The next morning, Rocky wakes up to find Sasha missing. He slowly gets up and performs his daily routine of showering and getting coffee, but he finds his coffee has gone missing. He stops and thinks for a moment. "303, 953.. 106 playing a joke?" Regardless, he would have to visit a certain machine today.
He gets dressed, heads out the door, and down to the cafeteria. As he enters, he notices all the staff is huddled on one end of the room, but he shrugs it off, continuing to SCP-294. On the wall, next to the machine is a sign detailing that certain options were forbidden and outlining selections that the foundation would like the staff to follow. He notices that, during off the clock hours, a single selection of beer, rum, vodka, etc was permitted.
He shakes his head. "Why am I not surprised. In a place like this, everyone needs a hard drink every so often." He mumbles to himself. "Actually.." He types in the selection of Irish Coffee.
The machine, as it has done many times before, groans and then dispenses a normal cup that fills quickly. However, unlike the other times, the screen displays "Enjoy."
"Thank you." Rocky says, taking the cup. He smells of it before taking a sip. He smiles. "Wow, that will wake me up! I think I found my newest coffee buddy!"
The machine seems to shake happily.
Rocky turns around and spots why the staff was huddled on one side of the room. On his side of the room sits a white skinned humanoid, clutching his face.
"Well.. shit. There goes my day. And so early too.." Rocky sighs as he finishes off his coffee, and turning back to the machine. "After this, I might take that shot of whiskey." He then keys up his radio. "SCP-096 has been located in the cafeteria."
"A containment team will be there shortly." The old man urges.
Cain walks in, a radio receiver in his ear. "Stand down. I have something for this." He approaches 096 from behind with a mask.
"Cain, I know he can't hurt you, but be careful for everyone else." Rocky urges.
"No worries. I just got briefed on this." Once he gets close, he closes his eyes and feels for 096's face.
Rocky again keys up his radio. "All personnel in this area, close your eyes, and remain still until instructed otherwise."
Once Cain finds 096's face, he begins to slip the mask on, but 096 jerks his face away, making eye contact with Rocky.
"SHIT!" Rocky's eyes instantly turn grey. "Cain, we have made eye contact!"
Cain stops. "Are you serious?!"
With a violent motion, 096 throws Cain aside and begins sobbing and whaling uncontrollably.
Rocky raises his hand. "Look, 096, you are not going to like the outcome if you attack me. It will turn out just like 682, except I will be unharmed."
096 does not listen, as he charges Rocky.
Rocky does not have time to react as 096 hammers into him, throwing him back into a wall. The indention made in the wall resembles 999 in shape.
Rocky groans, getting back up and popping his neck. "At least I know I can't kill you. So I don't have to hold back!" Rocky extends his arm in a punch, sending 096 into the opposite wall.
096 rises again beating furiously on his chest like an ape and screaming.
"Really? Ape?!" Rocky outstretches his arms and crotches down. "You're in for a surprise, son."
096 again charges, but this time is pinned to the floor by an invisible hand, tearing into the floor like claws. 096 tries to fight against the hand but remains pinned.
"Cain! Get that mask on him!" Rocky shouts.
096 begins punching and clawing at the floor, trying to escape.
Rocky keys up his radio. "Subject is attempting to escape to floor two. All personnel take cover."
Cain rushes over and leaps onto 096's back, securing the mask tightly around his face and neck. "We got him!"
The mask resembles a hockey mask, however, the holes are covered with a black film not allowing for anyone to see inside.
"A hockey mask? Really?!" Rocky asks.
Cain shrugs as he is bounced around by 096's continued attempts to get free. "What? I like sports!"
"We can talk about this later, right now, move!" Rocky shouts.
Cain leaps away as 096 is raised into the air and begins being compressed into an invisible box. He then floats towards Rocky.
"I told you. Just like 106, you will not be able to get free of my grasp. You will have to deal, the same as with 682, that I have seen your face and there is nothing you can do about it." Rocky growls.
096 screams and cries loudly for an hour, until finally calming and ceasing movement.
Rocky then releases him from the box, patting him on the shoulder. "Better?"
096 seems to slowly nod.
"I read your file. I am so sorry to hear you were tortured on top of that mountain. But you don't have to worry about SCP-1529 anymore. You are here, you are safe." Rocky says gently.
Tears flow from under 096's new mask, as he slowly and unthreateningly outstretches his arms and hugs Rocky.
Rocky hugs him back. "Let's get you back to your safe space. Okay?"
096 slowly nods again.
Rocky keys up his radio. "Shy guy is docile, returning to safe space. Staff may return to their duties."
"Good job, Mr. *****." The old man replies.
Cain joins them. "How do you do that?"
Rocky shrugs. "I don't actually want to hurt these guys, they figure that out, and after that, we become best friends."
"Think you will be able to do that with Abel?" Cain asks.
Rocky chuckles. "Nah.. Your brother will likely be my greatest test to date. Much more so that 682 ever could be."
096 flinches from hearing 682 mentioned.
Rocky again pats him gently. "Now now, I am not going to get him hurt you, buddy. We are going straight to your safe space, I promise."
Cain watches this interaction closely. "You're the alpha. You're stronger but you do not flaunt it like a proud warrior but rather like a nurturing father." Cain laughs. "I could really learn a lot from that example."
"This is why you and I get along so well, Cain. Just two guys trying to make sense of a crazy chaotic world." Rocky smiles.
Once Rocky and Cain get 096 back to his containment cell, they continue to walk and talk.
"What is up with the new radio?" Rocky asks.
Cain smiles back. "I joined the security team. Some of the guys took a liking to me and put in the request. Apparently, the 05 council thought it was a good idea too because they approved it quickly."
"Okay, so level with me. Was 096's containment breach staged?" Rocky asks.
Cain chuckles. "Nothing gets past you, does it?"
Rocky glances at him. "Normally the alarms would be going wild. So they just wanted to see what I would do, huh?"
Cain nods. "And you handled the situation professionally and without any staff casualties."
Rocky stops and pins Cain against the nearest wall. "I need you to stop talking like this is some kind of chess game. These are people's lives we are talking about, not expendable pawns for the 05 council to give and take as they please!!"
Cain looks at him sadly. "I know that. That is why I took this position, to help you minimize the casualties. I.. have seen too much death and war to ever want a part of that again."
Rocky releases him. "Then you can start by standing by this weekend outside 682's cell."
"They approved that? I am not surprised. They can not kill him so taming him is the next best bet." Cain says, continuing to walk with Rocky.
"Oh, and 999 will be there too. You both are my best bet if he gets completely out of control." Rocky says.
"Do.. I have to hold him or anything?" Cain asks.
"I am assuming you are not asking to give 682 a hug, but rather that you don't want to touch 999. Depends on if I need you to throw him at 682." Rocky replies.
"I will jump down that lizard's throat before I pick up 999." Cain says annoyed.
Rocky thinks for a moment. "Might actually work, if his stomach acid was adapting to you might kill...." Rocky stops and realizes what he is saying. "No, damn it, I need him alive!"
"For what reason would ANYONE need that abomination alive?" Cain asks.
Rocky looks at him seriously. "To win the apocalypse." Rocky turns away and continues walking leaving Cain standing still, eye wide, and speechless.
Moments later Cain's mouth opens. "The.. what?" He looks around for Rocky, but he has already disappeared.
Meanwhile, a blonde man in a hat watches Rocky over the camera feed. Rocky turns to look up at the camera right before it is forcefully turned away from him. "Haha. SCP-GU411 does not like being watched. How strange and suspicious you act, and yet all you do is go around making more and more friends." The man pulls out a file labeled containment procedures. "Your time is almost up, friend. Perhaps you should be saying your goodbyes."
049 stands in the back of the room. "I know I should be ecstatic about this, but I can't help but want him to continue to show us what he is made of."
"No one asked for your opinion, 049!!" The man barks, turning calmly back to a new camera angle. "You're right though. We should see what more we can find out." He practices a voice that sounds like the old man's voice. "Yes, this should work in the future."
049 looks away. "I understand he is scheduled to enter 682's adjacent arena cell soon. Perhaps is will be enlightening, Mr. #."
The man laughs. "Oh, I am counting on it." He takes hold of a custom sniper rifle, and begins breaking it down and cleaning it."
049 leaves the room, and once out of sight of any cameras, knocks on a wall. 106 slowly pokes his ear out of a small clump of black tar.
"Tell Mr. ***** that everything is in place, as planned." 049 whispers.
106 then disappears.
"I do not like this.. I wanted to see what makes him tick!" 049 groans.