Parasites
Parasites are the artificially created children in Darling in the FranXX who pilot FranXX against the Klaxosaurs. Raised in facilities such as Mistilteinn (nicknamed “birdcages”), they are educated only for combat and kept ignorant of concepts like marriage, pregnancy, and family. Squad 13 and The Nines are Parasite units; their emotional awakening drives the story. Adults have abandoned reproduction and emotion; Parasites are weapons for APE.