norma finds the best place for everyone within the Fabric and employs them to the benefit of all. |
Adu Vieo
When the poor wisp of a man finally looked up, Andrei’s expression knocked him back into his seat, eyes bulging. The new connection gives you purpose and links you to everything and everyone. It helps you understand your place in the world and know that you are part of a larger plan. |