(Theme: "Monster" By: Skillet)
Quote: “We all have a Monster within; the difference is in degree, not in kind.” -Douglas Preston
Name: Shade (Shady-Shadow) Lupine (to-Shadow)
Age: 26
Species: Sivaoan-Kovatii
Gender: Female
Height: 5’11
Weight: 200
Eyes: Red
Hair Color: Ebony
Rank: Crewman Apprentice
Position: Science officer
Marine Rank: Lance Corporal
Appearance:
Taking to her Kovatii lineage in some of her appearance; pointy ears and dusky skin. The rest is from her Sivaoan heritage; a long tail, claws, and fur covering certain parts of her body. She has shoulder length straight hair. Is always dressed in her uniform whether on duty or not. She keeps a pair of fingerless glove on at all times as well, so when she pulls out her retractable claws she doesn’t need to get new gloves. She almost always looks ticked off, and will tell you just what she thinks of you. That is if she even pays attention to you.
Personality: Mean as can be, selfish, strong and untrusting,
Strength: Will not break an Oath, Is not afraid to die and would be honored to do so in a grand battle, Once she has formed a warrior’s bond, she will fight to defend her pack,
Weakness: Will only take orders from those she sees as worthy, usually requiring them to beat her in a fight. (Though she has made an exception due to an Oath she has sworn)
Ambitions: To enter into as many grand battles as possible and have the pleasure of her enemies lying dead at her feet, while their blood is wet on her hands.
Hobbies and Interests: Training on the holo deck, starting fights with large crowds, proud men are her favorite, especially when they are drunk.
Languages: Basic
Family:
Father: Unknown
Mother: Unknown
Brother: Unknown
Sisters: Unknown
Other Relatives: Unknown
Her story:
Madeline the social worker:
"She was just there on the steps, how many times must I say it? I have no idea where she is from. She can’t tell us and there was no note. Just a sentence in a strange language. The best we can translate, it means her date of birth and has the word To-Shadow; It’s probably her name… No, is don’t know anything else!" She let out an exasperated sigh. I’m sick of this bureaucrat, this isn’t even my job! She massaged her brow as she spoke into the headpiece, grateful the vid screen was broken. "No we cannot put the baby in with the regular infants, she has claws and fangs! She. Is. An. Alien!"
==Two weeks later at another orphanage:==
"Yes, she is a lovely baby, but a strong hand will be needed to deal with her.” The woman rose leading the pair toward a room at the end of the hall. “Her name is Shadow, but we thought that was a little too... masculine, for a girl. We call her Shady."
The couple walked into the nursery and looked at the baby. Passing doubtful glances. “We have helped foster many different species, but this one...” They smiled at each other, unspoken words of determination passing between them. "We will try and help her." The older couple firmly took each other’s hands as they looked down on the beautiful baby.
Long black hair encompassed the baby’s head. With her dusky skin and pointed ears complementing her red eyes, one might think they beheld a baby demon. The long cat tail and dark hair covering her from the top of her chest to her mid thighs in contrast gave her a cuddly and cute appearance to counter the demonic and creepy one.
==Two years later==
"No we cannot deal with her, she clawed my wife almost to the bone! Get her today and take her wherever!" He shrieked at the social worker. “We’ve tried everything we could and spent thousands consulting experts!”
The 3 year old had backed herself into a corner, claws out. She just grew angrier and less cooperative every day. Within an hour people were there to take her away. The woman cried as she grasped her arm. “Shady is a lovable child, it’s her claws...”
Her husband would hear none of it. “Even the dog hates her, she’s got to go!” He was terrified of his wife getting hurt... or worse!
The experts knew little about her species, but some things were obvious. When she got upset or hurt her claws would come out by reflex. She had not learned to control them yet, and with the high running emotions constantly around her she would struggle to do so for quite some time.
Over the next 3 years she bounced through 4 more homes, each one had progressively worse outcomes, she was transferred to yet another orphanage,
===Age six==
"Put her in isolation, she cannot be left in a room with other kids." The Administrator was furious as Shade had sent three boys to the hospital, and this was her fifth episode of the quarter. "Declaw her as well!" The assistant gasped. "You know that is not possible! It is against the law Sir, as you well know. I have found a spot upstate where we can transfer her. They deal with unruly children there.”
Shade was peeking out a door as she heard all that had been said, one and only one tear fell down her face. Followed by an angry look, as she stormed to her room and started packing. She wasn’t stupid, she knew what was happening, “Always my fault…” She growled “Do they even think to ask why I hurt them? …. No… they don’t care… 3 on 1…. And they don’t even care… older than me too… and they don’t even care…” She slammed her bag on the floor near the door. “Lousy humans!”
===Age twelve==
After five years of living at the Home of Enlightenment, Shade was glad to see the outdoors again. She had spent her time here basically in a 10 x 10 room, one window and one door. Her computer was her teacher and she was allowed out of her room three times a day for exercise and organized/supervised play. Any altercation meant lock down and no interaction with anyone at all. Two altercations in a one week period meant the loss of all of the few privileges one had here. Three and she lost her clothes as well, she had to live naked as a jaybird for a full day.
After the first month in this place Shade understood the rules all too well and played the game of avoid everyone. When someone walked toward her she walked the other way, if someone talked to her she refused to talk back. She became a very silent and angry person. Sometimes while in her room she would just scream and pound on one of the walls till her fist bled. She never quit defending herself though, if someone hurt her she hurt them worse. She learned quickly the way to make friends with the ‘right’ boys, the ones who would watch her back. Though the ‘right’ boys were also the wrong ones.
She was allowed ‘Probation’ into a Klingon family, the father seemed one of those stern no nonsense types and the mother backed him in all he did 100%. Though unlike all the human families she was put in the custody of, this one didn’t look at her like a freak or panic at the first bad thing that happened. Not to say she wasn’t punished plenty, even for things that were just not right. Still, she had a lot more freedom than the hell hole she came from.
===Age fifteen==
School was a nightmare at best, she was different and the boys all thought they could take liberties. After all she was just a cat wasn't she? What was worse, the Foster family punished her for hurting the boys who tormented her. She could not win. Then she met Ureil, they were in detention together for fighting. He had told her about the ‘Neo Union Liberators’ and he took her to a meeting after the detention had ended. It was a large empty warehouse and there were over thirty other teens in the room.
Throughout school Shade was not only an outcast, but seemed to be a moving target. Everyone wanted to take advantage, hurt or insult her. She got to the point where if you just looked at her the wrong way she would be ready for war, but this Ureil… he talked so much about this Neo group, that she had to see what it was all about. She had been about ready to hightail it when she saw the warehouse, but since she wasn’t the only one on guard and not the only girl either, she reluctantly went in. Still she never lowered her guard.
The speaker had been quite eloquent and he touched her spirited sense of freedom. She went there every day after school. It wasn’t long before she joined, she trained hard to fight, to move silently, to seek her inner being. The others seemed friendly and often helpful, but not one tried to be a real friend. They each held to themselves, even Ureil. Though he was the closest of the bunch. For nearly two years she trained and worked hard to master the disciplines of the NUL.
One morning the leader brought Shade up to the front and had her say the code. It was an honor only gifted to the most promising members. Shade stood tall and proud as she spoke
“Never Pick a fight unless the odds are greater than you.”
“Stand on your own two feet, or don’t stand at all.”
“Fighting is life, not death. We do not fight to kill, only to become stronger.”
“Killing is a last resort, how much better is it to leave your enemy alive so they can challenge you again?”
“The ‘One’ is out there and will cross our path when the time is right, until then fight, grow, change and never give up on a goal.”
“Be bold in all things; never back down from a fight.”
“Understand the value of temporary alliances, we are not against allies, but bonds that weigh us, kill us.”
“Live to fight another day and use any means necessary to survive.’
“When in doubt remember, never allow emotion to be seen… only the ‘One’ is worthy of emotions and till that ‘One’ comes keep them to yourself.”
The man stopped her and thanked her for reciting it so well. There was a book they had with more, but he decided that was more than enough. He lead with the Moto they would say before going out “How will I recognize the ‘One’?”
The entire room answered in unison. “I will not, in battle the ‘One’ will recognize me!”
He nodded and set out a list of ‘activities’ they would do for the night.
One of the activities of the alliance was called ‘Payback time’. They would go down to a mall or store and let two or three of them start a fight with a large group, or some dangerous individuals. Even soldiers or security. Then when things looked bad seven or eight more would show up kick butt and then all would run for the hills. What they did not know was the leaders were using their ‘payback time’ as a cover to rob different businesses or intimidate certain peoples or shops.
Shade was warned by her Klingon family more than once about the risk, but some things seemed unimportant. Her Klingon father often spoke of her putting her ever increasing fighting skills to good use, by joining Starfleet marine corp. He felt the discipline would do her good and the action would calm her need for aggression.
===Age 17===
During one of the mall activities the fight had gotten particularly brutal and security had outnumbered them 3 to 1, Shade had never taken a life, and seeing the dead man at her feet paralyzed her. It wasn’t that she had never thought of killing someone, but this stranger did nothing to her, and now she was being investigated as his killer. The thing is he was stabbed in the back, and Shade had she killed someone would have used her claws. She never used a weapon, she was the weapon. It was then her father told her he had signed her up for underage enlistment, he told her she would do it and agree that she wanted to join, seeing as she really had no choice in the matter and it would save her, she agreed.
Whether Shade liked it or not she was a marine now, going through basic and with a surprise to herself she was able to cut the grade just fine. She was more than strong enough and most of the marines were actually respectable to her. Especially after sparring with her, but that was the actual marines, not the recruits.
It was hell all over again, but she focused on being all she could be and absorbed their own mindset. She liked this life, they lived to fight too, but it wasn’t pointless. It had meaning, that was what had been wrong before. The fights had no purpose, sure she always waited for someone else to make the first move, but this was different. It actually made her happy... and proud to do things that had some real design to it. She was finally beginning to understand the things her Klingon father had taught her about honor.
After about 3 years she was getting in trouble and getting accommodated in equal measure. This left everyone in a precarious situation, she fought with some of the marines she worked with, she seemed to be thin skinned and didn’t take to ‘joking’ well. As such she had been in several fights, despite that she had received communiqué from a particular leader of a team called the ‘Black Mambas’. They conducted many special ops. She once again was eager to jump ship so to speak, and get out of a fiery situation and join even more danger.
The Black Mambas had a reputation for being unorthodox and brutal. They mostly took missions of rescue in places where there were few or no friendlies. They often had to make a stealth entry from a long ways off, as Federation vessels were not permitted across certain borders. The unit was rumored to use illegal means as well and often entire teams were lost. If the team got into trouble it was normal procedure to write them off as if they never existed. They say all their missions came from Starfleet Intelligence and the casualty rate was well over fifty percent. Teams never numbered over ten and most teams did not accept replacements after they were formed.
Of course this was all rumor and fable, as no real proof existed of the Black Mambas or any of the other units that existed. Someone always turned up from time to time that claimed to be a member of one of these special ops teams, most were obviously flakes.
One time they were sent to ‘investigate’ the disappearance of a troop that was last seen on a planet, comprised mostly of desert and mountains. The team was supposedly last reported to be in a specific cave not far from where BM was dispatched, the first obstacle were the large sand worms, the phasers were very effective, but the worms needed bait, Shade being the most light footed volunteered to be ‘bait’ after a few close calls all the sand worms were dealt with.
A few hours later they reached what seemed to be a once lush oasis, but like the rest of the desert had dried up. The spot where the lake once sat, was bone dry, not even mud. The trees looked like they had been scorched and were warped and pathetic. They found a few weapons, that had spent power cells. So with no rest or relief from the sun they kept on. This desert was particularly difficult for Shade as on top of clothing she had a lot of hair and that made her sweat like crazy, so once they reached the shadow of the mountain she was greatly relieved.
It was a long walk to the caves, two men were sent as scouts, while the others started talking. Shade was the new girl so they started to ask her questions. One tall thin man asked “So I hear this is your third group? That a General took a liking to you and transferred you, then the ‘Boss’ saw you and had you join… do you know how crazy that is?”
Shade looked at him with more than a little annoyance “Which part, the fact that I was kept as a marine despite my dislike for superiors, the fact that the ‘Boss’ fought and beat me, but decided to ‘recruit’ me when that just doesn’t happen… or the fact that you walking and talking about needless bull when we should be doing our job?”
Several men laughed and soon she was being liked by more than half the team. Though none of them would admit it. The rest of the walk was a lot more quiet, only the footfalls of the team were heard. The scouts reported in regularly; mostly animal activity, hostile and non-hostile. The team was called to meet up, Thankfully the animals avoided the group. About an hour later they finally reached the mouth of a cave they had been looking for, one of the scouts walked out, telling everyone they had to come see this.
Upon entering they would see millions in jewels lining the walls, but the biggest shock was the team they came to investigate lying in the middle of the cave dead, blood and claw marks all over the wall, but the bodies were laid out in a perfect circle arms spread out and feet inward, posed. They knew it looked like an animal killed them, but no way would an animal arrange their bodies; someone else was on the planet.
They didn’t hardly have time to digest the realization that they were not alone when a disintegrating blast fired nearby, the other female marine shouted of the attack and pushed one of the men out of the way barely avoiding the blast herself. Now the fire was coming from the front and back of the cave. Stuck in a cross fire it didn’t look good, but Shade went all or nothing. “I’m on the 6!” She scooped up several stones as she dodged the fire, she threw them as she moved toward the exit.
The team had an opening now, the enemy was off guard, they never expected resistance and now the real fight began. Charging, rolling, dodging, and firing. The cave resounded in seamless phaser fire and explosions.
Shade took point on the team at the cave entrance. Since the only thing that mattered was living to see another day, they needed an escape route. Two Mambas followed her and their fire kept her at an advantage, she used her claws well and slashed through at least 3 enemies, before a very large person knocked her into a wall. She must have lost consciousness for a moment because when she looked up the big person was dead and a man was reaching down to help her. She spotted someone taking aim and shoved him away as she rolled to the side.
Another enemy now had her point blank and she had nowhere to go, as the person fired she acted purely on instinct and grabbed a large gem fragment nearly the size of a buckler and hid behind it. she didn’t expect it to work, but somehow it did. She looked at the gem with amazement, it didn’t disintegrate, she took the moment of shock and tumbled forward quickly annihilating the foe with a few well aimed slashes.
She shouted to the men to use the gems, and then the tide turned completely in their favor. All the enemies were killed, upon inspection they discovered these attackers were pirates, and looking over their PADDs they had followed a team here and waited for them to discover where the natural resources were at and then convinced some local natives to kill them. Apparently they brought their attack beasts as well as arranged the bodies in a ritual style. The goal to appease some deity. It was then the Pirate disintegrated the locals and proceeded to steal all that was valuable and sell it, however they didn’t count on was how much wealth there was.
They had nearly filled their ship and still more was on the planet. They were greedy, so they sent for another ship, under the guise of a short range distress signal. Planning to steal the ‘rescuers’ ship and fill it up and then get away with their ill gotten gains. The Black Mambas found the location of the ship and took it and all the info they gathered to the ‘Boss’ and soon the planet was being mined with top notch security. The team was rewarded highly for their work and Shade was given the mineral that saved her life as a reward, it was her first mission and the ‘Boss’ felt he should reward her for surviving the first one.
One day remembering and sharing with a crew member on her new ship:
“When I joined them, I wasn’t garbage anymore. You know I may act a certain way and look a certain way, but I share in a very Human feeling called loneliness. I tired countless times to make friends. Guess what they did? Tried to play ‘Skin the cat’ or ‘sick the neighbor’s dog on the scared kitty’ or ‘does a cat always land on “IT’s” feet?’ they had a million of them. I wasn’t human or any equivalent in their eyes. Not an excuse. Every bad thing that happened to me I earned in some way, but don’t think I always gave to my anger, I never once hurt someone without first being hurt… can all humans say the same?”
Shade took a drink “I think there was an earth game, whack a hole…or something like that. Think that, but with phasers and a-” She smirked slightly “Demonic cat woman bounding around.” She smirked at the memory. “For the next 4 years I was with them. Until one of our men were murdered while on a mission. We were under deep investigation and I was suspected. A man I saved, a very high up man with much leverage, kept tabs on me ever since I saved his life a year prior, and desperately wanted to repay me. So he offered me an out, but I would never be a marine again.”
“That was the second time I was accused of a murder I didn’t commit and sent to serve somewhere else to have a chance at life anew.” She looked down “That’s when I joined the Academy, I saw science as a very interesting thing. Understanding how things work or better yet how they became what they are. I was excited when I heard there was a marine group in science…”
Shade took a drink. “You know a ‘Marine Biologist’ but I found out they never fight. I mean what kind of marine doesn’t fight?” She shook her head “So I chose to be an archaeologist. To learn the ancient ways civilizations fought, and acted. The weapons and tools, it was the best I could find that wasn’t being a marine.”
Shade didn’t have the strength to say it, but she had been fighting a well of emotions since she started telling her story. Now she realized how greatly she regretted nearly every decision she ever made. She would have broke down and cried, but she just wasn’t able. She built a wall up that only allowed aggression out, no other emotions, She was taught aggression was the only constructive and destructive emotion and thus that was the only one worth relying on.
Official File:
Raised on earth as an abandoned child, Shade seemed to be born angry and violent, though to everyone’s surprise has calmed down a great deal since her birth. No one knows how the baby came to be on earth, but with her desire for confrontations it seemed only right when she joined the marines.
She excelled in any mission she was sent on, but when she wasn’t fighting the enemy she was fighting her superiors. She couldn’t understand why they would retreat at times or not utterly destroy their enemies. Her issues with authority led to many problems, and the only reason she was not dismissed form Star Fleet all together was that a particular General was quite taken with her and pulled strings to have her relocated. However the story soon repeated itself once again.
Circumstances would have it, that she earned favor yet again, but this time by saving a well placed diplomat. He saved her from being arrested for suspicions of murder. She hated to admit it, but she owed him, he asked her to do one thing for him. He would pull some strings to have her placed on a ship, but she was to do as her superiors on the ship say, speak with the counselor regularly and be on her best behavior. She grudgingly agreed, and soon was on a waiting list to join a ship, in the mean time she attended the Star Fleet Academy studying Science, later the diplomat had discovered his task would be more difficult than he first perceived and realized he may have to resort to a new tactic to get her on a ship, but was determined to repay the girl who saved his life.
Service Record:
Seven years as a marine HGA lance Corporal
Second year Cadet assigned to the USS Versatile
For more information concerning her species follow these links:
http://database.obsidianfleet.net/wiki/index.php/Sivaoan
http://database.obsidianfleet.net/wiki/index.php/Kovatii
(Alternate species)
https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Caitian
Age: 26
Species: Sivaoan-Kovatii
Gender: Female
Height: 5’11
Weight: 200
Eyes: Red
Hair Color: Ebony
Rank: Crewman Apprentice
Position: Science officer
Marine Rank: Lance Corporal
Appearance:
Taking to her Kovatii lineage in some of her appearance; pointy ears and dusky skin. The rest is from her Sivaoan heritage; a long tail, claws, and fur covering certain parts of her body. She has shoulder length straight hair. Is always dressed in her uniform whether on duty or not. She keeps a pair of fingerless glove on at all times as well, so when she pulls out her retractable claws she doesn’t need to get new gloves. She almost always looks ticked off, and will tell you just what she thinks of you. That is if she even pays attention to you.
Personality: Mean as can be, selfish, strong and untrusting,
Strength: Will not break an Oath, Is not afraid to die and would be honored to do so in a grand battle, Once she has formed a warrior’s bond, she will fight to defend her pack,
Weakness: Will only take orders from those she sees as worthy, usually requiring them to beat her in a fight. (Though she has made an exception due to an Oath she has sworn)
Ambitions: To enter into as many grand battles as possible and have the pleasure of her enemies lying dead at her feet, while their blood is wet on her hands.
Hobbies and Interests: Training on the holo deck, starting fights with large crowds, proud men are her favorite, especially when they are drunk.
Languages: Basic
Family:
Father: Unknown
Mother: Unknown
Brother: Unknown
Sisters: Unknown
Other Relatives: Unknown
Her story:
Madeline the social worker:
"She was just there on the steps, how many times must I say it? I have no idea where she is from. She can’t tell us and there was no note. Just a sentence in a strange language. The best we can translate, it means her date of birth and has the word To-Shadow; It’s probably her name… No, is don’t know anything else!" She let out an exasperated sigh. I’m sick of this bureaucrat, this isn’t even my job! She massaged her brow as she spoke into the headpiece, grateful the vid screen was broken. "No we cannot put the baby in with the regular infants, she has claws and fangs! She. Is. An. Alien!"
==Two weeks later at another orphanage:==
"Yes, she is a lovely baby, but a strong hand will be needed to deal with her.” The woman rose leading the pair toward a room at the end of the hall. “Her name is Shadow, but we thought that was a little too... masculine, for a girl. We call her Shady."
The couple walked into the nursery and looked at the baby. Passing doubtful glances. “We have helped foster many different species, but this one...” They smiled at each other, unspoken words of determination passing between them. "We will try and help her." The older couple firmly took each other’s hands as they looked down on the beautiful baby.
Long black hair encompassed the baby’s head. With her dusky skin and pointed ears complementing her red eyes, one might think they beheld a baby demon. The long cat tail and dark hair covering her from the top of her chest to her mid thighs in contrast gave her a cuddly and cute appearance to counter the demonic and creepy one.
==Two years later==
"No we cannot deal with her, she clawed my wife almost to the bone! Get her today and take her wherever!" He shrieked at the social worker. “We’ve tried everything we could and spent thousands consulting experts!”
The 3 year old had backed herself into a corner, claws out. She just grew angrier and less cooperative every day. Within an hour people were there to take her away. The woman cried as she grasped her arm. “Shady is a lovable child, it’s her claws...”
Her husband would hear none of it. “Even the dog hates her, she’s got to go!” He was terrified of his wife getting hurt... or worse!
The experts knew little about her species, but some things were obvious. When she got upset or hurt her claws would come out by reflex. She had not learned to control them yet, and with the high running emotions constantly around her she would struggle to do so for quite some time.
Over the next 3 years she bounced through 4 more homes, each one had progressively worse outcomes, she was transferred to yet another orphanage,
===Age six==
"Put her in isolation, she cannot be left in a room with other kids." The Administrator was furious as Shade had sent three boys to the hospital, and this was her fifth episode of the quarter. "Declaw her as well!" The assistant gasped. "You know that is not possible! It is against the law Sir, as you well know. I have found a spot upstate where we can transfer her. They deal with unruly children there.”
Shade was peeking out a door as she heard all that had been said, one and only one tear fell down her face. Followed by an angry look, as she stormed to her room and started packing. She wasn’t stupid, she knew what was happening, “Always my fault…” She growled “Do they even think to ask why I hurt them? …. No… they don’t care… 3 on 1…. And they don’t even care… older than me too… and they don’t even care…” She slammed her bag on the floor near the door. “Lousy humans!”
===Age twelve==
After five years of living at the Home of Enlightenment, Shade was glad to see the outdoors again. She had spent her time here basically in a 10 x 10 room, one window and one door. Her computer was her teacher and she was allowed out of her room three times a day for exercise and organized/supervised play. Any altercation meant lock down and no interaction with anyone at all. Two altercations in a one week period meant the loss of all of the few privileges one had here. Three and she lost her clothes as well, she had to live naked as a jaybird for a full day.
After the first month in this place Shade understood the rules all too well and played the game of avoid everyone. When someone walked toward her she walked the other way, if someone talked to her she refused to talk back. She became a very silent and angry person. Sometimes while in her room she would just scream and pound on one of the walls till her fist bled. She never quit defending herself though, if someone hurt her she hurt them worse. She learned quickly the way to make friends with the ‘right’ boys, the ones who would watch her back. Though the ‘right’ boys were also the wrong ones.
She was allowed ‘Probation’ into a Klingon family, the father seemed one of those stern no nonsense types and the mother backed him in all he did 100%. Though unlike all the human families she was put in the custody of, this one didn’t look at her like a freak or panic at the first bad thing that happened. Not to say she wasn’t punished plenty, even for things that were just not right. Still, she had a lot more freedom than the hell hole she came from.
===Age fifteen==
School was a nightmare at best, she was different and the boys all thought they could take liberties. After all she was just a cat wasn't she? What was worse, the Foster family punished her for hurting the boys who tormented her. She could not win. Then she met Ureil, they were in detention together for fighting. He had told her about the ‘Neo Union Liberators’ and he took her to a meeting after the detention had ended. It was a large empty warehouse and there were over thirty other teens in the room.
Throughout school Shade was not only an outcast, but seemed to be a moving target. Everyone wanted to take advantage, hurt or insult her. She got to the point where if you just looked at her the wrong way she would be ready for war, but this Ureil… he talked so much about this Neo group, that she had to see what it was all about. She had been about ready to hightail it when she saw the warehouse, but since she wasn’t the only one on guard and not the only girl either, she reluctantly went in. Still she never lowered her guard.
The speaker had been quite eloquent and he touched her spirited sense of freedom. She went there every day after school. It wasn’t long before she joined, she trained hard to fight, to move silently, to seek her inner being. The others seemed friendly and often helpful, but not one tried to be a real friend. They each held to themselves, even Ureil. Though he was the closest of the bunch. For nearly two years she trained and worked hard to master the disciplines of the NUL.
One morning the leader brought Shade up to the front and had her say the code. It was an honor only gifted to the most promising members. Shade stood tall and proud as she spoke
“Never Pick a fight unless the odds are greater than you.”
“Stand on your own two feet, or don’t stand at all.”
“Fighting is life, not death. We do not fight to kill, only to become stronger.”
“Killing is a last resort, how much better is it to leave your enemy alive so they can challenge you again?”
“The ‘One’ is out there and will cross our path when the time is right, until then fight, grow, change and never give up on a goal.”
“Be bold in all things; never back down from a fight.”
“Understand the value of temporary alliances, we are not against allies, but bonds that weigh us, kill us.”
“Live to fight another day and use any means necessary to survive.’
“When in doubt remember, never allow emotion to be seen… only the ‘One’ is worthy of emotions and till that ‘One’ comes keep them to yourself.”
The man stopped her and thanked her for reciting it so well. There was a book they had with more, but he decided that was more than enough. He lead with the Moto they would say before going out “How will I recognize the ‘One’?”
The entire room answered in unison. “I will not, in battle the ‘One’ will recognize me!”
He nodded and set out a list of ‘activities’ they would do for the night.
One of the activities of the alliance was called ‘Payback time’. They would go down to a mall or store and let two or three of them start a fight with a large group, or some dangerous individuals. Even soldiers or security. Then when things looked bad seven or eight more would show up kick butt and then all would run for the hills. What they did not know was the leaders were using their ‘payback time’ as a cover to rob different businesses or intimidate certain peoples or shops.
Shade was warned by her Klingon family more than once about the risk, but some things seemed unimportant. Her Klingon father often spoke of her putting her ever increasing fighting skills to good use, by joining Starfleet marine corp. He felt the discipline would do her good and the action would calm her need for aggression.
===Age 17===
During one of the mall activities the fight had gotten particularly brutal and security had outnumbered them 3 to 1, Shade had never taken a life, and seeing the dead man at her feet paralyzed her. It wasn’t that she had never thought of killing someone, but this stranger did nothing to her, and now she was being investigated as his killer. The thing is he was stabbed in the back, and Shade had she killed someone would have used her claws. She never used a weapon, she was the weapon. It was then her father told her he had signed her up for underage enlistment, he told her she would do it and agree that she wanted to join, seeing as she really had no choice in the matter and it would save her, she agreed.
Whether Shade liked it or not she was a marine now, going through basic and with a surprise to herself she was able to cut the grade just fine. She was more than strong enough and most of the marines were actually respectable to her. Especially after sparring with her, but that was the actual marines, not the recruits.
It was hell all over again, but she focused on being all she could be and absorbed their own mindset. She liked this life, they lived to fight too, but it wasn’t pointless. It had meaning, that was what had been wrong before. The fights had no purpose, sure she always waited for someone else to make the first move, but this was different. It actually made her happy... and proud to do things that had some real design to it. She was finally beginning to understand the things her Klingon father had taught her about honor.
After about 3 years she was getting in trouble and getting accommodated in equal measure. This left everyone in a precarious situation, she fought with some of the marines she worked with, she seemed to be thin skinned and didn’t take to ‘joking’ well. As such she had been in several fights, despite that she had received communiqué from a particular leader of a team called the ‘Black Mambas’. They conducted many special ops. She once again was eager to jump ship so to speak, and get out of a fiery situation and join even more danger.
The Black Mambas had a reputation for being unorthodox and brutal. They mostly took missions of rescue in places where there were few or no friendlies. They often had to make a stealth entry from a long ways off, as Federation vessels were not permitted across certain borders. The unit was rumored to use illegal means as well and often entire teams were lost. If the team got into trouble it was normal procedure to write them off as if they never existed. They say all their missions came from Starfleet Intelligence and the casualty rate was well over fifty percent. Teams never numbered over ten and most teams did not accept replacements after they were formed.
Of course this was all rumor and fable, as no real proof existed of the Black Mambas or any of the other units that existed. Someone always turned up from time to time that claimed to be a member of one of these special ops teams, most were obviously flakes.
One time they were sent to ‘investigate’ the disappearance of a troop that was last seen on a planet, comprised mostly of desert and mountains. The team was supposedly last reported to be in a specific cave not far from where BM was dispatched, the first obstacle were the large sand worms, the phasers were very effective, but the worms needed bait, Shade being the most light footed volunteered to be ‘bait’ after a few close calls all the sand worms were dealt with.
A few hours later they reached what seemed to be a once lush oasis, but like the rest of the desert had dried up. The spot where the lake once sat, was bone dry, not even mud. The trees looked like they had been scorched and were warped and pathetic. They found a few weapons, that had spent power cells. So with no rest or relief from the sun they kept on. This desert was particularly difficult for Shade as on top of clothing she had a lot of hair and that made her sweat like crazy, so once they reached the shadow of the mountain she was greatly relieved.
It was a long walk to the caves, two men were sent as scouts, while the others started talking. Shade was the new girl so they started to ask her questions. One tall thin man asked “So I hear this is your third group? That a General took a liking to you and transferred you, then the ‘Boss’ saw you and had you join… do you know how crazy that is?”
Shade looked at him with more than a little annoyance “Which part, the fact that I was kept as a marine despite my dislike for superiors, the fact that the ‘Boss’ fought and beat me, but decided to ‘recruit’ me when that just doesn’t happen… or the fact that you walking and talking about needless bull when we should be doing our job?”
Several men laughed and soon she was being liked by more than half the team. Though none of them would admit it. The rest of the walk was a lot more quiet, only the footfalls of the team were heard. The scouts reported in regularly; mostly animal activity, hostile and non-hostile. The team was called to meet up, Thankfully the animals avoided the group. About an hour later they finally reached the mouth of a cave they had been looking for, one of the scouts walked out, telling everyone they had to come see this.
Upon entering they would see millions in jewels lining the walls, but the biggest shock was the team they came to investigate lying in the middle of the cave dead, blood and claw marks all over the wall, but the bodies were laid out in a perfect circle arms spread out and feet inward, posed. They knew it looked like an animal killed them, but no way would an animal arrange their bodies; someone else was on the planet.
They didn’t hardly have time to digest the realization that they were not alone when a disintegrating blast fired nearby, the other female marine shouted of the attack and pushed one of the men out of the way barely avoiding the blast herself. Now the fire was coming from the front and back of the cave. Stuck in a cross fire it didn’t look good, but Shade went all or nothing. “I’m on the 6!” She scooped up several stones as she dodged the fire, she threw them as she moved toward the exit.
The team had an opening now, the enemy was off guard, they never expected resistance and now the real fight began. Charging, rolling, dodging, and firing. The cave resounded in seamless phaser fire and explosions.
Shade took point on the team at the cave entrance. Since the only thing that mattered was living to see another day, they needed an escape route. Two Mambas followed her and their fire kept her at an advantage, she used her claws well and slashed through at least 3 enemies, before a very large person knocked her into a wall. She must have lost consciousness for a moment because when she looked up the big person was dead and a man was reaching down to help her. She spotted someone taking aim and shoved him away as she rolled to the side.
Another enemy now had her point blank and she had nowhere to go, as the person fired she acted purely on instinct and grabbed a large gem fragment nearly the size of a buckler and hid behind it. she didn’t expect it to work, but somehow it did. She looked at the gem with amazement, it didn’t disintegrate, she took the moment of shock and tumbled forward quickly annihilating the foe with a few well aimed slashes.
She shouted to the men to use the gems, and then the tide turned completely in their favor. All the enemies were killed, upon inspection they discovered these attackers were pirates, and looking over their PADDs they had followed a team here and waited for them to discover where the natural resources were at and then convinced some local natives to kill them. Apparently they brought their attack beasts as well as arranged the bodies in a ritual style. The goal to appease some deity. It was then the Pirate disintegrated the locals and proceeded to steal all that was valuable and sell it, however they didn’t count on was how much wealth there was.
They had nearly filled their ship and still more was on the planet. They were greedy, so they sent for another ship, under the guise of a short range distress signal. Planning to steal the ‘rescuers’ ship and fill it up and then get away with their ill gotten gains. The Black Mambas found the location of the ship and took it and all the info they gathered to the ‘Boss’ and soon the planet was being mined with top notch security. The team was rewarded highly for their work and Shade was given the mineral that saved her life as a reward, it was her first mission and the ‘Boss’ felt he should reward her for surviving the first one.
One day remembering and sharing with a crew member on her new ship:
“When I joined them, I wasn’t garbage anymore. You know I may act a certain way and look a certain way, but I share in a very Human feeling called loneliness. I tired countless times to make friends. Guess what they did? Tried to play ‘Skin the cat’ or ‘sick the neighbor’s dog on the scared kitty’ or ‘does a cat always land on “IT’s” feet?’ they had a million of them. I wasn’t human or any equivalent in their eyes. Not an excuse. Every bad thing that happened to me I earned in some way, but don’t think I always gave to my anger, I never once hurt someone without first being hurt… can all humans say the same?”
Shade took a drink “I think there was an earth game, whack a hole…or something like that. Think that, but with phasers and a-” She smirked slightly “Demonic cat woman bounding around.” She smirked at the memory. “For the next 4 years I was with them. Until one of our men were murdered while on a mission. We were under deep investigation and I was suspected. A man I saved, a very high up man with much leverage, kept tabs on me ever since I saved his life a year prior, and desperately wanted to repay me. So he offered me an out, but I would never be a marine again.”
“That was the second time I was accused of a murder I didn’t commit and sent to serve somewhere else to have a chance at life anew.” She looked down “That’s when I joined the Academy, I saw science as a very interesting thing. Understanding how things work or better yet how they became what they are. I was excited when I heard there was a marine group in science…”
Shade took a drink. “You know a ‘Marine Biologist’ but I found out they never fight. I mean what kind of marine doesn’t fight?” She shook her head “So I chose to be an archaeologist. To learn the ancient ways civilizations fought, and acted. The weapons and tools, it was the best I could find that wasn’t being a marine.”
Shade didn’t have the strength to say it, but she had been fighting a well of emotions since she started telling her story. Now she realized how greatly she regretted nearly every decision she ever made. She would have broke down and cried, but she just wasn’t able. She built a wall up that only allowed aggression out, no other emotions, She was taught aggression was the only constructive and destructive emotion and thus that was the only one worth relying on.
Official File:
Raised on earth as an abandoned child, Shade seemed to be born angry and violent, though to everyone’s surprise has calmed down a great deal since her birth. No one knows how the baby came to be on earth, but with her desire for confrontations it seemed only right when she joined the marines.
She excelled in any mission she was sent on, but when she wasn’t fighting the enemy she was fighting her superiors. She couldn’t understand why they would retreat at times or not utterly destroy their enemies. Her issues with authority led to many problems, and the only reason she was not dismissed form Star Fleet all together was that a particular General was quite taken with her and pulled strings to have her relocated. However the story soon repeated itself once again.
Circumstances would have it, that she earned favor yet again, but this time by saving a well placed diplomat. He saved her from being arrested for suspicions of murder. She hated to admit it, but she owed him, he asked her to do one thing for him. He would pull some strings to have her placed on a ship, but she was to do as her superiors on the ship say, speak with the counselor regularly and be on her best behavior. She grudgingly agreed, and soon was on a waiting list to join a ship, in the mean time she attended the Star Fleet Academy studying Science, later the diplomat had discovered his task would be more difficult than he first perceived and realized he may have to resort to a new tactic to get her on a ship, but was determined to repay the girl who saved his life.
Service Record:
Seven years as a marine HGA lance Corporal
Second year Cadet assigned to the USS Versatile
For more information concerning her species follow these links:
http://database.obsidianfleet.net/wiki/index.php/Sivaoan
http://database.obsidianfleet.net/wiki/index.php/Kovatii
(Alternate species)
https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Caitian
