024: Makankana

ENTRY 024: Makankana

The demand for top-grade athletes for zero-g and microgravity sports has led to designs combining the pinnacle athleticism of Olympian morphs and the special adaptations of Bouncer morphs. From a technical standpoint, these designs are difficult: each morph has contradictory traits which can be difficult to reconcile at the level of individual biological subsystems, with Olympians being mainly designed to grow and develop in ideal conditions of normal gravity and plentiful oxygen to achieve their potential. As a result Olympian Bouncer morphs, sometimes called Voidstars, require specialized training and environmental conditions in addition to genetics to achieve the heights of transhuman biological potential, and are generally restricted to some of the wealthier or better-connected transhumans in the larger zero-g and microgravity habitats. The results, however, are astonishing.

Makankana is a prime exemplar, a free agent in zero-g jai alai and monstrously deformed by old human standards—their bandy legs and wiry, overlong arms and barrel chest give them a distinctly simian appearance that serves Makanaka astoundingly well in the court, able to maneuver with an ease, precision, and speed that many synthmorphs have difficulty matching. Makankana currently works as something of an itinerant player, signing short contracts for a few games with teams like the New Olympians out of Titan and the Three Righteous Dragons from Quin Long. The neuter Voidstar lives for the next game. Makankana's muse Xi Shi doubles as Makankana’s agent, and sees to the traveling star’s physical needs and continual training.

COG	COO	INT	REF	SAV	SOM	WIL	MOX
15	30	25	30	15	30	15	-
INIT	SPD	LUC	TT	IR	DUR	WT	DR
11	1	30	6	60	40	8	60

Morph: Olympian/Bouncer

Skills: Academics: Physics 60, Academics: Statistics 72, Art: Dance 60, Climbing 90, Free Fall 93, Interests: Gambling 45, Interests: Zero-G Sports 90, Intimidation 67, Kinesics 40, Language: Native Esperanto 90, Language: English 80, Language: Chinese 80, Networking: Autonomists 66, Networking: Criminals 39, Perception 88, Profession: Athlete 93, Throwing Weapons 65, Unarmed Combat 60

Implants: Basic Biomods, Basic Mesh Inserts, Cortical Stack, Grip Pads, Oxygen Reserve, Prehensile Feet

Traits: Ambidextrous, Brave, Limber (1)

Using Makankana

As something of a mercenary player, Makankana is more likely to be a living macguffin than a regular contact or antagonist—someone that the player characters are likely to kidnap, bribe, injure, play against, bodyguard, train, or babysit as the needs dictate. The credits and rep surrounding Makankana's performance in a given game attracts all sorts of attention, from Triad gamblers looking to fix a game to hypercorp reps eager for an endorsement, and all of these provide opportunities for gamemasters to ensnare PCs in Makankana’s world of zero-g and microgravity athletics.

Given Makankana’s focus on the next game, interactions for anything else will probably have to go through their muse, Xi Shi. The AI is an androgynous parent-figure to the Voidstar, and also their agent, negotiating business deals, managing their assets, making reservations, reminding Makankana to eat, etc. In the event that Makankana is threatened with injury or imprisonment, Xi Shi will try to bribe or negotiate with the malefactors so that Makankana comes out as whole as possible—though if this comes at the cost of throwing a game, Makankana will overrule the muse.