Polymorph Case
"I only regret not inventing it. It would have been my magnum opus. Props to the guys who came up with this idea though.
The only unchanging accessory in the inventory of the 26 is their briefcase. Brillantly designed thousands of years ago, they have never changed much. The content of the genetic material is nothing like it was before, but the rest is roughly unchanged.
Contents
The case is not a container, but the machinery itself. It is a microscopic synthetiser, able to replicacte a genome and craft blazingly fast modified retroviruses in about an hour. The top part is a computer that is used to set up the genomic sequence of interest. Any number of characteristics can be inputted, and the algorithm will generate a cohesive genome that fits with the requirements. Unspecified characteristics are filled automatically with what makes the most sense for the organism's phenotype.
When the sequence is complete, it will be synthetized as a single stranded DNA that will then be duplicated by fast PCR for another hour. The ensuing viral transformation is equally automatized, in order for the full mix to be delivered in a refillable syringe. The syringe acts in two times: first, a potent immunosuppressor is spread throughout the body, to make sure the following product will not be rejected, then the viral mix.
The boosted retroviruses will penetrate the organism and immediately perform the integration of their DNA in the cell of the organism, quickly replacing it and enhancing transcription to renew the proteome. This process is incredibly painful and almost always lethal for a regular body. Thus, the body of each one of the 26 has been altered from a very young age to allow them to bear the transformation.
Uses
Initially designed to be the ultimate spy toolkit, the cases were supposed to help undercover agents from being compromised and make them pass any biometric scanner with ease, as long as they knew the requirements. As it turned out, replacing the integrality of a body's DNA, including epigenetic marks, implies that it is possible to rejuvenate a body by selecting a young age and let the repair functions operate as if it was a person in their twenties.
Comments