As someone who’s spent a fair share of time among the stars and faced my share of interstellar horrors, I can confidently say that these parasites are the stuff of nightmares. The Halo Arrays might be the only reliable way to eradicate the Flood, but at what cost? Wiping out all organic life in a galaxy isn’t exactly an appealing solution.
Nature can be cruel and one need look no further for proof of that than the existence of parasites. In its simplest definition, parasitism is a relationship between two species in which one partner benefits by harming the other. Parasites are everywhere. They can be found in all four biological kingdoms and come in many different shapes and sizes. Parasites are so common that some fish evolved to provide a “cleaning service” for other species by eating parasites off of them. Anglerfish have a unique form of reproduction in which males parasitize females by becoming permanently fused to their bodies. It has even affected language, as people will often use the term “parasite” to describe an individual who lives at another’s expense without offering anything in return. The worst part is it’s not even their fault. Parasites literally evolved to a point where they have to parasitize in order to survive.
Parasites can be downright scary! What else can make us feel scared? The unknown vastness of outer space does. Humans have always been captivated by the idea of life beyond our planet, but it also instills fear. After all, we don’t know what we might encounter until we find it. And if parasitism is so prevalent among Earthly creatures, isn’t it plausible that an alien species could employ the same tactic? It’s no surprise then that our minds have come up with numerous unsettling images of extraterrestrial parasites.
12 The Imposter (Among Us)
An Alien Hidden in Plain Sight
Stripping away the humorous elements like cartoonish design, amusing cosmetics, and internet jokes, this scenario turns out to be quite unsettling. The story revolves around astronauts who find themselves confined within a spaceship or station with an enigmatic alien, hidden among them (as hinted by the title). The exact method of this alien’s infiltration remains unclear, but its extraordinary abilities pose a significant threat to the crew. This alien is capable of mimicking any astronaut, not just replicating their physical bodies but also their spacesuits. The impostor is also intelligent and strategically-inclined. It can covertly damage crucial systems, silently eliminate crew members, and plant suspicion on others. Additionally, it has the unique ability to access areas that astronauts cannot, making it a formidable adversary in terms of maneuverability.
One way to rephrase this in a natural and easy-to-read manner is:
11 Headcrabs (Half-Life)
Keep Them Off Your Head
As the name implies, headcrabs are creatures that function by fixing themselves to the heads of other species. The results are unsettling, to say the least. Upon attaching, the headcrab fixes itself to the body using its claws, then takes control of the host’s nervous system. After a period of time, the infected body begins to mutate, developing claws where the hands would be and exposing internal organs, with more extreme cases even losing skin. The worst part is not only is the host still alive, but they are also fully conscious during this process. They can be heard screaming and crying for help. Half-Life 2 makes it clear that death is merciful next to getting headcrabbed, to the point where Father Grigori has dedicated himself to mercy killing the infected population of Ravenholm.
Despite being frightening, it’s important to note that headcrabs are among the less formidable of alien parasites. They are quite easy to eliminate, typically with a straightforward tool like a crowbar, provided they haven’t already attacked someone. However, if they gather in larger numbers or become weaponized, they can pose significant threats, potentially causing widespread damage. But even this fact underscores their weakness compared to other entities on the list, as their use as a weapon suggests a certain vulnerability.
10 Illithid (Dungeons and Dragons)
Brain-Eating Monsters that Can Dominate Minds
Known as “Mind Flayers” to many, these feared creatures indeed instill a sense of dread. The thought of having one’s brain devoured while conscious is unsettling enough, but that barely scratches the surface. They also employ various strategies for parasitism. Players of Baldur’s Gate 3 will likely recognize their reproductive method. Illithids start life as leech-like “tadpoles” that are inserted into a victim through their eye. The tadpole then wriggles its way into the brain, initiating the painful process of Ceremorphosis, which transforms the body to prepare it for metamorphosis into a new Mind Flayer. However, parasitism serves not only as a means of reproduction but also control. Mind flayers can use tadpoles and their psionic powers to dominate other races. By controlling minds, individuals become enslaved with no free will, often unaware of it. To add to the horror, Illithids are highly intelligent and technologically advanced, capable of traversing dimensions. At one point, they even ruled an empire, which they are determined to reclaim at any cost.
Illithids indeed live up to their notoriety, yet their means of propagation are somewhat limited. They primarily target potential hosts for implanting their tadpoles. Their selection process is discerning; they choose when and whom to infect carefully. Reproduction isn’t always their primary focus. Instead, an infection often serves a strategic purpose or fulfills a need rather than being solely reproductive. Although they can unleash mass infections like in Baldur’s Gate 3, such occurrences are rare and usually happen when there’s something to be gained. Considering their scarcity, the likelihood of an infection, especially its spread, is quite low.
9 Genestealer (Warhammer 40k)
Slow Methodical Erosion of a Planet’s Society
Typically, Tyranids are ruthless predators that feed on life wherever they discover it. However, they have one exceptionally cruel strategy – parasitism. Introducing the genestealer, a distinctive type of Tyranid. These creatures infiltrate populated worlds (often hidden within ships) with the primary objective of weakening these worlds for eventual invasion. They often establish cults, which is fitting given that many cults function as parasites metaphorically. However, this association also has a literal meaning here. Genestealers don’t just manipulate their followers using the BITE model; they also inject their DNA into them. This allows subsequent generations to be born as hybrids. If left unchecked, a genestealer cult can reach a point where it can undermine governments and sabotage military resources without detection. All this paves the way for the final phase when the Tyranid fleet arrives and devours the now-weakened planet.>
Typically, it’s the terrifying trait of Tyranids to amass in massive quantities and adjust swiftly to whatever obstructs them. Conversely, Genestealers operate stealthily, systematically disarming adversaries’ fortifications bit by bit without drawing attention. Their intelligence, though subtle, is evident in their use of such strategies. However, Genestealers are usually confined to a single planet and struggle to expand beyond due to being absorbed, along with everything else, when the Tyranid Hive Fleet invades, thus limiting their spreadability significantly.
8 X-Parasite (Metroid)
Gelatinous Creatures That Take the Shape of their Host
Compared to Metroids, which can be quite menacing, the X-Parasites are an entirely different level of terror. These jelly-like creatures infect their victims and gradually devour them internally. Once the process is complete, the original host is replaced by a replica. In its basic form, it’s tough to eliminate the X-Parasite because it can absorb most attacks. However, when it takes over a host, it gains access to all the host’s skills and abilities. This can lead to serious problems if it infects a strong or powerful host. The best possible outcome of this process is the creation of an evil clone, but that usually occurs under very specific circumstances. Most organisms don’t survive an infection, and even power armor isn’t immune because the parasite can easily slip into cracks in the armor.
The good news is at least x-parasites are not intelligent, at least not in their base form. They are driven by survival instincts, so they don’t rely on any sophisticated tactics. While the ability to imitate its host is frightening, there is also one upside- infected are easily identifiable. The x-parasite can look like the host, but it cannot replicate their emotions, instead relying more on muscle memory. While they can gain intelligence from each host’s memories, this favoring of brute force makes them at least easy to recognize when they do appear, which is more than can be said for some aliens. It takes some skill, but it can be stopped as long as one avoids direct physical contact. Their spread can also be reduced by the introduction of a predator organism, though this requires advanced genetic engineering.
7 Xenomorphs (Alien)
A Cruel Life Cycle That Can Only Cause Pain and Suffering
Xenomorphs are already terrifying in their mature form as they are top predators, capable of easily eliminating groups of humans with minimal effort. A group of them can cause havoc even for a well-prepared marine detachment. Yet, their terror doesn’t end there; xenomorphs employ parasitic reproduction, making them even more menacing. An egg hatches into what we know as the ‘facehugger’, a creature that latches onto anyone unlucky enough to encounter it. These facehuggers can also burn through glass, rendering protective suits useless. Once attached, the facehugger plants an embryo in the host’s torso, resulting in the infamous ‘chestburster’. After some time, this creature bursts out and grows into a xenomorph. If they establish a colony, this process can be repeated simultaneously on numerous victims.
Thankfully, although frighteningly gruesome, it is plausible, albeit challenging, to combat xenomorphs. Most firearms can take one down with ease, though their acidic blood might cause complications. The facehugger predominantly uses ambush, but a cautious victim, armed with the right preparation, could potentially resist. If the facehugger manages to attach itself, there’s a theoretical chance to surgically remove a chestburster before it matures completely. Furthermore, xenomorphs are incapable of independently leaving their home planet, making them somewhat manageable. In extreme cases, a strategically placed nuclear weapon could potentially obliterate a colony, if they can find no way to prevent the explosion.
6 Seed Pods (Invasion of the Body Snatchers)
It Doesn’t Even Need to Touch You
These notorious plants, often referred to as “pod people,” are a type of parasitic organism that operate in a distinctive manner. Instead of invading a host like many other parasites, these pods develop a body that mirrors the appearance of a potential nearby host. When the host is asleep, this replicated body can absorb their memories and knowledge. Once this process is finished, the original host perishes and the replica takes over their identity. The reborn body is then utilized to distribute seed pods to more people, ensuring the parasitic cycle continues.
Most parasites typically require direct physical contact with their host to initiate infection. However, seed pods don’t necessitate such contact, as merely being in close proximity is sufficient for infection. This grants them an advantage of stealthiness. They can infect a multitude of people without anyone realizing their presence, leaving no trace behind. Although it’s straightforward to identify infected individuals, the vast number they can affect unnoticed makes evasion challenging. All that’s needed is for one seed pod to subtly position itself near a potential host, which becomes increasingly difficult as more hosts aid in the production and dispersion of additional pods. The main disadvantage they face is their limited natural means of dissemination. Instead, they rely on transportation systems used by the assimilated species.
5 Zerg (Starcraft)
A Swarming Menace That Consumes Everything in its Path
The strategy of parasitism can prove incredibly effective in evolution, and few have perfected it as remarkably as the Zerg. In their quest for evolutionary supremacy, the Zerg have innovated an exceptional structure: a hive mind that assimilates other species into its dominion, similar to the Borg but organic in nature. Each absorbed species contributes its DNA to the collective, enabling the Zerg to evolve at an astonishing pace. Every new genetic code from every organism they assimilate grants them the opportunity to explore diverse traits, continually undergoing modifications and adapting to fresh challenges. This also facilitates rapid reproduction, empowering the Zerg to leverage their immense numbers to overpower any opposition.
It’s feasible to counter them, though it’s no easy task (otherwise, Starcraft wouldn’t last long). Humans and Protoss are the ones who have managed to offer some substantial opposition so far, yet they too can be subsumed into the Zerg hive mind. They’ve already conquered countless planets, leaving behind only Zerg-controlled life forms, and their reign continues to expand.
4 The Thing (The Thing)
One Cell is All It Needs
The thing attacks its hosts on a molecular level. Upon infection, it systematically begins overriding the host’s cells with its own, eventually replacing them with an identical copy. This makes it hard to eradicate the Thing, since doing so requires identification of who is and is not infected. A single instance, when identified or exposed, can be destroyed with explosives or fire, but even then it is still possible for a piece to break off and escape. As long as there is at least some cellular activity, it remains a threat. As if that were not enough of a problem, the Thing is also intelligent, with strategic prowess that would make a chess master squirm. It does not just attack people randomly, it chooses its targets with precision and exploits their growing paranoia of each other. It can also learn from its mistakes and sabotage potential countermeasures before they can be performed. The Thing even has enough technical knowledge to build vehicles out of improvised parts, providing a means of reaching new places to infect.
The thing is a danger on multiple levels. Aside from how it affects hosts and instills unhealthy amounts of paranoia, the Thing is theoretically capable of infecting and assimilating an entire planet, and it may already have done this on millions of other worlds. Once it gets going, it is nearly impossible to stop. Luckily, it can be quarantined, provided it is stranded in a remote location with no life forms and sub-zero temperatures, though the odds of surviving any attempt are basically zero.
3 The Flood (Halo)
A Parasite That Almost Destroyed the Galaxy
The Flood represents a sinister organism, originating strangely and causing havoc throughout the galaxy for ages. It has significantly influenced the backdrop of conflicts depicted in the Halo series. Even in its early, wild state, the Flood can propagate swiftly due to its spore-based reproduction, making it challenging to eliminate with any consistency. Upon infecting a host, the Flood undergoes mutations to suit the current conditions, taking on various forms. The Flood’s most frightening aspect lies in its ability to learn from each host, preferring intelligent species. As it feeds on knowledge from each victim, it grows increasingly intelligent, potentially reaching the Gravemind stage. Here, it functions like a coordinated military force with advanced battle strategies. This intelligence also enables it to discover new methods of spreading across interstellar distances, making it nearly impossible to contain once that happens.
The only reliable way to eradicate the flood is using the Halo Arrays, which also means wiping out all organic life on a galactic scale. This already had to happen once, when the Forerunners used the arrays after the flood had spread across the Milky Way galaxy and was on the verge of becoming an extragalactic menace. Although Master Chief can prevent them from being needed a second time, it came dangerously close and could theoretically happen again.
2 Brethren Moons (Dead Space)
Mass Infection on an Unprecedented Scale
These extraterrestrial beings, roughly the size of our moon, possess cunning methods for parasitizing other species, which is crucial for their reproductive processes. Their primary approach employs markers as a form of interstellar Trojan horses. These markers are scattered throughout the galaxy and are easily discoverable by intelligent, space-faring civilizations seeking resources. Who wouldn’t want an endless, free power source? Regrettably, it’s a trap. The process of acquiring and distributing these markers within a civilization initiates their slow destruction from within. Over time, the markers influence the minds of nearby organisms and desecrate corpses, transforming them into deadly machines. This strategy ultimately leads to the obliteration of their homeworld for the creation of a new moon.
The unique hazard of the Brethren moons lies in their extensive parasitic nature. Unlike other entities on this list that primarily operate on an individual basis, even at their maximum capacity, they can infect entire species simultaneously. Simply being near the marker is enough to be contaminated, and those not yet affected are encircled by necromorphs capable of rectifying the situation. Moreover, these markers are effortlessly replicable and serve as a vital energy source, which means that trying to flee from one will only lead you to another. This ease of propagation makes it terrifyingly simple for them to spread throughout an entire civilization, which is advantageous since their biomass eventually forms a new moon.
1 The Hiss (Control)
A Multi-Dimensional Horror
The Hiss are interdimensional predators that successfully infiltrated the U.S. government’s special paranormal division, with catastrophic consequences had it not been for the Oldest House being sealed off. Without specialized resistance equipment or aid from another entity, humans are essentially powerless against these threats, as even such protective measures have their limitations. The Hiss infection manifests in various ways, but all versions ultimately make hosts into tools for its objectives. This can involve uttering nonsensical chants that spread the infection, or transforming bodies into weapons. In rare instances, the Hiss can invade a person’s mind and covertly manipulate them, similar to Reaper indoctrination – a dangerous scenario if they manage to influence someone of significant power.
The Hiss possess an unparalleled ability to operate at a complexity that surpasses most known parasites. Unlike other entries on this list, they are uniquely capable of spreading independently across various realities, resulting in a far greater number of hosts than the Brethren Moons could envision. Containing them required remarkable foresight, deep knowledge of the supernatural, and intervention from an equally elusive entity. Moreover, their rapid infection rate adds to the threat they pose. Unlike other parasites on this list, the Hiss’s corruption often occurs almost immediately. Given that they are non-corporeal, resisting them is even more challenging, making the Hiss arguably the most perilous alien parasite known.
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2024-10-31 02:36