Shane Mayen
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"It was all a lie. My calling as a hero. My bravery and courage. But I still walk forward because my mother had believed it. Even if what I am is a fake, a phony, I'll trudge through this hell because that's what my mom would have wanted. That's what my mom would have wanted for me, and by extension, for you. So let's continue to live this lie, SHADE, let's continue to swing these swords with everything we got. Because even if we ourselves aren't the real deal, at least our efforts were."
Shane Mayen, born Shardis Licita is the current first mate to Rogue Valian Dekani "Deka" Price. Initially serving as Deka's ranged firearms support in missions, then later as his equal in the battlefield, Mayen was considered the first human to ever wield Toron technology. Due to essentially using his real body in combat, as opposed to the conventional Valian way to pilot a Armoured suit known as the Lance, Shane gained the moniker among many in the Star System as The Unarmored Valian.
It was revealed to Shane and Deka that the Terran was actually not born in this world, but was rather time displaced just like Deka was. The son of Kirin and Caterena Licita, making Arsanios Licita his adopted older brother, and he himself a Reinian and Lualite to the house of Licita. However, the cause of Mayen's time displacement is unknown, as well as how he had been discovered by who he believed was his real parents which turned out to be his adopted ones.
Contents
Appearance
Shane Mayen possesses long shoulder length black hair, with long bangs reaching his round face. His eyes were originally brown, but after a partial modification with Yggdrasil, Deka's ship infestation system that modified his Lances, Mayen possessed green pupils. Mayen is of average height, and possesses a muscular build from his years of weight training prior to joining Price on his ship.
Mayen wears a black fur coat and dark blue-black jeans. Cladded along his shoulders, knees, and combat boots are elegant white Primed armour plating with gold trim, akin to the Toron style. On his back is a greatsword replica of Ais, the Severen weapon wielded by SHADE, a vengeful mercenary that has been hunting the Valians. Underneath his coat, Mayen wears a black tank top along with a utility belt housing more firearms.
A Toron white and gold trim mask covers Shane's face, which serves as a HUD during missions. Depending on how harsh the conditions, Mayen will also wear a Toron armoured cloak that provides further protection, ICARUS aerial glider integration, and space travel. The cloak is leather-like black with Toron lines elegantly arcing up the ends. The cloak also possesses gold trim akin to the Toron style.
Personality
Shane possesses tremendous survivor's guilt, as he witnessed his parents' deaths to the hands of the Severens in an act to protect their son. Because of this, Shane would often put the lives of others before himself, and harbours an intense hatred for Severens.
Due to having lived a life alone, Shane has trouble socializing, and would often remain silent. Combined with his traumatic past and his appearance, many considered Mayen to be brooding and aloof. Serving as Deka's first mate, Shane preferred using actions to communicate; unfortunately these actions were usually acts of violence, leading to many to be put off with his personality.
False Hero
During his childhood, Shane strived to become a hero just like the figures in numerous movies and media that had influenced him. Rejecting the reality of his life, Shane wished for a day where the world would be thrown into apocalypse, so his selfish desire at becoming a greater figure could be fulfilled. When his world was invaded by the Severens, Shane's mother believed that Shane possessed incredible bravery, when in reality he had selfishly wanted to use the opportunity of fighting a Severen soldier to "evolve". This belief was untrue, and because Shane was unable to tell his mother the truth before she died, Shane believed his role as Deka's first mate and his battle against the Severens was anything but heroic. Seeing himself as a "false hero", Shane hated himself and took every victory with a grain of salt.
Similarities to SHADE
During an encounter with the Supreme Severen Gargantua, the Severen Noble remarks the numerous parallels and similarities between Shane and SHADE, as both seek vengeance, both hold guilt in their hearts, and both despise themselves as their very being is that of "a lie".
Stance on Romantic Relationships
Shane is under the belief that all relationships are subject to what he describes as "emotional decay". In a sense, that most relationships start off passionate, but over time, become nothing more than a stale title to hold on top of one's heads. The numerous romantic developments he had seen in the shows and movies he watched is what he considers "an ideal that will never manifest in reality". This way of thinking has caused Shane to have a negative and warped view on girls, and as such, couples into his contempt to socialization.
Mayen despises the notion of finding love as he believes that the current "male meta" is disgraceful, that the whole idea of finding a kind boyfriend overrides one who is strong. Shane sees himself as "the complete opposite of what girls these days want", and would even consider breaking off any communication with a girl if he begins developing feelings for her. This twisted way of thinking has caused Shane to be in a perpetual state of loneliness and emotional turmoil, although he denies it.
Hobbies
Shane spends his free time watching anime and reading manga, but denies it, claiming that such stories are "unrealistic" and are "fantasies dreamt up by lonely men". Deka jokes that Shane must love it because he relates to its creators, much to the first mate's outrage.
Shane also loves working out and scrolling Facepage, but is put off by what he calls "degenerate losers trying to sound funny in the comments".
Shane despises housework, as evidenced when he along with Deka's crew stayed in the city of Trife, where Deka and Rinne urged Shane to sweep the floor after the two of them along with the rest of the crew had already cleaned much of the house themselves while Shane himself spent the day on the sofa.
It is revealed that Shane was a "weeb" in his younger years and was obsessed with the anime culture. This fact was deeply buried and Shane is disgusted by this side of himself.
Abilities
Powers
Licitian Potential: As a blood relative to the Licitian family line, Shane possesses the ability to tap into the memories as well as abilities of every Licitian warrior preceding him, known as the Grand Licitian Convergence. Tapping into the memories of his ancestors, Shane's subconscious is updated to receive the combat experience of previous Licitian Tora, namely, General Ciel Licita. This power can only be triggered through a traumatic or extremely emotional experience. In Shane's case, the death of his adopted parents triggered his Licitian Potential.
Shane was initially only able to call upon his Licitian potential in its reduced state, but over time, he began to tap into more and more of its memories, allowing him to master Valian Martial Arts by drawing parallels with his Toran ancestors. Umbra, a former Tora soldier recognized Shane's movements, and acted as his mentor. The Grand Licitian Convergence also provided Shane's body with a means to adapt to these new memories and movements, giving him enhanced and seemingly superhuman feats.
- Strength of Kien Licita: Kien Licita, known amongst the Tora as The Toron Berserker, was famed for his immense strength. Paired with his overwhelming strength, Kien developed a unique affinity to heavy weapons, infamously known for his great skill with the Gravity Axe. Shane has inherited about 40% of Kien's strength, allowing him to momentarily dual wield multiple firearms. Later on, he is able to wield Ais without the need of his cybernetics.
- Skill of Ciel Licita: General Ciel Licita was famed for his unparalleled skill among the Tora. Serving King Quaran during the fourth Toron Dynasty, Ciel led many of the Tora to victory. Ciel was said to have been the mentor of Zulach Ful, who's abilities would then transfer over to his descendent Zennen Ful, known as the greatest Valian in existence.
- Speed of Tricity Licita: Lady Tricity of Venir was given the nickname The Streak due to her incredible speed. Outrunning and outpacing numerous speed-type Severens, Tricity's speed was unmatched. Paired with her knowledge of fighting knives, Tricity was considered one of the fastest Tora in history. Shane is able to tap into 15% of Tricity's speed, but did not inherit her knife skill.
Yggdrasil Body Modifications: Despite possessing the Licitian Potential, Deka noted that Shane was unable to bring it out consistently, and the stamina drain of the power was too much to be used during long missions. As a solution, Shane had his body modified by the ship infestation system Yggdrasil, transforming it similar to that of a Lance. As a result, Shane's body is considered a "half Lance, half human". The cybernetic procedure was successful, to the point where he was able to fight and keep up with Umbra himself. The Yggdrasil procedure provided Shane with the following abilities:
- Super Strength: The implants provided Shane with a continuous boost in strength. This allowed Shane to wield Ais consistently, and dual wield Toron weaponry in each hand. When paired with Kien Licita's strength, Shane was strong enough to fight toe to toe with SHADE, though Javlok lost the fight due to inferior technique.
- Ultimate Speed: The implants gave Shane a significant boost in agility and speed. For reasons unknown, Shane's body possessed an affinity for the speed boosting properties of the Mach Lance. Shane's speed is said to be so fast that it rivals that of the Slinger Lance's Peacemakers.
Relationships
Family
Tim Mayen: Shane loved his father, and was influenced by him at a young age. Tim had a pessimistic outlook on life, teaching his son that every person in the world had a side that they always kept hidden. This mindset caused both Tim and Shane to develop paranoia, and to trust very little people. Tim also taught Shane brutal life lessons, such as the dwindling job market for certain fields. Tim was the first person to tell Shane that his dream to become a hero was unrealistic and stupid, and to force him to go into STEM due to its realistic job prospects. The relationship between Shane and his father had been mostly out of respect, as Shane believed loving his father was "out of obligation as a son".
This view had changed drastically after Tim gave his life to protect his son. Seeing his father's dying face caused Shane to realize that despite all of the things he put him through, his father did these very things and taught him these very lessons because he wanted his son to be prepared for a world that a little boy was not yet ready for. Shane realized that his father's lessons would never have been taught to him unless he was his son, and that Tim didn't want Shane to live a life full of disappointment due to him being very naive.
Tim's death shook Shane to the core, causing Shane to swear to get vengeance against the Severens.
Dana Mayen: Like her husband, Dana wanted the best for her son, and supported Tim's decision to force Shane into the field of STEM for job prospects. On one night, Shane told his parents of his dream to become a hero, and that he was willing to forsake getting into college to pursue his journey, no matter what it took. This level of delusion put Dana into tears, as she begged Tim to talk some sense into their son.
When the Severens invaded, Dana watched as her son left the car and charged a Severen foot soldier head on. Believing her son had done so out of bravery, she finally understood Shane's desire to become a hero. Dana's final words were to tell Shane to pursue his dream, and apologized for forcing him to succumb into something he hated.
Dana's dying words left a long lasted impact on her son, causing Shane to walk forward with his goal to take down the Severens along with Deka Price, and to continue fighting even if he was the cause for her death.
Valians
Dekani "Deka" Price: Shane deeply respects his Captain, and is protective of him and is obedient, being his first mate. Shane feels indebted to Price for giving him the opportunity to come aboard the Lotuscraft, and is grateful to Price's offer to teach him the ways of the Valian. Upon discovering that Shane's body was not adapted to fight at the high level pace of his Umbral Lance, Price remained patient with the First Mate.
Deka is willing to do anything for the goodwill of Shane, and Shane feels the same way, seeing the Captain of the Lotuscraft as a brother. Shane accompanies Deka frequently on missions, serving as backup. When the hybridization procedure with Yggdrasil was successful, both Shane and Deka were overcome with joy. Fighting as equals, Shane and Deka completed missions together.
Arsanios Licita / Arsani Price: Arsanios was initially indifferent with Shane, believing the human was irrelevant in his quest to eliminate Deka. However, repeated attempts to assassinate his brother were intercepted by Javlok, causing Arsanios to become more and more resentful to the boy. Upon realizing that Deka had taught the Terran the Way of the Valian, Arsanios was outraged that the "sacred teachings of Lena" were wasted on a normal human being. Seeing Shane as a "Fake Valian", Arsanios was full of contempt, and sought to eliminate Javlok as well seeing his very existence as "taboo".
Upon discovering the Licitian Birthmark on Mayen's stomach, Arsanios was further enraged, believing that Javlok also had tainted the House of Licita. Both Arsanios and Javlok are unaware of his connection to the House of Licita, and that they are adopted brothers.
Rinzler Thresh: Rinzler and Shane are on negative terms, due to Rinzler's physical, verbal, and sexual abuse on his younger sister, Rinne Thresh. Upon saving Rinne from Rinzler's violent outburst, Shane swore that he would protect Rinne with all his being, because no one deserved to be treated this harshly. Believing that Mayen had taken Rinne from him, Rinzler swore to kill the "Fake Valian" with everything he had, resolving into his Lance, Helos in an attempt to kill the Terran.
The clash between Rinzler's Helos and Mayen's Valian Cybernetics led to a draw, with Rinzler's Lance critically damaged, and Mayen receiving a scar on his left eye. The two formed an unhealthy rivalry to win Rinne over, despite Rinne clearly choosing Shane over Rinzler.
Rinne Thresh: Rinne and Shane possess a complicated and inconsistent relationship. Since saving her from her brother, Shane possessed some degree of protectiveness for the new member of the Lotuscraft Crew. However, whenever situations became suggestive or romantic, Shane would abandon Rinne, cutting off their communication. It has been heavily hinted that Shane holds romantic feelings for Rinne, but is unable to accept them, as he believes that Rinne's kindness for him would be the same for anybody, and that she was "just naturally a nice girl".
Despite this, Rinne and Shane have formed an alliance along with the other members of the Lotuscraft Crew. Rinne frequently tends to Shane's wounds after battle. Despite not possessing an aptitude for combat like her fellow Valian, Shane recognizes Rinne's proficiency with her control over the Void, telling her that she is worth more than what the Valians believe she is. This positive encouragement allowed Rinne to continue her work as the Lotuscraft medic.
Other Valians: Shane despises the Valians for their decision to renounce Deka due to his desire to save the humans of the past. Shane finds their elitist mindset to be extremely toxic, going as far as to declare that Zennen Ful, a highly respected Valian, was a "delusion punk", and that Quorra Lavine, the leader of the Valian Gladiator Alliance was a "crude bitch".
The Valians in turn, see Shane's very existence as "disgusting", due to his unorthodox use of Toron technology, using them with his bare hands rather than resolving into a Lance and wielding them the Valian way. Later in the story, Shane also begins wielding Ais, which is Severen technology, along with Toron technology, causing extreme outrage within the Valian community.
Severens
Lena: Shane despises Lena, for her abandonment of her adopted children, the Valians, as well as her actions on Earth, causing numerous casualties. Shane blames Lena for the death of his family, and vows to destroy her. However, this desire is later restrained upon discovering that Deka wished to save his mother from the influence of her Severen kind. Despite this, Shane still harbours resentment to the Severen Queen.
Nero: Shane and Nero clashed in the city of Luam during a Severen invasion. Nero claims that he and Shane share many things in common. Nero is the brother of Lena, and Shane is the First Mate of Deka. Both want their respective others to be happy. However, this parallel is met with outrage from the Terran, who tells Nero that unlike the Severen, he would not stoop so low as to manipulate Deka into doing the things he wants just as Nero had done with Lena. Stating that Nero didn't wish for Lena to be happy, but rather he wanted to be happy himself, and to have his family reunited.
Shane's exposure over Nero's true motives causes the Severen to become enraged, declaring that when the Valians battle the Severens in the New War, he will ignore every single Valian he encounters, and that Shane will be the first to die by his hand. Even if he is only partially Valian.
Gargantua: Shane despises the father of Lena as he does with all Severens, however Gargantua finds Shane interesting, believing that he has a connection with SHADE, his subordinate and right hand man.
SHADE: The relationship between SHADE has been outright negative. SHADE harbours an intense hatred for Shane as he believes it was his fault that his Licitian family was slaughtered in the Valian-Severen war. SHADE and Shane have come to blows with almost every encounter they have. Whenever SHADE attempts to assassinate Deka, he is intercepted by Javlok, who's mere presence causing technical glitches in the hitman's gear. SHADE is aware of Javlok's identity, and frequently reminisces about his past. Shane despises SHADE as the latter has frequently targeted both Deka and Rinne for being Valians.
Despite their hatred for one another, SHADE remarks that only Shane understands the tribulations he has gone through, and that they share many similarities (much to both of their disappointments). When the two clashed for the first time, Shane obtained a copy of SHADE's signature weapon, Ais, and has since wielded the weapon. SHADE himself developed Toron implants in his body following the encounter, driving the two closer together.
Shane holds an inferiority complex to SHADE, as they two bare striking similar fighting styles, and later on, similar weapons. However, due to SHADE's advanced training and experience in fighting countless Valians, Shane is completely outclassed in virtually all aspects.
Dataforms
Folock: Folock is the AI of the Lotuscraft. Initially, Folock and Shane were on bad terms, seeing Shane as a hostile to the Lotuscraft. However, after several missions, the AI gradually begins to warm up to the Terran, seeing him as part of the team. After saving Deka from SHADE, Folock recognizes that Shane loved "his operator" very much, and as such, considered him a member to the crew as well, giving him the nickname "Javlok".
Other Lotuscraft Crew
Umbra: The sentient Lance operated by Deka Price, Javlok and Umbra hold a high degree of respect as fellow comrades to the Valian. Umbra respects Javlok's determination to become stronger and later sees him as an equal during field ops after his cybernetic operation with Yggdrasil. Umbra and Javlok frequently fight together during missions due to both being a means of combat and wield similar weapons. Umbra serves as a mentor to Javlok when the two enter their Deep Sleep Protocol, a trait shared amongst Lances.
Yggdrasil: Yggdrasil is the infested Lance modification system that resides on Deka's ship. While lacking a means of verbal communication, Shane discovered that he was able to communicate with the infested mass. The relationship between Yggdrasil to Javlok is similar to a pet and master. However, Yggdrasil has at times considered eating Shane due to the latter looking "tasty". This urge was further amplified following its operation on Mayen to provide him with the Toron cybernetics, since Yggdrasil had gotten a "taste" of Shane.
Flippy the Lupine: Flippy is Deka's lupine, a hunting dog that Deka had adopted before The Great Valian Slumber. After reawakening, Deka brought Flippy back from cryostasis and has since then allowed the dog to stay aboard the Lotuscraft. Flippy has a habit of biting Shane's clothes, much to the first mate's dismay. Despite this, Flippy loves Shane and is always open to being petted by him.
Other Lances: Being a "partial Lance", due to his implants and modifications from Yggdrasil, Shane is able to subconsciously communicate with the rest of the Lances in Price's arsenal. Shane and the other Lances see each other in a form of professional respect. No further relationships were developed or known between the Terran and the Lances, with Umbra being the closest to the Terran due to the two frequently fighting alongside each other.
Backstory
Shane Mayen lived with his parents, "Tim Mayen" and "Dana Mayen" in an urban neighbourhood. Struggling financially, Mayen was expected to pursue a degree in STEM to guarantee job prospects by his parents and to live a financially stable life. However, such expectations caused Shane to pursue an academic life he resented. Influenced by various media, Shane strived to become a hero like those in the movies he watched. Even going as far to hoping for a catastrophe to awaken any "hidden powers" he had.
One day, his wish partially came true, when the Severens, a time displaced alien race that the Valians were at war with, invaded. Shane watched as his world was sent into apocalypse, believing he would finally have a means to unlock his potential and to start "living his life", Mayen's delusion led him to engage one of the Severen Infantry, leading to the boy being critically injured. Before he could be finished off, Tim and Dana intercepted the Severen and protected their son, sacrificing their lives.
Struck with tremendous guilt, Shane realized that his goals in life were unrealistic, and attempted to commit suicide, but a dying Dana urged her son to continue living for them. Dana asks Shane why he would do something so foolish, as no normal person would face death the way he did, believing her son possessed incredible bravery. Before Shane could explain that it wasn't bravery that led him to attack the Severen, but rather his foolish delusion to become a hero, Dana reveals that Shane was actually adopted, and that they had found him in a broken pod. She believes that Shane possesses bravery that can only be explained by him not being from this world, but before Shane can ask Dana what she means by this, his mother dies in his arms.
Mayen is rescued by a squad of military soldiers and escorted to evacuation, but before the squad can get there, the Severens had already destroyed the cargo, killing everyone inside. The military troops protecting Mayen along with two other students are defeated by a Severen larger than the others, possessing a face of a woman but her limbs fragmented into a number of parts throughout her alien hide. Dana's final words ring in Mayen's mind, and Shane decides that even if Dana's words were not true, her faith in her son was, and the boy picks up a submachine gun dropped by one of the fallen troops and begins firing at the Severen. Shane's submachine gun bullets deflect off the Severen's hide, and Shane yells at the two students to run as he holds it off. The Severen begins to close the distance, and Shane picks up an assault rifle on the ground and wields it with his other arm, shooting the Severen, oblivious to the fact that he was holding a firearm in each hand and withstanding its recoil, a superhuman feat.
However, despite this, Shane's efforts are fruitless, as he runs out of ammunition in both weapons, and the Severen delivers a nearly fatal blow on the boy, sending him out of the military vehicle and sprawling on the ground. Shane gets to his feet, but realizes he, and the two students are cornered by numerous Severen who have closed in on them. Reminded the dying face of his mother and father, Shane announces that he will not die without giving a fight, and that he may not be a hero, and that he may not be brave, but he will keep fighting because that's what his parents believed in him to be. A fake hero in the eyes of the world, but a saviour in the eyes of his parents, Shane takes out his switchblade and charges the larger Severen, but before he can do anything, the aliens are dispatched and destroyed. Standing between him and the Severen, is an elegantly armoured soldier with patterns unlike the technology of the world.
The armoured figure calls the Severen by the name of Lena, and Lena recognizes the soldier to be a Valian by the name of Dekani Price. Lena is bewildered that a Valian would follow her and her squad to the past, and Price tells Lena that she should not be surprised, since she raised him long enough to guess he would be the one Valian naive enough to follow their mother back to save her from the Severens. Lena tells Price that he is indeed delusional, and calls him a "slave to the void".
Lena attempts to blast Price with her Severen power, but Price splits up with his armour, a human boy with long white unkempt hair and otherworldly attire, as his armoured seemingly gains sentience. The two charge Lena and converge once more in a shower of teal sparks, as the Valian crosses blades with Lena with his glowing sword. Lena pushes Price back and orders her squad to retreat, as Price, an unfactored variable, as delayed her sequence. The Severens soar to the sky, entering a massive ship that is hidden from within the clouds. A smaller ship is pursuing it with incredible firepower, and a landing craft in the shape of a lotus approaches Price, opening up for the Valian to enter in.
Before Price can step in, Shane stops him, and begs Price to bring him along. Price tells Mayen that he should return to his kind, but Mayen tells Price that he wants to come along and stop the Severens along with the Valian, recalling what Dana had told him about being from a pod. Price tells Mayen that his wishes to fight the Severens as a mere Terran is effectively suicide, but Mayen urges Price to take him along, as he has lost everything. His school, his parents, his loved ones are all dead because of the Severens. He can only achieve peace by ensuring that they do not cause any more large catastrophes like the one he had experienced today. Price recalls Mayen's fight against Lena, and senses a presence in Shane unlike the other Terrans on the planet. Price eventually agrees and lets Mayen onboard his ship, nicknamed The Lotuscraft. Price tells Mayen that having a human onboard as his assistant is unheard of for a Valian, but admits that he is not against the idea. From then on, Mayen would serve as Price's first mate, and that Price would serve as his captain.
