The Hypnos-T Type was the prototype of a Tyrant miniaturization project advanced by Vincent Goldman on Sheena Island. It was the final attempt by the Umbrella Corporation to create a B.O.W. which could disguise itself as a human and infiltrate enemy territory, one of the goals of the Tyrant Project. By including a certain gene in its culture process, it gained superior abilities and was to be mass-produced. 1
History
The Hypnos-T was developed on Sheena Island by a research team led by Vincent Goldman, the goal being to create a smaller Tyrant model with equal or greater effectiveness to the mass-produced Tyrant (T-103 Type). The Hypnos-T was distinguished from other Tyrants in that it expressed the "Hypnos gene" - an evolved and powerful gene found within the last remaining cell from an artificial genetic selection process conducted by the Genetic Engineering Research Department on the island. This gene had the ability to kill weaker cells through natural selection, encouraging the reproduction of better cells.
The Hypnos gene was then introduced during the Tyrant gene cultivation process along with the administration of "β Hetero Nonserotonin", a substance which was necessary in order for the test subject to become a Tyrant. As well as achieving the goal of a small Tyrant capable of disguising itself as a human, it also gained superior abilities as a result of the Hypnos gene promoting the development of strong cells within the body. 2 At the time of its development, it was dubbed the most powerful B.O.W. available by its research team. 3
Sheena Island Incident (November 1998)
During the Sheena Island incident, the Hypnos-T somehow awoke and managed to escape its confinement. Following its escape it killed its own creator, Vincent Goldman, and engaged Ark Thompson in battle. Thompson managed to subdue the Tyrant in its newly awakened phase. However, it soon mutated into a deadlier second form and hunted down the detective. After chasing him down to the heliport and being defeated again, the Tyrant mutated for a third time into a larger and more brutal, violent form. In the end, it was destroyed by two missiles from Thompson's helicopter.
The destruction of Sheena Island presented the loss of the mass-production of T-103s and the Hypnos-T. Development on this Tyrant was therefore dropped and it is assumed that all research was lost. As a result, the Tyrant Project became stalled and the goal of a miniaturized Tyrant was forsaken in exchange for the development of T-A.L.O.S., a Tyrant better equipped for warfare.
Attributes
The Hypnos mutated when enough damage was caused, and the resulting transformations only grew stronger and deadlier. However, intelligence was still lost as the Tyrant became more of a brute killer with each mutation. Like other Tyrants, it maintained a single claw on its left hand which it utilized as its primary method of attack. It was smaller in size in comparison to other Tyrants, being based on a younger male host.
In its first stage, the heart was not exposed; it was protected by a layer of tissue which separated during later mutations, allowing the organ to expand. As the Hypnos-T sustained injury, it underwent several stages of mutation, developing increased muscle mass, as well as a larger claws and an enlarged heart to compensate for the need for increased blood flow. It also became stronger and faster with each mutation, gaining an increasing ability to run and leap.
Etymology
The reasoning for the term "Hypnos" was due to an experiment conducted by the research team during development. During a period of around three weeks, more than 100,000 genetic selections were made. As the experiment continued, at a moment when the researchers were attacked by a sign of sleepiness, a certain cell began to weed out all the others. The scientists named the gene of this cell "Hypnos" after the God of Sleep in Greek mythology.