The Pods

Name: The Pods

AKA: Anything else

Location: Deep Space

Novel: Invasion of the Body Snatchers

Author: Jack Finney




Natural History:
Probably one of the oldest lifeforms in the galaxy, the Pods have perfected survival. As their planet began to die, slowly, over immeasurable time, they too evolved, slowly over immeasurable time. As the planet died, they escaped, fleeing to whatever planet they drifted upon, taking the form of the inhabitants and eventually taking over as the dominant life.

They look like seed pods, but on a giant scale. They grow like normal plants do with those already taken over serving as care takers for the fields of pods that are produced to replace the indigenous population. Those care givers place the pods into towns, hidden places, trunks, and in closets for the non-taken over to be replaced.

The Author and myself were able to see this transformation. The pod is placed in close proximity to the target. Over a short span of time, maybe a night, the pod begins to burst at the sides, a white foamy substance emerges, and the pod bursts open. There is a semi-formed white, blank, life-form inside, slowly developing and taking on the characteristics of the target. Eventually it becomes identical to the target and steals the life force and memories, becoming anything organic. The original is left a lifeless husk and is turned to empty grey matter.

The only difference between the pods and the original: emotion. The replicas cannot emote or share emotion, only the pretense of it, a simulation of emoiton Also, a collective knowledge of where the pods came from, their history, and their purpose. A collective knowledge of everything the pods were and have become. Mars and the moon used to have life, but no longer thanks to the pods. The transformation is painless and generally occurs while the target is asleep. Needless to say, The Author and I did not sleep while around this dangerous parasites. It seems plant-life has evolved to be the predator and us, the prey.

"The pods arrived, drifting onto our planet as they have onto others, and they performed, and are now performing their simple and natural function - which is to survive on this planet. And they do so by exercising their evolved ability to adapt and take over and duplicate cell for cell, the life this planet is suited for."

Uroon

Name: Uroon

AKA: Frontrunner Uroon

Location: Seen over Malibu Pier, California

Novel: Jed the Dead

Author: Alan Dean Foster

Natural History:
Uroon is a member of the species Culakhan and maintains the title of Frontrunner.

The Culakhan were quadrapedal extra-terrestrials. They had barrel-like bodies that were supported by four surprisingly gracile yet strong legs, the front pair of which were longer than the rear. The legs supported what appeared to be an almost 300 pound body. They were no taller than an average human female.

Atop a two foot flexible neck was a flattened skull with two stalked eyes set well out on the sides, like the sideview mirrors on a car. A flap of pinkish, flexible skin formed a forward-facing crest that ran between the stalks. The crests could be streaked with black or grey. Uroon had bright pink eyes. Their mouths were filled with two rows of grinding teeth,and they spoke in what sounded like a frustrated bulldog's barking.

Even more surprising than the neck was the single rope-like, flexible tail. Slightly longer than the body, it split at the end into half a dozen flexible, super-strong hairs. The tail-hairs had a great range and delicacy of touch, and were used like hands.

The Culakhan came to Earth in search of Jed, who was in their minds a criminal. The Culakan are famous, or perhaps infamous, for their strict adherence to their Codes of Conduct.

"What does it matter to you, human? We are the Culakhan and we have our reasons. You will comply. Without wishing to appear impolite, I must point out that you can be made to comply. But we have no quarrel with you. We do not harass simple animals."
- Frontrunner Uroon