Sarcophagus
The Sarcophagus (plural Sarcophagi) is a device that plays an important role in Act I of the Main Theme and Lone Trail.
Background
The Sarcophagus is a very ancient device built by the "First Civilization" that once colonized Terra which is, surprisingly, being treated as really a mere "life functions restoration device for home use." The basic mechanism of the Sarcophagus is to heal a wounded person. However, it seems the Sarcophagus only works on those of the First Civilization, currently solely the Doctor, not on the current Terrans and specifically the Infected. If an Infected is put inside the Sarcophagus, it will reverse the person into "its ancient form" (as in Mephisto's case).[1] This suggests that the true function of the Sarcophagus could be cellular regression (i.e. reverting the cells into their initial state) as Friston the Preserver once hinted that the current Terrans could originate from literal animals,[2] hence reverting them into their original form.
Chernobog Sarcophagus
One of the well-known Sarcophagus is the one hidden inside the core city of Chernobog, Ursus, which was excavated by the Boris Group in the year 1077. Because it is built on non-Originium technologies which are only mastered by the First Civilization, even the slightest energy siphoned from it could power the entire city. So, the Ursine authorities decided to bring it back to Chernobog and convert it into its core engine. As the Chernobog scientists led by Kal'tsit conducted the research, they found out that its energy source could revolutionize Ursus and greatly reduce the nation's reliance on Originium mining. On the other hand, they also feared that it could easily lead to its weaponization which, if succeed, will further expand Ursus' imperialism. Hence, the Chernobog scientists were willing to sacrifice themselves to keep such secret during the purge by the Ursus Fourth Army.[1]
Despite the marvels of the Chernobog Sarcophagus, it seems it has been running out of order. Three years ago, in the year 1094, after the fall of Babel, Kal'tsit placed the heavily injured Doctor inside the Sarcophagus; by the time Rhodes Island returned to rescue the Doctor, the Doctor has lost most of their memory, which Kal'tsit deems should be impossible.[1]
Hall of Stasis
Another group of famous Sarcophagi are the ones buried beneath Trimounts, Columbia, which is coined the Hall of Stasis by Rhine Lab scientists. Unlike the Chernobog ones, they are found within an underground ruin and are supervised by Trevor Friston the Preserver. Most importantly, all these Sarcophagi were already occupied by First Civilization survivors who are placed in stasis, hence the name. Originally, these Sarcophagi were meant to preserve the Civilization from an unknown "disaster from above" that wiped them out. But as Friston kept on sending out signals to outer space for 173,005 times and 13,000 years but receive no reply, he felt into desperation enough to feel that those inside could no longer be woken up again.[3][4]
In Terran year 1096, upon its discovery, Nasti Lunorey and the explorers of the R.L. Scientific Expedition Section set up a research base there which is later titled "Site 102." Kristen Wright, R.L.'s Control, had been visiting the Hall to gain knowledge of the First Civilization from Friston's account, one of which being the Starpod, the "fake sky" of Terra. In turn, Kristen venerated him as an omnipotent "God" and intended to utilize the Sarcophagi to fulfill her dream.[5][6] She quietly fooled the C.U.D.o.D. through the "Project Horizon Arc" where she built the Arc-01. Upon its first launch, it would charge its energy to pierce the Starpod through the energy siphoned from the Hall of Stasis to its S.H.A.F.T., even though it came with the price of sacrificing the lives within the Sarcophagi. The energy is immeasurable as it is beyond the reading of the current technologies, and even described as the equivalent of all the Originium energy supplies across Terra's time zones.[7] Not only the Hall's energy is sufficient to fulfill such impossible goal, but also it could distract the D.O.D. away from hijacking the charging process.
At the end of the "Trimounts Arc," Kal'tsit activated the Hall's self-destruction system to both fulfill Friston's will to start everything anew and to avoid the D.O.D. and Maylander from uncovering it. Nevertheless, there is a stasis pod hidden within the Galleria Stellaria that was basically a Sarcophagus reverse-engineered by Loken Williams where Kristen went into stasis as the Galleria drifts in deep space.
Trivia
- A sarcophagus is a specially-made coffin that is often associated with various religious beliefs in the resurrection of the dead, fitting its role to preserve the Doctor's body and its supernatural mechanism.