Villain Bio 2#: The Heretic Queen

(The lower levels of a lower city, on a distant world. A young green girl ran through the streets, dodging stray dogs and empty crates. The sights and smells were all dirty, but they were home.

Climbing a hundred stairs or more, taking them two at a time, she finally burst into her family's house. It was barely more than a single room, with a pair of both-eaten cots. On one of these, the girl's mother was tending to her father)

Girl: "I got the herbs. Is he..."

Mother: "Your dad is fine. Give them here child, thank you"

Girl: "I don't understand"

(She jumped on the over cot, propping her chin up with her hands)

Girl: "Why did those men hurt Dad?"

Mother: "Those were very wicked men, they were hurting my friend. Your father stopped them. He's a hero"

Dad: "I feel more like a pincushion"

Mother: "Well, you're a hero to me. Lie still dear, the bleeding has almost stopped"

Girl: "But isn't that dangerous? The guards could have seen, they would have thought Dad was the one attacking those men"

Mother: "Oh, my sweet child, that's no reason not to do the right thing. Just because no one likes us, doesn't mean we shouldn't help those in need"

Dad: "Besides, it's so much better these days. When I was your age, you couldn't set foot outside your home without being called a Heretic"

Mother: "Dear! I've heard that word far too many times in my life. Now, you rest! We'll take care of dinner"

(Mother got up and moved towards the corner of the room designated the kitchen. The Dad grabbed his daughter by the arm and whispered: )

Dad: "Don't let her burn it this time"

(The girl giggled and then ran too help her mother.

As she grew up, the girl tried to follow what her parent's had taught her. But she also became interested in her people's history, despite her parent's devout atheism.

The so-called "Heretics", and their once great Empire. Their overthrow and enslavement. Their talent for Magics and sorcery that earned them their insulting nickname)

Girl (Reading): "A single Creator God, bearing the same likeness as our Race. Naturally, this is a commonly held belief among many different races and worlds. Naturally, we are frowned upon for it anyways"

(The Girl grew up, as well learned as she could be without a formal education. She even managed to make it too adulthood before getting herself stabbed, like her father before her)

Constable: "Idiot, what were you thinking? There were four of them!"

Woman: "No one else was helping. Someone had too"

Constable: "Well, you've got spunk, I'll give you that. You know, they say your people about to be freed. You should look into joining the fleet"

(Things really had improved since her parent's childhood. Emancipation day was upon them. Her people, officially slaves since their Empire fell, would be free.

The day before, a raiding party bearing the Heretic flag razed an entire colony. Old wounds were reopened and any hope for freedom dashed.

On the other hand, the woman found herself drafted anyways)

Officer: "What's the matter, Heretic? Sanitation too good for you?"

Woman: "No sir. My dad taught me how to use a sword, but my mother taught me how to wield the broom"

(Officially, a slave could never rise any higher then the rank of canon fodder. Unofficially, posted far in the frontier of space, the woman made Sargent in just under a year.

Officially, a Heretic would never be allowed to study Magic either. But since her captain took a shining too her, and they really were far from high command...)

Captain: "Just don't turn any of my fighter pilots into newts and you're fine"

(The years went by. Her studies continued. But so did the attacks.

Every month there were more and more of them. Every expert agreed that the tactics and ships bared very little resemblance to those of the Heretic Empire. But every witness agreed it was them.

Pirates soon began using the Heretics as cover, setting up false flag operations. Even some local murders were blamed on them (Or at least, were attempted). Finally, the order came)

Sargent: "It's about time. Their methods are wrong, but these renegades are only fighting for freedom."

Captain: "It's... the orders aren't for freedom"

Sargent: "... What?"

Captain: "Look, you'll be fine, you're in the Fleet. And I'm not going to make you carry out these orders, I'm giving you extended leave. But... but they're pretty clear"

(The Sargent never came back from her leave. And the patrol, sent to the nearest community of Heretics, never did either.

Standing before the terrified families, cleaning her sword, the Sargent didn't remember much of what she said, only the burning in her belly)

Sargent: "I won't stand by and watch innocent people... MY people be tortured and abused. You, your children, you've done nothing to deserve this. I'll show them how we... HERETICS really fight!"

(This was, of course, all bluster and boasting. In the heat of the moment, a declaration of war between her and the Galaxy.

Unfortunately, the story of what she had done spread far and quickly. The Sargent found herself a folk hero for her people and public enemy number one for everyone else.

Taken in by her people's leaders, she had what she already knew confirmed: not a single attack had been condoned by anyone among them. The Leaders had all been patiently waiting too earn their rights legally. But these newest crackdowns and laws... everyone's patience was running out)

Sargent: "I... can appreciate that. But if we become exactly what they think we are, if we go back to the old ways now, we may never be free. They taught me more than fighting in the Fleet, they taught me discipline, that's what we need here. Send a delegation-"

Random Leader: "Don't you think we've already tried that? Tried to explain?"

Sargent: "Then we do it again, and we keep doing it until they listen. We have to do this, on their terms, make them understand we're no different from them"

(Truer words then she realized. One final, devastating attack by the "Heretic" raiders and everything went over the brink. It didn't matter that one of the attacker's bodies was finally recovered and quickly discovered to be a shape-shifter. These news barely made it too the public, overshadowed by the Proclamation.

The Proclamation)

Sargent: "Every... Ahem, every "Heretic" within our space is hereby... sentenced to... execution. For the common... the common good... of all"

(She didn't read the rest. The room she was in exploded, tables overturned and windows shattered and metal cracked at the fury of her outburst. Her eyes blazed with a brilliant dark light as she screeched in rage and tore the place apart, without lifting a finger.

It was amazing, how quickly they all disappeared. The common man thought this was too be expected, though the idea of an official genocide, even against the hated Heretics, was extremely controversial.

The government, however, who new very well they had only actually executed a handful of them, became extremely worried.

In deep space, far away from any system, a rag-tag fleet shambled forwards. Ships of every shape and size, some barely space worthy, cruised forwards as part of the hastily improvised exodus)

Another Random Leader: "Here. It's not exactly hospitable, but it's in unclaimed territory. We should be safe there. What do you think?"

(The former Sargent did not answer. She only kept staring out at the Stars. The Galaxy looked so big and empty from here. It was amazing to think, out among all those millions of Stars, that all these starving workers and families and children weren't welcome.

With nothing else to turn to, the Heretics fell back on the codes and laws of their ancient empire. They had no ruling dynasty, but the vote was unanimous: there was only one among them with military training who had made it out in time.

The newly appointed Queen did indeed take them to the nearby neutral system, but just long enough to get all their ships in working order. They wouldn't be settling in one place anytime soon. It was time for a new chapter in their people's history, not conquerors or slaves, but nomads)

The Queen: "We are Heretics. That's what they call us. Fanatics and criminals, guilty of trying to survive. Well I say we take that title... and we own it. I am a Heretic, guilty as charged. Proud to stand alongside brother and sister, as we fight for a new home"

(She lead her people on, always careful to never admit she had no idea where to go. She spent much of her time studying, growing in power and prowess. She was one of the few who remembered the news about the Shape-shifter, that the Heretics had an enemy far greater and more dangerous than anyone knew.

An enemy, who maybe had dark plans for the entire Galaxy. She doubted the worlds they had left, or anyone else, would be doing anything about it. They were too busy, as always, playing political intrigue and hunting slaves. The Heretic Empire would have to rise again... not only for it's own people's sake.

The months stretched into years, eighty of them. The Heretic Fleet was now a force to be reckoned with, though just as elusive and reclusive as ever. Anyone who would join was welcome, though few would throw their lots in with the Heretics, even mercenaries. Nonetheless, every one of their ships was armed and ready for battle, and their ground troops were the envy of the Galaxy.

The Queen herself was in her prime. A hard woman, with a beautiful face and the ability to fry you alive with her mind at a dozen meters. She had long ago forsaken her own name, fully embracing her title and role as her people's last, desperate hope)

The Heretic Queen: "Welcome to our home. I trust you find our hospitality better than rumor would have it"

(The figure she faced... a hulking giant of a man... radiating power and darkness... a will too match her own)

Lord Absalom: "I am most honored, my Queen. I bring news, of an invasion, and a chance to save your people"