Shayhiloosh was raised in a nursery or young 'grove' of sorts, where s/he was planted in rich loamy soil. Rooting hirself in soil at night and looking at the stars at night after hir studies were done for the day became a favorite pastime. Hir was one of the few Arborians that enjoyed talking and interacting with Federation ambassadors and other off world visitors. After hir species was contacted and a Federation Embassy established, Shayhiloosh was chosen by the Arborian elders to go out and gain experience within the context of the Federation, to encourage understanding and gain perspective on other species. Enrolling in Starfleet seemed the most obvious way to learn and gain experience with other cultures, and to explore and see what else was in the universe.

Education

As for many Arborians, Shayhiloosh was taught by local elders. Hir people have a natural predilection for understanding of the ecological sciences. After completing the highest level of education hir people could offer, s/he was immediately enrolled in Starfleet, where s/he majored in Science with an emphasis on xenobotany. Hir also enjoyed studying stellar cartography and astronomy.

Pre-Starfleet History

In hir youth, as a part of hir training, Shayhiloosh spent a decade or so traveling extensively within Arboria's solar system along with one of hir elders, old Hannahlish, taking surveys of the system's sun and analyzing solar activity. During that time, Shayhiloosh conducted many experiments to study the effects of sunspot activity upon various species of plant growth. S/he also helped to set up the Starfleet Embassy on Arboria, where hir specialized in security.

Starfleet History

The first day of Shayhiloosh's first assignment was a major catastrophe. The USS Boudicca, to which s/he had been assigned, was attacked and boarded by enemy marines from the USS Exeter. Shayhiloosh attempted to protect hirself and hir colleagues in sickbay, only to discover belatedly that these Marines were provided with 'superman'� BDU body armor. S/he was severely injured in the attempt, and was subsequently deposited on Starbase Geneva to receive care. When hir condition was assessed, s/he was sent to Cait to recover, due to the excellent quality of medical care available there, and the need for a naturally sunlit environment in which to heal. While on Cait or Ferasa, s/he was illegally detained and imprisoned in an underground secret experimental facility below a legitimate hospital. After escaping and making friends with a Caitian Doctor named R'Serrot, Shayhiloosh working with the doctor and the Nimitz crew, helped free the planet from the thin clutches of Doenitz's Marines and end the atrocities committed in the secret facility.

Medical History

Species: Shayhiloosh and other Arborians have both plant and animal characteristics. Chemically, Arborians resemble yeast with chlorophyll. Overall height at full growth can reach approximately 7 feet tall minimum or taller, but an individual might look a bit taller if in proper full leaf. Individual Arborians' leaf bladders can be found in a variety of shapes, and the appearance of one individual compared to another is often far more pronounced than in humans. They can, if they wish, grow extra appendages, but it takes time and energy, and most do not consider the effort necessary. Arborians need rich loamy soil with plenty of mineral content. They obtain nourishment through the root tips, which can open or close via large pores. Without adequate species-appropriate nourishment, they may potentially suffer from a variety of health problems, including leaf wilt, leaf loss, swelling of joints, general withering of the body, and loss of vision. They require a few hours of exposure to UV rays in which to rest, root, eat, and conduct photosynthesis each day. Natural sunlight is preferable, but ship-generated UV rays suffice under normal conditions. A horticultural or botanical area would be perfect quarters for an Arborian. Personal: Nothing of note. Shayhiloosh is normally in good general health as per his species. S/he did take the time to grow extra branches, as s/he felt that two were not enough to do the specialized tasks required by hir service in Starfleet, but that more than three extra hands were too many. S/he can use hir prehensile roots to grip or pick up items as needed.

Skills

Due to hir off-planet experience, Shayhiloosh has become more adaptable than is the norm for his species. S/he is quite clever when it comes to meeting hir special needs in a shipboard environment. Hand-to-root-and-branch combat is hir specialty. S/he is not especially martially oriented, but when threatened at close range, s/he is a formidable opponent, if properly prepared for the nature of the attack. S/he can carry several weapons at once in hir multiple limbs, and use them all simultaneously. Also, considering both the training s/he received as a security consultant while setting up the Starfleet embassy on hir home planet, together with hir three flexible eyestalks, s/he is very difficult to take by surprise. Special Traits: When at rest, usually for at least a few hours each daylight cycle when Arborians are able to conduct photosynthesis, they share a type of group telepathy. Arborians are able to access something they refer to as the Dreamplane. For the uninitiated, the Dreamplane can be a dangerous place as besides mirroring whatever happens in reality, it can manifest people's sorrow, fear, joy, and anger.