For those who don't know, this is based on the "brainship" concept created by Anne McCaffery. The idea is that physically disabled children are place in life-support "shells" that not only keep them alive, but allow them to live lives fuller than many of their "soft-shell" companions.
The most well-know shellpeople are the brainships-- those connected to spaceship computers. Together with "brawns," specially trained humans, they carry cargo and passengers across known space.
Premise:
You are a brain or brawn candidate about to receive your commission. (Talk to me about civilian characters.) This doesn't mean all brain-brawn teams are military. The Courier Service branch does the bulk of the passenger runs.
Profile:
Name (brains always have their last name concealed; thus "Hypatia oh-one-three-three")
Age and Gender:
Description: if a brain, post what your character would look like, or a picture of their ship.
Other: briefly, put a description of how you were disabled, or how you came to be a brawn. Put the usual, like quirks, hobbies, and "up for love" or not.
My character is:
Alex Firewell (XA-0590)
24; male
Description: Had it not been for his condition, Alex would have been a redhead, about six feet tall. His friends used to tease him about his name and his red-brown hair. He has sea-green eyes that seem to take in everything.
Other: Alex was diagnosed with a rare, crippling disease at four. By ten, he was completely paralyzed. His doctor recommended the Shellperson program, and he agreed.
"Can you hear me?" a gentle female voice asked.
Alex tried to nod but found he couldn't. Panicked, his eyes flashed open. A tide of light and memory swept him up.
He'd been a toddler, sick and weak most of the time. Kids at school had teased him, calling him "cripple" and "baby." He'd tried to show them otherwise, but his legs were both broken in a dare.
Now, ten years later, he was a member of the elite Courier Service. It didn't sound so grand, but he'd heard successful pairs could "buy out" their contract and gain independence.
"I can hear you," he replied. His voice seemed too loud, as if amplified. Could it be... "Yes!" he crowed. "I made it! I'm a brain!"
The lady smiled. "That's right. From now until you choose a brawn, you'll be known as 'Alex XA-0590.' Congratulations."
