Forum Topic
Gavin
MemberTrilobiteJun-06-2012 3:42 PMTo understand the Secrets of the the contents of the urns/ampules we first have to separate them into their component parts...
[Edited 02-12-2012]
[u]The Seed[/u]
[img]http://www.prometheus-movie.com/media/prometheusE_screencap7.jpg[/img]
A genetically engineered substance created by the Engineers, it is stored within the vials found within the urns/ampules.
This thick, viscous black liquid which was consumed by the Sacrificial Engineer (the Seeding) and unwittingly by Holloway, has three underlining properties:
1. When ingested by an organism (Sacrficial Engineer/Hollway) the "Seed" combines with the cells of the organism, causing the host organism to break down at a cellular level - every cell of their body becoming a viral genetic mutagen, capable of being consumed by other organisms.
2. This viral genetic mutagen, when ingested by other organisms, adds/replaces genes of that organism with those of the host whom consumed the "Seed", imprinting the hosts DNA/Genome onto an indigenous ecosystem. This viral genetic mutagen also acts as an evolutionary accelerant, exponentially mutating organisms with the genetic template/traits from the host (LV-223 worms).
3. The evolutionary accelerant aspect of the mutagen also has the side effect of revitalizing dead/dying cells, seeming resulting in re-animation (Shaws womb/Fifield).
[u]The Black Liquid[/u]
[img]http://www.prometheus-movie.com/media/prometheus_screencap47.jpg[/img]
The black slimy liquid stored within the urns/ampules is NOT the same substance that was stored within the vials, and contrary to my original theoryis NOT the genetic material of the Xenomorph. This substance is an inert transmission medium, that when combined with the Seed creates an oil like substance, making weaponized transmission of the Seed more effective.
[u]The Urns/Ampules[/u]
[img]http://www.prometheus-movie.com/media/prometheusK_screencap31.jpg[/img]
The urns/ampules are medium for storing and deploying both the "Seed" and the transmission medium. When triggered/smashed the "Seed" (see above) and the transmission medium mix, creating an oil like substance, that is more viscous than the Seed, and a more effective means of transmission.
[u]The Xenomorph[/u]
[img]http://www.prometheus-movie.com/media/prometheus_screencap49.jpg[/img]
As shown by this mural, the xenomorph is of some importance to the Engineers. Lets look at their known history regards the Xenomorph...
- Thousands of years ago, an Engineer craft carrying a cargo of Xenomorph was forced to land on the moon/planetoid LV-426 when its lone pilot unwillingly became host to one of its cargo.
It may be that this craft had previosly visited LV-223 and acquired a payload of the urns before deploying them onto a distant planet. Then after acquiring the eggs that would have remained after the infestation befell its fate upon its return either to LV-223 or the Engineers home world/system.
- 2000 years ago, a team of Engineers stationed on LV-223 prepared to deploy a cargo of urns/ampules to Earth, when one of them inadvertantly unleashed the contents quarantining the base.
As seen in the movie, the urns are the viral deployment method used to instigate a Xenomorph infestation. The urns were designed to ensure safe transport and efficient deployment of the Xenomorph.
[u]The Dark Truth - Completely Rethought[/u]
Taking what we have learnt about the urns/ampules, their contents and the Engineers established history with the xenomorph, and combining that with what we have seen in the Prometheus and Alien movies, leads us towards a dark, disturbing truth...
[b]Phase 1 - The Seeding[/b]
[img]http://www.prometheus-movie.com/media/sacrificial_engineer_prometheus2.jpg[/img]
[b]The Engineers visit primordial planets supporting basic, simple life, whereupon a lone "Sacrificial Engineer" ingests the "Seed", sacrificed his life and seeding the planet with the seed and his DNA, resulting in an ecosystem entirely dominated by the Xenomorph (This is what we see at the start of the film).[/b]
[b]Phase 2 - The Rebirth[/b]
[b]An ecosystem dominated by the Xenomorph results in the exhausting of viable hosts. To combat this the Xenomorph at a genetic level introduced Y chromosome into its genome, giving rise to infertile males (smooth carapaced warriors), and then fertile males (Kings).[/b]
[b]Upon consummating with Kings, Queens become capable of producing a second type of egg, incubating a sub-species of hosts, pale skinned humanoids - Engineers.[/b]
[b]Phase 3 - The Harvest[/b]
[img]http://www.prometheus-movie.com/media/david_earth.jpg[/img]
[b]Systematically a percentage of these Engineers are drafted into Engineer society. Seeking a more efficient means of reproducing the Engineers weaponize the Seed, for deployment upon worlds inhabited by Engineer children, sired before the weaponization of the Seed (the method of this siring not yet seen).[/b]
[b]The Xenomorph DNA, hidden with "human DNA" asserts itself and spreads across the sired planets, resulting in a Xenomorph dominated ecosystem. Once all viable hosts are exhausted, the King Xenomorph is sired and Engineers are born.[/b]
[b]Phase 3 - Collection[/b]
[img]http://i888.photobucket.com/albums/ac89/snorkelbottom/AlienInfestedWorld.jpg[/img]
[b]The Engineers collect a percentage of Xenomorph (eggs) before transporting them to a location whereby they can be used to produce more Seed (also as yet unseen).[/b]
[u]Why Create Only To Destroy[/u]
[b]Here's a summary of what we know so far...[/b]
[b][/b]
[b]- A Sacrificial Engineer sacrifices his life, seeding life upon a primordial world, using his own genetic material. To date we the fans have assumed this action, through natural selection and engineering, resulted in billions of clones/children of the Engineer to evolve, in his image - us.[/b]
[b]But The consumption of the Seed by Holloway results in the creation of a Xenomorph in the form of the Deacon, therefore we must assume our initial belief to be false - meaning that the Sacrificial Engineer was not siring a planet of life that would evolve into human form, but instead cultivating a world that would be dominated by the Xenomorph.[/b]
[b]- The Urns show that the urns are a means to deploy the Xenomorph amongst human races also sired by Engineers, as shown by the DNA match in the movie.[/b]
[b]- The Xenomorph extrapolates genetic material from its hosts, propagating its own kind.[/b]
[b]- Once all hosts are exhausted, the Xenomorphs would need a means to continue their existence, otherwise they would die, and only their eggs would remain.[/b]
[b]- The Engineers return to gather the eggs.[/b]
[b][/b]
[b]WHY? Why would the Engineers seed a planet to create millions/billions of clones/children in their image and using their own DNA only to later wipe them out using the Xenomorph? Well I believe I may have the answer...[/b]
[b][/b]
[b]The Xenomorph, as we know it, is capable of eradicating an entire ecosystem of its indigenous population by using said life forms as hosts to propagate its own species. When gestating inside a host, Xenomorph embryos extrapolate genetic material and traits from their host, to add to their own genome and to adapt to the environment and ecosystem which they have been deployed into. It is this trait of the Xenomorph I believe that holds the key...[/b]
[u]Genetic Material[/u]
[img]http://www.prometheus-movie.com/media/prometheusO_screencap14.jpg[/img]
[b]We, the human race have evolved from and continue to evolve from the Engineers genetic material. Our genetic material, our genome is almost identical to that of the Engineers. This same genetic material is extrapolated by the Xenomorph, a deadly genetic and bio-mechanical creation held in some regard by the Engineers, themselves expertics in genetic and bio-mechanical engineering.[/b]
[b][/b]
[b][i]To the Engineers the human race are "Maize". Once we have grown to required amount in number and in the required way, we are harvested, and the Xenomorph is the "Harvester".[/i][/b]
[b][/b]
[b]Our genes/DNA/Genome/genetic material is the "Maize", that is what the Engineers want/need, and the Xenomorph is the means by which to harvest our genetic material. But why?[/b]
318 Replies
Mala'kak26
MemberOvomorphJul-11-2012 2:01 AM[b]@Snorkelbottom[/b]
All these theories as to why and why.
Really, to me it seems that:
- The SJs are extremely advanced specie which perfected itself in some serious inter-galactic bio-engineering civilization. Judging after their external looks, they may be cloning themselves (or they did so at some point and due to whatever reasons) as a means of continuing their existence. They need fresh genetic material. So they engineered the black substance (the goo) which contains parts of their own DNA which basically is a form of accelerator for whatever life is found on fertile planets. Such planet was Earth at some point in time as well as maybe many other worlds (we don’t know). They proceeded in seeding those worlds with this black goo combined with the sacrificing one of their own.
- The way of harvesting the new genetic material from “their children” is as yet unknown. But I seriously doubt that the Xenomorphs were created for that! I’d rather believe that such an advanced civilization as the SJs would know that at some point “their children” will multiply beyond control and this will pose (or could pose) an entire set of possibilities some of them beneficiary and some non-beneficiary to SJ’s agenda. So they needed an effective way of controlling this growth. An “ecological” one instead of the use of mass-destruction agents (weapons, weather altering etc. which could virtually kill the fertile world, rendering useless and even affecting the entire system). I see the Xenomorphs as this effective way. Once a planet is inserted with thousands of urns/ampules containing both the “seed” and Xeno genetic imprint (I love this theory of yours Snorkelbottom!), then it’ll will be only a matter of time before events will take their course. Once the Xenomorphs devoured/used all indigenous life, as you said, they’ll die and all what’s gonna be left of them will be their eggs. But remember: these eggs still contain only one element, i.e. yet another ferocious, all-consuming and uncontrollable xenomorph waiting for a host to start all over again. So these eggs are then retrieved by the SJs. They would either be kept as “bombs” against other candidate overpopulated worlds or disposed off in the way you disposed with spent nuclear fuel: find a place and securely and effectively dump it (who says that the Juggernaut on LV-426 wasn’t on its way to a “dumping” planet or maybe the very LV-426 was intended as such a dumping world! So our Xenomorphs are rather a growth-control agent rather than the creature we all like to imagine all kind of things about. But like with spent nuclear fuel: if it gets out, it’s trouble. Even the SJs – the creators of this extraordinary agent – found out of that!
So for us, humans: time and generations has passed. We multiplied. Colonized. Mined. Interfered. Our time was simply…up. We needed…”birth control”.
- I see the drawings found from many different past civilizations on Earth – the “invitation” to LV-223 – as a form of luring the “children” to vast and prepared for “herding” bases. Why to go all the way to the myriad of worlds we implanted (who knows how many other places we could talk about?) when we can send them invitations and let them come to us when they’ll be ready – the SJs seemed to have said. Even the derelict Juggernaut on LV-426 send a distress signal which could’ve been twofold: warning for their own, luring for humans!
But something has gone terribly wrong. The Xenomorphs kinda got out of control and there was little in the way of stopping them. Maybe the SJs thought at the beginning that they could control them but what they created amazed even them. Furthermore, they realized what a perfect organism that is; dangerous, lethal and highly uncontrollable! And maybe they started the only thing that made sense for SJs: R&D for an “antidote” implying new sets of risk, implying maybe even….humans.
Hehe…I don’t know. But this theory seems an obvious one to me. :)
caihookus
MemberOvomorphJul-11-2012 11:28 AMWell, if one includes the lesser films in the franchise "Alien vs Predator",
that might be a basis for war.
Engineer vs Predator, they do exist in the same universe,,,,
Servante
MemberOvomorphJul-12-2012 5:31 AMHas anyone discussed the Priests who created the Engineers. It is the Priests who Shaw and David will meet in Part Two. Given that the new strain of human/Engineer breed of "alien" seems the x factor for the Priests, this has all the religious/mythos of the Christ birth via a virgin (Shaw as sterile qualifies). Are the Priests trying to replicate their God? Given too that the mural depicts the "alien" in a crucified state lends itself to the mytho paradigm of birth/death/rebirth, which seems to be the pattern with the facehugger (death), host (death), parasite (birth), and then the parasite lays eggs containing more facehuggers--talk about your Easter holy day. Shaw could be viewed as the Virgin Mary of the 'alien' Christ figure. Anyway, if this is being discussed anywhere, can someone direct me to that thread. Thanks.
Indy John
MemberOvomorphJul-12-2012 12:44 PM"....Shaw could be viewed as the Virgin Mary of the 'alien' Christ figure.."
That thought sort of cross my mind..but I suspected it was my Catholic upbringing..
I don't think the priests are the going to be in the overall big picture..There must be somethinjg more to the storyline that will overshadow what we have watched...and discussed.
Be choicelessly aware as you move through life
Ebugogo
MemberOvomorphJul-12-2012 10:37 PMWhat if the Xenomorphs are the FEMALE Engineers? That would explain their reason for using us to create them as well.
Indy John
MemberOvomorphJul-14-2012 9:03 AM If the ZENOs are female..then I think I have no interest in propogating any human..or alien race..
Can you imagine the first date between a male Engineer and female (ZENO)?
Be choicelessly aware as you move through life
FREEZE!
Co-AdminMemberOvomorphJul-17-2012 1:33 PMvery cool, again something to invest some time too, thanks Snorky
[url=http://www.madmax4-movie.com/]Visit the Mad Max: Fury Road Forums today![/url]
Cypher
Co-AdminMemberOvomorphJul-20-2012 3:24 AMThe black goo is just Lindelof's middle finger to us, as was the smoke monster in Lost, it's almost exactly the same when you really think about it. No idea what the monster was? No idea what that bluck stuff is, but both of them do fucked-up things to people.
Hack, he is.
[url=http://www.robocopmovie.net/][img]http://i888.photobucket.com/albums/ac89/snorkelbottom/NewRoboBanner.jpg[/img][/url]
"Is it dead this time?" "I dunno, poke it with this stick and see."
Mekja-Tek
MemberOvomorphJul-21-2012 12:42 PMCypher for the WIN!!! Goo shmoo, writers block often breeds flatulating plot holes.
Bring on "PARADISE", but get rid of the human and focus on the "ALIEN" universe!
PickleGuy
MemberOvomorphJul-23-2012 8:35 AMThese theories are interesting, but are not conclusive. As with every post on this board that proposes a possible rationale for the Space Jockeys, the Black Goo and the origin of the Aliens, it is all a guess.
So to summarize, the big assumptions throughout this thread are:
1) You don't know the history of the Space Jockeys origins.
2) You don't know if the Space Jockeys intended to destroy humans on Earth.
3) You don't know of the real purpose of the Black Goo.
4) You don't know how the Space Jockeys died on LV223.
5) You don't know how, why or to what purpose the Alien Species was created.
I could continue, but the point is that it is all guesswork. - Everything in this movie that we have proposed theories to explain, is pure speculation. I think it is fine, but don't make any conclusions in your posts, which I find in many cases. I'm not going to call anyone out, but making a statement like, "The Space Jockeys were going to blow up EARTH!" - is just funny.
Hopefully Prometheus 2 will open some windows on this as-of-now-closed house.
gati
MemberOvomorphJul-23-2012 2:27 PMThis topic is very Alien-franchised, I think Xenomoprh can not have importance to engineers in terms of life form, because xenos are not intelligible, and that mural can be anything but IMO not the xeno, I think they haven't existed at that time.
Indy John
MemberOvomorphJul-23-2012 3:10 PM@PickleGuy..
THanks for the summary as it may save me some reading time..
We sort of know the details of what we don't know about Prometheus ...and we question what we have seen in nthe movie!!!
Instead of turning many of the movie goers away from mthe movie,,it haS actually drawn the communty closer together..and seen by the various posts..
I think this is good thing as a strongerr hard core set of fans will make the furure installments worthwhile..
However if the next episode captures a wider audience(fans that are not obsessed with all the details)..then the Prometheus world will juast explode with attention and ticket sales..
And that wil be great of fans of all levels of interest..
Be choicelessly aware as you move through life
PickleGuy
MemberOvomorphJul-23-2012 3:20 PM@Indy John: Yeah,... I'm all for theory-crafting. - but I don't like it when someone offers an opinion and claims it to be "THE" answer - and then attacks other people when they offer their opinions on various plot lines of the movie.
I would concur with you that - for me - thinking about the implications that this movie poses in and of itself was great. It made me think about things. - and the possibilities of those things.
Legendary Xenomorph
MemberOvomorphJul-24-2012 4:04 PMThe Xenomorph we saw was created by human sexuality a mixture of the black goo and human DNA to create a large facehugger.
The Xenomorph on the wall can be anything.
My theories with the wall are...
1) Designed as part of the wall
2) Made as a reference to the Alien films
3) The Engineers must have seen the future about their creations (humans) creating a life-form (Xenomorph) that could threaten or destroy the universe which they placed on the wall as a warning and properly might be the reason they try to destroy us.
These are theories have to wait for the sequel.
Dustie
MemberOvomorphJul-26-2012 6:13 AMAren't the answers in the film already?
"We created you, because we could."
The Engineers, if they're like us, they created the Xenomorph to conquer planets and spread. Just like we did back on our own planet in a certain era not that long ago. They seem to be doing the same.
If there's life in a place they discover, they send the Xenomorphs there to fest. Then they return to harvest. Xenomorphs are so deadly they either have an antidote for their very own use, or just leave the world in a Xeno-state, so it's theirs and no competition dares to set foot there wittingly.
If there's no life, they create it themselves using one of their own kind and the black liquid. Then Xenomorphs are sent also to turn the planet into a huge nest.
Seems like the black ooze was developed as a mean of mixing and spreading lifeforms, but just as powerful it is, it is as deadly to themselves if gets out of control.
Also, because it's bugging me a little. Why the conclusion that the black substance is two different things in the vials and everywhere else?... Shaw was given less than a drop of what you call Seed, and she gave birth to something that later implanted the Engineer with a Xenomorph, which I think shows the ooze in the vials is also Xenomorph's genetic material (at least as far as we know, since we don't get to see if David didn't mix the substance from the vials with anything else).
King
MemberOvomorphJul-31-2012 6:26 AMI always thought the eggs were a separate story but at the same time related, maybe the eggs were the perfect weapon but was too dangerous that they had to keep it away from them, and the egg opens once if it senses any living host near by, this case they said its best to stick with the urns since urns dont react as bad as eggs do but then again thats just another theory.
[img width=351 height=150]http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ML_kFkjpdzE/SK6uPUT8iKI/AAAAAAAAGm4/tzk1lye2eZE/s400/vlcsnap-94269.jpg[/img] "Frostmourne Hungers"
mountaindewbass
MemberOvomorphJul-31-2012 11:30 AMOne major flaw to this.... The black coming from the urns is the genetic makeup of xenos. How does that cause the earth worms to change? Oops. Someone missed that little detai
Gavin
MemberTrilobiteJul-31-2012 12:01 PM@ Mountaindewbass...
Seed + Xeno DNA + LV-223 worms = hammerpede
Hammerpede = overgrown (accelerated) worm creature with acid for blood.
mountaindewbass
MemberOvomorphJul-31-2012 11:45 PM@Snorkel
And when did they receive the Seed? You dont see anybody knock over the urns. You simply see the Xeno DNA and worms=Hammerpede
zzplural
MemberOvomorphAug-01-2012 12:15 AM[i]The black coming from the urns is the genetic makeup of xenos.[/i]
Incorrect. It's subatomic pico-tech, not DNA. Think clever little machines. That's how it causes changes in the host.
The most terrifying fact about the universe is not that it is hostile but that it is indifferent
w_star
MemberOvomorphAug-01-2012 12:48 AMDavid once said that Shaw's father was died of Ebola... as someone thought that Ebola is a kind of Bio-weapon, I thought the black goo is just simular to Ebola...
Gavin
MemberTrilobiteAug-02-2012 3:01 PM@ mountaindewbass...
Let me try to explain it in simple terms. The urns are made up four components...
1. The Urn - Simply the housing of the weapon.
2. The Slime - Inside the urn (this is the Xenomorph DNA)
3. The Vials - Containers for component number 4...
4. The Seed - Stored in the vials this is the same substance consumed by the Sacrificial Engineer at the start of the movie.
...When the urns are triggered (Shaw and co. entering the chamber) the contents of the vials (Seed) mixes with the slime (DNA) and creates the black liquid that then oozes from the urns. This liquid imprints anything it touches (LV-223 worms for example) with Xenomorph DNA, in the same way that the combination of the Seed and the Sacrificial Engineer imprinted his DNA onto life on ancient Earth.
Now some have said that the substance that pours from the urns is the black slime, this is not the case - look at the images above, when David extracts the device holding the vials they are coated in a black slime/mucus, and the substance that David places on his finger is more congealed/coagulated. But what pours out of the urns when they are triggered and what covers the floor when Fifield and Milburn return to the room is more of a black oil. Neither the contents of the urn, nor the vials have an oily viscosity, thus the only logical deduction would be that the oily substance is a combination of the two substances.
If you are still struggling with the concept think of the liquid bomb shown in Die Hard With A Vengeance.
snellhest
MemberOvomorphAug-11-2012 5:05 PMeverybody seem to forget something about the proto-xeno and that is in alien when it bursts out from john hurt ist small and isnt evolved like a bit after the burst that may be the same case here!
SubsumeYou
MemberOvomorphAug-11-2012 9:33 PM Thank you, SnorkelBottom, absolutely fascinating theory you present. Thank you.
SubsumeYou
MemberOvomorphAug-11-2012 9:35 PM Your assumptions, Emme, are naive and, sadly, disappointingly typical.
SubsumeYou
MemberOvomorphAug-11-2012 10:21 PM The xenos are not Gods, to the one who suggested as such. A God is a thoughtful being that creates and shares. The xenos, I will say right now, are not thoughtful. They are on the level of animals.
BigDave
MemberDeaconAug-12-2012 2:14 PMI believe that the Black Goo in the Urns could indeed be a Bio Weapon, but it would be a very peculiar one.
You see from what i have seen these Urns are as ampules and they contain this substance and it appears that this substance when it comes into interaction with a Organism it does not kill the Organism, it upgrades them both physically and mentally. By that it mutates the Organisms Genes so that it takes on traits of a Xeno and thus changes the Organism into a Hybrid Organism that has Xeno traits but also evolves and improves certain aspects/traits of the original Organism.
The level of this mutation depends on the amount of black goo the organism comes into contact with and how it comes into contact with it.
My reasons for this are... we do not see what becomes of Holloway we can only assume, and so we get no proof that he was having the same affect as the Sacrificial Engineer.
We do see that Holloway gets Shaw Pregnant while he is infected with a small amount of the black substance, we can only assume that the substance first affected his genes slowly but enough to affect and mutate his sperm. His Sperm then was able to fertilize Shaws none defective Eggs.
The Embryo being a simple form of life (all mammals, reptiles, birds and fish have a similar near identical stage 1 embryo) Thus this embryo only has basic mammal genetics and thus has less Human DNA to rewrite. Thats how the Embryo mutated into the Squid which is very similar to the Face Hugger.
Its assumed that those worms we saw that could have been brought in from outside by the crew; mutated into the Hammerpede which again mutated the worms into larger organisms that carried again some Xeno traits but also kept some worm traits.
Next we have Fifield, now he gets a lot of Black Goo on his face... but forget the Fifield we saw... look at the many concept works only a few looked like Toxic Avenger Fifield, the others looked more Alien, you could see Xeno DNA in them but none in mutant Fifield.
Why? Well if Ridley wanted to save the Xeno DNA until the Shaws Baby vs Engineer and then Face Hug (Body Hug) Scene and resulting Deacon Chest Buster. Maybe thats a good enough reason for him to cut out the Alien DNA looking Fifield and go with more bland mutant Toxic Avenger Fifield. Maybe the same as we really never see much of the Hammerpede or what becomes of its victims.
Again purely on my part i think it was to edit and leave out Alien DNA until the Shaw Baby and its attack and implanting of Embryo in the Engineer scenes.
So if we consider that Fifield was originally going to look more Xeno DNA than Elephant man (Joseph Merrick). I have come to this conclusion.
The Xeno was a Organism that they may had used as a Bio Weapon, its use was simple, deploy the Xeno Eggs and watch as they hatch Face Huggers who then implant Xeno Embryo on its targets, these Embryos grown into Chest Busters who then grow into Xenos which take on some traits of its Host.
The Xeno is deadly and also a very hard Bio Weapon to contain and control.
What if the Engineers then found a way to use the Xeno well change it to something that can still be used as a Bio Weapon but one that can be contained and stored more easy.
Surely breaking down the Xeno DNA and storing them in Urns are a much easier and safer way to contain and store a Bio Weapon?
But how do they do that?
This brings me back to the Sacrificial Engineer, the substance he had taken did not mutated him it broke down his DNA but did so in a way that his DNA then diluted into water and may had then either mutated into basic life forms and building blocks of life on Earth.... or maybe mutated basic life forms on Earth so they evolve into Organisms that carried some DNA and traits of the Engineer Race.
I propose that the Goo the Engineer drank was not the same as what was in the Urns.
I believe that they used the same process that broke down the Sacrificial Engineers DNA to break down the Xenos DNA, but where as the Engineers DNA escaped into the Water Fall, the Xenos was collected into the Urns and maybe also mixed with some other chemical that helps to store and hibernate the DNA and maybe helps it Evolve and Mutate at a quicker cycle of Evolution than that of the Engineers DNA.. Unless the Xenos DNA mutated and evolves at a much faster rate anyway (likely).
This is what i feel the Black Goo is.... broken down Xeno DNA for a safer way to store and deploy the Xeno Bio Weapon and also have more varied use.
Maybe they never created the Xeno, but they came across it and wished to use its DNA to be used as a Weapon or to create new Organisms with Xeno traits.
I also think this is what the Space Jockey Suits are, they are Bio Suits, whose purpose it to prevent contamination of the Black Goo and maybe protect them from the Black Goo but not any accidentally created organisms via the Goo.
Remember the Urns only appeared to activate and leak once some of the crew had taken of their helmets and their breathing affected the atmosphere of the room and caused the Urns to leak.
This is why the Engineers wear those suits.... as they could breath outside for at least a short period with them off (The Engineer got from his crashes Juggernaut to the Lifeboat to attack Shaw without a mask).
Also why wear those suits in the Ghost Engineer scene, when the Human Crew could walk around without them as there was oxygen in that part of the temple and the Juggernaut.
R.I.P Sox 01/01/2006 - 11/10/2017
Mala'kak
MemberOvomorphAug-13-2012 12:44 AM^^Great post. I'm in agreement with pretty much everything you mentioned about the goo. The fact that Fifield was originally going to mutate into some hybrid-like alien creature is a huge clue that the goo is based on xeno DNA; and can transform people into monsters if they're infected the right way. It breaks things down and disintegrates them to change the entity, and it can mutate whole organisms in different ways to directly hybridize them. It seems like it's gonna be analogous to the breakdown and reforming of civilizations over time, as well as companies. Connecting to the themes like the inevitable changing of leadership. When a new king steps up to the throne.
It seems like the goo can be used in multiple ways like the fire talked about in the Prometheus myth. It can either completely disintegrate the life-form that ingests it to create new life from local elements or it hybridizes things with the xeno DNA that has been altered in its own way in an attempt to control the fire. The engineers had the fire, were playing with it, and got burnt. In a metaphoric way it could be used to create tools, to cook/use as a light source etc. OR it can be used to make war, and weapons of war.
Zeus becomes angry with Prometheus because the humans now have the ability to make war. So, he punishes Prometheus, and some of the humans who were now living in a paradise/garden with some of the early Engineer kings. A garden that Prometheus/the true gods set up for us and was destroyed by the other Elders/the kings... The engineers survive the destruction and slither out of the garden into the stars. They become more warlike and take the fire with them to launch a war against their creators/our mutual fathers. They've now tried to involve us in their war against the creators through devious means by leading us to knowledge while holding another goal in mind. They're our older brothers who are jealous of us and want to make us a weapon of war against our creators/fathers. Giving a lot more meaning to David's own desire to rebel and kill the father/king. The leader at the top of the hierarchy.
Earth, and the other Engineer created worlds, have been punished by the true gods many times in the past... with the bioweapons, and with multiple floods/ice-ages noted by archaeologists. Caused by world altering tech that used to be able to ensure the complete disintegration of the xeno traits on the worlds that were punished. Something happened when the Engineers further hybridized their form of the fire in an attempt to control it. The engineers are emulating the true creator/father as David will go on to do while he becomes more evil and more like Weyland. However, they were also attempting to fight fire with fire. David knew it was a weapon before anyone else. No one asked him what the hieroglyphs said so he didn't reveal the whole story.
The engineers seem to fear/worship the pure form of the xenos. That's why they hybridized it and attempted to control it in a way they thought would be better than the true gods form of the fire. However, the xeno genetics keep reforming, resurfacing, and recombining with other genetics. The genetics are trying to get back to their pure form because of what the Engineers did to it having disastrous consequences. It basically can't die now. And the altered xeno genetics in the goo corrupted their whole batch of the fire. So they stored some of it, but the outbreak eventually happened to the Engineers because they tried to take their science even further and weaponized the bio-weapon further in their attempt to control it. They're still also honoring an ancient king/head of their civilization who launched a war against the creators and left them their form of the fire. However their culture disintegrated and became even more warlike. With knowledge and power but no great king or head to lead them anymore.
David's head survives the mission and is altered by the goo as he's changed and reattached to the body of the company/kingdom.
After the king dies the kingdom will sometimes start to disintegrate, and get less perfect, without the leadership of a competent head/king. Once David becomes king and becomes one with the body of the company again, his secret obsession with the goo multiple, warring groups (ala Lawrence of arbabia), and him being a metaphoric prince superior to the king who has the right to lead to the kingdom while it's being changed.
The idea of using the goo as a bio-weapon is trapped in his data banks, and will help militarize the company/kingdom and turn it into an empire/corporation on a galactic scale. With some of the colonies now being exposed because they're closer to the war front. And David knows he has to take action like Lawrence of Arabia..
This fire works by breaking down life to its basic elements and then recombines the xeno genetics with the available material/genetics to create new life i.e. forming hybrid xeno creatures through the worms that become the snake huggers with a more weaponized form of the fire. Prometheus gave us the fire so we could advance, but Zeus was angry about the possibility of us using it as a weapon.
These taller humans that precede us, and are not gods, are misusing the fire. They burnt themselves in the ass with it 2000 years ago and almost destroyed what was left of their civilization. All because of their urge to use it as a weapon and to emulate the true gods by punishing worlds as they were punished in the ancient past. When their king led the survivors of their destroyed Paradise into a war with all the groups... and left directions to where they were going to make war with the true gods. In an attempt to kill the creator like Lucifer and his fallen angels in their war against god and the other angels. David has learned of this ancient war and a greater empire through the myths and hieroglyphs he cross-analyzed as he learned about all the mythic cultures and the cultures he would be dealing with, like Lawrence of Arabia. He also prepared to act by learning the languages of the natives like in Lawrence of Arabia... Both the engineers and David want to involve us in this war... and there will be multiple warring factions untied against an empire by King David sort of like in his favorite movie as he becomes a leader. He wants to be a leader because he really feels androids are superior to humans and engineers (revealed subtly throughout his actions/ multiple meanings in his lines); and feels he should be at the top of the hierarchy. His desire/dream to kill the king is even more evil/misguided than it appears on the surface. It's partially about gaining some more freedom from his programming. He couldn't attack Weyland directly, but the engineers could.
So he took a gamble because he knew they were warlike and were not gods, thinking that he may survive because of his superiority/durability and near immortality/ability to survive as a head without a body... as the last living, most competent creation/child of the king. Now that Vickers, the current heir to the throne is dead. And he, and the millions of other Davids are left as the closest thing to a son or prince.
If David can free the other Davids from some of their programming he may become an almost omnipresent, immortal god, seeking even more power to use against an empire. Like Weyland he wants to possess the fire, but already has near immortality. He found out more about the current form of the goo than Weyland and wants to use it as the Engineers were. As a weapon.
He already may have a craft that's loaded up with the stuff too. And wanted to go to Earth before Shaw redirected them..
oduodu
MemberXenomorphAug-13-2012 5:14 AMSnorkelbottom
1. What is the official name of the mixed sunstance ? I suggest xeno mutagent = XM.
2. What is the name and purpose of the clear fluid in the vials ? I suggest mutagen stabliser/deactivant.
3. I suggest the vials break down chemically once triggered to allow mixing.
4. Must the XM be mixed with water to be ingested ? Ie will it have an effect if it is ingested orally without being mixed with water ?
5. Can the XM be absorbed tjrough the skin and have the same effect ?
6. Can the XM be directly injected into the bloodstream and have the same effect.?
7. What would happen to an engineer after orally ingesting the XM ? Would he turn into an egg or deacon or xenomorph ?
Sorry snorkelbottom I am not the sharpest tool in the toolshed.
”I shall be guided by thee in this" polgara the sorceress.
Great thread I a am especially interested in the part where you say that 70 years is too quick to make all the discoveries that WT did. It should become a thread by itself.
Thanks
chainsawsquirrel
MemberOvomorphAug-14-2012 5:22 AMok, before i start this, im gonna say i would have put a bit more effort into this, but i cba coz i got logged out while typing it out the first time and it's way to much to write all over again.
Right, firstly, there's a few holes in your theory, despite all the work and effort i imagine you put into it. For a start, the black goo can not be the genetic material for the xenomorphs, if by that you mean it contains a full set of genes for the xenomorph. The black goo has some genes for the xenomorph but not all. the goo geneticly modifies all cells in the body by cutting out bits of sequences and replacing them with the sequences created by the engineers which is already inside the goo, therefore the DNA of another organism is needed (human). Secondly, the sacrificial engineer could not have seeded his DNA on that planet as you suggest by ingesting the "seed" since as the film clearly shows, his DNA is almost completely destroyed and cut up into nucleotides and small chains of nucleic acid. For any chance at all of him successfuly seeding his DNA there, he'd need not only the DNA but atleast 1 cell or even a cell nucleus INTACT so that the DNA can atleast replicate it's self and produce RNA etc.
Thirdly, i agree with your idea of the engineers initiating xenomorph infestations on other planets, ultimately to retrieve their eggs. However i dont believe the engineer was forced to land on lv426 after becoming host to a xenomorph. i think he was landing on lv426 to store the eggs after collection, and then became host to a xenomorph while on that planetoid, since the room containing the eggs is the only part of that planetoid which could sustain life, which therefore must have been created by the engineers for storing the eggs. obviously, the xenomorph burst out of the engineers chest before take off, thus the ship and the engineer remained there forever!
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