Xerilium

[Cain]

Xerilium is the name given to an experimental virus capsule used in the Delta projects. The virus itself was derived from Mononucleosis being spliced with Amaranth DNA for the purpose of genetically altering subjects given this capsule. It had a very high mortality rate, as it was given to subjects all throughout the Delta projects and only twelve managed to survive its ravages.

While scientists are not certain of why the mortality rate was so high, the answer lied in simple genetics. Some humans were simply born with some Alpha markers. Naturally born Alphas that were given enough Xerilium died nearly immediately in every case, though normal human beings only made partial transitions and while they lasted longer than the Natural Alphas eventually died as well. Adults were largely unaffected due to the DNA degradation that had already began to take place, and produced useful though largely under-appreciated traits.

Xerilium had great if random effects upon those who were blessed with only a few alpha markers. There was small chance that they would live, but if they did always developed a series of incredible mutations to their physical bodies.