Addemup
no
The first rays of the morning sun shine through the cracked blinds of your Borneo-eiland apartment. The pterygium in your left eye makes it somewhat difficult for you to find the bedroom light, but after a few moments of scrounging around with your arm your abode lights up in an instant. It's a cramped, almost cluttered studio apartment, a place you took out of desperation after several weeks of searching in the summer. If you are to make waves in the scientific and cultural communities with your soon-to-be revolutionary developments, then it won't be much longer before you can move out of this dingy Eastern Docklands flat and into somewhere that you can actually feel comfortable living in.
Ah, yes. Today is the day you start jotting down concrete plans for a mutagenic inducement device, and after weighing your options over the course of the previous week you have determined that splicing the genetic code of various animals (specifically mammals - it would be too risky to go with anything more divergent) with those of human beings would be the best choice for your first field of research.
Of course, given the inherent danger of combining multiple species' often incompatible DNA, the safest route would be to heavily limit the amount of foreign genetic materiel introduced into any future test subject. According to your calculations, this should most likely result in the creation of mutants akin to "kemonomimi" most prevalent in Japanese and other East Asian animation - mental alterations will remain minimal, at least if you wish to remain somewhat safe in your experiments.
But now is not quite the time for looking back. Now is the time to look forward!
[] First Form:
-[] Feline
Why, of course! The classic anime archetype of the catgirl has remained prevalent throughout much of western and Japanese culture, and it would only be natural for the primary purpose of your first mutagenic form to be to bring said archetype to life. You can only imagine the waves made throughout the globe's cultural consciousness upon your unveiling of the world's first real life catgirl. But it might also be... hmm, perhaps a bit bland?
-[] Canine
The domestic dog is man's best friend, as they often say, and starting your grand project with a canine mutant would only be poetic in the long story of man's relationship with nature. Given the traditional association between dogs, wolves and strength, it wouldn't be too much of a stretch to assume that the quickest and safest path to unlocking superhuman physiques in mutants would be through injecting canine DNA. Safest, however, does not always mean safe.
-[] Vulpine
They may have the fluffiest tails, but could they also have the most psychic potential? Yes, a colleague of yours from Edinburgh with a similar level of derangement and unethicality has brought to your attention the slight possibility of psionic abilities being a real thing, albeit quite latent in even the most exceptional of humans. Even for you it might be a bit of a stretch, but you have theorized that it might be possible to bring out this psionic potential via mutagenic vectors. The patterns associated with vulpine mutagens appear to be the most conductive towards heightening psychic auras, but be warned: this kind of research brings about more danger than even the usual potential for nightmare creatures.
- - -
The final form is only the first part in determining the specifics of a mutagenic process. The method, or substance, by which the mutant is created is just as important. Over the course of the past two weeks, you have narrowed down the long and often nonsensical list of potential mutagenic vectors into three general categories for you to use in your research. Given the immense lack of funding and adequate equipment it would be best for you to focus on just one for now, though depending on your initial degree of success it won't be long before you can begin to diversify.
[] Transformation Substance:
-[] Liquid
This should be the cheapest option of the three, though not my very much. Heavily diluting base mutagenic matter with water would be the safest option (relatively speaking), but anything short of total immersion in the resulting solution wouldn't yield any significant results. Of course, the base mutagenic content of the goo itself could be lessened in order to create a ingestible or injectable liquid, but at the cost of heightened potential for side effects and the lengthening of the duration of the transformation itself.
-[] Ray
Ah yes, the classic giant ray. Things like these have appeared so often in science fiction, but even by the far-off year of 2022 no one has yet to construct a device similar to such things depicted in comic books and movies. You will be the first to do such an impossible task, although according to your calculations it would be a bit too large to fit in your apartment and be operated by a crew of three or four.
-[] Gas
While gaseous vectors are the easiest to transmit to entire crowds at once, they are also by far the most unstable when it comes to maintaining the phenotypical structure of those affected by the mutagen. At best, you might get an uncanny valley horror straight out of that Cats movie everyone hates. At worst? Well, let's just say that if the mutant even manages to survive, they'll be rendered an asymmetrical freak of nature with more vestigial organs than they can count on any of their eighteen and a half fingers.
- - -
In fiction, there are often MacGyver-esque super scientists who can scrounge up wonderous devices with little more than a ramshackle garage and an enormous pile of scrap metal. Unfortunately, this is the real world, and such an impossible kind of genius is, well, impossible. No, if you are to invent mutagenic induction devices, then you must find people willing to give you support in the form of currency and credit. It's times like these when you wish that the guilder was still in circulation...
[] Funding Source:
-[] Venture Capitalists
Some say that the Netherlands was the birthplace of capitalism. At the very least, it was where the modern concept of futures trading began, and where the first joint-stock corporation got its start in the form of the Dutch East India Company. It would only be natural for a visionary like you to get funding in the form of investors seeking a profit, and if things turn out to plan then both you and they will be reaping many times over what you've sown.
-[] Crowdfunding
They say the common man is more easily duped into giving support for causes of dubious morality, and if there's one thing you know from watching shoddy English-language videos about Kickstarter scams on YouTube, then it's that this adage is as true as the Earth is round. It might be a more financially sound decision for you to take advantage of both crowdfunding and venture capitalists at the same time, but given your already enormous workload it might be a bit easier to just stick with just one. Maybe.
-[] Government Grant
By far the most lucrative option (as well as the least likely to succeed), you could petition the Dutch government for a research grant. Given your poor academic track record, however, this might be far easier said than done, and even if they do give you something to work with it will most likely have numerous caveats tacked on dictating what you can and cannot do during any of your experiments. Oh, it would pain you so much, but if you want to get on the nation's good side like you want to so desperately, then this would be the best course of action for you to take.
- - -
Before you begin composing emails to be sent towards your chosen source of funding, you take one last look at a peculiar picture sitting on your desk. It's a quaint family portrait, depicting a mother and a father standing proudly, shoulder-to-shoulder above their glum only child. You haven't seen them in years, but chances are if they knew what you were doing here they wouldn't want anything to do with you. The name they gave you is still hand-written in the corner of the portrait:
[] Name (Write-in)
Your attachment towards your current name is similar to your attachment towards your human form - that is to say, you wouldn't mind at all if it went away. Turning your attention away from the photo, you begin the first steps towards your future magnum opus in earnest.
- - -
Hopefully I didn't leave anything out. I'm still somewhat surprised that I was able to fulfill my promise from yesterday, and it's one of my greatest hopes for this trend to continue. I also wanted to put in a degree of realism into this quest, so if you're put off by the fact that a lot of time and effort will be needed to be put into in-universe projects then I won't blame you.
Ah, yes. Today is the day you start jotting down concrete plans for a mutagenic inducement device, and after weighing your options over the course of the previous week you have determined that splicing the genetic code of various animals (specifically mammals - it would be too risky to go with anything more divergent) with those of human beings would be the best choice for your first field of research.
Of course, given the inherent danger of combining multiple species' often incompatible DNA, the safest route would be to heavily limit the amount of foreign genetic materiel introduced into any future test subject. According to your calculations, this should most likely result in the creation of mutants akin to "kemonomimi" most prevalent in Japanese and other East Asian animation - mental alterations will remain minimal, at least if you wish to remain somewhat safe in your experiments.
But now is not quite the time for looking back. Now is the time to look forward!
[] First Form:
-[] Feline
Why, of course! The classic anime archetype of the catgirl has remained prevalent throughout much of western and Japanese culture, and it would only be natural for the primary purpose of your first mutagenic form to be to bring said archetype to life. You can only imagine the waves made throughout the globe's cultural consciousness upon your unveiling of the world's first real life catgirl. But it might also be... hmm, perhaps a bit bland?
-[] Canine
The domestic dog is man's best friend, as they often say, and starting your grand project with a canine mutant would only be poetic in the long story of man's relationship with nature. Given the traditional association between dogs, wolves and strength, it wouldn't be too much of a stretch to assume that the quickest and safest path to unlocking superhuman physiques in mutants would be through injecting canine DNA. Safest, however, does not always mean safe.
-[] Vulpine
They may have the fluffiest tails, but could they also have the most psychic potential? Yes, a colleague of yours from Edinburgh with a similar level of derangement and unethicality has brought to your attention the slight possibility of psionic abilities being a real thing, albeit quite latent in even the most exceptional of humans. Even for you it might be a bit of a stretch, but you have theorized that it might be possible to bring out this psionic potential via mutagenic vectors. The patterns associated with vulpine mutagens appear to be the most conductive towards heightening psychic auras, but be warned: this kind of research brings about more danger than even the usual potential for nightmare creatures.
- - -
The final form is only the first part in determining the specifics of a mutagenic process. The method, or substance, by which the mutant is created is just as important. Over the course of the past two weeks, you have narrowed down the long and often nonsensical list of potential mutagenic vectors into three general categories for you to use in your research. Given the immense lack of funding and adequate equipment it would be best for you to focus on just one for now, though depending on your initial degree of success it won't be long before you can begin to diversify.
[] Transformation Substance:
-[] Liquid
This should be the cheapest option of the three, though not my very much. Heavily diluting base mutagenic matter with water would be the safest option (relatively speaking), but anything short of total immersion in the resulting solution wouldn't yield any significant results. Of course, the base mutagenic content of the goo itself could be lessened in order to create a ingestible or injectable liquid, but at the cost of heightened potential for side effects and the lengthening of the duration of the transformation itself.
-[] Ray
Ah yes, the classic giant ray. Things like these have appeared so often in science fiction, but even by the far-off year of 2022 no one has yet to construct a device similar to such things depicted in comic books and movies. You will be the first to do such an impossible task, although according to your calculations it would be a bit too large to fit in your apartment and be operated by a crew of three or four.
-[] Gas
While gaseous vectors are the easiest to transmit to entire crowds at once, they are also by far the most unstable when it comes to maintaining the phenotypical structure of those affected by the mutagen. At best, you might get an uncanny valley horror straight out of that Cats movie everyone hates. At worst? Well, let's just say that if the mutant even manages to survive, they'll be rendered an asymmetrical freak of nature with more vestigial organs than they can count on any of their eighteen and a half fingers.
- - -
In fiction, there are often MacGyver-esque super scientists who can scrounge up wonderous devices with little more than a ramshackle garage and an enormous pile of scrap metal. Unfortunately, this is the real world, and such an impossible kind of genius is, well, impossible. No, if you are to invent mutagenic induction devices, then you must find people willing to give you support in the form of currency and credit. It's times like these when you wish that the guilder was still in circulation...
[] Funding Source:
-[] Venture Capitalists
Some say that the Netherlands was the birthplace of capitalism. At the very least, it was where the modern concept of futures trading began, and where the first joint-stock corporation got its start in the form of the Dutch East India Company. It would only be natural for a visionary like you to get funding in the form of investors seeking a profit, and if things turn out to plan then both you and they will be reaping many times over what you've sown.
-[] Crowdfunding
They say the common man is more easily duped into giving support for causes of dubious morality, and if there's one thing you know from watching shoddy English-language videos about Kickstarter scams on YouTube, then it's that this adage is as true as the Earth is round. It might be a more financially sound decision for you to take advantage of both crowdfunding and venture capitalists at the same time, but given your already enormous workload it might be a bit easier to just stick with just one. Maybe.
-[] Government Grant
By far the most lucrative option (as well as the least likely to succeed), you could petition the Dutch government for a research grant. Given your poor academic track record, however, this might be far easier said than done, and even if they do give you something to work with it will most likely have numerous caveats tacked on dictating what you can and cannot do during any of your experiments. Oh, it would pain you so much, but if you want to get on the nation's good side like you want to so desperately, then this would be the best course of action for you to take.
- - -
Before you begin composing emails to be sent towards your chosen source of funding, you take one last look at a peculiar picture sitting on your desk. It's a quaint family portrait, depicting a mother and a father standing proudly, shoulder-to-shoulder above their glum only child. You haven't seen them in years, but chances are if they knew what you were doing here they wouldn't want anything to do with you. The name they gave you is still hand-written in the corner of the portrait:
[] Name (Write-in)
Your attachment towards your current name is similar to your attachment towards your human form - that is to say, you wouldn't mind at all if it went away. Turning your attention away from the photo, you begin the first steps towards your future magnum opus in earnest.
- - -
Hopefully I didn't leave anything out. I'm still somewhat surprised that I was able to fulfill my promise from yesterday, and it's one of my greatest hopes for this trend to continue. I also wanted to put in a degree of realism into this quest, so if you're put off by the fact that a lot of time and effort will be needed to be put into in-universe projects then I won't blame you.
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