Chapter Three

*Initiation*

A newly changed Uratha, Dr. Jason Sphynx is presented to the
*Harbingers of Day* for his tribal
initiation. He is a psychologist from “across the pond” who thinks he wants to
be an *Iron Master*. He recently left
London after killing one of his former patients during his First Change. He
speaks with a strong English accent. For his initiation, DAMIEN KINGSLEY tasks
JASON with tracking down another doctor by the name of HAMMOND OFFENSPIRE and
bringing him before the *Harbingers.*
JASON is given no further details, expected to rely on the razor wit and
resourcefulness *Iron Masters* are
known for to complete his mission. He is given 24 hours. JASON reaches out to
his contacts in the medical profession to discover more about DR. OFFENSPIRE
and learns that his current whereabouts are unknown. He dropped off the grid
several months ago. Undaunted, JASON digs a little deeper. He is fairly certain
his target is in San Francisco and decides to reach out to the supernatural
community to track the elusive doctor down. JASON learns of a lone wolf in San
Francisco named DANI WINCHESTER, who currently works as a consultant with the
FBI. She has been in San Francisco for about 8 months and there are rumbles
among the local packs that if she doesn’t join a pack soon, she will be run out
of town. JASON decides to reach out to DANI and see if she can help him
complete his task. A few hours later, he meets up with DANI at a well-known
diner. DANI agrees to help him and taps into FBI resources to try and locate
the doctor. They learn that DR. OFFENSPIRE currently works for American Hawk
Security’s R&D department and manage to get his home address and a
description of the car registered in his name. Rather than try to confront the
doctor at his place of business, JASON and DANI decide to visit his home. They
make the trek down to *Russian Hill*,
but when they arrive at his home, his car is not there. There are no lights on
and no other indication anyone is home.
DANI decides to have DR. OFFENSPIRE’s cell phone tracked to see if they
can locate him within the city. To their surprise, DR. OFFENSPIRE is apparently
still at work, even though it is way past business hours. DANI and JASON make
their way back across town to the *TransAmerican*
Pyramid*, which is American Hawk Security’s HQ.*

JASON is able to talk his way past the ground floor security
easily enough, posing himself and DANI as inspectors requested by GEORGE
ASCALON, the CEO of the company. Once they begin to head upstairs, though both
DANI and JASON sense a powerful ward in place above the first floor. They will
not be hindered from passing through, but since they are both supernatural,
their presence in the building will be detected. They decide to press on,
resolute in their mission, but choose to take the stairs to hopefully avoid any
elevator mishaps. The R&D department is located on the 13th
floor. As they pass the threshold of the 12th floor, they both
realize they have just entered the pale of a very powerful locus. GEORGE
ASCALON must have some serious mojo. JASON and DANI continue to proceed without
incident until they reach the hallway leading to DR. OFFENSPIRE’s lab. A large
security door stands in their way. After a short discussion, they decide to
risk crossing into the Shadow to bypass the door. On the other side, the
pristine office building becomes an urban war zone, and JASON AND DANI can’t
help but feel they are standing in a large cave as their footsteps echo eerily.
There are no signs of life in their immediate vicinity, though automatic
gunfire and screams can be heard in the distance. They proceed forward
cautiously, peering across the Shadow every few feet to maintain their bearings
and attempt to ascertain DR. OFFENSPIRE’s location. It’s not long before they
are confronted by a “special forces” soldier dressed in black camouflage and
carrying an assault rifle demanding to know their intentions. JASON once again
is able to use his silver tongue to convince the soldier they are legit and he
moves on. At that point, JASON and DANI decide cross back to the real world
since they have successfully bypassed the security door. DANI crosses first and
finds herself in a dimly lit hallway with doors on either side. The elevator at
the end of the hall dings. She quickly ducks into an office in an attempt to
avoid discovery as she hears cheerful whistling coming down the hall. Moments
later there is a stern knock on the door of the office. “Pardon me, but I don’t
believe you are authorized to be here.” Realizing she has been discovered, DANI
opens the door to the office to find a handsome young man she recognizes as the
face of American Hawk Security, EDWIN COLTAIL, GEORGE ASCALON’s right hand.

JASON steps through to see DANI talking with a young man
who’s back is currently toward him. It does not appear he’s been discovered, so
JASON pauses to listen to their conversation. Apparently, DANI has decided to
tell the truth. She is explaining that she is here helping a friend who needs
to get in touch with DR. HAMMOND OFFENSPIRE. JASON decides to reveal himself as
the young man asks the next obvious question, “and who is your friend?”

“That would be me…” JASON answers, stepping forward from the
shadows. EDWIN doesn’t seem to be phased by his sudden appearance, but instead
offers JASON and DANI a deal. Apparently, DR. OFFENSPIRE has been delving into
things he shouldn’t and has become a liability to the company. EDWIN agrees to
escort them to the doctor and make sure they escape American Hawk Security
unmolested. In return JASON and DANI must remove DR. OFFENSPIRE from the
premises and make sure he never returns. They agree to the deal and EDWIN takes
them to DR. OFFENSPIRE’s lab. The poor doctor is very anxious and disheveled.
He looks like he hasn’t slept in days. He inquires nervously as to what he can
do for MR. COLTAIL, to which EDWIN very briefly introduces DANI and JASON and
tells the doctor he is leaving him in their hands. Then EDWIN turns and leaves.

“Wh..at does that mean?” HAMMOND stammers and looks
fearfully at DANI and JASON. DANI identifies herself as FBI and asks HAMMOND to
come with them. The little man stumbles backward, hurriedly gathering up his
notes. “You… don’t understand… I’m so close.” He then looks up at DANI and she
suddenly feels all of her worst fears force their way up through her
subconscious and start spilling out of her mouth. She is disoriented and
shaken, but regains her composure as the little man starts to run.  Moving quickly, she grapples the doctor and
twists his arms behind his back, handcuffing him. HAMMOND struggles and starts
to panic, so JASON decides it’s better to silence him and knocks him
unconscious. They gather the doctor’s limp form and all his research and head
for the elevator. The elevator bypasses all other floors and heads straight for
the parking garage. Apparently, EDWIN kept up his end of the bargain. As they
make their way through the garage to HAMMOND’s car, a shadowy figure steps out
in front of them. It is humanoid in shape, but has wicked looking barbs
protruding from its back and shoulders. DANI growls and sets the doctor down
somewhat gently. JASON and DANI engage the shadowy figure, which it doesn’t
take them long to realize is a spirit. Together, they are able to send it back
across the Gauntlet and get the doctor into the back seat of his car. DANI hops
in the driver’s seat and starts driving toward *Treasure Island*, which is where JASON was instructed to deliver the
doctor to DAMIEN KINGSLEY. While she drives, JASON starts reading through the
doctor’s notes. HAMMOND was attempting to unlock the psychic potential in human
minds using drugs and chemicals. He could not get approval to work with human
subjects, so he started experimenting on himself.  Unfortunately, his experiments had unforeseen
and dire consequences. The potential he unlocked within himself allowed his
nightmares to “come alive” and attack him while he slept. The doctor indeed had
not slept for days, trying to find a way to close that door in his psyche that
was now wide open.

As JASON sits there processing the ramifications of what the
doctor has accomplished, four more shadowy creatures materialize inside the
vehicle and begin attacking them. DANI is able to control the crash and begins
grappling with the creatures, smashing one through the windshield and pummeling
another’s head against the dash. JASON gets out of the car and shifts form,
trying to gain an advantage over their attackers.  He’s never had to go hand to hand with anyone
before – as a psychologist he preferred to talk through people’s problems. He
manages to land a few blows on their attackers, though and eventually they are
discorporated. DANI yells at him to get back in the car and forces the vehicle
back into motion. Now the full understanding of what HAMMOND has done registers
with JASON. His ability is allowing spirits to cross the Gauntlet and interact
with the real world. As Uratha, JASON and DANI are tasked with keeping spirits
in the Shadow and humans in the real world. What the doctor has accomplished
cannot be allowed to continue. As the car pulls onto the bridge that crosses to
*Treasure Island*, eight more creatures
materialize. This time the vehicle crashes into the guardrail and almost ends
up in the San Francisco Bay as one wheel hangs precariously off the edge of the
bridge. JASON recognizes DANI’s low growl as she prepares to engage their
attackers, but he knows what he has to do now. He draws his firearm and levels
it at DR. OFFENSPIRE’s head, hesitating only a moment before pulling the
trigger.

JASON and DANI deliver the doctor’s body to DAMIEN KINGSLEY,
who nods in approval, understanding the decision that had to be made. By making
that decision, JASON has proven himself as an Uratha and an *Iron Master…*

The Story Continues…

Current Developments - Chapter Two - Chapter Four