Untitled: Just Not How It Works

(Second ‘chapter’ of this story-thing of mine.)

 

JUST NOT HOW IT WORKS

TAKEN FROM AN INTERVIEW WITH PROFESSOR ALEXANDRA BOLOVICH, PROFESSOR OF VIRTUIM IN WORLD HISTORIES AT HARVARD UNIVERSITY

BY ISAAC YOUNG

DECEMBER 14, 2008

To look at this 'Taker' phenomenon, I decided to look back, into the past. Bolovich is widely known as a virtuim specialist. The name 'Taker' has a lot of stigma behind it, I wondered if the scientific community had any ideas about it.

To start at the beginning, what is virtuim?

Virtuim is what makes us unique. The theory of virtuim is still somewhat contested, especially in the fields of theology and biology. Some would say it doesn't even exist. But to a growing number of scientists, Virtuim is proving to be a very real thing.

Virtuim is the name for a specialized genome, on the human chromosome 16. This genome does not reoccur in any other known species, and it appears to generate at random. No two person's virtuim signature is exactly the same, however, outward appearances can be very similar, almost identical. As far as deciphering the genetic code, however, we are quite limited. We don't know which combinations of which chemicals produce what effect.

What effects, for example, have been observed?

Well, I'm sure you have seen many of the 'Category 1' effects. As virtuim scientists, we sort the effects into three categories.

There is Category 3, or outward physical changes. These are the most obvious. Extra appendages, the change of pigment in a body part, or bone growths are the most common of the Category 3 effects.

Next there is Category 2 effects, which are inward physical effects. Muscle augmentation, bone density or physical property changes, and increased reaction time are examples. Most of the time, a Category 1 effect will manifest alongside a Category 2 effect in the same human.

Finally, there are Category 1 effects. These are the ones that people tend to keep to themselves, as a social norm in Western culture. In many other 'third world', pardon the term, or 'uncivilized' countries, effects are a mark of social status. Many Category 1 effects have not been completely studied, as gaining license to research on these effects is hard to obtain, and volunteers even harder. However, we do know a certain number of these effects.

Telepathy and telekinesis (with its variants) are the most seen. Elemental connectivity marks a close second. As it stands, though, we have only heard unverified rumors of other effects, none of which could be proven.

Is it true that virtuim effects only manifest in full effect by about the age of 25?

Well, yes and no. Technically, effects are in 'full power' by puberty, almost developing overnight. But most adolescents are unaware of their abilities, and many reject them outright. Rumors, unfortunately, still abound about the 'changing' of one's effects and such. None of these, we are proud to say, are true. None.

Once your effects are manifest, they are, in terms, complete. They do not 'rise in power' as you grow, or something of the sort. Your abilities are in direct correlation to your physical strength, that is, you cannot overexert yourself and still have some 'magical' reserve of energy. (she giggles, apparently this is a joke among the professors)

Have you heard of the idea of Takers? What are your views on the subject?

Takers? No, I cannot say I've heard the term. Could you be referring to, as they say, grafters?

No, not nearly as extreme. Although, on that subject, what do you know about grafters?

Only that the idea is not only absurd, it is completely wrong. There is, as yet, no way to acquire another person's virtuim effects. You can't just... absorb genomic makeup. That's not how it works.

 

(Licensed under GNU GPL3.0, 2010, Dante Douglas)