To: B. Walter Hienlin, Deputy Director Domestic Intelligence National Security Agency Project Alchemy Oversight Desk
From: Peter Wilson, Field Analyst
CC: Maj. General Gregory Allen, Director National Security Agency
Marcus ONeal, NSA Longbow Liaison Officer
Maj. General Marcus Coburn, Commanding Officer, USAMRID
Mr. James W. Scott, Director of Central Intelligence
Mr. Paul S. Allen, Deputy Director Federal Bureau of Investigations, Domestic Paramilitary Investigations Office
Subject: ChemShield data compromised, Project Terminal.
OVERVIEW
As previously reported, on 20 June 1995 an attack was carried out on the former ChemShield desert facility by an unknown and still unidentified group. The group unsuccessfully attempted to steal technology from the facility. The result of the attempted theft was the destruction of the ChemShield facility and the death of the companys CEO, Cyrus McMillan. The details of the attack and why it failed remain unclear (see report from NSA field operative Maj. Dean Erikson dated, 12 July 1995). However, recent back up of the ChemShield database reviled that information regarding ChemShield project 15-236-9, designated Terminal, was removed without authorization only 14 hours before the facility was attached on 20 June.
The attack on the facility destroyed all of the companys onsite computer files as well as all physical records. As a result of the destruction of the companys critical data, all security records were lost as well. The recent back up reviled corruption of all files associated with project Terminal, no other files were damaged. Only approximately half of the companys data survived the destruction as a result of being stored in redundant offsite servers. The corruption indicates that all of the files were last accessed at the same time in the early hours of 19 June 1995.
Project Terminal was under the charge of Dr. Victor Holderman. The project was aimed at decreasing an individuals metabolic rate and thus increasing their stamina and reducing fatigue. Holderman and his staff managed to produce an experimental gene therapy to create the desired effect. The project was abruptly halted shortly after ChemShield was awarded its contract with the Department of Defense. Furthermore, approximately 2 years before the 20 June incident, ChemShield had been embroiled in legal action with Crey Industries over copy right infringement. The dispute was over the nature of project Terminal. Court documents indicate that the data being used by Holderman in his study were owned by Crey Industries and that they were unlawfully removed from a facility in Brickstown. The law suit was eventually dropped and the final settlement was sealed.
As of this report the final outcome of the proceeding is not known. However, the documents suggest that Crey was the moving party in the settlement. CONCLUSIONS
The evidence indicates that the theft of the data was conducted by Holderman himself. Although all security and surveillance data was lost from the desert facility, an extensive review of the corrupted Project Terminal data indicates it was accessed using Holdermans security information. The corruption of the data is a result of it being accessed with inactive security data. According to the ChemShield computer forensics department, the files were corrupted as a security measure but examination of the files points to a download of approximately 60% uncorrupted data.
Holderman would have been the only individual who could make use of the incomplete data. He had worked on a similar project with Crey Industries before being terminated. Much of his professional career centered on Project Terminal, when it was shut down by ChemShield he broke into his lab and attempted to retrieve the data to continue the research either with another company or rogue organization.
The compromise of the integrity of Project Terminal represents a clear and present danger to the security of the United States and its allies. Currently, governments and registered heroes have the advantage over any threats to or enemies of the state in terms of funding, personnel, and equipment. However, Project Terminal would allow any challenger to create a pool of expendable, manufactured, super powered soldiers.
I recommended that immediate covert surveillance be implemented or stepped up on all paramilitary groups within the United States. Furthermore, all registered Super Groups around the country are alerted and all SGs within Paragon city be issued intelligence liaisons. <<<<<<<<<<<<En d Report>>>>>>>>>
In the early hours of June 20 1995, Victor Holderman found himself standing at the fence line of a building that had once been his refuge, ChemShield. The desert nights were serene. Victor felt comforted by the quiet. He had spent many a late night in his lab at the facility; he always felt that the scientists working around him were incompetent lumbering fools. The noise of their inane chatter made him rigid; he couldnt focus on his work. He would sometimes spend days there, not sleeping, not eating, only working, creating. He knew he his project would save ChamShield, Creys loss would be their gain and of course make Victor rich in the process.
But what did all of that sacrifice get him? All of the blood and sweat he gave to ChemShield and Crey had brought him what? He was standing alone, staring through a fence at a distant building struggling to decide how he had come to this.
It was that damned Alchemy project and that damned Wilson that McMillan loved so much, thats why I lost Terminal. Pointless technology and the arrogance of McMillan, forcing me to work on that bloody armor. Victor muttered to himself as he began cutting out a small section of fence.Holderman removed the section of fence and passed through the hole. He made his way across the vast field of black asphalt toward the building. As he did so the thoughts of his time before ChemShield began trickling into his mind.
In 1985 it seemed like every one of his peers was a computer scientist or engineer or designer or some such nonsense. At the age of 25 Holderman had managed to race through college, grad school and his doctorial program. He was the youngest Ph.D. that Johns Hopkins had ever had. He had double majored in particle physics and bioengineering for his masters but ended up settling on the latter for his Ph.D. He naturally gravitated toward the field. At the time, the pool of qualified individuals in the field was limited. He made a name for himself as a brilliant young man who was restructuring existing knowledge in the field. However, he had taken it too far when it was discovered that he had plagiarized at least 3 of his journal articles from his colleagues. Holderman was a brilliant pure scientist, but he lacked ethics and imagination. He was in almost every sense of the word a genius, but his success was built on the backs of others.
Crey had recruited him at the age of 26 to work human bioengineering division. He gained notoriety there and quickly moved up through the company. But he did so at the expense of his colleagues. Holderman was generally disliked even loathed by his peers for any number of reasons, but chief among them was that people around him had a bad habit of quitting.
One night, after not having left his office for several days, Holderman came across some research being preformed by Dr. Emil Baker. Dr. Baker was working on a supplement for soldiers to help their bodies use energy more efficiently in order for them to be active and alert for longer periods of time.
The fool, Victor thought to him self in his lab.
You have to fundamentally change the human physical make up in order to accomplish that. The body will simply adapt to the supplements. He continued in his mind. A sly smile crept across his lips. He had an idea.
Victor spent months in his lab performing experiments and conducting research on a gene therapy that would alter the human body burned through energy. Conceivably, he theorized, you could get the human body to burn through energy so efficiently that a person could stay awake and functioning at normal levels for days. A potential side effect he also theorized is the possibility of superhuman abilities. Their bodies would now be under a different set of constraints and operate at a much higher and more efficient level.
Victor took his findings to the Crey funding board. They were pleased with potential profit this presented for the company and decided to go forward with the project full scale. As this new project seemed to show more promise than another one which had been languishing under Dr. Baker, the Baker project was scraped and its resources transferred to Holderman.
For several years the project ran. It produced fruit and continued to be funded by the company. The project had begun animal testing when it reached its plateau with Crey. Holderman was running through researchers and science staff faster than the company could hire them. People left or were fired at an alarming rate. The departing scientists complained that Holderman was deliberately altering data and seemed to be taking a sick pleasure in testing on the animals even though the survival rate after being given the therapy was only about 1 in 10.
Crey officials finally shut down the project when it was decided that Holderman was wasting valuable resources on a worthless endeavor. The cost benefit analysis determined that Holderman was an extraneous expense that needed to be cut. But when Holderman left he took all of the electronic information he could from his work at Crey with him. Victor felt that the severance package that he received from Crey was lacking and that the data would make up for that.
Holderman started at ChemShield in 1990 after meeting McMillan at a conference. He was impressed with Victors genius but put off by his lack of tact. Despite his abrasive nature, Victor was at home at ChemShield and general accepted among the other misfits that made up the company. He even found himself chuckling over a sign that hung over the entrance to the west wing of the building that read Now entering the land of misfit toys. Clever if not sophomoric, he remembered thinking. But then there was Project Alchemy.
Victor had the distinction of being the only Bioengineer at the facility. As such he was largely allowed to pursue his own research. He began work on Project Terminal shortly after arriving at ChemShield. It took some convincing for McMillan to agree to allow it to move forward. Exactly what possessed him to allow the project to move forward no one will ever know. But after the law suit, the reports of animal deaths, and the success of the Alchemy research, Holdermans Project Terminal was shut down.
When the project was cut, Holderman was reassigned to project Alchemy. Specifically, he was asked to work on an experimental optical camouflage. For several months Victor put his knowledge of light to work on the Atomantium system. But his anger over his reassignment, and having to work on the very thing that took him away from Terminal made him impossible to work with and eventually he was released from ChemShield.
Victors mind returned to the present as he approached the door to the facility. He removed a blank key card from his jacket pocket and inserted it into the reader. A program on the card ran that searched for the entrance code. A red light blinked for several seconds and then it flashed over to green. The door lock disengaged and Victor made his way inside the facility.
He walked briskly down the hall to his old lab. Again he inserted a blank card in the reader at his lab door and made his way inside. He walked toward the back of the room where his old computers rested. Holderman unslung a bag from around his shoulders and removed a stack of storage cassettes. He clicked on a flash light and searched for the power switch in the dark room. The computer began humming to life and the screens flickered on. Victor inserted the top cassette with a blue label into the slot; the label read Pandora. A green bar appeared at the bottom and crept across the screen. Once it had made its way across the screen a green curser flickered in the top corner of the screen. Victor typed in his information and he was directed to the computers menu. Finally, Victor began downloading the data from Project Terminal into the storage cassettes he had brought with him.
As the download ran, Victor walked back into his old office in the corner of the lab. He retrieved a stack of notebooks from his desk and began thumbing through them. It took roughly two hours for the download to finish. ChemShield had no physical security. The company relied on passive electronic surveillance and counter measure to protect its data. McMillan felt that keeping a security force on the premises compromised the integrity of the data and he never believed that any one of the people that he hired would ever commit such an act. He wouldnt live to regret his mistake.
Victor left with the data and returned home just as the sun came up. I have been wasting my time with fools and pretenders of years, but no more. The only person to reap the benefits of Terminal will be me. Victor muttered as he made his way to his basement laboratory. McMillan had outfitted Victors home with much of the equipment he would need to conduct his experiments at home when he realized that Victor was spending days on end in his lab.
5 days went by before Holderman emerged from his lab for food and a shower. He turned on the TV in his living room as he shuffled to the kitchen. The evening news was running, in the upper right corner next to the Anchormans head was a graphic of ChemShield logo. Tense with rage, Holderman hurled the remote against the wall. But then the anchorman became audible.
The Department of Defense has finally released a statement regarding the incident at the desert facility. The Anchorman paused for a moment.
According to the DoD spokesman, an explosion at the facility breached storage of toxic material. The military was mobilized to seal off the area. The spokesman would not elaborate as to the nature of the material, stating that information was classified. But he would say that the bombing was necessary to vaporize the material and prevent it from spreading to the water table and near by aquifer. The anchorman paused again and the camera pulled back.
The facility was completely destroyed. He said looking down shuffling his script. Victor made his way to the television and calmly turned it off. A smile formed on his face and a laugh emerged from his lips as he walked back to the kitchen and poured himself a bowl of cereal. For the first time in months, Holderman felt jubilant, excited, elated.
After he finished eating and showering, Holderman made his way back to his lab. Those damned fools, now they have nothing. Terminal will get me everything I ever wanted; McMillan made a grave mistake when he discontinued my work. Victor thought.
Victor took a rubber turnicate out of his desk drawer and wrapped it around his bicep and tied it off. He sat on his stool and reached across his desk for a vile and syringe. The needle pierced the membrane of the vile and the syringe began drawing back liquid into the barrel. Holderman removed the syringe from the vile and injected it into his arm. He removed the turnicate and walked back upstairs. As he ascended the stairs he felt fatigue wash over his body. He dismissed it as his lack of sleep and crashed on his couch.
When Victor awoke several days later he felt invigorated, vital and extremely hungry. Victor cleaned out his refrigerator, but a few hours later he felt his hunger return. His house now devoid of anything edible he decided he would celebrate. So he left walked out of his home and to his car. But he hesitated just before inserting the car key into the door. I wonder, he thought and he turned and began running. At first it was a moderate pace but he did not feel his body hindered, so he ran faster, and faster until he finally felt his body strain. But without realizing it he had run from his house to the restaurant. He had cleared a distance of several miles in record time. This only meant one thing. Terminal worked, and not only that but he was right about everything!
The hostess greeted victor with a smile, the he uncharacteristically returned. He sat down reviewed the menu and ordered as soon as the server appeared. The food couldnt come quick enough as Victor devoured everything that was brought before him. When the server brought him the bill he brushed her hand momentarily and felt a sensation shoot through his hand and he felt a small surge of energy like he had just downed a shot of espresso. Interesting, he thought.
Victor stepped outside into the afternoon sun and started his walk home. After several minutes Victor felt his body grow heavy again.
Wait a minute, something isnt right. Victor said to himself. He sat on a bench to catch his breath. He struggled to keep his eyes open. A dog wandered by him and nudging Victors leg, when he touched the dog to push it away he again felt another surge of energy. This time he did not release his grasp. After several seconds he felt invigorated again. Victor looked down at the dog and it hard curled up on the ground. It was dead. Victor had drained all the energy from its body and the dog could simply not sustain its self. No, no, no, this was not right, not right at all. What had he done to himself?
Victory continued home but when he made it inside he collapsed. When he woke his mind was cloudy, he couldnt focus. He dragged his weary body to the bathroom and splashed water on his face to try and get a handle on his situation. When he looked in the mirror he was over come with terror. His face, it had changed, it was monstrous.
Frightened and angry Victor drove his fist through the mirror. The shards slashed his hand. Victor looked down, it wasnt only his face that had changed, his body was mutating as well. He saw the cuts on his hand slowly begin to close. This was good but he couldnt quite grasp why. What was wrong he wondered? Why couldnt he focus? Then he simply gave in and obeying some other desire not his own, Holderman burst out of his home into the night.
Victor Haldermans mind was twisted and warped by the gene altering serum that he had injected into himself. He was singularly focused on his own survival. He began living in alleys as sewers, sapping the energy from stray animals in order to survive. For years he wandered across the country. His body continued to mutate until in no longer resembled a human form. Years passed and Holderman wandered across the country.
One day Halderman found himself in a sewer searching for some unlucky animal to feed on. But as he was growing more desperate he came across a tall figure in a smock, rubber gloves, and a surgical mask. The smell of death was familiar to him and it drew him in. Holderman crept up behind the figure, grabbed him and began draining the energy from his body. The sensation was different this time. He had done taken the life of countless mammals but this was new. It took longer than it had before and for the first time he felt satisfied.
The animal that had ruled over Victors mind began to recede into the blackness of his unconscious mind. Victors mind was still cloudy, still hazy, but he new that he had no idea where he was or even when it was. So he began searching the sewers for a way out. Victor searched for hours for a way out of the dank labyrinth. His search brought him across a group of gang member loitering in front of the exit to the sewers.
Victor stepped out from behind a pipe. Out of my way, he snarled at the 4 Hellions in front of him.
Umm, how about we just kill you instead freak, one of the gang members shouted as all four of them drew their pistols.
But before they could fire the fight was over. Victor leapt out and over the four gang member. He grabbed one form behind and began draining his body. The others hesitated to fire but before they could decide what to do, Victor hurled his victim at the other three Hellions. Victor lunged forward and drove his fist into the stomach of the next gang member forcing the wind out of him and dropping him to the ground. The third Hellion pointed his weapon at Victor but in a blink, Victor crouched down and kicked the Hellions legs out from under him. Victor pounced on his chest and broke the Hellions jaw knocking him unconscious. The fourth one wised up and ran off as fast as he could back into the sewers. Victor decided he didnt need to follow. Instead he turned his attention to the two unconscious Hellions that he hadnt yet drained.
Victor had acted on pure instinct in the fight against the Hellions; he still didnt quite know what was going on. But as he was infused with the energy from the three Hellions more pieces of the puzzle started to fall into place. But first he had to know where he was and second- he knew there was something else but couldnt quite place it. Victor walked to the gate that led out of the sewers. It was locked. He reached out to grab the pad lock but as he placed his hand around the lock a surge of electricity shot out of his hand. The lock fell open. This was strange and at the same time something told him this was good.
It took several days, and several more victims, some villainous, others innocent civilians. He no longer was hiding in alleys and sewers like the animals that he subsisted on for so long. He started taking refuge in abandon buildings, confiscating hideouts and equipment from other groups. He slowly began his research again. He remembered Terminal, Crey, ChemShield, and something else that he couldnt quite put his finger on. He was full of rage and hatred and he was focusing all of it on anyone who was in his way. But one day he left to search for his next victim when he came across a coin operated newspaper vendor. The picture on the front page caught his eye.
He held his hand over the vendor and blasted it with bolt of bioelectricity. The door fell open and Victor removed a paper. The photo was of a red and gold armored hero standing over a vanquished Malta Hercules fighting suit. I couldnt be, he thought. It was destroyed wasnt it? He read the article and then he saw it, Atomantium. His mind was filled with white hot rage. The paper burst into flames in his hands as electricity surged out of Victors hands. If Atomantium still existed that meant ChemShield still existed. Victor rushed back to his abandon building; he had to know what had happened to the people and company that had turned their back on him all those years ago.
After a quick internet search, Victor learned that ChemShield had survived the accident and the destruction of its headquarters. What was worse, not only did it survive, but it had grown. It was worth millions. The original 300 employees had all become wealthy as a result of ChemShields commercial success. Its founder was the only casualty of the accident. Not only were the company and its employees prospering, but the man that had thrown Victor to the wolves was dead. Enraged, Victor destroyed his Kings Row lab and ran out into the night. He took out his rage on anyone that crossed his path, absorbing the energy from a dozen people before his mind became clear.
ChemShield was still around yes, but it had moved right into his back yard. His revenge would be all the sweeter when he destroys the company at its peak. What was more, although he couldnt kill McMillan he could destroy the thing that turned him into the twisted freak that he was, Atomantium. He would rip the armor apart piece by piece. But accomplishing such a task would require planning. He would have to learn about his enemy first hand.
It was difficult, but Holderman stalked Atomantium for months. He watched him in battle. He learned how he fought, how the thought, his strengths and his weaknesses. He noted that the armor had been upgraded. It had abilities that were not part of the original design he remembered working on years prior. Finally, however, he was ready to make his move.
Your not the only workaholic here you know. Juliana said as she made her way to Wilsons desk.
I see, well I am about to call it a night. You know anyone else is also uhh, I mean who may also be may be as well. Crap, sorry long day. Wilson, and Juliana had become very close since that day in the desert, but he never got over his anxiety about being around her. Wilson shifted in his chair and searched for something charming to say to deflect from his last statement but before he could Juliana broke in.
Yes genius, thats why I am here. Just checking to see if you wanted some company but it looks like your done for the day. She said.
I could hang out for a bit. Wilson said with a relieved smile. But before Juliana could answer, something shook the building. The two were silent for a moment. Then it happened again and again.
Wilson stood up, he looked at Juliana then made his way for the door. The room shook again. Juliana reached for his hand. Be careful Wilson, something about this seems wrong. She said.
Wilson wanted to say something comforting. He wanted to give her a reassuring kiss. He wanted to do anything other than what he did.
Wilson smiled, nodded and said, thank you, I will. You tool he thought. That wasnt the best thing you though of. Why can you beat up giant monsters, super powered villains, giant robots but he was too afraid to talk to Juliana? No time for that, time to get to work.
Wilson hurried into the vault that housed the armor and suited up. When the armor was activated a signal went out to Girxon, Juliana and the other 5 people that knew Peter Wilson was the person piloting the Atomantium armor. As soon as he secured his helmet a message came in from Grixon.
I see youre going to work, whats the situation? Grixon asked over the radio.
Dont know yet. But something is shaking the building. It seems to be coming from the roof so I am going to check it out."
Understood, I will fill in the others. Grixon responded. Then the channel was closed.
Wilson stepped over to a square that was drawn onto the floor. Over head a hatch opened up and Wilson took off through the tunnel. As he cleared the roof something hit Wilson in the back of the head with incredible force and he crashed on the roof of the ChemShield Building.
Greetings hero, came an unfamiliar voice from the darkness.
Wilson rose to his feet. He was curious why he hadnt continued to be attacked but remained alert. Who are you?
A dark, twisted form in tattered rags stepped into view. Maybe this will help. Victor paused and waited for a response. Nothing.
So you dont recognize me. But then you could be a new hire. Or maybe youre not with the company at all. Doesnt matter, who does the dying isnt as important as the actual dying. Victor said.
Enough of this crap, who are you wand what do you want here? Wilson demanded.
Fool, I am the one that will destroy this company, and every single person associated with it, and then I am going to destroy you, the thing that turned me into this.
Victor went on, ChemShield tossed me aside after I gave them years. Them and Crey both and both of them are going to pay.
Victor Holderman? Youre Victor? No sooner did Wilson say it than Victor hurled a chunk of roof at Wilson. In a flash, Wilson raised his hand and blasted the projectile out of the air.
NO, NOT VICTOR HOLDERMAN. TERMINAL VOID! Holderman shouted.
Victor Holderman is dead. I killed him. He continued.
Wilson raised his hand again to release another energy blast. As he did so, Holderman leapt through the air toward Wilson and smashed his fists down on the top of Wilsons head. Wilson was shaken, but he threw an uppercut that landed square on Holdermans jaw and threw him back through the air.
Holderman stood up, You have two choices, he held up a small box with two toggle switches, he flipped one on then pushed a green button that lit up. A blast went off behind him. Wilson turned to see a fire blazing from a building near the Green Line Monorail station.
Holderman continued, Try and subdue me and hope that some other hero stops the fire and saves all those innocent people, or put out the fire your self, save the day but I escape. Wilson scowled and gnashed his teeth under the helmet. There was only one real choice. Wilson turned and ran off the edge of the roof. He was in a free fall for a few seconds then clicked on his boots and was headed at full speed toward the burning building.
Wilson was at the building in 30 seconds. When he touched down, there was no time to waist. The building was engulfed in flames. He switched on the sonar view in HUD and began scanning the building for people. He wasnt seeing anyone. Just to be sure he switched over to the X-ray view and covered the building. Again, nothing.
Crap he bluffed me and now hes getting away. Wilson thought, cursing himself.
He walked out to the street, and kicked over a fire hydrant. Water sprayed into the air, an urban geyser. Wilson removed a nearby manhole cover and used it to divert the water toward the building. I took several minutes but the Paragon Fire Department arrived and began foaming the building. The fire was under control.
But as the fire was being subdued, a fast moving target appeared on Wilsons radar. Wilson turned around to see Holderman lunging at him once again. Holderman had leapt off the building after Wilson had left and circled around to watch him from a distance and pick his moment to attack. The manhole cover still in his hands, Wilson hurled it like a Frisbee at the incoming threat. But instead of hitting its target, Holderman caught the cover and using its momentum spun around and released it again at Wilson. Before he could react the, Wilson was hit with tremendous force in the stomach by the steel disk. Wilson was thrown back into a building and driven through its brick façade.
Holderman followed him inside and leapt on Wilsons chest. He proceeded pound his fists relentlessly on the faceplate of the Atomantium helmet. Wilson attempted to shield himself but to no avail. Finally, Wilson drove the side of his hand into Holdermans side finally knocking him off. Groggy and dazed Wilson tried in vain to hit Holderman with an energy blast to slow him down but he was just to fast.
Victor leapt to within inches of Wilson and in one swift move crouched down, and swept Wilsons legs out from under him. Wilson on his back, Holderman grabs his ankle and begins to swing his nemesis. Holderman releases his helpless victim once he has built up sufficient momentum and hurled Wilson back through the brick wall and into the alley.
Holderman walked out to his victim. He knelt and placed his hands on Wilsons chest. Then electricity coursed through Wislons body. Wilson yelled out in agony, his body convulsed his spine felt like it would snap. Then as quickly as it started, it was over.
Remember today, remember the day that Terminal Void bested the invincible Atomantium and know that I can do this any time I choose. I am going to break apart ChemShield piece by piece and you wont be able to stop it. Holderman hissed.
The armor damaged, Wilson injured, thoughts raced through his mind. I have to end this, he thought. Then before he could come to a conclusion, a piece of asphalt that had been ripped out of the ground flew past, just inches from Wilsons head, collided with Holderman, and sent him flying.
Holderman collected himself after slamming into the security barrier wall. He prepared himself to go back and finish his helpless victim but he saw a massive figure making his way to Atomantiums side. Holderman decided that his point had been made and that it was time for a strategic retreat. He had become powerful, but he was not yet powerful enough to battle two heroes. He would bide his time, and plan his next strike. Today, he was the victor.
Epilogue:
Propped against the building wall, Wilson saw a huge figure approaching him as the armors systems began resetting. He pulled him self up and prepared himself for a second fight but instead the unidentified figure spoke.
Are you injured? Do you need medical assistance? The figure asked.
No, no. Who are you? Were you the one that saved me? Wilson asked as he tried to focus his vision.
To answer you questions, Rock Mason and Yes I am.
To: B. Walter Hienlin, Deputy Director Domestic Intelligence National Security Agency Project Alchemy Oversight Desk
From: Peter Wilson, Field Analyst
CC: Maj. General Gregory Allen, Director National Security Agency
Marcus ONeal, NSA Longbow Liaison Officer
Maj. General Marcus Coburn, Commanding Officer, USAMRID
Mr. James W. Scott, Director of Central Intelligence
Mr. Paul S. Allen, Deputy Director Federal Bureau of Investigations, Domestic Paramilitary Investigations Office
Subject: ChemShield data compromised, Project Terminal.
OVERVIEW
As previously reported, on 20 June 1995 an attack was carried out on the former ChemShield desert facility by an unknown and still unidentified group. The group unsuccessfully attempted to steal technology from the facility. The result of the attempted theft was the destruction of the ChemShield facility and the death of the companys CEO, Cyrus McMillan. The details of the attack and why it failed remain unclear (see report from NSA field operative Maj. Dean Erikson dated, 12 July 1995). However, recent back up of the ChemShield database reviled that information regarding ChemShield project 15-236-9, designated Terminal, was removed without authorization only 14 hours before the facility was attached on 20 June.
The attack on the facility destroyed all of the companys onsite computer files as well as all physical records. As a result of the destruction of the companys critical data, all security records were lost as well. The recent back up reviled corruption of all files associated with project Terminal, no other files were damaged. Only approximately half of the companys data survived the destruction as a result of being stored in redundant offsite servers. The corruption indicates that all of the files were last accessed at the same time in the early hours of 19 June 1995.
Project Terminal was under the charge of Dr. Victor Holderman. The project was aimed at decreasing an individuals metabolic rate and thus increasing their stamina and reducing fatigue. Holderman and his staff managed to produce an experimental gene therapy to create the desired effect. The project was abruptly halted shortly after ChemShield was awarded its contract with the Department of Defense. Furthermore, approximately 2 years before the 20 June incident, ChemShield had been embroiled in legal action with Crey Industries over copy right infringement. The dispute was over the nature of project Terminal. Court documents indicate that the data being used by Holderman in his study were owned by Crey Industries and that they were unlawfully removed from a facility in Brickstown. The law suit was eventually dropped and the final settlement was sealed.
As of this report the final outcome of the proceeding is not known. However, the documents suggest that Crey was the moving party in the settlement.
CONCLUSIONS
The evidence indicates that the theft of the data was conducted by Holderman himself. Although all security and surveillance data was lost from the desert facility, an extensive review of the corrupted Project Terminal data indicates it was accessed using Holdermans security information. The corruption of the data is a result of it being accessed with inactive security data. According to the ChemShield computer forensics department, the files were corrupted as a security measure but examination of the files points to a download of approximately 60% uncorrupted data.
Holderman would have been the only individual who could make use of the incomplete data. He had worked on a similar project with Crey Industries before being terminated. Much of his professional career centered on Project Terminal, when it was shut down by ChemShield he broke into his lab and attempted to retrieve the data to continue the research either with another company or rogue organization.
The compromise of the integrity of Project Terminal represents a clear and present danger to the security of the United States and its allies. Currently, governments and registered heroes have the advantage over any threats to or enemies of the state in terms of funding, personnel, and equipment. However, Project Terminal would allow any challenger to create a pool of expendable, manufactured, super powered soldiers.
I recommended that immediate covert surveillance be implemented or stepped up on all paramilitary groups within the United States. Furthermore, all registered Super Groups around the country are alerted and all SGs within Paragon city be issued intelligence liaisons.
<<<<<<<<<<<<En d Report>>>>>>>>>
In the early hours of June 20 1995, Victor Holderman found himself standing at the fence line of a building that had once been his refuge, ChemShield. The desert nights were serene. Victor felt comforted by the quiet. He had spent many a late night in his lab at the facility; he always felt that the scientists working around him were incompetent lumbering fools. The noise of their inane chatter made him rigid; he couldnt focus on his work. He would sometimes spend days there, not sleeping, not eating, only working, creating. He knew he his project would save ChamShield, Creys loss would be their gain and of course make Victor rich in the process.
But what did all of that sacrifice get him? All of the blood and sweat he gave to ChemShield and Crey had brought him what? He was standing alone, staring through a fence at a distant building struggling to decide how he had come to this.
It was that damned Alchemy project and that damned Wilson that McMillan loved so much, thats why I lost Terminal. Pointless technology and the arrogance of McMillan, forcing me to work on that bloody armor. Victor muttered to himself as he began cutting out a small section of fence.Holderman removed the section of fence and passed through the hole. He made his way across the vast field of black asphalt toward the building. As he did so the thoughts of his time before ChemShield began trickling into his mind.
In 1985 it seemed like every one of his peers was a computer scientist or engineer or designer or some such nonsense. At the age of 25 Holderman had managed to race through college, grad school and his doctorial program. He was the youngest Ph.D. that Johns Hopkins had ever had. He had double majored in particle physics and bioengineering for his masters but ended up settling on the latter for his Ph.D. He naturally gravitated toward the field. At the time, the pool of qualified individuals in the field was limited. He made a name for himself as a brilliant young man who was restructuring existing knowledge in the field. However, he had taken it too far when it was discovered that he had plagiarized at least 3 of his journal articles from his colleagues. Holderman was a brilliant pure scientist, but he lacked ethics and imagination. He was in almost every sense of the word a genius, but his success was built on the backs of others.
Crey had recruited him at the age of 26 to work human bioengineering division. He gained notoriety there and quickly moved up through the company. But he did so at the expense of his colleagues. Holderman was generally disliked even loathed by his peers for any number of reasons, but chief among them was that people around him had a bad habit of quitting.
One night, after not having left his office for several days, Holderman came across some research being preformed by Dr. Emil Baker. Dr. Baker was working on a supplement for soldiers to help their bodies use energy more efficiently in order for them to be active and alert for longer periods of time.
The fool, Victor thought to him self in his lab.
You have to fundamentally change the human physical make up in order to accomplish that. The body will simply adapt to the supplements. He continued in his mind. A sly smile crept across his lips. He had an idea.
Victor spent months in his lab performing experiments and conducting research on a gene therapy that would alter the human body burned through energy. Conceivably, he theorized, you could get the human body to burn through energy so efficiently that a person could stay awake and functioning at normal levels for days. A potential side effect he also theorized is the possibility of superhuman abilities. Their bodies would now be under a different set of constraints and operate at a much higher and more efficient level.
Victor took his findings to the Crey funding board. They were pleased with potential profit this presented for the company and decided to go forward with the project full scale. As this new project seemed to show more promise than another one which had been languishing under Dr. Baker, the Baker project was scraped and its resources transferred to Holderman.
For several years the project ran. It produced fruit and continued to be funded by the company. The project had begun animal testing when it reached its plateau with Crey. Holderman was running through researchers and science staff faster than the company could hire them. People left or were fired at an alarming rate. The departing scientists complained that Holderman was deliberately altering data and seemed to be taking a sick pleasure in testing on the animals even though the survival rate after being given the therapy was only about 1 in 10.
Crey officials finally shut down the project when it was decided that Holderman was wasting valuable resources on a worthless endeavor. The cost benefit analysis determined that Holderman was an extraneous expense that needed to be cut. But when Holderman left he took all of the electronic information he could from his work at Crey with him. Victor felt that the severance package that he received from Crey was lacking and that the data would make up for that.
Holderman started at ChemShield in 1990 after meeting McMillan at a conference. He was impressed with Victors genius but put off by his lack of tact. Despite his abrasive nature, Victor was at home at ChemShield and general accepted among the other misfits that made up the company. He even found himself chuckling over a sign that hung over the entrance to the west wing of the building that read Now entering the land of misfit toys. Clever if not sophomoric, he remembered thinking. But then there was Project Alchemy.
Victor had the distinction of being the only Bioengineer at the facility. As such he was largely allowed to pursue his own research. He began work on Project Terminal shortly after arriving at ChemShield. It took some convincing for McMillan to agree to allow it to move forward. Exactly what possessed him to allow the project to move forward no one will ever know. But after the law suit, the reports of animal deaths, and the success of the Alchemy research, Holdermans Project Terminal was shut down.
When the project was cut, Holderman was reassigned to project Alchemy. Specifically, he was asked to work on an experimental optical camouflage. For several months Victor put his knowledge of light to work on the Atomantium system. But his anger over his reassignment, and having to work on the very thing that took him away from Terminal made him impossible to work with and eventually he was released from ChemShield.
Victors mind returned to the present as he approached the door to the facility. He removed a blank key card from his jacket pocket and inserted it into the reader. A program on the card ran that searched for the entrance code. A red light blinked for several seconds and then it flashed over to green. The door lock disengaged and Victor made his way inside the facility.
He walked briskly down the hall to his old lab. Again he inserted a blank card in the reader at his lab door and made his way inside. He walked toward the back of the room where his old computers rested. Holderman unslung a bag from around his shoulders and removed a stack of storage cassettes. He clicked on a flash light and searched for the power switch in the dark room. The computer began humming to life and the screens flickered on. Victor inserted the top cassette with a blue label into the slot; the label read Pandora. A green bar appeared at the bottom and crept across the screen. Once it had made its way across the screen a green curser flickered in the top corner of the screen. Victor typed in his information and he was directed to the computers menu. Finally, Victor began downloading the data from Project Terminal into the storage cassettes he had brought with him.
As the download ran, Victor walked back into his old office in the corner of the lab. He retrieved a stack of notebooks from his desk and began thumbing through them. It took roughly two hours for the download to finish. ChemShield had no physical security. The company relied on passive electronic surveillance and counter measure to protect its data. McMillan felt that keeping a security force on the premises compromised the integrity of the data and he never believed that any one of the people that he hired would ever commit such an act. He wouldnt live to regret his mistake.
Victor left with the data and returned home just as the sun came up. I have been wasting my time with fools and pretenders of years, but no more. The only person to reap the benefits of Terminal will be me. Victor muttered as he made his way to his basement laboratory. McMillan had outfitted Victors home with much of the equipment he would need to conduct his experiments at home when he realized that Victor was spending days on end in his lab.
5 days went by before Holderman emerged from his lab for food and a shower. He turned on the TV in his living room as he shuffled to the kitchen. The evening news was running, in the upper right corner next to the Anchormans head was a graphic of ChemShield logo. Tense with rage, Holderman hurled the remote against the wall. But then the anchorman became audible.
The Department of Defense has finally released a statement regarding the incident at the desert facility. The Anchorman paused for a moment.
According to the DoD spokesman, an explosion at the facility breached storage of toxic material. The military was mobilized to seal off the area. The spokesman would not elaborate as to the nature of the material, stating that information was classified. But he would say that the bombing was necessary to vaporize the material and prevent it from spreading to the water table and near by aquifer. The anchorman paused again and the camera pulled back.
The facility was completely destroyed. He said looking down shuffling his script. Victor made his way to the television and calmly turned it off. A smile formed on his face and a laugh emerged from his lips as he walked back to the kitchen and poured himself a bowl of cereal. For the first time in months, Holderman felt jubilant, excited, elated.
After he finished eating and showering, Holderman made his way back to his lab. Those damned fools, now they have nothing. Terminal will get me everything I ever wanted; McMillan made a grave mistake when he discontinued my work. Victor thought.
Victor took a rubber turnicate out of his desk drawer and wrapped it around his bicep and tied it off. He sat on his stool and reached across his desk for a vile and syringe. The needle pierced the membrane of the vile and the syringe began drawing back liquid into the barrel. Holderman removed the syringe from the vile and injected it into his arm. He removed the turnicate and walked back upstairs. As he ascended the stairs he felt fatigue wash over his body. He dismissed it as his lack of sleep and crashed on his couch.
When Victor awoke several days later he felt invigorated, vital and extremely hungry. Victor cleaned out his refrigerator, but a few hours later he felt his hunger return. His house now devoid of anything edible he decided he would celebrate. So he left walked out of his home and to his car. But he hesitated just before inserting the car key into the door. I wonder, he thought and he turned and began running. At first it was a moderate pace but he did not feel his body hindered, so he ran faster, and faster until he finally felt his body strain. But without realizing it he had run from his house to the restaurant. He had cleared a distance of several miles in record time. This only meant one thing. Terminal worked, and not only that but he was right about everything!
The hostess greeted victor with a smile, the he uncharacteristically returned. He sat down reviewed the menu and ordered as soon as the server appeared. The food couldnt come quick enough as Victor devoured everything that was brought before him. When the server brought him the bill he brushed her hand momentarily and felt a sensation shoot through his hand and he felt a small surge of energy like he had just downed a shot of espresso. Interesting, he thought.
Victor stepped outside into the afternoon sun and started his walk home. After several minutes Victor felt his body grow heavy again.
Wait a minute, something isnt right. Victor said to himself. He sat on a bench to catch his breath. He struggled to keep his eyes open. A dog wandered by him and nudging Victors leg, when he touched the dog to push it away he again felt another surge of energy. This time he did not release his grasp. After several seconds he felt invigorated again. Victor looked down at the dog and it hard curled up on the ground. It was dead. Victor had drained all the energy from its body and the dog could simply not sustain its self. No, no, no, this was not right, not right at all. What had he done to himself?
Victory continued home but when he made it inside he collapsed. When he woke his mind was cloudy, he couldnt focus. He dragged his weary body to the bathroom and splashed water on his face to try and get a handle on his situation. When he looked in the mirror he was over come with terror. His face, it had changed, it was monstrous.
Frightened and angry Victor drove his fist through the mirror. The shards slashed his hand. Victor looked down, it wasnt only his face that had changed, his body was mutating as well. He saw the cuts on his hand slowly begin to close. This was good but he couldnt quite grasp why. What was wrong he wondered? Why couldnt he focus? Then he simply gave in and obeying some other desire not his own, Holderman burst out of his home into the night.
Victor Haldermans mind was twisted and warped by the gene altering serum that he had injected into himself. He was singularly focused on his own survival. He began living in alleys as sewers, sapping the energy from stray animals in order to survive. For years he wandered across the country. His body continued to mutate until in no longer resembled a human form. Years passed and Holderman wandered across the country.
One day Halderman found himself in a sewer searching for some unlucky animal to feed on. But as he was growing more desperate he came across a tall figure in a smock, rubber gloves, and a surgical mask. The smell of death was familiar to him and it drew him in. Holderman crept up behind the figure, grabbed him and began draining the energy from his body. The sensation was different this time. He had done taken the life of countless mammals but this was new. It took longer than it had before and for the first time he felt satisfied.
The animal that had ruled over Victors mind began to recede into the blackness of his unconscious mind. Victors mind was still cloudy, still hazy, but he new that he had no idea where he was or even when it was. So he began searching the sewers for a way out. Victor searched for hours for a way out of the dank labyrinth. His search brought him across a group of gang member loitering in front of the exit to the sewers.
Victor stepped out from behind a pipe. Out of my way, he snarled at the 4 Hellions in front of him.
Umm, how about we just kill you instead freak, one of the gang members shouted as all four of them drew their pistols.
But before they could fire the fight was over. Victor leapt out and over the four gang member. He grabbed one form behind and began draining his body. The others hesitated to fire but before they could decide what to do, Victor hurled his victim at the other three Hellions. Victor lunged forward and drove his fist into the stomach of the next gang member forcing the wind out of him and dropping him to the ground. The third Hellion pointed his weapon at Victor but in a blink, Victor crouched down and kicked the Hellions legs out from under him. Victor pounced on his chest and broke the Hellions jaw knocking him unconscious. The fourth one wised up and ran off as fast as he could back into the sewers. Victor decided he didnt need to follow. Instead he turned his attention to the two unconscious Hellions that he hadnt yet drained.
Victor had acted on pure instinct in the fight against the Hellions; he still didnt quite know what was going on. But as he was infused with the energy from the three Hellions more pieces of the puzzle started to fall into place. But first he had to know where he was and second- he knew there was something else but couldnt quite place it. Victor walked to the gate that led out of the sewers. It was locked. He reached out to grab the pad lock but as he placed his hand around the lock a surge of electricity shot out of his hand. The lock fell open. This was strange and at the same time something told him this was good.
It took several days, and several more victims, some villainous, others innocent civilians. He no longer was hiding in alleys and sewers like the animals that he subsisted on for so long. He started taking refuge in abandon buildings, confiscating hideouts and equipment from other groups. He slowly began his research again. He remembered Terminal, Crey, ChemShield, and something else that he couldnt quite put his finger on. He was full of rage and hatred and he was focusing all of it on anyone who was in his way. But one day he left to search for his next victim when he came across a coin operated newspaper vendor. The picture on the front page caught his eye.
He held his hand over the vendor and blasted it with bolt of bioelectricity. The door fell open and Victor removed a paper. The photo was of a red and gold armored hero standing over a vanquished Malta Hercules fighting suit. I couldnt be, he thought. It was destroyed wasnt it? He read the article and then he saw it, Atomantium. His mind was filled with white hot rage. The paper burst into flames in his hands as electricity surged out of Victors hands. If Atomantium still existed that meant ChemShield still existed. Victor rushed back to his abandon building; he had to know what had happened to the people and company that had turned their back on him all those years ago.
After a quick internet search, Victor learned that ChemShield had survived the accident and the destruction of its headquarters. What was worse, not only did it survive, but it had grown. It was worth millions. The original 300 employees had all become wealthy as a result of ChemShields commercial success. Its founder was the only casualty of the accident. Not only were the company and its employees prospering, but the man that had thrown Victor to the wolves was dead. Enraged, Victor destroyed his Kings Row lab and ran out into the night. He took out his rage on anyone that crossed his path, absorbing the energy from a dozen people before his mind became clear.
ChemShield was still around yes, but it had moved right into his back yard. His revenge would be all the sweeter when he destroys the company at its peak. What was more, although he couldnt kill McMillan he could destroy the thing that turned him into the twisted freak that he was, Atomantium. He would rip the armor apart piece by piece. But accomplishing such a task would require planning. He would have to learn about his enemy first hand.
It was difficult, but Holderman stalked Atomantium for months. He watched him in battle. He learned how he fought, how the thought, his strengths and his weaknesses. He noted that the armor had been upgraded. It had abilities that were not part of the original design he remembered working on years prior. Finally, however, he was ready to make his move.
Your not the only workaholic here you know. Juliana said as she made her way to Wilsons desk.
I see, well I am about to call it a night. You know anyone else is also uhh, I mean who may also be may be as well. Crap, sorry long day. Wilson, and Juliana had become very close since that day in the desert, but he never got over his anxiety about being around her. Wilson shifted in his chair and searched for something charming to say to deflect from his last statement but before he could Juliana broke in.
Yes genius, thats why I am here. Just checking to see if you wanted some company but it looks like your done for the day. She said.
I could hang out for a bit. Wilson said with a relieved smile. But before Juliana could answer, something shook the building. The two were silent for a moment. Then it happened again and again.
Wilson stood up, he looked at Juliana then made his way for the door. The room shook again. Juliana reached for his hand. Be careful Wilson, something about this seems wrong. She said.
Wilson wanted to say something comforting. He wanted to give her a reassuring kiss. He wanted to do anything other than what he did.
Wilson smiled, nodded and said, thank you, I will. You tool he thought. That wasnt the best thing you though of. Why can you beat up giant monsters, super powered villains, giant robots but he was too afraid to talk to Juliana? No time for that, time to get to work.
Wilson hurried into the vault that housed the armor and suited up. When the armor was activated a signal went out to Girxon, Juliana and the other 5 people that knew Peter Wilson was the person piloting the Atomantium armor. As soon as he secured his helmet a message came in from Grixon.
I see youre going to work, whats the situation? Grixon asked over the radio.
Dont know yet. But something is shaking the building. It seems to be coming from the roof so I am going to check it out."
Understood, I will fill in the others. Grixon responded. Then the channel was closed.
Wilson stepped over to a square that was drawn onto the floor. Over head a hatch opened up and Wilson took off through the tunnel. As he cleared the roof something hit Wilson in the back of the head with incredible force and he crashed on the roof of the ChemShield Building.
Greetings hero, came an unfamiliar voice from the darkness.
Wilson rose to his feet. He was curious why he hadnt continued to be attacked but remained alert. Who are you?
A dark, twisted form in tattered rags stepped into view. Maybe this will help. Victor paused and waited for a response. Nothing.
So you dont recognize me. But then you could be a new hire. Or maybe youre not with the company at all. Doesnt matter, who does the dying isnt as important as the actual dying. Victor said.
Enough of this crap, who are you wand what do you want here? Wilson demanded.
Fool, I am the one that will destroy this company, and every single person associated with it, and then I am going to destroy you, the thing that turned me into this.
Victor went on, ChemShield tossed me aside after I gave them years. Them and Crey both and both of them are going to pay.
Victor Holderman? Youre Victor? No sooner did Wilson say it than Victor hurled a chunk of roof at Wilson. In a flash, Wilson raised his hand and blasted the projectile out of the air.
NO, NOT VICTOR HOLDERMAN. TERMINAL VOID! Holderman shouted.
Victor Holderman is dead. I killed him. He continued.
Wilson raised his hand again to release another energy blast. As he did so, Holderman leapt through the air toward Wilson and smashed his fists down on the top of Wilsons head. Wilson was shaken, but he threw an uppercut that landed square on Holdermans jaw and threw him back through the air.
Holderman stood up, You have two choices, he held up a small box with two toggle switches, he flipped one on then pushed a green button that lit up. A blast went off behind him. Wilson turned to see a fire blazing from a building near the Green Line Monorail station.
Holderman continued, Try and subdue me and hope that some other hero stops the fire and saves all those innocent people, or put out the fire your self, save the day but I escape. Wilson scowled and gnashed his teeth under the helmet. There was only one real choice. Wilson turned and ran off the edge of the roof. He was in a free fall for a few seconds then clicked on his boots and was headed at full speed toward the burning building.
Wilson was at the building in 30 seconds. When he touched down, there was no time to waist. The building was engulfed in flames. He switched on the sonar view in HUD and began scanning the building for people. He wasnt seeing anyone. Just to be sure he switched over to the X-ray view and covered the building. Again, nothing.
Crap he bluffed me and now hes getting away. Wilson thought, cursing himself.
He walked out to the street, and kicked over a fire hydrant. Water sprayed into the air, an urban geyser. Wilson removed a nearby manhole cover and used it to divert the water toward the building. I took several minutes but the Paragon Fire Department arrived and began foaming the building. The fire was under control.
But as the fire was being subdued, a fast moving target appeared on Wilsons radar. Wilson turned around to see Holderman lunging at him once again. Holderman had leapt off the building after Wilson had left and circled around to watch him from a distance and pick his moment to attack. The manhole cover still in his hands, Wilson hurled it like a Frisbee at the incoming threat. But instead of hitting its target, Holderman caught the cover and using its momentum spun around and released it again at Wilson. Before he could react the, Wilson was hit with tremendous force in the stomach by the steel disk. Wilson was thrown back into a building and driven through its brick façade.
Holderman followed him inside and leapt on Wilsons chest. He proceeded pound his fists relentlessly on the faceplate of the Atomantium helmet. Wilson attempted to shield himself but to no avail. Finally, Wilson drove the side of his hand into Holdermans side finally knocking him off. Groggy and dazed Wilson tried in vain to hit Holderman with an energy blast to slow him down but he was just to fast.
Victor leapt to within inches of Wilson and in one swift move crouched down, and swept Wilsons legs out from under him. Wilson on his back, Holderman grabs his ankle and begins to swing his nemesis. Holderman releases his helpless victim once he has built up sufficient momentum and hurled Wilson back through the brick wall and into the alley.
Holderman walked out to his victim. He knelt and placed his hands on Wilsons chest. Then electricity coursed through Wislons body. Wilson yelled out in agony, his body convulsed his spine felt like it would snap. Then as quickly as it started, it was over.
Remember today, remember the day that Terminal Void bested the invincible Atomantium and know that I can do this any time I choose. I am going to break apart ChemShield piece by piece and you wont be able to stop it. Holderman hissed.
The armor damaged, Wilson injured, thoughts raced through his mind. I have to end this, he thought. Then before he could come to a conclusion, a piece of asphalt that had been ripped out of the ground flew past, just inches from Wilsons head, collided with Holderman, and sent him flying.
Holderman collected himself after slamming into the security barrier wall. He prepared himself to go back and finish his helpless victim but he saw a massive figure making his way to Atomantiums side. Holderman decided that his point had been made and that it was time for a strategic retreat. He had become powerful, but he was not yet powerful enough to battle two heroes. He would bide his time, and plan his next strike. Today, he was the victor.
Epilogue:
Propped against the building wall, Wilson saw a huge figure approaching him as the armors systems began resetting. He pulled him self up and prepared himself for a second fight but instead the unidentified figure spoke.
Are you injured? Do you need medical assistance? The figure asked.
No, no. Who are you? Were you the one that saved me? Wilson asked as he tried to focus his vision.
To answer you questions, Rock Mason and Yes I am.