WARNING: SPOILERS OF PSION DELTA!
Anomaly 1
Syndactyly. Webbed hands and feet. Normally, this condition is corrected at an early age. However, several parents have opted out of operations to remove the webbing so that their children could be more proficient at swimming. In the 2054 Olympic Games, 18-year-old Iskinder Gatimo became the first webbed gold medalist, sweeping every event he competed in and breaking the medal record held by Michael Phelps.
Anomaly 2
Progeria. The rarest of the anomalies where symptoms resembling aspects of aging are manifested at an early age. Children with progeria usually develop the first symptoms during their first few months. The earliest symptoms may include failure to thrive and a localized scleroderma-like skin condition. As a child ages past infancy, additional conditions usually become apparent around 18–24 months. Death usually occurs around age 13. No cure has been found for this anomaly.
Anomaly 3
Epidermal rugae absentae. This anomaly is characterized by a complete lack of epidermal ridges founds on the palms of hands and feet due to a mutation of the connecting tissues between the papillae of the dermis and the epidermis. The consequence is that these anomalies have no "prints" on the fingers, palms, and toes. While there are urban legends about these people being ideal for thievery and espionage due to the lack of evidence being left behind, these ideas are absurd because a. gloves still exist in 2086, b. the prints they leave are simply flat, making it easy for police to associate the criminal with the anomaly, c. DNA spotting and processing is far superior.
Anomaly 4
Heterochromia. Beginning in late 2036, the same year that the first treatments of the Scourge began, unique cases of central heterochromia began occurring worldwide. The first case was a female, born with blue eyes with a pink lining around the pupil. While central heterochromia had occurred before the Scourge, the color pink was only associated with the irises of albinos. A year later, a different type of this anomaly surfaced: heterochromia iridum. This was a male infant born with one blue eye and one iris that was nearly white, another color never before noted in literature. Since then, thousands of new cases of heterochromia have been studied. All subjects have one thing in common: the color blue is always associated with these "new" types of heterochromia.
Anomaly 5
Anodontia. A condition in which a person develops no teeth. Since 2029, dentists have been able to regrow teeth using a mixture of stock "tooth seeds" and stem cells from patients. The difficulty with implanting tooth seeds into Anomaly Five patients is the body rejects the seeds due to lack of recognition by the immune system. Thus, treatment requires heavy immunosuppression during the implantation and growth process which leads to mixed results. Because of the difficulty of the procedure, children are not given "baby" teeth, but permanent teeth, usually beginning at the age of five.
Anomaly 6
Polydactyly. The 2nd most commonly occurring anomaly. Fully developed sixth digit on ulnar side of left and right hands. Differs from most forms of polydactyly in the high level of muscular and motor development and control. Most children have the extra digit removed at 10-15 days of age, while some, however, leave the decision up to the child. A disproportionate number of polydactyls show proficiency in musical instrument, particular piano, organ, harp, and wind instruments.
Anomaly 7
Acromegaly of the ears. “Dumboism.” Shortly after birth, infants ears are stimulated by growth hormones and rapidly reach the size of adult ears. While this anomaly does not give the affected person the ability to fly, it does cause extreme embarrassment among peer groups until the rest of the body catches up with the growth of the ears at puberty. Recent studies have shown that those afflicted with this anomaly experience a second growth spurt in the ears, usually around age 40.
Anomaly 8
Anonychia. This anomaly is related to Anomaly 9, however, it manifests as an infant born without any fingernails or toenails. This phenomenon led to the development of artificial fingernails and toenails, and the birth of a new fashion trend: arti-nails. Due to the thickening and deformation of nails throughout aging, it has become increasingly common to have the fingernails and toenails removed and replaced with artificial ones.
Anomaly 9
Alopecia universalis. After the Scourge, incidence of this disease jumped by 500%, occurring at a rate of almost 500 per 100,000 births. Most common symptom is loss of all hair on the entire body. Scientists are still searching for the gene which controls this disease in hoping of learning how to focus its effects on specific areas of the body such as the armpit, neck, and “bikini line.”
Anomaly 10
Enlarged cranium. Normally skull growth ends at fusion of the cranial bones near age 2. However, those afflicted with Anomaly Nine experience cranial growth until puberty, although growth slows significantly, resulting in a diameter averaging 20-30% larger than the normal population. Notable persons with Anomaly 10: Spencer Burton, actor, known for his role as the villain Brainiac in several Superman films.
Anomaly 11
Tensai. Genetic mutation affecting oligodendrocytes at onset of puberty, the cells which myelinate neural cells of the brain. The mutation creates faster connections, enhancing memory and speeding up cognitive processing. Many Tensais report a phenomenon which they have termed “seeing,” in which solutions to problem become so clear that they can literally visualize the outcome based on current information. Many Tensais also suffer from social dysfunction, much like kids who are homeschooled.
Anomaly 12
This anomaly was originally thought to be caused by an imbalance in brain chemistry, either by a unique or a lack of certain neurotransmitters. However, scientists and doctors eventually discovered that the true cause of this anomaly was a possession of a combination of Anomalies Eleven and Fourteen. To prevent the spread of knowledge of the five star anomalies--Eleven through Fifteen--doctors perpetuated the myth that chemical imbalances in the brain caused the onset of a comatose state at puberty. The effects are irreversible and the person with the anomaly usually suffers a major cerebrovascular accident by age 21, leading to death. Until the DNA of Samuel Harris Berhane, Jr was analyzed, there was no known cure for this anomaly.
Anomaly 13
Thirteen. Genetic mutation affecting the brain in several ways once the anomaly reaches puberty. The onset of puberty triggers several changes in the body: 1. Reduces production of serotonin 2. Releases an enzyme which destroys portions of the limbic system in the brain 3. Affects proprioception and nocireception 4. Stimulates the body to produce new fast twitch muscle fibers. These changes lead to sociopathic tendencies, reduced pain cognition, and the ability to move quicker than an average adult. Through psychological profiling, scientists have discovered that the sociopathic tendencies of Thirteens are indeed deliberate choices, not a forced condition, especially those who have had moral and ethical imprinting during childhood.
Anomaly 14
Psion. Caused by mitochondrial mutation that produces many times more energy than non-mutated mitochondria at onset of puberty. Simultaneous adaptation of energy channels in the skin allows Anomaly Fourteens to project kinetic energy in the form of “blasts.” The first Psion discovered was Walter Tennyson Byron, although it was later learned he was not the first Psion . . .
Anomaly 15
Ultra, short for Ultra-kinesis. Caused by a mitochondrial mutation which produces more energy similar to Anomaly Fourteen. The difference, however, is that Ultras also have unique muscle fibers adapted for using more energy to perform quicker and more controlled movement. Enhanced motor control and awareness enables them to be highly accurate, more aware of their surroundings, and faster than world class sprinters. Does not affect overall strength, in fact, some believe it makes them slightly weaker.
---Sammy's Anomalies---
Sammy possesses Anomalies Eleven, Thirteen, and Fourteen (because Twelve is not a TRUE anomaly). Anomaly Thirteen is what prevents him from going into a comatose state because it subdues the activity in the brain enough that it reduces the overload which normally kills "Anomaly Twelves." The presence of his Anomaly Eleven allows him to still feel pain despite having Anomaly Thirteen because it prevents the usual amount of brain degradation from which most Thirteens suffer. The presence of his Anomaly Thirteen and Eleven enhances his Anomaly Fourteen giving him his "heat blasting" ability.
