RPC-159

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Registered Phenomena Code: 159

Containment Rating: Gamma

Lethality Rating: White
h-transmutation.png Transmutation h-biohazard.png Bio-Hazard h-microscopic.png Microscopic h-organic.png Organic

Containment Protocols: Several batches of RPC-159 culture are to be separated about their accordant chronological stages in petri dishes of 30 cm in diameter, kept within a highly-specialized scientific instrument serving as a microscope, containment unit, and data storage device. The instrument is to be connected to a power source at all times to maintain RPC-159 batches at -50°C, including a backup generator to ensure appropriate instrument temperature for 24 hours in the event of a power failure. Upon approval from assigned or adjacent Level-4 researcher, only personnel with a Level-2 or higher security clearance may order the instrument to dispense a batch of RPC-159 such that the batch may be directly accessed. This is only permitted for experiments in which particular agents may be introduced to RPC-159 batches for study, in the event that the instrument's built-in agent insertion modules fail or do not support introduction of a particular agent.

Personnel of Level-2 or higher security clearance are freely permitted to operate the instrument's microscopic modules and stored data for research purposes, including cycling of the instrument to observe desired stages of RPC-159. The same applies to the instrument's external centrifuge module. The centrifuge module may be used by researchers of adjacent1 RPCs following approval of a Level-2 researcher assigned to RPC-159.


159-1.png

Diagram of a fully-infected brain as viewed through magnetic resonance imaging.

Description: RPC-159 refers to a physiological phenomenon primarily affecting the human brain upon exposure to RPC-159-A. Presentation is in keeping with a mild neurodegenerative disorder bearing remarkable pathophysiological similarities to transmissible spongiform encelopathies (TSEs), as it is characterized by the progressive destruction of neuronal tissue throughout the brain. The nominal characteristic of TSEs, however, is absent; rather than the resultant manifestation of multiple voids across the cortex, RPC-159-A occupies these voids, progressing locally and steadily from the area of initial infection.

Although the agent responsible for the neurodegeneration that occurs during RPC-159 infection is unidentified, it is strongly suspected to be a subspecies of Spiroplasma and is formally referred to as the catalytic agent.

It is unique among bacterial diseases in that it produces two unique substances, formally named pseudocurd and starter fluid, as neurodegeneration progresses.

Both RPC-159-A and its catalytic agent are generally found and ingested together, with only exceptionally rare cases of infection including either one in absence of the other. Further details regarding RPC-159 spread and mechanisms of infection will be elaborated upon in the attached addenda.

Pseudocurd are the coagulated remains of cerebral tissue left by RPC-159 infection. Due to the speed at which the disease progresses, only minimal quantities of the substance exist at one time, complicating detailed analysis. It is similar in appearance to the curd obtained by the coagulation of milk, if substantially more complex in composition and produced from cerebral tissue.

Starter fluid is a substance similar to cerebrospinal fluid, with the significant discrepancy of possessing large amounts of oxygen and certain nutrients not found in its normal counterpart. Throughout the progression of RPC-159-A, it will replace the entirety of cerebrospinal fluid normally found in the human skull.

RPC-159-A progresses remarkably quickly in the human brain, requiring 2 weeks to 1 month to fully spread. However, due to the properties of the catalytic agent, it rarely provokes the debilitating and/or life-threatening symptoms associated with TSEs. Certain neuronal pathways connecting the nervous system to the rest of the brain remain universally immune to RPC-159-A and are not displaced or deteriorated in any way during infection, as do most hormone-producing bodies.

RPC-159-A is an anomalous fungus of the Penicillium genus that is capable of rapid growth in the pseudocurd produced by the catalytic agent. Although highly similar to Penicillium roqueforti, it possesses two unique characteristics:

  • The capability to interface and successfully communicate with the neuronal pathways preserved by its catalytic agent, thus maintaining neuroelectric communication with the rest of the brain.
  • The capability to substitute cerebral functions via a gestalt biosystem composed of a series of physiologically-disparate enzyme-based biotic analogues, in place of the biosystem that composes the standard neuroelectrically-based human brain.

While not fully understood, current analyses suggest that the exact means by which these characteristics are achieved are not entirely anomalous.

The end result of RPC-159-A progression throughout pseudocurd is the replacement of the human brain by an analogous organ entirely composed of a substance identical in texture, smell, and taste to Rochefort cheese, with the major exception of greater humidity.


Pathophysiology:



Epidemiology:

RPC-159 is generally contracted by the consumption of infected cheese, which can be primarily found in North America and western Europe. Infected cheese is exceptionally rare, with public contraction occurring at a rate of less than a dozen cases per year at average. Pieces of infected cheese have rarely been recovered, but are generally subtypes of blue cheese or feature significant mold growth. Many confiscated samples are humid and irregular in shape when compared to commercial cheese.

Areas of statistical abundance correspond with areas of above-average commercial cheese production, primarily in the United States, Germany and France. Despite this correlation, no significant connection has been discovered between commercial producers and RPC-159 in spite of thorough inspection of supplies, production and transport systems between 1998 and 2005.

As the life-cycle of RPC-159 is not known, the causes behind the aforementioned statistical abundances are unclear: RPC-159 victims do not excrete, perspire, or exhale any abnormal material associated with the disease. It is thus strongly suspected that RPC-159 is of artificial design and artificial introduction into the population. This is substantiated by the comparative abundance of RPC-159 in certain circles associated with anomalous activity and the disparate complexity of its mechanisms.


History and Use:

RPC-159 is understood to be widely known and has seen abundant use within anomalous or adjacent circles of different compositions and inclinations. Applications have been extremely varied throughout its lengthy history, seeing great relevance for different reasons in different circumstances.

Particular instances of interest regarding RPC-159, its uses, and mutated strains is compiled below, and will be updated should new developments elapse.


Incident Registry:



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