Character Review — Student #17

Consider Student #17, One of My Original Characters

So, who is Student #17?

In Untrustworthy, one of the conceits is that people don’t really have names at birth. Cabossians, instead, get names later. But they are called by their numbers as adults, anyway.

As a result, this character does not have an actual name. And, later in the story, he never actually chooses one for himself.

Where Did Student #17 Come From?

When I was first developing Ixalla, I wanted her to be a dedicated teacher. And the best place, I feel, to show her dedication would be in the eyes of her students.

After all, if you had a teacher who inspired you, kept you together, and maybe even kept you alive, wouldn’t you want to remember that person?

The Past is Prologue — Backstory for Student #17

I don’t really have much on him or really on any of the students beyond Five. But this is by design. He is, essentially, just some kid in Ixalla’s class. I never intended for him to have any sort of prior relationship to Ixalla beyond being a student in her class.

And so, their connection later is meant to be out of what was an almost random moment where they are just about thrown together.

Student #17: a Description

Like all other male Cabossians, he is bald and has a genital appendage on each hand, where we would normally have a pinkie finger. And, like all fertile male Cabossians, he has the ability to give birth to sterile children if impregnated by another fertile male.

Purpose/Theme/Motivation

When the story starts out, he’s a shy kid, already the kind of child who Five would pick on. But even as he becomes physically weaker, he shows unexpected reserves of strength.

Once you get to the end of the book, it becomes clear that, even though he’s got limitations, he can take care of himself.

Quotes for Student Number Seventeen

Student Number Seventeen looked at Ixalla as she awoke, and his tone was rather grave. “We are running out of nutritional supplements.”

Ixalla sighed when she inspected their stash. It was all too true. “…I imagine that the supply chain has broken down, all along the line, even as far as City Number Thirty-one.” The statement gave her pause, and then she was able to collect herself.

“T-teacher Number 7,999,533,628?” inquired Student Number Seventeen, “Are you all right?”

“Yes, I, huh, I could have sworn that that woman, that she and I had a history and, and it had something to do with City Number Thirty-one.” She waved a hand dismissively. “I suppose I am losing my mind, is all.” She chuckled a little.

“What is so funny, Teacher?”

“You calling me Teacher and referencing my number,” Ixalla explained. “I think maybe by now the three of us all know each other well enough that you can use my name. And once we get the two of you back to your parents, when you are of age, they’ll, well, they will name you, of course.”

“What if my parents are gone?” asked the unknown girl. “I do not even know if they are.”

“I – let’s think positively, shall we?” Ixalla tried to remain upbeat, but even she had to admit that the girl had a point. She no longer had her identification card, after all. And with tablet grid communications completely down… there was no way whatsoever to find the unknown girl’s family.

“We’ll never find them,” the unknown girl said sadly. “We all know this, right?”

“I – just, it’s not impossible,” Ixalla said. She drew them closer to her. “You may call me Ixalla. That is my true name. Not, not seven billion and change, but Ixalla. Know who I am. Just, just, know me.”

“Y-yes, Ixalla,” Student Number Seventeen tried the new designation on for size. “Thank you for telling it to us. But to me you will always be my teacher.”

Relationships

While I never give him a romantic relationship, he does adopt a daughter. And he continues to have a brother and sister style of relationship with the unknown girl.

Conflict and Turning Point

Like with the other characters in the story, Student Number Seventeen’s turning point is when the instructions and the dissatisfaction collide and eventually turn into city-wide (if not planet-wide) riots. But I never actually show him participating in any of that.

However, this makes perfect sense, seeing as he is already fairly severely physically disabled by this moment in the overall storyline. And so, even if he was still with his parents somehow, he would likely be hiding during the worst of it.

Continuity/Easter Eggs

Like with most of what is connected to Untrustworthy, there really are no continuities or Easter eggs for this character. And for the most part, there really can’t be any, anyway.

Future Plans

I like the way Untrustworthy ends, so there are no plans for a sequel. This character did not show up in the prequel. At this point in time, I have no other plans for him.

Student #17: Takeaways

Sympathetic, shy, and ultimately traumatized, Student #17 is like a phoenix rising from the ashes of Caboss.

For this reason alone, along with Ceilidh O’Malley from The Real Hub of the Universe and Neil Murphy from Mettle, he is one of the more hopeful characters I have ever written.

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Want More of Student #17 and the Rest of Untrustworthy?

If Untrustworthy resonates with you, then check out my other blog posts about how an alien society devolves into fascism.

Character Reviews: Untrustworthy

• Character Review—Adger
† Character Review—Ixalla
• Review—Tathrelle
† Character Review—Velexio
• Character Review—Student #17

Untrustworthy Universe

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