Following the large-scale extermination of the newly-discovered cryptid - the "Layer-Mesh" - which had first been found in a large apartment complex and had later escaped to an underground subway and had boarded a train, Facility:Null had worked diligently to clean up the situation and locking up the Mesh, along with all its scattered body parts. While there were several casualties, the mission - which was ultimately completed thanks to the newly established unit 24 - was considered a success. Thanks to the unit's brave field operator's, the battle was kept in isolated locations and the existence of cryptids remained private information for a day longer.
Even though the entire event only lasted around two hours, what had transpired kept something different on each individual person's mind, especially those of unit 24.
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They say sleep is for the weak, but the most highly accomplished soldier at the facility - Sawyer Ambrose - never fails to get 9 hours of sleep each night. During days in which no missions occur, Sawyer would train through several exercises - callisthenics, hand to hand combat, endurance training and sharpening his skills with weaponry. His free time didn't involve any hobbies, other than the occasional walking around the city when he left the facility to stay at his apartment - one that he barely used.
Sawyer Ambrose was never much into fiction. Most books he had read were documenting events that had happened throughout history instead of grand fairy tales. He had only watched a few films in his lifetime, which were put on by his comrades at camps while he served in the military. Some would call Sawyer a mundane person, but his mind had simply sunk too deep into the job that he does at the facility for him to wander off and do something else other than training and working.
As for the others, most in the facility were people who didn't have much in their lives other than their work. Jericho and Dawn would leave the facility for a few days to live out a slimmer of their own individual regular lives.
Being classified as anomalous patients, Claudia and Richard would only be allowed to leave the facility under supervision. While at the facility, they would both train their bodies and continue to improve their abilities to fight. When the facility didn't require unit 24 for anything, Claudia had lots of time to get caught up on all the information about cryptids and all the events surrounding Facility:Null that could be provided.
Lex, however, was quite different in that he rarely stayed long at the facility, only coming right back when something occurred.
It wasn't as if everyday there was an anomalous occurrence - if that were the case, the world would have gone up in flames already. Many employees at the facility had their own dull activities to fulfil - lookout guards up in the outer station towers walking the perimeter to ensure nobody got in, indoor guards assigned to monitor the captured amalgams and researchers and engineers going about their daily routines.
On an uninteresting day like such, Sawyer enters the training facility to see the lone Richard using the bench press - the weight stacked to an inhumane amount causing the barbell to bend. He doesn't approach Richard, who hasn't yet noticed Sawyer enter the large room.
Not knowing what to say to Richard, Sawyer turns around to leave. Just as he does so, the weights are slammed back onto the rack and Richard sits up.
"Not gonna ask why I froze up back at the subway?"
Sawyer stops in his tracks, and turns back around to take a few steps into the training facility.
"I guess it seemed pointless to bring it up. What would I do with your answer?" Sawyer monotonously replies.
"Well… for your information, I went and got checked up again with those researchers. Apparently my body's evolution since the hallucinations started is still like, going… They said my muscles are becoming denser than humanly possible, so cramps and shit are likely."
"It's evident."
"Never thought I'd be fuckin' superhuman, so I've been testing it out with weights and stuff."
Sawyer ponders for a moment, looking onto the near empty training facility before speaking up.
"A trip might be good for your mental, and I've been needing some supplies. Come."
"Yeah, why not." Richard stands up and follows.
The two of them walk through the hallway until they meet Dawn - who seems to be in the middle of something as she goes from door to door, but stops in her tracks as she notices them approaching.
"I'm taking the unit to Argyle's, can you cover for us?"
"Yeah, I got you." Dawn replies to Sawyer's request. "Don't take my car this time, okay? It's sketchy. Johanne and Dyrral are in today, I'll get them to meet you outside."
"Right."
As Sawyer and Richard wait outside at the facility's parking lot, the rest of the unit emerges out of the building.
Sawyer opens the driver's door of an ordinary looking car which was parked behind him.
"Get in, we're heading out."
Lex comes up to the car and leans his arm on it, standing on the other side across from Sawyer.
"Where ya taking us?"
"There's someone I'd like you all to meet."
After responding, Sawyer stops Lex before he opens the door to the passenger seat.
"You guys can go in the back."
Silently ushering Claudia to take the passenger seat, Sawyer gets in the car as the others get into the back.
With Lex, Richard and Jericho in the back and Claudia at the front, they set off through the facility's gates. The main road which led out of the facility was beside a large forest expanse that continued up into the mountains.
Claudia looks out of the window, taking in the view of the West Virginia landscape. A feeling of rare tranquility washed upon her.
A couple hours later, Sawyer drives the group deep into a forest guided only by an inconspicuous dirt path. He eventually pulls over along the path.
"Alright, get out."
As they all exit the car, Lex lights a cigarette - the withdrawal of not being able to smoke in the car evident.
"So where the hell are we?" He asks.
"Come one."
Sawyer leads his unit to a shop-looking shack. The wooden structure has posters stapled around it advertising basic hiking gear and snacks, however, it's clearly locked. Walking up to the front door, Sawyer rings the doorbell which is located below an obvious camera.
The doorbell plays the tune of 'P.P.A.P. by BIKOTARO'. Nobody comes to the door.
Sawyer knocks on the shack's door.
"Argyle! It's me, open up!"
A few moments pass before the door is flung open by a bearded man.
"Sawyer!!! Bud! Good to see you!"
The owner of this shop - Argyle - welcomes Sawyer in with open arms and a big smile. The shopkeeper is dressed in cargo hiking attire, round sunglasses fitted onto his face and a cap with the words 'I (heart) nature' on it covering his squeaky-clean bald head.
"Ah! It seems you bought guests. From the facility I suppose?"
"My unit."
"Woah! Captain Sawyer, huh? We've got some catching up to do."
"If there's time."
"There's always time, chum. Come in, people, come in. Na-na-na come on!~" He holds the door open for everyone.
Upon entering, the unit is met with a quaint but surprisingly clean and organised backwoods shop interior. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, apart from a pulled up couch facing the television which hung over the counter, the pillow and blanket on it made them think that perhaps Argyle used it as his bed.
Keeping his voice low, Richard spoke to Sawyer, "Who is this guy? How's he know about the facility?"
With no answer to Richard's question, Argyle shouts back at Sawyer with his own.
"I take it you're here for the usual?"
"That's right."
"Oh boy, you're in luck…"
Making his way around the counter, Argyle pulls a few levers causing several trapdoors on the floor to mechanically swing open, revealing a set of stairs leading into darkness. With two feet already in, Argyle gestures for his guests to follow.
"Come on."
As they all walk down the stairs, Argyle suddenly turns on the lights revealing an extensive underground storage area. It looked nothing like the shabby shop above ground, it was particularly clean down there and housed several glass casings in which resided bizarre items such as unrecognisable body parts and materials.
"Welcome to Argyle's paranormal goods and services!"
He turns to the new-comers, revealing more of his underground store.
"This is where the real business goes down." Argyle says, feeling extremely proud to be able to show off his collection of anomalies.
Unit 24 can't help but marvel - and also feel creeped out - by this man's impressive display. They passed by displayed limbs, jars of unidentifiable liquids, and heads of cryptids they'd never seen before mounted on the walls.
"Where'd you get all this?" Lex asks.
"I've been an enthusiast for the paranormal my entire life. I've spent my years collecting, selling and trading anything anomalous."
Turning back to his unit, Sawyer states, "The facility doesn't know about him, I'd like to keep it that way."
"Hey, what the hell is this thing?" Jericho's eyes wander to a large head with the face of a suction cup, mounted on the wall of Argyle's basement store.
"That's the head of a Tripod. The rest of the body was never found, not even by the facility - as I've heard."
"And this?" This time, Claudia speaks up, pointing to a displayed set of raggedy teeth, held together by flesh like a chain and most bizarrely of all - the teeth would momentarily sway as if they were flaccid.
"That one I have no clue about… Got it from a seller a while back, but I can tell you it's for sure an anomaly. Honestly, I dunno why the girl's interested in that."
Argyle moved through the exhibition, pointing at an empty display spot on the wall before rummaging in a group of wooden boxes.
"That right there, is where I'll be putting the head of a Wechuge."
Sawyer sighs, "So, do you have my usual?"
Swiftly turning away from his business in the pile of boxes, Argyle faces Sawyer with a huge grin, "You'd be happy to know I do!"