On the surface.
It was the early hours of the morning on the East Coast of the United States, in Pennsylvania.
A large psychiatric sanatorium stood in a remote area surrounded by woods. It had every kind of facility one could need...
Perhaps a few too many.
Electrified fencing lined its perimeter. Inside stood numerous watchtowers, surveillance cameras, searchlights, and armed patrols.
By any measure, that was excessive security for patients with mental health problems.
At the main entrance stood a stone marker bearing the words "Sage Woods Psychiatric Sanatorium."
At that moment, in the watchtower just inside the gate...
"Ugh... I hate night shifts."
"I like them. Nobody cares if you slack off. It's nice and easy."
Two guards in dark gray combat uniforms, complete with body armor and helmets, stood holding 5.56mm rifles. They watched the dark woods beyond the electric fence and chatted idly.
The V logo and "Vought International" on their armbands showed that both the guards and the Sage Woods facility belonged to Vought International.
Its military-grade security also made clear that this was no ordinary sanatorium. It was a research center for human experimentation.
One guard rubbed his bleary eyes, fished a pack of cigarettes from the tactical pouch at his waist, and offered it to his partner.
"Want one?"
"Sure."
They each lit a cigarette. The bleary-eyed guard took several deep drags, letting the smoke fill his lungs to wake himself up.
"Phew!" His partner blew out a plume of smoke and grinned. "Didn't you sleep during the day? You look exhausted."
"Played a few rounds of cards. Lost track of time."
"You're still gambling? Take it easy, man. Don't lose this job over it."
"Relax. I know my limits... What the hell...? A shooting star?"
"Huh?"
At the mention of a shooting