Clade Gikk

Pseudo-archaic neb (nearbaseline) clade with sacrementalised quirks and flaws, created by the superturing/hyperturing vec Dimimimon4 around the 4600s.

By their own mythology, Clade Gikk are among the oldest clades, fabulist-enthusiasts, tinkerers and technophiles, dating back to the pre-singularity period of Old Earth. However it is common knowledge that they were created by Dimimimon4 in eir biontogenic lab at Greathom, Sanalen Orbital Band, Alphonse (Solar Dominion), during the later Version War period. For one thing, no confirmed records of Gikk are known prior to that time (the retro-fashioned First Federation "dweebboys", oft- cited, are known to have a different genome), for another, Dimimimon4 emself left a comprehensive archive-diary with numerous hints. And while it is true that none of these conclusively give the stages by which the Gikks were formed, it is known that Dimimimon4 destroyed all compromising records before releasing eir clades, "in order to give them a more authentic sense of antiquity".

The Clade Gikk genome exhibits a pronounced heterogeny. The males outnumber the females about ten to one. They resemble a typical Old Earth human baseline of European, Asian, or Eurasian appearance (these were races from Old Earth, now only found in pure form through retrogeneering or lazurogenetics). In addition, all male Gikks can be defined by the "Five Ps"):

programmer (all Gikks have very highly developed natural skills and aptitude for interfacing with info- and nano-tech, thanks to the relevant Cyberian and TRHN mods)
pwub (part of Gikk jargon - this many nuanced term can be translated as "one who is socially inept" or "unattractive to neb females". It is derived from the Solarese "drubbie" - a clumsy or untalented non-superior, sooboo, or plebhu )
poor eyesight (the genmods to correct vision have been removed and other alleles tweaked so myopia is common. As a result they wear heavy ungainly structures on the face called "glasses". Even those Gikks that do not suffer myopia wear these devices, as a sign that "I am a Gikk". Almost always the glasses, despite their primitive middle tech external appearance, contain elaborate nano, companion ai, and other such systems).
pimples (again, "negative" alleles have been favoured to give poor skin complexion. This actually has a useful purpose, not just socially (as a sign of Gikkhood) but technologically, as many Gikks keep their bionano in their pimples).
plump (in the sense of flabby or poor muscle tone; so that even a skinny Gikk is called "plump" as long as e does not exercise and is not taking steroid mods (both of which are against the Gikk Code in any case)).

Sometimes considered a sixth "P", although it is not a part of the genome, is

piz-zah (sacramental food, in the form of a large disc of gluten-based starch on which there is a messy "topping". According to legend it dates back to Old Earth).

Female Gikks are very different from the males, and are clearly the dominant gender; this explains why most Gikk societies are matriarchal. They are defined by the "five B's"

breasts (all female Gikks are unusually well endowed).
brilliant (not in the Dominion sense of "talented" and "well-endowed in every way", but also an archaic reference to high intelligence - c.f. "superbright". Female Gikks have if anything even higher intelligence than the males)
blonde (this being the standard hair colour, regardless of skin colour).
brave (not only are female Gikks fearless but they have highly enhanced natural combat reflexes, and make excellent warriors. And despite their slight builds they have tremendous physical strength, thanks to their symbiotic bio- and synanotech).
brash (female Gikks are sexually aggressive and confident, and in fact are among the few beings who will have sex with male Gikks. It is thought that Dimimimon4 coded this characteristic to prevent outbreeding and retain clade uniqueness).

Today Gikks and Gikk colonies are widely distributed in the hinteregions and outer volumes, and among middle and high tech polities and minor civilizations, where their talents with high tech, fabulism, and minor virchcreation are often welcome. They are much rarer in the main centers of civilization where they tend to be assimilated or ascend quickly to higher toposophic levels, virtual spaces, or group minds. They are probably the most successful of the Dimimimon4ian neogenic clades. There are thought to be about 250 million Gikks living currently in the Civilized Galaxy, and an unknown number in enclaves further out.

The Gikk Code

The sacred scriptures of the Gikks. Although the original was only about 20 kilobytes of text, it is added to by each successive Gikk generation, and innumerable versions exist. It is written in pseudo-archaic Anglish, and includes instructions like "thou shalt whenever possible Eat Piz-Zah in front of thine nano-interface screen so the chiz* consecrates (lit. "drips on") the console", "thou shalt whenever possible drink Koak* in front of thine nano-interface screen so as to getteth a sugar rush and possibly diabetes" and so on.

*chiz - a yellow organic component of the Piz-Zah topping .
*koak - an addictive drink consisting of caffeine, sugar, water, and flavouring. It is banned throughout much of the Negentropy Alliance (and ignored everywhere else) because of its poor nutritional value. Gikks claim it is a sacramental drink.

Dimimimon4 - Former Metasoft Version Tree biont (baseline)-guardian, later Dominion biontogenist

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