Writing
Written April 2009
“I didn’t know how they’d tracked me. Y’know, I still didn’t know what this guy wanted with me. But at that point, I didn’t care anymore. I was glad I’d been caught. I was willing to accept whatever punishment I was about to receive. I just wanted to move on. If only I knew what I’d gotten into.”
The game script for Redeemed was written for a third-person shooter I had conceptually designed. It follows the story of a reluctant character, Judas Sensus, who is forcibly recruited by an organization that will, in return for acquiring his services, teach him how to utilize an implant that bestows minor telepathic powers. The last level of the game features an alternate ending where he uncovers the extent to which he’s being manipulated, which he responds to by setting things right.
When designing the first two thirds of the game, I was heavily influenced by film noir, particularly film noir that follows detectives, which is why much of that part of the game takes place in city streets at nighttime. It is the intention that people playing the game would be familiar with the genre, and it would be a way to further emphasize Judas’ own shady actions.
Characters
Judas Sensus: “You won’t have to find me. I’m coming for you next.”
Judas is the main character of Redeemed. A man in his late twenties, Judas is kidnapped by a shadowy organization, the Legion, that implanted him with a bionic device that grants him telepathic powers. In return for his training, however, he is coerced into doing some jobs for them. Initially an unremarkable man, he grows increasingly more aggravated that he is manipulated.
Hugo: “Such anger. I do look forward to harnessing your… capabilities.”
Hugo is the leader of the Legion, as well as their primary doctor responsible performing experiments that result in telepathic warriors like Judas. A large man, Hugo is a thirty-seven year old who is highly charismatic and manipulative, and acts as Judas’s friend, supervisor, and trainer. He is also ultimately responsible for the mission objectives that Judas is asked to perform.
Carly: “…we do things in a bit of a ragtag sort of way. But we mean well.”
Quiet and helpful, and in her mid-twenties, Carly is one of Hugo’s closest lieutenants. She is primarily responsible for Judas’s training. Her emotionless demeanor is actually indicative of something else; she has been twisted to serve Hugo’s will with little regard for her own welfare.
Sammy: “Oh? And just who the hell do you think you are?”
Sammy is a petty criminal that Judas is asked to kidnap, not unlike his own method of recruitment. Sammy is violent, rash, and difficult to track down, though his elusiveness has more to do with the organization of the group he works with rather than any sort of attempt at being clever.
The script in its entirety can be viewed here.
Shadows of Redemption
This is a completely original piece of fiction that I’ve been working on since my senior year of high school. Based on a concept I’d worked on earlier in high school, Shadows of Redemption is a science-fiction piece that relies on the reader being able to interpret individual character’s points of view to get the complete meaning. To this end, Shadows is written using a third person multiple perspective and it primarily follows six main character’s experiences (though it will occasionally follow a minor character to provide the reader with different insight) as they travel with and combat one another. There is no protagonist; instead, the reader experiences events through the characters’ eyes to get an idea of what is actually happening in their universe.
Shadows of Redemption is currently divided into three parts, totaling 450 pages. I have also been working on a prequel, in my scant spare time, to further flesh out some of the important characters’ back stories. I will be uploading the three main parts in the near future when I feel as though they are ready to be viewed.
