BLOG TOUR – CHARACTERS INTERVIEW & GIVEAWAY: “Evenfall DC” by Santino Hassell & Ais

If you follow this blog regularly, it’s no secret that we have some HUGE fans on our team of the epic series “In the Company of Shadows”. This free, online story is being newly edited and rereleased as Directors Cuts by the authors. “Evenfall”, book 1, has been released in 2 parts. Whether you’re a fan that will reread or are diving in for the first time, you’re in for a treat. Let us introduce you to the two main characters…

 

After being led through a series of security checks, we’re now at the HQ of “Johnsons Pharmaceuticals” in Lexington, PA. We’ve been given clearance to speak to two of the employees here after obtaining highly confidential information about the existence of The Agency, an anti-terrorist organization protecting the interests of the US in this new world order. 

 

The agents are Boyd Beaulieu and Hsin Liu Vega.

 

 

BioB: Gentlemen, thank you for taking the time.

Sin: *crosses his arms over his chest and glares through the two-way mirror lining the wall* I can’t believe Connors is making me do this.

Boyd: *addresses BioB* Thank you for your patience. I’m sure it took some time to get this far on compound. I don’t know how interesting or helpful we’ll be, but I’m certainly willing to try.

Sin: I could give two shits about being interesting.

Boyd: *discreetly elbows Sin*

 

BioB: Um, well…so, though we’ve been given clearance for information, we actually don’t know much about The Agency, it’s purpose, and what your role as agents is for them. Can you tell us more?

Boyd: The Agency is an organization that protects the safety of the government and citizens by addressing domestic terrorism and other threats with zero tolerance. With all the insurgents out there, especially larger scale organizations like Janus which is overtaking and integrating smaller groups on a daily basis, the goal of our employers is to stop this from accelerating to a point of a civil war or another world war. The role of the agents depends on their assignments. Sin and I are in the highest clearance insurgency unit focused specifically on Janus, so a lot of what we do is try to stop Janus cells from forming or growing.

Sin: *flat stare* Wow. Now that you’ve given them the propaganda answer, I guess I’ll give a real one. The Agency was originally formed as an intelligence organization during the Cold War. Now, they do combat domestic terrorists, but they also spend the bulk of their resources attempting to take down groups that want a change in administration because of all the death and destruction caused by WWIII. Since, you know, millions of people died and then the leaders involved just shook hands and expected it all to be forgotten. But whatever my, or any agent’s opinion is, we carry out the missions, or assassinations, accordingly.

 

BioB: I’m not sure if they’re the good guys or the bad guys. Well…as this is not a political piece but more a “human interest” interview, we’re very curious about you both. How’d you come to be employed by The Agency?

Sin: My father was an agent. He trained me to follow in his footsteps since I was a child and, when he died, I did. There was nowhere else for someone like me to go. This is what I’m good at, so this is what I do.

Boyd: My mother volunteered me to be a potential partner for Sin. She’s the second in command at the Agency, Inspector Vivienne Beaulieu.

Sin: They hired him to be my babysitter. My other partners wound up in… unfortunate circumstances, but for some reason they thought Boyd would be a good fit. For the first time, ever, they were right.

Boyd: *hides a smile*

 

BioB: Sounds like youv’e got some tough parents…the both of you. And how is the partnership working out for you?

Sin: Well, I’m not waiting for him to die anymore, so that’s something. He’s proved marginally useful even if he is a pain in the ass.

Boyd: *snorts* Like you’re any easier to deal with. But he’s more involved in the missions now, which is good. I was practically going it alone for a while.

Sin: Because he acted like an idiot on the first mission. I’m a big believer in letting people die of their own stupidity. But I guess he’s okay now…

Boyd: You aren’t making this much better the more you say. You should just stop now.

 

BioB: So, it’s a love/hate thing…I see. My guess is that you were downloaded with information on one another before being partnered up. What were you told about the other? 

Boyd: I didn’t have access to his files at first so all I had to go on was what everyone said, which were the same lies everyone says about him. He’s a monster, psychotic, inhuman, insane, you can’t trust him, etc. Although they did sometimes counterbalance that with the truth that he’s the best agent at the Agency.

Sin: Am I?

Boyd: Of course you are. Who would be better?

Sin: Good point. *looks at BioB with a slight smirk* I was given his file, but I didn’t bother to read it for months. It said he was an intelligent shut-in who spent years avoiding the world. They thought he would be a good match for me because he wasn’t interested enough in anything to give a fuck about why the Agency keeps me on a short leash.

Boyd: Ha. They were right on that. In the beginning, at least.

 

BioB: Seems like it’s, erm, starting to work out for the partnership. What has been the BEST mission the two of you have been on together to date? The worst?

Sin: The best was a reconnaissance mission in Spain. I could walk around freely for the first time in years. Even he seemed to show interest long enough to have an expression. Not that I was paying attention.

Boyd: *gives Sin an odd look* Well… I don’t really know. I never thought about it. Spain was nice, I guess. I’m interested in art and architecture, and I’d always been curious about La Sagrada Familia, so it was nice to see that in person. I think that was probably the first mission where we weren’t hostile toward each other the entire time, and that was the first time I saw his tattoo. As for the worst… that was probably France.

Sin: *scowls and looks away* Yes.

 

BioB: (note: research the mission in France to find out more…there’s a story there…)  …What has been the biggest challenge for you both in this partnership?

Boyd: Trust.

Sin: He thinks he is in charge all the time.

Boyd: Oh great. We’re back to that complaint again.

Sin: It’s a fact.

Boyd: *rolls his eyes* Same as it’s a fact that you didn’t even want to be involved for a long time. Either way, that gets back to what I was saying. Neither of us are very good at trusting other people completely and I think it manifests in different ways.

 

BioB: If you could pick another person in The Agency to partner with, who would it be?

Boyd: Ryan. I feel comfortable around him. He’s the only friend I have at the Agency.

Sin: *blank stare*

 

BioB: Maybe you can think on it, Agent Vega, and get back to us with an answer. …So, if The Agency hadn’t recruited you, what do you think you’d be doing with your life at this time?

Boyd: Nothing. If there was any justice in the world, I’d already be dead.

Sin: Considering I was a trained killer at fourteen, I’m sure I’d be in jail. Or a psychiatric ward.

 

BioB: Wow. Ok. So, consider yourselves lucky (?) to be here? My guess in this dangerous/demanding job is that it must be hard to hold down a personal life, relationships? Are either of you involved with anyone and how does that work? Are they “in the know”? Supportive?

Boyd: I’m not very good with people. Almost everyone I know is related to the Agency at this point, so I don’t really need to worry about it. The only person who’s alive from my childhood is a woman I think of sort of as my grandma, named Jezebel. She has a little ice cream cart in a neighborhood I used to hang around. I’ve only seen her once since I started at the Agency, and she doesn’t know. But I rarely saw her even before then, so it isn’t a problem.

Sin: Boyd is the only person I speak to. Anywhere. And just so you know, if you go around repeating what we’ve said in this interview, you’ll end up terminated just like any civilian that an agent keeps in the know. The people who run the Agency won’t hesitate to silence a potential leak.

Boyd: He’s right. You should be careful.

 

BioB: *fidgets* Um, thanks for the heads up. I’ll…well…   ….What’s next up for you guys? Another mission already planned?

Boyd: *hesitates and glances sidelong at Sin* Well… yes. We’re about to leave for a long one in Mexico. It’s our first long-term undercover together.

Sin: Apparently we will be living together. For eight months. *fidgets with the hem of his shirt* It should be… interesting.

Boyd: It’ll be… yeah. *avoids eye contact*

 

BioB: And after you “retire”, what’s the future hold for you?

Boyd: I don’t anticipate having a future, to be honest. If you come back in a year or two, I’ll be shocked if I’m still alive.

Sin: I’ll probably have a psychotic fit and be locked up on the Fourth again. It’s the Agency’s version of a prison. Unless we kill each other in Mexico first.

Boyd: *laughs* I sincerely hope that doesn’t happen.

 

BioB: Gentlemen, I’d like to say it’s been a pleasure, but you’ve kind of freaked me the fuck out. Still, I feel oddly safer knowing you guys are looking out for the US. I guess it would take a bit of insanity to be successful in this role. At the very least…it’s good to know you’re good at your jobs… (and you’re both fucking HOT…just sayin…) Thanks again.

Boyd: *chuckles* Thank you… I think.

Sin: Can I go now?

Boyd: *watches Sin leave without waiting for an answer, and sighs.* Sorry about that. It was nice meeting you. Good luck on your article. Officer Amos is ready to escort you back off compound but before I go, too– Please… Do be careful what you tell others. It really could be dangerous for you. I’d hate to later find out you were tortured or killed.

 

BioB: Yeah, I’d kinda hate that too. It was nice to meet you. Thanks for your time. Stay safe out there. And your partner too.  

 

BOOK INFO: 

Title: Evenfall Directors’ Cut Volume 2 
Authors: Santino Hassell & Ais
Release Date: September 21, 2014
Publisher: Online Freefic
Links: www.inthecompanyofshadows.com

 

 

 

ABOUT: 

In a post-apocalyptic future, the Agency works behind the scenes to take down opposition groups that threaten the current government. Their goals justify all means, even when it comes to their own agents.

In the newly revised Director’s Cut of Evenfall, the second volume follows Sin and Boyd through a long-term undercover mission in Mexico. They think the hardest part will be maintaining their covers and handling their attraction while living in close quarters, but that’s only the beginning of their newest trials.

When hard and fast decisions lead to catastrophic consequences, the two agents realize getting out of Mexico alive may be their biggest challenge yet.

 

GIVEAWAY 

 $50 credit to the ICoS Agency Gift Shop.

Leave a comment on this post to enter to win. Winner will be chosen at random from all comments and announced Monday, September 29th.