The DeGen

Rather than a single species, the DeGen are a growing group of sentient beings infected with a deadly virus that can be transmitted in two ways: coming into contact with "sentient" DeGen blood (it actively seeks to enter a body) or, xt9D6rGWMnLvL+5Z+LK6EWcE04LLCPkeUfBX1858 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

The DeGen virus, which spreads rapidly and turns victims into zombie-like creatures, creates an intense need for the consumption of Protens; without them, a DeGen will fall into a hibernetic state and eventually die.

The DeGen virus has three distinct manifestations:

Level One: Because the virus first attacks the brain (consciousness), the host suffers significant sleep issues (intense/vivid dreams) and displays disordered thinking while increasingly compelled to consume Protens (the virus attacks, and then incubates in, brain tissue). Doing so will allow the host to continue functioning normally, while also spreading the virus to others (via blood exposure). Failure to consume Protens leads to a painful "withdrawal" death for the host; overuse (either in single-use or continued consumption) leads to Level Two.

Level Two: The host begins manifesting physical symptoms, specifically crystalline structures emerging from skin tissue, coupled with a progressive cellular disintegration. These structures are comprised of tissue that has been infused with Proten, which leads DeGen to attack and consume one another when a pure Proten source is not available. Behavior is also affected: the host becomes increasingly violent, and the singular pursuit of Protens (or Proten-infused tissue) manifests in zombie-like mindless aggression. Eventually, in the absence of Protens, the host's body will decay, and the individual will die, although a husk can be revived in the presence of Protens. If there are enough DeGen hosts in close proximity during the advanced phase of Level Two, however, the collective will transition to Level Three in an effort to remain alive.

Level Three: The individual hosts merge into a singular mass and use their collective strength to seek out Protens (Discovery Landers and Servitors are often targets of a Level Three DeGen Organism). The DeGen within this mass are constantly feeding on one another, however, so it is only a matter of time before they destroy themselves if they do not locate a Proten source.

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