Composite (species)
Homo compositum | |
|---|---|
 An adult Composite (left) standing next to an adult human (homo sapiens) female (right). | |
| Total population | |
| ~250 (2023) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 Meridon | In the hundreds |
Composites, or composite humans (Homo compositum), are an artificially created and gestated offshoot of modern humans (homo sapiens) ostensibly created by Doctor Kawakami on Advent Island. Composites share strong genetic similarities with modern humans, with distinguishing features including statistically significant enhancements in overall levels of mental and physical capacities and prominent animal-like ears and tails, likely owing to genetic influences from donated Ryszanan nature-spirits or scions. Composites are the first instance of verified sapient artificial life in Esvanovia.
Composites are an extremely new species and are capable of relatively rapid gestation and physical/mental maturation periods, however the specific methodology of their production is unknown. Composites have been observed primarily with animal adaptations owing to domesticated horses (equus ferus caballus), but variants with adaptations akin to foxes (Vulpes) and large cats (Panthera) have been observed. Composites are a unisexual species, with no known male specimens having been observed. It is unknown if they are capable of reproduction, either with other Composites or homo sapiens.
History and Development
Disclaimer: Much of this information is speculative, based on developing information and on limited sources.
Much of the information regarding the development of Composites is kept tightly guarded by both the Advent Island group and the Meridonian government, only the former of which having released any claims of information. According to information delivered by newscaster Emilia Anderson, efforts that would eventually culminate in the development and creation of the species began in the mid 1980s with the establishment of the Apex Initiative by President Franklin Tulin's directive. Apex, which was chiefly pioneered by chemical company Matterhouse, was a bioengineering and genetic selecting and augmentation initiative intended to produce super-soldiers for the Meridon Defense Forces. While the efforts related to this initiative aided in a number of medical interests such as genome cataloging and genetic engineering, the project itself was kept under extremely tight-lipped security for reasons of both national security and public opinion.
The Apex Initiative's methods are moslty unknown, but it is known to have not produced any usable results in its original goal of creating a genetically superior human specimen. It is reputed to have conducted virtually unrestrained human experimentation which (Anderson claims) claimed close to a thousand lives in the course of its execution, including both death row inmates, contracted workers, and abducted civilians. Matterhouse deliberately did not maintain personally identifying records on experimentation subjects- data releases by the Advent Island group make no reference to personal history, only physical and physiological traits and associated data extraction details.
This effort was nearly brought to light in 2004 upon the testification of Doctor Kent Redley, a scientist involved in the program, to the Federal Council, exposing a number of crimes whose optics would eventually lead to the shuttering of the program over concerns of public optics. Doctor Redley was killed months later under mysterious circumstances during a helicopter ride in , with pieces of his remains only uncovered in 2012 by happenstance by police officers. While research offices were shut down, data was maintained on-site in secure servers and Matterhouse-operated security and facilities groups maintained the Apex complex until the company's collapse in the 15 Rush.
Sometime between the 15 Rush and early October, the Apex site was entered and occupied by Doctor Kawakami, who utilized the facilities and an elaborate above-ground support network to facilitate further research on that already done by Matterhouse. It is highly likely this research- in addition to research suspected to be done on Ryszanan-provided genetic material of some sort- was utilized to create the first Composites, with the first likely reaching maturity no later than late August. This confirms that their gestation and maturation is artificially enhanced, compounding years into weeks or less, as all observed Composites appear physically and behave mentally as no younger than adults.
Biology
Composites share vast physiological similarities with modern humans, and anatomically are close to 99.99% similar. Composites share virtually identical body systems, organs, and functionality to humans, and have physical variations similar to humans in areas including skin tone, hair and eye color, stature, and other such defining features. Their points of speciation fall into 4 unique divergences- maturation and gestation, adaptations, unisexuality, and physicality.
Composites- at least all currently known examples- are created artificially in a laboratory setting, through unknown means. It is unlikely that their gestation and incubation requires a surrogate, as Composites are known to have a rapid gestation and maturation period that is likely induced artificially. Despite their physical and mental appearances equivalent to adulthood in normal humans, the higher end of estimations place the oldest composites as two months old upon the initiation of the Advent Island crisis.
The most prominent defining feature of composites is the presence of what has been coined as 'adaptations'- animal-based mutations primarily in the auditory system (ears) and caudal (tails). So far, this has been observed in three major variants- horse, fox, and pantherine, with horse-based adaptations being by far the most common. The specific deviances between the three adaptation variants are unknown, but they are not vestigal structures. Composite ears function as more acutely sensitive versions of human ears. Composites may have vestigal or partially-formed ears akin to human ears, this seems to vary as a genetic trait. While it is unknown if tails have any practical purpose, they have been shown to be fully functioning and capable of manipulation.
Composites are considered, at least currently, a unisexual species, as only female specimens have been observed or mentioned. It is unknown if composites are capable of reproduction of any kind, including reproduction with homo sapiens or surrogacy. Physical examinations have shown that Composites do have fully formed and functional female reproductive organs that work to contribute to regular bodily functions as a human female's might.
Uniformly, Composites have demonstrated highly advanced physical capacities as compared to normal humans, with performance in average cases similar to- and in exceptional cases, well exceeding- the performance of Olympiad athletes. Composites have demonstrated being able to physically overpower Meridonian special forces soldiers unaided, and have demonstrated a reduced (albeit not absent) need for sleep. It is unknown but assumed likely that their enhancements also include enhanced immune and metabolic system effectiveness, enhanced pain tolerance, and other unknown enhancements.
Psychology
Sharing similar neural and nervous system anatomy with humans, Composites exhibit almost identical thought processes to humans. Composites have demonstrated the ability to conduct mental functions that are typical to humans, including the utilization of multiple languages; operation of complex equipment including computers, automobiles, and firearms; abstract and critical thought; and others. Composites have generally demonstrated above average to high levels of intelligence quotient (IQ). Unlike humans, composites have shown the ability to exhibit both diurnal and nocturnal sleep patterns, and are reported to have a somewhat lessened dependence on sleep than humans, though this likely varies by adaptation. Composites generally exhibit communalistic behavior and there have been no known instances of particularly antisocial behavior among composites. It is unknown, however, if composites are capable of or if they do possess an active sexual drive or any inclination towards biological or romantic attachment, either towards other Composites or towards regular humans- however they have been observed of protective familial instincts, including 'motherlike' attachment to certain objects and people in some cases.
Composites have shown the ability to rapidly attain mental maturation and the mastery of complex skills in extremely short spans of time, which is likely owed to mental-genetic programming of some sort.
Culture and Society
The subject of culture and society in regards to Composites is a highly speculative topic. All currently observed examples of Composites have normally adopted Meridonian customs, languages, mannerisms, systems of values and influences, though this is estimated to be both a factor of the location of their genesis and a result of likely mental conditioning. Most composites speak in Meridonian Amphian, though some have displayed the capability of conversations in other languages, including French, Spanish, Korean, Japanese, and others.
All observed Composites, as part of the Advent Island Group, operate in a somewhat martial culture focusing around teams or groups of other composites. It is suspected that Composites may be produced in 'batches' to create well-functioning teams, which may or may not serve specific roles or purposes. Composites have regularly expressed interest in topics outside of their 'occupation' of martial matters, however. Composites tend to bond very closely with their associated teams and may have varying opinions on normal humans.
Composites have been observed in some cases showing religious inclinations, primarily towards Christian or Catholic doctrines, though this is also likely due to Catholic and Christian doctrines being the most commonplace in Meridon.
Composites have been observed with genetic stock that equates to differences in human ethnic groups, such as English, Portugese, Korean, Tangaran, and others. Most Composites do not self-identify with human ethnic groups- however, some may be more inclined to adopt traditions associated with these ethnic groups, such as imitating Tangaran tribal tatoos or other such customs into their own culture.
