Dr. David Bucher Keller

Born in Boston to a couple of European immigrants, David had always shown a fascination for natural science, but those regarding the inner workings of the brain were his favorite topic. This obsessive fascination, in part fueled by his father’s line of work (a respected neurologist), led David to pursue greater academic studies, as he considered that those provided by his High School were simply not enough.

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» Department of Personnel and Management «

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Portrait of Dr. Keller prior to his death (circa 2019)¹

Full Name: David Bucher Keller

Personnel ID Number: 204-105-285016

Security Clearance: Level 3

Division: Containment²

Bureau:

• Office of Analysis and Science (2004-2012)
• Viderics R&D Department (2012-2021)
• Prolab Department (2021-Current)

Position:

• Junior Researcher (2004-2006)
• OAS’ Amnestics Researcher (2006-2012)
• Senior Researcher (2012-2021)
• Prolab Senior Researcher (2021-Current)

Sex: Male

Ethnicity: Caucasian

Height: 182cm

Weight: 77kg

Skin Color: Sickly Pale

Hair Color: Brown

Eye Color: Grey (Biomech Prosthetic)³

Birthplace: Boston, Massachusetts

Date of Birth: October 8th, 1977

Died:⁴ May 12th, 2021

Enlistment Date: May 4th, 2004

Education History:

• Dover-Sherborn Regional Middle School (1991-1995)
  • GPA 4.0
• Informal Calligraphy Courses (Unknown)
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1995-2004)
  • PhD in Brain and Cognitive Sciences
  • Minor in Chemistry

Occupational History:

• Internship within an Authority front-cover Medical Laboratory (2003-2004)

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Overview

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Born in Boston to a couple of European immigrants, David Bucher Keller had always shown a fascination for natural science, but those regarding the inner workings of the brain were his favorite topic. This obsessive fascination, in part fueled by his father’s line of work (a respected neurologist), led Keller to pursue greater academic studies, as he considered that those provided by his High School were simply not enough. Amongst various aspirations, Keller’s goal was to become a scientist like his father, although in a more obscure topic than his: the mechanisms and chemistry of human memories, as well as how they can affect someone on a physical level.

His years as a student in both Dover-Sherborn Regional Middle School and the MIT are documented to have been prolific, with Keller obtaining a PhD in Brain and Cognitive Sciences in 2004. It was also during this period that Keller worked for 4 months in an Authority-owned research laboratory, where he was offered a job at a “Research Center”⁵ in light of his exceptional performance, an offer he took by the end of the semester.

Dr. Keller would spend the next years working in the Office of Analysis and Science, jumping between departments every couple of months as needed. It wasn’t until 2006 that he would finally settle in the recently formed Department of Applied Amnestic Sciences, a position he would hold for the good part of the six years. During this time, Keller would become part of the “Anomalous Experimentation Team X33” (AET-X33), a group tasked with the further development and synthesizing of chemical-based amnestics. These endeavours eventually landed AET-X33 into a collaborative research fund with the Viderics R&D Department for the advancement in experimental Lethium-Videric drugs.⁶ Following the disbandment of AET-X33, Keller would continue to work within Viderics R&D as a senior researcher. In 2021, Keller applied for an abroad assignment in RPC-727 to study the possible uses of EGs as amnestics, departing to the Falkland Islands on February the 18th as a Glyph calligrapher.

[+] Access Document - Death Report

During a routine EG calligraphy session on May 12th, Keller discovered an instance of NITO-4/T,⁷ but was not aware nor affected by its properties until the glyph was fully copied down. Keller realized the nature of the symbol soon after completion, but was unable to avoid falling victim to its effects. It is believed that he did not instantly die as a result of a naturally high memetic resistance, one which bought him enough time to press the emergency shutdown button and topple over a box of EG equipment, amongst those a LED flashlight loaded with a copy of NITO-2⁸ which he placed over his left eye.

30 minutes after automatic emergency inoculation began, Trauma Team personnel arrived inside the calligraphy room to find Keller laying down on the floor with the flashlight still over his eye. While vitals showed that Keller had died at 14:11PM, brain signals in par with those of a healthy human were still being received from his body. Present colleagues and researchers, along with some specialized TT personnel, deduced that the effects of NITO-2 had somehow kept Keller alive despite having suffered a shutdown of his nervous system. Trauma Team personnel safely strapped the flashlight to Keller’s eye and transported him to Site-008 for further treatment.

[+] Post-Mortem - Facts and Treatment

Facts:

1. NITO-2’s anomalous properties did not allow Dr. Keller's brain to shut down despite a lack of blood and oxygen.
2. Dr. Keller’s brain was disconnected from the rest of his body, causing it to undergo Pallor mortis⁹ and Algor mortis.¹⁰
3. As a result of minor Rigor mortis¹¹ on Keller’s face, parts of its left cheek and right eye have become permanently rigid.
4. As a result of point 2, Dr. Keller’s brain became unable to control the actions of his body. While still capable of mild stimuli response and spatial awareness, only Dr. Keller’s brain could be fully salvaged. Due to growing necrosis, his left leg had to be fully amputated.
5. Dr. Keller became unable to perform several subconscious actions such as breathing, blinking, controlling its heart-rate, etc.
6. Dr. Keller’s body, with the exception of his head, has begun to undergo various levels of organic decay. It is believed this is a result of point 4.

Treatment:

1. An experimental self-inoculator EG device was placed over Dr. Keller’s head in a similar manner to a helmet. This “helmet” allowed for Keller’s eyes to be illuminated with NITO-2 in a constant manner while allowing a wider moveset than with the flashlight.
2. Dr. Keller’s body temperature was unable to be returned back to a normal state. He is now to wear several layers of clothing to prevent further bodily damage.
3. Both of Dr. Keller’s eyes and jaw have been replaced by Biomech prosthetics.
4. Further testing showed that use of INAN glyphs could allow for control over Dr. Keller’s body. His helmet (now referred to as GH-P01) was modified to allow Dr. Keller’s consciousness to generate specific glyph patterns to perform basic actions. Dr. Keller’s leg has been replaced by a mechanical prosthetic.
5. Only minor solutions have been found for this problem, but Keller is still required to manually breathe and control his heart rate. It has also been discovered that Keller has become unable to sleep.
6. Minor cosmetic and chemical treatments have shown success in reducing cellular decay. More permanent solutions are underway research.

Dr. Keller’s damaged eye

Prototype GH-P01 helmet

Conclusion:

David has shown great progress despite all shortcomings, retaining an average task-making speed similar to that of a healthy human. Speech still remains an issue, as INAN glyphs do not naturally possess the ability to make subjects talk, requiring experimental glyphs in order to even attempt so. Further testing and development of GH-P01 will be required to return him to his former self. Until further notice, and due to the nature of his implants, he is not to leave Authority custody. - Dr. Smith

[+] Current State

Following this incident, Dr. Keller has decided to return to Site-151 as a member of the Containment Division. It is currently believed that Keller took this choice as elements regarding his previous line of work may result in psychological damage. Dr. Keller has refused to give statements on his current condition to anyone excluding Site-008 personnel, as well as developing a solitary nature over the past couple of months.

While Dr. Keller’s work ethics and general efficiency have not shown to have changed, he is still required to attend weekly sessions of psychological counseling at Site-008. Although not required, Dr. Smith has recommended him to take short rests at times where he would have commonly slept as to retain a sense of normalcy. Any personnel wishing to acquire more information about Dr. Keller’s condition may do so for the purpose of research with the permission of Dr. Smith.

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Further Information

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• Dr. Keller may be easily recognized by GH-P01, which has been semi-permanently attached to his head.
• Has been nicknamed “Necroglyphiac” by personnel. While initially denounced by its colleagues, he does not appear to mind the existence of the nickname.
• Until further developments in biological repair can be found, Dr. Keller's throat has been outfited with artificial vocal cords.

----- ACCESS PSYCHOLOGICAL OVERVIEW -----

Footnotes

1. No clear images of his persona during Authority years have been found to exist. Not for any particular motive, there is simply a lack of them.

2. Formerly Research

3. Formerly hazel.

4. See “Overview”

5. Site-151

6. This project, however, was never successful in achieving any form of usable amnestics or amnestic variants.

7. A form of NITO-4 (glyph able to cause a complete breakdown of the nervous system) that could disguise itself as a normal TERS glyph.

8. Glyph which causes the brain to increase neural connections and general activity.

9. The distinctive paleness found in cadavers.

10. The sudden decrease in body temperature of corpses until it matches room temperature or lower.

11. The stiffness of the body following death.