Compound 36
Compound 36 is a substance developed by the Consortium to give its agents within the Order enhanced attributes.
The Carrion Virus
In the mid-1990's, an engineered, airborne pathogen later referred to as the Carrion Virus consumed nearly 40% of the world. Symptoms varied, but typically included severe wasting, dehydration, fatigue, nausea, and in 33% of cases, death. The response to the global pandemic was primarily finger-pointing and country-to-country blame, however a company known as BioGen Amalgamate had created a counteragent to the pathogen. Because the Carrion Virus was airborne, it could be transmitted without even being in contact with another infected person. The decision was made then to weaponize the cure and deliver it to the atmosphere where it would then spread across the world. The plan worked. The Carrion Virus was destroyed, but there was an unintended side effect, due to its unique retroviral properties, neutralized metahuman genes -- effectively eliminating metahuman abilities worldwide.
Transition to the Consortium
BioGen Amalgamate reorganized itself into a humanitarian organization known as the Consortium. The Consortium then began to lend its scientific research to global prosperity. Though at horrible cost, the Carrion Virus opened up a new means of regional and global cooperation. Among its contributions were genetically modified seeds that could be grown in virtually any soil type, including sand, with low need for water, and could be harvested multiple times per season. This assisted in ending hunger and starvation in some of the most notoriously poor areas of the world. In addition to this, Consortium clinics were set up all over the world to offer free health care. No countries ever refused Consortium assistance.
Response to Metahuman Extinction
Although the global response to the Consortium's efforts were universally well-received, the lack of metahumans were generally attributed to the Consortium. Metahumans were essential parts of national security for some countries and even for some private organizations. Because the cure for the Carrion Virus precluded the ability for metahuman genes to naturally present ever again, the governments of the world demanded a solution.
The Consortium developed Compound 36.
The Order
The Consortium does not provide Compound 36 directly to countries, but instead offer services for those imbued with its effects through a contracted service. Contracts can be requested for virtually any documented need, but they tend to be for matters of global importance and safety. When Consortium services are requested, Agents of the Order act on behalf of the country requesting the service and are provided an equivalence of diplomatic immunity while performing the contracted services.
Compound 36 Effects
Compound 36 binds to human DNA and rewrites specific sections of it to enhance human performance across various areas. Much like a virus, Compound 36 stays in the human body even after the effects have been seen. However, Three different formulations of Compound 36 must be given on three separate occasions at least four months apart in order to the effects to be permanent. Each of the formulations is different and work together to complete the permanent effect.
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If the third dose of Compound 36 is not given, withdrawal can occur. Physical withdrawal of Compound 36 can be severe and permanent. Deterioration of muscle and nerve tissue are the most common effects, but mental and emotional instability can occur as well.
Ability Augmentation
As stated previously, Compound 36 remains in the body after the effects have been presented and/or have become permanent. However, the inert Compound 36 that is freely available in the body can be activated to further augment abilities. This is highly dangerous, as any side-effects currently experienced from exposure to Compound 36 tend to become amplified. In limited quantities, this can be used to gain an edge or turn the tide of a battle. Further activating Compound 36 is known to be addictive and one risks becoming an Aberration.
Aberrations
When an agent of the Order further activates Compound 36 and has surpassed his or her limit in being able to deactivate once the need for it has passed, the individual becomes an Aberration. Each Order member's threshold or tolerance for ability augmentation is different. Each Order member's ability to revert from the augmented state is different. There is neither set number of times that one can augment before becoming an Aberration nor a length or duration of augmentation that is required to become one.
Once an Agent becomes an Aberration, he or she is hunted down by the Order and killed. Aberrations have all the normal abilities of an Agent, but these are amplified even further. It is generally presumed that the ability to distinguish between right and wrong as well as the more complicated logic-processing centers of the brain become compromised post-becoming of an Aberration. The Consortium keeps knowledge of these beings out of the public and goes to great length to hide their existence.
Although the Consortium prefers to think them as mindless beasts that must be put down, the effects of becoming an Aberration vary by those affected. While there exists the possibility of becoming a mindless driven purely by instinct, there also exists the possibility of becoming a driven sociopath capable of complex planning through enhanced logic models.