The Pusher

The Pusher, or Frank DeThomas, was a former Murkoff researcher that worked at the Sinyala Facility. Accidental exposure to the various hallucinogenic gasses used on the facility's test subjects drove him to chemical-induced psychosis. Thus, he was forcibly inducted into the Experimental Population as "Pushers". His gas is a mixture of different chemical substances and he is encouraged by Dr. Easterman to concoct his own "blends" for the Trials.

The Pusher is a delusional, cackling maniac, pretending to be a doctor or exterminator while pursuing Reagents with his gas. He makes crude references to medicine and recreational drugs as a way to menace the Reagents, and is shown to be recreationally addicted to his gas with offhand comments about chemically induced hallucinations. He also lashes out Reagents when they resist his urge to "cure" them. The Pusher seems to be aware of the mind-altering effects of his gas, yet he takes a sadistic delight in using it to break people's minds, believing a state of intoxication to be a form of "freedom". He also has urged the Reagents "to be cool" upon starting a chase, showing he is both aware of their knowledge to the gas and enjoys tormenting them with it.

The Pusher is an emaciated man who wears nothing but a gas mask, bloodied and tattered brown overalls and bloodied white underwear. His body is covered in several infected lesions, even having developed tumors on the top of his head and on the back of his legs. He walks with a visible limp, requiring two leg braces to be pierced through his lower legs. The Pusher is always seen carrying his weapon of choice: a pressure sprayer that is connected by tubing to a gas tank he carries on his back. The Pusher's gas comes out of his sprayer in the form of a bright green cloud. The Pusher is very weak and frail, and is unable to physically harm reagents in most cases.

Frank: “Wasn’t real. Don’t worry, Frank. Wasn’t real.” Frank: “What is this? Are you mad at me?” Frank: “I’m your doctor and your lawyer and your priest, baby. Screw you three different ways.” Frank: “Slow down, I just want to help.” Frank: “Fucking fuck leg brace…” Frank: “Tip toe, here we go, do-se-do, to and fro.” Frank: “You got the shakes, baby? I can help with that.” Frank: “Relax, baby, just… relax.”