Licker was a nickname given to the resulting mutation of
t-Virus Epsilon strain zombies which have undergone an evolutionary process in which their bodies had perfected by becoming far more streamlined.
The process began when a regular
Zombie had sustained enough damage and entered a process called V-ACT, which was a state of hibernation where the
t-Virus forced the
Zombie to stay dormant for some time to recuperate and once the body re-animated it quickly transformed into its new form. Depending on the type of
t-Virus strain this can either be a
Crimson Head or in this case, a Licker.
Compared to their original
Zombie form, the Licker lost all of its weak characteristics such as all of its skin which previously suffered from necrosis, its entire body and specifically its rear legs became far more muscular - it became an agile, strategising quadruped that could leap large distances and run at high speeds as opposed to a bumbling, shambling monster. It could cling to walls and ceilings which is used to its advantage when stalking prey.
Its most defining feature was its head - its brain had enlarged to a degree where it was now exposed - but it was also protected in some way as the Licker could withstand several bullet impacts to the brain without incurring any sort of neurological damage. It also had an extremely long tentacle-like tongue which it could extend and retract at will, using it as a deadly weapon. Its mouth was surrounded by sharp teeth which could tear into flesh and metal with relative ease. Suffice it to say; the Licker was a concerning creature to encounter - and occasionally they attacked in groups which made them even more deadly.
They were masters of a sneak attack, often lying in wait ahead of their victims. One of the very first Lickers to ever be investigated in the wild had sensed
Leon S. Kennedy in the Raccoon City Police Station and tactically moved the to ceiling a few rooms ahead of him, waiting to strike. It silently waited above with its drooling tongue being the only sign of its existence. Indeed the creature did surprise
Leon, who quickly made his escape.
Their weakness was acid and fire rounds due to their lack of skin - any attack would affect their musculature directly so particularly fire would break their bodies down far more effectively than regular weaponry.
The Licker became one of the most sought after B.O.W's on the black market, earning millions to the sellers. Because of this many were produced and subsequently more research and experimentation occurred in an attempt to produce more advanced versions.
One particular altered version of the Licker was encountered in the NEST facility (underneath Raccoon City) in which they were exposed to P-Epsilon gas which gave their further enlarged bodies a blue hue as well as giving them one extremely long blade-like claw on each hand - this made them more agile than the standard beast and could decapitate a victim with ease. The fact that they survived the gas was a testament to their abilities as the gas was designed to destroy them - but their mutations enabled them to simply take on the positive characteristics of the compound and reject the rest. These were simply named
Modified Licker.
Tricell, a rival pharmaceutical company to Umbrella decided to attempt to improve the Licker by enhancing them again with a further Progenitor Virus infection as well as further experimentation which improved their strength and durability as well as making them sexually active so that they could reproduce naturally - they were named the Licker Beta.
Chris Redfield encountered the only living colony of these creatures in a laboratory and eliminated them all.
Also, another technologically advanced version of the Licker was developed by implanting them with a Recessive Species
Plaga that altered their physiology slightly but the main advantage was that they could be controlled by anybody infected with a Dominant Species
Plaga, as the dominant parasites could influence all other beneath it.
Separately, in The Hive, a type of Licker was developed by experimenting with the
t-Virus and living tissue - the resulting creature began as a small, unremarkable monster - not any more unique than a standard Licker. However as it began to feed on biological material it grew and mutated constantly - the more it fed, the more enhanced it would become, eventually becoming a nearly unstoppable force.
Initially, one was released from storage in The Hive by its AI system named
Red Queen. It was guided to attempt to halt the escape of the Umbrella Sanitation Team and kill them. It was subsequently defeated after a large firefight causing the release of many others into the wild.
