Minor Characters (Oneiro)

A list of characters significant to one or two cases the Oneiro Rangers handle.

Carlton "Carl" Shepherd
Carl is a registered Somnus and the nephew of morpheus Clint Amsel. He is a freckly, curly-haired ginger, overweight and wears squarish glasses. His relationship with his parents was strained. Thanks to asthma, he was never able to run around and play with other children. His life was remarkably uneventful, and he hardly ever left his room, until he happened to see Jimmy and Sheen being chased by security guards one day. They fascinated him by how "full of life" they seemed. When they began asking him about prices for objects like cars, he gave them answers, not realizing that they were using it to value stolen items. They would hang out with him occasionally, making Carl feel as if he had friends.

For his birthday, Jimmy and Sheen got Carl a ticket to the Oceanside Carnival, and eventually convinced him to go on the Heart Stopper rollercoaster. Unfortunately, something went wrong, and he was flung out of the ride. When he woke up, he was in a hospital bed, Jimmy and Sheen nearby. Before they could tell him what had happened, he heard carnival music, and a Nightmare took the pair.

Later, Errol Rugend came to question him about the event, by which time Carl had already found out that his legs were both gone at about knee level. Carl answered his questions about Jimmy and Sheen as best he could, but eventually broke down crying. Clint, while visiting someone else in the hospital, stopped by and got him to talk about how he'd fallen in with petty criminals like Jimmy and Sheen. Clint encouraged him not to give up, to keep himself busy, and left.

Later, three mysterious men in suits informed Carl that they were going to find him a place as a registered Somnus, and that no, he had no choice in the matter. They took him away.

Cindy Rand
Cindy is a blonde dancer and informant for the Oneiro Rangers. She had a happy childhood, but ended up a Corner Girl in Down Town, working for Billy Bopper. She hated it, both for the work itself, the beatings when customers didn't want to pay, and because she missed the outdoors and being normal. When one bad customer, Jimmy, got into a fight with Billy and accidentally killed him, she begged him to let her run away with them.

Jimmy helped Cindy get a job at the Paddy Whack Shack, where she did fan dances to earn enough money to fix the tooth Jimmy had knocked out. They eventually became a couple. While investigating the Heart Stopper, Errol and Roland went to her for information about Jimmy and Sheen. She was reluctant, but upon finding out that he'd been taken by a Nightmare, she talked.

After the Heart Stopper was destroyed, Cindy discovered Jimmy getting ready to flee. Errol had set the cops on him. Promising to come back for her, Jimmy fled, but was caught right outside the building. Cindy shared a final embrace with him before the police took him away. He also told her to open her birthday present early, before she forgot, and she obeyed. It turned out to be a photo of her as a little girl, with the words "I hope it's enough."

James "Jimmy the Hair" Felper
Jimmy was a petty criminal from Down Town, who earned his nickname from his carefully maintained rockabilly hairstyle. He had an impressive criminal record, managing to rack up four counts of grand theft auto, twelve counts of mugging, three counts of armed robbery, twenty-one counts of disturbing the peace, and more. He used to live in Down Town, but got in trouble with Tony Pajamas after killing one of his boys--Billy Bopper--in a fight. He, Sheen and Cindy (the Corner Girl whose "ratting" had started the fight) headed for the safer side of Normlock.

Jimmy and Cindy became a couple, and he got her a job at the Paddy Whack Shack. Along with Sheen, he befriended teenager Carl Shepherd, whom the two used to sell their stolen goods at a good price. As thanks, they bought him tickets for Oceanside Carnival for his birthday, then made him go on the Heart Stopper rollercoaster. There was an accident that threw Carl from the rollercoaster and cost him both legs. When Jimmy and Sheen visited him in the hospital, they were taken by the Heart Stopper Nightmare.

Inside the Heart Stopper, Jimmy ended up bonded to a height measurement sign beside a slingshot ride. He helped tell Errol what was going on, leading to their escape. When the monster was destroyed, he and Sheen ended up at a doctor, who fortunately didn't ask for last names, and then went back to the Paddy Whack Shack. Errol found them and informed them that Carl was improving, and that their thieving days were over. Furious, Sheen attacked Errol while Jimmy fled. Promising Cindy he'd come back for her, he ran--right into the arms of the police. After Cindy's tearful farewell, he left with the officers.

Sheen the Shiner
Sheen was a criminal in Down Town infamous for his fighting. However, he fled to upper-level Normlock with his friend Jimmy after a fight went a little too well. The two continued breaking the law, involving and quasi-befriending teenager Carl Shepherd to value their stolen items. Sheen accompanied both of them to Oceanside Carnival for Carl's birthday, and pushed Carl to go on the Heart Stopper rollercoaster--which ended in an accident that cost Carl his legs.

At the hospital, Sheen and Jimmy didn't even have time to tell Carl what had happened before they were attacked and taken by the Heart Stopper. He ended up bonded to a garbage can, and seemed to last a bit longer than Jimmy, being able to ask Errol if they were getting out of here before tje Oneiro Ranger escaped via the slingshot ride.

When Sheen was freed, he and Jimmy went to a doctor, where Sheen found out that he had a heart condition. He was supposed to rest, learn and try to get a job instead of fighting, a thought which depressed him. Errol soon turned up, informing him that he'd given them away to the police. Furious, Sheen attacked him, only to be dropped in two blows. He escaped, and Errol and the police let him, knowing that his criminal life was over.

Eddie Garland
Eddie Garland is a registered Somnus, and he formerly worked at a carp arts manufacturer. One day, foreman Mr. Ransid called him aside and told him that since he was going to become a chairman, Eddie was a potential replacement. Eddie was thrilled, and when Ransid asked him to start putting in extra hours, he agreed without hesitation. However, he didn't get the position--making the party Eddie's friends and family threw all the more depressing.

The next day, Eddie confronted Ransid, accusing him of promoting another man because they were friends. Upon being told to grow a spine, Eddie attacked Ransid, but was stopped by Windslow, whom Ransid told to kill Eddie. He fled home, and was just about to tell his wife what had happened when Windslow, in a police officer uniform, turned up at the door. Packing some clothes and his daughter Shriek's teddy bear Eddie fled while the hitman talked to his family. He made it out onto the highway before the hitman took out his car.

Hitchiking, Eddie was picked up by Mervis Versetti, but they were pulled over by Windslow. Eddie ran again, and Windslow opened fire. Hiding inside a warehouse, Eddie fell asleep, and Windslow set the place on fire. Eddie woke up after being tossed outside by a falling shelf, the rain extinguishing the fire, but he was hideously burned. He returned home, and his wife got over her shock to try to help him. Shriek didn't recognize him, calling him scary and wanting him to leave.

Sova turned up a few minutes later, interrupting the Garlands' kiss, and got the whole story out of Eddie. He promised not to tell anyone where Eddie was, or even send him to a hospital as Eddie insisted (he was afraid the hitman would find out). Returning Shriek's bear, he went back into hiding, or so he thought.

Windslow found Eddie in the Moody Motel, and Eddie finally fought back, bringing the fight up onto the roof. Windslow ended up hanging off the edge, and Eddie let him fall despite his begging. Then several men in black suits arrived, informing Eddie that they would help him find his place as a registered Somnus. Eddie tried to run again, but was quickly stopped, and went along with them.

Mervis Versetti
Mervis was an inspector at the port in south Red Light. While driving to work one rainy night, he picked up a hitchiker, a very tired and somewhat jumpy man. They were pulled over by a policeman, who informed Mervis that he had a broken taillight, and then recognized the hitchiker as a museum robber. The man fled, and the officer chased him, shooting all the way.

Oddly enough, when Mervis got home and checked, he discovered that both of his taillights were fine. Later, Oneiro Ranger Sova arrived and asked him about the incident. Mervis didn't know much, but he had no problem with Sova checking around in his car for clues. He came across a piece of paper with "Talullah Garland" and "228 Great Sate Lane" on one side, and "Shriek" on the other. Sova thanked him for the help and left.

Talullah Garland
Talullah was Eddie Garland's wife, the mother of Lola "Shriek" Garland, and a housewife in Normlock. One day, Eddie came home very upset, but before he could explain, there was a knock at the door, and Talullah got it despite Eddie's protests. It was a police officer (or so she thought), and Talullah let him in. By the time he had talked to Lola and asked to see Eddie, Mr. Garland was already packed and gone. The officer pursued him, leaving Talullah confused and scared.

Later, Eddie returned, severely burned. Talullah recovered from her horror and tried to take care of him, giving him water and telling him he needed to go to the hospital. He protested, and finally explained what had happened. His boss had tricked him into working extra with the promise of a promotion, given it to one of his buddies, and laughed in his face when he complained. Eddie punched him, and was now being pursued by a hitman--the "police officer" from earlier.

Lola appeared, failed to recognize her father, and ran away. Talullah comforted Eddie as best she could, telling him that despite what he thought of himself, she believed he could be brave and confident, and loved him more than anyone else in the world. They kissed despite the fact that it was incredibly painful for Eddie, but were interrupted by a knock at the door.

Talullah was initially afraid, but it turned out to be Sova Vanhala, Oneiro Ranger. Eddie was willing to talk to him, but also revealed that he was going back into hiding. Talullah protested, as did Sova, but he insisted it was still too dangerous. When he left, Talullah agreed to tell Sova anything he wanted to get her husband back. She waited for him, hoping against hope that he'd return.

Windslow
Windslow is a hitman working for Mr. Ransid. When an upset Eddie Garland attacked Mr. Ransid, Windslow appeared and broke the fight up. Mr. Ransid ordered Windslow to kill Eddie, but the man leaped out a window and fled under a hail of bullets. Windslow followed him back to his home, disguising himself as a police officer, and then onto the highway, where he shot out Eddie's tires and forced him to hitchike. He was picked up, but Windslow pulled the car over on the pretense of a broken taillight, then attacked Eddie, claiming he was a museum thief.

Eddie made it all the way to a warehouse, where he hid. Not finding him, Windslow set the place on fire, saying that Eddie had asked for it. To his confusion, Eddie escaped the fire and returned home, and Windslow tracked him to the Moody Motel. They ended up on the roof, and Eddie finally fought back, which Windslow liked. In the ensuing fistfight, Eddie got the better of Windslow, who ended up dangling off the roof, right above a sharp fence. He bargained for his life, claiming to be "the only hitman in Normlock with a heart" because he hadn't killed Eddie's family, and that Mr. Ransid would just send more. It didn't work; Eddie let him fall, and Windslow was impaled on the fence.

Elizabeth "Betty"
A thirteen-year-old Normlock civilian and tomboy. Betty befriended Susie in detention, despite some initial distrust, and took her along to homecoming, where she met her boyfriend Phil for their first date. However, Susie disappeared before she could even be introduced. Betty was confused, but she went ahead and enjoyed the date. Afterwards, outside, Phil gave her a pin to make their relationship official. When they were joined by Lilly, Betty left, going back to the dorm for the night. There, she was woken by the noise of children playing--under her bed. Panicking, she fled, only to be dragged under her bed by the Nightmare.

Betty woke up in the Nightmare's lair, hanging by the wrists from a bar. Boemand appeared, investigating "his replacement," and taunted her. Before he could do anything to her, a three o'clock whistle went off, calling him away for "happy time."

Roland and Malory soon found her in their attempt to escape, and the Oneiro Ranger forced Boemand to free Betty right before he destroyed the Nightmare's lair. Back in Normlock, Betty and Phil met and kissed. They were soon joined by Lilly, who made up with both of them, and they continued to be friends.

Lillian "Lilly" Grable
Lilly is a thirteen-year-old girl living in Normlock. At age five, Lilly befriended Susiana, nicknaming her Susie and making friendship bracelets for the two of them. For years, they were best friends, until the war with Gothnia broke out. To stay popular, Lilly turned her back on Susie, and they fought--physically--several times. She and her other best friend, Phil Stanton, were close enough that they were declared Homecoming King and Queen, even though both of them were dating other people.

After the dance, Phil and his actual (first) date, Betty, met outside and made their relationship official with a pin. Lilly was excited, but criticized Phil for not kissing Betty first. They returned to her house to watch TV, while Betty went to stay in the dorms. There, Lilly hinted at them being a couple, but Phil dismissed it.

The next morning, Betty had been taken by Boemand. Phil and Lilly returned to her dorm, where they were questioned by Roland. Later, an insomniac Lilly went downstairs to the school lounge, where she found Phil watching TV. There, she finally made herself clear: she was convinced Phil was in love with her, since he'd always ragged on her boyfriend Howie and been friends for so long. Phil, in turn, revealed that he genuinely hated Howie for who he was, and he'd picked Betty over Lilly because she didn't care about fitting in. When Lilly protested that she would change, he brought up Susie, pushing Lilly to tears.

After Betty's return, Lilly was hesitant to join them; she wanted to patch things up, but wasn't sure she could. Roland encouraged her to try, and the pair gladly accepted her as a friend again. They encouraged her to apologize to Susie, but when she went to the dormitory, Susie was already gone, taken by the Men in Black. Lilly took to wearing her friendship bracelet to remember her by.

Susiana "Susie" or "Ana" Leto
A thirteen-year-old former Gothnian living in Normlock. In first grade, Lilly Grable befriended her and nicknamed her "Susie." The two were best friends for years, right up until Normlock and Gothnia went to war. Most of the other students had fathers in the military, and Susie became an outcast. Lilly, under peer pressure, abandoned her, provoking Susie to attack her physically. She shaved off all of her black hair (leaving a blue streak) and began pushing people away even when they weren't trying to hurt her. She kept getting into fights, especially with Lilly, and started going by Ana.

One day, while she was eating lunch in an alley, a brown rat came up to her and accepted some of her food, even climbing onto her shoulder. She named it Boemand, and met it in that alley every day until the weather got too cold. At that point, she snuck him into the school, and he became her only friend for the next five years. Unfortunately, one day a boy caught Boemand in a trap, killing him. Furious, Ana broke his arm and was sent to the counselor's office, on the verge of being held back from graduation another year.

The counselor, Lucy, wheedled the whole story out of her, and gently suggested she not take out her anger on people she wasn't angry at, and to try letting people befriend her. Later, in detention, one girl did try to talk to her. Ana initially thought it was a trick, but she--Betty--wasn't. The two became friends, and went to homecoming together. However, waiting with Betty's date Phil was Lilly. Rather than let her former best friend see her, Susie returned to her dorm and cried.

Later, Susie woke up tied to a chair in a bizarre place. There, the Nightmare revealed himself to her--Boemand, the one she'd created in her mind. Although she was scared and just wanted to go home, Boemand wouldn't understand. He'd kidnapped a lot of kids from the school so they could "have all the friends you could ever want," and when she said she hadn't wanted this, he left to collect more.

Roland and Malory eventually found her, then suffering from dehydration, and took her along. As Boemand caught up to them, Roland realized that he cared about Susie and held her at knifepoint to make the Nightmare free Malory and Betty. When Roland destroyed Boemand's world, Susie ended up with the other children in P.S. 91's dormitory, but ran outside as the Crimson Ranger and Boemand fought. As the monster died, it asked if they could still be friends, and Susie said yes. When it was all over, Susie went to bed, and as she slept the Men in Black took her away.

Philip "Phil" Stanton
Phil is another thirteen-year-old Normlock civilian. He and Lilly were best friends for five years, although everyone in their school thought they were a couple, even crowning them Homecoming King and Queen. He and Betty went out on their first date on homecoming night, where he gave her a pin to make it an official relationship. He and Lilly went back to her house, while Betty returned to the dorm for the night. Back at her house, Lilly brought up the Homecoming King and Queen thing, but he dismissed it.

The next day, after Betty was snatched by Boemand, Phil and Lilly went back to the dorm. Roland and Malory barged in, to their confusion. Roland questioned them, though Phil wasn't particularly impressed by his claim that he'd protect them. Later, Roland hid in Phil's bed to lure out the Nightmare, leaping into it's world via under-the-bed portal as the monster tried to take Phil. Unable to sleep, Phil went down to the lounge and watched TV.

Lilly joined him, revealing that she'd broken up with Howie, and that she thought he was in love with her. Phil's response was to call her unbelievably stupid. He ragged on Howie, not out of jealousy, but because he genuinely couldn't stand the guy, and explained that he'd picked Betty over her because Betty didn't care what anyone thought of her. When Lilly protested that she'd change, he brought up Susie (whom Betty had told him about). After Betty was rescued, they had their first kiss. Lilly soon made up with them both, and Phil accepted it. The trio continued their friendship afterwards.

Darren
Darren is a Gothnian and registered Somnus.

Trivia

 * Cindy speaks in a squeaky, exaggerated accent almost exactly like Lina Lamont from Singin' in the Rain, despite the fact that the author had never even seen the musical before.