Chapter 1 has been edited a little bit, nothing plot-wise, more flow and wording issues being sorted. As I said before, this universe is from Larry Correia's Monster Hunter International (MHI). Don't worry if you aren't familiar with this universe, (I assume most of you aren't, though if you are pm me and we can nerd out) I'll be explaining a lot of the universe as Elizabeth herself learns more about the world she didn't know she was living in. I've also enlisted a friend for beta-ing so future chapters won't be so sloppy :) Thanks for the feedback!
Elizabeth spent three hours locked in Doctor Gardiner's office with Agent Darcy and company. She almost drew her gun again, twice, before Doctor Gardiner confiscated it like a grade school teacher taking away a toy during class. For some reason the Monster Control Agents had not been overly concerned about it. During that time she had been fully briefed on her surprise new job. The facility she'd be working at was named the "Nautilus" and was in fact so secret it was built underwater… as part of the continental shelf, just off the coast of Alaska. "Was the Marianas trench already taken?" Elizabeth had joked awkwardly.
"We have an agreement with the current inhabitants to stay out." was the brusk reply from Agent Darcy. Everything about the man seemed brusk and sharp and sarcastic. If this was any indication if his usual demeanor, it was no wonder the man had been assigned to a facility super removed from normal people.
The Nautilus had been commissioned by the Monster Control Bureau approximately ten years previous to provide a site for studying monsters where security wouldn't be an issue. A secret underwater compound that could only be accessed via submarine through restricted waters, after you traveled to the northernmost point of Alaska seemed to do the trick. Part of Elizabeth's introductory file "Gray literature" from her predecessor at the facility. The researcher had written up as much as possible about luska from the testing and analysis of a handful of burnt and battle torn samples previously collected as PUFF evidence. Apparently PUFF stood for Perpetual Unearthly Forces Fund, and was a bounty system to encourage people to kill monsters by paying them huge wads of cash to do so, provided they didn't tell anyone else about it.
They had spent a looong time discussing or, more accurately, arguing about the confidentiality issue. Elizabeth found it offensive that the government was keeping the existence of monsters a secret. "People deserve to know some blood sucking bastard might show up and rip their throat out. Or that on the full moon they might get mauled by a werewolf. Do you realize that if everyone knew monsters existed you wouldn't currently be hijacking my life and forcing me to live not even in Alaska, but off the northern coast of Alaska? UNDERWATER? And your organization wouldn't have to be secret." She argued.
In response Darcy kept repeating that it was a complex issue that she did not understand, and if she did fully understand the implications she would agree that people are better off not knowing, or some various thereof. Doctor Gardiner eventually demanded a subject change because the tension was raising his blood pressure.
The single aspect of the forced job change that Elizabeth was not entirely opposed to was the fact that she wasn't allowed to tell anyone where she worked, including her mother. "Really? Do you promise?" She asked gleefully, confusing Agent Darcy. "It will be considered treason to tell my mom where I'm going? Am I even allowed to communicate with her, or can that be banned too?"
"Well, er, email correspondences are allowed, though that will be monitored and any information deemed classified will be removed." Darcy replied confused at her look of glee.
"That's amazing!" Elizabeth beamed, "Can I request Big Brother take out parts of her letters? For example every time my mother asks why I'm not married? Because that almost makes this whole shitty situation worth it." All three MCB agents looked at her like she was insane while Gardiner just smiled, he'd met Mrs. Bennet.
They hadn't talked much more after that. Elizabeth was informed that a detail of agents would be shadowing her until her departure for the Nautilus, "So if you please, don't shoot them, or try to at least." was Darcy's snarky request. In three weeks she'd be escorted to the airport where they'd fly into Anchorage, Alaska, and then to a small town called Barrow, Alaska, which was apparently as north as you could get and remain on American soil. Then they would take the submarine to the Nautilus. "Excellent security," Elizabeth had rolled her eyes, "No one with sense will ever even bother, and every one else will most likely die of frostbite first."
When she did eventually leave Doctor Gardiner's office she had a thick file to apprise herself of which included her official government approved cover story, the itinerary of the trip to the facility, and a the "Life at the Nautilus Introductory Guide" which included pictures of the personal living areas, explanations of how life worked underwater, and suggestions for what to pack for long term residence. Interestingly enough the Nautilus did not seem to subscribe to the military-esque minimalism, or olive green drab. The pictures showed reasonably well appointed rooms that rather resembled those of a mid level hotel. Elizabeth assumed the more comfortable living quarters were to make up for forcing scientist to give up their research and live in the most ridiculous place ever.
After checking in on Arnold the Octopus, who she'd collected her last dive in the Puget Sound, Elizabeth gathered her things from her office and headed home. It may have been early, but after the day she'd had she deserved it. Responsible spending and a decent income had allowed Elizabeth to afford a cozy, one bedroom apartment to herself, which she gladly returned to, happy to not have a roommate to not be able to tell about her day.
Keeping busy, an hour later she had a bottle of wine cracked open, potato soup on the stove, and cookies in the oven. Peeking out the window she saw an unmarked van parked on her street, because that wasn't terribly obvious or anything. It was weird to think about… there were two government assigned agents whose job for the next three weeks was to stalk her. While a rather independent individual who wasn't particularly keen on Big Brother watching, Elizabeth couldn't deny finding it a bit comforting that, now knowing monsters were real, she'd at least have some backup if something terrible randomly happened before she left for the Nautilus. She brought the big packet of info from her bag and began reviewing her official cover story as she ate.
Apparently Elizabeth was given an opportunity to study a newly discovered species of squid found in the southern Indian ocean, where anything other than email would be impossible, and she was expected to be there for two years minimum as she observed populations in Australia, Malaysia, India, Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, and Madagascar. Elizabeth had a sneaking suspicion she wouldn't officially be surviving this fictional research trip. Particularly near the end of her supposed travels she would be in some politically dicey areas, and what better way for someone to disappear. That or getting lost at sea. She was an experienced scuba diver, but accidents happen, particularly in the open ocean. It would be interesting to see how the Monster Control Bureau planned on playing with her life.
Elizabeth realized she should be much more upset about the whole situation, and wondered why her rage had subsided since her discussion with Agent Darcy. If she was being honest, it most likely had to do with the mysterious quality surrounding her future test subjects. Curious by nature, Elizabeth wanted to know more; what mythic monsters were out there? What were they capable of? Where did they come from, how closely related were they to their non monstrous counterparts? Were they intelligent?
Or perhaps it was all just easier to process without that stick-up-his-ass Darcy in the room. That was probably it.