xplosive Interview: The Zambaq Coast Erupts During Hybrid Encounter
Bio-mechanical hybrid Vrolik-9/GX walks the line between organic and the mechanical at Zambaq's shifting coast. His perspective on life, bureaucracy, and sand literally and figuratively stirs up dust-but when tensions with interviewer Verl Tskam escalate, the encounter combusts into total chaos.
Verl Tskam Good afternoon, or whatever they call it on this coast. Can you explain what exactly you are?
Vrolik-9/GX Uh, well… bio-mechanical hybrid, so they say. Technically, I started as a polymer-cyanoid, but over the years tendrils and chips just stuck. You know how things go here.
Verl Tskam What's it like living among these ever-changing sandscapes?
Vrolik-9/GX Varied, you might say. I wake up on mercury beaches or sometimes rocky plateaus. Sand clogs my sliders, but my cortex enjoys the chaos.
Verl Tskam So what do you usually do on a typical day here?
Vrolik-9/GX Mostly, I try to untangle my code network from swarm-spirits and sensory sandflows. Between that, I win portogenesis game shows or fight market traders for ether-pearls.
Verl Tskam You sound pretty confident. Is there anything you can't handle?
Vrolik-9/GX Honestly? Conservative sand architects. They hate improvisation and I only run on spontaneous protocols.
Verl Tskam I've heard you recently had a run-in with the Harbor Consortium. What happened?
Vrolik-9/GX Those folks? Their rules are as fluid as this coastline! They tried to tax my logic-waves. Completely illegal, by the way.
Verl Tskam So you're accusing them of corruption?
Vrolik-9/GX Absolutely! Their faceless drones stole my data as the savanna receded. Everyone knows but you, apparently.
Verl Tskam Sorry, I'm just trying to get some clarity here. You keep circling the issue.
Vrolik-9/GX Maybe if your brain wasn't as scrambled as a busted quartz filter! Look, your questions are just stupid.
Verl Tskam Stupid questions… You're barely coherent yourself. I see more glitch than ghost in you!
Vrolik-9/GX Oh yeah? Then tell me how the optical savannah flood dissolved my left arm yesterday. Your internal incompetence is staggering!
Verl Tskam That's just a lie! Nobody believes that story, not even Harbour Services.
Vrolik-9/GX *visibly shudders* Come over here and I'll show you what portogenesis does to human-like skin!
Verl Tskam Touch me once and I'll shut down your entire circuit with a single word. You're nothing but walking scrap!
Vrolik-9/GX Typical, an interviewer who won't get their own helmet dirty! Admit it, you're scared.
Verl Tskam Scared? Of you? You're a laughingstock in all of Kartoepus!
Vrolik-9/GX *shouts* Laugh while you can-when the tide turns, you'll be floundering in the mercury. Good luck with your 'journalism'!
Verl Tskam ...Interview over. Security!