Character Interview: Graciela di Scimtar (at the start of Working The Trenches)

1. Go ahead and introduce yourself.

I am Graciela Juarez di Scimtar.

2.Tell us where and when were you born.

I was born on Earth, in Riverside, California, United States. It was at the time a Lost Colony, with no knowledge of the Empire

3. How would you describe yourself?

I’m a Second Order Guardian. Usually I keep myself around 5 feet 6 inches tall, often called the ‘bear’ body type on Earth; in the Empire, it’s called an endurance build, the most common among Guardians. Thicker waist than some, broad shoulders and hips, built for strength and endurance. Like all Guardians, I can alter my physical form given time, but we tend to keep basically the same form. I usually keep the coloration I was born with – medium olive skin, chocolate eyes, and dark shoulder length hair just a shade away from black.

4. Tell us about where you grew up.

Suburban Southern California. For all the nonsense in the media at the time, ethnic boundaries didn’t really divide us. We had friends and socialized with everyone. My family was of Mexican descent, but we were proud Americans.

5. How old are you?

Thirty-three Earth years personal duration. By Imperial standards, that’s barely adult.

6. Did you have a happy childhood? Why/why not?

I had such a happy childhood I turned into a teen rebel mostly for drama. I was the baby, and not only my parents but my older siblings doted on me.

7. Past/ present relationships? How did they affect you?

Too many to mention. I’m done with casual sex; I’ve been married for a couple years now and I’m so much happier.

8. What do you value above all else in life?

My husband, Asto Scimtar. Yes, his grandfather is THE Scimtar.

9. What are you obsessed with?

My in-laws and the Empire in general have done so much for me; I want to pay them back as best as I am able.

10.How do your beliefs make life better for yourself and the people you care about?

I’m Catholic. Some people may think that’s outdated, especially given Imperial science, but it’s what inspired me to keep going when it seemed like there was nothing one person could do, and you know how much better off Earth is now that the Empire has stepped in.

11. Biggest fear?

For so long I was afraid that everything I could do wouldn’t be enough to save Earth from itself. When Russia and China had their nuclear exchange, I was afraid the entire planet was about to go up in flames. Now that that’s past, all my other fears seem so minor.

12. What line will you never cross?

I’m an Imperial citizen now; the Empire has earned my loyalty. Too many people have asked me to betray the Empire, “After all, you’re an American.” I was. But not any longer.

13. What is the best thing that ever happened to you? The worst?

My husband and his family are the best. The worst was finding out my parents had been killed while I was gone.

14. Most embarrassing thing that ever happened to you?

When I first got to the Empire. Since I wasn’t a legal adult, my legal guardians required me to get a contraceptive implant. I’d been a legal adult on Earth for years, which counted for nothing.

15. Biggest secret?

Asto knows about the worst detail of my wild past, but if I told you it wouldn’t be a secret, would it?

16. What is the one word you would use to define yourself?

‘Adult’. Here in the Empire, that means a lot more than it did on Earth.

17. What is your current goal?

To take my turn in the military serving the Empire. That I’ll be checking a box that’s essentially required to become any kind of Imperial official later is a nice bonus, but not the primary motivation. I feel both grateful and indebted to the Empire.