Chereads / Marvel: The Foundation / Chapter 281 - Struggle in the forest -276

Chapter 281 - Struggle in the forest -276

 

The clean-up of the Day Break event forced Alexander to stay at SITE-001 for another three weeks.

 

Well it wasn't just that which kept him busy, there was still plenty of things about the Wakanda invasion that required the attention of the O5 council, and him as head of dark operations in particular.

 

Not to mention the Vibranium, which they now had a massive amount of, and all the tech surrounding it.

 

O5-7 was naturally very interested in getting to study it, though O5-5 was equally eager to get her hands on Wakanda itself.

 

Then, naturally, all the extra work came with bringing the three new members of the O5 council up to date. And while they did have their loyalties to the original five, they were still of equal standing, and such had their own thoughts on everything.

 

O5-8 wasn't that big of an issue, other then the fact that she was under the umbrella of O5-5, which strengthened her hand at playing for Wakanda.

 

No, the real issue was O5-9, the Diplomat. The Strategic Alliance Manager of the Foundation. He naturally had many things to say about pretty much everything that had been going on since they had appeared in this new world.

 

Alexander, the one who had been here the longest, was also the one who had made the most deal with the world, which meant the one with which O5-9 had the most issues. And O5-2 wasn't much of a help.

 

At least O5-7 was more of a help then a problem. Firstly him being someone under Alexander was a good thing, and then the fact that this world had plenty of interesting tech for him to play with, tech that Alexander had already secured much of.

 

So Alexander had been able to hand over some of the burdens that was weighing down on him, all while keeping the benefits close to home, O5-2 really did want the ironsuit program, but it had gone to O5-7.

After all, who but Leonardo da Vinci could push it even further.

 

But now, finally after weeks spent at SITE-001 he was heading back home, where more work still awaited him, but also the chance to relax a little bit.

 

-------------------

 

Incident Report #1: Unexplained Disappearances Near National Forests

Location: Cascade Mountain Range, Washington

Reporting Agent: Field Agent T. Reynolds

 

Summary:

Over the past two months, a series of unexplained disappearances have been reported near the Cascade Mountain Range. Local authorities have been unable to provide explanations, with five campers and two hunters missing without a trace. Search parties found only personal belongings and, in one case, a single, rusted metal fork embedded in the ground at a campsite.

 

Local rangers describe the disappearances as "unnatural." No signs of struggle or predatory activity were observed, but all cases occurred near dense, remote forested areas. One witness—a lone hiker—reported seeing deer circling a campsite the night before one of the disappearances but dismissed the behavior as strange, yet not alarming.

 

The Foundation was notified due to the number of disappearances within a short timeframe and the peculiar circumstances surrounding them.

 

Status: Ongoing investigation. MTF Beta-4 ("Castaways") is deployed for further surveillance.

 

---------------------

 

Incident Report #2: First Fatality Linked to Cascade Disappearances

Location: Cascade Mountain Range, Washington

Reporting Agent: Field Agent M. Collier

 

Summary:

A body was recovered deep within the Cascade Mountain Range, identified as one of the previously missing campers, Jeremy Collins. Collins' remains were found near a deer trail, his body mutilated in a way inconsistent with typical wildlife attacks. Most notably, the corpse exhibited puncture wounds consistent with the shape of antlers, though no deer had been reported near the area of the recovery.

 

Further analysis revealed small amounts of an unknown black substance near the wounds, which has been sent to Site-43 for analysis. Investigators also found crude, hand-drawn symbols on trees surrounding the body, along with the same rusted fork embedded in the ground next to Collins' campsite.

 

Locals are growing concerned, with theories of wild animal attacks or even human involvement spreading among campers.

 

Status: Under investigation. Foundation surveillance increased in surrounding areas. Samples of black substance sent to labs.

 

---------------

 

Incident Report #3: Unusual Death of Two Hunters

Location: Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Reporting Agent: Field Agent R. Donovan

 

Summary:

Two experienced hunters were found dead in Rocky Mountain National Park. Their bodies were located approximately 200 meters from each other, displaying severe lacerations, and multiple blunt force injuries. Both men appeared to have been struck by something large and powerful, though no large predators have been reported in the area.

 

An unusual aspect of the scene included several sets of hoof-like tracks leading away from the bodies. These tracks eventually vanished without a trace. Additionally, investigators noted the presence of the same black, tar-like substance at the scene, which has now been reported in multiple incidents.

 

One nearby camper, interviewed by local authorities, claims to have heard disturbing sounds resembling human screams followed by deep, guttural growling during the night of the deaths. The camper noted seeing deer watching from a distance before quickly fleeing the scene.

 

Status: Escalated. MTF Beta-4 ("Castaways") dispatched to monitor and investigate further. Local authorities advised to avoid drawing attention to the deaths.

 

-------------------

 

Incident Report #4: Witness Report of Deer Mimicking Human Voices

Location: Black Forest, Colorado

Reporting Agent: Dr. M. Albright

 

Summary:

A group of hikers reported a disturbing encounter during a trip to Black Forest. One hiker, Matthew Carlisle, claimed that while sitting around a campfire late at night, he heard his own voice coming from the trees. The voice was described as distorted, repeating a phrase he had said earlier that day.

 

When investigating, Carlisle and the group spotted several deer standing on the outskirts of their camp. The deer appeared unnaturally still, watching them without moving. According to Carlisle, one of the deer let out a strange, high-pitched noise before the entire group of animals bolted into the forest.

 

Further investigation revealed strange hoof prints and more of the black substance that has now appeared in multiple cases. The group of hikers has been placed under observation for psychological evaluation.

 

Status: Potential memetic hazard. SCP investigation protocol initiated. MTF Theta-9 ("Whispers in the Woods") to be deployed.

 

-------------

 

Incident Report #5: Identification of SCP-6448

Location: Cascade Mountain Range, Washington

Reporting Agent: Senior Researcher D. Brooks

 

Summary:

After weeks of increasing incidents involving unexplained disappearances, deaths, and sightings of anomalous deer-like creatures, SCP-6448 has been officially classified. SCP-6448 refers to a collective of predatory, anomalous cervids capable of mimicking human voices and inducing psychological effects on individuals in forested areas.

 

SCP-6448 instances exhibit an ability to lure humans into isolated locations through vocal mimicry. They use this mimicry to create confusion, disorientation, and panic, often leading to the abduction or death of their targets. SCP-6448 also displays hostility toward other wildlife, often leaving behind mutilated carcasses of animals that appear fused together or altered by a black, wax-like substance.

 

The exact origin of SCP-6448 remains unknown, though it appears that instances are concentrated in heavily forested national parks. Surveillance, containment measures, and research are ongoing.

 

Status: SCP-6448 classified as Keter. MTF Theta-9 assigned to containment efforts.

 

-------------------

 

One didn't simply contain an SCP like 6448; at most, it kept people away from it; after all, it was Keter class one.

 

Dangerous and nearly impossible to contain, yet at least the deer-like creatures liked to stay within the forests, and while it was impossible to keep people out, the losses from the hands or hooves of SCP-6448 weren't too big.

 

However, humans weren't the only ones falling to the vengeful SCP creatures; anyone who could understand that they weren't deer would be hunted and killed.

 

It just so happened that a group of beings who had once not had to worry about this risk now found themselves in a dangerous situation.

 

Within the large forests of earth, another SCP species lived, that being SCP-1000. Also known as bigfoot.

 

They weren't the most understood of SCPs, mostly because of how dangerous they were to humans. They had somehow, after the fall of their own advanced civilization, become carriers of a pseudo-disease. Causing death to every hominid that saw them, including even non-immune members of SCP-1000.

 

This was a major reason they weren't well known, but it was still understood that their intelligence had regressed with the fall of their civilization, leaving them around the same level as chimpanzees.

 

Yet, unknown to the Foundation, the shift to the new world had restored greater intelligence to them, though that also meant that they could now see that SCP-6448 weren't deer.

 

This was a problem cause SCP-6448 wasn't affected by the pseudo-disease SCP-1000-f1, but SCP-1000 was very much hunted down and killed by SCP-6448.

 

------------------

 

"They've taken more of us," one of them, Ghor, muttered under his breath, his dark fur bristling. His eyes, sharp and calculating, scanned the forest for any sign of movement. "They aren't just deer. They are monsters, and they're hunting us."

 

Rokan, crouched beside him, let out a slow exhale. He clutched a makeshift spear fashioned from a large tree branch, its tip crudely sharpened with rocks. The intelligence that had returned to their species since the shift was both a blessing and a curse. Now, they understood the danger. But understanding did little to protect them from those things.

 

They were still struggling, lacking the needed resources to fully build back their own civilization, more so since they still had to hide from humans, least they realize they had regained their minds, and decided to nuke half the world to get rid of them.

 

So, here they were, with little more then sticks and stone, fighting against some monsters that went around pretending to be deer.

 

"I know that." Rokan growled. "But what do you want me to do about it?" He asked, he understood Ghor's feelings, but there was nothing he could do about it.

 

Rokan's frustration was palpable as he glared at Ghor. "We can barely defend ourselves against these things. What do you expect me to do with a stick?" He gestured to the crude spear in his hand.

 

Ghor's jaw clenched as he glanced at the edge of the clearing where the forest loomed ominously. "We could leave the forest, these monsters, take the fight to the humans, that's one we can win, easily! Instead, we hide in here, fighting with monsters when we could simply take the rest of the world, leave these cursed woods to those beasts."

 

Rokan's grip tightened around his spear. "We wouldn't last a day! We have nothing but spears and stones, and sure, those humans, they die from seeing us, but they can just blindly bomb us, kill us all. No, we can't leave the forest until we are ready to face the full might of humanity."

 

Ghor's eyes darkened as he paced the small clearing, frustration bubbling beneath his fur. "So what then, Rokan? We stay here forever? Hide in these cursed woods while those things pick us off one by one? We're smarter now, but we're still waiting to die."

 

Rokan's gaze was hard, but there was a flicker of empathy behind it. "No. We need time. We need to be strategic, build our numbers, and find allies. The moment the humans know we're back, they'll burn this entire forest to the ground.

 

Ghor let out a low growl of frustration. "So, what do we do? Fight these... 'deer' until we're wiped out?"

 

Rokan shook his head slowly. "our kind has survived worse than this; we will make it through it, and we will take back this world; just… be patient.

 

A/N

 

If you want to read up to 10 chapters ahead or even get the chance to pick what SCPs get summoned, or just support me, visit my p.a.t.r.e.o.n.c.o.m / SCPsystem