***Dr. Garath Seldon of Starfleet Medical is the only 'official' Doctor known to have the opportunity to make first contact and to actually examine an Ambraxian. Dr. Seldon was part of a medical team assigned to Denab IV during a critical flu outbreak. He came across one of the Ambraxians by accident much to his delight and sadness. Foregoing the discovery of a lifetime he made a promise to the changeling to kept his identity a secret. The Doctor’s findings of the mythical *Cat People* has never been turned over to Starfleet.

While serving on the USS Scorpio Dr. Seldon discovered another Ambraxian while on an away mission. A female named Petra. Because of the complications involved he urged the Commanding Officer to honor his original promise made on Denab IV. Despite her misgivings and after much consideration Captain Deanna Nathan agreed to keep the females identity a secret. A secured copy of Dr. Seldon’s findings was sent to the Captain of the USS Capricorn when it was clear that Petra would be unable to return to the Scorpio. Much of the information contained in this file is from Dr. Seldon observations with both Ambraxians and Captain Nathan’s personal relationship with Petra.***

Name: Petra (Pay-tra)

Gender: Female

Age: Unknown - By terran standard looks approximately 23-24 years. Ambraxians 'physically' age very slowly. The natural lifespan of the species is undetermined but are rumored to be very long-lived thus giving rise to tales of immortality. Petra is approximately 80 in Ambraxian years and has yet to have her "first heat" or basically in human terms 'reach puberty.' Most Ambraxians reach this point by at least 70 years of age. Petra's development has possibly been slower because of her isolation from her race.

This actually depends on her mood, but her most usual form is that of a small black cat. In any form Petra has deep green eyes with a faint tinge of yellow. In her human form she has very delicate feline features, her height is approximately 5’5", her weight is undetermined because of her changeling abilities but appears to be approximately 120 pounds. Her dark jet-black hair offsets a porcelain completion. A small amulet she always wears around her neck can distinguish her regardless of her whatever shape she takes. This amulet is never removed for some reason.

Parents: Noad & Zianta

Siblings: Phaedra (older sister) Ramar (older brother) Rilas (older brother)

Petra and her siblings were from Zianta's third litter. She is #4 in a litter of four. Petra was expelled from the litter at very young age, as she was the smallest of the litter and considered the runt. Considered weak because of her size and lesser aggressive tendencies she was thrown into the "Living Pool" to be ritualistically drowned.

History

Petra was 'separated' from her family at an extremely young age and surviving the transition to the 'Mythical Universe' (Alpha Quadrant) she grew up knowing very little about her people and had only faint memories until recently. Petra moved from ship to ship usually in cat form hoping to find traces of her people, not knowing that the planet Ambraxis was not located in the known universe.

In her search for her identity she was accidentally stranded on an uninhabited Class M planet. Here she met Nigel Karr, a Bajoran who’d crashed on the planet and was later rescued by the USS Scorpio. After making "friends" with the small cat he discovered her changeling abilities and decided to bring her with him without informing the Scorpio crew of her uniqueness. He planned on using Petra for his own ends but grew extremely fond of the little cat and her different ways. Many of the Scorpio crew still think she was nothing more then Nigel Karr's pet.

Dr. Garth Seldom, the Chief Medical Officer of the Scorpio became suspicious of the little cat right away. An Ambraxian shows up on a tricorder as whatever form they are in, feline or human. But in scanning, there are minor fluctuations, which are almost always overlooked unless one has seen similar readings before and knows what to look for and even then without the knowledge of the race the fluctuations would be thought as something else.

Dr. Seldon had the fortune of meeting Petra's uncle, Nando during on outbreak of Roberian Flu on Denab IV. He had heard of the mythical "Cat People" and like most, thought they only lived in legends. Unfortunately, the gentle Nando died shortly before the Doctor could produce a vaccine that might save him. But the dead Ambraxian left the Doctor a wealth of information about the mythical race. At Nando's request Dr. Seldon kept the Ambraxian's existence a secret and for years carried a small recording made by the man-cat in case Seldon ever came across his niece (he always hoped she had survived the transition) or possibly another of his race.

Placing her trust in the wrong people, Petra was caged, tortured and abused at the hands of unscrupulous "Doctors." She was kept in deplorable conditions in various "underground' labs around the Quadrant and used as a test subject for many known and some 'unknown' diseases. Over time, by strength of will she cheated death many times and her blood literally became a 'miracle' serum in itself. Finally escaping her prison she slaughtered her captors without mercy. Petra has a natural distrust of humans because of this, especially Doctors and Scientists. She eventually made her abilities known to a few of the Scorpio senior officers. Even with extreme patience it took Dr. Seldon a long time for Petra to even get close enough to where he could explain and give her Nando's legacy.

A mission into the "Mirror Universe" to rescue the ISS Scorpio Captain Deanna Goddard brought Petra face to face with her own sister, the mission ending with a battle almost to the death between the two. She also helped detain the infamous General Karr.

Petra is totally devoted to the General's alter ego Nigel Karr and brought about the capture to help her friend. She has also attached herself to Captain Nathan and she took the Ambraxian under her wing so to speak in order for Petra to learn the subtle nuances of living among the humans. After getting to know the female changeling her worry was that Petra would be exploited in an adverse manner if her existence were made public. This took much sole searching on the Captain's part not to inform Star Fleet as the primary mission of the Federation is to "Seek out New Life!"

Ambraxis is a planet in the Mirror or "Dark" Universe in a very isolated area of the Delta Quadrant. It is a lush tropical planet with one sun and two moons. It is considered an "M" class planet but the atmosphere has a unique "particle layer" causing the skies to have brilliantly colored hues of various shades. This layer appears as little more then a particle cloud and acts as a natural shield for the planet making virtually almost invisible to the naked eye and scans alike.

Very little is known about their political structure and actual way of life except for rumors carried over the years by many races. In their human form, they are feline-looking in appearance and have very unique abilities. One of these abilities is to physically change into various forms of earth-type felines. This raises the speculation as to if they are actually indigenous to the Alpha Quadrant. Unlike most races in a Mirror Universe they are indigenous to that universe only and the actual whereabouts of their planet has become a closely guarded secret.

The Ambraxians were once a peaceful loving race. They are very long lived, and have a natural immunity to diseases (this immunity varies among the individuals) and their instantaneous healing abilities are nothing short of miraculous. Because of their abilities they have been treated as little more than animals and have been hunted for their rare blood almost to the point of extinction. Because of the paranoia with outside worlds the kittens are now taught from birth to be untrusting and ruthless to strangers. Only a few ever actually leave the Homeworld. Because of the various aspects of the race and their isolation, the Ambraxians have been somewhat relegated to myths and legends and bedtime "bogeyman" type stories throughout the Universe.

Any kitten showing weakness physically or mentally is expelled from the race. They are ritualistically thrown into a deep pool of water known as the "Living Pool" to drown or move on to a better place. It is believed that the water cleanses them of their weakness as their spirits pass on to the nether world.

This pool is considered a shrine for the Ambraxians and only the oldest of the Holy Ones are privy to the secret that it is actual a watery portal into another Universe. Over the years a handful of Ambraxians have survived the transition through the tidal currents of the pool only to appear on the other side. Lost, alone and abandoned by their people they live in hiding because of the old myths that surround them. Yet, they usually live out their lives in the Alpha Quadrant searching for a way to return home.

Even though ancient Ambraxian legends have referred to another world most Ambraxians view it as a myth as none of their own have ever returned. The few that do know of its actual existence consider the other side as little more than a dumping ground for the weak.

The Ambraxian's live in family units with the mother having several different litters throughout her life on an average of every 2-3 years. They can mate in any form but give birth in their feline state. They wear a unique amulet with markings that denote the race on one side and the individual family litter on the other.

Abilities

The females of the race are considered the most ferocious and are the hunter's and defenders of the species, they are incredibly strong regardless of form and are considered extremely dangerous when provoked. Females are very distrustful but when they do form a bond they are extremely loyal regardless. As with all animals their instincts serve them well in dealing with others and they can usually sense the difference between truth and deceit.

It has been discovered during past conflicts with different races that the Ambraxian's have the ability to absorb different types of weapons fire up to a certain point without causing major injury. (Ex. A phaser set on various stun levels would sting to outright hurt and might even slow them down a bit depending on the level. A phaser set on kill would cause intense pain, enough to make them falter or incapacitate them depending on how many times they were hit. Because of their rapid healing ability it is unknown if they can actually be killed by phaser fire.) Some say the Ambraxians are immortal, but this is simply not true. They are pretty indestructible it appears, adding credence to the legends.

Ambraxian’s have a very heightened sense of awareness and though not telepathic can easily sense it in others. In their feline form they also have the unique ability of projecting their speech (Common English) allowing one or all around them to hear them actually speak, while others may only hear a cat’s meow. They can even impress their will in the form of a suggestion on the more open or weak-minded.

Because of their changeling ability they can trick the tricorders and scanners simply by phasing into both forms at once. They can also hide from being scanned by holding their body in a changing phase, this can be done for undetermined period but is extremely tiring for them.

Personality

A cat is a cat need I say more.