OK this is finished I guess now [hider=DANDELION] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/xlHkFS0.png[/img][/center] [u]Name:[/u] Dandelion [u]Nicknames/Aliases:[/u] Subject X-40012010-Σ, [i]Xenoproteus leodens[/i], Project "Charnauk", Twenty-Ten, Dandy [u]Home Location:[/u] ████████████ Research Station, Alaska [u]Age:[/u] Unknown [u]Grade:[/u] 9 [u]Year of Attendance:[/u] 1 [u]Gender Identity:[/u] None/Not Applicable [u]Race:[/u] Metamorphic Extraterrestrial (Alien) [u]Natural/Racial Abilities:[/u] [hider=Research Log X-40012010 dated ██/██/████] [center][sub]This document contains FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY (FOUO) information which must be protected under the Freedom of Information Act (5 USC § 552) and/or the Privacy Act of 1974. Unauthorized disclosure or misuse of this PERSONAL INFORMATION may result in disciplinary action, criminal and/or civil penalties.[/sub][/center] MEMORANDUM FOR BG PETER RUSSEL SUBJECT: X-40012010 OBSERVATIONS 1. Subject X-40012010-Σ (henceforth referred to as "Dandelion") is a previously unidentified organic specimen of extraterrestrial origins. The temporary binomial name [i]Xenoproteus leodens[/i] has been applied for archival purposes, but the subject self identifies with the moniker "Dandelion." 2. Dandelion is a colony organism comprised of approximately 500 trillion cells, with a mass of 230 kilograms as of ██/██/████. Each of Dandelion's cells is a single-celled organism, capable of separating from the greater mass and operating independently. Cells can also form smaller colonies for the purpose of operating as an independent multicellular organism. Designation Sigma (Σ) is applied to indicate the entirety of Dandelion's mass, regardless of its current configuration. 3. Each of Dandelion's individual cells is capable of reverting to a state of totipotency, and then differentiation into other cell types (e.g. neural, muscular) through somatic alteration of the cells' DNA sequence. The cells' new differentiation matches its DNA pattern precisely, save for anomalous nucleus structure, likely owing to the retention of the cells' metamorphic abilities. Cells perform functions independently, but also synchronously, allowing cells to be manipulated en masse to form complex tissues and biological structures. Functionally, Dandelion is a genetic shapeshifter, capable of altering itself on the cellular-genetic level to adopt the adaptations or the entire form of any animal. By converting nearly its entire mass to muscle, Dandelion was capable of maintaining a force of approximately 3000 N for sixty seconds, and reached a top land speed of 80 kph. 4. There are two primary restrictions to Dandelion's metamorphic ability: genetic information, and available biological matter. [indent]a. Dandelion cannot create new genetic sequences to direct the transformation of its cells; it can only duplicate patterns that it has already ingested and sequenced. With no sequence available, Dandelion is only capable of replicating basic cell types and forming simple organic structures. Dandelion has demonstrated that it can sequence the complete genome of a ██████████████ in less than four hours, when provided with merely 3 ml of blood. Dandelion is then capable of retaining this information indefinitely within its colonial somatic network. Dandelion can hybridize different DNA sequences available to it to synthesize new structures or adaptations, but this disrupts the replication process, often resulting in unforeseen mutations. Based on the speed of Dandelion's genome decoding, its estimated processing speed is 1.24 MHz.[/indent] [indent]b. Dandelion is only capable of transformation when it has the necessary resources (e.g. calories, nutrients) readily available. While the energy expenditure of its metamorphic ability is remarkably efficient, Dandelion still requires upward of 50,000 kcal of nutrition per day under normal conditions. While Dandelion appears capable of digesting nearly any organic or semi-organic material, it demonstrates a distinct preference for uncooked meat and bone. Additional feedings are necessary for it to generate new cells through mitosis. This typically only follows the destruction or dissolution of cells through bodily harm, starvation, and excessive transformation, or when Dandelion desires to increase its collective mass.[/indent] [indent][indent](1) Dandelion is capable of not only digesting inanimate organic matter, but also directly assimilating live foreign cells. Undifferentiated cells can ingest foreign microbes through phagocytosis, and replicate the genetic properties of the consumed organism or cell, and in the later case immediately assume the cell's duties within its tissue. By assuming an undifferentiated state, this assimilated Dandelion cell can then split, consume, and replace more cells within a host organism. Theoretically, replacing a sufficient mass of nerve cells or neurons would allow Dandelion to influence or assume control over the somatic nervous system. Based on experimental estimates, ingestion of a single parasitic Dandelion cell would result in complete cellular assimilation of an average human male in approximately ██ hours, with complete assumption of neural function occurring likely sooner.[/indent][/indent] [/hider] [sub]Entries marked by an asterisk (*) are applicable only to Dandelion's "standard" human form.[/sub] [u]Height:[/u] 5'8"* [u]Hair Color:[/u] Brown* [u]Eye Color:[/u] Heterochromatic (Green and Yellow)* [u]Distinguishing Features:[/u] Mismatched yellow eye, distinctively unnatural manner of speech. [u]Appearance:[/u] Dandelion's "natural" form resembles an amorphous, muscular blob, and so to better integrate with humans, they have prepared a distinctive human form. Rather than the genetic clone of a single human, Dandelion hybridized several separate DNA samples provided by their handlers at their previous research station. In this form, Dandelion resembles an ethnically indistinct, androgynous teenager. A genetic chimera, Dandelion's human form exhibits several structural irregularities, such as heterochromia and nondimorphic sexual characteristics. [u]Personality:[/u] Dandelion is cheerful, extroverted, and -above all else- insatiably curious. After awakening as a complete amnesiac, Dandelion's entire identity was formed in a secret laboratory, under the care of scientists that were also studying them. As a result, their "human development" is stunted in some areas, and extremely advanced in other, often bizarrely specific domains. Despite their upbringing, Dandelion loves the Earth and everything that lives and breathes on it. They love all of the funny humans, the weather, the moon and stars, sunsets, flowers, and every single adorable and delicious animal. Dandelion's demeanor is almost childlike in candor, and has an instant, typically overbearing affection toward acquaintances. Childish though they may seem, Dandelion is shockingly intelligent, and retains an almost predatory cunning. Dandelion has an overwhelming curiosity regarding life on Earth and human culture, particularly human technology and communication. The latter is something Dandelion often struggles with, as they had no concept or understanding of language before they awoke. While Dandy has human emotions (whilst in human form) they are typically logical and pragmatic when making decisions, and at times struggles to explain or anticipate "irrational" human behavior. Though Dandelion always seems to be smiling, they do have their moments of frustration and loneliness, owing to their ongoing transition into "human" life, and their continued struggles with human interaction and acceptance. [u]Aspirations:[/u] Dandy feels torn between two goals. Most readily apparent in their day-to-day is their desire to fit in amongst humans, and be capable of carving out an independent life on Earth. This has been a decade-long struggle for them already, but they are finally no longer in absolute captivity, and hope to make the most of it. In the long term, Dandelion desperately hopes to someday discover who they are, where they come from, and the reason -if any- that they came to Earth. [u]Fears:[/u] As with Dandy's aspirations, their fears are manifold. Above all else Dandy fears returning to captivity. Now that they've tasted freedom, Earth's air on their "face," they can't go back to a hermetically-sealed laboratory. They won't be taken back. In the longer term, Dandy is fearful that humans will never truly accept them, and they would have to live as an outcast rather than a specimen. Secretly, they harbor a much deeper fear that in their desire to seem human, they would forget that they were ever anything other than a human, and never learn the truth about themselves. [u]Strengths:[/u] Despite their differences, Dandelion doesn't consider themselves superior to humans, and remains more curious about them than anything else. Dandelion's truest strength is their incorruptible love for life and things that live. [u]Weaknesses/Flaws:[/u] Dandelion has a working grasp of human society and interaction, but no better than that. Many simple conventions still elude them, as the very idea of language is inherently foreign to them. Their demeanor is too bizarre for them to perform as a successful human mimic, and Dandy could probably only stay in disguise as another human until they open their mouth. [u]Magic Type:[/u] Alien [u]Magical Focus:[/u] Dandy's studies at Anepool mostly involve Earth integration and human-related studies, alongside the other extraterrestrial students. Dandelion still does some training with the other metahumans, largely so that their capabilities can still be studied by their handler. Dandelion is kept on a tight leash, and is currently forbidden from making any kind of physical contact with students or staff. [u]History:[/u] [hider=Memorandum for Record dated ██/██/████] MEMORANDUM FOR BG PETER RUSSEL SUBJECT: X-40012010 ABBREVIATED RESEARCH HISTORY 1. Enclosed is an abbreviated timeline of the discovery of Subject X-40012010, as requested by Brigadier General Peter Russel, to be included in the dossier provided to Anepool Academy. 23/06/████: While performing studies on melting polar ice caps, scientists aboard arctic reearch vessel [i]USS[/i] ████████ discovered an anomalous meteorite embedded in a glacier. Core ice surrounding the meteorite was dated to approximately 100 million years BCE, and was believed to have been undisturbed prior to being exposed by glacial melt. The meteorite was taken aboard the research vessel, where it was measured to be approx 16 m in diameter, 60 m in circumference at the widest point, and weighed approx 30,000 kg. The meteorite was stored above-deck, where the arctic air maintained its frozen condition. 25/06/████: [i]USS[/i] ████████ returned to Point Barrow, Alaska, where the meteorite was unloaded and analyzed for material composition. Analysis suggested a composition of 51.2% ice, 26.4% kamacite, 10.3% graphite, 6.8% ███████████, 3.1% ████████████████, 1.4% cobalt, and 0.8% organic compounds. Carbon dating indicated meteoroid formation within the last 2 billion years, suggesting extrasolar origins. Ultrasound imaging revealed that the meteorite was almost entirely hollow and filled with ice, with an unknown mass of roughly 200 kg suspended in the ice. 26/06/████: Geological researchers at Point Barrow used rock-cutting thermal tools to bisect the meteorite, and then cut the unknown mass free of the ice. It was discovered to be a ████████████ extraterrestrial organism, believed by the researchers to be dead and preserved in ice. The frozen specimen was maintained in cold storage, and the Office of Interplanetary Liaisons was contacted for retrieval. 27/06/████: IPL operatives arrived at Point Barrow, retrieved the frozen specimen, and debriefed all personnel involved in its extraction. The specimen was shuttled to the closest LVA research outpost (████████████ Research Station, Alaska) for further study. 28/06/████: IPL research staff assigns the specimen the research designation of Subject X-40012010. Initial observations were made while the subject was still inanimate and encased in ice. After taking initial biological samples, the specimen was found to still be alive, and the process of thawing it began. 30/06/████: Subject X-40012010 thawed fully, and resumed animation within 2 hours of being free of ice. Initial xenobiological analysis did not indicate that X-40012010 belonged to any known alien species, and initial samples had already demonstrated its metamorphic abilities. Project "Charnauk" was initiated by Brigadier General Peter Russel, chief commanding officer of ████████████ Research Station, to further study X-40012010. 23/07/████: X-40012010, previously believed to be a non-sapient animal-analogue, provided its first indication of higher intelligence by mimicking the speech of █████████████, a member of the Charnauk research team. Its first words were, "Good morning, Twenty-Ten." Twenty-Ten being the research team's informal moniker for the subject, derived from its specimen code. 28/07/████: After a revised battery of testing, X-40012010 was found to meet criteria for reclassification as potentially sapient under the ██████████ protocol. Project Charnauk was amended to allow for first contact research and protocols. 04/02/████: X-40012010 had been taught enough English to converse at a level equivalent to a human toddler or preschooler, and clearance was granted to interview the subject. X-40012010 expressed no memories or knowledge prior to its discovery and thawing, but indicated that it felt as though its memories had been lost, rather than having never existed. When asked if it possessed a name, X-40012010 decided to choose one at the time of the interview. It selected the name "Dandelion," attributing the name to dandelions being its favorite Earth flower. 11/02/████: After reviewing available data on Dandelion, the IPL integration committee again restructured Project Charnauk. Its primary purpose was now to prepare Dandelion for successful integration with human society and life on Earth. Specialized xenosociologists were added to the research team to better aid Dandelion's socialization and education. 16/05/████: Dandelion was granted permission to ingest and decode a human genetic sample for the first time. After 126 minutes, Dandelion was able to assume the form of researcher ██████████. Testing of the transformed Dandelion showed a perfect genetic match to ██████████, with no ill effects in Dandelion nor the source of the sample. 17/05/████: Four other members of the Charnauk research team provided genetic samples to Dandelion. When prompted, the subject utilized genetic hybridization (see Research Log dated ██/██/████) to create a unique human form. Testing showed the form to be a genetic chimera of the five researchers, and demonstrated several genetic mutations, including heterochromia, ████████████, and ████████████████. Subject first requested to be referred to as "Dandy, for short." 02/08/████: After ██ years under the auspice of Project Charnauk, the IPL declared the project to be in its terminal stage, and preparations were begun to transfer Dandelion to Anepool Academy. Dr. Elizabeth Greene, lead researcher of Project Charnauk, was reassigned to serve as the subject's chaperone. [/hider] [u]Anything else?[/u] [hider=From the Desk of Brigadier General Peter J. Russel] TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN I hope this letter finds you in good health. I am writing today in hopes that you, the IPL's integration committee, and my superiors at the LVA will take time to carefully reconsider the impending transfer of Subject X-40012010. I have been in command of this research post for ██ years, with X-40012010 within my custody for ██ of those years. In that time, I can honestly say that the IPL has never housed a more dire, existential threat to mankind than X-40012010. I believe that allowing X-40012010 to leave this remote outpost and exposing it to a civilized populace is the height of fatal hubris, and I beg you to reconsider. While I myself am not a scientist, I have many scientists working under me, and I greatly value their expertise and recommendations. I understand that it was the Charnauk team that recommended X-40012010's progressive integration, and I do not blame them. It is the duty of scientists to explore possibilities and engage in research. It is the duty of myself and others with my station within the IPL to temper these urges with caution and experience, as I am trying to do now. The integration committee believes that we know enough about X-40012010 that it does not pose a significant risk to the general populace. I argue that given what we know, it can never be anything other than an incalculable risk. Data drawn from Project Charnauk indicates that X-40012010 is capable of cellular assimilation at a rate of 80 grams per hour. Using this figure as a projection, it is believed that X-40012010 would be capable of infecting and replacing the entire human race within three years. With no resistance, X-40012010 would then be able to consume all global biomass in less than twenty years. Furthermore, it is not only our world that we must consider vulnerable. If capable of accessing the experimental ███████████████████████ currently housed in █████████, Nevada, X-40012010 would pose a similar threat to every planet within ██ light-years. This invites the possibility of Earth being subjected to interplanetary quarantine, or preemptive eradication. There is not yet conclusive evidence of whether or not X-40012010 is capable of duplicating or utilizing meta-human abilities, but I would regardless consider X-40012010 gaining access to meta-human DNA to be a worst-case scenario. The IPL's own precautions, such as assigning Dr. Greene to chaperone X-40012010, are in my opinion insufficient. Were I not relieved of custody of the subject, I would reject these measures out of hand. That said, my official safety recommendations are enclosed, as well as the complete research records of Project Charnauk, the personal logs of the research team, and logs of their interpersonal communications. I can only pray that somewhere in this mass of data and research that you will see the same threat that I see. You are playing with fire, and I hope we do not all burn. Sincerely, PETER J. RUSSEL BRIGADIER GENERAL, USA Installation Commander [/hider] [/hider]