The Async Research Institute (also known as the Async Foundation or simply Async) is a research organization responsible for opening the Low-Proximity Magnetic Distortion System (also known as the Threshold) into the Backrooms. It is located at the Async Research Facility in San Jose, California.
History[]
Before opening the Backrooms[]
In April of 1988 Async started an experiment on opening a doorway into the Backrooms based on the research by Oak Ridge National Laboratory six years prior. The experiments were directed by vice director Ivan Beck and were described as a solution for all future storage and housing needs. The experiments continued as they got funding from the government.
Opening the Backrooms[]
On July 2, 1988, the third test to open the doorway resulted in failure. The sixth test on October 17, 1989, was successful. Two scientists argued whether to shut down the machine or not. Some form of obstruction was also detected. The experiment was not shut down and after the machine almost broke, the Backrooms were finally opened. But the opening of the Threshold is theorized to have caused an earthquake that knocked out all electricity in the building and killed 63 people.
Exploring the Backrooms[]
On November 14th, an unnamed researcher goes in The Complex to disassemble one of the ceiling tiles and examine what is above the ceiling. on November 15th Dr. Julia Meisner talks about lamps and mentions some codes and years on the lamp bulbs. The video ends with Julia Meisner talking and her voice fading, and as the camera gets closer to the ceiling, the sound of the fluorescent lights gets louder.
Soon after opening the Threshold, members of Async started exploring and documenting the Backrooms. On February 2nd, 1990, A research team found a decomposing corpse with mold growing around it, which most likely was Nicolas Bolton, which an autopsy is performed on two days later. The doctor, who didn't know about the Backrooms, was baffled by the unnatural decay. There was also a mutated strain of hay bacillus inside the corpse.
On March 1st, 1990, a researcher of the institute, Peter Tench went to investigate sounds of people chattering coming from a corner of the Backrooms, but then got seemingly teleported a few months into the future and became lost. The threshold outpost was constructed inside the Backrooms, right behind the Threshold. The lost researcher found the outpost and threshold. But when he walked inside, the alarm went off.
On March 5th, 1990, a system of video cameras was setup to detect motion and sound. The cameras detected an undetermined sound and a strange creature crawling on the ceiling, giving Async the first clue of the dangers of the Backrooms.
Later, on May 6th, 1990, an expedition team consisting of Marvin E. Leigh, Mark, George and Kim found Room 14D, a room made of pits (the Pitfalls). When trying to get the camera across, Marvin fell down into a pit. Down there, he encountered a monster mimicking a human voice and managed to get out alive. The team would later present the footage to the rest of Async. The way to Room 14D got sealed away and many new safety precautions were set up.
Between the 7th and 10th, scientists from the United States Department of Energy went on tour inside the Backrooms to secure Async's funding. Although the funding was secured, the meeting where Async was doing negociations with DOE president James Watkins was interrupted by Peter Tench entering the Observation Room and activating the security system after having disappeared for more than two months.
On May 25th the wooden wall sealing the area of Room 14D got deconstructed and a rover was sent to the pits to check if the area was safe for further exploration, after which a team of researchers armed with a shotgun was sent to Room 14C to confirm the absence of the Lifeform. Following the reclaiming of the area, a vehicle with building materials was sent to Room 14D to construct a safe walkway across the room and into the door on the other side.
Known Members[]
Ivan Beck[]
Vice Director of the institute, responsible for proposing the idea of the Backrooms and overseeing all KV31 projects.
Kirk Maxwell[]
A higher-ranking member of Async (with full clearance). He was able to disarm Peter Tench (although firing some rounds into the ceiling) prior to Peter boarding the elevator in the Maintenance Wing and his subsequent death.
Anthony Dawkins[]
Another high-ranking member of Async (with level 09 clearance). He meets Marvin and the other researchers when they return with the footage of the Lifeform.
Clyde[]
A prominent member of Async who watches the footage that Marvin E. Leigh recorded in Pitfalls. He also assists the teams in Reunion with surveying Room 14D using a rover and building a walkway across the pitfalls in the room.
Mark Blume[]
Member of Marvin's exploration teams. He successfully crossed the pits in Room 14D and went through the door in Pitfalls. In Reunion, he was shot by Peter Tench with his own shotgun while conducting a layout analysis of Room 14C, which left him in critical condition. It is left unclear whether he survived or not.
Marvin E. Leigh[]
Cameraman for Async. While exploring with a team he fell into one of the pitfalls in Room 14D, and became the first researcher to record an encounter with the Lifeform, on May 6, 1990.
Peter Tench[]
A former researcher. On March 1st, 1990, he was separated from his exploration team and time travelled two months to May 8th, 1990. During those two months, however, Async had faked Tench's death in order to mask his disappearance and bring closure to his family, which resulted in him staying in the Async underground facility until he fled back into the Complex due to alleged development of mental illness. Tench was then found by Mark Blume. After taking the shotgun from him, he proceeded to fatally wound him and escape the facility as an armed individual. Before exiting the facility, however, he was disarmed by Kirk Maxwell. While outside, Tench failed to predict a sudden drop in the relief, in which he fell onto a rock and presumably died.
George Levy[]
Cameraman for Async. He was part of several of Marvin's expedition teams, some of which include the ones in Informational Video and Pitfalls. He was the cameraman in Static Dead End, where he recorded the area behind the door in Room 14D, where he discovered a room with objects fused into the walls and floor.
Kim[]
A researcher who was a member of Marvin's exploration team in Pitfalls. She later helps assist Team A with building a walkway across the pitfalls in Room 14D. Just four days later, she also assists George as he explored a new section of the Complex.
Randall Tachi[]
A researcher who worked with Mark and Marvin to help uncover Room 14C.
Unnamed Doctor[]
Performs the autopsy on the corpse found by Async in Missing Persons.
Unnamed Scientist[]
A scientist with Clyde that reviewed the footage that Marvin captured.
Miller[]
A researcher who most likely theorized that things and people from the real world can fall into the Backrooms via Null Zones.