Primatech Paper Co.

In Motion

Sun, 20 Jan 2008 00:52:53 GMT

When: May, 1990
Where: Primatech Offices

It had been two weeks since Noah Bennet had first been offered a job at Primatech, and he was still trying to figure out the appropriate word to describe the job itself.

It wasn't boring. Well, not nearly as boring as grading essays. It wasn't particularly exciting, either, because the extent of his work had been limited to sitting around in his less-than-ideal office and the occasional training session. Claude Rains had been away on various missions, so what should have been two weeks of training had become two weeks of Noah being foisted off on various bored workers.

Needless to say, he still wasn't very good at hand to hand combat. And nobody had even dared to put a gun or taser in his hand yet, for which Noah was partially thankful.

But he supposed he couldn't be too frustrated that this job was apparently going nowhere. It was nice to be able to sit at his desk, have a coffee, reading the morning paper and just let whatever happen. Noah really preferred to have some sort of schedule, but a scheduleless meltdown was not imminent after two weeks.

Though he was becoming a bit bored. To the point where he was reading Garfield comics and taking out Garfield's speech bubbles to realize that John was actually a very sad, lonely, insane little man. Fascinating!

Setting up Home

Sat, 05 Jan 2008 08:27:53 GMT

When: May, 1990
Where: The Bennet Home, Odessa, TX

Three crayons, a glue stick, two sheafs of multi-colored construction cabinet, and a file cabinet pull of finger paint. These were the things on Sandra Bennet's mind as she unlocked her front door, tossing her jacket and portfolio on to a waiting chair.

Sandra walked through her front hallway, still getting used to the feel of it. She and Noah's first home had been cramped, by even the most generous of standards, and the idea of having a front entryway almost felt showy. They'd purchased their new house knowing that it was far too big for the two of them, something Sandra hoped to rectify as soon as possible.

She entered the kitchen -with counters and an island- still wondering the actual physics of sticking three crayons up one's nose. Pouring herself a glass of milk, Sandra glanced around the house, which was way too silent for her taste. At the apartment complex, there'd always been noise. Couples fighting, children playing, dogs barking. Something to remind her that she wasn't the only person in the world when Noah was away.

Here, there were fences and wide back yards, and leash laws. Which were all good things! Especially if you wanted to raise a family. But it was still an adjustment.

It was a quarter after four. Normally, Sandra would have taken the hour before Noah got home, and watched television. Oprah, or a taped episode of General Hospital. But the cable wasn't going to be installed for another week. Instead, she started leafing through a cook book, rapping her fingers against the countertop while she planned that night's dinner.

The First Meeting

Mon, 26 Nov 2007 15:21:16 GMT

When: May, 1990
Where: Primatech Paper Company, Thompson's Office

"So, tell me. How do you feel about paper?"

That wasn't a question that Noah Bennet had to work hard to answer. Of course working for a paper company was a giant cover-up. Certainly the last kind of job that Noah had ever expected to be approached for, but he was more than comfortable with lying. "Wildly enthusiastic," he grinned widely, appreciating the irony.

Thompson seemed like a nice man; honest, engaging. Frankly, Noah had expected the man to be a bit more intimidating and to speak in confusing metaphors, but maybe he'd just been watching too many mafia movies lately. "Good. Because as far as friends and family are concerned, it's your life. Congratulations." Thompson stood, so Noah followed suit. "You are the new regional manager for Primatech Paper."

They shook hands, and Noah beamed at the man, excited. "Nice cover," he congratulated. Nobody would expect anything strange of a paper salesman.

"Sorry to make a liar out of you," Thompson continued, with a smile that might have almost been sly. They sat, and Noah folded his hands in his lap, resisting the urge to straighten his tie. It was probably perfect. But he wanted to put on a good appearance for his employer and higher power. "But it's part and parcel of what we do. Nobody outside the organization knows."

"Well, they can't know," Noah agreed vehemently. "People are fragile." Like... something fragile. What was a good analogy? "Like teacups." ...Maybe not the best analogy. Oh well. "All around them, the world is changing and they simply don't want to deal with it. They don't want to know what's happening to us as a species."

Needless to say, he'd already had the briefing. Yes, people with super-human abilities were real, yes it could be explained by science. Noah had found all of this out only two weeks ago, but he'd quickly gotten used to the idea. He wasn't great with change, but he was good at adaptation. People needed to be protected from the more violent of these powers; the more people that understood and fought for that cause, the better.

Thompson put on an understanding smile. "And they certainly don't want to know the measures we take to keep them safe. Now you'll be asked to do things that fall into morally gray territory. Things that most would find cruel, but men like you and I know to be necessary."

Morally gray. Now there was an interesting term.

"I'm comfortable with morally gray," Noah smiled. The young boy getting treatment for his power at this very facility was witness to that.

Swivelling slightly in his chair, as if he were indicating someone, Thompson continued, "Good. You will have a partner. One of them. That's how we do it here. Keeps us all honest."

It took a moment for Noah to understand that. He wasn't used to the divide between humans and evolved humans. Personally, it struck him as not much of a divide at all; those with powerful abilities were just like men with overly powerful guns. Society had to be protected from both. "Great!" Noah grinned, eager. "When do I meet him?"

The smile Thompson gave him in return was amused, enigmatic. "He's already here."

A little confused, Noah nonetheless turned towards the door, expecting someone to enter, the eager grin still firmly on his features. He couldn't wait to meet his new partner!