DEFENDER ZIK LORE BREAK!

The gravitational anomaly that caused this spinning asteroid has never been explained, although it is theorized that it may have been linked with another unexplained event that occurred not long after, and which had another dire connection to Zik: the death of his mother. More on that later. But this asteroid is a real mystery. The odds that it would have randomly been sent straight at Zoz with such velocity from so far away were calculated to be incredibly tiny, even disregarding the unexplained nature of the anomaly. There are many who saw some kind of sinister cosmic intelligence behind this event…

DEFENDER ZIK LORE BREAK!

Now we see what a Chadee is! They are a race of genetically engineered chimpanzees, who were given the ability to speak and understand at a human level by one of the geneticists that helped rebuild Earth’s ecosystem on Zoz. The development of the Chadee was very controversial when it became public, and the scientist responsible was widely condemned. Ultimately, the Chadee were accepted into Zozian society, although not everyone is comfortable with it, often calling them chimps or monkeys in an insulting way.

DEFENDER ZIK LORE BREAK!

Many Zozians have several names. In keeping with the North American First Nations traditions that are so prevalent on Zoz, it starts with the name you were given by your parents when you were born. Later, if you accomplish a memorable deed, you are very likely to receive another name or a title to go along with your original name. Zik became Defender Zik (as we will see in Episode 2), and now Trent has become Trent Quickdraw!

DEFENDER ZIK LORE BREAK!

What most people here on the prison planet don’t realize is that on Zoz, there is a principle that people follow: the non-aggression principle. It’s basically unheard of to go out looking for a fight, since it’s so much easier and less harmful to negotiate a solution. They even have a saying: “He who draws the first sword admits he has lost the argument.”

DEFENDER ZIK LORE BREAK!

This is Edward’s Landing, the first city established on Zoz. In the front of the long house, where the totem pole usually sits, you can see a ship standing on its tail. This is the original landing vessel that first touched down here on this site, preserved as a monument to the Zozians’ first visit to their new home!

DEFENDER ZIK LORE BREAK!

Zernabian Clonoids are engineered to not feel pain, and also to not have the will to do anything other than what they are commanded to do. They’re considered sub-sentient, because they can’t form individual preferences. When not directly tasked, they have a decision list of over-arching commands they can apply to their current situation. Over time, this has been refined by Queen Elcyra to the point where her will is imposed without the need for constant direct input. This, combined with the nigh-immortality Elcyra has achieved, cause many to believe she is a transhuman, though not an enlightened one.

DEFENDER ZIK LORE BREAK!

So now we see how the EVR system works! EVR stands for Extra-Vehicular Rescue. Basically, if you’re ejected into space, you can use the boots (or jet-pack) to give you a propulsion boost and the (optional) grappling hook to attach yourself to a ship of some kind. It’s a Hail Mary sort of system, but it’s better than drifting in space till you freeze to death!

DEFENDER ZIK LORE BREAK!

So here we see the second use of railgun technology in the comic. In case you don’t know what a railgun is, it is a weapon that accelerates a projectile using electromagnetism as opposed to combustion. The projectile is guided down two rails and accelerated to extremely high speeds as it leaves the weapon. I chose this technology because it is still in the experimental phase currently, and because it can be used to fire projectiles in the vaccum of space (IE without oxygen). The people of Zoz use this technology extensively for their sidearms and on weapons platforms for their ships. It can also be used to send probes or cargo over long distances without the use of propellant.

DEFENDER ZIK LORE BREAK!

The character “James Anchor” was invented by my son, and the name of Zik’s computer, “Zoot” was my daughter’s invention. I’m not trying to steal Ethan Nicolle’s gig with Axe Cop, but occasionally my two children have had an influence on some of the names and events in this story. Children are wonderfully imaginative, and once in a while they come up with some genius ideas. I’ve gotten their permission to use some of their ideas in the comic, for which I am grateful.

Also, this page represents the first time Zozians have ever contacted someone not from Zoz. With all the space travelling they do, Zik and his buddy James Anchor have a running bet to see which of them will encounter aliens first! It’s been years, but neither has laid claim to the prize yet! But as of this moment, after over a millennium of separation even from other humans, the people of Zoz are no longer alone!