Psion
Psions are people who have had significant mutations to their brains, allowing them a wide range of psionic abilities. Colloquially known as 'psychos', these people are feared, persecuted and, in most cases, hunted by the authorities.
Psions are rare in the Fusion City populations and like other mutated individuals, appear almost exclusively in families that live near the Perimeter Wall or in the Shadowmark. However, in difference from physically mutated individuals, psions are far more frequent in the city than in the wastelands.
The great unknown
Psychos, espers, psions, freaks, or whatever people may call them, are a worrisome subject for debate. 'Normies' (non-mutated people) fear them, largely out of ignorance. Stories of how psychos have manipulated people, read their minds, planted false ideas, removed memories our even outright killed people with the power of their mind are common both in everyday life and in fiction.
Spread and Societal impact
Psionic mutations appear more often in the city than in the wastes as opposed to physical mutations, who are significantly more common in the wastes. Scientist speculate that with most of the harmful toxins of the wastelands filtered out and blocked by the dome and the perimeter wall, the limited radiation that gets through has a greater chance of affecting the brain and nervous system of gestating infants.
Depending on their mutations, psions usually discover their abilities in late childhood or early adolescence. They learn quickly not to display their powers in public, either because of people's fear, persecution or they are reported to the authorities. Psions are known to have mysteriously disappeared when the government learns of them.
Black Ops Kidnappings
Galwin Dradik ran a series of reports two years back where she reported on illegal government kidnappings of known psionically capable individuals. She claimed to have evidence that these individuals were taken to secret black ops research sites where the government performed illegal and immoral research on them, in an effort to come up with an effective method of countering psionic mutants.
While Galwin's reports stirred a lot of talk and debate, it was never determined whether there was any truth to her statements as she has yet to present the evidence she claimed to have. That doesn't stop the psions of Fusion City of living in constant fear of being exposed.
Psychogenic Dejection
Because of the persecution and constant pressure psions find themselves under in this society, mental ill health is incredibly common. Most every psion suffers from mild paranoia, stress, PTSD and other stress-related issues. Some suffer so badly that their powers subconsciously manifest in dangerous ways.
Manifestation
Psionic ability can manifest at any age, even as young as in babies. Children are seldom aware of their powers however and act largely on instinct. It's most common that the powers grow as the brain develops and a conscious discovery of the power happens in late adolescence.
Psionic ability is empowered by the emotional state of an individual and for this reason it's most common that the power manifests in a stressed, scared or angry individual. These emotions are commonly the ones that people have the hardest time controlling, allowing them to channel them into their powers. But you could use positive emotions to fuel the power as well, but because of how persecuted and oppressed psions are in society, most have gotten stuck using their fear and anger for their power.
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