Einherjar

**Einherjar** are humans that have been infected and mutated by a modified active agent of the Lazarus brain infection in an attempt by the United States Contingency to create super soldiers capable of restoring order in post-pandemic America. Originally overseen by Project Lazarus, it was the only known attempt to study and weaponize the pathogen before the collapse of society. Effectively human-zombie hybrids, the einherjar demonstrate unnatural strength and durability while retaining a semblance of human intelligence. They appear only in the remake continuity.

When the LBI became a global outbreak, the einherjar escaped and spread across California, murdering and pillaging, until they were all killed by one of their own, Subject IX, during a psychotic episode. In the subsequent twenty years no other creatures of their type appeared, with the possible exception of Nines, who shared many of their traits.

## Overview

The einherjar are the result of months, perhaps years, of biological research into and manipulation of the Lazarus brain infection, a parasitic disease that reanimates those infected, transforming them into cannibalistic zombies. Their creation was overseen by Project Lazarus, a division of the Contingency with the sole purpose of researching LBI.

Test subjects were chosen from the U.S. prison system and were screened for mental health conditions that would make them more suitable for testing. Amongst the final batch, B2d, they had chosen a mentally ill homeless man (subject II) and a school shooter brainwashed by his family (subject IX); however, they also tested on political dissidents and foreign citizens.

Each test subject had to suffer an agonising operation that placed a modified active agent of LBI in their brains and spinal cord; many did not survive and were incinerated. Those that survived were subjected to further experiments, many of which were fatal. Upon total brain death (TBD) the modified LBI would flood their brain with adrenaline and violent thoughts, but could not take full control of their minds. All of their organs would shut down, causing them immense pain that would have killed them were it not for the modified LBI. The sheaths made by the pathogen, which digest soft tissues in normal zombies, would instead accelerate muscle cell activity, giving the einherjar immense strength. The controlled total organ failure meant that the einherjar proved immune to all forms of physical injury, including close-range gunshots; only damage to the brain would slow or kill them. Their senses were all greatly enhanced, particularly their hearing and smell.

Once the rush of adrenaline had subsided, the strengthened immune system would destroy the LBI sheaths and restart organ function, while accelerating the body's healing processes to a significant degree. The einherjar could therefore recover from what should have been life-threatening injuries within a day or two.

Perhaps the most important aspect of the einherjar was their ability to maintain a semblance of human intelligence when "activated"; however, this varied between subjects. For example, the intellectual disability of Subject II not only remained during the organ shutdown but somehow appeared to prevent the reactivation of said organs; subject II was thus "stuck" in a zombie-like state, with permanent inhuman strength and durability. Other oddities were noted by Dr. Gurman, such as the warped pain response of Subject IX that would actually make him stronger, while also retaining his intelligence to a much higher degree compared to the other test subjects.

## Notable Einherjar

* Nines *(possible, not confirmed)*
* Subject II
* Subject IX

## Trivia

* The name "einherjar" comes from Norse mythology; the einherjar are those who have died in battle and are brought to Valhalla by valkyries, where they prepare daily for the events of Ragnarök. This ties into the purpose series' einherjar, which were intended to be super soldiers capable of killing zombies and any other threats to the restoration of the country.
* The einherjar are one of two unique infected in the *Strain Zero* and *So Help Me God* continuity, the other being darkdwellers.
* As of "*Among Men*", only one einherjar remains: Subject IX.