Rocky and Iris return to the first floor and head to the cafeteria.
"What are you going to do if Abel never contacts you back?" Irish asks.
"Have 106 take me to his cell." Rocky replies.
Iris looks down. "Look.. I might be brave enough to send him a letter now and then, but I wouldn't want to be that close to him unless he was truly calm."
"Does he ever write back?" Rocky asks.
Iris shakes her head. "I haven't heard a word from him since our days with Omega 7 and the incident at Area 25."
"Was that before or after you tried to escape?" Rocky asks, ordering a protein shake from 294.
Iris seems to hang her head lower. "After.. Can you blame me? I never wanted my power to be used to kill. Of course, Abel didn't see it that way. He was upset with me for trying to abandon the team. It.. was one of the topics that came up.. before.. he went berserk at Area 25."
Rocky takes his drink, patting the 294. "Don't feel bad, the researchers claim he was getting harder to handle well before that."
Iris looks up at Rocky. "But I do feel responsible! What if I had not tried to escape, would all those people and SCPs still be alive?"
294 groans and produces another cup.
Rocky takes it and hands it to Iris. "Your name is not Jes'us, and you can not save everyone. For now, strive to do good."
Iris looks at the cup for a moment then takes a sip. "This is chocolate milk!"
"294 is probably trying to cheer you up." Rocky smiles.
Iris finishes the drink. "Thank you.." She then turns and leaves quickly.
294 shakes questioningly.
"She just needs time. It is not easy being in this foundation when death follows you everywhere you go." Rocky replies.
Just as he says this, he falls into a pool of black tar.
Arriving in the pocket dimension, Rocky sees 049 and 106.
"I take it you got my letter?" Rocky asks.
049 nods. "I put on a grand performance for you, Mr. *****. The stage is well set for your plan." He then turns in circles. "Oh, how I missed my time traveling with 035! If only we were accompanied by 106, here! We could have done disappearing tricks!"
106 stares at 049 annoyed.
"Do you know who you hooked in our web?" Rocky asks.
049 stops and bows with a chuckle. "The one and only Dr. Alto Clef, and he is gunning for your reputation."
Rocky smiles. "Perfect! He must by now have taken notice of Sasha. With that turn of events, he will have no choice but to seek cyro versus termination."
049 stands. "Like a dog after a bone!"
Rocky laughs. "Funny you should mention a dog, I say a picture of Dr. Clef with the face of a dog!"
049 looks confused. "Is he an alien?"
Rocky shrugs. "Just another SCP like us, as far as I know."
049 thinks for a moment. "I must ask because some researchers are questioning.. Strictly between us, I assure you. Have you had any contact with SCP-914?"
Meanwhile, Sasha, in a pair of jeans and plaid button-up shirt, follows Cain through the halls.
Cain chuckles.
"What is so funny?" Sasha asks.
"I never expected Jennifer to own plaid shirts, nor did I expect it to look so well on you." Cain replies. "I've been thinking I would look good in plaid."
Sasha takes a deep breath. "Thanks.. I guess."
Turning a corner, Sasha sees a camera following her movements. "Are these cameras set to track movement?"
Cain shrugs. "Not often."
At a computer screen, Dr. Clef takes a sip of "coffee". "Hello, Sasha! I knew that was you." He says out loud to himself.
Sasha stops and faces the camera. "I hope no one is staring at my ass!! You owe me dinner if you are!" She then hurries to continue following Cain.
Dr. Clef smiles. "Oh, you know me so well!"
Likewise, in 166's cell, Jennifer sits as a knock can be heard on the door.
"Come in!" 166 exclaims.
The door opens and Iris storms in. "I don't know why I share my feelings with your boyfriend, Jennifer!"
"Wait! You have a boyfriend?!" 166 asks excitedly.
"Yep! What did he do?" Jennifer asks.
"Told me that I wasn't Jesus and I couldn't save everyone!! What a hypocrite! Just because I am not some super woman it is not my place, but OH he can save the world!!" Iris sits down hard on the couch.
Jennifer looks at 166 sadly.
166 clears her throat. "We all have a purpose-designed by our creator. Perhaps your purpose is to tame Abel's rage. Maybe fix his relationship with his brother?"
Iris crosses her arms. "Oh yeah! Let me be the classic housewife while I am at it!"
Jennifer looks at her. "Isn't that what you want?"
Iris sighs. "Yeah.. I do want that. I wanted that long before I ever came here. But really, what are my options?"
"Scientists, researchers, D class, officers, guards, a few male SCPs, maybe Cain." Jennifer replies.
"All these guys around here have sticks up their butts." Iris groans.
"How about the female staff?" Jennifer asks.
"Jennifer!!!" 166 exclaims.
Jennifer waves her hand with a chuckle. "It is the 20th century, you could use a woman in your life since all the men get love-hungry around you."
"That.. is not my fault.." 166 says shyly.
"I am not lesbian, Jennifer!!" Iris says annoyed.
Jennifer chuckles. "Neither am I, but come on! You and 166 would make such a cute couple!"
166 looks away with a blush as Iris stands quickly.
"That is not funny!" Iris exclaims.
Jennifer smiles gently. "Don't worry, I am sure something will happen that opens Abel's eyes."
"Why don't you write him another letter?" 166 suggests.
Iris backs towards the door. "I am so sick of writing letters that I never get an answer to, and sharing my feelings with dense men!! I might as well go to the gun range since your boyfriend is going to start a war." She then turns and leaves.
166 picks up a letter. "Speaking of letters, who do you think wrote me this letter? I mean.. it is signed 'from your loving father', but who even is that?"
Per official records, of the SCP foundation, the letter in question is available to level 3 clearance and above, and reads as follows:
{"I first met your mother when we were little more than children. She had hooves for feet and starlight in her eyes. She was beauty and nature incarnate, and I killed her with my own two hands."
"Eden isn't a place. It's a state of being. They wanted to take us back to it, and I stopped them. I took paradise away from us for a second time. I have never regretted my actions on that day, except one: that when you first met me on that day, you saw your father put a bullet into the head of your mother. I make no excuses, only explanation. You may not have even remembered it, but I'm telling you now in the hope you understand why I did what I did. I hope you forgive me."
"I love you. I wish I could have done more for you. The best I could do was leave you in the hands of kind and loving people and hope they would raise you in my place. From what I've seen, they did well. I'm sorry you couldn't stay with them. I'm sorry they've brought you to this place. I promise to do my best to make sure your stay here is pleasant. I promise to keep you safe."
"Happy sixteenth birthday, from your loving father."}
Official record ends.
Jennifer shrugs. "Have you asked 343?"
166 nods. "He just said I would find out in time.. but it has been five years since I received the letter!"
"Trust 343 does good works in his own time. I should visit him again soon." Jennifer says thoughtfully staring at the wall.
Back in Rocky's room, he emerges from 106's portal. "Good talk. Take care, 049."
Rocky heads towards the shower, removing his shirt. As he does, a knock can be heard from his door. He approaches the door and opens it. Before him stands what seems to be a young woman with heavy face paint, gun glasses, a lab coat, and a pair of gloves on. Strangely enough, no hair is visible upon her head.
"Are you SCP-GU411, also known as Mr. Rocky *****?" She asks with a demanding tone to her voice.
Rocky nods. "I am."
She walks past him into his room. "Close the door." She orders.
"I would rather leave it open." Rocky replies standing in the doorway.
The woman groans. "My name is Claudia, aka SCP-347. I have news of Dr. Clef's intentions."
Rocky crosses his arms, kicking the door shut. "I assume there is a cost to that information."
Claudia smiles. "Not this time." She paces the floor. "I helped you hack the SCP system and break into 053's room. Your continued silence, at the moment, is payment enough. But my investment is at risk, and I do not like that!!"
"There is no risk. I will be frozen, but I will emerge ultimately no worse for ware." Rocky replies.
Claudia walks up to him, flicking his chin with her index finger. "There better not be. Merchandize like you needs to be completely.. undamaged." She glances him over.
"I would appreciate it if you did not refer to be as an object to be bought and sold." Rocky growls.
"Down boy. This is an impersonal transaction.. unless you want to call our account fulfilled by putting a baby in me?" She smirks.
Rocky looks away. "I'll pass. All you want is a normal life out of here, and I am working on that plan. First, however, there is the fate of the world at stack."
"Sure the big hero wouldn't want a harem to match his ego?!" Claudia leans in to give him a kiss.
Rocky's eyes turn grey as her lips meet his aura, inches from his face. "I believe I said no. If that is hard to understand I can show you the door in a more forceful fashion."
Claudia chuckles. "Oh! And the big bad wolf shows his fangs!" She motions for him to move.
Rocky steps aside.
Claudia reaches for the doorknob. "Just don't forget the deal was a life for a life. If you can't hold good to our deal I will have a life equal to my own by whatever means I have to take." She then opens the door and leaves.
"I often wonder if there is a snake in those clothes instead of a woman.." Rocky mutters.
"I hate to say this, but we still do not have a viable solution to her request. We might need to contain her for the safety of the others." Rocky mutters again in a softer voice. "Contain. Con..dition? Convert! Create!!!" Rocky turns to a mirror. "I think I just came up with a plan!"
The reflection replies. "Do tell."