Elites

Elites (エリート, Erīto) were the ruling class on Amoi, immortal machines created by Jupiter in order to beget a new type of humanity that would overcome the limitations of the flesh.

Not to be confused with fully mechanic Androids, elites are cyborgs whose bodies are entirely artificial, apart from their transplanted, organic brains. They possess balanced proportions, perceptive demeanors, unnatural strength, 300-plus IQ brains, and reproductively sterile engineered bodies.

## Description

Jupiter created elites to be the progenitors of a new humanity, the pinnacle of beauty, strength and intellect, ever immortal.

The brains of the elites are their only organic part and are augmented through nano and biotechnology to be much more powerful than those of humans. In fact, the processing power alone is such that a human brain wouldn’t be able to even handle. The will and intelligence that came from their human brains was communicated through their eyes. Once their eyes were closed, their inorganic nature came to prominence and they looked like nothing more than finely crafted husks.

   Their bodies were the pinnacle of bioengineering, perfectly proportioned, alluring and immortal, they harbored unnatural strength. Elites were incapable of feeling either physical pleasure or pain, but even so, they possessed all the functions of the highest class of sex androids, although they had no need for it, and none of them were expected to use it.

Beneath their artificial skin is the skeleton made of metal and through their veins flows a blue blood-like substance.

Tanagura Elites generally wore their hair long to distinguish themselves from the Androids, and dressed themselves in clean-cut, simple and functional outfits that still managed to emphasize their elegance.

## Noram Class System

   Much like the humans of Midas who were ruled by the Zein class system, the elites of Tanagura were ruled by a hierarchal system called Noram (ノーラム, Nōramu).

The different classes in the Noram system were distinguished by hair colour:

* **Blondy** (ブロンディー, Burondī) – the highest rank of elites with the authority to communicate directly with Jupiter. They had golden hair and occupied the most important positions within the Tanagura society.
* **Platina** (プラチナ, Puratina) – these elites had silver hair and occupied various high leadership and executive positions.
* **Jade** (ジェイド, Jeido) - the green-haired elites that served as advisers in their specific field. They share the same rank with the Ruby and Sapphire elites.
* **Ruby** (ルビー, Rubī) - the red-haired elites that served as advisers in their specific field. They share the same rank with the Jade and Sapphire elites.
* **Sapphire** (サファイア, Safaia) - the blue-haired elites that served as advisers in their specific field. They share the same rank with the Ruby and Jade elites.
* **Onyx** (オニクス, Onikusu) – the lowest rank of elites. These black-haired elites had external responsibilities and functioned as the "face" of Tanagura, operating mostly as consuls and ambassadors.

These class distinctions were an unassailable barrier and were not taken lightly. Never would a subordinate deny his superior anything. The difference between a Blondy and an Onyx especially, was glaring. Blondies in general were quite separate from the others. They lived on the separate floor, sat at separate tables at parties, and had their own Blondy-only transportation. No matter their position, however, the elites are the most powerful, affluent, and privileged beings on Amoi.

Not much is known about the non-Blondy elites. These were the only others that were mentioned:

* Oskar’s Platina owner who had recently acquired a female pet;
* Eliphas, an Onyx with an expensive Vardia pet:
* Miguel’s Onyx owner and Simon’s master who had been somewhat savoring the prestige his rare and valuable Paradita pet brought him, but had completely lost face after his furniture attacked a Blondy’s pet.

## Raising Pets

Jupiter's vision of a new type of humanity, unrestricted by mortality and uncontaminated by the human emotions that haunted those beings of flesh and blood resulted in the creation of elites. This naturally led to a sense of pride and an unwavering conviction that their existence surpassed that of other mortals.

They believed that the continued existence of Midas was necessary to show off the splendors of Tanagura. And so, the breeding and disposing of human beings as pets was a reflection of the dignity and majesty of the elite. They were only doing their duty.

The stratospheric class of elites desired pets appropriate to their social status. Or, rather, given that living in Eos alone implied a distinctive rank, raising a pet deserving of such a crown became a kind of duty to the owners. It was the unspoken rule that pets should also be purchased from a production center of the appropriate level.

For the elite, an appreciation for pet pairing and mating was a mark of refinement. The right to approve a coupling between pets generally resided with the higher-class of the two owners.

See also: Being a pet owner

## Society

The private lives of the elite were set apart from their work environment in order to ensure the performance of their duties with efficiency. Their living quarters were in the Palace Tower of Eos. There, they lived with their chosen pet and were tended to by the furniture.

Because their lives were so well structured, in time, inflexible social norms have developed. Everything around them worked like clockwork. Everything was known, expected and predictable. Even the slightest deviation from the norm would cause Eos-wide scandals.

The elites were only beginning to become aware of the extent to which their "common sense" had sunk into the mire of routine and ordinary expectations. Not only the rote learning of knowledge, but their emotional responses as well have suffered because of it. Stale, ordinary thinking didn't lead to novel revelations. Without the shock of the new, the synapses even in a specialized brain deteriorated.

But, while many were curious to gossip about any new happenings, very few, if any, dared put their honor and pride on the line and risk becoming a pariah or laughingstock.

After all, anything that disturbed the equilibrium to a large extent shook the staid complacency of the ruling elite, who had become accustomed to the status quo.