In worlds of superheroes, of aliens, of mystic beings, in universe after universe of the strange, there is rarely anything as interesting as the symbiotic life-form.
Symbiotic life develops when two animals (or occasionally an animal and a plant or two plants) evolve together, such that one animal benefits from and gives benefit to the other in a constant cycle that lasts for a lifetime- or across lifetimes. In some cases, these symbioses only involve living together- the pompom crab and sea anemone, or the remora and the shark.
Rarer cases exist, though, of one animal living entirely within another, for extended periods or even its whole life. It is supposed that just such relationships resulted in modern cell structure, with the mitochondria especially having formerly been independent single-cell life.
Pak Sis'heval is one such creature.
Standing a mere two feet tall, the alien is distinctly humanoid- two arms with six-fingered hands, two feet with six wiggly toes, a full head of hair, two eyes, a nose, a mouth. At the same time, she is definitely not human. Her hair moves independently, the pale pink threads actually a form of incredibly thin tentacle or tendril. Her skin itself is mottled various pale pastel shades on a base of cream-white. Her eyes are pure-white, marking her very poor eyesight for distances. And a pair of slim antennae extend from her forehead, nearly a quarter the length of her whole body.
She also doesn't really wear clothes. The closest she gets is a sort of simple white cloth poncho, which she will don if asked, but otherwise keeps in a pouch on her belly.
Her race, the Chiverik (pronounced with a soft 'ch'), are rare throughout the galaxy- or at least it appears that way. This is because of how easy it can be to abuse them, should one be caught on their own.
You see, Chiverik are symbiotic life-forms that live in the stomachs of, usually, larger humanoids. There, they benefit from protection, not having to seek their own food, and transport. In exchange, their head tendrils tie them into the nervous system of the host, and automatic psionic powers go to work, healing the host's body and bolstering their physical capabilities. Chiverik on the homeworld, however, connect to an exceptionally dull form of biped known as the Geskes, who are roughly as intelligent as a particularly dense dog (and are thus only nominally sentient). In such a partnership, the Chiverik is the driving mentality, piggybacking off of their host's senses and making all the decisions for the joint being. Typically, a Chiverik-Geskes pair are either both male or both female.
However, Chiverik symbiosis is automatic, and the symbiotes are generally not forceful enough physically to escape a stomach, nor are they mentally powerful enough to overcome a fully-sapient mind. A Chiverik outside of their attendant host is exceptionally vulnerable, despite the capacity to telekinetically fly, and they are subject to kidnapping very easily because of this.
Pak is one of the more adventurous Chiverik, not only exploring independently but also frequently making her nature known. This could go quite badly for her, if not for her usual host.
Typically, where Pak goes, she travels in the stomach of her genetically-enhanced Geskes, Algansace. Algansace is roughly eight feet tall, and has the overall appearance of a bald, blue, amazonian humanoid wearing a massive suit of red and blue power armor that leaves her upper face as the only bare part.
As to Pak herself, the symbiote is of a very helpful and kind nature, and just a bit naive- which may lead her into trouble one of these days, even if she's not abducted for her capacity as a symbiote. At least she's intelligent enough to offset that naivete fairly well.
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In superhero-related settings, she does heroing work under the pseudonym 'Algansace Driver'.
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Character and concept of
The_Willful_Wanderer