Echoes
In a world where the post WWII Cold War did not occur, and neither the military industrial complex or iron curtain took hold, humanity thrived and advanced in ways unknown to human history.
Leaps and bounds ahead of societies in our timeline, medical science in particular has changed the world in strange ways. Notably, an overwhelming majority of people no longer reproduce as humans have for all generations prior.
Rather than birthing live children, most people opt to either create direct genetic clones or hybrid clones by combining multiple DNA strands. Reproducing in this way allows for an unimaginable list of genetic and cybernetic enhancements to be implemented before the replica is "Delivered".
These optimized beings are not referred to as children, but as "Echoes".
Most often delivered as adults, Echoes are typically fully maximized both genetically and cybernetically.
During a month-long process called Awakening, Echoes learn everything natural born humans experience in their first two decades of life.
Echoes will soon replace natural humans as the apex species on Earth. A new ritual has come about where an Echo will absorb the "Voice" (mind & soul) of their parents or elders upon physical death.
Echo life spans are unknown, but suspected to be at least 200 years.
