The Haunted Mansion - Prolouge

The year was 1985. Reagan is President of the United States. Many things are going on around the world that will change the lives of everyone forever. Then there are things that go on without anyone taking notice. Some things people say happened, but they never did. Then there are people who claim that events never happened, when in actuality, they did. These are the times when a closer look is cautionary, yet oh so necessary, for anyone.

One of these cautionary times happened one night in May of 1985. Young Homeland Security Agent Carter Stone was walking out to his car after a long week at the office. That is the night something strange happened. A bright flash of light appears before him, blocking him from his car. Stopping, he squints as he attempts to peer into the light, hoping to see what is the cause. After a few moments, a dark figure steps into view and comes closer to Carter.

“Who are you?” Carter asks as his hand instinctively goes for his gun hidden under his dress jacket.

“You won’t need that,” a deep, computerized voice says as the gun jerks out of Carter’s holster and flies through the air. It lands about fifteen feet away from where Carter is standing.

“I’ll ask again,” Carter starts as he looks towards the gun and then back at the figure dressed in long black robes. “Who are you? Answer me!”

“I am Phantom Beast. I am the ruler of the Galactic Federation of Dimensions. I hail from the planet Betazed. I have come to conquer this dimension and become its master!” The robed man states in a commanding voice that rises in volume. His whole body seemed to grow with every word he said.

Carter’s eyes grow wider and wider as the robed figure speaks. His mind races as he thinks over the multitude of stories he heard back in Quantico about things like this. NASA said they had evidence that supported other non-Earthly events. NASA gathered their information, analyzed it, and were about to present their findings to the President of the United States. Homeland Security was able to stop NASA from doing that. They created a division specializing in investigating such matters off the books. Carter always brushed stories like this as things the instructors used to test the resolve of new recruits. They possibly did it to get a few laughs as well. Never in his right mind would Carter have thought that any of this could be possible.

“Tell me Agent Stone, where is the nearest weapons facility?” Phantom Beast asks as he steps closer. The bright light, that can only be a portal, starts to close behind him.

“I….I don’t know…..” Stone stammers as he takes a step back.

At that moment, a loud sound emanates from back and to the left of Carter. A blast of air whirls past his ear and hits Phantom Beast right smack in the center of his chest. The black figure gets flung back into the shrinking portal just as it closes on him. Turning around, Carter sees the figure of a man walking towards him. It's the Director of the Los Vegas Homeland Security office, Mason Shaw. He walks up with what looks like a sophisticated air cannon in his hands. The director always reminded Carter of a somewhat middle-aged version of Clint Eastwood.

“You alright kid?” he asks as he lowers the cannon and walks past to look around the area of the portal.

“What was that?!? What happened here?” Agent Stone stutters as he begins to panic and look around. As he does, he hopes that there was a witness or two who could vouch that what happened really did happen.

“That’s a long story you don’t have clearance for, at least not yet.” Director Shaw says as he finishes his quick scan of the area and turns back to Carter. “Come on kid, it’s time for you to know the truth.”

“The truth? The truth about what? And what don’t I have clearance for yet?” he almost shouts as he looks at the Director.

“Come with me and I’ll explain everything.”

With that, the two men walk back into the Homeland Security office.