"You can't trust the tap water."
"What is genetic engineering?
Genetic engineering is the process of manually adding new DNA to an organism. The goal is to add one or more new traits that are not already found in that organism. Examples of genetically engineered (transgenic) organisms currently on the market include plants with resistance to some insects, plants that can tolerate herbicides, and crops with modified oil content." -
The Cross finds their DNA samples from supernatural beings they spot on the streets. At times, they even take in human volunteers depending on their cause. A test subject is selected and then injected with the modified DNA.
What they use as a base is yet to be determined.
If the test subject survives the transition, they are sent to another facility where the subject is trained to use their new abilities. Any signs of resistance, the subject is destroyed and the Cross starts anew.
Not all subjects are brought in from the city. Once a splicing facility has enough subjects, they are able to start breeding. Some of the mutations are born naturally, but few have survived.
The Cross has a strong belief that anything supernatural must be eliminated and sent back to hell from whence it came - vampire, werewolf, and the like. But to kill a monster, you need a monster. They considered the city was infested with demons, and mere human strength alone couldn't illuminate them all. So Questions still remain unanswered and every day they work to find answers. How do you kill something equivalent to an immortal?
Talia was an odd one of sorts, but useful. Birthed a human in a small town off the coast of New Jersey, her genetic code was modified with that of a chameleon. It gave her the ability to blend in with her surroundings making her invisible to the untrained eye. Unfortunately when the experiment was over her body maintained a half reptile/half human appearance. Thus becoming known as experiment 00052470 'Lizard Girl'. Though not considered a 'failed experiment' Talia had her own agenda to adhere to, and when it came to taking orders she was not the most cooperative. Lucky for her the Cross favored her abilities and opted not to kill her as long as she remained useful.
Deceased: Blood loss. Tessa was on a mission to rescue Killian from the Cross when Talia attacked her. Apparently the fight didn't end in Talia's favor.
Deceased
Deceased
Ashton was another matter entirely. Unlike Talia he wasn't born human. At least not entirely. He was a test tube subject created to enhance his abilities in strength and endurance, with the exception of his few mental disorders and short temper. He was slow at comprehending situations, but followed what he was ordered to do without hesitation.
The Cross almost thought this one was a lost cause until they injected him with the DNA of a troll ( experiment 00052471 "The Troll"). Considering his mental incapability it seemed only fitting for him to be the muscle .
However successful , the transformation left Ashton 's body horribly disfigured. His skin was rough as leather. His hair fell out . Eyes became cloudy and unsymmetrical. His ears, though functional folded in on themselves to an almost shapeless form. He grew massively in size, but his back curved so he was always hunched over.
His appearance was truly a nightmare.
Deceased: Blunt trauma to the head and body. His face comepletely pulverized beyond recognition.
Ashton was paired up with Talia to search for potential recruits. They took their routine at night and kept to the alleyways so they wouldn't be exposed when they came across Killian and Tessa. Killian was taken to a warehouse facility where he was interrogated for more information about about the vampiress.
Victoria, ( aka: experiemnt 00052472 'Venatoria' ) had managed to escape from the fire - the same one the remains of Ashton and Talia were discovered. 'Vena's ' family was devoured by a vampire in blood lust. In order to exact her revenge, she volunteered herself to the Cross.
What they told her to earn her trust: Vena would gain new abilities and strength.
What they failed to mention were the consequences and their own motives. Vena's body body changed similar of a ; half human, half spider. Extra legs grew from her sides and she gained arachnid features. , but kept most of her human appearance. In order to some what blend in, Vena can wrap her legs around her torso like a corset. She feeds on human blood, lives like an arachnid in a nest of web, and lays eggs. Her bite causes paralyses.
Since the fire, Vena has taken refuge in an abandoned building where she was discovered by Tessa.
M.I.A
Nikki ( aka experiment 00039466 'Patch)
ACTIVE
Hailey ( aka experiment 000625438 'Shadow') was the perfect blood type; 'O- ' which allowed her to assimilate with anything. While she is considered a 'FAILED' experiment, she is still used as a donor. Her genetic code is part of what makes up the base of concoctions distributed to each subject. However, she herself didn't take to her own change. Born a witch, she has the ability to use various spells. The Cross decided to take things one step further and enhance her abilities in shadow manipulation. She could manifest 'bullets', a shield, and door ways that led to different locations and points in time. Sadly her shadows wouldn't hold for more than a few seconds. The shield would shatter after the first hit. Often the bullets would fade before they reached her target. The doors were unpredictable. There was no telling where you'd end up.
They suspected her magical heritage interfered with her change. The toxins didn't take and they damaged her. While she can do basic spells, the bigger spell the more it takes out of her and the harder she has to concentrate to maintain control. If the spell goes for too long, she loses consciousness which landed her in the hospital wing in critical conditions.
ACTIVE
Risen from the dead by a necromancer and fed the blood of a vampire, this corpse was useful. He nearly killed his main target, Tessa, until Cosmo tore him to shreds.
His bite, his blood, everything about him was lethal to vampires and turned humans . The blood of a dead man was like poison, slowly eating away at Tessa while he dug out her torso. He was faster, stronger. He had keener senses than your average vampire, but because he had been dead for so long his regeneration ability couldn't help him fully recover. His skin remained rotted, deformed, and he reeked of death and decay. He was as much a monster on the outside as he was in.
The Cross has contemplated making more of this creature. They continue their study on remains of the previous one.
DECEASED
These are only just a few experiments to mention.
For the moment there are at least ten facilities of the Cross; DNA research makes up the bulk of them. They're usually found near the edge of the city in remote locations such as abandoned warehouses, using various distributions as a front. Within farther sections are the confinements for the experiments where they suffer through their changes until it's foreseen whether they live or die. Among these confinements are cells/ cages where new creatures are brought in and kept until escorted to the injection or experimental room. Various other rooms provide areas where different DNA mixtures are synthesized and studied before being put to use. Dozens of scientists work diligently around the clock providing different theories and methods to try to create the most powerful creature they can control while being provided with a decent cut of pay.
Various distributions only provide so much, since each one stores and sells different merchandise. They range from weapons, artifacts, and expensive art from creatures they've killed - if they don't decide to keep them as trophies. The way The Cross sees it, the vile creatures wont need it where they're going any way. But to earn a little extra cash, any experiments that didn't die off and don't serve their purpose , they auction off to the highest bidder in the underground.
The training facilities teach new experiments how to control their new abilities. They become faster, stronger, and powerful. Think of it like a boot camp for monsters. They learn specific routines, run drills, and are forced to learn obedience. If they pass their training and considered useful in some area, they are passed off to distributions where the experiment is given their first assignment.
The last is The Core - the heart of it all. It's there that each facility is given direction, and only the most valued experiments are kept. It's here that Tessa's son Faust grew up when he was taken from her at birth. Brainwashed into believing that she, in fact, wasn't his mother. That his real parents died by her hand thus making her his prime target.
Two of the facilities were recently taken out. The first was destroyed by Viral (Tessa's sire), Seppuku ( family friend), and Taliesin ( Tessa's ex) in a rescue mission to save Tessa. Only after they found the room The Cross was keeping her in, they discovered she wasn't there any more. The second perished in a fire. Killian ( a recent friend of Tessa's) was taken to the facility for questioning, and a Cross soldier had tracked down Tessa to turn her in. Tessa managed to escape her captors and locate Killian in an interrogation room where they fought Troll Man and Lizard Girl. After the fight was over, the door was busted down and the room flooded with Cross soldiers. It became a blood bath while the two fought for their lives, and something inside Killian rose to the surface. Something Tessa assumed had lain dormant for quite some time, judging by his reactions.
The crosshair cross is the Cross's trademark, it can be found any where on the body as a tattoo, or an article of clothing. It features your basic 'crosshair' in the scope of a gun. The top and bottom lines are just lengthened and some of the lines taken away.
The Cross consider themselves men and women of faith. They believe any and all supernatural beings are demons, abominations of mankind and should be put to rest in the name of God.
