EDIT: It should be good now. I think I caught most of the errors. [hider=Nuke Tech on the Run] [b]Name:[/b] Iris [b]Sex:[/b] Female [b]Age:[/b] 15 of operation, appears to be in mid to late twenties. [b]Race:[/b] Cyborg [b]Appearance:[/b] With a bit of scrutiny it is easy to tell Iris was not born, but vat-grown and manufactured with a purpose. The micro tattoo behind her left ear and on her wrist identifying her as a corporate product are easily hidden, but some of her other features are not. As if her author's failed to completely cross the uncanny valley during development, the contours of her face and body are eerily symmetrical. Her mannerisms and expressions aren't stiff or unnatural, quite the opposite actually, but many still sense something is off when they meet her. Few could guess her DNA is a composite of more than 70 genetic samplings. Perfectly parted, midnight brown hair and a softened, but angular jaw line frames a full and even face. Although her caramel skin is a shade darker than others and her bright, steel gray eyes are rarity, her ethnicity is difficult to place even to a trained observer. Homogenized elements of african, asian, and south american phenotypes blend together in a way that sometimes provokes a curious second glance. More striking than pretty, she possesses a lithe, athletic build. A hint of soft curves barely conceal a physique well-suited to physical labor. On her own, one might think she attracts too much attention, but luckily there are more androids with uncanny faces on the streets than synths. With a hoodie and few dirty smudges, she can blend into a crowd without any trouble. ([url=https://i.pinimg.com/originals/d3/83/6c/d3836c410e72176aba68a67b36b498c6.jpg]This[/url] is surprisingly close to what I imagined.) [b]Abilities:[/b] Professional Skills - With official training as a Nuclear Equipment Disposal Specialist and Industrial Chemistry Technician as well as ten years of experience between those positions, Iris has an extremely specialized set of technical skills. More to the point, these skills have been virtually useless in trying to survive the last year she has been on her own, aside from scavenging bits of useful tech from dirty scrap piles. Her brief time as an armed mercenary proved much more useful in that regard. From first-aid to security operations, she picked up these new skills quickly and they have served her well in staying alive and out of trouble. Circardian Enhancements - Iris requires 2 hours of sleep to maintain health and function at peak mental capacity. She dreams constantly while asleep and can both fall asleep and wake up almost instantly. In addition, she can easily and with no ill-effects shift to a 2-day cycle, where she is awake for 40-45 hours and asleep for 4. Hyperaggressive Immune System - Re-purposed gene sequences taken from extinct predators such as sharks and crocodiles allow Iris to produce sophisticated proteins which bind to and tear apart harmful bacteria and cancerous cells. While she isn't immune to cancer, her chance of surviving it is extremely high. Poison Resistance - A swarm of medical nanobots assist in neutralizing other toxins, especially heavy metals, before they reach lethal levels: lead, cadmium, and several other industrial pollutants. Iris is virtually immune to heavy metal poisoning, but is still susceptible to large doses of other chemical toxins such as cyanide. Heat and Radiation Tolerance - Iris's caramel skin color is mainly attributed to dark pigments which covert gamma radiation into chemical energy, much in the same way plant chlorophyll synthesizes sunlight. Symbiotic bacteria help regulate the proper growth of specialized skin and bone tissue unique to her model series, which mitigates other, less energetic forms of radiation. For her, too much exposure to gamma radiation can cause minor burns that resembles overexposure to UV light (sunburn). Additionally her body is well-adapted for hot environments and brief exposure to intense heat, experiencing no discomfort or ill effects in temperatures as high as 60 degrees Celsius (140 Farenheit). Planned Obsolescence - The Artemis series of synthetic laborers have a very long shelf-life. However, without periodic GSP (Genetic Service Pack) therapy, their body will deteriorate quickly. The bacteria that help regulate their normal tissue growth do nothing to prevent this breakdown. Weakness to Bullets - Haha... [b]Weaponry and Equipment:[/b] Heavy Pistol: This large caliber handgun serves as Iris' primary weapon and source of personal protection. She's an accurate shot, but no sniper. Ammunition: - three 10 round clips of standard ammunition - one 10 round clip of hollow points - one 10 round clip of HEAP (high-explosive, armor piercing) - half a clip of capsule bullets (for use with tracker dye or other substances) Wrist-Mounted Multitool: A wide metal band containing miniature linkages which are programmed to unfold and create narrow, highly flexible arms that each ends in a specialized tool. The micro-armatures are mentally controlled through a cyberware implant and allow for repairing delicate equipment such as discrete electronics, modifying devices with mechanical parts, or performing first aid. Radiation Detection Array: A network of small sub-dermal implants allows Iris to sense the presence and approximate distance of dangerous radiation (neutrons, charged particles, cosmic rays, etc). Chemical Sniffer Module: This grain-sized cybernetic sensor is integrated into the olfactory nerve tract and helps analyze the chemical composition of molecules in the air. Iris can determine the presence of gases, including toxins and other noxious fumes. She can also detect the presence of explosives and firearms within a short distance. Surveillance Sights: This small and highly advanced binoculars provide 50x magnification as a basic function. They also include a directional microphone that magnifies sound from the direction the binoculars are pointed by a factor of 50. Built-in audio analysis software filters extraneous noise. The optical system likewise is supplemented by multipurpose software used to unobtrusively detect the lenses of various cameras and scopes and then map the surveillance coverage in a given area so that a route may be generated to avoid the combined fields of view. It is normally used by security forces to detect snipers or enemy spotters before they attack, and is a remnant of her time as a mercenary. Vibroblade: Buzzing electronic blades vibrate at high frequent for extra cutting ability. While this has little effect when used as weapon for stabbing or slashing, its more useful when carefully sawing through something. Access Jacks: Located in the base of the skull, this implant is an external socket with a direct neural interface. It allows Iris to establish a direct wired connection using a fiberoptic cable. Grip Gloves: This set of fingerless gloves, shoes and shin pad have a unique coating designed to emulate the pads on gecko feet. With it, she can support herself on a wall or ceiling by placing any two of these pads against any surface. In effect, she can climb any surface and move easily across ceilings that can supports her weight. First Aid Kit: a basic supply of smart bandages, antimicrobial gels, and other medical supplies. She keeps spare doses of Atropine which is used as an effective antidote against many nerve agents. [b]Backstory and goals:[/b] [hider] [i]"The Hun Li Corporation is pleased to present our latest product, the new Artemis series! Specially designed to supplement and in time replace the existing labor force currently working in hazardous environments. Each unit is artificially gestated for six weeks in our patented Somatech Express growth modules. Each Artemis features genetic upgrades tailored for endurance, strength, and resilience. Many undesired behaviors have been mitigated through our proprietary development techniques which features gene sequences promoting compliance and group cooperation. Circardian enhancements allow each unit to provide as 22 hours work day and is rated for a 20 year working lifespan. However, any customer who purchases the extended warranty with their bulk purchase will receive an upgraded model rated for a 30 year working lifespan free of charge. It is out pleasure to announce that Artemis has recently finished field trials and has been approved for use by CCRIS. Supplies are limited, however, so please contact our VIP service line to submit your order."[/i] --Hun Li Advertisement from 15 year ago. ARTMS - [u]A[/u]ccelerated [u]R[/u]eplication, [u]T[/u]ransgenic [u]M[/u]odulation and [u]S[/u]ynthesis Iris was grown in an Hun Li Corporation-branded tank. Her childhood memories were nothing more than a sophisticated virtual reality simulation time dilated to accomodate her accelerated growth. Designed for long term labor in radioactive enviroments such as power plants and nuclear waste disposal sites, the particular model of synthetic humanoids to which she belongs was created at a time when the arms race between biological wetware and cybernetic hardware manufacturers was at its peak. ARTMS promised sturdy humanoid models that could compete with the robots sent into hazardous work sites. Considered a high-end model which could easily outstrip any robot swarm or specialized android in terms of pattern recognition and parallelization of basic cognitive tasks, the ARTMS series also boasted a list of proprietary modifications which made them ideal candidates for a variety of delicate HAZMAT applications. Worker's rights legislation require her parent corporation to treat her as an indenture, where she may work off her debt incurred due to regular maintenance and other services over a period of years. In practice, it amounted to little more than slavery. Iris's real first memory after being released from the cultivation center was looking at the distant industrial skyline with a child-like sense of wonder. The strange alien landscape across the bay was foreign, but familiar. Deja vu gripped her as she gazed upon rows of smoke stacks, angular skyscrapers and a faint yellow haze that lingered between the buildings. The scenery seemed more unreal than the memories she had of seeing them as a child. Forming any kind of meaningful relationship after being released to work was difficult. Despite her engineered resilience, repeated exposure to radioactive materials meant she was also radioactive, enough to pose a health risk to other normal humans just through close contact. In essence, she almost never had the opportunity to leave the jobsite. Other cyborgs who worked alongside her suffered similar plights. A father who wouldn't be able hug his son for another seven years. A married woman who sacrificed her chance to be mother to put food on the table. Iris considered herself lucky that she didn't have such worries, but a small part of her envied them. The fact that they could even make such a sacrifice meant they had something precious to them, whereas she did not. Hun Li's thorough social and cultural acclimation procedures did little help bridge the gap between her and other people. There was always a measured distance when she met anyone she didn't work with. Something unspoken. She could only confide in her other corporate siblings, all of whom talked very little, but often shared a knowing glance tempered with solemn resignation. It was the same for them. It was a look she knew all too well. Over time, she began to intuitively determine what her siblings wanted to say just from seeing their tired expressions and quiet sighs. Things like "They denied my promotion" or "They cut short my rest allotment again". The day mercenaries raided the plant was probably the greatest day of her life. Instead of feeling fear, she was simply bewildered. It was a novel experience to have someone point a gun at her head. In a way, the prospect of being beaten or shot by these mercenaries was almost preferable to the depressing monotony of working for Hun Li. When the gunmen demanded she give them access to the nuclear stockpile stored on-site, she complied with a strange sense of glee that confused her. Spite was something new and potent, a feeling she wasn't sure how to handle. In a bizarre turn of events, she volunteered to join the mercenaries, surprising both herself and her new employers. Once their operation was over, they took her along despite their immediate suspicions. After a couple of interrogations, a heated argument as to whether or not they should just kill her, and some shameless self-promotion from Iris herself, they eventually capitulated. She realized how vast the world was after joining the mercenary band. Pathfinder, they called themselves. Somewhat contrary to their name, they did very little pathfinding. The group occasionally dabbled in assassinations, but the real money came from their efforts in corporate espionage. They found Iris's genetic augmentations and insider knowledge of Hun Li useful for future operations. However, she soon found she had only traded one master for another. As strong and tough as she was, her body still required periodic gene therapy to prevent her preprogrammed death. Pathfinder was more than willing to oblige and in return gain a valuable stick to prod her with, if she ever complained. Even though she was often the "bait" or "scout" in several dangerous missions, she never said a word about it. Ironically, she might never had thought to rebel or runaway until they ordered her to help "disperse the rioters" in a heavily populated metroplex. Seeing the picket signs and impassioned speeches was unfamiliar territory for Iris, but it resonated with her in a way she didn't expect. She found she envied them too. Once the first shots were fired, panic spread through the rioters like wildfire and hundreds began to stampede through the streets as plumes of nerve gas erupted near more dense herds of people. Not missing the opportunity, Iris disappeared into the crowd and smoke. She's been on the run ever since. Although Iris still unsure as to why she ran, she hasn't had much time to explore those feelings. Finding a way to consistently treat her genetic disorder has been a much greater concern.[/hider][/hider]