Parasite Unit

The Parasite Unit, or Skulls were a military group commanded by Skull Face that Venom Snake encountered in Afghanistan and Central Africa. This unit wiped out Kazuhira Miller's unit in minutes before capturing him.

Personality and traits
The Parasite Unit wore technologically advanced suits that could be used as camouflage to appear as a member of a different organization. They receive their powers from a species of parasite discovered by Code Talker that infests the vocal chords, but has destroyed most of their cognitive functions, leaving them effectively zombies easily fooled by stealth tactics (Quiet is technically a Skull herself, but has a mutant strain of parasite that leaves her mind intact and does not spread so long as she avoids speaking English, which she does by speaking Navajo or nothing at all). They had glowing green eyes. They also had the ability to jump at the height and distance that looked like they were flying for a short time. They were able to out run Diamond Horse at full speed, by constant jumping and landing. They had a strange ability to produce long guns from the palm of their hands as if they were pulling it out of a chest.

Behind the scenes
The Parasite Unit are enemies that appear in Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. They were first introduced in the E3 2013 Red Band and Green Band trailers for the game, appearing alongside the Volgin-like fiery apparition as well as the Psycho Mantis-like child under the tagline of "Those who do not Exist." They are seen in a desert jumping in the air, then landing on the ground running toward the camera. They appear to be numbered, as the centermost soldier has "02" on his forehead. E3 2015 revealed that there were also female members of this unit, one having "E2" on her forehead. They were seen confronting Big Boss and Ocelot.

Not much mention of them was made until May 2015 when gaming journalists were given a chance to play the game for a short time. These enemies were noted as being "commanded by someone familiar." Some theorized that Skull Face may be the commander of these soldiers, making them part of XOF as possible elite members. In addition, fans wondered if Psycho Mantis is the commander of the Parasite Unit given their appearance is alongside a gas mask wearing child in the aforementioned trailer. It would later be confirmed that Skull Face is the commander of the unit.

The Parasite Unit are very powerful, and are bio-mechanical in nature. They are shown in the trailer to be extremely agile. Though they do not speak, according to Peter Brown. Their physical appearance has some similarities to Sundowner from Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance and Fatman from Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty.

The name of the unit was revealed in issue 126 of Official Xbox Magazine.

In the Piggyback Collector's Edition Guide's Art Gallery, Hideo Kojima explained that the Skull Unit is a new arrangement of the respective models of real special forces, American comic style, mysterious individuals, beasts, and huge AI weapons for MGS1, MGS2, MGS3, MGS4 and Peace Walker. He also added that unlike before, they aren't merely a single boss but boss enemies that work as a team.

Gameplay
They are, as shown in the trailers, very fast and agile. They also appear to be strong, as journalists who were granted early access to preview the game have claimed they were not willing to Fulton recover them at the given time and could out-run Diamond Horse. But when they do not know the player is there, they are noted to walk in a slow, stumbling motion. The magazine articles also report that they disappear into dust in a similar manner that Quiet is seen performing, and Big Boss employs the same ability in the Metal Gear Online 3 trailer. It has also be noted that the "Skulls" wield submachine guns similar to the P90 used by Solidus Snake and the Arsenal Gear Tengus in Metal Gear Solid 2 and the FROGS in Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. Finally, it has been revealed that during the mission to rescue Miller, the Skulls will be encountered on a bridge. This will result in a quick but exhilarating chase. They would be encountered again in Mission 6 "Where Do The Bees Sleep?" as a boss enemy.