143: Brainbug

ENTRY 143: Brainbug

Minimalism as applied to morphs seeks to simplify, and if possible eliminate, unnecessary elements, focusing on the critical features—which begs the question, what is critical when it comes to a morph? For some, attachment to the classical bipedal human form is simple traditionalism, or, worse, a crippling nostalgia. Mobility is key, as is the essential bioengine that turns matter efficiently into fuel, and self-repair. Most important and defining of all, however, is the ability to sustain transhuman-level intelligence.

Brainbug is a custom-designed, minimalist biomorph, a giant pulsating brainsac with a vaguely human face sitting on top of a body like that of a sixty-centimeter long cockroach. The ‘roach provided the basic biological platform: six segmented legs with enough strength to hold up the brain, a simplified digestive tract that can derive nutrition from damn near anything, and good general tolerance to different environments. The bulbous, over-sized head with the semi-human face perched on top looks like a bad hackjob to anyone unfamiliar with the genetics or basic anatomies involved. Little things like aesthetics and a solid skull were sacrificed in exchange to achieve a maximum brain/body mass ratio; the modified lungs even allow it to speak.

Full tenured faculty at Titan Autonomous University, Brainbug spends its days split mainly between research and lecture. It is the author of dozens of books and hundreds of essays, articles, and reviews, though it is perhaps best known for Titan Eroskandinaviska, an evocative and, at times, incomprehensible multi-level love letter to the geophysical and ethnolinguistic aspects of Titan. Rumor has it that the Brainbug’s personal quarters consist of a cramped nest lined with paper accessible through a large hole in its office wall.

COG	COO	INT	REF	SAV	SOM	WIL	MOX
50	13	14	10	10	10	15	-
INIT	SPD	LUC	TT	IR	DUR	WT	DR
5	1	30	6	60	20	3	40

Morph: Unique Biomorph

Skills: Academics: Artificial Intelligence 75, Academics: Entomology 85, Academics: Linguistics 85, Academics: Philosophy 75, Academics: Titan History 80, Art: Found Art 55, Climbing 80, Free Fall 45, Interests: Chess 95, Interests: Educational Systems 50, Interests: Go 90, Interests: Intelligence Research 75, Interests: Xeno-insects 80, Interfacing 65, Investigation 75, Language: Native Skandinavíska 99, Language: German 75, Language: Mandarin 75, Language: English 75, Networking: Scientists 80, Profession: Teaching 95, Programming 75, Protocol 75, Research 95, Scrounging 70

Enhancements/Implants: Access Jacks, Basic Biomods, Basic Mesh Inserts, Cortical Stack, Eidetic Memory, Emotional Dampers, Enhanced Smell/Taste, Grip Pads, Hyperlinguist, Math Boost, Temperature Tolerance, Toxin Filters

Disadvantages: No hands/manipulator limbs

Using Brainbug

Insects are one of the critters that the majority of humans find both instinctively fascinating and creepy; a two-foot long roach with a mockery of a human head balanced on top is liable to elicit some substantial reactions from players, and well it should. Brainbug as presented is mostly harmless, a university professor that has exchanged traditional notions of transhumanity in exchange for increased brain mass and cognitive function. As a contact or ally, Brainbug provides all the raw thinking power and academic credentials that player characters could need for most adventures; as an enemy, Brainbug is a decidedly more inhuman Moriarity, protected from suspicion by its rep on Titan but liable to cast schemes that encompass the entire solar system…or beyond.