First novel in a post-cyberpunk series set a few decades from now in a city built from the ground up by a group of mega-corporations. It follows the adventures of a young man with cybernetic eyes, his bioengineered girlfriend, and their roommate, as they stumble onto a data-smuggling plot that could cost them their lives before they can find a way out. Meanwhile, their daughter and son arrive from the future on a mission to avert a disaster that destroyed the city and killed millions of people.
Characters
Jack Hammer
Human, early twenties. Around six feet in height with an average build. Tends to wear dark clothing including cargo pants, boots, and a black duster. Has solid black cybernetic eyes and a job he hates. He's generally cranky while on the job, but is much more mellow on his own time. The story begins on his last night on said job, after which he plans to work freelance muscle gigs with his girlfriend, Corona.
Corona Borealis
Genetically engineered bipedal dragon, physically a teenager and chronologically six months old. Seven feet tall with a hugely muscular physique. Grown in a tank in a Biotek lab and programmed with over two dozen languages and detailed combat techniques, originally intended for use by the military and dumped on the streets when the program was cancelled. Began working as a hired gun to survive and moved in with Jack soon after meeting him because she needed a place to live and he needed help paying bills. She's generally cheerful, friendly, and giggles a lot.
Taura
Genetically engineered minotaur, two years older than Corona. Has been Corona's friend and mentor since the younger anthro's inception. Seven feet tall and just as muscular as Corona. Quiet and withdrawn, calm and thoughtful under normal conditions, she can fight as well as the next anthro, but her true passion is computers and hacking. Her most-used gadget is a "multitool" that could be described as a combination computer, smartphone, tricorder, and sonic screwdriver. Ended up on the streets with Corona when Biotek was ordered to free their creations, and moved in with Jack at the same time Corona did, taking one bedroom while he and Corona ended up sharing the other.
Otto Fellatio
Teenage human, self-taught hacker and co-host of a podcast he and his friend Shakira do for fun and profit. Likes to shave his head except for a very "1980s" frill of spikes which he dyes a variety of different colors, changing from one to another whenever he feels like it. He knows his stuff when it comes to hacking, but is very much the antithesis of "the Wesley"--not arrogant at all, with a good sense of humor and a certain maturity that may have come from fending for himself since the age of six. Has a huge crush on Shakira, but goes out of his way not to push it too far. Often plagued by nightmares that he comes to suspect are deeply buried memories of another time and another place.
Shakira Moseley
Human, mid-thirties, gifted hacker. Originally from Jamaica, her family moved to Neon City when she was a child. Overweight and more than a little self-conscious about it, and not exactly comforted by the knowledge that Otto considers her attractive because of it rather than in spite of it. Usually mellow, personality-wise, and is perfectly comfortable sitting in her apartment alone, writing or debugging software, taking on freelance hacking gigs, or unwinding with a video game.
Boiler
Bioengineered anthro dragon, age 25. Daughter of Jack, Corona, and Taura, though they don't know it yet. Eight feet tall and excessively muscular, with slightly more human features than Corona. Takes after her dad, personality-wise; has a quick temper and is often brooding. Was a bounty hunter working for the Fugitive Retrieval Agency for the past five years, but that changed--along with everything else in her life--when Neon City was blown off the map in 2070. Thanks to an alien device, she and her brother and her friend traveled back through time to 2046 to escape those they were running from, and to try to set right what went so horribly wrong.
Sledge
Bioengineered minotaur, age 20. Brother of Boiler. About the same size and build as an athletic human, with a laid-back attitude and a healthy sense of humor. Skilled with software and hardware both, builds gadgets out of spare parts as a hobby, and after receiving some cybernetic enhancements, is able to record video and audio without using visible devices, among other talents. Went on the run with Boiler when everything fell apart in 2070, and traveled with her and Quentin back to 2046. Troubled for a long time by the pain caused by the loss of his parents and friends, he's beginning to return to his former self now that he has a chance to prevent the coming disaster.
Quentin Ericson
Human/anthro dragon hybrid, age 16. Son of Machiko Ericson, for whom Boiler's parents worked in the 2070s. Appears mostly human, with his only anthro traits being a tail and wings. Quiet, shy, gentle, and a bit nerdy, but fast and agile, and can handle himself in a fight through sheer speed. Has strong feelings for Boiler, which he is only now beginning to let her see.