KINETIC SOCIOLOGY
Kineses have been public knowledge for at least as long as recorded history, though the science behind them has only been accepted and understood in the last hundred-ish years in many places (and, as all reasonable, scientifically proven things go, there are still people who refuse to believe any of it). The nature of kinetic powers means that the laws surrounding them are a bit complicated, though. Notably:
- Kinetics may not use their powers outside of kinetic compounds without a power license, which can only be obtained through specific training, and requires the user to be willing to act as a “superhero” (public servant) when called upon.
- Kinetics are not necessarily protected against assault or even murder, as there exists a panic clause that allows someone to plead that they were being threatened with kinetic powers. Only licensed kinetics have protection against this defense, unless it takes place on a kinetic compound.
- Differences in kinetic biology are generally unacknowledged by non-kinetic doctors, meaning that many accomodations, medications, and procedures standardized for non-kinetic humans won’t work as well, if at all, for those with kinetic genes.
- While kinetics are allowed to live outside of kinetic compounds and generally go about “normal” lives, they tend to be frowned upon if there is any visual indication that they aren’t non-kinetic.
KINETIC LIVING
There are eight kinetic compounds in the world: North American (Ohio, USA), South American (Santa Maria, Brazil), European (France), East Asian (East China), West Asian (South India), Australian (Queensland), Polynesian (Kauai Channel, Hawaii), and African (Kenya). The comic’s story revolves around the North American compound, which was originally in Quebec, Canada, but was moved to Ohio in 1982.
Kinetic compounds are all roughly the size of small cities, with housing, medical care, schools, and public areas. They are run internally, generally under some kind of cooperation with their national government, and are careful about letting non-kinetics in for their own safety. Their size means that a lot of higher-ranked kinetics, i.e; anyone with a rescue permit that lives in a compound, serve multiple roles, which is why you will see a lot of teachers, business owners, healthcare workers, and other professionals also being part of kinetic leadership.
The compounds vary in governance but are all socialized, with some kind of support programs for incoming kinetics (generally things like scholarships and visas). Leadership goes to a group, usually a trio, of elected officials; the only required prerequisite for which is having a power license of some kind (though a focus on kinetic politics is preferred).
The compounds vary in governance but are all socialized, with some kind of support programs for incoming kinetics (generally things like scholarships and visas). Leadership goes to a group, usually a trio, of elected officials; the only required prerequisite for which is having a power license of some kind (though a focus on kinetic politics is preferred).
POWER LICENSES
Kinetics who have obtained power licenses are known to the non-kinetic public as “superheroes” for the sake of familiarity, though you’ll rarely hear kinetics themselves using the term unironically. It’s also a bit of a misnomer, since a fair handful of kinetics who go through the licensing program either don’t need/use their powers for the type of work they do, or are flat-out kinesis-less carriers.
The 7 types of power license are as follows:
After the Creed Massacre, the U.S. compound followed the example of its sister sites and implemented the sponsorship program: only students who are approached by already-licensed kinetics may go through the training to receive a power license. Though this method diminished the output of licensed kinetics vastly (much to the chagrin of the U.S. government), it ensured that those who did graduate with license in tow were much more prepared for the roles they took on, and kinesis-related accidents and casualties connected to the U.S. compound have gone down in the years following this change.
The 7 types of power license are as follows:
- Medical Heroics, specializing in the biology and treatment of kinetic bodies and kinesis-related injuries
- Search & Rescue, specializing in locating and recovering victims of accidents or attacks that couldn’t be assisted otherwise
- Heightened Combat, specializing in putting down aggressive threats with minimal collateral
- Contained Exploration, specializing in scoping out and mapping parts of the world (and beyond) that a non-kinetic could not safely
- Tech Development, specializing in advancement of technology and engineering to assist kinetic needs
- Kinetic Politics, specializing in ambassadorship to other kinetic compounds and, more importantly, non-kinetic governments
- Publicity Heroics, specializing in appealing to the non-kinetic public and keeping up appearances as an idealized “superhero” to keep tensions low
After the Creed Massacre, the U.S. compound followed the example of its sister sites and implemented the sponsorship program: only students who are approached by already-licensed kinetics may go through the training to receive a power license. Though this method diminished the output of licensed kinetics vastly (much to the chagrin of the U.S. government), it ensured that those who did graduate with license in tow were much more prepared for the roles they took on, and kinesis-related accidents and casualties connected to the U.S. compound have gone down in the years following this change.
RELATIONSHIP WITH NON-KINETICS
As already established, unlicensed kinetics generally cannot use their powers outside of kinetic compounds. Tangentially, most countries consider kineticism a diagnosis and indicate it on legal identification. Parents are inquired as to whether or not they have the gene and will be prodded to get their children tested around the ages of 4-8. Legally recognized kinetics may be barred from things like airplane travel, job opportunities, and even immigration to certain countries due to the nature of their powers. Additionally, because kinetic compounds are usually considered separate from but territories of the countries they inhabit, some kinetics born on compounds may need to acquire a passport to leave.
Because of all this, certain kinetic parents choose to have children off-compound and/or lie about their genetic status to avoid the stigma that follows.
Unfortunately, kinetics outside of compounds will often struggle a lot more. While they’re technically allowed to live wherever they want and lead non-kinetic lives, depending on their kineses and their families, this can be difficult. Some kinetics master their kineses just enough to control them and don’t really use them outside of that, or only use them in the privacy of their own homes, whilst others are open about their kinetic identities. Either way, they are more at risk of violence or prosecution outside of the safety of the compounds, but the lack of public education about kineses and the fact that many people are carriers without even realizing can sometimes make it difficult to do anything else. While kinetics have been pushing for more rights and protection for awhile, many governments have proven hard to bargain with, as they usually demand more “use” of kineses in return (aka, “let us militarize you, dammit!”)
Because of all this, certain kinetic parents choose to have children off-compound and/or lie about their genetic status to avoid the stigma that follows.
Unfortunately, kinetics outside of compounds will often struggle a lot more. While they’re technically allowed to live wherever they want and lead non-kinetic lives, depending on their kineses and their families, this can be difficult. Some kinetics master their kineses just enough to control them and don’t really use them outside of that, or only use them in the privacy of their own homes, whilst others are open about their kinetic identities. Either way, they are more at risk of violence or prosecution outside of the safety of the compounds, but the lack of public education about kineses and the fact that many people are carriers without even realizing can sometimes make it difficult to do anything else. While kinetics have been pushing for more rights and protection for awhile, many governments have proven hard to bargain with, as they usually demand more “use” of kineses in return (aka, “let us militarize you, dammit!”)