The Flood (The Waters of Mars)


 * This article is about the virus species. For the comic, see The Flood.

The Flood was a viral species which orginated inside a glacier on the planet Mars.

Biology
The Flood's natural state was in liquid water. It was capable of controlling the water, allowing it to flow in unnatural directions. It was also capable of infecting other lifeforms by coming into contact with them, causing them to spasm and convulse as they were taken over, mainly because it was a viral life-form.

Once infected, the individual constantly exuded water, pouring from the body, hands and mouth. This could be increased to produce high-pressure sprays from both the hands and the mouth. The infected victim would no longer draw their oxygen from air, but from water and they would be near walking corpses, as the infection greatly weakened their heartbeats and pulse. Also, the infection would cause a lot of electrical activity in the host's brain. Upon mutation, infected victims could deactivate nearby cameras. When infected, the hosts would also develop cracked skin (especially around the mouth and neck), blackened teeth and faded blue eyes, as well as an internal fission in the host's body that produced the water. These physical symptoms could be masked, meaning that the infection could hide inside a human host, and infect him or her at any moment. The host also had the ability to survive on the surface of Mars. Hosts could also run extremely fast, even going as far as to keep up with a rocket-powered robot and outrun other running people. A single droplet of the viral water emitted by the host could pass on the infection to another host. Despite the considerable amount of water produced by the infection, the infected did not seem to be overly effected by electricity (of which water conducts extremely well); The infected Andy Stone was electrocuted by the Doctor, but was only momentarily incapacitated. However, the Flood creatures, being made almost entirely up of water and constantly producing it, could be destroyed by intensive heat, a weakness that they shared with their imprisoners, the Ice Warriors.

The Flood proved capable of coordinated action despite being scattered, as well as considerable intelligence. It could not communicate verbally once infection manifested itself, although a victim could understand Ancient North Martian. Victims could no longer speak English, but could emit gurgling growls and snarls. The infected could also emit terrifying high-pitched screams that sounded like tortured metal, capable of cracking open ice and communicating with other infected victims. Strangely, a victims' scream could be heard through the thickest of metals. It also seems that a victims' hearing is more sensitive and can catch noises at higher pitches. Victims were most likely able to scream due to the internal fission affecting their vocal cords. (DW: The Waters of Mars)

History
At some point, the Flood was sealed inside a glacier on Mars, likely by the Ice Warriors. In 2058 and 2059, the Human colony Bowie Base One used the glacier as a water source. Due to a broken filter system, the Flood was able to infect the colony's biodome workers in November 2059. After becoming aware of Earth and its abundance of water, it attempted to infect the entire colony and reach Earth; the colony was destroyed to prevent them escaping Mars. (DW: The Waters of Mars)
 * It is possible that the virus itself was destroyed in the base's explosion, as Bowie Base One was situated almost directly on top of the glacier holding the Flood.

Behind the scenes

 * The name "Flood" - although not an official name - may be a reference to the Flood from the Halo franchise, also a race of hive minded parasites.