An interview with Sirena…
Author: [In a whisper, like an announcer at the U.S. Open] Today we meet Sirena, certainly the most unusual character in my sci-fi thriller Evil Agenda. The villain in that novel, Rupert Snyder, also known as Vladimir Kalinin, sponsored the research that produced her. Sirena is a mutant, the first in a projected line of super soldiers, especially built to overpower her opponents, whether using enhanced body armor or not. We find her coming onto the beach on her island in the Bahamas. [Normal voice now.] Good morning, Sirena.
Sirena: [Starting with her mane of hair, she shakes off the salt water right down to her webbed toes. We can see her gills pulsating as she adjusts to normal breathing.] If I didn’t already know you, I’d think you were a voyeur. Come along. It’s time for my morning coffee.
A: [I follow her up the dunes to a patio that sits on the edge of the grassy backyard leading to their house.] I just have a few questions.
S: Fire away. [She throws on a beach robe.] I don’t want to distract you.
A: You already have. You were more magnificent than either Ursula Andress or Halle Berry.
S: Men! Get to your questions.
A: I’m surprised you know the reference. But your exit from those Caribbean waters reminded me of those famous Bond girls from the old movies.
S: All right, I’m properly flattered. But I refuse to be a pin-up for pubescent boys. Or dirty old men.
A: Understood. Change of topic: doesn’t your life seem boring and all too tranquil compared to the wild events in Evil Agenda?
S: David and I just want some normalcy. Snyder failed in that respect. I don’t crave violence and combat. I’m more a super pacifist than a super soldier.
A: What about David?
S: He’s content working on his software. We have enough to live on without it, of course, but he does need something to do to keep his mind occupied. I help him. We have a good life.
A: Snyder has left you alone?
S: I’m not sure what Snyder is doing. I don’t care. I should have killed him, but he’s as good as dead for me now. He’s out of our lives.
A: But what if he spawns more evil plans to make people’s lives miserable?
S: I suppose that if I felt threatened, I would go after him, but really, with all those agencies after him, what can he do? I’m sure he’s on the most wanted lists of many countries. David and I did our best to bring him to justice. It’s someone else’s turn.
A: But you still hate him?
S: I hate what he did to me. I didn’t ask to be a freak of nature. As far as I know, I’m unique. There’s a degree of loneliness associated with that.
A: But you have David.
S: Thank God for that. David has kept me sane. [She smiles.] And enjoying life.
A: Yet you seemed to have some extra-sensory connection to Snyder.
S: Yes, it was strange. He was in my mind like a bad dream. I can compartamentalize that now—put a mental box around it and close it off, if you will. Fortunately, my relationship to David is much stronger.
A: You were thanking God for David. Tell me, do you believe in God?
S: I know where you’re going with this. The question hidden between your words is, “How can this mutant created by evil to serve evil believe in God?” You’re becoming a bit personal. Moreover, the answer is complicated. Do I believe in a bearded wise old man sitting in heaven like Zeus on Mt. Olympus? No. I reject all anthropomorphic images of a Supreme Being. I also reject the notions that treat the Creator as the Extreme Engineer, for then I would have to admit I’m the spawn of the Devil. I suppose I’m more Buddhist than anything else. What is, is, and it’s wonderful. Life is wonderful. Everyone should treat it as such since no one knows what comes after, no matter how much religious malarkey he spouts.
A: But you do believe there’s a place for good?
S: And for evil, unfortunately. I’m not sure about sin, but things like greed, thirst for power, child molesting, and so forth are bad.
A: But aren’t greed and thirst for power just part of the desire for success?
S: Everyone wants to be successful. It’s how you go about doing it that’s the problem.
A: New topic: are you as strong as you used to be?
S: I’m better all around. I’ll have to give Snyder and his staff credit—I am a good design. And I’m still improving, both mentally and physically. That sounds great, I know, but it has its downside. I’ll probably outlive David.
A: Do you think you’ll find someone else?
S: It never occurred to me. I can’t imagine life without David, even though I know it will eventually happen. It’s a problem. I’ve learned that there are all kinds of problems. Most are not black and white; they’re grey. And many don’t have solutions. My existential conundrum is one of the latter.
A: How long do you think you’ll live?
S: Two hundred years or more, easily. David will have passed on by then.
A: But you know that Kalidas Metropolis’ research has led to an extension of human life for everyone, right? [Note: Kalidas is the main character in Evil Agenda and its prequel Full Medical who invented a way to mitigate transplant rejection and permit human cloning.]
S: Well, sure, David will live longer than the average life span at the turn of the century, and that’s comforting. But I will still live much longer. Maybe when he passes on I will volunteer myself to scientific research. I can see applications. Mutants might be useful in space exploration, for example.
A: That’s not much of a future, becoming a guinea pig.
S: I don’t have to make any decisions right now. Besides, I’m enjoying life with David too much and want to drink it all in while I can. Every hour is precious to me.
A: That’s a very positive attitude. Does David agree with it?
S: Of course. He set us up here for a reason. I think of it as one very extended honeymoon.
A: And I’m disturbing it.
S: Yes, you are, but David’s off in Nassau buying some computer equipment. It’s been nice chatting with you while he’s gone. We don’t get many visitors.
A: I might return to chat with David.
S: You should do it when Kalidas and the rest of the gang are here. We could have one hell of a party!
[Note: Full Medical and Evil Agenda, comprising the “Clones and Mutants Series,” are both available on Amazon, at $4.99 and $2.99, respectively. You can have a peek at their content and read reviews there.]
In libris libertas….
