VEP

An Apex likely to be a test subject for the Vestigi-Evo Precess, or VEP.

The Vestigi-Evo Process was an inoculation program administered by the Miniknog upon the entire Apex race that resulted in an irreversible change in their biology.

VEP was first distributed by the Miniknog, which had been known until that point as the "Ministry of Knowledge", as a cure for an otherwise incurable waterborne pathogen. In all likelihood, this pathogen was never real (or perhaps was even deliberately created by them instead), simply being a pretense for the Miniknog to start the Vestigi-Evo Process species-wide and help cement their rule over the Apex.

Within 10 years of its initial release, all members of the Apex race had received VEP, signaling a decisive, irreversible change to the species.

While VEP had increased the efficiency of mental functions by 300%, it came with the unintended side effects of physical devolution. Though the Miniknog has been performing research into reversing the physical side effects, there has been very little success, leading them to destroy all evidence of the race's previous form to prevent discussion of their failure as well as kidnapping and experimenting on those who get too nosy with this research.

It is possible that the process was in fact derived from or inspired by the Apex artifact called The Genesis Coil, given its resemblance to a DNA helix.

Trivia

• The Apex respawning animation shows a process that may be similar to how VEP was administered.
• The Vestigi-Evo Process's name may be a reference to the Forced Evolutionary Virus (otherwise known as FEV) from the Fallout series, with both being represented as green fluids that cause people to 'evolve'.