Hey, hey everybody, bit late, but here's Chapter 29, a hinge chapter to smooth out the transition to the next arc.
I also finished all my exams, I'm finally free, I hope to boost production or quality, both if possible.

But first:

awardedall: It would sure be nice, but unfortunately I don't know if that's even possible, Imagine breaker and all. But ass kicking is something I can write.
June 28:Thanks, but still I need to do better.
Mr.X:

1. Ah yes, I forgot about that, just to set off a cold relationship between the two..

2. True, Othinus, Lessar and other girls must never know.

3. Dammiiiit!

5. A beach episode. Well, I've got one but I don't thing that's what uou are envisioning.

6. Aaaah, but where's the fun?

Guest: I'll take it as a compliment, Thanks ^^/

DNWorks: I'm happy you liked it. As for the dragons, I didn't hink abouit it, but since it recognized the Man In Black as its master, it would have probably waited it out or use its wings to generate wind and knock Wanda's weapons out of her hands. Well, eh... who knows? :)

doomqwer: Eh, I guess. Ah, cringe, hard to see it when one does it.

Have a good read.


Kamijou Touma, twenty-three years of age in the year two thousand and eighteen of our era, was walking down the street to get home. Nothing out of the ordinary. He wasn't working for any kind of secret organization, either willingly or unwillingly. Quite the opposite, his life was rather boring, consisting of odd jobs, undeclared payments and late rents.

It was a simple life, but not that despicable or boring. To be honest he found his life more fulfilling now than during that year he worked an office job like so many people do. The Japanese business society was not for him and as such he had left his job without a regret, preferring a freer, more physically demanding and fulfilling style of life. His sister had continued her work at their late father's company, he and his wife had died in an accident a bit after he turned eighteen.

As such, after his latest job was at a construction site at the outskirts of Tokyo he was walking in the neighbourhood of Shin-Okubo, one of the most inexpensive neighbourhood to live in. It was usually more the home of migrants from Korea and China but the rent and the commodities were cheap enough all the while not lacking too much in quality. The neighbourhood was also rather lively and close to Shinjuku and many of its entertainment wards.

This rather ordinary orphan life was very much unlike those of the several people tailing him.

He took an innocent turn, taking a small side-street to get to his home, then a second. Or he tried to. Where he once thought was a street was only a solid, tall wall. With confusion he continued to walk in the small street, thinking he may have underestimated the distance between the streets he usually takes. He did not notice the two large eyes that opened on the wall when it was out of his sight, observing him.

The small commerce's ad bars both serving alcohol or Asian fast food were closed, he observed as a sense of uneasiness settled over him. There was nobody else here. The street was dark, barely lit. The building were rather small, with one or two floors sometimes.

He finally found a street, which he assumed was the one he usually took. It was deserted, just like the other ones. As he strode onward, he noticed someone, nearly melting in the shadow, standing in the middle of the street.

He decided to press on but stopped when the person revealed themselves. The man, he presumed, was dressed in armour plates over white fatigues made of cotton while walking on traditional getas with tabi. His traits were hidden by a white scarf around his head while a ferocious looking oni mask laid on his face. That didn't really worry Kamijou, people who cosplayed weren't rare, but one thing did. That thing was the very real and sharp looking naginata in his hands. The plate on his torso had the symbol of a pentagram with a yin and yang inside, the quality of this costume was outstanding. Too much.

Kamijou stepped back, as the man silently approached him. His hand went down to his pocket, for his phone. He could deal with a few thugs but a presumed psychopath with a naginata? No thanks. The police, useless and annoying as it was, were here to deal with that. He hoped he would reach his, erm, acquaintance at the local precinct, Konori Mii. While they did not share the friendliest relationship due to numerous trouble he got in, despite his innocence, she was the most amiable face there that also trusted him concerning the roaming lowlife of Tokyo.

"I wouldn't do that if I was you." Spoke the oni wearing man, who continued advancing. "Come with me."

Kamijou did not answer, only taking out the phone, but before he could do anything an arrow destroyed the device without harming him. He looked up, only to catch a glimpse of a kimono-dressed, scarf-faced figure retreating on the roof of a small house.

Those people were taking their joke a bit too far!

"Look, I don't have any money! Leave me alone!" He said, looking around, trying to sport any other aggressor.

"Come with me." Repeated the naginata wielding stranger, extending a hand toward him.

"What do you even want with me?" He questioned, genuinely curious.

"There are things that are above you." Simply replied the stranger, only raising more questions. "Now come!" His tone became more insistent as he closed the distance.

Kamijou turned and began to run, mimicked by the man behind him. A sight made this Kamijou dive to the ground as two bullets whizzed above him. He heard his pursuer fall to the ground, the naginata and armour clanking on the hard pavement.

He looked back in horror as blood began to seep from the body. He looked at the two who had shot. He remembered them, he had met them a few days ago when he was overwhelmed by some thugs, they had helped him and exchanged a few words. Their names were Ryuuji and Atsushi.

The two in question were dressed in dark suits like so many office workers in Japan though they carried guns. Each one of them had a pistol and another larger firearm slung on their back.

Atsushi, a small man with a shaved head, square glasses and soft traits jumped to the side as an arrow whistled and pierced the air where he was a moment ago. They both took aim and fired back but failed to score a kill from what he saw. Ryuuji, a tall man with wild hair, sharp traits and a scar across the face lent him a hand as they approached, getting his shocked self on his feet.

"You alright? Come on, we have to go!"

"Wh- Ho- The fu- Y-y-you killed him! What the hell is happening?!" he stuttered before questioning as he was pulled into a run by Ryuuji.

"No time to explain! Run!" Said Atsushi, looking everywhere.

They nearly got out of the street, when something akin to a brick with... eyes? Yes, a brick with eyes got in their way, before transforming into a full-fledged grey wall, stretching at least four metres high and entirely blocking the way. This wall also had huge eyes that popped out in the middle of it, observing them with curiosity.

"A Nikurabe? Dammit!" Seethed Atsushi before taking a telescopic baton from inside his business jacket.

After deploying it in barely a second, he smashed the bottom left part of the wall, at a seemingly very precise spot. The result of the strike was, first a sharp cry of pain coming from the Nikurabe, despite its lack of mouth, then the wall-being shrunk to its brick size, before running away without legs.

"What the hell was that?" Quickly asked Kamijou, though not expecting an answer.

"Save your breath for running!" Growled Atsushi, as they took the other street, trying to join the main artery of the neighbourhood.

It would seem that their aggressors weren't done as a second man, dressed just like the first naginata wearer landed on the street, having, apparently, jumped from a low story building. His mask, however, wasn't the one of a tengu but was a Men Yoroi Soumen depicting an Oni.

His two saviours didn't wait and fired their pistols, however, the new attacker twisted his naginata in a circle and the bullets bounced off an invisible wall in front of him.

"Kintarou was a good student, a shame really. As his master, it is my duty to avenge him. Prepare yourself for death, and you, young man, to come with us." He formally declared without a hint of emotion while addressing Kamijou with his last words.

He bowed his head. The two agents tried to take advantage of that but he reacted too fast, twisting his bladed staff, defecting the projectiles with apparent ease.

"Fucking Tsuchimikados." Seethed Atsushi as the naginata user slightly crouched.

Like a wild spring, using his position, the man leapt toward them, blade raised high. With a deft movement, Ryuuji took three canisters from his jacket and threw them while Atsushi took out a grapnel.

Atsushi covered Kamijou's eyes before he could panic and run, then an explosion of white light blinded the Soumen wearing man, stopping him in his momentum. He swung his naginata so no bullets would reach him while he tried to recover his sight. He heard a clanking sound followed by those of movements and feet on the wall.

When he was finally able to see again, thick black smoke filled the street he was in reaching even beyond the roofs of the buildings. He heard voices coming from the top of the building, and silently headed for the wall, before climbing it swiftly, weapons slung on his back while his powerful arms propelling him with ease.

When he arrived at the top of the building, he tried to search for the three, contacting his teammates before continuing the hunt. Below, in the street, he had abandoned three figures, crawling under the cover of heavy smoke advanced discreetly.

Atsushi pushed a button, shutting the speaker emitting the fake sound of people running away while taking back his grapnel.

"Let's get out of here."

Kamijou stayed mute, diligently following the men as they led him out of the side-street. He had many questions, but for now, he was still trying to comprehend what was going on. He was apparently a target for some kind of organization called Tsuchimikados. He was helped by some other people that apparently stalked him.

What the hell? Why, why were so many people interested in him. What, what did they want? Were the ones he was with good people? Were there any good people?

He didn't voice those thoughts, for now, preferring to get away from the robed psychopaths. To be fairly honest he trusted the normal-looking people more than the ones that swung antique weapons around while stopping bullets by spinning them.

When they managed to exit the street and entered the main road of the neighbourhood they were greeted by a long wall. The wall surrounded them, it blocked access to the pavement on the other side of the road while also forbidding access to the two crossroads about twenty metres away. This wall also had large eyes that, once more, were filled with curiosity.

"Ryuuji! I can't find its weak point." Called Atsushi. "We gotta find whoever's guiding those Nurikabes. Come lad!" He grasped Kamijou by his sleeve, pulling him as they walked back in the street.

"Can't you use your grapnel?" Asked the young man.

"Nope, The Nurikabe would only grow taller." He rebutted, keeping a fast pace. "However..."

They arrived in front of a low story building, the smoke screen that they created was a few metres ahead of them, still taking time to dissolve. Atsushi threw his grapnel at the top of this building, pulling on the rope to make sure it was solidly anchored before deftly climbing.

"You know how to climb?" Asked Ryuuji. "I can carry you if you want."

Kamijou shook his head, taking the rope with both his hands, pulling himself up before sandwiching it between his two legs and continuing an ascension, though at a slower pace. Still, he managed to climb at an admirable speed, and soon the three of them were on the roofs.

"Stay low, stay crouched." Whispered Atsushi, looking around.

It was hard to see, there were many buildings blocking the view and they were on a small building, one of the smallest, as such most of their view was blocked. They slid behind an exhaust vent, and Ryuuji took out a tablet from his jacket, booted it and launched a program.

It was soon evident that he was piloting a small drone as a bird view of the neighbourhood was on the screen.

"The whole block is surrounded by Nurikabes, dammit, the police are doing nothing, civvies are prancing around and avoiding the block... We're trapped, those walls have no height limit." Sighed Ryuuji.

"Well, we c-" Began Atsushi before being interrupted.

"STOP!" Nearly shouted Kamijou. "First, you're going to tell me what the hell is going on! Who are you? Who are they? What do you want? What do they want? Why me?" He said in one breath.

Silence fell as the two agents looked at each other, mute and unsure on how to proceed. Atsushi decided to take the initiative. He hated to admit it but he was a bit intimated by Kamijou's dark, piercing glare.

"Look, those guys want uhm... someone else through you. Technically they want you through you. Look it's complicated."

"I don't care. I want explanations. Who are you?"

There was a small pause before Atsushi sighed and began to reveal the truth.

"There is someone that's also called Kamijou Touma and looks a lot like you. To summarize that guy is wanted and by using you, they could, technically switch you physically. It's a body replacement technique, a magical kawarimi. It's a lot easier to do if one has a model resembling what it wants to switch it with but I doubt it'd work."

"And you?" Asked Kamijou.

He was rather surprised that someone else was called Kamijou Touma and looked like him, but he was questioning why exactly this person deserved so much attention, causing such a mess.

"SCP Foundation, International NGO. We're here to secure, contain and protect anomalies. This other Kamijou is in our care. He is a very important person and must be handled carefully. As such, we can't let you fall into enemy hands. Our job is also to make sure this sect doesn't kill anyone." Said Ryuuji.

"Why should I trust you? What about the others, Tsuchimikados you called them." He further inquired.

"We don't have much time... Look, I'm Atsushi Iga, he's Ryuuji Iga. You can trust us because multiple governments trust us. The others are a bunch of self-absorbed socios who are on the terrorist list, you can look it up on the net. We're here to keep you out of trouble, they will just throw you in it. These are the only things I can say." He enunciated, looking at Kamijou right in the eyes.

A third pregnant pause.

"Alright, I'll play along... Sheesh, that other Kamijou better be worth it, I swear." He sighed. "Now, what?"

At that point, while he'd prefer to go home and feed his cat, he couldn't anymore. Not with some kind of magical sect after him. If that other Kamijou was so important, he doubted that they were the only ones after him. For now, he would accompany them. For now.

"Ryuuji, can you find whoever's controlling those Nurikabe shikigamis?" Questioned Atsushi.

"I'm trying to, I'll look on the tallest tower, it'd be a good temporary HQ."

"Shikigami, so that whole Onmyoudou is actually real?" Asked Kamijou, overhearing them.

"Yeah... kinda. Its... magic that's real, each culture has a different way to channel it and use it, something that shaped myths ya know. But most magics are similar, that's why so many legends converge around the world. Crazy uh?"

"Magic is real... woah... never thought I'd heard that one and actually believe it. Damn, do vampires exist? Or God?" He asked, as many viewpoints and facts he thought were true began to dissolve into falseness.

"I don't know about the first one, maybe but the second one is more complicated... It's something... complicated, at that point, we don't know what can actually qualify as a God."

"Sorry to interrupt your discussion about this newfound supernatural world." Began Ryuuji, breaking the conversation. "I got something on visual, top of the tallest building in the whole block. Look."

The other two got closer, trying to take a look at the screen. It showed two persons, a man and a woman, quite young; if their builds were anything to go by. The man was in a white kannushi outfit without the traditional hat, the eboshi instead bearing a white kitsune mask with tall pointy ears and a long silver mane. In his hands were a shakujō and a shaku, one in each. Kamijou raised his eyebrows, shakujō were for Buddhists while this man was clearly a Shinto priest. He had a dove on his left shoulder.

The second was a Miko with a simple red and white kitsune mask. She was kneeling on the ground, in a seiza pose, a small bamboo table before her and multiple origamis depicting various animals around her. On the table was a sheet of paper as well as ink and brushes to write kanji the traditional way. However, there were no kanji on the sheet, instead, there were grids, some filled with black ink while a few numbers could be seen sometimes.

"You're kidding me... That's a game of Nurikabe. She is directing those yokais by playing the game? " Asked Atsushi, rhetorically.

Nurikabe was a Japanese paper puzzle game consisting of filling cells according to complex rules, where one had to make a continuous line of black cases while leaving space around some grid which required between One and four grids to be filled by a single spot of black. To win all of the cells needed to be filled either by a single black spot or to be fully coloured black.

"Looks like it. Let's move, if we can destroy this sheet of paper then the blockade of Nurikabe should be lifted."

While Kamijou silently doubted that destroying a piece of paper would remove literal wall demons he kept quiet, they knew more about magic than he did, so for now, he would trust them...

"How are we going to climb up this tower, it's dangerous with your grapnel." Stated Kamijou.

"Don't worry, I have a failproof plan."

Technically, he wasn't wrong, thought Kamijou as the elevator did its job at transporting them from the first to the last floor. They had just crept to the building in question and with a skeleton key had managed to access it.

He tapped his foot at the pace of the rapid but tranquil tune emitted by the elevator's speakers, surrounded by the two agents, sunglasses and black ties on, their submachine guns out and ready to fire.

The final floor was soon reached and the door opened to a small and calm corridor with one door leading to an apartment and a flight of stair that led to another door. Kamijou was ordered to stay in the corridor while the two men began to discreetly climb the stairs.

When they arrived at the door leading to the roof, Ryuuji took out two grenades before nodding. Atsushi pushed the door, catching a glimpse of their target, and Ryuuji threw the two grenades, before closing it swiftly. The first explosion, a blinding flash was followed by a detonation and hot piece of metals flying through the air.

Without waiting for their, maybe still alive targets to recover they kicked the door open, and sprayed the entire area, which was masked due to the dust the explosives had lifted, before them with their firearms. After emptying their entire clip, the two stopped and reloaded, still aiming.

When the cloud of dust disappeared, they saw that their two targets were not harmed in the slightest. The priest had simply tapped his shakujō on the ground and a golden barrier, emblazoned with a stylize sakura flower had risen, protecting them. The kannushi had Phra Somdej amulets hanging on a necklace around his neck.

Behind him, the young Miko had turned her masked face toward them, and still in seiza took two origamis, a fox and a raven before throwing them. She made a sign with her right hand, joining the little finger and the ring her with her thumb while raising the remaining ones.

The two origamis turned into their real-life counterpart, though the crow was much bigger, approximatively the size of the fox. This one was white with red hues around the eyes, ears and the tail. Their form was a bit transparent, spectral, they could see the origamis in them.

The two animals had a thing blue aura around them with a filament that departed from them, joining the young Miko. The priest for his part stayed still, not moving an inch.

"Tch, fucking Tsuchimikados." Grumbled Ryuuji as they opened fire on the summoned beasts.

The bullets, glowing strangely, dissolved the parts that they hit like their body was made of smoke but it didn't seem to hinder the anomalous animals. However, after their origamis were hit, they disappeared, a deep whine filling the air for a moment.

They began to target the golden shield but this time their bullet did nothing, not even scratching the protection as they harmlessly bounced off it.

"Shitty Buddha..." Seethed Ryuuji as he reloaded his MP.

"Ye-"

Atsushi didn't have time to say anything when he was thrown to the ground, tackled by his friend as an arrow whistled where his head had been a second earlier. On a nearby building, slightly less tall than the one they were on was a man dressed like the earlier naginata wielders but with a Hyottoko mask. As silly as the mask was, the bow it was holding wasn't any less threatening, being one of those terrible Japanese longbows.

Unfortunately for the archer, he didn't have neither protection charms nor time to prepare another arrow when a hail of bullets tore his right arm apart, he barely had time to take cover to avoid death. Fortunately for our agents, he was now out of the fight, trying to slow down his bleeding and unable to use his Yumi, his bow.

As the agents tried to figure out a way to destroy the sheet of paper that kept them prisoners, while suppressing the shrine maiden and the priest, destroying the origami-made animals that the former summoned.

Meanwhile, Kamijou was beginning to get worried and torn between staying where he was and helping them. However, he still doubted he could do anything to break the deadlock. He had no power.

His internal conflict was cut short when he heard something climb the stairs of the building, no, climbing wouldn't do justice to the speed this... being was going at that. Soon, the newcomer had ascended from the ground floor to the top one.

Kamijou stepped back as he took in the sight of his earlier aggressor, the second naginata wielder, the one they had escaped from.

"Out of my way child, lest you want to lack your arms or legs, I assure you we can still keep you alive as such." Threatened the man, proudly striding toward the stairs Kamijou was in front of.

Kamijou gulped, his right foot taking a step to the right, ready to let the man forward without any resistance. However, he did not move the other, something, himself, refusing to do so. Why?

"Do not try my patience boy." Growled the Tsuchimikado.

Why? Why didn't he want to move? His life was on the line. He gritted his teeth and assumed a boxing position, bringing his fists forward and rounding his back. Behind his mask, the man raised an eyebrow before this unexpected if weak resistance. In a simple, swift movement he swung his naginata, cutting without any resistance the wall just next to Kamijou. A bit of the wall slid off, falling on the ground.

Maybe he knew why. There were two people behind him, two people that had saved him twice. And before him, he had someone that would probably kill him in the ned, no matter what. If he died, he would do so on his feet, not on his knees.

He threw a punch.

A CERTAIN SCP

Kamijou Touma cracked his neck as the elevator descended. He was back at Site-17, back to relative safety, and in his usual orange SCP garb. He sighed. The last hours had been rather rough, trudging through a dead forest, getting attacked by things that literally came out of video games, survived a landslide and fought off a goddamn dragon.

The man behind all of this, surprisingly young and weak was part of a group called 'Are We Cool Yet?'. His motive, suspected to be fuelled by drug abuse and an abnormal psychological condition, was to, in his own words 'make the best goddamn game in the whole damn world that even that goddamn Witcher game would be a fucking joke next to that'. The man was a self-proclaimed artist who had coded thousands upon thousands of creatures, interactions and even natural events.

It would seem that his magic allowed him to materialize what he coded. Unfortunately for the Foundation, or rather fortunately for the world, they barely had time to inspect it before, billions of lines and trillions of characters were erased, never to be recovered. With them disappeared the dragon, topographic change that The Man In Black had caused to the forest as well as the spell book that Wanda had used to take down the dragon for the first time.

Speaking of her, she was right next to him, he turned his head, looking at her. She reciprocated his look, and the two smiled.

He wouldn't be here if she hadn't used this lightning spell. Too bad she couldn't anymore.

He also had to thank Mugino. She had been very helpful despite her state, managing to shoot the dragon with her laser rifle from the helicopter and in spite of a severe headache caused by a concussion. It was a miracle that she had woken up. Well, a drug helped the miracle, Bright had many a medications on his person.

The elevator finally reached the ground floor, and they were greeted by Pearse, the head of his security detail.

"Heya, Carter, Kamijou first things first could you report to the Medical Station? Sorry to bother you as soon as you arrive." He said in an apologising tone, scratching his beard. "Corporal, show them the way please, I have important stuff to settle."

Without waiting for an answer, he left them. Bright and the other members of Gamma dispersed to take care of their own businesses. The corporal didn't wait for their confirmation, taking the lead, heading straight to the Station.

There, they received minor but long medical checks, mostly concerning their motor functions. Finally, the medical staff let them go after filing many forms. To be honest, Touma felt that it was pretty useless since they already had those in the plane during his trip back to Site-17. They were then instructed to go to Meeting Hall Four. He shared his thoughts with Wanda as they were walking back to his containment, their fast walking guide a bit far.

"Yeah, it's a pretty much useless procedure, swear to you they just keep putting more." She sighed, before apparently realizing something. "Say, I never thanked you for rescuing me, sorry about that. Thank you." She said, with a sincere smile.

Touma was about to answer when their guide cut him.

"Look, I got a message, something came up. Take the first corridor to your right, it's the only door there. I trust you to watch him, sergeant Carter." Said the corporal, and without waiting for their answer, left them.

As they walked forward, he reignited their earlier conversation.

"It's useless to thank me if you hadn't taken down the Man In Black and the dragon we wouldn't be here." He argued.

"You know, for a moment I really felt like a kidnapped princess, I was so ashamed of myself because I was so useless. I thought I'd die here, I nearly gave up" She sighed. "But when you came, when I saw how you fought against this... thing. That gave me so much hope. So no, I should thank you." She said.

The two smiled, maybe, just maybe, moving a bit closer.

"Though I have to admit, you made a great princess Touma." She chuckled.

"Urgh, Bright pestered me enough with that, thank you." He sighed with a grin, remembering the unrelenting tease of the researcher.

"No really, made you even cuter than usual." She teased.

"Because I'm cute?" He replied in an unusual feat of playfulness.

"Of course." She bashfully replied.

And while he was unusually bold, such words still managed to make his ears and cheeks redden. They finally ended up outside the hall, she opened the door, expecting a simple meeting for formalities but something else awaited.

Or rather multiple people awaited them. Lined in two ranks, nearly shining in their clean and sharp black and silver ceremonial uniforms were the member of Team Gamma, minus Mugino, Dr Bright and Light, both holding a box, still in their lab coat were at the end of the lines, and between them was Site Director Kear, a smile splitting his features.

The two stopped, unsure as to what was happening as the members of Team Gamma saluted, rifles on their shoulder and held by the butt.

"Come, come." Incited Kear, clearly amused by their reaction.

Hesitantly they both advanced until Wanda finally realized what this was, taking a more assured stance, urging Touma to do the same.

When they arrived in front of Kear, he cleared his throat and addressed them.

"First, I'd like to apologize for the suddenness of this, as well as the less than satisfactory setting, but this the best I could do since you are not an official unit, anyway, I digress." He took a deep breath, before speaking in the most serious and formal tone Touma had heard from him. "SCP-0000, aka Kamijou Touma, Sergeant Wanda Carter, your recent acts in face of certain dangers as well as your helpful initiatives have been recognised by the Foundation as commendable and admirable. As such, the Department of Mobile Task Forces and the Higher Administrative Department have agreed upon the distribution of awards."

He waited a bit, observing their reactions. While Wanda had a proud and satisfied look, Touma had a meeker and more unsure look. Kear smiled.

"SCP-0000, Touma Kamijou, for bravery, selflessness, heroic deeds and personal sacrifices, especially concerning your neutralization of SCP-1983, SCP-682 and SCP-079-FR and its sub-anomalies you have been awarded the Foundation Cross of Gallantry and Heroism, First Class." He signalled bright to come closer.

The scientist took a few steps and opened the box, revealing a rich medal, made of a golden cross, with the Foundation sigil on it, a shield in the centre, in the middle of it a Medieval close helmet, crossed swords behind the cross and with wreaths of laurels surrounding the cross. Above the medal, between the cross and the ribbon was a banner with the words 'Gallantry and Heroism'.

Kear took the medal and pinned the service ribbon, black and silver, on Touma's uniform.

"Congratulations." He said with a genuine smile, shaking Touma's still dazed and unsure hand.

"Sergeant Wanda Carter, for superior and enduring services as well as your willingness concerning the protection of civil populations and your soldiers' you are awarded the Foundation Heart of Merit, Second Class. You are also eligible for a promotion to Sergeant Major should you wish to. Congratulations." He solemnly announced, Light giving him the medal before he pinned it, a red heart with a silver outline, a silver Foundation sigil inside and above the heart a banner made of silver with the words, 'Honour and Merit'.

When that was finished the members of Gamma applauded, Kear and the two scientists too. Touma didn't really know how to react, while he once had been in the presence of royalty, he never had been formally awarded any decorations or anything. While he was very doubtful of the utility of such a thing. Was there really any need to give him a bit of metal for something he would have nevertheless done? It wasn't something special, it was his responsibility, his duty as keeper of the Imagine Breaker, as someone who could prevent terrible anomalous events.

But, as the applause died down, it did feel, kind of, good to be recognised and awarded. Not that if he wasn't, he wouldn't do it... But he caressed the cross, those kinds of bonus were not unwelcome, they were simply another form of thanks, if not over the top, but he wouldn't refuse it.

Kear came to him.

"Come, young man, I have to talk to you about an important matter, come, come." He said, putting his arm behind Touma and guiding him further in the meeting room.

He saw from the corner of his eyes that Wanda tried to approach him, only to be stopped by Bright as he congratulated her. The members of Team Gamma soon left, disappearing in a discreet and orderly manner.

Kear sat at a table and invited Touma to do the same. When he was seated, Kear took the initiative to talk.

"First, once again, congratulation on both your successes during your latest mission and for your award truth be told I think you're the first SCP to be awarded the same way a Foundation agent would." He said, closing his eyes and nodding before opening them back. "I also have another important news for you..." He trailed off.

His tone didn't reassure Touma who looked at him with a quizzical and apprehensive look.

"... We have launched researches concerning yourself, or rather the other you."

"The other me?" He questioned, raising a brow.

"Yes, as a dimensional traveller you do possess a dimensional double. We have found him."

While Touma did try to maintain a neutral, but inquisitive face he failed at hiding both his growing interest and shock. A double? Someone like him? Unbelievable. Was he also a possessor of the Imagine Breaker? What happened to him? What about the others? What about Tsuchimikado? Misaka? Index? Or even Othinus... so many...

"Do you wish to know what he's become?" Asked Kear, frowning and catching his attention. "It will not be what you hope for." He added in a sombre tone.

Touma hesitated before his curiosity got the best of him. He nodded, allowing Kear to reveal the activities of his other self, but Kear wasn't quite eager.

"Are you sure?" Asked the old man. "You will be more than extremely disappointed." He warned as if he did not want Touma to know.

But the young man didn't back down, now intrigued by whatever this other Touma had done. The Director sighed, taking an envelope from a case at his feet.

"Here, read this." He handed him the envelope, a sorry look on his face, before turning away when Touma took it.

Worried by curious the young SCP opened it and took out the first document, a photo of him. Except it wasn't him despite the fact that the two had the exact same face, traits for traits since the photo was captioned from two thousand twelve. But he never had that shirt.

The next document was also another photo, where, despite recognising himself, maybe a bit older, he knew this Kamijou wasn't him since he had never been arrested by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police for brawling in the street.

Uh, at least they got something In common: getting in trouble.

The next document made him drop his smile and the aforementioned document.

It was a koseki, a registry where one registered the condition of a citizen. It was rather normal, however, one section that shouldn't have been filled was.

Death.

Kamijou Touma has expired on the 26/11/2012, on the twenty-fourth (24) year of the Heisei Era, at the Tengoku Kyanserā hospital. Causes of death: Large loss of blood due to multiple stab wounds after a violent altercation, suffered during the night of the twenty-fifth (25). Died overnight in intense medical care.

Touma opened his mouth to speak, gulping hard.

"Wh-what?"

"I'm sorry." Said the Director thought it wasn't for the same reason. "Really, we didn't think we'd find that..." He sighed, it was hard for him to say that.

"..."

"You know, he was a good person, it happened because he wanted to protect someone, it just went overboard."

"I-I see... Well, at least it wasn't totally useless. W-what about my parents?"

"Also in the envelope." Indicated Kear.

This time Touma hesitated, Kear's look was the same, no worse, that when he announced his willingness to see the files about his other self.

Two others koseki, accompanied by their pictures, which confirmed the truthfulness of the documents, were soon in his hand. He wanted to... scream, just scream when he read them.

Death.

Kamijou Touya (with his spouse Kamijou Shiina) has expired on the 28/08/2015, on the twenty-seventh year (27th) of the Heisei Era, on the National Route One (1), near Osaka. Cause of death: Deadly road traffic accident causing: The breaking of multiple bones, including the spine, and fatal internal blood loss.

"I am so, so sorry my boy." Whispered Kear with sincere sadness.

Touma deeply breathed in, before exhaling.

"N-no reason to. Thank you for telling me the truth." Said Touma.

Kear felt his heart tinge with guilt, he suppressed a disgusted grimace, instead, showing a sad, empathic smile.

"You're taking it... rather well." He observed.

Touma shrugged.

"It's not like I can do anything else... It's... well you know..."

"I understand. But, to be honest, Touma, there is another reason I showed you those."

Another guessing look settled on the boy's face as he tried to think of other reasons.

"The last document in the envelope, if you would." Said Reynard.

Once more digging in the small container, he took out an A4 sheet with many photos on it. Multiple people that resembled him if he were older, people that could be confused with him, even himself doubted if one or two weren't an older version of him with a different hairstyle.

"Look, there already some organisations out there who knows your face, some have already hired or taken some of those men to act as your doubles. Their reasons vary, some want to make others think they have you, others want to use them as leverage to get at you, using your sympathy for your other selves. Anyway, do not trust any photos or reports of a 'recent' Kamijou Touma, they are fake. Do you understand?" He told him, speaking very seriously with steely eyes.

"Yeah, alright, I see. But you would have told me even if those others weren't used to get to me, right?"

"I think such information shouldn't be withheld." Nodded Kear, though not really giving his answer.

"Does everyone in my world has a double here?"

Kear took a moment to reflect on the matter before answering.

"I do not think so, there are still differences between yours and mine, as such there might be several people you know that do not exist in this world. It's already a miracle that the other you existed in this world. There is also the fact that even if they existed, they may be extremely different from the ones you know." Explained the old man. "If you allow me to be honest, I'd advise you not to ask for further information, first because we are technically breaching privacy policies and the second because I do think it would be further disappointing."

Touma nodded, agreeing with the Director's arguments. To be honest, he was more concerned with how his self and family fared. The others had their own lives and he wasn't interested in prying in their businesses. At least he wouldn't be surprised if he encountered a carbon copy of one of his acquaintance.

"I'm glad you understand. Now, I'm sorry to be so brusque but my schedule is very busy if you'll excuse me. And once again, congratulation. Oh, and put your medal in your pocket, keep it to yourself, this is to remain a secret, alright?" Said Kear as he got up and headed toward the door.

"Yes, of course." Replied Touma. "Good day."

Truth to be told Touma wouldn't have waved his medal around anyway. It wasn't the most respectful thing to do, it was more embarrassing than honouring. He preferred not to have the attention. He got up, following Kear's lead, who was already in a serious conversation with a scientist.

Touma followed two guards who led him back to his containment. When he arrived, he laid in his bed, taking out the award that shone under the light above. Now, he doubted they would be deployed soon again since the interval between his two last missions was ridiculously short.

He wondered if 95-

"Helloooo there, how did it go?" Came the voice from the Kumiho SCP, her voice rather eager.

Talking about the fox... He sighed and answered.

"Worse than I wished, better than I feared." He answered earnestly.

"So, what was it this time? Let me guess, an ancient and devilish creature? Did it fly?"

"You're not far from it." He soberly answered. "There was a dragon involved."

"A dragon? As in, a large, scaly, flying beast able to breathe fire?" Excitation filled her questioning voice, as if she was a child, eagerly awaiting a knight's tale.

"Yes. Unfortunately... It also spat acid."

Truly, he would prefer calmer adventures sometimes.

"Well, well, you're such a brave knight to slay it, would you like a reward from me?"

Touma smiled, ironically, he had been more the princess than the knight but that didn't matter.

"I'll be alright, thank you. I didn't do it alone, I didn't even touch it one bit."

Well, if he could have it would have been over far quicker.

"What else? What else happened, I feel your tension, there's been a lot going on... didn't it?"

Bit by bit, at her insistence he began to tell and confess some part of his mission, excluding the fact that he had been in a dress. During his tale, she often observed that he was hiding something out of pure embarrassment and tried numerous times to make him confess, using different tactics each time. He told her of his awards, after all, she wouldn't mouth off to anyone and he felt a bit... talkative today.

"You were awarded? Well, well, well, Mr Kamijou is getting fine and dandy with the humans." She commented with a laugh.

"I am human." He deadpanned, once again reaffirming his appurtenance to Homo Sapiens.

No really, he was human. Just with some... things in his arm but he was human. Of course, he was. Right? Right.

"Yes, yes, of course." There was a sarcastic undertone in her voice which he decided to ignore.

While she was indeed annoying him with her remarks upon his supposed lack of humanity, he preferred to ignore her like a big peaceful dog would ignore the barking of a smaller dog. It sure hurts his ears sometimes, but, unlike the big dog, he couldn't chase her away. As such, he endured, preferring to endure and guide the conversation away from this topic.

"Anyway, I don't think I'll be deployed any time soon, we still have a member who is yet still severely wounded."

Despite her timely and fortunate intervention, Mugino Shizuri hadn't recovered from the nearly fatal incident she had been involved in. It truly had been a miracle that she had managed to shoot. She had said, shortly after waking up and in a venomous voice, that she was definitely going to 'pay that bitch back'.

"That's good, you know, I'm quite bored when you're not here." She managed to whisper through the link, as if her mouth was just next to his ear, her voice small, even plaintive.

"Oh, poor you." Replied Touma, acidly sarcastic.

"You know, just to stave off the boredom I might even propose my service." She said, her tone offhanded but the 'mood' the link gave off was hinted with a pike of seriousness.

He stayed silent, his traits morphing in a replica of those he had when he first learned the existence of magic, amused and surprised disbelief.

"Really, the oh so great, human-hating fox princess would serve the Foundation?"

"I never said I was a princess, fu fu, but thanks." She giggled, teasing.

"Well you sure act like a spoiled one, but that does not answer my question." He countered, deciding to guide the conversation away from his gaffe.

"Well, you know, maybe I can get more food and better quarters, they told me that if I was a good girl, they'd give me more leeway." She said, the 'good' full of irony.

"This method doesn't work apparently." He observed, his remark dry.

"Yeah, but with this, I could, maybe be a bad girl and still earn those privileges."

"I doubt they'd let you participate." He observed.

Truth to be told he did think that they would if they had used The Shadow: the one who had possessed his body, then... they might as well use her. However, he preferred to keep her away from the outer world, both for the security of many, many people in the world but, in a way for hers. It was a dangerous world out there, and even if he had no love for her, he would still feel bad should she die.

"I know you're lying." She remarked, startling him slightly. "Aww, you worry for about me, don't you? How cute!" The honeyed words that she sent only managed to irritate the young man.

"As if! I'm more worried about the safety of humanity than yours." He denied.

After all, that was the truth.

"Of course, of course... But, ah, you must be tired, I will leave you be, should you wish to." She finally proposed.

"I think you know my answer."

"I'm so sorry, I know you terribly miss me when I am not with you, but really you should rest. Kkuljam." She bid him before the telepathic link vanished.

In her containment, SCP-953 laid sprawled on her bed, a yawn spilling from her blood red lips, which she licked, savouring the taste of the colour's namesake. A smile, jagged but soft drew itself on her face.

Maybe she could really do as she had said. She was quite a talented infiltrator and killer. While it would technically hurt her pride, she knew that sometimes it was better to be pragmatic. If she could get a or some deals, she might even be able to relax her security and thus facilitate an escape, especially when out of the facility.

It could also very well cure her boredom, she sometimes missed the thrill of hunting, danger and feeling the sweet convulsion of her prey as she bit into its flesh, the feeling of warm blood as it slid down her throat, like a hot ambrosia, when she felt the musk of fear and despair emanating from her prey. Yes, those feelings, those innate desires, long repressed. Yes, she was good at controlling herself, her youth was proof of that. There was a time... Ah, what a time.

She was a monster. And she was enjoying every last second of it. They had made her like that after all, those damn humans.

She looked at the inter-phone. Yes, fresh air might do her some good. She wondered what face he would do when he would see that she was his comrade. Yes, that job might even get her closer to him... So much amusement.

A CERTAIN SCP

Kamijou Touma sighed in relief as his opponent slid down the wall, his mask cracked, before falling on the ground and remaining motionless. A pained hiss involuntarily escaped his lips as he moved a deep cut arm. It wasn't the only wounded part, dozens of places on his body bled, small streams of blood dripping down, like a new, outer, blood vessel system.

He wiped the blood dripping on his eyes, coming from a wound inflicted on his forehead and contemplated his handiwork, his posture relaxing. The aggressor laid motionless, his weapon discarded a few metres away from him, disarmed by a well-placed blow.

Kamijou had never faced such terrible foe, swift, merciless and with an unstoppable weapon, he had been his most challenging duel. He felt like David facing Goliath, but without his sling, just with his bare arms. In the end, his endurance and his opponent's fatal hesitation at taking full advantage of a potential killing blow had allowed him to place a series of incapacitating blow. The wounds he had suffered were very precise, slims if sometimes a bit deep.

Without waiting for the man to wake up, he took his naginata and climbed the flight of stairs to the roof. During his minutes of fighting the sounds of repeated firing had not stopped, sometimes intensifying. They were sometimes accompanied by the cries of animals. To be crude, it sounded more like a shooting stand thrown into a circus than anything else.

When he slammed the door opened, he was greeted by the sight of his two companions of fortune firing at yellow wolves surrounded by a field of blue translucent energy, linked to a young girl who seemed frozen in concentration while she was hiding, next to a Shinto priest, behind a golden bubble emblazoned by sakura flowers.

Right now, he would like to go back in time and slam his naïve self that, no, shonen mangas weren't actually fun to experiment first-hand. Seriously, it sounded like someone had mixed Tokyo Raven with the Fate series and real life. His body reminded him that it was a lot less funny than expected.

As the last wolf was destroyed, in a surprisingly short amount of time, Atsushi took a look behind him and his face first split with a smile then with a grimace as he took in his state.

"Well, I'm happy you're alright, but damn, you actually don't look alright." Observed the small man.

"Wow, I just took down a fucking samurai and that's my welcome?" He rhetorically asked.

"Not a samurai, a warrior monk." Objected Ryuuji.

"Whatever! What do we do?" He pointed at the two traditionally dressed person with his chin.

"Well, our piercing bullets just bounce off the damn thing, so... I don't know. And she still has about, uh... a lot of those origamis. At least she can only control about five maxes at a time."

"So, we're stuck?" Questioned the young man.

"Yeah, and I don't doubt that their cavalry is going to haul their asses back here soon." Sighed Atsushi as Ryuuji fired his pistol, trying to eliminate the origami made shikigamis. "We need something to get around this barrier, but from what I already experienced before, that kind of thing needs a few artillery cannons to be destroyed. Or to break that man's focus." He indicated the priest who could very well be confused with a statue.

Throwing a look at the weapon he had scavenged, Kamijou felt a smirk worm its way up to his face, as an idea crossed his thoughts. With haste, he whispered his plan to Atsushi, who, lacking anything better, accepted. The man beckoned Ryuuji to get closer and told him his part in the scheme.

When everything was ready, Touma approached the bubble, his newly acquired polearm squeezed against his chest, Atsushi at his side, his MP ready to fire. The young girl looked at the weapon, which was stained with his blood, tilting her head downward in a show of sorrow for a, presumed, dead comrade.

However, her eyes, inquisitive and surprised watched their every move, trying to discern their intention. She took five of her origamis, ready to use them at a moment's notice should any danger threaten her and her protector.

Breathing in, Touma took the naginata, spun it so the blade would be directed against the floor and with a swift movement buried it in the concrete below. The long, unnatural blade went through it without any resistance, if he had closed his eyes Kamijou would have believed that he had hit nothing.

Then he ran, dragging the blade, still in the ground, pulling it without any resistance whatsoever. Inside the bubble, the Miko had a small movement of horror and threw her origamis out of the bubble. Two were shredded by bullets before she could give them life, the third soon followed as the form of a giant raven began to appear. The fourth and fifth, the last ones, a tiger and a giant rattlesnake managed to take their full forms.

Coiling on itself the rattlesnake tensed its muscle before striking, the powerful muscles composing its body allowing him to reach Atsushi. He barely blocked the oncoming fangs with his rifle, the clip had run dry.

The weapon was thrown off his hands by the sheer strength of the giant snake. The reptile didn't relent, baring its fangs before launching itself toward the man. Atsushi managed to roll to the side, taking out his telescopic baton in the process.

Meanwhile, Kamijou had nearly finished circling the golden bubble with his naginata when the tiger pounced on him, its abnormal natural weapons out and ready to tear him apart. The young man barely avoided the spectral feline as it crashed where he had been a second ago.

Wielding the naginata, which still cut through concrete like it was butter he barely managed to avoid the wrathful claws, the brute force nearly knocking his weapon off his hands. However, as the king of the jungle coiled on his hind legs, launching itself at him, he managed to sidestep the attack, and with a swift, nearly failed movement managed to cut the origami in the tiger's form. As the terrible animal disappeared, he took a look at Atsushi who was, for now, barely managing to fend off the spectral scaled beast with his baton.

Knowing that the Miko would probably summon new beasts soon he decided to execute his plan before she could do so. Once again burrowing the naginata in concrete; where he had withdrawn it, he resumed cutting through the hard material.

It was over in a few seconds, having reached the place he had first begun to cut, one could realise he had cut a circle around the bubble. Now separated from the main rooftop, the disk where the two priests were fell below. The disk of concrete smashed in the apartment above before destroying its floor and falling in the apartment below.

The two priests, their concentration broken and on the verge of unconsciousness couldn't stop Ryuuji, who had bid his time in this room, when he destroyed the game of nurikabe, destroying the barrage of supernatural walls.

Now in a dire situation, the silent and stoic Shinto priest barely managed to summon a weak barrier as a rain of lead poured on them. The young Miko, hiding behind the shield, which was already beginning to crack under the pressure of the attack.

Taking out a small amulet, the priestess recited an incantation, invoking the goddess of the sun, Amaterasu. Her crescendo was short but powerful and as soon as the last blessed words left her holy self, a blinding light shone.

The two Tsuchimikados fled from the room, as fast as their bruised hobbling allowed them too. They managed to reach a window, and with her last reserves, the young Miko threw her most treasured Origami.

A giant eagle, spectral like the others, appeared, large enough to carry both of them on its back. Without any hesitation the young Miko and her guardian priest jumped on the back of the winged monstrosity and flew away, their mission failed.

Atsushi and Kamijou arrived in the house, contemplating the mess. The door of the apartment missed a lock, and the living room, a mess of concrete and furniture, was now illuminated by the stars. There would probably be some draughts afterwards.

"Let's go before the police get there." Said Atsushi, looking at the retreating form of their enemies with a disappointed look.

As the adrenaline pumping through Kamijou died down, he leaned against a wall, sliding until he sat on the ground. Despite the lack of adrenaline, he still felt his heartbeat faster and faster, as the realization of how his life had turned, settled.

He had seen someone get shot, then magicians, a goddam phoenix and now they were fleeing from the police. Not just for a small side-street scuffle, no, because of murder. What would his life look like now? Would the attacks on his person continue? Oh god, what about his cousin? Would they try to get him through her? Oh no... Oh no...

"Hey!"

He looked at Atsushi, who had shouted and shaken him to bring him back to reality.

"Look, I know it's hard to realize all of... that." He waved his hand around. "But we gotta go. Be a man and get on your feet." He pulled Kamijou back up.

Taking a deep, calming breath, Kamijou followed the duo as they climbed down the stairs in a hurry. After getting out and taking a few streets, they entered a car, which Ryuuji hijacked before driving away.

"Where are we going?" Asked Kamijou as he began hearing as police sirens.

Fortunately, they had already gotten out of the research zone the police had set up.

"The airport." Simply answered Atsushi.

"What?"

"We have to flee Japan. The Tsuchimikados can hit us anywhere in Japan, what we saw there is a small fraction of their strength, they didn't expect us to be there. But." He lighted a cigarette. "The good thing is that they can't get out of Japan, a curse coming from one of the emperors so they wouldn't sell their service els-"

"I don't care about that!" Interrupted Kamijou, slamming his fist on the roof of the car. "What the hell!? We're leaving Japan? What about my life! What about-"

"Well, kiddo, you flee or you die. Don't worry about your cousin, Otohime, she's enrolling in a school in the US, she'll be safe."

"How did you even...?"

"Hey, hey, she decided it by herself, she was going to tell you tonight." Revealed the man. "As for your life... I'm sorry, but if you want to keep it going, you'll have to follow us. To be honest, we're going to travel a lot so that'd be funny. Hey! I even got diplomatic passports and tickets!" He proved his claim by taking out said passports and first-class tickets for Korea.

"Where did you even get that?"

"I told you, the Japanese Government trusts us. We're the good guys after all." He explained, twirling the passport. "Here's yours." He threw him the official documents.

Indeed, the passport had his name, face and even fingerprint.

"What the- When did you plan this?"

"Since some time ago. We've been keeping an eye on you so you wouldn't get in trouble. We prepared everything to make sure you wouldn't die." Said Atsushi.

Kamijou frowned, there was still something he didn't understand, something that explained why he still had his guard on.

"Why? Why give yourself such a hard time? If you killed me you would save money and time." He stated, squinted eyes inquisitive.

Atsushi turned to look at him, taking a long, steely, hard look at him, a grimace on his face. Then, a small smile drew itself as he did the same with his handgun, pointing it at Kamijou. The young man knew there was nothing to do, he breathed in, breathed out, looking right into the barrel.

"If you do it, at least do it quickly."

A second passed, then another, a third, a fourth and finally a fifth before Atsushi burst out in a fit laughter.

"Didn't expect that of you kid, you certainly are interesting, and dumb." He added, shaking his head. "I told you, we're the good guys, we're here to save everyone we can. You're a human, you deserve to live. Would have been better if you lived in the light, rather than the darkness you're about to get into... but what is done is done." He sighed.

"What Atsushi said was right kid. Don't worry, and anyway, you might return if things settle down. We're now at war with the Tsuchimikados, they'll be crushed."

"I-I see..." Said Kamijou, looking by the windows.

"Also, Atsushi." Spoke Ryuuji, drawing his partner's attention. "Next time you pull a gun on him don't expect me to just watch..." He threatened. "...That's dangerous alright."

"Yes, sir." Said the threatened, rolling his eyes. "Oh, and Kamijou, we have some people packing your clothes back at your home. Do you want them to take anything?»

The idea that unknown persons were searching his room already bothered Touma, he wouldn't have them dig in even more private parts of his place, as such, he refused. As the car approached the airport, there was still something that bothered him.

"Who are the Tsuchimikados? Why is taking that other Kamijou Touma so important for them?"

Atsushi looked at Ryuuji, who shrugged, focusing on the road ahead.

"Well." Began the Foundation agent. "They're an old clan who practice Onmyoudo, you know about that right?" Touma nodded. "Good, well they're the foremost expert on that art. They also deal in a lot of other of occult stuff, only Japanese. They have huge historical and cultural ties to Buddhist warrior monks and Shinto priests. They used to be courtiers and were invited at the Imperial Court. Then, they were outlawed during the Meiji Era, when there was the Restoration. Ever since they're criminals and low-profile terrorists, we don't know what they really want. Once you're in the cult, you take the name Tsuchimikado and they trust you, we've been trying to get a mole in their sects for years but it never works."

"I see, what about you? You're family, or..?" Asked Kamijou, hesitating since their surname was both Iga.

"Oh, we're in the same clan, but we're not blood-related. Ever since the Taisho Era, the Iga clan has worked under the Japanese Government to protect everyone against the supernatural, namely the Tsuchimikados." He explained, between puffs of his cigarette. "After World War Two, we worked under the Foundation since the Allies didn't trust the Diet or the Emperor. Not a loss if I have to be honest. Anyway, we're almost at the airport, stick to us alright?"

"Alright." Answered Kamijou.

A few minutes later, after a hasty embarkation, they were on a plane, and soon in the sky. As Tokyo grew smaller and smaller until it didn't look bigger than the last point of a book's last page. No, it was the end of a chapter. Maybe the book started here for him.

-To: Director Kear.

-Package secured.

-En route to Korea.

-Over.

A CERTAIN SCP

"Do you know how much howling I just heard? More than I wanted."

The Administrator laughed as his official liaison with the Ethics Committee recounted the woes of today's Committee Report.

"I never heard them lose their shit as much as I did today, you really did a number." Growled his liaison.

The already pronounced scrunched brows of the liaison only further scowled as The Administrator laughed harder in front of this new piece of information. After a few second the mirth subsided, replaced by a more professional, if still amused attitude.

"Sorry to have put you through this, I still needed to gauge their mood before presenting myself." He apologized. "But, don't worry they can shout and cry as much as they want, they can't take more control over Zero. This was as much a test of their resolve as it was an operation to rescue civilians. If they really wanted to stop the whole operation, they would have deployed MTF Omega-1 'Law's Left Hand'. They did not, they're too weak, all bark and no bite. That advantages us." He guffawed.

"I see, as expected of you, sir." Complimented the attaché.

"Oh, don't suck up to me, you're better than that." Objected The Administrator, waving at the projection of his subordinate.

He leaned in his comfortable chair, made of the leather of an extinct species basking in the sentiment of his umpteenth political triumph. Now, they would know that this was useless to oppose him. He would give a few speeches and allow them to vote on the matter to save their own face, but he would have Zero back under control.

"Is that all?" He asked.

The liaison only answered by the negative, and with a deferential bow, knowing the usual procedure departed, his projection vanishing.

Before The Administrator could get back to its usual, more mundane work a notification drew his attention.

Advice/Permission concerning a reclassification to Thaumiel Class and admission to MTF Alpha-9 'Last Hope'.

-Site Advisor LeBlanc.

LeBlanc? If he was not mistaken, he was from Site-17. Interesting, a new Thaumiel. Alpha-9's success, not only the one caused by Zero, maybe had more effect than he thought. Intrigued, he decided to design look at the document instead of delegating it to one of his proxies. Thinking about it, it was probably one of them who had relayed this. Or Kear did.

As the words scrolled down his brows rose. SCP-953, mass murderer, anthropophagi, mythical creature, prideful sociopath wants to integrate a special unit? Under the order of the Foundation? That was... risky, but the pay-off, oh the pay-off. It would be marvellous.

953 was a born infiltrator, both in a physical way, able to bypass security and fit through tight space thanks to her polymorphic abilities but also in a societal way. She was, without a doubt, a stunning woman, who had no difficulties getting what she wanted from people. Even if she had to resort to extreme measures.

Neither had she any problem with bloodshed, he more than expected that it was one of the reasons she had volunteered. She was a beast, intelligent like a human, but still a blood-lusting anomaly. She was a tool to be wielded carefully, with an iron fist wrapped in a velvet glove. If he let her chain slip, she would probably escape or slaughter either her guards or targets she should keep alive. If her chain was too tight, she would finally refuse to cooperate or even rebel and it would be a lost investment.

Her guards also needed to be competent and able to resist her, both physically and mentally, not an easy task. Well, he had already a few candidates, so that could be settled. They should be able to handle and restrain her. He knew she was doing that to get a chance to escape, so he would lure her, always making it seem like she had a chance, later, if she continued to play the game.

He would repeat that cycle until she had lost her usefulness or until she got tired of being played around.

He would give his authorization. Since she was not under the jurisdiction of the Committee, he only had to make it go through Light and Bowe. The old general would accept just for the heck of it, and Light would accept because he would tell her to.

With this Alpha-9 would become more and more crucial concerning both the protection of the status quo but also his defence or offence against rival agencies.

He smirked. What an interesting turn of event.

He was about to finally get to work to his more administrative work when a second ping drew his attention. He let out a sigh and looked at the message with a dark eye. If people could let him work, he was The Administrator! He had tons of administrative forms to fill!

… Ah! So Kamijou, the one from this world had been attacked. They still had him. Good. Good. Kamijou NTV, NaTiVe, still greatly looked like Kamijou ETD, ExTra-Dimensional, and with the good angles and some digital changes they could very well change him into Kamijou ETD in photos. This would serve to bait and lead Special Group Aletheia, the dimension hoppers, into thinking they didn't have Touma in their clutches, shaping the carrot that they would never catch while also creating fake sightings, if make-up and other slight bodily changes were applied, to lure and confuse rival organisations.

Nearly all the cards were in his hand, now he needed to use them very carefully, as usual. Aletheia was one of the weakest links of his whole show, they could very well become a wildcard that would be too hard to deal with.

They were useful as a clandestine group. He had made sure to disseminate clues behind the scene where the Group had intervened that would lead to a non-existent third party. The GOC was burning resources looking for something that didn't exist while he had changed the Foundation archives to refer to Special Group Aletheia as an enemy to the Foundation should the GOC ever infiltrate their servers, which he hoped since he weakened the security of those containing this exact information. Three birds with one stone, having a very effective black ops team, weakening the GOC and others and making sure to look live the Foundation had information to force the Coalition to negotiations in view of an 'alliance' against Aletheia which would calm the tensions between them.

For now, all was going well, the cards were in his hand. But jokers and other wildcards lurked out there. Who knew what they could do?

A CERTAIN SCP


Now, I hope ya'll like it, I wish you a good week and all.
Sincerely,
Orakle.