Wraith retrovirus
From Stargate Wiki
| Wraith retrovirus | |
|---|---|
| Production information | |
| Manufacturer | |
| Designer | |
| Technical specifications | |
| Function |
Strip Iratus DNA, leaving only Human material |
| Made of |
Fluid |
| Usage | |
| Affiliation |
Atlantis expedition |
The Wraith retrovirus, sometimes referred to as the Iratus bug retrovirus, was a medical injection devised by the Atlantis expedition's chief medical officer, Dr. Carson Beckett, in 2005.
Contents |
Overview
Drawing on knowledge obtained during their first year in the Pegasus galaxy, Beckett determined that the Wraith were an evolutionary product of the mixing of Human DNA with that of a local insect, the Iratus bugs. (ATL: "Thirty-Eight Minutes", "The Gift", "Instinct")
Beckett theorized that it might be possible to introduce a retrovirus designed specifically to target the Iratus DNA. The hoped-for goal was that the retrovirus would destroy only the Iratus DNA, leaving any Wraith target completely transformed into a human. (ATL: "Instinct")
History
Work began on the retrovirus sometime in early- to mid-2005, after the Iratus/Human genetic ancestry of the Wraith was discovered by the Atlantis expedition. An early prototype had been synthesized by the time that Lt. Col. John Sheppard's team had made contact with Zaddik's planet. (ATL: "Instinct")
The Ellia incident
On Zaddik's planet, Sheppard's team had made contact with a Ellia, a young Wraith woman who despised her own existence. Enticed by the opportunity to test the retrovirus on a willing and eager subject, Beckett joined Sheppard's team in returning to the planet, bringing along several samples of the prototype. (ATL: "Instinct")
At some point, in emotional despair, Ellia took one of the vials and injected herself with the incomplete retrovirus. The consequences of this were disastrous. The incomplete drug had the exact opposite of its intended effect, forcing the girl's Iratus features to dominance and utterly submerging any part of her that was rational. (ATL: "Instinct")
While on a rampage in the forest she called home, Ellia attacked Sheppard and instinctively attempted to feed on him through her grip on one of his arms. Perhaps as a byproduct of the Wraith enzyme aspect of the feeding process, Sheppard became infected with the retrovirus as well. Shortly thereafter, Sheppard was forced to kill Ellia in self-defense, with the assistance of fellow team member Ronon Dex. (ATL: "The Siege, Part 2", "Instinct")
Accidental human infection
In a development unexpected by Beckett, Ellia had indeed infected Sheppard with the retrovirus as well. Having designed it to be deployed only against Wraith, Beckett initially had no idea what the effects would be on an infected human. (ATL: "Conversion")
Almost immediately, Sheppard displayed physiological and psychological changes. The wound inflicted by Ellia had healed without a trace of injury by the time they had returned from Zaddik's planet. He became stronger and faster–likening his condition to the feeling that Lt. Aiden Ford expressed when he had been introduced to the Wraith enzyme. He also showed an increased libido. (ATL: "The Siege, Part 2", "Runner", "Conversion")
Within a matter of hours, Dr. Beckett determined that the retrovirus was altering Sheppard's DNA and somatic cells, and rapidly turning him into a creature much like the one that Ellia had become. As the hours went on, the physical transformation became increasingly startling; Sheppard's skin turned increasingly grey-blue and scaly, while his eyes transformed into eyes resembling those of a Wraith. (ATL: "Conversion")
The plan that Beckett eventually devised involved injecting programmed Iratus stem cells into Sheppard; designed to attack the retrovirus, but not human cells so as not to attract the virus. The solution was a success, and within several weeks, Sheppard was restored to his normal physical state. (ATL: "Conversion")
Michael
Months of revisions later, in early 2006, Beckett believed that he had finally perfected the retrovirus. But in order to test the effectiveness of it, a test subject was required. To this end, Sheppard's team captured a lone Wraith and brought him back to Atlantis. (ATL: "Michael")
Initial treatment, without the Wraith's consent, proved to be very effective. In only a short span of time, all the Wraith physical aspects of the captive were stripped away–including his memories. In order to facilitate ongoing observation, a solution was devised: the former Wraith would become "Lt. Michael Kenmore," member of the Atlantis expedition. (ATL: "Michael")
The ruse was initially quite successful. The expedition members were, by and large, able to convince Michael that he'd been injured, causing the memory loss that he now struggled with. This also provided a pretext for Dr. Beckett to continue regular and intensive medical examinations. (ATL: "Michael")
Eventually, however, the Michael's curiosity and ingenuity foiled the scheme. Faced with increasingly frequent and vivid flashes of subconscious memory, he sought out and stole medical records with his name on them. From those, he learned the truth of his origins and eventually became enraged at the members of the expedition for what they had done to him. (ATL: "Michael")
He later physically reverted partially back into Wraith and escaped, but never fully returned to his original Wraith form. Despite outwardly appearing as Wraith, he retained a number of human characteristics which set him apart from others of his kind. (ATL: "Michael")