Episode 2: Scratching the Surface, Part 2

## Description

After Silas's first endeavor into the Breach, VINCULA quickly gathers a team to assist in further exploration. The team sets out on their first exploration mission per Miss Vaux's wishes and begins delving into the unknown fully.

## Content Warnings

Mentions of: mass panic, cryptid creatures, death, corporate skepticism, entombment, live burial, ritual sacrifice, Explicit language, Strange creature noises, Sounds of struggling/exertion and pain, Heavy breathing/coughing, Uncanny valley, Unpleasant sounds (scratching, flesh ripping), Bodily injury

## Plot Summary

**Translation date:** April 5th, 2021

The episode begins with a not-yet-known character (Cassius Thatcher) saying, "I want to know more... about our arrival -- at VINCULA. I give you... Vaux. We were only scratching the surface..."

Scene one starts with Silas's personal microphone recording starting. There is a commotion in the hallway and Silas is about to investigate, but Evelyn Vaux enters the office to retrieve him, stating that it is time for him to meet the rest of the exploration team (dubbed Breachers) who will be joining Silas in entering and exploring the Breach. Silas's new duties are to continue his translation work while also accompanying the rest of the team on their exploration expeditions into the Breach. Before Silas has the chance to argue about the change in duties and the broken promise of him not having to go back into the Breach, the door to the office opens, and in steps the rest of the team.

The first to introduce themself is Cassius (preferring to only be referred to by their first name), the biologist of the team and the team's leader. They are in charge of specimen collection and categorization. Cassius proceeds to poke fun at Silas's name, stating that it sounds like an old person's name. Silas tries to defend himself, but Cassius ignores him to look at the different items Silas has on his desk, particularly the Linkstones. The next person we are introduced to is Greg Washburn who describes his duty to the team as the one, "haulin' y'all's sorry asses around." Next to introduce themself is Elizabeth Bellanger, who specializes in cryptozoology. Before Silas can question it, the next teammate speaks up. She excitedly realizes that Silas is the one who figured out how to open the Breach, and promptly takes a selfie with him. She chastises him, saying he could have at least smiled for the picture. She tries to post the photo she took, but can't get any cell phone signal inside VINCULA's facility. Alyx Yard introduces herself officially, stating that she is the team's physicist. The next team member tells Alyx not to take pictures of people without their permission, then introduces himself as Jeremiah Woods, a field medic.

Silas expresses some concern over the team requiring a medic, but Jeremiah reassures him that the hope is to *not* need him, but it is better to have him around than not. Jeremiah also mentions Silas getting chased out of the Breach by something, and before Silas can respond Cassius's attention is grabbed. Cassius quickly begins to excitedly question Silas about the seemingly invisible creature. Cassius gets particularly hyped about the invisible beast, wondering if they "could really be so lucky to find it again." Before Silas has the chance to ask what they mean, Vaux cuts him off stating that the group will make their first expedition that day. Silas begins to protest having to tag along, but Cassius promptly teases Silas over it, stating that Silas ought to be more excited about such an opportunity. The two stop walking to talk to one another, Cassius stating that they got off on the wrong foot with one another. They are just excited over the massive discovery of it all, and they understand that VINCULA can be a bit pushy. They also mention that they, too, got the, "Are you a cuckoo and believe in monsters spiel," as Cassius puts it. Cassius then explains that they grew up in the Rocky Mountains area and spent time with Bigfoot Hunters, and during that time heard and witnessed something unexplainable, but what many chalked up to being a mountain lion. It was enough of a moving experience for Cassius to pursue biology, specifically ecology.

The two rejoin the rest of the group as Greg introduces his fellow security specialists, Johnny, Elora, and Fred. Vaux details the group's goal for the expedition: to establish an idea of the surroundings, collect pictographic, and trace evidence of any native specimens, and retreat immediately if they make contact with any natives. As the group begins to don their gear, Greg calls Silas over to him to chat as they suit up. The two discuss their apprehensions about the job they've been assigned to since VINCULA has been purposefully vague. Greg asks if Silas has any additional information about what they might expect to encounter, but Silas states that he really has no idea what to expect. The translation doesn't offer enough yet to know anything aside from it being dangerous to some degree. Greg explains that his job is to take care of everyone's safety, so Silas needs to follow the "see something, say something" rule to help keep everyone safe. Greg then moves on to help Alyx with her gear.

Cassius approaches, teasing Silas about being geared up, to which Silas agrees and says he's dressed, "Like a librarian stuffed in Appalachian gear." Silas admits that he is a *little* excited about going back into the Breach again, this time with other people. Cassius slaps him on the back and commends the excitement.

> *"That's the spirit! When facing certain death, don't think about the teeth--think of the glory! Your demise will be recounted in songs for ages to come!" --Cassius*
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Scene two begins with the first Expedition Log from Silas for VINCULA. The group has gone through the Breach and is in the same unknown location on the other side of it, the forested location that Silas entered when he first went through the Breach. The GPS signal and cell phone service don't work, so they cannot pinpoint their exact location. According to Alyx, the air is relatively similar to Earth's atmosphere, but with more carbon dioxide. The temperature reads at 38 degrees Celsius (100.4 degrees Fahrenheit). The only communication device that seems to work are the walkie-talkies, but there are no plans to split up far enough to need them.

We then meet the first creature to be detailed inside this new location: a bird-like creature. Elizabeth points it out and describes it as having a spiral-shaped beak, unlike any expression she's seen before. Cassius calls out to the group that they have found a clearing and tells everyone to come look, forcing Alyx to pick up the equipment she just set up (much to her annoyance). Once the group, particularly Silas, joins Cassius in the clearing, they see a ziggurat-like structure about 30 meters (nearly 100 feet) high. It is covered in vines and made of clay or dirt. The group decides to explore it and climb it to the top. Once there, Cassius enters the dome-like structure at the top, followed by Silas. The rest of the team also joins them. Towards the back of the inside of the dome, there is what seems to be a sarcophagus. Cassius jokingly pretends to be the voice of whatever might be entombed, referring to them as the "Breach King." As Silas begins to investigate the inscription on the sarcophagus, he hears a faint scratching sound. After the group listens to it, Alyx wonders if there is someone inside of it still alive. After some group speculation about what could be entombed and the implications of opening the sarcophagus, Cassius decides to open it. Much to their shock, the creature inside is vaguely humanoid with gray skin and no discernable features, everything smoothed over. The creature is holding something and, after closer inspection from Silas, it is revealed to be a book. When Cassius and Silas touch the creature to grab the book from it, they are startled by how cold and rubbery the creature's skin/outer shell feels. They detach the book from where it was connected to the creature's arm.

The group all hear distant howls and Greg decides it's time to go. They decide to leave the creature where it is for now, hoping to come back another time for it, and they all make a run for it back to the Breach. As they are running, the wolf howls are getting closer and more erratic, and Cassius trips over a tree root. Silas and Elizabeth both grab Cassius and help them to the Breach. Just as they all approach the Breach, the episode ends.

## Cast and Crew

Cast:

* Ty Von (Silas Caldwell)
* Beth Sage Phung (Cassius Thatcher)
* Cody Burke (Greg Washburn)
* Elgin Smith (Jeremiah Woods)
* Morgie Bee (Elizabeth Bellanger)
* Jules Christine (Alyx Yard)
* Kaila Crockett (Evelyn Vaux)
* Rowan Odom (Elora)
* Gage Odom (Fred)

Crew:

* Ty Von
* Rowan Odom