The Swarm

Originally a mist fiend that took control of millions of nanites created by the Combine's Nazi scientists, the name also includes the nanites themselves.

## History

### Pre-Campaign

The nanites that composed the Swarm were created by the Combine's unfrozen Nazi scientists. They were made to consume all matter and use it to multiply, causing destruction wherever they went.

### Arc 13: The Denver Swarm

Between July and August, a mist fiend that had breached containment within Denver's old Agency office possessed a project the Combine's Nazi scientists had been working on before their demise: the Swarm. The Swarm were nanites capable of consuming all matter and using it to replicate and repair themselves quite rapidly. Under the malevolent control of the mist fiend, the Swarm began its quest to wreak havoc on the city.

Eager to regain a foothold in Denver, former Combine infiltrator cyborgs Lindsey Brewer and Gayle Glover bound themselves to the Swarm and the fiend, anchoring the creature and its influence, as well as allowing it to interface with the Saint Vrain plant's mainframe. Soon after, people began disappearing. Unity forces were found killed in the streets, drained of blood by the fiend. When the Templar Vickers went to investigate the Swarm's presence, it attacked him, draining away his life force and aging him.

On September 4th, the Swarm was confronted by the New Wells Six. Swarms of nanites resting on the walls of the Agency building detected the new arrivals, and attacked. Na-way grabbed a few of the tiny bodies, and swallowed them. They immediately started biting and stinging his insides, forcing him to vomit blood. The others began to sting Addie, making her feel ill as well. The two fled, followed by the nanites.

The group attempted to squash the "bugs", and were met with the nanites forming into humanoid shapes of swarming bodies, which proceeded to nearly overpower them. The NW6 barely fought them off, with Levy attacking 'Gayle' and damaging one of the Swarm's anchors and encouraging them to back off.

While the NW6 entered the reeducation center, the Swarm ate the floor ahead and ambushed Addie as she led the group forward. Vickers proceeded to read a litany, which made the nanites recoil and retreat. Levy used that opportunity to manipulate the Swarm's metal in its weakened state, and separated the metal from the electronics.

Later, Lindsey Brewer ambushed Ian McManus, summoning the Swarm to attack him. Unable to get her surprise hits in, Lindsey retreated, sinking into the floor with the nanites as they devoured and reformed the floor around her. As she attempted to flee to Saint Vrain, Ian hit the gas tank on her motorcycle and it exploded. The nanites melted around her, burning to sludge as Ian shattered her skull.

As the NW6 rode toward Saint Vrain, a large group of nanites descended, causing their electronic gear to malfunction. They flew after the convoy, with Levy using metal manipulation and Joel using his web abilities to disable most of them.

During the battle at Saint Vrain, with most of its allies defeated, the Swarm took on its strongest form: a multistory humanoid bug figure formed from all the nanites combined. Gayle's real body held at its center, it moved to destroy the resistance forces. They were met with equal force in Choc's canon and Levy's magic that grew Addie to the Swarm's size. After a brief scuffle, River read the litany and burned Gayle's body, forcing the mist friend from the nanites as well. Afterward, the bots all fell still, with nothing to give them life.

Its design was later used by K1ng.