Project Rabbit Hole

The SEC brings together five individuals to investigate the Shiola after discovering a gate in MMM. The team comprised of the former drug-lord and genius scientist Malick Noah, the military sniper Mikey Valentine, the private investigator Renee Bishop, the forsaken Templar Tempest Hawkins, and the alien serial killer Hoodah.

## Summary

### Recruitment

In the aftermath of the Zo Scandal: Krav and Kurt have disappeared, Quincy and the rest of the Zo Project have been integrated into the Vespigian Military and all Zo files have been turned over to the Supernatural Events Committee (SEC). The head of the SEC, Victor Zamek works with the SEC researchers to make heads and tails of the Gate that Krav was trying to excavate. One day the gate activates and a small pink bunny-like creature exits the gate and attacks the agents who attempt to capture it. The appearance of the creature's insect-esque legs protruding from its back reminds Victor of old texts that mention Beelzebub’s realm of insects: the Gate to Shiola. After a scramble, the creature retreats back through the gate and Victor works to legitimize Project Rabbit Hole. He asks the researchers to find him the foremost expert on Mana and the energies irradiating from beyond the universe.

A year prior, Malick Noah has been in Kamenstein Maximum Security Prison for three years and lives a mundane life. One day he notices a new inmate in the common area. The young woman is immediately accosted by other inmates who she quickly kills before being restrained by the guards. Malick asks other inmates about the young woman and discovers her name. She is Tempest Hawkins, and she has a history as a Grimmite soldier who had fought in the Grimm Civil War & later career as a mercenary. He also experiences many lockdowns due to a mysterious force that shakes the building ever so slightly. The other inmates spread rumors about a monster that they keep in the basement as a last ditch effort in the event of a riot and breakout. One day Malick is approached in secret by a fellow female inmate who tells him that he will be transported for a mission and she would like to accompany him the mission. In return she offers him the ability to escape. That night, three guards enter Malick’s cell and pull him out and down to an isolated hallway where they go through multiple blast doors before entering into a large transport truck.

He is driven somewhere for what seems like hours blindfolded, and restrained to the maximum extent. When the truck stops Malick is roughly thrown out of the truck and taken into a tent. Inside the tent Malick has his blindfold and restraints removed, and is sat in front of an older grizzled Victor. Malick immediately clocks every exit and improvisable weapon in the tent. Victor lets Malick know that if he makes a wrong move, he has the ability to liquify his bones. The former crime lord had heard tales of the an SEC agent who had a reputation for his cunning and ruthlessness. Victor tells him about Rabbit Hole and the data found from the energy signatures. The older man also notifies Malick that in the event that he turns down the mission, Victor will be forced to kill him. Malick is hesitant, but knows he honestly doesn't have a choice in the matter. He takes the job and is given more freedom within the command center.

After a few weeks of looking into the Mana Malick determines that it was Barka Mana and was sure fire sign that the gate connected to another plane through the Mana Zone. Malick was able to determine that based off the appearance for the bunny creature, and other accounts of weird creatures appearing in Mana rich zones that the gate connected to Purgatory. Malick proposes a trip into the gate. Victor brings in GOLIATH who he uses to enter the gate with Malick. On the other end of the gate the team searches the area and finds thousands of insect eggs. While looking around Malick chooses not to travel too far and encourages the rest of the team to stay close for the time being. Adrian Cooper disturbs one of the eggs, and a series of larva emerge from the eggs round it. He is attack by the rapidly aging insect and ripped to shreds. The insects attack the team and Malick makes a break for the Gate, but once he arrives he looks back and watches the rest of the team get slaughtered. The lone survivor Henry was slowly making his way back to the gate while getting attacked by the insects. Malick had read his file: Henry was Raptronian with the ability to quickly adapt to any situation. The lone soldier grew spikes over his entire body, used alcohol secretion to cover himself in flame, and electrified his surroundings; as well as using other techniques to defend against the monsters.

Henry finally makes at and he joins Malick on the other side. On the other side of the gate the SEC security agents had to neutralize the Dekor that went through with Henry. Malick tells them to bring him his girlfriend Cheyanne Peyton who has spent time alongside him studying Mana and dimensional rifts. Together they begin to figure out how to use the natural Mana of Purgatory and weaponize it. They discover how to choose which gate they connect to. With the new capabilities of the gate Victor approaches Malick and tells him to build a team to re-enter Purgatory. Malick protests, but Victor reminds him of his rap sheet. Murder, drug running, and money laundering were serious crimes that he needed to atone for. There was no choice. Victor also reveals that Malick already has his first member, and whistles loudly. A young man enters the room moving sluggishly and smiling like a goofball. Victor introduces Michael Valentine to the couple and tells them that Michael will be working alongside closely with them. Once Victor leaves Michael flops into a chair, smiling, and he asks the couple to call him Mikey.

After the botched trip, Henry is hospitalized and Victor tells Malick to build his own team after Malick chastised Victor for entering the gate half-cocked. First Malick demands for the Grimmite Mercenary to join as his personal bodyguard, and asks to see the creature imprisoned in the basement of Kamenstein. He is brought in front of creature's cell and told to stay still and not feed the creature. From inside he can see the quadrupedal creature moving about almost as is it was biped crawling. Malick tells the creature that he wants to talk after watching it violently thrashing around for a minute. Once he his request is heard the creature faces him, eyes boring holes in Malick. Malick has the guards unlock the cage and Malick walks in through the entrance. The only man in the room whose jaw wasn't on the floor was Mikey who watching excitedly. Now face to face, Malick asks the monster's name, "Hoodah", it answers back. Malick explains the situation and offers Hoodah a role in the journey. Hoodah declines, but Malick reminds Hoodah that if the mission goes sideways Hoodah would be free to escape into Purgatory. With a wicked grin, Hoodah accepts to the position.

Back in Kamenstein, guards grab Renee who is taken to Malick in an interrogation room. Once inside the guards approach to unlock Renee's handcuffs, but Malick asks them not to. Confused, they back off and leave the room. Malick thanks her for coming quietly, and lets her know she doesn't have to hide her hands. Renee lifts her hands showing him that she had escaped her restraints, and revealed that she had removed her cuffs moments after getting them. Malick grills her for information as to why she wanted to be apart of the suicidal mission. She refuses to tell, instead reminding him that she knew how to escape from Victor. Malick drops the subject and begins going through her criminal record, which included multiple assaults, breaking & entering, and obstructing the law. Renee was a private detective who fancied herself a superhero. Now with Tempest as the party's protector, Hoodah & Mikey as the party scouts, and Renee using her medical prowess. In reality Malick lied about her prowess as a cover for recruiting her, though she does have some training as a medic. After the formation they train while Malick, Cheyanne, and Victor found the right area to cross over to.

### Shiola

The day of the journey, the team approaches the door and asks if the gate will hurt. Malick promises that the trip won't hurt at all. The team is hesitant to enter so Renee goes first. Next, Cheyanne enter with Malick following behind worried for her safety. That leaves Tempest and Hoodah alone to make fun of one another for being to scared to go through the gate. With their pride on the line they attempt to beat the other through the gate, but get stuck in the process. The pain of simultaneously being inside the gate and out is immeasurable. Finally they exit the other side and argue over who got there first. Their bickering fades as they see the vibrant landscape around themselves. Malick and Cheyanne study the plants and test the mana in the air.