Orkans

Orkans are a race of peaceful, crafty, intelligent and usually emotionless aliens from the planet Ork. The most notable members of this race are Mork, Orson, Xerko and The Elder.

Note: It should be noted throughout this section that much of what is known about Orkans is derived from Mork, who is not always serious and sometimes contradictory about what he says about Ork/Orkans. Therefore it seems wiser to give more credence to those things that are actually seen to affect Mork or other Orkans, over and above anything purely anecdotal he says about Ork or Orkans (unless backed up by another Orkan!)

Biology

Orkans are a humanoid species almost identical to Earth's humans in appearance, but unlike them, they have a number of genetic differences that an earthling would not be aware of without extensively getting to know an Orkan.

An Orkan, for example, has many organs similar to an earthling's, but unlike them, they have three hearts and no liver. Their ears are removable, screwing on and off, but nothing else comes off or is replaceable, given Mork's unsuccessful attempts with other appendages (There's a New Mork in Town).

Orkan ancestry is notable for the fact that Orkans did not descend from mammalian creatures as did humans. Instead they evolved into bipedal humanoid form from Avians. Specifically, they evolved from Ork's native chickens, as opposed to Earth's apes. This would explain their strong fascination with eggs and domestic fowl.(In Mork We Trust)

Orkans are composed almost entirely of membranous tissue, and certain anti-inflammatory pharmaceuticals will cause them to shrink for a period of time.(Mork in Wonderland)

Orkans are also unique in that they can also drink through their fingers and are also capable of freely changing their skin color from human-like tones to a glowing green color. (Pilot / Mork Moves In / Mork Goes Public)

Orkans are mentioned as being able to spit out their toes, a habit Mork curbed in order to act more human. He also stated that he stopped doing that because he didn't like getting his socks wet with drool.

Another oddity in Orkan biology is that when they sneeze, they sound like they're laughing Mork in Wonderland, Part 1 / Mork Gets Mindy-itis). They also apparently sneeze when they're afraid, though there is no indication of this, at least from Mork.

Alcohol does not seem to affect Orkans, however the carbonation in sodas does. And, much like different types of alcohols might have different effects on humans, different carbonated sodas appear to have different effects, e.g. ginger ale makes Mork 'bezerb' and full on drunk, while cream soda gives him bizarre ideas. These effects, however, tend only to last seconds, though Mork has lasted a full five minutes. No hangover seems apparent. (Mork Moves In)

Orkans apparently have a high tolerance for pain, but next to no tolerance for physical pleasure, an evolutionary quirk that may have come from generations of emotional and physical repression.(Mork vs. The Necrotons, Part 1) This may explain why odd parts of their body, such as their earlobes and wrists, are excessively sensitive to touch.

Orkan's unfamiliarity with/low tolerance of certain Earthling aspects can also create addictions. For instance, exposure to advertisements/commercials, which are deliberately avoided on Ork, leads Mork to a full on addiction to the commercials, causing him to behave like a junkie when removed from them, including withdrawal symptoms and hallucinations (Invasion of the Mork Snatchers).

Orkans are long lived, and this may in part be in part to the fact that at certain points in their lives they have 'birthdays'. Not birthdays as humans refer to them, but in effect, days where they have to be 'recharged' or re-born. These birthdays occur every 2000 'Zarms', A Zarm being a measure of Orkan time that given this is Mork's first 'Birthday' seems likely to be equivalent either to weeks (2000 Zarms = 38 years) or months (2000 Zarms = 166 years),

Sex & Reproduction

There is some confusion around this due to comments Mork makes to Fonzie about the difficulty in telling males and females apart (The Mork & Mindy Special) and that parts are interchangeable. Given what followed after, we may have to take this as a joke, as Mork confirms to Mindy that the 'only' appendage of an Orkan that comes off are their ears (and he's tried everything else) (There's a New Mork in Town) In addition differences between male and female Avians obviously exist as well, with males larger, stronger and with more cranial appendages than females, and this seems to have transferred/evolved in their humanoid descendants and, among Orkan children external sexual characteristics seem pronounced from an early age, given the children in Mearth's Orkan class (P.S. 2001). However, some characteristics, such as a female Orkan's breasts, would essentially be cosmetic only (essentially as functional as actual chicken breasts) as children are fully grown with a full set of teeth when born and do not require breast feeding.

In any event, these sexual characteristics are not widely paid attention to, and not really a matter of note or confusion for Orkans as breeding is controlled and done via artificial reproduction, while romance, marriage, and family units had long since been outlawed along with emotions.

In the very distant past male and female Orkans would reproduce much like humans, and Orkan natural reproduction is not actually outlawed, as Orson informed Mork that 80 bleems previously there was a brief fad to have children the natural way, and some Orkans had mothers for that period. But ultimately it was deemed inefficient (probably because the attendant required emotions, which were not present) and everyone returned to artificial reproduction (A Mommy for Morky). The future of the race is therefore maintained exclusively through artificial reproduction via the creation of test tube babies (with a beaker for a "mother" and an eyedropper for a "father"). Newborn Orkans would hatch (later stated as fully formed adults) then be cared for by emotionless robotic nannies, called 'Nanny-Vacs' in batches of 8,000 in huge warehouses, until they are old enough to move to care homes and attend school.

Mork & Mindy: Mating & Reproduction

Nothing can be read from the marriage and mating of Mork & Mindy, in regards to how Orkans would naturally reproduce amongst themselves as it is a completely unique and hybridized event.

Should a male and female Orkan naturally mate it would be assumed that, as with all other Avians, the female would lay a fertilized egg vaginally as normal, and navels would play little part in it. It must be noted that as Avians, Orkans are hatched from eggs, and therefore Orkans would never have navels even if they were born naturally as there is no umbilical cord to form it, so the formation of a navel in Mork may be completely unique and to do with the fact he mated with an Earthling (and also, because he is physiologically male, he has no other natural reproductive outlet for the egg!).

Orkan males are anatomically suited to mating with a female human, something confirmed not only through Mork & Mindy's contented, and oft alluded to/intimated sex life, but in Mindy's comment that both Mearth (physically an Orkan) and Zelka are anatomically correct, from her human perspective, in regards to something happening between them. From that we must assume that as with other avian characteristics, reproductive parts also developed along humanoid pathways.

However, given Mork's ability to lay a fertilized egg (Three the Hard Way), while previously attempting to fertilize other 'eggs' when regressed to his ancient rooster ancestry (In Mork We Trust) it may be strongly considered that Orkans are hermaphroditic in nature. This may be in part due to the fact that they are bred in laboratories and grown in test tubes so both male and female reproductive characteristics may be allotted to them allowing them to either impregnate or be impregnated (likely given Garry Marshall had plans to have Mindy fall pregnant with a second child). How a female human initiates a pregnancy in an Orkan, however, remains something of a mystery.

Again it must be stressed that everything that occurs with the birth of Mearth cannot be generalized to Orkans because it is a hybridized mating, and as Mork himself stated no one knows what is and is not possible in a mating between Orkan and Earthling because it had never happened before, and even after it was laid he has no idea what is inside the egg, or what would come out of it. So this is *not* a typical Orkan birth. But in the case of Mearth, a regular sized egg was birthed through Mork's stomach creating a navel in the process. Even Mork is taken aback, however, by the rapid growth of the egg (which may have something to do with the disparate aging rates between humans and Orkans). Presumably acting on some ancient instinct he placed it in a nest, and nested on with it where it grew until it was slightly larger than an adult Orkan and hatched 24 hours after being laid, to a 6' 225lb, middle-aged man. In Mearth's case he appears to be physically identical in every way to a male Orkan like his father, though emotionally free like his human mother. Again, Mork is taken aback by how fast their son both starts to walk and talk, Mearth at least maturing mentally faster than either an Orkan or a human infant.

Aging

Orkans are very long lived, as Mork is implied to have lived many "Bleems" (which is the equivalent of 2000 Earth years). The aforementioned 'birthdays' and the use of Gleeks to recharge themselves (every 2000 Zarms) may be a factor in their extended lives, restoring as it does their life force/energy.

Orkans are notable for aging backwards, which was apparently an artificial change according to the Orkan Elder 'Thhhbbthh' (Putting the Ork back in Mork, Part 2) as Orkans wished to look matured and respected from the moment of their birth. This artificial change in the flow of time is now a permanent part of Orkan biology as even babies born through natural reproduction will age backwards. However, given their ability to manipulate their biology in this, and other, fashions at the molecular level (e.g. Orson turning Mork into a dog), it is feasible that Orkans may, if they wish, reverse the process.

These two factors being taken into account, it would mean it is likely that, as they age, Mork & Mindy will not experience the 'Benjamin Button' effect to any great extent. So while she may age forward in a normal human fashion, he will 'age' backwards but at a much slower rate than she, almost to an imperceptible amount, and would not reach childhood or infancy when she reached old age. Something that could be compensated for via his age machine or through the molecular manipulations of Orkan technology. Though a bittersweet outcome to their romance does seem the likely conclusion, no matter what the case.

Death

While much longer lived, Orkans appear as susceptible to various dangers as humans in regards to Death. When trapped with Mindy in the snow, Mork was as resigned to freezing to death as she was (Skyflakes Keep Falling On My Head). The are as subject to physical pain as humans (Mork's Greatest Hit / Dueling Skates) along with telekinetically dealt pain (Gotta Run, Part 2). They do seem to have a greater resistance to electrical current than humans with Mork shaking off a 20,000 volt shock quite casually. However, in general what hurts and kills humans seems to be true of Orkans as well.

In addition, their long lives have to be very carefully managed, and if they are not can lead to a severe energy impairment that will lead to their inevitable death. See The Gorgles.

Preternatural Abilities

Orkans posses a number of mental and physical abilities that border on the superhuman. The most obvious ones include:

Telepathic Powers

Orkans can telepathically communicate with each other over long distances no matter how many lightyears they are apart. The most common example of this is Mork's ability to communicate with Orson (or Orson with him) when giving reports or needing to make contact. However it appears that this is not an 'open' ability, and that the 'brain cell' in question is specific and operates a bit like a phone in that you need the correct 'number' and there has to be someone available to answer it. For example, Orson is not always 'at home' when Mork calls his mind, which indicates that you cannot simply make contact with another Orkan at any time you choose, e.g. Mearth would have to 'have Orson's number'. And things like dimensional and temporal shifts would make such calls impossible. Others can tap into these calls, with Mindy speaking directly to Orson several times through 'jacking' into his mind via a finger in his ear and holding his nose, something Mearth also did not long after his birth. These calls can also be hijacked however, as proven by Kalnik cutting into Mork's call 'accidentally' while trying to call his mother (Gotta Run, Part 1)

Orkans also have the ability to draw forward a memory precious to another, one important to the owner, and of their choice, but made to feel vivid and real again by the power of the Orkan. (Mork's First Christmas)

They can also convey large or specific amounts of information to another person via a mind probe. (Pajama Game II)

Telekinetic & Energy Powers

At a basic individual level, Orkans' powers/abilities often manifest and are focused through their index fingers. With their finger they can ignite flames/fires (Mork's Seduction / Alienation) though only when the temperature is 65F or higher (Skyflakes Keep Falling on My Head). They are capable of creating high focus energy beams capable of cutting through metal and solid walls, something Mork has used on several occasions (Mork the Gullible; Mork in Never Never Land, Cheerleaders in Chains) this is used only on objects, or to subdue others, due to their pacifism, though Mork has used it through misunderstanding (I Don't Remember Mama). They can also telekinetically move objects with their fingers (Mork Moves In / Mork Runs Away / Mork and the Immigrant / Twelve Angry Appliances), and freeze humans in place for any amount of time with no memory of it happening (Mork Returns / Putting the Ork back in Mork) . They can even use their finger to control the mind of others (however some humans can resist this if they have a strong enough will and free spirit). They can erect force-fields with a sweep of their arm, though this does not always work on other aliens, with both Necrotons and Neptunians finding them easy to dispel. Orkans also posses some psychic abilities, and can share thoughts and entire concepts, but only if they are physically touching, often forehead to forehead (Pajama Game II).

Time Warping/Dimensional Powers

Orkans can also use dimensional shifts to effect themselves or others, the most obvious example of this being when Mork was forced to deal non-violently with George (Mork's Greatest Hit) who was both harassing Mindy and intent on fighting him. Mork has the ability to move into interdimensional space which makes it look to others like he is moving very slowly but in fact he is running at great speed in another dimension, which increases the energy he uses and is a more effective 'work out', but he also has the ability to slow others down, making it appear as if he is moving at lightning speed. Something he does to make a fool out of George without ever laying a finger on him...and to prolong his 'reward' kiss from Mindy. He also used this to move around swiftly in the Cunningham household (Mork Returns) and rapidly appear and disappear in Augustus Strand's Repair Shop (Twelve Angry Appliances)

Biological Diagnosis/Restoration

Orkans appear to be able to assess the physical well being of other creatures simply by touch, with Mork able to accurately assess Mindy's increased heart rate and body temperature (Mork's Seduction) in the wake of their kiss, and precisely measure young Holly's temperature, to assess whether she was, as Eugene asserted 'hot stuff'. (Young Love). In addition, given the right circumstances (and allowing for the fact that it is a still a billion to one shot), Orkans can restart the biological processes of other creatures, Mork managing it with a hairless crawling Zabadee on Ork, and with Arnold Wanker on Earth (To Tell the Truth).

Organic Molecular Manipulation

Orkans have the ability to alter other beings at the molecular level, even each other. The prime examples of this being Orson's turning Mork into a dog for defying his orders in regards to marrying Mindy (The Wedding). If another Orkan's will is strong enough he can fight this off, but in this case Orson had too much power for Mork. However Mork himself has used this power on humans; at one point, he makes a group of racists change skin colors and even their physical ethnicity to teach them a lesson about understanding (The Night They Raided Mind-ski's).

Enhanced Strength

Orkans also seem pre-disposed to enhanced strength, though, this may be tethered to an emotional factor, and may therefore be exclusive to Mork (though Xerko with his access to emotions, and Mearth may also possess this). On three occasions, all emotionally driven, Mork has shown greater than usual strength, in lifting Mindy's jeep with his foot (while she was kissing him) (Mork the Prankster) secondly in breaking through ropes that were binding him, merely through flexing his arms, when informed that his family was in crisis (Mama Mork, Papa Mindy) and finally in effortlessly using one hand to crush a gun to pieces, that had been held by a man threatening Mearth (My Dad Can't Beat Up Anybody).

Heightened Intelligence

Orkans are also vastly intelligent from an early age, for example, Mearth and his friends cloning Mork & Mindy's phone while their back was turned (Pajama Game II) , Mearth building the advanced super computer M.I.L.T. for his class project. Mork is able to create sentience in an old Robot that was merely used as a prop (Dr. Morkenstein) he can also rapidly compute huge numbers with ease (Mork vs the Necrotons), and has an eidetic memory, able to commit pages of text to his memory with a blink of his eye (and twist of his ear lobe).

History

Orkans are a very ancient race, already advanced when Earth was still in its Paleolithic Era, and some 1.7 million years before the first Homo Sapiens appeared.

As they became technologically advanced enough they also reversed their aging process to ensure that their children would be respected, looking older as they did, while their Elders would be well cared for in their advancing years, getting cuter and younger looking.

Similarly, at some point during their advancement, the conclusion was drawn that emotions were retarding their progress and the decision was made to prohibit their use. No doubt this move towards the non-emotional fueled their move towards a pacifist society, as violence is fed by anger, aggression, envy and other emotions, and without them they no longer either felt the need or saw the sense in wars.

To that end they have raised non-violence almost to an art form, with their greatest heroes (such as Squellman the Yellow) being those who can avoid conflict in as artful and clever a way as possible.This dedication to non-violence has seen them develop the ability to not just hide themselves but their entire planet. One of Ork's greatest victories in this regard coming in 'The 300 Bleem War' against Andromeda, hiding Ork away from sight. The winning of an interplanetary war to Orkans is essentially hiding until the other side gives up and goes away.

One enemy this has never been enough for, however, are the Necrotons, a race that, like the Orkans, are humanoid with three hearts who have also limited their emotions, but in their case to hate, lust, and greed. The war with the Necrotons has gone on for as long as Mork has been alive, and shows no signs of ending, meaning all Orkans off planet have to be cautious at all times in case of their presence, and a moral duty to hide, as there is a danger they may reveal Orkan secrets if captured.

Culture

Eggs & Egg Symbolism

Undoubtedly because of their ancient Avian ancestors, there is a pervasive use of Ovoid shapes and symbols throughout Ork and among Orkans, that is reflected in everything from their spaceships to luggage, to the life force returning Gleeks.

Ancient Orkan honeymoon rituals (probably designed for fertility) involved the use of both chicken & egg symbols (no doubt with an implied gag around which came first). (The Honeymoon)

Those who practice the art of "Eggsorcism" utilize egg symbols as a method of driving out non-Orkan spirtis from the minds of Orkans to keep them pure and untainted by emotions and foreign behavior, such as human spirits. (Putting the Ork Back in Mork, Part 2)

The use of eggs is avoided (Mork the Tolerant) and the eating of eggs by Orkans appears to be unheard of, and even the intimation that it's done can inspire outrage, as evinced by Mork's reaction when Mindy used it as an example of how rumors can be hurtful (I Heard It Through the Morkvine). Interestingly this aversion does not apply to the eating of chickens themselves, something Mork does frequently.

Philosophies

Absence of Emotions

Orkans purport to be emotionless, viewing emotions as troublesome and useless, and their stance on emotions and humor (it is alright to tell a joke, but not to get a laugh) was so strict that displays of either were considered a crime. The law surrounding accessing one's emotions is regarded as the Highest Orkan Law and those who breach it have to be reported. Similarly, those considered un-Orkan were under threat of being stripped, painted purple, and banished, forced to wander in disgrace through Orkan society (getting hassled by the police) (Putting the Ork Back in Mork, Part 2). Mork talks about the coldness of Orkan society, and how on Ork, should another of their number fall into trouble with the authorities, or be in need of rescue other Orkans would not react with empathy, sympathy or at all. (The Mork & Mindy Special; Mork Goes Public) In fact it was Mindy's willingness to stand up to the authorities on his behalf during his sanity hearing, and later against her father that left Mork quizzical as to why she would do that, and began the process of his questioning whether the Orkan way was the right one.

Furthermore, as Mindy has pointed out, it is clearly not the case that Orkans do not do not have emotions, pointing out how Mork has been showing emotions almost immediately from his arrival on Earth. While Mork himself may be a misfit and an aberration from childhood (when he cracked jokes, was bulled because of it, and fought with other Orkan children because of that) (P.S. 2001), it is clear that they are not emotionless, rather their emotions have simply been repressed through a cultural philosophy. And it is increasingly apparent that even a small amount of exposure to emotions has an affect on them. Orson clearly gets annoyed and even angry with Mork, yet is also swayed and touched by some of what he hears, and shows pride in his godson Mearth. Those who come in contact with Mindy (beyond Mork), Xerko, The Elder and even Orson, are affected by her, and it is clear that because of Mork's reports more Orkans have begun showing human-like qualities and interests in Earthling views and culture (with Orkan Soap Operas now airing on Ork) (Gotta Run, Part 1)

Orkans do have the ability to lock their emotions away (behind a mental door), effectively turning themselves into automatons (Mork's Mixed Emotions) however we have not encountered Orkans who act that way, so cultural repression of emotions, rather than psychological or biological inability is the cause. In addition, when an Orkan locks their emotions away, this can cause severe mood swings once the emotions are unlocked.

Pacificsm

Probably the most highly valued of all Orkan philosophies is their commitment to non-violence. Nothing is more highly prized than the ability to avoid violence and conflict in a clever way, and to commit a violent act on another is the most shameful of outcomes for any Orkan, and running away and hiding is the moral and patriotic duty of every Orkan. This is understandable on a range of levels, given the range of their powers, and how easily they could cause great damage or kill someone, in many cases hurting other species would be akin to an adult beating up a child. Thus, for Orkans such as Mork their first instinct when faced with danger is to run away and hide. Of course not being able or willing to retaliate also leaves them open to being hurt by others, which would increase their desire to hide, and their fear of being caught, so often, on planets like Earth, Mork's actions could be construed as cowardice.

Religions

The Orkan religion is not very detailed, but they have an understanding of gods, rituals and traditions although some Orkans do not seem to follow a specific religion but can learn to better understand them.

Deities

There are a number of Orkan deities it appears, including:

Volgar The Enforcer: Whose portended coming is signified by the lighting of a sacred flame, and who strikes fear into the hearts of jaywalkers, speeders and those who tell jokes (though only those who get a laugh). Punishment for transgression is being marched to The Sacred Craw (a craw being the crop of a bird), and being stretched out and tickled by moonlight.(Mork's Seduction) Mork's dread around this fits in with Orkan's lack of tolerance for physical pleasure.

Zebar: God of Humidity who apparently resembles the eartlhing toy "Jack-in-the-Box", and whose birthday occurs while Orkan children are out of school, so seemingly, and appropriately during the Orkan summer. (I Don't Remember Mama)

Sacred Festivals/Customs

There are also ancient sacred festivals such as:

The Orkan Foliage Festival, or Fern Fest: This the most sacred holiday in all of Ork. It celebrates the renewal of plant life on ancient Ork. (The Mork Report).

Backwards Day - Planetary Holiday, most likely to honor their backwards aging process (Mork and the Family Reunion)

Spiritualism

Mork, and possibly other Orkans, seem susceptible to communication with the spirits of the dead, either by accident or design. Mork has been possessed by several of Mindy's deceased relatives, the malevolent Deirdre & Lucinda Lafillette, her long dead great great aunts, and far more benevolently, Mindy's mother Elizabeth. When that happens he does not appear to have any memory of what was said or done when he was taken over.(A Morkville Horror). At that time the experience came as something of a surprise to him. However, it appears to have opened a door of sorts, allowing him to take a more active part in his interactions with spirits, his open-ness to the those who have passed on, now extending to being able to summon them, or at least ask them to join them, and he is able to converse with them, in the fashion of a medium, as per his later conversation with Mindy's mother (Reflections and Regrets).

Orkan Eggsorcists are experienced in dealing with possession, in this case the spirits of non-Orkan influences who have taken hold of Orkans and pulled them away from their Orkan-ness. It is however a very dangerous and draining ritual, to both the Eggsorcist and the person it is being performed on, and can go badly wrong (Putting the Ork Back in Mork).

Other Worlds Religions

Orkans have a limited understanding of philosophies and religions on other planets, as they only have a basic grasp of Earth's ways before Mork began making his reports. However Mork does refer to God, in the context of a creator, so it may well be that Orkans have a theistic system wherein there are lesser localized Gods beneath a greater single Creator. He also makes a very great effort to both respect and adopt, Mindy's views and faith, and incorporated them into his own Orkan traditions, including those around Christmas (Mork's First Christmas) and Marriage (The Wedding) and, when he mistakenly thought Mindy was Jewish, Jewish holidays (The Mork Report)..

Courting/Romance/Marriage

Orkans used to have marriage rituals and romance, including an ancient ritual fertility dance on their honeymoon where the male would don a rooster head mask and feet, chant, and wave egg tipped sticks over the marital bed and his mate. Marriage was banned on Ork 2 million years ago (The Wedding), around the same time as emotions. Without emotions and along with the introduction of artificial reproduction, both romance and physical intimacy became effectively redundant, and led to a reduction in tolerance for physical pleasure among Orkans. Boyfriends/girlfriends became terms that only covered the person you were assigned to go swimming with for safety (Mork's Greatest Hit).

Possible Effect of Mork & Mindy's Romance & Marriage

The ignition of Mork's emotions, through Mindy's protective actions towards him, their close friendship and blossoming romance is initially strongly discouraged by Orson, who tells him repeatedly not to get involved, either with human behaviors or Mindy. But when Mork confesses that he has fully accessed his emotions, and Orson has an obligation to report Mork to the council, he neither does so, nor, discourages Mork further.

The reports of their relationship obviously start to have an effect on the wider Orkan community, as Orkan hero Xerko's arrival attests, with Mork's reports becoming exceptionally popular on Ork, and Xerko very keen to not only take over the reports but romancing Mindy (There's a New Mork in Town). In addition the most prominent Elder on Ork, is not only taken by Mindy, thanks to her helping him when she had no reason to on his first visit (Putting the Ork Back in Mork, Part 2) , but actively helps Mork to create (poorly) other versions of her, so they can spend time with her (Mindy, Mindy, Mindy).

With two such influential individuals on board with the concept of romance and intimacy, along with the popularity of Mork's reports to Ork, it would seem very likely that attitudes have softened sufficiently on Ork. To the the point that when Orson punishes Mork for breaching the law around marriages on Ork, and Mindy in turn defies Orson, stating her intention to marry Mork even if he is a dog, their dedication to one another is enough to see the rule waived (just as he waived the Highest Orkan Law around accessing ones Emotions), and even allow the couple to honeymoon on Ork.

With the marriage between Mork and Mindy sanctioned (and the birth of their son) it appears romance will blossom again amongst Orkan kind especially with the younger generation, as witnessed by the interactions between the young Mearth and Zelka.

Language

The planet's inhabitants primarily speak Orkan, which is a rather complex, and to the human ear goofy, language that not only contains words and letters, but vocal sound effects as well, like those a human child would make with their mouth, such as the 'cheek pull' and 'raspberry' sound. Because foreign aliens also reside on Ork, they have their own native languages, although most are indiscernible and impossible to mimic with humanoid mouths.

The following is a list of a few Orkan words with translations (however more can be read in detail via the Orkan Dictionary):

• Bleem  - Distance of a billion light years or 2000 earth years on the planet Ork
• Brandels or Grebbels - Orkan money
• Frizbat - Capital of Planet Ork
• Geezba!- An Orkan swear word
• Gleek Recharging Device - Shaped like a small egg used by Mork to recharge his life force every 2000 years
• Kayo - Okay
• Klarn - Orkan word for Ass. as in "I've got them coming out the Klarn" (Alas, Poor Mork, We Knew Him Well / Cheerleaders in Chains)
• Krell  - A period of time-5000 Earth years
• Nanu, Nanu - Greetings / Goodbye
• Naugachomp - A small Orkan pet which resembles a mound of fur.
• Nimnul - Dummy or Idiot
• Shazbot - Sh*t! or D*mn!, a swear word
• Splinking - Practical Joking ('You told me never to lie or even Splink') (To Tell the Truth)
• Wurble - A Kind/Decent/Generous person (To Tell the Truth / Mork and the Immigrant)
• Zasbot - Crazy

Numerical System

The following is a list of numbers in the Orkan language:

• 1 - Frez
• 2 - Bez
• 3 - Eenot
• 4 - Gumbo
• 5 - Gee
• 6 - Free
• 7 - Infinity

Technology

Orkan technology is far more advanced than anything on earth thanks to their great intelligence, allowing them to reverse the aging process, and create precise numbers of Orkans through artificial reproduction. and even an Orkan child's science project has the potential to become a powerful self-aware A.I.(Mork, Mindy, and Mearth Meet M.I.L.T.),

Intergalactic Travel

Quite apart from the vast power required to actively move their planet, they have had Intergalactic travel for eons, reaching the far corners of the universe, with Mork himself having charted 16 solar systems. Travel from planet to planet has been made even faster thanks to the invention (by Xerko) of the H28 beam, which can instantaneously transport you to a myriad of worlds via the Network established through 'Air Ork' and 'Glibthansa' (There's a New Mork in Town; P.S. 2001)

Cloning Technology

Cloning technology is ubiquitous and taught at College level, with The Elder carrying his genetic cloning kit with him as a matter of a course. Mork however, missing out on the lessons due to having attended on an athletics scholarship (and having to take basket weaving instead). See Clones for further info.

Memory Alteration

Orkans also possess the technology to remove memories, either in total or specific, as evidenced by Orson attempting to remove all memories of Mindy & Mearth from Mork's mind, due to the perceived interference of his family in their reports (I Don't Remember Mama).

Plasmic Essence Reversifier

Orkans have also developed the ability to, in a limited fashion, to examine parallel lines of existence, albeit only in the past and without the ability to either be perceived or personally interact with what they are viewing. This allowed Mork to see what the lives of Mindy and the other McConnell's would have been like had he never come to Earth.

Time Travel

They also possess the power to Time Travel (Long Before We Met), though whether this is an Orkan invention or just one they have access to it is uncertain, as the Neptunian Kalnik also has access to the technology (Gotta Run, Part 3).