Come the Revolution (31 page)

Then we began shedding speed and altitude, the ground slowly rising and the grey stains of towns resolving into discrete pixels of buildings, then the buildings resolving into unique structures made distinct from one another by their sizes, colors, designs, but not the extent of their damage.

I saw the sprawling residential complex ahead and knew that must be our destination.

The shuttle settled on the yellow-painted foamstone landing pad. The small knot of people, so familiar, so precious, turned away and protected their eyes from the dust, then turned back, faces a mixture of anxiety and anticipation and love. The hatch hissed open, the boarding stairs unfolded to rest on the ground. I came out into sunlight, the brightest, most beautiful day I can remember, and I can remember some beauts. In two long strides I was down the stairs and enfolded in Marr and Tweezaa’s arms. After a long moment I found my voice and pulled back from them a little, turned and nodded to the hatchway and the other passenger.

“Marr, Tweezaa,
The’On
, I’d like you to meet my sister,
Avrochka
.”

CHARACTERS

NOTE: *Characters with an asterisk first appeared in
How Dark The World Becomes
.

The prefix “e-” before a Varoki family name indicates membership in The Select, the Varoki aristocracy.

Sasha and Company

*e-Lotonaa, The Honorable Arigapa
, aka
“The’On,”
aka “Gapa” aka “Boti-On” (Uncle
The’On
): Varoki high-ranking official in the
Cottohazz
diplomatic corps, close friend of Sasha, Marrissa, and Tweezaa.

*Marfoglia, Marrissa
, aka ”Marr,” aka “Boti-Marr” (Aunt Marrissa): Sasha’s wife. Human economist, and court-appointed guardian for Tweezaa e-Traak.

*Naradnyo, Aleksandr Sergeyevich
, aka “Sasha” aka
“Boti-Sash”
(Uncle Sasha), aka “Xandinho”: Human former gangster and current head of Tweezaa e-Traak’s personal security detail.

*e-Traak, Barraki
: (mentioned) Late brother of Tweezaa e-Traak.

*e-Traak, Sarro
: (mentioned) Late father of Tweezaa e-Traak.

*e-Traak, Tweezaa
: Varoki heiress to the largest fortune in the
Cottohazz
.

Employees and Associates

Ah-Quan, Baka
: Zaschaan (or Zack) security guard assigned to protect Gaisaana-la.

Bonderovski, Gladys
: Human, security guard.

*Borro
(no other name given): Varoki personal bodyguard to Arigapaa e-Lotonaa.

Cartright, John
: Human, security guard.

Darzi, Kamal
: Human, shuttle pilot.

Gaisaana-la
(no other name given): Varoki, Marrissa Marfoglia’s senior executive assistant.

Huang
(no other name given): Human, shuttle pilot.

Jutaant, Tita
: Varoki, security guard, killed in the shuttle crash.

Lee, Hong
: Human, security guard.

Mafengi
(no other name given): Human, security guard, killed in the shuttle crash.

Ramirez, Norman
: Human, security guard, killed in the shuttle crash.

Swanson
(no other name given): Human, security guard, killed in the shuttle crash.

Tenryu, Iris
: Human deputy head of Tweeza e-Traak’s personal security detail.

Other Varoki of Note

e-Bomaan, Vandray
: Second governor (equivalent of vice-chairman of the board of directors) of AZ Simki-Traak Trans-Stellar, the largest mercantile house in the
Cottohazz
.

e-Drepaank
(no other name given): Replacement for e-Bomaan as Simki-Traak second governor.

Gaant, Elaamu
: Motivational writer and speaker, head of a Varokist and anti-Humanist movement.

e-Kunin’gaatz, Rear Admiral Talv
: officer in the uBakai Astro Navy, briefly president of the provisional government.

e-Loyolaan, Field Marshal Lieutenant Yignatu
: Head of CSJ, the
Cottohazz
military provost corps.

Maganaan, Ita
: Executive secretary of the Black Docks Citizens’ Council.

Prayzaat, Captain Arkerro
: mid-ranking official in the Sakkatto Municipal Police Force.

Rimcaant
(no other name given): Counselor (lawyer) and vice-governor of the Good-Soul Counseling House.

e-Tomai, Captain
(no other name given): Junior officer in CSJ.

Humans in the Black Docks
(a slum district in Sakkatto City)

Abílo
(no other name given): Guard.

Constancio
,
Cristiano
: Fisherman.

Ferraz, Cézar
: Fisherman.

Pacifico, Joäo
: Fisherman.

Socorro, Eduardo
, aka “Dado”: Fisherman.

Humans in Sookagrad
(a slum district in Sakkatto City)

Chernagorov, Corporal
(no other name given): Soldier.

Conklin, William
, aka “Billy”: Building contractor.

Dhaliwa
(no other name given): Explosives expert.

Greenwald, Moshe
: Former starship electrician.

Ivanov, Petar
: Criminal software specialist.

Jayaraman, Divya
: Student.

Katranjiev, Bogomil
, aka “RG,” aka “Reasonable Guy,” aka “Bogo”: chairman of the Sookagrad Merchants’ and Citizen’s League.

Kalabratov, Andrei
, aka “Andy”: Construction worker.

Konstantine
(no other name given), aka “Kostya”: wounded refugee.

Krautmann
(no other name given): Doctor.

Mahajan, Dr. Tanvi
: Head of Sookagrad Human clinic.

Naradnyo, Avrora Sergeichnya
, aka “Aurora”, aka
“Avrochka”
: Journalist.

Naradnyo, Sergei Ramonovich
: Biochemist.

Pablo
(no other name given): Petty criminal.

Petrov, Boris
: Doctor.

Ripnick, Bela
, aka “Lefty”: Petty criminal.

Stal, Nikolai
: Prominent member of the criminal underworld.

Ted
(no other name given): Video recording technician.

Wilson
(no other name given): Soldier.

Wu, Dolores
: Hydroponics technician.

Zaradavana, Yash
: Laborer, becomes head of ammunition distribution.

Zdravkova, Desislava Bogdanovna
, aka “Dragon Lady,” aka “Dezi Oobiyets” aka “Killer”: Leader of Human resistance group in Sookagrad.

Other Humans

Lorioli, Lieutenant Arturo
: Officer in 10th
Bersaglieri Inserimento Meteorico.

Massignani, Major
(no other name given): Cohort commander, 10th
Bersaglieri Inserimento Meteorico.