"Before I begin, each one of you has a brown envelope. Inside it, there is a non-disclosure agreement that you need to sign." John said and looked at Dr. Nikolai. He didn't have to sign since he already did. By now John was used to his odd behavior and developed a unique tolerance towards his mannerisms.
"Once you're done, place the agreement back in the envelope and forward it to me."
Once John was sure he had everyone's envelop he placed them in his briefcase. He then took out four large folders and handed it to each one of them.
"I want all of you to be open-minded about what you're about to hear, see and discover about the world you live in. The world as you may or may not know isn't occupied by only one sentient species; there are several of them. Some of them are in the folder you just received—"
There was a sudden commotion as Philip—an IT expert—rose from his seat and rushed out of the room; his left palm spread over his mouth.
"I forgot to mention. Some of the images are extremely graphic," John looked at Nikolai who had a satisfactory grin as if impressed by his handiwork.
"So, far we've managed to capture two different species, but we've also come across two other species. They are all in the files along with further information unique to each one of them.
"You can go through all the information provided later. What I want you to look at is at the bottom of your folders.
"His name's Raymond Storm. Born Alexander Castor, but also goes by the alias Justin Walker (the name used by Raymond when he was hospitalized), he's an only child of Ethan and Helen Castor. He's currently a freshman at Argo University. Nineteen years of age, no girlfriend or boyfriend. His roommate and apparently his childhood friend; Charles Pelion is also a student there.
"Both Mr. Storm and Mr. Pelion come from Eaglemount, there they were both raised in a Orphanage. Mr. Storm is currently our primary target, his friend is the secondary target. That means I want all resources tasked at tracking down and eventual capture of the primary target whom from now on shall go by the code name, Eagle. Target number two code name, Robin.
"You also need to be prepared to deal with interested parties who will mostly be the local authorities especially one named Detective Jeremy Kyle. His department is the one that arrested Eagle earlier last week.
"You each have a copy of the events that took place that night complete with a police profile of our primary target. Other parties in the know are Dr. Andrew Spencer; he was one of my predecessor's contacts. I'll be the one to deal with him."
At that moment Philip walked back in and took a seat. "You okay Mr. Anderson?"
"Yeah, I'm good."
"Good, Ms. Schawl will brief you on what you missed after this. Moving forward. Each one of you has been hand-picked based on a specific skill set that I believe would be key to this task force.
"At the far right, Cassandra Schawl; she'll be our historian and linguistics, Philip Anderson; our IT expert and will be our eyes and ears on both the field and here, Jason Price; he's a former Marine, and he'll coordinate a tactical ground unit that would deal with extractions, containment, cover-up and overall security of the task force.
"In case you're in trouble or in need of assistance, he is the guy you call. Price and his team we'll be working on the clock. Whatever you find can and should only be relayed to him. Also, his team is on a strictly need to know basis, keep that in mind before you open your mouth.
"Finally, Dr, Albert Nikolai is our research expertise and other than me, he is the only other knowledgeable person in this room. I'll be leading this task force and responsible for recruitment in the foreseeable future.
"Is there anyone with a question?"
"Yes, why does Eagle keep changing his name?" Price asked.
"That is yet to be ascertained but my guess is, he is running from someone. The compiled official report says his father was brutally murdered and his mother disappeared without a trace." John answered and went silent as he waited for the next question.
"Yeah, I have one. Do we each get a gun?" The IT expert asked. A question John expected.
"Have you ever shot someone before?"
"God no!"
"Good then, leave the shooting to Price. Just focus on what I've brought you here to do."
"About that. Do I get an office?"
"There's a total of fourteen rooms in this building. We have the briefing room, break room, lab, armory, surveillance room, eight offices, and a tactical room. Each one of you has an office where you can keep all the sensitive information you gather that shall not under any circumstance leave the building.
"It's also your workstation. The surveillance room will handle the building's security while the briefing room will be for this sole purpose. The tactical room is where we'll all or some of us meet and get real-time updates on every mission, emergencies, and planning; it is also the command center for our field operations. As of right now, I alone have the clearance into the armory.
"The lab as you may all know is for Dr. Nikolai. I would've advised you against going there to spare you, but you've all seen firsthand what will be taking place in there just in case your ethical values aren't in line with Dr. Nikolai's.
"Once you're done going through your folders, come to my office and get your key-cards and any further clarification you need about your jobs as stated in your files. It's the last office at the end of the hall." John finished his briefing and swiftly left the room.
"Phew! That was intense." Cassandra sighed and slumped back in her seat, "that was a lot to take in, I think he knew it too."
"You're lucky, I'm still trying to grasp at the reality of Supernatural existence."
"Do you guys have a shooting range? I need to go through all the weapons?" Price asked to no one in particular.
"I guess it would be in the basement, he forgot to mention. Isn't it in your file as the head of security it would be there for you?" Nikolai asked.
Price almost slapped himself, he was too focused on the graphic photographs and the knowledge he just received about mythological creatures he read in high school than his job; what a way to make a first impression. At least his interview wasn't as bad when John approached him two weeks ago.
He did indeed find the shooting range along with the whole arsenal, not to mention a copy of the building's blueprints. He slowly got up and left for his key-card; deciding he would go through everything in the privacy of his new office.
…
John sat in his medium-sized office and opened his surveillance. He was able to see and hear everything that went on in the briefing room. After he left, it didn't take long before the first reaction came from the only woman in the room. Just like him, she was flooded with information, hell his briefing alone made only around twenty percent of everything he knew so far.
It had been two months since he took the job. Two months since his life changed. His boss now expected results as he was on a stringent timeline. It was probably only a matter of when before the general population learned about the Supernatural folk. The Government wanted to be ahead, and in control of everything including all the information, they could gather.
John could still vividly remember his first briefing about the Supers; a word he picked up from his predecessor. After the first two species, they managed to come across two more. A Satyr, nasty little devils.
Little is known about them as once again they couldn't capture him alive. He was in the company of another; a female but unlike the Satyr, she didn't change form rather than her eyes and limbs. She had inch long black claws, Nikolai suspected she was a Nymph, but one thing he learned was never to trust the Doctor with anything other than Biology.
They had apparently interrupted a steamy session and he almost paid the price with his life due to Nikolai's incompetence. They were supposedly investigating a Supernatural phenomenon that had somehow reached the Brass, and he was quickly tasked to it.
John wanted to do it alone but his boss ordered him to bring Nikolai along, he really believed he would be of more help in the field and also collect samples other than bodies. That's what happens with bureaucrats who've never stepped a foot in any combat wing of any military and paramilitary organizations.
He had given the Nikolai explicit orders to stay in the truck as they staked the Satyr's house for at least a day before they took any chances; after all, it was his neighbor that called the cops on him due to his 'odd behavior.'
The police had answered the call only to find the Satyr was just your day to day hardworking, taxpaying citizen with not even a single speeding ticket to his name. They dropped the case, but the Agency picked it up.
It had been the Nikolai's turn to take watch as he took a nap. He'd accidentally woke up a couple hours later to find Nikolai's seat empty. Considering he'd advised him not to go anywhere without confirming it with him, there was only one other place he knew the bastard would go.