Conduits

**Conduits** are a sub-species of humans (nicknamed **Bio-Terrorists** by the D.U.P.) who possess superhuman abilities afforded to them by the presence of the "**Conduit Gene**".

## Overview

The conduit gene can be present in both humans and animals, while the word "conduit" has been used to designate anyone with superhuman abilities, regardless of whether or not they possess the conduit gene itself. Conduit abilities can range from the manipulation of certain forms of energy or matter to flight, enhanced senses, and even super strength, or other physical and mental enhancements. Normal humans, either out of fear, jealousy, or prejudice often detest and reject Conduits, calling them "freaks", "deviants", or "bioterrorists" and, on many occasions, physically abusing them or those suspected to be one.

## Conduit Classifications

There are three known classifications for Conduits; these being Prime Conduits, Force Conduits, and Conduit Positive.

* Prime Conduits are individual carriers of an active conduit gene which enables the development and manifestation of their own set of superhuman abilities.

* Force Conduits are individual carriers of an inactive conduit gene or regular humans who have had superhuman abilities bestowed or grafted on to them via external means.

* Conduit Positives are individual carriers of an inactive conduit gene who haven't manifested any superhuman abilities of their own; but have the potential to develop superhuman abilities upon conduit gene activation.

## Conduit Types

Despite what initial impressions may lead some to believe, not all conduits will manifest powers and abilities that enable them to solely manipulate a specific form of matter. Conduits have been known to develop a variety of different powers and abilities, not tied to any given energy or element type. The following is a classification of the different types of prime conduits known to exist. (Note: Not all conduits will develop abilities centralized in a general criteria and it has been known that conduits are able to develop a variety of abilities encompassing a multitude of different criteria.

* Elemental Prime Conduits: These types of conduits are able to manipulate natural or artificial tangible elements; capable of absorbing, manipulating, projecting, and assuming the properties of their element.

* Biologically Enhanced Prime Conduits: These types of conduits have enhanced biological abilities which enables them to perform physical feats which elemental, psychic, and energy manipulating conduits would have a hard time achieving on their own. These conduits possess strength, durability, enhanced physical senses, and regenerative abilities far surpassing those of the average prime conduit.

* Energy Manipulating Prime Conduits: These conduits are capable of manipulating energy fields such as antimatter, gamma, ray field, ultraviolet radiation, neutron, photon energy. These conduits are capable of absorbing, and projecting their energy type.

* Psychic Prime Conduits: These conduits are able to use their psychokinetic powers to influence others, see into the future, or alter their environment.

## Prime Conduit Attributes

Aside from the unique superhuman abilities granted to prime conduits upon the activation of their conduit gene; the conduit gene, as a byproduct of the protein compound it releases throughout its hosts body, grants prime conduits an additional set of abilities as part of the molecular restructuring process they undergo. These additional abilities are common to all prime conduits with the exception of particle charge manipulation, which is only common to energy and elemental manipulating conduits.

* Enhanced Strength: Most, if not all Conduits possess the ability to physically exert themselves with ease. Most of the series’ protagonists regularly demonstrate this by constantly sending several armed soldiers and even other Conduits flying several feet through the air with a single blow, and being able to pulverize environmental objects like giant concrete pillars and slabs, walls, etc. with a few strikes. Delsin, immediately after activating his powers, was able to lift a car off of his brother, and can effortlessly rip chain link doors off their hinges. Cole MacGrath showcased immense strength both in physical striking strength as well as lifting ability, such as when he pried open the mouth of a Devourer (which could dwarf a semi-truck in size), tossing cars through the air with physical strength alone (via his Lightning Hook), and could lift giant steel beams over his shoulder like nothing. Abigail Walker also possessed immense strength, with her attacks having the farthest launching distance in the series thus far, even causing cars to go flying and explode from the force of her shockwaves alone, and casually kicking open locked and barricaded shipping containers with one kick. It should be noted that not all Conduits possess the same level of enhanced strength, if at all, as certain low-level Conduits were shown to be overpowered by groups of ordinary humans.
* Particle Charge Manipulation: Conduits can generate great amounts of energy and force between molecules and particles around them, on them, or even part of them, allowing them to generate greater kinetic energy and other forces. This allows them to perform greater physical feats than humans.
* Enhanced Speed and Agility: Conduits are far faster and more agile than normal human beings. Various conduits have been able to perform feats such as landing on their feet from several stories, scaling buildings several stories high in seconds, and performing advanced acrobatic moves with ease. Conduits like Cole MacGrath, Delsin Rowe, and Abigail Walker are able to casually dodge bullets and perceive them in slow motion, with Cole instinctively dodging automatic fire from a literal wall of machine guns without a single bullet so much as scratching his clothes. They are shown several times to be able to easily dodge and redirect RPG rockets when they're within inches of their target, which have a muzzle velocity of 300 meters per second (Mach 0.8). Cole MacGrath was able to dodge lightning bolts from point-blank range during his fight with Kessler, which travel at 440,000 meters per second, as well as beams fired from the RFI, which were shown to travel to the upper atmosphere in seconds, meaning he can dodge attacks of up to Mach 18,000 from just a few meters away. Other Conduits like Delsin Rowe, Abigail Walker, and Eugene Sims are similarly shown to be able to transform into trails of blazing light and photons to travel, as well as boost themselves with radio waves via satellites. Even a nameless Conduit from New Marais created by The Beast was shown to fly fast enough to easily create a sonic boom and was stated to fly at speeds comparable to a rocket.
* Enhanced Durability: Conduits are far more resistant to physical harm than a normal person. Conduits like Cole MacGrath, Delsin Rowe, and Abigail Walker have shown, both in and out of gameplay, to shrug off direct hits from RPG rockets, cruise missiles, grenades, tank and mortar shells, briefcases full of C-4, being thrown through and crushed under buildings, and surviving attacks from beings capable of destroying entire cities in a single blast while suffering next to no damage. Even before activating his powers, Cole was far more durable than a normal human, having shrugged off a head-on collision from a truck that should've broken every bone in his body and killed him instantly like nothing, walking out the hospital the next day with only a few bruises. Cole's most impressive feat of durability is shown as soon as his powers manifest, when he survived the Ray Sphere explosion that reduced six blocks of Empire City to rubble, leaving him critically wounded, with even Kessler fearing he wouldn't be strong enough to survive it. Not all Conduits possess the same level of physical endurance, as it is noted several times that only exceptionally strong and durable Conduits can survive a Ray Sphere explosion, and several low-level Conduits are shown able to be killed by large groups of humans. However, most Conduits have survived extreme blunt force trauma, multiple gunshot wounds, severe beatings and abuse from others with little hindrances or passing out.
* Enhanced Endurance: Conduits tire slower than a normal person, but not indefinitely. Conduits like Cole have shown to be able to fight and undergo dozens of missions even while going several days without eating or sleeping. During the events of the comic series, he is able to single-handedly wipe out the remnants of the First Sons, as well as fight off the military even though he had not slept or eaten since his battle with Kessler a week prior.
* Healing Factor: Conduits heal faster than a normal person, allowing them to fully heal and recover from wounds that would put a non-conduit out of commission within minutes, especially when exposed to their element. Their healing takes place on a molecular level, instantly re-materializing any part of their anatomy that is damaged. This causes them to be unable to succumb to regular injuries and an exponential amount of damage would be required in order to actually kill a Conduit. Conduits' healing only takes effect after a minute. Exposure to their element makes their healing fully repair them in a millisecond. It would seem that the clothing they wear is also repaired as they show no sign of damage after a conduit uses their fast healing even if torn through. In the case of elemental conduits their healing generates an aura with the traits of their element.

## Mutations

The activation of the conduit gene within a conduit has been known to occasionally affect the very physiology of the Conduit, whether its a minor change like Cole or a full mutation like David and the Super Strength conduits employed by DARPA.

For example: Kuo's eyes change color and her hair gains a blue tint; Nix developed a red skin pigment; Telekinetic Dustmen Armored Conduits developed a far more robust physiology; First Son Aura and Cloaking Conduits grew to massive proportions among other mutations.

While some mutations are relatively mild, other mutations are more extreme as was the case of Sasha who is unnaturally pale, bald and has a tongue split into several tendrils. The most severe case is that of David Warner who has gained significant size, blue skin, and two extra arms after being exposed to the Ray Sphere several times. Cole is a unique example, as he only gained blue eyes as his appearance will only change if he is evil, hinting at a connection between the Conduits body and powers with their overall mentality.

## History

### Origins

Conduits are the result of a rare genetic mutation within some humans and animals. The ostensibly named "Conduit gene" is naturally occurring. The gene is for the most part dormant within the hosts, with carriers of the conduit gene normally displaying no powers at birth and could potentially live their whole lives without realizing what their naturally inherent abilities are, with a few ways of identifying Conduit potential. There are rare exceptions to this, but these demonstrated abilities are minor. The gene was a distinctive part of the human anatomy, and can only be seen by a select few. They appear yellow in color and are located in the torso, near the spinal cord of an individual.

### Inevitable Evidence

As evidenced by several audio surveillance tapes of Kessler from Dead drop, several animals such as rats can also hold the Conduit gene. Animals were used as test subjects for the Ray Sphere, which resulted in very unstable results, or worse, the death of the subject.

## Prime Conduit Activation

There are many well recorded ways in which a conduit positive's conduit gene can be activated and thus enable the manifestation of their superhuman abilities.

### Ray Sphere

The Ray Sphere was a device created by the first sons that was designed to awaken the latent powers of any conduit positive situated within its area of activation. The device worked by stripping the neuro-electric energy from nearby non-conduits (Killing them) and concentrating within individual carriers of the conduit gene. The explosion caused by the activation of the ray sphere will emit a powerful ray field pulse; any conduit positive caught within this pulses immediate radius will have their conduit gene activated and by proxy have their powers unlocked (The inherent amount of powers and abilities unlocked within a conduits using the ray sphere is dependent on how far from the center of the blast a conduit found themselves when their powers where awakened). Power can also be gained from the very inside of the Ray Sphere, a powerful vortex of energy.

*(Known products of the process: Cole MacGrath, Joseph Bertrand III, Nix, Alden Tate, Sasha, John White. Conduit Reaper Members, First Son Aura Conduit, First Son Cloaking Conduit, Telekinetic Dustmen Conduit, and Telekinetic Dustmen Armored Conduits)*

### Ray Field Energy Exposure

Prolonged exposure to Ray Field Energy could unlock a Conduit's abilities. This method was also capable of highly advancing a Conduits abilities, and granting additional offsets, such as enhanced smell senses, infrared vision, and neuro-electricity. The Beast, a powerful Conduit, was able to unlock other Conduits' powers using this method, by unleashing Ray Field blasts over the cities he attacked, as well as advancing other Conduits' abilities such as Cole MacGrath's Radar Pulse.

*(Known products of the process: David Warner, Brooke Augustine, Conduits Activated by John.)*

### Environmental Stimuli

A Conduit is able to unlock his/her powers naturally through heavy environmental stimuli in the form of intense physiological and psychological stress. However, as evidenced, it appears that although a Conduit can unlock his/her ability this way, the power will not appear until an event occurs that causes pressure on the Conduit. Abigail Walker's powers appeared after she had a fight in school with a girl, Eugene Sims had his powers show after being repeatedly bullied at school, and Henry Daughtry was a criminal always followed by the police. This method was extremely rare although it became common after a time, possibly because Ray Field Radiation mutated after the activation of the RFI to destroy the sickness and instantly activate the powers of any Conduit who catches it; another possible theory is that the conduit gene could simply be activating in response to the intense stress and environmental stimuli being forced upon its host as a means to enable their hosts survival.

*(Known products of the process: Delsin Rowe, Abigail Walker, Eugene Sims, Henry Daughtry.)*

### Experimentation

As demonstrated by Lucy Kuo's and the DARPA Super Strength conduits gene activation. It is possible to force the conduit gene to activate through intense experimentation. *(Known products of the process: Lucy Kuo and DARPA Super Strength conduit)*

## Force Conduit Creation

### Power Transfer Device

The Transfer Device used by Bertrand can be used to transfer powers between two Conduits, or to force a human to gain powers (the method works unstably on multiple recipients). Several products of the experiments are often mentally unstable, either going berserk or experiencing trauma. In addition, most of the experiments may end up halved, meaning some experiments only obtain half of the designated abilities they were supposed to receive.

*(Known products of the process: The factions of Vermaak 88 and the Department of Unified Protection)*

### Forced Mutation

A Conduit's abilities can be unlocked through a more grotesque and less effective way. Through the use of his powers, Joseph Bertrand was able to turn bearers of the gene, brought to him by his enforcers, into grotesque monsters who've lost all their sanity. They were created out of Bertrand's plan to induce fear into normal humans, and he allows them to roam free in the city to create chaos.

*(Known products of the process: The faction of the Corrupted.)*

### Infusion

As specified by the DUP Informant; the Department of Unified Protection infuses their soldiers with an unidentified substance administered via injection into the bodies of their newest recruits to grant them access to their own set of superhuman abilities to combat the bio-terrorist threat with greater efficiency. The injections would subsequently induce headaches and seizures on the subjects as their bodies began to react to the unidentified substance. It should be noted that this process is far more stable then the usage of the power transference device used on the Vermaak 88 force conduits, allowing subjects of this process to retain their sanity and keep their bodies from constantly undergoing mutations in order to sustain the power infused into them; it should also be noted that the level of power gained by this method can vary from subject to subject, with some being more powerful than others.

*(Known products of the process: Department of Unified Protection Force Conduits.)*

## Developing

Once a Conduit's powers are unlocked, said power will then develop, which usually requires a catalyst. There are several ways to develop powers. These are:

### The Ray Sphere

Even after a Conduit's powers have been unlocked, further use of the Ray Sphere will improve one's abilities, enhancing endurance and strength, or granting a new power, or both.

*(Known practitioners: Evil Cole MacGrath, David Warner.)*

### Blast Shards

Collecting and absorbing a set amount of Blast Shards will improve one's power, though the number of shards needed will rise accordingly. Blast Shards are useful although they are considered a very slow way to develop a Conduit's powers. However, it seems that not all Conduit's have this ability as according to the D.U.P Informant when Augustine tried this it didn't work.

*(Known practitioners: Delsin Rowe , Cole MacGrath .)*

### Exercising Powers

A Conduit is capable of developing his powers by exercising his/her powers in different ways. This technique, while it cannot grant new abilities, grants different variations of unlocked abilities, as well as permanent upgrades to abilities.

*(Known practitioners: Cole MacGrath, Abigail Walker.)*

### Blast Cores

Blast Cores can be used to quickly develop new abilities though, in turn, it will render the Conduit unconscious for a set amount of time (until the introduction of Core Relays which allow a Conduit to absorb the raw energy of a Blast Core without going unconscious). Due to the efficiency of Blast Cores, they are scarce and very valuable, which caused Conduits to fight over them (including Cole MacGrath, the Vermaak 88 and Joseph Bertrand III).

*(Known practitioners: Delsin Rowe , Cole MacGrath, Joseph Bertrand III.)*

### Exposure to Element

Conduits can develop their powers by absorbing their elements or energy relating to their elements. The amount needed can vary, as Cole MacGrath originally developed his powers by passing electricity enough to power up to half a district of a city, while Delsin Rowe developed Neon by absorbing a much smaller amount.

*(Known practitioners: Delsin Rowe , Cole MacGrath .)*

### Coping

In very rare occasions, a Conduit is able to develop his/her powers by having their body try to cope with tough situations to survive. Abigail Walker was able to practice this as she was able to develop her powers over time by coping with near-fatal conditions. A rat that Kessler was experimenting on was also able to develop wings in order to allow the rat to escape.

*(Known practitioners: Abigail Walker. )*

## Power Combination

> Some of Wolfe's notes talked about the theory that two Conduits, compatible ones, might be able to combine their powers.
>
>

According to Dr. Sebastian Wolfe, the abilities of two Conduits can help produce better and more satisfactory results in terms of combat efficiency. Cole was able to exhibit this during his time with Kuo and Nix. The former (Kuo) was able to combine powers with Cole by utilizing her control over ice and his electrokinesis power, being able to freeze enemies and turn them into ice blocks. The latter (Nix) was able to combine powers with Cole by utilizing her control over fire and flammable substances such as oil to restrain enemy units and give Cole an opportunity to blast them with his abilities.

Later on, Cole is able to gain one of the two Conduit's abilities through the Power Transfer Device, which in turn, helps maximize the synchronization between Cole and the selected Conduit.

## Effects on Society

### Cole MacGrath

*Main article: Cole MacGrath*
Cole MacGrath was one of the earliest known Conduits to the public's eyes, and was thus subject to a lot of criticism. Although the truth about him was suppressed at the beginning by the Government in an attempt to keep Conduits a secret, Cole soon became well known as "The Demon of Empire City,” and the truth behind his powers was exposed, with Cole holding the responsibility of the Conduits' image, either making the people love them, or fear them. Long after Cole's death, a lot of Conduit criticism was made on Conduits depending on Cole's image. Brooke Augustine used Cole's image to make the people fear Conduits by referencing the destruction caused by him. There were still a few people who knew the truth about Cole, including the city of New Marais which proclaimed Cole their patriot saint and placed his Amp in front of their church.

### The Militia, The Corrupted, Vermaak 88 And Joseph Bertrand III

*Main article: Militia*

> Conduits are not a part of the divine plan! They are a product of science, fueled by man's greed and the whisper of the Devil into our ears, Cole!
>
>

An independent party at the city of New Marais known as the Militia has been created as a movement against all of the Conduits, led by Joseph Bertrand III. They would use force to gather civilians that they deem are Conduits, and then send them to Bertrand who would secretly turn them into monsters who the Militia would fight to look like heroes to the people's eyes.

This setup was made by Bertrand to ensure that normal humans would hate Conduits, by making them believe all Conduits were like monsters. This was in Bertrand's much greater plan, which was to make people hate Conduits which in turn made the world leaders see how powerful they are. This would allow Bertrand to sell dangerous, mentally-ill Conduits to the worlds leaders which would create a Human-against-Conduit world war, which would include all innocent Conduits being treated just like the mentally-ill Conduits.

### Department of Unified Protection

*Main article: Department of Unified Protection*

> We are living in a world of either them or us, and we MUST survive.
>
>

Years after the Empire Event and the activation of the RFI, the Department of Unified Protection (D.U.P. for short) was formed to capture all Conduits, re-branded as Bioterrorists, to throw them into their security base, Curdun Cay. This was, however, a disguise for the DUP's real purpose; instead of protecting humans from Conduits, the DUP actually aimed to protect the Conduits from humans. The humans who have come to hate Conduits out of fear after the incident with the Beast.

The DUP was formed after Brooke Augustine, who was both former military and a Conduit herself, had to choose which side she would stand on after being confronted by the Military with her new found powers and another young Conduit. Under pressure, Augustine created a third choice by encasing the Conduit in concrete, thus earning the government's trust. The DUP was thus formed to house all captured Conduits to protect them from a world that hates them and sees them as a disease.

After 6 years, the government believed that all Conduits had been captured, and thus saw no use of the DUP. The government ordered Augustine to hand over the work to them and stopped funding the DUP. To make the government believe that the DUP was still needed, Augustine orchestrated a plan to unleash four trained Conduits (Henry Daughtry, Abigail Walker, Eugene Sims, and Celia Penderghast) to cause chaos on Seattle, and thus show the government that she and her men are still needed.

### Delsin Rowe, Abigail Walker and Eugene Sims

> "I'm not gonna be like **them**, okay? I'm gonna be different, I'm not there doing what they're doing, I'm gonna be like Superman." -Delsin said about the **Conduits**
>
>

A Conduit named Delsin Rowe had arrived in Seattle in order to steal Augustine's Concrete powers to heal his tribe which was slowly dying because of Augustine interrogating them. During his time there, Delsin met Abigail who was set by Augustine to cause havoc and instead influenced her to become a good person. Later on, Delsin encounters Eugene and once again influences him to protect normal humans and aid him in his search for Augustine. Henry Daughtry later flees the city instead of causing havoc, and eventually, Celia decides not to cause chaos as well after seeing how Delsin was proving that humans and Conduits could co-exist, thus ruining Augustine's plan. After a long-fought battle, Delsin defeats Augustine using her power and the DUP shatters, and a new era begins of humans living with Conduits in peace.

## Conduit Factions

There are factions that are composed entirely of all Conduits. While the powers and abilities of the conduits within each faction vary from conduit to conduit and most often, weaker conduits within each faction will be led by an even stronger conduit. Known conduit factions include:

* Department of Unified Protection
* Corrupted
* Vermaak 88

## Prime Conduits

Listed here are several known prime conduits. Prime Conduits are individual carriers of an active conduit gene which enables the development and manifestation of their own set of superhuman abilities. These types of conduits also possess the potential to grow in power by leaps and bounds given the right circumstances .

* Abigail Walker
* Alden Tate
* Brooke Augustine
* Celia Penderghast
* Cole MacGrath/Kessler
* David Warner
* Delsin Rowe
* Eugene Sims
* Hank Daughtry
* John White/The Beast
* Joseph Bertrand
* Lucy Kuo
* Nix
* Sasha
* Unidentified Female Flying Conduit
* Unidentified Male Conduit Reaper
* Reaper Conduit (Prime Conduit Type)
* Telekinetic Dustmen Armored Conduit (Prime Conduit Type)
* Telekinetic Dustmen Conduit (Prime Conduit Type)
* First Son Aura Conduit (Prime Conduit Type)
* First Son Cloaking Conduit (Prime Conduit Type)
* DARPA Super Strength Conduits (Prime Conduit Type)

## Force Conduit's

Force Conduits are individual carriers of an inactive conduit gene or regular humans who have had superhuman abilities bestowed or grafted unto them via external means. The following is a list of all known force conduit types from their respective factions.

### Vermaak 88

* Vermaak 88 Ice Soldier
* Vermaak 88 Ice Heavy
* Vermaak 88 Ice Crusher
* Vermaak 88 Ice Titan
* Ice Soldier Ally
* Subject 881
* Unit 237
* Ice General

### Corrupted

* Swamp Monster
* Gas Bag
* Ravager
* Hive Lord
* Devourer
* Bug Spiker

### Department of Unified Protection

* DUP Undercover Agent
* DUP Pawn
* DUP Knight
* DUP Rook
* DUP Bishop
* DUP Super Pawn
* DUP Super Rook
* The Informant (DUP Knight)
* The Informant (DUP Bishop)

## Known Conduit abilities

* Aura Manipulation
* Carpentry Manipulation
* Concrete Manipulation
* Cryokinesis
* Electrokinesis/Electromagnetism
* Energy Manipulation
* Flight
* Glass Manipulation
* Gravity Manipulation
* Invisibility
* Magnetic Manipulation
* Masonry Manipulation
* Metal Manipulation
* Mirror Manipulation
* Molecular Manipulation
* Mutation
* Napalm Manipulation
* Neon Manipulation
* Organic Manipulation
* Paper Manipulation
* Plant Manipulation
* Power Absorption
* Power Development
* Pressurized Water Manipulation
* Pyrokinesis
* Shadow Manipulation
* Shape Shifting
* Smoke Manipulation
* Steam Manipulation
* Steel Manipulation
* Street Manipulation
* Tar Manipulation
* Telekinesis
* Teleportation
* Telepathy
* Time Travel
* Video Manipulation
* Wire Manipulation