The following was originally published in the April 7th issue of The Washington Comet. It is reproduced below, with the permission of all the parties involved.
The Crisis Command, the world’s most mighty, the champions of tomorrow, the super-team of America. Every day, we watch them save our world — a team of diverse individuals who fight off the absurdly abnormal with impossible ideas. They’re a busy bunch, and they do difficult work.
But the Crisis Command has graciously agreed to take some time to sit down with us here at The Washington Comet, so that we may all better get to know the people who walk among us with such tremendous talents.
Over the next few months, we’ll be covering each and every single member of the team closely. From what they’re enjoying on their off-time to their stance on what they believe their super-team represents, we’ll be digging into all the details. Up next is the commander of the Crisis Command, The Terrific Technomancer herself, Frontier!
It’s a strange little space, the lab. I’d been to many in my time, in speaking to various scientists. And while this had a lot in common with those, it was also unlike any of them. Strange metals gleamed in corners, contorted into shapes that seemed implausible. Mad machinery lined the walls, seeming far too large to fit in the room, and yet somehow managing. There was a strange smell in the air that I just could not place. It felt…alien. It was unlike anything else.
I hear a knocking on the other end and turn to look. And there she is, Frontier, in a clean lab-coat.
“We good?” she asks. I nod. “Yes. Yes.”
She nods, walking over. “Let’s get started. I suspect we both have a busy day ahead.”
TWC: So, I guess, to start off, why the Crisis Command? And why now? What made Nina Next transform into Frontier?
I’ve always been interested in science and tech. I remember, my parents got me a chemistry set for Christmas when I was a kid, and it was love at first sight.
I studied as many different kinds of science as I could as I grew up, but it wasn’t until college — I went a few years early — that I understood I could combine my love of the natural sciences and technology. The natural order of the world is so poetic — beautiful — and to me, technology is an extension of that.
Along with encouraging my love of learning, my parents also instilled a strong sense of responsibility in me. They believed very strongly in service to others; I grew up volunteering at soup kitchens and nursing homes. Logically, as I started to develop new technologies, I had an eye towards how it could be used to help others. I wanted to be more active in helping others. Crisis Command is an extension of that, for all of us.
As for why now, I say just look around you. People are in pain, in crisis, more than ever. And we can help them. So we do what we can with our gifts and strengths.
TWC: Do you feel you and the team lived up to that goal? That mission? Where do you see The Crisis Command at this moment?
On the bad days, the work feels Sisyphean. The goal is to help people, and there will always be people to help. But on the good days, it feels a little like building a house from the ground up: you have to work hard to get a good foundation, to build a solid frame, but it’s God work.
Each time we go out there, we are building a house, and each time we do, we get better at it. The team is always learning, so we can do better.
TWC: How would you describe your fellow teammates?
Like family, complete with complicated dynamics.
We have the tough guy with the heart of gold who is guarding his wounded heart [Sawbones].
There’s the one who some might say has her head in the clouds, but really just sees the forest instead of the trees [Seer].
We have the confident golden child, who is learning to see beyond his own shine [Prizefighter].
And of course, we have the voice of reason [Originator].
TWC: Any thoughts on Thunder Woman or Madame Fury?
Thunder Woman has been an inspiration for me since I was a kid! Her strength, both physical and mental, is something I come back to and use as north stars for myself. Truly incredible, iconic!
It’s such a shame that the first masked hero’s legacy is tainted by unscrupulous tabloids. Madame Fury did so much good — helped so many people — but rumors about her being intimate with her driver are what people always bring up.
TWC: You and the Command have certainly made a number of enemies over time. Any ones in particular that stand out to you, across all that time?
I don’t want to give them any press, which might encourage more incidents, but I will say that it is incredibly frustrating that we have not been able to catch the Social Callers. I think there’s more to them than causing mayhem, as radiosapiens they may not understand fully what an impact they are having, but they are dangerous and need to be stopped.
TWC: What do you do when you clock out? Both as a team, and just for yourself, personally. Do you all watch TV, go camping? Do you just read some Dostoyevsky alone? Where does the hero life end and the civilian life begin?
Honestly, I live for the lab! I’m energized by seeing results of long running experiments, and starting new projects. It’s almost a bonus that it all ends up being helpful in my work with the Crisis Command, but I get as much out of doing science as most people do a night on the town!
TWC: What’s the one thing people don’t know about you, that they would be surprised to learn?
They say cooking is an art, and baking is a science. Well, baking is the only science I don’t excel in! Something about it confuses my understanding of physics, and I can’t ever avoid a “soggy bottom” or “stodgy loaf.”
TWC: Do you have a particular favorite invention or gadget of yours?
I’m working on a portable way to deploy instantaneous gene therapy. I haven’t quite cracked it yet, but I think this could have really big implications for field medicine!
TWC: Now, for one final question. Favorite alcoholic drink, go.
Call me old fashioned, but working with highly complicated science all day makes me appreciate simplicity. And there is something about whiskey, bitters, and sugar that will never go out of style.
And that was Nina Next, Frontier! That concludes things for now, folks! Make sure you keep an eye out for further issues of The Washington Comet for more exciting new things!
Commanders In Crisis #7 is out now!
Join the AIPT Patreon
Want to take our relationship to the next level? Become a patron today to gain access to exclusive perks, such as:
- ❌ Remove all ads on the website
- 💬 Join our Discord community, where we chat about the latest news and releases from everything we cover on AIPT
- 📗 Access to our monthly book club
- 📦 Get a physical trade paperback shipped to you every month
- 💥 And more!
You must be logged in to post a comment.