O.D.I.N. Berserker - Wendel Spears Greetings all. Today I've been fortunate enough to get a chat with Wendel Spears, one of the on-the-run Beserker's we've been hearing so much about recently. Mr Spears has been kind enough to spare me a little time at this undisclosed location to answer a few questions for us... Question: So, Mr Spears, my first question has to be, what exactly is a berserker? We've been hearing lots of rumours on the subject and speculation is rife... Answer: A Berserker is a special agent class within O.D.I.N. who has undergone extensive training and bio-engineering.

Question: So the rumor about bio-engineering is true? What does that entail?

Answer: There is gene re-sequencing to improve things like grip, vision, really, all around sensory enhancement. Surgery is also involved - computer membranes are attached to hormone producing glands, which are active when we click into overdrive, feeding us extraordinary amounts of endorphins and adrenaline, for example. Spinal and joint surgery, including the insertion of cushioned rotator discs, enhance our flexibility. It's a head to toe transformation.

Question: You mentioned "overdrive" - what is this?

Answer: Essentially, battle rage. You know it happens when our eyes goe from blue to black.

Question: So all Berserkers have blue eyes?

Answer: Yes. The same blue - Berserker blue.

Question: Wow, this all sounds intriguing, and very dangerous. How did you become a Berserker? Can anyone become one, or is there a specifi criteria recruits need to meet?

Answer: Physical, mental and moral assessments are made. You have to score high on the first two...not so much on the third. For me, it was become a Berserker or go to jail. At the time, it seemed preferable to jail.

Question: Can you tell me, what does O.D.I.N stand for, or is that classified?

Answer: O.D.I.N. is the Office of the Domestic Intelligence Network.

Question: We hear you guys are specially trained for combat? What sort of training have you had?

Answer: It's pretty much end-of-days training in weaponry, hand-to-hand combat, ground assault vehicle operation, explosives, SERE (survival, evasion, resistance and escape) training, torture and interrogation techniques, advanced first-response medicine, and engine, weaponry and electrical repair.

Question: What were you like before you became a Berserker?

Answer: I was a stupid kid, not too long out of high school, living in the worst neighborhood in Shit City - what you might call Chicago.

Question: Are you all human or are there some shifters and para creatures among you?

Answer: As far as I know, we're all human. Never seen anything some might call a shifter or para that wasn't lab-based.

Question: What kind of missions do you go on? And are they all dangerous?

Answer: Sometimes they send me for Chinese takeout.

Question: Do you mean that's classified?

Answer: Yes.

Question: But are they all dangerous?

Answer: Yes.

Question: What do you do in your downtime?

Answer: Train, read and sleep. We're not allowed out into the real world unless we're on a mission.

Question: Can you tell us your favorite place to visit when not on duty? What kind of things do you guys do to relax?

Answer: My barracks room. We generally keep to ourselves - I guess the other guys read, too, watch vids. My brother usually did programming to "relax."

Question: Your brother is a Berserker, too?

Answer: Was - but I won't answer any more questions about him.

Question: Okay, moving on then, what's your favorite meal?

Answer: A bacon cheeseburger.

Question: And your favorite music? Anything that we would be surprised about?

Answer: If I'm on a mission and I've got music plugged in, I like techno and trance. Back in the barracks, we have to be careful about music...don't want anything like metal. You wouldn't want to see a Berserker mosh pit. It ain't pretty. So mostly I just listen to classical in the barracks - doesn't interfere with reading.

Question: What do you look for in a significant other? Are you allowed to have an S.O. whilst being a beserker?

Answer: Loyalty, which is pretty damn nonexistent outside of the Berserker class. Our "S.O." would be whichever Valk all-father happens to assign us to. Couldn't risk intimacy with someone outside of the Valk class.

Question: All-father?

Answer: It's what we call the old man...O.D.I.N.'s Director.

Question: So, what we've been hearing about Valks and Berserkers, the terms being used almost as a pair, it's true that each Berserker is matched with a Valk?

Answer: Let's get one thing clear, Valks are all-father's women, not ours. He tells them who to go with, when to go with them. Usually they go out on their own missions - wet work, what you would call assassinations. It's only when a Berserker needs brought back in, or otherwise requires special handling that a Valk is paired with one.

Question: Well, I was going to ask you what your perfect date would be...

Answer: That's easy - in my own home, with my own wife, our kids tucked in their beds. A fire on the hearth. A long weekend before us, loving each other.

Question: How does a Berserker define romance?

Answer: I think I just did.

For more information on Mr.Spears please see classified files at http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1330