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"It looks like damage." |
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"You tell me, man, I only work here." |
- "Simply put: any living thing that comes into direct contact with the black goo will either die horribly, give birth to monsters, or become a monster themselves."
- ―Alien: The Roleplaying Game
An 'Anathema' is an umbrella term used to describe an organism infected by Chemical A0-3959X.91 – 15. Anathemas are the result of an extreme mutation following exposure to the pathogen. Stages of mutation vary depending on how much a victim is exposed to the black goo, and effects vary from transforming into hideous, violent monsters, to complete cellular decomposition.
Overview[]
The Union of Progressive Peoples have conducted human experiments with the pathogen under the Darkstar Program, mutating test subjects into Anathemas. Anathemas have since been considered for use as battlefield vanguards against the UPP's adversaries. [1]
Cycle[]
Stage I: Vitiate "Afflicted"[]
An afflicted is the initial stage of when someone is exposed to the black goo, usually in small doses. Symptoms include, epiphora and paranoid behavior. If one is to look closely, small tapeworm creatures can sometimes be visible swimming in the victim's eyes or bodily fluids, mutations of the host's microorganisms.[2]
Stage II: Ague "Febrile"[]
The Vitiate will become increasingly feverish and subject to increasingly intense pain. Their eyes will darken and various black varicose veins spread across the victim, followed by decomposition of skin tissue.[3]
Stage III: Lusus "Freak"[]
The victim is mutated into a disfigured bestial creature known as a Lusus. Their body becomes greatly deformed, and they are rendered an animalistic husk of sheer rage. Some Anathemas have been known to retain limited intelligence, and can still use basic tools. They will attack anything on sight.[4]
Stage IV: Nocuous "Terminal"[]
The final stage of an Anathema results in total disintegration. Depending on the level exposure to the pathogen, victims can be immediately rendered a Nocuous.[5][6] Skin tissue begins to blacken completely and flake away, and bones grow brittle and can snap off. Eventually the victim's cell membranes will burst, and their DNA will disintegrate into the atmosphere, dispersing large amounts of airborne pathogen that will infect any life in the area.[7]
Notable Cases[]
Sacrifice Engineer[]
- Main article: Sacrifice Engineer
After consuming a large amount of pathogen, the Sacrifice Engineer is immediately rendered a Stage IV Anathema state, and dies.
Charlie Holloway[]
- Main article: Charlie Holloway
Holloway suffering from Stage II.
Charlie Holloway was an archaeologist assigned to the USCSS Prometheus expedition. To observe the affects of the black liquid, David spiked his drink with the pathogen, causing Holloway to exhibit Stage II symptoms. His suffering was eventually put to an end by Meredith Vickers, who incinerated him with a Flamethrower to avoid a breach in quarantine.
Sean Fifield[]
- Main article: Sean Fifield
Fifield as a Stage III Anathema.
Sean Fifield was also a member of the Prometheus expedition. Upon being exposed to the pathogen, Fifield had mutated into a Stage III, subsequently attacking the other members of the crew and eventually being killed.
Elden[]
- Main article: Elden
Elden was a Synthetic Construct part of the crew of the Geryon who travelled to LV-223 a century after the Prometheus incident. He was injected by Francis Lane with the pathogen to observe the resulting effects. Elden subsequently mutated into a large white humanoid. Though he retained much of his self-consciousness, his sanity had deteriorated, and he was rendered a vengeful, bloodthirsty creature, hellbent on tracking Francis down.
Mutated Yautja[]
- Main article: Mutated Yautja
The mutated Yautja.
The Mutated Yautja was a Blooded hunter that had become exposed to Chemical A0-3959X.91 – 15 when bitten by Elden. After receiving the injuries, the hunter painfully mutated into a bestial cannibalistic behemoth within minutes.
LV-223 Xenomorphs[]
- Main article: Xenomorph (LV-223)
A group of mutant Xenomorphs.
After sneaking aboard the Onager following the Hadley's Hope infestation. Several Xenomorphs managed to sneak aboard the ship, that ultimately crash landed on LV-223. Eventually, the creatures established a hive on the planet, using a multitude of hosts for impregnation and being exposed to the pathogen.
Pathogen creatures[]
- Main article: Pathogen
A Pathogen Stalker
Numerous species were infected by the pathogen on LV-895.
Appearances[]
- Prometheus
- Prometheus: Fire and Stone/Omega
- Aliens: Fire and Stone
- Alien vs. Predator: Fire and Stone
- Prometheus: Life and Death
- Aliens: Life and Death
- Alien vs. Predator: Life and Death
- Alien: Covenant
- Alien: The Roleplaying Game
- Aliens: Fireteam Elite