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INHERITED TRAITS
From the progenitor of its line the Symbiote has certain genetics similar to the one who came before it. These traits are as different as Phage is to the first of its line. Like most he can allow his host to synthesize webbing, strong as sinew, which shall degrade to nothing after about an hour. Just as the host can "stick" to surfaces with enough grip to move freely upwards along a vertical plane or remain on the underside of a horizontal surface.
Some traits differ, however. The progenitor's ability to mask itself from another's "spider sense" is entirely absent. Nor does Phage have the ability to preemptively sense danger like the progenitor or it's early host. This has it's compensations. Phage's vision is enhanced to the point where they can see up to a mile away as if it were in immediate focus, given a clear line of sight, and is aware of the presence of energies, as well as matter, in their field of view. However. That is only available if the symbiote is in its neutral form and depends on the field of the hosts vision. Also, if "zoomed in" a mile away it goes without saying that that which is right next to the symbiote and host both may not be noticed.
SYBIOTIC AUGMENTATION
Even unbonded to the symbiote Carl is at the very peak of human ability in physical terms. The symbiote, once bonded, set about improving upon its host enhancing his reflexes and reactions to beyond what is humanly possible. However the symbiote seeks out dominant traits to focus itself on and Carl's physical strength and stamina were the aspects to focus on in his case.
Barring interference the symbiote can keep Carl awake and functional without requiring sleep and help him exert himself for much longer than he could do so without his other helping. He is also now able to lift up to ten tons at the limits of exertion alone but, relying on his other, and in the most dire of urgency, he may be able to do more for minutes. More likely seconds. Since that would certainly turn most of his bones to powder and otherwise significantly damage its host the symbiote would rapidly lose it's ability to augment him or access many of its higher functions as it would be devoted to creating temporary replacements for the lost systems.
The augmentative levels of enhancement are performed by complex management of all of the hosts systems and reconfiguring the symbiotes own structure in synchronization. This does mean that the upper limits of augmentation are not constantly available. Should the symbiote or host be stressed or exhausted then the overall boost to any ability shall be compromised. Just as the host alone may be able to run a marathon in an acceptable time but could not then break his own personal bests for lifting weights, say.
SYMBIOTIC HEALING FACTOR
It is highly intensive and about the most complex action the symbiote can take to create a construct that will not dissolve or decay once detached from the main biomass. Synthesis of elements is possible, as are viable constructs, however the creation of the same would only be done to benefit the host. As well as regenerating the host to a predefined template, forming new limbs or organs if necessary, the symbiote also can regulate the undamaged systems of the host. Affecting biochemistry to let the host function for longer at peak effectiveness. Also manipulation of the hosts neural chemistry... more for the symbiotes purposes.
Smaller fixes upon the host can be done with internal manipulation and catalyzed stem cells. More significant repairs present a problem. If larger systems are removed or are otherwise inoperable the symbiote must reconfigure itself to form a temporary functioning copy of the missing systems. This significantly compromises it's ability to lend augmentative powers to the host and will violently attempt to get the host to seek sanctuary until new constructs can be synthesized from scratch. Even if the host can then evade the current threat it will weaken the symbiote during the time it heals its host. For that it will need large amounts of its own sustenance to complete the task. (see Symbiotic Sustenance)
SYMBIOTIC MANIPULATION
The biomass of the symbiote can reform and restructure itself in various ways. Some are more indirect functions handled largely by the symbiote for the host. Others require more direct manipulation by the host itself.
Using the hosts memory the symbiote can reform into a variety of forms, shapeshifting itself into whatever form the host thinks of. The host is not reassembled in this process which is a consideration, as is the symbiote only appearing as clothing, armor or even complex camouflage up to its available mass. Doing this leaves the symbiote chemically unchanged and cannot act as anything other than its basic biomass. So, outside of it's neutral form, the symbiote cannot perform many functions for the host.
In the neutral form The symbiote can be reconfigured into bladed or spiked constructs with but a thought from the host. As long as these constructs remain attached to the bonded pair. If detached the construct loses molecular cohesion and the inner membrane cross reacts with the external mass forming a mutagenic acid.
Such an acid does not work as many highly concentrated acids do as the formula for this acid is in constant flux. Assuming the acid was not immediately burned off of the surface in question it will keep chemically restructuring until a compatibility is found with the surface, akin to the bonding process. Once it does so it doesn't corrode as conventional acids do but rather "softens" the surface to be particularly vulnerable to the cut and thrust of the symbiotes bladed biomass.
However, the area covered and the prolonged contact of the acid on the surface required, not to mention the depth "softened" of any given surface varies wildly depending upon its makeup. Not to mention that energy fields or shields entirely negate the effects of such an acid.
SYMBIOTIC RESISTANCES
The symbiote acts as an adaptive environment to best benefit the host. In the same way the symbiote holds a template to know how to reconstitute the host when it is damaged the template allows the symbiote to detect outside physical influences. These can be negated by forcing them to react with the symbiote, rather than the host, and adapting its cellular structure to be incompatible with the threat. This prevents Carl from being afflicted from disease (regardless of its origins) the need for outside sustenance (for as long as the symbiote can synthesize the same) or the ageing process all as long the symbiote is bonded to him.
The same process allows influences of the mind to be resisted as the complex hybridization of the alien and human creates unique architecture so different to that of another bonded pair never mind other unique species outside influences may not be able to adapt to the unique nature of this pairing. So, regardless of the source, it is a difficult resistance to overcome. However this in particular only can work if the symbiote is in its neutral form, fully covering the surface of Carl's skin.
