Marissa Despard
From Station
Marissa Despard (Deceased)
Rank: Civillian
Position: Former Archeologist
Player: Nick
Appearance
Species: Human
Gender: Female
Born: 2355
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Hazel
Height: 5' 5"
Slim, and fit. Often has a tomboyish look while at the dig site, but loves to dress up as well. She likes to keep her hair out, and encourages the wavy look that is natural. She is very happy with herself image, but works hard to maintain her fitness level.
Personality
Up until a year ago: Bright and bubbly. Full of life. She was always off on another adventure, and loved to include others in her discoveries. She was always quick with a smile, and a playful punch on the arm.
Since about a year ago: Drained of life. Depressed. Introverted. Secretive. Ignores those in her life, and seems soley obsessed with her own secret agenda.
Through it all she has retained her fiery temper which has occasionally gotten her into more trouble than she could first imagine.
History
Marissa grew up on Earth with her loving, and well positioned family. If there ever was such a thing as 'rich' in this century, her family came as close as you could get. They were rich in contacts, favours owed, and connections. They positioned themselves well in the social circles of the Federation, and grew to know many high ranking officials.
Marissa was often a source of discontent as a youngster as she would always come in with her clothes muddy, or dirty. When asked where she had been, she would always reply that she had been digging. While many children looked up at the stars and wondered where, how, and why, Marissa looked down at the ground and asked the same question.
When she was 11 years old, she became exceptionally sick. Her parents, fearing for their only child, took her to see a scientist that was running experimental procedures. He claimed that he could cure Marissa. After the procedure, there was no sign of the illness, and the Despard family joyfully went on with their lives.
When Marissa was 18 and done with High School she attended Yale University and studied Ancient Cultures, and Practical Archeology. She realized quickly that there was not much left to discover on Earth, but that the galaxy held many places to explore and dig.
Much to her parents chagrin, Marissa enrolled in the Federation's Civilian Science Division, and was shipped off to a tiny planet called Ba'ku. There she worked closely with a native of the planet by the name of Jon'a. She slowly developed feelings for the much older man, and felt that perhaps he too was feeling the same way.
Her parents contacted her after a year and wouldn't listen to reason when they demanded her immediate return to Earth. She finally ceded to their wishes when they threatened to use their influence to have her removed permanently from the Science Division of the Federation. She couldn't bare the thought of saying goodbye to Jon'a, and came to regret later her decision to leave without saying a word to him.
Her parents rushed her, upon her arrival on Earth, back to to the doctor she had seen more than a decade earlier. They were relieved, and Marissa was perplexed (by the whole situation), when they were told there was no sign of any problems.
Her family allowed her to leave, and she spent the next few years going from dig to dig, before finally being put in charge of the work on Malchus IV. There she was overjoyed to be reunited with her lost love, and she and Jon'a were soon married.
The next 2 years were the happiest of her life. That was until she found that she was sick. Upon talking to her parents she found that they had had the doctor perform an untested procedure on her. They had long feared the side affects, and now they had hit. Her internal organs were slowly falling apart. There was nothing that could be done.
She refused to tell her husband. She did not want to upset their perfect life. Still, it had a profound affect on their relationship and drove them apart. She still refused to say anything. Now, though, it was out of shame for not speaking earlier.
Marissa realized that just as her problem was unique the solution would be as well. If there was any place that a solution might even accidentally be found, it would be on the fringe of medical science where the line between right and wrong was often blurred. That place...was the Delta Quadrant.
Family
Father: Emellio Despard
Mother: Brigida Despard (nee Gaskin)
Husband: Jon'a Despard
