The fields and substances generated within the stranger's body, in turn, aid the function of the zymatic components. Should the zymatic components be removed, the drone unit will no longer function, becoming physically inert once again. Given proper environmental conditions, a downed stranger continues to live out the remainder of their natural lifespan. This allows them to be stored and repaired at a later date.
(Piled up in makeshift storage units or within climate-controlled coldwarehouses... either way, they're not moving.)