Undead

The undead is term used to describe beings infected with DWN-009. DWN-009 is a highly contagious virus that is compatible with any living organism, and has the potential to extinguish all life on the planet.

Microscopic infections

Once DWN-009 makes contact with a living cell, it injects its RNA into the cell, causing it to reproduce more of the virus, as is standard for viruses. DWN-009 is different in that, while the process of viral reproduction does take place in other cells, the process usually kills the cell in the process. DWN not only doesn't destroy the cell, it protects it, allowing the cell to reproduce more healthy cells, as well as viruses. This strange relationship continues for about three weeks, before the cell collapses in on its self for unknown reasons. After the cell's death, the virus moves on to another cell.

Macroscopic infections

No truly deviantive traits are shown for DWN-009 on a microscopic level, however, the macroscopic level is entirely different. For unknown reasons, DWN-009 provides temporary immortality for the infected, making them, literally, unable to die or lose consciousness unless the infection is cured, or the virus itself kills the victim.

The infection process lasts anywhere from two to six [2-6] weeks, during which infected's cells begin slowly dying from exposure to DWN. During the first week, the victim's infected cells simply become unable to die, and by the week's end, the victim's entire body will be infected. The infected will begin losing feeling in their fingertips during the second week, and will usually complain about intense numbness. The infected will start feeling easily disorientated, and occasionally suffer short term amnesia. By the third week, the victim will return to normal, except for a cough, and will appear usually optimistic regardless of previous behavior. Half way through the week, however, the victim will begin vomiting blood and grow increasingly week and dizzy. On the fourth week, the victim's flesh begins decomposing while they still remain fully conscious. The victim remains unable to die, and will go through excruciating pain. These symptoms will continue into the fifth and sixth weeks, usually resulting in death around the forty-second [42] day. By the victim's death, most of the infected's fat deposits will have been drained, and their remaining rotting skin will be tightly pulled over their skin. There currently remains no cure for infections, and current treatment methods involve pain medication, the amputation and sanitation of dead limbs, and surgically stalling the process. Hospital visits are allowed, just so long as the victim has received a thorough asepsis disinfection.

SRA and CDD experimentation

Both the SRA and CDD have conducted several experiments in attempts to quicken or end the process of infection. The method of disinfection currently is the amputation of infected areas. Unfortunately, victims are usually completely infected by seven [7] days, and the virus tends to target vital organs for its infections.

SRA experiment eg.

One of the SRA's experiments involved a 43 year old male criminal, turned over to the Agency by Holt Stormwakers in the Undercity. The operation begun by injecting DWN-09 into the man's skull, and was immediately followed by beheading the man. Although the man showed no unusual signs following the beheading, his brain showed extremely hyper neural activity, not only implying his remaining consciousness, but also the ability to feel pain. The Agency then dissolved the man's severed head in a highly acidic chemical substance, hoping to end his life. However, even after liquidation, neural activity was still present within the mixture. The liquid was then placed back into the acid, hoping to reduce it further. The man's melted head was dissolved for forty-eight hours straight, and examination showed that, although no neural activity was left, the virus remained. All other attempts [including but not limited to; explosives, complete draining of blood, and even atomic deconstruction] conducted by both the SRA and CDD ended in failure. In situations were literally nothing was left of the victim, the viruses have been observed microscopically reconstructing the infected's body [usually begining with the brain], simply so that the process of infection can continue.