TC-PERGE

***WARNING!!***
***This article contains spoilers for*AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES - nirvanA Initiative *from this point on.Proceed with caution!***

### Effects

* Permanent neuron damage
* Hallucinations
* Erratic behavior
* Suicidal tendencies

### Source

Horadori Institute of Genetics

**TC-PERGE** is an organic nanomachine that features in *AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES - nirvanA Initiative*. It is a crucial component of the Nirvana Initiative that was developed at the Horadori Institute of Genetics.

## Design

TC-PERGE is an airborne, organic nanomachine that is an offshoot of the DNA treatment procedure PERGE. It acts similarly to a virus, entering the body and latching onto bacteria to make a protein complex called CRISPR-Casβ. CRISPR-Casβ can re-arrange certain DNA nucleotide sequences, and even overwrite the DNA structure inside neurons when it enters the brain. The neurons that are damaged this way cannot be repaired except with the use of nanomachine technology. TC-PERGE is also capable of taking over the multiplication function of bacteria and using it to copy itself, which allows it to be passed on to others via the host's breath.

As a result of damaging the body's neurons, TC-PERGE will cause its host to experience hallucinations and erratic behaviors, such as spontaneous dancing, rolling around on the floor, standing in the same spot for hours, and more dangerous behaviors such as repeatedly hitting their head against a wall or attempting to jump off a building.

TC-PERGE appears to have both a very short incubation period and a short infection period. Kuruto Ryuki is infected with TC-PERGE at 22:55pm on February 12th and immediately shows symptoms, hallucinating another person as a faceless blue figure. He builds a full resistance and is no longer infectious by 6:40am on February 15th, only 56 hours later. However, given that Ryuki had pre-existing mental issues that the TC-PERGE exacerbated, it is possible that the virus's incubation period would normally be longer.

## History

In 2029, Horadori Institute completed work on a revolutionary genome editing process known as "PERGE". The technology that was used to make PERGE was then secretly used to design TC-PERGE, an organic nanomachine that operated similarly to a virus. TC-PERGE would not be completed for another seven years, but Tearer learned of the virus in 2030 and incorporated it into his plan for the Nirvana Initiative: by infecting Japan with TC-PERGE, he would cause mass hysteria and chaos. This would be seen as an unexpected "glitch" in the simulated world, and would cause a rip in the simulation that would lead everyone to emancipation. Because there were researchers at Horadori Institute who were also members of Naixatloz, the secret society that Tearer belonged it, he was able to continue development of the virus even after he killed the director of the institute, Chikara Horadori. Lien Twining overheard rumors about TC-PERGE, presumably from when he worked as a janitor at Horadori Institute, and passed them on to Bibi in "2/12 Mizuki Chapter 2 - Left Behind", but the virus wouldn't be heard from again until 2036.

Tearer, aka Uru Somezuki, was murdered on February 10th, 2036, but his plan to use TC-PERGE was already in motion and continued after his death. The day before, Uru had uploaded the Nirvana Trial to ViewQube, a video with a hidden code that lead to the Naix Cathedral. Awaiting there was a box with a nozzle device inside, and anyone who opened it would be shot with TC-PERGE and infected. Dokuta Yogano solved the code and was infected by TC-PERGE this way, as Mizuki Date discovered in "2/13 Mizuki Chapter 3 - The Expense of Spirit" when she found him acting erratically at Lemniscate Entertainment Offices. The virus then continued to spread, leading to mass hysteria and an outbreak of suicides.

On February 12th, Kuruto Ryuki was investigating the death of the Naixatloz president, Tokiko Shigure, when he discovered a secret passage in her office that lead down to the Cathedral. Here he discovered the box and, upon opening it, was infected with TC-PERGE. This exacerbated his existing symptoms of hallucinations, short-term memory loss, and disorientation. This would lead to him mistaking the 13th and 14th as happening six years ago, and becoming confused and distressed when events happened in the present that didn't match with his memory of the past. Eventually, he was able to develop a resistance, and his symptoms were kept in check by use of a special medicine.

On the 15th, Mizuki, Ryuki, Bibi, and Kaname Date were able to piece together the grander scope of Tearer's plan: not only was he spreading TC-PERGE via the Cathedral, but he also planned to launch a rocket loaded with TC-PERGE and spread it to tens of thousands that way. They were able to track the location of the Nirvana Initiative to the Tokyo National Stadium, where a ballistic missile armed with TC-PERGE prepared to set off. Ryuki figured that the TC-PERGE would be rigged to spread even if the missile wasn't launched, so he brought Shoma Enda and his cache of thermite bombs so that they could burn up the virus in 3000 degree temperatures. Working together, Mizuki and Bibi were able to launch the thermite towards the TC-PERGE and Shoma detonated it, saving Japan from falling into untold chaos.

During the Epilogue, a week after the failed missile launch, it was revealed that all the people infected with TC-PERGE, including Dokuta, were being quarantined, and a vaccine was being developed. The neurons that TC-PERGE damaged would be repairable with nanomachines. The process wasn't simple or easy; if the missile had gone off, the country's health infrastructure would've collapsed.

## Gallery

TC-PERGE causing mass chaosDokuta affected by TC-PERGERyuki affected by TC-PERGERyuki experiencing a hallucination due to TC-PERGEThe nozzle containing TC-PERGETC-PERGE on the head of a ballistics missile
## Navigation

 Locations | **Tokyo**
*Chiyoda District*: Police Headquarters (Boss's Office, Psync Room, Interrogation Room) • Sunfish Pocket • Sekiba High
*Chuo District*: Horadori Institute of Genetics (Underground, Hostage Room) • Naixatloz Japan Branch (President's Office, Cathedral)
*Koto District*: Harbor Warehouse District • Date Residence
*Minato District*: Studio Dvaita • Aioen Orphanage • Ikume Shrine • Kumakura Office • Sejima Residence • Central Hospital
*Shibuya District*: Lemniscate Entertainment Offices • Yoyagi Park
*Shinagawa/Kabasaki District*: Matsushita Diner • Sagan Residence • Enda Residence • Kabasaki Chemical Plant
*Shinjuku District*: Golden Yokocho (Marble, Brahman World Cuisine) • Misetan Department Store • Tokyo National Stadium
**Side Ryuki:**
Dispossessed • Anyone Imagines • Ought to Know • Nothing to Be Done • Go • Farewell
**Komeji and Shoma Route:** Joy for Anguish • I Found Me • Past Its Ken
**Explosion Route:** Smiles for Tears • Well-Known • The Mind of God • Not All A Dream • She Was the Universe
**閭｡陜ｶ荵句､｢邱ｨ Route:** 遐ｴ邯ｻ逋ｾ蜃ｺ • All This Happened, More or Less
**Side Mizuki:**
Alone • Pass Mildly Away • End Where I Begun • Traveler • Left Behind • The Expense of Spirit
**Gen and Amame Route:** All Living Things • Of Arms and Of Man • Who's There • All That We Are
**Kizuna and Lien Route:** Bid the Soldiers Shoot • Sweet Silent Thought
**Resolution Route:** Hell • Visions • In Truth • Births • The End of Craving • Braver Than All Flowers