Background

Taken from the plaque accompanying a portrait of Dr Godfrey Cross in the public reception of the Cross Foundation campus:

The Cross Foundation owes its origins to the scientific mind of Dr Godfrey Cross (1766-1867) whose thirst for knowledge led him to a number of scientific discoveries in the fields of chemistry, biology, medicine, astronomy and zoology.

In celebration of his quest for knowledge, Dr Cross created the eponymous foundation with a mission to further scientific understanding.

Today, the Cross Foundation is still run by the family, with some technical upgrades (though the laboratory of the first Dr Cross remains at the heart of the Foundation’s campus), and is at the forefront of cutting-edge scientific discoveries.

Dr Godfrey Cross was a young man of ambition and, most importantly, a young man with an open mind. Where some scientists strove to fit all things on Earth and in the Celestial heights into discrete specific boxes and to disregard the so-called pseudo-sciences, Godfrey saw instead a world where the science that was then only really beginning to take shape was but one facet of a larger web of interest and intrigue. He dove headfirst into astrology, mythology, folklore and fable, and would leap just as quickly into contemplations of taxonomy, physics and chemical compounds.

Though he initially spoke at Universities and Symposiums on his theories he quickly realised that the majority of people in his field preferred their studies focussed on what they could see and easily understand, unwilling to listen to what they dubbed the ramblings of an unscientific mind, and more importantly unwilling to fund such endeavours as Dr Cross was desirous to attempt.

Thus, to the public eye, Dr Godfrey Cross renounced his supernatural interests, aligning himself firmly with ‘reality’ as most people understood it. While late into the night and far across the world he searched ever for the impossible and the unearthly. In sight of the scientific world, he achieved many great things, developing a new way of synthesising rubber that was particularly effective when operating in colder climates, producing three separate treatises on the treatment of broken bones and one particularly lauded paper on the observation of behaviours of ants. He swiftly lost his more scandalous reputation and became known more as a ‘Jack of all Trades’ - itself still a novelty as most scientists sought to carve ever more specific niches for themselves.

With the proceeds from his many patented inventions and processes, Godfrey finally accomplished what he had planned - he bought a stretch of land outside of [LOCATION] and began constructing a great laboratory. It was of the utmost secrecy, they said it was to protect his patents, and all who worked there - from the brick layers to the specialised glass blowers working on the equipment, were sworn to silence and paid handsomely for their troubles.

Key to the construction, and forefront of Godfrey’s architectural plans, was the digging of an enormous basement level to the lab, lined with lead and iron. Here, though the workers were not told its purpose, Dr Cross planned to store and study entities.

It is not known at what point he began to document their storage in the way we understand it today, though surely the numbering must have begun somewhere…

My Dear Clarence,

As I feel the shadowy presence growing ever closer to me, I realise it has come time to set down on paper my wishes for you and the Foundation to which I have dedicated my life. These halls which bear my name shall now bear yours, I leave my life’s work in your capable hands.

When building the foundation I set out to achieve many things, I did not know then what wonders and horrors the world possessed, I only knew there to be more than what the mundane world perceived. I set my courage to the sticking place and created the Foundation, a means to gather to me all those who might endeavour to see beyond.

They called me a godless man, Clarence, those who sought to bring an end to the truths I would bring to the world. Truthfully I cannot say I do not believe in God, my mind has beheld so much this century gone, and I do think myself to hold more belief than the most devout priest. But, as you well know, society is not kind to those who go against the grain, and it is society that turns the wheel and so the necessity of the secrecy of my work.

But now I turn this charge over to you. That which we hold, protect, examine and nurture, all that which we control now falls to you. I would wish you happiness but I have never been a man tending to platitudes. I wish you all that you desire Clarence, I wish you knowledge, for knowledge is power.

Safeguard the Foundation, I will be watching over you.

Your Father.

• 1810: The Cross Foundation is Founded by Dr Godfrey Cross
• 1867: Dr Godfrey Cross passes away leaving the Foundation in its entirety to Dr Clarence Cross (1825-1926)
• 1926: Dr Clarence Cross leaves the Foundation in its entirety to Dr Clementine Cross (1856-1957)
• 1954: Data loss Incident AT
• 1957: Dr Clementine Cross leaves the foundation in its entirety to Dr Vivian Cross [INFORMATION REDACTED]
• 1969: Data Loss Incident Mu
• 1988: Data Loss Incident Chimeron

Today the Cross Foundation still operates under the guiding principles of our esteemed founder Dr Godfrey Cross, though we are stewarded by his descendant, the latest in a long line of Doctors Cross to shepherd this esteemed organisation, with the help of the board of Directors.

The majority of our work today surrounds the study and regulation of what we refer to as ‘anomalies’. Our expert field teams work tirelessly to ensure the safety of the public as well as the advancement of our understanding on these anomalies and how best to utilise the knowledge of the foundation for the betterment of all people. The Cross Foundation is known publicly to be a place of scientific research and development, with ties to security, but the full extent of our work has never been made public. After almost two centuries much has changed in the Cross Foundation, but our mission never wavers - we seek knowledge, with open minds and sharp eyes.