Ilex

Ilex is a dryad homunculus, Lieutenant Commander and head of Engineering aboard the Tamerlane, and one of Hadrian Marlowe's most trusted officers. Dryads were designed as a slave caste for long-haul space work; Ilex grew up on Extrasolarian ships and stations before being captured and sold. She shares as much of her genome with algae and aspens as with humans, giving her green skin, mossy hair, and amber eyes.

She is in a relationship with Crim and deeply devoted to him. During the escape from Akterumu, when Crim is killed by the vayadan Aulamn, Ilex confronts Hadrian Marlowe with fury -- accusing him of having had the power to prevent Crim's death and choosing not to use it. She then takes up Crim's gun and engages Aulamn on the hull, firing until the weapon runs dry. Aulamn kills her with Crim's own knife, the blade catching her in the left eye. She dies beside the man she loved.