Ruby was what you might call a 'galactic half-breed'. Her mother was a Terran egg donor who served on this ship many years ago. Her biological father was a Malakathian Rochani, like Damon. His name was never documented - an 'oversight' on Merlinus' part. The old Corvum knew good and well who her father was, but he wasn't telling. She was 'conceived' in a petrie-dish, and then grown in a test-tube until she was large enough to transfer into a carrier-mother, another Terran woman. He'd won a large grant to continue his genetic research for her 'creation' from the Cygnan Federation, and was celebrated with all honors at a large expensive dinner. Ruby was more than a project to him though. He was very fond of her and loved her as a father would. She was so quick and so brilliant. He only had to tell her things one time and she got it. She knew twelve Terran languages, the language of the Cygnans, Malkathian Shinjare and all it's regional dialects. Ruby excelled in higher mathematics, analytics, and programing. She was very artistic and musical. This combination had produced a 'wunderkind'. Just why, he really couldn't tell. However, there was most likely a third factor in her make-up that possibly contributed to that - one that had somewhat to do with the identity of her father. There was also a fourth factor - Corvum Nelus' XJ-7NRD'. Many years ago Corvum Nelus, who was now the captain of their vessel, had developed a 'machine' that was capable of reading ones' thought patterns and translating them into words on a screen. At first, it took a highly ordered mind like Nelus' to do it, but eventually he refined it to where most all the Corvum could use it. It also served to go the other way - to put information into ones' mind, rather like a 'data dump'. This too was kept highly secret, for in the wrong hands, havoc would result. It consisted of a wireless 'circlet' worn on the brow that worked with a very hi-tech laptop processor. It allowed the Corvum to make notes on the fly at meetings, and for their research, and was a great boon to the 'wizards of Deneb'. They weren't really magical, but all very highly advanced scientists in their chosen fields. There were 20 Corvum on this particular vessel. Each one had his own personal XJ-7. These days, they could be had in custom designs. Ruby had one too - stars. One day on a lark, Merlinus decided to put the circlet on little Ruby. What she did with it - even then, as a child - amazed him. He began using it to teach her, but that was only part of why she was so brilliant. She simply had an uncanny ability to learn and use what she learned in practical application. These days, she spent most of her time making syndicated music videos for Terrans and others under an alias that eventually pointed back to Merlinus. No one knew how they were created. They only knew they liked them. Eventually, she worked her way up to invading people's dreams. Merlinus forbade her to speak in them, which she'd adhered to so far. The truth was, one day she would figure out that she could alter reality - at least on a local level, if not more. That, would not be discussed until she figured it out herself. He didn't want her getting any funny ideas at the moment. He need her to stay focused.