Keaira Virus

The Keaira Virus was an unintentional creation during a major conflict on the planet Zolaun roughly four years after the events in The Dark Horizon. James Davis, who had crash landed on the alien world during his attempt to get back to the Andromisa Galaxy, witnessed the virus' creation and subsequent spread in the novel, The Cycle of Fate. During these events, James Davis was living under the identiy of a Zolaun named Keolow.

The Keaira Virus is the result of a genetic mutation in a young Zolaun woman named Keaira. After being experimented on with Dark Matter, Keaira's body is made host to the virus that utilizes dark matter as a means to control and influence its infected. As the alpha host, Keaira is able to control those she infects and those that others infect. There is some speculation that those infected by other hosts can be controlled similarly, but it is assumed that Keaira's control is so great that this doesn't happen.

History (move this to Cycle of Fate)
The Zolaun Baron worked to fight against those that the Zoluan people saw as "unclea". Anyone that had undergone dark matter poisoning was not allowed to live a normal life or function in normal Zolaun society.

Eventually, it became clear that the abuse of dark matter injections led to enhanced abilities, such as better eyesight, stronger muscles, and greater agility.

The Baron authorized experimentation on a young woman that had been arrested for abusing dark matter. Her public punishment was execution but she was secretly housed in an underground facility where she was injected with dark matter again and again with each treatment coming in waves so that her body could adapt. Initially she grew weaker but soon enough the Baron heard that she was growing stronger and, apparently, smarter. She had started to convince others in the facility to do as she demanded. He had Keaira moved to a more secure area in the facility to prevent her from communicating with those around her but continued the experimentation.

Meanwhile, the Baron had to deal with the rise of the offworlder that was popularly referenced as the "Star-Fallen Hero". After having the hero arrested he placed him in the same facility with Keaira until he could figure out how to properly handle the situation. Keolow, the Star-Fallen Hero, met the woman and learned that her name was Keaira. Upon hearing the name, memories of his life before Zolaun began to surface. Soon, James Davis realized the monster that sat in the cell next to him and quickly tried to warn the Baron.

The Baron's attention was divided between an uprising of his people and his attention on Keaira has wained. He eventually heard out James' argument but before it could get any further Keaira escaped from her containment and revealed the true power that the dark matter had granted her. A genetic mutation now allowed her to sometimes control those who also had dark matter in their bodies and if she infected others with her blood they would submit to her will completely.

The Zolaun people worked to create a cure but they were unable to sythesize it fast enough to preven the fall of their enormous capital city. In a last ditch effort to save the planet, Keolow was forced to use heavy ordinance to level the city and destroy the infected, along with the survivors, that were still trying to escape the city. The outbreak was devastating but limited and the Zolaun people would survive.

Appearances
Once and Again (first appearance)

The Pain Beneath

The Dark Horizon (mentioned only)

The Cycle of Fate

The Way We Fall