The Son of Wrath
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(A/N: Warning, mentions of torture)
Chapter 3: Parental Wrath
Weeks later
Researcher's Log, date April/23/2008
Dr. Aria Mala, Senior Analyst of Site Meridian
My reevaluation went well, the committee approved my promotion from Lead Analyst to Senior Analyst. the bureaucracy of Headquarters truly lives up to the rumors, it took nearly three weeks for the committee to come to the decision, Three Weeks! the time spent waiting was not wasted, as I requested access to the archives. As expected, my request was denied.
However, the director of the archives did give me permission to look through certain sections while under supervision. I spent days reading through files in the archives, as it was forbidden to remove data files unless approved by the O5 council. I was unsuccessful in finding anything similar to the anomaly calling himself Hayden, also known as "Subject Zero", which furthers my theory that Zero may have been manufactured as opposed to being a natural occurrence.
Even now I worry about Zero, if he is indeed similar to SCP-682, I must ensure that he does not become as dangerous as the Keter. I have always been objective since my employment in the Foundation, yet I find myself thinking of the child. despite his exceptional regeneration, I fail to see how that warrants his Keter designation. I have studied in-depth his government files, nothing in his records show any instances of violence or behavioral problems. moreover, the records show a number of instances where Hayden was the victim of confrontations with other children.
I must report to Director Stephen as soon as I land, something has been bothering me while I waited for my reevaluation. in those three weeks, there was not a single mention of reports from Site Meridian. I was sure that the director would report Zero's discovery to Headquarters, yet not a single officer knew anything when I asked for updates from Meridian. I have to know why, and the Director is the one to ask.
Tires squealed when they touched the airfield's tarmac, the foundation's private jet coasted towards the hanger where several security officers were waiting. a fierce cold bite stung Mala as she stepped out from the plane, the hanger doors were still closing behind the aircraft. "Director Stephen is currently busy with an experiment", a sergeant led her further into the building, she and two other security officers boarded the elevator with Mala.
"Where is the director now?", Mala pressed the button to the central lobby, the doors closed with a chime.
"Currently, he is on sub level 9, testing chamber 31", the sergeant looked at her wrist mounted interface, the elevator descended quickly.
"I will be in my office, please inform me as soon as he is done", the doors opened when they reached the main lobby.
"Understood, Senior Analyst Mala", the sergeant led the pair elsewhere from the lobby. Mala walked through the hallways, occasionally turning at intersections. security patrolled in pairs or trios, sometimes a science officer was accompanying them.
Ten minutes later, Mala finally reached her office on level 5. she slid her keycard through the door scanner, unlocking the room that was supposed to remain sealed. she set down her satchel besides her desk, then sat in her ergonomic office chair. she leaned back, making it emit a small squeak, 'Maybe I'm just jetlagged'.
Mala sighed and sat up, gently pressing the side of her monitor, a chime sounded out before the screen turned on. a few seconds later, she quickly typed in her password, the desktop background featuring of the Foundation's logo appeared on the screen.
Before Mala could even move her mouse, a popup chimed from the lower corner. she looked at the blinking icon, then moused over to it. 'A message for me?', with a press of a button, the foundation's private network mail opened.
[Please read]
[This message is for someone whom it may concern. in the bottom left drawer are copies from the site's recent experiments, read if you want to know what the director has done]
[From those who want to help]
Mala looked down, seeing her bottom left cabinet slightly jutting out. she rolled back and pulled open the drawer, spotting a thick manilla folder that didn't belong. the heavy file had a note attached, 'From a friend'. Mala unwound the string and opened the folder, pages and pages of experiment records starting from her absence caught her attention.
Mala picked up the first transcript, "Subject Zero experimental trial #1: Cross-test of SCP-008 and SCP-682-0". 'SCP-682-0', she tried to think which anomaly would have that strange designation. 'Zero...', her eyes widen, '...No, it can't be!'. "The subject was brought into the testing chamber and was to be placed in an immobilizing chair. a sample of SCP-008 was to be administered-", her gaze flew down the pages, "All personnel inside the testing chamber quickly succumbed to the infection and-". Mala continued to read, hoping that the child survived, "Subject Zero appeared to be resistant to SCP-008, retaining cognition but collapsed shortly after. the subject resuscitated seconds later, it arose and moved to arm itself with a pipe wrench. the infected personnel were skillfully dispatched despite the subject having no recorded combat training. significant data was lost due to faulty recording equipment, reports of possible shapeshifting cannot be verified".
Mala tossed aside the report, quickly picking up another, "Subject Zero experimental trial #11: Liquid nitrogen termination test". she gripped the report tighter, "Subject Zero was lowered inside a tank filled with liquid nitrogen, overseeing personnel were equipped with environmental suits rated for extreme temperatures". her hands shook, "limb extremities froze within moments of submerging in liquid nitrogen, breaking off as the subject tried to free itself". "Twenty-five seconds into the experiment, the freezing of subject's extremities stopped and began to regenerate", the doctor breathed out.
Mala dropped the file, catching her breath before picking up another, "Subject was exposed to high temperatures, via Man-portable incendiary projector being developed by Foundation R/D". her stomach turned, "Subject's skin and flesh reacted as expected, resulting in second to third degree burns on most of its body. At twenty-one seconds, no further damage was observed due to theorized rapid adaptivity".
"Subject was strapped to an operating table, laser cutters began to amputate its limbs", she stopped reading, "Test was halted due to SCP-682 attempting to breach containment". "Further tests are to be postponed until the damage to SCP-682's containment chamber is repaired", Mala narrowed her eyes at the information.
Mala glanced through the rest of the files, afraid to read into them. 'Subject was exposed to a sample of SCP-059', she tossed file after file, 'Cross-test of SCP-409 and SCP-682-0. she shuddered, images of horrible torture came to her mind after reading the files, 'How was all this authorized?!'. in all the files, she didn't read anything mentioning O5 authorization. Mala snatched her coat and a few files, rushing out of her office and towards the elevator.
Testing chamber 31
Director Stephen stood looking down into the prepared chamber, the far doors slid open to allow a science officer leading in a pair of security dragging a limp figure by the arms. "Subject Zero experimental trail #29: High Amperage termination test", the lead science officer spoke into his recording device. the two security pulled Hayden to the modified vertical immobilizer, holding up the teen while the other researchers locked his wrist down. a neck fastener followed after; his hair gone after he was shaved clean. one of the researchers looked at his eyes and noted a lack of light, Hayden didn't resist anymore. "Subject is immobilized, moving on to the next phase", thick cables were unwound towards the device. after locking the cable ends into the back of the metal slab, hidden parts pierced into various points of Hayden's body. the teen hardly reacted.
"Beginning termination trial", the lead researcher slowly turned a large nob on his control panel. the hum of electricity reverberated; Hayden stiffed as the current entered his body. assistants scribbled down their observations, having a lack of empathy to the human anomaly.
"What's the meaning of this, Director!", Mala barges into the observation room.
"Ah, Senior Analyst Mala, welcome back", the Director greeted the furious doctor.
"Termination tests without authorization?!", she held up the files, "How could you do this?".
The Director's face harden, "I've been authorized by the O5 council to destroy SCP-682, by any means necessary", he replied coldly.
"But Hayd-uh... Zero isn't SCP-682!", she shot back.
"That anomaly and the Lizard are one and the same, irrelevant of your opinion!", he scoffed.
"You can't do this!", Mal screeched, "This is madness!".
"Eric, please escort Dr. Mala out", the sergeant sighed and moved with other two agents. the three removed the doctor from the room, leaving Stephen to resume the test. the team continued to raise the flow coursing through the teen, Hayden struggled to not scream.
Another crank of the nob, "Ahhhhh!", Hayden thrashed against the immobilizer. his veins became visible as the current rose, his skin started reddening. the lead researching cranked up the voltage further, getting more of a reaction.
"Sir?", an assistant called out, "I'm getting strange readings from the equipment". the chamber's lights flickered, "We're drawing too much from the power grid!". the leader reluctantly lowered the input, yet the draw continued to climb, "We must have a malfunction, turn it off". the team rushed to disconnect the cables, burning their hands on contact, "Hurry, get gloves!". sparks shot out from Hayden, several lights in the camber popped, "Why aren't the breakers tripping!".
"Director, we're getting calls of power surges across the facility", the observation rooms light flickered.
"We can't shut it down!", more lights bursts, raining glass down on the team. the researchers began pulling out wires from the equipment, Hayden's skin sizzled as the electricity saturated his flesh.
"AHHHHH!", with one final scream, all the contained energy exploded from his body. the burst of light expanded from Hayden, the staff closest to the teen turned to ash. the rest of the team's clothes and gear burned along with their bodies.
"WRRRAAAGGGH!", a deafening roar echoed throughout the facility.
"What was that?", alarms began to blare out, emergency lights activated. the staff rushed back into their stations, "Multiple damage reports coming in!". the observation room's monitors quickly displayed red popups, distant screams and gunfire sounded closer.
Moments earlier
"Get your hands off me!", Mala thrashed in the two female guards hold, the three agents escorted her through the halls. reaching some distance from testing chamber 31, Eric sighed in defeat.
"Dr. Aria, please understand", the Analyst pause her resistance, her eyes snapping to the sergeant.
"Understand, you must be joking!", Eric motioned the guards to release the doctor, "The Director is violating countless regulations and protocols!".
"I know, there are others who feel the same", his declaration took Mala by surprise, "that's why those copies were given to you". Before Mala could speak, alarms started blaring through the facility halls, his radio spung to life, "All security forces to your stations, red alert!". they felt the floor shake, the hallway lights flickered.
foundation staff screamed as they ran towards the four, the shaking growing stronger, "RUN!". Eric reacted quickly shoving Mala and the two guards into a side hallway.
Mala picked herself up in time to see a massive creature tear its way through the hall, "Engaging!". security forces open fired on the reptilian beast, gaining the monster's attention. 682 roared, lunging forward to snatch up a pair of guards in his maw, "Ah!". Crunch, he crushed them and smashed their bodies into the wall beside him. 682 spat them out, growling as a heavy squad arrived to reinforce the rest of the security. grenades exploded against his skull-like snout, one guard wielding a foundation MGL emptied all six rounds of high explosive shells. the gigantic lizard blew air from his nostrils, clearing the smoke. the anomaly hissed when he tried to reload, spewing corrosive acid to melt the entire group. 682 stomped his way over their dissolved corpses, crushing bones under his claws.
"Is he heading towards #31?", Eric watched as the Keter slaughtered his way through MTF agents trying to intercept him. "Dr. Mala!", the sergeant sees her rushing after 682, carefully avoiding the damaged floor tiles.
Back in Testing Chamber 31
Screams can be heard through the radios alongside gunfire, "We're getting a lot of casualty reports!". another staff member turned to Stephen, "Director, it's SCP-682!". the wall of the chamber shattered open; claws tore the breach wide as the screech of twisting metal deafened the surviving experiment group.
"Get security down here, we've had a breach!", the leader cried into his radio. "It's-", the man was turned into red mist by a swipe of 682's tail. the monster huffed, looking for any other humans to kill. "Open the door, please!", the assistants whined, then turned to look at the giant reptile looming over them. they raised their hands; he responded by immolating them with breathing fire. after searching for more staff and finding no more, 682 hissed satisfied. he carefully moved debris aside with his snout, looking for something.
682 emitted a rumbling purr, finally finding what he was looking for. with uncharacteristic care, he lifted Hayden out of the rubble. 682 gently held the boy in his snout, carefully maneuvering his unconscious form to hold him in his open mouth.
Mala and more MTF agents arrived, "Stand down!", the doctor ordered with a motion of her arm. "Do it!", the few agents that still aimed at 682 complied, the creature emitted a low hum.
They made way for 682 to return back towards his cell, "Why did you let it go?!".
"You were agitating a highly hostile Keter, did you want 682 to kill us all?".
"I still don't believe it let us go just like that", one agent shrugged.
"Search for survivors, Sergeant", Eric turned to Mala, "Gather your team and meet me by 682's containment cell". he gave her a nod, then grabbed his radio to report.
682's containment cell
Mala approached the gaping hole that was once a reinforced wall with many layers of concrete, steel and composite plating. she slowly peered around the edge, spotting 682 resting at the bank of his acid pool. her eyes widen when she sees Hayden lying unconscious, surrounded by the anomaly's arms and his snout above. the titan spots her, emitting a rumbling groan. she holds her hands up and approaches, "Leave worm... or perish".
"I know you do not trust me, and you have every right to", 682 doesn't move from looming over the teen. "But Zero needs to be looked at".
"The child... he will heal... like me", 682 countered.
"What about mentally?", Mala stopped a few meters from the massive lizard, "Can you be sure he will heal that damage?".
"Hmm...", the anomaly looked at the teen deep in thought, then turned back to the doctor. "You speak... truthfully", 682 reluctantly admitted, sensing honesty in her voice. "You can... fix his mind?", the reptile pulled back his arms, exposing a still Hayden.
"Yes, I can see to his treatment", Mala waited for 682 to relax, "I will make sure he gets the help he needs".
the looming titan retreats further into the acid pool, "Fine... take him... fix the child". he watched as Mala careful lifted him, seeing the anger in her eyes as she noticed his emaciated body revealed by his shredded jumpsuit. "A warning... worm", Mala turned to 682 rearing up in the pool after handing Hayden to Eric's team, "Fail at fixing... the child..., and you will... not live long". with that threat, 682 submerged under the acid.
Site Meridian, Medical ward
Hayden stirs, feeling soft, clean sheets and blankets as opposed to the cold chains he usually wakes up to. he opens his eyes, shutting then quickly after being blinded by the ceiling lights. he shudders, thinking he finally lost his mind, the foundation has always kept him chained up in the dark. time for him was an illusion, the space between the grueling tortures the evil man in charge drags him out of his cell for. sleep was rare for him, an escape from the horrors that is his life. "Did he just move?", he heard a vaguely familiar feminine voice.
"Most likely, 682-0 has been out for quite some time", a masculine voice answered. '682-0', Hayden kept remining himself of his name, 'I'm not a number!'. "I'll give you some privacy", he heard the sliding door open and closed.
"I know you can hear me, Zero", her voice sounded so familiar to him, "I just want to say... I am sorry". Hayden tried to be still, "I... I should have made sure you were treated properly". 'I know that voice from somewhere?', his eyes moved under his lids, "What the director did to you... was unforgivable". "I reported this violation of regulations to O5, Director Stephan is confined to his quarters until the council assembles a disciplinary committee. until that happens, O5 has promoted me to Subdirector and placed you under my authority".
"I... I know you... where?", Hayden finally opens his eyes.
"My name is Dr. Aria Mala, I was formerly a Lead Analyst for Site Meridian", she gently spoke.
"Y-you said... that... he-", the teen couldn't utter the name, just thinking about the director made him shudder.
"Yes, Site Director Ste-", Hayden flinched, "He cannot do anything to you, not anymore". Mala sat on the chair closer to his bed, "I spoke with O5, he will be punished for what he has done". Hayden relaxed a bit, "I have been reassigned as Subdirector of Site Meridian's northwestern wing, and they going to move you there". "I will make sure you are treated properly, I promise", he let out a shuddering sigh. "I hope you can trust me, Zer-... Hayden", hearing Mala utter his name for the first time made him feel the smallest of joys. "Can you walk?", she stood up and moved to the foot of the bed.
"I'll try", he swung his legs over the edge, and wobblily stood. Mala walked over to him, supporting Hayden to the door of his recovery room.
Hayden stopped, his memories flooding back, "Do not be afraid". he looked up to her, "No more chains, no more darkness". he didn't know how he knew, but Mala wasn't lying. for the first time in what felt like forever, Hayden put his trust in someone, letting the doctor lead him out into the foundation.
(A/N: Sorry if it's a little rushed, I've haven't had the most time to work on my FanFics. Don't worry, I haven't had to put any of my stories on Hiatus, and I'm not going to start now!)