Sea Emperor Leviathan

Lore & Background

The Sea Emperor Leviathan is a species native to 4546B. Roughly 1,000 years prior to the game's events, the Architects began investigating the planet for a cure to the Kharaa bacterium. They discovered that the Sea Emperor Leviathan species naturally produces "Enzyme 42" in its digestive tract, granting immunity. The last of the species is too old to produce the enzyme in sufficient quantities. The Architects attempted to force its eggs to hatch to extract the enzyme from her young, but these attempts were unsuccessful. As the Architects grew desperate, they attempted to extract the enzyme from a related species, the Sea Dragon Leviathan, leading to an attack that caused a research facility to collapse and release the Kharaa bacterium into the ocean. The Sea Emperor remains captive in an Architect containment facility, able to communicate telepathically. Ryley activates a teleporter inside her aquarium to allow the Leviathan's young to leave; in exchange, she provides Ryley with the recipe for an enzyme that will allow her eggs to hatch. Ryley uses the enzyme to hatch the eggs; the Leviathan young release large quantities of potent Enzyme 42 into the environment, curing Ryley and halting the bacterium's spread. Finally at peace, the ancient Sea Emperor bids Ryley farewell and lays down to die.

In Their Own Story

The player character Ryley Robinson ventures deeper into 4546B, learning of the Architects' history through exploration of their facilities. He discovers the last living Sea Emperor, still captive in an Architect containment facility, who can communicate telepathically. Ryley activates a teleporter inside her aquarium to allow the Leviathan's young to leave; in exchange, she provides Ryley with the recipe for an enzyme that will allow her eggs to hatch. Ryley uses the enzyme to hatch the eggs; the Leviathan young release large quantities of potent Enzyme 42 into the environment, curing Ryley and halting the bacterium's spread throughout 4546B. Finally at peace, the ancient Sea Emperor bids Ryley farewell and lays down to die. In its final telepathic communication, the Sea Emperor poetically compares itself with Ryley.

Reader's Guide

The Sea Emperor Leviathan is encountered in an Architect containment facility deep within 4546B. It communicates telepathically with the player. The creature provides Ryley with the recipe for an enzyme needed to hatch its eggs. The player must use this enzyme to hatch the eggs; after hatching, the Leviathan young release Enzyme 42 into the environment, curing the player of the Kharaa bacterium. The adult Sea Emperor dies shortly after its offspring hatch and release Enzyme 42, due to old age and exhaustion. The creature is not hostile and does not attack the player.

Did You Know?

• The Sea Emperor Leviathan naturally produces 'Enzyme 42' in its digestive tract, making it immune to the Kharaa bacterium.
• The Architects kept the last Sea Emperor captive for roughly 1,000 years in an attempt to extract a cure from its young.
• The Sea Emperor communicates telepathically with Ryley Robinson, and in its final message poetically compares itself with him.
• The Sea Emperor dies shortly after its offspring hatch and release Enzyme 42, due to old age and exhaustion.
• The creature's eggs were unable to hatch until Ryley used the enzyme recipe provided by the Sea Emperor itself.