#gene worm

[gordon-furman]

SHOCK TROOPER LORE POST

aka speculative biology + how my shock troopers work (this post requires at least a bit of knowledge of Half Life/ Opposing Force lore)

First, an explanation of the relationship between the shock trooper/Race X homeworld and Xen.

Xen is a borderworld comprising of many floating islands and the wildlife that live upon them. Existing between dimensions, most creatures upon Xen inhabit it by accident; having been brought by portal storms and then unable to leave. Other creatures purposely fled to Xen due to an oppressive alien force, such as the Nihilanth, the Vortigaunts, and other unnamed/unknown races.

Some of these are Race X native species.

Black Mesa found out about Race X by chance through their teleportation experiments. Through very calculated and very risky missions, Black Mesa was able to obtain some specimens from the places where Race X resided, as well as Xen. Those scientists then took them down to the deepest parts of Black Mesa to study.

Black Mesa had been extracting crystals and wildlife from Xen for a while, these new species were kept secret to only those with the highest clearances. Still, they were not able to gather enough data before the Cascade; when all the alien species contained within Black Mesa were unleashed unto the world.

There is no determined number amount of Shock Troopers who reside on Earth, but we estimate that they are few and far between. Unlike Vortigaunts, most (if any) Shock Troopers who inhabit Earth nowadays are hostile towards both Humans and Combine alike. However, they prove to be smart and reliable allies when possible.

Most everything we know about Shock Troopers and the other species of Race X has been filled in by Shock Troopers themselves. The following information was gathered by a Shock Trooper who had joined a small team of rebels stationed in an abandoned quarry, then passed on to rebel scientists.

THE LIFE CYCLE

(Pictured: a murky healing pool with Spore Launchers)

On their homeworld and their other colonized planets, shock trooper young (called spore launchers) start their lives in pools. They are amphibious in nature and are able to crawl upon land with their tiny arms. The majority of their life, however, is spent in the pools.

Those familar with the borderworld Xen will recognize the healing pool that serves as their watery cradle. Starting from eggs, spore launchers hatch into these pools by the dozen and stay there for much of their adolescent lives. As more hatchlings leave their leathery eggs and inhabit the pools, the natural healing power lessens and lessens; until the pool itself is murky and stagnant.

(Pictured: infant Jack, Tiger, and Spot; my half life ocs)

Adult shock troopers do not care for their young outside of feeding (though it is a common occurrence that they don't get fed), which leads to their pools being a very hostile environment in their later stages. The natural properties of the pool that healed their wounds when they were newborn no longer nurse the bigger and older spore launchers. It is not uncommon for spore launchers to be aggressive towards each other at this time. There are often so many babies in one pool that feeding is foregone entirely; leading to a strictly cannibal diet among the young (though cannibalism is a regular occurrence in pools that are well supplied with food as well.).

Spore launchers come in the same colors as Shock Troopers do, though a Shock Trooper's patterns are often determined by how much nutrients that they collected as a baby. (Which often leads to the most complex and abundant patterns belonging to the most aggressive shock troopers. Or, at least, those that were aggressive in their infant stage.)

(Pictured: Two Shock Troopers and a baby Spore Launcher)

Spore Launchers turn into Shock Troopers via a sort of metamorphosis. Mature Spore Launches encase themselves in a cocoon of their own spit (often mixed with juices and remains of Spore Fruit, a main staple in their diet) and emerge as fully grown Shock Troopers. It is at this point that they assimilate into Shock Trooper culture and community.

Shock Trooper culture is very militaristic and nationalist. They are very competitive and engage in sparing as a sport, though they do not have much to bet but food and actions. (A Shock Trooper who lost a bet, for example, might have to do an unwanted chore or something embarrassing.) They do not have clothing or music, though the very few who have spent time on Earth have enjoyed wind and percussion instruments.

Shock Trooper relationships are different from human ideas of the concept. Romantic relationships are extremely rare (occurring only under rare circumstances and only with Shock Troopers from different colonies) and sexual ones are nonexistent. This means that, in human terms, most Shock Troopers are aromantic, and all of them are biologically asexual.

Instead of romantic relationships, some examples of high value relationships within the Shock Trooper community are mentor-mentees, tight knit friend groups (or squads, as they call them) and leader- follower groups. These relationships can be as complicated as human ones at times; as one Shock Trooper might see their bond as friendship, while the other Shock Trooper might see them as a leader-follower pair.

Despite their differences, it is a common belief in their homeworld communities that Shock Troopers are 'above' all other specie, including those they have domesticated. Some domesticated species found in and around communities are Shock Roaches, Pit Drones, and Voltigores (not to be confused with Vortigaunts). Shock Roaches are symbiotic insect-like weapons, while Pit Drones and Voltigores could be compared (if need be, as these creatures are nothing like Earth creatures) to very aggressive dogs and livestock. Their farming habits support their omnivorous diet; which consists of Spore fruit and Voltigores, as well as anything else they can get their hands on.

(Pictured: a Gene Worm)

While they seem primitive in many ways, Shock Troopers are one step above Black Mesa's scientists; they have mastered reliable teleportation. While they always have a Gene Worm to create teleportation portals, they were able to use Xen crystal constructs and Sprite-powered portals in order to create a reliable network. This network was how they were able to conduct their assault on Black Mesa and attempted colonization of Earth.

Gene worms are one of the final stages of Shock Trooper evolution. Much like ants or bees, Spore Launchers turn into Gene worms with the help of a special chemical jelly diet created in the throats of Shock Troopers. The fed Spore Launcher then feeds on anything it can fit in its mouth to support it's growth, then turning into their 'queen'.

The Gene Worm is the only reproductive being among their species; dedicating much of it's time to laying eggs. There are multiple Gene Worms across their home planet and other places, so not all Shock Troopers are directly related.

Interestingly enough, though Shock Troopers feed and care for the Gene Worm well into it's adulthood, it is not out of any obligation. Ants serve a queen. This queen serves its offspring. The Gene Worm is able to create and change the landscape around it to create a perfect home for Shock Troopers. This, mixed with their teleportation knowledge, has led them to successfully terraform and colonize one other planet besides their own.

(Pictured: a Gene Worm and a Tentacle)

The last example of the Shock Trooper life cycle are Tentacles. Like the Gene Worm, these creatures evolve from Spore Launchers who are fed a special diet. Unlike the Gene Worm, however, these Tentacles are made to the guards of Gene Worm nests and other important areas. Relatively blind, they attack their opponents using hearing to pinpoint their locations. Shock Troopers make sure to vocalize loudly while in their presence to ensure that the Tentacles will not mistake them for an enemy.

Shock Troopers are complicated and highly intelligent creatures who are yet untouched by the decimation of the Combine. Maybe, just maybe, they would make good allies in the future for the war against the Combine; if they knew what was at stake.

However, knowing the overall nationalistic culture of the Shock Troopers and their previous attempt to colonize Earth...probably not.

[mulletsg]

WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE

[fyanimaldiversity]

Poptart the palmetto corn snake (Pantherophis guttatus)

[corvology]

the taxonomy section of the wikipedia article about things named after tolkien and his works is insane.

loving the crazy ass scientists who named an absurd amount of grass-miner moths after tolkien characters. there’s a STUPID amount of elves btw.

also,

there’s more. would you still love them if they were worms….

there’s way more including Shrimp Baggins Family, a bunch of attempts (some successful some not) to name wasps after elves, dwarves and hobbits and like one amoeba named after gimli but honestly just go look at it yourselves it’s SO funny

[silliestgoobr]

Okay so with the resurgence of my street/ aphmau becoming more popular again with the new confirmed season of my street under way, the freaky little worms in my brain keep pestering me to make this post like this.

(Warnings: none really. Travis kinda freaky?? But not for serious. Also, one small mention of vlyad and the penjamin)

Rip (insert character) they would have loved (this thing)

Rip Kawaii Chan u would have loved booktok

Rip Cadenza u would have loved dress to impress

Rip Sasha u would have loved shoplifting from big corporations

Rip Garroth u would have loved being the little spoon

Rip Travis u would have loved Megan thee stallion

Rip Gene u would have loved 12$ bottomless margarita nights at Applebee's

Rip Genes liver u would have hated 12$ bottomless margarita nights at Applebee's

Rip Rylan u would have loved five nights at Freddy's monopoly

Rip Slyvana u would have loved life 360

Rip Ziana u would have loved BRAT 💚

Rip Blaze u would have loved pre work out

Rip Laurence u would have loved the newest season of love island

Rip Dante u would have loved young gravy

Rip aphmau you would have loved 2020 anime tiktok

Rip Zane u would have loved the unicorn cat from the Lego movie

Rip lucinda u would have loved Astrology Cafe

Rip Zenix u would have loved bitching about the new gen 4 monster high designs

Rip Katelyn u would have loved Drew Afualo

Rip Ein u would have loved shitty toxic alpha male podcasts

Rip Aaron u would have loved saying "no more Mr nice guy...😈🐺‼️"

Rip Dottie u would have loved early 2017 roblox tycoons

Rip Daniel u would have loved being a soft boy in 2020

Rip Vlyad u would have loved re chargeable cart batteries

Rip Teony u would have loved Chappel Roan

Rip Travis u would have loved taking the BDSM test at sleepovers

Rip Nicole u would have loved calling yourself a misandrist to make shitty men upset

Rip Eric u would have loved YouTube shorts

Okay guys sorry if I missed anyone but my brain is literal mush and I have no one to share my silly little aphmau headcannons with and it's driving me crazy so I'm posting it here lol!! Lmk if anyone wants more... I have so many Kawaii Chan/Nana/KC ones bc she's so :3

RELEASE ME FROM THE SHACKLES OF THE HYPERFIXATION I HAD IN 2016 I BEG!!1!1!1!!!

[poop-flying]

🍬🍬 GUMMY WORM 🪱🪱 grape + green apple and lemon + cherry flavours!! 🪱🍬

[laz-kay]

Bringing back some Tina drafts ‘cause I miss her.

I need to cosplay her soon🥲

[tothebestofmyabilities]

What's your all-time favorite Bob's Burgers episode? Like this is YOUR episode? (You can list multiple if you want!)

Oooh my all time all time favorite is Carpe Museum! Its the first episode featuring regular sized rudy who's one of my favorite characters now and i love how that friendship with louise started and its such a sweet bob and louise episode as well.

Its also the first time the show explores the dynamic between gene and zeke which of course gave birth to my life long love affair with genezeke, their personalities mesh so well and the silly nicknames/pet names on zekes part??? I live for that.

Its my sisters favorite episode too and bc the belchers are eerily similar to my own family its always been something my family watches and enjoys and loves together so it makes me happy that me and my sister have the same favorite episode and that fact only makes me love the episode even more.

Plus cute boblin and isn't that the first henry haber episode too? Lots of good stuff.

Close seconds include in no particular order of importance:

Gene it on (cheerleader gene lives rent free in my heart i like to think he still does it just off screen)

The runway club (breakfast club episode? The little bits of school staff lore? Especially mr branca? The cotton candy festival which i desperately want an episode about? Iconic)

Poops! I didn't do it again (when i say the belchers are eerily similar to my family this is one episode id point too and i will not elaborate)

Work hard or die trying girl (im a theater kid at heart)

[thekingofspin]

Sam Tyler's haunting the narrative again

[lolliudo]

happy pride month to the worst polycule in the wild west

[gordon-furman]

also, to follow up my theory/world building that xen pools are actually from the race x homeworld- when you fight the gene worm at the end of opposing force in the room it terraformed, it has the most potent (heals you very quick) and clear xen pool in all the three games xen is in

[catilinas]

cic. att. 15.4.2 trans. e-pistulae / lucan, pharsalia 1.36-43 trans. a.s. kline

thinking about THIS. caesar as a tree cut down but still living. pompey as a tree still standing but dead. etc.

[uglydragons]

LOOK AT MY BOY FIRETRUCK. LOOK AT HIM HE IS THE COLOURS OF A CHEAP PLASTIC CHILDRENS TOY AND I LOVE HIM SOOO MUCH he was born a few hours ago and all of his siblings have nice colours (not grape/cherry/jade lmao) and were born with some genes other than basic but he is already my favourite dragon hands down. The plan is to gene him with capsule (see right) so that he can live up to the name FIRETRUCK (all caps). I am going to breed a dynasty of ugly little firetruck babies and release them upon the world. This is now my life's ambition

[crossbowtrades]

is it possible to tell us about builders and villager dynamics? Not an in character ask, but I'm curious about what you have in terms of lore.

// Its alllll genetics babey B)

// There's no actual 'Builder' Race, they're just descended from Villagers who had a propensity FOR building. How a 'builder' looks is mostly based on recessive genetics and family history.

// Same with Illagers, though for my thing there's more to why they look the way they do. Otherwise they're just Villagers with Grey skin and more sharp teeth. Still genetics at play!

// Villagers in turn are made of all those dominant genes at play in their genepool. There are misconceptions on the three 'races', so people in the world do just believe Builders, Villagers, and Illagers are all different races, when in reality that's not the case.

[possum-tooth]

good lird my knee..

[theflannelwizard]

Oops, I lied about sending all my questions in one, I thought of an actually specific question and not just a super general one five seconds after sending the ask:

Do you have any neurodivergent hcs for Buster and Gob(or other characters if you hc anyone else as neurodivergent)?

This is such a good question!! Okay!! It got long so I'm putting it under the cut, but TLDR: undiagnosed comorbid autistm and ADHD for both of them plus ADHD Tony Wonder :) I forced myself not to get into it with the rest of the Bluths cause this post would be a mile long but i did put cursory thoughts about them in the tags. All of this is spitballing and I'm definitely open to hearing other opinions!

Whatever is going on with Buster’s brain is the same thing that’s going on with my brain, so most likely ADHD and/or autism but DEFINITELY undiagnosed. None of the Bluths have the diagnoses they need and if someone (Tobias) tries to so much as allude to them being neurodivergent in front of George Sr. and/or Lucille it gets shut down immediately.

Anyway Buster reads more autistic than ADHD to me but it could be either or both. He has trouble reading other people’s emotions and regulating his own, he’s “strange” and “childish” in ways that are direct responses to how he was raised but also just read as neurodivergent, he’s got safe foods and takes things literally and has no clue how to read social cues and stims and gestures vaguely at all of him is just so very ND. Also the thing with ADHD-havers being randomly struck with bouts of guilt or self loathing? I think that’s him. ADHD was recently reclassified as an anxiety disorder, too, which we know full well is Buster, and it would not surprise me if his panic and anxiety attacks were brought on by sensory overload and RSD and other ADHD things at least some of the time.

As for GOB, I think he’s got the same deal but he reads more ADHD than autistic. I think they both have both but it presents differently in each of them. I’m fully on board with both magic and bees being special interests for that man, and he also just moves and talks and interacts with people in a very neurodivergent way. The stuttering when he’s overwhelmed is, to me, adjacent to (if not straight up being) him going nonverbal. He definitely has RSD too, look at how devastated he is when anyone rejects him ever. And I wouldn’t be surprised if he was bipolar, getting manic when he’s really into a project and then falling into depression for weeks or months at a time.

And, just as a bonus, I think Tony Wonder has ADHD. He recognizes it in GOB and helps him with learn to function in a healthier happier way and his siblings are so confused cause GOB just magically started getting more normal?? Except it’s not magic (and it’s not an illusion lmao) it’s just coping mechanisms. Tony’s been collecting them from various therapists for like 30 years. He has no clue how anyone in this family thinks they’re neurotypical.