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the virus "plugs in" and activates the 'junk' DNA in its victim, resulting in several biological changes that create (and recreate) sentience within the infected creature's cellular makeup. It acts by affecting the protein encoding regions of the promoter introns in each cell. As a retrovirus, it contains both RNA and the reverse transcript enzyme, allowing it to insert its own genetic codes into the host's cells. It enters, re-purposes and changes the cell, replicating previously dormant non-coding segments of the organism's DNA.

The infected appear to only extract genetic material and return it to what they assume to be "the source". The 0.01 percent.

The nanites act as a bacterial organism entering a host's cells. More often than not, these changes are too drastic and 99.99% of all infected organisms die from massive organ failure and cell saturation. However, few variants have yielded other beneficial results, endowing the infected organisms with incredible superhuman genetic prowess that greatly increase their natural abilities to levels far exceeding human capability.

The .01 percent that has miraculously come out unscathed is a child that is living among the infected humans. The CDC has named him "Ulfhoinn", the only existing sentient life form to receive beneficial effects. Although, this "Ulfhoinn" is also displaying the power to absorb the infected, likely gaining power from them.

INFECTION
The virus is highly contagious and can infect organisms through a multitude of means:

Physical Contact: If a non-infected person is bitten or scratched by an Infected person, or a "Super zombie", they will become infected so long as the scratched/bitten is a metahuman or alien.

Exposure: Coming into contact with a "Super zombie" or a Hive (The current hive being star labs) can result in the infectious agents spreading to nearby humans.

Rage plasma Contact: Infectious bodily fluids and materials are capable of infection through open wounds. The subjected rage plasma is similar in all ways to that of a red lantern's blood.

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