By Anders Sandberg (nv91-asa@hemul.nada.kth.se) (11 Oct 94)
The Progenitors stated goal is to perfect mankind, both physically and mentally. While the superiors are attempts to create physical perfection, the prodigies are an attempt at perfecting the human mind.
Early progenitor experiments focused on drugs which increased the mental abilities of their users. Although they had some serious drawbacks, they led to the nootropic drugs of today. Their next approach was genetic: first through selective breeding of intelligent people and later through direct genetic manipulation. The prodigies are the result of a combination of genetic engineering and the use of careful hormonal control during infancy.
Prodigies are usually cloned from genetically altered cells, usually from highly talented people. During their incubation in the clone tanks the Progenitors give them measured doses of morphogens, designed to expand the potential of their brains by increasing the neural connectivity and growth. Early experiments had very enlarged heads to house immense brains, but their extra neural capacity was offset by the increased strain on their bodies which usually led to very short life spans. Today the researchers have opted for a more conservative design, and just increased the brain volume by a few percent. Instead they have concentrated on maximising the interconnectivity of the neurones and their speed.
Prodigies are geniuses from birth. Their education starts already in the clone tank, and continues for several years. It is common to simply link up their brains to computers which feed them with relevant information around the clock. When the prodigies are less than two years old they have reached mental maturity and usually surpass most unaugumented humans in intelligence. This leads to several problems. The prodigies have a tendency to go insane in various ways. Most common are psychoses, especially paranoid schizophrenia, but many succumb to catatonia or develop complex personality disorders. To avoid this the Progenitors handle them with great care, placing them in calming environments and constantly monitoring their mental activity. Another way of making them more stable is to make them retarded in most areas except their specialisation, turning them into Idiot Savants. Although this makes them less flexible, they become much more predictable.
Another problem is the fear that a prodigy could turn against them. This is usually solved by placing biological failsafes in their bodies, making it possible to terminate them if they should start to malfunction. Despite that, many progenitors are worried that their creations could outsmart them. Therefore they do their best to condition the prodigies to not only be loyal, but to actually love their "parents". Many live in happy families in the countryside together with their beloved (surrogate) parents. From time to time the nice people from the city come and test them or ask them for advice. Many prodigies soon understand the real situation, but that doesn't mean they loose faith in their friends.
The mental capacity of a full prodigy is amazing. Most are extremely fast learners and can handle enormous amounts of information without forgetting anything. Their mental processes are lightening-fast, often both highly intuitive and strictly logical at the same time (the Progenitors pride themselves in being able to resolve contradictions machines cannot solve). Many prodigies function as living computers for the convention, solving advanced problems in their heads or pointing out relevant information gathered from their computers. Others act as advisors and assistants to the technocrats. A few are placed in mundane society, often in academic circles to act as scientific geniuses used to disseminate new ideas.
One problem with prodigies is the possibility of Awakening. Due to their extreme mental capacity, they would make excellent mages, but there are many problems. Many prodigies simply lack Avatars, probably due to their cloned nature. Another problem is that most prodigies quickly become autistic when they Awaken, apparently turning inwards with their new powers into inescapable Quiet. Some prodigies awaken spontaneously, usually under great stress, with unpredictable consequences.
The Progenitors regard the prodigies as a great success, and relish on not having to be dependent on computers from Iteration X to do their work. However, the two conventions have working together in developing a artificial intelligences consisting of prodigy brains combined with the latest computers. Another current project is to disseminate prodigy genes among the sleepers, usually through sperm banks or by infecting foetuses with certain viruses. Another current experiment is to combine prodigies with superiors, to create a true master race. So far they have not succeeded, but recent breakthroughs in mental stabilisation have been hopeful.
A Typical Prodigy: Gilbert Priestly
Gilbert lives on an isolated farm somewhere together with his two parents (two progenitor psychologists) and his little sister Anne. He is a young boy, apparently around five but somehow looking much older at the same time. He always wears a baseball cap, which hides the scars on his head from the computer link he was connected to until he was decanted. He is fairly frail and doesn't like to go too far from the house, where he spends much time reading information in the progenitor databases. He is honest to the point of absurdity, absolutely never lying and always becoming very upset when other people lie to him. His main interests are psychology, programming and linguistics, which he seeks to formalise into a science of intelligent processes on his spare time.
During the weeks he and his sister spend most of their time studying and working on their assignments (Gilbert develops information-gathering systems for the Progenitors and New World Order). Their work is interrupted at regular intervals by obligatory physical training, which both children loathe but their parents think is absolutely necessary for their health. The same goes for the healthy food they are given (Which contains a compound both children are dependent on; if they don't get it for over 48 hours, they will die).
Gilbert is fairly alone. He loves his parents, but they are so stupid and don't understand much of his ideas. His sister is obsessed with her proteins, and only wants to talk about them. From time to time progenitor scientists visit, and although they often have interesting problems for him to solve, they are not that sociable. His best friend is his dog, a genetically altered Doberman (which in reality is his bodyguard) which he calls Octavius. Another way to pass the time is to write novels. So far he has written several huge, baroque creations with far too many levels of meaning and symbolism to be readable.
Essence: Primordial
Nature: Visionary
Demeanour: Conformist
Str: * Cha: * Per (intuitive):*****
Dex: * Man: * Int (brilliant):*****
Sta: * App: *** Wit (lightening-fast):*****
Alertness:*** Research (academic):***** Computer (programming):*****
Expression:** Technology:*** Culture:***
Subterfuge:**** Enigmas (verbal):*****
Investigation:***
Linguistics:*****
Medicine (neurology):****
Occult:***
Science:*****
Willpower: 10
Allies (parents and Octavius): ***
Library: ***
Dream (inspiration): ****
Gilbert has mental abilities corresponding to Mind 1 (including 2 dice of countermagick against Mind). He is especially good at controlling his own mental processes, effortlessly multitasking or concentrating single-mindedly on one task.