The AGENCY[]
Agent 11 meets Hero-Man
The AGENCY is a secretive, government-based organization that operates out of the spotlight of the City. They are ran by a mysterious man known as "The Director". There are 91 Agents with individual numbers. When a NEW Agent is designated, and is given the "Clause"(a contractual obligation to never betray the secrecy and cover of themselves or the AGENCY), they are assigned a Number. The lower the number the more senior the Agent. The Director, who is seldom seen by anyone but Agents 33 and 58, keeps to himself.
The former alliance with H.E.R.O. ended with the disappearance of Maximus and Sybella Magnus, but Agent 11 and others continued to peace together more mysteries that continued to need investigating. These included the detection of the Void Portals that began to appear shortly after Hero-Man and Angel Stargazer defeated Neuro-Hawk, and Angel Stargazer entered another Void Portal that sent Angel to Void Haven.
The History of the AGENCY[]
The roots of the AGENCY go back several millennia. From Ancient Egypt, Ancient Atlantis and beyond. The History of the AGENCY connects to such ancient societies as the Freemasons, Knights of Templar, and other groups of myth and legend. One of the most important legacies in the AGENCY's past is the group of Atlantean and Greek scholars. One of whom was Alexios Chronos(Lord Vidé). He, along with his wife Ilona, and good friend Kasmos, were three of the first to explore the connections that spanned through the linking Void Portal system. Upon the destruction of Atlantis, the remaining artifacts were brought to Egypt, and throughout the shifting sands of history, and various intervening factors, these relics left the possession of the core founding legacies and families of what would lead to the formation of the first iteration of the AGENCY in the mid 18th century.
As time passed, and the AGENCY expanded their reach, they opened operation offices in major points in the world. One of these was in the City, which Edwin Callaway heard rumors about. After Luxia had sacrificed her corporeal form, and sent Vezek Stargazer to him in 1928, he joined the police academy, and in a few short years he made Detective. As he learned more about the mysterious energies that had sent Vezek to him, he headed to a small corner book and antique store that a few of his fellow officers had mentioned--The Inner Void. Upon looking into the rather odd selection of books and manuscripts that the shop owner, a man simply known as "The Bookkeeper", Edwin discovered books detailing things such as time travel, alternate realms, and more.
A fellow detective, Miles Keller, father of Irving and Hubert Keller, grandfather of Peter, and friend of Edwin soon introduced him to a few people in the upper ranks of the Police Bureau. It was then Commissioner Raymond Davison entrusted Edwin with entrance to the AGENCY's smaller office, which existed a few blocks from the Police Headquarters. Edwin was introduced to more ancient records and beyond. Miles told Edwin that they'd known about Luxia and their son, Vezek, but that Edwin was safe, as was the son of the Goddess of Light. Miles warned Edwin that there were others who knew, particularly the SOCIETY. Edwin was told that Vezek must be kept safe.
Time passed, and as the Stargazer family became intertwined with the AGENCY, and Vezek took over as Director, the threat of the ultimate dark force was looming over the future.
The Void Portal Mystery[]
The Adventures of Hero-Man!! Ep. 21- "A Past Soon Forgotten..."
TAoHM Ep. 21(Starting at Agent 58's Debut Scene)[1]
In the years after these portals began to appear, the agents, led by 11 and soon after, his protegé Agent 33, began to identify the Portal's frequency, and were soon able to trace the locations of some portals, but also came to realize that the portal's were random. Some portals were identified as "time portals"(Temporal Void), and the records accessed from the C.I.A. and other worldwide agencies were able to connect to disappearances in the Bermuda Triangle, the Lost City of Atlantis, and even Stonehenge.
Agent 11, after taking several young agents, including Julius Bellington under his wing, began to look into things deeper. After telling the Director, Agent 11 was given access to the records on Void, and his investigation led him, along with Julius Bellington(now Agent 24) to Sybella Magnus, and her Atlantean origins.
Ultimately, Sybella explained her origins, and gave the AGENCY all the knowledge she had, including ancient Atlantean texts. Agent 24(Julius Bellington/Dr. Servo) gained much interest in these texts, but was told by 11 that it was above the young Agent's clearance level. The files remained on a high security network, until 24 hacked into them, and found more files on things, including the 1947 Roswell crash.
As Agent 11 retired, Agent 33 took the helm on investigating the Void Portals. He spearheaded the investigation, with Agent 29 and 58. 33 was able to track down the former Agent 24, now calling himself Dr. Servo. 33 knew the traitor had more than simply Void Portal tech, but was unaware of what else as Servo had already "saved" Lord Skarn, and captured Pico Bellamere.
Years later, On one of Agent 58's first missions for the AGENCY was to track down the portals coming from Nashar. After 33 had told him about Servo, 58 began to dive into the records on the former Agent. With 33's guidance, Agent 58 soon connected the similarities with the portals that brought Lord Skarn, Pico Bellamere, and soon after other Iglesian Order aliens.
The Void Portal mystery continued to pique 58's curiosity as he gained access to the old files on H.E.R.O., and began to piece the connections from the portals that had sent Neuro-Hawk and Angel Stargazer, and those that brought the aliens to Earth.
The Personnel[]
The AGENCY has always had 91 Agents, including the Director(and whatever initial designation he or she may have had). Only when an AGENT retires do the three Levels of Protocol convene and vote to allow a new recruit a previous Agent's designation.
The Director[]
The Director of the AGENCY is a cryptic man known to few. Born in 1928, Vezek Stargazer was the son of Edwin Callaway and the Goddess Luxia. As Luxia returned home to the Realm of Light, her sister Klazel had a vision of Luxia's unborn son, knowing that there was a light even as the darkness of the now-corporeal Vilos had overran the Realm of Light. Upon Luxia's sacrifice of her own corporeal form which not only destroyed the form of Vilos, but caused Luxia to become a Flamium Aura as well as provided the energy to simultaneously give birth to her and Edwin's son.
Vezek Stargazer, AGENCY Director
A Temporal Void portal opened by Lord Vidé was what sent the newborn child to Edwin, who had just said his farewell to Luxia seemingly moments earlier. Edwin was then contacted by a vision of the Flamium Aura form of Luxia, who told him that this was THEIR son. He knew, and as he held his son for the first time, he knew what to call him. Vezek Stargazer.
As Vezek grew at only half the rate of a human, due to his Realm of Light energy, and through a course of life events that led to him joining a small group of detectives and spies. He had a great knowledge of many things, and with the right amount of government funding, he and a few other close friends were given what they needed for a new branch of Secretive Investigations into "the Unknown of the Universe and more...". The AGENCY.
After Vezek met his wife, Sapphyria, and the two had their child, Jason Stargazer, he began to hear rumors of another group of former government spies and specialists--The SOCIETY. It was when Vezek was told by Jason and his wife Lashelle that the two were expecting twins, that he realized that it had been 3 Generations since his mother Luxia and her twin Klazel had been born. He knew that the expected twins(Angel and Shallisa) were going to be at risk. He told Jason to move, with Lashelle, and the two went into hiding. When Lashelle gave birth, he appeared and as Angel was born a Void Portal opened. A Priestess from the Realm of Light, that had unbeknownst to them, been corrupted by the returning Darkness of Vilos, which had overtaken the Realm of Light. She told them that she would take the second twin, as Shallisa was born. Vezek couldn't see the darkness inside of the Priestess, who even brought a token from Vershallise, his own Grandmother--to falsely claim her mission of "Good".
Vezek(left) younger, with his dad, Edwin.
As time passed, Vezek grew only minimally older, and as he went from simple Agent to the newly appointed Director, he kept a close eye on his Granddaughter, Angel Stargazer. When Angel was kidnapped by Neuro-Hawk's drones, he sent one of his agents, who had known Hammond Magnus' parents--Maximus and Sybella--to track down Angel. Vezek knew that Neuro-Hawk had been given funding from the SOCIETY, and had gotten stolen copies of the Flamium Archives. Knowing Angel's destiny--to become Luxia's Reincarnated Flamium Aura--Vezek knew the traitor's plans. Once Angel helped the newly-powered Hammond Magnus/Hero-Man to defeat Neuro-Hawk, by sending him into Void Abyss, Vezek knew it was only a matter of time, relatively speaking, until Angel remerged as Firegazer.
Vezek, still the Senior Director, with 91 Agents working under him, was only known directly by half a dozen, or so, Agents. He, with knowledge of two realms, as well as records from the Flamium Archives, Atlantis, the Salzair System, and many, many classified files that only he knew, unless Agent 33 or 58 drew his attention. Though he does keep an eye out on Hammond Magnus, knowing the half-Atlantean/half-Katerian's possible destiny as well.
(Coming Soon)
Agent 11[]
Agent 11 confronting Hero-Man(from "Hero-Man Adventures" Issue 2)
A Senior Agent in the AGENCY, and a former colleague of Dr. Julius Bellington. He had known the Magnus family since Maximus and he had been in college together. Agent 11, who's real name was Mitchell G. Langston, was one of the first members to join the AGENCY after Edwin Callaway had retired, and Vezek Stargazer became a member in his Father's place. He'd met Vezek Stargazer, right out of college, and had was quickly recruited by the son of Luxia, to assist in the creation of the first group of operatives. Langston, who's parents were both deep in the political world, had been two of the most celebrated humanitarians as well.
The funding from the Langston Group, had aided the AGENCY as they began to venture towards deeper and more covert operations as the 20th Century showed great progression in many technological ways. Mitchell, who was eager to begin this new direction in his life. He quickly showed he had a knack for the deeper side of the AGENCY's covert operations. He had also stayed in contact with Maximus Magnus, and was eventually the first agent to aid and assist H.E.R.O.
Once the apparent deaths of Maximus and Sybella Magnus had been reported, 11 took it upon himself to track down their son, Hammond. Once Hammond had discovered the destined "Power Cube" and become Hero-Man. He found Hammond, and told him of his parents fate--years after the events involving Neuro-Hawk, and the events leading to the end of H.E.R.O.. Hammond would soon find out about the truth of his parents, them being saved and sent into Void. Agent 11 did later find out the truth, as the Director revealed to him the ancient Atlantean texts detailing Goddess Luxia, and the connections between many things that gave 11 all the answers he could seek, and more.
Agent 11, during his time with the AGENCY, was one of the most well-respected agents. He later took several junior agents under his wing. Agent 24, Agent 33 and then towards the end of his career, Agent 58. Once he retired, he gave most of his remaining files to Agent 58.
Agent 15[]
Dr. Irving J. Keller, scientist and eventual creator of Flame/Windfire, was ranked Agent 15. Being one of the first lead scientists in the AGENCY he helped Vezek Stargazer as the AGENCY gathered of one of the largest databases of ancient and alien knowledge. It was during his compiling of data and more, when Keller found the records on the Harznian system. In the following years, as the AGENCY grew in it's outreach across many other agencies on Earth, Keller went to the Director and asked for a temporary leave-of-absence.
The Director, who respected the mind and passion of Keller, gave Keller an extended leave. During the leave, in an AGENCY Lab in Arizona, the events leading up to the creation of Flame occurred. As Keller began experimenting on a recovered fragment of a Terrylium Carbonide meteor that had been discovered during a construction project on the laboratory. Destiny came to pass as Keller created the flamium known as Flame, through a series of experiments, ultimately leading to the accident from a result of Keller's DNA mixed with a fragment of Terrylium Carbonide. As Keller reported the creation to the AGENCY, in which Vezek applauded the fantastic efforts, a Void Portal opened.
Years later, disguising himself as a lab worker, Lonax/Destructo, the dark offspring of the corrupted Twin Creator God, Kalak(Omega), Lonax took control of Keller's mind. Now his puppet, Lonax made Keller alter a sample of Flame's plasma, and inject himself with it. It turned Keller into a corrupt, dark, anti-flamium or "Ice Creature". Now known as Ice, the man known as Keller was gone. After betraying Flame, and his other creations Camo and Rock, as well as the orphaned Blade.
As Lonax helped Ice escape, he arrived on T'Roa, and still with a passion for science and more, he was given all the tech he could need to create an army for Lonax, who took the name Lord Destructo. Ice soon created such beings as Rust(an altered clone of Camo), Iceflame(a hybrid elemental of himself and Flame), and endless others. One of these was Quartz, a crystalline elemental made mostly of Terrylium Carbonide.
Meanwhile on Earth, Keller's sudden disappearance was classified as a "Missing In Action" file. His brother, Lieutenant General Hubert Keller, who was simply a sergeant at the time, made enough connections to find out about the AGENCY, and was able to contact the Director.
Agent 24[]
Agent 24(Dr. Julius Bellington/Servo) in the AGENCY Lab
The Agent number given to Julius Bellington, upon him signing the "Clause". He was a brilliant scientist, with several doctorates. Originally under the direction of Agent 11. Agent 24 was part of 11's investigation into the Void Portals that had deep, ancient connections. This sparked the young mind of 24 to dive deeper, but was caught hacking into the higher-level networks. He was reprimanded by 11, but soon used an algorithm to cut through the firewall and find files on more than he expected.
Connecting things easily with his superior intellect, the young Agent 24 accessed and was able to piece the puzzle together. Void portals, Ancient Atlantis, the Salzair system, and eventually the 1947 Roswell crash. This ultimately led him to the files on the Mercenary drones who had been pulled from the "UFO" wreckage. It was when he dove even deeper that he discovered the remains of one of the Merc drones, that he decided he would write his own destiny.
Stealing the Merc drone's arm, along with other pieces of Merc tech. He accessed the Void Portal generator the AGENCY kept, as a piece of a destroyed Craxian ship, from the Craxian Armada attacks years earlier. Using this generator, he left the AGENCY, in an act of betrayal. Agent 11 and other agents tried tracking him down, but the ex-Agent 24, Julius Bellington, who soon after adopted the name Servo, was all but gone.
Agent 29[]
Agent 29, working on one of 58's assignments
Agent 29 is one of the few agents to move up quickly in her career. She's an expert in several sciences, and is often called upon by 33 and the Director. She was part of the team that investigated and cleared out the former hidden laboratory of Neurohawk, after the former H.E.R.O. Member was sent into the Void Abyss.
29's first few missions weren't that successful, as she had a hard time adapting to the field. After 3 years, she found herself in the lab, and put her skills to the test. Her most famed success was when she identified several sources of alien DNA that were in a sample from the Merc Drone that had been recovered from the Roswell crash. These DNA strands included Harznian, Katerian, Hetalian and even human.
This led to the eventual attention of Julius Bellington, and the ultimate theft of most of the data. 29 knew she made a mistake, in telling her former co-worker, but the Director knew it wasn't her fault solely. She then got back to her lab, and began to work mostly alone, save for the few times she was called upon by the few agents who she would willingly work with.
Agent 33, in the alley behind "The Inner Void"
Agent 33[]
A Senior Agent, and one of Agent 58's old friends. His past is only known to the Director and a few other higher-ranked officials in and outside of the AGENCY. He doesn't do as much field work as he once did, unless its a favor for 58. He was on assignment shortly after Hero-Man and Sidekick Kid apprehended "The Twins" in the Industrial district, on the City's outskirts. He knew Julius Bellington, before the former agent's betrayal. The two were graduates of the same Academy class. But when Julius left, after the "reported" Director's approval of taking a single piece of Merc technology, Agent 33 was questioned and was under probation for over two years.
33 has since mostly repaired his image, and took 58 under his wing when the, then-young new recruit begun to get wrapped up in assignments. He's been heading-up the investigation into the Void Portals that became a semi-predictable occurrence across the City. One location as he's found most portals seem to be appearing is the alley behind "The Inner Void" Book and Antique Shop.
Agent 58[]
Born in The City, Agent 58 is the first Agent to be seen in "The Adventures of Hero-Man". In Episode 21 he is in the middle of his ongoing investigation into the connection between the former Dark Assassin of Dr. Julius Servo--KID SHADOW. He then realizes that KID SHADOW and the apparent ally of Hero-Man, Sidekick Kid, are One and the Same. He then begins to dive deeper as he begins to move outward and keep tabs on the potential threat.
As a young college student, Peter B. Keller, had a connection to the AGENCY. His uncle, Irving J. Keller, was a former Agent, who'd mysteriously disappeared in the 1950s. As he joined, and soon worked his way up from simple lab work and assisting other agents, including 11 and 33, he soon made a name for himself, and got more legitimate assignments. Once 33 passed a few bigger "fish" his way, 58 began to connect things that he saw fit together in ways that even impressed the Director. As he began to receive more insight from the Director, he began to find out more on the former H.E.R.O Group.
Agent 58 meeting Hero-Man from the shadows
Eventually, he dove into the files on the Magnus family, which led to his first and lone encounter with Hero-Man. Shortly after this, as he kept tabs on Hero-Man and Sidekick Kid, while scanning for traces of the sudden appearance of VOID Portals one night, he met Mutaform. Agent 58 recognized the Duploid, who explained that Sidekick Kid, the "Nasharian" as Mutaform clarifies, is NOT a threat to the safety of the City, but the Repscallians are. Mutaform temporarily shapeshifts to look like one of the reptilian aliens, to show 58 the truth. With a better understanding, 58 looks into the Repscallian threat.
After receiving more information from the AGENCY Archives, he began to connect more things. Including the former AGENCY Scientist, Dr. Julius Bellington. After tracking down files that were above his Clearance Level(with help from Agent 33), he learned more about what Julius Bellington had done--in clear violation of the "Clause"--betraying the AGENCY and stealing components of a salvaged MERC Drone from a crashed spacecraft in Roswell, New Mexico(the famed 1947 Crash). Seeing files and photos of it, he connected it to similar technology recovered by 33, that had arrived from an identified Void Portal. The technology also was similar to that they identified as a large percentage of Mutaform.
More connections slowly begun to come to light as 58 began to uncover connections between the Magnus family(Maximus, Sybella, and Hammond)--and both the Salzair system and Ancient Atlantis. As well as his previous investigation into the "missing" Stargazer family.
Agent 72[]
Agent 72, in the AGENCY Lab
Agent 72 is a recently activated Agent. He normally works with 58 in assisting the superior agent's investigations, but he specializes in alien dialects and cryptozoology. He hasn't seen much time in the field, but is in direct contact with a few of the AGENCY's hired specialists. One of these specialists is the werewolf/human Steven Shader. 72 has become one of Shader's contacts in the AGENCY, and one of the few agents Shader trusts.
He served alongside Shader in the Military, but was recruited by the AGENCY after he showed superior skill in linguistics and other things that got him noticed first by Lieutenant General Hubert Keller. Keller then contacted the Director, and soon 72 was given a chance to prove himself, which he did quickly by helping decipher several files found on Neurohawk's databank. Most of the files were in Craxian or Harznian, and 72 was able to translate them using several discovered codices, some of which dated back to the times of Ancient Atlantis.
Allies of the AGENCY[]
As the AGENCY grew globally, they grew in connections across most branches of military, as well as the United Nations. The official word on the AGENCY was that they did not exist, but numerous High-Ranking military personnel had direct links to the Director as well as other "Special Operatives".
Lieutenant General Hubert Keller[]
Lt. General Keller, on the comm
Hubert Keller, brother of Irving, and father of Peter(Agent 58), is one of the higher-ranked officers who works directly with the AGENCY. He's not on the best terms with the Director, but due to the superior clearance authority that the Director has, Hubert can't take command, and thusly loses the authority when it comes to any disagreements. Since his brother, Irving "disappeared", Hubert wasn't allowed clearance, and has held a bit of a grudge towards the AGENCY's hierarchy. Which is why his son, Agent 58, uses his access codes to investigate his uncle's files.
Hubert's influence in the military has given rise to many operations in relation to things of a more "mystical, mythical, or supernatural" status. Including one such operation, Operation SHADE. This Operation sent one of Hubert's recruits, Steven Johnson(Shader) to a remote part of the rainforest of Central America. While the Operation was carried out, Agent 58 contacted his father, updating him on anything about the missing Irving Keller.
As Steven Johnson survived the mission, though had been attacked by a "Shade", Hubert knew the AGENCY had gained more than could ever be hoped for in the London office. Hubert contacted Quincy Bellington, who was thrilled. Hubert than explained to the now Steven Shader(or his new designation, Shader) the truth behind the mission. Shader understood, and began to operate as a Shade, diving into the depths of the underworld. Hubert stays in contact with Shader, but doesn't work much with either AGENCY office as much.
Steven Shader[]
Shader, on Tolar, after arriving via Void Portal
Born in the 1980s to his parents, Randall and Theresa Johnson, Steven Johnson seemed like a normal child in the City. As a student in elementary school he met a young Hammond Magnus, and the two became good friends for several years. While Hammond tended to be more into science and computer class, Steven dove into any kind of sport he could sign up for. His father Randall, who had been an officer who'd served with Hubert Keller, encouraged him throughout his Junior High and High School years, until an accident that cost Randall his life.
The official report was that Randall had been on military assignment, and it was a "weapons misfire". But Steven asked Hammond to look into things, getting his friend to hack into any database he could. Hammond discovered the truth, that Randall Johnson had been killed by a bizarre-looking alien. The file gave few details, as most was still missing or redacted, but the image showed a Craxian. Neither knew what the alien was, but it sparked Steven to go to his mom, Theresa, who didn't know more than the "official report". She denied anything such as an Alien attack, or anything so bizarre in her mind, and Steven soon turned more towards sports.
As years passed, he graduated with Hammond, from the City University. It was soon after when Hammond's own parents, Maximus and Sybella went "missing". Hammond drifted, and soon Steven and he drifted apart as friends. One day, as Theresa had finally opened up more to her son, she admitted she knew more things about Randall's death, but had been instructed by a "man from an Agency"(the Director), to keep quiet. She then began to encourage Steven to do all he could to find out the truth. He knew it wouldn't be easy, and as he saw photos of Randall in his Captain's uniform, he asked his mom if He should enlist. She encouraged him, knowing Randall would be as proud as she was.
Going through training and boot camp was a breeze for Steven. His years of sports, especially track and field, as well as being a half back in High School and college had given him the right drive and speed to set course records. Ones he would often beat himself, just to test himself. It was on one day, that Hubert Keller, now a Lieutenant General, came to Fort Westwood, that he noticed the young cadet. He asked one of Steven's C.O.s, who gave him Steven's file. He saw the last name, and how similar he looked to Randall, his former friend and fellow officer, and took it upon himself to meet Steven.
Being called to the Captain's office, Steven saw his C.O., as well as a man in full uniform, and realized he was a mess from just running the obstacle course in the ran. He walked in, saluted, and saw Hubert. He recognized the man, from photos of Randall in his military days. After introductions, Hubert admitted how impressed he was with Stevens marks and numerous commendations. He then asked the Captain to leave, once alone he handed Steven a file. Inside was an AGENCY document, "the Clause". Steven read it, and sensed there was more to what Hubert was offering.
Accepting, Steven took an Covert assignment, under the command of Hubert. As they left Fort Westwood and arrived at a nearby classified airstrip, Steven, Hubert, and 3 other officers all boarded a helicopter. Once onboard, Hubert handed Steven a file containing reports on a "monster", on the file was Quincy Bellington's signature from the London AGENCY office, and a designation: Operation: SHADE. Steven was piqued, and wanted to know more. Hubert explained things as simple as he could--Find the "monster", and look to the Shadows.
Parachuting into a remote piece of rainforest, Steven knew he was far from home, as the flora was that of someplace in the Central or South American jungle. It was when he heard something panting and running in his field of vision when he realized he wasn't alone. After gathering himself, and readying his lone sidearm, he saw what it was he was after--a Shade. The hair-covered hybrid human attacked, biting Steven's forearm, but Steven fought back, and wounded the animal. He dropped his weapon, the animal let go long enough for Steven to thrust his blade into the ribs of whatever had attacked him. The creature fled, and Steven assessed his wound. Wrapping it with a tattered sleeve, he followed where the animal had ran off. He spotted the blood on a few wet leaves, and could almost smell the thing that had bit him. As he tracked it, his eyes began to play tricks on him, or so he thought. The creature began to shapeshift--from a large, hulking, fur-covered beast--into a man.
The man, nearly naked, and covered in more mud then blood, looked at Steven. Readying his sidearm, Steven's first instinct was to shoot without hesitation. But he could almost sense something inside of him, wanting to take over. As he looked above, the clouds rolled in, covering the Full Moon above. Steven grew more agitated as he approached the man, feeling angrier with each second as he felt the cold sting from the huge wound on his arm. Looking at the now cowering man, Steven aimed his weapon. The man tried speaking, but whatever was inside of this seemingly pathetic man, was being held back from taking over. Steven asked him what he was, and all the man could spit out was "don't shoot me...". Steven held back, long enough to ask what he was. The man could only apologize, as he suddenly surrendered to the darkness inside, and shifted back into the creature he had been--taking a look at Steven, he fled, disappearing into the night.
As Steven tried to piece together what had just happened, he felt his wound stinging more and more. With each passing second, he felt his own body boiling from the heat of the wound, and could feel his hair beginning to grow, Looking at his wound, peeling off the bandage, he could see the wound turning darker, until his veins started to pop. Suddenly he could feel his teeth growing sharper, as well as his finger nails. His clothes began to rip, and he felt a dark, evil presence inside of himself. As he looked up at the exposed Full Moon above, he let out an unexpected howl, and then the last thing he could recall was him seeing his arms and hands covered in a dark fur--then he blacked out.
The next morning, as the sun rose, Steven found himself in tattered clothes, and covered in the blood of what he soon realized was a pair of goats. He was horrified, and nearly vomited as he realized he tasted the blood on his tongue. He held it in, and tried to recall the previous night's events. He remembered the man, and the beast, but not much more. Trying to remember anything, he remembered Hubert Keller's assignment, and then barefoot he ran towards where he remembered landing the night before. He arrived, and saw he utility pack. Opening it, he found his satellite phone, and hit the emergency beacon. It beeped back, and he heard Hubert on the other end. Giving Steven directions to the landing coordinates, he arrived at a clearing in the trees. The helicopter landed, and as the props whirred overhead, Hubert could see Steven covered in filth and blood, barefoot and clearly no longer who he'd been. He saluted Steven, who didn't salute back, looking like he could attack,
Steven through his kit down, and Hubert nearly drew his own gun. Calming down, Steven wanted answers. Hubert handed him a larger folder, inside were papers on the creature that had attacked him. Hubert explained that the creature, known commonly as a "werewolf" was referred to by experts as a "Shade", and had been a man once known as Kyle Hunter. Hubert added that the bite Steven had suffered would change his life forever. Steven explained the events, and his mysterious change, followed by his current appearance. Hubert apologized for the subterfuge, but said it was necessary for the AGENCY and the goals they hoped to achieve. Steven read the files more, and knew he could prove useful in what Hubert then explained, would be a necessary piece in the upcoming battle against the approaching Darkness.
Hubert then handed Steven another file, this one was an assignment, to return to the City, and keep tabs on things that the AGENCY was keeping an eye on. Steven then saluted Hubert, who boarded the helicopter. Steven knew he had to find his own way home, Hubert handed him a new duffel bag, with a change of clothes for a more civilian look, as well as the supplies and money he'd need to return to the City. Steven watched as the chopper flew off, and he knew he would be entering a whole new world now. But not as Steven Johnson. Steven Johnson, for all intents and purposes was gone. Now, he was Steven Shader.