so i’ve been sitting on this idea for... a while now? but i want to add something very personal to peter’s characterization. i’ve chosen to project my kidney disorder, bartter’s syndrome, onto him. it’s a pretty complex disorder, and while it does affect his day to day life, not everything needs to be listed here. i am willing to field any questions about it to the best of my ability, however! feel free to ask!
but anyway, here are some key things:
bartter’s is a rare (and recessive) genetic mutation that affects the kidneys/renal system. it was not corrected by the spider bite like peter’s vision was.
always a sickly child, he was finally diagnosed in kindergarten after a drawn out bout with a stomach virus that sent him to the hospital. his dangerously low electrolyte levels combined with his failure to thrive caught the attention of a local nephrologist who went on to diagnose him.
there are many ways to classify the disorder, but i will refer to it as an electrolyte wasting disorder because that’s the easiest way for me to explain it. the electrolytes most affected--for peter and myself--are potassium, magnesium, and sodium. my pete loves salty foods because he’s almost always low on sodium and his body is constantly trying to replenish it through his cravings.
electrolytes are vital to various bodily functions including, but not limited to: muscle contraction, energy generation, and most major biochemical reactions in the body.
peter has to take supplemental doses of magnesium oxide and potassium chloride (+indomethacin to reduce polyuria and nocturia) several times a day to maintain safe levels. especially with how much he sweats while engaged in combat or simply swinging through the city. he also drinks a lot of sports drinks, as they contain relatively high levels of both to replenish the electrolytes lost when athletes sweat.
stress can--and DOES--negatively affect his electrolyte levels quite often.
the first signs that his levels are approaching an unsafe level are headaches, paresthesia/numbness or tingling in extremities, tetany/muscle cramps (usually beginning in the hands and feet and spreading), brain-fog/forgetfulness, persistent fatigue, etc. if he does not counter a drop quickly enough, arrhythmia/heart palpitations, full-body tetany, and even respiratory failure can occur.
chronically low electrolytes can exacerbate depression and anxiety.
A compilation of reports extensively detailing the application of, and V-ACT mutations/variations observed with the t-Veronica strain of retrovirus.
General works accessible with Level 4 security clearance:
Properties observed of Clay-ε variant T-VERONICA: Retrovirus Origins and Application
- Queen Ant Research Report
- Virus Research Report
- t-Veronica Report
Handling and Physiology of t-Veronica V-ACT Subjects
Notable works accessible with Administrative security clearance:
Subject V-00: “Nosferatu”
Subject V-01: “VERONICA”
Subject V-01 Supplemental: “Veronica Plant”
Subject V-02: “The Knight”
Subject V-03: “Hidalgo”
Subject V-04: “V-Complex”
Subject C-00: “The Husk”
Properties observed of Clay-ε variant T-VERONICA:
Retrovirus Origins and Application
"Queen Ant Research Report” - c. 1983
Ever since I discovered remnants of an ancient virus within the genes of a queen ant, I have decided to build an anthill and further my studies of ants.
The ecology of ants is quite ideal. For each anthill, a single queen ant dominates, with the soldier and worker ants acting as her slaves. They would give their lives to the queen ant. The death of a queen signifies the death of the entire anthill. If a queen is present there will always be ample supply of workers and soldiers. It is this exact suitable relation I have between myself and other foolish people.
I transplanted the queen ant gene into the Progenitor Virus discovered by Spencer and successfully developed an ideal virus. I attempted an experiment on my useless father, but as expected from other Progenitor experiments, the rapid changes at a cellular level due to the effects of the virus have destroyed not only his body but also his mind.
This mutation caused his body to generate a specialised toxic gas that the [Arklay] blue herb has no effect on. I made an antidote in the event an emergency occurs and it has been stored it the B2 Weapons and Medical Warehouse.
Due to how much potential the virus has, more than I’d imagined, I have named it “t-Veronica.” When I find a way to make the power of this virus my own, my great research will be complete. [1]
“Virus Research Report” - c. 1987
The more I study t-Veronica and its queen ant origins, the more amazement I have at its hidden potential. I have discovered how to control its power and have transplanted it within my own body.
To avoid the failure of my previous experiment with my father, it is necessary to suppress the activity of the virus at low temperature, to allow changes to the cells in moderation.
By my calculation, it will take approximately 15 years to harmonise with the virus so we may coexist. Meanwhile, the only one who protects me is a capsule and my (older) brother — a loyal but incompetent soldier ant. However, risks and sacrifices must be made in order to gain power.
At the time of my revival, I will be a Queen. My children will spread t-Veronica throughout the world, and all creatures of Earth will become my slaves.
The Earth will become a beautiful, perfect ecosystem like my anthills.
— Alexia Ashford [2]
“t-Veronica Report” - c. 2009, BSAA File
Much like the t-Virus, t-Veronica was created using the Progenitor Virus as a base raw material. The method of generating this variant involved queen ant and plant genes being incorporated into Progenitor.
The cells of organisms infected with t-Veronica are rapidly affected
Bodies of organisms infected with t-Veronica are not only eroded rapidly at a cellular level, but brain cells are damaged when extreme rejection occurs.
In comparison with the t-Virus which creates organisms via mutation, or the G-Virus which creates new life-forms, it is less dangerous, however in terms of deadliness toward humans all aforementioned viruses are equally dangerous.
※ WARNING — The following information is to be handled with care!
Unofficially recognised, symbiosis with t-Veronica has confirmed to be possible by allowing the body to adapt via delaying virus erosion and cryogenically preserving an infected individual. If successful, the infected person will gain incredible abilities. It is also said that an infected individual in this condition possesses a reproductive ability similar to a G-Creature, however this is unconfirmed and remains a matter of speculation at present.
Because of the possibility of the above information being misused, it hasn't been made public. Handling of this information is restricted solely to Level 5 or higher analysts belonging to the Intelligence Analysis Office, some permitted researchers belonging to the Technology Research Office and high-level BSAA personnel with Level 8 or higher information access privileges. If information is leaked without the permission of officials and necessary procedures, note that you will be subject to punishment. [3]
Handling and Physiology of t-Veronica V-ACT Subjects
Clay Virus Type Epsilon (TYRANT) Variant Veronica (T-VERONICA):
Regnum: Virus
Group VI: ssRNA(RT)
Ordo: Ortervirales
Familia: Retroviridae
Transmission: Blood contact, bodily fluids, embryonic implantation
Infectious Rate: 99.99%*
Fatality Rate: 84.57% — 98.89%
* Rate confirmed to be approximately 30.25-35.40% when in isolated cold environments.
Known harmonised subjects:
Alexia Ashford — Veronica genus
Overview:
t-Veronica was created from a base compound of Clay-β, retroviridae samples taken from Formicium mirabile and Formicium berryi, Clay-ε, and bridged with botanical cells from orchidaceae. Abscission in plants allow for better mutagenic enhancement traits than that of animalia-hirudinea. Harmonised subjects are able to ‘cast off’ damaged parts and regrow them without further V-ACT, opposed to Tyrant or Golgotha variants. Subjects infected with t-Veronica are officially classified as australis argentea-viridiflora, with subspecies being individually classified in the event of catastrophic mutation.
Staff permissions & handling:
Use of t-Veronica by staff not in cluster Level 4 is strictly prohibited. Work with t-Veronica is strictly prohibited in tropic and sub-tropic climates due to its fast V-ACT potential within plant matter when exposed to heat. Staff accessing t-Veronica or the Greenhouse unauthorised are subject to immediate termination of employment.
Australis argentea-viridiflora subjects, with sole exception of Veronica genus, must remain in the Antarctic Facility unless specialty arrangements for safe cold-storage of volatile plant-insect hybridisation are made. To minimise spread of t-Veronica subjects must remain in said arranged cold-storage. Limbs or other body pieces damaged or shed from Veronica or other derivatives of australis argentea-viridiflora must be handled with extreme caution to prevent auto-haemorrhage of any remnant haemolymph within the part.
Physiology:
Safe retrieval of blood in a controlled environment where there was less than 0.017 mL of liquid water per litre of air confirmed that the australis argentea-viridiflora have evolved to utilise a haemolymph in substitution for blood, and that the haemolymph contains a pyrophoric in addition to a high concentration of formic acid. Conclusively as result, key subject Veronica has an open circulatory system seen in arthropoda for fluid transfer to organs instead of cardiovascular, likely a result of the retrovirus that was extracted from Formicium mirabile and Formicium berryi fossils during the creation of t-Veronica being combined with Clay-β.
Upon threat, subject Veronica can exhibit the ability to auto-haemorrhage haemolymph from its right arm. Due to the pyrophoric, such discharge is highly dangerous, reacting with water molecules within litres of air to spontaneously combust. Being coated in the discharge even in a low-humid environment will still result in extreme burns to tissue from the formic acid content. Subject Veronica exhibits the ability to also resist the combustion thanks to phosphorylated and deacetylated chitin coatings across its skin: it cannot be set alight by its own combustion nor via other external sources, as the chitin is a natural self-extinguisher.
Like Clay-ε variant Golgotha subjects, Veronica is capable of replication via reproduction. The only research into this subject was the observation of new V-ACT in the Greenhouse project "Plant-45", which generated amniotic sacs containing embryos. Any embryonic material falls under the same jurisdiction as other australia argentea-viridiflora subjects with regards to safe handling of biohazardous materials.
Subject V-01 Supplemental: “Veronica Plant”, c. 2007
After numerous attempts to replicate the heightened sentience attained in Antarctica with the original Veronica Plant, I have finally had success.
Because of t-Veronica’s botanical bridge the virus adapts well within plants and allows them to far surpass their usual growth patterns, whilst also changing their chemical makeup through a mutation. Unlike animalia or mammalian tests, plants do not need to undergo an incubation period such as cryostasis to circumvent an uncontrollable V-ACT. At a cellular level, the virus bonds with the DNA allowing the plant to adapt within days and often double its chromosome count, and within two weeks the plant is able to communicate with other t-Veronica infected.
I was less meticulous in my methodology as a child. The particular genus of plant used to create the original Veronica Plant was not correctly recorded.
Though I thought to initially attempt this on orchids, a personal favourite and of the same family which became the cellular bridge for t-Veronica, it produced results less than desirable for the current project. All had a high intelligence and grew to sizes that dwarf that of the grammatophyllum speciosum, but they were unable to attain the symbiotic nature that which the original Veronica Plant afforded. All current species of orchidaceae-viridiflora resulting from these tests have been safely transplanted into the greenhouse, and the botanical team are finding unique properties within the oil of their root systems — of which they are able to safely harvest without damage to the plants due to the higher rate of abscission.
After doing further research on what may have been the basis for the original, I came across a paper detailing the variations in chromosomes of older plant species and was impressed with the moraceae family, of which contains 38 genera and over 1100 species. The common morus nigra itself has 308 chromosomes, and it has a history of being ‘invasive’ to most which speaks of its tenacity to endure harsh environments and adapt.
Testing began in early March. I ran a cultivar of seedling through to mature specimen and introduced t-Veronica through fertilisation. Of all specimens of the cultivar the seedling took to the virus the best, the others failing to adapt despite being more mature. By the start of early April it had developed its first cotyledon.
By mid-June the seedling had grown exponentially, developing a unique mutation of enormous purple-black pseudanthia budding from its elongated branches as it sprouted, and it began to communicate via t-Veronica to the orchids, and then myself.
They are beautiful, growing each and every day to the size their predecessor once held, and within a few more months I conclude they will surpass the previous size two-fold. The finalisation of the specialised greenhouse level in the antarctic base for her came at a most opportune moment.
My only dread is that once Albert finishes work on the new Umbrella building, planned for when the company goes live in the stock market outside of its paramilitary, that I will need to leave them here and such distance will not allow our harmonisation. At current my lead botanist is seeing if there is a way we can segment the Veronica Plant so that I may take a cutting to grow in my cultivar lab there, without damaging them and while maintaining the same symbiotic network.
- Alexia Ashford
Subject V-02: “The Knight”, c. 1998
Rockfort Identification: MFD2872
Subject Name: Steve Burnside
Subject shows suitable resilience to t-Veronica, outlasting subject V-00′s induction to V-ACT record without any sign of physical or mental degradation. Subject is noted to already have a strong genetic mutation due to his double-recessive pigmentation of auburn hair follicles and blue eyes, which may make harmonisation without need for cryostasis a potential variable.
Subject developed a minor gold heterochromia iridum mutation three hours after induction of t-Veronica around the subject’s outer iris. Vitals remain in optimal parameters, though blood pressure has increased from 122/82 to 159/102. The elevated reading is likely a result of heightened cortisol for the subject’s current situation. Temperature is still at 37.2°C.
Subject entered V-ACT when presented with its prey. Much like V-00, V-02 has tremendous strength, though it has malformed in mutation with asymmetrical limbs. Despite presenting its prey constrained in the Veronica plant, subject resisted its primordial urge and the influence of a higher-infected and instead attacked the plant.
It is with disappointment I must report that V-02 is also a failure despite high chances of harmonisation from his genetic markers.
Subject has been terminated.
- Alexia Ashford
Subject C-00: “The Husk”, c. 2014
The Chrysalid Virus is a failure made by a failure. The theory of combining the life work of myself and that of my colleague William Birkin’s has merit, a V-ACT process wherein Golgotha and Veronica could, if a subject were correctly harmonised, create a vastly superior species with the ability to self-replicate, self-repair, control its V-ACT mutagenic adaptation, and retain intelligence.
The failings of “C” lay in the hands of its own virologist: Carla Radames.
She sought to remove the impurities of Veronica by tampering with the base RNA, but her understanding of its structure bridge of orchidaceae was minimal, causing the virus to lose one of its greatest properties of abscission while enhancing the production of pyrophoric in haema. The increase of body temperature increases the likelihood of self-combustion, resulting in the chrysalid state most infected enter and often never adapt from.
Radames herself was a byproduct of chance, using “C” to alter her biology to appear of another ethnicity by injecting a chrysalid cocoon with the DNA of Ada Wong. After overdosing on “C”, her unique morphology caused a catastrophic V-ACT in the event of her mortal death, wherein Veronica was completely subdued by the more dominant Golgotha in the strain. The resulting biomass appeared to undergo a liquefaction to its mass, requiring the engorgement of other organic material to sustain itself.
Dare I say, it could have been a potentially dangerous biological weapon, if it were not confined as it had been. With the loss of other mass to sustain itself, in addition to significant damage from rapid thermodynamic environmental factors, the Husk was unable to undergo further V-ACT.
A fitting end.
- Alexia Ashford
This has been a labour of love. 2,426 words of it to be precise.
This is a resource compiled of translations of official files from the series and its extended canon in official books or websites, with my own headcanons and attempts to ground parts of t-Veronica’s V-ACT adaptations into a ‘real world’ setting to provide grounding.
Please ensure you source me if you wish to use particular facts for t-Veronica — especially from the translation of the original files as I have done them as accurately as possible without omissions of data for the sake of ‘lore control’ sites like Project Umbrella tend to do. Double especially if you want to take any botanical citations as I have done extensive personal research on varied cultivars to again root some real-world science into the often fantastical world of Biohazard.
Resources:
[1] Queen Ant Research Report (localised as Queen Ant Report) — BIOHAZARD CODE: Veronica, 2000
[2] Virus Research Report (localised as Virus Report) - BIOHAZARD CODE:Veronica, 2000
[3] t-Veronica Report (not localised) - BSAA Remote Desktop website, 2009
sometimes i think about how pete probably had to be super, uncomfortably honest with his doctors about (at the very least) his healing factor and enhanced metabolism/resistance to drugs/toxins/etc
during his top surgery, he’d probably need either a MASSIVE, continuous dose of anesthesia, or a completely different drug altogether
healing too quickly from the surgery might be an issue as well
his t dosing would probably be super hard to nail down too?
One of the things I really love visualising is the fact Alexia can, quite literally, bloom.
We see her mutation in the games as seemingly more arthropodaic, especially as she undergoes further V-ACT as result of damage in her fight, especially in the original CV, but her Darkside visual hammers home just how botanical the virus is thanks to it being the bridge. Her second form has her as a column to the throat of a flower, a dufour’s gland the arthropod addition to where the lip of the flower would be.
The colour of her sepal plates (both on her head, her right arm, and her left leg) are verdant, and somewhat greyed by the phosphorylated and deacetylated chitin coating on the outside, but beneath we see she has a carotenoid creating colour in the foliage.
She is distinctly red in those undersides.
Any botanical extensions of herself behave like inflorescence, and in particular can literally bud and bloom as part of her regenerative process should those extensions be damaged. Best visual real-world equivalent I can think of it cymbudium orchids: green and red mottled blooms from a very large stake, though in her case they’d “mature” until they reach a point of deep red thanks to her carotenoids.
Peter wouldn’t call himself a huge sports fanatic, but he does enjoy--both watching and playing--basketball and baseball. He doesn’t really play either much anymore, for fear of getting a little too competitive and revealing too much about his talents.
Some of the best memories he has of his childhood are of going to baseball games with Uncle Ben and playing pick-up games of basketball with his friends.
Otto said he saw Peter as a son— how did Peter feel about that? Did he think it was just an attempt at manipulation? Did he ever see Otto as a father figure?
!!!
in the moment, i think it really got to him. pete readily admits to having worshipped the man; to having wanted to model himself after someone so kind, helpful, brilliant, and resilient. and to hear that otto had thought of him as his son... boy. heartstrings yanked. it probably brought to mind all the special moments the pair had while working together: the two were never shy to express their affection for each other through gentle touches and hugs and?? just so many beautiful, healthy father and son type moments??
i think he definitely saw otto as father figure of sorts, especially after they’d formed such a tight-knit bond after working so closely together for so long. there were a lot of things pete could never bring himself to tell otto (obviously) but that doesnt mean he didnt trust and love him. that’s just how pete is.
as for whether or not he believed otto was manipulating him? again, in the moment, i don’t think pete saw what he was doing as an attempt at manipulation. (at least not until the very end, when his otto’s tone changes so drastically??) because peter... peter has this incredible idealism, and i think it blinds him to certain peoples’ true intentions. (we see another great example of that with how he handles felicia in the first dlc.)
also this is? kinda related and i think i mentioned this to the incredible @octaviusindustries before but. whether otto’s intention was to be manipulative or not, i feel like he very nearly had pete in that scene?? until he went and pulled that “you’ll rest easy, knowing your secret is safe with me” bullshit slkfjlkfj
like pete had turned to leave a couple times, but he kept coming back. he kept letting otto grab him and hold onto his arm when he very easily could have pulled away. he kept listening. and i honestly think he was still clinging to the hope that he’d hear the old otto. the real otto.
more than anything, he wanted to see that his friend was still in there somewhere.
If you share a bed with Peter, be prepared for him to get up to pee at least twice a night. Just saying. He’ll do his best not to wake a bedmate, but light sleepers beware.
thinks about telling harry that he's spidey at LEAST once a week, but he always stops himself for one reason or another. plus he doesnt want to give him that responsibility; he knows living in the spotlight like harry does is hard enough without knowing spidey's secret identity
is a generally positive person, and tries hard to keep that up even as he's falling apart. when he knows he can't manage that, he isolates, or spends more time than necessary on patrol. neither of those things help, so he usually ends up relying on someone reaching out to him to pull him back
often wars with himself, wondering which half of his whole can do the most good for the world. but he kind of shrinks away from the good peter can do after the whole ordeal with otto. he worries about his work being used in similar ways again, and does honestly think about a career change for a long, LONG while
starts a tutoring club at FEAST after it's rebuilt, focusing primarily on mathematics and sciences but eventually branching into other subjects as well. he's able to attract respected educators--and even tony stark and reed richards--to volunteer their time
