Shaqarava
Encyclopedia
The Shaqarava ʃaˌkaraˈvaː is an organ used by several fictional species in the science fiction
television series Earth: Final Conflict
. When active, it manifests as an energy
whorl in the palm of the creature wielding it. The Taelon
s, Jaridians
, Kimera
and Atavus
are able to use the Shaqarava in a variety of ways.
The color and appearance of the Shaqarava differs from person to person. Liam Kincaid has pink/purple Shaqarava, Rho'ha and Ha'gel have yellow Shaqarava, and blue Shaqarava have been shown occasionally as well.
, to share their memories, thoughts and spirits with one-another, and as a tool to assume the form of others. They can also use it as a weapon
when needed, creating destructive energy blasts. The Kimera appear to be the originators of the Shaqarava, though this is not confirmed in the series.
From what is shown in the series it is likely that the Kimera passed the Shaqarava to the Jaridians, Atavus, and Taelons during their interactions with those species.
Liam Kincaid, who is part Kimera, also has Shaqarava. In addition to using it as a weapon, on a few occasions he uses it to create a force field to defend himself (from an explosion, for example), and he also uses it to heal/revive people (reviving Augur on one occasion, and a Jaridian on another), using it in a way similar to defibrillation
.
On another occasion, Liam uses his Shaqarava to expel a piece of dark matter
from the Taelon mothership.
On one occasion, a Jaridian uses his Shaqarava to revive Liam Kincaid, who had previously revived the Jaridian in the same way.
While only one (very atypical) Jaridian birth has been seen, the Shaqarava is used in the birthing process in order to help bring the offspring into the world.
The season-5 atavus were originally planned to possess the shaqarava. This idea was apparently dropped due to the expense of the required special effects.
The atavistic Taelons are described above.
The rejoined Atavus, identical to a depiction of an eight million year old creature of the same name, resembles both the Taelons and Jaridians and possesses the Shaqarava which can be used to create destructive blasts powerful enough to vapourise humans.
While modern Taelons do not exhibit this organ, the Taelons do retain the ability to channel energy through their palms to a certain extent, as is shown most explicitly in several episodes of the fourth season, particularly Epiphany, for the redistribution of core energy.
The Taelon Da'an reverts to an Atavus after his link to the commonality is severed. The commonality, or the combined psyche of all Taelons, past and present, is the means by which Taelons control the "baser" impulses the Shaqarava allows. In the season two episode Atavus, the Shaqarava, used by Kimera-human hybrid Liam Kincaid, is used to bind an atavistic Taelon to the collective sentience. It is unclear whether this binding is a form of healing, or a newly created link to the commonality.
over time. On Earth, eyes have evolved separately over forty times in different ways. The Shaqarava may be similar and be one of those factors that are likely to evolve in any species at a certain stage of development. That all wielders of the Shaqarava are able to use it as a weapon, but that not all appear to be able, or perhaps willing, to use it in its other capacities may support this interpretation.
can be emitted or absorbed via this point, much like the Atavus drains the life-force from their victims.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
television series Earth: Final Conflict
Earth: Final Conflict
Earth: Final Conflict is a Canadian science fiction television series based on story ideas created by Gene Roddenberry, and produced under the guidance of his widow, Majel Barrett-Roddenberry. It was not produced, filmed or broadcast until after his death...
. When active, it manifests as an energy
Energy
In physics, energy is an indirectly observed quantity. It is often understood as the ability a physical system has to do work on other physical systems...
whorl in the palm of the creature wielding it. The Taelon
Taelon
The Taelons are a fictional race of humanoid aliens appearing in the Canadian science fiction television series Earth: Final Conflict. The arrival of the Taelons on Earth at first appears to be an unmitigated blessing, with their advanced technology bringing great prosperity...
s, Jaridians
Jaridians
The Jaridians are a race of fictional beings in the science fiction television series, Earth: Final Conflict.-Physiology:The Jaridians are large and muscular beings with a vaguely reptilian appearance...
, Kimera
Kimera (species)
The Kimera are a fictional alien species from the television series Earth: Final Conflict. Members of the species are first seen in the final episode of the show's first season, when a Kimera named Ha'Gel is recovered by an independent salvage crew from the bottom of the ocean...
and Atavus
Atavus
The Atavus are a fictional race of humanoid aliens appearing in the Earth: Final Conflict science fiction series. Several variations of Atavus have been observed in the series and their supposed history is confusing. The three versions of the Atavus are the Season 2 "monster" version, the season 4...
are able to use the Shaqarava in a variety of ways.
The color and appearance of the Shaqarava differs from person to person. Liam Kincaid has pink/purple Shaqarava, Rho'ha and Ha'gel have yellow Shaqarava, and blue Shaqarava have been shown occasionally as well.
Kimera
For the Kimera, the Shaqarava embodies the totality of self. They use it for communicationCommunication
Communication is the activity of conveying meaningful information. Communication requires a sender, a message, and an intended recipient, although the receiver need not be present or aware of the sender's intent to communicate at the time of communication; thus communication can occur across vast...
, to share their memories, thoughts and spirits with one-another, and as a tool to assume the form of others. They can also use it as a weapon
Weapon
A weapon, arm, or armament is a tool or instrument used with the aim of causing damage or harm to living beings or artificial structures or systems...
when needed, creating destructive energy blasts. The Kimera appear to be the originators of the Shaqarava, though this is not confirmed in the series.
From what is shown in the series it is likely that the Kimera passed the Shaqarava to the Jaridians, Atavus, and Taelons during their interactions with those species.
Liam Kincaid, who is part Kimera, also has Shaqarava. In addition to using it as a weapon, on a few occasions he uses it to create a force field to defend himself (from an explosion, for example), and he also uses it to heal/revive people (reviving Augur on one occasion, and a Jaridian on another), using it in a way similar to defibrillation
Defibrillation
Defibrillation is a common treatment for life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias, ventricular fibrillation and pulseless ventricular tachycardia. Defibrillation consists of delivering a therapeutic dose of electrical energy to the affected heart with a device called a defibrillator...
.
On another occasion, Liam uses his Shaqarava to expel a piece of dark matter
Dark matter in fiction
Dark matter is defined as hypothetical matter that is undetectable by its emitted radiation, but whose presence can be inferred from gravitational effects on visible matter. It has been used in a variety of fictional media, including computer and video games and books. In such cases, dark matter is...
from the Taelon mothership.
Jaridians
The Jaridians possess the Shaqarava and have a use for it. While they can use it in combat, they appear to prefer to use firearms. This may be due to some undisclosed disadvantage of the Shaqarava, such as accuracy or range, or there may be negative biological side-effects of its use. It is unknown whether or not the Jaridians could use their Shaqarava to drain life force.On one occasion, a Jaridian uses his Shaqarava to revive Liam Kincaid, who had previously revived the Jaridian in the same way.
While only one (very atypical) Jaridian birth has been seen, the Shaqarava is used in the birthing process in order to help bring the offspring into the world.
Atavus
Three versions of the Atavus are shown over the series' run: the Season 2 Atavus is assumed in much of the fan community to be an atavistic Taelon (a creature from after the divergence from the Jaridians, but before the establishment of the commonality). The second is seen in the fourth season, and is the result of a merging of modern Taelon and Jaridian. The last is not endowed with the Shaqarava and may have come from a time before contact with the Kimera.The season-5 atavus were originally planned to possess the shaqarava. This idea was apparently dropped due to the expense of the required special effects.
The atavistic Taelons are described above.
The rejoined Atavus, identical to a depiction of an eight million year old creature of the same name, resembles both the Taelons and Jaridians and possesses the Shaqarava which can be used to create destructive blasts powerful enough to vapourise humans.
Taelons
In ancient times, the Taelons possessed the Shaqarava. The change from atavistic Taelon to modern Taelon is unclear, but the atavistic (monster) Taelons use the Shaqarava to drain the life-energy of other creatures, feeding on it to sustain themselves. They are also able to use their Shaqarava as a weapon, much like the Kimera can. The only modern Taelon to have exhibited the Shaqarava is Rho'ha, who becomes unstable and use his Shaqarava to kill.While modern Taelons do not exhibit this organ, the Taelons do retain the ability to channel energy through their palms to a certain extent, as is shown most explicitly in several episodes of the fourth season, particularly Epiphany, for the redistribution of core energy.
The Taelon Da'an reverts to an Atavus after his link to the commonality is severed. The commonality, or the combined psyche of all Taelons, past and present, is the means by which Taelons control the "baser" impulses the Shaqarava allows. In the season two episode Atavus, the Shaqarava, used by Kimera-human hybrid Liam Kincaid, is used to bind an atavistic Taelon to the collective sentience. It is unclear whether this binding is a form of healing, or a newly created link to the commonality.
Other theories
The Shaqarava of each species may have evolved independentlyConvergent evolution
Convergent evolution describes the acquisition of the same biological trait in unrelated lineages.The wing is a classic example of convergent evolution in action. Although their last common ancestor did not have wings, both birds and bats do, and are capable of powered flight. The wings are...
over time. On Earth, eyes have evolved separately over forty times in different ways. The Shaqarava may be similar and be one of those factors that are likely to evolve in any species at a certain stage of development. That all wielders of the Shaqarava are able to use it as a weapon, but that not all appear to be able, or perhaps willing, to use it in its other capacities may support this interpretation.
Real world equivalent
The Shaqarava corresponds to the Laogong cavity which, according to Traditional Chinese Medicine, is also located in the center of the palm. The Chinese believe that energy or QiQi
In traditional Chinese culture, qì is an active principle forming part of any living thing. Qi is frequently translated as life energy, lifeforce, or energy flow. Qi is the central underlying principle in traditional Chinese medicine and martial arts...
can be emitted or absorbed via this point, much like the Atavus drains the life-force from their victims.
Similar examples in fiction
In many science-fiction/fantasy films and TV series, a similar concept to the Shaqarava is used for self-defense, matter/electrical manipulation or healing.- In the TV series RoswellRoswell (TV series)Roswell is an American science fiction television series developed, produced, and co-written by Jason Katims. The series debuted on October 6, 1999 on The WB and moved to UPN for the third season. The last episode aired May 14, 2002...
the alien/human hybrids Max EvansMax EvansMaxwell "Max" Evans is a fictional character created by Melinda Metz for the young adults book series Roswell High and adapted by Jason Katims for the 1999-2002 American science fiction television series Roswell...
, Michael GuerinMichael GuerinMichael Guerin is a fictional character created by Melinda Metz for the young adults book series Roswell High and adapted by Jason Katims for the 1999-2002 American science fiction television series Roswell...
, Isabel EvansIsabel EvansIsabel Evans is a fictional character created by Melinda Metz for the young adults book series Roswell High and adapted by Jason Katims for the 1999-2002 American science fiction television series Roswell...
, Tess HardingTess HardingTess Harding is a fictional character created by Jason Katims for the 1999-2002 American science fiction television series Roswell. She was portrayed by actress Emilie de Ravin.-Fictional character summary:...
and human Liz ParkerLiz ParkerLiz Parker is a fictional character and the protagonist of the Roswell High book series and Roswell T.V. series, which ran from 1999 to 2002. The character was portrayed by Shiri Appleby....
are able to manipulate matter, heal and defend themselves, by emitting an energy pulse/field from their palms that can demolish cars over several meters distance when used in self defense.
- In the TV series TrackerTracker (TV series)Tracker is a 2001 Canadian science fiction television series starring Adrian Paul and Amy Price-Francis. The series is based on a short story by Gil Grant and Jeannine Renshaw...
, when the alien Daggon uses his alien powers it is shown as a glowing yellowish energy emitting from his palms.
- In TV sci-fi episodes, often faith healers or spiritual healers are shown which heal ill people or even revive recently deceased people with "hands-on-healing", showing a light that is emitted from the palms of their hands, corresponding to the Laogong cavity, mentioned above.
- In the TV series The Outer LimitsThe Outer Limits (1995 TV series)The Outer Limits is an American television series that originally aired on Showtime,the Sci Fi Channel and in syndication between 1995 and 2002...
1995-2002, in episode 4x07 "Josh", Josh Butler, a recluse who lives in a cabin near a park, brings back to life a young girl who has died after a fall, a feat he accomplishes by generating a mysterious blue glow from his palms.
- In various Kung Fu movies, mystical inner energy, Qi, is used for attacks with energy blasts sent through the Laogong cavities in the center of the palms.
- In Stargate AtlantisStargate AtlantisStargate Atlantis is a Canadian-American adventure and military science fiction television series and part of MGM's Stargate franchise. The show was created by Brad Wright and Robert C. Cooper as a spin-off series of Stargate SG-1, which was created by Wright and Jonathan Glassner and was itself...
the vampiric WraithWraith (Stargate)In the science fiction television series Stargate Atlantis, the Wraith are the original enemy alien species, first introduced in the pilot episode . In the series, they are a vampire-like telepathic race who feed on the "life-force" of humans, and are the dominant power in the Pegasus galaxy...
use an organ in the centre of their hands to feed of the life force of humans. When the Wraith feed they "take years away" from the victim, as it appears to be getting older. The Wraith can also give the life force back, and also keep a human indefinitely alive.
- In Dragon Ball Z many of the energy attacks, which are said to be made from the chi of the attackers body, are thrown or pushed from the palm of the hand, though other ways of launching similar attacks are seen. The favorite attack of the main character Goku, the Kamehameha, is a blast coming from the two hands cupped together with the blast originating between the palms and firing outward like a comet.