Agitation

Daniel Kuechle

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Employee Signature: ____________________ Date: ___/____/______

The following documents are log entries recorded by Dr. Nikolas Tordei’s on their involvement in experiment 1G8-1205.

<Addendum 1G8-1205-1>

<Begin Log> 3/13/2086

Today was the official first steps of experiment 1G8-1205, and I have personally never been more excited for anything in my career.

Last month we found a test subject by the name of Hershel Alquin Walker who has been designated as subject 1205. A male of 32 years of age that was diagnosed with stage IV pancreatic cancer. He agreed to be placed in this experimental procedure on account of the mortality rate of his condition. Experiment 1G8-1205’s objective is to transmit a human consciousness into an artificial body. This artificial body is equipped with hydraulic cybernetics that imitate the shape and function of human arms and legs, highly advanced mechanical digits with dexterity consistent with human hands and fingers, and a network of electroreceptive sensors that serve to artificially recreate a sense of touch. The bodies eyes will be replaced with ocular cameras to recreate the subject’s sense of sight. Built-in microphones on the sides of the cranial cavity will recreate the subject’s sense of hearing. As well as a speaker built into the chest cavity to function as a means for the subject to verbally communicate. As of right now a sense of smell and taste will not be included in the first prototype build due to the lack of necessity they provide for the subject’s situational awareness. These features may be included in future testing. The only part of the original subject that will remain is the brain which will be surgically removed and placed within the artificial body’s cranial cavity. Me and my contemporaries have been planning this procedure for years, and the surgery will take place tomorrow morning. If this is successful, we will truly be behind the precipice of both robotic and medical technology! I am confident that this will be the discovery of the century!

<End Log>

<Addendum 1G8-1205-2>

<Begin Log> 3/15/2086

The procedure was incredibly difficult today. In total, the transplant took approximately 28 hours to complete even with 13 of us working at once. I guess the procedure technically happened yesterday then. Regardless, I believe the transplant was a success. Due to the lack of lungs or a heart the subjects overall health is being monitored via his brainwave activity, though at this time it is relatively inactive due to a medically induced torpor to give his brain tissue a chance to heal and adjust to the transplant. We’re also injecting a steady supply of chemical 1G8 into the subjects cranial cavity in order to supply the brain with ample nutrients without the assistance of a digestive system. The subject's original body is being sent to site omega to conduct further research on pancreatic cancer. It may be my deliriousness, but I can’t help but feel like I mustn’t sleep!

I have never been so energetic over the progress of one of my teams’ projects, the fact that the brain is continuing to function outside of the human body alone is enough to make a man of science giddy like a schoolboy! I believe I must rest though; I must force myself to. My fingers are crossed that the subject will awaken in the next couple of days.

<End Log>

<Addendum 1G8-1205-3>

<Begin Log>

3/18/2086

Eureka! We’ve done it! Subject 1205 regained consciousness early this morning. I don’t think I’ve ever ran out of my office so quickly! His brainwave patterns looked active, however subject 1205 was capable of doing little more than turn his head and slightly and slowly moving his arms, legs, and digits. I believe he is coherent though! Despite his limited motor functions today I could tell based on his brain waves and his head movement that he was reacting to the words being said to him. My god, I can’t shake that we’ve done it! My name is Nikolas Tordei and I’ve just made the breakthrough of a lifetime! Tomorrow morning, we will begin therapeutic sessions with subject 1205 to help him get used to his new body, improve his motor functions, and begin verbal communication exercises.

<End Log>

<Addendum 1G8-1205-4>

<Begin Log >

3/19/2086

Today we officially started therapeutic treatments for subject 1205. His motor functions were incredibly limited and due to his current lack of mobility he was pushed into the facility fitness center via wheelchair. We kept it simple today, the exercises we practiced today was simply arm and finger movement. Though he was rather sluggish in his movements it was a noticeable improvement in speed from yesterday, and I speculate subject 1205 was practicing moving his arms and hands over the course of the night. Unfortunately, speech therapy made little progress today as upon being instructed to do so subject 1205 could not produce any vocalizations, though body language suggests that an attempt was made. I must try to keep my excitement contained, the intellectual capacity of subject 1205 is yet to be determined and I don’t want to overwhelm him. We will continue our research over the course of this week.

<End Log>

<Addendum 1G81205-4A>

<Dr. Tordei’s notes on physical therapy session 1>

Subject has made progress in moving his arms up and down and left and right albeit at a sluggish speed.

Subject has difficulty moving his shoulders and elbows at the same time.

Subject shows considerable control of the rotation of his wrists albeit at a sluggish speed.

Subject has difficulty moving each of his digits independently (similarly to how many people have difficulties moving their ring and pinky fingers independently).

<Addendum 1G8-1205-5>

<Begin Log>

3/24/2086

Over the course of the week subject 1205 has shown significant improvements to his hand eye coordination. He is now capable of moving his fingers, wrists, elbows, and shoulders completely independently from each other as well as slight movements of his hips, knees, and ankles (it should be noted that the feet of the mechanical body do not have digits but rather an extended semi elastic foot). However, it appears that the speed at which he is capable of moving his limbs has plateaued. As I write this, my team is currently strengthening the subject’s hydraulic components in hopes that the mechanical assistance will enhance his performance. In better news, he spoke today! Our surveillance footage picked up indecipherable audio of him making vocalizations last night. I just about shot through the ceiling when he said hello to me this morning! Though we tried to make the automated voice on the body sound vaguely similar to his original voice the automated voice is computer-generated, so the way he speaks is noticeably different. He was understandable, nonetheless. After the physical therapy tomorrow, I plan to conduct an interview with him!

<End Log>

<Addendum 1G8-1205-6A>

<Transcript of subject 1205 interview 1>

Dr. Tordei: Good morning subject 1205. How are you feeling today?

Subject 1205: Fine, I think.

Dr. Tordei: Wonderful, today I just need to ask you some questions. Do you remember your name?

Subject 1205: Hershel Alquin Walker.

Dr. Tordei: Good good. Now do you remember your birthday?

Subject 1205: October 11th, 2054.

Dr. Tordei: Correct again. Do yo-.

Subject 1205: Doctor, why can’t I sleep?

Dr. Tordei: I’m sorry, what was that?

Subject 1205: Why can’t I sleep? I can’t even close my eyes. I don’t feel tired, I don't think, but… I’ve been awake ever since the surgery. I can’t smell, or taste, and everything feels cold, and tingly too. It’s like little pins and needles going through me.

Dr. Tordei: Hershel, because of your new body you no longer require sleep, or conventional food. Your brain gets all the rest and nutrients it needs from your injections of chemical 1G8. How long have you been feeling cold?

Subject 1205: As long as I’ve been awake, I think.

Dr. Tordei: Well, the electroreceptors in your new body are supposed to mimic human touch perfectly. We’ll stop this interview here, lets get you to the engineers and get that fixed.

<End Recording>

<Addendum 1G8-1205-6>

<Begin Log>

3/25/2086

I almost forgot how tall the mechanical body was. Due to the strengthening of the hydraulics, subject 1205 was able to walk to the interview room today with the assistance of a cane. Even though his posture was hunched, he still stood about 1.9 meters tall. The interview was cut short today, but it seems that his intellectual capacity has remained mostly unchanged. It seems that he is still getting used to what his new body does and doesn’t require and that he is bothered by not requiring sleep anymore. Though we could schedule regularly induced states of torpor, I fear doing so could damage his brain matter, and I refuse to lose the progress we’ve achieved so far. The subject also complained about the effectiveness of the electroreceptors. I cut the interview short so we could get him to an engineer and have the sensors recalibrated.

<End Log>

<Addendum 1G8-1205-7A>

<Transcript of subject 1205 interview 2>

Dr. Tordei: Good morning, Hershel, how are you feeling today?

Subject 1205: (No vocal communication)

Dr. Tordei: Hershel? Can you hear me?

Subject 1205: (Sits in silence for 6.4 seconds) Tired. Fine, but tired.

Dr. Tordei: Hershel you seem upset, what’s bothering you?

Subject 1205: Nothing. I’m fine. Let’s just start the questions.

Dr. Tordei: Ok um… Do you know who this is? (Doctor Tordei holds up a photograph of famous cartoon character Mickey Mouse.)

Subject 1205: (Sits in silence for 4.2 seconds) I think Mickey, the mouse.

Dr. Tordei: Very good. Now, do you know what this is? (Doctor Tordei holds up a photograph of the Eiffel Tower)

Subject 1205: (Sits in silence for 12.4 seconds) I…I think the Willis tower.

Dr. Tordei: No, Hershel that’s incorrect. (Doctor Tordei looks up from his notepad and notices subject 1205 tightly gripping the edge of the table) Hershel are you alright?

Subject 1205: Yes, I’m fine, I just should’ve known that. I think I went to France when I was in college.

(It should be noted that at no point in subject 1205’s travel history was a trip to France found on record.)

Dr. Tordei: It’s alright, Hershel. Do you know who this is? (Doctor Tordei holds up a photograph of former United States President George Washington)

Subject 1205: (Mumbles unintelligibly for 15.8 seconds) I don’t know. Why don’t I know? WHY DON’T I KNOW!

(Subject 1205 then stands to his full height of 2.13 meters and slams both of his closed fist into the table with enough force to break the table in two pieces, then grabbing one piece with each hand, throwing them violently against the wall. After which four armed members of security staff enter the room.)

<End Recording>

<Addendum 1G8-1205-7B>

<Security Report 22J>

On 3/26/2086 at approximately 9:54 AM, four members of security personnel responded to a violent outburst in interview room 217 J by subject 1G8-1205. The subject did not comply with security staff and was unable to be restrained for approximately 7 minutes and 44 seconds. The struggle resulted in three members of security personnel receiving minor injuries and leaving one in critical condition. Head of security Ernest Vandermite has ordered a 2-week suspension of testing involving subject 1205.

<End Report>

<Addendum 1G8-1205-7>

<Begin Log>

3/26/2086

Today’s testing was a disaster. I think subject 1205’s intellectual capacity is beginning to decline. I can’t understand why he is so distressed. The chemical 1G8 should be giving his brain enough comfort to artificially imitate sleep and rest, I don’t understand what is going wrong, god damnit! Ernest just ordered a mandatory 2-week suspension on all testing with Hershel. We are still allowed to have behavioral therapy sessions for safety reasons but I fear this gap in testing will leave too much room for error in perfecting this science. Despite all this I made a peculiar observation during the beginning of

Hershel’s outburst. While he was in a state of anger, he demonstrated extreme control of his motor functions. That was the first time I had ever seen him walk unassisted by anything, nonetheless exhibit extreme athleticism. Perhaps there is something about an agitated state that allows Hershel to exude extreme control of his body. As disastrous as today’s testing was, I find myself apprehensive to call this a failure.

<End Log>

<Addendum 1G8-1205-8A>

<Security Report 22K>

On 4/7/2086 at approximately 3:24 AM, two members of security personnel responded to a disturbance in cafeteria area G where subject 1G8-1205 was found breaking mandated subject curfew policy and taking various ingredients from the refrigeration unit and smearing them across his cranial cavity. Upon discovery, subject 1G8-1205 reacted violently fatally injuring both responding members of security personnel. It took approximately 35 minutes and 12 seconds for additional security personnel to apprehend and restrain subject 1G8-1205 resulting in an additional 8 staff members being injured. Head of security Ernest Vandermite has officially ordered an additional four weeks of suspended testing with subject 1G8-1205 as well as a mandatory 15 percent funding reduction until head researcher Dr. Nikolas Tordei implements safety precautions up to par with company security standards.

<End Report>

<Addendum 1G8-1205-8>

<Begin Log>

4/7/2086

My god. I can’t believe he killed 2 people. Ernest just informed me of the even tighter restrictions on testing. As much as I value subject 1205’s health he is a genuine safety hazard to staff in the building. Today I ordered the team to put Subject 1205 into a medically induced torpor so we could install an inhibitor system into the hydraulic system. I can activate or deactivate an inhibitor override whenever it is deemed necessary to do so. Doing this will temporarily disconnect subject 1205’s brain from the artificial nervous system controlling his cybernetic limbs, leaving him locked in place until it is safe to unlock him. I refuse to abandon this project. I can still save this I just need more time! With the inhibitor system we can make sure Hershel never hurts anyone again. I’m leaving the inhibitor system activated at night for staff safety even though he will most likely awaken while he is restrained. I can only hope that the restriction of movement will calm his emotions and make him more docile.

<End Log>

<Addendum 1G8-1205-9>

<Security Report 22L>

On 4/15/2086 at approximately 11:45 PM security personnel responded to a distress call coming from the office of Dr. Nikolas Tordei. Upon entering the office Dr. Nikolas Tordei was found deceased on the floor. The phrase “All I feel is agitation” was found written in blood on the wall of the office. A separate security team encountered subject 1G8-1205 covered in blood running towards the west exit. Apprehension of subject 1G8-1205 was unsuccessful and resulted in the casualties of 14 staff members and injury of 23 staff members. Subject 1G8-1205 exited the facility at approximately 1:34 AM and has yet to be apprehended by security personnel. Attempts to use Dr. Tordei’s inhibitor system revealed that it was already activated. Medical staff have confirmed that Dr. Tordei’s cause of death was by blunt force trauma, and DNA tests revealed the blood on his office wall to belong to him as well. The facility is to be placed on a code 33 red class scenario until subject 1G8-1205 is neutralized or apprehended.

<End Report>

<Addendum 1G8-1205-9A>

<Transcript of General Ernest Vandermite’s official statement on Subject 1G8-1205>

Attention all staff of Immersion Techtronics. We are currently undergoing a code 33 red class scenario. Please act accordingly to security procedures. It appears that whatever Dr. Tordei’s inhibitor system was supposed to do failed last night. As a result, a subject escaped the facility. This subject is considered to be an extreme danger to the public. It was seen breaking through military grade security obstacles and traveling at an estimated speed of 28 kilometers an hour. According to the notes of Dr. Tordei this subject is dependent on a substance known as chemical 1G8. Considering this thing’s dependency and overall physical capabilities I suspect that it will return to the facility within the next 48 hours. All security personnel are to remain on priority level red. We have a real monster on the loose here.

<End Recording>

I love(d) you

Paige E. Gerlach

I love you

Well loved . . . past tense

I loved the way you looked at me and the way my name sounded when you said it

I loved the way you hugged me and the way your embrace felt like no other

I loved the way you became a part of me and felt as natural to be with as water

I love you

Love . . . present tense

I love the way you created memories for me and reminded me to stay strong even when I feel I am not

I love the way you picked me up off the ground and showed me all of the beautiful things I could see through your eyes

I love the way you brought peace to my storm and were never too far away to shield me from the lightning or the rain

I love(d) you