Background and History
Alexis Ryder, an Altrasian Bajoran, was born on Cardassia Prime during the Cardassian Occupation; her birthdate is unknwon, but her family celebrates her birthday as 01 January 2359. She lived under the abusive thumb of her Cardassian captors for at least 14 years. Alexis was found in 2374 by a team led by Jacob J. Ryder while inside Cardassian space. Jacob and his team from the USS Atlantis (NCC-3028-A) saved the young girl and returned her to Federation space. The girl attached herself to Jacob and Jacob became a father figure. When faced with the prospect of sending Alexis to an orphanage, Jacob and Malina T. Patience decided to adopt her instead. Alexis chose her name after learning of the decision to adopt her, which she fully supported. Although Bajoran, she chose the Terran method of naming, placing her "given" name, Alexis, before her family name, Ryder. She was rescued by a Starfleet crew and adopted by two of the team's members shortly thereafter. At that point she was believed to be 16 years old, but this is only an estimate based on medical examination. She lived with her adoptive parents on starships and later applied to Starfleet Academy
On 11 May 2375, after Alexis has a run-in with an overzealous officer from Ghost Operations, Jacob J. Ryder gives low-level security clearance to Alexis, to avoid any later misunderstandings. Jacob also bestows upon his daughter the equivalent grade of Lieutenant-Commander. In effect, it means that she has the respect due to her that one would give to Lieutenant-Commander Jacob J. Ryder, the First Officer of the USS Heroic. This would hopefully keep any others on the ship from mistreating her, believing her to be a spy or stowaway, as was thought in the initial run-in. This action also had the added effect of encouraging Alexis even more to pursue Starfleet, and she begins learning the ship's operations as quickly as she could.
After moving from place to place following Jacob's institutionalization and successful treatment, Alexis lands on the USS Brahma, with her father on the USS Vishnu. The three ships are assigned to compose a small fleet, so that Alexis will not be far from her adoptive parents. The commanding officer of the ship is John Spartan, Alexis' unofficial adoptive uncle, who is exceedingly protective of her. Alexis Ryder is assigned to the USS Brahma to learn about Starship operations under Spartan (now known as John Spartan). She carries her equivalent rank of Lieutenant-Commander with her, and is given permission to wear a Starfleet uniform.
Current Service:
Alexis Ryder was commissioned half a year after Jacob Ryder's death and immediately began fast-tracking her career. She rose to the rank of Commander above all her peers due to her fierce determination to be her father's daughter.
Personal History:
Though she is fun-loving and social, Alexis has never made the time (nor cared to) for romantic relationships. She can come off as having a chip on her shoulder. Apart from her Starfleet service, she has no notable history since receiving her freedom. Alexis speaks fluently in Federation Standard, Bajoran, and Cardassian.
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Personal Characteristics
Alexis Ryder is five foot, three inches tall and 110 lbs. She has hazel-brown eyes and black hair that naturally sun-bleached to a dark golden color. She has a slender, athletic build that often appears to be Thin and Delicate, mildly tanned skin, and has very prominent, symmetrical Bajoran nose ridges. Additionally, even after more than 15 years of medical treatment, she has some scars from abuse in captivity still remaining. Her blood type is C-negative. She had been diagnosed with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), though this condition has been in remission for since 2380 with a single recurrence, atypical, after she witnessed the death of her adoptive father, Jacob Ryder.
Personality:
Alexis Ryder was a prisoner and slave to the Cardassian Gul Romano during and after the occupation. The constant abuse, which took the form of beatings, rape, and mental attacks left scars which can only be estimated. Her primary instruction was almost exclusively from her birth mother and Cardassian prisons, which included extreme "alternate" topics. Contrary to Bajoran tradition, Alexis chose to place her surname first and family name last, identifying with her human rescuers. Alexis Ryder is an extremely optimistic and empowered woman who can react emotionally often. She has a desperate hatred for Cardassians - a product of her captivity and abuse during the Cardassian occupation of Bajor - and actively works to overcome those feelings. She has especially focused on controlling her nonverbal reactions and mental ruminations since Cardassians began to be accepted into Starfleet five years ago.
Family:
Alexis Ryder's birth mother was killed grotesquely by Cardassians during the occupation as Alexis was similarly abused and forced to watch her mother's abuse-to-death. She was later rescued by Captain Jacob Ryder during a failed USS Atlantis (NCC-3028-B) mission. Faced with sending the unnamed and borderline catatonic girl to an orphanage and seeing the progress the girl had made during her weeks with him and his crew, Jacob decided to adopt her, along with his fiancee, Starfleet Counselor Malina Patience. Alexis chose her name shortly after. Malina was killed in battle two years later while Alexis and Jacob were planetside on Earth. Jacob was killed by a Romulan terrorist before Alexis Ryder's eyes years later while they both served, Jacob as Commander and Alexis as a cadet intern, on the USS Atlantis (NCC-58314). Alexis never knew who her father was, but it has always been believed to be a Bajoran Vedic who was also confined and killed during the occupation.
Spiritual:
Alexis grew up with limited religious education. When she was rescued from her Cardassian captors, she began to learn about various religions with special interest in Jacob's Ancient Quaker (18th-20th century era) traditions. She became a believer in Premodern Quakerism (21th-22nd century era) and accepts most aspects of Postmodern Quakerism (23rd century era to present). She also considers all Ancient and Premodern and most Postmodern Christian sects to be valid.
Major Life Influences
Inspiration through Tragedy:
The last words Alexis Ryder's birth mother ever told her were words of encouragement and endurance in the face of terrible circumstances and unconscionable treatment. "No matter what you do, you do it as best you can. That is how you stay alive. If they tell you to do something, anything, you do it with all your enthusiasm, for that will keep you alive long enough to be rescued. I love you, my daughter, and you will be saved. Keep the Faith." Minutes later, the pair were both taken and, in the same room together, violently abused to the point Ryder's mother was killed while Alexis watched and was being equally tortured.
Early Encouragement:
During a briefing, Alexis, then 17 years old and still healing both physically and mentally from her abuse and torture at the hands of the Cardassians, asked what she should wear on and off-ship with her equivalent rank. The Admiral stopped and turned around to face the Bajoran. She had once been a prisoner of the Cardassians, enduring horrible rape and torture and abuse, and now she had come so far. He was truly amazed at the young lass's resilience. "Yes, Commander Alexis Ryder, you will wear the cadet uniform when off-ship, and any uniform Commander Spartan prescribes while on-ship." He paused, starting to step through the door. As he did, he turned back to her to add, "good question." With that comment, he was out the door and gone.
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