Background: Seven years ago a latent gene that had not been identified as of yet by scientists became active. No one knows why it did but the gene allowed a person that slept and had nightmares to make the nightmares a reality. The gene was called DTR (dream to reality) by scientists and with much research and testing they were able to make a machine that blocked the gene and its reaction in the body that let this happen. However, not everyone could afford the machines and some had mutations that made the machine useless. These people were sent to a place called the Forbidden/Forsaken Zone or just the Zone for short. The Zone was the place where some of the worst and most destructive nightmares had first come to life. Half of the Zone was destroyed with buildings shattered and broken and the ground either dead or rubble. The Zone was split up into sections and surrounded by a wall that enclosed the area. Travel into and out of the Zone is strictly monitored and guarded.
The Zone: Residential: This area is for families of children under the ago of 18 that have broken the and were sent to the detention center. The detention center is located in the residential sector. (see section on detention center for more details) It also houses people that were either originally from in this area or that can't afford life outside of the Zone but that are not destitute or broken.
Detention Center: The detention center houses children age 11 through 17 that have broken the law. Depending on the law broken, they are either residents or outpatients of the center. The residents are repeat offenders. The outpatients are ones whose families moved inside the Zone with them and are first time offenders. The outpatients must report to the center for 3 hours each day for rehabilitation. The residents are sentenced to stay at the Center until they are 18. If by that time they have not had any issues and prove redeemable they are free to go on a probationary basis. If they have more incidents and prove nonredeemable then they are transferred to prison which is in another section of the Zone where they will serve out a sentence based on the severity of the crime.
Dreamers: Regular: have the gene that allows nightmares to be brought to life
Controllers: Have the gene. Can control their nightmares once they are brought to life. Cannot be harned by their own nightmares but can be by others.
Nulls: Do not have the gene at all. They can sense nightmares once they come to life. Due to their mutation they have protection from nightmares.
Blanks: Do not have the gene at all. Can't sense nightmares or people with the gene.
Gene Mutations: Sensors: Can sense other that can control nightmares.
Shields: Are sensors that can cloak themselves so that a sensor cannot tell they have the gene to control nightmares. Cant detect other sensors however.
Projectors: Can bring nightmares to life through daydreams as well as through nightmares.
Amplifiers: Has the gene but their nightmares dont usually come to life. They make any nightmare around them stronger and if their nightmare comes to life it is very trong an hard to kill.
Beserkers: Has the gene but it is sporadic and can either bring a nightmare to life or trap the dreamer in their own dreams and make them almost impossible to wake up. Sometimes this results in comas.
Blends: Can have one or more of the other mutations. They are very rare.
Machine types: Regular single: Only usable by one person. Can be plugged into electricity to recharge. Size of a large suitcase.
Couple: Made to accommodate two different brain patterns. Can be plugged into electricity to recharge. Size of a mini fridge.
Travel: Has limited battery life an can't be recharged. Battery must be replaced. Batteries only available at certain stores. Size of a small briefcase.
Medical: The most advanced of all the machines. Can hold multiple brain patterns before having to be wiped. Used on the sleep wards mostly but has detachable head units that can be used in different rooms. Units are good for 12 hours before they must be recharged on the main machine. The machine can be recharged with electricity. It is the size of two large refrigerators side by side.
Assorted information, some that might be mentioned already: Dreamers are not hurt by their own nightmares. One in a thousand can control dreams or have a different gene mutation as well. If nightmares get out of control then it would go after the one that spawned them or anyone they had loved or spared. The only way that a nightmare could get out of control is if the person that spawned them is killed or rendered unconscious while they are materialized. Once the person becomes lucid they would once again not be effected by their own nightmare.
Portable machines for travelers have limited battery life before having to be replaced.
The gene doesn't hit until puberty. When they get past the age of 65 the gene goes dormant. Some nightmares that are not creatures can come to life but only by ones that can control nightmares. The more afraid a person is of something the more likely it is to come to life. The gene is activated by fear. People with the gene have worse and more vivid nightmares. One person in ten thousand can bring a nightmare to life through a daydream. This however makes them extremely drained and the nightmares only partially alive with a deactivation time limit. They evaporate fairly soon after waking if they are inanimate and do not have a mind.
DTR gene stands for dream to reality. Is what they named the gene once found.
There are PA and emergency centers for when nightmares come. Some houses have the same mechanisms as big businesses if they can afford them.
Blanks or Nulls are both names for people without the gene at all.
Prices of stuff in the Zone are inflated so that if one had 50 grand it would be the equivalent of maybe 20 grand.
The Zone was started as a place for those that can't afford the machines to live and such. It is also where some of the first major destructive nightmares spawned and as such a part of the Zone is pretty trashed.
The state of buildings and area are worse the more that you move away from the wall that surrounds the Zone.
Only residents ccan go through the gate for work and are tightly supervised. No one found guilty can ever go out of the Zone if it was a major crime and they are of age. Kids below the age of 18 that break the law are given three chances to reform if there was no death. If death occurred due to their nightmares then they are sent to the Zone but if nothing else happens before they turn 18 then they are allowed outside provisionally. Families can go with them to the Zone if they are underage. If a death or family emergency happens outside of the Zone then the families can be allowed outside of the Wall for three days. The child cannot leave the Zone until their sentence has been served.
Nulls have a gene that can protect them from nightmares somehow. One in ten thousand is a Null. They are heavily recruited by law enforcement. The test would only find the gene. It would not be able to pinpoint the mutations. While scientists have started to study the gene and the mutations they still haven't come up with a way to identify them right off as it is very subtle.
