Author: Chris Stevens

In this world, there are two types of Med-Techies:

1. You have normal paramedics who arrive in an ambulance, after the scene has been rendered safe,
2. And you have cool combat-trained, rock-steady trauma teams who MAKE the scene safe.

Jack Jowly might be cool, but he is nowhere near rock-steady.

Maladaptive Daydreaming (Compulsive Fantasy) is a condition in which an individual excessively daydreams or fantasizes. Jack Jowly has had this disorder ever since he was a boy, and has always fantasized about being some sort of action star. The moment he turned 21, Jack applied for REMCO, the fire department, the police department, the FBI, and the CIA. All but REMCO laughed at his application, as REMCO was in a dire need of paramedics. So, after his training, he went to work as an EMT.

As a paramedic in a crime-ridden city, there was no shortage of work. He regularly worked three 24-hour shifts every week, and those were the slow weeks. After a year, he started experimenting with drugs to help give him energy (they were practically handed out by REMCO), and soon he was working regular 48-hour shifts. With this type of experience, he actually became quite a talented field paramedic. However, the long hours, the sleep deprivation, and the drugs only made his mental condition worse. In clinical terms… he’s simply lost it… certifiably nuts, and a complete cuckoo.

Not only that, but he now believes that he’s an actual action star.

Every call was treated as the climax of a major blockbuster, and every injured civilian was treated like either his closest family, best friend, or the president. He was good at his job, but it took its toll on his peers. Anyone who went to a call with “Jack Attack” Jowly would expect it to be dramatic. It was entertaining, for sure, but riding with him two shifts in a row was just too draining. They did, however, keep a pool going, betting on what crazy shit he was gonna do or say.

REMCO soon announced the creation of their new Trauma Team division, where (for a premium fee) civilians could get highly-trained combat medics to respond in an assault ambulance. Jack Jowly applied immediately.

REMCO laughed at his Letter of Interest. In fact, they almost canned his ass right there. However, because of his perfect attendance, company loyalty, and awesome success rate, he was able to keep his job, as long as he went to therapy.   For now, he has been reduced to a single 24-hour shift per week.

Therapy – shmerapy. Sure, the therapy has worked a little bit, but he’s not one to give up on his dreams. Jack threw himself into the role. He WAS going to make it to the Trauma Team. He bought tactical gear, body armor, knives, guns, assault carbines… the works. He hit the gym. He learned Crav Maga. And he watched the movie “Commando,” again.

And in the last year, he’s applied for Trauma Team nine times (the tenth time he’ll make it for sure). All he needs is a little more street experience. Actually, “Jack Attack” Jowly has all the skills needed, but he’s just too bat-shit crazy.

Chester A. Duncan IV grew up as a member of the 1%. Not just the 1%, but the .01% (yes, that Duncan family). One would think that living the super-privileged life was everyone’s dream, until you realized what the expectations really were as the son of one of the wealthiest men in America. Young Chester was constantly pressured by his father to learn the business…

Sure, on the outside, the Google Foundation seemed to be the epitome of a prosperous, legitimate, and generous organization, but deep down, it’s the worst of them all. With everything the Foundation was involved in, bad things would continue to happen. Smaller businesses were eaten, the downtrodden got trampled again, corporate murders, espionage… and that’s not even the worst of it. The Google Foundation is supposedly helping turn the economy around; when in truth its goal is to do the opposite, as that’s what’s gaining it the most power. Those with money get more money, and those with power just get it all.

Young Chester realized this early, and in defiance, locked himself away from that world. His father just felt that he’d come around eventually, especially as young Chester’s allowance continued to get smaller and smaller.

During his time of defiance, young Chester (or “Graveshock” as he was known online) absorbed himself into both computers and online gaming. With the resources he had, he was able to acquire the prototype Donovan Matrix Interface (something that wouldn’t be available to the general public for another year). Of course, it was illegal for a 15 year-old to have that type of brain surgery cyber implant, but he was a Duncan.

Soon, he achieved the top status in the MMIRPG War of StarQuest and held it for five straight months, something no other gamer has come close to accomplishing. He was thus featured in several editorials and data channels, and even received a few endorsements. “Graveshock” became a household name.

One day (after getting bored with the game), he decided to poke around the Google Foundation’s database. With his old passcodes (and his Donovan Matrix), he found it very easy to gain access to confidential information. One such bit of information included an obscure bank funneling money to a terrorist group. The Google Foundation wasn’t directly involved, but there was still a connection. The Foundation was poised to benefit from whatever the terrorists were trying to accomplish. So, using his Donovan Matrix for the interface, young Chester started poking at the bank’s database – and either through brute skill or sheer luck (or both) he was able to hack in and divert those dirty funds ($40,000,000) to various charities.

Quite a theft for a 15 year-old.

When he got caught a month later, “Graveshock” became a household name yet again, but this time (obviously) for different reasons. The first thing his lawyer said to him was to keep his mouth shut, and say nothing about any “terrorists.” (“Take the rap if you want to live to see your 16th birthday. And hey, the Foundation says Hi”). Agreeing to this, he was sentenced to a hardcore boys academy, and imposed with a life-long ban from interfacing. His matrix was slated to be removed by court order, but it never happened. By the time he got to the academy, records showed that the surgery had already been done (he has yet to figure that out).

The academy is meant to break young men down and then build them back up, to make them respect authority, and generally teach them to become responsible, upstanding citizens… Graveshock has been out of the academy for a few weeks now, and already went off the grid…

As a child, this small, unassuming kid got picked on a lot. When he was 10, an older kid (Luca Vincent) took him under his wing and protected him from the other kids in the orphanage. Why he did that, he didn’t know or care – he was just glad to have someone standing up for him. When Luca suggested that they run away, he instantly jumped at the challenge. He knew that the two of them would easily fair better on the outside than in that orphanage. Once they got away, they never looked back, and were inseparable.

Over the next few years, they continued to get into trouble with the criminal underground as well as the law. It was his inexperienced youth combined with Luca’s brashness. It didn’t matter, though, because Luca always, always shielded him as best he could. A true friend, no… a brother. In their endeavors, Luca always came up with the schemes, while Leo always played Devil’s Advocate. In this duo, Leo was the level-headed one. He was a conundrum, though… He wasn’t a risk-taker, but he absolutely loved the thrill of danger. Where Luca loved the prize, Leo “the Lion” loved the challenge of going after the prize.

As a cyber, Leo was too wise for his own good. As he matured, he took fewer and fewer risks. Stealing, drugs, pushing, enforcing, conning, and scamming – it was sure to lead to a dead end, either dead literally, or in prison. The last job they did together didn’t go so well… Luca made a bad choice, but this time it was Leo that bailed them out. So, as it is, the two parted ways.

Nowadays, Leonardo “the Lion” Russo acts as a private bodyguard and chauffeur – he even has a professional license, and his very own lightly armored limousine (still making payments, though). As a young man who went into legitimate business for himself, he can’t really hold the claim of Cyber anymore. While he prefers the life of a legitimate entrepreneur, he’s not content – just look at his chosen profession – bodyguard – and you can see that he still craves the element of danger… He both loves and hates his best friend for that.