Nat (Wild Cards)
Encyclopedia
Nat is a slang term from the Wild Cards
novels referring to normal humans uninfected by the Wild Card virus. Most often used by Jokers when referring to their uninfected oppressors, though also occasionally employed by Aces as a pejorative. Fleur van Rensselaer (daughter of the ace Brain Trust
) once observed that, though the term is short for "natural," it has another secondary meaning as a homonym - "gnats," which reveals how some wild carders feel about non powered humans. Nat is one of the few words in the parlance of Wild Cards that does not have its origin in card game terminology. It is unknown who first coined the word.
Latent carriers come in two kinds: Some have been infected by a cache of the original spores released into the atmosphere on Wild Card Day. Others inherited the virus from both parents, but in a dormant state. This second variety is something of a rarity since the trauma of childbirth usually causes a newborn to "turn their card." The most famous of this kind of carrier was John Fortune, who did not manifest any wild card powers/symptoms until his thirteenth birthday.
Another unique latent carrier is Dr. Tachyon
, who was infected by a communicable form of the Wild Card spread by Croyd Crenson
.
Wild Cards
Wild Cards is a science fiction and superhero anthology series set in a shared universe. The series was created by a group of New Mexico science fiction authors, but it is mostly pulled together and edited by best-selling author George R. R. Martin with assistance by Melinda Snodgrass, also a...
novels referring to normal humans uninfected by the Wild Card virus. Most often used by Jokers when referring to their uninfected oppressors, though also occasionally employed by Aces as a pejorative. Fleur van Rensselaer (daughter of the ace Brain Trust
Brain Trust (Wild Cards)
Brain Trust was a fictional character from the first book in the Wild Cards anthology series and a member of The Four Aces, appearing in the stories "Witness" by Walter Jon Williams and "Degradation Rites" by Melinda M. Snodgrass .-Biography:Blythe was the wife of domineering New York Congressman...
) once observed that, though the term is short for "natural," it has another secondary meaning as a homonym - "gnats," which reveals how some wild carders feel about non powered humans. Nat is one of the few words in the parlance of Wild Cards that does not have its origin in card game terminology. It is unknown who first coined the word.
Infected Nats
Ironically, some nats might actually be infected with either the recessive or latent form of the virus and not know it. Recessive carriers inherited a portion of the virus, attached to their DNA, from one of their two parents. In this form the virus will only manifest in children conceived with another recessive carrier. When latent, the carrier is infected with the full blown virus. They appear normal, but the virus could activate at any time and due to any of a number of triggers, high stress levels being the most common.Latent carriers come in two kinds: Some have been infected by a cache of the original spores released into the atmosphere on Wild Card Day. Others inherited the virus from both parents, but in a dormant state. This second variety is something of a rarity since the trauma of childbirth usually causes a newborn to "turn their card." The most famous of this kind of carrier was John Fortune, who did not manifest any wild card powers/symptoms until his thirteenth birthday.
Another unique latent carrier is Dr. Tachyon
Dr. Tachyon
Dr. Tachyon is a character from the Wild Cards series of books. He was created for the books by Melinda M. Snodgrass. Tachyon is a geneticist from the planet Takis, whose people naturally developed various telepathic powers...
, who was infected by a communicable form of the Wild Card spread by Croyd Crenson
The Sleeper (Wild Cards)
The Sleeper is a fictional character from the Wild Cards series of books.In September 1946, ninth-grader Croyd Crenson, native of an unspecified borough of the New York City metropolitan area, was one of the first victims of the alien virus dubbed "the Wild Card", which generates random mutations...
.