*This was written before the release of the videogame Starfield and may contain inconsistencies. *
Main Character: Isaiah Otlock
Age: 39
Ship Name: S.S. Axiom
Former Profession: Weapons Dealer/ Smuggler
Early Life
3291-3314
Isaiah was born in 3291 in a large mining corporation. His parents were deeply invested in the group, being two of the first colonists. The independent mining faction was called the “Free Reins.” The leader, Dalton Cohallway, was an honest and good man, and an even bigger father figure than Isaiah’s actual father, but under his nose the members of the Free Reins were running a crime syndicate, specifically Isaiah’s mother and father. Isaiah was taught from a young age how to smuggle, steal, rob and fly. Eventually, at the age of fifteen, Isaiah had had enough and decided to leave the settlement after an altercation between innocent bystanders and the colony, causing many to be killed. Isaiah escaped by stealing a starship named the Reining Light. Before leaving, Isaiah left a message for Dalton to find, informing him of the deception in his organisation. After this, Isaiah never saw his family or Dalton again, and never knew the outcome of the situation.
A New Crew
3314-3320
After escaping his once home, Isaiah travelled to Mars where he met a crew who’d just recently lost half their people along with their ship. Desperate, they paid Isaiah many credits to take his ship. He agreed, with the condition of him being captain. A woman named Andala Hallow would laugh at him, the prospect of a fifteen-year-old boy becoming captain of a small, yet impressive vessel. She told him he could tag along, but being captain took experience, in which he did not have. Isaiah reluctantly agreed, becoming a deckhand. Over the next six years, he’d work his way up to XO, gaining the loyalty of Andala, the captain, and her crew.
The Battle of Kazarah
3320-3325
After seven years of bounties, gunrunning, smuggling, the crew of the Reining Light would encounter their biggest challenge.
A fleet controlled by a pirate coalition was attacking a small colony on the lone planet Kazarah. Rushing to save lives, the crew battled the fleet. Isaiah rushed to a landing pod with a few other crewmates to aid on the surface. Once the fighting was done, expecting a reward, Isaiah left the battlefield and spoke to the planet’s ambassador, ignoring comm requests from Andala. After a shakedown and threats of violence, Isaiah left with his share of credits, and more. Once outside, he looked up into the sky and saw his ship explode violently, along with most of his crew. The reasoning was unclear, but could have been due to a malfunction or a shot from a surviving ship.
He and the remaining survivors stayed on the planet for many weeks until disbanding and going their separate ways, many not on good terms with each other.
Aftermath
2325-2330
After the catastrophe, Isaiah would hide out on various planets, dodging government officials who wanted to question the man who illegally entered a planet and demanded payment for an unsanctioned rescue, and also dodging bounty hunters sent to kill Isaiah for the aforementioned shakedown.
With the spoils of war from the battle, Isaiah was able to live in solitude for two years until an incident would break out at a bar. In a rage over the comments made by a drunken bar patriot, Isaiah would lash out at the man, purposefully or accidentally killing him with a vicious pummelling. Isaiah Otlock was then sent to the Jemison prison to await judgement. Once there, shady individuals would kidnap Isaiah, finally being caught by the government officials tasked with finding him.
Over that time riding in that ship, Isaiah’s guilt would overpower him as he looked out at the ship he was being taken to.
Isaiah walked into the bar, sitting on the nearest stool and ordering the harshest but cheapest drink. It tasted like paint thinner but he needed something to dull the pain he’d been feeling for the going months.
In the New Atlantis City on the planet Jemison, he was more alone than ever. He was systems away from the incident, so far away that he could almost forget.
A young guy sat next to Isaiah, a cowboy hat planted on his head. He nodded to Isaiah and ordered a whiskey. Isaiah didn’t nod back.
“Hey,” the man said.
Isaiah grunted something and drank.
“Been a while. It’s Ellis, right?” the man said.
“Isa.”
“Sorry, my bad, Isa. Been busy?”
“Yeah.”
“Me too. Contracts and all that. Reckon there’ll be a drought in a few generations when the likes of me oversaturate the marketplace. Know what I mean?”
“Sure.”
The two men sat for an hour, talking about what they’d been up to, how they were getting on. The man’s name was Sam, Isaiah was told, forgetting his first meeting with him. After a while, things became serious.
“Man what’s wrong with you?” Sam asked, rotating on his circular chair. “Something happen? All these things you’re talkin’ ‘bout, they don’t sound good. People chasin’ ya. Do you, uh, need me to call someone?”
Isaiah huffed and finished his drink. “Remember the people I used to travel with? Andala? Fred? Markus? They, uh, all died. Four years ago. I was with them.”
“No way . . . That was you and your crew? The Battle of Kazarah was you? Holy shit man, I had no idea.” Sam adjusted his position, sitting more attentively.
“It’s fine.”
“I’m real sorry to hear that. It’s a shame y’know. I heard it all over the news.” Sam snapped his fingers. “The guys chasin’ ya, makes sense now!”
“I know.” Isaiah tapped the bar and got in another drink.
“Y’know, I don’t really know you much—I mean I see you around in bars like this sometimes—but I can tell this stuff ain’t good for ya. People can tell when someone’s at a bar to live or die. You look about ready for the other.”
Isaiah shook his head, drinking, scoffing. “I don’t wanna die,” he said. “I just like to stay here, relax, get drunk. Spend some of the money I’m collectively owned. Pirates don’t tend to have wills, so I can buy quite a lot of drinks with that. I have enough credits to get hundreds more drinks but not enough for a new ship to leave this system, so I’d say I’m in a good situation. I’ll stay here and drink I think.”
“For four years?”
“I can work again.”
“Sure.”
“Then what do you want? I can take care of myself—of my own money,”
“Didn’t mean nothing by it.”
“Good,” Isaiah said, a small break in his voice. “Because you know what? I can spend my money any damn way I please because I own the Reining Light now and I don’t need someone judging me.”
“The Reining Light.”
“Yes.”
“I see, sir.”
“So don’t judge me.”
“Not judging, sir.”
“Good. Then go away.”
Sam nodded and got up. “Sorry to bother you.” He went to go, then stopped, turned around. “You said you don’t have enough credits for a ship.”
“What? No.”
“But this Reining Light, is it here?”
“Sure. Just doesn’t work and I don’t have the credits to fix it.”
“Come on.”
“Huh? Nah.”
“Just come on.”
Isaiah stared into the distance, downed his drink, then got up.
Outside the bar, spaceships went to and fro, launching up into the air with the force of gods, while ships returning shot down through the atmosphere like bullets into giant’s blue misty torso.
Sam lit a cigarette and passed it to Isaiah. Then he made another and smoked it himself.
“Why are we out here?” Isaiah asked.
“You’re a legend in the eyes of some people. And we’re a dying breed. Bounty hunters, starship captains, explorers—we’re running out. Now, it’s time to get your life back on track because I don’t like to see a stranger down on his luck. So take that ship there and go get yourself some work. If we meet again, we’ll be best buddies.”
“Take that ship?” Isaiah said. The ship Sam was pointing to was a junk scrapper, barely worth anything.
“It’ll have all the parts you need to get yours up and running. Or you can sell it for about twenty more drinks. I wouldn’t do that.” Sam threw him the keys.
“Can’t pay you back.”
“Did I ask you to?”
“No.”
“Then keep it. Do something with yourself and stop depressing me.”
Awkward silence, but Isaiah laughed.
“Thanks,” Isaiah said.
“Mhmm, was just gonna sell it anyways.”
“Still appreciated.”
Isaiah and Sam shook hands, before walking in opposite directions.
Isaiah walked back into the bar to collect pay his tab. While there, the bartender looked out of the window and spoke to Isaiah. “That your new ship?”
“That? Nah, it’s just a gift.”
The bartender laughed. “Hell of a gift.”
“Here’s the rest of my tab,” Isaiah said, transferring the credits.
Isaiah stopped and looked out of the window. It was replaced with a dark black circle, stars glistening out of there, trapped, alone, lost, hopeless. The stars screamed louder, louder, louder.
The stopped.
He looked down at his Chronomark watch and then back up.
“Would that ship outside but twenty beers?” Isaiah asked the bartender.
The Artifact
2330
Sent away to live the remainder of his days on a mining planet, Isaiah would spend three years here with supervisor Lin and fellow minor Heller beside him, not knowing his dark past.
When a specific job tasked Isaiah with retrieving a mysterious artifact, he would never know the adventure it would take him on when he touched it. A strange experience would occur when touching the artefact, so therefor he was sent back to New Atlantis to join Constellation.
Slipping back into a space-venturing lifestyle didn't sit well with Isaiah, not used to piloting a ship without his friends, and feeling guilt for acquiring new crewmates.
After years of manual labour mining, Isaiah had a burley physique and a sturdy frame from doing countless hours. However, in his free time Isaiah would drink and comfort eat, leading to his overweight status. The once-proud man had turned into an alcoholic and even bigger fiend. Being a street rat and frequent visitor of Neon, he'd learned to pickpocket and smuggle contraband between systems.
Deadly with firearms, Isaiah would kill any mercenary in his way while helping those in need. Occasionally, his selfish nature would put people in danger. Due to his personal issues, this would not affect the captain of the Reining Light, and he would dismiss anyone's attention unless prompted with credits beforehand.
After being enlisted in Constellation for months, Isaiah would take up a dangerous and controversial role as a spacefaring criminal, regressing into old habits of murder and theft. Taking bounty hunting missions, Isiah would become another common spacer, looking for another well of money to take from. Eventually, this would land him in hot water, being caught smuggling. Tasked with taking down the Crimson Fleet, Isaiah would anger his new crew members, especially Barret and Sarah, who would become increasingly fed up with the lying and cheating captain. This occurred when Isaiah destroyed a ship full of innocents, in order to clear his bounty with the foundation.
Earing credits and completing assignments, Isaiah eventually stumbled upon a temple held by a mysterious race of creatures known as the starborn. Once gaining this power, Isaiah's selfish desires increased. His eyes also changed colour over time as his power grew. What this power would be used for in the endgame was unknown. But, once a loyal member to Constellation was killed, all bets were off. Rejecting the Emissary and the Hunter, Isaiah went his own way.
Slowly rebuilding his reputation by stopping the terrormorph threat, Isaiah was given full UC citizenship, finally ending his wanted status with the UC. His help with the Crimson Fleet also go the bounty hunters off his back. Now free, the question of whether Isaiah Otlock would become better was at the forefront of his quest. All that was left to do, was find out the biggest mystery in the universe.