594. Polaris Summation

By request, a somewhat coherent summation of The Story as it relates to the crew's time on Polaris. Enjoy and/or be amused.

365. Who's Who

Story Synopsis:

“The Story” begins when the author, while on vacation in the Caribbean, stumbles upon a few survivors of an alien race (Hynerians). Everything that follows is a retelling, or a recreating as some might say, of who and why and how. The story follows a mosaic format, not a linear one. Each chapter, or post, stands on its own, giving reflection to a small piece of the whole. We learn that eight Hynerians were forced to vacate their dying planet. The story showcases their external (adventures) and internal (pyschological) search for home and meaning in a universe dark and bleak. The relationship between Kyra and Papa (her grandfather) form the centerpiece of the story, a light unto the darkness, which is recounted episodically in remembrances.

Main Characters:

(Each character's name is hyperlinked to their original sketch or painting)

Kyra: a young female Hynerian raised by her Zing Tao Grandfather at Valla, she assumed leadership of Bravo.* Kyra is gifted with the rare ability to play in the field of “Love,” and thus influence events in extraordinary ways. Her parents, both marine-biologists and obsessed with the climate changes and their careers, were almost non-existent in her life; she carries within her both great joy and great sadness. Physically, she can best be imagined as a cross between Aeryn Sun (Farscape) and Aki Ross (Final Fantasy). There is more “me” in Kyra’s personality than any of the other characters. She is the literary love of my life, with her coal black hair and brilliant sapphire eyes, tight and taut, forever dressed in form-fitting melanic venuisan leather.

*Bravo-Four-Zero was the original vessel assigned to Kyra and the others. On a mission to rescue another Hynerian vessel, Bravo was attacked, incapacitated and abandoned (although still extant). Their second vessel, of Kulmykian make, is called Tranquility.

Papa (Zeke): Kyra’s grandfather. Papa entered the Zing Tao Order as a young Hynerian and eventually became the only Hynerian to achieve Ninth Order rank. Although we learn of some of his adventures in the early part of the story, Papa is mainly seen after retirement interacting with a young Kyra. He discovers early that her gifts far exceed his own and he pours his heart into cultivating love and wisdom within Kyra. He secures passage for her on Bravo, while he stays behind on Hyneria. A present day Paul Newman would play Papa. When I think of Papa, I most often think of my maternal grandfather.

Rog: Raised on a ranch in the southern reaches, Rog is a happy-go-lucky, good-looking, fun-loving, optimistic rustic cowboyish type with a killer smile. A younger Dennis Quaid would be a perfect fit for Rog. Rog has a heart of gold, falls in love with Yul, loves to pilot the ship, drink snoot with Von and dream of the next adventure. Rog sometimes talks before he thinks but would give you the shirt off his back if you asked. Rog is modeled in part after my uncle Calvin, who served two tours in Vietnam as a helicopter pilot.

Yul: She is the “Ginger” (with a rough edge) in this story. She exudes sexuality and most of the gratuitous sex in the story involves her. She was a twin and not the chosen one. Her father abused her emotionally. She could do no right and her sister could do no wrong. In fact, her sister was supposed to be on Bravo, not Yul. Yul is an emotional rollercoaster and sees the world through the thick filters of her upbringing, which is to say she needs love desperately but has trouble trusting anyone and is quick to blame herself for all that goes wrong. She loves Rog dearly, although their relationship has had its share of ups and downs. Not sure who would play Yul in the movie.

Von: Von is the oldest member of the Bravo crew, a contemporary of Papa and a Zing Tao. In service with Papa and the Zing Tao in the great Dauculus campaign he incurred a debt to Papa. In repayment of that debt, Von agreed to accompany Kyra on Bravo and watch over her. He had to leave his only son behind to fulfill this debt, a choice that has left him bittersweet. Von would be played by Max Von Sydow.

Trev: Trev is one of the youngest members of the crew. Boyishly handsome but somewhat immature and shy, Trev was in medical school at the time of evacuation. In the early part of the story, he was the medic. We still don’t know a lot about Trev and know almost nothing about his life on Hyneria. He appears to have a somewhat repressed personality.

Emy: Em’s father was a great sea captain on Hyneria and she spend a lot of time with him on the open sea. She is the Mary Ann to Yul’s Ginger so to speak. She has no airs, salt of the earth heart and personality and had a very good and strong relationship with both her mother, who died and whose essence she carries in a brooch, and her loving father. Em spends a lot of time writing letters back to her father and frets at the very real prospect she will never have children. In a recent accident, Em was blinded. She also is an artist. Em, in summary, is the girl next door.

Mairi: Mairi is a Châtelaine, which, although not developed yet in the story is a cross between a Geisha and a Companion (Inara’s character in the Firefly series). To be fair to Châtelaines, they are rather more sophisticated in their training and skills than either of the two examples above. One day, the story will take us into more detail. Mairi comes from a posh background, is rather soft-spoken but has a backbone of steel; in other words, she is tough as nails, although you'd never guess from her beautiful external appearance. She is extremely intelligent and, of all the females onboard, has the most classically attractive features. Unlike Rog and Em, Mairi is used to the finer things in life and has an appreciation for subtle details and nuances. To date, other than the fact that she is a “child of the shells” and her deformity is not physical but of the “mind” (she is a Null, which means she has the ability to blank out all telepathic communication in her vicinity), we know very little about her. Her nullness introduced her to Dr X, who raped and tortured her and who is now acting as her mentor. The relationship is complex and difficult to understand.

Kieran: Kieran is the only crew member to have passed away. He contracted the deadly Animus virus early in the story, and although the crew did everything in their power to save him, he slipped into the next life. He has, however, remained as a cameo figure present in spirit and sometimes manifests himself in times of trouble. Kyra was falling in love with Kieran, the one member of the crew she saw as her equal or at least close enough. She struggled to recover from her attempt to save him (which forced her into the next realm and back again) and spent upwards of two weeks in a coma. Kieran was also a "child of the shells." His deformity: two hearts. Kyra and Mairi are the only two crew members Kieran converses with, although he once encouraged Yul to return to the heart that beat for her.

John: John Discovery, aka Johnny Disco, is Kulmykian. Married to Cait with one daughter (Ariel), John was a senior level military commander who also happens to also be a neuro-surgeon. He is attracted to Kyra and walks the fine line between what he knows is right and the emotions just underneath. We tend to see a good bit of ambiguity in his relationship with her. John was the golden boy on Kulmyk until somewhere along the line he angered someone very high up in the political realm. He and Rog were railroaded on trumped up “Infidelity” charges and were to be summarily executed before they were rescued. In fleeing his home planet, he joined “the crew” upon their new ship, the Tranquility (Bravo was incapacitated in an earlier mission). Cait and Ariel are with him. George Clooney plays John in the movie.

Goldie and Pinkie: Mechanical valets to Kyra and Em respectively.

Taren and Dr X: Arc’teryxian, which is to say, part of a civilization at war with Kulmyk. It is still unclear who the good guys are and who are the bad guys. The story has not resolved that fact currently. Suffice it to say, Taren is now a member of Tranquility and it looks as if Dr X may be joining them.

82. All Things Kyra

First known sketch of Kyra

All things known (so far) about Kyra: (updating through the day)

(1) Hynerian
(2) Parents were marine biologists (not home much)
(3) Primarily raised by her grandparents
(4) Papa Kyra (Zeke) was a famous Zing Tao master of the ninth order
(5) Leader of Bravo-Four-Zero
(6) Possessed initiative in spades
(7) Not overly aggressive
(8) Not terribly charismatic (this may change)
(9) Not one to socialize
(10) Spends lot of time in her quarters
(11) Has her childhood shell collection onboard
(12) Spent a lot of time at the family retreat on Valla cove
(13) Papa helped her collect and build her shell project
(14) She loved the beach and the retreat
(15) She valued the peace and quiet and reflective, introspective atmosphere at Valla
(16) Papa bequeathed his prized Blue Onyx ring to Kyra when she came of age
(17) She always wore the ring on a chain around her neck
(18) She never ever took it off
(19) Much of what she knows and who she is comes from Papa and his lessons
(20) Papa and Kyra were rarely seen apart
(21) "Trust not the eye alone" was a phrase she heard repeatedly from Papa
(22) Kyra's imagination amazed her crew mates
(23) Papa built Goldie for Kyra
(24) Goldie was built in Grandma Kyra's likeness
(25) Papa finished Goldie within six months of grandma passing away
(26) This was Papa's way to right the injustice of Kyra losing her grandmother so soon
(27) Kyra had onboard every postcard, letter and note Papa had written to her
(28) Kyra had struggled to find a Hynerian that matched her Papa
(29) She often wondered if her sights and expectations were too high
(30) She agonized on whether her expectations led her to pass on happiness
(31) She loved snizzle in the morning
(32) She drank her snizzle in a handmade off-white cup
(33) She missed Papa very much
(34) His scent was still found on the postcards and she often closed her eyes and with one breath he was clearly near again
(35) Kyra had her Juju birds onboard
(36) Papa had used Juju birds in Kyra's studies
(37) In addition to Papa's ring, Kyra also had Grand's brooch
(38) Grandma Kyra had given Kyra the brooch on her death bed
(39) The brooch personified the love Papa had for Grand
(40) She gave it to Kyra to "close the circle"
(41) "When you hold this brooch, you hold love"
(42) "“I love you my dear sweet child. Keep this brooch. Hold it close to your heart and know that the gleam of light in your eye is the sparkle of my soul forever protecting you with the shield of love given to me by your papa and which I now bestow upon you."
(43) Kyra's quarters on Bravo-Four-Zero comprised an entire wall as a picture window to the universe
(44) She spends a great deal of time gazing in amazement at the wonders before her
(45) Kyra is 5'6" tall
(46) She has coal black hair that falls just below her shoulder blades
(47) She mostly wore her hair "up"
(48) She has brilliant sparkling blue eyes
(49) Showcased with picture perfect cheeks
(50) She is in her late twenties
(51) Kyra had a natural curiosity
(52) Her body was hewn by years of loving "Zing Tao" practice/play
(53) She had the strength and skill of a third year Zing Tao novice by the time she entered university
(54) Kyra's natural abilities exceeded Papa's and he knew it
(55) Papa knew she has "the gift" that no amount of teaching could bestow
(56) Kyra could master the way as no Hynerian before if she choose to apply herself
(57) Kyra was striking in her presence
(58) One knew when she walked into a room
(59) She was not a wordy Hynerian
(60) Her eyes were set slightly wide
(61) Although her personality was not charismatic, her physical presence did command attention in a charismatic way
(62) She did not seek leadership of Bravo-Four-Zero
(63) She did, however, not resist her natural place when acknowledged by the others as the one to lead them
(64) She is at the peak of her physical powers
(65) Her power is more than just the physical
(66) Her mental strength far surpasses her physical abilities
(67) Kyra was not one to beat around the bush
(68) She did have a very playful sense of humor
(69) Small talk was a waste of time in her eyes
(70) She enjoyed philosophical conversation
(71) She walked with the grace and prowess of a jungle cat
(72) She had long agile fingers
(73) She loved to wear form-fitting black leather
(74) She had a wicked grin, when the situation called for it
(75) Clear awareness of how she comes across
(76) Kyra has a natural ability to read faces for the truth
(77) Papa always said she would have made one kickass interrogator
(78) She is older than Trev but younger than Rog
(79) She has a holographic helmet she uses for meditation exercises
(80) She could breath with the grace and elegance of a Zing Tao master
(81) Papa taught her general principles of leadership
(82) She does not micro manage
(83) Papa also taught Kyra how to "walk"
(84) Kyra had feelings for Kieran
(85) She was not immune from those feelings overwhelming her
(86) She had never shared those feelings with anyone
(87) She loved the Pufferbills and the time alone with Papa
(88) She makes it to earth

64. Story Summation (so far)

Post History on the Hynerian Story of Kyra and Zeke. Audio Commentary and Summation for those who are coming into the story and would like an executive summary of what is what and who is who.

1. Caribbean Canopy (Novemver 26, 2005)


2. Almost Home


3. The Natives


4. Scottish Fireflys


5. North


6. Shells


7. Purple Trees


8. Hynerian Passion Fruit


9. Hynerian Homeworld (Story leaves earth)


10. Trouble


11. Perfect Food


12. The Healing Planet


13. No One (December 1, 2005)


14. The Chapel


15. Reentry


16. Metalunans


17. Squorks


18. The Dance of Alisa


19. Tigerland Sea


20. A Single Step


21. Golden Tree


22. Red Clouds


23. Lesson of the Shells (Kyra enters the story)


24. Blue Onyx (Papa Kyra, aka Zeke enters the story)


25. Zaels (Part 1)


26. Love is always Truth


27. Flashbacks


28. Move Out!


29. Flashbacks (2)


30. In Transit (Ji Qong enters the story—Founder of the Zing Tao)


31. Zaels (Part2) Operational Background


32. Flashbacks (3): The Last Dispatch


33. Dorfel riding Shells


34. Serenity Gardens


35. Golden Child


36. North (and South)


37. Zimmlers


38. Trial of Thorns


39. Discipline


40. Scatalinas


41. Wabi Wabi


42. Twenty-Four Hours


43. Goldie and Snizzle


44. Postcards


45. Juju Birds


46. Bad News


47. A Rare Encounter (audio commentary)


48. Grand’s Brooch


49. Arrival


50. Before


51. Frequency 643z


52. Four Minutes


53. Stormy Weather


54. A Room with a View (January 2, 2006)


55. Animus


56. Neraj


57. Epiphany! (Part 1)


58. Marauders


59. Watering the Garden


60. Learning to Walk


61. So Close, Yet so Far


62. Vector Beacons or Back to Neraj

Executive Summary:

Chapters 1-22:

Kyra and Bravo-Four-Zero:

Zeke, Ji and the Zing Tao: