Cloning

**Cloning** was the process of creating a genetically identical or—purposefully and specifically—modified copy of an original organism. It was also one of the key factors that facilitated the start of the Second Ghost War in its place. Through the extremely different science of cloning, a small army of hybrid clones were created on Suezeus for the purpose of serving the Shadow King Asolas. Programmed with absolute loyalty to King Asolas, leader of the Ghost Empire, the clones proved to be instrumental in his rise to being the most powerful being in the universe.

## Overview

In order to create a clone, samples of genetic code had to be drawn from a subject's cells, duplicated and implanted into donor cells. These donor cells would then grow, divide and, eventually gestate in artificial wombs, filled with nutrients and organic catalysts. Altering the nutrients and catalyst solutions that the cells received could influence the physical attributes and maturation rates of the resulting clone. The most aggressive mixtures of nutrients and catalyst solutions produced fully formed adult clones in several weeks, but forced growth acceleration often led to mental instability in the clone. Some cloners, however, discovered methods to avoid this phenomenon by using human DNA which significantly increased the chance of the clone growing more successfully. The genetic material donor was generally referred to as a prime clone. Using the subject's template, it was possible through many different techniques to create exact physical replicas. This process was not only capable of producing a single copy, but also multiple versions of the original subject. Furthermore, genetic engineering could further modify the clone to augment or subdue specific traits.

Due to the fact that growth environment was a highly influential factor, a clone could develop characteristics and identities distinct from its donor's, even if it was a genetically identical copy. A long standing debate over cloning and flash memory was whether a clone retained the thoughts and memories of its progenitor. Some believed that clones were identical to the original in every way, while others argued that clones were unique through their individual experiences.

## History

### Early development

The art of cloning technology was developed by a number of Ethrons on Suezeus. One of the largest cloning operations was the creation of the Eznius Cloning Facility, an immense construction of cloning tanks—all based on prime clones like Asolas Danatheon, Gorgeth Bierack, Tom Thompson, Will Wilkins, Matt Abrams and Harrison Attwood—created by Suezian scientists as part of an initially clandestine program to seemingly establish a military force for the Apex Brotherhood. It was in truth part of a complex and masterfully executed deception conceived by the Ghosts, that would ultimately furnish them with the chance to destroy the Lux Republic and control the galaxy.

In a vast facility maintained within Eznius, clones were grown and trained in the cloning chambers at the city's cloning facility. The first attempt to replicate Asolas resulted in aberrant prototype clones, and were the subject of the Ghosts' attempts to enhance Asolas' genome.

In order to grow fully matured clones in half of the time it takes ordinary Humans, the Suezians modified the clones by implementing "age acceleration" into their development, thus allowing the clones to reach adulthood in ten years instead of two decades. Although the exact rate at which clones aged is unknown, it appears to be nearly twice as fast a natural-born Human and it is theorised that this rate increased as clones grew older—especially under stress, thus leading to a dramatic shortening of the clones' life expectancy.

### Creation of Subject X

> *Main article: Creation of Subject X*
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Asolas endeavoured to recreate his mortal enemy, Tom Thompson through cloning technology. Thus, in 2009, Tom Thompson was captured and his body was brought to the Eznius Cloning Facility on Suezeus to be the genetic template for a single clone that would become Asolas' dark apprentice. To avoid taking the time required to train him, Asolas chose to utilise the newly developed "accelerated cloning process." Through the highly experimental procedure, the clone would be engineered to reach young adulthood in less than a month rather than a year or a decade. The imprints from Thompson's brain patterns would also be used to impart the Knight's knowledge and skills to the clone, effectively insuring that the "Dark Thompson" would be just as powerful as the original.

But the experiment resulted in a "crash and burn" procedure due to the imperfections in the accelerated cloning process. The first wave of Thompson's accelerated clones were aberrant replicas, both physically deformed and mentally deranged. The process eventually became more stable, but each version of the original Thompson was constantly haunted by memories of a life that they never lived, thus failing to meet Asolas' expectations. After many errors, one clone was able to endure Asolas' training program long enough for the Shadow King to hope that this version would be the final result of the entire project. But the clone was ultimately abandoned by Asolas in 2011 and left to live by himself in England. He was subsequently known by the codename; *Subject X* and the *Shadow Apprentice*.

## See also

* Cloning tank
* Aberrant clone
* Eznius Cloning Facility
* Shadow Apprentice