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 Post subject: Cortex S1E1: Quiet
 Post Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2012 9:09 pm 
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Voice over accompanies images.

Enlightened. That is what we call those who surpass the boundaries of conventional science.

Images flash by: an engineer working on the lower body of a cyborg, while its upper body enjoys a latte and a magazine; a biologist measuring levels in test tubes, while humans in various states of partial cloning float in vats behind her; a government agent dressed in black, turning a device upon the camera.

A white flash.

Enlightenment does not always come easy. Some achieve Enlightenment through slow study; for others, it is a single flash of insight. And for yet others, Enlightenment can come as a nightmare.

More images: a girl studying books in a classroom, while the extra cybernetic arms protruding from her back clean the chalk board behind her; a young soldier, chucking a grenade at a werewolf; a war zone, with bodies broken and bloodied by an explosive blast, while a frantic medic tries to patch the wounds of a soldier whose torso is apparently missing.

But Enlightenment does not fade with the dawn. Enlightenment cannot be banished on a therapist's couch.

Images of a VA hospital; the medic works on other soldiers, his face white and his hands shaking. Shadows follow behind him - shadows with faces; the most prominent face is that of the dead soldier from the war zone. The screen wipes; the medic lays in a comfortable room, speaking to a sympathic-looking woman who nods as she writes on her clipboard "recommend psychiatric review".

And some times, Enlightenment goes very, very wrong.

The view becomes first-person, looking through someone's eyes as they enter a clinic, following signs for treatment of PTSD. The "camera" sits in a chair in what looks like a miniature theatre. A pair of VR goggles are lowered over the view -

Fade to black.

Quiet

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 Post subject: Re: Cortex S1E1: Quiet
 Post Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2012 9:12 pm 
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The camera fades back in, first in vector-line greens, then more traditional night-vision green, and finally gathering colour and hue. Dr. Ken finds himself back in Afghanistan - back on the very patrol route where Harry died.

He looks around; his squad is there. Buck. Jose. Kim. And even Harry. Laughing and grinning like he always did, like nothing had happened. Like he wasn't even dead.

It seems so real.

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 Post subject: Re: Cortex S1E1: Quiet
 Post Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 5:40 pm 
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The head shrinkers tell him it isn't real. They tell him over and over.

I can taste the dust.

&^%$ them.

"Guys, something isn't right."

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 Post subject: Re: Cortex S1E1: Quiet
 Post Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 5:51 pm 
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Harry puts up his hand, and the squad halts. "What's up, Doc?"

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 Post subject: Re: Cortex S1E1: Quiet
 Post Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 6:40 pm 
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"The quiet. You know what they were saying about this place? Bull$%^& or not, something is wrong. Can't you tell?"

Ken checks his flanks, then looks up and back at Harry.

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 Post subject: Re: Cortex S1E1: Quiet
 Post Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 7:24 pm 
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"Alright Doc, if you say so." Harry motions and Jose moves forward, taking up point like he always did. Like he did. Ken can see the bullet hitting him before it's even fired.

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 Post subject: Re: Cortex S1E1: Quiet
 Post Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 7:41 pm 
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Ken is jumping, leaping for Harry to push him out of the way. This time he will make it. This time he's going to stop it. This time he's going to keep Harry alive.

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 Post subject: Re: Cortex S1E1: Quiet
 Post Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 9:06 pm 
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Ken hears the gunshot at the same time his body hits Harry. Jose goes down; just as Ken remembers, the explosive follows there after. There is a flash, smoke, pain, confusion - then darkness.

<Break>

"Tired of ring-around-the-toilet? Disappointed in the leading brand, which always needs replacing? Try new InfiniBlue! It has all the cleaning power you'd expect, and it never needs to be replaced. A single installation will last a life time. What more could you ask for?"

"Another innovation brought to you by Capital Labs."

</Break>

As the plane touches down, McGraw hangs up the phone call he's been on. "Looks like there won't be time for a formal reception, Baker. Got a disturbance at Walter Reed; you'll be meeting the team on the ground."

The plane taxis briefly before coming to a halt; the stairs are already in place when the door opens, and Baker and McGraw descend to a car waiting for them on the tarmac. Two people are already in the vehicle - an agent in black, complete with the requisite mirrorshades and earpiece, and a young woman who really doesn't look like she belongs on a paranormal investigation team. She also has an earpiece.

McGraw motions for Baker to get in, then enters himself, handing the Sergeant an earpiece of his own. "Baker, this is Agent Slender and Dita. They're your ground team." Indicating the earpiece, he adds, "Of course, you'll have backup and surveillance constantly available; use the comm to contact your Controller." McGraw turns towards the other two. "This is Baker. He's been doing things like this for a long time, so you'll be taking direction from him. Any questions?"

***

Meanwhile.

Dr. Ken wakes up. It takes him a while to catch his bearings; he's clearly no longer in Afghanistan. The building around him is smoky and dark; the streaks on the walls and pools on the floor indicate a fire suppressed by internal sprinklers. It's quiet - but he can hear breathing. It seems to be coming from behind an overturned couch nearby.

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 Post subject: Re: Cortex S1E1: Quiet
 Post Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 9:15 pm 
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Ken does a quick check, sitting up in bed and looking around.

Am I injured? Am I armed? Someone is here.

He swings his feet out of bed, and stands, catching himself on the wall.

Woozy. Drugged? Sick?

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 Post subject: Re: Cortex S1E1: Quiet
 Post Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 9:17 pm 
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A quick assessment assures Dr. Ken that his is apparently uninjured, though he does not seem to be armed. His head feels clear, but the world seems hazy and distant, almost as if he were viewing it through smoky glass.

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 Post subject: Re: Cortex S1E1: Quiet
 Post Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 9:20 pm 
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Ken walks towards the sound of breathing, trying to keep his steps quiet. He moves around the couch, ready in case whoever it is jumps him.

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 Post subject: Re: Cortex S1E1: Quiet
 Post Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 9:42 pm 
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Location: Up on the hill, down by the river.
Baker takes the earpiece and fits it into his ear canal. It is the same design as the one he wore in Deep Space, under his helmet. A small comfort. He suddenly pats his sides, pockets.

"Boss, I'm pretty under dressed. I've got a duffel bag full of uniforms in the plane, but all my gear: weapons, armor, equipment? It's on a transport headed away from Darkside at full burn with my old platoon. It was all I could do to get the weightmaster to release my personal effects before I got kicked Dirtside."

Baker frowns. This is about as far from an ideal situation as he can imagine, but the ability to improvise is essential in a noncom.

"Alright you two, we're doing this one with no lead time and no intel. Slender, you look like the sort to carry a weapon. Keep it handy, but out of sight. Control, this is Baker. Radio check: Alpha, Brovo, Charlie, Delta, Echo, Foxtrot."

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 Post subject: Re: Cortex S1E1: Quiet
 Post Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 10:00 pm 
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<"Baker, this is Controller Kincaid. We read you loud and clear. Seems we have a Paradox Incident at Walter Reed. You will find supplies in the trunk of the car. The hospital is ten miles south of your current location. Traffic will be light, so you should be able to make it there in less than half an hour.">

The voice over the comm system is just climbing back out of the uncanny valley. Only the most observant of listeners could recognize the automation.

Controller Kincaid taps into the traffic control system to ensure the team hits all green lights along the route from Reagan to Walter Reed. (Fate 2, Space 2)

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 Post subject: Re: Cortex S1E1: Quiet
 Post Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 10:33 pm 
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Baker will be slightly disappointed to learn that while there are indeed supplies in the trunk, they are supplies of a mundane, every day, dirtside variety (pistols - including one smart gun that can interface with his EOE, flak vests, etc.) and not the more hi-tech gear he's used to out in deep space. Hopefully the mission won't require that sort of fire power.

***

Dr. Ken peeks behind the couch. It's Harry, somehow not exploded, but a bit winded and woozy.

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 Post subject: Re: Cortex S1E1: Quiet
 Post Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2012 9:35 am 
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"Harry! Good to see you, man. I . . . "

He looks around the room again.

Where am I? If Harry's here he can't be dead. He can't have been dead?

"Everything's &^%$ed up, man. I think I'm in it deep."

As he talks he kneels at his squad mate's side, checking for injuries.

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