Zombies

The Zombies of the Wake the Dead series are undead corporeal beings. They are incredibly strong, mindless and driven by hunger.

History
Twenty-one years ago, a plague of zombies brought the world to ruin. Seven years after the outbreak during the summer solstice, a large surge of zombies occurred. During that surge, zombies swarmed and consumed everything in their path. The following year, the zombie population returned to normal. Seven years after the first surge happened, a second surge occurred. This suggests that close to ninety percent of the zombie population is in hibernation at any given time, and surges happen like clockwork every seven years.

The zombies were caused by a parasitic organism that infects humans. Other animals do not become zombies and thus it can be assumed there are no intermediate or paratenic hosts. The method of infection and replication within the hosts suggests that the parasite itself is a protozoan, similar in patterns to malaria.

Biology
General zombies are called drones. They have pale gray skin with outbursts of cysts, milky white eyes, and stringy hair. They have longer fingers with fingernails that have hardened into claws and sharper teeth than the humans they used to be. Their flesh and skin are decomposing, but the state of decomposition does not hinder their agility and movement. Due to their lack of eyesight, they rely on their senses of smell and hearing. They interact with each other through pheromones. They appear to have the ability to be "trained" to look for food in certain areas.

Upon closer inspection, their jaws have stretched muscles that enable a larger bite. Although they possess a greater strength than their emaciated frames would suggest, a full examination of internal organs shows severe decay.

There are different types of zombies which have specialized roles: These zombies are crafted by a Queen who induces the transformation.

Microbiology
Currently, there is no cure against the zombie parasite, no way to turn a zombie back into a human nor a vaccine to prevent humans from becoming zombies once they are bitten. It appears once a human is bitten, the human always becomes infected and has over a 95% chance of becoming a zombie unless he/she is killed before the transmutation occurs.

The parasite is found primarily in the blood and saliva of infected individuals. Immediately after a bite, the parasite enters healthy cells near the infection site, multiplying until the host cells burst and release new parasites into the bloodstream. From the bloodstream, the parasite quickly spreads to all major organs including the brain. Saliva concentrations of the parasite are exponentially higher than concentrations in the blood, suggesting bites are the only reliable means of transmission. The parasite cannot survive outside of the body for more than a few minutes. Healthy individuals exposed to infected blood are unlikely to become infected unless the blood enters the mouth, eyes, or an open wound.

Data implies that the zombie parasite controls its host by infecting the brain, reminiscent of the Ophiocordyceps camponoti-floridani fungus found in ants.

There are a few cases that a victim can fight off the infection. It is unclear how, though some claim certain medications (such as epinephrine) can aid in the fight.

Metamorphosis
A human who wrote his symptoms of his transformation documented it as such. The zombie bite wound feels hot and itchy. Body temperature appears to fluctuate to both sides of the spectrum, causing fever and chills. Taste sensation changes, and normal food (carbohydrates) does not taste "right", although protein (such as jerky) helps the hunger in the beginning.

By 36 hours post-exposure, increased hunger and heightened smell is noted. Unaffected humans smell like medium-rare steak to infected individuals. The wound has not healed and oozes pus, with the skin peeling around it.

An undetermined amount of time later, memory loss settles in as well as photophobia. Whole body itches, fingers feel numb, and body doesn't feel as if it belongs to said individual. Individual also feels drawn to a certain location (the Hive). Hunger is curbed by eating an unaffected human.

Queens further the transformations from drones to other variations. This is accomplished by first putting the drone into a sedated state, then inducing a transformation via various liquids the Queen creates within her own body. Amber colored liquid is used for Scouts, green colored liquid is used for Sirens, and gold colored liquid is used for Queens. All but Queens are encased in orange jellies, which are presumed to hold nutrients and signaling proteins that trigger the development of special characteristics.

Future Queens are encased in gold jellies, and are not drones to start. They begin as strong minded humans, and are chosen as such to become strong Queens. However, strong humans can resist the metamorphosis, before either succumbing to the change or dying in defiance.

General
In addition to the common drones, there are other types of zombies. Research from Shannon Fox explains that this is caused by a mutation within the parasite itself, rather than a different kind of parasite.

Scouts
Scouts are variants of drones that have evolved into more powerful zombies. They possess a much larger mouth with a huge tongue, possibly as a way to more easily spread the parasite. The Scouts appear to have ripped out some of their internal organs, as they are missing their kidneys, liver, and parts of their intestines; however, they also have increased muscle mass. They are extremely fast and incredibly dangerous. They have the ability to go off on their own, find a target and then call other zombies to that location with a very loud shriek.

Soldiers
Soldier zombies are monstrous and gigantic-sized versions of the scouts, with vast mouths, forked tongues, red pustules, and colossal muscles. The soldier you fight in Chapter 12 is the size of a warehouse, indicating their enormous power and strength. They also patrol hives for intruders.

Sirens
Sirens look the most human of the zombies, as their faces remain largely intact save for a seam bisecting their chins and cheeks, which serves as a second mouth. They hypnotize their prey by humming and secreting a pheromone while standing still in order to feign an impression that they're not a zombie from a distance.

Queens
Zombie Queens are the leaders of the zombie hives, with the unique ability to communicate with humans. They have sharp horns and spikes growing out of their shoulders and forehead, glowing amber eyes and silver armored skin. They are responsible for making the different variants of Zombies. Queens also appear to have ability to wake other zombies by stroking the membrane of their pod in the hive.

Appearance

 * -|Normal Zombies=

Powers and Abilities

 * Zombie Physiology : These zombies are flesh-eating and plague-bearing creatures.
 * Enhanced Strength
 * Immortality: These zombies appear to have an endless lifespan and cannot die of their own accord. Zombies can also survive what would be fatal trauma to a human. For example, one zombie which lost both of its legs was still able to clamber around.
 * Infection: They can infect humans by passing the parasite into the bloodstream.
 * Powerful Bite: The zombie's jaw distends, allowing for a far greater bite size that can easily tear through flesh.
 * Enhanced Sense of Hearing
 * Enhanced Sense of Smell
 * Piercing Shriek: Scout zombies can emit a very loud shriek that will call other zombies to their location.
 * Hypnotism: Siren zombies hypnotize their prey by humming and secreting a pheromone.
 * Communication: Queen zombies can communicate with humans in perfect English.
 * Zombie Creation: Queen zombies can create other types of zombies at will.

Weaknesses

 * Decapitation: Severe damage to the head or complete decapitation will kill the zombie, as they will continue to function if any other body part is damaged.
 * Fire: According to Angel Savage, zombies will burn at the same temperature as humans. Fire and other explosions kill them easily.
 * Night Blindness: They are unable to see well in poorly lit areas.
 * Pheromones: Zombies communicate through pheromones, and synthetic versions can be created. A pheromone of fear will cause a zombie to panic and flee, even trampling each other and avoiding easy targets in their haste to escape.
 * Exposed Chest Cavity: Scout zombies have an exposed chest cavity where a direct hit will kill them.
 * Pustules: Soldier zombies have large pustules on their shoulders, upper arms, and back. These cause pain to the creature if ruptured.

Trivia

 * Queens have their own means of identifying zombie types, such as "singers" and "warriors". Because of this, they will become confused if they hear a human term such as "drone".
 * According to one of the lead writers, the zombies are heavily based on bees.