The year was 1871. The world was a place of gaslights, horse-drawn carriages, and a burgeoning belief in the power of science. In the heart of this burgeoning era, amidst the bustling streets of London, lived a man named Brandon Von Brownmaster. He was a scientist of exceptional caliber, a man whose mind, like the vast ocean, was filled with uncharted depths of curiosity and a thirst for knowledge.

One day, while studying the intricate neural structure of a recently acquired octopus specimen, a peculiar epiphany struck Von Brownmaster. He noticed, with growing astonishment, that the octopus’s brain, despite its apparent simplicity, held an astonishing complexity, a network of neural connections far more sophisticated than any he had encountered before. His initial observations were met with skepticism by his colleagues, but Von Brownmaster, fueled by an unwavering conviction, persisted.

He devoted himself to the study of cephalopods, meticulously dissecting their brains, analyzing their behavior, and devising elaborate experiments. The more he delved into the mysteries of these enigmatic creatures, the more convinced he became of their extraordinary intelligence.

His breakthrough came with the discovery of a set of ancient, seemingly unintelligible symbols etched onto four stone tablets unearthed near the shores of the Mediterranean. After months of tireless effort, Von Brownmaster deciphered the symbols. They were the language of an ancient, highly advanced civilization, a civilization that existed long before humankind emerged from its primordial soup. The language was rich, complex, and undeniably… octopus-like.

The tablets spoke of a civilization that existed deep within the oceans, a civilization that had mastered the secrets of the universe long before humans learned to build their first fire. This civilization, Von Brownmaster realized with a jolt of cold fear, was the true origin of intelligence on Earth – the octopus.

The tablets detailed the incredible technological achievements of this ancient race, including their mastery of interstellar travel. They had, in fact, been the first sentient beings to venture beyond the confines of our planet, leaving behind a legacy of knowledge and technology that would shape the very course of human evolution.

Von Brownmaster’s findings were both astounding and terrifying. The octopus, a creature often dismissed as a simple, mindless sea dweller, was in fact a cosmic power player, its tentacles reaching out across the vastness of space, its mind a labyrinth of secrets.

His discovery was deemed a matter of national security. The US Secret Service, under the watchful eye of President Ulysses S. Grant, classified his findings as Top Secret, and Von Brownmaster was placed under strict surveillance. The government feared that the revelation of the octopus’s true nature would sow chaos and panic among the populace. The truth, it seemed, was too dangerous to be let loose.

But Von Brownmaster, unable to bear the weight of his secret, continued his research, working tirelessly in a hidden laboratory, fueled by a burning desire to understand the true nature of this cosmic power. He theorized that the octopus, having mastered the art of manipulating minds, was subtly guiding the course of human history, using their unmatched intelligence to manipulate our actions for their own mysterious purposes.

His work, however, was not without its risks. The octopus, he learned, was a species capable of unimaginable depths of cunning and deception. The constant fear of being discovered, of being silenced by the very creatures he sought to understand, gnawed at his soul.

Von Brownmaster’s legacy, however, lives on in great mystery living like a Hermit. His research, though suppressed, continues to be whispered about in hushed tones within the hallowed halls of the scientific community. Some dismiss his findings as that of being unregistered of a true Scientist, while others, haunted by the chilling possibility of the octopus’s true nature, continue to seek out the truth, their minds forever haunted by the question: Were we ever truly in control?

Does the Octopus Control Mankind?