{
    "title": "MASTICATE / NARNIA Interface Incident",
    "date": "2019-10-24 15:00",
    "reportcode": "GT/GT-191024-073260212",
    "url": "https://teeth.zarquan.fyi/reports/gt-gt-191024-073260212/index.json",
    "description": "△▼△TOP SECRET//SI//DGO△▼△",
    "content": "\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReport No:\u003c/strong\u003e GT/GT-191024-073260212\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLocation:\u003c/strong\u003e\nNew York City, NY\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAgents:\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"/cells/d/#mccarter\"\u003eMcCarter\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"/cells/d/#booth\"\u003eBooth\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"/cells/d/#smith\"\u003eJustin Smith\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"/cells/d/#farrington-cowles\"\u003ePhilomena Farrington-Cowles\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSummary:\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMASTICATE agents engaged with Working Group NARNIA regarding the anomalous software “Picky Eater.” During the meeting, reality divergence occurred within the target facility, resulting in partial agent displacement into an alternate timeline. Agents identified a correlation between “Picky Eater” and localized reality bifurcation tied to user intent. Reunification occurred following termination of hostile entity identified as Director Audra Powell (alternate timeline). Incident concluded with evacuation under emergency conditions and partial containment of anomalous assets.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOperation Report:\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAgents Booth, McCarter, and Philomena met with Agent Fallon Taylor at the NARNIA office.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEnvironmental inconsistencies were immediately noted:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAbsence of personnel despite claims of a full team.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLack of normal signs of habitation (cleanliness, unused objects, dust patterns).\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConflicting memories among agents regarding teammate Justin’s presence.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAgent Taylor presented classified video evidence:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFootage depicted a future battle at Dabiq involving U.S., British, and Russian forces.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMilitary assets disintegrated into particulate matter; opposing combatants celebrated.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMetadata indicated a date of May 9, 2021, inconsistent with depicted technology and events.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAgents identified “Picky Eater” as a potential vector linking subjects to alternate or projected realities.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eConcurrently, Justin experienced displacement:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eArrived in an alternate version of the same location, transformed into a public Delta Green museum (year approx. 2054).\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eObserved historical exhibits depicting a public war against unnatural entities, including Deep Ones.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConfirmed Delta Green as a public, institutional authority led by Director Audra Powell.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIdentified presence of “Picky Eater” integrated into a desktop system as manufactured hardware.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJustin attempted interaction with the system:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConfirmed embedded chip labeled “Picky Eater.”\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEncountered armed security personnel identifying him as an intruder and potential “hybrid.”\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDetainment initiated; genetic testing requested.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMcCarter attempted to locate Justin:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEntered elevator; experienced spatial/temporal transition.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEncountered armed personnel consistent with Justin’s environment.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAttempted de-escalation; was detained alongside Justin.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSimultaneously, Booth and Philomena investigated the primary environment:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIdentified inactive offices with signs of long-term abandonment.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLocated active computer in Powell’s office running “Picky Eater.”\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSystem displayed networked list of NARNIA personnel; Agent Taylor absent from list.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAgents attempted shutdown procedures:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSoftware could not be terminated through interface.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSystem rebooted automatically after shutdown command.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePhysical disconnection (power removal) successfully halted operation.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eImmediate effect:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJustin and McCarter reappeared in primary environment, restrained and in custody posture.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNo external personnel present.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFire alarm triggered within the building:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCause not directly observed.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAgents initiated evacuation via stairwell alongside civilians.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDuring descent:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGunshots reported in lobby.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCivilians indicated an armed individual was firing.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAgents entered lobby:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIdentified hostile individual: older female matching Audra Powell (alternate timeline).\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSubject exhibited hostile intent, referencing prior timeline conflict (“I killed you once…”).\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSubject engaged civilians with firearm.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAgent Booth engaged:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFired controlled shots center mass.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSubject neutralized immediately.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePost-engagement:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTwo civilians wounded (one critical, one minor).\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOne fatality (receptionist, gunshot to head).\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAgents secured Powell’s credentials and materials.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAgent Taylor assumed control of the scene:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProvided cover narrative to responding authorities.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAgents exited area without detention.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAnalysis and Recommendations:\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“Picky Eater” demonstrates capability for:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReality bifurcation or selective temporal displacement.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eManifestation of user-influenced or desire-driven alternate states.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePersistence across hardware implementations (improvised and manufactured).\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEvidence indicates:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAlternate timelines may be experiential constructs sustained over subjective time.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUsers retain continuity of identity and aging within these constructs.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTermination or disruption of the system results in reintegration into baseline reality.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDirector Audra Powell (alternate) exhibited:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLong-term exposure to alternate state (~decades subjective).\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePsychological fixation on Delta Green’s public ascension and total war against the unnatural.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHostility toward baseline reality and agents responsible for “reversion.”\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNotable discrepancies:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAgent Taylor excluded from “Picky Eater” network list.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSuggests selective inclusion criteria or incompatibility with system parameters.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRisks:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eContinued existence of active “Picky Eater” nodes.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePotential for other users currently embedded in alternate constructs.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEmergence of hostile returnees with extended experience and ideological commitment.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRecommendations:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eImmediate retrieval and containment of Powell’s office hardware.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFull forensic analysis of embedded chip architecture.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIdentification and monitoring of all individuals exposed to “Picky Eater.”\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCross-reference with NSA and CIA (Working Group NARNIA) intelligence gaps.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEvaluate possibility of intentional deployment by hostile or unknown entity.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAdditional note:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eObserved pattern aligns with prior incidents involving perception distortion and subjective reality manipulation.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCross-index with prior operations involving cognitive bleed-through and dual-memory phenomena.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cdetails \u003e\n  \u003csummary markdown=\"span\"\u003eSession Notes\u003c/summary\u003e\n  \u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe session begins with a recap of the prior investigation into Picky Eater and the team’s contact with Working Group Narnia.\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePhilomena and Matthew studied the blurred occult symbols visible on the surface of the Picky Eater chip.\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePhilomena successfully identified one symbol as a scrying sign originating in the Egyptian Book of Thoth.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMatthew recognized that another symbol circumscribed the first, but the details would not come fully into focus.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePhilomena used an obscure method to sharpen perception and memory, studying digital microscope pictures until she could sketch what she saw in an almost trance-like state.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe resulting image included a five-pointed star inset with a flaming eye.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNeither Philomena nor Matthew could identify that final composite symbol.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePitzarelli checked on Frank’s attempt to get information from FBI cybercrime contact Colin Boone.\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe FBI did not know where Picky Eater had come from.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Bureau had requested intelligence from the NSA.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Bureau’s evasiveness implied that the NSA knew more than it was sharing.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMasticate’s handler arranged a meeting with Kim Gibbs, the NSA analyst who had led the inquiry into Picky Eater.\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGibbs said the NSA had uncovered limited dark-web chatter about the software.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe NSA had obtained a copy of Picky Eater.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe NSA ultimately classified it as non-actionable malware.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTheir reasoning was that it was too obscure, too hardware-dependent, and not worth devoting further resources to.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGibbs also asked whether Masticate was aware of Working Group Narnia, a CIA-associated counterterrorism group that was also asking questions about Picky Eater.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhen Pitzarelli raised Narnia with her superiors, it confirmed that Picky Eater was already on Delta Green’s radar.\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMasticate and Narnia were both investigating related material.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTo avoid operational confusion, the Program approved a meeting between the two groups to exchange intelligence.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe meeting location was the sixth floor of a Manhattan office building, behind the front company Kerber, Wilson, and Associates.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAs the team rode the elevator up to meet Narnia, reality split.\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMatthew, Frank, and Philomena arrived on the sixth floor and met Fallon Taylor.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJustin instead stepped into a museum-like space dedicated to Delta Green’s openly acknowledged war against the unnatural in the twentieth century.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFallon Taylor briefed the team on what Narnia knew about the Friday Night Massacre.\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNarnia had recovered evidence connected to two young men associated with the Global Caliphate of the Peace of God.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCached phone data suggested a world dominated by absolutist theology, where all non-believers had already been exterminated.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTaylor’s explanation was that Kavdat Onur and Seyfetin Vedat came from that world and, with no infidels left there, found a new world to continue their jihad against.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDuring Taylor’s briefing, he struggled with his VPN, and that prompted the rest of the team to think of Justin.\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAll three simultaneously experienced the disturbing double-memory that Justin had been left behind at the hotel and had also been in the elevator with them.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTheir minds struggled to reconcile both memories at once.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the present on the sixth floor, Taylor attempted to continue the briefing while the team became increasingly uneasy about both Justin’s absence and the office itself.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTaylor explained that Narnia was a team of eight including himself.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen asked about the rest of the team, he said everyone else was out pursuing leads that morning.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe group noticed that the office felt wrong.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIt was too quiet.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThey had not seen or heard anyone else.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIt did not feel lived in the way a functioning office should.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe three agents made Human checks and all failed.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThey could not read Taylor clearly.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe failure heightened the sense that something was off.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhilomena explicitly asked whether they should meet the rest of Taylor’s team.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTaylor repeated that no one else was available and it was just him right now.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTaylor admitted he was not supposed to be moving sensitive files off the secure VPN, but because the VPN was failing, he used a flash drive to show them material.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe said Audra, Narnia’s tech specialist, controlled the file security.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe intended to get her help later, but for the moment wanted to share what he had.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTaylor showed the team a video connected to Narnia’s case.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe footage depicted a small town labeled in Arabic as Dabiq, surrounded by wide plains of dry yellow grass.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSeveral hundred armed fighters with Kalashnikov rifles were entrenched behind sandbags.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMany appeared to be praying.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe camera panned upward and around the horizon.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAmerican forces could be recognized by Frank from the silhouettes of some vehicles and equipment.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBritish and Russian forces were also converging on the town.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThere were helicopters, tanks, jets, and thousands of soldiers closing in from multiple directions.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA later angle showed a heavy bomber that Taylor identified as a B-21 Raider, a bomber not yet fielded in combat.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe bomber dropped a large bomb.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBefore the bomb could strike, both the plane and the bomb disintegrated into white dust.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe same transformation then overtook the invading forces.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSoldiers, tanks, and the entire attacking coalition turned to salt.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe fighters inside Dabiq interpreted the event as a miracle and began cheering, crying, and celebrating.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTaylor said experts had reviewed the footage and found no clear evidence that it had been manipulated or generated artificially, despite the impossibility of what it showed.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe file metadata indicated a creation date of May 9, 2021.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTaylor pointed out that this was the morning after the holiest night in the Islamic calendar, making the miracle imagery especially charged.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrank and Matthew could understand some of the Arabic, but the dialect spoken in the footage was difficult to place.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTaylor explained that Picky Eater had initially seemed like some kind of secure or private social network through which the two men could communicate with like-minded contacts.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe stressed that Audra had been the one examining the software in detail.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrank asked whether Narnia had recovered a computer containing Picky Eater.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTaylor said they only had the men’s phones.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFrank explained that in Masticate’s case the important part seemed to be the computer and a very unusual chip soldered into it.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTaylor immediately recognized that as new information.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJustin’s experience diverged sharply from the rest of the group.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInstead of arriving in Narnia’s office, he found himself in a museum devoted to a public, triumphant Delta Green.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHe searched the exhibits and public information terminals for familiar names.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHe found Frank Booth listed, older but alive, working in Washington, D.C.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJustin noted that Booth appeared far too young for his apparent age if this was the future being presented.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHe found Pitzarelli working in the office of the director in New York.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHe found that the current and first public director of Delta Green was Audra Powell.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs he explored farther, the museum décor changed to wood paneling and gallery lighting.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThere were historical photographs relating to Delta Green’s war against the Deep Ones.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOne image showed the remains of some immense creature that had been blown apart.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAnother showed futuristic special operators in power armor conducting a raid on a hybrid hideout as part of SRT Epsilon.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAnother exhibit featured Cole Parker as a Delta Green agent standing over rubble while soldiers moved around him.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt the end of the hall Justin found an exhibit replicating the office of Audra Powell.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA plaque identified it as the Office of Audra Powell, First Director of Delta Green.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe space was staged like a museum reconstruction rather than a functioning office.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA prerecorded audio loop played in which Audra Powell welcomed visitors, thanked them for their interest in Delta Green, and urged them to remain pure and patriotic against “the spawn.”\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe message presented Delta Green as a long-standing protector of American families and institutions.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJustin examined the office for useful objects.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe desk contained personalized items staged to resemble a real workspace.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUnlike the rest of the exhibit, there was a worn, older desktop computer in the room.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe computer appeared real rather than decorative.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe machine was running under the user name “A. Powell.”\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJustin recognized a Picky Eater icon on the desktop.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHe opened the case and inspected the internals.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInside he found a professionally manufactured chip labeled Picky Eater.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUnlike the crude hardware on McKay’s laptop, this one was neatly manufactured and properly seated as part of the system.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBack in the current office, the rest of the team began testing the strange environment more directly.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhilomena broke away to contact Justin.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShe called him.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe call went straight to voicemail because his device was not reachable.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShe texted him, but there was no indication that the message had actually been delivered.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhilomena checked the break room.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe refrigerator was empty except for a single container of leftover chow mein labeled with Fallon’s name.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIt was mid-morning.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe room contained basic paper plates and plastic utensils.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIn a cabinet she found personalized mugs that looked as though they belonged to staff, but they were dusty, suggesting long disuse.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhile moving through the hall looking for the bathroom, Philomena deliberately tried office doors.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs she did so, she experienced an intense wave of terror.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Handler described the sensation as like a dog trying to flee danger on slick linoleum, scrabbling wildly and going nowhere while panicking.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhilomena forced the feeling down at a cost of 2 Willpower.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShe opened one office and found:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ethe lights were off until motion activated;\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ea desk and powered-off computer;\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ea faint smell of old ozone and burnt electronics.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMatthew reacted to the contradiction around Justin by deciding to test the elevator.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHe asked to step away and go back down to the first floor.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFallon Taylor, confused, watched him do it.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBefore Matthew left, Taylor quietly asked the others whether he was okay.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrank answered that none of them were okay.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrank also told Taylor that they suspected they might be dealing with some sort of dimension-hopping technology.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrank further told Taylor that the office felt as though no one but Taylor had been there for a very long time.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrank succeeded on a Human check while watching Taylor react.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe look on Taylor’s face convinced him that the panic was genuine.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFrank had clearly broken through Taylor’s remaining confidence in the situation.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMatthew rode the elevator down to the lobby.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe searched the first floor for Justin.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJustin was nowhere to be found.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMatthew then rode the elevator back up.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTaylor became increasingly unstable and began physically checking the offices.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHe armed himself with his service weapon.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHe started opening doors one by one and looking into rooms.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrank and Philomena both drew their own weapons once Taylor armed himself.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe team followed him as he cleared the hallway.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTaylor’s muttering suggested he was trying to reconcile memories of having worked with people who no longer seemed to exist.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe said things like they had had coffee and dinner and that none of it made sense.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe offices he checked all appeared abandoned.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDust lay on desks.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOne room had an old coffee cup with mold growing in it.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe main difference among the rooms was that all the computers were off except one.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the final and larger office, the computer was still on and audibly working hard.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTaylor identified it as Audra’s office and Audra’s computer.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrank and Philomena examined Audra’s office and computer while Taylor struggled to understand what was happening.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrank removed the computer’s side panel.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAt first he did not see the same crude modification they had found on McKay’s machine.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOn closer inspection he found another Picky Eater-labeled chip installed inside.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrank opened Picky Eater on the machine.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe interface resembled a browser or communication platform.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt also displayed a list of computers or systems with names and computer icons.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFallon Taylor recognized the names immediately.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe list consisted of everyone on his team except himself.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThis realization horrified him.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTaylor suggested they simply shut the system down.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrank tried closing Picky Eater.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe window minimized to the system tray, leaving the program still running.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThere was no exit option in its menu.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrank attempted to shut the machine down through Windows.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIt powered off and then immediately rebooted.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrank finally unplugged the machine.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThat actually seemed to stop it.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrank also used the system to search for Audra Powell.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFallon Taylor explained that Audra was probably not using her real name.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe said she had presented herself as Department of Justice but hinted at intelligence ties, likely CIA.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe described her as deeply committed and someone who had never seemed to doubt the mission.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhen Frank asked whether she had ambitions, Taylor responded that she never wavered in believing the work mattered.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrank checked the search history and prior activity on the machine.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMost of the visible searches were related to their case.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThere were searches about Picky Eater and about the Global Caliphate material.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThere was nothing obvious in the history suggesting that Audra had been explicitly researching alternate histories or public Delta Green timelines.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhile the others examined Audra’s machine, Matthew’s elevator trip went wrong.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen the elevator reached the upper floor, Matthew became intensely disoriented.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs the doors opened, he saw two men in dark clothes appear directly in front of him and hurry away down a navy-blue hallway.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOne had a medical-looking satchel across his shoulder.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBoth had holstered weapons.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMatthew drew his gun and followed them stealthily.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDuring the pursuit he experienced another overwhelming wrongness.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe failed a POW x5 test.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Handler described the sensation as like being a fish trapped in a bathtub coated with Vaseline while the water drained away, leaving him sliding, suffocating, and unable to orient himself.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe had to stop and brace himself against the wall.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne of the two men noticed him and turned.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe man began going for his weapon.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMatthew chose not to shoot first.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eInstead he shouted, “Freeze. Are you with Taylor?”\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe man halted before fully drawing.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJustin, still in the museum/future environment, was discovered by security.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs he examined the Picky Eater machine in Audra Powell’s museum office, a security guard in uniform with a green triangle insignia entered and aimed a sidearm at him.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe guard ordered Justin to stand, keep his hands where they could be seen, and explain how he had gotten into a secure government facility.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJustin replied that he had taken the elevator and initially treated the place as if it were a museum.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe guard radioed for “code green” and requested immediate genetic testing.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJustin searched public information for what that meant.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe test was a quick blood test.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIt was used to identify hybrids.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAnyone identified as a hybrid was normally killed quickly and violently.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJustin attempted to humanize himself and buy time.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe said he had a medical condition and needed his medication.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe asked permission to take it from his bag.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe succeeded on a Persuade roll by a very narrow margin.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe guard suspiciously took the bag from him, searched it, then threw it back and allowed him to take the medication.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJustin swallowed the pills.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe told the guard his name was on the prescription bottles.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJustin also attempted to name-drop Frank Booth and Pitzarelli.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe guard dismissed him with the slur “gills,” clearly treating him as a possible Deep One hybrid rather than a legitimate intruder.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe two diverging threads collided when Matthew’s voice carried into Justin’s location.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJustin heard Matthew and called out, asking whether it was McCarter.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe security personnel immediately realized there was a second intruder.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA second armed man with the medical satchel stacked on the corner and prepared to engage Matthew.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMatthew asked where Taylor, Philomena, and Frank were.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJustin shouted that these were Delta Green agents and tried to calm the situation by insisting they were on the same team.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe security personnel did not accept that explanation.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThey told Matthew that if he wanted to talk to Director Powell, she was downstairs.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThey ordered him to put down his weapon.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMatthew complied.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe lowered the gun and slowly set it down.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe identified himself as Agent Matthew McCarter of Working Group Masticate.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe named Antonia Pitzarelli as his supervisor.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe security team took both Justin and Matthew into custody.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThey were zip-tied.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMatthew’s weapon was confiscated.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBoth were forced down into positions that resembled an execution posture.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eImmediately after Frank unplugged Audra’s computer in the current office, Justin and Matthew reappeared.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey manifested outside Audra’s office on their knees, still zip-tied behind their backs.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFallon Taylor did not disappear when they returned.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrank, Philomena, and Taylor all had to make Sanity checks upon seeing the bound pair suddenly appear.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThey each lost 1 Sanity.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJustin urgently announced that he had taken his medication, wanting that fact known before its effects overtook him.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhilomena cut Justin free.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBefore cutting Matthew loose, she deliberately leaned in and sniffed his hair in order to unsettle him, then cut him free as well.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJustin gave a hurried explanation before the medication impaired him.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe said he had gone into another dimension or timeline.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe identified the year there as 2054.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIn that timeline Delta Green was public.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAudra Powell was in charge.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSecurity had found him there and detained both him and Matthew.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAs he continued, his speech began to slur and then stopped.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlmost immediately after the group regrouped, the situation escalated again.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA fire alarm began sounding through the building.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe offices around them were still empty.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrank concluded they should follow Justin.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJustin began moving with a sense of purpose through the building.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe passed the elevator without stopping.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAs he went by, he brushed the elevator button with one finger.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe headed instead for the emergency stairwell.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFallon Taylor hesitated and wanted to keep searching the offices.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFrank tried to persuade him to come and failed badly.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePhilomena then tried and succeeded.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTaylor finally agreed to follow, though he said he wanted to make sure they had not missed anything.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe rationalized to himself that the building was probably not actually burning.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe group descended through the stairwell with Justin in the lead.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs they moved downward, more and more civilians joined the stairwell from lower floors.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAround the fourth floor heading toward the third, they heard shouting below.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey then heard a couple of gunshots.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe shots were individual shots, not automatic fire.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePeople below slammed the door shut and held it.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWitnesses at the door said:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003esomeone had been shot in the lobby;\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ea woman had fired on people coming out;\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eat least one person was lying on the ground bleeding.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJustin pushed aggressively through the crowd toward the lower exit.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAt one point he started shoving a large man who looked ready to hit him.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFrank intervened with his handgun visible.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTaylor reinforced the effort by displaying his FBI badge and ordering people to let law enforcement through.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThat was enough to get the crowd moving aside.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe group entered the lobby and found the source of the gunfire.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAcross the lobby stood a woman in a sharp charcoal-gray skirt suit, professional in appearance, with shoulder-length styled hair.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHer back was partly turned as she scanned for targets.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShe was holding a gun.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShe shouted, “How did you fucking do it? How’d you turn it all back? You fuckers! I killed you once, I’ll fucking kill you again!”\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShe then fired at someone taking cover behind planters elsewhere in the lobby.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrank asked Fallon whether the woman was Powell.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTaylor was not fully certain, but gave a cautious nod suggesting he thought it was.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhilomena indicated that Powell ought to be taken alive if possible.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrank instead called out first.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe shouted that they were with the Program and needed to talk.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePowell immediately turned toward him with her weapon up and was clearly not in a rational negotiating state.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrank fired first.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe had already had time to aim and took the attack with the bonus for that.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe rolled a critical success.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe inflicted 16 damage.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHis burst struck center mass, with multiple rounds into Powell’s vital areas.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShe dropped immediately and did not move again.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBlood spread rapidly beneath her body.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter Powell fell, the team secured the scene as best they could.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhilomena went directly to the body.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShe searched Powell for identification and anything unusual.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShe found an official badge marked with the green triangle insignia identifying the woman as Director Audra Powell of Delta Green National Headquarters.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShe pocketed the badge.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShe also checked Powell’s slim wallet.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe money was recognizable as U.S. currency but the designs differed from normal U.S. bills.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJustin looked at the body and realized she was much older than the woman in the museum photographs.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe version in the photographs had looked to be in her mid- to late thirties.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe woman Frank had just shot looked to be in her mid-sixties.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFallon Taylor reached the body and told the team to secure anything people should not see.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHe treated the dead woman’s identity and possessions as something that needed containment.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrank went looking for other victims in the lobby instead of focusing on Powell.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHe found two other people who had been shot.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOne appeared wounded but not gravely so and likely to survive with pressure and medical treatment.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOne appeared seriously wounded and in need of urgent medical care.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrank directly instructed a bystander to apply pressure to the serious wound and told him that the victim’s life was in his hands.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrank then found the building receptionist.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe receptionist had been shot through the head and was dead.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEmergency response arrived and Taylor improvised a cover story.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSirens could already be heard approaching because of the alarm and shooting.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePolice and first responders began entering the building.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTaylor asked Frank what credentials he could present.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFrank responded that he had FBI credentials under the current cover arrangement.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTaylor then started taking control of the visible law-enforcement narrative.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTaylor presented them as people already in the building who had responded to the shooting.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe scene was chaotic enough that the explanation held.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe police cleared the area, took statements, and ultimately let the group go.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOnce clear of immediate danger, the group tried to make sense of what had happened.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrank’s interpretation was that Powell had wanted to become the greatest Delta Green agent who had ever lived.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIn his view, Picky Eater had given her a world in which Delta Green was public, dominant, and victorious.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIn that world she had apparently risen to the top as director.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe group discussed the fact that the alternate world Justin had seen seemed to have Delta Green openly waging war on Deep Ones and hybrids.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJustin and Matthew confirmed that the museum world and the current office building seemed to be the same structure and floor, but dressed differently.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe “museum” appeared to be a memorialized version of the office complex in a future where Delta Green was public.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe group noted that the Picky Eater chip in the future/museum computer was much more sophisticated and professionally manufactured than the crude chip found in McKay’s laptop.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey also noted that McKay’s laptop had initially had a burned-out power supply and corrupted firmware.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJustin had repaired the laptop earlier in the investigation.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThey still did not know exactly how or whether its Picky Eater system had been functioning.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe group realized that the computer upstairs in Audra’s office should not be left there.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThey discussed the need to go back and recover it later.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey also noted that Fallon had not been taken into Powell’s alternate reality the way the rest of Narnia apparently had been.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe group speculated about where the rest of the team had gone, including the possibility that they had each ended up in their own timelines or variant worlds.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003c/details\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\n"
  }