Alexis McElven started her career in curing genetic diseases by trying to cure mortality. Her original attempt postulated that a mass of semi-specialized stem cells (cells that were prepared to take up a specific role) could be implanted and replace a damaged or aged organ. When this failed to yield the desired results, Alexis postulated that fetal cells could be exposed to a retrovirus that would render the fetal body into a new source of cells that matched the mother's genetics. This almost worked as planned. Unfortunately the mother's body didn't absorb the new matching cells as Alexis had expected... leaving herself perpetually pregnant. But this did lead directly to the creation of the Embri.

The Embri is classified as a parasite because it feeds off its host mother, however the fetal body is largely composed of stem cells and does not grow. The placenta takes in nutrients and samples the genetic pattern of the host. Tailored viruses in the fetal body then match the host's genetics and the fetal body feeds stem cells back into the host body.

The Embri creation procedure turns the amniotic sack into a flexible form of amber. The viruses convert the specialized cells in the fetal body into semi-specialized stem cells that become part of the host mother. The first prototypes (identical twins that Alexis McElven still carries most of the time) didn't start with the protective amber and nearly died in their first birthing.

In addition to the semi-immortality and rejuvenation granted by the Embri, the host mother enjoys an accelerated healing ability, bolstered immunity, and some control over her metabolism. The Embri, surprisingly, does not inhibit menstrual functions the way pregnancy does. In fact a woman who holds an Embri for long periods of time actually finds the ability to control her reproductive functions.

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