Next
The next morning, SCP-GU411 awakens to the smell of food being prepared. He sits up to see Iris standing at her stove.
Iris looks back at him with a smile. "Are you hungry?"
"Starving, thanks!" SCP-GU411 replies, standing.
"It is not often I have guests.. other than a researcher or Jennifer." Iris turns back and removes two omelets from a skillet, placing them on separate plates.
They sit to eat, while Iris occasionally glances up from her plate in the direction of Rocky.
He becomes increasingly annoyed by this, finally finishing his omelet, he quickly and raggedly stands. "I should get going. There is no telling what the foundation has planned for me next."
"Okay. Have a good day." Iris says as she continues to eat, still glancing at him as he heads to the door. A smile grows on her face.
SCP-GU411 stops and looks back. "I.. didn't.. say anything yesterday.. did I?"
Iris finishes chewing and sallows, whipping her fork around in the air. "Something about saving the world."
SCP-GU411 turns fully around to face her. "What?"
Iris waves her fork in a shuing motion. "Probably just a delirious state brought on by the anesthesia!" She winks.
SCP-GU411 crosses his arms, leaning against a wall. "I am immune to telepathy, but a woman, with no such abilities, gleans information from me?!"
"You weren't serious, were you?" Iris asks, still thinking it was a joke.
SCP-GU411 groans.
Iris points her fork at him. "Oh my God! You are serious!" She chuckles, setting down her plate and fork.
SCP-GU411 slowly walks back to her. "Please don't tell anyone."
Iris slowly stands, looks at him skeptically. "Are you legitimately serious?"
"Yes." SCP-GU411 says softly.
Iris moves closer, placing her hand slowly to his chest. "You.." She looks up into his eyes longingly.
Before he knows what happened, he is on his back looking up at the ceiling.
Iris leans over him. "You let your guard down, Rocky."
He blinks a few times, still not sure how he ended up on the floor. "What.. how..?"
"How do you think I managed to get out of Abel's last rampage alive? I was one step ahead of him thanks to the training the foundation gave me." She extends her hand to help SCP-GU411 up. "Which included hand to hand combat training. You want to save the world? You will have to rely on more than just strength."
SCP-GU411 outstretches his hand, lightly brushing against Iris' arm. "Iris.. I...."
She shakes her head. "You should go.. before people start.. talking."
Suddenly SCP-GU411 pulls Iris down and rolls on top of her. "Got you!"
"A girl could get the wrong idea here.. really easily." Iris says looking up at him.
"Or that might be the right idea!" SCP-GU411 smiles.
Iris glares at him. "Dude, you might be invulnerable, but I will still kick you in the balls."
SCP-GU411 stands quickly, helping her up. "No! I was showing that I could catch you off guard too!"
Iris laughs. "Relax! I wasn't actually going to nut shot you!" She smirks at him. "You get easily flustered too. Look! Your face is so red!"
SCP-GU411 looks away. "I am only human."
Iris giggles. "It's kinda cute!"
SCP-GU411 sighs. "I better get going.." He walks away quickly. Once at the door, he pauses, not turning around. "I.. am sorry."
"There is nothing for you to apologize for." Iris replies.
"Just so you know, I would not be ashamed if people talked." SCP-GU411 says, before leaving the room.
Once gone, Iris smiles gently. "Just save the world, idiot." She whispers.
SCP-GU411 Heads in the direction of his room. He spaces out, wondering what he is going to do about Jennifer and Iris. Not paying attention, he bumps into SCP-049, being escorted by two guards.
SCP-049 begins to fall back but regains balance and uprights quickly. "Ah, SCP-GU411! Just the man I was looking for!"
SCP-GU411 looks at him questioningly. "Looking to conduct another test, Doc?"
SCP-049 thinks for a moment. "Doc.. doc.. rather casual but also formal." He claps his hands together once. "I like it! But no. I was wondering if you might know where I can find SCP-303. I understand he procured a few corpses and some surgical tools. Just between you and me, those tools belonged to me." He spins in place, as his fingers convulse wildly. "However, I am willing to overlook this transgression if he is truly interested in learning the surgical arts."
"And what if he was just fooling around?" SCP-GU411 asks.
SCP-049 stops spinning and looks at the ceiling in thought. "I might have to kill him." He replies with a dull tone to his voice.
Just as he says this, the sound of something falling, to the floor, can be heard further down the hall.
SCP-049's attention quickly shifts as he whips around and begins heading swiftly towards the source of the sound. "SCP-303!! I have business to discuss with you!"
The guards quickly run after him.
SCP-GU411 watches as 049 moves like a two-legged cheetah pursuing its prey. He shakes his head. "I know I should probably stop him, but 303 can since ill intent.. he will get away on his own." He continues to his room, finding the door unlocked, he enters.
On his couch sits a female researcher, patiently waiting with a clipboard. She appears to be of Asian descent with dark shoulder-length hair, brown eyes, and a shapely 5' 5" body build. She looks up with a drowsy expression. "Hello SCP-GU411, I am Doctor Therman. I have been asked to evaluate your mental health today."
SCP-GU411 looks around the room, seeing 173 is nowhere in sight. He quickly checks a closet to find 173 hiding within. He then proceeds to open cabinets and drawers, finding them fully stocked, most importantly coffee is present. "Have you read my evaluation form yet, Doctor Therman?"
She nods. "I did."
He looks sharply back at her, as he prepares a pot of coffee. "Then you should know that I detest my SCP number and prefer to be addressed by my name, in whatever formal or informal means you prefer."
Doctor Therman looks startled by this quick change of attitude. "A.. as you wish.. Mr. *****."
SCP-GU411 smiles gently. "Much better. Care for some coffee?"
Doctor Therman looks puzzled by the quick changes in GU411's demeanor. "As long as it is not decaf, yes."
SCP-GU411 sniffs the coffee. "Nope! Not decaf, very lucky for them. I detest decaf coffee almost as much as impersonal interactions. Might as well be brewing it with mud or sand."
"I feel the same way. No appealing flavor to speak of, much like watered-down tea." Doctor Therman nods in agreement.
SCP-GU411 finishes preparing the coffee maker and turns it on. He then walks over and sits down across from Doctor Therman. "See how much further you get when you do not think of me as a number?"
"I apologize. I am not used to face to face interviews. This is actually my first time being assigned to a subject, and I was just following protocol, as it was explained to me." Doctor Therman bows slightly.
SCP-GU411 chuckles lightly. "A true blue Japanese lady, I see. No need to apologize. The fact that you so willingly corrected the mistake was apology enough."
Doctor Therman raises her head. "I was raised in Japan until I was 13 years old, my mother, who was solely raising me, joined the SCP and we moved to America."
"What is your opinion of America?" SCP-GU411 asks.
Doctor Therman smiles. "On the one hand, the people are often extremely divided in their opinions on subjects, prone to erratic behavior, and oftentimes disrespectful. On the other hand, this is made up for my more wholesome people who work hard, care about the wellbeing of others, and respect each other's differences. As far as the scenery, I have yet to travel much since I arrived, so I would not know."
"You should take a vacation.. Hawaii perhaps. I hear the locals are extremely respectful and welcoming." SCP-GU411 suggests.
Doctor Therman chuckles. "Yes, because that is how they make a living, being hosts to tourists. They probably roll their eyes and talk poorly of the tourists whenever they get a moment of peace." She looks at the clipboard. "Back to the task at hand, it appears you are the sort of person that cares about the wellbeing of others, as recorded in your discussions with the head guard and 05 council. Instead of seeing them as simple SCPs or a means to an end, you defended 187 and 105 from harm. Very admirable, Mr. *****."
SCP-GU411 shrugs. "Who truly knows another's intentions? I could be a very slick con artist."
Doctor Therman taps her pen on the clipboard. "Would you like that to be your official statement?"
"I did not realize I was being asked a question!" SCP-GU411 replies with a slight chuckle. "You are pretty good at evaluating without making it boring."
Doctor Therman nods once. "I think this method would be more pleasing to human SCPs. Don't you agree?"
"Indeed! They certainly would open up easier. Likewise, it would benefit their mental and physical health to be treated less like an object and more like a normal person." SCP-GU411 replies.
Doctor Therman writes a moment, in her clipboard, before looking up with a smirk. "Like you just did, answering that question?"
SCP-GU411 laughs bashfully. "You have got me there! I did value their wellbeings over my own, and I would do so again for almost anyone in the facility."
"What if you were faced with the dilemma of two human SCPs assaulting each other? Would you favor one above another?" Doctor Therman asks, staring intently into SCP-GU411's eyes.
"You will have to be more specific." SCP-GU411 frowns.
"Let's say.. SCP-2599 and 049." Doctor Therman replies, spinning her pen.
SCP-GU411 leans back. His mouth slightly grins. "Knowing what each is capable of, I would seek to detain 049 before I ever considered 2599 the most problematic."
"What if it was SCP-191 and 706?" Doctor Therman asks.
SCP-GU411 pauses, staring at her with disinterest. "Those two are an odd pairing for an example, Doctor."
Doctor Therman shrugs. "Regardless, what if you were faced with that dilemma?"
"Probably scold them mercilessly, for their childish behavior, and send them to their rooms." SCP-GU411 replies.
Doctor Therman shakes her head. "We are not talking about normal children to which that method would be effective. They are distressed, lonely, and prone to lashing out without warning. You would find yourself in the crossfire having to defend yourself. What do you do?"
SCP-GU411 rolls his eyes. "Distract 706 with a mirror while I restrained 191."
Doctor Therman smiles. "Very good. However, again you do not act with intention of harming the subjects. Why is that?"
SCP-GU411 leans back, looking at the ceiling. "They are still only children, 706 specifically is very fragile."
"SCP-049 is the furthest thing from a child, and yet you seem to show him the same courtesy." Doctor Therman presses.
SCP-GU411 gets up and goes to prepare the coffee.
"Black for me thanks." Doctor Therman comments.
"Don't get me wrong, Doctor, I am not averse to violence, if the situation warrants it. However, I am against ruling out a more subtle approach first. Not every situation warrants the pointing of rifles at SCPs, oftentimes, that can cause the situation to be escalated. In all the cases you presented, all subjects have the ability to learn and grow from their mistakes if given proper guidance." He returns with the coffee and sets it down. "Much like you learned to use my name instead of my number. Had I reacted violently to such an address, you would have left without another word." He sits down and takes a sip of his coffee. "This would have severely stunted your willingness to converse with me."
"And how pleasant it is to converse with you, Mr. *****. I would have very much missed the opportunity otherwise." Doctor Therman says, taking a long gulp of her coffee.
"So.. what is next?" SCP-GU411 asks.
"I will be granted the privilege of being your full-time researcher, and we will go from there." Doctor Therman smiles.
SCP-GU411 smiles back. "I look forward to it then."
After they finish their coffee, Doctor Therman excuses herself. Upon reaching the door and opening it, SCP-187 is seen preparing to knock.
"Oh, Jennifer! How are you today?" Doctor Therman asks happily.
Jennifer pauses, trying to place the voice. "Doctor.. Therman?!"
"Yes." Doctor Therman replies.
"What are you doing in Rocky's room?" Jennifer asks.
"I have been assigned as his researcher. What are you doing here?" Doctor Therman asks, glancing back at SCP-GU411 who is looking away.
"I heard his room recently got renovated, so I thought I would come and see. Also, we have a security patrol today." Jennifer smiles.
Doctor Therman shrugs. "Then you are here at the perfect time, I must be heading out. I have testing to schedule, research to enter, and forms to file. I will give you as ample warning as possible to the scheduling of your next anomaly test."
"Just out of curiosity, what permission access level did they assign me?" SCP-GU411 asks.
"Level 4.. currently." Doctor Therman replies, heading out the door and down the hall.
Jennifer stands still for a moment before entering and shutting the door. She then removes her blindfold. "I am so glad I can get this thing off now." She looks around. "Every classy!"
Rocky chuckles. "It is home! That is all that matters."
Jennifer wonders around for a moment, in a very odd path, checking cabinets. "Have you had breakfast yet?"
Rocky nods. "I crashed on Iris' couch while they renovated."
"Oh.." Jennifer slowly closes the cabinet and checks other areas, again she takes an odd path around the room. She reaches the closet, where 173 is hiding and opens it, she then looks at Rocky questioningly. "Why is there a rolled-up chain in your closet? Where did you even get a chain?"
Rocky leans back, over the couch, to look at her. "There is no chain in there. That is SCP-173-1's twisted rebar skeleton."
Jennifer looks down, squinting her eyes. "Ah! I see. Well, looks like he gets a makeover in the future."
"Who would be able to that?" Rocky asks.
Jennifer shrugs, walking to the couch. She seems hesitant walking to the center of the room. "Regardless, my predictions barely ever change."
"Is there something you might be keeping to yourself?" Rocky asks, finishing his coffee.
Jennifer walks over, sitting down across from him. "Much like SCP-343, I do retain some things for my own benefit or to disclose at a better time so as not to change the future." She giggles. "I actually have regular interactions with him."
"You talk to 'God'?" Rocky asks.
Jennifer sighs. "I prefer to just call him a kind lonely old man."
"And he is not offended by that?!" Rocky asks.
"Not at all! As he puts it, everyone comes around in their own time." Jennifer smiles.
Rocky leans forward with interest. "What do you see when you look at him?"
Jennifer looks confused, dawning a blank stare. "I.. can't remember. It is almost like.. it was nothing, I saw nothing at all."
"Do you mean you couldn't see him, or there was no change?" Rocky presses.
"No change, none what so ever!" Jennifer answers quickly. She then stand up, appearing nervous. "We.. should get going. The guards will be meeting us at the end of the hall."
Rocky goes to the closet and grabs 173. When he does, he sees SCP-239 scratched on the back of the closet. He looks down at 173 with a nod. "Right, let's go."