Crites (Critters)
Crites are a species that features in the Critters series.
Contents |
History
Crites were an extraterrestrial species of unknown origin who developed a fearsome reputation due to their carnivorous diet.
At least ten specimens were captured and brought on-board Prison Transport 9961 that took them to a maximum security prison asteroid in sector 17. During transport, the Crites became ravenous and started consuming much of the food forcing the crew to kill two of them in order to leave plenty of sustenance left for the remaining ones. During docking, the creatures managed to escape containment leading to the death of several prison members and the injury of others before the Crites stole one of the docked ships. The vessel was fully fuelled and the Crites were able to depart before being shot down with the ship giving them the capacity to travel anywhere in the galaxy. The only limitation placed on them was their hunger and desire to feed. Their trajectory placed them on a course for Earth with the prison asteroid dispatch bounty hunters to capture or kill the Crites. The Crites ship landed at a rural town in Kansas in the night where they disembarked and immediately sought out food. Among their targets was a farm where the Brown family resided with the Crites first striking at the livestock before making their way to the house itself. Upon arriving at the home, they severed any form of communication lines outside the home which attracted the attention Jay Brown who investigated the loss of power. Once there, he was attacked and savaged by a Crite that nearly killed him with his wife and son able to take him to safety. At the same time, a Crite was present in the barn where they killed April Browns boyfriend leading to the family quickly moving into the house to protect themselves.
Overview
In appearance, the Crites were small bipedal alien organisms that resembled porcupines or hedgehogs with their heads having glowing red eyes. They possessed large rotund bodies with them being covered in black fur with clawed hands that were strong enough to grab onto fully grown humans. For quick movement, the creatures could turn themselves into a spherical shape and rolled themselves like balls across the environment. They typically used this to either escape from enemies or to pursue injured prey.
Crites were also able to shoot out poisonous quills from their body that could knock out their victims thus making them easy prey. The impacted areas suffered from paralysis leading to the victim becoming easy prey to the Crite. Quills that struck a leg could leave a person unable to move but conscious whilst those that struck the neck could leave the individual unconscious. It appeared that as long as the quill remained embedded in the flesh of a target that the paralysis took hold and by removing it this allowed the victim to shake off the effects.
One of the key aspects of the Crites was their carnivorous appetites. It was shown that they ravenously consumed any form of meat in their presence and often targeted prey much larger than themselves. In one case, a Crite consumed a piece a firework that exploded in their mouth but caused no damage except left the creature unconscious. The more a Crite ate then it began to grow to a much larger size with it becoming larger than a human with the maturation occurring over moments.
Reproduction involved the laying of eggs that was done after the Crites consumed food. These eggs were in a dormant state with one claim that they incubated for six months whilst in another case it was shown that the eggs hatched in a matter of hours. On one occasion, eggs were shown to had been remained in a dormant state for two years before they hatched.
Crites were shown to be intelligent as they were able to operate advanced starships and pilot them across space. Furthermore, they were cunning enough to cut off a family from contact outside their homestead. Crites were also shown to be spiteful creatures as after their attack on the Brown farm was thwarted they attempted to depart but not before destroying the homestead with them laughing at their revenge against the humans. The species was shown to be capable of speaking in their own language.
Notes
- The Crites featured as antagonists in the Critters universe.
Appearances
- Critters:
- Critters 2: The Main Course:
- Critters 3:
- Critters 4:
External Links
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