Opal Fremmitty appears in Vol 1.0 of the Slipshot saga. She is on of a class of Slaves called Mechanics, or more formally, Mechanic Class Slaves. Her origin, like all Slave Classes, is Griddish, a wide, domed disk that is floating in a separate dimension is deep space. Within Griddish, she hails from the city of Ashen Fissure. She lives, along with other Mechanic Class Slaves, in a walled fortress known as Sanguine Heap. She reports to a Mechanic Class Slave named Rive Amber.
Description[]
Opal's skill set is managing the Sleeper Class Vérkatrae as they descend to an assigned Var during a dismantlement project. Her primary responsibility is ensuring the Sleeper Class Vértkatrae are deployed properly and function without any glitches, and that they arrive to a targeted Var in the proper order. She is generally able to complete her assignments, except when she descends to Var 8 through the Slipshot. It is here that she starts to undergo a period of regret, especially as she befriends Fredrick Munchen and Jillian Crenshaw, Varlings who eventually become victims to the plans of the Council of Engineer Class Citizens to dismantle their home world, knowns as Var 8, or Earth.
Appearance[]
Opal Fremmitty is 5' 4" tall. She often wears clothes that help her with her field support work, such as, trousers with extra pockets. Installed on her right forearm is a steel plate. She injured herself during a prior Var dismantlement project. She is often seen smoking and has taken on a recent drinking habit. She carries a flask filled with various Var liquors and is a heavy smoker. Who two ponytails are often unkempt.
Personality[]
Opal has a generally messy appearance as well as a messy personality. Her apartment in San Francisco's China Town, where she stays during her assigned Var 8 dismantlement project, is littered with spare parts, stacked on table tops and on the floor. She has in her possession a small Vérkatros who assists her in her daily maintenance projects. She does not get along well with the Vérkatrae that she oversees.
During her assignment on Var 8, Earth, she goes through a personal crises where she questions the judgment of the Council of Engineer Class Citizens, as well as the role of the Mechanic Class Slaves in the overall goals of Griddish.
Relationships[]
Opal has a tenuous friendship with Fredrick Munchen, who is a Varling on Var 8, Earth. She first met him while she was drunk and passed out in an alley in San Francisco's Tenderloin District. Fredrick, who approached her because he was concerned about her, often times confronts her as they cross paths in San Francisco. Fredrick is a pizza delivery person and Opal lives on pizza, which she orders regularly from a place named Temple Pizza.
Because of her relationship with Fredrick, she also knows Jillian Crenshaw, who is a classmate of Fredrick's at State University in San Francisco. She advises Fredrick to "make his move" on Jillian, as he doesn't have much time left. Fredrick, who doesn't think of Jillian as a potential lover, is embarrassed by Opal's often times crude and forward statements about her.
Opal is a Mechanic Class Slave. Because of that, she has professional relationships with other Mechanics, including Rive Amber, her colleague and manager of the Constructor Class Verkatrae, Natty Mick, with whom she has a tenuous relationship.
It was thought that a Varling was able to see the Sleeper Class Vérkatrae, which she manages, and so Rive Amber sent Natty Mick to interrogate her. He was able to obtain information about the Varling named Fredrick Munchen.
Alliances[]
Natty Mick Confronts Opal Fremmitty
Opal has a tenuous alliance with Rive Amber, a Mechanic Class Slave who is in charge of the Constructor Class Vérkatrae, as well as Natty Mick, who eventually confronts her on her failure to ensure the Sleeper Class Vérkatrae are deployed without any glitches. Specifically, that they are properly obfuscated from Varling eyes. Unfortunately for Opal, Fredrick Munchen is able to see the Vérkatrae.
Enemies[]
Opal's main enemies are Matere Songgaard and Betel Longshrew Piper. Matere is a former Engineer Class Citizen from Griddish. Betel is a former member of the Council of Engineer Class Citizens. The reason for their arrival on Var 8 is to stop the Mechanics from completing their dismantlement project.
Skills[]
Opal manages the Sleeper Class Vérkatrae as a field technician. Her job is to ensure that Sleeper Class Vérkatrae are deployed without any glitches, and unseen by Varlings, to their assigned Var prior to a planned dismantlement project.
Quotes[]
"How could I have changed anything? How could I have stopped the Vérkatrae from taking their world apart, piece by piece? If only I could have. If only I had the power to do that."[1]
“I’m really gonna get it for this,” she started, after a moment, half talking to herself. “But I like you.” She sat up and looked into Fredrick’s eyes. “I’m gonna give you five questions.”[2]
“The Council doesn’t give a shit about these Vars,” shouted Opal. “To them, they’re just another opportunity. Another contribution to the economy of Griddish,” her tone filled with mockery. “And we,” she said, slapping her chest, “We are the ones who have to deal with the Vars. We have to come down here and set these monsters, these Vérkatrae, against the people. Yes, Rive, these Varlings, which you like to call them, which we’ve all called them, are people. They have feelings that we can’t even understand. They have families and relationships. They have love and they care for each other.” She paused. Her breath was short, raspy. Her jaw was clenched. [3]
“Don’t forget about me. I was the one rooting for you.” She sniffled and her voice cracked. “I hope you get laid soon enough. Do it while you still can. Isn’t that what you Varlings like to do? Isn’t that what you all live for, you horny bastards! You won’t get another chance.” [4]
Trivia[]
- Opal carries with her a flask that is filled with her favorite liquors, which are either scotch or tequila.
- Opal has a Zippo style kerosene lighter that she uses to light her cigarettes.
- Opal has a metal plate on her right forearm due to an injury she sustained during a Var dismantlement project.
- ↑ Aibo. (2023). Slipshot (1st ed., Vol. 1, p. 258). Mint Cookie Industries.
- ↑ Aibo. (2023). Slipshot (1st ed., Vol. 1, p. 156). Mint Cookie Industries.
- ↑ Aibo. (2023). Slipshot (1st ed., Vol. 1, p. 259). Mint Cookie Industries.
- ↑ Aibo. (2023). Slipshot (1st ed., Vol. 1, p. 259-260). Mint Cookie Industries.