Borer Revision 1

SYNOPSIS

Cortical Borers are an alien species of pale yellow, slug-like symbionts, the vast majority of which are either employed or being researched by the SolGov Expeditionary Corps. Discovered in a complex symbiotic relationship with another species of primitive bipeds, the Borers claim to have advance the bipeds' society since their "arrival", even labeling themselves their mutual protectors. Borers are capable of an unprecedented form of symbiosis with most species possessing a central nervous system, connecting to their brains and secreting life-saving chemicals.

BIOLOGY

Cortical Borers have a similar appearance, though a purely aesthetic one, to yellow slugs from Sol. All Cortical Borers are nearly genetically identical, barring the genetic information they take on from their hosts. All Borers are roughly three inches long when fully extended, and produces a thin mucus to prevent desiccation while outside of a host. Where Borers branch off from yellow slugs in physiology is their lack of bulbous eyes, and a set of powerful mandibles that are capable of chewing through flesh and bone, though they are not used for mastication. Cortical Borers have no digestive or reproductive system, but possess a simple nervous system. Outside of a host, they are limited in intelligence, again comparable to a slug, and rely on a primary instinct to seek out and burrow inside a host. The intelligence of a Borer is "augmented" based on the neural complexity of their host, and they have become noticeably more intelligent and structured since coming into contact with humanity, compared to the more monkey-like intelligence of their previous bipeds.

The defining feature of Cortical Borers is their ability to enter a host, usually through the ear canal, before making their way through the cranium and attaching to the host's frontal lobe using a set of pseudopods. This process, obviously extremely painful to most creatures, requires the Borer to inject a paralyzing nerve agent into their would-be host, often going unnoticed in time due to their minuscule size, before burrowing into the ear. They are able to easily squeeze through the ear canal due to their invertebrate nature and their size, and will use their mandibles to break through the skull or any other impediment. However, they are also capable of a less violent method of entry using precise incisions, although this takes several minutes longer to connect to their host.

Once connected to the host, the Borer will use their pseudopods to send signals throughout the host's brain. The Borer and their host will be able to hear each other's thoughts and recognize them as separate from their own, akin to a "voice in their head", and communicate accordingly. They are capable of secreting a variety of chemicals and neurotransmitters directly into the host's bloodstream and brain, including Dopamine to reward them for "favorable" behavior, or cortisol and adrenaline to produce a feeling of fear and stress when the host is attempting to do something harmful to either themself or the Borer. They are, of worthy note, capable of internally synthesizing medicines, including Bicaridine to heal injuries and Tramadol to negate pain. Sugar is a natural anesthetic for Cortical Borers, and any consumption or injecting of monosaccharides by the host will cause the Borer to become docile, unable to synthesize chemicals or communicate with the host, making extraction a much easier process.

On rare (and desperate) occasions, the Borer is capable of taking full control of its host, suppressing their consciousness and possessing full autonomy over their actions, including locomotion and speech. The Borer, during this time, retains the host's memories, allowing it to either mimic the host's personality and behavior quite effectively or act as its own self, depending on what the situation calls for. This process takes a great amount of energy for the Borer to perform, and it will either release control once several minutes have passed, of its own accord, or if sugar is administered or ingested to send it into a docile state. The Borer's and host's memories being a two-way street, the host will not personally recall the Borer's actions during this period, but can access the Borer's memories and experience the period from their point of view.

In order to reproduce, Borers will repurpose the tissue of their host, rearranging it into a genetic copy of themselves. This copy travels up through the intestinal tract, forcing the host to expel it through emesis. A Borer, when actively inside a host, does not age, but will live for approximately 4 to 5 years when disconnected. All Borers are capable of telepathic communication between each other, whether within a host or not, between roughly 20 to 30 miles of space. When in a host, a Borer will receive the same nutrients sent throughout the host's body to sustain itself, and otherwise is incapable of feeding on its own.

CULTURE

Coming from an undeveloped planet filled with bronze-age bipeds, Cortical Borers are no stranger to interacting and sharing symbiosis with sapient beings. Where Cortical Borers are present, hosts often speak highly of the Borer they are personally sharing symbiosis with, and the Borer, in turn, describes itself as "their protector" or guardian, though they are by no means subservient to the host -- or vice versa. Despite their obvious physical intimacy, Borers and hosts usually do not identify themselves as the same being, and share a healthy amount of individuality between themselves. The bipeds' and Borers' original names, unpronounceable to humans, have since been supplemented by laboratory designations: A Greek letter, followed by 3 numbers. Ex: Gamma-253, Omega-909, etc.

Cortical Borers, as a collective, have no form of personal government or identity, instead expressing their interests through their symbiotic relationship with their hosts: Bostator-Theta, the planet that the Cortical Borers and their original hosts resided on, contained a basic biosphere of little interest beyond the Borers and bipeds, who had together established a young True Democracy, their level of technological advancement analogous to the Bronze Age of Earth. Their society and culture was comparable to that of humanity, but with a focus on the symbiotic relationship between biped and Borer, including a "coming-of-age" ritual, where a young biped is given a Borer for the first time.

Since coming into contact with the Expeditionary Corps, Cortical Borers have been contracted to provide assistance to willing hosts under the EC and EXO. These Borers often, through experience, come to have similar interests and behavior to their hosts, while still maintaining the differences in personality that separate memories and experiences entail. The Borer will come to hold a deep respect for their host's emotional and physical well-being as long as they are treated kindly in turn. To burrow into a host without their consent will result in the Borer being outcast from "society" and intentionally ignored during telepathic communication transmissions.

BEHAVIOR

Cortical Borers are defined not through personal endeavor and personality, but through the desires and relationships they share with their hosts, often forming a bond stronger than that of any romantic connection found among humans. Borers and hosts will often become "dependent" on each other, and hence be dangerously resistant to any notion of or attempt at separation.

RELATIONS
Humans: On good terms, primarily overseen through their contact with the Expeditionary Corps. Borers will often contract with Expeditionary Corps (Organization) personnel, particularly on the Torch, providing aid through their personal skills, knowledge, experience, and ability to secrete medication.
Positronic Union: Little interest. Borers have a difficulty understanding a "lifeform" that they are unable to symbiote with, and conversely, the Union has no desire for a society of worms that provide no useful function to them in any way. Otherwise neutral.
Vox: Healthy caution and fear on both ends. A Borer would not want to be extracted from its beloved host and served as a delicacy among the Shoal, and much less would the Vox want another creature to learn their myriad memories and secrets by "merging" with them.
Skrell: The main body government of Qerrbalak has acquired a great deal of interest in Borers due to their connection with the mind, and efforts are underway to send a sizable group of Borers into Skrellian space to engage in research.

MECHANICS
 . Borers start the round inside of an on-ship or off-ship host
 . Players can volunteer to receive a Borer by ticking one of the choices in Roles
 . They are capable of exiting or entering a host at any time
 . They are capable of paralyzing human mobs for a short period of time, both as self-defense and to enter a host
 . They can secrete Alkysine, Bicaridine, Tramadol, and Hyperzine into their host
 . Antag Borers can enter a host forcefully (takes only a few seconds and causes ear damage)
 . They can instill a sense of dread into their host discourage "wrongful" actions (such as committing a crime or doing something dangerous to themself and the Borer)
 . They are extremely weak and slow when outside a host, at their most vulnerable to being attacked or killed
 . Antag borers are capable of expelling mindless Borers that can be possessed by ghosts
 . They become unconscious when their host receives sugar, making them useless and easier to extract
 . They can be extracted from the head through cavity surgery