Causality (Quantum Gate Book 5)

by Eric Warren

  KC: Your descriptions and dialogue make the setting and characters really come to life while still allowing the reader to imagine bits and pieces and fill in gaps on their own. Were there any particular sources of inspiration you had for the characters and setting/world for the QG series?

  EW: My inspirations came from everywhere! I’m a big fan of Star Trek and if you look closely there are a lot of Star Trek references as well as influences from the show. Another big influence was Doctor Who, and Charlie’s voice is a direct reference to the Daleks. If you go back and read his lines in the voice of a Dalek it adds quite a different dimension to him.

  The characters themselves weren’t based on anyone in particular; I wanted characters that didn’t necessarily remind the reader of anyone so they could forge a closer relationship with them rather than say “Oh, Arista is just like such and such.” I was more concerned with making them as well-rounded as I could.

  KC: The technology and weapons are so fascinating. How did you get the idea for things like weapons, vehicles, and Arista’s Device? Are there any of these technologies you picture actually becoming a reality in the future? Or which ones do you think it would be cool to see come to fruition?

  EW: A lot of the technology was created out of story necessity, with the biggest piece being the Quantum Gates themselves. When I first wrote the first draft of the story, I didn’t even have the idea of the Gates in my mind. But when I found Arista trapped in a room with no doors (literally I’d written myself into a corner, lol) the idea came to me. Eventually I expanded the idea as the story grew and when I sat down to re-write the story, I decided to make the Gates central to the entire story.

  The humans’ weapons I created out of a desire to show that humans always build the most destructive things possible while the machines were just content to use what they had, which were basically pistols. The necrotizer came out of watching the old Transformers movie; when the robots died they turned gray and sometimes to ash. As for the drill gun I thought about the nanites from I, Robot, and how they tunneled into destroy an AI’s mind.

  Arista’s device was a bit of a challenge. I needed a piece of technology that would allow her to “keep up” with all the machines without being conspicuous. But it also needed to be something of a nuisance to her. As some human-augmented technology already exists, I didn’t think it was too far a step to say that in another thirty or forty years it’s possible we’ll be wearing computers on our brains.

  Personally I’d love it if we had Quantum Gates all over the planet; they would certainly eliminate the need for travel times and could cut down on traffic and pollution!

  KC: Which book in the series did you most enjoy writing? Was there a particular scene/event or character you enjoyed writing the most?

  EW: I think my favorite book to write was TRIALITY, because after two books of mostly machines I finally got to dig in with some humans and really open up the world a bit more.

  As for my favorite scene, I think it has to be the showdown between Arista and Sy, at the end of DUALITY. That was just so emotionally hard for me and I loved writing it. Though I’m also really proud of the ending to CAUSALITY as well.

  My favorite character to write had to be a toss-up between Jill and Blu. Both of whom just had so much personality it was impossible to contain them.

  KC: I absolutely loved the prequel! When did you write it? Was that the plan all along, to write a prequel and give readers some back-story on Arista’s past?

  EW: When I first wrote the story I had no plans on writing a prequel; I figured I would allude to everything in Arista’s past as the series progressed. But after I finished the re-write of Singular, I realized we would probably never see Arista interact with her parents, and that was something I wanted to ground the series. Why would you care about Emily and Carver if you never met them, other than their brief introduction in SINGULAR? So I decided to write a short story showing the reader how chaotic Arista’s introduction into this world had been, and how her parents had helped her navigate it.

  KC: Why did you decide to self-publish?

  EW: I wanted to retain full control of the story. I’ve pitched to agents and publishers before, but never with this story, because I always wanted the freedom over things like the titles, the covers, etc., some of which you don’t always get to choose when you’re working with a publisher. It also allowed me more flexibility with releasing the series. Had I gone with a traditional publisher they could have insisted on six months between books and I honestly was not willing to wait.

  KC: What is your writing process like? Do you have an outline in mind to begin with and then tackle chapters in sequence, or do you skip around and then refine?

  EW: I am big on outlining. Each one of the books in the series had a 40-chapter outline at the beginning, most of which were longer than fifteen thousand words. I write everything in sequence, straight through then go back and make edits where necessary. I find I can’t jump around when writing, I have to get the full story down first and then if something needs changing, I’ll go back and rewrite later.

  KC: I noticed that on Instagram you post about your word counts each month; is that something you started out doing or is that something you started later?

  EW: It’s something I started doing with this series and I’ve found it has been a big motivator to keep me on track. I’m always studying writing in some way and I happened to be reading a few different books at the time that suggested it. I found once I started tracking my daily word counts, my productivity shot up. So it must have worked!

  KC: What was most challenging or difficult for you when writing the series?

  EW: Probably writing a bunch of (nearly) emotionless machines! It’s difficult to tell what a character is doing or thinking if you can’t pick up on normal context clues we humans take for granted like shifty eyes, sweat on the brow or a quick pulse. Walking that razor edge for the whole series was more difficult than I anticipated.

  KC: When did you start writing? Is being an author something you’ve always done or wanted to do?

  EW: I’ve always written in some form, beginning with short stories back in elementary school. It’s always come very naturally to me, though I didn’t embark on a career with it until summer of 2014. I was in a desperate search for some fulfillment in my life professionally and turned to the only creative thing I knew I could do (I’ve never been good at drawing or music). At the time I wasn’t even sure I could write a novel-length work. But after spending a couple years refining my craft and my process, I finally figured it out.

  KC: What advice would you have for aspiring authors who have an idea for a book but are hesitant to get started?

  EW: Read. Read as much as you can and start writing every day. Even if it is just a couple of words, get something down on paper. Read books on how to write, how to plot, how to create characters. Like anything else, it will come with practice. Get involved with the writer community; there is literally no better group of people willing to prop each other up. I’ve found so much support and help and I would not be where I am today without their help. You’d be surprised at how willing other authors are to help those just starting out.

  KC: What are some of your favorite books, or who are some of your favorite authors?

  EW: That’s such a hard question because it changes all the time! David Mitchell is a big one for me, as well as Shari Lapena. David does amazing characters and Shari has this way of making you turn the page that’s uncanny. Also Caroline Kepnes; a fantastically twisted author. When I first read YOU I was blown away.

  KC: What are you working on now? I’m interested to know what can we look forward to from you next! Another series? And when?!

  EW: Currently I’m working on my next series, a nine-book space opera called GALAXY’S END. It follows the adventures of a rogue officer banished to the far reaches of the galaxy as he tries to find redemption for the betrayal he suffered at the hands of his commanding officer. The first book is ca
lled CASPIAN’S FORTUNE and is due out in the spring of 2019.

  KC: Thanks for taking the time for this Q&A. We can’t wait for the new series!

  EW: Thank you, and thank you to all my readers out there! I couldn’t do this without you. Happy reading!

  Did you enjoy the QUANTUM GATE SERIES? If so, keep reading for an exclusive sneak preview of my next series: GALAXY’S END.

  GALAXY’S END BOOK 1:

  CASPIAN’S FORTUNE

  1

  “Why must you disappoint me, Cas? Next time come visit my side of the ship,” the woman said, descending the long metal ramp.

  Caspian raised his fist to his chest in salute, ignoring the insinuation. The Princess knew full well if Caspian so much as looked at her the wrong way he’d see the end of a shooting gallery by the end of the day. But that didn’t mean he couldn’t at least be cordial.

  “I can only…apologize if everything wasn’t to your satisfaction,” he replied.

  She reached the bottom of the ramp, gliding over the surface as if she were on a portable hover, her long dress concealing any hint of actual legs underneath there. For all Cas knew, maybe she didn’t even have legs. Maybe there was some kind of rolling device that replaced her entire bottom torso. Yes, it was better he keep that image in his mind rather than where his imagination wanted to direct him.

  A sweet, flowery scent filled the air as she moved into his personal space. Cas tightened his fist, pressing it into his chest as hard as he could. The Princess was almost exactly his height, and she stopped just inches short of their faces touching. Caspian tried not to breathe her in but it was impossible and intoxicating at the same time. “You know Cas,” she said, her voice low. “We could always extend the trip. Your…skills…could be put to use in places other than the engine of your ship.”

  Cas suppressed the urge to wet his lips. “Begging your pardon, your highness, but I’m afraid we wouldn’t have the time. You’re due for your ceremony in only a few hours.”

  She reached up with her slender fingers and drew them down the stubble on his cheek. Immediately he felt the ache of desire bloom within him, but he held steadfast. He really wished for that mechanical torso right about now. “I can be quick if you can,” she whispered.

  His body wanted to shudder at the suggestion but he planted his resolve. One finger out of place and he was dead. His Royal Highness of Cloistria would make him suffer ten different ways before granting a merciful death. And suffer greatly. Still…the temptation was strong. If he suspected she was doing anything other than toying with him he might actually consider it.

  “Alas,” she said, dropping her gaze. “You are correct. And I mustn’t keep my family waiting. You performed your duty admirably.”

  Cas took a breath. The first he’d probably taken in the last two minutes. The Princess moved past him, still gliding as if on a cloud of air. He dropped his fist and turned to watch her leave.

  “Your accommodations were satisfactory,” she added. “But next time I’ll expect the deluxe package.”

  Cas had to keep from rolling his eyes because even though the Princess had her back to him, her two guards who had disembarked before her stood facing Cas, their stares boring into him. But even if they hadn’t been there the Royal Family had surveillance over all of these parts. Making a move on the Princess would have been the last voluntary action Cas ever took as a human being.

  As she moved away he pulled a small rectangular device from his pocket, checking his balance on the comm unit. Something was wrong.

  “Er…Princess,” Cas called, jogging to catch up with her. The two guards immediately advanced on him, moving on either side of the Princess and each grabbing him by the bicep. “For Kor’s sake, I just want to ask a question,” Cas spat at them. The Princess turned to face him again, gliding forward. He wrenched one arm go when the Princess raised her hand to indicate he could speak.

  “Change your mind?” she asked, a twinkle in her eye.

  “Your payment didn’t process through,” Cas said, holding up his readout.

  “Oh.” She seemed genuinely disappointed. But it quickly hardened back into her normal confidence. “I transferred your payment to your partner’s account. He gave me all the proper credentials. I assumed you two split everything fifty-fifty.”

  Cas did his best to keep from lashing out at her. Another death sentence. “My…partner.” He meant it as a question but also didn’t want the Princess to see his confusion.

  “Yes, Mr. Maddox explained it all quite expertly.”

  Cas bit the inside of his lip, forcing a smile. “Yes. Of course. Sorry for the confusion. I hope you enjoyed the trip.”

  She smiled. “Not as much as I could have, I suspect.” She reached up for his face again, but stopped mid-way and retracted her hand. Then she turned on her cloud of air and was off toward the entrance to the Elongorium. And with a snap of her fingers her guards silently turned and followed her.

  As soon as she was through the sliding doors Cas raced back up the ramp into the ship. “Box! Box, get me coordinated on Maddox NOW!”

  Box poked his rectangular metal head from around one of the corridors. “Maddox?” he asked in his Mancunian accent. “Wot’s he got to do with anyfin’?”

  “And drop that damn accent!” Cas yelled, reaching the cockpit of his ship. His hands flew over the controls, retrieving the ramp and moving through the pre-flight checklist faster than he should. He didn’t care. He needed to find Maddox right now.

  “Sorry boss,” Box said as he entered the cockpit, slumping down on the pilot’s seat. “Last known location was Devil’s Gate, as if he would be anywhere else.”

  “Great,” Cas fumed. “Just fantastic. That’s six hours away. It’ll all be gone by then.”

  “Stole your money again, huh?” Box asked in the superior way he always did. “I never did like that man.”

  “Then help me get us the hell out of here so we can steal it back,” Cas yelled, finishing the pre-flight sequence.

  “Boss, I don’t think you’re supposed to—”

  “He’s not getting away with it, not this time,” Cas said, hitting the thrusters. The Reasonable Excuse jumped to life, lifting off from the landing pad and spinning one-hundred-eighty degrees as it blasted away from the Elongorium. Box turned his attention to the controls, making the adjustments Cas had forgotten in his haste.

  “How’d he do it this time?” Box asked.

  “Commed the Princess. Told her we were partners,” Cas yelled.

  “Boss.”

  “What?”

  “You’re yelling. There’s a finite amount of oxygen.”

  Cas gritted his teeth. “Give me a break. We have reserves for weeks.”

  “Fine,” Box said, folding his spindly, metal arms behind his head. “Don’t complain to me when the air runs out. I don’t need it. I’ll be just fine. In fact, keep screaming. It means I inherit this ship sooner.”

  “Robots can’t own ships,” Cas said, seething. He wasn’t even focusing on Box. All his thoughts were on Maddox and exactly how much of his payment from the Princess the man had already gambled away. In six hours he’d be lucky if there was even one drach left.

  “Robots can’t lie either and you fixed that little problem,” Box said with a smugness that could never show on his featureless face. Box was a typical class 117 Autonomous Robotic Counterpart which meant he was built for labor. He sported a transparent visor across his “eyes” and a metal mask across the rest of his “face” but in actuality there was nothing underneath there except a speaker for a mouth and two yellow optical sensors for eyes. It was designed to protect his components from the harsh weather conditions of whatever assignment he’d received. Fortunately for Box, he’d never seen a day of labor in his life thanks to Cas.

  Cas rubbed his temple. He needed to get to Devil’s Gate quicker. “How close is one of the undercurrents to the gate?”

  “Approximately fifty billion kilometers,” Box replied instant
ly. At least he was good for that much, Cas never had to look anything up.

  “And how close are we to the undercurrent?”

  “Vetar has an entrance at the edge of the system. Thirty minutes at this speed.” They’d already reached the uppermost layers of the atmosphere of Vetar IV, home of Her Royal Highness and surrounding court. It wasn’t a place Cas had visited before and honestly he didn’t see what all the fuss was about. It was just another blue and green planet with a purple atmosphere. The only reason it was even remotely important was because it was in Orion space. Had it been part of the Coalition…

  “We’re taking the undercurrent,” Cas said.

  “Boss, that will cut less than an hour off the trip and put extra strain on the ship. Maybe you want to get her serviced before another undercurrent jump.”

  He swiveled to Box. “Tell me this, smart guy. How am I supposed to pay for any repairs without any money?”

  Box shrugged. “Steal? I noticed the Princess had some fine jewels on her person.”