-DESCRIPTION-
OM-003, codename: “Screaming Pumpkins”, is an anomalous species of pumpkins that, at first glance, appear indistinguishable from their non-anomalous counterparts; however, after growing large enough (at least 35 centimeters in diameter and 30 centimeters in height), they develop a human face capable of reacting violently to external stimuli. The pumpkins' faces can vary between male and female individuals of all ages and races; they even change over time like a human's would, although when not exposed to strong stressors, all of them display a calm/sleppy expression.
For the rest, OM-003 specimens behave similarly to normal pumpkins. They require soil, water, sunlight, and enough space to grow, and their anomalous properties only become present once they reach the aforementioned size. Their growth rate is comparable to that of commercially grown pumpkins, and no significant differences in their internal anatomy have been observed.
When an OM-003 specimen is subjected to a high level of stress (such as physical damage, abrupt changes in temperature, loud noises, among others), it will begin screaming agonizingly with a terrified face, swell until it almost doubles its original size, and subsequently explode violently. The exact modus operandi of this “defense mechanism” is still unknown; However, the resulting explosions are strong enough to knock out someone who is close enough and launch shell fragments at relatively high speeds. Upon exploding, the instances stop screaming and apparently "die", dispersing multiple seeds that will germinate into more OM-003 instances.
Despite their unstable nature and violent reactions, OM-003 instances are safe for human consumption once processed. Midnight's kitchen staff have even used them in various recipes as substitutes for non-anomalous pumpkins without any unusual side effects being caused; and, their extremely sweet taste has made them particularly popular among Midnight's general staff. To this day, the Innovation and Ethics departments continue debating the possibility of commercializing food products derived from OM-003 worldwide, obviously without specifying their anomalous origin.
