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Form 2J
Emergency Observation Weekly Report
Date: May 7th, 1838
Submitting Agent(s): Jacob Mittens
Assigned Agent(s): Arthur Midland, Jacob Mittens
Direct Superior of Agent(s): Sir Thomas Pudge
Subject in Question: Subject No. 243
Sex: Male
Habitat: A. Z. Fell & Co: Antiquarian and Unusual Books, Soho Westminster, London
Reason for Emergency Observation: Subject has recently started displaying some concerning behaviour during a Bi-Annual observation1, that was left without explanation at the end of said observation. Protocol 19H has been enacted as a result.
Observation Dates: Sunday April 30th 1838- Saturday May 6th 1838
Observation Report: A few weeks ago, the Subject started displaying worrying signs of discomfort. Mostly just rubbing his neck and shoulders, but not caused by any observable injury. I managed to get close enough to the Subject and inquire into his health, without suspicion, roughly a week later, since the condition didn’t seem like it was going away. After fielding many questions into both my and Agent Midland’s personal and professional lives, I managed to ask what seemed to be bothering him.
He brushed off my concerns, stating that it was a simple backache. He chalked it up to old age, and made a show of remarking on the late hour, saying that it was about time for him to close up shop. I chose not to point out that it was still an hour or so until Tea Time2, and promptly vacated the premises to inform Agent Midland of the new information.
About a week ago, we started the round the clock observation, with me taking nights and Agent Midland taking days for the first week. We decided that switching off like that will help reduce suspicion, as well as keep things fair sleep schedule wise. Unfortunately, we have been unable to ascertain what the nature of the Subject’s malady is at this time. It hasn’t seemed to get any worse, but time will only tell.
END REPORT
Notes of Superior: I would like to request an extension of the Emergency Observation of Subject 243 for another week. I think it is imperative to know what is going on, if only to gain more information on the Subject as a whole.
Report Status: ACCEPTED AND ARCHIVED
Inquiry Status: APPROVED
Emergency Observation of Subject 243 is extended another week.
Form 2J
Emergency Observation Weekly Report
Date: May 14th, 1838
Submitting Agent(s): Arthur Midland
Assigned Agent(s): Arthur Midland, Jacob Mittens
Direct Superior of Agent(s): Sir Thomas Pudge
Subject in Question: Subject No. 243
Sex: Male
Habitat: A. Z. Fell & Co: Antiquarian and Unusual Books, Soho Westminster, London
Reason for Emergency Observation: See Form 2J, Date May 7th, 1838
Observation Dates: Sunday May 7th 1838- Saturday May 13th 1838
Observation Report: The Subject’s condition got worse three days into the second week of Emergency Observation. He’s opening the store for only an hour or so before he becomes too agitated to function. His temper has also taken a turn for the worse. The Subject normally deals with any potential customers with what amounts to extreme passive aggression when misdirection or distraction fails. I think I’ve only seen the man part with one book in my time observing him, and he was so sullen afterwards that it took a skinny redheaded woman bringing him a similar copy to cheer him back up.
Now the Subject doesn’t tolerate any perusing of his wares, and promptly kicks any and all potential customers out with brusque words and a sour face. Both Agent Mittens and I attempted to get close to inquire into his health, but both of us were promptly shut down and sent on our way without so much as a by your leave. I believe The Subject actually physically shoved Agent Mittens out the door, which leads us to believe that the Subject is much stronger than he appears. Agent Mittens isn’t a small man after all.
After a couple more days, the Subject completely dropped any pretense of being a purveyor of books, and closed his doors completely. He hasn’t left the shop at all, and still doesn’t sleep, but his front door remains firmly shut with the sign switched to closed. I’m afraid that if this goes on, and we can’t get closer to the Subject, we may not be able to learn anything before the situation gets worse, or becomes irreversible.
END REPORT
Notes of Superior: Requesting permission to send Agents into the property to find out what’s going on with Subject 243.
Report Status: ACCEPTED AND ARCHIVED
Inquiry Status: APPROVED
Send Agents Madcap and Temerarious in to investigate the Subject’s Habitat with Agents Midland and Mittens as backup.
Form 83F
Infiltration Report
Date: May 16th, 1838
Submitting Agent(s): Bull Madcap
Assigned Agent(s): Arthur Midland, Jacob Mittens, Bull Madcap, Jones Temerarious
Direct Superior of Agent(s): Sir Thomas Pudge
Area Being Infiltrated: Subject 243’s Habitat3
Reason for Infiltration: Subject 243 is displaying Concerning Behaviour4 and has isolated himself in his Habitat, which goes against his Known Behaviours5. Infiltration is to be conducted to ascertain the status of the Subject’s mental and physical well-being.
Infiltrating Agent(s): Bull Madcap, Jones Temerarious
Backup Agent(s): Arthur Midland, Jacob Mittens
Mission Report: Temerarious and I conferred with Agents Midland and Mittens to determine the best time to Infiltrate the Subject’s Habitat, as well as what to expect should things go belly up. Considering this situation is completely against the Subject’s Known Behaviours, and we don’t know his species, we decided to conduct the Operation under the guidance of Protocol 20 since we are attempting to keep the Subject alive, but wish to use extreme force if necessary to subdue the Subject, should it be deemed necessary under Article 5 Subsection 6G.
We got authorization6 from our Superior to operate as such and went in on May 15th, 1838 around 11:30 at night. Subject 243 had migrated to the first floor of the shop, out of view of the windows, leaving the ground floor dark. Temerarious picked the lock to the door while I kept watch, and we managed to get inside without incident.
Because the Subject was still within the premises, and likely conscious, we decided to split up. Temerarious would search the ground floor, while I kept an eye on the Subject upstairs. The plan was that if the Subject cottoned on to our presence, or decided to come back downstairs, I would either hold him off or distract him so that my partner could escape. As such, I would also be the one to carry a syringe with some sedatives as well as a small hand gun, just in case.
I manage to sneak up the stairs without alerting the Subject, and navigate my way around the other bookcases he keeps up there. I’d say that the first floor is just as cluttered and maze like as the ground floor, so that was easier said than done. The Subject had squirreled himself away in one of the back corners of the building, and seemed to be struggling with something.
At least, that’s how it sounded anyway. I could hear him mutter and huff while he loudly bustled around. I never heard what he was saying clearly, since I decided to stop when I got a clear visual of him, but I think I can guess from what I saw.
Look, let’s be honest. What I saw… it, it was beyond words. I know how the top guys would classify this guy, but trust me when I say they’d be wrong. I’ve seen a lot of Entities, particularly of the Shapeshifter Subcategory 32S variety, and that’s not what he is. I mean, I got a full on view of his wings, and I’ve never seen anything like them on any of the 32S’s that I’ve come across.
For one thing, I don’t think they were even fully part of this world. I mean, I could see them, and he was touching them, but at the same time they looked… oh, I don’t know. Ethereal? It’s like they glowed almost. I think I also saw a set of eyes on them once, but that could’ve been a trick of the light. No, I don’t think they saw me, if they were real. I think they were looking off towards one of the stacks of books now that I think of it.
Long story short, the guy was moulting, from the looks of it. That’s probably why he was so moody, and likely why he withdrew from public. I mean 85B’s do it periodically, and they’re way meaner during the whole ordeal. Way I figure it, the guy plucks out what he needs to, and he’ll go right back to normal.
Also, side note, we weren’t able to get any feathers as a sample. The feathers seemed to disappear once he let go of them. Which is why I said he isn’t a 32S. Their feathers tend to stick around. Nothing out of the ordinary was found on the first floor either.
END REPORT
Mission Status: SUCCESS
Notes of Superior: I have nothing to add. I don’t think the Agents will need to go in again, and they should just observe from a distance to make sure he comes back out of hiding.
Report Status: ACCEPTED AND ARCHIVED
Appropriate changes will be made to the Subject’s File after a board review.
Form 2J
Emergency Observation Weekly Report
Date: May 23rd, 1838
Submitting Agent(s): Arthur Midland
Assigned Agent(s): Arthur Midland, Jacob Mittens, Bull Madcap (Temporary), Jones Temerarious (Temporary)
Direct Superior of Agent(s): Sir Thomas Pudge
Subject in Question: Subject No. 243
Sex: Male
Habitat: A. Z. Fell & Co: Antiquarian and Unusual Books, Soho Westminster, London
Reason for Emergency Observation: See Form 2J, Date May 7th, 1838
Observation Dates: Sunday May 14th 1838- Saturday May 20th 1838
Observation Report: On the 15th, Agents Madcap and Temerarious Infiltrated the Subject’s store, and we managed to find out the Subject was simply moulting. We observed the premises the next few days, and the Subject indeed re-emerged as his bright and shiny self once again. He actually made rounds of the neighbourhood to apologize for his less than stellar attitude earlier, stating that he had ‘come down with a nasty bug, dreadful business I tell you’.
He has now resumed his normal routine, and is allowing people back into his store.
END REPORT
Notes of Superior: I have nothing to add. I believe we can put Subject 243 back onto Bi-Annual observations until further notice.
Report Status: ACCEPTED AND ARCHIVED
Inquiry Status: APPROVED
Subject 243 will be removed from Emergency Observation and go back to Bi-Annual Observation.