Operation SHADE

## **SHADE**

The Operation known as SHADE was designated such due to the supernatural beings that mythology and fiction call "werewolves" or other such names as "lycanthropes", and so on. In AGENCY files, the creatures are dubbed "Shades", meaning creatures of near-Darkness, that live in dark caves, the shadows, or other such settings to hide, until the Full Moon rises and they begin their transformation.

Throughout the last seven centuries, the AGENCY(or it's previous iterations) have investigated, and even found "Shades". Some were beyond saving when taken alive, but the majority were already dead by the time operatives arrived to recover the reported human/"Shade" hybrids. This led to the AGENCY, by the turn of the 20th Century to take a new approach to trying to understand the energy and genetics of these affected people. As the AGENCY's many global locations turned more towards the future, the London offices, being in Europe, continued towards the past. Centered in Europe, where most of the mythical and supernatural tales had originated, and not due to simple fairy tales or folklore, but the reported sightings of creatures such as "Shades" as well as Vampires, Ghosts, Specters, and other supernatural beings.

Heading the London office of the AGENCY is Quincy Bellington, brother of James Bellington. The London office is a more limited and condensed location, operating within the confines of Scotland Yard, and working alongside numerous members of the Yard. This makes them more public, but still hidden from the civilian population as well as any media. The intermediary between the Quincy and Scotland Yard is Captain Oliver Northington. Northington handles most of the joint operations, while Quincy keeps an open eye on anything worth investigating.

It was Quincy who contacted the Director--Vezek Stargazer--and gave him the updates on a recent string of reports of a "monster" in Central America. The Director, at first, was hesitant, but once Quincy had sent him the details, the Director realized that this may lead to a huge positive for the threat he knew was looming. The Darkness. Giving the okay, the Director had Quincy contact Hubert Keller, who used his connections and pull to recruit an up-and-coming Steven Johnson for the assignment.

As Steven Johnson's mission had led to a Shade biting him, and thusly turning him into a Shade, known now as Steven Shader, the AGENCY had one huge piece to use against the Darkness. Shader entered into the world of the supernatural on his return to the City. He tried going back to his normal life, but wasn't allowed back at Fort Westwood. His C.O. met him at the front gate, and told him he had been reassigned, and was no longer the soldier he'd been just a few days earlier. Shader, feeling anger growing, held back from attacking(or worse) the C.O. and the nearby Military Police, and left. Arriving back in the City, he headed to his mother's, Theresa Johnson's, house, but she wouldn't answer the doorbell. She peered through the window, and with tears in her eyes she opened the door. He tried getting inside, but she kept the way blocked. Feeling rage, he bust down the door, knocking the now frantic and crying Theresa down. She took one look at the man that had once been her son, and screamed for help. Shader couldn't even reach down to help her, as she threw anything she could find at this now enraged-looking creature, Shader soon realized he was about to shift, becoming a Shade again, so he quickly ran out of his mom's home, and fled.

He felt the chill flowing down his spine, and this time was fully conscious as he shifted from the man who was once Steven Johnson, into a creature known as a Shade. His long fur and claws were in full view as he lept up to the rooftops. Suddenly he heard a large explosion a few blocks away. As he ran in the direction, he spotted a pair of masked figures a short distance away. As the pair, Hero-Man and Sidekick Kid were on patrol, they spotted Ice-Guy's upgraded "Hack-Bot". Wanting to destroy this bizarre droid, he watched as the Heroic-Combo handled it. He then recognized Hero-Man, and could feel his own form returning to that of his human form. Remembering attacking his Mom, Shader fled in human form, and was met by Agent 72.

Agent 72, acting as liaison, on behalf of the Director, had been studying Shade's for years, and knew more about them than most. He handed Shader a new covert-ops uniform, as well as a kit with more supplies. He then began to explain the world of the supernatural, and instructed Shader to close his eyes and focus his new senses. As he opened his eyes, he could sense more than he could imagine.

(more later)