Seeing Lex so intrigued in his prized display piece, Argyle joins him by the glass casing.
"You taking a sip of the Kool aid too, huh?"
"Huh?"
"Interest in the foreign cryptids. This is the screamer - the Drekavac from Europe. I procured its corpse from a seller about a year ago, and it's one of my most expensive items. Not one I'm willing to sell at that."
"Right…" Turning to face Argyle, Lex says, "It's interesting… freaky shit, but interesting."
"You of all people seem the least unnerved by my dubious collection, Mr. Lex."
"I've seen a lot more than this." He returns his gaze to the organ in the centre of the Drekavac's chest for a moment.
"Hm, I see."
Taking a turn towards the exit stairs, Lex makes his way out of the shop.
"I'm going for a smoke."
Meanwhile, Richard can't help his curiosity regarding the package that Sawyer came all the way out here for.
"What's in it?" He asks.
"Just something I use for combat, a distraction of sorts."
Seeing Argyle walk past, Richard stops him with a query, "Hey, you got anything related to mental anomalies?"
"Mental anomalies?" He answers, leaning against a marble frame. "Nah, sorry brother. I collect monsters, that other stuff isn't my forte."
Richard hums in acknowledgement, not with a tone of disappointment, but rather that of strange amusement.
Soon enough, the group leaves Argyle's shop to head back to the facility, being waved off by Argyle with a friendly goodbye.
"Catch you later, Sawyer! Was nice to meet you fellas! Bon Voyage!"
—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[This directory is the property of Professor Colin Ventresca.]
[Unauthorized viewing is strictly prohibited.]
[Log 1]
—------ 6/19/2021
AMALGAM RECREATION
Amalgam recreation is the study of temporarily 'reviving' certain hostile entities that possess the ability to naturally regenerate. The phenomenon occurs when an inactive severed piece of an eligible amalgam is exposed to the amplified brainwaves of the recreationist, causing a violent reaction of the amalgam in which it regenerates its original body from the small slice of itself that had been presented.
Within the first few seconds of the amalgam being fully recreated, it will be in a confused state and it is vital that the user gives the amalgam a trajectory in some way, such as an enemy to attack or somewhere to go, or it may try to kill the recreationist.
The time varies from each amalgam, but after a usually short time the subject will fall apart as being recreated so quickly has made it hard to keep itself together, unlike regular regeneration.
[Log 2]
—------ 6/23/2021
Out of the 9 tested entities, only 2 were successfully recreated. In both instances, they did not abide by the directive that was given at the moment of recreation, and attacked our group. Both were restrained and taken away by guards, including all of their respective pieces used for the recreation.
[Log 3]
—------ 7/6/2021
Our research initiative regarding the amalgam recreation project is now three personnel down after the attacks following our recent attempt referenced in log 2, however myself and those who remain have managed to get our hands on an entire limb belonging to an amalgam which has excellent regenerative properties.
[Log 4]
—------ 7/8/2021
Yesterday's recreation attempt took up to 20 minutes to complete. All of us gathered around the limb, giving ourselves to it was sort of cult-like. It worked, the amalgam's original form was fully reconstructed from its singular limb. However, it simply stood there, its simple directive to turn its hostility towards a mannequin was ignored and thus, our final chance at proving my theory had gone down the drain.
[Log 5]
—------ 9/1/2021
I have made a grave mistake. It's all I could think about, so I attempted it again, by myself. I know it could work just as I thought it could, but only in theory. In practicality, too many variables get in the way of giving the subject something, just something that could divert its attention. The process takes too long, each amalgam is too unstable and its regenerative individuality is far too unknown and the fear - my fear - makes each attempt crumble at the slightest pull-back. All I did was show them how giant of a joke my theory was, they took everything and disbanded my project.
But I know it's possible. Utilising anomalies will never remain a dream.
[End of directory.]
—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In Facility:Null, every anomaly contained there resides below the main facility building in either underground layer 1 or underground layer 2. Underground layer 1 generally kept Zeta, Beta and Alpha level cryptids in basic cages as these anomalies were of average size and possessed no bizarre properties that would warrant a specialised containment cell. The east side of underground layer 1 was where Claudia Weslie was experimented on, and was subsequently released - escaping to the far north side where the generators that power the facility are situated. The aforementioned area where Claudia was held also housed several non-cryptid anomalies such as plants, corpses and mental effects.
Layer 2 is the home to Gamma and Delta threat level entities, with the occasional lower threat level cryptids that fit the requirement for personalised cells. Many cages in this layer are specially designed for either large anomalies, or ones possessing a way of escaping a regular steel-walled cell. Some containment cells in underground layer 2 are extremely large, extending so far down that beside them are specialised elevators solely for observing a different angle of the same entity. Some are submerged underwater, some have their own custom-made environments, and some had special conditions that needed to be met daily.
Researchers studied the anomalies contained in the lower levels to fully understand their behaviour and unnatural properties. Along with the guards which were stationed along containment sectors, each dedicated to a different contained entity, Facility:Null's personnel followed strict security protocols centered around complex systems keeping every single one of their subjects under constant lockdown. Not a day went by in which these protocols were neglected, and new cells would subsequently be built once a new anomaly was reported, and eventually taken into the facility's custody.
Field unit operatives were rarely ever allowed down into underground layer 2, even Sawyer and his unit - who had just captured the newest unfriendly resident of the second layer - weren't granted permission to view their imprisoned catch.
Coincidently, the Layer-Mesh - the monstrosity with a warping flesh-based form - was the subject of the recently-returned Director Campbell's visit to layer 2.
Vincent Campbell stood outside of the Mesh's chamber, accompanied by several guards and researchers who had collaborated to make the monster's confinement possible. Fittingly enough for the cryptid's given code-name, the construct that it now indefinitely would call its home sat in a deep layer of the facility.
Having examined all field reports pertaining to the Mesh's capabilities, Facility:Null's personnel built a cage encased in several rigged layers to prevent the amalgam from thinning down and slipping its bulging sections through the floor, walls and ceiling the way it did back at the apartment complex that it had been first discovered, and the metro train that it had later fled to.
"Three violent escape attempts have been recorded since containment, all over 6 hours apart from each other, but as you can see sir, the enclosure hasn't sustained so much as a dent. In the last 24 hours, no physical struggle from the entity has been observed, so we believe it's given up."
A researcher reads the details written on an electronic table out to Director Campbell.
Any surveillance cameras placed in the Layer-Mesh's cage would have been destroyed by it, no matter how high - considering its ability to scale walls - so an extremely thick layer of glass lenses was dug into the walls allowing the facility's personnel to observe the cryptid from a safe distance.
"This is the anomaly that Sawyer and his unit helped capture?" Campbell asks, as if speaking to himself rather than as a general question.
"Yes, director. This is the third Gamma level amalgam that Ambrose has been involved in its neutralisation this year."
"Excellent." Giving a professional nod to those gathered around him, the director ends his viewing of the Layer-Mesh to make his way back to the surface.
As the small crowd disperses, a trio of guards remain with Campbell to accompany him to the nearest elevator, but just before they make it there, a researcher scurries towards the director.
"Sir, if I may, sir…"
Seeing that he had now captured Director Campbell's attention for a moment, the researcher continues.
"Well, it's just such a delicate matter. Maybe we should…"
"Here is fine." Campbell interrupts him, demanding to hear the labcoat-wearing man's topic right where they stand.
"...Project Marigold. We need your direct mandate to proceed from this point onward."
"Put it on hold. I'll soon decide the direction it should proceed."
The researcher stares at the director for a mere moment, looking slightly hurt and confused before pushing out a few words before Campbell enters the elevator.
"If you wish, director."
Once inside the elevator, Vincent Campbell's tone of voice crudely changes almost like that of an actor's.
"Any developments regarding Morris Lavender?"
"No, sir." One of the armed men accompanying him answers. "All statewide surveillance including bank details, car plates and ID records show no trace of him. Since going awol he hasn't visited any acquaintances or family - he's gone ghost."
"He knows what he's doing. Keep searching for him country-wide, contact Hafson if you need any federal data or airline flightlists. Make sure all non-active personnel are on this and if you find absolutely anything relating to Lavender then I'm the first person you contact about it."
Meanwhile, above ground, several field operators gather in the facility's food court for their lunch break. Among them are Richard, Jericho, and Claudia, sitting at a table while nearby stands Sawyer drinking a coffee - black.
"16 years in the military." Jericho says. "I was the best sharp-shooter they'd ever seen, and then one day the same people who cheered me for shooting shit for half my life tell us to stop shooting shit.
"So that's why you joined the facility?" Claudia asks.
"That's right. The military stopped its action, so me and a couple of other guys who were pissed off by it got an invitation to transfer here. I was the only one who made it past the mission."
"Only coz I saved your ass after you tripped up." Richard chimes in, stating his claim without looking up from his meal.
"I'd only accept that if you learnt to shoot a gun."
"I mean, have you ever played warzone?"
"Oh, good. You're all here."
A voice from the food-court entrance interrupts their conversation. Standing there was Dawn, along with Lex who had just been on his way home from the facility, but was stopped by the unit's communications manager.
"Looks like there's a mission for unit 24, need y'all to check it out."
Turning to the others, Sawyer exclaims, "Pack everything up, we're heading out."
After gathering all their gear, the group walks towards the exit of the facility.
"So, fill me in." Sawyer says to Dawn as light rain trickles down the nearby windows.
"According to reliable sources, a swarm appeared in Tennessee at the Great Smoky Mountains." She answers.
"What kind of swarm?"
"For those who don't know, swarm-type anomalies refer to cryptids of the same physical and behavioural 'species' that sometimes move in groups, or simply exist alongside one or more of the same type in the world."
Dawn raises her voice so that the others behind herself and Sawyer can hear her explanation.
"On the other hand, we refer to cryptids that are unique and entirely one of a kind as 'singularities'. From what it sounded like, we've got another identified anomaly - Fresno Nightcrawlers."
"Fresnos?" Sawyer perks up. "I thought those were only sighted on the west coast. How'd they end up in Appalachia?"
"Who knows? Anything goes at Appalachia, a separate party of the same type of cryptid appearing across the country isn't impossible."
Dawn points across the facility's parking lot at an aircraft before continuing.
"I'll fill you in on the details over comms, but it's at least a 2 hour flight to your destination so you shouldn't waste time."
As Sawyer notices a man standing in front of their designated aircraft, Dawn says one more thing before going back inside.
"Oh, and somebody wants to talk to you." She says as if she already knew the man would be there, waiting patiently for the unit.
The helicopter that would soon take the unit to their next mission was being prepared for lift-off by engineers and pilots, and the man that Sawyer didn't exactly recognise stood nearby, holding an umbrella to shield him from the light drizzle, wearing a loose coat over a white dress shirt.
This man, seemingly in his late 50s with a ragged scar on his forehead just below his hairline, wasn't someone familiar to the rest of the unit. Jericho and Claudia however, instantly recognised him.
"Roth??"