File 002
Predicament after Predicament
PROHIBITED DISTRIBUTION - SESSION 002 FIELD DOSSIER
Classification: HIGHLY RESTRICTED. Human detail preserved at handler request. Compiled for internal morale-stabilisation and behavioural profiling.
Pre-Report Attached Additional Documents
"I was angry with my friend;
I told my wrath, my wrath did end.
I was angry with my foe:
I told it not, my wrath did grow.
And I waterd it in fears,
Night & morning with my tears:
And I sunned it with smiles,
And with soft deceitful wiles.
And it grew both day and night.
Till it bore an apple bright.
And my foe beheld it shine,
And he knew that it was mine.
And into my garden stole,
When the night had veild the pole;
In the morning glad I see;
My foe outstretched beneath the tree."
Point of Arrival: Trailhead Station
Agents Pallbearer, Paxton, and Prada arrive near Trailhead Station, stopping short near a nearby campsite. Pallbearer remains with the vehicle to search for any trail cameras; none immediately observed on approach roads.
Trailhead Station presents as a two-storey wooden structure, a freestanding radio tower, and an adjacent clearing large enough to accommodate helicopter landing. Five ranger vehicles are present: two jeeps and three quadbikes. Surrounding terrain is dense shrubland and forest.
Despite clear skies, rainfall begins suddenly and intensifies rapidly.
A single CCTV camera is noted at the front entrance.
Park Ranger Contact & Procedural Irregularities
Agents Prada and Paxton enter the station and are met by Ranger Douglas Keena, friendly but visibly stretched. Forged CPS credentials are accepted and scanned without comment.
Repeated radio alerts interrupt the interaction. Paxton subtly reduces radio volume while Prada distracts Keena with questions about ranger work and staffing shortages.
Upstairs common area contains bunks, a pool table, fireplace, seating area, and a coffee table scattered with children’s building blocks.
Ranger Tomika Gallegos is present with the recovered child.
Proximity to Subject: Brandon F. McGill
Brandon McGill is observed seated on the floor, quietly building an arch from blocks and humming to himself. He appears calm, curious, and socially open, offering handshakes instinctively to both Prada and Paxton.
Gallegos reports:
- Brandon was found naked near the Devil’s Chair after unusual lights were observed.
- Brandon displayed confusion but good spirits.
- Deliberate, healed lined scar patterns observed across arms, back, and torso.
- No signs of environmental exposure.
- Strong aversion to fire; screamed when the station fireplace was lit.
- Engages readily when discussing cartoons, Looney Tunes, and old comedy shows.
Brandon resists leaving initially, insisting there is no need to go anywhere else.
Paxton establishes rapport by discussing cartoons and Hot Wheels. Brandon agrees to leave after being reassured his parents are nearby.
Procedural Collapse & Evacuation Order
Ranger Keena reports repeated failures to log CPS credentials - requests assistance from Paxton on the matter. Agent talks technical jargon to bypass the issue.
Ranger radio traffic escalates in urgency. Incoming reports confirm a fast-moving storm front. Orders issued to evacuate all hikers towards safety.
Ranger Maria Lemay, a known medic, is assigned to escort the agents out of the park.
Rain intensifies into a heavy downpour as Brandon is escorted outside. Ground conditions rapidly deteriorate.
Prada unable to maintain control over Brandon as he runs from her grasp to play in the rain.
Panic Event & Vehicle Collision
Driving away from the Ranger Station, the storm intensifies.
Loud flash and the sound of lightning nearby.
Paxton grabs vehicle wheel and overcorrects during evasive manoeuvre. Resulting in the vehicle flipping onto its side.
Immediate effects:
- Brandon flees from the vehicle and into the rain.
- Pallbearer sustains head trauma and loses consciousness.
- Paxton and Prada sustain trauma but safely self-extract from the vehicle.
- Ranger Lemay’s escort vehicle is discovered crushed beneath a fallen sequoia tree. Lemay is alive but critically injured.
Paramedical Failure
Lemay presents with catastrophic cranial trauma. Blood obscures facial features; respirations are laboured with audible bubbling.
Paxton issues a mayday over the radio. Ranger Keena confirms he is en route.
Pallbearer heads into the treeline to chase after Brandon, shortly followed by Paxton.
Under radio guidance, Prada administers emergency first aid:
- Severe convulsions.
- Emergency anti-convulsant administered.
- Respiratory arrest follows.
- CPR attempted; audible fractures noted.
Ranger Maria Lemay expires on scene.
Paired Up For Success
Presley and Pinewood arrive at Yosemite park entrance, providing falsified EPA IDs as cover identities.
Informed by park ranger they would not be allowed up to Rancheria Falls Trailhead Station due to the current storm conditions. Provided directions to an alternate ranger station - identification details radioed ahead.
Presley and Pinewood ignore the Ranger's comments, and continue towards the Trailhead Station to regroup with other agents. The agents discuss potential theories about the storm anomaly, varying from the normal to abnormal. They seem to bond over an unspoken encounter from their pasts.
Presley and Pinewood reach the fallen tree blocking the road, and manoeuvre themselves over the obstacle. Prada still applying CPR to Ranger Lemay. Presley confirms CPR is no longer viable.
Agents take a moment to process the scene.
Prada falsely reports EPA personnel responding in order to disengage a search from the other ranger station.
Pursuit into the Forest
Ranger Keena radios that he is only minutes away from the crashsite. Agents flee into the treeline to avoid a confrontation.
Prada is able to find tracks through the trees to follow route taken by the agents chasing Brandon.
The boy is located in a small clearing within the treeline, along with Pallbearer and Paxton lying supine on the ground.
Environmental anomalies observed:
- Surrounding trees bent and partially uprooted away from a central point.
- Unidentified animal-like tracks photographed.
- Damage consistent with a shockwave event.
Paxton reports being thrown backward by a concussive "shockwave" force, potentially caused by Brandon.
The subject is frightened but physically unharmed. He describes the event as “really scary.” Paxton is able to calm him down and introduces the other agents.
Analyst note: The subject known as Brandon F McGill has been identified as a potential threat.
Paradox Event: Secondary Subject Emergence
Paxton and Pallbearer return to their overturned vehicle to retrieve gear and supplies, while the other agents alongside Brandon return to the Pinewood's vehicle.
Ranger Keena seen to have arrived at the crashsite. Pallbearer moves over to vehicle unseen, as Paxton observes the Ranger.
Watching the scene, Paxton observes a second child identical to Brandon McGill emerge from the treeline asking if Ranger Lemay is okay - although does not refer to her by name.
Observation logged. No immediate explanation available. Agents do not engage directly.
Agent relays that Ranger Keena returned the "second child" to the Trailhead Station - assuming it is Brandon F McGill.
Patient Questioning
Agents attempt to build rapport with Brandon, although it becomes clear that he already has a preference for interactions with Paxton.
Prada exposes the subject to modern technology, confusing him even further. Followed by uncertain remarks about his parents and the technology they currently own.
Analyst note: Prada requires additional training before being presented with another operation which may involve interactions with minors.
Pallbearer and Paxton return to vehicle with gear retrieved from secondary vehicle.
Paxton is able to get Brandon talking about his experiences, in the conversation the subject references:
- “Tall Men” / “Long Men”
- A location referred to as the “Blue Room”
- Friends named Thomas and Evelyn
- Mushroom-based food (“mushroomy porridge”)
- Entities that “talk without talking”
Brandon seems uneasy when pushed for answers.
Procuring New Transport
Due to weather issues, the vehicle gets stuck in a waterlogged patch of road on the approach to the outskirts of Yosemite.
Pinewood, Presley, and Prada head to the nearby ranger station on foot.
On approach, Pinewood slips in the mud alerting a ranger to his presence. While Presley is able to reach a jeep unseen.
Pinewood makes his way inside, greeting Ranger Johnson and asks for a place to rest for a couple hours to wait out the storm.
Unable to lockpick the jeep doors, Presley jacks a quadbike instead - alerting the ranger inside.
Ranger Johnson rushes outside, aiming a pistol towards the quadbike. To be promptly shoved by Pinewood before he could fire the weapon. The ranger demands answers on the situation.
Presley picks up Prada en route back to the stuck vehicle.
Proclamations of Unknown Origin
Paxton and Brandon continue their conversation. They share that they both suffer from bad dreams, Paxton offers a good-luck trinket to the subject.
Brandon shares the names of other children they had encountered. Joe, Michael and Laura.
Car radio interference interrupts the conversation:
- Radio activates without input.
- Unknown language repeats a phrase.
- Pallbearer begins chanting the same phrase, unresponsive.
Pallbearer, with eyes rolled back, states: “We want the vessel. We want it back.”
After physical interruption from Paxton: “Leave the vessel. We want it back.”
Psychological Readings
Standard agency procedure to track how operations are impacting agents in the field.
- Pallbearer - Active psychological breach. Agent may be serving as an involuntary conduit for unknown entities. Post-operation evaulation required.
- Paxton - Maintains composure under stress. Strong identification with Brandon and other involved children. Potential risk of emotional conflict if elimination required.
- Pinewood - Prolonged sleep deprivation showing obvious signs of impact on agent's abilities.
- Prada - Demonstrated strong crisis response under extreme pressure. Could exhibit delayed shock and guilt response following Lemay’s death. Increasing agent monitoring.
- Presley - Remains composed, and focus remains sharp, even when presented with human cost. No concern currently.