Is a "sword" a euphuism? (BL)

The events that transpired at Hawkins National Laboratory were nothing short of a disaster. A consensus was reached that immediate action was needed, yet the course of this action was the subject of much contention.

Some advocated for burying the past, pretending that the catastrophic incident had never occurred. Others suggested quarantining the entire town as a precautionary measure. A few saw not a problem, but an opportunity lurking in the shadows of the incident. After all, the objective of MK-Ultra was mind control – a mechanism to manipulate enemy agents – and Martin Brenner's fate seemed to reflect precisely that. There was a spectrum of opinions with countless nuances in between.

Every group desired their representative at the helm.

Dr. Samuel Owens was the resulting compromise. His appointment didn't particularly please anyone, but it appeased everyone just enough to move forward, given the urgency of the situation.

He was promptly dispatched to the problematic small town, assuming the role of Director of Operations at Hawkins Lab.

"Good day, sir," a young agent greeted Owens at the entrance of the makeshift headquarters – the lab itself was still under quarantine. "We've been expecting you."

Returning the greeting amiably, Owens initiated small talk, subtly probing the current local situation. In his experience, friendly conversation often served as an effective form of subtle interrogation.

"The local representative of Aperture Science, Mr. Wheeler, has been attempting to contact someone with the authority to oversee the facility," the agent casually mentioned.

"The decision has already been made. Hawkins Lab is not for sale. However, the name does ring a bell," Owens replied.

"He's a Person of Interest."

Acknowledging with a nod, Owens thought that meeting this representative could prove beneficial. He noted the agent casting anxious glances towards a nearby rooftop. "What seems to be the problem?" he inquired, his tone as soothing as if addressing a patient.

"It's those damn birds. It's as if they're watching us."

Owens didn't have to wait long to assemble the agents assigned to the case. Their efficiency was a testament to their professionalism, something that Owens found promising. Although he had already read all the reports, he believed that an in-person briefing often revealed details that written documents missed.

Agent Chase, the lead investigator on the case, initiated the briefing. He was an experienced agent, his face etched with a permanent stern look. "The first incident occurred on November 6th of last year," he started, his fingers running across the printed timeline before him. "Due to damage to the records, we don't have a precise time, but we're estimating it was early evening."

"That wasn't the first incident," Agent Young countered, leaning back in his chair. His tone was calm, yet assertive. "Dr. Brenner made contact with the Unknown Entity during the 1979 incident."

Chase shot a glance at Young, shaking his head in disagreement. "That's unverified. The only evidence we have is Dr. Brenner's own testimony. Given his mental state, he's far from a reliable witness." The agents had clearly had this debate before. Owens sat back, silently taking in their interactions.

"The contact was supposedly made during a Remote Viewing experiment," Chase continued, trying to steer the discussion back to his report.

"Details of the experiment?" Owens asked, his gaze shifting from one agent to the other.

Chase sighed, a look of frustration passing briefly over his face. "They either weren't recorded initially, or the records were later destroyed. The survivors' testimonies have been incoherent and deemed unreliable. However, they consistently mention one phrase: 'The monster shows the path.'"

"The monster?" Owens queried, curiosity piqued.

"We believe it refers to the creature encased in ice that we recovered from the site," Young chimed in, his voice steady.

"We'll come back to that," Owens interjected, raising a hand. "What about the test subject?"

"Missing, presumed dead," Chase replied, his voice carrying an undertone of regret.

"Lost during the incident?" Owens probed further.

Chase massaged his temples, showing signs of fatigue. "There are hints that she might have escaped during the chaos, but nothing concrete. We do know that Dr. Brenner was searching for her. Quite ruthlessly."

Owens remembered the case file. "Ah, the alleged suicide of Benny Hammond?"

"We're now classifying that as a murder," Young interjected, his tone steely.

"No chance of burying that?" Owens questioned, drumming his fingers on the table.

Young shook his head, his expression resolute. "Not with the leak from Child Protective Services. Dr. Brenner had both the motive and opportunity. At this point, one more murder won't make much of a difference."

Regrettably, it seemed the choice had been made to scapegoat Martin Brenner rather than conceal the truth. Owens could see the logic. One article had been the initial catalyst that set off a media avalanche. Even reputable newspapers were catching wind of the story. There were just too many coincidences, too many lucky breaks for the press. The whole situation felt off, but that wasn't Owens's concern. Other agents would be assigned to delve into those murky waters.

"Regardless, Dr. Brenner is unlikely to be deemed mentally competent to stand trial," Agent Chase interjected, his tone tinged with a touch of distaste.

"The next event?" Owens steered the conversation back to the task at hand. Brenner's fate was secondary to his priorities.

"The disappearance of a local boy, William Byers. It happened soon after the first incident. Again, the exact timing is uncertain."

Owens frowned, leaning forward slightly. "Are we certain that the two events happened in that sequence?" The suggested timeline implied a connection, but lacked firm evidence.

"Not definitively, but it seems plausible. The boy reappeared a few hours later, unconscious in an Aperture facility in Michigan."

Owens blinked in surprise. "But reports indicate they didn't contact Ms Byers for several days. Did they provide a reason?"

Chase nodded, his expression grim. "The boy's identity couldn't be confirmed until he regained consciousness. Dr. Brenner planting a fake body complicated things."

Owens hummed in response. "Almost sounds reasonable. Considering the source, that's a bit suspicious."

He'd had limited interactions with Aperture Science, but their reputation preceded them. There were many adjectives one could use to describe Aperture Science - 'reasonable' was certainly not among them.

"Dr Alexander Jonson, the current Technical Director of Aperture Science, travelled to Hawkins immediately after they determined William Byers's identity," Agent Young continued. "He fortified a house belonging to a scientist in his employ, one Dr. Dwight Hutter. We believe he then contacted the boy's mother and directed her to the Wheelers."

"Aperture's local representative family?" Owens inquired, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes, although he didn't hold that position at that time. It's a relatively new development."

Intriguing. It suggested that Wheeler had been an inside man from the start. Someone stationed in Hawkins to keep an eye on things. But why? What did Aperture know? Their connections to MK Ultra and the Stargate Project were common knowledge among his circle. Although a lot of their research was purely theoretical – exploring concepts such as negative friction gels, micro singularities, and even the hybridization of human and mantis genes – their theories about alternate universes had recently become extremely relevant.

"And the boy's mother?"

"Now an employee of Aperture Science," Young responded with a slight shrug.

"And the reason for that?" Owens asked, his curiosity piqued.

Young exchanged a glance with Chase before answering, "It's purely speculative, but Aperture Science provides internal medical coverage for all employees and their immediate families. They might want control over the boy's medical records."

"Next?"

Chase took the lead again. "There was an incident at the Wheeler's house. Reconstruction was hindered due to the loss of eyewitnesses. All agents involved were later eliminated by Dr. Brenner. The Wheelers and Byers claim to have left Hawkins before the confrontation, heading to the Aperture Enrichment Center in Michigan. We have little reason to question their account. Sheriff Hopper reportedly arrived only after agents had sanitized the scene. However, the surviving parts of reports indicate that a Russian psychic commando confronted the team, with the 'monster' saving them. We believe there was a conflict between them and Dr Brenner since the lead agent wished to alert superiors to possible Russian involvement. This could be why they were eliminated."

"So, we lack substantial data on the events within Hawkins National Laboratory during the relevant period?"

Agent Young nodded, "Correct. The surveillance footage was severely damaged, likely due to deliberate sabotage. And the remaining witnesses... they're too compromised to offer anything credible." He went over every other notable event, concluding with, "No further anomalies have been recorded since Dr. Brenner's arrest."

Owens leaned back, steepling his fingers. "So, Sheriff Hopper is our only reliable witness to the gate and what lies beyond?"

"That seems to be the case," Chase affirmed. "But I suspect he's still holding back. Whether it's mistrust or fear of appearing insane, I can't say. There are too many unanswered questions. Why did only he survive? Why did the gate close?"

Owens pondered this for a moment, then proposed, "Perhaps he'd feel more at ease discussing it with a physician. He was exposed to an unknown environment, after all. Regular check-ups are a must."