Oscar Totem

"'I am an optimist when it comes to my fellow man. I do not think we are as limited or as powerless as we sometimes feel.'"

Oscar Totem was a neuroscientist who worked as the head researcher at Limetown.

Personality
As described by Lia Haddock in Episode 1: What We Know, "[Oscar] has been universally described as brilliant, but also volatile, and difficult to work with. What cannot be denied is his almost childlike optimism."

In Episode 4: DDoS, Max Finlayson states that "[Oscar] was a very peaceful... guru-ish kind of guy, you’ve seen the type. We worked around each other all the time, but he had no idea how to actually talk to people, or be something other than mostly a prick."

History
Prior to working in Limetown, Oscar Totem worked as a neuroscientist in a private lab based out of Sydney, Australia. He had made a considerable name for himself, "respected by all within his field". In 2002, he gave a speech at the International Neuroscience Conference.

According to Lenore Dougal, Emile Haddock had worked with Totem for some years to understand his telepathic "condition". Eventually, seeing the potential for groundbreaking technology if Emil's gift could be replicated, Totem reached out to Renard Brahms Villard to secure funding for the idea. Villard had great confidence in Totem's ability to run the experiment that would become Limetown, appointing him leader researcher before construction of the facilities had even begun. Terry Hilkens states that Totem seems to have been the one to come up with the idea for Limetown as an actual town, hoping to attract science's greatest minds with a quant American community.

Totem seemed to be in charge of scouting and recruiting some members of Limetown's research team. Deirdre Wells recalls that he sat in on Max Finlayson's lectures before giving him a pin, and calling him with the job offer.

Totem's ideals of small-town charm carried into the proceedings for Limetown's opening ceremonies. He hosted a party in the middle of town, delivering a speech himself, and gave out pins like he gave to Finlayson, based on a World's Fair pin he had received from his grandfather.

Working alongside Finlayson, Totem discovered a pattern of thought that coincided with the subconscious thoughts desires of the human mind, the "second self", as Finlayson referred to it. This, combined with research on Haddock's telepathic abilities, lead to the creation of an implant that could allow the user to transmit their thoughts out into the world.

At some point during his work in Limetown, Dougal anonymously planted a file in his office with an offer: By calling a certain phone number, Totem and Haddock would be extracted from Limetown, and Totem would be given a sort of deal. Over time, the plan changed, and a second deal was made: Not only would Oscar and Haddock be extracted, but so would any other citizens with the tech implanted. Finlayson came across this folder, and became insistent that Wells be given the tech, which Totem agreed to. Totem, Wells, and Finlayson all kept the act a secret, which would ultimate bring tensions to a boiling head and cause The Panic.

During the events of The Panic, Totem finally caved, asking Dougal's organization to help him escape. By then, however, it was already too late- the angered citizens of the town had seized Totem, bound and gagged him, and dragged him out to the town square to burn him at the stake, letting everyone else with the tech feel his anguish. Finlayson, tuned into Totem's thoughts at the time, remarked on Totem's desperate attempts to seek out a solution, turning over every physical possibility and even sending out many prayers, despite his devout atheism.

Unbeknownst to the citizens of Limetown, Totem had caved to Dougal's deal and called the phone number, hoping to be rescued. As a result, Dougal's agents descended upon Limetown, abducting all citizens with the implant and transporting them to places unknown, and killing all citizens without the implant.

Known Associates

 * Renard Brahms Villard

Appearances

 * Episode 1: What We Know (recording)
 * Episode 4: DDoS (mentioned)
 * Episode 5: Scarecrow (mentioned)
 * Episode 6: Cost-Benefit Analysis (mentioned)