[hider=Zana Merneeks][center][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/210205/223f44ae4342eb7d14677411d9940fcf.png[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/YC3Ztpb.jpg?1[/img] [color=f6989d][sub][b]Eighteen[/b] [color=gray]|[/color] [b][abbr=Kucarroan by blood, Pulunan by birth.]Kucarroan Human[/abbr][/b] [color=gray]|[/color] [b]Female[/b] [color=gray]|[/color] [b]Captain[/b][/sub][/color] [sub][color=f6989d]Character Post[/color][/sub][/center] [indent][indent][indent][indent][i][color=gray]The whizzing sound of lasfire flew through the air, crackling like lighting as they struck their targets. Bloodshed was the price the Kucarroan slaves were to pay to earn their freedom; family and friend being cut down like mesaeax against a vibroscythe. It was only by sheer luck were a couple able to escape and climb aboard the smuggler freighter breaking them out—Zana being one the lucky few at the cost of her parents' sacrifice. Zana doesn't like to remember what happened, but it isn't something she can simply forget like a piece of broken, useless technology. The barcode tattoo, forever etched in alien text on her arm. The nightmares of a child born in a slave encampment, terrified of what might happen to them. The wounded pleading for death, their injuries half-treated in the ship quarters she now slept in. She remembers all of it, each event left forever scarred in her memory to be replayed over and over until the end of her days. She was going to get her revenge—to free her people across the universe, to find their lost homeworld and to punish those who inflicted so much pain on those that just wanted to be left alone—no matter if it killed her or not. [color=00aeef]"Now, Zana,"[/color] a coarse, tired voice spoke, [color=00aeef]"I know what you want. I know you don't want to give—"[/color] [color=f6989d]"But—"[/color] [color=00aeef]"No buts! Listen to me for once, Zana. We're tired, tired of chasing ghosts and rumors of a place that no longer exists."[/color] The man explained. [color=00aeef]"You know space travel isn't good for Masi and I's baby, and Vonga—as stubborn as the man can be—struggles to walk on his own two feet since the explosion on back on Shahar. We've been talking, the three of us. We've decided we want out; to start a new life for ourselves, here, on Alkonost."[/color] A wave of anger, seething at the apparent betrayal, roiled within Zana. Her fists clinched at the thought of her longtime companions planning behind her back, seemingly so eager to cut ties and leave her with naught but the cold void of space. Yet one look—one simple glance—at her friends was enough to settle her rage. By what right did she have to drag an expectant family and an old, scarred man on a potential wild goose chase? [color=f6989d]"I understand."[/color] Zana replied. [color=f6989d]"But how will you survive? All we've known is... slavery and your ship. And you, Calaex, how do you expect to take care of them by yourself?"[/color] Calaex chuckled, placing a hand on Zana's shoulder. [color=00aeef]"You know I still have a few tricks up my sleeve. Don't worry about us. But listen, kid,"[/color] Reaching into his pocket, Calaex pulled out a small, glowing cube. [color=00aeef]"I know how much the search for Kucarro means to you, so I want you to have this. Vonga and I managed to sweet talk a Scrattith into giving us this antique awhile back. I'm not sure how much help it'll be, but I want you to put it in the holodeck on your ship, and see where it takes you."[/color] Zana blinked. [color=f6989d]"My ship?"[/color] [color=00aeef]"Yes, your ship. If you're going to go down in the history books as 'Zana Merneeks, the famed explorer that found the lost planet of Kucarro',"[/color] Calaex replied, tacking on extra emphasis and excitement as he spoke. [color=00aeef]"Then you're going to need a ship. I'm certain the Arcona will serve you just as well as she served me, even if she is a little rough around the edges these days."[/color] [color=f6989d]"I... I don't know what to say. But I can't just take the Arcona like that! It's like an extension of yourself. It'd be wrong of me to take it."[/color] The smuggler sighed. He understood well enough where she was coming from, but he knew what needed to be done. [color=00aeef]"Look, our space-faring days are over, kid, but yours are just starting. Take the ship, find yourself a crew, and go explore the stars. We'll just slow you down."[/color] For a moment, Zana considered the idea. Back in the slave camps, her parents had always told her stories of great captains flying among the stars, one of the few forms of entertainment possible. And now here she was, being offered the chance to be one of those captains herself. [color=f6989d]"It still doesn't feel right, but... thank you, Calaex."[/color] She said, wrapping her arms around him in a farewell hug. [color=f6989d]"Tell the others that I'll miss them, will you? That I'll stop by when I can."[/color] [color=00aeef]"You know I will, kid. Now get going, you're going to have a lot of exploring to do soon."[/color] Zana nodded with a smile, desperately trying to hide tears of her own. Taking the star map from Calaex, she finished her goodbyes, and left to board the Arcona. Climbing a ladder to the upper deck, Zana approached the bridge and inserted the star map into the holodeck. [color=f6989d]I hope you're watching, mom, dad.[/color] Zana thought to herself as she started up the ship's engines. [color=f6989d]I'm going to have enough adventure for the three of us, just you watch.[/color][/color][/i][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent] [center][sub][color=f6989d]Character Ties[/color][/sub][/center] [indent][indent][indent][indent][i][color=gray][color=f6989d]Vulpecula[/color] — After a rough scrap with space scavengers, Zana was forced to flee to Eios, her ship badly damaged resulting from her inability to fire back while piloting the vessel. It was here where she met Vulpecula, who offered to help with repairs in exchange for a place on the Arcona, or at least somewhere off-world. [color=f6989d]2)[/color] TBD later if accepted. Do not fill out.[/color][/i][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent] [center][sub][color=f6989d]Inventory[/color][/sub][/center] [indent][indent][indent][indent][i][color=gray][color=f6989d]1)[/color] Molnet T-37A blaster pistol [color=f6989d]2)[/color] Comlink device [color=f6989d]3)[/color] Ancient star map[/color][/i][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent][/hider]