Ásta Gylfadóttir, Character Profile

First generation transhuman.

Specializations: Astrophysics, quantum computing hardware and software, EVA operations, psychology, field surgery, wicked problem solutions, strategy.

From an early age, Ásta was always able to read between the lines, during discussions with her tutors, parents or Lýsi observers. Empathetic and emotionally available, she’s always been able to draw people to herself. Many who met her, felt that her deep eyes could peer into their souls.

Ásta’s a high-energy, positive person. As a child, she was always ready to explore. She would venture into the open vistas of Iceland while on camping trips with her family; to look for Huldufólk or ‘hidden people’ as the locals called elves. Strong willed, she grew into a highly independent woman and a natural leader. Ásta can rapidly process complex information, distilling important aspects to arrive at conclusions leaps ahead of logical thinking. As a result, the first-generation AI Shun, often referred its analysis to her to evaluate human-acceptable results. Along with her twin brother Jón, she helped Shun learn and develop its ‘human’ and ‘ethical’ evaluation standards.

Her most used exclamation is ‘Jæja’, an Icelandic all-purpose word that roughly translates to ‘well-then’! and, could be used to convey a variety of emotions in nearly any situation. It’s a word that the crew of the integrated standardized space exploration spacecraft Átt, picked up and frequently used. When two framandi joined the crew aboard Átt, they too began using the expression.

As a first generation transhuman like her twin brother, she was genetically modified to endure the rigors of space travel. Ásta is physically enhanced to handle up to sixteen Gs without passing out, and to deal with the continuous radiation from space travel. Like Jón, her body is twice as strong as an average human’s and her bones rapidly replaced calcium.

Ásta likes to travel. New experiences give her a rush. Before her eighteenth birthday, she spent two years exploring new countries; taking four days off every fortnight while training at Lýsi’s various global facilities. She picked up the essentials of most major languages, unspoken cues and cultural traits. She fit in just about everywhere and was selected to be among the first to meet face-to-face with the framandi.