Anaphra

Anaphra, also referred to as "The Answer" or "The Lord of Pirates", is an extremely powerful hybrid who chose to defy the Senate, Constellation, and any other Galactic ruling body that should ever arise. He values freedom and liberty above all else, refusing to ever bend knee to someone solely because of a title or regime. He, much like Edge, despises tyranny or oppression in any form. Unlike Edge, however, he does not actively seek to root these out where he finds them. Instead, in the name of his own freedom, he walks his own path.

### Appearance

Anaphra is a very tall hybrid with a rounded head and long, pointed ears that extend straight up along his temples. His face is flat, with no nose to speak of, and he has a grinning canine mouth that extends from cheek to cheek, giving him the appearance of a horrifying monster. His teeth are long, pointed and interlocking and he has an extendable, two-pronged tongue like a Scion. His eyes have the same emotive properties as a Scain or Scion, able to change colors with his mood. His body is covered with a thin layer of fur, barely more than an Alintean, which grows from mottled gray skin. Closer inspection reveals that he has hundreds of tattoos across his body beneath the hair, and these are done with emotive ink - they change color in sync with his eyes.

He possesses the digitigrade legs of a Scain, but the clawlike feet of a Raskasha. His arms are very long, reaching almost all the way down to his knees, and end in huge hands with long claws. He is almost never seen standing straight, as his spine has a pronounced curve and his vertebrae are visible through his skin and fur. At first glance, Anaphra is often compared to something from a nightmare, as his appearance is off-putting and bizarre. His body is also covered with implants that help regulate his genetics as well as two large implants along the sides of his head that help regulate the pain he is almost constantly experiencing.

### Background

Anaphra was deliberately created as a hybrid in the Frontier by mixing the DNA of both a Raskasha and a Scion (despite both species being mortal enemies and their DNA being barely compatible). He was the sixteenth attempt at such a fusion and the only success. While the first few years of his life made it look like the hybridization had succeeded, it quickly became apparent that there were lingering genetic defects and conditions that were impeding him. As such, the same group that made him surgically modified him by giving him numerous implants to regulate these adverse effects. The result, however, is that Anaphra existed in an almost constant state of pain and agony.

The purpose behind his creation was to develop a being capable of fighting off the pirates, slavers, marauders and other aggressive groups that continually raided the Erythian colonies in the Frontier. As such, when it was determined that he was sufficiently powerful to do that, he became known as "The Answer". Anaphra eventually sought his own freedom, however, not content to be a living weapon in thrall to the Erythians or anyone. He was able to tear out some of the implants that were inhibiting him, as well as neurological override modules that granted the Erythians almost total control over his actions, before fleeing into Constellation Space.

Anaphra is best known for his information networks, which he spread throughout the whole Galaxy faster than any government body wants to admit. He was able to curtail the activities of most pirate crews by striking bargains and forming his personal war council made up of members of different crews. He allowed them to continue to operate unfettered so long as they allowed him to mediate clashes between their groups - an act which cut down on a lot of violence amongst other pirates. His information networks are so good that the Senate and Constellation have even attempted an alliance to counter them, all to no avail. Anaphra is described as sitting at the center of a web, knowing every movement that happens on both sides of the Frontier. Neither political power has been able to get close to him.

He also operates massive trade networks between both parties, often allowing his ports and bases to be used as interchange points. Information flows along these trade routes as well, so he benefits regardless of what is being traded. Despite his reluctance to get involved in actual politics, he has been known to intercede if he finds out any of his bases are used for slave trading - which is the one crime he does not condone or forgive.

At some point in the past, Anaphra took control of a massive, mobile fortress called the *Krivakus* and used it as a base of operations for centuries. After the Senate Schism and the resulting Tenth Galactic War, he was keen to monitor humans as they made their way into space as he saw the potential for them to be powerful allies. He secretly supplied them during numerous conflicts with other races, using his information networks to smuggle weapons and equipment in exchange for more information.

### Personality

Despite his horrifying appearance, cunning intelligence and cutthroat policies, Anaphra is an extremely friendly and genial individual - particularly with those he respects or likes. He considers many pirate Captains to be not just allies, but actual friends - among them being Captain Pritka of the *Drassa* and Captain Kyyli of the *Echoblight Saber*. He does not know how long he will live for, as the experiments performed on him to make him into "The Answer" are a mystery even to him. With the time he has, however, he seeks to bask in his freedom as much as possible and open the door to others to experience the same.

As friendly as he is, Anaphra's reputation also includes a dark side. For those who break his rules or violate his personal code, he becomes a living nightmare. A monster that will turn almost every pirate in the Galaxy against them. He has also been known to hunt down targets by himself, piloting the *Krivakus* in pursuit of those who have wronged him. He is single-minded, focused, merciless and inescapable. While he prefers titles like "The Answer" or "Lord of Pirates", he has also been given numerous other (less flattering) names by those who have seen him hunt.

### Powers and Abilities

Anaphra is possibly the only known lifeform to equally wield both types of Psionics. He can manipulate photoneutrinic fields like a Scain or Scion, but can just as easily control quark-gluon interactions like the Raskasha. Even more interesting is that he can control both simultaneously, making him an extremely formidable foe. While he lacks the raw power of high-tier Scions like Kashmedara or Veronkitterat, his quark-gluon manipulation grants him levels beyond what they would be capable of at their peaks and could nullify their photoneutrinic Psionics. Combined, he can generate quark-gluon plasma at will - something no other living being has ever been observed doing.

Beyond his insane Psionic abilities, Anaphra is also highly skilled in combat. He can wreath his body in energy fields and square up with opponents many times his size and still emerge the victor. He is also trained in the use of firearms and melee weapons, although he considers these ineffective in comparison to his natural abilities.

Anaphra's real strength comes from a combination of his information networks and his tactical planning abilities. Prior to dominating almost all known pirate crews, Anaphra made a name for himself as a ship strategist, capable of outmaneuvering ships that were leagues above him and crippling them with unconventional tactics and plans. Now, with thousands of ships at his command, Anaphra routinely plays multidimensional chess with the Senate and Constellation, repeatedly outmaneuvering and outplanning them even when they believed they had the element of surprise.