The Cruciform

Item from Hyperion by Dan Simmons

A cross-shaped parasite that resurrects the dead — soft coral texture, bioluminescent pink glow, roots that grow through the host's body, and a secret: each one is a micro-TechnoCore harvesting your brain.

Also known as: Cruciform, The Cross

What They Know

• Cross-shaped parasite that resurrects the dead — grows root-like fibers through the host
• Bikura version caused degradation: sexless, mentally stunted after generations of resurrection
• Pax 'perfected' it — eliminated visible degradation but maintained the parasitic function
• Each cruciform is a micro-TechnoCore — AI nodes using the host's brain for computing
• Removal methods: sustained pain, the Shrike, Church excommunication, Aenea's DNA Sacrament
• Offered as Catholic sacrament by the Pax — immortality as slavery

Connections

• discovered_by — dure
• exploited_by — pax_pope
• created_by — technocore_entity
• destroyed_by — aenea

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