Small humanoid sibling species living in VR pods adapted physically initially for subterranean life but eventually artifically selected for sensory override VR pods. (Hence the large eyes, grey skin, no reproductive organs, absorbitve digestion, and so on.)
Interesting hypothesis. Do you have an essay where these ideas are fully fleshed out?
No, I made a GPT that does, if you search for Intraterrestrial Hypothesis. I’m gonna write an essay though.