Dark*Matter: Discovery, The First Mission

[iwatt]

"Myths? If it ain't in the funny pages I haven't read it." Settling into the seat, Larry is ready to get moving. Hopefully it would be an intersting investigation. He started to wonder what it would be like to be psychic. He wasn't sure if he'd like the special attention it would bring from those weirdos from the institute. Most of the conversation they'd overhead had gone over his head, specially since he been busy checking the hacker girl.

 

[kinem]

Taking his seat, Diego declares "Now that I know magic's real, I'm ready for anything. Reading fantasy books is about to pay off."

Damn, I am starting to sound like a real diego.

 

[Falkus]

The trip takes a few hours, and you arrive shortly after noon. You pull up in front of a white, two-story house at the address you were given. Looks fairly normal, with a sedan parked in the driveway, and a swing set and various other toys on the front lawn indicating the presence of a child. On your way in, you passed the NuTech facility, a large complex of buildings surrounded by a rather sturdy electric fence. Fairly heavy security at the entrance gates you saw too. Not that unusual for a military contractor, though.

There's not much interesting on the radio or in the news to listen to on the way in, though there are a lot of recruiting ads for Neo-Scientology, as well as some more recruiting ads for regular Scientology which includes thinly veiled insults about Neo-Scientology, and more ads for Neo-Scientology with less thinly veiled insults about regular Scientology. There's been a lot of that lately, ever since the religion split up a few years ago. It seems Hubbard's religion isn't handling its first schism very well.

Friadoc
[sblock]You don't find much about NuTech, aside from the fact that their a pentagon contractor with a focus on rocket technology[/sblock]

 

[Friadoc]

“Gotta love socio-theological schisms,” says Cade with a nod toward the radio. “I wonder if the parents are in either camp?”

As Cade puts the minivan in neutral, after parking it, he turns and looks at the rest of you as he continues, “I mean, you don’t get this kind of coverage on local radio unless you’ve got a pretty fair market share.”

“It’s like back home in Klamath, although there are Catholic and Mormon presences in town,” Cade says as he tilts his head to the side and shrugs a shoulder. “You just don’t hear much from them on the radio, but, say in Boise, you get a lot of public service announcements, charities, and so forth the Mormons. It’s the same with the Catholics in Portland.”

“Basis of philosophy and tenants aside,” adds Cade, “It is a belief that says it teaches improving your mind over body, inner reflection, and et ceteras – I could easily see someone coming out the tail end of it with psi-faculties.”

"One other thing, food for thought if you will," finishes Cade. "It's odd if a lot of the town is a member of one faction, or the other, of Scientology considering the religions history with the US Government." With a wry, half-smile he adds as puts the minivan back in gear and turns off the engine, "Considering that they use to have a misguided project that tapped the phones of governmental agencies and fled the country to run their relgion from sea going ships."

OOC

Is there anything Cade might know about the schisms and it's cause between Neo-Scientology and Scientology? Is it a national issue? Regional? Or?

And yeah, I'm wordy, sorry.

 

[iwatt]

"Just another Hokey religion. I don't expct Tom Cruise to start manifesting psi-powers any time soon." Turning around in his seat, he realizes they hadn't worked on their cover story much. "If we want to get some answers, I suggest we don't all crowd the girl. Some of us should question the parents, while just a couple ask the girl. Meredith, I think you should take the girl, and maybe have Nick help you. You're a dad right? I don't want to intimidate her and haver her shut down, so a woman and a fatherly figure ought to work. We'll say Meredith is the lead investigator and that Nick is the paranormal specialist."

With a nod towards Cade and Diego, he adds. "We'll question the parents. I'll lead the interview with them. Diego should carry the equipment and set up the camera's and computers, and we'll say you're tech support Cade. I'll be Meredith's assistant." Larry is suddenly all buisness. "If somebody statrs doubting you, call me and I'll try to settle them down. I've been known to sell ice to an eskimo."


OOC: I think it's a sound plan, but any ideas are appreciated. I think I gave everybody a good cover.

 

[Shayuri]

"Sounds good," Meredith says promptly to Larry.

"And as for Scientology, it's been pretty thoroughly debunked. Picking on it now is like shooting fish in a barrel." She pauses and considers. "Still, I guess if the parents are devotees, it might impact the investigation. What a mess."

 

[industrygothica]

The mention of Nick being a father reminds him of his own little girl. He wonders what he'd do if he was ever put into a situation like this.

"That's a fine plan," he says. "You might have a time of it getting them to let us talk to her alone though. I know I wouldn't like it."

 

[iwatt]

"Well, we have to try. Parents can influence their children's responses tremendously. I'd rather you got her undivided attention. If I can't manage to talk them into leaving us alone with her, I'll talk them into putting a webcam and having them listen in on the interview through a computer." Turning towards Cade, "That shouldn't be too ahrd, right?"

 

[Friadoc]

"It shouldn't be a problem," says Cade with a nod towards the back of the minivan. "If the kit doesn't have it's own, which would surprise me at this point, I can always hit a local nerd-porium and get one."

"So, yeah, it's doable," adds Cade. "Good idea."

 

[Falkus]

Friadoc
[sblock]You've heard a few things about Neo-Scientology. Namely, that was founded a few years ago by the charismatic William Kwouk, who led a schism in the ranks of the Scientologists. Neo-Scientology's beliefs focus almost exclusively on the development of psychic powers in human beings. The two religion/cults tend to be fairly antagonistic towards each other, though it's been heating up lately, ever since high ranking Scientologists publicly accused Kwouk of arranging the murder of several other scientiologists.[/sblock]

Shayuri
[sblock]Parked across the street, you notice a black SUV with tinted windows. You think you see somebody inside, but can't make out any details.[/sblock]