I was surprised to see some people express an interest in my Starbound characters, and I've been thinking about it ever since, so I hope you guys don't mind if I open up about them a bit. Here's the first character I played as after being introduced to Frackin' Universe.
This is Neutron, a member of the X'i race. Their story is more than a few years old now and not quite up to my current standards, but I hope that you enjoy it anyways.
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As a new and oblivious seedling, they were discovered by a star faring group of human scientists from Earth. At first, the group took the infant alien in and hoped to use them to improve relations between the species, but two of the scientists, an older couple, came to care for them like their own child.
Despite the X'i's natural level of radioactivity, the couple was able to adopt the infant, and at first brought them along on their studies, teaching them many of the things they'd known. The child took a quick interest in physics, and the couple would name them Neutron soon after. Eventually, after several years, they would retire back to their home planet and bring Neutron with them.
Once coming of age, Neutron decided they wanted to become part of Earth's Protectorate, mostly to travel and begin their own studies out in the galaxy. Their parents, now much older and just wanting to enjoy their retirement in peace, would stay on Earth and communicate with them from afar.
However, after the induction ceremony, the Ruin came. It tore the planet of Earth apart, and Neutron's parents were two of the many casualties lost that day. Neutron themselves managed to make it to a junker starship, which was thrown from the planet during the final blast.
Neutron awakened after several days, finding radioactive bulbs growing on their skin. At first, they did not remember what had happened. They walked through the wrecked ship as S.A.I.L spoke to them, informing them of their next steps, but the AI was ignored. Neutron went first to a handheld communication device that their parents had given them for their travels. Even though the system within the ship was beyond repair, this was always supposed to reach them - but there was only static.
Once they remembered what had transpired, they began to tear the bulbs from themselves, bringing their emotional anguish into a physical form as well. Neutron broke down and landed on their knees as the faint green glow of the bulbs around them slowly began to fade.
After another day or so, Neutron's hunger has become insatiable. Though they wish to die as well, they have noticed and begun staring at the seemingly lush planet their ship had brought them to. S.A.I.L's constant prodding to visit the unfamiliar world was wearing on their nerves, and begrudgingly, they decided to go and investigate.
While upon the planet, Neutron would notice its nature's unmistakable similarity to Earth's, although it was of course hardly inhabited. They traveled across it's surface, meeting the occasional starhopper, and even a few who simply lived there.
Eventually they came upon a lab, which was tended to by a massive, sapient amphibian creature. Enthusiastic for a student, the being enlisted Neutron's help in fixing some of his broken machinery. Even in their current state, Neutron was able to remember their fascination with the sciences, and agreed.
The final task given to Neutron saw them travel all the way down to the core of the planet, where the heat was scorching. Neutron was particularly averse to heat, and it was here that they once again began to think of how easy it would be to let go, to let the magma consume them. It would take only seconds.
But some part of them wanted to keep going, to keep learning, in their parents' wake. Even the planet they'd accidentally come upon was full of new knowledge and experiences. Neutron realized that to fully honor their parents' wishes, they should continue to chase their own.
Now, Neutron travels in a ship they built themselves, using the junker as a base. It is full of the research they've gathered. They still wear the remains of the ripped Protectorate uniform around their neck and carry the communication device without fail, and their goal never changes - to continue to study, even when that research sometimes blows up, literally.
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