The Rataj were a fair-skinned near-human species that was largely female in number. To outside species, they were considered beautiful, and many beings were heavily drawn to them, leaving everything else behind for all eternity. This made space sailors weary of their presence, knowing all too well that they could be sucked in. The Rataj were also afraid of fire, for if an outside species had resisted the music and killed them with fire, the Rataj would commit suicide to free themselves from the terrible flames.