Julia looked at the report in front of her. The ramifications of it were incredible, and could help the Federation gain an advantage in the unspoken race war that still continued to this day. Sure, in the fifteen years since its creation, law and the edicts of the Order of Unity had attempted to promote harmony between the spiritkin and humans, but few humans would ever truly accept the fact that they were no longer the dominant species on Earth. And, as more and more studies had been proving the spiritkin were slowly growing in number faster than humans. In the highest echelons of science a fact could not be denied. The human race were going extinct.
Amongst the spiritkin this was a victory, for in a couple of centuries, perhaps millennia if the humans were lucky, the spiritkin would be the only sentient inhabitants of Earth. This would not be due to war, famine or pestilence. No, they were simply being bred out. Julia knew why too, a large amount of women were letting spiritkin, namely wildkin, mate with them. As genetics were stronger from the father, the women were giving birth to more inhuman creatures.
"Filthy animals," Julia muttered to herself. Dr Julia Dawes was one of the eminent biologists in the Federation, and had a large team of scientists who worked for her company, Dawes Labs. She had grown up in wealth, pampered by her parents and had treated her wildkin servants as little more than slaves. In her mind, they were animals. Her father, also a biologist, had been the founder of Dawes Labs, dedicated to research into human longevity. Julia did share her father's passion, but she knew that a single person being long-lived mattered little in the grand scheme of things. What mattered was the species as a whole, and the continual evolution therein. Thinking about her father still made her a little sad, as he had passed six months ago.
What irked her was how robust a species the spiritkin were. Sure, most had latent magic in their blood that helped their bodies deal with Earth, but there was more to it than that. Their immune systems were stronger, they were faster, stronger and many had other advantages such as night-vision or claws. However, their biggest asset as a species had been their biggest secret until fifty years ago when the Treaty of Unity had attempted to broker peace between the new world powers.
Hermaphrodites.
There had been rumours for centuries that the spiritkin did not exist in a simple dual gender society as humans did. When the Treaty of Unity had been administered across the world, the spiritkin admitted that within their genetics existed the possibility of a third gender. Quickly many spiritkin that had been thought female were exposed as hermaphrodites, possessing both genders.
The human scientific society, even those within Juroch and Australasian Republic, had not delved into this matter, considering it an almost taboo subject. The spiritkin themselves did not research it, or at least hid the results from the general public, and many human scientists were offended by the idea.
Julia knew better though. Hermaphroditism had existed in nature well and truly before Convergence, and many feral species still had signs of it, like the cephalopods. It would only make sense that anthropomorphic beasts would exhibit the same properties. But that was not why the report had her attention.
The report had been stolen from Flemria, where science was conducted in utmost secrecy so as not to fall in the hands of other nations unless the dragons who ruled there willed it. Except this report. Her colleague, a human, had found it, and knowing the significance, had emailed it to a secure server and made sure to let Julia know. She had not heard from Dr Selina King since and Julia doubted she would hear from her colleague, an old sorority sister no less, again.
While she mourned the possible death, or worse, of Dr King, Julia could not let that stop her wonder at the report. It was a scientific report on the biology of and social effects of spiritkin hermaphrodites. And the results were at the same time amazing and terrifying.
Biologically speaking, hermaphrodites came in two variants, dubbed by the report to be matrons and maidens.
Matrons, according to the report, were the far more publicly visible of the two variants, and often were of a larger frame, with more muscle in their build. They possessed a quick mind and often inhuman strength, though most did not use such strength. Physically, they often sported larger mammaries and their penis was quite often larger than the male equivalent of their species. Testicle size depended on their exact species as well. What was noted was that most had never had children, and tests concluded low ova fertility. However, tests on the spermatozoa concluded high fertility.
This was in contrast to the maidens, who appeared little different from the average female of their particular species, barring a larger than average bust. Often maidens were of a higher intelligence, though lacked any extra muscle mass or physical endurance. As stated before, they often sported larger breasts than their female counterparts, but suffered in the male appendage, most only sporting the average length and girth as a male of their species. As for fertility, they were almost a reverse of the matrons, with low spermatozoa count but a large amount of ova, and many having being mothers to twins or litters, even if their species did not often have such large amounts of young.
The report then went into how these two variants interacted with society, and this troubled Julia deeply.
Matrons, the report begun, are obviously the more dominant of the two variants, despite on average their population counts being roughly equal. Their size, attributes and general manner often leads them to being an alpha of any group they are in.
Amongst other hermaphrodites, they are known to always be friendly and typically should two matrons be in the same social circle, they treat each other with equality that can only be called comradeship. However, they often treat maidens as children, and in some of the subspecies, typically canines, matrons are often pack leaders with a pack of maidens.
In their dealings with males, matrons tend to look down on the typically dominant gender, as due to their attributes, they are, biologically speaking, superior. This is not to say that males and matrons can not interact, but often matrons will seek a higher position. In terms of mateship, should a male mate with a matron, the male often takes the role of the submissive, and many take great measures to please their matron mate. Maidens, however, see males a equals, and socially many are good friends with little tension. Sexually, when males and maidens choose to mate, maidens often take on a more submissive role in the relationship.
It is the dealings of females and hermaphrodites that demonstrates the true place of hermaphrodites within spiritkin society. Matrons, the more dominant of the two variants, treat women with a condescending attitude that many would find rude. However, social studies have indicated that females tend to gravitate towards matrons, despite, or perhaps because of this treatment. What is more interesting, is like their treatment of the maidens, matrons often create harems of sexual partners. Maidens, however, see females are pure equals. Their treatment seems almost like sisters when friendly, and is typical of female-to-female interaction across both spiritkin and humans.
Julia took a breath and read the rest of the report, the last part was the most important. The one thing the author had mentioned almost as an afterthought could mean the salvation of the human race. She smiled to herself. Fame, fortune and the knowledge of being the single most important biologist in human history within her reach. She picked up the phone on her desk and dialled the number for her secretary.
"Danielle? Could you arrange a meeting tomorrow for me and the other team leaders? Nine o'clock, no exceptions. And could you arrange a meeting for me and Mr Delacroix? As soon as possible. We have a new project that could change the world!"
The was a pause. "Mr Delacroix, doctor? But he's -"
"I know. Nevertheless, we will require his... unique services. Organise it Danielle."
"Yes, doctor."
Julia hung up the phone. Danielle had become more resistant to the needs of the labs recently and would need to learn not to disobey her superiors. Still, the girl was bright and had potential. Suddenly, Julia began to chuckle. Indeed, the secretary had perfect potential.
******
