Necromorph

Overview
The Necromorph is not a parasite but an alien scourge. The infectors prefer to wait for the host to die or wait for their prey to be cornered before they infect the organism. For some reason the infector won't usually attack a living organism that is bigger then a five to six foot human, possibly it could be that it worries it can't stand a chance. For the infector the corpses don't fight back, therefore an easy target for multiplying. On an iteresting note, a living human's metabolism will embrace the scourge and allow it to regenerate lost limbs. The mutated being must be mauled in a variety of ways to kill it, as most are able to sustain severe trauma before falling and upon losing a limb are able to adapt themselves to continue functioning. This suggests a distributed nervous system, rather than the centralized one that humans and other terran animals have. The Necromorphs are not at all unintelligent, these super beings can lose a leg, arm and even their head. Then perform what to you seems like a fatal wound and act dead. Once you have killed the being it waits for you to wander close to its body. Expect the worse to come.

Origin
(Spoiler warning) (this event happens 200 years before dead space) The necromorph actually originated from its bacterial basis dubbed the corruption by scientists. The "corruption" was created by scientists through the indentions on the surface of first marker. Trough a log found in the game, the marker has indentations which scientists discovered that it was codes for a DNA and soon led to the creation of the "corruption".

At first, the corruption remained dormant even though it was placed in rich nutrients. The scientists deemed failure, but when a scientist incompletely decontaminates itself, dead cells and hair fell onto the corruption.

And it instantly reanimates the dead cells, allowing the dead cells to recover.

From that on the scientists discovered the potential of the corruption as it can reanimate any type dead cell (hair, waste, nails,). Scientists further experimented on it. As the corruption grew, many scientists started to experience just as what was happening on Aegis. Various hallucinations were experienced by scientists, and it became worse as two scientists died of unknown reason.

One scientist who placed one of the scientists body in quarantine, finds the body of the scientist morph into a leaper. He soon warns others. During this time, hallucinations experienced by the scientists significantly increased.

Unknown organic growth were discovered around the lab indicating the corruption bacteria had escaped quarantines. And soon the the lab was in chaos. Those died by the bacteria or killed morphed into necromorphs. The behavior of the bacteria explains why necromorphs kill, they want to breed.

Scientists then discover that the marker was creating some sort of "dead space" which makes the necromorphs and the corruption lay dormant. They then created another marker which is red. They then place the necromorphs and the second marker on Aegis.

(to be continued)

Plot
(take note the events above was kept unknown to public and was kept secret) In the 26th century, mankind has found new ways in order to survive, Planetcrack. Through planetcrack, planets are literally dismantled to reveal its precious ore and metals beneath its crust. The planets are then mined into nothing but asteroids.

The Ishimura, the largest colonial mining ship prepares for a planetcrack on Aegis 7. Five years before, a colony is established to research its geological features in response to Ishimura's planetcrack.

As research continues, researchers find positive results and have also found an alien artifact. Strangely enough, 200 years before it was discovered, an alien artifact was found on earth. Which looks exactly the same as it is except for its reddish colour.

It is not to be confused that there are two markers. The first one found on earth and the second one found on Aegis. Both where then called the marker.

Which is then quickly embraced by unitologists; a group of cult which has now grown large after the discovery of the first marker. Their purpose was to study the existence of life. As most of the crew members and the people on Aegis are Unitologists. They find the marker as divine.

Shortly after the discovery of the second marker, various Aegis colonists start experiencing massive hallucinations followed by assaults, schizophrenia exhibit strange behaviors, but not all are affected. Non-unitologists started to blame the marker, but they were ignored. Until the worst happened.

The unitologists were not built but were led by the research of the first marker. The purpose of the religion was to study the existence of life. Believing that the marker will lead them to a new life in a new form. This led to the suicide of more than 40 unitologists all at once on the Aegis colony. (to be continued) Ishimura as found on Aegis 7.

Behind the Scenes

 * Their name comes from the Greek words Necros (corpse, in the sense of dead) and morph (form), literally "dead form".

Variation
The necromorphs come in a lot of different types, Here are a few:

On the spot mutations can result in an enhanced version of regular necromorphs, there bodies are more durable to perforation (For example, black slashers).
 * INFECTOR:A bat-like, eyeless necromorph with a stableizer which is a massive stinger, is driven through the forehead, (or a mass of tentacles that seem to have previously been innards is slid down the victim's throat)and the victim mutates into a necromorph depending on hormonal state, age, and even body weight. They will avoid living organisms unless the feel threatened by them, mostly just infecting dead bodies.

Female slashers are not as aggressive as males but they are able to spit acidic projectiles. Black slashers (their enhanced variant) are much more resilient, can't spit acid like the female variant but strike harder and move faster.
 * SLASHER: These are the most common form of necromorph, only because there are plenty of dead humans around to infect and to be infected. their arms have been shifted to their shoulder blades and their hands grow sharp blade like spikes from their palms; an additional set of arms grow out of their abdomen. They can run at high speeds and will try to get new hosts for the alien scourge known as the INFECTOR. Their look may differ depending on their gender, class of officer and the length of time they have been mutated (some wear trousers, have breasts, have darker skin and scream in a different pitch of voice).


 * LURKER: These necromorphs are dead babies and still retain their infant bodies. They have 3 large tentacles that emerge from beneath their back plates. These can be used to grapple on (and possibly decapitate Issac if his health is critically low) or they can use the barbs on the end of them as a ranged weapon. They crawl on all fours and use suction cups to crawl on walls and ceilings both in normal and zero-G environments, meaning that they may attack from any direction. It has an enhanced variant. Killing them requires dismembering their tentacles, advanced ones require all tentacles.


 * PREGNANT: These are female and male necromorphs, since these critters are big in size their speed is hindered but they are still quite fast and use blades ( much like the slashers) to strike at Isaac. Their stomach is their deadliest weapon. When shot in the stomach to a certain degree, they release a swarm of tiny necromorphs(made out of dead skin cells.). These will latch on to Isaac and slow him down while his health rapidly decreases. Isaac will have to come to a complete stop to shake them off. (Later on, Lurkers and living body limbs called COMPONENTS will come out instead of a swarm.) If Pregnants are killed without releasing their spawn, their contents die as well.


 * TWITCHER: Military personnel who had the unfortunate luck to be turned into a necromorph have the joy of being a Twitcher. They have a body that is very hard to take down because of their twitches and are thus harder to dismember. The one thing that sets these apart from normal slashers are their stasis modules, which fused with their flesh during mutation and instead of slowing them down accelerated them to almost unbelievable speeds. Their movements are often blurry and can cross a large room in seconds. Once they have spotted Isaac they instantly spring into eliminate mode. Don't let them corner you!


 * LEAPER: A necromorph which has mutated its lower half. Its legs are fused into a single, muscular tail which, as its name suggests, allows it to make leaps across great distances. It can also crawl on walls and ceilings. It is not as resilient as other necromorphs and instead prefers to ambush its prey. It is particularly dangerous in zero-g due to its crawling abilities as it may attack from any direction, and in a vacuum there is no sound which makes it harder to detect. It has an enhanced variant.


 * BRUTE: A truly monstrous creature, the Brute is formed from multiple bodies fused together. It has heavy layers of flesh that serve as armor on its massive arms and head which it uses to protect itself and to ram opponents. It will stop at nothing to kill its prey and will rip and tear without a second thought. Fortunately it is rare and it lacks armor on its legs so attacking its back and legs gives the best chance of victory. And if you have precise aim there is weak point in their shoulders. Shoot these points and you can take it down much easier than a head-on attack. The enhanced variant is seen in the Dead Space: Downfall deleted scene "Graverobber."


 * WHEEZER: This species stays anchored to one spot in a crouched position. Its purpose is to transform the breathable air aboard the Ishimura, exhaling a deadly noxious substitute using a large, mutated lungs on its back. Isaac must kill all of these in the Hydrophonics sector to before the life-support systems can go back on-line.


 * DIVIDER: The divider is a tall-bodied necromorph. When killed it will fall to the ground and seperate into 5 parts: the 2 arms, a head, and 2 legs. The body parts will grow tentacles and crawl after you. The head has a special grapple attack, attempting to decapitate you and then take over your body. This enemy type can be heard coming before its appearance, due to the eerie groans it emits.


 * COMPONENTS-Mutated limbs and heads parts from a divider.


 * SWARMER: These are somehow formed inside of the pregnant necromorphs. They are small and if you do not kill the pregnant necromorph the right way at least 10 of these will burst out of it. They are basically nothing but boneless bits of flesh with teeth. If they get close enough to you they will leap on to you and start to chew on you. Bad news all around.


 * EXPLODER: These necromorphs have their legs fused into one spindly limb. Their dominant arm is mutated into a huge sack of chemicals, which explode if struck hard enough. If the sack is dismembered it can still attack Isaac but it is very weak. Its head is split in two to create a mouth and can bite Isaac in half. Yes, in half! Before it can do so use your kinesis to grab its exploding sack and launch it right back at him.


 * HUNTER: Created by Dr. Challus Mercer on the USG Ishimura, the Hunter is a unique necromorph. Towering over Issaoc, if its limbs are lost or it takes damage it can regrow its limbs and head as well. It can only be incapacitated with severe burning or by freezing it. If caught by this creature it will immediately stab you and slice off your limbs one by one with it's massive bladed arms. He'll stare into your eyes as he does it, watching you slowly lifting your hand for mercy. the Hunter or regenerator can only be killed through the accessibility of the environment. such as freezing it, or burning.


 * GUARDIAN: Guardians are human torsos that have been glued to doorposts and reanimated. Their intestines have been mutated into tentacles; the tentacles of Mature Guardians are a guaranteed decapitation one-hit kill. They can also eject pods from their stomachs and these pods can launch quills from thier single, Lurker-like tentacles. Beware, once you sever the pod tentacle the pod explodes in a final attempt to damage you.

Vulnerabilities
Necromorphs have very little weaknesses, they can easily withstand a barage of bullets and. Necropmorphs can only be killed by dismembering their limbs and the rest of their bodies until they are dead completely. Although some necromorphs require more than dismembering. They also have an aversion to an ancient obilisk called the red marker which was built by an unknown race to keep this species dormant until a group of human religious fanatics removed the obilisk and reawakened the Necromorphs through the purpose of planetcrack.

Please check this link for further information on Necromorphs: http://deadspace.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page