The O Chronicles
Chapter 1: Introduction Table of Contents, and Works Cited
Welcome to The O Chronicles.
This is a sequel to my earlier story, P2. At the start of that story, Team Machine has survived a brutal assault, an ambush, by forces aligned with John Greer, who've gone on to escape with the help of the U.S. government.
After some time for the Team to recover, Reese is sent on a mission to investigate a strange message received by Finch and the Machine. What he finds threatens to change the balance of power between Samaritan and the Machine. New characters are introduced along the way, and most of the ones we loved from the TV series were still turning up in P2.
So, welcome to the next helping of our heroes' story in The O Chronicles. I'm writing this for Whumptober 2024, too. It was so much fun to do last year, that I'm trying it again this year. Must have rocks in my head. I have three unfinished stories out there already, but I love Whumptober, so I'll just have to do the best I can with a new one. This is the best time of the year for readers – writers shake off the summer excesses and get back to it in the Fall. You can just feel the excitement every time you return to see who's posted.
Looking forward to sharing this sequel with you. There were some original characters introduced in P2, and they'll show up again here. I'll try to make it clear who they are, so you won't have to struggle. So, bear with me – it may take a chapter or two to get you up to speed.
I've returned to the same format as the original works, with a first chapter containing this Intro, a Table of Contents, and a Works Cited section, before the story actually begins. I love including music, and sometimes books or other references for you to enjoy if you're interested. I frequently write to the music I cite. It creates a mood, sometimes. Their words add something to the chapter itself, sometimes. I cite them so you can have a larger experience, and maybe make use of some of the pieces for your own personal work, too. During these wild times, we all need a little grounding. I hope the music helps.
Thanks for coming along on this ride with me. I love these characters, and it's so much fun to share them and their adventures with you…
In continuing deep love and appreciation for the ground-breaking work of the original show, and for all of those who made it so unique. Let's keep going.
October 1, 2024
Table of Contents
Part 1: Where do we begin?
Chapter 1: Intro, Table of Contents, Works Cited
Chapter 2: Burnt;
Chapter 3: "It's them or us";
Chapter 4: Juggling;
Chapter 5: "Execute"; "personally...";
Chapter 6: "You ah not him"; trust - or force;
Chapter 7: establishing contact;
Chapter 8: for all of them to share; defiance in his eyes;
Chapter 9: Old habits;
Part 2: It can't stay like this;
Chapter 10: Snotty weather;
Chapter 11: "All yours"; "Gotta go";
Chapter 12: "We could use a little help.";
Chapter 13: Help, in all its many forms;
Chapter 14: ... messed with the trajectory; secured;
Works Cited
Music and other works important to this story will be cited here, for your own journey. Enjoy.
Chapter 2: In Burnt, we begin the next part of the journey where we left off in P2 – at the site of the Library Office, long-time meeting place and home-away-from-home for Finch's Team, and now a smoking ruin. This piece by The Wailin' Jennys captures a bit of the feeling in that moment:
The Wailin' Jennys. "By Way of Sorrow," iTunes Sessions: The Wailin' Jennys, True North Records, 2011.
Chapter 3: In "It's them or us", Reese heads over to the other safe-house, where he meets with the rest of his team, and the man he brought back from a very unpleasant ending. One of my favorite singer/composer/multi-instrumentalists plays the kora and sets the mood with her singing:
Jobarteh, Sona. "N'na Duniyaa," Beast (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), Back Lot Music, 2022.
Chapter 5: The sound-track for the British TV series, Luther, does double-duty here. In "Execute", Paul Englishby's exquisite breathy vocals and drumming herald the danger:
Englishby, Paul. "Carnage," Luther (Soundtrack from the Television Series) [Idris Elba Presents Songs and Score from Series 1. 2 and 3], Silva Screen Records, Ltd., 2013.
And in "personally...", Englishby recruit, Massive Attack, lends their chilling piece to the end of this chapter. Enjoy:
Massive Attack. "Paradise Circus," Luther (Soundtrack from the Television Series), Silva Screen Records, Ltd., 2013.
Chapter 7: In establishing contact, Finch is afloat in another world when we find him. He struggles to return and right himself, only to realize he's forgotten something important, and the only way to recover is to ask for help. Thought this haunting piece might be the ticket:
Blake, James. "Overgrown," Overgrown, Atlas Records, 2013.
Chapter 8: In for all of them to share, a quiet moment reminds us of how much like a family the Team has become, how much they've come to depend on one another even when they struggle with the personal choices they've made. From a favorite classical guitarist, who's captured that feeling in this piece:
York, Andrew. "Squares Suspended," Yamour, Majian Music, 2012.
And, in defiance in his eyes, Reese recalls the way he'd pressured Olawale in the other safe-house, earlier, before the fire – neither one certain of the other's motives, nor what other forms of pressure might be brought to bear. I like this piece for that kind of feeling. A dance of voices, a play of strength and yielding, back and forth. It features Musa filly Jobarteh – young, highly-acclaimed cousin of Sona, singing the lead and on percussion:
Jobarteh, Sona. "Dunoo (featuring Musa filly Jobarteh)," Badinyaa Kumoo, African Guild Records, 2023.
Chapter 13: In Help, in all its many forms, we see Kara, taunting Fusco. Clearly, she has the upper hand. But there's more at work in that underground hellhole. I really enjoy Cat Power's singing. She has a lot of heart, and it comes through in the way she weaves through her songs, her voice slow, and wavering, hanging on the notes. The road traveled hasn't been too kind is the feeling you get in some of her songs. Always leaves you with something to think about. This one fits this chapter, but not sure who it's really meant for. Give it a try:
Power, Cat. "Troubled Waters," The Covers Record, Matador, 2000.
Please stop back every once in a while to check for more additions to the list.