The t-Veronica virus (also known simply as the Veronica virus) is a viral agent created by Alexia Ashford, and officially known as a lost virus of the Umbrella Corporation that was scrapped after an "accident" during its development. It was created by the merging of the Progenitor virus, DNA from plants and the remains of an ancient virus found within the DNA of a queen ant. 1 The successful retrieval of the virus by Albert Wesker led to the virus becoming more prominent in the field of Bio-Organic Weapons. 2
History
Origin
The t-Veronica virus was initially developed in 1981 by Alexia Ashford in the Umbrella Antarctic Base. The t-Veronica virus was created through the combination of the Progenitor virus, an ancient virus found within the DNA of a queen ant, and plant DNA. In order to prevent the virus from dispersing and destroying surrounding ecosystems, the extreme climate of Antarctica was chosen to culture the virus. The queen ant DNA Alexia had used to cultivate the virus possessed "the power to uniformly control all other organisms with absolute dominion," traits she hoped the virus would inherit. 3
Testing
Alexia tested the Veronica virus on Ants, which then set up the "Alexia-Pod". Following these developments, she tested the virus for the first time on a human being; her own father, Alexander Ashford. After noting the effects of the virus on her father's body and sealing him beneath the Antarctic Base, Alexia used the virus on herself and entered a cryogenic sleep for 15 years. 4
Retrieval
The virus later became known as a lost virus, with Alexia's cryogenic sleep being covered up as her death from an accident with the virus. The only known sample was the prototype within Alexia, who was destroyed by Chris Redfield. However, prior to her destruction, Alexia had used the modified strain of the virus inhabiting her own body post-cryo and injected it into Steve Burnside. Following Steve's own death, his corpse was retrieved by Albert Wesker. This led to t-Veronica being distributed to several other companies and individuals, namely The 3rd Organization, Tricell, and the Sacred Snakes. The information on the virus retrieved by Chris at the Umbrella Antarctic Base allowed the B.S.A.A. to compile a fairly detailed dossier on the virus. 5
Later developments from the virus included Manuela Hidalgo, who was enfused with the virus in order to cure her of a fatal illness. The 3rd Organization were also the first to apply the t-Veronica virus to creating actual B.O.W.s, beginning with the Jabberwock S3. Research and development involving the virus' application continues, resulting in more new Veronica-based B.O.W.s being released on the B.O.W. market.
Attributes
The raw form of t-Veronica was originally tested on Alexander Ashford. It had a severely damaging effect on the host, triggering the erosion of the hosts cells and like the t-virus, rendering his brain cells completely destroyed due to the extreme rejection of the virus. The complete eradication of brain cells removed any form of intelligence from the host. Furthermore, this host (dubbed Nosferatu) began to emit a poisonous gas which only a specialised serum created by Alexia could cure, and the blue herb had no effect on. This proved useless to the virus' original purpose, power with the retention of intelligence, so other methods had to be used; incubating the virus for 15 years at a sub-zero temperature.
Alexia speculated that the virus erosion could be delayed and perfect symbiosis could be achieved if the virus was allowed to bond to the host's body through cryogenically preserving the infected host for at least 15 years. She then used herself as a test subject and entered stasis. It can be speculated that t-Veronica possessed the ability to reproduce and go beyond the first generation much like the G-virus. This is backed up by Alexia's later ability to produce off-spring as she mutated.
The virus also possesses an astounding reproductive dispersion capability which allows it to replicate itself indefinitely, destroying already-existing ecosystems through the infestation of plants and animals. Plants infected with the virus subsequently become known as a "Veronica Plant", and are highly dangerous. Each one possessing the ability to wipe out a sizeable amount of the world's ecosystems on their own. It was for this reason that the Antarctic Base was chosen to develop the virus, as the reproductive dispersion of the virus is inhibited by cold temperatures, but heightened by hot temperatures.
Those that bond with the virus share similar traits. Their blood becomes highly flammable upon contact with air, and they retain their memories, intelligence and will while their skin becomes corroded by the virus, with noticeable plant-like features.
t-Alexia
t-Alexia is a colloquial term coined by Albert Wesker which is used to refer to the form of t-Veronica within Alexia's body after she awakened from her 15 years of cryogenic sleep. This strain has noticeably different effects to the initial prototype form used on Alexander. This adapted strain was also extracted from Alexia's blood and used on Steve Burnside. Although Steve was not immune or able to co-exist with the t-Veronica virus as he had not had the same 15 year adaptation period, he was still able to retain a limited amount of independent thought during his mutation, as he stopped himself from attacking Claire. He was also able to revert to his human form after regaining his will following this event. The cause of this phenomena is still unknown.
t-Alexia infected hosts with full adaption to the virus, such as Alexia, have the ability to revert to their human form at will unless they mutate beyond a first mutation. Others that have not bonded to the virus such as Steve are only able to do so provided they go under an extreme mental abnormality, provoking their thought process and allowing them to regain their will, enabling them to revert to their human form. It is likely that this ability in non-adapted subjects can only be used in a set amount of time before the virus completely erodes the subjects cells.
Manuela Veronica
After the t-Veronica virus was administered to Manuela Hidalgo, rather than enter cryogenic preservation for 15 years, Albert Wesker instead instructed Javeir Hidalgo to have her undergo regular organ transplants with girls of the same age. This method proved to be effective at keeping the virus from completely taking over Manuela's body, with her only actual visible mutation being her right arm. She can control the virus under her normal conciousness, and is able to use the same flammable blood ability as Alexia Ashford. However, using too much blood means harming herself.
Footnotes
- 1. biohazard archives (Page 301)
- 2. t-Veronica Notes
- 3. Queen Ant Report
- 4. Virus Research Report
- 5. BSAA t-Veronica Virus Description