As Rocky and Sasha standby with the utility crew, 682 stretches out and takes a nap in the arena.
Iris and Jennifer look out upon the sight.
"It is strange to think that 682 was ready to kill only hours ago, and now looks like a house cat lungeing in the sun." Iris says.
"You have not seen that creature's rage mode, have you?" Jennifer asks.
"No.. why?" Iris responds.
Jennifer turns away. "It is all I ever see when I look at him.. a monstrosity so terrible it is hard to imagine anything worse exists."
"I have had the displeasure of seeing the footage of successful escapes.." Doctor Therman comments. "I am surprised you can keep your breakfast down, Jennifer."
Jennifer covers her mouth. "I am doing my best."
"Just looking at 682's normal form is haunting enough. I can not imagine what you have seen." Iris says, looking away from 682.
After the utility crew finishes with the wall between cells, they move to decorate Sophia's room, closing and locking the door behind them.
Rocky walks up to 682. "They are done on the wall, decorating the room for Sophia now."
682 slowly rises. "If there will be nothing else, I will return to my cell then."
"Actually, is there anything you might want to make your room feel more home-like?" Rocky asks.
Sasha looks at Rocky and then at 682.
682 grins. "A giant apple tree." He then walks into his cells.
"I can't tell.. was that sarcasm or is he serious?" Rocky asks.
"Sarcasm." Sasha replies.
They exit the arena to find Doctor Collingwood and 999 had already left.
"I was about to come to check on you. You have been in there for six hours!" Cain comments.
"You could have come upstairs with us." Doctor Therman says annoyed.
Iris and Jennifer follow her.
"Congratulations, Mr. *****, on not only taming 682 but impressing the 05 council despite a heavy opposition." Doctor Therman smiles. "Furthermore, they are considering reinstating your officer status."
"I'll pass on the reinstatement. I had opposition?! From who?" Rocky asks.
Doctor Therman shakes her head. "You know that I know just as little as you do. For the time being, why don't you enjoy a little free time. I am sure Cain can handle any breaches."
"Does free time include surface action?" Rocky asks.
Doctor Therman shakes her head.
"Just as well. If I was going, I would want to take a group with me." Rocky smiles at the others.
"Even me?" Sasha asks.
"Especially you." Rocky nods.
"Well, if you will excuse me, I must be entering files.. again. Sometimes I wish I was an SCP so I could live comfortably." Doctor Therman says with a sigh.
"Why don't you just walk into SCP-914 and see how it goes?" Rocky asks.
Cain, Jennifer, and Iris look at him questioningly.
Doctor Therman laughs. "Right, cause I want to be something I am not! With my luck, I would grow butterfly wings and breath fire!"
"Or grow six arms and shot heat lasers from your eyes!" Sasha adds jokingly.
Doctor Therman hangs her head. "It would at least help with the paperwork.." She mutters before walking away.
Iris grabs hold of Rocky's shirt, looking at Jennifer. "Okay, I am borrowing your boyfriend, cool?"
Jennifer looks between them for a moment. "Are you.. going to get him ready for the fight with Abel?"
"I am going to do my best." Iris replies with a groan.
Jennifer looks Rocky in the eyes. "Please listen to her. She may not look like it, but she knows how to fight."
"Clearly evident from when I ended up on the floor." Rocky says, giving Jennifer a quick kiss before he is pulled away.
Sasha starts after them, but Cain stops her. "How about you and I go do some rounds?"
Sasha looks at him annoyed. "Why?"
Cain smiles. "If Rocky is being reconsidered for an officer position then you could start a career here too. Think about it, this is your chance at a normal life again!"
Sasha looks at her black dress. "Perhaps I should change clothes first."
Jennifer chuckles. "You can borrow some clothes from me."
Sasha looks back at Cain questioningly.
"Okay. A quick detour and then straight to work." He replies.
They hurry back to floor one so Sasha can get changed.
Meanwhile, Iris leads Rocky to floor four, which is a large training ground for D class, officers, researchers, and elite SCP task force. While walking through the elaborately set up area, an officer dischargers his rifle and a hologram of the shy guy, the hologram runs through him.
"You are dead! Aim for the head soldier!" A man shouts.
"Well.. that is a waste of time." Rocky says as he watches and then turns his head to see two officers sparing with training knives. The first officer swings his knife, but the second catches his arm, flipping him to the ground and 'stabbing' him.
"Good! Again!" A man shouts. "This time twist the arm."
"So.. are we going anywhere special?" Rocky asks.
Iris looks back at him annoyed. "Oh, I bet you are taking one look around and thinking this all looks SO easy, right?"
Rocky shrugs. "I mean.. I don't need to use a gun, but I can."
Iris stops in front of him, glaring angrily. "Don't you dare talk bad about how hard everyone works to get to this level!! We can't all be some shielded meathead!! Some of us struggled, barely made the cut, and still face life or death situations every day!"
Rocky smiles. "I didn't mean any offense. But, by all means, show me a man that outfight me.. short of Cain."
Iris points a finger in his face, clenching her teeth, but then steps back and takes a breath. "Oh, I got you! Let me introduce you to the dragon." She turns and continues walking.
Rocky chuckles. "'the dragon'?! What is he some kong fu master?" He asks as he follows.
"Kong fu, Judo, Karate, Muay Thai, Capoeria, you name it he probably dabbles in it, but that is not why we call him the dragon." Iris leads Rocky to a large gym complete with a boxing ring and bags.
In a far corner, an Asian man with long black hair is practicing on a punching bag.
Iris walks up to him. "What's up?!"
The man turns with a smile, a pair of enlarged fangs stand out as he does so. His eyes, red irises with slitted cat light pupils, glance at Rocky. "Iris! What brings you to my corner of the gym?"
Iris points her thumb at Rocky. "I need you to teach this guy he is not invincible."
The man glances Rocky over, then outstretches his hand. "Let me introduce myself, they call me the dragon, but the foundation calls my D1988. My specialty is thermal eyesight."
Rocky shakes his hand. "I take it that comes in very handy."
The man laughs. "Not really. Sure, I can get around, but throw me in the snow or desert and I am blind."
Rocky looks at Iris confused.
"He can ONLY see thermal images, effectively making him the best hand to hand combat specialist in the SCP." Iris explains.
"How are you a D class? Shouldn't you be some officer trainer or something?" Rocky asks.
The man smiles sadly. "I.. was wrongfully accused of arson and manslaughter, before I could be exonerated the SCP foundation picked me up." He turns and pierces the boxing bag with an open-handed strike.
Iris groans shaking her head. "Not another one.."
"I do not regret what I did." He says clenching his teeth. "I regret.. that I was so helpless to change anything."
"Want to talk about it?" Rocky asks.
The man turns quickly, throwing a punch to Rocky's chest. His hand meets Rocky's aura and stops. "We can talk after you take down that safety net."
Rocky shrugs, as the man's hand lightly touches his chest. "Okay.. now what?"
"Now.. defend yourself."
The man advances, as Rocky steps backward, throwing fast but direct punches. Rocky dodges these punches with the skill of a boxer.
"Nice foot work, but what can you do on your back?" The man says, sweeping Rocky's feet out from under him.
Rocky falls towards the floor, spinning around and catching himself with his arms. He then mule kicks the man in the chest.
The man steps back in surprise. "You are undisciplined, but that makes you unpredictable.. in style."
Rocky stands, popping his neck. "If you wanted to see a style all you needed to do was ask." He raises his arms to the ready.
The man does the same. "Your first move."
Rocky throws a roundhouse kick, but the man ducks. Rocky follows up with a knee, but the man catches it, same with the following elbow strike and so on until Rocky is panting for breath.
"How.. can I not.. hit you?" Rocky says breath heavily.
"Simple. I can see the heat in your muscles as they contract." The man replies with a calm smile.
"So.. you are predicting.. my next move." Rocky groans.
"Every move, the force thereof, and the direction." The man nods.
Rocky falls to a sitting position. "Okay, Iris, you made your freaking point! I can't outfight this guy without my anomalous ability."
Iris smirks. "Oh, I already knew I was correct. The point is what you learned from it."
"That I am out of shape and I rely on my anomalous ability too much!" Rocky replies.
Iris claps. "Good first day."
The man helps Rocky up. "Now that we are done.. let me explain. I ran into a burning building because I heard a mother and child crying for help. Once inside, however, I found myself unable to see and tried to exit again but was trapped. Both lucky and unlucky for me, this was the exact time the police and fire department arrived. I was rescued and arrested."
Rocky stares sadly. "They didn't make it?"
The man shakes his head. "What's worse, the incident is under review, by the SCP foundation, as possibly being linked to SCP-899. You have no idea what I wouldn't give to see normally, to have saved that mother and child. No one deserves to die like that, leastwise, not a child."
"Not to interrupt the sad memories and purpose for living, but what do you think, can you train him?" Iris asks.
The man nods. "He knows a small bit of Muay Thai, his stance is one of a boxer, and he has the footwork. I can make a great fighter out of this man. How much time do I have?"
Iris looks at Rocky.
Rocky shrugs. "Abel has not replied to the letter I sent, so I am very open."
"Good! We shall start tomorrow." The man says excitedly.
"By the way, what do I call you?" Rocky asks.
"Just call me Drake or Sensei, if you like." The man replies.