Iris

**Iris** is a member of the Perihelions crew, which is a teaching and research vessel, and occasional cargo hauler. These goals are also a cover for the crew's anti-corporate activities, which are to gather information and strike out against corporations.

## Biography

Iris has two fathers, Seth (captain of the Perihelion) and Martyn. She was raised alongside Perihelion's AI in her home's family environment, and she sees it as a sibling. She and her family are affiliated with the Pansystem University of Mihira and New Tideland.

At the start of Network Effect, the Perihelion's crew had received word that Barish-Estranza was turning its attention towards the Lost Colony, so the crew set out to reach it first. They intend to block Barish-Estranza from re-enslaving the colony and, if possible, to make new allies.

Before they can reach the colony, they're intercepted and captured (ironically) by lost colonists who'd hijacked a Barish-Estranza shuttle and were looking for a ship that could travel further. Three of Iris' crewmates are given implants made of Pre-Corporation-Rim technology and alien code, much like the ones already implanted on the Lost Colonists. Iris and the other unaffected crewmates are approached by a sympathetic colonist, who smuggles them to the Lost Colony's surface in an attempted rescue. The colonist dies in the attempt, and Iris, Seth, Kaede, Tarik, and Matteo continue on to the surface alone, where they're immediately stranded: they have nowhere safe in the colony to go, and no way to return to their ship.

They're struggling to reactivate the lift pod when fighting breaks out among the colonists, triggered by the arrival of Murderbot's drop box. Murderbot, Thiago and Overse reach out, making first contact with **Iris**, who recognizes Murderbot by the pictures ART showed her previously.

They make it back to the Perihelion, but Murderbot is captured in the process. Once they regroup they immediately coordinate a rescue, and soon Murderbot is safe as well.

An armed ship from the Preservation Alliance arrives some days later, expecting to need to rescue the PreservationAux team. Murderbot reaches out and diffuses the situation, and Iris and Seth tell Mensah about their group's true mission, recruiting her (and her people's) help.

## Personality

Iris is able to keep a level head in a crisis: she doesn't panic when first (and very suddenly) approached by Murderbot. She's wary under these circumstances, but also quick enough to trust that she's willing to expose her back to let Murderbot search for unwanted implanted technology.

Although Seth is designated as the captain, the command structure on Perihelion seems relatively informal. Iris calls Seth "Dad" and argues with him about proposed actions while they are on a mission.

## Physical Appearance

Iris has dark brown skin, wears a woven bracelet, and has dark, curly hair that "poofs out" and is long enough to be tied up on her head. Murderbot notes she is smaller and slimmer than Ratthi, but not much bigger than Amena.

When Murderbot first meets her, she's wearing the casual version of the Perihelion blue crew uniform: long-sleeved T-shirt, pants, and soft shoes. At that particular moment she had stains at her elbows and knees, cuts on her hands, and a bruise along one forearm.

## Notes

* Iris is noted as being Perihelion's favorite crewmate.

## References

1. ↑ *426. All About Murderbot with Martha Wells*, SB Sarah, Smart Podcast Trashy Books, https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/podcast/426-all-about-murderbot-with-martha-wells/#transcript
2. ↑ *"Iris was small, shorter and slimmer than Ratthi, not much bigger than Amena. Her dark hair was the curly kind that puffed out a lot but she had it pulled back and tied up in a band. Her long-sleeved T-shirt and pants and soft shoes were the casual version of ART’s blue crew uniform, and she had stains at her knees and elbows, cuts on her hands, and a discolored bruise on her left forearm, but I didn’t see any worse injuries."*, Chapter 15, Network Effect.