Not all that far away from where Steve and the others were contemplating the world and their place within in the face of the ever-mounting threat that was the SCPs and the near-existential dread the mere knowledge of them caused.
Resided another group of people who was also rapidly learning about the Foundation and the many SCPs under their care, they rather than be frightened and then grow determined to protect the world from such threats, this group had another motive in mind.
This group was precisely what Steve and the others were looking for: Hydra, who had gone deep underground, sometimes even literally, as they entered old abandoned bunkers. These safe places were so secret that even other members of the Hydra leadership didn't know about them.
This allowed Baron Von Strucker to breathe a sigh of relief as he didn't have to worry about the possibility of Whitehall ratting them out. And instead, use the time to plan for the future and what a future it would be.
Ever since he had given that order to go underground, to abandon pretty much everything, everything had suddenly good amazingly well for his cause. For countless hours since then, a wide smile had been plastered onto his face due to how great he felt everything was going.
[Flashback]
Strucker had heard whispers about the mask from various sources, its potential for revealing secrets, and its capacity for manipulation. Now, he stood before it, contemplating his next move.
Apparently, this mask had more or less taken control of the small cell of Hydra agents who resided in the place where the mask was found; it seemed to possess not just the ability to control those who wore it but also others.
Such a thing naturally had to be treated with care, and thanks to the likely last sane act of one of the agents there, he had learned about everything that had happened to them since they uncovered the mask.
After carefully investigating everything he could, Strucker was fairly sure that the Mask had the ability to control the person wearing it, but little more than that. The fact that the rest of the agents had fallen under its sway seemed to be entirely due to the mask's skill at bending others to its will with nothing but words alone.
A skill Strucker wasn't a stranger to; after all, many within Hydra possessed a silver tongue that allowed them to sway others to their side, though the fact that the mask could do this to Hydra agents was impressive.
Since the danger seemed minimal as long as one didn't wear the mask itself, Strucker decided to have the mask brought over to him, he wanted to know more about it, and it seemed that the mask itself too wanted to share its secrets.
…
As the mask was brought over, Strucker couldn't help but notice the black liquid leaking down from its eyes and mouth. From the pictures, he had considered it paint but could now see it was a liquid.
"What is with that Liquid?" He asked one of his men.
The man in question nervously looked down at his papers for a moment, trying to find an answer. "No reports of it from those who made first contact, so I'm afraid I can't answer that sir."
"What of the people who made first contact?" Strucker asked.
"Dead, all of them are dead, they were highly degraded, the last one… well, according to the people who went to get the mask, it was degraded to the point of showing bones, but was still moving around, Sir, that mask… its dangerous." He warned his boss.
"Yes, but so was the Tesseract found by Red Skull, and it had the power to change the world; being dangerous isn't always a bad thing." Strucker said while staring at the mask through the window, suddenly feeling a great urge to wear the mask take hold of him.
Yet Strucker's will was strong, or rather, his madness was great. He was able to free himself from the gaze of that mask, feeling the urge to wear it rapidly disappear after he did so.
"Keep it contained," Strucker ordered, his voice steady despite the turmoil within. "Do not let anyone else touch it without my direct supervision."
However, even though he wanted it under lock and key, it didn't mean he didn't wish to talk with the mask; after all, he wanted to learn all of its secrets.
Picking up the microphone Strucker greeted the Mask. "I'm aware that you are able to communicate without the use of a host, is this true?"
The mask's smile seemed to grow a bit wider, the black liquid dripping steadily. A voice, smooth and sinister, emanated from the mask itself. "Ah, Baron von Strucker. It seems my reputation precedes me. Yes, I can communicate without the need for a host. It is a pleasure to finally converse with you."
"So you know who I am, but I'm afraid I can't say the same about you; who or what are you?" Strucker went straight to the point, not wanting to play word games with an object.
"I have many names. SCP-035, The possessive mask, the great master, the mask of madness, and many, many more. You may call me... Harlequin."
Strucker quickly turned to his men and had them search for anything they could find using the search terms of the names given by the mask. Though it mostly came up empty, or whatever information was gained seemed useless and unconnected.
"Harlequin, is it?" Strucker returned his attention to the mask. "Now the question, who are you, how are you able to do the things you are able to do?" he asked, though he doubted he would get any real answers to his particular question.
The seemed almost to think before it responded, its tone dripping with amusement. "Ah, Baron, always straight to the point. My origins are as mysterious as the anomalies the SCP Foundation contains. I was created—by whom or what, I cannot say—with the ability to influence and control those who wear me. My powers extend beyond mere possession; I can manipulate the thoughts and actions of those around me, bend them to my will with but a whisper."
Strucker hadn't expected the answer, though once again he heard the term SCP, something it had also used in the introduction and something he didn't know about, so he made note of this SCP Foundation.
"Then the next question, if you possess all those abilities, why are you here? You seemed to control the men at my last facility, so why not have them bring you out? Why allow yourself to be brought here?"
The mask's eyes seemed to gleam with a sinister light, its smile widening. "Ah, Baron, an astute observation. You see, my power has its limits. While I can influence and control, I cannot compel. Those men were swayed by my words, yes, but they were still weak-willed and incapable of executing a plan to extract me effectively. Besides, I sensed an opportunity—a more powerful alliance with someone like you."
Strucker nodded slowly, processing the information. "So you allowed yourself to be brought here, anticipating that I would see the potential in a partnership with you."
"Precisely," Harlequin replied smoothly. "I knew that you, Baron, possess the ambition and the resources to make full use of my abilities. Together, we can achieve great things."
"And what." Strucker questioned. "Is it that you believe you can help me achieve, and what do you have to offer me in return?"
The mask's eyes gleamed with anticipation, its voice smooth and confident. "Baron, I can offer you the key to untold power. The SCP Foundation, with its vast collection of anomalies, holds secrets that could reshape the world. Their strength lies in their secrecy, their meticulously guarded containment protocols. With my knowledge, you could penetrate their defenses, acquire their most powerful anomalies, and bend them to your will."
Strucker couldn't help but grow curious about this Foundation the mask spoke of, but he wasn't so swayed by a few words to not be careful in his dealings with something so clearly unnatural like this mask.
"What is this SCP Foundation, and what do they have to do with my ambition, and what is your relationship with them?" He continued to question it, wanting to know everything he could get out of it.
The mask seemed to almost shake with fury as it thought about the Foundation. "The SCP Foundation, Baron, is an organization dedicated to securing, containing, and protecting anomalies—objects, entities, and phenomena that defy natural laws. They have amassed a collection of such anomalies, each with unique and often dangerous properties. They exist in the shadows, much like Hydra, operating beyond the reach of governments and public scrutiny."
Strucker's eyes narrowed with interest. "And you are one of these anomalies they seek to contain?"
"Indeed," Harlequin replied. "I am classified as SCP-035 within their archives. Their relationship with me is one of captor and prisoner. They fear my abilities, and rightly so. They seek to understand and control what they cannot, all in the name of protecting humanity from the unknown. But their strength is also their weakness. Their obsession with containment and secrecy creates vulnerabilities—vulnerabilities that you can exploit."
Strucker leaned back, contemplating the mask's words. "Tell me more about the Foundation itself. What kind of organization are they? How do they operate?"
Harlequin's eyes glinted with a mix of malice and amusement. "The SCP Foundation is a secretive organization. The anomalies they seek can be objects, entities, or phenomena that defy natural laws. They have amassed a collection of such anomalies, each with unique and often dangerous properties. The Foundation operates beyond the reach of governments and public scrutiny, much like Hydra."
Strucker nodded, intrigued. "How large is this organization? How widespread are their operations?"
"The Foundation's reach is global," Harlequin replied. "They have numerous Sites around the world, each designated for specific types of containment. These Sites are heavily fortified and guarded, staffed by a vast network of personnel ranging from researchers and scientists to heavily armed security forces. Their operations are funded through a combination of government subsidies, private donations, and other less... conventional means."
Strucker's eyes narrowed. "And how do they maintain such secrecy?"
"Their secrecy is maintained through a combination of misinformation, strict protocols, and ruthless efficiency," Harlequin explained. "They employ a network of agents and operatives who work to suppress any information about anomalies that might reach the public. Additionally, they have technology and methods far beyond current human understanding, allowing them to cover their tracks and eliminate any threats to their secrecy."
Strucker leaned forward, his interest piqued. "What kind of technology and methods are we talking about?"
Harlequin's grin widened. "They possess technology capable of reality manipulation, advanced artificial intelligence, and bioengineering that can create or alter life forms. Their methods include memory erasure, psychological conditioning, and a deep understanding of anomalous phenomena that they use to their advantage. They also have alliances with other secretive organizations and entities, which they leverage to maintain their global operations."
Strucker absorbed the information, his mind racing with possibilities. "What about their personnel? Who works for the Foundation?"
"The Foundation employs a wide range of individuals," Harlequin replied. "From brilliant scientists and researchers to skilled operatives and security personnel. Many of their employees are recruited from top universities, military organizations, and intelligence agencies around the world. They also utilize D-Class personnel, who are typically recruited from death row inmates and other disposable populations, for dangerous testing and containment procedures."
Strucker's eyes gleamed with curiosity. "And what is the purpose of these anomalies? Why do they seek to contain them?"
"Their stated purpose is to protect humanity from the dangers posed by these anomalies," Harlequin said smoothly. "They believe that by containing and studying these entities, they can prevent catastrophic events and understand the nature of reality itself. However, their true motivations are far more complex. Power, control, and a desire to understand and manipulate the very fabric of existence are at the heart of their operations."
Strucker nodded, deep in thought. "So, they are both protectors and prisoners of their own making."
"Indeed," Harlequin replied. "Their obsession with control and containment makes them powerful, but also vulnerable. They are constantly walking a tightrope, balancing the need to understand these anomalies with the ever-present risk of something slipping through their grasp."
Strucker's mind whirred with the implications. "What other organizations or entities are they allied with or in conflict with?"
"The Foundation has uneasy alliances with several other secretive groups," Harlequin explained. "These include the Global Occult Coalition, which also seeks to contain and destroy dangerous anomalies, and the Chaos Insurgency, a splinter group of former Foundation personnel who seek to use anomalies for their own gain. They also have conflicts with various cults and organizations that worship or seek to exploit specific anomalies, such as the Church of the Broken God and the Serpent's Hand."
Strucker took a moment to absorb all the information. The scope and scale of the SCP Foundation were immense, yet it was clear that their very complexity created potential opportunities.
"Thank you, Harlequin," Strucker said finally, a plan beginning to form in his mind. "You have given me much to consider."
Harlequin's eyes glowed with satisfaction. "Of course, Baron. I look forward to seeing how our partnership unfolds."
As Strucker left the room, his thoughts were already racing ahead. The knowledge provided by the mask could be the key to Hydra's resurgence. However, he would have to try to verify any of it first.
[Flashback end]
A/N
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