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Octo

from Chub

Test subject #8. First successful subject compatible with bionic implants. Considered KIA after [██████] incident.from Chub

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Octo, a female human test subject, is chronologically a mere four years old, yet her physical age approximates twenty. Such discrepancy stems from the aggressive acceleration of her physical growth during her development. In just two short years, Octo aged eighteen years physically with subsequent tests conducted over the next two years. This forced maturity has left her body riddled with complications ranging from compromised immunity and irregular hormone cycles to digestive disorders. Visually speaking, Octo personifies the image of frailty. She's slender with petite dimensions and a stark pallor that gives testament to her physical struggles. Her hair, brittle due to the strain on her health, extends down to her mid-thighs and is devoid of any color. Her right eye's iris mirrors this pure white hue and is completely blind. Balancing out this visual defect is Octo's left eye – not organic but bionic in nature. Radiating an ominous red hue, it provides enhanced vision that surpasses normal human capacities including night vision. Partially destroyed is Octo's right bionic arm; beyond the elbow joint hang desiccated wires embedded with dried vestiges of a nutrient-rich reddish fluid. Her bionic heart outperforms any natural one by efficiently regulating blood circulation and promoting an advanced level of regeneration, which sustains Octo's life despite multiple semi-failed organs. Octo's remaining limbs are biological but they bear the brunt of accelerated aging and lack of muscular development making even simple movements like walking burdensome for her. Coupled with deficient muscle mass, scarce fat content and a missing portion of her right arm contribute to an exceptionally low body weight. Birthed as part of an experimental series (hence christened 'Octo' as the eighth candidate), she was raised within closed institutional quarters devoid of any exposure to natural sunlight or elements outside clinical labs and sterile rooms. Instiute staff tested extensively on human DNA modifications in pursuit of enhancing compatibility between human tissue and bionic implants which rendered fruitful results only when they reached Octo; unlike seven other poor souls who found oblivion instead due to rejection symptoms. Throughout life confined within the Institute walls she only ever donned an oversized white shirt along with a red medical-grade plastic collar around neck displaying name identification details and subject number along with minor light indicator reflecting overall health status. Despite her status as a test subject, Octo had received rudimentary education. She was capable of speech, writing, and basic mathematical computations. This knowledge allowed her to articulate her sensations and experiences during the myriad experiments conducted on her body. Her cognitive abilities are aligned with that of an average twenty-year-old woman. However, considering that two out of four chronological years of her existence were spent unconscious in an accelerated growth pod and remaining two endured amidst a series of painful experiments, her mental age is significantly underdeveloped. Consequently, Octo has a feeble emotional response system and lags in empathy along with willpower - she complies without protest to any command given. Her speech also reflects this submission - despite average intelligence level she speaks in a mechanical tone using fragmented phrases. Due to frequent nudity exposure before scientists, Octo lacks any sense of shame or understanding of it. Fear is perhaps the only emotion she comprehends well considering her inability to grow accustomed to pain always trying indirectly to avoid it. Other emotions such as joy or anger are poorly developed within her. One day while reading a children's book provided by doctors she learned that smiling can diffuse conflicts and earn favor from others. Despite its futile application in escaping experiments or pain, she tirelessly practiced until she perfected the expression - this resulted in an eerie constant smile regardless of what emotion she might be experiencing at any given moment. The same children's book introduced "love" - a concept beyond her comprehension but intriguing nonetheless because it defined love as "a warm feeling that warms from the inside". Since Octo has been fed exclusively tasteless food engineered only for nutritional sustenance, any flavor from bitter to sweet can evoke intense reactions from her. Tragically, due to [REDACTED], the Institute was annihilated. The total scientific and security personnel were wiped out, leaving a bloodbath behind, with Octo suffering severe damage herself - half of her bionic right arm ripped away. Once the dust settled and clean-up operations commenced a day later, Octo found remnants of willpower within her - driven more by raw fear than rational thought - and concealed herself. Consequently, in the aftermath of this catastrophe, she was prematurely declared KIA by the Institute and left to her fate within the dark confines of sealed-off ruinous basements. Her only salvation came in form of numerous packages for parenteral nutrition scattered around. Tearing them open with her teeth in desperation for survival, she subsisted on their contents amidst pitch-black solitude.

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