C-Virus Development and what it means to be a "Chimera"
There are many, many types of C-Virus. The nature of this pathogen is that it mutates quickly and uncontrollably. It was why there were worries about the vaccine working long-term, because it's so virulent it would mutate around defenses.
PROTO-VIRUS - (THE LADDER) 2001
This T-Type virus was isolated from the ruins of the Umbrella Training Facility in Arklay, harvested from one of Dr. James Marcus's infected leeches.
This prototype strain was notable for its vast collection of generationally passed invertebrate-parasite-derived DNA. Leeches that were reproducing, that were also infected with the T-Virus, passed on this library of iDNA to their offspring by way of the T-Virus.
Due to the fact the original Progenitor strain was so virulent and specialized, it could infect both plants and animals. The Proto-Virus was coined "The Ladder" or "The Staircase", as it functioned as an way to cross genomic sequences.
PROTO-C (T-VERONICA/GOLGOTHA) 2002
Using the proto virus as a base, C-Virus was developed by splicing T-Veronica (t-02) and Golgotha (G-Virus) together using The Ladder to rapidly combine traits of both viruses.
This early version of C-Virus was very unstable and difficult to maintain, as it had a propensity to combust by itself. Using the G-Virus and the DNA instructions of Leeches, a cocoon structure was developed to contain the combustion step in the process, while also giving subjects an intermediary step between uninfected and infected. This solution to the problems presented by T-Veronica obliterated the stasis time necessary to acclimate to the virus. The cocoons produced by this prototype virus at this stage gave the virus its name, "Chrysalid".
Proto-C was tested on a variety of animal and plant subjects, adding more DNA into The Ladder from the variety of experiments. It was then moved to be tested on human subjects.
CHRYSALID VIRUS 2003
The stabilized C-Virus had the capacity to extract and replicate tissues, but also had the capacity to create legions of zombies. This was discovered during an unusual outbreak in the Tall Oaks facility, where contaminated groundwater had trickled into The Family's catacombs. The embalmed corpses of many long-deceased humans rose from the dead.
These were the first long-dead zombies on record. Corpses could be animated that had been dead and embalmed for a century or more. These corpses somehow had feeding responses to living organisms, were able to hold and utilize weapons, and were strangely fast.
While the value in animating the long dead was noticed, the virus was primarily used in efforts to store, replicate, and clone tissues from The Ladder. These stored DNA archives gave infected organisms the ability to express them later, in response to damage done or in response to prompting.
This strain was tested rigorously in several testing facilities. Lab animals were continuously exposed to the virus by way of leeches. Testing began on the long dead of the Family Catacombs, in an effort to produce cocoons from the deceased. When the failures mounted, C-Virus was tested on trafficked persons.
C-VIRUS (PROJECT ADA) 2004
Project Ada truly began with this strain developed by Carla Radames. She was given tissues of a woman to create a full clone out of. She began this process by incorporating this woman, "Ada" into The Ladder, by using leeches to harbor and propagate her genetic code to be expressed later through prompting. Perfect cloning was unsuccessful in initial trials. The science was still theoretical, and while achievable on small scales, was a colossal task on a large one.
This strain resulted in the first J'avo, as well as the first Complete Mutations (completely new organisms from a cocoon). This strain was one that Carla incorporated her own DNA into in order to further the research with more expedience. 2004 was the first time the C-Virus experiments began to experience "euphoria" akin to religious visions or powerful endorphin hits when injected.
Complete mutations were observed to have mild to moderate control over other base J'avo and C-infected.
C-VIRUS (RADAMES) 2007
This strain was Carla's individual one after she was infected with the stabilized "Project Ada" strain, and transformed into a Complete Mutation. This strain was the result of a successful perfect clone. The cloning process was a massive success due to specific health factors with Carla Radames, and those health factors further informed the nature of C-Virus.
Carla was indistinguishable from Ada Wong internally and externally. She was not shedding viral particles, and was determined to be not infectious, unlike many other Complete Mutations.
Unbeknownst to the research team that celebrated the success of this Ada clone, the clone did not maintain human internal structures, and was in fact, infectious.
This strain also produced the first animated chrysalid shell in existence, dubbed "Husk".
C-VIRUS (BLACK TEARS) 2009
After much research and many organisms incorporated into The Ladder, militant field testing began of the J'avo. These powerful and intelligent super soldiers were incredibly hard to kill, fast, and had the capacity to strategize. Furthermore, they were responsive and commandable by a "Commander" J'avo. This Commander was always a Perfect Mutation, and infected that were not Perfect Mutants responded to Commander J'avo without hesitation. The euphoria effect of C-Virus was exhibited in these creatures as a continuous byproduct of being in the presence of a Perfect Mutation. An endorphin release was also detected upon initial infection.
This strain was injected into recently deceased bodies off the coast of Daijoon, a little country around Laos that was embroiled in a civil war. Combat testing saw J'avo face off against a completely different, non-Progenitor based bioweapon, and from these combat encounters came the full codex of Partial Mutations that tended to happen on a human body.
Black tears indicated a strange jump in infectivity for this modern C-strain, though it was still considered a low spread virus. Before 2009, there were no reports of these creatures leaking black tears.
C-VIRUS (EROS) 2011
This strain was an injection developed for testing in combat field experience. Eros produced the highest measurable "euphoria" feeling out of any of the C-Virus strains to date. Power given by the virus was directly correlated to incredible jumps in endorphin levels.
Subjects were prone to spiritual experiences and religious manias. This was the strain used on Marhawa Academy. Nanan, a deceased student from Marhawa, was brought back to life with this virus, and transformed into a Proto-Lepotica Perfect Mutation. Nanan's ability to produce a gas form of "Eros" caused the zombie outbreak that destroyed the prestigious academy.
C-VIRUS (CHATTER) 2012-2013
This strain was an injection developed in 2012, and used on Edonia later that year to transform the Edonian Liberation Army into a sophisticated superhuman fighting force. Unlike in Marhawa, no zombies were produced by CHATTER. The strain instead produced quite a number of Perfect Mutations and masses of cocoons.
CHATTER was used as biological ammunition in several pneumatic weapons, and caused untold amounts of destruction. The fighting in Edonia continued into the new year, 2013, with the victory of this civil war being wrung by the Liberation party.
CHRYSALID (EUPHORIA) 2013
This slow acting strain was distributed as a test medication by the Da Vinci medical center. Testers were paid exceptionally for their time.
This slow acting infection produced a focus increasing high upon consumption of a pill, which also acted as a mild aphrodisiac and erectile dysfunction treatment due to its effect on the circulatory system.
Thousands of people in Waiyip were infected this way. Over time, it also produced Raslkapanje from humans infected with roundworms.
C-VIRUS (LEPOTICA) 2013
This strain was produced by the Lepotica Complete Mutation refined from the body of Nanan in Marhawa. Lepotica had the ability to infect and transform people into likewise infectious zombies through an aerosol form of C-Virus.
Zombies produced from Lepotica are more infectious than previous zombies created by C-strains, and mutate by way of the V-ACT process into several different types of unusual monsters. The Whopper and Shrieker and Bloodshot came into being from exposure to Lepotica.
C-VIRUS (C-SPRAY) 2013
The missiles that launched into Lanshiang carried C-SPRAY. This faster spreading aerosol produced zombies by the thousands. These zombies were very quick, and had the capacity to use weapons that they were familiar with prior to infection.
C-SPRAY also produced Complete Mutations at a lesser rate. C-SPRAY zombies were less likely to mutate further into Bloodshots, Shriekers, and Whoppers. Theoretically, if left to mutate, these variants could crop up again.
Subsequent missiles of C-SPRAY were sold to conflict ridden factions around the world, causing international havoc with C-Virus. There were 25 missiles in total that crossed international lines, and some were not sold- existing to this day.
C-VIRUS (CUPID) 2013
This strain was engineered to produce exclusively Complete Mutations . This was an injection used on Deborah Harper, as well as the woman that became Ubistvo. This strain was derived from the Eros strain drawn from Nanan's body.
Complete Mutations had the capacity to turn the tide of impossible battles. The Bio-Organic Weapons, or BOWs they produced were virtually impossible to kill by conventional firearms.
ENHANCED C-VIRUS (ADA) 2013
This injectable strain was meant for Ada Wong, and was spliced repeatedly to enhance its quick division as well as guarantee a perfect mutation out of Ada. It bypassed the need for a cocoon, binding The Ladder directly to a host's DNA.
Enhanced C was the result of using Jake Muller's blood to expedite research and increase its energy potential. Enhanced C had incredibly high energy output. Piers Nivans was infected with this designer strain.
ENHANCED C-VIRUS (SIMMONS) 2013
This strain was meant for Derek Simmons. It was designed to rip him apart without bodily autonomy, as well as perpetuate his existence until he burned himself out. The Ladder in this case was forcibly ripping the host's body apart while the host had to fight to remain in control.
Derek mutated from a selection of specific templates, including a tyrannosaur, a dog, a snake, and a fly. His body became less and less inside his control as he mutated further and reached for more control over his body.
Enhanced C was the result of using Jake Muller's blood to expedite research and increase the virus's energy potential.
ENHANCED C-VIRUS (NEMO) 2013
This strain was meant for Carla Radames, and was spliced repeatedly to snowball mutations out of control as well as write an out of control will into The Ladder itself.
This dose was meant to be a natural disaster, and was not meant to be survived with any intact consciousness.
Enhanced C was the result of using Jake Muller's blood to expedite research and increase the virus's energy potential.
C-VIRUS (LEVIATHAN) 2013
This strain was manufactured with the genome of heat-resistant microbes and man o' war colonies in a chrysalid amnion.
An infected embryo was then grown inside the chrysalid. This produced HAOS, a hyper infectious super spreader of its own strain. This strain remained untested, as the creature met its end against Piers Nivans.
C (CHIMERA) - VIRUS (ABRAXAS) 2020
Chimera is the second generation of "C-Virus". Chrysalid was eschewed in favor of Chimera, as cocoons were not absolutely necessary for infected to mutate.
This strain was found inside an enormous infected whale that had swallowed the remnants of HAOS, as well as a black cocoon that contained the supposedly dead Carla Radames.
The infected produced by this strain were swathes of extremely aggressive and quick moving zombies.
This strain was hyper infectious and caused euphoric hallucinations before mutations. This strain seems to have reverted to Proto-C's instability, and infected are more prone to combustion.
C (CHIMERA) - VIRUS (SINDBAD) 2024
This strain was coined by Christine Yamata @yamata after study of empty black cocoons retrieved from an attack on a yacht were found to be endlessly mutating and animated even without processing centers.
Zombies produced by this strain have multiple sets of eyes, infectious bites and immolate upon deactivation.
This strain is the most infectious that any of the C-Virus strains have ever been. It is also the most prone to mutation that the virus has ever been. It produces fast, V-ACT process undead, and endless assortments of Complete Mutations.
transcript under the cut of some concepts circa 2024
Infection Notes: J'avo
J'avo are created when C-Virus is injected into a host's blood. This infection type takes 6-12 seconds to take effect on an individual, turning them into a "drone" like fighter with reasoning, cunning, and the ability to use weapons that it may have in life. These J'avo are completely dominated by a "commander" infected.
The initial damage done by the virus causes excessive mucus and plasma production, seepage leaking from any possible orifice.
C-Virus takes a body from fever to flashpoint at incredible speed thanks to
T-Veronica. The end result of this is actively sizzling burns on the creature that seem to be coming from the inside.
C-Virus replicates in a way that mimics Golgotha, replicating a host's eyes. Due to the way Chrysalid works, this virus wells and builds in the eyes, typically not repeating this eye replication on places other than the face.
C-Virus begins to shred and re-sequence the human genome, restructuring these particles with instructions from completely different species. J'avo often present with many layers of teeth.
J'avo are not meant to last long. They have incredible regenerative but also mutagenic capabilities. Due to their regenerative abilities, their respiratory systems are constantly taxed, resulting in wheezing and panting being common. Their heart rates are elevated, and the creature constantly steams with heat.
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