The Xeno Strain - By JokersToTheLeft

The result of a series of coincidences, or the work of fate? Either way, unnoticed by any, during Aiden's big reveal, a single drop of infected fluid fell on a small insect. Absorbing the pure strain, and changing it due to its vastly different genetic make-up, this insect was soon eaten by something else, which then absorbed the virus and changed it again. This process continued until a scorpion made a meal of a mouse dropped by a bird flying overhead. By this point the virus had changed far beyond anything recognizable, filtered as it had been through various insects, mice, birds and a scorpion, who then injected it via a sting into an unwary camper stepping away from his tent for a moment, completing the cycle and creating the Xeno Strain.

The Xeno Strain is broken down into castes, much like the species it has based itself on, whether through instinct, subconscious influence, or simply random chance, with each caste's power being inversely proportionate to its population. From strongest to weakest, the castes and their individual mutation of the Xeno Strain are as follows.

(SPOILERS AHEAD)

The Imperial Strain:

The Imperial Caste is the most powerful, containing just two members, and grants complete dominion over any lower caste, and are easily distinguishable by their large and elaborate head crests.

The abilities of the Imperial Strain are divided by gender, with female Imperials able to produce Eggs containing a specific strain to facilitate infection and growth of her Hive. The male Imperial, on the other hand, is built with the sole purpose of destroying any threat to the Hive or his mate. Able to fly, spit a highly corrosive acid, spray a deadly gas from his hands, not to mention being clad in a chitinous shell-like skin which renders him immune to anything less than heavy caliber armor-piercing rounds, a trait shard by the female, as well as his iconic and deadly lethal blade tipped tail, means the male Imperial can easily defend his Hive and mate singlehandedly for an extended period of time before falling.

Both the male and female Imperial have the ability to communicate telepathically with any member of their Hive, and can also make rudimentary contact with normal people, either directly or via their dreams, to communicate basic needs or desires, along with simple words or phrases.

The Royal Strain:

The Royal Caste serve directly under the Imperials of the Hive, and act as both broodmother and ruler of their individual nests. The Royal Caste does not have a limit, but rather a new Royal is made whenever the Hive expands enough to support a new nest's creation. They, like the Imperials, are easily spotted by their less ornate, but still large, head crests.

The Royal Caste is strictly made up of females only, as a male is not required for the egg creation process. The abilities of the Royal Strain are much like those of the Imperial, with the exception that they cannot command, and are able to by commanded by, the Imperial Caste. Their skin is much like the Imperial, though they are susceptible to prolonged large caliber fire, they are still completely immune to small caliber fire and stabbing.

Unlike the Imperials, the Royals cannot communicate telepathically with normal people, but they are able to do so with those under their command in order to facilitate smooth running of their nests.

The Praetorian Strain:

The members of the Praetorian Caste serve as both Imperial and Royal guards, as well as commanders of the army. Again comprised solely of females, the Praetorians are distinguished by their large and broad head crest, which they will use as a battering weapon against foes, to devastating affect. Praetorians, unlike Royals, can be made either through ovular infection, or through direct infection from the Royal or Imperial.

Praetorians, much like their namesake, are much more military minded than other Castes, though Drones make up very nearly all of the army, and are lead under the banner of a specific Royal or Imperial by a chosen Praetorian, called the First Prime. Though not different to any of her sisters, the First Prime holds a position of command over other Praetorians of the nest or Hive, and is also tasked with being the personal guard of her specific Royal or Imperial.

The skin of a Praetorian is not quite as resistant to large caliber fire as that of a Royal's, but they still retain the immunity to piecing and small caliber fire.

Unlike the castes above it, the Praetorian is unable to communicate telepathically with the Drones under its command, and instead relies on its ability to make a high pitched screeching noise to communicate with the Drones under it in battle.

The Drone Strain:

The Drone Caste is the second largest caste, and comprises the vast majority of the manpower of the nest or Hive. They have no head crest, but rather a distinctive long cylindrical cranial shape. The Drone Caste is separated by gender much like the Imperial Caste, and the roles of both run along the same lines. Female members of the Drone cast are smaller than their male counterparts, and slightly weaker as well, though they make up for this by being considerably faster and more agile. They tend to the nest or Hive, ensure the eggs are cared for and prepare uninfected to be taken. The males comprise the military **** of the nest or Hive, and are larger and stronger than the females, but much slower and not as graceful.

While still not susceptible to small caliber fire, they can be halted by a sufficient amount of it, and are weak to sufficiently large caliber rounds, or explosives.

Their primary weapons are their razor sharp tail blades, their claws and their fearsome jaws.

The Egg Strain:

The Ovo Caste is the largest in number, but does not aid in nest or Hive maintenance or defense. They are identified by the large leather egg-like cocoon they reside in until either commanded or they sense prey near, but they are rather small in size, being no larger than a few feet long and little more that a foot wide. The Ovo Caste can contain any strain bar the Imperial, and which strain the egg contains can be determined by its size, from knee height to over four feet, the taller the egg, the higher the caste it contains. The Ovo Caste is ambulatory, able to move much like a spider on its eight legs, and able to leap proportionally large distances in order to take prey by surprise, but they are also the weakest caste, able to be killed by any ballistic or piercing weapon.

Once the Ovo has captured its prey, it deposits a concentrated dose of its strain of the infection, makes sure that its payload has been absorbed, then dies, its task complete.

Most of the Ovo Caste are birthed by either a Royal or female Imperial, however, members of the Drone Caste are able to secrete a fluid around immobilized prey which turns them into a Drone Ovo, thus enabling a drone cut off from its nest or Hive to continue spreading.

Stay tuned for updates as the story progresses!