The Bell Incident

Mysterio - Sorry, this is really poorly written (I'm tired and distracted). I'll finish it later.

In 2088, the black-ops division of the Research and Development arm of Caliph Metallurgy and Military, Ltd. began a new project that was codenamed Project Apex. The stated purpose of the project was to conduct research into alternative forms of security systems. The actual goal, supressed for delicate (and understandable) public-relations reasons, was to achieve the goals of the long-defunct Project Vanguard through alternate means; specifically, through biological and psychological methods rather than by mechanical ones.

The name of the subject of these experiments is lost to antiquity and the devastation wrought upon the grounds of Caliph-MM's main archival buildings (and, in fact, over 70% of their facilities) in the events of 2089. However, certain of the so-called “psychoactivation” processes were well-documented and remain the subject of intense scientific scrutiny to this day. To summarize, a particularly brutal and focused set of layered “therapies” were applied to the test subject, referred to only as Apex-2 (references to Apex-1 have either been erased or are fragmentary). A first stage involved extensive administration of psychoactive, hallucinogenic and otherwise mind-altering drugs; the subject was then placed in a sensory deprevation tank and exposed to ethereal stimuli (one example is slowly varying but miniscule magnetic fields). Data indicate that the subject became preternaturally sensitive to normally imperceptable stimuli within four weeks.

A second phase of training and development were designed to draw out latent psychokinetic abilities; the most humane of these tortures could be best described as tying up the subject and administering beatings until the subject learned to defend itself (the lab notebooks register that several lab technicians were slaughtered by Apex-2 upon successfully reaching various psychological benchmarks). Reflexes were coupled to previously developed senses; additional sessions involved sedating the subject and forcing it to sense the intent of the lab technicians while performing various tasks. By Week 23, the subject had learned to not only act faster than any non-augmented human ever recorded, but could also anticipate the actions of potential aggressors. Chief scientists seemed optimistic that they could began sedation, renormalization and behavior control phases considerably ahead of schedule.

However, Project Apex was troubled from its very start. The supposedly secret facility was subject to numerous and frequent raids by rival corporations. This, in and of itself, is not unusual. One particular raid, though, spearheaded by Sir Jordan Tamil of Luxtron, Inc., came at a particularly inopportune time. A transcript of Sir Jordan's Luxtron debriefing follows:

INTERVIEWER: State your name for the record, please.

TAMIL: Sir Jordan Tamil, Knight of the Fourth Order under Luxtron, Inc., bearere of the Silver Hammer and Baron of New Tamil.

INTERVIEWER: Please state your mission orders for the night of November 23, 2088.

TAMIL: I was ordered by my superior, Dame Lauren Winters, to conduct a raid of a recently discovered Caliph-MM research center. We had been informed by an inside source that a sensitive research sample known as “Apex-2” was being transferred to a more secure location; it was decided that a strike on this research was to be conducted. My orders were: tertiary, to disrupt any research; secondary, to recover files and technical data on “Project Apex"; and primary to liberate Research Sample Apex-2.

INTERVIEWER: Were you or your superiors aware of the true nature of Project Apex at the time?

TAMIL: Negative.

INTERVIEWER: Please report the events of the evening on November 23, 2088 and the morning of November 24, 2088.

TAMIL: I conducted a star (15 men in three squads) to the coordinates given, arriving at 2203 hours, local time. Perimeter defences were disabled, and the outer layer of security was penetrated by 2214 hours; access to the laboratory level ensued at 2220 hours. At 2220, we began a search of the laboratory complex for Project Apex material. At 2228, Squad Bravo reported heavy resistance outside Lower Lab 6, and my command squad responded. We arrived at 2232, where we came into contact with Caliph-MM security led by Sir Logan Moon, Fourth Fist of Caliph-MM, Ltd. I engaged Sir Moon at 2233, and accepted his surrender in honorable combat at 2245. We gained access to the lab itself shortly thereafter-

INTERVIEWER: At what time index?

TAMIL: ... I ... I can't say. (Inteviewer's notes indicate that Sir Tamil required a break to steady himself; notes indicate he appeared badly shaken.) I apologize. We gained access to the lab; I opened the doors to Lower Lab 6 personally, with the rest of my squad in a defensive action behind me. When I opened the door, it was ... terrible.

INTERVIEWER: Please describe the scene in Lower Lab 6.

TAMIL: There was ... blood everywhere. (Notes indicate a sound of disapproval from the interviewer for suspected unprofessionalism.) No, please, let me explain. I see blood, all the time, but ... but when I say everywhere I mean it. A thin veneer of blood coated every available surface in the room. There were no identifiable human remains, although security cameras indicate a collection of debris in the corner that may have been the lab technicians. In the center of the room sat - in what appeared to be the midst of a Seventh-Order Lilac Of The Calming Scent (an advanced mediation technique taught to many Corporate Knights) - a man. Height 1.7 meters, weight approximately 75 kilograms, shaved head, blue eyes, Caucasian male. His torso and legs were a nearly unbroken mat of scar tissue, and there was what appeared to be a second-degree burn over his lower left back -

INTERVIEWER: Then he was turned away from you when you entered the room.

TAMIL: Affirmative. I was approximately a meter into the room - this would be some four meters from the man - he stood and turned, swiftly; faster than I've seen any unaugmented human move, with the possible exception of Dame Sara Paulson, First Chain, Genentech. I drew my saber and bade the stranger identify himself. I should add that it was not until after he answered that I noticed he had “Apex-2” tattooed on his right bicep.

INTERVIEWER: Why did you fail to notice this at first?

TAMIL: I realize that this may appear to you as negligence in the line of duty, but I give you my word of honor that the tattoo I speak of was simply not there until he spoke; in retrospect -

INTERVIEWER: I did not ask for an excuse, Sir Tamil.

TAMIL: (Notes indicate that Tamil raises his voice here.) With all due respect, it is my belief that the tattoo was concealed through extrasensory means. I believe the subject clouded my mind.

(The interviewer notes their dissatisfaction with the response here.)

INTERVIEWER: Please continue with the matter at hand.

TAMIL: Acknowledged. The man turned and adressed me, saying only, “Hello". Then he moved. It was then that I noticed the tattoo, as he pushed me aside and-

INTERVIEWER: You said he was four meters away.

TAMIL: He was. He ran forward, faster than I could react, and shoved me to the ground - I swear on my father's blade, without touching me - and attacked my men. By the time I was on my feet, half my squad was dead. Not dead, I apologize for my inaccuracy. Simply gone. There was a fine mist hanging in the air, and ... (another break, a sob from Tamil) ... he was gnawing on the remains of Captain Day. I drew my blade, and advanced, bidding him stand and face me. He turned, and I was seized by a debilitiating pain in my right arm. I managed to draw my dirk with my left, and I struck with a throw the left thigh of the man. He toppled briefly, and one of my men managed to stun him - but not before the man screamed, and nearly brought the entire lab down on us.

(The remainder of the transcript involves Tamil's rehabilitation.)

Sir Tamil's right arm had nearly been turned inside out by Apex-2; later that year, after multiple failed attempts at reconstructive surgery, Sir Tamil was decommissioned and retired. In any case, the overall damage was surprisingly slight. The mild earthquake caused by the anguish of Apex-2 destroyed the surrounding city blocks; worse yet was the psychic torment broadcast. Though the Knights were disciplined enough to survive (albiet shaken), nearly two dozen surrounding Caliph employees and surrounding civilians were killed horribly.

After this disaster, Executive President Roger Caliph ordered the project scrapped, and the incapacitated Apex-2 was placed in high-security stasis chamber under the main headquarters of the labs. A full report was made to the proper governmental agencies, along with assurances that Meriwether would be confined indefinitely. The government seemed comfortable with the arrangements made by Bell and his associates, and declared the matter closed.

This satisfied everybody but one person ...