Laris Rai

Laris Rai was a male pilot during the.

Early life
Laris was born on Anaxes in 42 BBY.

The Clone Wars
The outbreak of the Clone Wars ignited a spark of pro-Republic fervor in Laris. Despite his years among the Zabrak Laris was still very proud of his Anaxes' heritage and his people's long history of service to the Republic Navy. The war's outbreak also coincided with a desire to spend more time among other humans that had building for many years. So with her family's reluctant blessing her returned to the Core and enlisted in the Navy.

Due to the desperate need for qualified personnel, the Republic Navy had instituted a policy of allowing recruits to "test in" to positions normally only given to experienced enlistees after completing basic training. Laris' years of experience on the Algan Clan's various ship paid off and was assigned to a tactical post on The ; a and the  of Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Under the command of Kenobi
Laris was a member of the Republic strike force which took part in the in 22 BBY.

The great escape
In 21 BBY Laris was among a number of Republic Navy personnel captured and imprisoned on the world of. It was there that he met and befriended an ARC Trooper who went by the name of Slinger.

Witness to Order 66
"The time has come. Execute Order 66."

- Palpatine, 19 BBY

In 19 BBY, Laris was attending to maintenance on his shuttle in preparation for transporting members of the Jedi to a devastated planet to aid in relief efforts. As the group consisting of one adult and three teenagers crossed the tarmac was issued. Laris had just waved to the lead Jedi when his friend, Slinger, who had been a member of the Jedi's escort company, drew his weapon and emptied a blaster bolt into the back of the  adult Jedi. Agast, Laris watched as the clones killed the equally stunned and  teens in seconds. The remaining teenager managed to draw her lightsaber and deflect a few shots before making a break for the shuttle. But her luck went no further and she was cut down just a few steps from the craft, her lightsaber fell from her hand and skittering to a stop at Laris' feet.

A New Life in the New Order
Despite his misgivings Laris finished his tour of duty in the now Imperial Navy. Walking away with the rank of 2nd class, an honorable discharge and a tiny pension, Laris returned to the Outer Rim and the Algan Clan. The life of a simple trader was a welcome change after four years of war. But Laris now found himself wanting more. He and Triz began to talk often about a ship of their own.

It was then that fate intervened. The clan took a from a client who'd defaulted on their payments. While in need of work the ship was in good shape. The moment Laris saw the ship he knew that he wanted to be its captain more than he'd ever wanted anything else in his life.

Personality and traits
"It's hard to be of two cultures sometimes. But if you learn to accept yourself for who you are then you have twice the strength to draw on."

- Laris Rai

The Clone War and his time as a POW left their mark on Laris. After the war he developed a case of OCD which led him to constantly check ship systems he knew logically to be fine multiple times. He also worried a great deal about being unprepared for an disaster and began to carry a, , anti-rad medicine and other emergency equipment in his at all times.

Laris discovered he had a gift for languages as a teenager. A native speaker of, he would learn from his  adoptive family. He would also go on to learn, and  as part of his work as a member of the Algan Clan's trade fleet. Laris could also speak simple and his  friend Slinger taught him some. The proverb Aliit ori'shya tal'din or "Family is more than bloodline," became a favorite saying of his.

Additionally, Laris was an experienced marksman who gaining a minor reputation in the Outer Rim for his skill with a blaster. During the Clone Wars Slinger taught him his favored duel wielding technique which among the clones was sometimes called "Going Jango." While still below those of his ARC trooper friend, Laris' skill with a blaster made a very large jump. Following Slinger's advice Lairs began to use the as his weapon of choice.

Not limiting himself to weapons he could fit in his hand, Laris also trained in serving as a shipboard gunner. As such, when the Fortunate Sun found itself in combat Laris, despite being the captain, preferred to take gunner's seat and leave the flying to his adoptive sister Triz Algan.