Chapter 3 – I think they took my friend who ran the place.

Monday 5/4/2020

So I called Arthur yesterday.

No answer.

This would’ve worried me more had it not been a Sunday. I figured he probably was taking the day off, maybe resting. Anything that didn’t involve something beyond ordinary circumstances.

I tried my best to distract myself. I played some video games, cleaned up the kitchen. The wife had this idea to make some desert we hadn’t done in a few years, so a large part of the afternoon went towards that. I think she added a bit too much sugar, but it came out fantastic either way. We barely had to leave the house yesterday so there was nothing much to report beyond that.

Then today happened.

After the usual morning routine I thought I’d try reaching out to Arthur again. The conversation went something like this:

“Good morning, Arthur’s Wreck Yard, this is Mary.”

“Uh, good morning? I’m looking for Arthur.”

“I’m sorry, Arthur isn’t available at the moment, would you like to leave a message?”

“He’s not…? But…I’m sorry, who is this?”

“This is Mary.”

“Mary…and you are who?”

“I’m Arthur’s secretary.”

“Secretary. Right…Mary please have Arthur call me as soon as he’s in. He’ll know me by the number, alright? Tell him it’s important.”

I waited for a response or something from “Mary” but the other line remained silent for a few seconds.

“Mary, you still there?”

I could hear the breathing on the other side so I knew the line hadn’t cut off. I was about to talk again when…

“’ll make sure Arthur gets the message. You have a great day, sir. Good luck.” Then she hung up.

I kept the phone by my ear for a few seconds trying to wrap my head around what had just happened.

I’ve known Arthur for more than a year, and never, ever, has he had anyone else working there but him. Maybe he’ll have family visit him every now and then and help out for a few days, but a secretary? No way.

And what had she meant by good luck? Something wasn’t feeling right about it. I tried calling back, but there was no response. It took me to voicemail at first, but eventually the line would just cut or not ring at all.

Arthur could have gotten a secretary over the weekend though. Maybe he was feeling sick and needed someone to be there for a bit while he recovered. There was a pandemic going on so that would make sense, right?

Still, I’m considering going back to junkyard and speaking to this “Mary” person face to face just to make sure. Maybe it would be better if I laid low, but I can’t just sit here and do nothing and it’s not like I have anyone else to get a second opinion on about this.

Anyway, here is the next log. It features a different unit then the previous one. Seems like they made it just in time. The situation really isn’t looking good though.

I’ll update here when I can.

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Video & Audio Log Transcript Record I

Date: July 25, 20 ▇

Unit: Platypus II

Operatives: PL-05 Venom – PL-06 Web – PL-07 Beak – PL-08 Oddity

Location: ▇▇▇▇▇, Amazon Rainforest, Peru

Objective: Re-confinement of any and all non-human entities.

—————————————-

(After encountering trouble entering the country, the Platypus II operatives have managed to make their way into the jungle. Their original insertion window was approximately two hours and thirty six minutes ago. They’re currently en route, by foot, to Sector P’s RF-4.)

[LOG START]

PL-05 Venom: Be advised, the search and rescue unit is already inside the facility. Proceed with caution here on out. We have at least 32 confirmed non-human entities. It’s unknown how many of them have escaped so far.

PL-08 Oddity: Is the S&R unit suited to deal with them?

PL-05 Venom: Probably not. Let’s hope they haven’t made contact yet.

PL-06 Web: Why would they go into the station then, knowing damn well what’s in there and not being prepared?

(Silence)

PL-06 Web: They do know what’s in there, don’t they?

PL-05 Venom: It’s hard to say. A number of the files were classified. We don’t know if they were briefed the same way we were.

PL-07 Beak: This sounds like shit just waiting to hit the fan, Venom.

PL-06 Web: We should’ve been here sooner.

PL-05 Venom: We would have if they hadn’t held us up back there.

PL-06 Web: Anyone else get the feeling they’d been waiting for us to show? The execution was too precise for a random check.

PL-08 Oddity: Maybe, but why hold us and not the S&R team?

PL-07 Beak: Sector P might be hiding something. They left the station as a CZ with 32 non-humans in it and didn’t seem to care about it until we were called.

PL-08 Oddity: Still doesn’t explain why they’d let the S&R team come in with no problem.

PL-07 Beak: Because the S&R isn’t a threat. We are.

(Unit continues moving through the jungle when a screech breaks the silence, the audio distorts for a few seconds.)

PL-08 Oddity: (Static)…hell was that?

PL-05 Venom: Make sure your hearing nulls are on. Switching lights on.

(The unit switches on head-mounted blue lights. The jungle becomes less thick until they reach a clearing, what is assumed to be the station is now visible as well as three figures near it. Two of them on the ground and one is standing. As the unit enters the clearing, the standing figure releases a second screech. Their lights illuminate the entity, a humanoid with a disfigured jaw and glowing green eyes wearing the clothing of an operative.

PL-07 Beak shoots. Lethal force is allowed, however their objective is to re-confine. The shot appears to electrocute the humanoid although it continues to stand. PL-05 Venom shoots using his own personal ammo. The three shots pierce into the humanoid’s chest. Within seconds, it falls backwards onto the ground.)

PL-05 Venom: Easy now…

(The unit moves in. Slug-like lifeforms are spotted making their way towards one of the operatives on the ground.)

PL-06 Web: What are these things?

PL-05 Venom: Don’t touch them. Move the operative. Beak, the boxes.

(The unit drags both operatives away into the station and sets them down on nearby furniture. PL-07 Beak pushes the slug-like life forms into a metal box using his rifle and seals it.)

PL-05 Venom: Command, we have three unconscious operatives, one appears to be compromised by an unknown entity. We’ve confined unknown life forms and are securing the compromised operative.

PLCommand: Good work, operatives. The Bloodhounds already have evac on the way. It appears that two of their operatives are in the station already and communication has been lost. We’ll send additional reinforcement.

PL-05 Venom: Copy that.

(Unit does a quick sweep of the area around the station before regrouping inside. At the same time, one of the unconscious operatives begins to stir. PL-05 Venom approaches her.)

PL-05 Venom: Are you with me? Hold on, gonna patch you through our channel.(PL-05 Venom syncs her comm to the channel) Can you identify yourself?

[Unknown]: BH-04 Tiny, Specialized Unit Bloodhound I. Where…where am I? Is this your command center?

PL-06 Web: You’re inside Sector P’s RF-4. You’re on a search and rescue mission. Do you remember that?

(BH-04 Tiny appears disoriented as she studies her surroundings. She shakes her head, pushing PL-05 Venom aside and getting on her feet.)

BH-04 Tiny: This isn’t the station.

(She picks up her rifle and aims at the operatives.)

BH-04 Tiny: (Shouting) Who are you? What do you want from me?

(Operatives lift their hands up slowly and back away.)

PL-05 Venom: We’re Platypus II, we’re here to help with the re-confinement of any non-humans to assist and facilitate the rescue mission. We found you outside along with a teammate and a compromised operative. We only brought you inside the station a few minutes ago.

BH-04 Tiny: (Lowering her weapon) Is this a sublevel of the station then? There were no sofas or tables or desks. The station wasn’t even made from metal!

PL-08 Oddity: This is the lobby. Maybe you went in through another entrance, a back door?

BH-04 Tiny: There was no lobby. It was just a cabin. A wooden cabin. Tell me where we are, now.

(BH-04 Tiny raises her rifle again.)

PL-05 Venom:(Hands still held up) Go outside, see for yourself.

(Linked video feed from BH-04 Tiny’s camera sees her running out of the station. The large, bunker-like building is in view which appears to startle BH-04 Tiny. The Platypus II operatives walk outside towards her as she mutters to herself.)

BH-04 Tiny: It was a cabin. A wooden cabin. The other half of my team went in through a trap door inside of it. Where’d they go?

(The operative exchange looks between one another.)

PL-05 Venom: Evac is on its way, alright? Just wait it out. We’ll look for your team. There’s an elevator and a set of stairs we’ll take to get to the lower levels.

BH-04 Tiny: (Shakes her head) I’m coming with you. We were out here waiting for you to go in together and that’s what I’m gonna do.

PL-05 Venom: It’s best you wait here for evac, keep an eye out for your teammate.

BH-04 Tiny: I’m coming. (She pushes her way past the unit and back inside the building.)

PL-08 Oddity: Let her come,Venom, the more the better anyhow.

PL-06 Web: Agreed.

PL-05 Venom: (Sighs) Fine. (The unit follows BH-04 Tiny back inside.) You can come, but you’re under my command from here on out. Got it?

BH-04 Tiny: Understood.

(BH-04 Tiny stills appears disoriented, but nods at PL-05 Venom.)

PL-05 Venom: Everyone be ready in five. We have people to find and bastards to catch.

[LOG CUT]