Laniis Baker

grayscale portrait

Fleet Seersa rescued from the harem of the Emperor. Formerly Fleet proper, now reassigned to the Fleet Investigation Agency.

Pronounced lah-NEES. Chatcaavan name given by the Queen pronounced kahs-kah.

Physical Characteristics

• Shorter than the Slave Queen; "the black tips of her ears barely reaching the Slave Queen's neck."
• Silver fur, black points on ears, legs, hands, tailtip
• Orange eyes, "several shades darker than the Slave Queen's"
• Fur thick enough to conceal her breasts and hips and genitals.
• While a slave to the Chatcaava, collared with a silver collar. For presentations, the edges of both ears were entirely laced with earrings, and she wore bracelets, anklets, finger-rings, toe-rings, and tail-bracelets, all in silver.

History

• Fleet proper officer, though one of the only ones taught Eldren
• Captured alongside a male who was tortured for information and then executed, and a female who joined the harem but quickly died of sorrow
• was in the Imperial Harem for 'a year'
• Was initially told by the Fleet Investigation Agency that any attempt at escape from the Chatcaavan Empire by any citizen was a "broken parachute" situation, doomed to disastrous failure. After Lisinthir Nase Galare effected the escape of her and three other slaves, they upgraded it to "possible landing," meaning that it was no longer a completely hopeless enterprise.
• Loaned to the Fleet Investigation Agency after her rescue; is still considered part of Fleet Regular however
• Did undercover work with Hold 22 on the border, including on the lawless world of Akana Ris under the fake name 'Carol.'
• Slept in a basket near the wall when quartered in the Queen's Suite as part of her duties as attendant to the Queen.
• The Mother often had a kind word for her.
• The Queen cared for her enough to comfort her with an embrace when she believed that the Alliance ambassador had abandoned her to her fate.
• "The only slaves that survived the Empire were like Khaska: stable, solid and dispassionate. The very sensitive were consumed; the very passionate were quenched. Only the creatures in the perilous middle remained."

Quotes

• "I told them we would try to help them, but we were prisoners too. But that we would try."
• "To give yourself freely in service to others is not the same as slavery, Mistress."
• Regarding the Queen Ransomed:
  • "I'll never forget the Empire, and that's not a good thing. That wasn't a surprise. But I don't think I'll ever forget you, and I'm glad. You made it bearable. Not only that, you made my escape possible. You and the Ambassador. I'll be forever grateful."
  • "And if you ever need me—I hope you'll find some way to reach me. I know how things there are for women, but I have faith. And until that day, I wish you well. More than well. I wish you all the best, in whatever way is possible to you."
• "You should have known better, Ambassador. The moment they released me to duty I went back to the border. I pay my debts...!"
• "I’m done bashing my head against this wall. If the Chatcaava are coming, I’m not staying here to die like a civilian."

Trivia

• speaks Chatcaavan and Eldren
• maintained a rigid formality with the Queen until the arrival of Lisinthir, to the Queen's mild annoyance
• facial expressions difficult to read by the Queen
• Called "Khaska" by the Slave Queen, who named her after the bellringers for the ancient temples to the Living Air.
  • traditionally children dressed in white, who ring bells
  • The name she chose for undercover work on Akana Ris, "Carol," is in honor of that name.
• Was glad to escape her life in the harem when Lisinthir provided a way out, but wept to leave the Queen, who she cared for, behind
• Had her own soap, scented with roses and spices, when enslaved and living with the Queen; Chatcaavan soaps are not suited to the skin of most aliens.