>>830097
The plot progression is messy if you give the circumstances even basic scrutiny and the character arcs are on the weaker side, but this is just main story stuff so general expectations are lower to begin with. These chapters, however, have revealed some of the wildest pieces of world lore since the pre-invasion arc story.
We now have confirmation that raptures can interface with biological organisms and be controlled through biological means via this “queen gene” and thus the central dogma of genetics no less. Almost all of what we know about the raptures thus far indicated that they did not have the capability, whether intentionally or not, to interact with organic life much aside from genocidal violence or complete indifference, but this is all been blown out of the water. Now the rapture’s very motivations, behaviors, and even nature must be reexamined.
We know for sure that SKK is
a trans
genic organism containing extraterrestrial genetic material . I speculated that this was the case back when Wisdom Spring released, but now it’s almost a certainty. And given what we know so far about SKK, I think they’ve given away what he really is. He is no super soldier project, but a disposable biological weapon created specifically to take down the rapture queen or any other hostile extraterrestrial nano-machine ascended entity. We already know that the vapaus made from his blood is to neutralize nano-machines, but this latent delayed activation of his regenerative powers and triggering by activation of a “queen” really tips it off. Vapaus is the mechanism of neutralization of nano-machines, cell-division at an accelerated rate (which is also confers regeneration) is the delivery and proliferation method, while activation of a queen is the trigger. Once SKK gets in close enough proximity to a recognized queen, his body will start undergoing uncontrolled and exponential cell-division in order to produce as much vaupas as possible to eliminate a queen. He will become a cancer that devours all not from this earth, the process in which he is not likely intended to survive.
And finally, that activation of SKK’s regeneration by the prerequisite activation of a rapture queen that is somewhere else is its own realm of nightmares. That alone implies an abiotic, possibly electro-magnetic derived, mechanism for genetic expression and regulation. Just understanding that mechanism alone on how to remotely control gene expression and regulation without using biochemical signaling would give you a nobel prize and then the discovery by the CIA of your death by suicide via two gunshots to the back of the head.
As far as science understands, what gives eukaryotic organisms their immense variation and what ultimately gives humans all our capabilities and what makes us well US, is the method in which our genetic code is translated, transcribed, and expressed as amino acid sequences via a sophisticated network of biochemical signals that make sure it’s all done in the correct time and place in the body. To be able to sidestep this entire sublime process through something that can be transmitted from outside but then through the body is an order of magnitude above playing god. This is no longer playing with Prometheus’ fire that he handed down to us, this is more akin to stealing Zeus’ lightning bolt and then throwing it with abandon.
The CG already knows and has demonstrated this knowledge for Project AD, but given the tech they have and the knowledge to utilize it like full-limb/organ regeneration, biological immortality through evergreen, and man-machine interfacing through nikkes/NIMPH, they could go even further beyond. Imagine if the CG got their hands on the genetic code that allows the rapture queen to completely control the raptures as a hive mind. Now think about what would happen if the CG inserted this gene into every remaining living human through something like a lentiviral vector distributed by a “vaccine” or just by airborne transmission. And now think about if the CG also had the mechanism to transmit control orders wirelessly to everyone in the Ark harboring the total mindcontrol gene. This is literal BRAVE NEW WORLD shit the Huxley himself would have nightmares of.
At this point, my entire perspective of the story has shifted. Dorothy, Red Hood, and Crow are right. The Ark must be destroyed, those that run the central government must die, this forbidden knowledge must be erased from history. For if not, humanity as we and the characters of Nikke know it will cease to exist regardless of the raptures direct actions.