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<blockquote data-quote="jonrog1" data-source="post: 98243" data-attributes="member: 189"><p>RAW RECRUITS: Pt. 1 </p><p></p><p><em>"Reality is not only stranger than you imagine, it's stranger than you CAN imagine."</em></p><p> </p><p>It was only a few weeks later, during orientation training for the Hoffman Institute, when Andy, Ross and Jo, and Stephen saw each other again. A few terse nods, a few nervous words ... although all four had individually coped with the quantum weirdness of the incidents at Exit 23, somehow seeing the other survivors rattled them, made it tangible. All had to admit, though, that after that night, they had to see what the Hoffman Institute had to offer. </p><p></p><p>The public face of the Hoffman Institute was of a think tank/research center, sort of a paranormal National Geographic Society. That was also the first twelve layers of their private face. But despite the "need to know" attitute the Institute takes with recruits, they learned enough in a few days -- and saw the evidence to back it up -- to set every conspiracy freak in the world into permanent blissful catatonia. </p><p></p><p>All four did well -- better than most of the recruits, actually, as they didn't need to make the conceptual leap the others did. They already knew the world was strange, while the rest were just learning this. All four showed certain aptitudes. Ross picked up on strategy, interrogation, and general small arms tactics. Johanna wasn't much one for strategy, but she could get anyone to open up to her and she trained obsessively with her Sig Sauer pistol.</p><p></p><p>Obsessively. </p><p></p><p>And she still drank. </p><p></p><p>Also, she developed a nascent interest in legitimate psychic research.</p><p></p><p>She didn't let it interfere with her drinking.</p><p></p><p>Andy found that what other people called "con man" the Institute called "Agent", and his surface knowledge of the occult was deepened by exposure to real phenomena. Stephen also proved an excellent interviewer and investigator. Despite his training, though, he seemed unable to bandage a wound without eliciting even more serious bleeding. </p><p></p><p>After several weeks of training, they were called before Richard Patterson, the LA Section Chief for the Hoffman Institute. </p><p></p><p>"I'm Patterson. You can call me 'sir.' Sit." The foursome looked at each other nervously, took their seats. "Congratulations. You've been fast-tracked. Read your file on the Exit 23 incident, helluva thing. You should all be dead." </p><p></p><p>"I really wish people would stop saying that," muttered Jo. </p><p></p><p>"Got a training mission for you, a straight fact-finding job. As you know, the Hoffman Institute keeps a website open for people to submit claims of the paranormal or supernatural. Got an interesting report from a Desmond family in Kenosha right out Route 10. Poltergeists. We'd like you to check it out." Patterson dropped a stack of files on his desk for them to plow through. "Take notes -- none of this is cleared to leave this room." </p><p></p><p>"You don't trust us?" asked Ross. </p><p></p><p>"Well, no. But that's besides the point. Many of our raw data sources come into our hands through rather .. unorthodox means. We can't have that traced back. Anyway, this pile is what archives spat out in the search, you'll have to make sense of it." </p><p></p><p>"What about a cover?" asked Andy. </p><p></p><p>"Soft, level 1." Patterson threw them car keys. "Passenger van out front loaded with video recording equipment, seats nine plus the cargo. You should be able to figure out everything, at least well enough to fake it. The father of the family, Peter Desmond, thinks you're a documentary crew. Get footage for real, if you can." Patterson then produced the Agent standard equipment pack. A Sig Sauer 9 mil with an extra clip -- "Leave it in the van unless you need it" -- ID Badges and state-of-the-art cell phones. Each of the phones came with earpiece plug-ins, and at the flick of a switch they became communicators tuned to a private frequency, like walkie-talkie headsets. </p><p></p><p>Patterson left the group to their research, with the caveat that they had to be on the road in two hours. After some careful collating, the group pulled the following useful information from the massive stack: </p><p></p><p>-- The Desmond home is a single story ranch house in a quiet suburban neighborhood. Peter Desmond, his 17 year old son Jerry from his first marriage, his wife Susan and their 4 year old daughter Eliza. Desmond is a local police officer. </p><p></p><p>-- the house was previously occupied by Daniel and Sarah Moorehouse. During their time at the house, over 14 insurance claims for broken objects were filed, without adequate explanation. The year before the Desmond family moved in, Daniel Moorehouse was found dead of a gunshot wound to the face. Sarah Moorehouse disappeared and hasn't been seen since. </p><p></p><p>-- From various police reports collected over ten years, they found that Peter Desmond's first wife, Heidi, the mother of Jerry, suffered multiple breakdowns, multiple disappearances, once abducted infant Jerry, and was eventually committed. She escaped her institution, never to be seen again. </p><p></p><p>-- Peter Desmond is actually the grandson of one of the great spiritualist researchers of the early 20th century, although he appears ignorant of the fact. </p><p></p><p>Checking their watches, the four climbed into the van and set off for a pleasant afternoon in the suburbs ...</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="jonrog1, post: 98243, member: 189"] RAW RECRUITS: Pt. 1 [I]"Reality is not only stranger than you imagine, it's stranger than you CAN imagine."[/I] It was only a few weeks later, during orientation training for the Hoffman Institute, when Andy, Ross and Jo, and Stephen saw each other again. A few terse nods, a few nervous words ... although all four had individually coped with the quantum weirdness of the incidents at Exit 23, somehow seeing the other survivors rattled them, made it tangible. All had to admit, though, that after that night, they had to see what the Hoffman Institute had to offer. The public face of the Hoffman Institute was of a think tank/research center, sort of a paranormal National Geographic Society. That was also the first twelve layers of their private face. But despite the "need to know" attitute the Institute takes with recruits, they learned enough in a few days -- and saw the evidence to back it up -- to set every conspiracy freak in the world into permanent blissful catatonia. All four did well -- better than most of the recruits, actually, as they didn't need to make the conceptual leap the others did. They already knew the world was strange, while the rest were just learning this. All four showed certain aptitudes. Ross picked up on strategy, interrogation, and general small arms tactics. Johanna wasn't much one for strategy, but she could get anyone to open up to her and she trained obsessively with her Sig Sauer pistol. Obsessively. And she still drank. Also, she developed a nascent interest in legitimate psychic research. She didn't let it interfere with her drinking. Andy found that what other people called "con man" the Institute called "Agent", and his surface knowledge of the occult was deepened by exposure to real phenomena. Stephen also proved an excellent interviewer and investigator. Despite his training, though, he seemed unable to bandage a wound without eliciting even more serious bleeding. After several weeks of training, they were called before Richard Patterson, the LA Section Chief for the Hoffman Institute. "I'm Patterson. You can call me 'sir.' Sit." The foursome looked at each other nervously, took their seats. "Congratulations. You've been fast-tracked. Read your file on the Exit 23 incident, helluva thing. You should all be dead." "I really wish people would stop saying that," muttered Jo. "Got a training mission for you, a straight fact-finding job. As you know, the Hoffman Institute keeps a website open for people to submit claims of the paranormal or supernatural. Got an interesting report from a Desmond family in Kenosha right out Route 10. Poltergeists. We'd like you to check it out." Patterson dropped a stack of files on his desk for them to plow through. "Take notes -- none of this is cleared to leave this room." "You don't trust us?" asked Ross. "Well, no. But that's besides the point. Many of our raw data sources come into our hands through rather .. unorthodox means. We can't have that traced back. Anyway, this pile is what archives spat out in the search, you'll have to make sense of it." "What about a cover?" asked Andy. "Soft, level 1." Patterson threw them car keys. "Passenger van out front loaded with video recording equipment, seats nine plus the cargo. You should be able to figure out everything, at least well enough to fake it. The father of the family, Peter Desmond, thinks you're a documentary crew. Get footage for real, if you can." Patterson then produced the Agent standard equipment pack. A Sig Sauer 9 mil with an extra clip -- "Leave it in the van unless you need it" -- ID Badges and state-of-the-art cell phones. Each of the phones came with earpiece plug-ins, and at the flick of a switch they became communicators tuned to a private frequency, like walkie-talkie headsets. Patterson left the group to their research, with the caveat that they had to be on the road in two hours. After some careful collating, the group pulled the following useful information from the massive stack: -- The Desmond home is a single story ranch house in a quiet suburban neighborhood. Peter Desmond, his 17 year old son Jerry from his first marriage, his wife Susan and their 4 year old daughter Eliza. Desmond is a local police officer. -- the house was previously occupied by Daniel and Sarah Moorehouse. During their time at the house, over 14 insurance claims for broken objects were filed, without adequate explanation. The year before the Desmond family moved in, Daniel Moorehouse was found dead of a gunshot wound to the face. Sarah Moorehouse disappeared and hasn't been seen since. -- From various police reports collected over ten years, they found that Peter Desmond's first wife, Heidi, the mother of Jerry, suffered multiple breakdowns, multiple disappearances, once abducted infant Jerry, and was eventually committed. She escaped her institution, never to be seen again. -- Peter Desmond is actually the grandson of one of the great spiritualist researchers of the early 20th century, although he appears ignorant of the fact. Checking their watches, the four climbed into the van and set off for a pleasant afternoon in the suburbs ... [/QUOTE]
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