Christina Tam
She/her
Christina grew up in New Birmingham. When she was a child, the artificial intelligence known as the Mainframe sent microscopic technology to fuse with Christina's body.
In the late 2190s, she was recruited by the Antistasi to join the Sivylla—a group of other teenagers who the Mainframe fused with technology. During this time, the group discovered side effects of the technology: enhanced abilities. Christina discovered that her capability involved an enhanced immune system. Although she didn't get sick and toxins had no effect on her, her body constantly carried diseases. Touching her skin transferred a ton of toxins. She found her capability to be most disruptive to her life. After the Mainframe events, she returned to New Birmingham.
By the beginning of "Death's Mending Touch," Christina was a Policy Coordinator at ReadyFinanceOne and dated Emlyn, the engineering Queen of New Birmingham within the Bâtir. She had miraculously kept her toxic touch secret from the public. When the deceased Bian appeared around the world, the Antistasi called Christina and the other Sivylla together to address this. After reuniting with Bian, the group decided to work with the Antistasi part-time under a new team name: the Enforcers.
This section includes major spoilers about "Death's Mending Touch." Please read the book first, unless you want the ending spoiled.
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Appearance
Christina was born a human. She was a East Asian British trans woman. Her recent ancestry was primarily Korean and British.
In "Death's Mending Touch," she was thin and tall (6'1"). She often kept her long, straight, dark brown hair partially up and partially down. She dressed in semi-Victorian era and semi-modern styles. She kept her skin entirely covered except for her head and the upper portion of her neck. She wore clothes that were designed by her engineer confidants to minimize the risk of spreading disease.
She often kept a bag with her. Keeping pads, tampons, hair ties, a small first-aid kit, and common medication on hand increased her number of allies.
Personality, Behavior, Et Cetera
Christina had wealthy taste, but fought politically for the working class. She kept up with politics around the world and took a special interest in historical events.
As of "Death's Mending Touch," her enhanced capability forced her to figure out specialized accommodations. In addition to the specialized clothing she wore, she also required specialized living and working spaces. She had a private shower and bathroom outfitted to minimize the risk of spreading disease. The air filtration system in a given space she was in needed to work properly to keep her breath from spreading too intensely. She couldn't bleed on anything or share food with anyone. Her tears could even be dangerous. She checked up regularly with a specialized doctor. She hoped to be able to control the diseases one day so that she didn't have to take so much precaution.
She was allergic to peanuts. That didn't have to do with her enhanced capability; she was just born allergic to peanuts.
She was a trans woman and lesbian. She dreamed of kissing Emlyn one day.
Relationships
When Christina was recruited for the Sivylla group in her teenage years, she admired Corelai's dedication toward impacting the world in a positive way. Christina had a crush on Emlyn that she didn't realize was reciprocated until Corelai recruited her.
Christina grew up primarily raised by her mother. Her father died of cancer when she was four years old.
At the beginning of "Death's Mending Touch," Christina and Emlyn were engaged.
Christina felt somewhat separated from the group due to her specific capability. She both appreciated—and was horrified by—how willing Klavdiya was to briefly endure diseases just to offer a friendly touch every so often.
Trivia
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Christina's birthday was January 4, 2183
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Christina once tried peanut butter with Klavdiya beside her, ready to heal. Christina's throat briefly swelling up wasn't worth the taste
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Some of Christina's personality was inspired by a knowledgeable trans girl from the BBC club I was a part of in high school
