Techno-organic virus

A techno-organic virus (also known as T-O virus) is a fictional virus in the Marvel Comics universe. The virus transforms organic material into techno-organic material. Techno-organic material resembles both machinery and living tissue. All techno-organic cells function like independent machines and carry both the virus and all information on their carriers, including memories and appearance. This allows a techno-organic being to rebuild itself from a single cell when destroyed.

There are two known variants of this disease: the virus carried by the Technarchy, known as the Transmode Virus, and the variant created or discovered by Apocalypse.

Characteristics
The Transmode virus is used by members of the Technarchy to turn other beings into techno-organic beings. They can then feed upon the infected being and drain its energy (visible as lights flowing through the infected creature). Without the energy, all that remains of their prey is a brittle statue. If the infected creature is not drained of its energy, it becomes a Phalanx. Transmode infected creatures usually are black and yellow, but they can change their color.

The Transmode Virus is highly virulent. It can transmit through skin contact (though a Technarch can prevent transmission) and will transform a creature into a techno-organic creature within seconds. Only mutants have some resistance to the virus. For instance, Doug Ramsey was infected with the virus, but this infection only progressed very slowly.

An infected creature gains the ability of shapeshifting. They can quickly restore themselves when damaged and they can directly interface with machinery. While Technarchs feed by draining other techno-organic beings, Phalanx have the ability to directly absorb matter (both organic and inorganic).

The Phalanx also experience a loss of individuality, forming a hive mind with other Phalanx and the need to contact other techno-organic life (a safety precaution created by the Technarchy, who consider the Phalanx to be a plague and exterminate them whenever they discover them).

Known carriers

 * Every member of the Technarchy, including Warlock and his father Magus.
 * Every member of the Phalanx, including Steven Lang and Cameron Hodge.
 * Several demons of Limbo including S'ym and N'Astirh. The infection was started by Magus, who was hunting his son.
 * Cable, previously infected with Apocalypse's variant, he cured himself. Since Cable and Deadpool #12, Cable lives in symbiosis with an infant Phalanx.
 * Hope, a young girl who is friends with Warlock. While the techno-organic virus didn't affect her, she had no control over the virus and would infect others by touch. Hope could even infect inorganic material, something the Transmode Virus usually is incapable of doing.
 * Paradigm, a mutant with technokinesis, who was infected by the Phalanx. A member of the second group of Hellions.

Characteristics
This strain of techno-organic virus was either created by Apocalypse or discovered by Apocalypse on board Ship. The virus has many similarities to the Transmode Virus and the two may be closely related. Techno-organic matter of this kind usually appears as blue/grey metal.

This strain of virus is less virulent than its counterpart, needing blood contact to transmit and usually taking a longer time to infect a person, though it can have sudden short "bursts of activity". During these sudden bursts of activity, spikes of techno-organic matter form from the diseased body and bodyparts change their form. Another difference with the Transmode Virus is that infection is very painful and can incapacitate a person.

Humans infected with this virus receive increased strength and the ability to directly interface with machinery. While infected material can change its shape, it is unknown whether a fully infected person is capable of shapeshifting (Apocalypse can, but he already had this power before being infected).

Known carriers
Former carrier:
 * Apocalypse, who was infected with the techno-organic blood of a time-travelling Cable.
 * Gaunt, a warlord from the future. He carried a less virulent version of the techno-organic virus, but Cable infected him with the more powerful strain, paralyzing him with pain. Gaunt was killed shortly afterwards.
 * Post, who received a blood transfusion from Cable.
 * Cable, who cured himself in Cable #100.

Alternate versions

 * In Exiles #20-22 the team of interdimensional heroes visited a world that had become horribly stricken with a new type of T-O virus. In this reality, Doug Ramsey had fallen ill with the Legacy Virus and his friend Warlock endeavored to help him. In trying to heal Doug, Warlock infected him with the T-O virus, but the two viruses combined and formed a new and deadly disease. This version is capable of infecting mutants and the world's hero population is quickly subsumed by the force, led by Forge. Blink, the team's leader, is also infected, but the timely arrival of Odin and the Aesir saves the day. Some of the top scientists derive a serum from the blood of the Norse gods and it effectively combats the disease.


 * In the Age of Apocalypse, Apocalypse also created a techno-organic virus, capable of assimilating both organic and technological materials, going as far as merging two separate beings into one body. This virus was used to empower Donald Pierce's Reavers, a group of TO infected humans serving Apocalypse's regime.

External link

 * The Techno-Organic FAQ by Soleil Lapierre