The next morning, Rocky slowly gets out of bed and goes to shower. After a few moments, he becomes aware of the smell of food cooking. He pulls back the shower curtain, coming face to face with Jennifer.
She kisses him quickly. "Breakfast will be ready soon. Sasha is helping me since I can not really.. see the food."
Rocky smiles. "That is very thoughtful of her."
Jennifer smiles. "She seems very excited we had a pleasant night."
Rocky raises an eyebrow before pulling the curtain all the way open.
Jennifer glances him over with a smile.
"Liking a better view?" Rocky asks.
Jennifer nods, biting her lip. "The view just keeps getting better."
Rocky steps out. "Your turn?"
Jennifer chuckles. "I suppose I do need it." She steps into the shower.
Rocky gets dressed and walks to the kitchen, seeing Sasha working over the stove. She is humming happily.
"What has you in such a good mood?" Rocky asks.
Sasha turns with a smile. "You're happy and thusly I am."
"Is that really how this works now?" Rocky asks.
Sasha nods. "I could feel all the.. tension.. last night. In my defence, I did my best to ignore it."
"So.. was this your plan, getting us together?" Rocky asks.
"Is it not what you wanted?" Sasha asks in rebuttal.
Rocky nods. "Yes. Thank you."
"You are welcome!" Sasha twirls happily around to finish cooking.
Jennifer walks out of the bathroom in a towel, drying her long curly hair with another.
After what seems like a feast of a breakfast, Rocky, Jennifer, and Sasha meet Iris, Cain, Doctor Therman, Doctor Collingwood, and 999 in the hall.
They walk together to the second floor.
"I don't know about this.." Doctor Collingwood says worriedly.
"Trust me. After this, 682 will be like a giant kitty cat." Rocky smiles.
"With teeth and claws, don't forget those. He is no SCP-1990, 529, nor 247, one of which will tear you a new.. hole." Doctor Therman urges.
Rocky continues to smile. "I am well aware. The palmtop tiger."
"Personally I enjoy that particular SCP." Cain comments.
"Oh, sure! Like the dangerous ones, dislike the cute cuddly safe ones!" Sasha says. tapping her foot. "Can we go?! The anticipation is killing me!"
They make their way to 682's containment cell, making contact with the officers and utility workers.
Jennifer looks up at the hole, still present in her future sight.
"What is the plan, boss?" The foreman asks.
"When I say move in, do so. Do not make eye contact with 682 and work fast." Rocky says, turning to the chief officer. "Your men have moved SCP-683, correct?"
"Much to our displeasure, but yes." The Sergent replies.
"Standby. In the event of a full containment breach, you have permission to act. Otherwise, you are to remain here and not enter the arena nor the containment cell." Rocky orders.
"What if he overpowers you?!" Iris asks.
Rocky shrugs. "I will figure it out when I get to that point." He keys up his radio. "Open 682 arena door."
The large door groans as it opens.
"Good luck, Mr. *****." The old man says over the radio. "We will be watching your performance carefully."
Rocky enters as Sasha follows.
"Be safe you two!" Jennifer says.
The large door closes.
Cain glances at 999. "Don't touch me and we will be cool."
"Don't worry, Cain." Doctor Collingwood says. "I am required to escort him at all times. So I will be here to keep him off of you."
999 looks up at Cain sadly, his eye-widening.
"No puppy dog eyes." Cain says looking away.
Doctor Collingwood crutches down, petting 999. "Aww! I didn't know he could do the puppy dog eyes! SO CUTE!"
Jennifer, Iris, and Doctor Therman make their way to an observation chamber overlooking the arena.
"So.. um.. did you have a good night?" Iris asks Jennifer.
Jennifer blushes. "A wonderful night." She sighs.
"I am happy to hear it, sweety!" Iris smiles. "Are you worried?"
Jennifer nods.
Meanwhile, the 05 council, 049, and Mr. # watch on from multiple camera feeds.
"We installed the sleeping gas in the event of an incident, correct?" Mr. # asks.
The old man nods. "We are prepared should the worst occur."
Mr. # looks back at the camera feed, zooming in on Sasha. "Well, that is something fantastic."
"Please keep your thoughts to yourself." A woman urges.
Mr. # clears his throat. "I was simply remarking at the sure detail of this.. creature."
"Of course you were.. Need I remind you we are only here because you believe SCP-GU411 to be a latent threat? I fail to see why you would file an appeal to have him classified as Keter." The woman asks annoyed.
Mr. # produces his sniper rifle from a case beside his chair. "I have not forgotten. It may take some time, but I have no doubt my suspicions will be justified."
Inside the arena, Rocky eyes the extraordinary door from which 682 will be entering. "That is much bigger than I thought it would be."
"Nervous?" Sasha asks.
Rocky nods. "That and excited." His eyes change, with a blink, to grey. "Open the containment cell, allow 682 to enter the arena." He orders into the radio.
The 05 council sit up, 049 opens his notebook and readies his pin, and Mr. # smiles.
"Well, something fun is about to happen!" Mr. # mutters excitedly as a musical instrument is heard being strummed a few times.
"Mr. #, please put that infernal thing away!" The old man orders.
A ukulele falls into the rifle case. "Very well.." Mr. # replies.
In the arena, the massive door opens. The cell is dimly lit, no doubt to keep 682 calmer than with bright lights. Slowly, 682 walks out, towering over Rocky and Sasha at, at least, fifteen feet.
He eyes them for a moment before speaking. "I see you have a new form, 173. Who is this human?" He growls.
"I am your upstairs neighbor." Rocky replies.
"Rude and loud, like all humans.. filthy little SHITS!!" 682 roars.
"If you expect me to be intimidated, you will be disappointed." Rocky smiles.
The lizard readies himself to charge. "Arrogant, disgusting, human filth. I have eaten your kind five at a time."
Rocky crosses his arms. "Try to eat me and you will find yourself disemboweled."
"Enough of you!!" 682 roars, charging straight for Rocky.
Rocky raises his hand as the beast runs headlong into an invisible barrier, forcing Rocky back twenty feet before claw marks can be seen tearing into the floor at his feet.
"Heat. I feel.. heat!" 682 laughs. He then roars as eyes begin growing over his body. He then makes eye contact with Rocky. "I can see.. you."
Rocky groans. "Well that surprise was short-lived."
682 slowly begins growing in size, pushing Rocky back further.
"Sasha, you're up!" Rocky shouts.
Sasha leaps at 682, lengthening, growing, and wrapping around him, binding his legs to his body.
682 struggles against the chains but finds himself trapped worse than before. "Release me you coward!!" 682 begins giving off extreme heat, attempting to melt the chains.
"Nice try, big guy, but you can't break, melt, or escape me." Sasha says happily.
Rocky walks up and touches the end of his "nose". "I think I shall start by showing you, no matter how much you struggle, this will always end the same."
Suddenly 682 begins being compressed in an invisible box. He stops giving off heat.
"Change to thermal imaging!" Mr. # orders.
The camera feed changes over as they see the massive box closing in on 682.
682 roars angrily. "Damned human!!"
The camera footage shows that spikes begin emerging from the invisible walls and stop short of piercing 682.
"Now. Let's talk about why I am here." Rocky smiles.
"To attempt to kill me. Get it over with!" 682 growls, shaking and cutting himself against the spikes. He grows metal skin, but the spikes close in more, piercing 682's effort to protect himself.
"Actually. I would like to offer you a compromise." Rocky explains.
"'Compromise'.. To humans that usually means work for us or else." 682 responds, shaking more violently than before.
"You might be pleased with this offer, which I can begin work on directly. All I ask for is your loyalty."
Mr. # leans back. "'Loyalty', he says. Such a beast is loyal to no one."
682 groans, remaining still. "Go on."
"I propose we cut an observation window and door in the wall of your cell, to the cell next door. We will then move SCP-053 to that cell." Rocky grins. "See where I am going with this?"
682 thinks for a moment. "You mean to torture her to make me comply."
Mr. # shrugs. "I would."
"HUSH, Mr. #!" The old man orders angrily.
Rocky shakes his head. "All attempts at the termination of 682, yourself, shall cease. The little girl, which has accepted the name Sophia, will be treated with the utmost respect."
682 cocks his head to the side. "Why would you do this?"
"Let's call it common courtesy and leave it there for now. Likewise, your cell shall be drained of acid. At any time, the observation window shutters can be opened by a button in either cell, and communication allowed between. Furthermore, once a day, the door will be opened for one hour. If Sophia returns to her room after that hour, every day the door will be allowed open for longer until it is open indefinitely." Rocky releases 682 from his box. "How does this idea make you feel?"
682 leans his head down to Rocky. "What is the catch on my end?"
"Intelligent as expected, 682." Rocky nods. "You will be required to NOT escape containment nor threaten the lives of any personnel. There is a waver to that, however. Should 053's ability trigger a reaction, in any personnel or SCP, the door will be opened, by a vigilant thermal imaging system or ever-watchful guard from a remote location, and you will be allowed to defend her as you see fit."
682 smiles. "Sounds like a good deal. I trust you would personally come for me if I breached containment?"
"Without a doubt." Rocky replies.
682 looks into his cell. "I accept."
"Come back, Sasha." Rocky orders.
Sasha releases 682 and returns to Rocky's side.
"I would ask, 173, why do you serve this human?" 682 asks.
"The name is Sasha, and I serve him because it brings me joy and purpose." Sasha replies.
682 does not respond to this as he hears the acid being drained from his cell. He looks inside. "You are truly a man of your word."
"The best is yet to come." Rocky enters and begins cutting the holes, for the window and door, with his ora blades.
"He.. is cutting through one of the most reinforced cell walls we have ever made like they were paper!!!" Mr. # exclaims.
"Do we have thermals in that cell?!" Mr. # asks.
"No, we do not." The woman replies.
As Rocky does this, 682 feels dust falling on him. He glances up, with his many eyes, to see the ceiling being cut into a grooved pattern.
"As I said, that is my room up there." Rocky whispers, too low for the camera to pick up on. "Should you have a reason to breach containment, I offer you a way out."
682 stares at the man, as if baffled by this human. "Perhaps.. not all humans.. are disgusting."
"Why thank you! I think I look pretty damn sexy in my new form!" Sasha replies.
682 chuckles. "Your taste in company is lacking, however."
Rocky chuckles. "I am in the presents of a Queen and one of the oldest creatures still alive, That sounds like class to me."
682 huffs, raising his head. "You have yet to see paradise. Until then, your definition of class is inadequate., I assure you."
"If you would be so kind as to lose those extra eyes, my utility crew is waiting to enter. They have been instructed not to make eye contact and work quickly." Rocky says, preparing his radio.
682 absorbs his additional eyes with a smile. "They have been instructed to walk in here.. with me?"
Rocky nods. "It would go a long way if you spared their lives, but feel free to intimidate anyone that dares look you in the eyes." He then keys up his radio. "Unlock 682's containment cell. Utility crew, move in and begin work."
682 smiles evilly.
The buzzer sounds and the utility crew begins bringing in tools and materials, getting to work straight away.
682 watches, surprised that any of them had not dropped a tool or nervously looked in his direction. "Disciplined men follow orders well." He says pleased.
"They are used to working under pressure. Not to discredit you, but in a place like this where almost everything is out to kill you, they developed nerves of steel." Rocky nods.
The crew seems to work as a seamless unit, putting in the door and double pained window, with inlay shutters, at the same time.
"By the way, there is no special reinforcement on the window. If you need to break it to defend Sophia's life, I encourage you to do so." Rocky says, pointing to the window.
682 looks at him. "You are hammering that 'defend her' line pretty hard. Do expect someone would make an attempt on her that was immune to her ability?"
Rocky nods. "There are many different groups that would seek to separate the horseman from her steed."
682 rears back his head in surprise. "What manner of nonsense is that?"
"A very popular theory to be exact. One of your supposed origins is linked, not only, to the garden of Eden, Cain, and Abel, but also SCP-343."
682 leans his head closer to Rocky.
"It is my theory..."
"Fuck your theory." 682 growls. "I am a cursed fragment of sin, an unholy killing machine, and I hold no loyalty to those three."
Rocky smiles. "I know you do not, nor will I attempt to change that."
682 leans closer. "As well you should, leave things to be as they are."
682 looks back at the utility crew, seeing that one is staring at him. He advances quickly on the young man. "Evert your gaze, mortal, least your life end this hour!!"
The young man is like a deer in headlights, face pale and gaze locked on the embodiment of death towering over him.
The foreman, without glancing at 682, walks over and slaps the young man across the face with great force. "Idiot! Pay attention to the job at hand! You are the only electrician I have on staff!"
682 looks back at Rocky. "What is an electrician?"
"He is the one who will wire everything to function properly, including the emergency opening of that door." Rocky says, glancing at the nervous young man.
682 turns back to them, seeing their eye turned away from him. "Remember this day well, young man, because your elder just saved your life." He huffs at them before turning and walking away.
The foreman mouths "thank you" to Rocky, as he had just lied to one of the most dangerous SCPs to save the young man from death.
The foreman continues to lay into the young man, milking the performance. "As penance, you will provide the foundation five coloring books, three dolls, and pay for a cake to be delivered to this containment cell."
"Sir.. that is my week's wages." The man mutters.
The foreman slaps him on the forehead. "And so your life is worth much greater! You will do this by end of much or you will be reassigned!"
682 seems pleased by the act of disciplining the young man. "Two coloring books, one doll, and a slice of cake." He rebuts. "I do not need my neighbor so hyper that she breaks your hard work."
Without making eye contact, the foreman bows, forcing the young man's head down also. "Thank you, great 682." They then continue working.
"I am not easily flattered.. but that man knows how to show respect. This.. greatly pleases me, that such a craftsman is employed here." 682 mutters to Rocky.
"I am happy that he has found favor with you." Rocky smiles.
682 then looks at Sasha. "Do you still have a vendetta against me?"
Sasha shakes her head, with a frown. "Any anger I had towards you has been replaced by the pride of accomplishing peaceful coexistence."
682 lays down. "As it should be."
Meanwhile, Mr. # bites his lip until it begins bleeding.
"No luck today, Dr. Clef. Better luck next time with your theory." The woman says mockingly.
Dr. Clef shakes his head, as if clearing a daydream. "I am sorry.. Did you say something?"
The woman looks at the screen to see one camera is still zoomed in on Sasha. The woman sighs. "Nevermind. It was not important."