Tyrannovirus

The **Tyrannovirus** was a deadly parasitic lifeform known to infect and assimilate other lifeforms by taking control of their cells and stripping away their free will - a "zombie virus." Tyrannovirus possessed many traits deemed impossible by terrestrial life - mainly, it created hive minds between its various cells using radio signals. These hive minds could reach human-like intelligence and meant that the beings it infected were not mindless and rabid, but instead intelligent pawns.

## History

It was widely believed that Tyrannovirus was created as a bioweapon by the Unitarians during the Great War, explaining why had abilities unlike any naturally occurring organism. The Unitarians wanted something that would spread fear and paranoia among the Nationalists, but also an effective weapon that would only infect military targets. Hence, through unknown means, the hive-mind was developed and the Tyrannovirus was given intelligence so it could differentiate between civilians and the desired prey. To spread fear, its ability to create fungal-like growths was incorporated into its arsenal also.

The Tyrannovirus was tested on the distant moon Rhea, but somehow it got lose during testing and overcame its programming, deciding instead to assimilate the moon. The Unitarians quickly quarantined the world, dooming the local population to infection. After the Great War, Rhea remained safeguarded to keep the virus from ever spreading off the moon and the virus remained an invisible yet constant threat in international affairs.

## Characteristics

Tyrannovirus could spread in a number of ways: airborne spores, fluids and bodily contact from infected hosts, and contact with infected surfaces could all infect a victim. Tyrannovirus, like rabies, cannot be cured, but unlike rabies it acts extremely quickly, able to take over a victim in a matter of minutes. Even a single spore or cell was enough to assimilate a human within a few hours.

Tyrannovirus was an intelligent hive mind, meaning its cells and hosts were not mindless and acting on instinct, rather, they were calculating and approached many situations tactically. However, Tyrannovirus' original command to assimilate with intent to conquer remained in its code and dictated its entire philosophy. Tyrannovirus cells communicated in the hive mind using radio waves the same way brains cells communicate using electricity. This presented one of Tyrannovirus' only known weaknesses: certain loud frequencies could disrupt communication and stun infected hosts. If cells were separated from the hive mind, they would go into hiding and reproduce via mitosis until a new hive mind of amble intelligence was created to command the outbreak.

Despite its name, Tyrannovirus was not actually a virus - it was considered a completely unique organism. Its cells could uniquely procreate into different forms, such as infection cells for attacking a host, liquid navigation cells for water supply infection, or structural cells for growths. It displayed the traits of a virus in how quickly it could mutate and its resiliency, but also possessed the traits of a fungus in its ability to create macroscopic, sometimes massive growths out of living tissue which can cultivate breeding grounds, create armor, give their hosts new limbs, and quickly shapeshift their host. Although Tyrannovirus was known to create grotesque mutations and growths on its victims, they could be hidden if deemed necessary by the hive mind.

With its unique abilities not possessed by any other life form and seemingly impossible intelligence, many have speculated that the Tyrannovirus may be extraterrestrial, but this view is often frowned upon as many Unitarians claimed they developed it with the help of the Effinites. However, no in-depth research has ever been done on its DNA or cellular structure due to the danger even a single cell presents.