Doctor Hatton – Chapter 2
I sat, bored, watching SCP-017. I was impatient, but I tried to calm myself. Jon wouldn't switch to SCP-049 until 2:00 p.m., still 15 minutes away. I had already visited 079 and managed to get him the CD from my home computer for just a moment. Luckily, his ability to read these things was greatly improved, and I only needed that moment. Ever since I had taken one of the software CDs that had been used to upgrade 079, I'd had a copy of him at home, contained in the desktop, which allowed me to communicate in a limited manner with his copy, and then bring the original AI the results of our conversation, usually on CD. Of course, it took a hell of a lot of work to convince these people that I had a real reason to quickly examine 079's hardware, but Level 4 Clearance opened quite a few doors, and got me the time I needed to get him the CD.
I reached down for the hundredth time that day, holding my bag to remind myself that it was there and safe, and watched 017. Nothing changing, it never did. Suddenly, the alarm went off, and I grinned, hitting the lockdown switch for 017's containment chamber. I quickly changed into the black cloak of the Plague Doctor, a perfect replica, and donned the ceramic mask. I knew the containment breach procedure like the back of my hand, and I would not be disturbed on my way to 049's cell, not for a little while at least, and certainly not after he was past me.
I left my bag behind, and swiftly made my way to Jon, smirking when I saw him all alone at the door, wondering what to do. He always was stupid, even for my superior. I saw his eyes widen when I stepped from the hallway, the long beak of the mask was the defining feature of only one SCP. 049. I saw his eyes dart to the door he'd been guarding, confused as to how 049 could have passed him, and how his face turned to horror as the door slid open, the Doctor gliding out. He looked at me, then at Jon, and I saw him reaching into his cloak to access his medical bag from nowhere, freezing when I lifted a hand.
"Please, good Doctor, allow me. You will find that I have learned of your practices well," and I removed the mask, looking at Jon as my eyes seemed to glow their cold blue from beneath my hood. "Doctor Alder, so good to see that I can save you from The Pestilence."
He stared at me, confused at first, then started to open his mouth to reprimand me and demand that I explain what was going on, perhaps even to threaten me. Of course, he didn't get the chance, his eyes widening as I reached into the cloak, producing a medical bag nearly identical to 049's. One of my scars burned fiercely, but it brought a significant power with the pain. I stepped towards him, and touched his cheek. It might have looked like a comforting motion, if he hadn't immediately recoiled in pain, writhing for a few moments before falling, dead.
I nodded at the Doctor to indicate that I could perform this procedure, and that he should expect this one to be attacking humans soon enough. He nodded slowly, silent as ever, and slipped away, and I opened my bag to retrieve my scalpel, needle, thread, and vials, slicing open my former boss, and beginning the dissection in order to "cure" him.
Twenty minutes later, I was done, and I grinned as Jon began to shift, his reanimation beginning. I had already heard screams further down the hall as 049 reached the humans on their way, beginning a procedure of his own and clearing the area. I swiftly stood and put on the mask and returned my bag to its place, the burning of my scar ceasing, and walked quickly back to the observation room for 017. Just as I had changed clothes again and sat down, the garb and mask tucked into my bag, the door opened, one of the task force members coming to check on me.
"Doctor Hatton, has SCP-017 attempted to breach containment as well?"
"No, quite the opposite. He's been peacefully in the corner the whole time. Which SCP breached?" I feigned ignorance, and he easily believed it, glancing outside to check the hall again.
"SCP-079 shut down cameras in Sector 37, just before SCP-049 escaped. We've been going through hell trying to deal with the cases of SCP-049-2. We don't even have an accurate count of who's still with us. Will you be safe here alone for a moment?" He seemed nervous, and I could tell that Jon must have taken out quite a few task force members before they obliterated him.
"Yes, yes. Whatever you need to do." I couldn't approach 017, not yet. In the coming days, hopefully. But at least I had solved my Alder problem.