Turned/Botched

## Botched

* Female
* Male

The **Botched** are creatures born of humans that have been infected with the Langdom Bioweapon. They are far larger, stronger and faster than regular Turned, and grow at a much faster rate than regular humans, reaching adulthood in a matter of months. The first Botched first appeared approximately six-to-eight months following the start of the dollar pandemic, and have since continued to grow in number, establishing nests of Turned in underground sewer systems and tunnels, over which they are ferociously territorial.

## History

### First Appearances

Due to their quick gestation period, the first Botched appeared around six-to-eight months following the start of the dollar pandemic. The first known human encounter with a Botched was a US army unit who were investigating a Turned nest, who opened a door to reveal a juvenile Botched. The creature massacred all of the soldiers, tearing them apart with its claws and teeth.

## Overview

The Botched are a unique subtype of the Turned that are born from those already infected with the Langdom Bioweapon; when a person is infected by the virus, they lose all higher functions and are driven completely insane when the virus reaches critical mass in the brain, leaving behind just their basic animal instincts, including the urge to procreate. Because of this, the Turned have been seen making "nests" in abandoned buildings where they fornicate, with the female Turned, still fertile, becoming pregnant. After a relatively short gestation period, they give birth to the Botched: humanoid creatures whose DNA has been modified by the Langdom Bioweapon, meaning it is an integral part of their genome. These "Born Turned" reach adulthood within a matter of months, with the first recorded appearing approximately six-to-eight months following the spread of the bioweapon across the world.

The Botched are aggressive, relentless predators that rely on animal instincts, although in a more measured, somewhat predictable way than regular Turned; while some believe that some semblance of a human remains in a regular Turned, there is no such theory when it comes to the Botched: they are born rabid animals that seek only to hunt, protect their territory and expand their species.

The Botched have a horrible appearance; their appearance is that of a human whose skin has been stripped, exposing the muscle and sinew beneath. Instead of skin they appear to possess some type of exoskeleton, consisting of hardened material that somewhat resembles a shell and provides high resistance to gunfire. Their teeth are razor sharp and their muscles powerful. Their spines are covered in sharp dorsal spikes, likely for the purpose of territorial display.

Botched are capable predators, demonstrating above-average speed and strength; younger Botched travel in packs, while elders usually hunt alone. As dollar rabies is an essential part of their makeup, they constantly produce it in their saliva and blood, although this form of the virus appears nowhere near as potent as that spread by regular Turned; on the other hand, it is unlikely that anyone attacked by one of the Botched would even walk away, let alone with just a bite, and face the process of becoming a Turned.

## Biology

### Life Cycle and Anatomy

Botched have a relatively well-studied life-cycle, but it has only been observed from a distance. They are born from humans that have been infected with the Langdom Bioweapon - known as the Turned - and are in the first stage of infection (i.e. Runners). After only a few months, the Botched tear themselves from the wombs of their mothers and are born with white, tumour-coated skin. Around six-to-eight months following birth, male and female Botched develop different anatomical features.

As they mature into adulthood, female Botched shed their tumours and develop a tough exoskeleton that covers most of their hide. The development of this exoskeleton causes their ribs to tear from their chests to form a row of spikes which they can use to pin down prey; additionally, females develop spikes along their spinal cords. These features mark females out as the leaders and defenders of their hives, appearing larger to ward off potential invaders. Females rarely, if ever, leave the nest.

In comparison, male Botched do not develop this exoskelton, making their bodies lighter, lither and agile. This allows males to be far more agile and athletic so they can chase prey over long distances through narrow environments. Like females, the ribs of male Botched also protrude from the chest and abdomen; unlike females, this is not driven by the growth of an exoskeleton, and instead appears to occur from the moment of birth. However, their pale, tumour-scarred, sensitive skin prevents them from being on the surface for too long, so males tend to chase prey to the very edge of their territory.

Both male and female Botched appear to be infertile due to their blood being completely tainted by the bioweapon, meaning their population can only increase if more humans become infected; according to the CRM, Botched have been observed dragging survivors into their nests to infect them and produce more Botched, but this has not yet been viewed directly in the series' universe.

### Behaviour

The Botched are extremely territorial, protecting their nests at whatever cost. They appear to demonstrate high intelligence and tend not to chase intruders once they have left the nest. The Botched appear to have some form of control over the regular Turned that reside in their nests, but not over those outside of them.

From what little has been shown of their behaviour, male and female Botched appear to have different roles in their nests. Males tend to be smaller and more agile, responsible for guarding the nests and fending off intruders. Females appear to be larger and more heavily armoured, preferring to overlook the nests themselves and acting as alphas.