The Son of Wrath
Disclaimer: I do not own anything except the plot.
Review responses
Umbra Lycan: It was, wasn't it? Here you go.
naedinefebruary2.0: Thank you, however, my story hasn't reached the stage where I'm comfortable branching out. Many characters and events have yet to appear, but I'm thrilled you think so highly of my writing.
ZoyeZest: I am, thanks. Eventually, I'd like for that to happen, but I'm concentrating on world building at the moment.
Sophiamay: Wow, Thank you.
Vinay-kox01: It's not at the stage that I feel it needs to be.
(A/N: Now, back to the action!)
(Chapter song suggestion: "Abura" by Hiroyuki Sawano and Taiiku Okazaki)
Chapter 6: Nothing to Hide
Site Meridian, Northwestern wing
"Subdirector Mala?", Aria looked up from her files at her intercom, "You are to appear in the communication room as soon as possible". Mala set aside the file on the stack building at the corner of her desk. she rose from her seat and grabbed her lab coat, swinging it around to elegantly slip it on. she stepped out of her office and fast walked through halls; the number of staff personnel dwindled every passing minute. eventually, Mala made it to a lone elevator at the end of a long hallway. she swiped her keycard, the lift's doors silently opened.
The descent was short, Mala took a deep breath and turned around to face the doors opposite from the ones she came through. when they opened, she paused at the sight. beside the communication room's secure doors each stood a member of MTF Alpha-1, the Red Right Hand.
Throughout the Foundation, the sight of Alpha-1 brought a sense of dread to everyone who recognized their insignia. the black uniformed elite soldiers stood at the top of all mobile task forces, they answered only to the O5 council. every sighting of the Red Right Hand preceded a major incident, eventually they became the harbingers of cataclysms. Mala steeled herself, walking slowly towards the doors. the agents moved to her sides, each waving scanners up and down her body, their red glowing optics shifting their gazes between the devices and Mala. "All clear, proceed", one of them spoke, their voice artificially augmented by the sealed helmet's radio.
Mala composed herself and moved over to the left side, gently placing her hand on a palm scanner that emerged from the wall. 'Print verified', the A.I. announced, the device receded back into the wall and another emerged slightly below eyelevel. 'Please present ocular identification', Mala pressed her face into the indentation, reading lasers swept across her left eye vertically then horizontally before doing the same to her right eye. 'Biometrics verified, welcome, Dr. Aria Mala', the doors opened, and the agents relaxed before moving to stand at their previous positions.
When the communication room door's sealed behind her, Mala looked around the circular room. Alpha-1 agents stood equally spaced out at the room's walls, a pair of them each stoop beside the steps that descended towards the platform at the center of the room. above the right side of the room was the control room, staff subtly acknowledged Mala before she slowly descended the steps. her heels rhythmically clacked against the tile floor as Mala made her way up to the center platform.
When she stopped, a number of smaller screens descended from the ceiling by sturdy articulating arms, all surrounding the center largest screen. the lights dimmed before the center screen activated, "Subdirector Mala reporting to the summons of the O5 council".
Mala tilted her head respectfully when the silhouette of a person wearing a shawl appeared, "Hello, dear", an older woman's voice echoed through the room.
"Greetings, O5-02", Mala relaxed slightly, "I was not expecting to be summoned so soon".
"Understandable, my dear", the silhouette nodded, "How is our special project coming along?".
"The 'H.A.D.E.S. program' has performed above the expected parameters", Mala stood straighter, "You have received my most recent report?".
" Yes, I have, and I am well pleased with the results", Mala guessed O5-02 was 'smiling', " That child is an investment, my dear Mala". " Seeing these results myself, I have decided to increase your budget by 30%", O5-02 appeared to rest her hands on her desk, " With that out of the way, there have been some unforeseen developments that may prove to be... problematic".
"If I may, O5-02, how serious of a problem?", Mala tucked her hands into her coat's pockets to keep a professional image.
"There is no easy way to say this, my dear", the Subdirector waited for her to continue, "Someone from Site Meridian has leaked valuable information".
"Who?!", a smaller screen beside the main one showing O5-02 flickered to life, showing a mugshot-like still of a fragile looking old man.
"'Matthew Canker', formerly the assistant to Director Haddock, the director's assistant has been redesignated to D-Class", Mala recognized him by his wild greying hair and hunched back despite a black bar covering his eyes. another screen above the first small one moved closer beside the main screen, "My agents were successful in locating the source of the transmission". the recording from a security camera showed the inside of a small office, with the frail old man locking his door and furiously typing at his desk, "Despite finding the source, they were unable to breach the room in time to stop the transmission". the door to the office was shattered by an explosive charge, flooding the room with smoke and small debris, "After arresting Mr. Canker, our tech specialists were able to reconstruct the data and find where the foolish old man had sent the information". the recording vanished and was replaced by a satellite render of the European continent and zoomed in on France, "A communication station currently operated by the United Nations".
"The United Nations, that means...", Mala's face blanched slightly.
"Indeed, my dear", the satellite image faded to a dark blue five-pointed star over a light blue overhead illustration of the globe with an olive branch stretching around the lower half of the globe. Mala read the words in between the points, 'Survival, Concealment, Protection, Destruction, Education'.
"What can be done?", Mala couldn't keep the undertone of anxiety from her voice.
"When the Council convenes, this will be brought up", the side monitors folded back behind the main screen, "Until then you must concentrate your efforts on rehabilitating the child, understood dear?".
"Understood, Madam", Mala inclined her head.
"Good, a small detachment of my Alpha-1 will remain at the Northwestern wing, they will reinforce your security until further notice", O5-02 motioned to her right, "This is 'Lynx', they will oversee the detachment". the officer wearing their uniform sporting captain's rank stepped forward, "Remember, Dear, the success of the H.A.D.E.S. program is our top priority, failure is not an option".
Mala entered the Pit's elevator, thinking back to the previous therapy session with Hayden.
"So, Hayden", she watched him take a sip of cherry soda, "Would you like to talk about your dream again?".
"Yes, Doctor", Hayden sat up in his chair, "I'm floating in a void, like space".
"Space, as in outer space?", she notes it down to compare with her previous sessions, "And you mentioned there was someone else in your dream, correct?".
"Yes, before he was far in the distance, so I couldn't see him", Hayden shifted in his seat, "But recently, the space in my dream has become more...".
"Has become more what, Hayden?", Mala set aside her notes to look at him.
"...Full", he smiled, "The emptiness was full of stars and nebulas, they shine everywhere".
"This man, can you see him now?", she picked up her notes.
"No, but he's closer so I could sense that him clearer, much clearer now".
"Are you scared of this man?", Mala waited for Hayden to respond.
"...No", Hayden sighed, "I don't know how, but I can feel that he's not trying to hurt me".
The lift came to a halt at the 'ground floor' with a Ding, the doors open to reveal the glass room in the center of the pit. around the walls of the shaft, various guards acknowledged the Subdirector with either a wave or nod as they patrolled the catwalks. Mala approached the Hayden's 'Dorm', sliding her keycard into the reader. Hayden didn't even react at his dorm room's door chime, still concentrating on his sketchpad.
Mala sat next to him on his bed, looking down at his drawing, "Who is she, Hayden?".
He glanced at her before returning to put the finishing touches on the portrait, "Ashley Hoffner".
"I see", Mala examined the young girl, "Was she your friend?".
"I'm not sure", Hayden slipped his charcoal pencil into its place across the top of his sketchpad, "I mean, I thought she was".
"What do you mean, Hayden?".
"I've had a lot of time to think", he set the pad on his bed, "Looking back, I think she was just being nice". "Being the class representative meant she needed to be nice to everyone", he shrugged.
"Are you sure?".
"...Yes", Hayden sighed, "Ashley and I never spent time together outside of school or during, not even free time". "We didn't have nicknames, shared jokes or even spoke unless we were in a group project", he lowered his gaze at the slippers beside his bed.
"I'm sorry, Hayden".
"I'm actually not sad about being here", he perked up, "By here, I mean in my room down here".
"Really?".
"Yeah, I mean I don't want to think about the first few weeks when...", Hayden grimaced. "But now that I'm here, I've got more friends now than I ever had out in the world", a smile returned to his face. "I have Gobber, Bob, Sven and Thora, I can talk to them about most stuff", his smile grew. "Even Mr. Erik visits me often", he shrugged, "He's actually a nice guy".
One week later
Mala found herself in the communication room again, "Subdirector Mala, reporting".
"Hello, Dear", O5-02's tone was neutral, "We've just received a message from the 108". Mala remained silent, "An inspection team will be sent soon, the date and time is still unknown".
"I see...", she took a breath, "What do you need me to do, Madam?".
"What you have been doing, my dear", O5-02 motioned with her hand, "Lynx will increase security until the inspectorate sends their team". "Director Haddock is set to return soon", the councilwoman watched Mala tense up ever so slightly, "Despite our investigation, we were unable to implicate the director in the leak involving his assistant". "Director Haddock is not your concern, concentrate on the child", a smaller screen folding out from behind the main one showing O5-02, displaying a file and photo of Hayden.
"Yes, Madam", Mala inclined her head.
"Good, I would suggest using some of your increased budget on the child", O5-02's suggestion made Mala look up, "Perhaps expanding his containment, or providing the child with more activities".
"Activities, Madam?", Mala raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, proper housing and care can convince the inspectorate that we are not violating the treaty", the councilwoman elaborated.
"Now I understand".
"Very good, Dear", O5-02 then dismissed Mala before cutting communications.
A week later
Mala was reading reports, flipping through them with her left hand while writing with her right, "Subdirector Mala?".
She set the report in her hand, "Yes?".
"Lynx has just reported that Site Meridia's radar has just picked up two unknown aircraft on a direct course", Mala received a message on her communicator from Throk.
"I see", Mala set aside her work, "Tell Erik to gather his team and move to the surface".
"Understood, Subdirector", the security commander responded.
Site Meridian airfield
Director Haddock watched as a Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion descended through the misty sky; the heavy lift helicopter's stark white frame gleamed under the airfield's lights. the freshly fallen snow crunched under the aircraft's landing gear, the Director looks pass the landed helicopter to see another Super Stallion approach the landing spot. when the second helicopter touched down, the first's rear ramp groaned open.
The Director's group watched as a team of light grey BDU uniformed soldiers emerged from the rear of the aircraft, securing the immediate area before signaling their transport. the soldiers formed up around the back of the helicopter as an officer in a clean pressed uniform walked down the ramp, he fixed his decorated peaked cap and jacket he wore over his shoulders. the officer's snow-white hair almost blended into his attire, his dark gray eyebrows furrowed as the chill of the dispersing snowstorm bit at his body.
The officer approached Director Haddock, "Greetings, Stephan Haddock, Director of Foundation site 'Meridian'". He extended his hand while removing his cap and shook the Director's, "Allow me to introduce myself, I'm Major Grimmel from the International Center for the Study of Unified Thaumatology".
"The ICSUT?", the director stepped back, seeing headlights approaching in the distance". "So, you're with the Global Occult Coalition?", the small blue star insignia on the soldier's plate carriers stood out from the dark grey.
"Indeed, I've received word from my superiors that you were expecting our inspectorate?", Grimmel smoothed down his hair before replaced his peaked cap.
"I was not aware my facility was expecting an inspection?", the Director's genuine confusion incited the Major's interest.
"I was sure they made contact with the O5 council", Grimmel motioned for his assistant to approach with his satchel, opening it to retrieve a manila folder. "We were tasked with a thorough inspection of your foundation site housing this anomaly?", he handed the Director a full-page printout image of a large bipedal reptile sporting advance armaments.
"So, you are here for that... Thing", Stephan sneered as he handed back the paper. "I believe they-", he looked towards the approaching JLTVs, "-are the ones you should talk to". The director led his entourage back to the main facility, leaving Grimmel stunned by his quick departure.
"Hello, you must be the inspectorate we were expecting", Erik jogged up the major, welcomely holding out his hand.
"Ah, Excellent", Grimmel shook it without hesitation. "I assume you know what we are here for?", he offered the same picture to Erik.
"Oh, you're here to meet the 'Kid'?", his warm smile intrigued the major. "Subdirector Mala sent us to greet your inspectorate, we're here to bring you to her", motioning to the four JLTVs.
"Why not use the standard tram system?", Grimmel inquired.
"Director Haddock is being... Difficult, he has cut the northwestern wing from the tram network", Erik huffed. "We'll use the trucks to get back to the wing's surface access", Erik's team piled into the first and last vehicles. Grimmel led his team into the remaining pair.
Erik and Grimmel's teams piled into the main elevator, "I had a feeling the kid's performance would get attention".
"By this 'Kid' you keep mentioning, you are referring to the Foundation's 'H.A.D.E.S. program'?", the major inquired.
"If you want to get technical, his designated as 'SCP-682-0' also known as 'Subject Zero' in our systems", the lift came to a gentle stop, the doors opening to reveal Mala standing with a towering, uniformed officer with his red hair shaved into an undercut.
Grimmel stepped out with Erik, "You must be Dr. Aria Mala?", he shook her hand.
"Yes, I am Subdirector Mala", she motioned to the man standing next to her while shaking the major's hand. "This is Cpt. Thaddeus, commander of the northwestern wing internal security".
He shook Grimmel's hand stiffly, "I prefer 'Throk', Sir".
"Of course, Cpt Throk", he gave the commander a small smile.
"We need to go through additional security checkpoints to access Zero's containment", Mala walked out of the main atrium, "I hope that would not pose a problem?".
"Agreeable, Dr. Aria", Grimmel and his team followed Mala, Throk and Erik's group.
The two groups stopped at a security checkpoint, Grimmel observed the pair of Alpha-1 guards inside the booth, 'The Right Hand, the anomaly contained within this 'Pit' must be either extremely valuable or dangerous'.
"Present identification", the guard stationed at the booth's window ordered.
"Major John Wallace Grimmel, overseer of the ICSUT", he flashed his G.O.C. badge.
A pair of sweeping lasers passed over the major, "All clear, proceed", the rest of Grimmel's team went through the screening.
"If you and your team would follow me, we will go to the entrance of The Pit", Erik announced as Mala and Throk were already on the move. Grimmel's inspectorate caught up with them just as they reached the vault doors, "Hello Gobber!".
"Erik, I see yur' with Subdirector Mala and Throk", the grizzled veteran notices the unknown group behind them, "...With company". Mala waited as Gobber examined the inspectorate, "Hmm... they seem like a good lot". Erik, Throk and the security detail relaxed, removing their hands from their holstered firearms. Grimmel quirked an eyebrow at the change in demeanor, then watched as many sets of heavy doors unlocked. the vault grade doors slid, unfurled and receded into the walls, each sounding like they weighed tons.
As the last door opened, an ordinary elevator door was revealed, "Dr. Mala and I can escort you and two of your inspectorates into the chamber".
"Yes, that would be quite alright", Grimmel nods to Erik and motioned for a pair of women to follow him after Mala. when the doors closed and the lift began to descend, Grimmel turned to Mala, "May I ask why that gate keeper's acknowledgment place your team at ease?".
"Yes, Godfred has a unique talent for decerning an individual's true intentions", Mala looked back to him before turning back to watch the many guards patrolling the catwalks pass by, "His talent has been regularly tested to ensure optimum performance as a final failsafe for Zero's protection".
Grimmel followed her gaze, scrutinizing the sheer level of security for this 'Zero' or 'The Kid' the staff keep speaking about, "This is an impressive level of protection the Foundation has built for just one anomaly?".
"Indeed, Zero is the core essential of the H.A.D.E.S. program", Erik spotted Thora and Bob stationed at a heavy turret station, "Most of the northwestern wing's operations are centered around his care".
'"His" not "Its" care?', Grimmel thought deeply on the reaction of the supposably cold and calculating Foundation staff, "Interesting". 'How can they be developing an Engenweapon with such warm smiles?', he could hear a faint melody coming from far below the vast shaft.
Erik looked at his watch, "Ah, the kid must have finished his study session, I think he might be trying to beat his previous high score?".
"That is good, his relaxion time should help him with his agility", Mala smiled as the music came more clearly into the elevator. Grimmel didn't even noticed the elevator coming to a gentle stop, "I will go ahead and let him know he has visitors". she stepped out of the lift and walked to Hayden's dorm, "Please wait here". the major watched as a boy that could be no older than sixteen step in rhythm with the high energy song* playing at the arcade dance machine. the boy's feet blurred across the floor pad, the score on the screen grew more and more numerous as he perfectly hit each target.
When the song finally ended, Mala unlocked the door to his dorm, "Hayden, do you have a minute?". the boy turned around, letting Grimmel examine him. his face was that of an ordinary child, not someone how could be capable of handling front line combat. his auburn hair appeared to be darker at the roots than its ends, falling to his shoulders. the boy's eyes were strange mix of forest green with a golden tinge, they brighten when Mala stepped into his room, "There's someone who wants to meet you".
Hayden looked towards the elevator, his eyes locking on a quiet Grimmel, Mala waved them over, "Well, let's go meet the Kid?".
(A/N: *You can place whichever Dance Dance Revolution you want, but I like to picture Hayden dancing to Hiroyuki Sawano and Taiiku Okazaki's 'Abura'. Yes, I am expanding Hayden's world even further, yes, I always wanted to include Grimmel the Grisly. The O5-02 variant I'm using is 'The Gardener', I find this one more interesting.)