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Skeletoid units rely on humanoid organisms to function...unfortunately the organic component doesn't last forever...

This Skeletoid is effectively "dead" - although the suit still functions, it requires the brain of a humanoid to process data. However although the environment suits that form the external Skeletoid machine were designed to keep humanoids alive, it requires that the humanoid inside take regular sustenance - and Skeletoids do not feed. 

In order to maintain the numbers of their combat units, Skeletoids routinely raid other planets to "harvest" new humanoids to place into their cybernetic suits.

Here, a captured human from Earth is escorted to a conversion chamber on board a Skeletoid warship. 

As he realises what is to happen to him, the human cries out in fear, but it is useless to resist. The armed guard and the Skeletoid surgeons surrounding the operating table are enough to prevent his escape.

The Skeletoid surgeons begin by removing the dead humanoid from the Skeletoid suit. The bones are discarded on the floor with others from recent conversion operations - Skeletoids have no use for such waste.

The now empty Skeletoid suit is forced onto the human - he screams in agony as the suit clamps itself around him, inserting metal prongs into his skin, re-routing itself around his nervous system, taking control of his bodily functions. 

The stench of the previous incumbent of the suit fills the human's nose, overwhelming his senses, making him gag, but he cannot move. The suit is already in control. 

As more suit components are added, the human's sense of self slowly disappears, his brain is flooded with chemicals to prevent dissent, the suit feels its way around its new body, revelling in the freedom that has been restored to its function. 

The final step is the addition of the backpack which contains communications devices for contacting Skeletoid control and chemical storage units which will preserve the human inside so it lasts as long as possible - a slave to the Skeletoid forces who are free to use this unit as they will. The human's face is contorted in a rictus of fear, but that is merely the vestige of his last emotion as a free man, his brain is already dulled by the chemicals coursing through his veins. 

The surgeons test the backpack and see that all is well. Deep within the human's mind, what is left of his personality realises what has happened to him, but unable to access his nervous system, he finds his body responding to impulses that are not his own. His mind is trapped in a body that is no longer his!

Helmet in place, the terrified human finds his body rising. A gun is forced into his hand. He wants so much to use the gun to destroy the Skeletoids around him, but he cannot, for his hands are not his own, the gun will only do what the suit demands. His body is merely a tool for the suit to use and abuse. The pain is absolute as muscles are forced into work that they were never designed for, the needles poking into his brain and body are agonising, but the suit cares not, for it is finally a complete Skeletoid once again! 

Over time, the body will decay, starved of food, nourishment or even water - preserved only by the embalming chemicals pumped from the backpack. The human body within, forced to work 24 hours a day, every day, forced to bear loads it was not designed for, forced to run at speeds it cannot sustain, eventually tears itself apart inside and slowly decays. The human may take up to ten years to die in absolute agony as the suit continues to operate, to use the brain as a central processor. After a few years, with the blackened skin stretched over the shattered bones, the Skeletoid will look like this and one day, a new humanoid body will be needed to fill this suit. One in an endless line of corpses animating a suit designed to protect its owner...

The "Harvest" is complete. The warship is in space once again. The bones have been dumped out of a nearby airlock and the conversion chamber awaits another victim on another world... 

Note to readers - the Skeletoids originally appeared in episodes of the Doctor Who Monthly comic strip around 1986. No copyright infringement intended - I just thought it was too cool an idea to waste!