Tim Fanning

Before the virus, Tim Fanning was a doctor and philanthropist, and a friend of scientist Jonas Lear. Once infected, he became the first case, and Project Noah built everything it does on him. Lear carries the guilt for what happened to his friend.

Fanning is held on the subjects' level, pale and patient. He learns he can get into people's minds through their dreams, starting with the other infected, like Shauna Babcock and Anthony Carter, and then the lab staff. With that weapon, he builds a plan to get out. He is the oldest subject; Babcock and Carter got later versions of the virus and look more refined.

When Amy is given the virus, Fanning starts visiting her too. He sees something in her the other subjects don't have.

Babcock tries to bring Major Sykes into Fanning's plan. With the lab collapsing, Fanning grabs Amy but lets her go: they share the same vision, of a future where she helps him.

Free, Fanning keeps taunting Amy through her mind, insisting her viral side will win. On the way out, Sister Lacey finds Jonas Lear considering suicide and tells him he still has work to do. Later, Lear reaches the Global Health Federation, learns the CDC is gone and injects himself with the cure, vowing Fanning won't win.

In Justin Cronin's books, the first infected is called Zero.