RoboChildren Page 15

  The upgrade kicked in about thirty minutes later when I rushed to the bathroom and Daniel ran up the stairs to the other one and we let out all our fears and inhibitions in red vomit and ramen noodle chunks. Something new in the puke this time, I recall little dark colored spots… What could this be? I rushed back into the living room on all fours.

  “I just puked blood, guys!” I announced to the robo-ravers in the living room.

  “Good for you man, I’m proud of you!” Daniel replied.

  We donned masks of Mardi Gras and played the ‘Follow Kate As She Thinks She’s In a Log Cabin In the Mountains and Walks In a Giant Circle Around Her House’ game. Daniel and I took a break for food of the peanut butter and jelly variety, but Kate remained on her circular track around the house mumbling about the fresh baked cookies that needed to be taken out of her wood-burning stove.

  “I don’t know how I got here,” she said to me. I laughed the robo laugh in response and watched her walk over to Daniel.

  “We’re all little people, in a big world,” she says as she brings her hands together above her head and tilts her upper body to the side to illustrate to us the ‘big world.’ We laugh.

  This is the night that I discover the suggestive oil-coating phenomenon. Unfortunately it still has not been well documented or researched. I got the sensation there was oily slime on everything I touched and I voiced this to Kate and Daniel, out of concern for the well being of her household objects. They were confused at first, but soon found out for themselves what I meant as they began to complain of sliminess on everything they touched as well. This happened many times since then and is easily suggested and shared with other trippers on a similar level. My memories of this night were so distorted by the upgrade, I’m afraid only images in my mind can be retrieved from my memory banks.

  Throwing slime coated pillows at each other for hours in the red strobe light.

  Getting down on all fours attempting to step off the curb.

  Macaroni drop kicking Kate in the back for no apparent reason without any response from Kate.

  Kate’s eyes moving independently from one another.

  Good pictures in my mind’s eye.

  Meaningless to you and my story.

  Meaningless in general.

  DRA-

  MAH-

  MEAN

  we're all mice in this goddamn maze

  but who controls the maze?

  that's the real question.

  PART THREE

  A Case Study

  Jerry the Fly

  The Research on

  The RoboFucks

  These are compiled excerpts from observations and research notes taken by Dr. Jerry Musca Domestica MD, who has a PhD from the University of Linnaeus. The notes were taken by use of Jerry’s ability to dictate his thoughts using his Pulvilli through the skin of a “host” and then translated into the native language of the host. Most of the reports were either lost or destroyed with his tragic disappearance.

  #1. Normal trip- The average experience of the DXM abuser, where nothing extraordinary, memorable, traumatizing, or profound happens while under the influence of Dextromethorphan (or any other form of the Dextrorphan-base chemical).

  I have decided to document the average or ‘normal trip’ experienced on a daily basis by the common members of the DXM-abusing community here in [small town], Ohio. I find these specimens of notable interest to me because their upbringing is so ordinary, and their mindsets reflect that of a small town perspective. There is no accurate worldview here and these subjects tend to be narrow-minded and highly reactive to slight dramatic events within their own social groups. I have selected the specimens known locally as the RoboChildren: james, Phil and Zach. I chose these subjects because they seem to be the most prominent members of the DXM community in [small town], Ohio and I have had many more opportunities to study them.

  It is approximately 7pm on July 7th, 2007. Phil has just contacted james and informed him he has gotten off work at the local Burger King. james has been awakened from his coma-like sleep, which has endured, twitchily, for most of the day. Phil has been trying to get james a job. james is not seriously seeking employment and is living off money his father sends him for food and gas. He shoplifts any other necessities that arise. Phil depends on james to enable his addiction to DXM, and to provide him with transportation to and fro. Together they form an ultra-junkie entity of (in my clinical opinion) epic proportions. Zach is contacted by way of sms text message via cell phone. The actual message cannot be read from my current vantage point on the wall.

  7:03 james leaves to pick Phil up from the Burger King and insists that Phil acquire a ‘King James Burger’ for himself (a custom sandwich which contains 2 large flame broiled beef patties, 3-5 large onion rings, barbecue sauce, and various other sauces, depending on Phil's mood).

  7:20 Subjects leave the parking lot and head next door to the Rite Aid. Phil exits the vehicle while james puts on a large pocketed hooded sweatshirt. I follow close behind, into the pharmacy. They seek out the cough medicine aisle, with speed and accuracy. They both pick a bottle of cough syrup off the shelf and walk casually to the shampoo section where they rip the boxes open and slide the bottles into their pockets. There is no visible sign of anxiety. I follow closely as they leave the store for james’ house.

  7:28 Subjects arrive at james' Residence.

  7:36 Subject Zach arrives. The bottles are handed out to each. I have confirmed there are exactly 8 ounces of the cough syrup containing Dextromethorphan in each of the bottles. This will ensure the dosage is of an average measure. The effects of the DXM on the subjects vary greatly between them, due, in part, to body type. Zach is tall and gangly, Phil is short and heavy-set, and james is of a medium height and undernourished.

  7:41 They ingest at an admirable rate despite the horrible taste additives. james plugs his nose and dances around anxiously trying to get the nerve to chug the syrup as Phil downs it without hesitation. Zach seems to have disappeared for consumption.

  7:45 Conversation is, at best, vaguely interesting. No signs of profound or extraordinary thoughts, simple complaints of nausea, stomach pains, and indigestion. Talking of drug experiences past or present, seems to dominate the conversation at large otherwise.

  7:58 Ostensible signs of discomfort, the subjects struggle to keep the syrup down. I made sure extra Guaifenesin was put in the syrups this time to make them sicker than they would normally feel. They are now talking about how they never remember the incredible discomfort before a trip and wish for it to kick in sooner.

  8:40:55 They yell in unison in a nasally voice: “5...4...3...2...1 OH MY GOD!” I believe this is a reference mocking a one 'Mr. Macaroni.' The reality of the alluded to personage belonging to this name is yet unconfirmed.

  8:41 The trip officially begins as james screams: “Phil! I'm disassociated like a bitch!” They repeatedly stand up and sit down, fascinated by the movement. Occasionally, they walk around aimlessly. Their walk has deteriorated to the lack of shoulder movement and a stiffness/tilting in the spine. They refer to this as the “robo-walk.” I will henceforth refer to it as such.

  8:57 james has picked up a guitar and insists each of the notes on the guitar has a color and vice versa. He is now going into this theory in depth and explaining how every painting can be translated into a song (and vice versa). Now he's explaining about elemental names being associated with lyrics or something to that effect. It is very hard to make out what he is saying as his language skills are severely suffering at this point. Phil and Zach are not even reacting to his slurred speech in any way, however. Zach is now lifting tiny objects and explaining how heavy they are. Phil stands under a small window with his arms positioned underneath it and insists he is holding it up and moving it about. Another thing I have observed within this time is how they look at the clock every few minutes and are shocked it had only been a short while since they last looked. Perhaps this means they are experiencing time dilati
on, to an extreme where time is perceived as moving slower than it actually is.

  9:42 They complain it is too early to be coming down, though they show no outward signs of coming down. They are all vocalizing their wishes to continue tripping. They eventually decide on getting more syrup and leave to get it. Tolerances might be a factor in their early come down, if in fact that is what is happening.

  10:37 The “upgrade” as they call it, kicks in. They crawl around on all fours with almost no communication between them at all. They appear to be dangerously dissociated. Possibility of permanent brain damage is now a risk I must consider at this time. I must begin to destroy all evidence of affiliation with this study as I will surely be liable for this.

  11:00 They are now dancing in the basement to a progressive/experimental music group known as The Mars Volta. The strobe light flickers off beat. They are flailing around in ways that don't seem natural and have reached a state of complete dissociative anesthesia.

  1:30am Now back upstairs in the living room on the couches, they are staring blankly into space. None of them speak or acknowledge each other's existence.

  2:38am They are finally moving and talking, all except james who is reacting to the words by making hand gestures. He is unable to communicate verbally, possible signs of damage to the language centers of the brain. Phil notices the time and ponders out loud where the time went. They continue in their attempts to get james to speak.

  9:45am Phil mentions he has to work in forty-five minutes and wonders aloud why he decided the upgrade was a good idea. james shows no concern. Zach remains dissociated beyond the level he should be at this point. NOTE TO SELF: look into Zach's file to find family history and history of trauma, or mental instability.

  10:30am Phil is taken to work by james, who returns home where he attempts to sleep. Zach is on one couch in the living room and james is on the other. Zach is mumbling and occasionally says something to james while he is sleeping. Zach is now stroking his genitalia. NOTE TO SELF: Definitely some brain damage with this specimen.

  #2. Public Tripping- My case study group seems to be mostly concerned with the dynamics of public tripping. This is possibly some form of exhibitionism. Something to do with stripping down their understanding of social norms in front of others. This is a new development that could have stemmed from an earlier stage of vandalism (refer to the incident involving james and Phil spray-painting their high school). Tripping in public has gotten james the local nickname of King Delsyn (which began as a self appointed title, making it his MySpace name). He seems to be the only trulydangerous one in the group, being almost completely aware of the social dynamics around him, despite a tendency toward serious paranoid delusion. Zach is the sexually confused one (having made a failed attempted to perform an act of fellatio on james), and Phil is becoming increasingly detached from reality and showing signs of schizophrenia amidst his previous mental condition of sociopathy and bisexuality.

  Upon hearing about a social gathering downtown (locally referred to as 'Javapalooza') james contacts Zach and Phil. They gather at Phil's home where they each take a box of Corocidin.

  [pages missing from report]

  A drunken local is harassing Zach. Apparently this is Zach's mating partner's ex and an acquaintance of james' (ed: the brother of friend Daniel). He chases Zach around james in a circle, who is failing to console the drunk. Their peripheral vision has all but completely deteriorated, leaving approximately a foot from their faces visible. Phil is very confused as to what is going on with the drunk and is seeking answers from james. james spots Gary (He later described Gary being shrouded in a black aura looking somewhat like a ninja). This proved quite distressing for james as he and Gary are not on speaking terms, due to social melodrama between them. (See: sexual relations of Subject 'Alpha.')

  [content removed for legal purposes]

  Zach is now waving around looking for his parents but instead finds his middle school teacher, Mr. Honda. Zach expresses confusion to him and Honda sees the dangerous state of mind the three are in and leads them to james's car. They all file into the car, Phil in the passenger seat and james and Zach into the back seat. Honda asks if there is someone missing, and they just stare at him blankly until he decides it best to leave them to their business. Zach and Phil stare at james as if to remind him it IS his car. james debates with them, making the point he is in no condition to drive, which is very true in my clinical opinion. Nonetheless, they convince james to drive, and he climbs over the seat and starts the engine. He asks Phil for reassurance, who insists he knows the way to his house and will direct him if he can just operate the vehicle properly. They take off, and immediate signs of trouble arise as james almost backs into a stationary vehicle. The situation worsens as Phil directs james down the wrong way on a one-way street. There were no law enforcement officers in area, unfortunately. Studying how these creatures would react in the presence of such an authority figure would be fascinating and immensely beneficial to the study.

  [another similar report related to 'the public trip']

  Phil and james have persuaded Phil's current sexual interest (codename 'Brandi') into experiencing the DXM intoxication with them. They decide to do it at the county fair. Codename Brandi takes an entire bottle of cough gels, and Phil and james split three bottles of Delsyn (Five fluid ounces in each bottle). This is the most either one has consumed at one time according to my documentation, being almost one thousand three hundred thirty milligrams of Dex each. They arrive by way of subject Alpha's car and walk casually onto the fair grounds. They split up as Alpha ventures off with his current female of sexual interest (codename 'Bitchwhore'). I have no record saying he informed her of his planned DXM experimentation tonight, which will probably supply her with appropriate grounds for debate on the ethics of this particular social infraction. He complains about nausea, blaming it on an improperly cooked steak, which shouldn't be totally ruled out, but most likely due to the abnormally large concentration of cough syrup in his digestive tract. Kristal, which is the birth-name of james's female companion, seems to be getting more suspicious of james as his speech begins to decreases in quality, and inversely, increases in quantity. He rushes to the lavatory for an intense bowel movement. This is a side effect of Delsyn consumption, which differs from Robotussin in that it travels through the system faster and thus must be disposed of (by ways of the colon and anal sphincter rather than regurgitation from the stomach directly).

  See also: Rocket Shits, Delsyn shits, Robo-shits, Robo-farts, the Orange Poo.

  The secret Delsyn consumption is revealed to Kristal as they meet back up with Phil and codename 'Brandi' after an hour and a half of wandering, and something is obviously out of place in the three subject’s mental statuses. james is not aiding the distress of Kristal but instead flaunting his intoxication quite belligerently, in effect making the social situation all the more uncomfortable for all parties involved. Side Note: Look into social awkwardness and the effects of uncomfortable situations on the DXM abuser’s mentality. My research tends to show a pattern of seemingly intentional social awkwardness associated with the behavior of the subjects james and Phil. Zach tends to avoid any and all confrontation but somehow gets involved in them despite his best efforts.

  [irrelevant material removed]

  Upon planning the return of codename Brandi to her home, the decision to find a driver comes about slowly, as subject Alpha is once again unable to drive. Now the three DXM users are huddled together in the middle of a sidewalk between two large fair rides and are talking inaudibly amongst themselves, all to the amusement and confusion of the passersby. Phil leaves the group, much to the dismay of the remaining two subjects, to find a driver suitable for the mission of secured transport away from the public. Then, after some time, james is left alone as codename Brandi leaves to find Phil, against james's most stern warnings. Now, appearing completely lost and alone, james sits down where he was standing and stares at the potential threats of his paran
oid delusions. He sits for an indeterminable amount of time as the concept of time has all but diminished to a vague and unassociated idea of no importance or relevance to his situation. Phil and codename Brandi return without a driver and conclude the journey must be made on their own.

  Upon finding and entering the vehicle, james assures them he is incapable of driving while backing out and pulling out on to the street. He turns one way and sees the flashing of cop lights in the distance and insists it is a sign to not venture in that direction. Phil and codename Brandi concur with the seemingly sound reasoning. Alpha is vocalizing his observation of hallucinations taking over his vision – street signs moving into the middle of the road, and peripherals being completely blacked out – much to his distress. Refusing to be the cause of death for all in the car, he pulls over to the side of the road. He had been traveling 25mph in a 45mph zone. Reiterating his state of intoxication is much more than Phil was willing to accept, codename Brandi convinces james to let Phil take over the driving responsibilities.

  [end of report]

  We must use the information I have gathered to establish a universal pattern of thinking which can hopefully be applied to any DXM abuser if we are to understand how this ‘Tussin Epidemic’ (or 'Tussin Generation') will affect society. Most notably, there seems to be a lack of health concern by the abusers for themselves or the people in their wake. They seem to be motivated by obscure and self-destructive behaviors.

  Their interaction with each other has taken on a very peculiar expression of the English language I have deemed ‘half-speak.’ In this form of communication, the sender only states the words or phrases perceived as being completely necessary to communicate. This eliminates ‘pointless’ words, and thus is often times cut off in a misinterpretation of meanings behind the desired message. Along the lines of communication, an interesting note I have made from DXM abusing subjects: they cannot match the dialog in speech to the face of the person speaking, their lip movements do not appear to correlate with words being verbalized. This creates a perceived ‘dubbing’ effect and distracts the witness of this hallucination from processing what the speaker is trying to say. This, along with a visual strobe light effect, which I have attributed to blockage in occipital lobe processes, and the lack of rational computation creates an irrational state of confusion and discomfort for subjects. A common statement made by subject Alpha was, “Looks like the slapping of the painting in my eyes is slowing.” It was later described as the perceived slow ‘frame’ rate at which he was viewing the world at the time, it appeared as though the colors and image sharpness enhanced profoundly every time the ‘frame’ updated itself, creating this “slapping of the painting” effect. Also notable is the deteriorated sense of social framework of the subject. Awkward statements and hidden messages within wording create difficulties in dealing with the subjects on any level, unless it is offensive and vile.