"Var" by Kimberly A Taylor

The owners of the golden cruisers...

A Varan, though not all Varan look alike, they are a species which have heavily genetically engineered themselves for practical and/or asthetic purposes, into a race of different breeds, called 'Variants', or Vars for short.

 This is a general depiction of a space Var-though even within the breed they too can vary  in appearance. Space Vars are genetically engineered to be able to survive in the vacuum of space-for a period of time without a spacesuit.  As well as the reflective gold skintight bodysuit, their skin also has a metallic gold colouration to help protect against  infrared radiation and the high temperatures generated by the sun's rays-the same reason why many satelites are covered in that  multi layered insulation which looks like gold foil.

As well as being more resistant to radiation damage, the skin is toughened, but when exposed to bare space, the skin goes through a complete physiological change-it hardens, and their nose, ears, eyes and mouth seal. In this state, space Vars are literatly frozen in position and cannot move-the reason why they have a tail- not a natural one, but a mechanical one, acting as an artificial limb which is highly prehensile, and controlled by mental commands as easily as if it were a natural limb.

whilst in space, an emergency oxygen supply is provided by an artifical organ within their bodies which is used to store oxygen, and slowly release it, infusing it directly into the blood.

The Varan's weapons are, an autolaser, assault gun, and a laser assisted dagger.

handrawn, then coloured in paintshop pro xi. 

new version, more shinyness...