Some Thoughts and Theories on the NXX Drug [CHAPTER 13 SPOILER]
The new Main-Story 13 has definitely had me scrambling on a whiteboard like a madman. Attached below is an actual picture of me rn:
I'M GOING INSANE.
But yes back to the topic at hand. The recent chapter has led me to speculate a lot of things I must exert that all of this is within the realm of HEADCANON. But the information that has got me thinking A LOT is about how:
The NXX circulation has run for 10 YEARS. AT LEAST. The incident of the Seahorse Association involved leaders getting drugged by the NXX drug, causing them to hallucinate and kill themselves. And who took over that case? THE NSB??? ISN'T THAT A BIT SUSPICIOUS.
That said. I think the NXX drug has been circulating for much longer than that. I'll be touching upon about what this means to Luke and Rosa, The NSB's involvement and PAX's a little bit less than savory past. So let's get started:
Here's what we know about the NXX Drug so far, according to the wiki:
The NXX drug stems from FloraX, a bacterium that originated from sea-faring that caused an epidemic in Stellis during 1930. The bacterium caused systemic failures within the human body. However, perhaps through some scientific breakthrough, it was discovered that it also contains gene-restoring attributes as well.
In 2005, Pax Pharmaceutical collaborated with Crimson Biotech to develop a new gene-restoring drug, presumably the NXX. However, it was shut down by the government when alarming side effects of the drug emerged. All possession of the NXX drug within PAX and Crimson were destroyed. Or so it seems.
The potential of an all-cure gene restorative drug is incredibly insane. Being the one to successfully tap into the generative properties of FloraX would make you an extremely powerful person. The possibility of achieving the prowess of a drug like this would surely cause a technological race between multiple parties, including PAX and Crimson, Heirson... etc etc. You get what I mean.
Now what does this mean for the rest of the team?
Let me remind everyone that the NXX Investigation Team is an un-official investigation funded by PAX. This means that Giann had motives and stakes at hand in the investigation of the drug. To make up for past mistakes of PAX? To avoid any more casualties that PAX has unknowingly started? In any case, while perhaps it started off with good intentions, it doesn't change the fact that PAX held some responsibility in developing the drug. I also think this means that Austin know a little bit more than he lets on.
Let me try to put everything in a timeline:
2005 - This is the year that the NXX drug started its development. Coincidentally, Luke and Rosa were born within the same year. I have a headcanon that Luke and Rosa's parent are involved with the development of this drug, perhaps as researchers.
2009 - NXX has presumably reached 4 years of its development if it was not shut down yet. Marius was born, and it is likely Carerina passed away within this year as well.
??? - NXX Research is shut down. PAX and Crimson has likely broken ties at this point. While PAX probably wants to wash their hands off it, I can imagine Crimson having other plans. The NXX drug continues to be developed in secret.
??? - Luke's Parents passes away. Is this a coincident? Or was this planned. Luke's get taken into Rosa's family. I could imagine this being done as a way to protect Luke.
2020 - Seahorse Association Incident, NSB takes over the case.
2022 - Luke leaves for the capital and gets involved in a "transnational case".' He gets recruited into a "secret project". This is a cover story for his entry to the NSB.
??? - Giann, Neil, and Vyn formed the NXX Investigation Team
2029-2030??? - During an NSB mission, Luke and his team is gravely injured by a toxic gas attack. During treatment, they were contaminated by an unknown drug (NXX). Luke is the sole survivor.
2029-Present Day- Artem joins the team. Neil goes missing shortly after, followed by Giann. Marius, Rosa, and Luke join subsequently.
That said here are my theories and headcanons. :
Considering the possibilities that this drug can do, a lot of parties would be interested in getting their hands and developing the drug. NSB included. It wouldn't be so strange if they wanted it for themselves to more effectively cure their agents or even create some super-soldiers out of it.
I don't think Luke getting into the NSB is an accident. Neither is Luke's parents' death nor was the incident that caused him the infection and the illness. Tears of Themis really likes making parallels between the boys and the chapters their featured in. In Main Story Episode 3, Jasmine Kenders was murdered for being a whistle-blower, this could have happened to Luke's parents as well if they whistle-blowed during their time as researchers of the NXX drug. I feel that the NSB has had their eyes on Luke for the longest time. Luke is their most competent agent, perhaps they wanted to see how much the drug would affect someone with his physicality.
Speaking of parallels, the parallels in this chapter... oh man... Hank Barnes and Luna Barnes losing their parents at a young age. Luna Barnes taking a "miracle" drug, thinking she's actually recovering only for her condition to succumb... HMM, DOESN'T THAT SOUND REALLY FAMILIAR... LUKE, WHY CAN'T YOU SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING. Syringes that killed the three victims, just like the ones Luna Barnes were take. YOU KNOW WHO ELSE IS TAKING SYRINGES.
PAX is not completely innocent I think. They definitely have some motives in wanting to get to the root of the NXX drug trade, whether it is to wash their hands clean or remedy the past. This is definitely a headcanon, but what if Carerina was given the NXX to let her live a little longer before she died... This would definitely increase the stakes and provide ulterior motives for both Giann and Marius. Austin... I'm looking at you.
We don't know much about Rosa's parents. But they've been missing and out of sight. Perhaps it's just Main Protagonist Things(TM) but I think it's very suspicious.
Honestly, I feel like I'm just rambling at this point. But I feel like... someone should chart out all the chapters that have happened into a board and start threading things together. There's so much stuff I don't remember. I need to lie down.











