Cora Sabino
A 21-year-old college dropout Cora Sabino is the daughter of Nils Ortega, an infamous whistle-blower who has deserted his family to run a website dedicated to revealing classified information to the public. When the subjects of her father’s biggest leak to date track down her family Cora find herself forming a relationship of sorts with Ampersand, an extra-terrestrial being and acting as a translator between his species and her own world with the future of both in question.
- Meaningful Name: The name Cora is an Anglicization of the Greek Kore (itself meaning "good" or "virtuous") which originates as an epithet (specifically as "maiden" or "daughter") of the Ancient Greek goddess Persephone who was also in a relationship with a being from another world.
- Properly Paranoid: Cora is able use her knowledge of conspiracy and alien films and television to help construct a full picture of the events happening around her, which in turn also lead her to often assume worst case scenarios when faced with uncertainty, such as government agents keeping tabs on her family or the existence of aliens.
- Tragic Dropout: Was a undergraduate at UCI majoring in languages before the upheaval from Nils leaving on his crusade against the government and losing her scholarship. At the start of the novel Cora is working as a temp.
Ampersand
- Only Known by Their Nickname: His real name is unpronounceable in human languages.
Nils Ortega
- Disappeared Dad: Abandons his family for his crusade to reveal government secrets.
- Narcissist: Is very much consumed by his celebrity following the Fremda Leaks and his status as The Voice of the Resistance to the extent its left ambiguous how much he truly cares for his family. His letter to Kaveh, which while acknowledging that CIA is likely reading it, is nonetheless not intended for public consumption, seems to treat his family in a particularly callous and calculating way. This, alongside his mistreatment of his own sister.
- Voice of the Resistance: Is seen as this by his supporters in the Transparency Movement such as Cora's colleague Eli.
Demetra "Demi" Sabino
- Meaningful Name: In reference to Demeter, the mother of Persephone.
- Only Known by Their Nickname: Everyone calls her "Demi".
Luciana Ortega
- Cool Aunt: Cora saw her as this after Nils initially deserted the family with Luciana stepping in and treating Cora like an equal, even taking her to Las Vegas for her twentieth birthday.
- Gamer Chick: Enjoys playing video games, specifically The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.
- Only Known by Their Nickname: Is called "Lu" by most of her family members with Demi referring to her as Luciana considered a sign of seriousness.
Special Agent Sol Kaplan
- The Men in Black: Subverted in his initial appearance in that he is technically one, but dressed in civilian clothes that included a Pink Floyd t-shirt likely due to being undercover to surveil Nils' family.
Thor and Monster Truck
- Team Pet: Both are these to the Sabino family.
