Atavus
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 Juda and Howlyn, the main antagonists of Season 5 and leaders of the Atavus race. |
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| Current leader: | Howlyn and Juda |
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The Atavus are a fictional race of humanoid aliens appearing in the Earth: Final Conflict science fiction series. Several variations of Atavus have been observed in the series and their supposed history is confusing. The three versions of the Atavus are the Season 2 "monster" version, the season 4 combined Taelon-Jaridian version, and the Season 5 "Energy Vampire" version. All have been called the Atavus.
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[edit] History
The Atavus race are the progenitors of the Taelons and Jaridians.
The Atavus shown in season five, who use the term as the true name for their species, use inter-dimensional travel to move between stars. At one stage, a rebellious faction established an isolated colony on Earth.
The Atavus species as a whole encountered the Kimera at some point eight to ten million years prior to the events of the series. The Kimera allegedly altered the Atavus, transforming most of them into the Season 4-type, though the colony on Earth remained unaffected.
The Atavus colony on Earth was forced underground by asteroids three million years prior to the series, where they lay dormant in stasis chambers until they are resurrected when Liam Kincaid (Robert Leeshock) joins the Taelon and Jaridian species together.
[edit] Biological characteristics
The Season 5-type Atavus appear as humanoids. However, they have one major distinction; laser-like claws that protrude from their fingers. These are used to drain the life force of sentient creatures. This is their method of feeding. The fifth season Atavus, unlike their Taelon counterparts, appear to be more transparently evil, and are highly emotional and sexual beings. Another distinguishing characteristic is the presence of slight ridges on their foreheads, which resemble a more pronounced version of the contours on Taelon heads.
The season 4-type Atavus contains elements of both Jaridian and Taelon physiology, resembling a physical cross of a Taelon wearing his facade, and a Jaridian. They are seen only briefly, but possess the shaqarava, which they can use to channel energy into destructive blasts.
The season 2-type Atavus do not closely resemble any of the other species beyond being humanoid in appearance. They also possess the shaqarava and can use it to emit energy blasts or to drain the life force from a victim. These Atavus appear to be quite athletic. These Atavus arise when a Taelon's connection to the Commonality, their group sentience, is severed.
Additionally, the season 5-type Atavus use their technology to turn some humans into Atavus/Human hybrids. While these hybrids looked human, they possessed much of the strength and speed of the Atavus, as well as the energy claws and the need to feed on human life force.
[edit] Social structure
The Atavus group resurrected on Earth is led by an individual named Howlyn, his mate is Juda. The Atavus leaders seem to acquire their position based on physical strength and prowess in individual combat with other Atavus.
There also appears to be a type of hereditary nobility at work within the culture of this type of Atavus, which is responsible for some of their machinations and maneuvering.
[edit] Notes
- Interestingly, the season-5 Atavus bear a vague resemblance to a Taelon mythological figure dubbed "the sleeper", who appears in renderings of ancient Taelon texts in the first season. It is unknown whether this is intentional on the part of the writers.
- The season-5 Atavus were originally planned to possess the shaqarava. This idea was apparently dropped due to the expense of the required special effects.
- Atavus is a term used by Zo'or as a label for the creature that his brethren devolve into when totally separated from the Commonality. Only the season-5 Atavus use the word to refer to their species.
- It is interesting that Rho'ha does not devolve into any of the known varieties of Atavus despite falling out of communion with the Taelon Commonality. Many in the fan community believe he may have retained a partial link with the Taelons, or that his psychic link with Captain Johnson allows him to remain largely Taelon. Rho'ha does nevertheless take on those aspects of speed and mindless aggression that characterised the season-5 Energy Vampire Atavus.
- The season 4-type Atavus is created when Da'an and a Jaridian temporarily merge the way they should have existed. It is possible that, since both Taelon and Jaridians evolved since their split, the season 4 Atavus is an evolved form of the earlier Atavus. Another possibility is the Atavus on Earth had been cut off from the rest of the race for so long they took different evolutionary paths since they did not seem to know of either the Jaridians or the Taelons.
- The Atavus of Season 5 presents several inconsistencies within the series. One is the use of inter-dimensional drive, which had been previously stated to have been developed by the Taelons and is one of their few advantages against the Jaridians. If the technology was developed before the split then the question remains why the Jaridians lack it. It is possible the Atavus developed it on their own without contact with the Taelons. Alternatively, the technology itself may be old, but the Taelons may have stripped the Jaridians of it following their divergence.
- The Earth Atavus also use biotechnology that is more primitive than the Taelons. It is unknown if this, or the more crystalline-based technologies used by the Jaridians was originally used by the species.
- A number of biological inconsistencies are also presented. At first it is strongly implied that as long as the Atavus of Season 5 has a constant supply of food they are immortal. Later, they became more susceptible to injury such as destruction of their hearts due to changes in human physiology.
- A major inconsistency involves Howlyn's son. His son, and his former mate refuse to feed on humans stating that on their homeworld they did not need to feed. It is unknown if on their homeworld there was an alternative food source or some other environmental factor. One possibility could be the energy Taelons evolved as the Atavus went into space and whatever factor could not be replicated by their technology.
