Diclonius
From Biocrawler, the free encyclopedia.
Diclonius is the term for the fictional mutant, human-evolved species introduced in the Japanese anime and manga Elfen Lied. See below for the etymology of this word.
Their physical appearance is similar to humans, with the addition of two horns on the front side of their head (apparently projections of the craneal bones) these horns may also resemble cat ears. For some reason, all female dicloniuses have pink/purple hair. Apparently male dicloniuses have smaller skin covered horns, are bald and lack any special powers.
Dicloniuses have a telekinetic ability that manifests as several vectors of force (shown as translucent arms with hands that extend from their back). These vectors are capable of exerting a very strong force and can be used to propel objects, for blunt hits, and as very thin slicing tools (in fact, dicloniuses kill normal humans easily by tearing them in half or chopping their heads off).
Each diclonius has a given number of vectors at her disposal, with a fixed reach or range. For example, Lucy, a major character in Elfen Lied has four vectors, with a maximum reach of two meters — though of course, she can use them to accelerate objects at a very high speed, exactly as normal humans can throw objects outside the range of their bare hands. Lucy is by no means the most powerful diclonius (a little diclonius girl, Mariko, had twenty-six 11-metre-long vectors).
Dicloniuses can also use their vectors to shield themselves from bullets and shrapnel. The ability to deflect and even stop bullets in mid-air is variable and dependent on the caliber and velocity of the bullet (with high-caliber/high-velocity bullets being difficult or impossible to deflect or completely decelerate) and also on the strength and skill of the individual diclonius.
Dicloniuses are portrayed as a vicious race superior to current humanity, with the single purpose of exterminating the non-mutant homo sapiens. In fact, they show little compassion or empathy for normal humans, with a few exceptions. Their personalities are usually homicidal and sadistic, and they will even kill other dicloniuses with little concern. Dicloniuses do at least seem to demonstrate compassion for animals. Around their third year of age they become aware of their powers and the drive to destroy normal humans awakes within them, making them extremely dangerous. Their containment needs special installations and is forcefully very traumatic for them, which of course does not make them any more receptive to claims of compassion.
Etymology
The word diclonius comes from Greek: di- "two" + klon "sprout, twig", and clearly refers to the two horns or growths found on the head of these creatures. The term was used in a 1876 paper with reference to a dinosaur genus supposedly characterized by a double dentition (two rows of functional teeth, replaced from the front). (Reference: [1] (http://www.isgs.uiuc.edu/dinos/dml/names/dinod.htm).)
