In this document, we explore the Twiceborn humans themselves: their physiology and psychology, specifically, as well as variant types of human.
Twiceborn Physiology
In many ways, Twiceborn humans are similar in physiology to their lilim predecessors. They still have two arms, two legs, a head, so on and so forth. If a 20th century doctor who had never met a Twiceborn before cracked one open, they’d find most of the same organs in the same place. This section focuses on what they’d find that was different.
Firstly, whilst the biology is recognisably human, it is improved- in minor and major ways. They’d find that the organs were a little more robust and efficient, a strong, smart immune system that reacts far more smoothly and is far less prone to developing allergic responses, bones that are slightly harder without being heavier, and all in all a body that is generally just a little bit better in most ways. However, they would also find a brand-new organ: the S2 Organ, a small organ the size of a golf ball that sits just above the lungs. Despite its small size, the S2 Organ is extremely important, as it generates energy and nutrients for the body seemingly out of nowhere. Although the S2 Organ can be damaged, destroying it permanently is difficult, as it regenerates quickly.
These adjustments have changed human bodies in some major ways. Humanity is less prone to sickness, and since the S2 Organ can assist in fighting infections, viruses etc., such sicknesses rarely last very long. Most notably, the amount of food and drink humans need to eat is far lower. A human can now subsist comfortably on 1,000 calories a week on average, working out to a single meal every seven days. Water-wise, about two litres a week is usually enough.
Humans also require slightly less sleep, averaging to about six to seven hours per night.
The rebodiment of humanity after the Gestalt also meant that most people’s bodies were regenerated, which is important for those who had old bodies. As of 2048, no one has shown any natural signs of ageing; ageing only seems to occur when an S2 Organ is damaged, and then only at the standard rate. It is estimated, then, that ‘old age’ only sets in when an S2 Organ shuts down entirely. Because of this, the maximum lifespan of humanity cannot yet be calculated.
The S2 Organ seems to be ‘smart’, in that it regulates the body so that it won’t reject implants, etc. that might save a person’s life. It also empowers regeneration, allowing humans to recover from injuries far more quickly, although regenerating major injuries (missing limbs, etc) requires external assistance.
Reproduction
The fundamentals of Twiceborn reproduction remain unchanged. The process, however, has become smoother and easier to handle, especially on the mother. The S2 Organ’s ability to make small but painless physical ‘alterations’ makes the process of delivering a child far less painful (although still highly discomforting at the least), as well as far less lethal for the mother and child both.
The S2 Organ’s functions help ‘enforce’ an individual’s will on their own bodies, and in reproduction this is no exception: the reproductive cycle is now firmly in control of the mind. This means that humans consciously govern ovulation and conception, allowing it to happen at a moment of their choosing. The actual mechanisms (menstruation, gestation etc) are otherwise unchanged.
Twiceborn Psychology
The changes to Twiceborn psychology after Gestalt is a controversial topic. Generally, Twiceborn act broadly differently to the Pre-Gestalt human, but how much of this can be attributed to culture and circumstance as opposed to actual specific changes in natural human psychology is up for debate.
By and large, compared to the pre-Gestalt human, the Twiceborn are less aggressive and less naturally inclined to form ingroup-outgroup dynamics. Essentially, they are more placid and tolerant than they used to be. Which is not to say that those dynamics are missing from Twiceborn: there’s still aggression and exclusive behaviour, but it is undoubtedly lessened. Part of this is certainly the fact that the Twiceborn live in a far less competitive society, where many resources can be claimed without hostility. Furthermore, the fact is that in most cases, Twiceborn learn very easily that violence is essentially futile: it’s hard to believe in violence when everyone can deflect a punch, kick or shove. The AT Field plays a part: the Twiceborn have fewer things to fear. As of the start of 2048, a Twiceborn can walk down just about any street in the Federation, safe that they won’t be mugged, shot or otherwise attacked (at least not in any meaningful way), whilst also being free of any existential dreads such as nuclear war, climate change or Angelic extermination.
Of course, this changes on the frontier of the Federation. Mining stations in asteroid belts and on barren planets are naturally dangerous, and many of the new colonies teem with strange and indigenous fauna that, in some cases, is especially vicious and aggressive. Much of the Federation’s industrial and productive energies are centralised on the Home Systems, meaning that things are usually a little scarcer on the frontier.
Another complicating factor regarding the argument about whether the transformation had nature-changing effects is the effects of Gestalt itself. Gestalt had the result of essentially charging everyone within it with an unavoidable, irrepressible degree of empathy for all others in the Gestalt, which had overt and immediate effects. This didn’t cure humanity’s problems overnight- empathy can be overridden by many things, and there were groups, such as the Axis, who acted at a grand scale out of sheer self-interest, years after the Gestalt-, but it helped, and this combined with the suddenly enlarged pool of resources the Federation possessed after Gestalt formed the foundation of its success.
At the end of the day, perhaps one of the changes wasn’t to exactly ‘rewire’ the base natural behaviours of humanity, but merely lessen the influence of the flesh on the mind. Perhaps human nature hasn’t ‘changed’, in any way; perhaps it has merely become less important.
The debate continues.
Twiceborn Variants
This section covers the special ‘variants’ of Twiceborn, who are referred to collectively as ‘bioexotics’ or ‘bioatypicals’.
Immortals
An Immortal is a genetically modified human. Standing at two metres tall on average, immensely strong, indomitably tough and possessing an immense regeneration factor, the Immortals are a relic of humanity’s darkest hour, now serving as one of its most prized assets.
Immortals were created by the Liberated Nations in the Impact Era (2000-2018), during an age where genetic and cybernetic experimentation was all the rage. Although no one individual can be credited with their creation, much of the work is attributed to the infamous Barzilai Surov. The Immortals- originally known as Iron Guard- were created to serve as a caste of elite, dedicated shock troopers. To that end they had genetic engineering used to manipulate their muscular growth and bone density, whilst a suite of artificial organs and cybernetic implants vastly improved their strength and durability. The most important of these were a proto-S2 Organ, an Angel-derived regeneration organ and a ‘Core’ to safely hold the soul, allowing an Immortal to take seemingly lethal injuries- such as losing a head- only to regenerate within a week or two. Indeed, most non-lethal injuries regenerated in seconds, minutes or hours at most. Mental changes were also performed, granting Immortals instincts well-suited to battle, such as a natural ‘pack mentality’ with fellow Immortals, an instinctual grasp of tactics and combat, enhanced muscle memory intake, and unfaltering loyalty. Combined with custom equipment and weapons that were too dangerous for a biotypical to wield, the Immortals quickly became a feared tool of terror and might for the Liberated Nations.
However, there were downsides to being an Immortal: they became sterile, physically huge (and thus ill-fitted to much of society) and the process itself was lethal, killing many of its candidates. This meant that the Immortals were limited primarily by intake: between the expense of the procedure and a scarcity of willing, eligible candidates (candidates needed to meet certain levels of fitness) meant that the peak of the Immortal form- the 3rd generation- only saw about 10-20,000 made before Gestalt.
The Immortals were permitted to keep their forms if they so wished during Gestalt. Many did not, but some did. This led to the perfection of the Immortal design, removing the lethality of the process, making them a little slimmer and more compact (if not by much) and removing some of the onerous, dangerous changes to their mentality (although their sterility remains). The Immortals then emigrated, forming new colonies, usually on extremely dangerous, hazardous and miserable planets. This kept the bulk of their population in a challenging environment- a thing they value- whilst also allowing them a degree of independence from the stipulations of normal society. In this way, the Immortals are a little like semi-autonomous states within the Federation; although all Federation citizens and sworn to serve it, they have more freedom over their own governance and laws than regular colonies. Notably, whilst many forms of genetic engineering and the like are outlawed in the Federation, the process to become an Immortal is not. Thus over the decades, the Immortals have enjoyed a steady growth in their population, now numbering in the millions.
Socially the Immortals are organised into clans. Each clan uses the basic immortal creation suite, but introduces a few of its own little quirks into the mix. The Platypus clan, for example, possess an unnatural ability to go unnoticed, and some even grow venomous spurs.