Borne

Borne is, from what we can tell, a shapeshifting lifeform that came from the sea on the flank of
Mord.

It transforms accordingly to whomever it encounters to provoke positive/caregiving responses. For

Rachel, Borne was first observed as a sea anemone squid hybrid. The form provokes memories of
Rachel’s own childhood on the South American archipelago islands.

This life form constantly learns by imitating and sampling other creatures. As such it resembles a
youthful mind. Rachel acts as its mentor, guiding this new life around an irreversibly poisoned world.
There’s a naivety in his world view that attracts Rachel, for Borne makes her “rethink even simple
words like disgusting or beautiful”.

The finding of Borne, for Rachel, is a huge step in her character arc. Previously she’d only scavenged,
and lived day by day. To ‘indulge’ in ‘beauty’ was to become foolish and careless in this post-
apocalyptic world.

However, the finding of Borne had opened her eyes to a new way of seeing a world she’d only
previously known as heartless and unindulgent.

Borne changes shape, smell and colour according to his health, emotional state and through his
communication to others. He doesn’t necessarily need these aspects to function, but being around
Rachel and Wick inspires him to imitate and create these features. For instance, he has eyes that
emerge from his skin from a variety of species, but he technically doesn’t need them to see. Borne’s
consciousness varies from our own. Everything just is, and what he/she absorbs becomes part of the
same consciousness. He/she’s an incredibly bright mind that exists almost beyond our own reality.

Its shape and texture can change accordingly to reflect emotional turmoil (etc.). He can be “rough in
places, smooth in others, bumpy and sandpapery in one area”, and in others smooth like stone long
worn by water; soft, albeit a little rubbery. He can create cilia and suckers at will, and change his
general shape and posture to reflect his body language.

There’s also great detail in some areas, with skin that seems “too filigreed and ornamental to have
purpose”, and yet it all does. He’s like a blue whale, or an otherwise seldom seen creature. One feels
gifted to have the permission to get close, for despite all his observable naivety and playfulness, it’s
still quite isolated and unique in its own right.

It’s unknown who or what created him/her exactly. Debatably Borne could be one of many, sent
through a gateway from another city to clear the mess made by The Company. Or he/she could
simply be a broken piece of biotech, or even ‘children’s toy’ as the packaging seems to imply.

Bestiary (An allegorical Lesson written by a mad employee at ‘The Company’)

In the light of dawn, the hellish creature of the sea burst forth, and circled the great bear. He’d
stolen what he believed to be rightfully his, and locked away mother nature for himself, and himself
alone. He gleefully took what didn’t belong to him, and he’d kill Mord. But only in body, not soul.
Thy presence still remains, and shadows the sea beast. For the Great Mord sacrificed his body and
soul for his children. We must continue to spread his message, so that he may live forever.