Curious if Zero Day’s Proteus weapon was real? The political thriller raises questions about a top-secret neurological weapon designed to inflict brain injuries from a distance. With former President George Mullen experiencing disturbing symptoms, the mystery deepens as he struggles to separate reality from paranoia.
Let’s examine whether Proteus ever existed, why the project remained unfinished, and how Mullen’s past decisions came back to haunt him.
WARNING: Spoilers below!
Was the Proteus weapon real in Zero Day?
George Mullen authorized the classified neurological weapon project, Proteus, during his presidency.
Scientists designed it to inflict brain injuries on targets remotely without leaving a traceable cause. Although Mullen exhibited symptoms that mirrored Proteus’ intended effects, no evidence confirmed that anyone had completed or deployed the weapon. Valerie Whitesell, Mullen’s former chief of staff, suspected someone had targeted him with Proteus, but this assumption was incorrect.
The project remained incomplete, and no records suggest that Proteus was ever operational. Mullen’s symptoms, including auditory hallucinations and cognitive decline, were likely unrelated to any external attack.
Instead, his deteriorating mental state and past involvement in the program contributed to his belief in Proteus’ existence. There was no indication that anyone had access to the classified program to finalize and utilize it.
Why the Proteus weapon was never completed in Zero Day
The Proteus project never reached completion because it violated international regulations, including the Geneva Convention.
The U.S. government conducted the research in secrecy but shut down the program before it became operational. CIA Director Lasch and Valerie Whitesell confirmed that officials had abandoned the project. Scientists may have intended to finish it during Mullen’s second term, but his decision not to seek re-election stripped the project of its political support.
After leaving office, Mullen’s past decisions continued to affect him. His return to public service triggered resurfacing concerns about the unfinished project. His fixation on Proteus led him to misinterpret unrelated events, such as the discovery of a device in a bird feeder, as evidence of the weapon’s existence. The Proteus program remained incomplete, existing only in classified records, with no proof of its development beyond initial research.
Originally reported by Anubhav Chaudhry on ComingSoon.
