Rocky returns to his room, which now more than ever felt like an actual containment cell. Cain follows, eyeing the neckless.
"Stop staring at me, it's freaking creepy!" 173 exclaims.
Cain looks down quickly. "I am sorry. I did not realize..."
"That I was staring right back?!" 173 interrupts.
"I was going to say.. nevermind. So what is the actual situation here?" Cain asks.
Rocky removes 173, as she coils in the palm of his hand. "This is SCP-173-1, or what was left of her after I removed the rebar skeleton and 239 made her into a sentient chain. She and I are now bound to share the same fate, whatever that may be."
"You make it sound so dull. I was going to say we were one." 173 chuckles.
Rocky looks down. "I didn't realize you had a romantic side."
173 leaps from his hand onto the couch and coils into a full sized human half silhouette. "Flattery will get you nothing. You certainly are no Dr. Clef."
"You two are awfully.. cozy." Cain comments.
173 shrugs. "No point in being deliberately malicious. All it would accomplish is trouble, for both of us."
"Very true." Cain replies.
The door slowly opens, startling 173 as she shrinks and hides under the couch. Doctor Therman reluctantly enters, lightly slamming the door behind her.
"Speaking of trouble." Rocky comments.
"Save it, Mr. *****. I am not in the mood after getting my ass chewed by my superiors." Doctor Therman rebuts with a slight growl to her voice.
"Was it really all that bad? He managed to find a solution to 035's misbehavior!" Cain rebuts.
"Oh, no. They were pleased with that, in fact, they approved 035's deal without a discussion. The issue, at hand, is that it appears an unknown SCP has infiltrated the facility and was filmed during the interview. They want to know what, why, and how within the hour." Doctor Therman explains.
Rocky groans. "Okay. Come on out."
173 slowly comes out from under the couch and grows back to the human silhouette. "Uh.. hello?" She says nervously, waving slowly.
Doctor Therman glances at the chain and then at Rocky. "So the camera footage, from floors one and two, confirm it. SCP-173-1 is now a sentient chain?!"
"Bound to serve me, yes." Rocky adds.
Doctor Therman walks over to the couch and collapses. "At least ensure me..." She looks up at the chain silhouette. "SHE.. will not be running wild and killing personnel."
The chain shakes "her head". "I.. couldn't! I am bound to Rocky. What happens to him will affect me, even death! The.. last thing I need is to make trouble for us!"
Doctor Therman sighs. "Okay, let me get this straight.. You follow his 'orders'?"
173 reluctantly nods.
"And you will not cause trouble?" She presses.
"Correct." 173 answers.
Doctor Therman pauses for a moment. "What about the other 173's?"
173 laughs standing proudly. "I am there Queen. They have been ordered to remain passive until I need them."
"In what situation would you need them?" Doctor Therman asks.
173 shrugs. "If Rocky was in danger, I can't really comment on the extents I might go to in order to protect him."
"Aww. I feel loved." Rocky says sarcastically.
173 "looks" at him. "I am not sure I like that tone. I might change my mind and strangle you in your sleep."
"Good luck with that." Rocky grins.
"Like a married couple.." Doctor Therman mutters.
Cain raises an eyebrow. "That would be highly unusual."
"Not to mention.. ew." 173 comments.
"Did I hear a pause?!" Rocky jokes.
"I think I did too!" Cain replies with a chuckle.
173 slithers towards the door. "I don't have to take this. I am going out!"
"Whoa whoa! Where are you going?!" Doctor Therman exclaims.
173 "looks" back. "I am going to console Jennifer. You three are certainly no help! Poor thing has been crying all day." 173 wraps her chain around the doorknob and swings the door wide open, proceeding quickly down the hall and knocking on 187's door. "Umm. Jennifer? May.. I come in?"
Jennifer slowly approaches the door. "Who is there?"
"It's.. 173.."
Jennifer cracks the door, peeking out. Her eyes are red and puffy from crying. "What do you want?"
"I just came to talk. Seems to me you are pretty upset." 173 says gently.
"Since when did you become so caring?" Jennifer asks, opening the door wider.
173 groans. "Please don't remind me.. I think it is Rocky's aura influencing me." She stops, once inside the door. "Funny.. now that I think about it.. any SCP around him, if not already, becomes more.. agreeable."
Jennifer whips her eyes. "I.. think I know what you mean. I.. just wish.. I hadn't changed.. his future!" She falls to her knees sobbing again.
173 shuts the door and gently drapes an arm silhouette over Jennifer's shoulder. "I apologize that this is my best effort at a hug."
Jennifer slowly goes from sobbing to chuckling. "It is the thought that counts."
Meanwhile, back in Rocky's room, Doctor Therman continues to press the issue of 173.
"But what if she gets agitated?!" Doctor Therman exclaims.
"Then I subdue her and any statue that gets in my way!" Rocky replies.
"You are sounding more and more dangerous to the 05 council the more you say things like that! It is like you believe yourself to be untouchable!" Doctor Therman rebuts.
Cain shakes his head and starts towards the door. "No.. 053 is untouchable, 166 is incapable of ever truly finding love. He is confident in his ability to protect others." Cain opens the door, looking back with a sad smile. "If you will excuse me, 191 is waiting for her older brother to spend time with her." He leaves, shutting the door gently.
Rocky sighs, plopping down on the couch. "I know why he is sad."
Doctor Therman stares at him.
"If he is the Cain of long ago, he killed Abel, his own brother. If the story plays out till now, he noticeably regretted that and sought a way to keep Abel alive until he could properly apologize. Unfortunately, if you were to put those two into a room Abel would attack Cain and in turn kill himself over and over again." Rocky looks at Doctor Therman. "I can't fix everyone's problems, Doctor, but I can unite SCPs and humans in some form of peace."
"Is that your goal?" Doctor Therman asks.
Rocky shrugs. "It is an underlying outcome of 187's vision."
Doctor Therman shakes her head with a smile. "You are a tiger, a big lovable tiger."
"Fierce and overbearing one minute..."
"Gentle and nurturing the next." Doctor Therman says gently. "Do you ever wish you had not been identified?"
Rocky shakes his head. "I am doing the best in this situation right here. I couldn't do this good otherwise."
Doctor Therman stands. "Just.. be careful. They are already suspicious that you have devious motives, and are looking into permanent containment procedures." She then heads for the door, which is still open and turns out to the right.
"I am aware and waiting." Rocky mumbles.
Iris turns into the doorway from the left. "You could do worse than seal your own fate."
Rocky chuckles. "How long have you been out there?"
"Since before 173 left to check on Jennifer. It would seem you are influencing her for the better, but I still wouldn't trust her." Iris says, looking out at Jennifer's door.
"After the conditions 239 placed on her, I doubt she would do anything to displease me." Rocky gently rebuts.
Iris rolls her eyes. "A servant is only loyal to a master if there is something in it for them."
"How about not dying and an opportunity to humiliate and (or) tame 682? Sounds like good motivation to me." Rocky replies.
Iris smiles. "Yes, for her that is excellent motivation." She walks closer, kicking the door shut with the heel of her foot as she approaches, and leans down, showing her cleavage through the neck of her shirt. "But what would you do to motivate me?!" She asks sweetly.
Rocky chuckles, looking her over before staring up with grey eyes. "You are not Iris."
Iris turns with a giggle, reforming into SCP-953, and sitting in his lap. "And you are a smart.. strong.. man." She leans against him, her tails wrapping around his waist. "I like that." She whispers.
(Image)
"Not a great idea to get that close to me. How did you get out of containment?" Rocky asks, his invisible hands wrapping around 953 and holding her from moving.
"OH!" She giggles. "Honey, I might look like a cutie, but I'm totally into that kinky stuff." 953 replies with a giggle.
Rocky pulls her off of him, lifts her up, off the floor, his hands squeezing her tighter. "Unlike me, you are vulnerable, easily terminated. So answer the question without playing games."
953 cocks her head slightly with a long sigh. "106 broke me out. He said there was someone new and interesting to meet and then pointed you out to me. He is an old friend of mine if you didn't already know."
"I am fully aware and will have to discuss that with him later." Rocky growls.
953 looks cutely at him. "Please don't hurt my only friend! I didn't mean any harm. A Kumiho, like me, is naturally drawn to strong males."
"Yes, I am also very familiar with you and 106's attempt to terminate 682. No doubt you seek to strike a deal with me in order to get a second chance." Rocky mutters.
Drool comes from 953's mouth as she smiles, showing her fangs. "Nah! I'm in heat!"
Rocky drops her on the floor with a thud, getting up from his seat quickly. "Perhaps you think I am some lust-crazed idiot!!" He snarls.
953 rolls over onto her back, stretching with a long yawn. "I was hoping. How about you rub my belly and see where it goes?!" She says softly with a lustful smile.
Rocky towers over her with a bloodlust glare. "Hoping to fool me and have a cheap shot at another easy meal?!! You walked into the wrong containment cell, fox!!"
953's eyes widen in terror as she is thrown across the room.
From the other side of the door, screams of pain, from 953, can be heard as thuds and crashes ensue, ending with a short moan of pleasure. Suddenly, the door flies open and 953 is kicked out, sliding to a stop on her face.
"SOMEONE GET THIS INTRUDER OUT OF MY SIGHT!!" Rocky yells into the radio as he slams the door.
682 roars, from his containment cell, in protest of the noise.
"YOU SHUT UP!!" Rocky roars back, from the other side of the door.
953 seems dazed, laying in the hallway bloodied and bruised. "Ha ha.. that was fun!" She chuckles deliriously. "Mmm! I.. will be.. back."
Jennifer and 173 peek out from the room down the hall.
"Looks like 953 got her ass handed to her." 173 laughs.
"You better wrap her up before she comes to." Jennifer suggests.
"On it!" 173 sings, as she leaps upon 953 and wraps her tightly.
Moments later, Doctor Therman rushes down the hall with six armed guards, just as Cain, with 191 on his shoulders, walk-in from the other corner of the hall.
(Image)
"What happened here?!" Doctor Therman demands.
Cain stares blankly at 953. "Looks like 953 is in one of her.. moods."
"And she attacked Rocky!" Jennifer adds.
The guards help 953 to her feet as she regains consciousness.
"Are you ever going to learn not to bite off more than you can chew?" Cain asks.
953 winks at him with a smirk. "Can you blame me? I am a creature of habit. Speaking of.. when are you going to come to visit me again?!"
191's sharp, claw-like hand jerks open in protest, as she glares at 953.
953 laughs. "Bring it on.. when you grow up, little 191!" She taunts.
The guards escort 953 away, followed by Doctor Therman.
"I will return 173 when we get 953 back to her cell." Doctor Therman whispers to Jennifer. "It will show well for her, having helped with a containment breach."
"Just bring her back here. I will keep an eye on her since Rocky appears to be in a bad mood." Jennifer whispers.
"Has she been.. unthreatening?" Doctor Therman asks.
"Yes. I am just as surprised as you. She even made a conceded effort to console me, going as far as giving me a non-threatening hug." Jennifer smiles.
Doctor Therman nods. "I will report this.. in their favor." She then quickly catches up with the guards.