Pandora's Box

Pandora's Box
 Location
 Metaplot
 Sourcec0de
Adriana
Flak
 Minor injuries
Psychological Trauma
Carrier Infection
4x Members of Task Force Beta 9, Investigative Unit Seattle 3

## Background

A number of individuals were found infected with a strange variant of the Human-Metahuman Vampiric Virus that caused them to vomit a black liquid and pollute the astral and matrix in eastern Touristville. The Foundation for Prevention of Anomalous Incidents swooped in based on intel received from a source they dubbed "The Algorithm". They sealed off the block with help from an undercover member of Knight Errant before sending in an investigative task force, which was later presumed MIA. At this point, The Foundation contacted the runner host known as the "Farmer's Market" in order to have a runner team deal with the situation.

## Legwork

The Johnson for the operation was a grey looking man in a grey coat who sat waiting for them in an abandoned building just down the street. He explained that the runners would have to go into the basement of the building opposite them to explore the space in the basement and retrieve or neutralize whatever was causing the disturbance. The team was also informed of the previous investigative unit and explained that retrieving them would be an optional objective.

## Run

The team was able to clear multiple rooms without trouble, finding that the place was practically a patchwork of what seemed to be a poorly understood reconstruction of multiple man-made rooms. A basement, a graveyard, an office, a room filled with stone geometric shapes, and a perverted cathedral, each more warped and misunderstood than the last like the place was crafted by something that was observing metahumanity from the outside.

In each of these places were once-human creatures mutated by the virus, frighteningly durable and with superhuman strength and speed, able to continue trying to fight and infect despite massive trauma. Most strangely were the constant, endless streams of black, viscous liquid spewing from the creatures' mouths carrying the virus. In the cathedral, they found the highest concentration of the creatures, heads all bowed in prayer in front of a small clay pot spewing more of the liquid and a horrific, bloated troll for an abbot, the liquid seemingly flowing into his outstretched maw.

In the ensuing firefight, the runners were able to eliminate all of the creatures, but not without injuries, resulting in a carrier infection that was only able to be partially treated due to the virulence of the awakened virus. They retrieved the pot and extracted from the basement, mission completed.

## Rewards

* 6 Karma
* 40,000 Nuyen
* 2 CDP

## Aftermath

**Item #:** AO-3170

**Object Class:** Keter

**Special Containment Procedures:** AO-3170 is currently monitored by task force Gamma-3 with security and containment enforced by onsite members of task force Beta-9. Both teams are quartered in the housing complex above what is believed to be the primary entrance to the anomalous space.

All known exits to AO-3170 are to be guarded at all times by at least three personnel standing no less than 5ft away from the entry point and 5ft away from each other. Any abnormal noises, failure in communications or monitoring equipment, or sightings of anomalous events or entities are to be immediately reported to onsite authorities to be relayed back to central command and dealt with accordingly.

Undercover members of Beta-9 have purchased the building above the primary site of AO-3170 as well as adjacent buildings. These buildings are to be staffed by loyal undercover personnel as both a central base for activities in Touristville and a front to prevent collateral damage in the event of a containment breach. Secondary locations have been secured in a similar manner where appropriate, or, failing that, permanently blocked to prevent entry or exposure.

Astral projection, wireless matrix access, and use of unapproved data transfer or storage devices is strictly prohibited while in AO-3170-1. Personnel are still required to utilize an active GPS tracker in the event that they emerge at locations besides the primary site.

A dedicated airlock system and corresponding staff have been assigned to operate the entrance to AO-3170-1. Personnel who fail to obey their instructions or adequately decontaminate post-exploration will be placed in quarantine until they are sufficiently decontaminated.

Any physical interaction with AO-3170-2C is strictly prohibited and will be responded to with a 3 year quarantine program in conjunction with broad-theatre antibiotics and hybrid therapy. Any instances of AO-3170-2B should be killed on sight. Any resulting or discovered instances of AO-3170-2C should be incinerated such that no remaining viable material remains. Any individuals suspected of coming into contact with viable material are to immediately begin quarantine regimen. In the event that quarantine measures fail to hold, onsite personnel are to be transferred to the quarantine facility. In the event that an individual or individuals are not cooperative when being placed in quarantine, they are to be exterminated and replaced with fresh members of their corresponding task force after their quarters receive a deep clean according to hygiene regulation standard 5H.

Any physical interaction with AO-3170-3 is strictly prohibited. Any listening to a communication device that AO-3170-3 has interacted with is strictly prohibited. Any such contained instances are to be placed into a noiseproof container for further analysis and utilization at Site 13.

Any direct physical interaction with AO-3170-4B is strictly prohibited without at least 4 armed accompanying personnel equipped with hi-powered flashlights, flashpacks, and concussion grenades. Personnel entering the site of AO-3170-4A are to obey the rules defined by AO-3170-4B for the duration of their stay within the area. Personnel are to act cordial and respond to questions with truthful, non-classified answers while in the area of AO-3170-4A. New books, manuscripts, or wireless-disabled data containers should be provided to AO-3170-4B weekly in exchange for acceptable, unstudied data sources to be transferred to Site 13.

Any instances of AO-3170-5A are to be ignored, no matter what they say. Cognitohazardous instances of AO-3170-5A are to be recorded using a hotrfhence machine. Any nonhazardous instances are to be recorded through standard methods and subsequently blocked using standard-issue sensory autoblockers.

Personnel are forbidden from entering or conducting tests on AO-3170-6. Failure to obey this directive is punishable by death and subsequent erasure of the both the individual and of all known living relatives of that individual.

**Description:** AO-3170 is a series of phenomena manifesting in an underground complex henceforth dubbed AO-3170-1. The descriptions of said phenomena are provided below.

AO-3170-1 is a large, extra-spatial underground complex found beneath [ADDRESS REDACTED], UCAS, [ADDRESS REDACTED], Manchuria, [ADDRESS REDACTED], Finland, and [ADDRESS REDACTED], Pan African Federation, and separated from baseline reality by a trapdoor of thick, reinforced wood. Any attempts to break the trapdoor have so far failed. The complex appears to manifest primarily out of concrete and has been noted to contradict baseline Euclidian geometry and standardized topography. Attempts to record and classify the space by a formulaic cartographer have so far proven unsuccessful, but trials are still ongoing. A description of the individual rooms in the complex is currently impossible, as the geography majorly shifts and reworks when not observed, however, common inferences can be drawn from determined patterns. First, the complex creates spaces and rooms (as opposed to transporting or copying them from elsewhere) in a style analogous to various rooms and facilities seen in the human world of baseline reality, with minor differences, oddities, and anachronisms that seems to suggest an intelligence that is capable of observation of but not immersion in human society. Second, the complex seems to be anchored in an ocean of AO-3170-2C, including on matrix and astral levels. Third, the possibility of additional entrances to AO-3170-1 has not been ruled out.

AO-3170-2 is a series of phenomena related to an unknown pathological entity henceforth referred to as AO-3170-2A.

* AO-3170-2A is a elvytys-class bacteriological pathogen capable of an extreme degree of rapid mutation through an anomalous intracellular means. Current genomic analysis and physical testing indicates genetic fingerprints and phenotypical traits indicative of VITAS, yersinia pestis, FAB Strain III, and multiple strains of HMHVV. It primarily survives in AO-3170-2C and the bodily fluids of living hosts, but is still capable of transmission through contact and aerosolized fluid dispersion. The bacterium infests host cells and multiplies at a great rate, killing the host cell and releasing an abundant supply of respiratory byproducts into the bloodstream, the primary byproduct of interest is a tradition-neutral metal which acts as an extremely toxic, magically active reagent. The influx of these byproducts leads to total organ failure through heavy metal poisoning within a period of approximately 10 hours. The current estimated point of no return following infection is 30 minutes to 1 hour if treated with a broad-spectrum antibiotic treatment, hybrid therapy, and FAB III injections. In the event that a host expires while infected with AO-3170-2A, following a period of 15 minutes to 24 hours, the host reanimates as an instance of AO-3170-2B.
* AO-3170-2B are reanimated hosts infected with AO-3170-2A. Instances of AO-3170-2B tend to express phenotypical elements of HMHVV 1a and 2 and are capable of altering reality through low-level thaumaturgy. Physically, instances of AO-3170-2B are unnaturally durable and ignore injuries dealt to their bodies such that only direct destruction of the circulatory system impedes movement or aggression. Instances of AO-3170-2B display above-average metatypical physical capabilities, however, mental abilities not related to the hunting of prey appear to be greatly diminished. Instances of AO-3170-2B constantly expel AO-3170-2C saturated with AO-3170-2A from any open orifices. The method by which AO-3170-2C is produced is unknown.
* AO-3170-2C is a viscous black fluid that contains AO-3170-2A. The average composition of AO-3170-2C is as follows: 32% industrial grade diesel fuel, 20% nuclear waste byproducts, 12% human feces (assorted, unidentified genetic markers), 10% human blood (assorted, unidentified genetic markers), 8% degraded living tissue slurry, 7% fish oils, 6% liquified metal (various), 5% chromic acid solution, and trace amounts of pure sodium metal.

AO-3170-3 are a series of phenomena related to an unidentified entity henceforth referred to as AO-3170-3A.

* AO-3170-3A appears to be a caucasian male 6 feet and 5 inches tall wearing a black trenchcoat and hat described as in the "noir" style. Despite attempts at illumination or closer observation, the face and head of the entity appear to be constantly shrouded in darkness. The entity can frequently be encountered mid-conversation on any manner of communication device manufactured after the date October 3rd, 1730 CE. The content of the conversation varies, however, shortly after encountering operatives, drones, or observation devices, the entity concludes its conversation and disappears from view either by either moving out of the observer's field of vision or simply ceasing to manifest. The effects of this manifestation are technophobic and electronic, mechanical, and automated devices will fail to perceive or record the entity, but will continue to observe its effects on the world. Organic entities are capable of observing the entity and its actions normally.
* AO-3170-3B refers to the devices that AO-31703A communicates with during a manifestation event. Following a manifestation event, AO-31703A will not end the call or communication method by which the device acts. The ongoing communication consists entirely of a 3 number sequence repeated by a muffled, distorted voice. The significance of the numbers is not currently known. The identity of the speaker is not currently known, however, the existence of multiple speakers has been confirmed. The observation of the communication by a living organism serves as a mnestic trigger, allowing for the anomalous improvement of memory, especially of events immediately surrounding the observation event.

AO-3170-4 are a series of phenomena related to the room henceforth referred to as AO-3170-4A.

* AO-3170-4A is a 25mx25mx50m room populated by a collection of large bookshelves.
* AO-3170-4B is a large, gaunt entity resembling a lengthened human male with pale grey skin, 6-jointed arms, 4-jointed fingers, and a large eye embedded into the palm of each hand. The main body of the entity can be seen lying down in the fetal position on the ceiling of the room. The arms of the entity are the exclusive method of interaction with the room and any occupants. The entity is currently not believed to be hostile so long as onsite personnel continue to abide by the rules designated by it.

AO-3170-5 are a series of phenomena related to AO-3170-5B.

* AO-3170-5A are a collection of manifestations produced by object AO-3170-5B that take the form of inscriptions and carvings into the walls of AO-3170-1. These vary in content according to the individuals currently occupying the structure, but are typically meant to entice individuals into coming into contact with AO-3170-5B. Manifestations of AO-3170-5A have stopped entirely since the retrieval of AO-3170-5B.
* AO-3170-5B is a silver necklace resembling a rosary holding an inverted eastern orthodox cross inscribed with cross-patterned etchings of red eyes. The rosary seems to have the ability to exert minor magical phenomena on its containment structure and reacts adversely to the presence of other anomalous phenomena. Individuals coming into contact with or in the proximity of AO-3170-5B profess a feeling of "being watched" by "something greater". Extended psychological evaluation of individuals who have come into contact with AO-3170-5B reveals an unnaturally high tendency to develop schizophrenic, anxious, and psychotic disorders.

AO-3170-6 is a room that appears to be filled with potatoes. [REDACTED UNDER ORDER OF THE ALGORITHM]. Additional information regarding AO-3170-6 is classified level 5; please contact Doctor Grey with the appropriate information requisition form for further details.

AO-3170-7 is a technophobic entity that takes the form of a skeletal horse with a greasy black mane, draped with or exhibiting growths resembling metahuman arms of varying ethnic and physical states in a cascading pattern not unlike hair. AO-3170-7 does not appear to be directly hostile, however, manifestations immediately precede excessively dangerous events or environments and, as such, operatives active in the field following a AO-3170-7 manifestation are recommended to approach any situations with extreme caution.

**Addendum 3170.1- SS621NA Exploration Log**

**The following is a trideo recording of the first attempted exploration of sensitive site 621NA by Task Force Beta-9’s Investigative Unit Seattle 3, composed of Senior Agent James Carter, Field Agents Antonio Ramirez and John Kim, and Junior Field Agent Michael McWilliams.**

*The trideo flicks on to reveal a man in his mid-thirties of South American descent wearing sealed black combat armor, save the helmet which lies on the bench to his right. His arms reach out towards and behind the camera, if the synced wiggling of the arms and trideo are any indication, it seems that he is adjusting whatever device the camera is attached to. The wall behind him is slanted and windowless, with a low roof. Perhaps a van of some kind? He draws his arms back before crossing them as if admiring his work.*

The man: Fit all right?

An individual next to the camera: Yeah. Thanks for the adjustment.

The man: I get that you’re a new transfer, but do us all a favor and make sure your sensor ‘quip fits before we’re out of base next time, alright?

The cameraman: Of course.

A man offscreen: So Ramirez, you taking the bet?

*Both men turn to face another two in matte-black combat armor. The trideo pans around the cramped space before settling on the second, denoted only by a red bandana tied around his left arm and an expectant gaze leveled at the South-American. The other man, in contrast, seems to lie completely still, sporting a helmet spray-painted with a patterned white skull.*

Ramirez: What’s the cutoff?

The man with the red bandana: 2 hours.

Ramirez: I’ll take the under.

The man with the red bandana: Carter already took under.

Ramirez: Then we’ll both win and we split your money.

The man with the red bandana: Fine, fine.

*The man with the red bandana turns, his gaze settling on the cameraman with indiscernible intent, his eyes and face hidden behind a screen of black metal and glass. His posture, however, said infinitely more. The man was casual, comfortable, utterly within his element.*

The man with the red bandana: What about you fresh meat? You got a bet?

The cameraman: No. I got no idea what’s down there or how long it’ll take to get it out.

The man with the red bandana: Nah nah nah. The question was rhetorical. You have to make a bet. Especially on your first job.

The cameraman: I’d rather not. Don’t get paid much as it is and the last thing I wanna do is blow my paycheck on something stupid like this. By the way, my name’s Michael, not “fresh meat”.

The man with the red bandana: C’mon man. Just tryna be friendly.

*The man’s face leans closer while his left hand moves down to cradle his pistol, as if to study the man behind the camera like a caged beast, seemingly reveling in whatever discomfort he finds.*

The man with the red bandana: So what’s it gonna be new meat? You gonna make a bet or am I gonna have to beat some sense into you.

A deep baritone from behind the leaning figure: Kim, stand down. Before I stand you down myself.

*Kim’s head rotates slightly to face the now attentive figure in the skull helmet, before snapping back to the cameraman. Only after a few seconds does the leaning man back down, his ass planted on the metal bench and his hands away from his service pistol.*

Kim: This ain’t over Mikey. You come back to me when you wanna win some real money.

*The cabin falls silent for a few seconds before Carter leans forward, the skull painted onto his helmet grinning in the dim light.*

Carter: As command explained in the brief, we’ll be heading out to investigate an unknown disturbance located in the basement of a Redmond apartment complex. The landlord reported strange sounds coming from the basement before tenants started disappearing, only thing left in their rooms was a thick, black liquid smelling of “shit” and “blood” that tracked downstairs. Investigating the basement revealed doors that didn’t exist a few weeks ago. Commos swooped in before he could get too much chatter out and the shrinks are making sure he won’t remember a thing. Area is locked down as an active crime zone by KE and techs are already hard at work analyzing the evidence in the building proper, so we shouldn’t expect any visitors from upstairs. Our mission is to map out the area underground and retrieve any artifacts that may be causing the disturbance. Any questions?

Kim: Think our guns’ll work on whatever’s down there?

Carter: I’ll say what I always say, Kim. You pray they do. We got no alternatives on this one.

Michael: The hell does that mean?

Carter: What do you think? Some stuff out there just don’t respond to bullets. It’s a helluva lot easier when they do. All you have to do is pull the trigger.

*A squealing of metal and tires can be heard from outside.*

Carter: We’re here. Out.

*The camera turns to the right to face a door before the cameraman’s arm reaches out to grasp the handle and turn it, flinging the door open and allowing the too-bright radiance of daylight into the dim compartment.*

*The cameraman slides out of the back of the van, scanning his surroundings to reveal a dingy urban alleyway tucked between two old buildings of red brick and faded mortar. He is not alone however, as the mouth of the alley holds more than an exit, instead playing host to a pair of Knight Errant officers, easily distinguishable by their straight-edged uniform framed in red and black, standing in tense attentiveness. The senior agent steps into the camera’s field of view, taking a stance of clear leadership over the men behind him.*

Carter: Officers.

The leftmost officer: Investigator.

\*The officers turn as if satisfied by what they see. The man in the skull mask turns his head towards his fellows before nodding in a gesture to follow the two.\*

Carter: Anything happen while we were on our way over?

The rightmost officer: You’ll have to talk to your guys inside. Ain’t said nothin’ to us out here.

Carter: Good sign.

*The procession leaves the alley, coming out onto the sidewalk next to a dusty pockmarked street, at this point more pothole than road. Two heavily armored KE police cruisers lie in the street, bolted down with matte black steel and accented with the obnoxious red, white, and blue logos of Ares’ flagship pmc.*

*As the camera turns to the right, another pair of officers can be seen flanking a small, ancient doorway containing a flimsy door of pressed wood and strips of brass. The officers quickly move out of the way, nodding to the agents as they move past.*

The first officer: You boys need our help, you just holler. We’re all here to protect the city.

*The camera breaches the doorway as the light turns from the warm radiance of sunlight to the harsh half-light of fluorescent bulbs, illuminating a dingy room half-crowded by a small, twisting set of wooden stairs shrouded by a patchy, stained carpet with flecks and streaks of black. As the camera pans to examine the room, it reveals another pair of similar doors with placards reading “Office” and “Storage” that seem to lead deeper into the building and lie separated from each other only by a small, stacked set of compartmentalized mailboxes.*

*The man with the grinning skull walks forwards, slinging his weapon, a modified AK-98, from his back with quick, practiced precision before nodding to the others to do the same. Rifle in one hand and doorknob in the other, the man carefully coaxes the door to the storage room open, revealing little but a few half-empty metal racks bathed in the weak, flickering light of a fluorescent light bar on the fritz, in the midst of a sparsely furnished room; that and a door that creaked and groaned as if it was severely in need of a good oiling.*

Ramirez: You know if they were willing to leave all this oily shit on the floor. Could’ve at least had the courtesy to grease the damn hinges.

*There was a quiet chuckle in response. The laugh of men tense with the prospects of the coming endeavor and more focused on their anticipation than the meagre humor of their comrade.*

*Proceeding inwards into the storage room, the tracked splotches of black fluid becomes a streak on the wooden boards, and from a streak becomes a puddle down to an ancient looking trapdoor of otherwise stale, dehydrated wood reinforced with strips of steel and a large, heavy padlock which lies open.*

Carter: 3-1 to 3-actual. Entering sensitive site for exploration. Acknowledge.

3-actual: Acknowledged. We’ll be here to provide tactical support. Good luck down there.

Carter: Guns up. Eyes on. We’ll be out in time for dinner.

***CREAK***

**Communications with IUSea3 were cut off once the recording equipment passed the threshold of the trapdoor. All members of the team are declared missing-in-action and presumed dead until proven otherwise. The Algorithm has determined that further exploration of the site should be relegated to external contractors from the runner collective “Farmer’s Market”. Individuals are to be selected and hired at the discretion of Case Officer Johnson. Additional operatives from task force Beta-9 have been dispatched to take charge of containment and clean up, Iota-4 is monitoring the situation to prevent spread of unwanted information, and Gamma-3 is on standby in case of further failure of onsite exploration teams.**

**UPDATE:** **The body of field agent John Kim was recovered by external contractors. The current fate of the other 3 members of IUSea3 is unknown, however, team biomonitors display an offline reading for all personnel.**

**Addendum 3170.2- External Contractor Exploration Log**

[REDACTED UNDER ORDER OF THE ALGORITHM]. Additional information regarding the exploration of AO-3170-1 by external contractors is classified level 5; please contact Doctor Grey with the appropriate information requisition form for further details.

**Addendum 3170.3- External Contractor Interview Log**

[REDACTED UNDER ORDER OF THE ALGORITHM]. Additional information regarding the exploration of AO-3170-1 by external contractors is classified level 5; please contact Doctor Grey with the appropriate information requisition form for further details.

**Addendum 3170.4- Updates to Description and Containment Protocol**

Instances of AO-3170-5A have stopped appearing following the acquisition of AO-31705B. AO-31705B has been moved to Site 13 for further study in isolation chamber 467.