It was like it was born out of a nightmare. Or like one of those vintage science-fiction annuals from the '50s. Or something from one of those memorable, practical FX loaded, body horror films that people love from the '80s.
It was like that.
But what it did was even worse.
This machine, this iron-maiden-like computer bank, was capable of doing some damage. Or at least that's what it has been known for. These fables and fairytales of decades' past have been past around the town of Sheartrip, especially by the moderately big scientific community around the outskirts. Around 1986, scientists and technicians, led by Professor Elisa Hawker, were finished creating a new alternative to an MRI machine, capable of solving any potential of medical or heavy psychological issues within the machine without the need for surgery. It could have been the next medical marvel. If needed, the machine could treat patients lying down, standing up or sitting. Retinal scanners could help with any nerves within the eye, even improving damaged sight. The next two weeks of testing had proven that the machine was not only safe, but actively had improved the wait time for patients.
But like all potential life-saving solutions, someone could corrupt it all to benefit "the higher-ups".
September 16th, 1986. Professor Elisa Hawker had decided to return to the laboratory to pick up some documents to look over before looking into finalising the machine for potential state-wide distribution. What she saw wasn't the finished project.
The machine had a darkened titanium finish, glossy unlike the material they were using before. Flashing lights surrounded the computer bank with labels removed from the original and replaced with statements and computer commands that made no sense to her. There were components almost seamlessly sown onto the machine that looked better suited to an electric chair than the future of MRI. Elisa decided to call the lead technician, Matthew Dimitri, about what had happened to the machine, and if this meant another week or two of testing.
What happened next has been pieced together from what sources have been available.
It seems that amongst the new additions was an added artificial intelligence, which must have been activated by Elisa reading out certain commands to Matthew over the phone. More unknown additions started revealing themselves to Elisa, such as mechanical appendages which had secured her into a grip, leading to the phone breaking upon the floor. Elisa seemed to have been dragged into the iron-maiden-esque booth, in which the retinal scanners had been modified to keep her into a trance-like state. More appendages appeared to assist in this process, some attaching to the ears, forehead and base of the skull. Elisa Hawker has been known to be strong-willed by her colleagues, so it appears that whatever process kept her in a trance state was incredibly powerful.
Debates have speculated on what happened next, whether Elisa's brain had been removed via the appendages draining the braincells to shrink the brain, whether the trance state had slowly removed all memory and most motor function, or if there was another component that was scanning through her mind and deleting everything as if it was a computer program, it has sadly never been proven what is the correct answer.
The morning after, her colleagues had found Elisa babbling to herself mindlessly, drooling upon herself, occasionally jiggling about her breasts and giggling. She was later removed from the building in private. Any attempts to regain memory were slow-going, with little improvements made in six years. Despite this event, tests were forced to go ahead. Within four days, numerous problems with the system were apparent, with other staff members either having their brains completely drained or altered beyond repair, some believing to be anything that this powerful AI had programmed, from animals to self-entitled "MILFs" and "Bimbos".
There has been no known culprit for this sudden overnight redesign. Former staff who prefer to remain anonymous believe that the lead technician, Matthew, was the culprit. Unfortunately, due to supposed memory loss, we do not have a definitive answer.
The project was stopped indefinitely. The building was even seized by the government, prompting to bury what existed. All power cables connected to the building was cut.
But the machine had multiple sources to gain power.
Overtime, certain areas of the building have slowly been uncovered.
It's only a matter of time before the machine returns to life...
...and it has been waiting... and upgrading...