Dark*Matter: Discovery, the Beginning

"Good, you're all here, we can begin," Mr. Smith said, ignoring any quips or Matrix jokes. He opened up a folder in front of him.

"Over the last two days, Department-3 of the Hoffmann Institute, my department, has been performing rather extensive background checks on all of you. Thanks to our resources, we can conduct these checks rather quickly. We checked the usual, employment records, criminal records, medical records, as well as a few other more esoteric sources that we have access to that you don't need to know about right now. It pleases me to tell you that you have all passed these checks, as per our criteria of what makes an acceptable field agent."

"Before we go on, there is one thing I must make explicitly clear. Under no circumstances are you to reveal the true nature of the Hoffmann Institute or the exact nature of your new jobs to ANYBODY not cleared to know. This includes family members."

"The Hoffmann Institute was founded in 1917 by Dr. Itohiro Nakami, and bankrolled by Thomas Hoffmann. Our ultimate goal is to research the supernatural and the arcane, and to understand the causes of paranormal activity. There is more to our goals, of course, but that will be explained to you as your clearance level within the Institute rises. Suffice it to say, the Institute's work can be said, without exaggeration, to be one of the most important endeavors in the entire history of the human race."

"As for what your job will entail? You will be joining Department-7, part of our hidden Intelligence Division that the public doesn't know about. Your position will be field agents. Your goals are simple: To uncover the truth behind the paranormal, the supernatural and the preternatural in order to further our understanding of humanity and the universe it exists in. To this end, you will be dispatched on various assignments to research paranormal events, acquire arcane artifacts and uncover the truth behind myths and legends. We generally prefer to avoid violent action, but no make mistake, the malicious nature of many components of the supernatural and those who lust for power through it make violence a certainty in the lives of a field agent. You will be required, at times, to kill in the course of your duties. You will also be required to break the law, lie, cheat and hide the truth from those not capable of handling it yet. In return, you will be in a unique position to be one of the few human beings actually capable of learning the real truth of our existence."

"Salaries for entry level field agents is forty-two thousand American dollars each year, paid in any currency you desire, and in any form you desire."

"Are you still interested?" Smith concluded.
 

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Falkus said:
"Are you still interested?" Smith concluded.


"Yes," Nick states simply. "I am interested. What are your policies on using your facilities for 'extracurricular' research as well? I'm sure you know to what I'm referring."
 

Falkus said:
["Are you still interested?" Smith concluded.

"I'm in," says Cade after a brief moment of thought. It is a lot to take in, but more than Cade imagination could ever hope for or dream of. "...110%!"

"Do I get a lab?" Cade asks with that 'look' that techies get when they think about all of the wonderful toys.
 

Falkus said:
"Are you still interested?" Smith concluded.

I'll take tte Blue pill, Morpheus. No small talk, no sugar coating. It was clear that smith was keeping a lot to himself, but that was probably expected in a situation like this. some words kept ringing in Larry's head:

Suffice it to say, the Institute's work can be said, without exaggeration, to be one of the most important endeavors in the entire history of the human race.

The chance of been into something big and important, was just too much of a lure to the petty criminal. "I'm in."
 

"I'm in. Can we start today?" Cyrus blurts out. Later, qustions about medical insurance, flexibility to undertake his PhD studies in the fall, and what exactly is the consequence if one happens to say something to a family member would cross his mind. But for now, it was an emotional response, one for which he felt he had been somehow headed all of his life.
 

You will be required, at times, to kill in the course of your duties. You will also be required to break the law, lie, cheat ...

... forty-two thousand American dollars ...


Diego thinks for a moment. The Hoffman Institute ... good guys or bad guys? I guess if you want out, they take you out. But what better option do I have?

"I'm in" he says.
 

Meredith tried to ignore the mounting pressure to give in, to conform. Theatrics. She knew her answer. She'd known it since the day after the incident in the library, when she'd tried to explain to her editor...and couldn't. When she'd picked the chip out of her purse lining, but couldn't hand it over. The chip that had her shots of the impossible. Of a skeleton in Egyptian garb. Of the urn. Of the urn burning. More and more she'd wondered why she changed chips so fast. How fortuitous it had been that she had, since all the mundane research had been on one, and all the wild wooly stuff had been on the other. Coincidence? Divine guidence? Latent precognition?

It didn't matter though. She'd kept that memory chip sacred because in her heart she knew there was only one place that could really appreciate it. Explain it. And she was there now. One day the events she would document as part of this group would be public. There would be no laborious climb from boring intern grunt work to the investigative work she craved. No famous names swooping down to grab the big stories from her before they went to press. And this Hoffman Institute, and what they faced, was the biggest story of all.

"Okay," she said, when everyone else had had their say. "There's no way I could walk away from this...so I'm in too."
 

"Excellent," Mr. Smith said, removing several forms from a folder. "Just a few more formalities to conclude, and then you will be officially agents of the Hoffmann Institute. All you have to do is sign this non-disclosure and employment agreement."

"And to answer your questions, yes, you will have access to labs at our facilities to conduct your own research when you are not actively engaged on an assignment"

He handed out six ten page forms to each of you. Most of the stuff was what you'd expect from a NDA, citing penalties for revealing the Institutes's secrets, ranging from monetary fines for small infringements, up to unspecified 'serious' penalties for major infractions. Some of the stuff was unusual for your standard employment form (requiring agents to report all supernatural abilities they had as soon as they were discovered), and some was just plain odd (all medical treatment and checkups had to be handled solely by Hoffmann Institute personnel).
 
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Meredith raises an eyebrow at the supernatural ability stipulation. Great...how was she going to compete with employees who had super-powers? She looks up at Smith and asks, "Uh, this one here caught my eye." She shows him the form. "Do a lot of Hoffman agents have 'supernatural abilities?' I know I don't...and in the interest of fairness, I think we should know what sort of things we can expect from our co-workers at least."
 

Nick signs off on the papers without a second thought. The idea of being able to use such advanced research methods as these people surely have outweighs any suspicions he has about such odd questions.
 

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