Editing Proto-Gravemind

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{{Flood Species Infobox

|image=[[File:Flood Brain Form.jpg|300px]]

|species=[[Flood]] (Various combined Forms)

|attacks=Unknown, passive

The '''Proto-Gravemind''', also known as the '''Brain Form''', is an advanced [[Flood]] form created from the biomass of the most intelligent living organisms available, with an ultimate goal to create a fully-functional [[Gravemind]].

===Creation and Physiology===

Proto-Graveminds are a coagulation of multiple other [[Flood]] forms all merged together. It appears that when an advanced task is at hand for the Flood, such as piloting a [[starship]], they will create a Proto-Gravemind to do that task by merging together as many hosts as possible with that knowledge, such as former pilots and officers. Rather than completely destroying a victim's consciousness, as a normal Flood form generally does, it interrogates its victims slowly, allowing their consciousnesses to feed it information. The form tortures the host's mind with a loud buzzing sound, thus erasing all thought. Only after the host is stripped of all knowledge is the host killed by the Proto-Gravemind, although it is sometimes possible for a host to die before the Flood form has a chance to assimilate all of its memories.<ref>''[[Halo: The Flood]]''</ref>

A notable feature in the creation of a Proto-Gravemind is that [[San 'Shyuum]] are often used to form the core "mind" of the Brain Form, such as [[Prophet of Regret|Regret]], or the [[Minister of Etiology]].<ref>''[[The Last Voyage of the Infinite Succor]]''</ref>

The biggest difference between the infected San 'Shyuum and that of the conventional [[Combat Form]], is that examples seen thus far have maintained their personalities to an extent. Other infected forms are subjected completely, to the control of the Infection Form within them and generally display none of the former personality traits of their hosts. On the other hand, infected Prophets have demonstrated the ability to act the same way that they did before they were assimilated. As the Prophet species are considerably weaker and more frail than many other [[Covenant]] species, the Prophet would not be a suitable creature to create a Combat Form, and their intelligent nature likely make them more suitable candidates as the main host of a Proto-Gravemind.

Proto-Graveminds are only seen piloting more complex vehicles that require trained pilots. While [[Combat Forms]] can easily, albeit clumsily, pilot smaller vehicles like [[Warthog]]s, [[Scorpion Tank|Scorpions]], [[Wraiths]], and [[Ghost (Vehicle)|Ghosts]] (at least once the Flood infection has reached the [[Coordinated Stage]]), Proto-Graveminds are needed for larger vehicles such as a spaceship. Since the Proto-Gravemind does not appear to move at all, it is likely that it directs nearby [[Combat Form|Combat Forms]] to pilot the ships, similar to the way a fully-formed Gravemind will direct Flood forms to perform complex tasks or use the Flood Super Cell to pilot the ship.

Unlike all other known Flood forms, it is apparently immobile and passive in combat. They have never been observed to move on their own, even when other Combat Forms are fighting nearby. In fact, even when the [[John-117|Master Chief]] physically punched through the side of the Proto-Gravemind present aboard the ''[[Truth and Reconciliation]]'' during the [[Battle of Installation 04]], the Flood form did not react at all; it is likely that locomotion is only gained after the transformation into a true Gravemind is complete. Proto-Graveminds have also never been observed to keep any of their hosts' [[weapons]]. They use some of their hosts' legs as a means to support themselves, and one can slightly see some of the recent hosts' bodies embedded in the Proto-Gravemind's mass, albeit deformed.

===Further Evolution===

The Proto-Gravemind must grow incredibly in size to reach its next stage of evolution, known as a [[Gravemind]], a near-omniscient [[Flood]] form made of thousands of host bodies infused with the knowledge of each host that was used to make the Gravemind.<ref>''[[The Art of Halo]]''</ref> Graveminds are created once a Proto-Gravemind reaches a certain "critical mass" and develops a centralized intelligence. This happens only on extremely rare occasions, usually because the [[Flood]] is seldom loose on a large enough scale to allow Proto-Graveminds to grow large enough to become a Gravemind. Only two Graveminds are known to have ever been created; however, they seem to have the same memories, since the Gravemind present during the [[Human-Covenant War]] possessed detailed knowledge concerning the [[Forerunner-Flood War]] and even described the actions of the previous Gravemind during that time period as if they were his own. In essence, because it shares all the knowledge of the previous Gravemind and considers them both to be the same being, the Gravemind of the games ''is'' the Gravemind that fought the Forerunners, simply been reborn from another Proto-Gravemind.

== Appearances ==

Proto-Graveminds have been observed several times, each time taking on a different appearance to match the different hosts that made up the form.

The first Proto-Gravemind encountered in the Halo Series was in the ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'' level, {{Levelname|Keyes}}. [[SPARTAN-117]] found this form in the control center of the ''[[Truth and Reconciliation]]''. It is possible that the Proto-Gravemind would have allowed the Flood to use the ''Truth and Reconciliation'' to spread beyond Alpha Halo. This Proto-Gravemind assimilated [[Captain Jacob Keyes]] and attempted to learn from him the coordinates of [[Earth]]. Keyes fought with every ounce of willpower he had to prevent the Flood from gaining this information, burying the knowledge deep down within him and forcing the Proto-Gravemind to systematically discard every other memory he possessed. [[SPARTAN-117]] arrived at the Proto-Gravemind just before the Flood form was about to finally extract the memory it wanted, and punched through the Captain's skull in order to retrieve his [[neural implants]], thereby robbing the Proto-Gravemind of the knowledge of Earth's location for good. The Proto-Gravemind was destroyed shortly thereafter by the [[Covenant]] Special Ops.<ref>''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'', level {{Levelname|Keyes}}</ref>

Another Proto-Gravemind was observed on the Covenant ship ''[[Infinite Succor]]'' at around the same time. This one appeared to be made up of [[Unggoy]], Sangheili, [[Combat Form|Human Combat Forms]], and even animals from the ship's hunting preserve. The form was constructed in the ship's Engine Room, near the core, probably because the command center of the ship was not accessible to the Flood. This form was destroyed by [[Rtas 'Vadumee]] before it could pilot the ''Infinite Succor'' out of the system. <ref>''[[Halo Graphic Novel]]'', story ''[[The Last Voyage of the Infinite Succor]]''</ref>

Yet another Proto-Gravemind was present on the prisoner ship UNSC [[UNSC Mona Lisa|''Mona Lisa'']], shortly after the destruction of Installation 04. Flood onboard the ship were attempting to access the ship's FTL drives by collecting and absorbing the knowledge of UNSC pilots into this Proto-Gravemind. It was destroyed when [[Ngoc Benti]] threw grenades into its interior and blew it up.

A Proto-Gravemind was also present on a Forerunner [[Shield World (Halo Wars)|Shield World]], during a mass Flood outbreak in [[2531]] Judging by its huge size and its connection to several [[Flood Colony|Flood colonies]], it is likely that this Proto-Gravemind was on the verge of becoming a Gravemind. This Proto-Gravemind was destroyed by UNSC forces led by [[John Forge]] and Spartan [[Red Team]].

== Trivia ==

*If one listens carefully when next to the Proto-Gravemind on the level {{Levelname|Keyes}}, you can hear the [[Flood]] form making raspy growling noises.

*[[Jacob Keyes]] is the only notable human to become part of a Proto-Gravemind.

*In ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', it has also been observed that [[Plasma Grenade]]s do not stick onto its surface, although sometimes they will land on one of its humps, exploding shortly after, but with no visible effect to the creature. It is unknown why the grenades do not stick on it in the same manner they do to the other Flood forms, although it may be because in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', the Proto-Gravemind is actually programmed as part of the map.

*In ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', if one looks carefully, the Proto-Gravemind does move slightly in its place, but not enough to show up on the [[Motion Tracker]].

*Little bits of liquid will fall off of one of the tentacles sticking from the ceiling.

*When the Proto-Gravemind in ''Halo Wars'' is destroyed, it will spurt liquid everywhere. It is possible that Flood biomass functions like a water balloon, having a solid exterior and being filled with liquid. This is why Sniper Rifle rounds have little effect on Combat Forms: the rounds simply pass straight through the liquefied insides, dealing no harm to the Combat Form.

<gallery type="slideshow" position="center" widths="400px">

File:Proto-Gravemind.png|A Proto-Gravemind as seen in ''[[Halo Legends]]<nowiki>'</nowiki>'' ''[[Origins]]''.

File:MainBuilding.jpg|The Proto-Gravemind as it appears in ''Halo Wars''.

File:Legate.png|The infected [[Minister of Etiology]], before being absorbed into a Proto-Gravemind.

== Sources ==

<references/>

[[Category:The Flood]]