"[The Locust] have become... not docile, not exactly, but somehow... mindful, perhaps. Sometimes they seem to murmur in unison or simultaneously face the same direction. Dr. Van Neil remarked that it almost looked as if they were praying."

—Dr. Niles Samson.

Doctor Van Neil was a geneticist and co-creator of the Locust. Van Neil was originally assigned to the New Hope Research Facility by the COG Department of Health under the Monroe Administration. The goal was to treat the children of Imulsion miners afflicted with Rustlung. Under Director Niles Samson, the research involved transforming the children into chimeras, known as Sires, by mutating them with Hollow animal DNA. After the experiments were leaked to the public, Van Neil was relocated along with Samson and other key subjects and staff by a fringe syndicate within the COG to a hidden facility in the underground caverns of Mount Kadar. At the new facility, Van Neil participated in the hybridizing of Sire DNA with human embryos.

Using the embryonic stem cells of Myrrah, a normal human child with a genetic immunity to Imulsion, they were successful in creating a female hybrid capable of producing healthy offspring, officially creating the Locust. Designed to be used as cannon fodder for the COG Army against the UIR Infantry during the Pendulum Wars, Van Neil helped train the Locust to develop communication and combat skills. It was later discovered that all Locust shared a Hivemind that could be controlled by Myrrah. After the supposed death of her human daughter, Reyna, Myrrah began testing the full extent of her telepathic powers. Van Neil was among the first to notice a change in the Locust's awareness. Myrrah realized her full power and led the Locust to slaughter the scientists, including Van Neil.

Biography

Early Life

Not much is known about Van Neil's early life except they were born and raised in Tyrus and became a geneticist.

Pendulum Wars

New Hope Research Facility

Due to their expertise in genetic research, Dr. Van Neil was brought to the New Hope Research Facility to genetically engineer a cure for Rustlung - a recently discovered, fatal condition caused by the exposure of Imulsion. The children of Imulsion miners, also sick with Rustlung, were brought to New Hope for housing, care, and study. However, the children became imprisoned and experimented on with concentrated doses of Imulsion, with many of them perishing. Dr. Niles Samson, the director of New Hope, attempted to replicate the immunity of a child, Myrrah, in the other children but was unsuccessful.

Samson and the scientists then began transgenic experiments by splicing the DNA of creatures from the Hollow with the children ill with Rustlung. Van Neil assisted in these experiments, resulting in mutated, deformed creatures Niles called Sires - the beginning of a new, evolved race that, in Samson's eyes, could end the Pendulum Wars as they had military potential. The Sires were mindless and feral, however, except for one child named Ukkon who somehow retained his mental capacity and gained the ability of accelerated healing.

While Van Neil and other scientists continued to support Samson's research, others became disillusioned by the work there - especially after suffering attacks from the Sires. Due to information leaks following several staff resignations, Chairman Monroe ordered the facility shut down and all involved, including Dr. Van Neil, to be indicted for their crimes. However, a fringe political party hidden with Monroe's administration relocated Dr. Samson, as well as Dr. Van Neil and the other remaining loyal scientists, as well as their research and subjects to a hidden facility inside Mount Kadar.

Mount Kadar Laboratory

Van Neil was relocated to the Mount Kadar Laboratory along with the remaining loyal scientists and subjects. The experiments then turned into fertilizing the embryonic stem-cells of Myrrah with Sire DNA. The end result was a female hybrid called the Matriarch. While naturally blind and aggressive, it was discovered that Myrrah had a psychomagnetic link with the hybrid, in which she could control it telepathically. The Matriarch then gave birth to a new race known as the Locust Horde.

Meanwhile, fellow geneticist, Dr. Torres, began a sexual relationship with Myrrah, which resulted in the conception of their human daughter, Reyna. She became an instant curiosity as she had not only inherited her mother's immunity and aging process, but her mental link to the Hivemind as well. However, her father grew concerned and disillusioned with the scientists and their experiments on his daughter. Desperate, Torres escaped the facility with Reyna. Unable to recapture her, Samson lied to Myrrah that Reyna had died in the escape attempt, in order to keep her within the facility.

Myrrah's grief later turned into hatred towards the humans, as her empathy for her Locust children grew. Van Neil reported to Samson that Myrrah's ability to communicate with the Locust had grown to the point of being able to control them. At one point, Dr. Van Neil witnessed the Locust facing one direction and murmuring in unison, to which they thought it resembled praying. Fearing Myrrah's control was taking the Locust away from them, the scientists attempted to halt Myrrah's exposure to the Matriarch.

Death

Myrrah's ability had grown too strong and was able to compel her Locust children to revolt by killing all of the human scientists and guards and to escape the facility. In the end, a mortally wounded Niles Samson activated the failsafe deep freeze on the entire facility in order to keep the Locust a secret. Dr. Van Neil was killed during these events, either by the Locust or by Niles' deep-freeze.

Appearances

• Gears 5 (First mentioned)