Pod infector
From Halopedia, the Halo wiki
| Pod infector | |
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| Biological overview | |
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Classification: |
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Species: |
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| Physical information | |
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Avg. height: |
89.6 centimeters (2 ft 11.3 in) to 131.4 centimeters (4 ft 3.7 in)[1] |
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Avg. weight: |
16.8 kilograms (37 lb) to 28.6 kilograms (63 lb)[1] |
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Distinctions: |
Small, sac-like creatures with many tentacles for probing with a frond-like array. |
- "Do not let them touch you! It is said they will consume your body and mind!"
- — Pavium warning his troops of pod infectors.[2]
The pod infector (sometimes shortened as pod),[3] often ubiquitously called the Flood infection form,[4][5] is a stage of the virulent Flood xenoform. It serves as the primary form for spreading the Flood infection due to its effectiveness compared to mere Flood spores when deployed in large numbers. Subsequently, it is usually the first Flood form to be produced as well as the most commonly encountered Flood form.[3]
Despite often being called infection forms, due to their ubiquitous nature, they are one of a number of infection form types used by the Flood.
Overview[edit]
Physical characteristics[edit]
- "As you can see, it has tentacles in place of legs, plus a couple of extremely sharp penetrators, which they use to invade the victim's central nervous system and take control of it."
- — Melissa McKay describing a pod infector.[6]
Pod infectors have soft, pod-shaped bodies; they are characterized by a small, sagging brown lobe rising from the top of its back,[4] while its frontal surface has numerous tentacle-like appendages and a frond-like array, which acts as the creature's sensory system.[7][5] Their tendrils are multi-purpose locomotion systems and insidious methods of control.[7][5] Used for attacking and infecting organisms,[8] each tendril ends in nano-scale barbs, which can latch onto a target's body, slice open bare skin,[9] and even cut through armor or environmental suits.[7][5] The pod infector's bulbous body is filled with noxious gases,[5] while its numerous tentacles allow them to travel at high rates of speed and leap surprising distances in pursuit of a host.[1][10]
The pod infector does not feel pain or fear.[11] Though barely intelligent on their own, once a pod infector infiltrates a sentient creature, they turn the victim's cognitive power to the furtherance of Flood goals. Each pod infector is able to sift through memories of any sentient creature to learn of military countermeasures, security access codes, and the location of population centers. This information is then shared with other Flood through their connection with the key minds.[7]
Function[edit]
- "You can see how the body has been transformed by the genetic restructuring of the Flood infection. The small creatures carry spores that cause a host to mutate. The mutated host then produces spores that can pass the Flood to others. It is insidious and elegant. As long as any hosts remain, the Flood is virulent."
- — 343 Guilty Spark explains the infection process.[12]
Pod infectors appear to be developed from a form vaguely resembling a larvae or tadpole but bearing the basic superficial characteristics of a pod infector.[13] Once the parasite can establish a hive, it can begin to produce massive numbers of infection forms that spread out in search of new sentients to infect, and non-sapient animals on which to feed; pod infectors serve as the most basic and common type of infection forms. Both ground and airborne infection forms are used as living weapons, hurling themselves at the enemy to overwhelm defenses and assimilate the unprepared.[5] The Flood blister itself is an infection form, incubating spores as well as carrying pod infectors; when ruptured, the blister releases the pod infectors.[14][15] Carrier forms serve as mobile incubators of pod infectors; when they are in close range of enemies, or when their sacs are perforated, they rapidly swell and then detonate,[16] releasing pod infectors being held within.[17] Flood pure forms, including the spawner form and the tank form, can gestate pod infectors to spread the Flood infection.[18][19]
Serving as the primary vector for the Flood infection, pod infectors usually attack en masse, overwhelming and overpowering their prey, until one is able to burrow into the victim's flesh,[1] As with other infection forms, the pod infector has an array of "penetrators", which are barbed tentacles that can cut through flesh and armor.[7][5] Energy shielding destroys pod infectors on contact, causing them to explode in a small burst of gas and flesh.[20][21][22] When a pod infector attacks a victim, its tentacles insert into the spine,[23][24] with the goal of invading the target's central nervous system,[6] which then initiates a violent transformation triggered by the the Flood spores carried by the pod infector.[12] Once the target is compromised, the pod infector injects Flood Super Cells to suborn the victim's nervous system,[5] "digesting" the DNA of its victims,[25] while the pod infector itself bores into the host body to hollow out a nest, quickly twisting the remains of its victim into a combat or carrier form.[5]
Due to the balloon-like qualities of the pod infector, it can deflate itself to fit inside the victim's body.[26] Even if the pod infector is quickly removed, Flood cells in the wounds will slowly consume the victim and turn them into quivering, spore-packed blisters.[7][27] The Flood utilizes the hosts' nervous system and calcium store to mutate its body;[28] if the infected host has sufficient biomass for self-sustenance, it will mutate neurologically and physiologically into a combat form.[16] The pod infector is capable of augmenting its new body and repair minor damage;[11] as such, combat forms typically possess unnatural physical strength, perhaps gained through the mutation of the host's musculoskeletal structures.