The salvaging of DNA, a process that began with the functional repurposing of deceased Femati by the Femaki’xirpaxul over 686.95 million years ago, is a practice of reverence. Early methods of Recycling, which became streamlined after the replication of the Femaki’xirpaxul’s flesh-consuming nanites by geneticist Rigizul, indicate the cultural depth of Femarctic mourning. The term, first called makitil (maker of death), harbored negative connotations for the Second Generation, and they replaced makitil with the helovx English word “recycle.”
The salvaging of a deceased citizen’s DNA occurs at a Recycle Center, a mortuary and anatomical processing clinic administrated by subhives Faltrix and Koltrix (the neuro-lifeform responsible for Hibernation).
A citizen’s corpse arrives at a ‘Recycle Center’ after dying from one of the five acceptable means. After a ceremony occurs for loved ones, attendants place the body inside the Anatomical Harvester, an enclosed chamber based on the Genetic Harvester found in the Femaki’xirpaxul. Inside the sealed harvester, the first legion of nanites, called tiloodax (death-eaters), consumes the skin, veins, arteries, corneas, cartilage, and tendons. Upon completion, they fall dormant as a secondary group of nanites, called yuloodax (life-eaters), arrive via transphasic entry. Yuloodax are very important as they harvest the viscera, which are rich in mitochondria cells needed to cultivate the base necessary for producing a new generation.
After the Yuloodax transphase out of the sealed chamber, the tiloodax reawaken to devour the hair, nails, and blood, leaving only the bones. When complete, a kyron charge within the sealed chamber burns the tiloodax to nothing. Lastly, the chamber undergoes pressurization that crushes the bones to dust. This dust, or shis (bone), is given to the deceased’s pod in the form of a decorative sphere. Ramaxia administrates its ‘Recycle Centers,’ and so the shis-spheres given to a deceased’s living relatives cost nothing.
Many femmar choose to pay an artisan to create something they can display in their homes or places of work. Shisitat, or bone crafters, create sculptures known as shishitav from the bone dust. Self-employed shisitat often set up shop inside a Recycle Center and offer their services for a fee.
Communal shishitav, symbols of shared memory, are a common sight throughout Ramaxia’s cities. Most notable is the Remembrance Monument, located in the entry hall of the Bizakaxi building; it is a replica of the Turkol-Fist made from the bones of thousands of Bizaki miners from the Original and Ramax Gens who died on the Artery. Another important shishitav is the ceremonial dultax made from the bones of Pita Dag, donated by her surviving bonds for display in the Prime Hall of Kulixa Base.
FEMITOKON 