Work In Progress The Sea’s Aspect

[Skellege Nauss]

OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION

• Intent: Wanted to put my own spin on the idea of Biotics from Mass Effect, and to provide an interesting alternative to the force for a certain species of the planet Meer. (WIP)
• Image Credit: Link
• Canon: No
• Permissions: N/A
• Links: Nix, Meer, The Host, Biotics

GENERAL INFORMATION

• Scientific Name: Aspexsus-1
• Abbreviation: APX-1
• Common Name: Apex-1, The Aspect/The Sea’s Aspect, The Ocean’s song.
• Virus Family: Aspexsuspikthilidae
• Origins: Meer
• Other Locations: Meer, most oceanic planets in the Unknown region.
• Description: Bioluminescent microbial life forms that have evolved to provide more complex life with a range of benefits and expenses.

PHYSICAL INFORMATION

• Morphology: Rod
• Size: 0.001-1 Nanometers
• Color: Neon blue
• Distinctions: Bioluminescent algae-like virus. Seems to consume copious amounts of water from host bodies.

VIRUS SPECIFICS

• Source: Natural
• Host Species: Chyth, Nix, The Host (fungi) (WIP)
• Host Range: Broad
• Viability: High-Humidity environments
• Lethality: Low
• Severity: Low-Moderate
• Infectivity: Very Low
• Modes of Transmission: Water, Blood, Parasites and insects
• Incubation Period: Within 2-3 Hours
• Re-Infection: Can reinfect
• Vaccine/Cure: Can be cured with use of blood-transfusions or by consuming copious amounts of salt over the span of up to two weeks. Be aware that you shouldn’t risk death of dehydration in pursuit of removing your ailments. There are also many salves and treatments that lessen the symptoms of the disease, though they only seem a temporary solution.

SYMPTOMS & EFFECTS

• Midi-chlorian Suppression; suppresses a host’s natural force abilities
• Immunosuppression; suppresses the immune system by attaching to lymphocytes
• Hyper Salivation; causes the host to produce more saliva than normal
• Epiphora; causes the host to produce more tears from their tear ducts
• Auditory Hallucinations; causes the host to hear a constant chorus in the back of their minds
• Hyperacusis; causes the host to have an increased sensitivity to sound
• Enables the host to use a range of harmonics (sound-based abilities (see historical information))

STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES

Strengths:

• Extreme Hematophagy; Pathogen uses host lymphocytes to replicate (high reproductive success rates)
• Systemic Infection; Pathogen affects multiple organ and tissue types, causing body-wide infections (high chance of infection)
• Cold Immunity; Pathogen is unaffected by low temperatures

Weaknesses:

• Aqua-dependent; cannot thrive in dry or arid conditions
• Weakness to Heat; cannot thrive in moderately to extremely hot conditions
• Salt (see vaccine/cure)

HISTORICAL INFORMATION
When the planet Meer had birthed its first few complex organisms, this virus had been around. It had always been there, always singing its song in the minds of Meer’s peoples. However, each prominent race has had their own take on the virus as they developed alongside it;
The Nix have seen the virus as an absolute good, going as far as incorporating it in their spiritual practices and beliefs. The Nix have utilized and trained themselves to use the virus as their primary weapon, with its innate ability to allow its host to tap into a range of harmonics, including Ocean’s Bliss, Siren’s Song, and Banshee’s Screech. Bliss calms, the Song charms, and the Screech harms those who hear it. More on harmonics after all three prominent races are addressed. With that in mind,
The Chyth have more or less seen the virus as nothing more than a disease that causes unstable thoughts, however they do not deny that it could have been a gift from a proverbial goddess of the oceans, even so, they remain indifferent to the virus and the associated dogma. Moving on,
The Host, being a collective of fungal hive minds, have seen the virus as a threat to their very existence. They demonize it and those who worship it, calling the religious faith behind it an act of heresy to their own faith. Their hatred of the virus is described more in depth on their own entry. With that out of the way,
Harmonics, a strange sound-based biological phenomenon that is often associated with the Nix, are rooted in this virus being within a host body (Not to be confused with The Host). Harmonics, when compared to other forms of “space-magic,” are often seen as weak, being that the three most common abilities learned by Nix (and others) are very difficult to master making the thought of learning past them a near-impossible task. However, if one is to dedicate themselves to mastering their harmonic abilities, they may just prove that the virus has potential benefits in regards to the person’s sensitivity to the force, i.e., how low their midi-chlorian count is.
This virus makes for a tempting alternative to the force, but those with innate connection to the force have seen this as no more than an affliction.
(See The Host).
As for the recorded abilities observed so far, there are eight known and recorded abilities:
Ocean’s Bliss; by mimicking the “song” the virus is playing in the back of the user’s mind, the user may induce a calming effect on those around them, and themselves. Usually used in a ceremonial manner, and with great reverence for the virus by the Nix.
Siren’s Song; by simply singing a slow, rhythmic tune, the user can enrapture those who hear them, unless the listener is tone-deaf, outright deaf, or simply not able to feel pleasure or other emotions. Usually frowned upon by most people of Meer, even the Nix don’t see this ability as a socially acceptable thing.
Banshee’s Screech; allows the user to shatter glass, weaken structures, stun enemies, or outright cause people to go deaf. May cause a shellshock-like feeling in the user if used too much/often.
Hawk’s Call; allows the user to create a loud sound that can travel very far, usually used to alert others of danger. May cause temporary tinnitus in those within a 5 meter radius from the epicenter.
Wind’s Whisper; requiring the user to constantly make a quiet sound, this ability allows the user mask any of their own sounds by emitting a personal-sized sound wave that cancels out their own sound waves. Causing no sound to be heard by anyone in the vicinity. (Cloaks the user from being detected as long as they have breath to exhale.)
Piercing Shrill; requiring absolute concentration on the target, this ability sends out a pinpoint-accurate hypersonic pulse that takes three seconds to fire. In those three seconds, those around can hear a high-pitched sound that slowly rises until it cannot be heard, and once it cannot be heard, there are 0.091 seconds left before the hypersonic pulse is fired from the mouth of the user.
The Core’s Beat; usually done in the heat of the moment, as in, a traumatic event, it causes a shockwave to occur that breaks the sound barrier in the direction the user is looking. This has enough force in it to cause internal bleeding to occur in those directly impacted by this ability.
Attuned to the Universe; note that while only one supposed individual has been recorded to have had this ability, it may very well be the most powerful of all the recorded abilities so far, as it allows master control over all sounds within a 20 meter radius. Again, there has only been one recorded instance of this ability, and is only spoken of among the Nix, as it seems it has a religious significance to them. (See The Nix)
As for the virus itself, it has found it’s way to the majority of major water sources in the unknown region, and has been seen to reproduce quickly within hosts, and excreting through the host’s body via saliva, sweat and tears. One drop of water can harbor several quintillion individual viral particles, which all can consume enough water to swell to a whole nanometer before it reaches maturity and becomes viable for harmonic activity. It is worth noting that the amount of viable harmonic particles are injected/ingested, the easier it is to use known harmonic abilities. This also means however that the negative effects of the virus itself are increased exponentially. The more mature particles in a given individual, the more at risk they are of dehydration, which has proven fatal in a few cases.
In respect to Meer, around 99.75% of the ocean planet’s water is contaminated with this pathogen.
In respect to the Nix, 98% of them have been recorded to have had this disease for the majority of their lives, with the remaining 2% of them to have been born outside it’s unofficial quarantine zone, or having stated that they do not share the same beliefs as the majority of their race, wanting nothing to do with the disease altogether.
The Nix seem to believe that the auditory hallucinations are some sort of “song from nature itself,” note that some do not share this belief, but either have the disease for its powerful effects or simply lacking the disease entirely.