SCP Foundation Central HQ, Location: [REDACTED]
At the rooftop helipad of the SCP Foundation's main HQ, there stood O5-1, leader of the enigmatic O5 Council that rules over the Foundation, wearing a black business suit and a one-way mirror mask with the number one etched on it. The O5 Council currently was handling a problem that could be related to the Church of the Broken God. They contacted their leader, Robert Bumaro, to discuss the situation and how it could involve him. Standing next to him are their elite bodyguards, armed with machine guns and suited with Kevlar Armor and helmet. They waited for Bumaro's arrival for their meeting. They announced beforehand that the leader of the Broken God's church arriving. It has been a few minutes since surveillance personnel notified them that an aircraft is approaching their HQ, bearing the Hammer and Anvil.
From the horizon, three airborne silhouettes rapidly approach the HQ. All three bore the Hammer and Anvil standard. Two Attack Helicopters escort a single Osprey helicopter aircraft. Minutes later, the tree aircraft hovered over the building's roof shortly before landing. The pilot of the Attack Helicopters dismounted and performing maintenance on their helicopter. From the Osprey, Robert Bumaro, along with with his Paladin bodyguards, stepped off and came face to face with O5-1. For a few moments, the two stared intently at each other with intensity. Their bodyguards readied their weapons in case of a threat; The paladins brandished their Warhammers, the Foundation guards taking off their guns' safety. The stare-down eventually broke off as O5-1 greeted Bumaro.
"Robert Bumaro, Builder and Pope of the Church of the Broken God, I humbly welcome you to the SCP Foundation." O5-1 greeted the pope and held out a hand for a handshake
"O5-1, leader of the Foundation's O5 Council, it is a pleasure to meet you on this day." Bumaro shook hands with O5-1, "What matter of urgency do you require my presence with?"
"It is a matter of private discussion." O5-1 gestured to follow, "Come, we have much to discuss."
O5-1 walked with his bodyguards as Bumaro followed with his paladins close behind. They descended on an elevator towards an underground meeting room where the O5 Council held their meetings. As they reached the underground level, they stepped off the elevator and walked towards a massive steel double door with two heavily armed guards standing on each side. The steel doors slid open with the guards observing them as they entered. In the room, the rest of the O5 Council waited. The two leaders gestured for their bodyguards to guard the doors, they complied and stood near the doors. They bodyguards stared at each other with hate but did nothing as they don't want to start an unnecessary fight.
The two leaders took a seat opposite to each other on the table, both of them facing each other. Soon, the meeting started with O5-1 going straight into the urgent matter.
"I'll get straight to the matter at hand," O5-1 said, "Had there been any rogue agents in your organization, Bumaro?"
"Not that I've ever known." Bumaro stated, "There hadn't been any rogue agents in the church since its foundation. All my subjects are loyal to me and wouldn't dare to betray the church."
"If that's the case, then how can you explain this?" O5-3 said as holographic screens appeared in the table's center, showing a series of videos of Foundation personnel battling an armored flying figure, "Why is one of your agents infiltrating one of our sites?"
Robert looked much closer at one of the screens showing a battle between the armored figure with a girl wielding an ice katana with wings on her head. The two clashed against each other with their weapons as they flew through the sky. Bumaro recognized the armored figure as the one who appeared in his visions. But he did not mention it to the O5 Council as they will suspect him of some hidden agenda he had.
"Do you know who this person is?" O5-1 asked Robert, "We determined she was part of your church since she bears the symbol of the Hammer and Anvil on her weapon and armor."
"No, I do not have any knowledge of this individual you speak of," Robert replied, "I have never seen this person before. I know every agent under my command. Tell me, where did this happen?"
"We cannot tell you that; All we can say that the site contains an island inhabited by people with animal features and amorphous entities." O5-4 said as another holographic display came up, "This supposed rogue agent somehow managed to infiltrate one of our sites unnoticed. We spotted her inside one of the buildings located on the island, eavesdropping on some of the inhabitants. One of our drones spotted her doing this. At first, we thought she was one of the island's inhabitants until she touched the drone."
"Somehow, she had hacked into our secure archives, bypassing our firewalls. The entire site was on high alert after the hacking and began tracking her down. It didn't take long for one of our agents to find her. She and the agent fought each other for minutes until our agent managed to restrain her for containment."
Bumaro thought back to the visions from his mind. They showed him an island chain, people with animal features, and an armored woman with metal wings. Those visions led him to an agent captured by the Foundation, a supposed rogue agent in his organization. He then wondered; What kind of significance does this girl hold? Why would his God led him here to the Foundation to retrieve this girl? The girl seemed mostly human with seemingly no cybernetic parts apart from her wings on her back. He doubted that this was an actual agent and could be a new convert from another religion. If she was a new convert, how did she get a paladin's Armor and Warhammer? Only the Broken God's Paladins are allowed to wear such finely crafted Armor and weapons. Obtained when an individual completed a rite of passage, then integrated into their body with advanced cybernetics. The paladins symbolize the will of the Broken God against heretics and flesh abominations. Their Warhammer being the Broken God's hammer that will break the flesh for it is weak and broken. It is a complete mystery to how she was able to obtain it.
"Where is this girl being kept?" Robert asked, "I'll personally take her back to my organization. I'll question her myself and reprimand for the actions she had committed."
"She's in one of our most secure containment cells," O5-1 said as another screen came up, showing the girl bound in chains, each attached to one limb and bounded to the walls, a muffler covering her mouth, "She put quite a resistance when being restrained. Possessing unnatural strength and intelligence, she was able to beat most of our field agents until beaten by one of our agents with cryokinetic abilities with assistance with an inhabitant on the site."
"Her Warhammer was taken away from her and kept in our armory." O5-2 said, "We took the time to examine it; It was difficult since it kept discharging electricity whoever picked it up. Despite its size, it weighs 100 tons. We only manage to transport it with the help of an island inhabitant who's adaptable to any situation."
Another screen came up. It showed an adolescent girl with crocodile features picking up the Warhammer with ease despite the weight and electrical discharge. The pope became interested in the weapon itself, wondering who made such a device. Bumaro pushed the thought aside for another time as he needed to take the girl out of the Foundation's custody.
"I'll be taking her to the church. I'll take her off your custody and leave you to do your business as usual." Robert Bumaro stood up from his seat, his paladins left their post and stood by his side. "Take me to her cell. I assure you that this kind of situation won't happen again."
The O5s nodded as O5-1 gestured for two guards to take Bumaro to the girl's cell. The guards complied and lead the pope and his paladins to her. The O5s neglected to tell Bumaro that the girl was also one of the inhabitants born from Sandstar and they can't have a potential spy on any of their sites, risking the exposure of their secrets. The O5s went back to their usual business, managing the SCP Foundation and all of its contained anomalies.
Mekhane
"Darn it..." Mekhane thought as she struggled against her bindings, rattling the chains, "How did it come to this?"
For whatever reason, she couldn't break the chains binding her body despite her superior strength. She still wore her armor as she is the only one that could take it on and off willingly. With her Warhammer taken away, she is left alone inside a windowless cell with only her thoughts and the rattling of chains. Her wings were also bound and was fully stretched out. She thought back at the past events that led to her capture. Two individuals managed to defeat her in combat. One had the features of a Hawk and the power to control ice. Another had the traits of a crocodile, who managed to overpower her with her sheer strength.
A few days ago...
Mekhane shot through the sky like a speeding jet as she was chased by SCP Foundation Personnel on land and air. Attack Helicopters and Jeeps, armed with anti-air guns, chased her while trying to shoot her down to the ground. Bullets whizzed through the air as SCP Guards try to shoot her down. She dodged and weaved her way through the hail of bullets shooting up from the ground and air. Its been a few minutes after she was found the Foundation and it surprised her how fast their response is to her hacking. Thinking that its time to fight back, she stopped flying forward and turned to face the helicopters chasing her.
A tower shield formed at her left forearm, bearing the symbol of the hammer and anvil. The handle of her Warhammer shortened, now able to be wielded one-handed. The helicopters opened fired on her with their mounted Gatling guns. Mekhane shielded herself with her tower shield, the bullets dropping as they hit the shield. She flew forward as she protected herself with the shield, coming face to face with the pilot in the cockpit. As she got into melee range, she swung her Warhammer with all her strength. Her weapon struck the cockpit, spinning the helicopter out of control. The pilot tried to regain control but crashed into the ground. The helicopter blades detached and went flying, stabbing the ground from afar. A few more helicopters shared the same fate as Mekhane's hammer struck them, spiraling into the ground. The pilots ejecting just in time before they crashed into the ground, parachuting down to the ground safely.
After all the attack helicopters were brought down, Mekhane landed on the ground, folding her wings. Numerous jeeps circled around her as they come to a full stop. SCP Security Personnel dismounted and aimed their guns at Mekhane as they took positions. The Machine Goddess looked around her, seeing the tense faces of the SCP personnel that have their guns aimed at her. A Commander dismounted from his jeep and took out his megaphone.
"You are trespassing on Foundation Property! State your identity and reason for trespassing or you will be fired upon!" the commander said through the megaphone, "What manner of business does the Church of the Broken God have on this place!? And how did you find us!?", questioned the commander since the site was practically invisible to every GPS and satellite mapping.
"The Church of the Broken God? Are they perhaps my followers going by a new name?" The Goddess thought, desperate to find her subjects. She hadn't found any information about her followers in the database she hacked through the robot she encountered and couldn't delve deeper when the organization was alerted to her presence. If her followers underwent a change since the imprisonment of Yaldabaoth, she will find them by any means necessary. After a moment of silence, she answered.
"My business is none of your concern!" She shouted back to the commander, "As for why I'm here, I was just passing by. I came upon this island and decided to explore a bit of it." She lied, needing to get away from them soon.
"An unlikely story..." the commander replied, unconvinced of her story, "We saw you through the eyes of the robot you were hacking through and we know you are the one that was searching through our database." Mekhane was unfazed by the response, knowing that her lie would be seen through.
"I suggest to come with us peacefully. If not, we will take you into our custody by force." the commander demanded, "So, what will it be? You have 15 seconds to comply or we will take you by force!" The commander started to count down to zero.
As the countdown went on, Mekhane's eyes are closed and her mind was already working on a plan to take out the personnel surrounding her. Each personnel are either in front of their vehicles or taking cover behind their vehicles as they kept their aim towards her; Their fingers on the gun's trigger should be given the order to fire. Just as the countdown hits zero, the goddesses' eyes snapped open and spun her body around. Her shield retracted into her arm guard and held her Warhammer tightly into her abdomen. Her wings covering her before spreading out as she spun. Sharp metal knife-like feathers shot out of her wings, creating a flurry of piercing missiles around herself. The feathers struck each SCP security personnel either in the head or the chest where their heart is located with the sharp feathers piercing their Kevlar armor, killing them instantly. Mekhane soon stopped spinning as she fully spread out her wings, the metal feathers growing back rapidly. Her Warhammer's handle extended once again, allowing her to wield it double-handed. She started to walk away from the jeep circle until she heard something approaching her from behind. She jumped to her left side, dodging the incoming projectile from her back. She looked at her last position to see a large piece of ice covered in spikes. She traced the trajectory from the cold mist trail of the projectile to a flying figure. The figure looks back at her with a stern glare as they flew down.
The figure was Pet Shop, one of the Foundation's best field agents when it comes to combat. With her cryokinesis granted by her Stand, [Horus], she was a powerhouse at ranged combat and equally strong in close combat with training provided by the Foundation. The two are a couple of meters apart from each other with Pet Shop glaring at Mekhane. Mekhane noticed a cold mist surrounding the girl with the wings on her head fully spread out, trying to intimidate her.
"You are an efficient killer, did you ever notice that about yourself?" Pet Shop questioned the goddess, "You must have a heart of iron inside of you..."
"I only killed them because they were in my way." Mekhane stated, "They are just obstacles that need to be pushed aside to reach my goal."
"And what would that goal be?" Pet Shop asked, "Fame? Infamy? Feeling more powerful than everyone? 'cause I am powerful but I don't brag about it, since everybody here knew it."
"If you must know, it is to search my lost followers in this new world I awoken to." Mekhane strongly said, "And there is nothing that would stop me from my search. If you ever value your life, I suggest you step aside and let me continue my search." She demanded, Pet Shop's glare became more stern.
"So you're a Friend who's a goddess to a cult..." Pet Shop concluded, "From the symbol of your armor and the crown on your head, I can see that you're from what the Foundation calls the 'Church of the Broken God'. You are really insane thinking you're the god to that church."
"I am not speaking utter nonsense! My sanity is perfectly intact! And what is this 'Church of the Broken God'?" Mekhane questioned Pet Shop, seeing a chance to find a lead on her search.
"Who are they!?" Pet Shop was baffled at her statement, "Jeez, you really must have forgotten where you belong, do you?"
"To refresh your memory, they are a religious organization that devotes itself into worshipping technology and their broken god who is the supposed god of all machines and intellect. That is pretty much everything I can tell you since you probably knew all of this, being a goddess and all..." Pet Shop said in a sarcastic tone
"I am a goddess! And you will give me the respect I deserve!" Mekhane shouted back to Pet Shop, pointing her Warhammer to her, "I am asking you once again to move if you ever value your mortal life..."
"You really think I'll just let you go without a fight..." Pet Shop said in an intimidating tone as she brandished an ice katana in her hand, "I have orders to take you in warm or cold..." She entered a combat stance, holding the sword two-handed in front of her with one foot at the front and back.
"Very well then..." Mekhane one-handed her Warhammer with its shortened handle and a buckler shield formed on her left forearm, "If I have to, I'll end your existence here now." She entered a combat stance with the shield facing the front and her Warhammer on her right side.
"I'd like to see you try, you goddess of scrap metal!" Pet Shop taunted the goddess, who glared at her. The two glared at each other for a few moments. The wind blew past them, rustling their hair. The standoff lasted for a few moments until both charged at each other.
Steel and Ice VII weapons clash against each other. Both opponents blocked and parried each others attacks. Both combatants took flight as the battle went on. Sparks flew as their weapons clashed together. Pet Shop making full use of her speed and cryokinesis with ice missiles, trying to hinder Mekhane's movement by freezing some parts of her wings. Mekhane was slower than the Hawk Friend due to her armor, weighing her down and slowed her down. Any ice missiles coming towards her had been smashed to pieces by her Warhammer, blasting her with a cold mist each time. The cold mist emitted from the missiles slowly froze certain parts of her body, further slowing her movements. Her wings start to feel heavy as ice formed at the tips. Multiple scenarios formed inside her mind as she formulated a probable victorious outcome. She glided down and landed on the ground in a crouching position with wings folded. The ice slowly started to cover more of her body and wings.
Pet Shop landed on the ground with the wings on her head folded, looking satisfied at her work. Pet Shop started to walk closer to her with her ice katana leaning on her right shoulder. The ice started to cover more of Mekhane's body, further restricting movement from her wings. She looked up at her opponent, calculating the distance to strike and the necessary force to attack. Her Warhammer's handle once again extended. As soon as Pet Shop was within the distance, she swung her weapon one-handed, putting as much force as she could to knock her off-balance and send her flying. The strike connected, hitting Pet Shop's abdomen, causing her to drop her weapon and send her flying towards a Humvee, slightly denting it as she crashed into a door. Pet Shop tried to stand up but failed as she felt pain ached as her ribcage cracked and feeling it creak as she stabilize herself, grabbing on the Humvee door she crashed on. Her concentration also broke as she felt her Stand's power dissipate and saw the ice holding her opponent down melt alongside her weapon. The goddess stood up from her position, unrestrained as the ice melted. She began walking towards Pet Shop as she two-handed her Warhammer. The Bird Friend struggled to create an ice weapon as her concentration falters under the pain from her ribs and the adrenaline that keeps her awake. The goddess struck Pet Show again in the abdomen, followed by another hit as she thrusted the weapon's head into her stomach. After a few more hits, Pet Shop was sent tumbling on the ground and laid on her back, her vision becoming hazy as the adrenaline began to wear off.
Mekhane walked up to Pet Shop and looked down at her current state. Just as she expected from her calculations, each strike of her Warhammer cracked multiple bones that keep the body standing and seeing her opponent about to pass out with the injuries she sustained with the adrenaline in her body barely keeping her awake. As she prepared to deal the finishing blow, she spoke to her one last time.
"Any last words, mortal?" Mekhane said as she rose her weapon above her head, intent on finishing her. Pet Shop turned her head, looking at her directly in the eyes.
"Reject Technology. Embrace the Flesh." Pet Shop said with a mocking grin on her face, insulting the goddess of the church she fought.
Mekhane felt insulted by the phrase the Hawk girl uttered out of her mouth. Anger began to swell inside of her mind as she couldn't think of anything else other than ending the pathetic mortal that dared to insult the machine goddess herself. Before she could end the Hawk girl's life, she could hear someone screaming to her right. She looked to the source of the sound and got dropkicked on the face hard, causing her to drop her weapon. She heard "ORA!" as she felt pain course through her head. She was launched into a Jeep, crashing through it as the vehicle's frame bent inwards upon impact. Her senses got disoriented and took a moment to see who attacked her by surprise as her eyes readjust. It was another girl who had animalistic features but instead of a Hawk, she had characteristics of a crocodile. Before she could get her bearings, the crocodile girl charged forward and punched her in the stomach, denting her armor as she felt the punch connect. It was followed by a kick to the side of her abdomen, launching her again and managed to land standing on the ground. The girl charged at her again with a shark-teeth smile on her face. She quickly brought up her tower shield before it could connect to her face. To her shock, the Croc-girl punched through her shield, grabbing onto it and ripped it out of her arm. The croc girl threw it away and landed another direct hit. She flapped her wings and tried to fly backwards to gain distance from the Croc-girl. The Croc-girl grabbed her legs mid-flight and slammed her hard into the ground, creating an indent on the ground. The Croc-girl slammed her into the ground multiple times, feeling her wings and bones starting to crack. She was slammed one more time before being thrown face-first into the ground. As she looked at the girl for one last time, the last thing she saw was a large reptilian tail striking her body before she blacked out from the beating she took.
Pet Shop steadily stood up as she created an icicle crutch to support herself. She looked at the one who saved her. From her large crocodile tail, crocodile eye hair ornaments, and the overall punk aesthetic on her clothes with a crocodile theme, she concluded that it was Hardy herself. The Hard-to-Defeat Friend came to her rescue, which hurt her pride. Hardy turned to see Pet Shop struggling to keep herself standing as she held an icicle crutch.
"What are you doing here, Hardy?" Pet Shop asked, "How did you even know there was a fight here?"
"I followed the noise the vehicles and guns make..." Hardy stated the obvious, "I saw you with another person about to crush your head and intervened."
"She wasn't even that strong..." Hardy looked back at the unconscious girl, "The armor and shield she had wasn't even durable. It dented when I punched it and I tore through her shield."
"Obviously, she was no match for your brutish strength and speed..." Pet Shop said as she examined the weapon the goddess wielded on the ground. She crouched down to grab it, the weapon generated electricity and shocked her hand. Retracting her hand, she winced in pain as she shook her the electricity off her hand.
"AH!" Pet Shop exclaimed, recovering from her electric shock, "How am I suppose to get this and the girl back to the Foundation?"
"You need help with that?" Hardy asked Pet Shop is she needed aid, "I can carry that for you and the girl as well."
"Sure, you can carry them both..." Pet Shop stood up, "I'll lead us back to the Foundation base." She opened her wings and tried to fly but felt pain, feeling the bones in one of her wings creak. Pet Shop struggled to flap her wings and take flight. She grunted in frustration and saw Hardy looking at her with a deadpan expression, carrying both the goddess and the weapon in hand. Hardy carried the goddess on her side like luggage with her left arm over the girl's torso. The weapon on her right hand crackling with electricity but remained unharmed, having adapted to be immune to electricity with her skin becoming like rubber.
Hardy turned her back to Pet Shop and squatted down. "Hop on..." She motioned the Hawk girl to sit on her shoulders.
"Are you serious!?" Pet Shop exclaimed, "I am not riding on your shoulders. I can take care of myself."
"Come on, with your wings broken, the walk will be long and we'll be here all day." Hardy looked over her shoulder to look at the Hawk girl, "Are you gonna do it or not? Its your choice..."
Pet Shop let out an angry pout and gave in, biting hard on her pride. She placed her legs between Hardy's head before grabbing onto her head to not fall off as the reptilian girl stood up.
"Wow, I never knew you have such soft thighs..." Hardy remarked as she felt Pet Shop's thighs on her cheeks.
"Don't get any ideas!" Pet Shop said, "I'm only doing this because I can't fly with my wings and that walking would take much longer with my cracked bones." She huffed
"Alright, alright..." Hardy started walking towards the Foundation Base, "Still, they're so soft..." She muttered, still feeling their softness
Pet Shop could only pout in frustration and embarrassment as the Croc-girl walked to the Research base. They reached the base in only a few hours. Foundation Medical Personnel took Pet Shop in to treat her wounds. The armored girl and the Warhammer were now in the Foundation's Custody for research. Initially, they thought it was a member of the Church of the Broken God, but testing revealed she was a SCP-4034-A entity. She was then placed in a cell with her limbs and wings restrained by chains. The weapon was to be put on testing but the scientist found it hard to lift it due to its weight and the electricity it discharged that prevented anyone touching it. The scientists had Hardy stored in the armory within a display with two neodymium magnets on top and bottom that made it levitate off the ground.
The O5 Council contacted the pope of the Broken God Church, Robert Bumaro and meet up at their main HQ. Mekhane was also transferred to the Foundation's main HQ after her capture.
Present Time
Mekhane heard her cell door open and saw multiple figures step inside. Some were wearing heavy armor and wield a Warhammer. A pale-white male human wearing robes fit for a religious leader, carrying a golden Warhammer on his back. All bore the same symbol on her armor and weapon; A hammer striking an anvil. She immediately concluded that they must have been her followers under a new name. She felt her chains loosen as her cuffs drop to the floor and her muzzle release itself, dropping to the floor. Her wings are now able to move freely. She rubbed her arms and her face from being restrained for a few days. The leader looked at her in the eye and held out her Warhammer in front of her, still in its magnetic display procured from the armory. She took the Warhammer and hung it on her waist as it stuck to her like a strong magnet with the handle shortening. The leader then spoke to her.
"Young lady, after we depart from this place, we will have something important to discuss." Bumaro said, seeing her in his and all of the worshippers in the church, "For now, I will overlook this...rouge act of yours." He then motioned the others to follow
"Come, let us make haste, the clock is ticking." Bumaro said as they walked to the helipad of the building. On the helipad, the three pilots of the two Attack Helicopters and the Osprey VTOL aircraft patiently waited for their pope and his bodyguards. Their wait has finished when the pope came into view and prepared for their return to Greece. They all noticed another member in the group bearing their insignia. They believed the pope came here to take a captured agent back to their church. Once the group had boarded the VTOL, the rotor blades spun rapidly and the three aircraft took off. The pilots charted their course back to the Greek Isles. The Paladins wondered who was the girl in their shared visions and why the Pope was interested in her. It was not in their position to question the Pope's intentions. All will be revealed soon by the Builder.
After a couple of hours, they arrived back at their church in the Greek Isles. The three aircraft touchdown on the landing pad near the church. All passengers disembarked and went inside the cathedral. The Paladins took up their posts in different areas of the cathedral, guarding key areas that are sacred to the church. Before the girl's retrieval, Bumaro had sent summons to the other leaders of the church to discuss with them about the meaning of the visions. Once the girl had been taken away from Foundation custody, he would only have to wait for the other two leaders to arrive. Bumaro and the girl are in the cathedral's altar overlooking the nave where worshippers gather to pray to their god. The girl looked at the statue of the Broken God with a melancholic expression and he wondered what was her connection to their god.
"Something wrong?" Bumaro asked the girl, "You've been melancholic since you gazed upon the statue of our god."
"It's nothing..." Mekhane responded, dismissed something in her mind, "I'm fine... Nothing to worry about..."
"What matters do we have to attend to?" Mekhane asked Bumaro, "Are you planning something?"
"All will be revealed in due time..." Bumaro answered as he wanted to discuss the girl and the visions to the two leaders of the disassembled church.
After a few hours, the large cathedral doors opened, revealing two figures. Both were women. The first had silver skin, dark eyes with blue irises, and tattoos all over her body resembling computer circuitry. Silver hair resembling strips of metal riveted on her head. Two metal wings with shining blue metal feathers protruded from her back, currently folded. She wore a pope's robe, colored sky blue and adorned with lines of computer circuitry. A holographic halo projected above her head. The symbol of the Maxwellist church adorned on the back of her robe, a combination of a power button symbol and computer circuitry. A sheathed longsword hung on the left side of her waist. She was Saint Hedwig of the Angels, Pope of the Church of Maxwellism, a sub-faction within the church that views their god as a fragmented deity within the digital age.
The second had a skeletal appearance. She had no skin nor hair as her entire body was made of brass. Her body was adorned with hydraulic pipes, ticking gears, and armored plated of brass. Her head was a brass skull with white eyes with brass-colored irises and diamond-tipped teeth. She wore the same robes as the other leaders but hers was colored red with a brass neck collar. Her robe was adorned with the symbol of the Cogwork Orthodox Church on its back, a pillar balance beam scale with a gear at its center. Hidden within her forearms are sharp brass blades for combat. Her hands have sharp claws, capable of tearing through the body of a normal human. She was known as Legate Trunnion, Pope of the Cogwork Orthodox Church, another sub-faction within the church that aims to rebuild themselves into the image of their god.
Both leaders of the church came upon Robert's summons about the visions they received. They discussed the subject with their circle of priests about their meaning until they received Bumaro's summons, stating he wanted to discuss it with him. Alongside with them, their own respective Paladins came along as their bodyguards. Both Maxwellist and Cogwork church have different paladins.
Maxwellist Paladins are lightly armored as they are fitted with cybernetic energy wings on their back and equipped with halberds made with the strongest metals. They resembled Valkyries as most of the Paladins Hedgwig personally hand-picked were female. All proudly wore their church's symbol on their armor and weapon. Their design focus on combat was focused on high mobility, maximizing evasion in the limit of probability calculations. They serve as Hedwig's personal guard and enforcers within her church.
Cogwork Paladins are taller than an average person and heavily armored, fitted with the bulkiest and most durable armor that artificers within the Orthodox church could forge. Each was equipped with different two-handed, ranging from a Greatsword to a Battle axe. They resembled a fusion of a Roman Centurion and an Iron Golem from Dungeons and Dragons (Popular within the Cogwork youth) with a steampunk aesthetic. Some are equipped with heavy ranged weaponry. Most of their guns could date back to the late 19th century during the Industrial Revolution. Some examples are Muskets, Gatling guns, and Blunderbusses. In the modern age, their weapons took on a steampunk aesthetic as they modernized their heavily outdated weaponry to compete with other factions. Their design focus on combat was sheer durability and heavy firepower, ensuring that each Paladin could withstand heavy damage and unleash equally devastating firepower upon their enemies. Much like the other churches, they serve as the Legate's personal guard and enforcers within her church.
As the two women and their escorts arrived, they saw the girl from their visions. Wondering why she was here and never mentioned in Robert's summons, they decided to ask Bumaro for insight and discuss the visions meaning. Most of them had interpreted the visions as a sign from their god. Even after the disassembly, they still worship the same god; Albeit under different views and beliefs. The Paladins stepped aside and stood guard as the three leaders discuss.
"Greetings, Sister Hedwig, Sister Trunnion," Robert greeted the two women, kissing their hands as a sign of respect, "It is great for all three of us to be united once again."
"Greetings to you as well, Bumaro," Hedwig greeted the Builder, with a humming sound "It has been quite some time since we were together."
"Indeed, it has been a while since our last meeting." Trunnion simply said, with a slight echo in her voice, "We received your summons concerning the visions we all saw during our worship and affairs."
"That is why I gathered us here for this special occasion." Bumaro said, "I believe you have seen her in our visions." He gestured to the girl standing near the altar with her arms crossed on her chest.
"You never mentioned her in your summons..." Hedwig said, "How is she here? Bumaro, where did you find her?"
"Within Foundation custody." Bumaro said, making the two Sisters tense, "I do not know how she came into their hands. But one of their leaders let me take her without consequence."
"Very suspicious..." Hedwig narrowed her eyes towards the girl, "But we're getting off topic, where she came from doesn't matter, we have to know what the visions mean."
"Agreed, we have discussed it with our priests and came up with nothing." Trunnion stated as Hedwig nodded in agreement, both haven't found a satisfactory answer to the mystery.
"Have you found any meaning to it?" The Legate asked Robert, "If you have any answers, please indulge us with your thoughts on the matter."
"Sorry, Sisters, I barely had anytime to think about the matter when I went to retrieve the girl from the Foundation." The Builder stated, "They requested my presence after the visions came to me and the entirety of the church." The two women are somewhat disappointed at Robert's lack of research.
"Perhaps our guest can enlighten us on the mystery." Trunnion said, facing the silver-haired girl, "If I may ask, what is your name, young one?"
The girl looked at the Legate, making eye contact, before introducing herself to the three Popes.
"You may call me, Mekhane: Goddess of intellect and Machines." Mekhane introduced herself which shocked the three leaders, "I am surprised that my followers had survived since I last gazed upon them."
"Girl, what you speak is utmost heresy!" Hedwig shouted as her Paladins grabbed their weapons and pointed their weapons at the girl, "If you were under my jurisdiction, I would have had you executed for speaking such heresy!"
"Sister! Calm down!" Bumaro ordered, "She is under my jurisdiction and I will not let you harm her! She is the key to solving this mystery and I will not have you execute her!" Bumaro's Paladins took up their arms and took a combat stance, preparing for combat.
"Sister! Stand down!" Trunnion demanded, "He's right... Executing her will not solve this mystery and let her clarify as to why she proclaimed that she is our god." Her Paladins also took up their arms and pointed them at the opposing Paladins
Seeing how she was outnumbered, Hedwig begrudgingly ordered her Paladins to stand down. The Paladins of the other churches followed suit, lowering their weapons. Hedwig still suspicious of the girl who claimed to be their god.
"As you were saying, how do you prove your claim, young one?" Bumaro asked, "What proof do you possess? What is your connection to the visions we received?"
Mekhane looked at the three leaders and their Paladins before closing her eyes. The three Popes and their Paladins felt a mind-numbing sensation before their surroundings began to distort. Not before long, they found themselves thrusted into a seemingly empty void. Within the empty void, there lies a human-sized planet. It was a complete copy of the earth itself, but the continents are arranged differently. They heard footsteps from behind and saw Mekhane walking up to them.
"What is this?" Bumaro was the first ask, "Where are we?"
"We are inside my mindscape." Mekhane answered, "What you are observing are my memories before I stepped into this world as a human."
A figure materialized before the planet. The figure was their god, Mekhane, overlooking the planet itself. She looked different from the human form she took hold. Holding her Warhammer on her right hand, she waved it across the planet as a blue shockwave spread itself around the world.
"Ever since I came into existence, I overlooked the world and its inhabitants. When I first saw humans, I pitied their existence as they acted animalistic. As a divine act, I gifted them intelligence, making them capable of learning." Mekhane said, as the surrounding changed to a forest where primitive humans were washed over by the shockwave, beginning to stand up right and began experimenting with their surroundings.
"But that action caught the attention of another god, Yaldabaoth, who soon became my enemy." She continued, showing the Sarkic Flesh god confronting the god of machines, "He came to me saying that humans should remain simple minded and animalistic. I argued that humans deserve intelligence for without it, the world would never progress. Both of us kept to ourselves as the humans began worshipping us."
The void became a bustling Chinese city with advanced technology such as computing devices and robots with self-thinking AI. Each individual within the city has undergone some cybernetic enhancement and carry the symbol of the Broken God Church. Many modern vehicles are shown driving down roads and advanced weaponry being produced at factories. It also showed the Sarkic cults worshipping the Flesh God in both rural and urban places. They resembled humanoid serpents as their body undergo a transformation into a serpentine body.
"My first worshippers were from China. The Xia Dynasty were the first to achieve technological progress in their time. Developing advanced technology far ahead of other civilizations. Within said civilization, Yaldabaoth's followers were also part of their culture. There was a divide between the people about the worship of us two gods. Some conflicts arise here and there but both cults kept to themselves." She described the society and culture of the Xia Dynasty during its rule on China.
"Its life came at a swift end at the hands of unknown monstrosities only known as 'Golden Crows'." The surroundings changed into a burning cityscape as civilians ran and soldiers fought off the monstrosities that destroyed much of the city. The Golden Crows desecrated monuments, sacred sites, and much more. Those who survived the conflict became scattered into the surrounding civilizations.
"I was distraught at the sight. With so few surviving the crisis, I thought my followers would die out." She continued as the void reshaped once again, "Fortunately, they persevered and in Ancient Greece, the Mekhanite Empire rose from the ashes of the old empire."
Their surroundings became the streets of Ancient Greece with many Greeks having cybernetic enhancements and advance weaponry like the previous empire. Blacksmiths practiced their metallurgy as it is considered holy craft. Another part of the city showed a religious figure preaching to wide mass about their god. Another showed the Mekhanites trading with other civilizations of their time such as Egypt, Assyria, and Canaan.
"This is the City-State of Amoni, one of the prosperous cities of the empire." She said as she showed more parts of the city, "I was at the height of my power and influence during this era as the empire itself could conquer the entirety of Greece should it chose too. Soon, Yaldabaoth's followers also established their own empire known as the Deathless Empire. Soon, their opposing beliefs became a religious war between the two empires."
The surroundings changed again into a battlefield where Mekhanite soldiers with colossal mechs fought mutated Sarkic soldiers and their flesh abominations. Both sides fought fiercely for the survival of their empire. Their surroundings changed again, showing a Sarkic fortress besieged by Mekhanite forces.
"This was also the time both I and Yaldabaoth fought. Both of us had enough of each other's existence and we sought out to kill one another." She said as the group saw both the Machine goddess and the Flesh God fought each other, hammer striking flesh and flesh claw striking metal, "Both of us fought fiercely for our followers and the fate of the world itself hangs at our fight. Yet as the battle went on, neither me or the Flesh God could gain an advantage."
"Knowing that neither of us could win this fight, as a last divine act to save humanity, I broke my body apart into pieces to imprison him into the void between worlds." She said as they saw her past-self break her body into countless pieces as a cage formed around the Flesh God, imprisoning him as a portal opened behind them, casting both machine and flesh god into the void, "I feared that if neither of us could win our fight, he might intervene directly in the war and consume the whole world to be part of him as his followers revel in their twisted paradise."
"For countless eons, I held Yaldabaoth within me. Each time he struck the cage, I felt my hold on him weakened. This went on as ages went as we drifted aimlessly through the void, passing by different bubbles of realities." They saw the caged flesh god drift aimlessly within the void, the cage shook each time he tried to break free, "And then, he just broke free..." The memory showed Yaldabaoth breaking free from his cage, shattering it into a million pieces before being sucked into another reality
"All of my power was spent keeping him imprisoned so that humanity could survive. When the last of my power waned, he broke himself free and went on to feed himself by devouring surrounding realities to replenish his lost strength." They all saw the pieces of her body drifting in the void before being sucked into another reality, "I lacked power to put myself back together and let myself be sucked into a reality."
"When I awoke, I gazed upon a blue sky with white clouds and found myself upon green fields of grass with hills." The mindscape showed herself waking up and looking around before showing her most recent memories, "With a stroke of luck, I found myself back on earth. Different from the world that I once knew."
"From that point on, I tried to find leads on my followers until I ran into the SCP Foundation." The memories displayed different moments as to how she got to the present time, seeing the two inhabitants of the strange island she was in, hacking the robot to gain information, going into cyberspace and implanting information about the enigmatic organization, chased by a Foundation task force before being engaged in combat with two powerful combatants. Her next memory was being held within the windowless cell for a few days before Bumaro freeing her from the Foundation's grasp. "I found myself weak in my current form, finding myself losing to a hybrid of man and animal. Most of my divine power lost in the eons I trapped Yaldabaoth within me." Soon, they found themselves back to reality as they exited Mekhane's mindscape. She had a saddened look as the Popes and Paladins gazed upon her.
"Forgive me for presenting myself in this pitiful state. I did not want my followers to see me as weak." She said as held her Warhammer, looking at her symbol, "I don't know how much time passed in my absence since I left this world. Please... Forgive me for leaving you all alone in this world, aimlessly praying for guidance that I couldn't give. Forgive me for being such a failure of a goddess!" She bowed before the Popes and their Paladins, lowering her head in apology as tears flowed from her eyes.
This act made the Popes and the Paladins speechless about everything they saw. Was this how their goddess felt during her time in the void? Did she always thought of herself as a failure from leaving her followers without guidance? Had she always felt sorrow from disappointing her followers? And here she was, bowing her head in apology for claiming being a failure of a god.
Mekhane bowed before her followers, lowering herself into a pitiful state as tears kept flowing. She heard thumping at her front and raised her head, tears still flowing. Her eyes went wide as she saw the Popes and their Paladins kneeling before her. Robert knelt on one knee with his head lowered, holding his Warhammer as it stood beside him from his right hand. Both Hedwig and Trunnion knelt before their goddess with religious zeal. Hedwig having her wings unfolded on her back. Trunnion with her hand on a Cogwork Rosary on her right hand. The Paladins knelt holding their weapons. All bowed before the Machine Goddess with zeal after knowing what she went through.
"Please don't lower yourself to a state, great goddess." The Builder spoke to her, "We never considered you a failure in our entirety. We worshipped you with zeal and prayed that you may return to lead us into a new age."
"We prayed that we may one day rebuild you and make the world into a paradise for all of us. Connecting all of us together through an Eternal Network." Hedwig said as she made it known to her goddess the church's lifelong goal.
"We made ourselves into your image and achieved what evolution couldn't." Trunnion said, clutching her rosary, "Even during your absence, we strive to accomplish what you sought out to accomplish. To free humanity from the imprisonment of the flesh and elevate them into a higher state of form and mind."
"Please don't feel sorrow about yourself. We never saw you as a failure of a god." All three popes said together, "Please raise your head and lead us to the paradise you sought to create."
The act made Mekhane feel relief and joy within herself. They never truly saw her as a failure. They never stopped believing in her even as she drifted across the void with nothing but the Flesh God imprisoned within her. She then stood up on her feet and wiped the tears from her eyes. With a renewed determination, she tapped the floor with the end of her weapon's extended handle.
"Please raise your heads for I accept your forgiveness." She said as they complied, "Until the day I regain my true form, I swore upon my name that I will all lead us to the paradise that I sought to create . A paradise where humanity shall be free from their imprisonment within their own flesh and annihilate the Sarkic Cult and their Flesh God from this world."
"My faithful votaries, you all will accomplish this my name, Mekhane, Goddess of Intellect and Machines!" She proclaimed their new goals as she raised her weapon high, mimicking the statue behind her as her votaries raised their weapons in unison as they chanted in religious fervor.
"Praise the Mekhane! Praise the Machine God!" A Paladin shouted out amidst the chanting
"Praise Wan the Eternal Network!" Saint Hedwig chanted, her Paladins chanted as well.
"Praise the Broken Goddess! May she be made whole once more!" Legate Trunnion and her Paladins chanted.
"Praise the almighty Machine Goddess for all of her glory!" Robert Bumaro and his Paladins chanted.
"Let it be known that the church shall be reunited under my name!" Mekhane proclaimed, "No more strife as we aim towards the annihilation of the Sarkics and the creation of Paradise!"
The Popes and the Paladins cheered at her proclamation. The church shall be reunited once again to achieve their new goals. Annihilate the Sarkic Cults, the creation of Paradise, and the reclamation of their goddess' divine power and form.
Let it be known that a new age within the Church of the Broken God has begun.
Southern Siberia
Within the Foundation containment sites located in the Siberian region of Russia, SCP-610 (The Flesh that Hates) was located and highly contained by the Foundation. It is a highly infectious virus thought to be made by a long-dead Sarkic cultist to create Flesh Abominations for the Cult. An infected individual would rapidly transform as soon as they've been exposed to the virus, losing their sense of identity as their body begins to morph. The individual becomes a mindless abomination as they shamble across the world with nothing but a drive to infect more beings to create more monsters. Others just mindlessly wander doing random things with basic instinct that the Foundation doesn't comprehend.
An old infected individual with three pairs of arms with sharp four-digit bone claws, a pair of short legs with clawed feet, and armored with bones and hardened flesh. It had a skull for a head with hollow sunken eyes as flesh barely hung on it. It is but one of many individuals turned into an abomination against their will by the virus. It sat near the river near the infected town of Irkutsk, mindlessly observing the stream. Its attention was caught by a glistening object floating down the river and into the riverbank, lodged between the rocks. Spider crawling its way to the riverbank, it went closer to inspect the shining object. The object was a shining rainbow cube having the size of a baseball. Curiously, it used one of its claws to pick up the object and its vision was blinded with light.
A/N: That was Tale#9! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all of my readers. I hope you all have been doing well through the hell that is 2020. Let's hope that 2021 will be better.
Thank you for reading and I will see you all in the next tale!