Somewhere, West Virginia, USA.

Agents Smith and Doe pulled into the parking lot of one of the local motels. Though it was a modest and quaint thing. The sun had long since set from their long drive out to the Appalachian town. Smith had insisted on driving the whole, several hour long, way telling Doe that he would need what sleep he could get once they arrived.

Smith and Doe walked into the old fashioned, and frankly rundown, motel and up to the equally old and rundown ageing gentleman that worked the front.

"Fine night isn't it sir?!"

The old man grunted and gave the agents a slow blinking stare. Though Johnathan was weirded out, Smith took the unsettling stare in stride with a charming smile.

"Me and my young friend here would like a double room for a few nights."

The old man grunted once more as he reached down and pulled out a worn key from somewhere under the desk and placed it before Agent Smith.

"40 up front. 10 after 4 days and everyday after until you check out. Complementary breakfast is at 7."

Smith nodded and placed a crisp hundred dollar bill on the desk and took the key leaving the tired and worn man to his post. The two agents gathered their belongings and made for their room on the 2nd floor of the cheap motel. Johnathan made to begin unpacking before Smith stopped him.

"It'll still be here in the morning son. For now get some rest. Tomorrow's going to be a long day.

With that Smith fell asleep on the worn and dusty bed. Johnathan, not wanting to argue and stiff from napping in the car, soon followed Agent Smith as he laid on his own worn bed.

Agent Doe awoke to the smell of food. He got up and looked towards where Agent Smith sat at the rooms single desk, typing away at an old typewriter.

"Morning Agent Doe. Breakfast is on the table to your right. The biscuits are dry and stale, the gravy leaves much to be desired, and don't even get me started on the coffee, but its better to get something in your belly. We have a long day ahead of us so better get that down and get changed."

Johnathan nodded sleepily before forcing down the hockey puck biscuits and gritty gravy before downing it with the sludge Agent Smith dubbed "coffee". After being forced to sit on his bed for a few minutes to let the "food" settle, Johnathan got up and went to the bathroom to change while Smith continued to type away on the typewriter.

Progress report of Agent Smith.

Morning of Day 1.

We arrived in town late at night and procured a room at a local motel. The town has changed little since last I was here. The same air of doom and sense of dread over the town still lingers. Though it appears to have worsened since my last visit.

My first point of investigation is local entity designated Mountain Mama. I have doubts it is responsible for the recent anomalies, though it might have an idea as to who is.

Smith ceased typing as he turned to Doe as he came out of the bathroom dressed in what appeared to be workers coveralls and a generic cap.

"What do you think you're doing son?"

Johnathan looked down at his disguise then back up at Smith.

"Well-"

"Let me guess. You figured we'd go in disguise and "blend in", getting information from the locals as we tried to act like every other Tom, Hick, and Jane in town?" Smith interrupted.

Johnathan looked down once more then back at Smith, noting that he had not changed out of his suit, or at least it appeared to be the same suit.

"I thought-"

"You thought we'd play spy and walk around town, act like locals, which we obviously aren't, maybe throw a hokey saying to better sell the illusion?"

"Well-"

"Let me stop you right there Agent Doe. These people are not dumb. Several people saw our, obviously, government car roll into town. Which means they told the people they know, and then they told the people they know and so on and so forth. They also saw two men in black suits walk into this motel and our room. So how do you think it would look if two Suits they never seen before walk into a room and two "locals" walk back out?"

"But-"

"But nothing Agent Doe. We were made the second we rolled into town and going out there trying to act like a local is a sure fire way of getting the actual locals to clam up faster than a nun's knickers in winter."

Johnathan turned around and made to change, embarrassed at Smith's words. Smith however just shook his head and turned back to his typing.

Agent Doe needs to learn the finer points of information gathering, like which communities you can get away with attempting a disguise. It is important he learns this here with me rather than at a later date and on his own. If he fails to realize such an observation so soon then the results could be fatal later on in his career should he choose to continue in our line of work.

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Smith ceased his typing as Doe left the bathroom dressed in his own black suit.

"Excellent. Then lets get started."

Smith and Doe left the room and got inside their vehicle, though before they drove away Smith turned towards Doe.

"I don't mean to seem harsh son. But in our line of work, the devil's in the details. That means learning when and where a disguise will, and wont, work. It's better you learn that early on and with a seasoned agent in an environment that allows such slip ups. Rather than, say, a small town in New England populated by fishmen. That's how a few agents found themselves on sacrificial alters or fed to some creature from the depths!"

I should've just became a lawyer, Johnathan thought as Jazz played from the car radio as Smith drove them towards the mountains east of town.

They soon arrived at a small road that led up towards the mountains, they drove up and parked across from a cabin situated at the end of the road. Smith pulled a tape-recorder out and pressed record as he spoke.

"Agents Smith and Doe. Arriving at what appears to be a home at the base of domain of Mountain Mama. Approaching home now."

Agents Smith and Doe got out, but before Johnathan could approach, Smith stopped him.

"Like I said before Agent Doe. Its better if you learn from the start and with experience. So, you take point."

Agent Doe looked at Smith with a bit of apprehension before realizing that he was serious! Johnathan beamed as he reached into one of their bags and pulled out a fake badge and marched up to the door. He turned towards Agent Smith who just smiled and nodded at Agent Doe.

Johnathan smiled and turned towards the door. He calmed himself with a couple of deep breaths before knocking on the door.

Jeb opened the door and stared at the agent.

"Can I help you?"

Johnathan pulled out the badge and showed it to Jeb.

"Morning Sir! I'm Special Agent Doe with the FBI-"

"Your badge says IRS." Jeb stated simply.

"Huh?" Johnathan looked at the badge as Jeb closed the door.

Agent Doe stood at the door, not quite sure what to do. Should he knock again and give an explanation to the man? Or should he just return to Agent Smith in failure and embarrassment? A decision decided for him as Agent Smith walked up beside the dejected Doe.

"It's alright son. Like I said, its better to do this in a time and place that allows it."

Smith knocked on the door. After a minute Jeb once more opened the door.

"Look. I don't know what kind of scam you're doin' but your buddy already fucked it up."

Smith had a kind smile on his face as he spoke to Jeb.

"Good morning sir! I am Agent Smith and this is my colleague Agent Doe."

Jeb cocked an eyebrow at the two men.

"Really? Agent John Smith and Agent John Doe? You couldn't come up with anything better?"

"Actually my name is William though I understand the assumption. Regardless! We are agents of a secret government organization, that can't be named, that is tasked with investigating supernatural phenomenon in our great nation and dealing with it accordingly. If we could have a moment of your time to ask you a few questions that would be most helpful?"

Johnathan looked at Smith in shock as he flat out told the man who they were! He was even more surprised when the man nodded and let them in!

"Sure, come on in Agent Smith, Agent Doe."

"Much obliged!" Smith said as he crossed the threshold, leaving a dumbfounded Doe at the door.

"Come along Agent Doe!" Johnathan was called out of his stupor and went inside. The first thing he noticed was a strong smell of reptile! Like being in the exotic reptile section of a pet store! Smith however didn't seem to mind and he took a seat on Jeb's couch.

"Anythin' to drink? Snack?"

"Just some water would be nice." Smith answered as Johnathan took a seat next to him while Jeb walked to the kitchen to get the two suits their water.

"Why-"

"Why did I tell him who we were? Because for certain people its better to be upfront about who we are. If we look and act like government agents then its better to just admit it. If we didn't, it would just further deepen the distrust the locals would already have of us. Better to start on the right foot!" Smith explained as Jeb returned with a couple glasses of tap water.

"Thank you son." Smith thanked Jeb as he sipped the cold water before beginning his questioning.

"Have you noticed anything strange or out of the ordinary lately?"

"Nope, can't say that I have. Then again you'd have to a bit more specific. Weird for you might be normal for us." Jeb, somewhat, lied.

As Smith continued his questioning Johnathan looked around at Jeb's home. It was quite nice despite being a ways from town, Johnathan thought. Then a flash of red caught his eye. For but a moment a blur a bright red appeared in the corner of his eye before it was gone.

"Have any strange looking people arrived in town recently?" Smith asked.

Jeb thought for a moment before a wicked smile formed on his face.

"You know? I DID see some strange folk with green skin over by the Duval Estate!"

Smith looked a little surprised.

"Oh? Can you describe these green skinned people more?"

As Jeb, more than willingly, answered. Agent Doe caught a flash of red again! This time though he saw something! It looked like a short red person! With scales!

"Uhm, Smi-"

"Not now Agent Doe. Short, green skin, yellow eyes, large ears and noses." Smith noted down in a note pad he pulled out of his suit pocket.

Johnathan, however, kept his eyes peeled for the red scaled thing he saw! He always heard about strange things when he joined the agency, even before he did. But being able to SEE something so soon on the job?!

"A Mortimer Duval is the current resident of the estate correct?"

"That's right!" Jeb stated cheerily.

There it was again!

"Agent Smi-"

"Not now Agent Doe! I'm sorry, he's new." Smith chided Johnathan as he returned to Jeb.

"And the Estate is in the southern part of town?"

"Mhmm! Need directions?"

"That'd be wonderful!"

Agent Doe stared at where he saw the red scales intently. As he did a giant, red, salamander crawled towards the men.

"Holy-"

"Now Johnathan you're being rude! Have you never seen a giant iguana before?!" Smith reprimanded Doe as the salamander crawled forwards and sniffed at Jeb, then Smith. Then it came to Johnathan, who it looked at for a moment. Then it flicked its forked tongue against one of its eyes before snorting and sauntering away. No longer interested in the foodless men.

"I'm terribly sorry. He's new on the job and isn't used to interacting with people on an official basis yet." Smith apologized.

"No problem! Dealin' with lizards of that size takes some gettin' used to!"

"Well, thank you for your hospitality, and information, but we shouldn't trouble your morning any further!" Smith stated as he, and Doe, rose and Jeb showed them out. Though Johnathan glanced about and spotted the salamander once more, and what appeared to be a couple of red lizards walking on two legs glancing around a corner at them!

"Agent-"

"Come along Agent Doe!" Smith called as he was already halfway to the car. Johnathan looked back at where he saw the lizard people, but saw nothing. Mumbling a thanks to Jeb, Johnathan rushed after Smith.

When they entered the car Johnathan turned to Agent Smith.

"Did-"

"Did I notice the short lizard people watching us while we were there? Or that that wasn't a iguana? Yes. Agent Doe. Yes I did." Smith stated as he pulled the recorder out again.

"Resident of cabin appears to be housing several small lizard people in home. While a large quadrupedal lizard appeared curious and unafraid, even going so far as to approach us, the others hid themselves from our presence. Unconfirmed numbers. Suggest further, unobtrusive, observation. Resident has willingly given information of other possible creatures that may have arrived via the anomalies. Described as small and greenskinned. The Duval Estate will be our next destination. Also of note, given the proximity of resident to Mountain Mama it's possible that resident be offspring of entity. Also suggest unobtrusive observation and further inquiries as to whether or not resident is aware and for agency to prepare appropriate plans and contingencies in either likelihood."

Smith stored the device away as they drove away from Jeb's home. Agent Doe looked at Smith and began to ask a question.

"Who-"

"Who is Mountain Mama? It's an entity that dwells in the mountains and hills nearby. Capable of distorting the very fabric of space and possible untold destruction should it desire to do so. Which it doesn't. Most of its kind is content to carve out a slice of reality and hunker down for millennia or more. In such cases the agency, and our partner organizations, make agreements with said entities about certain boundaries which more or less amount to "you don't bother us, we don't bother you." As to why it's designated Mountain Mama? Because someone in filing thought it'd be funny."

With that the Agents sped off towards the Duval Estate.