THE FOLLOWING CORRESPONDANCE IS CLASSIFED LEVEL SC (SECURITY CHECK). ANY AND ALL PERSONNEL WHO READ THIS CORRESPONDANCE WITHOUT SC (SECURITY CHECK) CLEARANCE WILL BE PUNISHED WITH REFERENCE TO SECTION T.31. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE SC (SECURITY CHECK) CLEARANCE, PLEASE CLOSE THIS DOCUMENT AND REPORT TO YOUR SUPERIOR WITH YOUR NAME, DATE OF BIRTH, AND PREFERRED METHOD OF RE-EDUCATION. THIS DOCUMENT WILL CLOSE AUTOMATICALLY AFTER 25 (TWENTY-FIVE) MINUTES.
THE FOLLOWING CORRESPONDANCE IS BETWEEN DR. FRANK STOLLER (DECEASED) AND DR. MICHAEL STEVENSON (MISSING, PRESUMED DEAD). THE FOLLOWING CORRESPONDANCE WAS SALVAGED FROM FACILITY 4 (COMPROMISED). SALVAGE TEAM 1 DISCOVERED E-MAIL CHAIN ON COMPUTER OF DR. STOLLER.
Sent: 5/11, 12:07
From: Frank
To: Mike
Subject: Congrats!
Mike,
Thanks for sending the report. I’ve had a chance to look over it, and I think we’re making some great progress! If we can keep this up, we could potentially see some trial tests begin by the start of next month. There’s still a lot of factors we need to iron out (maybe rope in some of the orderlies to help with this?) but if we can keep up the pace then I see no reason we won’t be able to meet our monthly target. Keep up the good work!
Thanks,
Frank
Sent: 21/11, 15:33
From: Frank
To: Mike
Subject: Check your Spam
Mike,
In case you haven’t managed to read through the minutes yet, it looks like Corporate aren’t happy with the last round of reports. They think we ought to be further ahead than we are at this point in the project, despite me reminding them that this is an incredibly delicate process and that we can’t rush anything. But enough of them believe that we’re slacking off so as to hand out a new timetable.
Check your spam folder for an email from Tony.
Thanks,
Frank
Sent: 9/12, 10:49
From: Frank
To: Mike
Subject: Signed Documents?
Mike,
It’s been a while since I sent you those documents for signing and they still haven’t arrived back. I need them by next week at the latest or people are going to start chasing after me about it too. Don’t leave me hanging!
Thanks,
Frank
Sent: 23/12, 13:03
From: Frank
To: Mike
Subject: Happy Christmas!
Mike,
Happy Christmas! I’ll be out of the office now until New Year’s, so if there are any pressing issues contact me on my business number. I won’t be checking these emails until I’m back on the clock. If you can send over the outstanding paperwork, I’ll try and get them signed off before I leave today.
Say hi to Jenny and the kids for me!
Thanks,
Frank
Sent: 4/1, 9:16
From: Frank
To: Mike
Subject: What Happened?
Mike,
I come back to work and first thing I see is a huge mess in the lab! Were you not on site over the break? I’ve tried calling you to ask but you’ve not been picking up. If you see this before my calls, contact me immediately.
Sent: 4/1, 9:55
From: Frank
To: Mike
Subject: Where are You???
Mike,
Where are you? Even if you aren’t on site you should still be getting these messages. I’ve sent some people to clean up the mess left in the lab. You didn’t let them in unsupervised did you? If you don’t respond soon I’m going to have to send someone to find you.
Sent: 4/1, 10:26
From: Frank
To: Mike
Subject: URGENT!!
Mike,
One of the samples is missing from the lab. This is your notice that I’m pushing the button. I can’t wait on you any longer.
Sent: 4/1, 12:19
From: Frank
To: Mike
Subject: LAST CHANCE
Mike this is your last chance. The whole lab is under lockdown and you need to contact me NOW. I don’t know what happened in there while I was away but we’re initiating containment procedures. You aren’t picking up my calls, not answering emails. Noone has been able to find you. THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE TO GET OUT OF THE BUILDING BEFORE THEY SHUT IT DOWN.
GET OUT.
Sent: 4/1, 16:01
From: Frank
To: Mike
Subject: (No Subject)
I didn’t make it out in time. Too many people and too much equipment. The guards didn’t prioritise me among other people. Most of the orderlies you got to help with the testing were refused too. At gunpoint. And I was the one who pushed the button! I told management we had a containment breach and that material was missing, and I wasn’t even allowed to leave! What bullshit is that?! And now we’re stuck inside until they decide to let the rest of us out. They said we were best placed to deal with any fallout in here whilst they call for more security, which I suppose is true. We have all our gear ready if worse comes to worse, but it sounds more like a sentencing without a trial to me.
I don’t even care if you see this at this point Mike. This wouldn’t even be happening if it weren’t for your negligence over the holidays. Fuck you Mike, wherever you are.
Sent: 4/1, 22:28
From: Frank
To: Mike
Subject: FWD: (No subject)
They aren’t coming back. I should’ve guessed. You have no idea how stressful it’s been here for all of us over the last couple of hours. I’ve organised those of us still here into an investigation team. Even if the security personnel were lying about their reason for keeping us in here, there was a grain of truth to their words. We are, after all, the team that’s worked on the samples for the better part of a year at this point.
That doesn’t mean I’m not very pissed off at them for using it as an excuse to lock us inside. But hopefully we can still take control of the situation.
Sent: 5/1, 00:22
From: Frank
To: Mike
Subject: FWD: FWD: (no subject)
We haven’t found the missing sample yet. Jenny’s been scrubbing through the security footage from the lab to see if we could tell who the thief was, but we couldn’t see their face. They definitely didn’t know what he was doing though; that’s why it was so trashed when I got back. Even when someone breaks in, the lab is still bereft of professionalism. It doesn’t matter now though.
Lucky we requested those vending machines a few months back or there’d be nothing for dinner.
Sent: 6/1, 07:13
From: Frank
To: Mike
Subject: FWD: FWD: FWD: (no subject)
Do you know where everyone is? Are they coming back for us? We’re starting to hear noises outside, like gurgling sounds. Is that them? Did they come to let us out yet? I could really do with a change of clothes.
We don’t have any change left for the vending machines.
Sent: 6/1, 17:55
From: Frank
To: Mike
Subject: FWD: FWD: FWD: FWD: (no subject)
Mike, there’s definitely something going on outside. The gurgling sound stopped about 10 minutes ago, but since my last email (see above) the pitch and length of each phase has oscillated between low, high, long short, over and over again. None of us could make any sense of it but it’s made us all extremely uncomfortable. It’s been two days since we had any word from outside.
I don’t think they’re coming back anymore.
Sent: 7/1, 12:12
From: Frank
To: Mike
Subject: FWD: FWD: FWD: FWD: FWD: (no subject)
We can’t find Tony. He went to see if there was any more food left in storage, since we ate everything from the vending machines. It’s been 3 hours since anyone saw him. He’s not responding to us on any of his devices. Maybe he’s gone wherever you are. If you see him, tell him to come back. Now’s not the time to have an accident by yourself.
That gurgling sound has come back again.
Sent: 8/1, 19:49
From: Frank
To: Mike
Subject: Found You
Mike,
Thanks for finding Tony for us. You were pointing the way to him in the wall. Tony was covered in a thick, viscous substance that looks like it was drawn out of his skin; almost like his flesh had been turned inside out and was congealing into jelly. I don’t know what to say. Maybe I’m just fatigued from hunger, but I don’t think any of us have the energy to be shocked at the moment. I think we’ll just leave Tony with you to look after if that’s alright. But why did you leave your arm behind? We left it alone, should you want to return for it.
What am I even saying why am I talking to you like you aren’t dead you’ve been dead since the start for Christ’s sake. Am I going mad? I don’t think I want to answer that.
My head hurts. I’m going to lie down for a while. Thanks again, Mike.