Story so far
Russ worked with computers under Jerry and became the IT head's shadow and second-in-command in silo seventeen. As the violence began, Jimmy and his mother tried to reach him on level thirty-four. Russ shot Yani to free Jimmy, locked himself and his son inside the server room, and opened the hidden refuge through a concealed lever. He searched surveillance images for Jimmy's mother and said someone was trying to shut the silo down after opening its airlock. He gave Jimmy the key, taught him to use the radio, and ordered him to admit only his parents.
Over the radio, Russ directed Deputy Hines to stop traffic because people were being crushed, reported a breach at the top, and told Jimmy he was going to find his mother. Returning to the hall outside the steel door, he warned Jimmy that the men there would kill him if he opened it. Russ fought back when they hit him, but a security guard shot him dead outside the locked door. He had also answered Silo One's first call as seventeen's IT shadow and ended it by breaking the connection.
Jimmy remembered his father turning chores and tinkering into Projects, neatly arranging electronic components, building computers and a calculator, and lighting the family birthday candle. As Solo, he has continued to credit his father with hiding him to protect him during the silo's collapse into violence. The refuge became the means by which the son survived long after the father died.
Role
Deceased IT shadow and second-in-command of silo seventeen; his protection of Jimmy made his son’s long survival possible.
Relationships
Solo — Solo, originally Jimmy, is Russ's son, whom he hid and warned not to open the door to his attackers.
Sources — 38 recorded facts, by chapter
Chapter 48
- Solo’s father was apprenticed to the head of IT.
- Solo says his father was one of only two or three people who knew about the hidden rooms.
- Solo’s father gave him his keys when the fighting began.
- Solo says his father created a diversion, leaving Solo the only person who knew about the hiding place.
Chapter 147
- Jimmy’s father is expected to work overtime in IT on cleaning day.
- Jimmy’s father works with computers and learns of the trouble moments before others.
Chapter 148
- Jimmy’s father is the person Jimmy and his mother are trying to reach on level thirty-four.
Chapter 149
- Jimmy’s father shoots Yani to free Jimmy.
- Jimmy’s father locks himself and Jimmy inside the server room before their pursuers reach them.
- Jimmy’s father uses a key and a concealed lever in the comm hub to open access beneath the floor.
- Jimmy’s father searches surveillance images for Jimmy’s mother.
- Jimmy’s father says someone is trying to shut down their silo after opening its airlock and claiming its gas supply was tainted.
- Jimmy’s father orders Jimmy to admit only him or Jimmy’s mother.
- Jimmy’s father teaches Jimmy how to communicate by radio before leaving.
Chapter 153
- Jimmy’s father identifies himself over the radio as Russ.
- Russ orders Deputy Hines to stop traffic because people are being crushed.
- Russ reports a breach at the top of the silo.
- Russ tells Deputy Hines that he is probably sheriff until the end.
- Russ tells Jimmy he is going to get Jimmy’s mother.
Chapter 154
- Russ returns to the hall outside the steel door with the portable radio.
- Russ warns Jimmy that the men will kill him as soon as he opens the door.
- Russ fights back when the men punch him.
- A security guard shoots Russ, leaving him motionless on the floor.
Chapter 155
- Jimmy’s father is dead outside the locked door.
Chapter 157
- Russ is Jimmy’s father and works under Jerry.
- Jimmy remembers that his father went to find his mother.
Chapter 158
- Jimmy remembers his father saying the pantry contains enough food for two people for ten years.
Chapter 159
- Jimmy’s father killed Yani with a gun.
Chapter 161
- Russ was seventeen’s IT shadow and second-in-command when he answered Silo One’s first call.
- Russ ended his exchange with Silo One by breaking the connection.
Chapter 163
- Jimmy remembers his dad saying that the stored food would feed either two or four people for ten years, but cannot remember which number.
Chapter 164
- Jimmy’s father disappeared carrying the loaded gun.
- Jimmy’s father taught by making chores and tinkering into Projects.
- Jimmy’s father laid out disassembled electronics components in a neat pattern so he could put them back correctly.
Chapter 169
- Jimmy remembers that his father used to build computers.
Chapter 172
- Jimmy’s father built his calculator from scratch.
Chapter 176
- Solo’s father lit the family candle for Jimmy’s birthday.
Chapter 251
- Solo says his father hid him away to protect him during the silo’s collapse into violence.