Talk:Were-Virus/1

The scientific explanation behind Dr. Harper's hideous transformation:

Ten years ago, scientists discovered a new virus in the Himalayan Mountains. The virus had lain dormant in the ice for thousands of years, but two sherpas had uncovered it and freed it from its fossil prison. It immediately infected the sherpas, causing horrible mutations and soon death. Asian scientists kept it frozen in special containers, but then a Russian scientist found out and stole the virus in hopes of using it in chemical warfare.

The Russian was captured on his way back by several American marines, who demanded to know what he was carrying. He tried to infect them with it but was killed before he could free the virus from its container. The marines took the container back to the U.S., where it was studied extensively by American scientists, who discovered that the virus had a lethal strand of RNA that caused the mutations.

The lethal strand was removed by an inhibitor protein, and the virus was then used as a viral vector, transferring desired genetic information from one host cell to another. The virus was accidentally exposed to ultraviolet radiation, which caused several bases in its genes to be switched. This caused it to be able to transfer information from one organism to another, thus causing several scientists to have their genes combined. Being unable to handle all these new genes, they went insane and were killed. The virus was then placed back in storage until a way could be found to reverse the mutation.

A spy had observed the virus' progression, and desired to take the information back to his employer corporation, PanGInc. Stealing one of the containers, he made his way out of the laboratory. But as he left, one of the night guards saw him leave. The guard chased him and fought him for the container. He pushed the spy off an overpass, sending him to his death. But the container fell too, and spilled open on the ground, freeing the virus.

The virus infected several wild animals, which became carriers. It travelled in their saliva and bloodstream. One bite would transfer the virus and consequently the animal's genes. One such animal, a bobcat, bit our own Dr. Harper. The virus had an incubation period of about two weeks, during which the body would lay dormant. Then the transformation would be complete. Dr. Harper turned into a creature that was half-human, half feline. But the rest will be written in the story.