We're Called Halfies

Why are we called Halfies? Well, it’s because we have only half the human DNA.

Original isn’t it?

The other half of our DNA can be made up of just about anything, Plastics... Metals... Wood... Random components...even technological stuff for those of us who were lucky. But the Humans were cruel. They also altered our brains, our bodies. They messed with us, changing our bodies......our nerves no longer react the same way as humans. They altered our pain receptors, our Nav17 protein. We don’t feel any pain, if we choose.

Because of the success of the CNAs (Compound based Halfies) they decided that they’d experiment on animal DNA. Until then, it’d had been a taboo topic. All experimentation failed. ANAs became a line in the sand that couldn’t be crossed. Animals became known as unpredictable, as wild, as dangerous.  

But they’re Humans. So they did it anyway.

And then it happened: The Halfies Rebelled.

Due to the Halfie uprising leading to the escape of all the confined Halfies, everyone entering the Cities are made to take the Trial. The Trial is made up of a physical series of Tests built to weed out the Halfies from the Humans. When you pass the test, you’re immediately taken down below the acrobat swings, running fields and swimming pools to a massive metal room, cold to touch and so devoid of sound that the silence the air seems to hold fast. A booming voice then says that everyone must do just one more trial.

They told us that we could go “Free to after this last trial” if I recall correctly.   

Halfies are made to do the Servile Test. This one determines what kind of Halfie you’ll be: a Domestic or Feral. If you’re submissive, apologetic and downright obedient, you become a Domestic, set for life as either a Human’s pet or a domestic servant. To identify these Domestic Halfies from Ferals, the Docs inject a clear fluid below your left eye. The liquid then darkens and takes shapes as a small tattoo when they’re sold.     

But if you’re not suitable...

Anyone who fails the Servile Test is made to stand in the middle of the room, within a large white circle. They’re told that the Cleaning Staff are coming to clean them, that the other group were the ones who failed and died because they were Feral. They are told that they’ll be put into Human Care soon. And then a bright light flashes. They’re killed; These “Feral” Halfies are burned in a fire so intense that nothing is left behind, save, perhaps for a boot or two and a pile of ashes. The actual Domestics are made to watch from behind one of those two-way mirrors. They see it all. They see what happens if they’re not compliant.       

The Domestics are then made to clean it up. If they refuse, cry or protest, The Humans deny them food, water and sleep, until they clean the ashes. There are groups of Protectors who stand around, guarding the doors like the Domestics are going to try to run. The Halfies are then taken to the Market place and sold off from three sliver pieces to thousands of gold coins, depending on their beauty or workability.

Beauty counts.

When the Domestics are sold as slaves, their Brands are activated. The clear liquid then changes colour, darkening until it looks like a tattoo underneath the left eye. The tattoo relates to the Animal (or component) that’s within your DNA. While it’s not uncommon for a Halfie (especially ANA – Animal based Halfie) to Evolve, it’s definitely frowned upon. But the stupid, clever Docs thought a way around this. The Brand that the Domestics are given at the processing station reacts and grows with the maturing Halfie.  

When the other half – the unhuman half- of the person evolves, the Brand enlarges – shifting, shaping to suit the aggressiveness of the Halfie. The bigger the Halfies’ Brand is, the more aggressive the Halfie. Brands larger than your thumb warrants another Servile Test. The Docs then reissue the test to the Halfie.

If you fail?

Instant death by lethal injection.

My Pair Bond recently evolved. His Brand grew from that of a Domestic to a Feral. The Human Protectors found us hiding in an alleyway. They took one look at his face, saw the Brand and attacked us. I ran away that day. Far down from the City and into the forest. I ran and ran, trying to escape the choking and constricting feeling within my throat and my chest. My chest felt so tight I thought I was dying. I wished I had died that day. I never saw Blaze Again.

But when I woke the next day, I fought. I fought harder than I’d ever done before. I refused to accept this part I’d been given. I refused to admit defeat, vowing vengeance on whoever stands within my way of saving the Halfies from the Humans. I vowed that so long as there was breath left within my body, I would fight for freedom.

I will admit that I’m scared and weak in some moments; but I’ve fought this far and refused to give up. I will fight and will either die or succeed.

I am a Halfie – I am unknown and that is why the Humans are scared. I will win this war against the Humans. Their Deaths mean our release. This war will be won.

It must.

My life depends on it.