It was getting dark and snowing at the employee entrance, and it was only early September. I talked to the guard while waiting for the next transport.


    "I''m surprised, the transport system here is usually on point."


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    Nope, not a bit nervous. Look at this place, I thought.


    Ed Seeding was already there at the sign-in desk. He was my original interviewer for this position, and he requested my transfer.


    “Probably just the weather today, Cynthia. On a nice sunny day, it looks just fine.”


    “Well, that may be, Ed, but I am primarily here to evaluate this project''s performance for DARPA. They are receiving quite a few reports of misguided science, and the press I am reading is quite disturbing. Don''t you agree?”


    Ed’s phone began to ring, and he signaled to his assistant that he would have to leave.


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    Good,” said Cynthia. “I am not in the habit of calling PhDs ‘doctors’.”


    “Of course... of course. Who likes doctors?” laughed Wess. “Ed and I read your paper on Proximity and Neuroscience.”


    “So, one simple example of proximity I see,” continued Wess. “I''ve sometimes noticed when my car''s at the shop and the mechanic looks at me strangely because it''s not acting up anymore, and I can’t understand why it seems okay now.”


    Cynthia noddingly agreed, “I have noticed some things like that on occasion too. Like our IT support. I''ve called and opened tickets for all kinds of problems with upgrading to Windows 98. The browser doesn''t work, and the printer doesn''t print. But when someone gets there, it works fine! Then they just look at me like I''m wasting their time. Why is that part of the proximity phenomenon you are interested in, Wess?”


    “That''s why you''ve been transferred here. HAARP and its generated frequencies have been causing issues with perceptions of the staff here,” said Wess.


    “No! That''s actually not the reason why I was sent here, Wess. But I am going to need a lot more information than that to start. I agreed to this transfer under protest. I was perfectly fine with my prior assignment,” complained Cynthia.


    “Of course!” said Wess as they walked. “We have a scheduled briefing in a few minutes. That should give you more information. Then we’ll show you to your quarters, as I assume you are tired from all the traveling. Hold on - we are about to enter the briefing room.”


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