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Cybomorphs
By the end of the 21st century Earth’s population is massive. Living space is at a premium. All of the arable land apart from a few nature reserves is dedicated to the production of food. Most of earth’s population lives in huge cities known as megalopolises. Most of these cities, including Melbourne, have divided their social structure into a four-tier class system designated A through D.
The A-grade citizens, the Skywalkers, are the wealthiest inhabitants of the city. They are the heads of industry, elite professionals and their families. They live in the penthouses and upper floors of the city skyscrapers, above the ever-present layer of smog and mist. With access to all the advantages of modern technology, a good diet, and advanced breakthroughs in medicine they live long, healthy lives and may even attain virtual and physical immortality.
The B-grade citizens, the Clouddancers, are the college graduates and lesser professionals. They live in the central areas of the city buildings, hovering around or above the layer of cloud. With the opportunity to rise in the social structure, and access to many of the same advantages as those above them, the Clouddancers also live long and healthy lives.
Next are the C-grade citizens, the Subbies. They live in the lowest levels of the city buildings, in the shadows below the almost constant mist and smog. They are the manual workers, the cleaners and maintenance and factory workers. They have limited access to the advanced technology and medicine of the late 21st century. They can work their way up to B-grade if they are especially talented or intelligent by gaining a scholarship to college or university.
The lowest level is D-grade. D-graders (or the Degraded, as they are referred to) are not classed as citizens. They are the criminal and welfare classes, the refugees and non-entities. They live an institutionalized life in orphanages, asylums and prisons, or an off-the-grid life in the abandoned sub-basements and tunnels of the city. Convicted criminals are forced to wear control collars that govern their behavior and access to protected areas of the city. They face a miserable existence and hopeless future. With a poor diet and living conditions most D-graders (and even C-graders) have a lifespan markedly shorter than the upper classes. With good behavior and by securing employment D-graders can work their way up to becoming a C-grade citizen.
There is one other alternative to living the life of a C- or D-grader… they can choose to leave the surface of the Earth to live in one of the many colonies deep below the ocean, or one of the Lunar, Asteroid or Martian Colonies. There’s just one major catch… life off-world is harsh, with no atmosphere and deadly radiation, a living body is far too fragile to survive… so before a person can leave the Earth’s surface for good, they must have their brain transplanted into an artificial body.
These bodies are called Cyboforms. They are in many ways far superior to a human body, with increased strength, durability, longevity and computer assisted intelligence. They are self-contained environment suits, able to survive in the vacuum and heightened radiation of space or the pressures of ocean depths with the ability to store enough oxygen and nutrients to keep the brain alive for months without food or air. In fact, they can survive much longer than this by going into a hibernation state for years, their brains existing in a virtual reality, or suspended animation.
Because of this physical and mental superiority Cybomorphs, those who have had their brains transplanted into a Cyboform are required to relinquish their Earth citizenship and leave the planet, spending no more than one month per calendar year on Earth.
Brain transplantation technology has had the most profound impact on this future society, and not only in regards to Cybomorphs. It is also possible for a brain to be transplanted into another living body. Aging Skywalkers, those with the funds to afford such a prohibitively expensive procedure can trade in an aging, crippled or diseased body for the fresh young body of a C- or D-grader. In this way they can lengthen their lifespan without the need to leave the surface.
Healthy young bodies are a precious resource for C- and D-graders. If they can sell their body for a high price they won’t start their Cybo-life in as much debt. They may afford a higher quality Cyboform, or their contract to the Space Corp may be as short as 7 years, instead of 14, 21 or even 28 years.
The A-grade citizens, the Skywalkers, are the wealthiest inhabitants of the city. They are the heads of industry, elite professionals and their families. They live in the penthouses and upper floors of the city skyscrapers, above the ever-present layer of smog and mist. With access to all the advantages of modern technology, a good diet, and advanced breakthroughs in medicine they live long, healthy lives and may even attain virtual and physical immortality.
The B-grade citizens, the Clouddancers, are the college graduates and lesser professionals. They live in the central areas of the city buildings, hovering around or above the layer of cloud. With the opportunity to rise in the social structure, and access to many of the same advantages as those above them, the Clouddancers also live long and healthy lives.
Next are the C-grade citizens, the Subbies. They live in the lowest levels of the city buildings, in the shadows below the almost constant mist and smog. They are the manual workers, the cleaners and maintenance and factory workers. They have limited access to the advanced technology and medicine of the late 21st century. They can work their way up to B-grade if they are especially talented or intelligent by gaining a scholarship to college or university.
The lowest level is D-grade. D-graders (or the Degraded, as they are referred to) are not classed as citizens. They are the criminal and welfare classes, the refugees and non-entities. They live an institutionalized life in orphanages, asylums and prisons, or an off-the-grid life in the abandoned sub-basements and tunnels of the city. Convicted criminals are forced to wear control collars that govern their behavior and access to protected areas of the city. They face a miserable existence and hopeless future. With a poor diet and living conditions most D-graders (and even C-graders) have a lifespan markedly shorter than the upper classes. With good behavior and by securing employment D-graders can work their way up to becoming a C-grade citizen.
There is one other alternative to living the life of a C- or D-grader… they can choose to leave the surface of the Earth to live in one of the many colonies deep below the ocean, or one of the Lunar, Asteroid or Martian Colonies. There’s just one major catch… life off-world is harsh, with no atmosphere and deadly radiation, a living body is far too fragile to survive… so before a person can leave the Earth’s surface for good, they must have their brain transplanted into an artificial body.
These bodies are called Cyboforms. They are in many ways far superior to a human body, with increased strength, durability, longevity and computer assisted intelligence. They are self-contained environment suits, able to survive in the vacuum and heightened radiation of space or the pressures of ocean depths with the ability to store enough oxygen and nutrients to keep the brain alive for months without food or air. In fact, they can survive much longer than this by going into a hibernation state for years, their brains existing in a virtual reality, or suspended animation.
Because of this physical and mental superiority Cybomorphs, those who have had their brains transplanted into a Cyboform are required to relinquish their Earth citizenship and leave the planet, spending no more than one month per calendar year on Earth.
Brain transplantation technology has had the most profound impact on this future society, and not only in regards to Cybomorphs. It is also possible for a brain to be transplanted into another living body. Aging Skywalkers, those with the funds to afford such a prohibitively expensive procedure can trade in an aging, crippled or diseased body for the fresh young body of a C- or D-grader. In this way they can lengthen their lifespan without the need to leave the surface.
Healthy young bodies are a precious resource for C- and D-graders. If they can sell their body for a high price they won’t start their Cybo-life in as much debt. They may afford a higher quality Cyboform, or their contract to the Space Corp may be as short as 7 years, instead of 14, 21 or even 28 years.
