The Reaver Biological Collective is held together by the chain of biological mind control exercised by the Mind Queen phenotype. This control does not come naturally to the Mind Queen; unlike many of the forms of mind control popularized in science fiction, the Queen does not have the inherent capability to make her whims reality. A Mind Queen's latent capabilities can only be exercised through the odd instrumentality of Mind Parasites--intelligent microbes that exist in symbiosis with all Reaver phenotypes.
MIND PARASITE CHARACTERISTICS
Mind Parasites are the smallest eukaryotic single-celled organisms known, much less the smallest intelligent life form known in this Universe. Only about a single micrometer long, its euglena-like torpedo-shaped body is propelled by a series of cilia. Most of the cell volume above the "waist" is taken up by a large nucleus containing the expansive Reaver genome. Mind Parasites have a standard set of all the usual organelles; a single power-producing mitochondrion, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, ribosomes, lysosomes, and so forth. However, in the "nose" of the Mind Parasite is an odd spherical organelle that has not been seen in any other lifeform in the entire Universe. This organelle is considered the seat of the Mind Queen/Mind Parasite symbiosis, acting as a psionic transmitter-reciever between the Parasite and its user.
The Mind Parasite, when floating free, uses its cilia for propulsion. However, these cilia are actually tiny axon-like fibers coated in a myelin sheath; in other words, microscopic nerves. Homing itself by following electromagnetic signals, a Mind Parasite lands in an area of the central nervous system, clamps onto the largest nerve centers it can find, and splices itself to the center using its nerve-cilia. Almost all of its energy is then devoted to creating an extensive series of nerves that infiltrate the host's central nervous system. Soon additional Mind Parasites collect at the infected site and form an Aggregate, a lump of disorganized tissue that serves no purpose except to act as a psionic channel between the host and the controller of the Parasites.
MIND PARASITE EFFECTS
A being infected with Mind Parasites may not notice
the infection until it is too late as the symptoms are mild and gradual. Mind
Parasites feed off of electromagnetic noise naturally made by neural electrochemical
activity and so causes no adverse effects to the host. The only noticable symptom
for standard humanoids, failing a standard bioscan, is the formation of a large, soft mass
on the nape of the neck or base of the skull. Prodding this mass causes no pain but
rather elicits a very strange, disturbing emotion, which usually discourages further
prodding.
Occasionally, Mind Parasites will accidentally land and attach in locations where their aggregation can prove harmful to the host. The most common complication in humans are aggregations along the spinal column, especially between the fourth and fifth vertebrate. As the Parasites aggregate, they cause pressure along the vertebrate and spinal cord which results in great pain and discomfort. Fortunately for these sufferers, "spinal aggregation" is the only kind of infection that can be eliminated with basic surgery.
Mind Parasites not only act as psionic conduits but also act as stem cells. All Reavers have Aggregate organs that constantly shed excess Mind Parasites; a great deal of these are stored to repair both traumatic damage and simple scrapes. A Mind Parasite "tasked" into this ability simply proceeds to the wound, enmeshes itself into the tissue it is to reinforce, and mutates itself into the cell required. Excess DNA is destroyed and the nucleotides transported to act as repair material. An interesting sidebar to the excess DNA destruction is that Mind Parasites can be and are used to heal non-Reavers without necessarily infecting them with aggregation. It is because the Mind Parasites can be remotely directed to specific locations and remotely ordered to not aggregate that most specialists believe that they possess at least a rudimentary intelligence.
HYBRIDS
Hybrids are revolting creatures, despised by both Weirdo Zone and Reaver sensibilities. Used as a last-ditch attempt to make full-blood Reavers out of non-Reavers or increase subjugant manpower in a pinch, Hybrids are considered an abuse of the gift of Mind Parasites. The basic concept is simple; excess Mind Parasites are tasked into infecting every cell in the host's body and converting them to meet Reaver specifications. The nervous system is of course the first casualty, wiping the victim's memory and mental patterns with the added benefit of shutting down the higher nervous functions during what must certainly be a painful process. The circulatory and respiratory systems are attacked next, and, after they are mutated into Hybird form, free reign is given to the parasites to infect wherever they need to. The musculature is usually next to go, and then the major internal organs. The last pockets of resistance are usually bone marrow. Once the invasion is complete, the victim is reshaped into a grotesque parody of both its original species and the Reaver archetype. Throughout this entire process the victim is physically distorting, with new limbs growing and old ones distorting shape.
The end result is a chimera that looks like a bad mix between its original species and the one it was just recruited into. The hybrid shares many of the physical attributes of its former self, such as body hair or coats of fur, color and consistency of the flesh, complexion, genitalia, and so forth. Yet a Hybrid shares the three arms and three legs characteristic to Reavers, their nostrils and eyes are pronounced, the skull is warped closer to reptilian Reaver standards, and the body is hunched over.
Not only are their minds wiped of any memory or personality, but also lack any vestige of conscience or morality. They are creatures twisted in mind and soul, thoroughly reprehensible even to the Reavers that created them. After they have served their purpose, they are usually "promoted" to a full-blood Reaver (caste chosen by controlling party) after spending around a month in a protective cocoon. Promoted hybrids retain the memories they gained as hybrids and live under a definite cultural stigma--which is why most promoted hybrids are finally metamorphized into Warriors. It at least allows them to die with some sort of dignity and honor.
TRANSMISSION
Mind Parasites are wily for single-celled organisms. They can swim, fly to an extent, and are present in nearly all a host's bodily fluids. Therefore, Mind Parasites can be transmitted through almost any means: airborne, water-borne, undercooked food, open wounds, contact, bodily fluid transfer, unhygenic medical equipment, and so forth. Aggregates and aggregate organs constantly shed excess Parasites which are either stored as a stock of stem cells or expelled through the respiratory tract, so any being with a healthy Aggregate or aggregate organ is a potential carrier. Even hosts that simply only carry Parasites in their body can still act as carriers. That is why after any close-range engagement against Reavers or any operation on a Reaver world is ended with a thorough decontamination process.
Weirdo Zone Medical Research Office netdoc
WZ.798.112.131.058
Published 1.04.3002