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Transmogrifants
Transmogrifants are a species of wasp-like aliens that originated on Planet Cholerica. While harmless and non-sapient in their home world, they've managed to become not only an intergalactic invasive species but in many cases, sapient. They are invertebrates, but they are often coated in a fleshy substance (color varies depending on what planet they're on). They have long thin elephant trunk tubes on their mouths and long skinny necks. Their compound eyes are often pale with dark pseudo-pupils. Their antennae are long as well and their wings are more like leather than bugs on Earth. They feed by stinging other animals, causing severe blistering in their victims. Said blisters are full of liquified DNA, DNA they can incorporate into their biology after they suck it up their proboscis. This DNA is brought back to the hive and stored as well.
Transmogrifant hives
Transmogrifant hives are made out of a fleshly, womb-like material. Much like hives of Earth bees, wasps, and hornets, they often have holes in them for various purposes like housing larvae or food. The hive is initially made by the young queen ejecting the material from her ovipositor. After she has enough workers and allows herself to be fused to the hive wall, the workers make the rest of it and build on it as time goes on. In times of crisis where the hive has been heavily damaged but enough of it remains, the hive can go “cystic.” Which is when the remaining parts of the hive turn into round balls of hive flesh, juvenile workers, a queen, etc… In this form, the cells go into repair mode, fixing any damaged parts of the remaining hive. They go back into active mode once fully healed, which can take either a few days or a few decades depending on the extent of damage. If one wants to remove a hive in a more permanent fashion, one must make sure to destroy all of it.
Transmogrifant technology
Transmogrifant tech is biomechanical. The main ingredient is hive flesh itself. Followed by other tissues and components like neurons and keratin. They can be powered with nervous system tissue and cooled with bodily fluids. The biggest example of transmogrifant tech’s power is their genetic engineering abilities. Able to blend DNA from different species in a seamless fashion. To dictate the shape of the final organism to a fine degree. To both repair and destroy large sections of DNA. An amount of gene manipulation that humans have barely even grasped. After the re-emergence of the hive, they also added brain mapping. And the technology to implant false memories and select personality traits. Helping them create hybrid people who pass for genuine humans. Ones with plausible backstories and relatable personalities.
Transmogrifants on Earth
The hive on Earth is located in Gotham City. It originated from a small asteroid that landed back during the Jurassic period. Where the asteroid came from is unknown, but it did carry a hive cyst containing a juvenile queen. The hive managed to operate undetected well into the days of early man. When early Native Americans came, the hive started making the above-ground portion into something resembling an early Native American structure. And eventually, a very specialized member of the hive was designed to resemble a human medicine person. The overall strategy was that they'd take in sick and injured humans, isolate them from their friends and family, and turn the injured humans into DNA blisters with their “medicine.” This strategy became very successful, and as time went on, the facade turned into a hospital and the specialized member evolved into being the head doctor in this ruse. With additional disguised members acting as hospital staff. But in 1910 several people whose loved ones had been taken in by the hospital snuck in to rescue their loved ones. When they realized the true horror of the hospital, they saw that the only thing to do was to save as many people as possible before destroying the hive. This decision led to the 1910 St. Metamorphose hospital fire. A fire that thankfully seemed accidental to police. Keeping the people who tried to save their loved ones out of jail. The fire left a charred sinkhole in Gotham’s landscape. But the hive wasn't destroyed. Enough of it was preserved that it went cystic. Waiting for enough of it to heal to go back into active mode. And in 1993, the hive reawakened. Now, with the help of The Batman who laughs, the hive is slowly rebuilding. And they won't be keen on playing the long game this time.
Transmogrifant types
Queen
The central part of the hive. The initial creator and the breeder of the hive. While they aren't that involved in the goings-on in the hive in their non-sapient versions, the sapient species are deeply rooted in the politics of their hive. Incredible considering they are often limbless and fused to the walls of the hive after successfully establishing them. This is a sacrifice they are lauded for taking and comes with the perk of being able to directly control the flesh of the hive. Queens often grow to enormous sizes after fusing to the walls as well. Making them rather imposing.
Worker
The workforce of the hive. The transmogrifants do most of the work both in and out of the hive. The workers are often sterile, due to a pheromone in the queen's glands. But when she dies, the workers will lay eggs. But they'll be drones and their only purpose will be to mate with any queen they can find.
Drone
Male transmogrifants whose sole purpose is mating. When that is done, they die. Intercourse is fatal because their genitals are ripped off their body in the process. They are often eaten by the queen once the act is done. This gets rid of the now useless drone corpse and helps sustain the queen as the eggs form inside her body. Drones are often weaker than their female counterparts and have no stinger.
Homo Assimulus
Transmogrifant-human hybrids are made through transmogrifant genetic engineering. Their purpose is to infiltrate mankind. Giving the false impression of a human, waiting till the right moment before turning into transmogrifant queens ready to start their hives. In the past, these hybrids have been rather emotionless yet passable as humans in behavior despite their appearances. But in the summer of 1993, a new form of homo Assimulus was developed. One with more human personalities and implanted memories. Taking on a layer of emotional manipulation to improve the hybrid's strategy. These new hybrids don't realize they aren't fully human but still realize and accept their true nature after turning into queens. This is due to sophisticated brain mapping and psychological implanting technology that the transmogrifants of the new hive developed after re-establishing themselves.