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;
Chapter 15: cherry on top; hunting... ;
Chapter 16: starting to miss her memories;
Chapter 17: her Primary;
Chapter 18: Save your power;
Chapter 19: cats in a bag;
Part 3: On to bigger things;
Chapter 20: "... you'd probably try to tell me.";
Chapter 21: "red light means go..."; two rocks and a cup of water; "Everybody's got a family...";
Chapter 22: like a prize fighter;
Chapter 23: blinked twice and winked out; "It's not some kind of pet!"
Chapter 24: 'nuthin' but net';
Chapter 25: Surrendered; dreams;
Chapter 26: another draw of a card; "Noble cause.";
Chapter 27: unified front;
Chapter 28: "Touchy... ";
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.
Chapter 15: In cherry on top, we catch up with Kara again, after she's made a quick trip away from the men to check the phones. No signal underground, and it's important not to miss one specific call that might be coming in. And now for something a little different. Luther to the rescue again – take a listen to this one from the soundtrack of the TV series. Always found aspects of John Luther and John Reese to be so much alike. Here, the song fits too well with arch-enemy Kara Stanton. Love this one:
Scott-Heron, Gil. "Me and the Devil," Luther (Soundtrack from the Television Series), Silva Screen Records, Ltd., 2013.
Chapter 17: In her Primary, the Machine has something to say. A gorgeous and emotional song from Sarah (might need a tissue handy. I did.):
McLachlan, Sarah. "Full of grace," Surfacing, Arista,1997.
Chapter 19: In cats in a bag, part of the Team has reassembled back in the safe-house, to prepare for the deadly days ahead. The Machine and Samaritan are locked in a duel inside Samaritan's territory. Meanwhile, they're aware back at the safe-house and working on a solution. I like this one for the message and the energy vibe. Take a listen:
Massive Attack. "Safe From Harm," Blue Lines (2012 Mix/Master), Virgin Records, 1991.
Chapter 21: Okay, here we go. Triple duty for this oldie from 2004: I liked these (instrumental) tracks so much, that I kept their quirky names for inside the chapter. In "red light means go..." an old homeless man sees something. Then, in two rocks and a cup of water, more smooth vibes, as Reese shows up, cruising the streets in Finch's car again. Then, last, in "Everybody's got a family..." time for a little male bonding, POI-style. Check out the tracks with the same names on:
Massive Attack. Danny the Dog (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), Virgin Records, 2004.
Chapter 23: In blinked twice and winked out, Finch and Reese don't make it out this time. Blindsided:
Iver, Bon. "Blindsided," For Emma, Forever Ago, Jagjaguwar, 2008.
Chapter 25: In Surrendered, Reese is imagining how Olawale, the man he's brought back from Zuma Rock, had fallen into the hands of John Greer. How he'd convinced himself that he'd be safe once he'd reached the private space he'd built inside the Rock. He must have known, though, otherwise he'd never have reached out to Harold Finch. Slowly, Reese and Olawale are looking for entry points, ways to find what they need from each other without the violence from before. And that inspires the choice of this music.
This piece comes after a 20-year friendship had grown between these two performers. Piers is a British-Italian singer, who grew up in France with a love of West African music. Ballake Sissoko comes from Mali, and is known for his skills playing the Kora. He asked Piers to sing "Kadidja" in his native language of Bambara on this album. The result is stunning. I hope you enjoy their heartfelt duet:
Sissoko, Ballake. "Kadidja"(featuring Piers Faccini), Djourou, No Format, 2021.
In dreams, Reese recalls his frenetic mission to Morocco with Kara Stanton. And a plea from a desperate man, falling on deaf ears. He'd offered her the last thing of value that he owned: a handful of crystals - the Desert Rose. Value beyond measure, but not for her. She'd tossed them away, and then ground him to dust, just as the next mission turns them to Ordos. And what of Reese? He'd found the stones left in the sand and held them in his hand. Soon after, he hears from his long-lost love. Perhaps, there is something to the power of the Desert Rose.
If you can listen to this version of Sting's beautiful, haunting piece, listed below, I think you'll be swept up in the dream, too, like Reese. It was a classic, in it's day:
Sting. "Desert Rose" (featuring Cheb Mami), Sting (My Songs), A&M/Interscope Records, 2019.
And, for lyrics to the song, and the translation of Cheb's Arabic, please visit this helpful site: multimedia*dash*english*dot*com/print/preview/desert-rose-3110. It actually describes the 1999 original version of the song, which was then re-mixed in the 2019 version cited above (better, imo).
Chapter 26: In another draw of a card we revisit what brought Reese to Zuma Rock and Olawale. Reese must prepare for the clash he's about to initiate with him. A duel of wits or will things escalate? I enjoy the amazing writing and singing that Sting had done through the years. His songs are as relevant today as when they were first produced. Here, the destiny of a cardplayer:
Sting. "Shape of My Heart," Ten Summoner's Tales (Expanded Edition), A&M Records, 1993.
And in "Noble cause": as someone who appreciates the power of vibrational healing, this duet between Sona Jobarteh and Ravid Kahalani goes far in Sona's mission of helping her Gambian countrymen begin to find their roots again. It sounds like a call to all Africans, no matter how far-flung in the Diaspora.
I don't know the language, but I can hear that gentle insistence to wake in her voice, woven with Ravid's use of himself as a sounding instrument, like in chanting. If, at first, it feels strange, try listening to each of the individual sounds (voices, kora, background singers, instruments) as the song progresses, and see if you soar on the sound. Such a gorgeous, emotional piece – and backed by Sona's kora work knitting the whole thing together. Hope it reaches that same feeling for you. We're all united in music:
Jobarteh, Sona. "Kafaroo (featuring Ravid Kahalani)," Badinyaa Kumoo, African Guild Records, 2023.
Chapter 28: In "Touchy... ", Reese catches up with Fusco at the hospital. They each do a little dance around each other, divulging some but not all of what they know. I really liked this piece to backdrop the plodding movement of the two men in the face of big decisions. By Alternative singer, Ruelle. Enjoy:
Ruelle. "Rival," Rival - EP, Ruelle Music and Tone Tree Music, 2017.
Please stop back every once in a while to check for more additions to the list.