“From the Woods”
by David Robillard
Proteus Initiative Incident Report 3753-F
Specimen ID: 2912350-12
Date of Incident: January 17th, 2047
Subject breached containment at 1:00 pm by pretending to be dead, then knocking out the guard sent to investigate. Subject traversed much of the facility without resistance but was detected when approaching the north gate. Subject was able to escape before lockdown could be engaged, though it suffered a leg injury after being shot by guard A-7. Retrieval is of the highest priority, as the Initiative has yet to produce any specimens with more potential than 2912350-12.
I first saw the creature in the woods one night, while I was cooking dinner. It walked out of the woods toward me, but it didn’t seem to be hostile. I had an extra steak on the grill, so I offered it to the creature. It seemed hesitant at first, recoiling away from me, but ended up taking the steak and retreating back into the woods.
Interview report 3753-G
Date: January 25th, 2047
Interview subject: Holly Flores
Ms. Flores had no information regarding the specimen.
Interview subject: Percy Hall
Mr. Hall claimed to have seen a creature matching our description on his porch the night prior. Investigation revealed that what he had seen was a raccoon digging through his garbage.
Interview subject: Anna Conner
Mrs. Conner reported seeing a strange shadow in the woods near her home.
Interview subject: Robert Lockwood
Mr. Lockwood told us about a wolf that came out of the woods near his home, took a steak from him, and left. Description matched that of specimen 2912350-12. Leg wound notably absent. A retrieval team will be sent to the woods nearby pending Overseer approval.
I didn’t see the creature again for a while, but I found out after the fact that my kids encountered it soon after I had. They were out playing when a child they hadn’t seen before approached them and asked to play. They agreed, and the three talked and played for a while, but when my wife Melody went to get the kids for dinner, the other child was gone.
Proteus Initiative Report 3753-C
Date: October 3rd, 2043
A new specimen has been created. The specimen’s ID number is 2912350-12. This specimen displays significantly higher shifting skill than any others from the same batch, but its behavior presents a challenge for the initiative. 2912350-12, like all specimens thus far, is incapable of human speech, but unlike the other specimens it has yet to make any observed vocalizations, regardless of form. The subject has also become highly aggressive as of late, attacking guards and researchers alike, with some of its attacks being fatal. Specimen is unsuitable for use in civilian settings, but may be effective for military purposes, and if not, it can be recycled to make use of its shifting potential.
The next time I saw the creature, it was in the form of a child, about the same age as my kids. It knocked on my door one day, saying that their name was Leaf, that their parents had left them alone, and asking if I could take care of them while they were gone. I had no idea about the creature at that point, so of course I took the child in. I gave them some new clothes since the ones they had were old and worn, and they seemed to settle in nicely. One thing did seem odd to me at the time, though. During dinner, I was talking with my wife about the lab a few miles from our house, and how they were looking for an escaped specimen. Leaf seemed uncomfortable at the mention of the lab and the specimen. I thought they were worried about the specimen, so I told them that there was nothing to worry about and reassured them I would keep them safe. At that, they seemed to calm down.
Operation Summary 3753-H
Date: March 20th, 2047
Based on reports from various residents of the nearby town of Clarksville, we have determined that Specimen 2912350-12 is somewhere in the vicinity of Mr. Robert Lockwood’s house. A team will be dispatched to retrieve the specimen. The team will consist of Lead Researcher Alex Perez, Assistant Researcher James Monroe, and guards A-7 and B-9. To prevent panic, the soldiers will be dressed in plain clothes, with bulletproof vests underneath for safety. Due to the specimen’s aggression, care should be taken to avoid any civilian casualties. The cover story for the team should be animal control, given the specimen is likely in the form of a wolf or other similar animal.
They knocked on my door at three o’clock in the afternoon and said a dangerous animal had been spotted in the area. At first, I believed them, and I almost let them in. However, I noticed the two people in the back were wearing body armor, which immediately set off alarm bells given they claimed to be from animal control. They asked me if I had seen any trace of a wolf or coyote, but I suspected they were looking for Leaf. I lied and said I had seen coyote tracks heading in the direction of the nearby lake, a few miles from my house. They thanked me, warning me as I left to keep a close eye on my kids. I said that all three of them were already inside, and I wouldn’t be letting them outside alone while that beast was still on the loose. At that, they left, though the tall one with glasses seemed to hesitate for a moment.
Proteus Initiative Report 3753-I
Date: March 29th, 2047
Despite investigating for the past week, no trace of Specimen 2912350-12 has been found. Research team has been instructed to halt search until further notice and focus efforts on the creation of new specimens to replace 2912350-12. Lead Researcher Perez objected, claiming that “something seems off about the situation,” but he could provide no evidence to confirm his suspicions.
Life was relatively uneventful for a while after that. Leaf adjusted nicely to their new home and got along well with Edgar and Anna. We all lived together for a few years, and eventually, they confided in me about what they had gone through during their time in the lab. I was furious, but I didn’t let my anger show. I knew it wouldn’t do them any good. I hoped that my lie the second time they showed up would be enough to prevent them from coming back, but it ended up leading them right to us.
Operation Summary 3753-N
Date: July 30th, 2054
A team of soldiers will be dispatched in 5 days to retrieve Specimen 2912350-12. Lead Researcher Perez has determined that Robert Lockwood lied about the specimen’s whereabouts, based on surveillance footage of his property as well as discrepancies in his testimony. Mr. Lockwood is believed to be aiding the specimen, which has taken the form of a human. Researcher Perez will accompany the soldiers, who will be outfitted with full tactical gear and weapons. Civilian casualties should be avoided if possible, and minimized if not, but given the threat it poses to the people of Clarksville, as well as its significant scientific value, its recapture is of the highest priority.
I saw them coming before they got to the house. I was in the kitchen, looking out the window, when I spotted a squad of soldiers heading up the road toward us. I had Leaf hide in a cupboard, while Melody got the kids, and we all sat around the tv, pretending nothing was amiss. They told me that they knew that the creature had been here and demanded to know where it was. I told them that they had left a few months prior, but I could tell they didn’t believe me. They began checking the closets and cupboards, and I objected, saying they had no authority to search my house. I didn’t really know if that was true, but I knew I needed to buy some time. The soldiers began to get angry, and I worried that they would turn to violence. The tall man I had seen the last time tried to intervene and calm them down, but before he had a chance, one of the soldiers pushed Melody out of the way of a cupboard she had been standing in front of. It was the same one Leaf was hiding in, and before I could react, Leaf was out of the cupboard, hands replaced by sharp blades of bone. They slashed at the soldier.
-Guard C-6 suffered severe lacerations to his right arm, preventing the use of his weapon. The remaining guards turned to aim at the specimen, which charged the closest guard-
The soldier’s gun clattered across the floor, and he moved behind his allies for cover. Gunfire rang out around us, and I threw myself over my family, hoping to protect them even if it cost my life. Behind me, I heard the cracking of bone.
-Guard A-7 suffered a fractured wrist at the hands of the specimen while attempting to retrieve his combat knife. The specimen then shifted its arms into something resembling large pincers, which it used to crush the weapons of soldiers G-5 and J-9. At this, soldier W-9 turned his weapon on the Lockwood family, threatening to kill them if it did not stand down. The creature immediately leapt between the soldier and the Lockwoods, startling Guard W-9-
I felt something like blood hit my back and arms and looked up in horror to see Leaf standing between us and the soldiers, having taken the bullets meant for us. They shoved their hands into the wounds, and pulled the bullets out, and I watched as the wounds closed almost as quickly as they had been made. The last soldier dropped his gun, and I thought I heard him mumble “screw this” as he ran to stand with the rest of his squad.
Researcher Perez watched as the creature looked at him for a moment, anger in its eyes, before turning toward the Lockwoods. He stepped forward, intending to intervene before the creature could do any more harm, as it reached its bloodied hands out toward them.
You lean forward, reaching for your family as they huddle in the corner, but the terrified look on their faces makes you hesitate. After a moment, you crouch down and ask them if they are okay.
I didn’t know what to think when I saw Leaf start attacking those soldiers. I knew what the researchers had put them through, but I didn’t realize they were capable of such violence. But it didn’t really seem like they wanted to hurt the soldiers. They seemed to go out of their way not to kill anyone, and the only soldiers they hurt were the one who had pushed Melody to the ground, and the one who had been reaching for his knife. They simply disarmed everyone else, save for the last man, and even he was left unharmed after dropping his weapon. When Leaf asked if we were okay, even though they tried to hide it I could see the fear in their eyes. I think when they saw how terrified we were, they thought we would see them as a monster just like the researchers had. I reassured them that we were okay, if a bit shaken, then pulled them into a hug.
Researcher’s Log 3753-O
Date: August 5th, 2054
Specimen 2912350-12 has been observed to be sapient. All prior research indicated that 2912350-12’s species was incapable of sapience, even in cases where specimens had taken the form of creatures known to be sapient. This discovery flies in the face of all research conducted prior to and during the Proteus Initiative. I recommend that work on the Initiative be halted until it can be determined whether 2912350-12’s sapience is an anomaly caused by the conditions of their creation and development, or a trait all members of their species can possess.
what have we done
Soon after, the soldiers left. The tall man, who identified himself as Lead Researcher Perez, stayed behind for a few minutes. He apologized for the soldier’s conduct and said the lab would pay any repair costs and/or medical bills. At first, I refused to accept the money out of principle, accusing him of trying to sweep the matter under the rug. However, he told us that as the lead researcher, he had the authority to cancel the project entirely, and given what he now knew about Leaf’s species, he intended to do so as soon as he returned to the lab. He gave us two phone numbers: one to call for compensation and another to call if anyone else ever tried to capture Leaf, and left.
Proteus Initiative Final Report 3753-P
Date: August 6th, 2054
After the failed operation on August 4th, 2056, the Proteus Initiative is to be shut down entirely, and its staff transferred to other projects. Specimens created as part of the initiative are to be released, with those possessing sapience being placed into various cities or wilderness areas as desired, and those without placed onto various wildlife preserves based on their preferred forms. Guards C-6 and W-9 have received disciplinary action due to their conduct during the operation. Per the orders of Lead Researcher Perez, no attempt is to be made to recapture or otherwise interfere with specimen 2912350-12, also known as “Leaf Lockwood.” Any researcher attempting to do so will be subject to immediate ethics department investigation.
It took a while to get everything fixed, but after that life mostly returned to normal. Despite our best efforts, word of Leaf’s abilities spread around, but everyone in town accepted them regardless. I would occasionally hear about Leaf getting in trouble for using their abilities to mess with people, but it never went any further than harmless pranks. I saw people from the lab near our house once or twice after that, but after I called that second number Perez had given us, I never saw them again, so I’m not too worried. Besides, if they do come after us, I know that Leaf will be able to keep us safe.
