Walking out of Rocky's room, Jennifer looks back, remaining quite about the gaping hole in the floor and hallway wall. Rocky closes the door and follows her down the hall to meet the guards.
The guards present themselves professionally, despite Jennifer and Rocky recognizing them.
"Good morning, madam, sir. We have a few key areas scheduled for safety review, including SCP-682's cell." The guard says, reading off of a clipboard.
"Wait.. are you saying we have to go inside 682's cell today?!" Jennifer asks, nervously.
The guard sighs. "Yes, ma'am. The higher-ups were very specific about this."
Rocky smiles at Jennifer as she turns to him with a worried expression. "No worries. If he gets violent, I will distract him while the guards get you out." He looks at the guards with a sharp glare. "You understand? Her safety IS your only concern."
The guards hang their heads.
"We.. were scolded very heavily by the 05 councils, after the SCP-106 incident. We fully understand and will follow your orders to the letter, Mr. *****." The guard replies.
They proceed on their scheduled route. Through their floor, the first floor, Jennifer does not indicate any issues. However, she pauses at SCP-035's cell.
"He is very agitated. It appears his cell will need repair again." Jennifer says with a heavy sigh.
The guard groans. "We can't keep doing this! It is being replaced every week now!"
Rocky shrugs. "Perhaps it is time to walk in and talk to him."
"That will have to go through your researcher, as it will requirer a D class personnel present." The guard rebuts, taking a note.
As the others continue down the hall, Rocky looks into the cell, through the window, and points his finger at the mask. "Behave and I will be back." He then follows the others down the hall.
The mask's smiles seems to widen.
Moving on to the second floor, Jennifer passes cells quicker and quicker until Rocky stops her.
"Why are you in such a hurry?" Rocky asks.
Jennifer pulls away from him. "I just want to get this over with. It is crazy that they would tell me to step foot into the same cell as that.. thing!"
She continues until they reach SCP-682's cell. Jennifer looks up, seeing a hole comparable in size to the beast's head.
"There is a hole up there." She points.
The guard takes a note and opens a human-sized door.
Jennifer freezes in terror of what monstrous abomination lies beyond the door, however, Rocky walks straight past her without hesitation.
"Come on, 187.. You have a bodyguard. Let's go!" The guard urges.
Jennifer sallows and proceeds reluctantly inside.
Once inside, a deafening roar startles her causing her to fall backward.
"He is just saying hi!" Rocky grins.
"If THAT was a hello, then I am saying goodbye!" Jennifer exclaims and clammers for the door.
The guard shuts the door, glaring at her. "Come now, 187. It is not all that bad."
"Fuck you, fuck him, and fuck that!" She yells back.
While Jennifer and the guards argue, Rocky's eyes change from blue to grey with a quick flicker of his eyelids.
He turns with a confident smile and walks to Jennifer's side and weaving his arm into hers. "A quick look around and we can get out of here." He says, grabbing her attention enough to look into his eyes as he helps her up.
Her eyes are locked on his as they begin walking away from the guards. "Who.. are you?" She asks in a whisper.
"Focus on doing your job while I explain." Rocky replies softly.
Jennifer, despite wanting to keep her eyes locked on his, turns her head and begins looking around.
"In a simple sense, I am Rocky's aura. In a more complicated sense, I am phase two of his anomalous ability, complete with my own consciousness." He explains softly then sighs. "I should explain.. In phase one, Rocky is able to use me to heighten his strength, speed, durability, and telekinetic resistance, but he can not do more than that. In phase two, we share a consciousness and I take greater control, even able to function when he is unaware, such as asleep or unconscious. Furthermore, I can reshape myself into a wide range of weaponry including a shield, hands, blades, walls, etc. However, there is a third phase.. one that even I am reluctant to reach. In that phase, we both lose control and revert to a primal instinct of kill or be killed."
Jennifer glances back at him. "Is that hole in the ceiling part of your plan? I see deep, finely spaced serrations that suggest it is not 682's doing."
SCP-682 slowly raises his head from his acidic pool, much like a crocodile stalking its prey. He stares at SCP-GU411 with intense curiosity.
Rocky smiles. "Not yet, but that is not a bad back-up plan if things go south on me."
Jennifer glances at the guards. "I am going to tell them I do not see any further damage, but you better know what you are doing."
Rocky nods, casting his gaze on 682 as they walk back.
SCP-682 lifts his head slightly out of the acidic pool and sniffs the air.
"What is he doing?" The guard asks.
"Taking note of me. He is reluctant to attack because he recognizes this rebar, or at least its smell." Rocky replies.
The guard stares at Rocky suspiciously for a moment before turning to Jennifer. "187, any further damage to the cell?"
Jennifer shakes her head. "It is intact with no holes big enough for 682 to exit through."
The guard takes notes and then opens the door, allowing them to exit. Once outside, the door is quickly shut and locked. The guard then turns to them. "187, we will escort you wherever you wish, that is a safe zone. GU... Mr. *****, you are free to travel as you wish from here on out, as long as it is not into 682 and 035's cells. Those are still pending approval."
Rocky nods, smiling at Jennifer. "Let us talk more later." He then walks off, heading back to the first floor. He stands outside SCP-239's cell as 173 vibrates excitedly on his back. "Calm down." He then keys up his radio. "Seeking approval to enter SCP-239's containment cell."
The radio is silent for what seems to be twenty minutes before the old man answers. "Granted, treed carefully GU411."
A buzzer sounds and the door unlocks.
Upon entering, a young girl with blonde hair, blue eyes, a witch's hat, and a cute flowing dress stands at an altar. Rocky's grey eyes glance over the room quickly, anticipating possible magical traps.
"Greetings, wonderer. What brings you to me?" SCP-239 asks, turning around with a welcoming smile.
Rocky and his aura converse over a course of action in a second before responding. He kneels in reverence. "Great witch, I have come to seek your assistance."
The young witch seems pleased by this show of respect, slowly walking closer. "Rise, wonder. I will hear your request."
Rocky stands, finding that the young witch had moved much closer than he excepted, as she stands directly in front of him. He slowly draws the rebar club. "SCP-173 has indicated you might beable to help us...."
"SCP-173? The statue that asked for the ability to multiply? Yes, I received her letter and granted the request." The witch says.
Rocky stares blankly for a moment. "'Her'?" I thought 173 was male! Wait.. wait! YOU gave 173 the ability to multiply?!"
The young witch nods. "I heard a wheezing noise outside my door, and a letter was slide underneath. I suspected there was more to it because parts were smudged, but I was able to make out that much." She points her wand at 173's rebar skeleton. "Perhaps it is best to ask her directly." She then waves the wand as the rebar club begins to move and speak.
"That blasted 303!! He can't do anything properly!!" The female voice of 173 exclaims angrily. "The request had been to multiply and move while watched so I could dispatch 682!!!"
"That makes sense." Rocky comments. "But that is not the plan anymore."
The rebar club twists to "face" him. "AND YOU!!" She begins shaking him by the collar of his shirt. "You HAD to pound me into dust! Do you have any idea how painful that was?!"
Rocky glares at her. "Need I remind you why you are still intact, such as you are? Don't push me to make good on my threat."
The rebar club slowly releases him and relaxes.
The young witch giggles. "Oh how wonderful the relationship between a servant and a master!"
The rebar club quickly turns to "face" her. "I am NOT his servant!!" She exclaims angrily.
Rocky towers over 173 intimidatingly. "I beg to differ."
173 seems frightened by this and stiffens.
Rocky shakes his head. "The point of our visit was that SCP-187 saw the future of 173 as a chain. 187 then indicated you might be the cause of this change, great witch."
"You flatter me, sir. Yes, this is within my power to accomplish, but what do you have in return?" The young witch asks.
"Peace, freedom, friendship, and happiness." Rocky replies.
The young witch looks confused. "Are you some kind of King?"
Rocky smiles. "I am but a man with a defined destiny to unite humans and SCPs in a common goal."
The young witch laughs, waving her wand at 173. "I will take your word on that, and hold you to that promise."
In a blink of an eye, the rebar skeleton 173 reshapes into a chain. She slithers out of Rocky's hand and "looks" up at them. "I feel so free!" 173 seems to extend and grow at alarming rates. "This is amazing!" She then shrinks back to her original size.
"I expect this meets your pleasure, sir?" The young witch asks.
173 looks confused between them. "Wait! Why are you asking him?!"
"Yes. This will make my plan much easier." Rocky replies.
"Don't ignore me!" 173 cries.
The young witch looks down at the coiled chain. "Since you serve this man, your fate is now linked to him. If he is hurt, so shall you; if he dies, so shall you."
"WHAT?!!!" 173 reels back in shock.
Rocky grins down at her. "Look who's not so high and mighty anymore."
173 seems to cry louder this time. "How could this have happened?! I was a Queen, and now I am a servant?!!"
Rocky turns to look at the young witch, with a slight bow. "Thank you, great witch. I expect to call again soon for more.. prolonged, friendly conversations."
"Please do!" The young witch smiles.
"Come 173." Rocky orders.
The chain flies onto him, wrapping itself from shoulder to waist. "I have a name, you insensitive ape!!" She growls.
"Let us discuss that over coffee with Jennifer." Rocky replies, leaving SCP-239's cell. "Lock SCP-239's containment cell, please." He relays through the radio.
A buzz can be heard as the door locks.
A camera focuses in on him as he walks away.