| Chiana | |
|---|---|
 That Lovable Thief | |
| First appearance | 1.15 Durka Returns |
| Last appearance | Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars |
| Details | |
| Nickname(s) | Pip, Fweak |
| Gender | Female |
| Species | Nebari |
| Affiliation | N/A |
| Age | Unknown |
| Portrayed by | Gigi Edgley |
Bio:
Life Before Moya
At some time in their older childhood or younger teens, Chiana and her two-year older brother Nerri fled their home on Nebari Prime, seeking a different life. (Their relationship with and treatment by their family is unknown). Obtaining exit visas to their surprise, they were also given a 'routine physical examination' during which they were unknowingly infected with the Nebari Contagion.
Living on their own in the often violent, cruel and lawless 'Uncharted Territories', Chiana learned, doubtless the hard way, a great many varied skills of survival. She learned to fashion her own clothes from 'procured' odds and ends and even how to pilot a Peacekeeper Prowler (a space jet fighter). Other things she resorted to include scamming, thievery and prostitution.
Nerri's activities and his involvement in Chiana's activities are unknown. Chiana has suggested he disapproved of some things she did. He may have worked as a miner at some time; he also jested it was amazing he was working at anything. Chiana remarked that she had to teach her older brother to cinch his shoes; she may well have been responsible for providing for them both, at least at some point.
In living with Nerri without all other family, friends, home, society, culture or security of any kind in addition to the easily overwhelming traumas involved in her new survival, Chiana was 'bent' but refused to 'break'. The fun loving soul acquired a sometimes painfully desperate sense of humor, a focus on the 'thrills' and a likewise sometimes painfully desperate self confidence in order to push ahead for new adventure and thrills with so little means, experience, support or guidance. While obviously made even edgier by this and a drive to improve her skills, appeal, etc. as she saw them, Chiana retained a rather sensitive, good heart, despite the corruptive nature of her life, and the quite serious risks to sanity and survival it sometimes held.
She fought and killed when necessary, her personal defenses drawing a division between necessary (which she has done with a seeming hardened thoughtlessness of surviving long in a violent cruel world); what could be helped; and what she is emotionally involved in. Yet although her heart can and has often made this agonizingly difficult and complex at times, she always chose to fully taste life and tries living by her heart and spirit in spite of all.
Over a few years, Chiana and Nerri grew fiercely attached, to the extent they implanted 'Life Disc' linking to each other (a device implanted in the upper abdominal cavity that gives one a constant awareness of the others' existence, only for the closest of loved ones). Nerri was eventually informed of the contagion he and his sister were carrying by a high profile Nebari leader and provided an antibody; Nerri and Chiana underwent the painful cure. However, as Nerri could identify the person, he was left to either flee for his life or join the Nebari Resistance. Nerri chose to join the resistance, but in fear of Chiana's life, left her to believe he had to run and they separate, with a promise they would be together again.
A New Home
Literally on her own, Chiana continued her life, presumably more desperate than ever, for some time before being arrested by Nebari agent Salis. Agonizingly tortured for information about a 'resistance' she knew nothing about, and sentenced to be 'mentally cleansed', Chiana was in transit back to Nebari Prime when Moya (literally) ran into them. She and Durka, a mind-cleansed psychopath whose cleansing was unwittingly undone, managed to escape; one of them murdered Salis; Chiana ultimately committed herself to help the crew of Moya dispense of Durka. In truth deeply lonely, Chiana chose to stay with the fugitive crew on Moya.
In spite of an initially cold reception, Chiana chose the crew as family, and came to love them, to the extent of being willing to risk her life for them all on numerous occasions and even prostitute herself for provisions for them all when the others failed to secure any. She often irked them, but seldom attempted to justify herself (such as in the murder of Salis). Not out of callousness however: in realizing when they do not really care to understand her.
On Moya, Chiana was quickly attracted to the Human, John Crichton. She had initially intrigued him; however, her actions in her desperation to escape alienated him. He remained wary and keenly mindful of her failings and attitudes. However, he came to a sincere, if qualified, admiration of her. He formed a manner of familial view of her, but didn't actively give effective guidance or support. Chiana admired his good qualities, and overlooked any abuse from him or aloofness on his part with seemingly infinite understanding. Moreover, Crichtons' heart and attention has remained elsewhere. Chiana, however, may very well still be receptive to him, should he have a change of heart to her and circumstances change. As Crichton loved and eventually chose to marry Aeryn Sun, Chiana was supportive of the couple.
With the woman Crichtons' heart belongs to, Aeryn Sun, Chiana's standing was not defined; despite a life in its way at least as immoral as Chiana's, that of a former Peacekeeper militant, Chiana often received Aeryn's angst and righteous invectives as well. Some aspect of it is jealousy as well contempt and self-contempt. Chiana has on occasion instead turned the verbal sniping to the aim of goading Aeryn in Crichtons’ interest, however, and on occasion both showed genuine care for the other.
In Chiana’s view, Delvian Pa’u Zhaan became a mother figure, after a fashion, if not in Zhaans’ effectiveness. Chiana had a fierce concern for Zhaan and Zhaans’ feelings towards her. Zhaan was, alas, too spiritually self-absorbed and aloof to actively contribute much before her death.
Hynerian Dominar Rygel had seemed the most kindred in his immoral shrewdness, thievery and such; however, Chiana came to be affectionately distanced by both his behavior and an essential distinction best exemplified in their impulses to thievery: her past experiences and thrill at the ‘adventure’ are Chianas’ primary compulsions; Rygels’ include the more abstract greeds. Rygels’ officious verbal abuse and nature didn't help. A genuine if wary friendship was forged nevertheless.
The Luxan, Ka D’Argo, might well have been the most effective positive influence in the very fact his concepts of strict, not necessarily practical honors are in contrast to her context-relevant improvised codes of morality and absence of social consciousness. Perhaps even to mutual benefit; she may have gained some moral perspectives she often lacks, and he may have gained a better ability to adapt himself effectively to life. D'Argo and Chiana eventually became intimately involved, in what may well have been her first intimate relationship not founded on using or being used.
Chiana involved herself in his goal of finding and reuniting with his son. She went as far as to prostitute herself for information and involve herself in serious danger to help his goal, without regard for herself or the views of her actions by anyone, believing D'Argo would appreciate her motives. After the apparent recovery of D'Argo's son, Jothee, however, her relationship with D'Argo self-destructed. She learned he expected her to live his dreams, as his exclusively devoted wife on a farm. As D'Argo was proving not to listen to what he didn't wish to hear, she rejected his plans using infidelity with his son. She apologized for not being able to think and panicking,* but he was, naturally, greatly hurt at his perception of betrayal by those two dearest to him. He didn't appear to notice any failings on his part. Evidently, nobody else understood her either.
Chiana and D'Argo's friendship survived, however. After over a year, they resumed their relationship.* With plans to take up farming life together made after she apologized for being wishy-washy,* D'Argo instead died in battle to protect his friends. He gave her his Qualta Blade, and she in turn gave it to his son Jothee.
Moya and Pilot, as part of the home she has chosen, were more abstract by nature; nevertheless Chiana came to feel strongly for them and took many serious risks for them. She saw Moyas’ offspring Talyn as a living being, and was crucial in the dangerous effort of helping in his birth; her conception of Talyn beyond that is not known, although she deeply mourned Talyn's death.* Pilot eventually confided in Chiana that himself and Moya wished a representative of the crew to mitigate the conflicting demands upon them, feeling that she was the most considerate of himself and Moya. The crew then voted for a Captain to represent them to Pilot and Moya. D'Argo was elected Captain.*
Jool joined the crew for a year, insulting and degrading Chiana at first sight. Jool assumed the duties of medical care from Zhaan (who had died at the time Jool arrived). Jool and Chiana continued to repeatedly argue, largely centered on Jool's attitudes, but gradually Jool gained occasional empathy with Chiana saving her life on occasion, presumably improving their relations to a friendship (just in time for Jool's departure to the planet Arnessk). Chiana apparently didn't meet with Jool (reason unknown) in the brief time she was at Arnessk during the Peacekeeper wars before Jool died.*
Sikozu joined the crew at about the time Jool left, and while they worked together well once, Sikozu's attitudes and dubious loyalty largely led to arguments, on the few occasions any interaction occurred. Chiana at first suspected Sikozu was a spy for an enemy race, the Scarrans, but was overruled by Crichton, who tolerated Sikozu. Sikozu proved to be a Scarran spy during the Peacekeeper wars, but Chiana's thoughts of having her suspicions vindicated (or anyone else's thoughts for that matter) weren't portrayed.
Noranti joined the crew for over a year, and was nicknamed "wrinkles" by Chiana. Their views of one another weren't portrayed. Although they appeared to be tolerant and possibly friendly, they appear to have remained aloof. Noranti assumed the duties of cooking (who had done it before wasn't shown) and doctoring (from Jool). Chiana's view of Noranti assuming either duty is unknown.*
Her sorest test of will came when the life disc ceased (Taking the Stone). The grief of losing Nerri combined with the harrowing traumas of her life and the (at that time) all-give life with the crew of Moya to drive her some degrees mad with grief; her fierce self-identity finally crumbled and she fled to live a hedonistic, fatalistic life with a clan of nihilists. At the same time, she had the grief of realizing she could not depend on meeting her needs from without - the crew of Moya: Crichton tried at once to bring her back to Moya, but could not overcome the wall he raised to her and give anything, as she knew. Ultimately she faced a test of courage and survived, finding some confidence she could find the will and all she knew she needed in herself. Once through the center of the ordeal, Chiana chose to accept Crichtons' sincere intention of friendship and return to life and Moya.
After gradually becoming ever more 'at home' on Moya, Nebari agents again captured her and agonizingly tortured her for knowledge she did not have. She learned, however, that Nerri lived and was now a leader of the Nebari Resistance! Again free with the aid of a member of the underground, she desperately wanted to be with Nerri and help the Resistance, but Nerri forbid her or that any help her to, in fear for their mutual safety.
Meanwhile, Chiana had been, for an unknown length of time, experiencing flashes of prescience; these grew in frequency and detail to where she could clearly perceive some events hours before they occur; and these events could be changed. She had no support and no knowledge or means of knowledge to understand and cope with these extra sensory perceptive abilities (and no knowledge, understanding or support ever came).
The prescience soon changed to a brief period of slow motion vision which is ended with blindness, leaving her temporarily blinded, her eyes white, and in intense pain. It soon changed again to consist of slow motion vision ended with temporary blindness. The periods of blindness seemed increase in length, leading her to be concerned that she may have lost her eyesight entirely. Inexplicably, none of this seemed to involve much interest or concern from anyone else including D'Argo or John Crichton.* Finally, a diagnosian took her beautiful black eyes out and replaced them with eyes from some other species, with cat-like slit pupils and off white iris.* With these eyes, her blindness and other powers apparently went away,* replaced by the ability to see energy sources as halos, even through shielding. She apparently thought nothing of any of it but to glibly remark "I got new eyes."*
After D'Argo's death, she presumably remained aboard Moya with John and Aeryn and their baby (as farming on Hyneria is not likely the fruition of her dreams).