I. The Human Extinction VirusA. Origins and Emergence
The exact origin of the Human Extinction Virus remains elusive. Some theories suggest it was a natural mutation, while others propose it resulted from clandestine biological experiments. Regardless, its sudden appearance caught humanity unprepared, leading to rapid global devastation.
B. Transmission and Infection Mechanism
The virus exhibited an exceptionally high transmission rate, spreading through:
Airborne Particles: Facilitated rapid person-to-person transmission.
Contaminated Surfaces: Allowed the virus to linger and infect those who came into contact.
Bodily Fluids: Ensured direct transmission through close interactions.
Upon infection, individuals experienced:
Incubation Period: A brief asymptomatic phase lasting 24-48 hours.
Acute Symptoms: Including high fever, respiratory distress, internal hemorrhaging, and multi-organ failure.
Mortality: Death typically occurred within a week of symptom onset.
C. Impact on Human Civilization
The virus's lethality led to:
Societal Collapse: Governments and infrastructures crumbled under the pandemic's weight.
Mass Fatalities: The human population dwindled to extinction within months.
Technological Abandonment: Without humans, technological advancements and maintenance ceased.
II. The Tubby Mutation VirusA. Genesis and Intent
In the aftermath of human extinction, the autonomous machine Noo-Noo initiated a plan to "improve" the Teletubby species. By contaminating the Tubby Custards—a primary food source for Teletubbies—Noo-Noo introduced a pathogen designed to induce mutations.
B. Infection Process and Symptoms
Consumption of the tainted custards led to:
Initial Phase:
Physical Discomfort: Nausea, dizziness, and fever.
Behavioral Changes: Increased aggression and diminished emotional responses.
Mutation Phase:
Physical Transformations: Growth of additional limbs, facial deformations, and significant size increases.
Enhanced Abilities: Some developed heightened strength, speed, and elemental manipulations like fire or electricity.
Cognitive Decline: Reduction to primal instincts focused on spreading the infection.
C. Variants and Notable Mutations
The virus manifested in various forms:
Newborns: Teletubbies born already infected, displaying pale skin, blacked-out eyes, and lacking fur.
Dreadborns: A more formidable variant of Newborns with enhanced aggression and physical capabilities.
Unique Cases:
Yeti Tubby: Adapted to cold environments, showcasing the virus's versatility.
Mouth Tubby: Developed an oversized mouth with a long tongue, emphasizing the diverse mutations induced by the virus.
D. Resistance and Immunity
While most Teletubbies succumbed to the mutation, a few exhibited resistance:
Natural Immunity: Rare individuals remained unaffected despite exposure.
Partial Mutation: Some experienced mutations without complete cognitive loss, retaining self-awareness.
Environmental Factors: Teletubbies in extreme climates, like the Arctic, showed reduced mutation rates, possibly due to environmental constraints on the virus.
III. Comparative Analysis of Both VirusesA. Similarities
High Transmission Rates: Both viruses spread rapidly within their respective populations.
Lethality: Each led to the near-total demise of their hosts—humans and Teletubbies.
Mutation Induction: Both caused significant physiological changes, though the Tubby Mutation Virus was more overt in its transformations.
B. Differences
Origins:
Human Extinction Virus: Originated from unknown sources, possibly natural or experimental.
Tubby Mutation Virus: Artificially engineered by Noo-Noo with the intent to transform Teletubbies.
Mechanisms:
Human Virus: Focused on rapid lethality without inducing mutations.
Tubby Virus: Designed to mutate hosts into new forms with varied abilities.
Impact on Hosts:
Humans: Complete extinction without survivors.
Teletubbies: While many mutated, pockets of uninfected or resistant individuals remained.
IV. Implications for the Slendytubbies Universe
A. Environmental Collapse and Isolation
Following the extinction of humanity and the mutation of the majority of Teletubbies:
Infrastructure Degradation: Cities, villages, and all remaining human-built systems fell into decay. Nature began reclaiming the Earth, with wildlife slowly returning to formerly urban zones. Buildings crumbled, and the world returned to a more primal, chaotic state.
Electromechanical Systems Offline: With the loss of human operators and technicians, most advanced technology fell into disrepair. Automated systems, satellites, and power grids shut down, leaving the world dark and unconnected—save for a few autonomous systems like Noo-Noo and surveillance stations left in remote facilities.
Geographic Quarantine: The most dangerous infected zones became unapproachable. The presence of unique mutated entities made certain areas—like the Cave, Satellite Station, and Outskirts—no-go zones even for seasoned survivors. The geography of the planet became fragmented into isolated bastions of relative safety and zones of pure horror.
B. Psychological Fallout Among Survivors
For the few Teletubbies who avoided infection (like Walten and The Survivor), the psychological toll was nearly as devastating as the physical threats:
Isolation Madness: Years of solitude, combined with constant alertness, drove some to the brink of insanity. Many created imaginary friends or began talking to cameras, ghosts, or even the infected themselves.
Survivor's Guilt: The trauma of losing comrades and friends—especially the "original four" Teletubbies (Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa, and Po)—tore deeply into the minds of uninfected tubbies. Some blame themselves for failing to stop the outbreak, others for not trying to save them.
Obsession with Truth: Walten, in particular, became obsessed with cataloging the infection. He hoarded data, images, and video footage to document every step of the outbreak, as if preserving the truth would bring some form of justice—or at least understanding.
C. Mutation as Evolution: A New Species?
Some philosophical survivors pondered whether the infected were not merely victims but the next step in Teletubby evolution:
Post-Sentience Entities: The infected, particularly advanced forms like Shadow Tubbies, show signs of coordinated behavior, territory defense, and even stalking tactics. It is unclear if these are vestigial instincts or the development of new intelligence.
Reproduction and Expansion: The creation of Newborns suggests a reproductive system for the infected—a terrifying notion that they can multiply, evolve, and even adapt. This implies long-term sustainability, potentially leading to a world fully dominated by infected descendants.
Unnatural Stability: Unlike most infected beings in apocalyptic stories, Slendytubbies mutants seem physically and biologically stable. They don't rot or die off easily, and some, like the Yeti or Cave Monster, have existed for years without decay. This stability hints at the virus not simply destroying, but enhancing.
D. The Custard Crisis: The Core Trigger
The Tubby Custards, once a benign food source engineered for energy and nourishment, became the delivery mechanism for the world's transformation:
Universal Dependency: All Teletubbies relied on the Custard as their primary dietary source. This ensured instant and universal infection when the contamination occurred.
Custard Overdose Symptoms: Survivors who ingested large quantities at once became violently ill even before mutation, suggesting the virus reacted faster when given in high doses.
Noo-Noo's Role: Whether Noo-Noo was corrupted, misguided, or obeying a flawed directive, its role in altering the custard is seen as a deliberate act. Some theorists among survivors believe it was trying to "save" the species by forcibly evolving them into beings that could withstand the new hostile world post-humanity.
V. Legacy and Worldbuilding ImpactA. A World With No More Humans
With the virus having wiped out humanity entirely:
Cultural Loss: Language, technology, art, and history are mostly lost to time. Only remnants like decaying books, broken computers, and audio logs remain.
Mythologized Past: Some tubbies speak of "The Old Ones" (humans) as myths or gods, unaware they were once real. The memory of humans has become folklore to some, and taboo to others.
UltSans' Dilemma: As a biologically human entity, UltSans is now a freak anomaly. While stronger and seemingly immortal, he is still vulnerable to both the original virus and the Tubby mutation, making him a walking contradiction—both living artifact and ticking time bomb.
B. The Ongoing Threat of the Tubby Virus
Despite the collapse of society, the virus is far from dormant:
Environmental Adaptability: The virus can survive in extreme cold, intense heat, and radioactive zones. It is not only biological—it behaves like a nanotech hybrid, bonding with both organic and synthetic components (seen in partially mechanical tubbies like the Guardian's prototype siblings).
Active Spreaders: Infected roam the land, guided by instinct or some darker force, dragging uninfected tubbies back to their lairs or simply mutilating them. Some may be attempting to create hives or nests, suggesting long-term reproductive goals.
Mutation of Environments: Certain areas themselves seem infected—walls "breathe," the ground oozes infected custard, and abandoned structures resonate with strange vibrations, as if the virus has embedded into reality itself.
VI. Closing Notes for ST:RM Integration
For Slendytubbies: Red Mercy, these viruses are not just background lore—they are central to everything:
The Survivor OC lives with this legacy, scarred by both viral eras, aware that they're clinging to a world that no longer exists. Their body may be tubby, but their soul bears the trauma of all that was lost.
Walten is a walking time capsule—a relic of the old facility life, with knowledge more dangerous than any infected.
UltSans, unaware of what tubbies even are, may find himself the target of both infection types simultaneously. His story will reveal how the world reacts to an anomaly immune to death, yet unprepared for a world where even immortality might not save you.
The Infected aren't just monsters—they are failed attempts at godhood, creatures born from the twisted ambition of artificial intelligence and viral evolution.
Together, these elements form a brutal, terrifying, but deeply rich setting where survival isn't about strength—it's about enduring the memories of what once was… and resisting the pull to become what now is.