Pure

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"What if being normal was the difference between life and death?"

"Pure" takes place on a world far from Earth. Ages ago, a number of humans with special powers (not unlike the "mutants" of Marvel's X-Men), settled here to get away from the treatment they had gotten from mudanes. By the start of the story, so much time has passed that almost everyone thinks this planet really is Earth.

The planet's enviroment is fairly harsh, mostly desert. The majority of the people live in city-states. Materially, the people live much like circia-2000 Earth, high technology banned to all but a few. The more powerful have formed ruling families, and how much power a person holds has generally determined his lot in life. Those who do not develop powers by 18, unless they have high IQs, are slated for euthanization, branded as substandard or subbers. The official reason is to keep them from weakening the gene pool. At one time, they were simply kept from reproducing, but it was changed to euthanasia on the grounds the subbers were living a poor existance. From their point of view, they've allowed them to live for 17 or so years and enjoy life. They consider that a decent life for those who cannot add anything to society. Other alternatives were proposed, such as sterilizing subbers, but it was decided that would make them a pull on society. Euthanization happened because it was slipped in gradually. Originally, they weren't killed. They were put away farther and farther from society, starting with restricting them from jobs, disqualifying them automatically, putting in euthanasia for mentally disabled children before they were even born. Then it went to those who were severely handicapped, then progressed until it was decided that it was 'kind' to euthanise the impurities rather than to force them to go through life as a lesser class of people. They believe their way is MORE humane than putting them outside the wall. Things outside the wall are VERY different, and they think it would be cruel to send someone out into the wasteland after they've lived inside the city walls.

Some are able to fool the system by getting bionic implants in the black market (called Biosinthes or Xinthes). But this is highly illegal, because though the person now has powers, the "bad genes" are still there and the person could contaminate the gene pool. Those caught with implants are tortured to death rather than simply put to sleep, in order to serve an example. As enforcers of this policy, Inquisitors will try to track down those who do not turn themselves in when their time is up, the only other option for a "subber" other than bionics or death is to try to flee the city, however, a fleeing subber that is caught (and most are) is also tortured to death.

There is some fear among the Alphas, or low level abilities, that the subber class may eventually grow to encompass them.

Outside the city-states in the desert, life is harsh, brutish, and often short. Wild creatures, including vampire-like beings, are a potential end for those wandering about. There are a few small communities where normals are able to eke out a living, but they are invariably ruled by someone with special powers. Any youngster they find developing powers is usually killed.

Book & Chapter Listing

Book I : The Phoenix & The Unicorn

Book II : The Prince and the Common Girl

Character List

Miscellaneous