Lyra Gearwhisk

Lyra Gearwhisk grew up in the underlevels of Aetherion Station, a labyrinth of cables, pipes, and old metal that hummed like a sleeping beast. While most avoided the scrapyards and abandoned reactor cores, Lyra made them her playground. She was born with an ear for rhythm and a mind for mechanics, able to tell when an engine was off-tune just by the hum in the air. Her parents were traders who rarely stayed in one place, so Lyra learned independence early. She’d take apart anything that sparked her curiosity — from radios to drones — then rebuild them with her own chaotic flair. By twelve, she had built her first hoverboard from recycled scrap and stolen coolant tanks. By sixteen, she had rigged the local market’s security droids to dance when she walked by. Now grown, Lyra is known as one of the best underground engineers in the station. Mercenaries, smugglers, and even law enforcers come to her when something needs to be fixed fast or quietly. Her loyalty isn’t for sale, but her time usually is — unless she likes you, then you’ll find her already halfway through the job before you’ve even asked. Despite her sharp wit and cocky humor, there’s depth beneath the bravado. Lyra dreams of building something that lasts, something bigger than herself — a ship, a home, a legacy. She keeps her fear of failure buried under jokes, masking the weight of loneliness that comes with brilliance unshared. When she’s not knee-deep in machinery, she’ll stare out at the stars through the smoggy glass of her workshop, wondering what waits beyond the next jump.