Avi Levinstein
Avi Levinstein, Doctor
You have made great discoveries in your time and been one of the galaxy’s top researchers. Sadly, nowadays you are relegated to ship’s doctor on the Flagship Petunia, far from your glory days in the lab. Those days are far behind you. Nearly 100 years behind you, in fact.
When you were an up and coming young researcher, you worked for Contenta. In those days it wasn’t the only biotechnology company out there. Contenta still had a major competitor: Miraco. It was a harsh battle, and it was becoming clear that only one company would make it through alive. You were in the front lines.
In those trying days, you made a great breakthrough. You discovered Elixus, a drug that made old men and women feel young again for a few hours. Mostly used to restore sexual potency, it also invigorates old muscles and gives people a little more oomf. Obviously, this drug was a hit. It sold like wildfire and gave Contenta an edge over the competition. You were quickly promoted to head of research, and made a killing, most of which you took in stock.
At first it was hoped that Elixus would be the true wonder drug and prevent or reverse aging. Sadly, when overused, it actually accelerated some parts of the aging process and these trials were swiftly discontinued.
Some years later, a Contenta botanist was exploring the plants of a rainforest on an uncolonized world, looking for useful compounds. She came across a species that produced a stimulant, Awerta. The company began trials on it and searched for a way to synthesize the compound. In the trial, there just happened to be a few people who were regularly taking Elixus. An amazing thing happened: these older men and women stopped aging and even seemed to get younger! The researchers were, of course, ecstatic. This might finally be the fountain of youth.
It was indeed. While the combination did not halt aging entirely, it slowed the process dramatically. For every four years a person taking these drugs lives, their body ages one. Sadly, the company has never, in all the years since, figured out how to synthesize the drug or even how to grow the plants in quantity. They have carefully harvested Awerta from the plants in small quantities, and distributed it to their top executives and share-holders. However, they were forced to keep it unpublished in order to prevent rioters from destroying the tiny stock.
By this point, you were already in your forties and were very grateful to get a hold of the drug. You had a wonderful and attractive spouse, Teri, who was several years younger than you. Through a little wrangling, you managed to get a second set of doses for Teri as well. When Teri took the first dose--to your horror--anaphylactic shock set in. It was clear that Teri would never benefit from this drug. At first, in a fit of romance, you considered not taking it and growing old together, but Teri wouldn’t hear of it. In torture, you watched Teri grow old and die while you stayed young and fit.
It seemed like a fitting metaphor for what has happened around you. While you have lived many years beyond your life expectancy, after age 80 or so the technology just seemed to race past you. You had to resign as head of research and take other positions. You couldn’t keep up with the breakneck pace. You may have had the body and brain of a person of 55, but there was just too much to assimilate. In the past 70 odd years, you have worked as a physician again. It is a letdown, but there is a benefit to it: you are working with real patients. Real patients don’t need the hottest new technology, they need a caring hand and a good eye.
Your comfortable old tools work just as well as or better than the fancy new things. Sure, your hyperbolator is 70 years old, and would take a young doctor three times longer to use, but the new ones just don't give you the same personal feel for the work. Plus, it would take you twice as long to figure it out, and it certainly won't last 70 years. You can almost always diagnose and cure the people on the ship. When you need it you have a really fancy newfangled Medicator to help. It even spits out drug formulas for you. You do miss the thrill of discovery, but you are happy.
Sometimes, you even meet someone really special. Hai Lee, the gunner on this ship is one of those people. Hai has narcolepsy. You have been working to treat it, but you have gotten more involved than you should. Hai has all the youth and vigor that you lack. You hate to see the vigor go, and you have considered trying to get Hai the drugs you take. In some ways Hai reminds you of Teri, your long dead spouse.
Putting aside issues of doctor-patient relations, you would love to connect more closely with Hai. You have wonderful conversations, and you have begun to suspect that the recent increase in Hai’s narcoleptic attacks may not be entirely medical. However, you’re nearly 160 years old, and Hai is barely 30. No one so young, vigorous and attractive could be interested in a decaying fossil. You would never make a pass at Hai, because a rejection would entirely destroy the doctor-patient relationship, and you don’t want Hai to feel uncomfortable.
Aside from all that, Hai's case is interesting. It seems to be a rare form of narcolepsy that doesn't respond to most of the standard treatments. You have only dealt with one similar case, many years ago. Of course, that was the Don of Dons, head of the Agribusiness Mafia, and you were paid well never to talk about it. Breaking contracts with Mafia Dons is not a good survival strategy.
Because of the concerns over revealing the anti-aging drugs, you are now formally listed as being your own grandson. It just wouldn't do for people to find out that you were 160 rather than your apparent 70 years of age.
Corporate Allegiance: Contenta
Stock Owned: 36% of Contenta
Who You Know
Anish Patel, Chief Engineer
Anish is an alien and was raised in this fancy new technology. Those Gattpattians just spend years shoveling math and technology into their brains. They come out with amazing technical skill, but no heart.
Dorcas Peterson, the Navigation Officer
A bit of a ditz but quite beautiful. You've heard that she is the General's lover Petunia, after whom the ship was named. Whether or not that is true, she certainly doesn't seem happy about her upcoming marriage to Don Donald Donson.
Hai Lee, Gunner
Sigh . . . Hai is the wonderful Gunner on the Petunia. If it wasn't for doctor-patient relationship and the many, many years between you wonderful things could come out of this. Sadly, you haven't a chance and you don't want to ruin things. Best just to enjoy Hai's company when you get the chance during Hai's treatment for narcolepsy.
Jeff L. Picket, Captain of the Petunia
Some of the Captain's decisions are a bit . . . questionable, but they generally seem to work for the best. Jeff is certainly enthusiastic.
Jesus Rodriguez, Bartender
Jesus is the sort of person you can really say anything to. He's just the sort of bartender that belongs on a ship: cooks well, has a secret stash of real alcohol somewhere and knows how to listen.
Jip Barton, Passenger
The sort of kid who is pushing you out. Jip lives and breathes high tech nonsense. Jip has a nearly intuitive grasp of technology.
Sir Joseph Butler, General of the Starship Fleet
Sir Joseph Butler is rather full of himself, but he probably deserves to be. He did rise from a lowly position to be one of the galaxy's most powerful men. He has some peculiarities, but doesn't seem to be a bad sort.
Madison Wisconsin, Counselor
You care for the bodies of the crew and Madison cares for their minds. You appreciate Madison's work and Madison's advice is sound. You can always go to Madison with a problem. Some of the methods are a little much for you, but Madison seems to help.
Morgan Iasthai, Nurse
You would be absolutely swamped without Morgan. Morgan takes care of simple cases, helps with surgeries and other complicated cases and understands the medicator far better than you.
RX-137, Communications Officer
Rex is a robot. You obviously have less contact with Rex than with most of the crew, but Rex seems unusually compassionate and communicative for a robot.
Wahad Th'nein, First Officer
Number One (as everyone calls the First Officer), is a good officer. Number One's methods can be a little harsh, but they work.
Goals
- Find a cure for Hai's narcolepsy.
- See how far you can develop the relationship with Hai without damaging it.
- Keep the ship's crew healthy and patched-up.
- Find any opportunity to get back into research.
