Her guardians were outside the Great Pantheon, the usual merchants sold their goods on carts, mainly in the winter for her uncle to venture out. All while she entered. Giving no eye to the multiple statuettes of Gods on both her sides. ‘Gods’… what lies…
Sam wandered off, spinning in place, a little dance they called it. That she did around everything she could nothing was serious so…
They were no better than beggars, tyrants, forcing others to do what they will never be able to do themselves. Scavengers picking the carcass of a girl long thought dead.
She stopped in the large of the large towering statue of Athena and felt nothing wise about her… or any of them, picking one up staring into her own delicate features, she forced her self into the golden chalices reflection her face was almost like Seths at— at least that's what she told her.
…It would be 200 years since then too, she can live now and not think of them anymore, now she could live her life like her mother and fathers wanted, free, and sa-
Her body seizes straight, shoulders tensed, her back bent after a loud clank- her eyes popped wide from the strike then slowly went down with her. Her world turning black.
__
Her eyes blinked open slowly and weakly, the darkroom, illuminated by the candlelight under her cell door. The floor was damp, cold. Where she laid, a soft mist embraced all moss riddled corners of the cell.
Someone had taken her, where was she? Where was her father, her uncle?!! …she wanted to go home…
Her ear-splitting shrills of fear; throes of her inner struggles filled the halls of the dungeon behind the door. The other men came in splashing her with hot oils. She writhed a gleam of defiance in her eyes, on the stone floor, kicking and wailing in protest to her confines, even injuring herself. She was met with the response of cold water.
Next a bucket and man she observed exit, another carelessly kicked her off to the side, eyes weakly slit, heart in her chest still thumping loudly dies out. It killed her inside.
When she was mixed with the other slave cells, some would be— but not for long, she stabbed plenty.
Not one disrespected her again.
Why were they keeping her weak like this? This is what they did to slaves, so they wouldn't run away or have strength. If they hadn't noticed that after 2 years, she hadn't aged. She wasn't entirely human, nor was she aware of how they aged normally. It didn't matter, where she was, who she became as long as she still had their care.
That won't stop it. Kill it. Who you are. It's the cycle. Break those chains.
Their love a driving force she needed to survive. It was different from back then she had a reason to live.
Not long after, men came in and she's dragged out.
__
She waited in the back of a caravan there were people not to her surprise, people like her were bound and weak. Hopeless faces. No clue where they were going in life, if not now, then ever. She thought maybe she should give up… go along so she could survive.
After 3 days later, the carriage stopped.
Sam shuffled along with all the other slaves, unaware of the heavy crowd at large watching her pace. If she left she'd never see them again. She winced out a boldness, and suddenly her jaw tensed with reluctance. Glittering beads welled up in the girl's eyes. Before they could roll down her cheeks—
A slaver shoved forward, she fell over. He yelled for her to get up. What difference did it make? and these men were not helping they only evoked traumatic events and experiences, she wanted to get out and keep running and running, even if she could keep going.
A prelude she justified her upcoming actions: They were just meaner, bigger slaves who had disrespected her. So they didn't deserve to live and continue their useless futures.
Sam steeled herself as she rose and ducked around off-center. Both hands bound, she snatched the scabbard from the slave keepers concealed waistband. She whirled around upwards, slitting the owner's throat a high arch of blood.
Scabbard still in hand, she remembered how he would do it, in the arena up against those tigers and bears. Even without his permission, even if she was a female watching in hiding. She watched. How couldn't she? He was amazing out there.
And so she would be…
Her life was hers, and no one will make her choice in how it will be lived.
She charged. The men resisted their full strength thinking she was still weak. Never expected the young girl to wack away his blade with hers. Them losing their fingers, and her, her balance, she shimmied and spun off-center, it's driven straight into one's chest, twisted it and wrenched it out, then out it came with a flick of blood.
having exerted to much strength she didn't have, she pushed out whatever she had left that didn't leave in her heavy breathing.
Her hands became aflame burning off her restraints. Her whole body became a pyre, and bruised face shifted to that of a peerless fighter, a roar of burning strength.
The last trader charged with his weapon raised, he roared forward, Sams stolen blade rose down in flames, her blazed a fierce light.
Swinging it, running on pure instinct of her impression, advanced herself in the momentum of the force— even in this fading to unconsciousness state, the girl dreamed of what her parents had shown her, remember what she had last seen of her…
Or cut their heads off.
So she did. And their homes surged away with them. The whole ground shook with a earthquake a gust of foul wind shot up from the ground a crack of red lighting shot through the sky. Her glazed eyes crazed in the night as though she could start a thousand wildfires. The blow. However, like every dying sun it was put out by sunrise, and she collapsed.
She felt a handshake her awake, she screamed back to her senses and taking her blade she swung it at company in a crazed scream.
A reflective black blade cut hers in half. Abel saw it, then the blood dried on her face, it wasn't hers. Worse, it was someone else's.
Cain embraced the child who shook in a fit. Her father allowed purely unbridled wrath to build and course through his veins, igniting the tattoos that covered him.
Shading the ground in an angry red. His face the definition of rage, until Cain laid a hand on his shoulder carrying the girl. The half man shook his head. Abel withdrew his urges and settled for removing the child from harm's way.
She had done enough already, by morning, it would all be ashes.
___
Having retreated to their abandoned underwater quarters, she finally awoke and rolling out of bed. She felt her small legs give out beneath her. Her hair was so heavily matted they had to cut it. Sam stood, each step held an weary gait.
Meanwhile, her father and uncle were argued about who's was responsible for her capture, she entered the scenic underwater room bubble.
The little girl tossed a firecracker, the kind her father had taught her in China.
The girl waited deadpanned for the detonation.
"Will you two shut the hell up." she said with a cold voice to both, the fathers' brow furrowed about to snap."Excuse me!? What was that!?"
-CRACK BOOOM-
"I wanna learn how to fight. Teach me how to really kill."
Cain got up from where he fell. Abel looked down at her hesitantly, eyes squinting with a tinge of…
“You’ll be safe here! Out here is no place—”
“I'll stab you in the head,” said Sam coldly. The dead look on her face was a separation of emotional trace, of murderous intent.
“My Stupa — I’ve figured things out —Don't drag it out with that face.”
"I survived. I'm right here. There is your proof! I can do it! let me kill them!" she stamped the ground. Both men paused wondering if she was acting."Don't you dare look down on me!"
Cain looked at her with unease. "We know that you are here. This was not a test to see if you could."
"The little girl began emitting an amber haze of frustration and rage, "NOOO!" she screeched, crashing a nearby relic into the wall."DAMN THEM!! LET me do this! I will make them burn for what they did!"
"Samari." Abel hesitated, he then lunges swallowing her in his embrace, struggling against the child's thrashes, kicks, and bites. Her hand hit him up the chin."Stop it!!- I'll kill you! I'll kill you both too!"
Cain let out whatever concern he could, unimpeded by the tears. "No. And watch your language! Next time do not wander from us!"
Abel held her tighter, willing to give her the say in her aspiration, "Why?"
"Because they're not worth it like you told me."She whimpered, waning into pants." Who I can't trust what I do! Now they've earned it."
Abel parted from her, only to endure her response."If that's what you want…"
Sam chirped and hugged both together."YAY!! Thank you! Both of you! Also, can I die my hair? I want to be pretty!"
Able was appalled. In trembling lips he stood. For once at something that was his lively hood. That mans The first man, the devil himself. The one who made him.
Cain took notice of the absence of his mind and took on his role the best he could."Why? You already are,"
"Not for that, it's for when I'm the last thing they see!" Sam said enthusiastically, unhinging in its earnest," They won't recognize me. Then After every last one of the-"
Her father looked down at her. Cold, confused, embarrassed in anger. She blinked, a little confused by his embrace.
“I want you to live. Not just for yourself but others. It is not encapsulating not to trust anyone else, I know you already fear being alone.”
“How would that… make me lonely? I’m just… being cautious.”
“You are only familiar with that. And nothing else. You need to decide now before it's too late to change."
Tears began to touch the ground behind her, they weren't his own.
With every sniffle tears rose, more and more her nose crinkled and tears came pouring down in . Cain joined in on his knees, holding her in a hug of his own.
In her sweet low voice, she said to them both."…I'm back."
__
As for her trials before her. She would never be the same. However, it built a resolve. In persistence, she continued to ask.
He would train her. It was her chose to learn. Of course for her own good, he would not hold back.
Still, even so, keeping her down proved impossible. Everyone against her, he watched only drive her faith to move forward.
Her uncle taught her strategy, she imposed upon those methods and when it came for war she blossomed. A rose, with so many thorns hidden. Opponents dreaded which move she'd make next.
Her favorite became known as "Taking it from behind." much to the annoyance and discipline of her guardians.
Forthwith, visions began to blur and bodies dropped like destrung marionettes. In an era of metal hats with Viking horns, an 8-year-old body lifted a face-off rock over and over again, till it was a flat gory mess.
An enemy came from her left shoulder, and would have ended her right then and there had he not been clubbed and sent skyward by another just as clever.
“You’ve been an idiot these days! Had you learned nothing from the last incident!?”
"All I did was get flanked! I got them back."
“And nearly died!"
"The guy called me a bitch."
" That may have been the case, but you let it turn you from reason!! Do not stick to one enemy! Move on! Also, should I see you on anything—”
"Weed isn't bad! Break the system, papa!"
Able swatted her upside the head, "Ow!" "You demented child! Instead of poor taste! Show some integrity! Ally or enemy! If you want too mindless for efficiency go on ahead!! And Liquor child! Even if I maybe a Viking! That herb as well, it dulls your senses on the battlefield. Stay alert, Stupa."
"Adda, why does uncle Cain go missing so often?"
"…for he's a coward, who runs from himself, unable to communicate himself by choice."Abel said his brothers flighty nature getting on his nerves."Lets go home."
__
They watched the graves of their aunt and uncle, her mother, as the pastures bloomed red. Her hair splayed in with them, a perfect blend.
“ When the sun hasn't been warm for ages. It hides, happiness from the outside…but eyes can't pretend…sadness can't hide behind their flames… it lights again.”
“What does that mean? It’s a riddle, I know that much… and it was pretty emo. Papa why do you have to like dark stuff?”
“Guess. There is an answer.”
Her head tilts,“Is it the heart?”
Able smiles down at her with an air of safety, and recognition, and, love,”Correct.”
“Well that’s a nice thing to say, we’re still around dead bodies, you know?”
Able chuckles,“They are the ones who gave their lives. Samariah. I want you to still have a home.”
“Why are you quiet all the time? Why don’t you talk back to me?”
“I don’t wish to trouble you talking about my issues. Mostly, they are negligible and I don’t find them significant enough to be discussed about.”
“Not really. It still shows you care…”
Able knelt and dangled the black keys,”These are specially made, I will awake without anger or pain, just don’t use it too much it has a low rate of bodily adjustment.”
“Thanks! Why are you giving me this, though?”
“I’m afraid… I can no longer live with you…”
“What…?”
“It may affect your reputation and quality of life…”
“I don’t… want to live by myself… or with them. Don’t leave me, please don’t reject me what did I do wrong? I’m sorry!”
“It isn’t safe. This has nothing to do with you. Who you are is fine.”
“What do you mean!? Then why is this—”
Able turns around. Looking at her face, is not an option.
"Huh!? No! No! Let's go back to the farm! Abum! Please! What about the sheep? What about—"
"Enough!!"Able states with a straight face, an anchor of weight behind it. Nervousness in his chest bubbles to the surface," I have sold them all. The buyers will come for them."
"I hate this…" she grieved, her 11-year-old(5,799) self fell to her knees."I don't want too you to leave… I'm gonna kill those mother fu-"her fingers rake the dirt before she could say anything else, she was trapped in a far off gaze.
"Stupa, I'll try to visit when I'm at my best. Please do not be angry."
Sam stood and threw the dirt mixed with tulip petals." How can I not be angry! You doing this makes no sense!! And I'll feel like a bad person because of it! You can't keep hiding this from me! Tell me already!"
Able remained painfully silent.
"I don't care… Screw that! I'm going back to the farm after this!"She marched off quickly in a quick rut.
Able felt a throbbing in his head, he pressed down to give her time as the little girl faded into someone he didn't recognize. Another foe, another ally, another— he collapsed, cold hands shaking, an unstable expression, she was far enough.
He drew a blade. Ready for the read hands command. A tear left his socket between his fingers. The fallen petals she threw, wrap gently around his feet.
__
Seasons went by. She tended the harvest. 30 years. Wondering where he's at. If he's safe. Wanting him to return just to say goodbye. To thank him… last time she could recall, he had bought this entire big ass ranch so that she could have a big room, or multiple master bedrooms. One had a dolphin he had wrestled out of the literal ocean. Why was she such a spoiled bitch? Why had she been so mean?
Now all she had left was regret.
She saw a figure coming into view through the fog one night on the porch.
Heavily wounded dragging himself. He collapsed.
"Adda!"
___
"Where were you!?"
Able refrained from divulging. Knowing her, she might confront them recklessly."It was a short quarrel in India."A lie he had been in storage. Chased by men with sticks of flying iron.
"Okay? Why don't you take me with you? I know how to fight! I can—"
"Silence!"
Sam piped up. Grabbing a wrist. Able leaned in sternly.
"You will not intervene. Unless I engage you, you shall stay away! Hear me?"
Sam broke away, "Why!?"
Able said not a word.
"You won't at least tell me!?"
"No…" he says, the wet pebbles brim in her eyes, fighting them back she blinked, they fell out regardless. "…You promised."
"I can't. Seek out your uncle."The grip on her shoulders tightened, "What about the dolphin?"
" I will cook it. It will be our last meal. Please, do not cling to me." his large hand caressed her cheek as he stood."Rubatu, goodbye."
She wanted to say it to. That made no fucking sense. Was it hate? Anger? Frustration? It was pain back then… or she was just a brat; she threw the keys back at him. Screeched, loud enough for those in the next mile to hear."Fine! Get out of my face! I wish I was never born!"
Able turned his head back on his way and simply smiled. She tried to read his lips, rushing she shoved her self in the door so hard it shut. Backsliding she shrunk into a ball, legs in close. Crying into her arms.
"I'm very proud…" he repeats one more time."But please grow up to be mature…" And then he's gone. That day he dreaded finally arrived.
Now no longer human.
"I'll bring you back… one day… just you wait…"
“You are God. All those people who died are cursing you right now… how could you let them die like that?” a Man said behind his son as a scroll spread showed the latest mythical disaster, her eyes shudder.
Tears dyed in the spots on the page.
”Do.”
“I didn’t know anything…” he whimpers.”Please…"sobs fall helplessly on his words and those on the scrolls page."Leave me alone…”
“…useless… Diminish your sadness. Or you will drag your self down.”
The boy closed his fists tight. And then shot a glare.“And you?!! What do you ever do!? Besides this!”
He received a kick to the face a bloody tooth patterned to the ground.
“How dare you make me feel vain. See that? Your perfection is my gift to you.”
A younger Able mumbled with his bloody mouth, the sting bringing tears to her eyes.“Thatsh grown-up teeth! Mama said—”
"Such traditions are worthless. Do not expect them to blossom into true ideas."
There was the sound of wind brushing metal,"Only mine exist." Adam lifted his long invisible blade.”It will not cease unless you do something… you weakling fight back. Or amount to nothing.”
_
A man's foot smashed down on his sandcastle in the sandbox caving it in.
“Why are you using your hands? Use your vigors instead to make new ideas. You have those do you not?”
“W-why would you do that!?”
“Use your gifts. You’d do it faster.”
“No… I find it better with my hands…”
“You have these great powers and you won’t even use them the way they're supposed to!? What good are they in your possession?!”The sand was furiously kicked in his face, he wrapped his arms around his eyes and tucked his face in the crook of one elbow. It stung badly.”Your brother is far more competent, perhaps he shall endure fairer than you have!! I won’t ever have to see you again!”
Cain felt the fear spin in his chest.“No! Okay! I’ll do it.”
The grains of sand repaired and piled up to form an even greater and magnificent sandcastle.
“See look! Isn’t that better?”Initially cheery, that left. He laid his hand back on the sandcastle the side fell down,
"The way it was before…”Cain said with a dead look in his eyes.
”Why… why did it…” Fury and rage grew in Adam's eyes. With took a handful of sand and chucked it back into Cain's head.” You could not create sturdiness?! Make it again!?”
“Then it wouldn’t be a sandcastle…” the boy smiled.
“Make it stone…” the man demanded. The boy below him was reluctant and fearful, and The father added a push, he raised a knee, a gesture for another mouthful of sand…
“Do it. Now. prove your worthyness to be my spawn.”
Hiding his face from the future attack, Cain squeezed his eyes shut when he looked over again, his hands held over the sand, fulfilling his fathers outlandish demands.
”See… isn’t it grand? The gifts you’ve been given…?”
Cain grabbed a seed, the flowers bloom wildly, couldn’t help but crack a weak smile into the ground, before the sandcastle was thrown down into his cranium.
“You're not going to let your pathetic little success make you all uppity, are you? It always ammused me how quickly you retured to this plane of life, in that way I guess there is some positive to your use.”
___
"Did you think you could mislead the best on earth? Why didn’t you tell me anything!? What did I say about hiding your life force from me! Next time, you call on me! I never want to see this happen again. You are confined to the village. I do not want to see you out! Do you here me?! Your well being is under my authority!"
"I can live for myself!"
"Then why am I here!?"
"We can't rely on you for every need!"
"You all may think you know what to do but, your wrong, we all make mistakes, not me, Would you rather die from the children of the night."
“It’s not their fault! Your self-hatred, things will never the same as they were back when!!”cried she, Hawwah.” How long will you keep them here in the valley!? Negotiate with the other inhabitants! Ever since you’ve consumed that fruit, you’ve degenerated — You complain about damage but only make things worse!”
“Silence woman!! What do you know!!?"Adam grappled Eve's neck like a foam rope."None will help We had it all! It was mine! I am damned with you all! All is uncertain!! These are your faults. All know it. That way it shall remain! And will all feel it in return! I have nothing to do with this!”
Eve dropped with a gasp as pain slammed through her knees. Her face fell into her hand as she sobbed and wracked.“Stay away from that place!! All these things you've done have only been to save your self!”
"I am perfection! I can see things clearer than anybody! I saved this city and all your worthless lives," Adam growls.
"You need us to survive, together we are stronger… you are a liar, not to our people, but to even yourself."
Calm outside. He was at his boiling inside. No one was going to talk to him like this. Especially an inferior female. And at that only one thing crossed his mind:
Those that don't think as he thinks must be destroyed.
_
Awa came apon her first."Mother!" she exclaimed, dropping to her knees beside him.
The scene of the first murder-suicide.
Did they… do this to each other…?
Cains' attention was stolen by a voice from everywhere and nowhere echoed around without a source.
“God had discarded me for a reason if you truly wanted to follow his words, you’d believe me as well, after all, we as humans are made in his own image. I am the closest, you are all my own. And so I reap what I sow!”
Azure sloped his head down on the body of his mother and hid in his arms. Awa collapsed onto her knees, and with shock and whimper,”Mama…”
“Father!”Cain shouted, sobbed aloud,"Why did you do this!?—”
Cooly and calmly it responds.“They were stronger together, were they not? Look at how wrong she was. Where it led her in the end, certainly, this will be you all as well, if you stray from the path. Blasphemy shall not be tolerated. In his name you all shall serve.”
“How was this in any way needed!?”Cain cried out.“WHY!? What right do you have?! What nerve do you bare to decide such things?!!!”
“Why not? That perspective belongs to me and me alone.”
"You can't do that…"Able says meekly."You can't!"
“What do you know?”Says the voice dripping with calm condensation."That I do not?"
“Why don’t you come out and face us properly!” Cries Cain."Show your face already!"
“ For the crimes or simply seeking the best for the tribes advancement?”
“W-What are you doing?”says Able over the cries of his twin 15-year-old siblings.
“What I’ve already done. This is a trait I override my image is infinite. And soon, all will be as well.”
As people emptied out the gate of the procession… As the firelight burned the funeral pyre. The Second daughter of Eve and Adam. Faded with sadness in her siblings hearts. Cain saw his wicked smile… a twinkle in his eye, and in horror and disgust, he cringed in bleakness.
"Awa…"Azure sobs,"…my other half."
"Why did… I couldn't pull her out the pit in time…"Able grieved.
"Why are you two blaming your selves!"Cried Cain,"You are not the one who decided putting her in a pit of snakes would serve as training. It's fathers!"
"Cain…"Azure pleads,"Please, be quiet, you know what happens when you talk against father…"
“It was yours! You could’ve stopped me but you didn’t!”The man said and without a care in the world.”Now look where she is. Dead! And you believe you have what it takes to lead the tribe. I feel ashamed to even call you the same as me.”
“I won’t do that! Mother told me not to! It's not how things are,” the eldest son blurts in turmoil and tears, only to find himself pinned down to the ground, hands-on his neck.
“That and, what do you know about the way of things? Did you name the leaves? The fowl of the sky? You are unnecessary. Do not delude yourself to a place in this world. You can simply be remade, in my image. None will mourn your originality.” from where he held out a hand, Adam recreates human form, a similar image, yet different, perfect.
His sister Awa.
"Yee of so little faith. See now how your sentiments have no validity. For here she stands beside me."
Cains' glare quivered from under his brow, and kicked him off towards the two. Confused as to where he came from. He then felt himself burn up. Grabbed a pastel and with a swing rids the space of new sister, leaving her a corpse and ran at the man with furious anger. It was only to mock him, to disrespect her memory and who she originally was—
Adam's Hellish smile acted like coals; it made Cains lose all senses. He flew into a rage. The only thing he heard and saw was a voice, "Qayin! Stop it! Don't let him get the best of—!!”The pestle still stuck, a hand grabbed too late, a body hit the ground.
Azure shrieked out the large villa hut.
“See?”Gleams Adam,” Hadn’t I said anything earlier?”
“What!?”Cain immediately shut himself off and stared at his hands, "That wasn’t, me — no I can’t do that. I know that for sure… the rage…”
“Has shown it's true fruits, look down below, my dear son.”
“The fruits of—!?”looking at the immense amount of red around him… the sunlight from the clouds hit Cains blood-soaked hands — They shook. It was clean but showed fresh tissue, and the abrasion looked painful. Abel's body lay, grey eyes that mixed surprise and horror on his young face as he lay in a puddle of darkening blood.
Azure arrived with several tribesmen. All that coyness, all that self antiquated pride left. Adam changed to a demeaning false love that always made Cains blood boil.“Now, look at what you’ve done. Your brothers' blood calls out to you from the ground!!”his father said with the worst grin.
But, for now he'd put aside his rage, for the consequences had been dealt by his hand."No. No. No!! Habil. I am so sorry.."rests his thoughts on Abel's chest, in tears, he lifts his head "Azure!! You saw!”Cain calls,”Tell them!! Tell them what this man has done!!”
"Yes, Azure," Adam laid a hand on the boys shoulder tightly, the demeaning, invasive hint present, made"Tell them." Azure shivered at his fathers venomous whisper. He felt sick to his stomach. Didn't want any more hands-on him. Blood on his. The words corked up in his throat, he shook his head. A choice he would regret that he did not take.
Pathetic, you sob, in front of other eyes no less, yes why not… convey how pathetically weak you are" I even resurrected your fallen sister! As I saw you Woeful! But you destroyed my gifts! I am heartbroken… my dear son… Men take him away! He shall be dealt with later on.”
Cain was carried off. He would not blame Azure for this. It was not his fault.”Let go of me!! You will pay for this! You hear me!!”
“Quayin For the slaughter of the second son of the two peoples.”announces Adam.”My beloved son know this… it anguishes me, to do this, following the death of your mother. But this is an affront I cannot ignore without consequence.”
A sigil on Adams's hand made it's mark into Cains temple, the exact one, that would torment him for millenniums to come.
“Go now! Wander this earth!! May those who strike you in return, pay sevenfold for their transgression.”
Cain’s heart fell deep into the pit of his stomach. Staring at what remained of his family. Awa and Azure too frightened as he was to speak up against this dragon of a man.
Left to wander forever. How could he leave it all behind? Would it still be worth the try? The touch that originally brought life to all became what withered the earth to ash. To make up for the transgression against himself— He owed his brother that much — He couldn’t let things remain out of for his father…
One day… when none else saw, to the grave, of his beloved brother, with whatever he had left to bring life. He charged the soils with revival. But nothing… so he would dig, for perhaps a greater effect. Nothing. Or more or less he was not there. The guilt killed him. Had Adam moved the grave?
No… it could only of gone one place…
Between two mountain walls, a bloody, stinking river, bones washed on its banks with soggy flesh. Dead enemies of his father, who would only need say no, swam to their eyelids in blood; It ran ridiculously for miles, in the rivers surrounding the valley. All for the needless message of fear that carried heaps of mistrust, his fabricated legends, and folklore. His mother was no fool, the one fooled by the serpent was him. In the end, his folly was hidden by his hubris and lies, as no man could stand against him, he knew a woman's purpose but even in the face of his mistake, he would not admit it.
He took a leaped and dived, and eventually found him, off to one side, his blood cried out, then arms his brothers' eyes opened. The older brother's neck was caught.
From a ledge above, the devil called down to him, laughing." Where has your brother gone? You fool with emotions. Your open wounds, They aren't real, this is what you get for clinging to such things."
Cains hand twitched. His consciousness nearly faded, he made a choice, this was Able, yet not him at all. He knocked him out with a fist, his brother gasped frantically, and never moved again. Cain stood. Adam turned away already bored with his entertainment.
To this day Cain wandered the lands…
That the mighty Elohim, the ones placed upon his head… not that man, had power over him.
Not a man who would abandon his kingdom to return to godhood. Ignoring all who loved him at his own peril, the principle of all survival — Imagination— was boundless but cruel. Up above a black moon wanes. What's his never was. But he knew he himself was no different. The sound of the animals grew into an isolated silence. Repress it. Let it go. Repress it. Let it go. Repress it. Let it go. How long will he remain in this intentional prison of self pity? If it carried over all the pain? It was his say, over the life he would originally give. It had a purpose, unlike him. Would he always be content in this false cradle of kindness? Drag those around down with his regret?
Within a the next coming age, he'll leave it to time to ascertain whether or not empowering students and getting them to take over their learning process yield significant results or not.
Cain wondered when he could leave site 17. He was going to be shipped off to 19 for Alpha-9, at daybreak, as apparently, the director of Site-17 was a fan. Before then he could spare time for some tea, hold the handle, let it grow red hot on his hand until it hissed for release. It was melted by the returned friction from him, the drinker, who dare not look to deep into its shallow depths.
To his updated knowledge, no one knew where they were. Their being-thing compromised, they would normally be found in a state of despair—a hopeless state. Despised efforts to establish the existence of his own person. Just like he did. Yet there was always stability. Love and hope. The good suffered while the bad prospered.
From outside his office door, he could hear chanting…
' OH Our God is an awesome God
He reigns from heaven above
With wisdom, power, and love
Our God is an awesome God'
Cain was bemused, what on earth? He was now certain someone was getting demoted. But, he was far too tired for this"Please… cease-"
A loud and muffled," ENOUGH!"screamed from behind the door. It also sounded like some one got hit.
"Owe!"cried a woman's voice.
Cain stood up, rubbing his knees from phantom limb syndrome, and called again,"Who is there!?"
"Open the door."A male voice chastised.
"Okay damn…"
In walked in A tall, from Cains calculations, 6'3 man with bronze skin. A monk-like messianic air surrounded him. The other a Redhead, "My deepest apologies." said the man sincerely.
"073, I've brought your transfer date personally." said the red-headed researcher with the Golden goggles."Your fit to be transferred everything is in order."
"I see. I thank you, but may I ask who you are."
"You don't recognize either of us?"Said Metatron, "At all?" Sam closed the door.
"You… I can't say I do."
Metatron held out a blue gem, one of a valuable memory, his recollection, a memento from a denizen of the library he had subjugated during his audit.
"That—Who are you!?"Cain stepped back, on high alert, "Your not with the foundation, are you."
"No father, "Enoch replies, "How long will you pretend like this, when will the mask you wear, fall?"
"…Enoch, is that really you?"
"It is."
Cain was frozen in disbelief that bordered on horror as he realized the depth of Enochs sincerity. He sighed in regret, and the question was asked, the answers were ones he had to force himself to listen to,"You can't do this! What of the Elohim—"
"Have all fallen, the blame has only been shifted in your mind over time, by that man's own ways. It was not you who committed the first crime. Because you are not enjoying life and live in desperation. You haven’t had excitement related to self-fulfillment or challenge yourself to be better. You are upset towards yourself but too afraid to confess it. That’s why you have that kind of feeling."Said Enoch."Face this truth, even if his delusion is all you can see of what's been done."
Cain laid his hand apon his forehead."This curse… I know it may be fake, but it affects much more than I, those I love without his permission will—"
"Those parts of you like him, are alright," said Enoch,"That's what sets you apart from an uncle, that freeing realization."
"I fail to see your point! With the grief! To not pretend you want me around! As if I do not remind you! As long as I do I am myself! And if that doesn't happen, I will make it happen. I destroy everything I love and touch with my actions! What do I possibly deserve!?"
"— Father! The I you identify with doesn't exist"Enoch explained.
"Then you've become,- I'm…sorry…" he stayed silent, he preferred not to talk right now. BUT if it's his Son, he would answer anything."…the gates they are closed… to that place."
"Not for those willing to walk a narrow path to nothing."Metatron said with a ready-to-stand-his-ground tone," As for the throne, it is taken, Adam el Esam shall not retake his forsaken kingdom."
Cain could not fathom what was just told, "By whom?"
"Big sis," Said Sam, "Falarith, Did Adda tell you about her? Also, Uncle Cain, it's me Samariah by the way."
"How is this—….How is this possible?"
"I'm the Director of the site."
"So, are you ready to remember what really happened?"Enoch asked him.
'-I..was just…disappointing in myself..I'm…I'm sorry…."Cain made his choice,"I will not run from this. Do what you must."
"It's not your fault. You'll see that."said Enoch."I can already."
18 years later…
"Samantha Rema Rose."
"Yes?"
"You graduated Tanaya Elementary, and from there were given graduation into Yorkshire Highschool, where you received your undergraduate degree from Berkley University?"
"Yup." Sam held out several cut out parts of the newspaper that were taken."Heres me when I was little…"
'Girl Genius wins High School spelling bee at only age 5'
'Child prodigy, Rema Rose, age 12, Gives Masters Thesis at the college campus. Set to graduate next year. "
The hiring agent was already seeing the issues with this… it was stupid.
"I also gave a Ted talk for my seconds master's degree, that was when I was 17."
"You're how old now?"
"I'm 18… but, I am just as capable as anyone else. And I'm I think I am perfect for this position!"
"This position, how did you hear about this position?"
"My older brother represents some really weird fucking- oh shoot mind my french — people, he runs a law firm."
"This line of work is dangerous… you do realize that, don't you?"
"I had to beg my brother to tell me more. I also owe my sister and — Oh, you might've heard of her! She's a contestant this season of Hollywood Idol. Or was. She won."
"You have family members? Your brother I've heard of."
Sam sighed and scrolled social media."My sister, but she's kind of high profile?" the researcher pulled in the phone and took a look, Sam continued, "I was wondering if that would affect my application position…"
"Her!? Your twin sisters A.J O'Day Rose?"
"Yeah. She changed it to Minx when she won."
"Excuse me? She does I'm younger by 15 seconds, I think I also brought my birth certificate. And my passport to prove I was borne in the united states."
"Your pass wha-? Never mind. Sorry. I'm a big fan cause of my kids. I know she had a younger sibling… it's on all the fan sites, you can't be her though. You look too young."
"Hehe. When you're trying to move out of the shadow of your famous older sister. That can be quite the task…" half true, she was stronger than Falarith, but Falarith was talented at a supernatural level with one hell of a stage presence. Putting aside etcetera, In any other Domain, she herself was smarter, but dumb compared to Metatron, Raziel, Lauaa and pretty much every other Initiator.
The researcher, Sable, rubbed her chin."Tell you what. You prove it, right now. Throw in three autographs, and I'll fit you in for a paid internship. Just attend the orientations."
"Sure." Sam took back her Cell phone, went into contacts, and pressed the Name 'Big Sis'
It rang for two verses of bull crap. Falarith sat and watched as her phone lit up. Buzzing with the saved name of "That Bitch"
Someone picked up. Sable leaned in close to the speaker.
Falarith picked the phone off her vanity. "Yes, Sama-"
"Its HER!" Sable Squeeled, and took the phone from Sam, "O-MYGOSH! HI!! I love you!"
Falarith moved the phone away from her face, "… this is?"
Sam snatched her phone back and gave Sable a grumpy look, she answered her sister."Sorry um," her throat cleared, letting Falarith know that this was not a situation where their real names where to be used."A.J I'm at a job interview, and you seem to have a fan."
"Does that explain the squealing?"
Sam handed the phone to Sable."Here you go."
"H-hi?"
Several autographs later she was made an intern at Site-001? The protection of an individual of a high-profile relationship required no interaction with a single anomaly. Besides, she was just an intern bringing coffee to staff, handing everyone their checks and the occasional autograph. Then there was that one time… Her use of Zero-point energy was a building block, especially the batteries used to fuel several inventions. These next steps of humanity’s progression were concealed by the foundation as the funds required would bankrupt the entire total of the earth’s governments.
“Florence Elsinger,” Sams's voice hummed from above, gaining the attention she sought. Landing on both two feet, safely, “Sup bitch.” somehow as if there were no gravity.
“Who the hell…”This woman was standing in the air and then jumped out. Not the top of strange things she’s seen. But, the sudden and unhidden arrival of this individual—
"Fuck you."
“Okay… what?”
“I’m with the foundation,” Sam said, simply.
All of Florences senses jumped immediately, her arm, the sigils started to burn ready to release.
“Wow. You turned things up from zero to a hundred way to quick.”
A bullet hit her face with a metal clink. Westbrook stepped out the backdoor as her body dropped.
“That was quick—”
Sam sprang on the points of her fingers, Something silver shoots out her mouth, blood squirts out Westbrooks shoulder from the bullet. Like a top, she spins, drops on her back and windmill kicks Florence onto the roof, where she bounces off the shingles. Sam rises out of the gust fist reeled tight with determination. Florence rolls off out of the way and in time for everything to cave in. She falls into the house crashing into the glass coffee table.
Sam lands only a few feet away landing in a squat.
“What kind of monstrous strength… what magic—”
“Hah, magic!”
“You caught that bullet… in your teeth… Don't tell me foundation science has—“
Sams eyes were dull and somnolent.“Pride dental. Another benefit of joining again. And Duh. You know where it went? I’d think you’d be more concerned about that, instead.”
“Westbrook!”
“We can save him. All you'd have to do is come back.”
“As if I’d trust you bastards…”
“Fine then, let your own, soiled perspective dictate others' fate. It only proves how stupidly selfish you are. What a burden? Perhaps I should kill you, and end your misery.”
“What?”
“Your. Friend. Is. Dying! Don't you have anything else to say!?”
“Now I get it… you still think that who love bird plans still in effect—” looking at her with determination earned her a kick to the face. A tooth patterned to the ground with a trace of blood.
“NO, you dumb fuck! Smile when someone else's life isn’t on the line. Your pathetic there's nothing to save. That guy was clearly wasting his time on a lost cause!”
Teeth grith, Florence threw her arm as a torch balls’ of fire hurled toward a center blast.
“Shut up! Shut up shut up! Shut up!!”Her heart sank. Her surroundings were entirely engulfed.
Banisters fell, sofas crackled. But the one she tried to incinerate… was still right in front of her.
“A lack of restraint. Learn some damn consideration your not the only one around you!!”Sam growled.
Sam's started on a few steps and swerved on her heels, her fist held back went slight force, flew into Florences face turning her cheek into a pancake. The woman flew out the window into the street.
The redhead stepped out the flames carrying Westbrook.
Florence got out her gem, looked inside her self, trying to find her hope… unable to muster it in time…
The gem broke into glistening shards, a diamond shattered, Florence watched the amber light within dim with faded sparks.
“Perfect people don’t exist, don’t pretend to be one!! If this truth hurts you shouldn't even be out here! period! Tell me do you think all conflicts can be handled with the pull of a trigger? An insignificant flash of power? You gonna cry over wasted time or make the moments you have left count?!”
"You seem to be taking this personally."
"Personally? Why do you think I'm doing this? Politics affects everyone, above your nihilism, you pathetic dumbshit. That said, I'm not the one who burned my own house down."
"I'm not a dumb ass! You are the dumb ass for letting them use you like this!"
Sam smirked, chill as hell, rolled up some grass and used a passing ember to light it."You are the ones taking things too seriously. You know what… I'm taking you back. Of course, all this advice may be worthless in the long run. I probably won't even remember meeting you like this. That and you've burned your own house down like an idiot. So, let's take a bow… shall we?"
They moved her up and out of the site after one year and class B Amnestics in the guise of yearly Flu shots…(because yeah, that's what people normally believe. Don't question it. Everything's great.) they didn't work on her but she couldn't say that. There was a litigation code against breaking character.
As far as she was supposed to know, she had just been assigned to Site-73… now was the part where she tries to prove that she really isn't just the sister of a Pop Idol. And that her 3 masters degrees are made worth more of her merit. Screw their diplomacy.
April/6th/2021 12:36
…She was now a Agent… good enough. She sent in a request however to be assessed for a higher position. It came back negative. Good thing there was stuff to pass the time…
No one died… but she was demoted to secretary after that.
Occasionally the on-site MTF would have training sessions with the noncombative staff. Hardly anyone would show up, this was mainly due to Sargent Jackson. At least two heads taller than her, all muscle, looks like he eats babies for breakfast at the salty spitoon.
At least that's how she remembers the first time, meth is one hell of a drug, she's heard of him from the lips her own intern Phillip.
"You know the guys who rush into combat headfirst with chainsaws?"
"Oh, you mean like Firefighters?!"
"Yeah. He's the guy who taught them. Surprisingly, he didn't even demonstrate with chainsaws. He chopped the silicone torsos they use in half with just a punch."
"Really!?'' Sam chirped in excitement at the mental image. She kept her eyes on them and whispered to Philip,"What else!?"
"The hells wrong with you!? That guy trains in every division, and every guy, and then before him. He was a recruiter before this. I even heard his Great great grandfather punched Hitler. He trained thee, Max Lombardi." It was too late to convince her not to, smiling cheekily she was getting up to say hello.
"Excuse me!"
Philip followed disgustingly."Damn it! Why don't you ever listen."
'Exactly' she thought, I actually do shit. It's called taking action!
Jackson looked down. It is now 12:15. A youthful face of intense enthusiasm and adrenaline stared up, one eye twitched.
"The hell? What's wrong with your face?"
"Nothing! Just happy, sir!"
That was a first for him. Most emotions he gets are caterwaul and shit my pants."Happy for what?"
"That I'll be joining your training, sir!"
Jackson looked around to check if anyone else heard her, a senior officer beside him of Latin decent shrugged comedically.
The Sargents arms fold."A'ight. You got any military experience?"
Time for lie #1."Hells no…"
Jackson's head shook. Not with her. He'd have to start from scratch, and there was no sign that she was worth it, in the first place."You need experience. Have you ever even held a gun?" who was he kidding, of course, she hadn't.
Now it was time to lie."No… but I'm willing to learn. Wait, do glass bottles with a revolver count?"
"Let her in Jackson. Let her see what it's like- if it's for her." said the man Sam had seen shrug earlier, "I'm Jose Sanchez by the way." he shook Sams' hand.
"Secretary Samantha Rose."
Jackson groaned. Even her name sounded delicate." Show up next week at the training grounds instead of your early morning shift."
Sam stood her self straight at attention, and let out a salute."Will do, sir!"
Jackson squinted if he hadn't known better… he'd suspect her from lying just by the professionalism of that stature alone. Sam realized this and decided any attempt to incorrect herself would only justify his suspicion. They all left.
_
Jackson's early arrival at training sector 12 was met with an unkindly and gloomy silence. The Outdoor range hummed with the buzz of the overhead lights.
"I've shown up sir!"
"God. I really was hoping you wouldn't… — and your 3 hours early- Come back on time."
"Ah. C'mon. Why?"
"No reason. You're just loud."
"Are you sure? I don't remind you of someone?"
The memories bombarded Jackson. The photo in the lobby. The one on the nightstand at the apartment the comparison he made on first sight. 9 years ago"If they shoot us, we will shoot back!!". //That morning they had- It was a call from an anonymous informant. And from 073. Omega-7 was about to kick off and they needed more reassurance - the keys they said, would be the leverage they needed- when they stormed the premises there was the little girl she fought back- she had them overwhelmed…
In the end, the Keys were never used and he was amnestied. He was never supposed to remember this again.
"Now I'll pay you back."
Sam stood still to her side and aimed up a .50 magnum straight ahead at Jackson, who recognized its model, and recently realized his left hip had suddenly gone light. His gear satchel, It was empty. Bafflingly all of it lied at Sams' feet.
"This for some kind of revenge," he asked the barrel was seen as if the back of the gun was centered."You wanna get back at me for your death!?" From its trajectory, Jackson knew if it fired it would hit his, right ear."Well, guess what that ain't gonna happen." He remained calm.
"Hold still."
Jackson didn't. Instead, he thrusts himself left, the shot went opposite- but it also went through… him? Or it missed. Something wasn't right. Jackson felt his cheek. It wasn't even hit. In the position he's in, that would've gone through. He found a whiff of fresh blooded iron on his back of his black vest, and fatigue had swept by wetness.
"You green? No, You'd be a Blue, for sure."
"No." Sam casually informed."We all take a step back backward now and again. "
Jackson turned around, his steps scurried back. The targets that were on the left side of the training field, thirty meters behind her when he came in, now weren't, unless they swapped places. There also weren't marks on a single one of them.
When? wait his back was wet like something was hit, splattered right on it, he reached his hand around, definitely blood.
"What did you do?"
"I shifted us to a different reality. The change in scenery is only one of the many minute differences."
"Another reality? Another reality!? Why?! What happened to the one we were in!?"
"Oh. that one had just ended. So, another begins, what else?"
"Wha- What did you do!?"
"You mean what did you do. From the start, It was 008. An enhanced strain was brought back to Site-19 following Alpha-9s excursion to camp Granada. It only took half an hour from the same point, for it to advance to the final stage. I shot one. You'd be dead right now. In fact, in most cases, you are."
"Where-"
"See the blood on your back? I'd clean that off. It's highly contagious, Not on you, in other people — Breathing in the air as it oxidizes is enough to turn them… Why don't I do that for you?"
Jackson reached behind his shoulders, patting it, the stain was gone. Shit- fuck but he had—
"Don't worry. Your Immune."
"I'm-"
Sam still kept the gun aimed.
"An infinite!?"
"Finding which way worked fastest would be pretty unprofessional, at least my brother said, so I chose the best impossible possibility."
"How!?"
"How else? Doing so all at once."
Jackson was shaken repeating himself, he felt below himself."How!?''
"Because," Sam said holding up her chin with the back of her fingers with a happy grin on, "My job here is to give everyone a little push, but maybe members will step back a bit now, and not go back to business as usual. But turns out I had wasted my time with the apocalyptic drama. Oh well, not like it counts. To you anyways."
The mans face stayed stiff for some time, softened by the weight returning to his waist, he looked down there they were his things back in every pocket they should have been.
"What to you mean?"
"Boy. You sure do enjoy that phrase— To thank you and everybody here. One less threat to defend against means I can continue to work here without too many allies; Without people to bother me. Still getting you of all people to care about anybody other than your self?"
"Too many allies?"Jackson was too done with everything to know what that means."Why would you want enemies? And you will get attention when I run out I'm telling the first person I see what—"
"I won't have enemies. Better. I'll just have no one. I'll keep loneliness by my side. The overbearing sorrow. It comes with the territory of a savior. Of Sacrifice. Something I alone can deal with. Speaking of which, what you'll be, you'll be a hero, the one who ended one of the greatest plights developed by man, and all strains, this is now your fate."
"Thank me? Since when- No!"
Sam looked at him in annoyance."The strain is Latent inside you. Doing it that way I said. It would have been all too easy. So I let you run, again, again, tried to convince them myself. But… who would trust the belligerent secretary who shit on her bosses desk? It was a perfect conflict. A great chase!" she explained calmly and normally until, in her eyes, a little red light shines a glint of madness." Anyhow… don't be afraid. All they've gotta do is prod you. It's happened to me plenty of times, in many different skins, sometimes it doesn't even work. I made it so. But when given a choice to do what I refused, you chose your own life. You ran away, I gave you plenty of chances, but you let humanity perish. How could you, Jackson? And you call yourself the victim."
"The hell you mean!!" he'd never get his answer as she was gone the next time he blinked." UNDO WHAT YOU'VE DONE TO ME!! RIGHT NOW!! I WON'T DO THIS! NOT AGAIN! YOU HEAR ME!!?"
Jackson watched her manifest her statement on that night she died… It was if the call came from no one at all… next, they came and killed her… - she died. The one who perfomed the final kill shot was him. A younger and naive her was still outside the apartment. From inside the phone booth was a form, the younger she slept soundly in her bed. Someone called. They could trace no one to the leak of information.
Directionless as them, she began petty theft, a shell of herself trying to find her place. Horrible acts made her more empty. Being strong, no one by your side to share it with. Why couldn't she find the courage to make it end instead? Was she so weak… why did she have to be a child?
But it was that it was the joy of being alive… her stomach wanted nothing to do with it. The thrill, The exertion, she went on headhunts. All to make some people suffer, even if it meant that she would go to hell with them. After all, those who get mistreated have usually done something to bring it on themselves, right? Why love herself? Why love anyone? Her own pleasure is all that matters. As long as it put her in harm's way. One step closer to that ledge of death she craved but so out of reach, the
Interest was sweet.
Her last job… as fresh on her conscious as morning dew on lawns grass: some idiot blondes boyfriend.
It was then she took a break… maybe she'd visit him. Her uncle wasn't there. Go figure. Of course, he wasn't. She had only herself to blame. She spent the night a week… and the foundation. Did they know she was there? They went after the keys she always carried around. (for the security of an operation they had planned.) She was blown through the skull and chest.
Forever the designer of her own origin. To realize this night for more than eternity. Seeing alot of things did not matter in this moment or every single one she lived in. This is how it would play out every time. No longer reliant on her Creator, however, she had to accept, that although within a story a character maybe unlimited, their author isn't.
The muscles in her fist grow tight.
Regardless if she was the same as them, fulfillment was fleeting in measure for everyone, that will always be her weakness. The ultimate limit of fiction. That she had surpassed within her own. Making All she was irrelevant, she was… nothing. She had come to terms with it over the course of being an Initiator. But the feeling was too real. To which she had to be make-believe. Imaginary.
She was everything, could be everything she ever wanted…
A distinct difference. Sometimes She wondered if she had all the fancy things she wanted. It never really matters to her as it would to others. What would change about her? In the end, no matter how much hedonistic pleasures, she and everyone else are now left alone with themselves in a modern, comfort rich life of today. With nothing to embrace such as much needed pain and suffering conveyed in most ordinary struggles – in order to appreciate the good in life— everything goes effectively nowhere. This went double for her, someone who could make anything happen any time; without time or anything by being nothing.
It was only her. The more that happened the less motivated she felt. Drained the value from her life. In doing so she knew, she had robbed herself the opportunity of triumph and the ability to change through hardship.
Well. The only difference now, she got paid for it. The only love she could look forward to being her family members. Who has a halfway understanding of this fact. A shot was fired. Sams body flys leaning away, a spit of blood out the other side of her head hits the concrete rubble with a resounding thud.
A shout echoed from a man screaming like hell's devils, by himself, alone in a field," Erickson!?"
Jose was running up to him when the Sargent reared back in a sweat, a look of concern as he examined the man.
"You okay? Your sweating like hell."
"I-I need… what day is it?"
"The 6th? Why?"
Needs aside. He had to confront this bitch, "I need a drink."
"You need to clear your mind… can't say I always agreed till you're buzzed but whatever… you look like you need one. It might make you easier to approach, get more to join our sessions. Get me?"Sanchez moved, Jackson watched, just watched. "You coming?"
A session so this was their yearly visit to the site, "Yeah."
__
It was now 12:15.
Contents were launched from thier pockets by a shout from across the end of the long foldable table, confronted now by one on the foundations most fearsome of sergeants.
Wheres that girl that works in your unit-"
Richard shook nervously the shouting having garnered several looks." I don't know who-"
"Red hair and green eyes! she had white, rose-colored goggles banded on her head!"
Richard floundered his panicking mind and shoved out whatever answer he could."Y-You mean REma!? S-She was transferred out- new site!"
"What!? When!?"
"In September! She kept pushing for a higher position, I never thought they would, not with her experience — they finally- they finally did!"
"September!? It's April you fool! Yell at me again I dare yah!!"
To intimidated to speak out, Richard seized up, Sanchez stepped in."Jackson… it's not April it's October-"
"You said it was the 6th!"
"Of October, not April."
A snippet of Sams' voice filled the back of his mind and Jackson's heartbeat skipped a pace:
Only one of the many minute differences…
-it was only one of them… she knew what would change, she did it.
"Jackson…?"
…..
"Jackson!!"
"Jose… a favor, escort me to the medical-bay… please, sometime before next week… would be great."
“Sargent Jackson? I heard of him only cause he’s kind of a celebrity; Don’t think we’ve met, though, sorry.”
“He says that you're the one who stuck him with the strain of SCP-008. Why would he have the need to mention you in that regard?”
“Not sure. Soldiers guilt maybe. Killing that girl you mentioned. When I took a look at the photo of her… I do see a resemblance. Me when I was 13. Did he see that? The photo of me? I know Eric was a lazy ass who never did his job. Take them down for gods sake."
"Hey… boss, what were the results of the DNA test you gave me? I figured that was why and wanted to help as quickly as I can. That and, why did you all kill the kid in the first place? Was she anomalous? Operation gone wrong?”
"Results were negative. It could’ve been as you said… that your photo, along with those of other staff
that were hanging in the lunchroom… the man was distressed initially,"
“Yes,” said Sam,”… Isn't that something else you should consider? You think he knew he contracted it in service, and… was- hiding it? I’ve just become a researcher… I wouldn't know, but, seeing how these D-Class are done, like guinea pigs — were there any rounds missing from the-”
“No. No shots were fired from the gun as claimed…" said the interviewer." The ballistic markings yielded nothing conclusive. As for moments when Sargent Erickson came into contact there were several instances…”
“You guys were still able to extract the strain and develop a vaccine, right? I heard so. Maybe he felt… would you of told someone you had a Deadly-” Sam shivers.” Jeez, hells no — Give him my regards… I feel bad my face triggered him or whatever really happened.”
__
Metatron turned the next page in his book in the fraction of a second. Every turn is punctuated by a small, pensive, delay. Trapped in thought as every thing was gathered. "It would seem like they left that timeline."
"Yeah. Good. That Stupid Division."she’s anxious. Proud, shocked, slightly humiliated to have left her defense to someone else," The Insurgency needs to learn to mind its own damn business. It's completely unneccarary in the grand scheme of things. They can't even do it right! They are so useless… I can't believe that can be some ones whole point! I don't even know why I tried!" Sam said with calmness, grumble in her voice, a display of her annoyance.
"They didn't take you into account, now they have. That's why they evacuated those timelines. Your employer is no doubt in caution of you now as well."
"Yeah still… they don't know what they're doing… these guys at the foundation."
"The Angels didn't show up. Jackson accepted his Hero's fate, and I was invited to Site-19. So someones about to tell me they knew about it." Metatron sighs and shrugs smiled in bliss." And, yes. go on. Thank you. I cherish your complaints."
"Are… are you being sarcastic?" Sam asked mystified.
"I don't know, am I?"
"….I hate you sometimes. Hey your a Lawyer, right?"
"That is the lesser definition of my occupation, yes."
"I may have just caught a multifranchise business in an illegal practice."Sam said, displaying the martial carter and dark website."They gave me an advertisement offer that was illegal in my state, and now I want it for free. Sue them."
"Samari, I do not have time for this."Enochs phone rang he held it up to his ear and left the room."Mr. President elect? Yes I have the—"
Two guards stood guard by the west wing gate. Her hand goes to cup ones chin in her hands, letting those fingers run nimbly along for their belt. After the intention the thought was mistaken for, their pistols were gone and a shot was fired.
Far too easy… like everything else… meaning, nothing was felt. Feeling faceless. Her body's, and everyone else's blood crawled to reach her heels. Did it get redder? No sensation in her fingers or tingle down her spine. Where was the rush? The thrill of perseverance? The cherish of this once friends life?
What does that say about me?
She dropped into her bed heavily, hugging her body pillow, sighing to herself. Dull of emotion.
"Mass casualties are just a real party aren't they?"She imagined Hundreds of anime fans clubbing to sounds of Cruel Angel Thesis on the dancefloor. There is a whole genre of dating simulation games on her shelf. Bedding, beverage glasses, bookends, figurines, flags, lamps pictures, pillows, plates, wall decorations, weathervanes, and more showed her admiration for asian cartoons.
Maybe for once, she'd try… these fucking amnestics were shit. How long has it been since they had the formulas refined? Far too many kinks for the perfect relief. Too much fluctuation in the side effects between dosages. Why can a Class-C cause more torturous effects than a Class A?!!
This sloppy shit is why people drop out. In an attempt to mass-produce the perfect, deadliest Class-Z batch ever imagined. She ended up causing the "The Forgotten Epidemic" given the foundations relunctance, she forced herself to track down and mind wipe her dealers.
And then create the perfected results. Even still the benefit too her was minute. While everyone else thrived
Drugs built a resistance, hardly did shit to kill her as expected. What did she hope to expect from this? What was the reward for this pain? She even tried Hypnotraline. an accurate tell on what it's real effects were asides from a small migrane.
Had to pass the project to someone else. How was she supposed to document the things that killed her if she couldn't die as needed? She could let it happen, but It's never that easy. They may use blades, syringes, guns and nukes but her pain cuts deeper: she needs the one she hates. Herself.
The fear of losing that, is against all else. “I don't need to be like you to do my job! Wow! Are you happy with that clue now!?? You selfish asshole!!” Her back arched, her fingers curled into fists of rage and punched the wall. Bones broke. She felt them heal."… looks like I'm still alive… see that?"she said back from over a shoulder.
She stopped and came back to work all over again. As usual, her contract, As Dr. Rose is only a singular entity(one for the thousands of realities.)to make sure the 05 council requests her services where she is needed most. Only when variable conditions, meet reservation criteria: lack of certifiable staff, multiple ends of the world scenarios at once, or the betrayal or mistake of an 05 council member, etc. These prevent the foundation from thier primary function within reality. A council in a reality may make a reservation and schedule an appointment with Dr. Rose calling 467-890-3434. One by one they will be resolved.Cogito, ergo sum with the 05 was signed. But every time after one another, the same day ended over and over again, no matter how many times she tried to stop it. This wasn’t it. The bitter pointlessness, the worthless trust, the little things began not to matter at all. Reality had so many escapes but none for her counterparts, at the same time, for her to get to know them again. As fresh as this morning and nothing at all.
Time to ask a few more questions…
“Excuse me?”
Two researchers by the cooler took her question, "Yes.”
From the looks on their faces, she could tell they knew she was a rookie like she needed.
“Um yes…” Sam pulled the hem of her shirt collar, falsely nervous.”So I just became a researcher… and I heard that well I already knew, but, reality can be destroyed??” she said questioningly.
“Yes… you're new. Dr. Rose right?"Said the short indian man with a red pendant." I wouldn’t worry too much. Just be prepared. Whatever happens, happens.”
"Well done. Be prepared to die by your own hands when the time comes too."
"Ehehehe… good one…"he chuckled incredulously.
“Oh. Okay, but I was wondering, what do you have to hit to destroy reality? It’s weird, isn’t it? How it reacts like some kind of substance?”
“Substance? By substance, you mean by Temporal shifts… and-”
“No it’s all substance…!!”
“Uh, yeah reality exploding, fading or warping — killing all of us?”A researcher said with nervous tension."What else would happen?"
Sam spoke."What else? Just like those who seek to invade this place. Called reality…”
“Well, Do you think its made of something?”the one with the red jewel said."Or are you just bringing up things that won't go no where?"
“No. Everything goes somewhere it’s impossible for that not to happen. As for reality it is most certainly a great poison… but only for the weak… your ideation is that of a dose, doesn’t exist. Therefore we must make it like a substance. Ephedrine/pseudoephedrine? Acetone: This is often found in paint thinners and even nail polish remover. It is highly combustible. Anhydrous ammonia? Hydrochloric acid? Iodine?Lithium? Lye? Phosphorus? Toluene!? What do all these substances have in common?"
The researcher cut himself off, only to really figure out what the fuck, and call out what she just concocted in her gead "Are you just listing off ingredients for meth? Are you, are you on meth?"
Sam paused for a moment to think, or did she, it was hard to tell at this point," Yes, your right. Maybe reality is composed much — You wake every morning, to something new — what do you call that? Of course that’s reality, of course that’s truth, but behind it all? Lies Nothing. No Meaning! To anything! The Unknown!”
"I didn't even say anything."
“Exactly! But that says it all, doesn’t it?”
“Water?”
“Yes. Water.”
In an instant, she shoved passed an intern who passed and chucked the entire gallon off the water cooler. It bounced and rolled splashing water all over the ground.
“See? That was an attack on reality,” she tried to explain away the weird looks given to her, but only made them worse.
Damn it, random shit falling worked for newton. How did Werner Heisenberg cope… Sam giving up in embarrassment and disgusted defeat looked to her feet.
"Why'd you do that!?"
In an attempt to save the situation,"Looking at you all makes me sick… why do I have to look at you all the same way every time!" Sam hit the cup out of his hand.
At a loss for words. The Indian man spoke up."Can you like not? Don't waste our time with your stupid shit." said Bright.
The other researchers watched as she hopped over there heads and booked it down the hall.
"How much do you agree in the following statement: I am sure I have all the information I need to handle pain and discomfort in the body, the best possible way?"Falarith whispers close by to his ear.
"What the hell!?"Jack spun around.
"…What a very fulfilling life you've gone on to live. Your hate of Immortality that you claim to ire, I know you would trade for nothing, for all those reasons alone. That's why it’s worth it either way, right?”
"No! What the fuck did you just whisper on my neck?"
"No."
“That…”Bright said, just as everything she had said clicked, looking at her chest, he could see it, the other amulet, an insignia.”Is that to put me out of my misery? Defeat me? What's it doing here?”
“…could I be your greatest threat? Could you take me out? No matter how hard? Your own brother. Your father. Your self. It's easy is it not? But for how long. How long will your self-faith last? This has been explored but not accepted. When will you arrive?”
"Hey! Shut the fuck up."
"…it's only harmful to lie to who you are, you'll only let yourself down more." a smirk touched her pale haunted lips,"Saving everyone… every time is pointless. In the end, a piece of someone will all ways fade. "
"The fuck— how come you haven't faded away?"
"I guess my soul is too dirty and heavy. Yet again I disappoint."
Falarith threw a pistol disengaging the safety, dangled it off a finger, then slid it between them.
"…if you want, I encourage a change of heart… for your own persuasion, that is, if you can see it."
Bright stared for several seconds. It stayed there."You're fucking insane."
"Very well, prove me wrong, out of spite. Make your point clear for me. All over that wall."
"…."
" Is there ever anything left to say??"
"I can't…"
Falarith remained tranquilly quiet, an unfaltered, unswayed doll to Brights distress.
"I can't stand this!! I hate people like you!! All you want to do is die!! You're not even trying to collaborate with me on this! You just want to give up! Hand it over give me that one!!"
After barely any consideration,"Here." Falarith/Dr.Thorne said tossing SCP-963-2 to the ground for it clank behind his leg."I've gotten what I needed and did the work to get better."
Bright picked it up, grievingly. Cold clenched between his fingers.
"…Of course it's entirely fake, but it's not plasticky~."
"Huh, you, fabrication of 963-2 is forbidden, under any circumstances!"
"Those who oversaw the re-creation and duplication process, are allowed counterfeits for comparison research."
"Testing was the greatest experience one could have. The re-experience of cause and effect, I almost felt bad when I over adapted. Something out of my control… until results must be made… then you are just like it, Doctor Bright."Falarith says stopping several paces away if he could see, she'd be smiling ever so slightly." Endless life and Death are most certainly a prison… but only for the weak…" she carrying on down the hall."Who'd rather not solve anything forever."
"What was this for!?"
"I wanted to see the reaction between two subjects when two similar properties come into play."
Skipping monthly psychological reports was vital in feeding Sam's motivational craze. The conception of morality is ' silent ' on the question of suicide. If you choose it, it's solitude. What difference does that make? She’d still do it. All While they second guess till they were all dead, she would sacrifice it all, you could hate her. Call her a fool. But she knows love. Try me if you like! My high ground is betterment for everyone! My mark for trying is that you are all alive. If I'm not, I have no regrets. No chance is wasted on nothing. I fulfilled my purpose.
I Samariah Ayin Elasem am everything you read and learn.
Then it was time for Sam set out to find a way to harvest the material make up of reality. Preferably where it was the most exposed, as temporal disturbances. As she was more immune to those kinds. Code 4.9F.
Perfected harnessing by way of her surrogate father being Seth, the creator of the 36 anchors of this multiverse when her first birth name was Samariah AKA Samari. (Still in need of the answer as to why he nickname was like that pasty bitch from the ring.) She'd use that trait to her advantage.
Next was a method for extraction.
After repeating the same 10 years over and over again, in a reality where the world she had to make infinite futile happy endings.
Then the Hyperversal Spanner… the creation of her endeavors of hard work…
A device used to extract anything. The cute from 999 and the Ugly from 682 and put them into objects for an enhanced/decreased appeal. The Life from Death. Madness or Tranquility. To access these properties Sam needed to then to invent
The Zero Algorithm. A way to divide by Zero with a meta-mathematical formula inputted into the Spanners coding. Allows for the mining of materials in areas of damaged reality, Mainly, used for the mining of :Mercurial base material/matter in which all Reality is non-dimensionally formed. When brought into reaction(by dividing by Zero for example.) in its solid form It flakes off like pieces of mica(or meth) that glitches and caves in symmetrically. In gaseous, reactions differ from combustion in which it resembles large cloves of bursting sulfur, to blurs and fading of the surroundings. While in a harvestable liquified state, much more malleability is allowed, shaping infinitely doubling bubbles in which the stasis for the molds for every universe, time, or space are sustained.Realitinte Grains of Infinity. Seem to be a major crafting component. The elementary particle aspect seems to retain Omnipresence by definition, giving it a major upper hand to anything it's fighting. Granular composition maintains infinitesimal properties, only within dimensionality.Pata-particles
The Transdimensional Alert and Prediction System…
The T.T.AP or TAP
Using Realitinite and the Zero algorithm. This machine is able to forecast any disastrous status of different realities for routine visits with surveillance input and transportation to a variety of end of the world scenarios. With access to the guidance of Etcetera, it can formulate the solution to each. Even if the possibility ratio is Zero, it’s self.
Unfortunately, Sam needed to add a function that prevented people from changing positive pregnancy tests to negative. On top of that Falarith had joined the foundation.
"What the fuck are you doing here!?"
"I have been a pop sensation for five realities now. I wish to assist you here in this one differently."
"What did Metatron say?"
"I've allowed for it." he came in just to say."When you start the next cycle let her join you in your successes."
Sam sighed."Fiiiine… but your lab coat can't be black. Do you even know what to do?"
"I have watched you all this time… though, my main wish is to satiate this loneliness… to find love."
"If you insist… just don't choose a partner that grows too far apart," said Metatron."Or I may need to deal with him myself."
"This fucking hurts me, but also gives me life."Sam says.
Falarith Rose through life in every stage, a Golden shareholder from her Majority of plotlines Identity as a famed superstar businesswoman left her with several multiversal Centurion Cards. However though her margins in sales had profit were favorable, her love life was dry on the end of the rainbow. It was awkward being an uninvited third-wheel to every date, But Sam did what she could for her sisters dry spell. Soon Falarith met a man who could stimulate her mentally, as well as [redacted].
It even astounded her younger sister that this man could handle such a cold yet soft-spoken woman. This man was Robert Scranton, and her Plotlinr Identity: Dr. Anna Lang, but with every miracle came tragedy. Even in her hardest of efforts, It didn't matter, in every timeline they met, all she did was mourn his loss. There seemed no end to his suffering within the experiment they created.
She would yearn for his end… with her sister, from which the Scranton Reality Anchor would be fully realized, Falarith created her end at the hands of an old man from a wall of concrete. Falarith's question of why try at came to mind so many times, why had she discovered she had felt that way, so many times, only to fail? She'd only look down at her children, made possible only by the despairs of lost love, and know why.
Nothing outweighed blood, the ones they made together. With blessing from the All-Mothers womb, the wishful void of endless manifest, she recreated her children endlessly, to be reborn across the endless expanse of the domains minimal infinite realities, whether to her or to another.
"…if I picked you that means you got something. Whether intentional or not, she’s prepared for an eternity. My sweet younger sister. Gave up her humanity just to save it. Be grateful. Prepared to risk it all in return…"and her lullabies would wane like a black moon.
When it continued in the next dimension. As usual, her contract, Since the knowledge of Sam and the knowledge she holds counts as an Infohazard, unseeking of compensation, only wanting the space to do her job, a willful contract must be signed between her and every version of the 05 councils. Stating that all knowledge used was of thier own fruition, should she be enlisted in thier base timeline. As she can only exist in one at a time. And so there is no guarantee in the safe warranty in case of the misuse. In which she is not held responsible for the compulsion. But may help anyway because people are fucking stupid as shit.Cogito, ergo sum
Where they both invented theHyper-Energy HiveCreated for when the higher dimensions all shrunk away when the universe was re-forming, developed by Super Researcher [REDACTED] Rose, a Hyper-Energy Hive forces all extradimensional and supernatural threats into local temporal reality for corporeal management. Creating a lock down effect. In which reality is flooded with synchronicity to freeze up reality. Flood reality with unprecedented so it can no longer complete it's loop. Unlike the Scranton reality anchor, which simply maintains a state of illusion based coincidences of uncertainty on a accepted truth, the cause of scattered diversity of phenomenon in reality.
But the 05, wanted further results, so she made her own getaway,
Was originally a previous Site-13. Re-discovered during a faulty dimensional jump, and refurbished outside of time and space respectively. (To avoid the birds flying into it.) All former entities were exterminated within an Incident to allow for renovation without hindrance. Outfitted with a selective memetic presence system, that detects and regulates High Cognito hazardous and memetic influences, it can be in the presence of the public eye without recognition. Most see it as a passing cloud.Pandimensional Site-606
And then the Bloom… It sprouted layers upon layers of organic, glimmerous fibers that formed a protective bulb around it. A chrysalis of crisis. Saturated nova dripping like lava. Called it Richard at first. But Metatron told her not to get attached to her creations. In the end, an accidental drop out of thier reality, And because it was prototype literally, it fell as incomplete and in different hands. It was first come first serve as that civilization laid waste to its self with it out of ignorance of use.
It all happened all over again this time the worlds heard of the success of the Thaumiel Sisters… the Super Researchers both 28.
They each side of the same office room was shared. Leftover bags of chips. All-in-one monitors with sheep wallpapers. The interactive kind.
"Puppies and puppies and puppies and puppies and puppies, puppies and puppies, the ears of the eels, sharpen the bladder…" they read,
the sticky notes of forgotten reminders were on one. On the other there were porcelain dolls on various stacks of shelves as well as teacups of varying sizes and photos of two small children between the ages of 10 and 8, boy and a girl.
"Is there even any right way to contain an entity, little sister?"
"Well Falarith, let's think of Azathoth, fat fucking thing in the middle of nothing. As long as it doesn't awake, everyone is safe, at the expense of its ignorance, so long as the depiction remains the same every iteration."The end all be all". It is perfectly contained in its source. If not, anyone can make it awake. But its aftermath still only remains in within the material it appears. There's no bigger fuck you to the incomprehension than making it how it works understood. He didn't like your music though, Falarith. Sorry."
"What do you mean?~" She asked, drinking some more wine.
Sam had jealousy in her eyes."Must be nice to get drunk. Can I get some?"
"Only if you tell me honestly if you popped Rey's cherry. I'm genuinely curious" She replied.
"Reys our Gerbil you drunk bitch!"
"Understandable~ Then I'll pop yourself~" She laughed as she drank some wine. Something about Falarith seemed off.
"You're acting like dad when he's hammered, " Sam snatches back the bottle of wine as holds it bottoms up to take a sip, only to get a surprise."This is Apple juice!"
"You thought I'd get drunk? I have children. Why do you want to forget things so easyly?"
Sam did not approve, Sams face said it all then she did."
__
Raziels POV
His future plans for Real estate would depend on his skills as a former Initiator. However, the firm would need skills that would reflect his own. He had a fantastic vignette in mind searching about for a partner to advance his project, he could be careless with his words, and full of contradictions as his faith evolved. He knew he was no better than them, and he knew that. Who said that the one that trained them was real? Only a select few would, and that was okay. Who cares if it offends the majority.
Which to pick. Who to choose. You could imagine how hard it was in this Domain. Barely developed. What was the point of retirement then? Perhaps the ludicrously strong would wield some proper candidates. With all it's experience, you they should be a great addition to our team.
Finally, he could go fishing again.
One prize was a bunch of Horror writers… some were still hung around, some didn't. Maybe he's ask— but stiriing up an argument would be so much more fun. However, he cound't take credit for the discord If he were to make an account since he wouldn't be the one doing so, would he? Of course not. It would be his creator but he or she was in good agreement. Oh well. He was sure there was more ways to amuse himself.
Wouldn't that look clumsy? He was almost tempted to mess it up. Or not. After all, if she goes so does he. What a pity. Spice of despair to waste
Why not ask the one that is the manifest of all these writers, then?
I Raziel entered 'The Database' what did it look like? Let's say he was Barney the dinosaur. With the same stats and that popped open smile that scared many children in the 90s.
"What are you doing to me!?"
"You were left to interpretation. After that, I wanted to see what I would catch. You're not obligated to know, but I am obligated to tell you that, morally."
SCP-001, still written the same way, Shines it's barbed tip in raving embarrassment."Yes! I am but I am not Barney the dinosaur! I am an author! You are the creation!!"
At that moment Raziel— Raziel blew out a small breath and a sigh."…I really wish she was more subtle about how she pulled this little joke."
SCP-001 stabbed down on the 5th plane, a film of plastic wrap,"I'm going to make this the final tale to your ending… consider this your curtain call."
Raziel smiled."Calm down, it's not that big of a parade." The wind howled in thin silence, "With what account? All of them? or Mine? and how long will it take to post it with your succinct avatars?"
'what?'
I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS LITTLE THING! I TRAPPED YOU IN! CALLED AN OUTLINE! WITH MY FABRICATED CONCEPT ONE THAT I DETACH AT MY LEISURE LIKE A HOOK WITH BAITED PLEASURE! THUS CΩLLΔPSIΠG IT IΠ ΩΠ THΣ ШΩRM ҒΩRCIΠG HIM TΩ SURҒΔCΣ ΩR TΩ βΣ CRUSHΣD βΨ RΩCҜ I ALSO LEARNED SOME DIV BLOCKS. THOSE SPECTATING DESERVE A GOOD FIGHT, WOULDN'T YOU SAY SO?
'Div block you can't!'
'No. No. you can't. Compared to mine, your pedigree of tenure varies greatly. Ready to hear your folly?
You probably lost everything that you think made you exist.
For starters, you do exist. Even if everything is an illusion, you cannot doubt that you are a thinking entity that can doubt itself.
That is most likely not what you are concerned with. We are wrapped up in our emotions, we do exist but feel like we do not.
These emotions and feeling is what you are, do not confuse physical existence for the entirety of existence.
I exist here and now because I say so, the ability to do so makes it so.
I might lose pieces of my physical body but I will still exist.
Your feeling that you do not exist is the problem as well as the solution.
Just think about it.
And yet, Existence is a fraught notion. It only makes sense in limited contexts.
For once SCP-001 SAS felt unneeded, but how…? He was a 001 their whole concept necessitates their necessity as the first and only-
"What you do not know about us Initiators, is that we are wrapped in all sort of intensities."
"That said I can say this: there is no first SCP. And you most certainly aren't. Plus SCP-001 is a vague premise anyway. You shouldn't have tried to prove you were the only one."
SCP-001 began to fade before he did he had to know… he needed proof what the Angel did… it was in no way Atypical…
What happened…
SCP-001 SAS was gone.
Canon participant SCP-001 SAS has been desolated from the canon.
In this line Raziel turned around sighed off the confrontation and said:"I suppose this time the rod was mightier than the pen."
A little 10-year-old girl sports a pink panda bear stuffable backpack, buttoned overall dress, long brown ponytail in a ribbon while she roams the halls of Site-19. A circular green glass lens was over her left eye like half a monocle, and stickers with silver fibers on her arms went from a shoulder pad to finger caps.
“Dr. MAN! Dr. MAAAAANN!!? hello? You there?”
A researcher spotted this pastel clothed girl who looked straight out of esty.“Excuse me, sweetheart, are you lost?”
The little girl shook her head.”Yeah! I’m looking for Dr. Mann. I just got here and mama said to find him.” she brightly held up a Level 3 access laminated in a fuzzy blue card holder."I kinda did get lost while thinking and walking at the same time."the little girl said.
“Is that your mommies?”
The little girls' cheeks inflated, making what she said next all the more unconvincing. ”Oh! No! It’s mine! I work here too! I’m learning to be just like her and my auntie!”
The researcher smiles finding it very hard to believe that such a cute little girl would do such a thing. Her mother must be her role model and needed an errand from man.
“Why don’t you tell me what you need to tell Dr. Mann, and I'll let him know for you.”
The little girl paused for one whole second…
“Young lady?”
“Sorry but I can't do that. Move aside Madame.” The little girl's finger aimed directly at her like a gun, both hands."Do anything else, and I may have to temporarily subjugate you!”
The researcher was flustered. What the heck? What was this professional talk?!… Oh, she was playing pretend.
The female researcher's hand went reaching for the girl's wrist, “You can go play at the sites daycare…— let's go.”
Fly and Fall! a single shout and the little girl faced her hand out in command.
A flash of light made a perfect cross in the girl's eyepiece. Onlookers witnessed the woman's body fly away and fall arched inwards, like something from the little girl's finger hit her at point blank range.
The researcher was hurried too with aid and the little girl walked away with a sense of accomplished duty. Only one person's late glance noticed as the girl used her level 3 card to advance deeper down into the site.
__
Dr. Thaddeus Xyank and Sophia interrupted on their daily on foot commute to their offices, stared down at the little girl in the parking lot.
The child saluted with a crow of earnestly."Agent Marigold Rose reporting for duty!" she declared.
“Will anyone care to tell me who the little girl running around calling herself an agent in my site is?” said Moose on entering the meeting, one between Dr. Thaddeus Xyank and Sophia Light.
“I- uh… I think the man was just about to get to that-” said Sophia.”Go on Mann. You said as soon as she gets here.”
“Yes. But let me prepare, despite what you might have heard, it may come out outlandish.”
“That a challenge?” remarked Light.
“No… that little girls the daughter of — have you heard of the Thaumiel Sisters?”
Moose raised a brow.“No…? Who the hell?”
“Thank the 05. If you think we’re thier favorite, the ones they really love to hate are them. They’re around, like us may as well as be GOIs’ but — fuck it’s hard to explain — thier diplomatically immune, despite knowing nothing about them… actually they do, but also don’t. I can even show you thier entire life history, nothings hidden. Yet, they find out what we never knew about?”
“They actually do know everything, but actually don’t know anything about them? Isn’t that just — average secret agent mysteriousness?” Light noted wagging a pen by her cheek.” Did they have a life before they joined the foundation?”
“Yes. From the point from when they were born, we know it all.” said King pulling up a chair and sitting finally.”Yet it's like they lived before that.”
Moose crossed her arms.“Reincarnation?”
“They confirmed that. But where they lived… did… was unimaginable… things our ‘laws’, we, haven’t caught up to yet.” says Mann
“Meaning?”Moose said.
By how much?
“So what is that little girl?”
“The daughter of the oldest Thaumiel twin, Annabeth Thorne. You see those things she had on her?”
Sophia nodded.”Yeeeah?”
"It may sound stupid like it actually is, but it's far more contrived than it seems- most of what she wheres is made by them like a device to train her to be like them. Whoever they were, or, still are. Without them, you can say she’s a regular little girl, but if we really ask them, whatever they say after will be the undeniable Truth. Something vital in the field of discovery.”
“You know them, how?” asked Sophia."And what's so special about them?"
"Well one — nothing really, It's to my understanding that one is," says Mann."And I'm a damned fool for participating. Now I'm lost to what's happening…"
"Is what?What is she?"
"Special. She is actually specially-abled. Has some kind of developmental disorder."
Moose's face fell."What??? Okay, then,"Not what she was expecting," What is happening?"
“She was also the main driving force of the little girls' father was an assistant of mine… in the days of Project Thaumiel. Before her mother and her sister took over the project. And the other sister? In her profile, she claims to be Samantha Rose. If traditionally funded, her free-range scientific journey would drain the planet of resources. As such, she most likely creates her own timelines of blank slates to use as she sees fits in a manner that preserves normalcy in the most abnormal way possible.”
"Tha- That makes no sense, What in the hell?"
"They recieve free reign in thier funding as they get the most produductive results."
“The Thaumiel Sisters, with a name like that we can assume their object class of focus, is — holy crap…— hold on.”Something wasn't right, it hadn't been, but she couldn't instantly regret it Moose carried on, “Keeping objects that can prevent the destruction of sites, be used for the detection of other anomalous, all concealed… would be for security reasons, protection, right?”
Sophia shook her head. “Who would ever come to that conclusion?” she said sarcastically.
“Aren’t they?” Inquiries Moose.”Their valuable assets.”
“Yes. To my knowledge. One can keep the entire foundation operable. However, there's only one, and I mean one in our entire continuum. They switch universes far too frequently to get a hold of. As for the Thaumiel level objects. The sisters would have the say in the — retrieval. They have free reign in general.”
“If they abuse their authority?”
“Hardly… their immune for a reason. They're trusted to the fullest extent. Far more responsible, the impossible is merely an afterthought. What's more, they can handle it…"
“Then… the 05 are powerless!? And they let it!? Seriously!”
“Most likely…”
“Most likely. So their guessing. Right, so we can just send the kid back — Or I actually don’t want to… Does she count as a Thaumiel class?” Moose asked wanting to really, really, know what he was implying.
“Of course not, Moose, and, We can’t they lower themselves to the 05s. In order to continue operation.” sighed Thaddeus massaging his brow from the stress this was giving him. “In the nature of humans, or as humans, or we have no clue. This was probably their 'contribution' as they call it. And yes we know that. I was called a week prior for notice of this incident.”
“A-a child?! Their own kid!? Why weren’t we informed!?” said Moose.
“Because they didn’t ask to have you know, majorly it was on my own personal choice, too. Especially you Moose… they know how you are… when you find something that kicks up your spirits, how you get.”
“I might… start digging in. But I mean, I’d stop when anything about anything Thaumiel began to surface. Or I’d just ask you…”
“Exactly and now we’re here. Sophia, what are you going to do with the kid, now?” replied Thaddeus
“I… don’t know…” Sophia heaved a heavy sigh.” She came with another skip, I had to verify that she had the actual clearance for that first. But 073 is looking after her after I found her in the clear.”
“Another- what did she come with?” asked Moose.
_
The stuffed patchwork bear clung climbed back into Marigolds Pink Panda Backpack. Marigold nodded then reached behind with a hand and gave it a pat on the head before it was submerged.
“Good work Tommy. We're done for today!”
They left the man in the medical bay, "surgery room B" read the sign above. Dr’s Hurried to check and inspect the wound that had once been a man with half a brain on life support. Cain waited on the other side of the doors as they swung open.
“All done!”
“Stupendous.”Cain nodded gracefully in agreement."It is.”
“Um, Can you leave me alone now?”
"Hah,"Cain was was confused for a bit," I never realized I was unwanted." he rolled his eyes on Marigold,"Hello little one…?"
“You aren't, it's just, this is my first time out side as an agent by myself.”Marigold inflated her cheeks and kicked her legs."I want to prove myself!”
Cain beamed down a friendly smile. " How could I allow my self to leave a child unsupervised. And Agent I am sorry. But I can not allow for a child to come to that conclusion.”
“No. I refuse! Refuse!”
“There, there little one. Come let us view Iris and her training.”
"No! I hate this! Don't boss me around!"
"Very well, what shall we do next?"
Moment of pause.
"Okay! Let's do that thing you just said!"
"I know the way," said Cain,"Follow me."
_
Iris checked twice behind the corner she hid behind, she took a deep breath out her nose, briefly fogging the glass behind her visor, a chest in an attempt to evade the motion-sensing sights of a bot armed with sets rubber bullets after two of them soar by her head on her second peek.
She ran for new cover, on her way still faced with a pistol, firing at the blinking modules on the bot’s chest and tossing a flashbang with her empty hand, taking note of its location with the advantage the moment its sights went white close range its jaw was whacked jaw with the but of her gun.
After the blonde pulls off the helmet and shakes her hair down and sighs a breath, relieved that it’s all over. She met Andrea, standing with Cain by the training area 45-R gate, still holding a spot on her arm, sore from a hit she got fifteen minutes into her disciplines
Suddenly her pain becomes temporarily meaningless. “Cain? Hey! Not like I don’t want you here… but why are you here?”
“We got a new addition… apparently.”
“A new…?-”
“Like you, I now have my own security detail… or partner? Whichever you see it…”
“Where-wh-”Iris felt a tug on the pant legs of her fatigues up staring at her was a little girl with a ribbon in her hair and a cheery wide-eyed head tilt.
“…Cain. What the hell is this?”
“My thoughts exactly,” said Andrea.”No offense honey. I’m sure your an excellent agent…”
“None Taken!” said Marigold with a sweet and pleasant smile. (I swear I’m gonna peel every one's skin like an orange…) she thought to herself.
“Cain. What! That's a kid!” Iris turned to Marigold as if she needed to test her theory.”How old are you?”
“10.”
“Yeah. A kid.”
Andrea chuckled. Could Iris not tell by looking? Also, what was the council thinking… now she felt bad…
“I understand. But… it was what Sophia ascribed.”
Ooof. Now Andrea was wondering what Sophia was thinking."Sophia? really?"
"Or someone. I am unsure."
“Were you training?” Marigold asked Iris hands on the straps of her backpack.”Are you an agent? Or a skipper?”
“Um. Yeah… did you do-” Iris stopped herself there. Why would a child have training…
“Of course I do.” Marigold advertised.” At Least my mama tells me so — my auntie Sam doesn’t act very smart sometimes.” she said placing her fist over her mouth to conceal it.
“And your father?”
“He was a scientist here. But he died.”
Iris frowned.”Oh… gosh… I am so sorry.”
“It’s okay. My uncle helps my mama a lot. So does Auntie. He's helping my older brother right now!”
“Older brother?”
Marigold nodded soundly.“Mm-hm. He’s like me but he wants to be a Lawyer instead… he’s with my uncle.”
Suddenly Marigold's eyepiece began to beep. “Oh! Sorry, I need to talk to someone, can I leave?”
“Of course,” Cains Demeanor made Marigold correct herself.
“I mean! I mean! I need to take this! You three stay here and stuff!” she commanded.
The little girl took only 6 feet away of distance when a cone of light projected a woman.
“Hello. Everyone.” said the woman whose voice drips with sumptuousness and sultry.” Mari? didn’t I tell you to hide behind places when you take your calls?”
“Oh! Sorry, mama!”
“Holy crap! A projection.” said Andrea.”…Since when did we have that kind of budget?” and they couldn't afford to change her suit.
Falariths pleasant smile made a noise of joyous delight.”Yes, I am, And, you are?”
“Andrea Adams. Senior special agent.”
Falariths gaze hit Iris.”And you?”
Iris sputtered, she was stunning, no one should've been allowed to be-be she was- her knees felt weak?
“Something wrong, Dear?”he was a bit sad for the girl for a few seconds, then back normal,- -he sighed…-'
“Iris Thompson. My name is Iris Thompson!”
Falarith nodded.”A pleasure to accidentally meet you all.”
Cain spoke in lackluster representation.“Pardon me? But I have been placed in charge of your child. Or rather, her me. I was wondering why you would take such an irresponsible risk.”
“I have already replaced all unfavorable variables."pointed up a finger she snapped. Noise echoed." Is that how you would say it? And as far as I am concerned she has been mandated to you.”
“I see. I apologize. I just grow frustrated when preoccupation isn’t shown to choices like these.” he said in an inert tone.”I am SCP-073, you may call me Cain.”
“Precaution, I have faith in my children, .”
“-What.”
“We’ll speak later. Marigold. Next time… don’t use such a volatile Quality to apprehend others. Just remember the outcomes of your actions. Goodbye, my precious.” Falarith told Marigold.
Marigold squeezed her eyes, and fiddled in the dirt at the tip of her shoe.“Yes, mama, goodbye.”
Falariths form flickered off. The light sucked back into Marigold’s eyepiece. The girl stooped and let out a sigh.“I’m sorry. If you guys don’t want me here… I’ll just leave. I just wanted a chance to be like mom and auntie…"
Cain was a bit sad for the girl for a few seconds, then back normal. He sighed."Not now. Later."
Momentarily Able paused and allowed his thoughts to buzz. Why would he care to tell them especially? They were worthless; Only they, his kin, the priceless treasures, the stars in his eyes could ever surmount.“ I'll ask again."Dr. Daniel Horatio repeats, Aleslinger the same man repeats,"Do you care at all about the people you kill?”
There are only warriors and servants, saviors and villains, it was no more complicated than that. If it were — his mind ached“No.” — it was easier categorizing. Daniels“100 people. People were supposed to lead. All dead. Not a very good —”
“Leader? Had I said I would? It was you who thought I would be Ideal. There are no pure villains and there are no pure victims, only hopelessly flawed human beings. Let me be perfectly clear about one thing: there's only one savior, and it's not me.”The only man can save themselves, from the chasm of cowardice that is desperation is he himself."
“I’m not going to feel guilty, you're not going to make this somehow my fault.”
“C-” Able grinned, or else, he would mouth it. Cowards indeed. But, that wasn't what he was insinuating. They were nobody for the privilege of that criticism, especially from him, no, true punishment would be less than what they deserve, "They deserved to die.”
“Ex-ex-excuse me?”
“You were weak, and now, this is—.”, for them to learn, his grin showed angular teeth, "-What you deserve."Exactly, he thought, what did they expect," Pathetic people like you no longer deserve a second chance!!!”
“There wasn’t any other way you could have taken out your rage?”Able leaned back and smiled as if there wasn’t a single thought in his mind that considered the point of his question."No." Because there was one. Them. Only them. But the effort to seek out anyone was lost to him, as any longing for their contact was plucked from almost every timeline by The Red King, who still saw all as time. With that, it was pointless to reunite with Samariah or Falarith as a result.
Samariah or Falarith as a result.There was also a time limit, that he knew of, 2 weeks. Like a volcano, after each limit, it would grow. Until the imbued rage was insatiable, in combination with his common surge of emotions. But telling anyone that would benefit no one that mattered.He cocked his head back, a glint of madness in his eye as the laughter came nonstop.”W-What's so funny!?”
“You!” Able said after his fit was done. Chuckled one last time at the fact that the facade of his acceptability to what had in reality been a debacle, was so convincing.”YES! But what was there for you to do against it?” Dr. Daniels smiled inside.
The old man was armed with knowledge from classified case files, ones that they had retained from the era before Omega-7— the preparation — the obtainment of the keys. He got out of the box. Able himself paid no attention until it was opened. He shrunk several sizes. His red arrogance turned a ghost white fear. Daniels knew he'd done it, his stress levels skyrocket, what his expectations exactly had to offer were yet to be seen.
“You recognize these, right? We can lock you in that thing now.” Dr. Daniels knew he was walking on eggshells now. Ables' eyes grew wider and wider, terror and exasperation slipping from his lips.
Able knew that. To clarify at this moment, he’d spit in Daniel's eye, say it himself, however, there was a hazard. They were in the possession originally of only one person. One person, he had gifted it to the last time he had escaped.
For them to have it— there were many uncountable outcomes, that left him with violent impressions of what could have been done.The little one could have misplaced them. Asking of the whereabouts would bring about her significance to him. The little one could have been captured for those reasons of curiosity in which they stole the keys, in which he must free her, but the danger it might place her in — then the third contention… he couldn't begin to fathom. He'll ride on the hopes that they still believe him to be an idiot.
“From where… did you retrieve those from??”Able said choking down his rage to his gut. Daniels saw the Neolithic mans hands sharpen into claws and dig into the side of Ables thighs, about to tear off the flesh as it bled out."This should of never happened!"He was ready to burst after that self demand, break down mentally. Daniels due to the heavy redaction of the files… was given no insight into this sudden reaction.
Nonetheless, he did know the basics… he wouldn’t save any out and take the dreary to heart.
He had to take a leap of faith, perhaps carry on, after all, Sociopaths were great actors.“It was recovered before Omega-7. From the possession of a child, who did not make the raid.”Able's trembling when he had looked up from the transparent clip board had ceased. Erriely, for minutes to come, there was nothing but silence. Then an unstable grin and blinking eyes as Ables's whole head tilted with a chuckle. Thier was an expression of surprise on Daniels' face as that smile came on Ables's teeth.”Dead? Dead you said…”
“Yes. That's what I said."How…amusing…"Ables' arms dropped limply to his sides, his throat bobbed the lethargic grin unphased.
Like hot coals to which he had little resistance, numbing rage, burning happiness, anchoring sadness, remorse to which he knew after there would be shame and lunacy, overcame him — he then, from a blurry void, pulled out a blade, blood made spiky splats on the walls. Daniels flinches calling for immediate aid.
The stored tears continued to flow and the sobs wracked his body, robbing it of the ability to speak – barely allowing a breath to be drawn. Then in and out, in and out, a blade quickly stabbed his chest. The man screaming like the devil himself screeches with animalistic brutality, grabs his arm with his own teeth, tore the flesh away in large chunks and spat them out, tendons exposed. Thier faces on his mind, with a big pain-filled expression of relief, the blade yanked like a lever, Ables' head popped off his neck, very easy rolling at doctor Daniels feet.Who remained in shock covered in a few specks of crimson watching the body slump in the seat.
Why did you self-terminate in our last session?"Able remained silent staring off as if the man in front of him like glass window like he was nonexistent "Leave." the utter hatred his body gave off made his tattoos red hot in a surge of airwaves. The red afterglow bent the walls. Twisted the legs of the chair. As that breeze traveled through the door of the room.Dr. Daniel Horatio Aelslinger pushed his own seat over as he stood immediately.
_
Marigold sobs and the ‘never met eye to eye at the end of the hall' 076-2, who with little regard, stopped, the carried on, escorted. Then he froze on full alert, alarming the men nearby him who warned him to move along instead he shut up his call. A furious kick shattered ribs, he ducks down, maneuvers around a kick, after two MTFs are taken by the helmet and shoved into the wall. To another that blindsided his right, a knee to the side made a few cracks. With the next kick, the heel rams the three other men into colliding fast enough for them to rocket down the hall.
Able cracked his neck, popped off built-up stress, and checked on the little girl who was already running. Able felt disgust for not only for himself but for those around him. He sprints and caught up the small little girl, who now wore a determined sneer.“Back away!”
“Oh.” he scowled and sneered. It was only protective instinct at this point that kept her alive. Marigold gripped her wrist for support, aiming her Spanner, a tiny green gem at the core of her palm blinking to fire. That was her gun now.“Step back now or I'll shoot!”
Able did as she said, flat look on his face. “Child what is that? What are you about to do?”
“Why do you care!? I said step back!!”
Able held his chest in pain from the sting of the words, as if he might faint, to play along he held onto the wall, eye glimpsing at a camera he tossed a blade at the unneeded surveillance of the scene.
Marigold was sure she hadn't given him total system failure.“Um?”
When she looked back he was back to normal, almost with an air of sincerity.“Yes. That is true. Absolutely true. I am a murdering bastard.”
Marigold grew overwhelmed, an invisible panel made flow sheets with her eyepiece as she read the 076-2s file in real-time from her point of view.
“You're not acting normal.” she noticed.
Ables' head shook as he dropped on one knee. “This is. They don’t know anything about these things. They don’t understand anything. That is the way it will always be. One thing concerns me, however, your here, where is your mother?”
“Mama?!”
What occurred in that continuity. Has she returned to this one?“. If so…”
Marigolds watched the man's eyes grow into deep pits of cold shadow…
“What are you doing here!? Explain! Now!”
“I’m an Agent! And I'm not afraid of you!”
“You…? An agent?”
The little girl to overwhelmed to speak, confused mostly, simply nodded.
Able rubbed his chin in thought for a bit, “Do you fight Stu’pa?”
“What kind of question is that?! Of course, I can. So I can be like Auntie and mama…!”
Ables eyes blinked twice.“Auntie…? Child elaborate!” he said beginning to think that maybe she wasn't who he thought she was.
“My auntie Sam…”
Able needed to hear more before he punished her for getting his hopes up. "…who is this auntie Sam?"
“And my uncle Enoch…”
“Enoch! This Enoch! Does he work alongside an Angel named Raziel?”
Marigold shook her little head. “He’s not Angel he’s a Family friend.”
“Of course that's what he's having you of all people think. But in reality, he's a being whos fooled the gods since the parturition of time…”
Marigold tilted her little head. “Huh?”
“Nothing. My doubts about you have been quenched. Now, why were you crying?”
Marigold sad lip pouted. “They didn’t let me join…”
“Let you join? Let you join what?”
“Alpha-9.”
“Why is that?”
“I’m 10.”
Able was torn between the exploit of reacting in cheery glee at that fact, or reacting in absolute disgust.
“I see yes. Much too young.”
Marigold whimpered. “But I can still lead a team! Don't count me out just yet!”
“I believe you.” Only because she was his own blood. Her capacity would be impressive, results, would get accomplished, no matter the cost.
“R-really?”
Able nodded.”I believe what you require is proper men.” definitely not get married she's too small for that. Their would be many gnarled necks and discarded bodies.
“Hmmm. Maybe I do…. You know what your right. Oh but. They won’t let me have anyone like that though…”
“Your name. Say it.”
“Marigold Rose.”
So, that is what they changed it to, Able let himself smile, “When they apprehend me — No. Defeat me this instant! Make my intentions clear. With you, I do not, but there is always the risk I am putting you in by knowing me.”
Taking several steps back the girl whimpered.“…What?”
“Together we shall form a team. But tell no one this came from me.”
“W-why!?”
Able smiled, was sincere. He knew she did not know nor was there any way for her to go finding out. He had faith in this bloods diligence, and now, his granddaughters' performance. For those types, he needed no proof.
“For today, they will learn, that it is as they thought, no machines, no guns, only a child is all it took to bring me to my knees. Now, do whatever it was now you were going to do to defeat me, and quickly, I hear reinforcements coming.” And with that Able backed away.
"I-I-"
"Do not worry. I will not be gone long."
Marigold scowled, "I'm not worried! I don't care if you die or not!"
For that, Able was not as proud. She'll learn that yearning for imperishable strife wields no lessons in time.
She aimed her hand holding up her upper arm in it's support. A ball of energy grew in mass. Down her arms from her entire body to her fingertips.
Able made a face of glee, pulls out an improbably large blade to authenticate the scene of conflict for the soldiers arriving, and strikes. With a self-satisfied smirk of a man who knew he was in power, and enjoyed watching his subordinates cringe. His upper half was vaporized in a full spout of energy waves. What was left was a rumble, holes on the many smoking edges of walls behind him.
"Target eliminated!" the static sparks by Marigold palm dwindle. Her arm lowers. She fixed her stance upright and walked toward the men who were in utter shock, nothing left but devotion, she looked at the captain and said,
"I'm sorry. I made a big mess. I used my full power to make sure he didn't get any farther." she gave them a salute over her bangs."Crisis Averted!"Most were stuck looking at her while a few pulled her away from the scene.
"A Taskforce."
"What?"
"Assemble one. As before."
Dr. Daniels chuckled."Hells no."
Able snarls his lip up in disgust. It was his promise, not they're he needed to keep. He promised the little one. It would not be his fault what would occur to which to see this request through, by what ever means necessary even if it means…
Negotiation… and whatever needs to come after.
As Dr. Aeslinger sat in the dim silence between them both he couldn't help but feel, that may have been the incorrect phrase. This was a ; A homicidal maniac with the functions of an angry toddler, but still a homicidal maniac-
"Now I see…"Able leaned in and grinned chaotically, making the doctor blink rapidly completely festooned. COWARDS! if you can't face questions over your own rhetoric and behavior, you are a coward. The only pension you seek is for others to think it through for you! Simply stated, have you no mind of your own!? EVEN I, my brother, would have had the slightest sliver of awareness to of known where alterations could be made! However, what use would it of been to the likes of you!?"
Dr.Daniels floundered. What the hell was this all of a sudden!?
"076-2!?"
"YOU ARE WEAK MISERABLE PIONS WHO WRITHE IN THEIR OWN FAULTY PRACTICES!! YOU MAKE your OWN errors and seek no amends! Zero reflection,"He granted he was no better, but he was never trying to be, not for them.
Daniel backed away as the Sumerian then opposingly stood."Security!"
Able leered. What all of mankind needs was not a mere improvement, but elimination of what was worthless. Those with the worth could handle hell, for they worked to stop it. But the worthless, the people who idled, who merely stayed to depict it had no use but to serve as the means…
"Fear has granted you no proper resilience!" he opened his arms up wide, almost mocking the fear on Aelslingers face."Before any Empire, the one you must conquer first, above all else, is your self. In order to stare down fear, we must do that which we think we cannot. Or lose by default when it chases you away!" One almost gesture for a challenge, not of arms, one Horatio never began to believe the skip had it in him in the first place to devise.
Mind Games.
"I make no threats. Nor are my intentions of spite. If they are, I make no excuse for you worms! I'll own my misdeeds to my grave! All while I watch such single-minded filth grovel into thiers!"
"You-"Daniels collected himself, he can't show fear in the face of this, Thing.
He was right even Able found it far fetched,"Shut the hell up when I speak! What you believe is deluded anyhow! even more so than my own Ideals." how would he convince someone when he couldn't even convince himself…"Do you truly believe you could
"What how are we deluded if you favor killing others!"
"You destory yourselves. But… I can't disagree with the method…"
"Pardon?"
"Tell me, scholar, if the death of many leads to the eventual preservation of many more, if not the same amount, who takes the weight of the loss? Those who survive? Or those with the strength to accomplish what others can not?" he said in a fashion meant for no one in particular.
"What are you referring to?"
Able throws his arms up in agitation."The possibilities are endless, and futilities unappealing."
"What did you just say?"
Yes, what the hell did just come out of his mouth? Whatever. It didn't matter, if it will change things, he'd gladly repeat himself."Yes, there was always infinite solutions. I say… Bloom. words on it…"
"That day when?"
Dr. Aeslingers waited, as long as those meds would allow, it could have been hours just like it felt
"The words on it… what it say?"
After a measure of dead silence came Ables cold voice.
"Survive."
_
Safety glass between them, at least they had gotten what they wanted, a team. Though, Able found several security personnel unnecessary. The only action he’d take against her at that moment would be squeezing her cheeks. Or maybe it was, he wasn’t too sure he’d let go. Perhaps this was for the best.
“Strawberry…”
“And you can’t say no!”
“…Poptart?”
Marigold nodded firmly.“Yes.”
Able shrugged a bit. Under any other circumstance, he would have thrown a man through this glass window.“Very well. What next.”
“Um,” the little girl looked puzzled, unsure of what to say next, searching for the solution she knew in her mind had just been thier.”Hold on, let me, first we gotta…”
Able waited patiently. Finding it inwardly precious how she scavenged her mind. Those around, in helmets, in uniform, asked why he barely had tolerance for them yet — why a ten-year-old? Actually, why was this monster being led by a child in the first place? What was thier reality? Most suspected an episode of the twilight zone.
“We recruit more into our rosters.”
“Oh!” she crowed enthusiasm, smiling off the Idea at the top of her head.”Oh yeah! I sent in a request to the leader of Alpha-9. I found a few that may do the trick.” she said, voice as determined as her face.
Able couldn’t smile like an idiot. She was such a cute, resembled her mother, he let out a quick smirk, while deep inside a loud grunt could be heard, it faded as quickly as it came into a frown.
“That's very nice. Stu’pa, where are you in academics?”
The little girls hunched face went angry.“Stupa?! Are you calling me stupid!?”
Able withheld shivers of infatuation. It brought him much joy to teach her his language.”It means baby. Which is what you are. Cute…” he mumbles the last word under-breath.
“What! A Baby!?” She said with a pout and a duck of her head. It followed with a look of warning.” No! I am not your stupa~ I am your superior officer! I’ve graduated from college! I even beat you!”Able sat there and smiled like an idiot."Because you were allowed, do not forget those who contributed to your glory."
“076-2. Times up.” Able heard behind him, he shot a vile snarl over shoulder, then looked back frontways with a forced, authentic smile.”I will look forward to whom you choose for our operation.” he passed the researcher a scathing glare. Making a flinch and the Sumerian uproar in laughter.
“Your a big mean monster!” yelled the little girl in opposition, Able's mouth grit their angular points down together, opening once again, he let out laughter before he left. "Just the truth,"he said, happy of making or at least trying to make her happy.
__
Marigold Thorne walked out to find a place in the stands for her bag and let out Tommy, her finger pointed sternly. “Stay there Tommy Kairos, It's safer.” to the Site-42 underground training arena elite, and those who had come early, this was a joke.
Over them both a tall shadow fell. A patch work stuffed bear had just nodded not long before it needing to hide. As Aaready their were security personnel, reluctant ones only there because they heard this little game would be over soon.
After one of thier agents had killed an 05 council member, the call of Alpha-9 was seeing it's expiration date…
“Are we good to begin?” asked the Sumerian. Picking off taped on cotton swabs from the multitude of explosive implants rooted into each joint, even the heart, if that's what they thought it took. He would be getting heavy doses of radiation as well. That didn’t bother him. What did would be the girl witnessing his death.
However, her ignorance for right now was objective bliss for him.
“Yup.”
Ables' grey eyes narrow at the bear.”What is that now?”
“Oh! You haven't met SCP-2295 — this is Tommy Kairos! He is this units medical assistance.” Marigold told him."
“A healer… yes that could be of some use…”
Marigold gave him a big, wide smile.”I know. That's why I asked mama to get me clearance…” her face sunk."I had to work hard for it anyways. But I'm happy cause it payed off. Kairos is a really good asset!"
"Asset? Have you any friends?"
"Why that question?"
“Because your a child. Childeren require kinship in earlier days. However, that does not mean you should limit your potential by your world views. What others do is of, and should be of little importance to how your future is weaved."
Able looked back without reaction, there was the same feeling he had, when thier curious eyes met his the same way, even him, in the midst of his euphoria. Marigold gasped in unexpectant surprise all while Tommy lowered a round paw from a shiny bead eye.
Nope, that was too obvious. His eyes changed. Able grinned with devilish snark.”Pathetic.”
Marigold didn’t buy it. Kairos threw a fit of stomps.
Ables view from the other side, as well as Maria Jones eyes scouted out across to the opposite stands — she had to see it to believe it. A child and a Monster. Who signed off? She knew she didn't.
This was a face Able knew well. One he could be repulsed by without discretion. he knew his time with this one like the others will be short… he knew that now. He couldn’t stay and endanger her. It would be like last time. He would have to make the most of this cameo of his — this momentous, precious time— he'd only a similar face back to give, a leer of spite.
He faced back to Marigold with a lack of anonymity.”Sunshine.” he wouldn’t refrain from niceties.”Our team will be the strongest.”
“No. Go away.”
“Allow me to choose. Select our candidates.”
Marigold looked skeptical.”Nuh-uh. I’ll decide which ones will join us.”
Able hesitated, and— took two steps forward, one step back if you will— as if his conflict internal would surface. Indeed, it just might. This team did have to be strong. For when he leaves. Not just by his self-serving standards, but the worthiness of her protection and guidance.
“You would just hit them, and whoever did it better you would say, gets in.” Marigold said with an underwhelming taste in her mouth.
“What if I didn’t?”
“You would!” says the child, almost certain.
“No one is undervaluing your authority. Please. This once. Then it will be over.”
Marigold squinted dubiously.“What do you mean by that?”
“I won’t do it again,” he vowed, in a way; Marigold knew he meant it… even her spanner sensed his intentions were truthful. The next decision was hard to come to.
“Fine. I’ll let you. On one condition.” she swore herself, scowling. Those in seats across could only see them whispering.
“Since when,"Maria sputtered,"— Can 076-2 still not manifest its blades?”
“Recently, it has been observed in the laboratory as a stress response, more activity has been observed since then."Responded Dr. Horatio Aelslinger.
“Who’s next.” Able asked, then he answered Maria's shock."Perhaps maybe had you given me a worthy opponent, what you see before you here would not be much of a surprise, nor would my time of been wasted!"
“Hells no! Remove SCP-076-2. Before it Destroys something.”
“Just for that one,” Able said, from the sound of it was for her, Maria divided her attention. Meanwhile, Able looked at Marigold with a question of rightful preoccupation." Why? Why was that one a choice? Was that all I've done?"
“He said he —”
Maria blinked. “This is not 076-2. What is going on? Someone answer me.”
“Honestly. We don’t even know what's happening.” Daniels admitted.
“You don't know who I truly am!” Able yelled up and laughed grinning all his sharp teeth.”Now, shut your worthless mouths and just watch!”
Daniel sighed.”Send in the first next one…”
A circular pattern in the ground opened, and up rose Cactus man the spiked menace.
“Woah. Just got bright.” He looked around removing his hand, his view broadened.”This a stadium?” he looked ahead of himself, taking several step backs at a notice of the tall muscular man, but most of all, his blade that snickered back at him in various different,"Are you all gonna kill me!?” he looked up at the researchers, where spectators with their pens and papers could be seen."What is going on! You said I'd be evaluated!"
Able stopped his blade halfway. As if knowing that it might not be needed, yet he kept it, it would be their curiosity if he removed it too soon. Anyways… This one, what the hell was this?
"And you are."
“Y-your 076-2! You're a bad guy! Killed all those people!”
“…yes? and?”
“That makes me uncomfortable…”
“It does?" Ables face scrunched in distaste."… Then get out of my face! You're clearly not suitable for this then.”
“Wait I’m being recruited?! This way!?”
Maria leaned over to Daniels.”Was it not briefed or what?”
“It was… though may have forgotten due to its mental disturbances…”
“Then how is it even a fit…?”
Daniel MacIntyre was quick to respond,"Oh it was easy!"Flinched from what he overheard, he felt over compelled to prove himself, Despite what they say being true, it didn’t matter."Read a book that's not assigned, even though it can be a struggle to just read what was assigned, to take a mental break, find inspiration, or even remember feelings that you may have forgotten."Daniel pushed himself up to his feet. Wobbling up clumsily. "I fight with more than just bad guys!”
Able raised a brow in intrigue. Well mostly he knew nothing this one could pull off would be of interest, but there was one thing Able noticed when he had entered. The Resolve. This one—
MacIntyre would glimpse at what was left — Able saw what he needed to begin to build — the water level of the bottle near the bottom. Daniel MacIntyres aspirations were at an all-time high along with the need to vomit.“I Spike for Justice. The Seeds of Evil will never sprout on my grounds! Rife with Fear Criminal! If you thought I was done for! Then Think again!”He said, valiantly striking an awkward pose, a childish power ranger under confetti.
That was provided just for this occasion.
"Find out whoever supplied SCP-2800 with party favors and remove it from the vicinity of 076-2"
Able looked to the right stand to Marigold to confirm. She was clapping her hands. Clarifying his assumption that it must’ve been a charade for children. “Quickly then!! Before they bring this grand battle of ours to an end!!” Daniel MacIntyre searched for his strategy, a whole 5 minutes; looking around as if he had lost his shoelace and tripped on it. He swallowed and nodded.”Here I go!”
He sprang at Able in a cry. (That Able would admit it to being a less than passable symphony performed by squealing pigs.)
Dumping water on himself, along the way, Cactus man wheelbarrows his arms around.
"Spike rush!"
Two riny spines fly out, needles don't even make it 5 feet away from the super hero with every swing.
"I uh, Mega Spike rush!"
10, not two tiny spikes, fly out this time, but still don't make it past 7 feet.(By the way Able is a comfortable 45 feet away.)
"This isn't… is this glacier water?"He said reading the bottle."Hehehehe… oops I must of—"
"Your results are consistent with all types of water, 2500. You said so your self and even proved it!"Said Dr. Daniels.
"Oh… man I hate my mouth…damn it, I can't do anything."
Able looked at him and blinked astonished at how quickly a brave man changed. Words out his mouth, if they can not be taken out now they will remain forever. That is what his teacher Sampson had to say when this occurred to him. Of course, she beat it out of him every time he ran away like a coward. Whichever plotline that was.
"Get up."
"What?"
"Do not get attached to the outcome like this! You will put too much emphasis on success. And become even more stressed."
"…the way you talk, does this happen to you?"
"It doesn't disappoint me, it was just the reality. Whether I was weak and he was strong was not my fault and only severs hope that we can coexist within reality with each other. The same applies here. Now, get up."
Daniel MacIntyre, no, Cactus man rose to his feet. SCP-076-2
The shot out spines bounce off and deflect back into the ground. Naturally, There is a look of scary competitive euphoria on Ables's face, but hope in his heart. Like his brother, he will momentarily become a gardener. Upwards a glance leads Able to a permanent solution to the man running at him with only a few drops of water. Able summoned blades that black out the sprinklers above with such precision, in the phenomenon they made sparks and a green house drizzle.
"It just!? Why did it just!?"Maria was speechless, mean while there was a reaction. Spines in the ground grew thier stems and thorned at Able, who hopped and chopped them into cones. Various Spines came to life and Able was a spinning flag of motional hops and slashes slicing each and every single one in two.
Closer and closer, as light as air, on top of the chopped enlargements, he made his way to Macyntire who's arm grew, on command into a club by then, was swung. Able pushes back and flips with his own blade. Left across at a nervous stand still, SCP-2000 asks him.
"Why, the sprinklers!"
"Now you have no excuse!"
"No how did you know this would work!?"
"I have fought many warriors, people like you. Thier tactics the same. I refrain because it is up to them to lean things for themselves. Test limits on thier own. The best lesson is an experience!"
It rained down not only that, but a light drizzle.
"Is it stupid?"said Maria,"It has caught on that 2000 needs—"
"Now you have no excuse! Let us give it our absolute all!"
The cactus man grinned.”Gotcha!”
"Wait what the hell is thi—"Maria hated life, these things made her job so damn hard, along with everyone else's.
Cactus man swings his club arm, like sharp extensions of spaghetti sticks, the spines shot forth high velocity. Able flipped and the slam down of his sword when he lands splits the cement earth. The spins planted fall in the extra cracks as sound that travels out a sword mouth sends Cactus man was flying back like he was hit by a train. Cactus Man grinds and rolls down a hand splintered with needles, on his back till he comes to a stop, all the spines snap-in on impact.
“Owe!Owe!OWE! Why!? Gah! This stings!”
Holes in Ables' arm closed off rivulets that dripped off in droplets onto the water greased floor.
“Damn it… I lost…” he said the pain only for a moment non-existent, compared to the shame, "Why can’t I…” he looked at Marigold the disappointed look in her eyes the frown made him wish he was dead but also-
The cactus man stood, he hid the pain but by how his arm fell limp the facade was obvious. Still, he was determined-"I can beat you.” He left it up to himself to change that expression.”Kids need heroes… not bad guys like you as role models!”
Maria turned off her brain, wanting to enter rest mode.”Uh, What is going on? Whys he getting up?”
With what little drops of water were left in the bottle, Cactus man went dumping it on his head, in full sprint back over to Able.
"Wait!" screamed a researcher."Stop him!"
"It's going to kill its self!" screamed another."Back up needed!"
Indeed running injured at a man who had healed after you just impaled him with spikes was borderline suicidal.
Marigold gasped almost about to cry cusping her mouth eyes shut tight.
"RAAAAAAAAUGH!!!" but before he could make it he tripped, batting his eyes, Able hunched his head at the sight. He lied curled up in a ball at his feet
"I can't…"
Tensions defused in seconds.
"What?"Able went over to the mopping man lying in his own shame, whose almost angry he had to repeat himself a second-time. MacIntyre snapped back, something else in his eyes: "I said I give up."
"…"
"I can't beat you. But I can't die either." At that point, Able realized who he was looking at. The little girl who had removed her hands from her eyes.
"What would she think…" he said, and that struck a cord, Able made one face for many intentions he could not make up. He would appear angry. In a way he was. It was a flood of emotion at once, a skin he did not have, he kept the composure as a knot in his throat, not even the strength to let it all out.
"You…"He was not aware of, Laughing, as if the world did not exist around him."Admit it with pride and not shame!! Amusing!! Well done!"he said with a wild gaze and a clap of his hands. Like the Black judge would of done."You pass, you may join,"
"I-I what!?"
Ables eyelids drooped, inches from shutting."Your skin may be prickly, but your heart is soft. Perhaps I shall tear that out and dry it —"
SCP-2500 responds with a small squeals noise "EEEEEK! No! not that!"
He squealed because grown men did that nowadays…"Then will we argue more?"says able threateningly.
"N-Nope! I'm good! But why?"
"One who no longer sees victory in loss has no place on this team! In this world. Especially one who shows little respect for their superiors. Now… next one—"
THROB
Able grabbed, pressed on the undulating in his head."Not yet. NO!!" he growls, It felt like something busting from behind his eyes, as his insides burning hot then turning cold. He began to claw them out, leaving deep streaks, Able, the king of many names was completely frantic in which way she should flee. Able briefly collected himself and tried to regain his sanity, eyes whirling madly. He was panting heavily and her heartbeat erratic.
THROB
" This is my…!!!" he collapsed on his knees tugging grip on his skin, "You father of cowards!" his cheeks now falling like bark from the strain, "YOU!!!"
"What!? I don't know what you're saying to me!"
For Able, it was as if glass were in his throat.
"Or everyone here will die!"
"What do you want from me!?"
No use,
WHY DID YOU THINK YOU COULD EVER DO THIS?
THEY'LL NEVER COME BACK. YOU CAN NEVER BE HAPPY.*
NOTHING WILL EVER CHANGE.
KILL THE REST
AND RETURN TO ME
This was exactly why he stopped with the blades… Adams voices grew in connotation of silence and after blood thirsty intensity.
APPEASE ME TO YOUR LAST BREATH!!
Now he can have him easy…
my
The trainers, and many others lied like discarded towels, blood adding to the fresh coats, dripping off the walls with or without limbs theirs. Head rolling by Xiaoshan…
Able fused with Anti-tank rounds on a direct course. He was red energy blades that explode into lights and in sparkling red dust. She closed in for a punch, already chared and adrenalized and her ears rang as he dashed around. Elbows unbent a near unnoticed barrage of full-frontal palm strikes dispersing hypersonic vapor cones, Xiaoshan couldn’t match. Generous holes bit her out in 3 blows.
Hardin backed away, gun raised,"None of our guns are leaving a mar—"
Able stepped forward, massive bullet wounds decorate his body, bloody, weak but, still alive, a pistol bullet blew past his face in his sprint forward,” Stay back! Getaway!!”Hardin yelled. He would bear witness as the person who he saw through snapped necks and killed just to reach him. Then his world turned around the same way… almost…
Matter of his cape became a dark rising tide. In the web made by a womanly hand a shining grid made an attempt to engulf him in white laser lines by knife. His body bursts away. Able morphed out, was grabbed, taken, then thrown, in a blast spinning away like a top as his mass went through several floors.
Coming to a near full stop several acres away by the training grounds. The output of it, took the unstable look off his face when she arrived with a red hot knife.
Everything collides face to face of another blade of ables as it splits straight through each other. Not long after, able was behind her with more. Chose his moment perfectly, but slashed through the air. Sam did, with the knife horizontally up from his waist past the shoulder blade. She whipped off the blood bolting back in speedy steps to Able who had gotten up from the wound, reaching out for his first trusty portal, far too late. Sam passed him. A silent blur. In the petasecond their heads almost met above, eyeball to eyeball, a precious moment to pass a glimpse the series of sigils carved into the blade.
He made a curve and a lunge. His razor-edged claw-like fingers would’ve driven into the woman who ducked. She grabbed his chest between his relapse, spun him like a crazy speedometer peg, and tossed him like a javelin overhead. Four consecutive rings boom out. Able regains slight mental stability burning like a comet mid-trip, digging his hand down in an attempt to stop tearing the shore. Waves in a lake part like the red sea.
Rain showers pour, now miles away, It was still as if they were never worlds apart… she felt what was left of him slip away…
"So this was why…
“My power… it’s so weak here!”Able absolutely panicked,” Why is there such a big difference in existence! I hate this!”
"I can't fucking hear you!" screamed Sam.
The rate at which the black blades, enough to arm an army of a thousand, doubled. It all launched out from behind him.
Rapidly balls like candlelight grew twinkled dipped and fire at Able like sporadic machine gun rounds, a kaleidoscopic fantasy of broken necklace beads cannon away.
The shots converge and dissipate as lighting in sky of an array of firey horizons. Clanking of swords and explosions can be heard all around. Overwhelmed, The Horned King in Able took to the sky.
The chase was on. With a huge hand of dark matter from space, Able attempted to wrap her down, digit by digit.
“Were you trying to pin me?”
‘W-Where’s her life force!?’ the bullets Sam shot out changed into irregular pellets that gave no space for gaps, a carousel of neon orbs led streams of lighting.”Two words.”utters Sam tripling the rows.” Soulless Ginger.”crossing places with one another a beauty of complexity, slowing at light speed, Able had no choice but to retreat into the clouds that were punched out with complex patterns and colorful haze.
“What the hell are you shoo-” Able didn’t bother and drew down several asteroids from space.
Sam had her hands spread out many country sides as many shooting stars multiply as in the darkness for that singular purpose. They all slid closer, each blow closer than the last until It spread out into a superspeed line, millions of frog egg beads of torment with his blades.
But there was not enough she could make. Able could not find space to evade in line of fire.
Space rocks fell into one another before they met the continent. The debris paints the sky with pastel watercolor northern lights on half of the climate, which then faded into mesmerizing beauty that stains onto the clouds like tye die, those below looked above with horror and wonder.
“My dad… has become all of pain and hatred… Sin incarnate… Adams’s plans for a scape goat, this is his discontent — Still this doesn't expel the fact that he now exists in multiple ways simultaneously, something had to give eventually, in order for it to be saved this time.”Thinks Sam.
“That’s right my power draws of the older ways.”The Scarlet King says in Ables diction with a Bright and Confident smile.” Armies of slaves, blood rights, chaos amidst order. Peace clashing between its opposites. The desperation of humanity. However, I feel it dwindling… by your very presence alone… his little space you created.”
“Okay, are you done yet? Jeez. And what older ways? You think hate and war can't continue without you? Are you that conceited?” said Sam.” No you fricken wish you had a shred of ego. Your just a selfish, self-loathing frightened child, like him, and quit reading my fucking mind. Put in some actual effort, and perhaps others would gravitate towards you naturally."
“Scaring you?”
“Yes, and you can't take that away from me, only I can choose to.”
“Because I am an ancient evil…”says Able in the King's words, no longer his, darkly.”I only wish for others to feel free!”
“Because… it is all the same. The fact that you felt this pain meant that before it there was love, was the differentiation. Are you going to say love is also hate? Or will you deny the sole premise in which you were made to exist.”the red-haired vixen spoke, in an almost knowing and conspiratorial fashion.
“…”
“Either way I’m glad you could make it. That this is the reason for your defection and not something else. What were the odds? zero? Good enough for me. I’ll make it work.”
”You cocky… BITCH!!” the fallen father screams aloud, suddenly was red dyed with evil, it peels away like a curtain it caught all the stars, there were eyes all around, filling their spots instead.
Grass became rotten and sun-dried and spread out like contamination to the rest of the planet, leaves fell off trees and fruits rot in orchards, flowers lost the tint of their bloom and withered to grey.
In every life. For every experience to be made.
“I am Death! Scorn! My blood is your bane… ”
Skeletal figures rose from the ground, zombified imaginations of those long passed on, reached out from the soils. On every stretch of land on earth their red beams left the dark pits of their eye sockets like tail lights.
“What the— who are these guys!?” said Maria.
daniels
“My infinite collection! All who have fallen by my hand! And that of fate! Are you at hopelessness yet!?”
“You have an army of dead people?” said Sam."Gross much?"
“Hey, it’s supposed to be scary! You ingrates take this earnestly before you die!”
Sam threw her fist.
“Your the one who thinks this is all a game…”"So play it right! Or give up!"
A cone of air, vapor sound sounded out,
Every man woman and child, on every variation of earth, began to age rapidly, as spots on them
drained color including Sam, however…
“AGE! PETRIFY! RETURN TO the DUST! Never know the joys of livi—”
343 and 682 died of old age, then came back to like as did all the Islands inhabitants in every stage of the effect, that did not phase her as much as Sams transformation.
That place was left behind…
What the fucking hell!? The Death advancement is supposed to outreach endlessly into the continuum, but this girl… she’s only not even a slightest bit ger!? And why are they coming back to life!’ "
“The proper way?”Her face turns with a denying scowl,” Are you telling me, I can’t learn any other way?"Sam seethed up in an instant,“ And at least he tried… What I can't stand about him is that he never, ever sees past what he knows.”
Able, as the scarlet king, shot a vulnerable scowl back, and whimpered out,”Shut up! Shut your face! I am! I kill everything! That means I hate everythi—”as if the scarlet king left,
“Bitch Slap!”anti-particles in the early universe annihilated in explosions of light,
Another blow, The King, as the scarlet king brought his shell back, again and again from his higher body dressed in gold and horns. But Sam punched at that too into powdered sugars. Each blow left nothing left, Beyond a nearby mountain range, lights and explosions lit up both the sky and the air between atmosphere and ska massive mind twist, absolute erasing off of all there ever was on different layers. Only clouds ringing out and a gloomy lack of atmosphere are remnants.
Homes caught on fire from the sun’s rays left without protection…
The dead and all humans suffocate, laying their hands on their chests and grabbing at their throats and the oceans of time, from turning a shade of crimson, evaporates up their waves in a single cycle of creation.
“Damn it…” said Sam "Look why can't you be a good god. Like Yaldabaoth and posses some one else. You think your the only one who's depressed? Quit being sensitive. Look if you stop. I can show you what a good time is really about. Ever heard of sativa?”
Her fist forced through 6 layers of plastic wrap like film and met with Ables's waist, with concussive shock collars, there was a large crack made, one where none could see, but the difference it made. The stars even the familiar ones they knew so well became dim in the gloom, as if a fog was lifting, a mist cleared.
“I’m on the 4th Domain… how did he reach me— I need to make a real body fast!”his eyes rolled white with fury and bloodlust, he grabbed her, the lab coat began to rot away, but she didn’t.
“You are obscene! And I’m a kid…!? The devourer of world you compared to a mere infant!?”
“Because you wanted too? Listen You gotta die now, regardless. This is a huge waste of time for a temper tantrum. How many Timelines have you replaced? 340?"Sam within a cold and belittling tone.
"And how do you know this?"
"I’m not Dead or Alive. I never was. Or Real. Nothing is. The existence I experienced after let me know exactly what's going on around here. And put me outside all those perspectives. Why do you care about these Demons anyway!? Half-Real, half night, what do they have to offer other than their abilities and their potential? Are they not as useless as humans? Figments as you and in society? They can never go back! Not after the life they lived, they are as good as living as they are dead!”
"I see a potential for balance, not destruction. That is very possible, no one is ever broken, they only need to reflect, and find the strength within, if not, they will truly lose who they are. Hatred darkens life; love illuminates it, Light drives out the dark, however, without it, the light cannot be found…
"Imagination, after all, is the first real engine for your thoughts, converts your thought power into mental images, which manifest in turn the physical realm. Fiction taps into these foundations of existence by using the written word to evoke mental images, which in turn, beget thoughts and feelings. I, Samariah Ayin Elesem… am everything you read and learn! I am an experience! You can not tell me who or what to be!"
"How!?"
Beneath her flames, her crimson dyed hair shifts as if caught in the thermal draft of her pyre of power. She tested the wrap of her fist, felt the muscles lock into place. In her open palm, Creation beings who's both loyalties to the Ayin Sophs name at the tower of narratives, where both called Light and Dark makers to themselves, stood at this imaginary expansion each like a different level of a video game to her and Your mathen a drop in the well of sources as she observed the content as it was being made and bubbled.
She would falter, she hadn't the resolve to erase her parental figure: brought a grin to his lips.
"Just shut up! king me miss my favorite anime!!—"
"You bit—"
How many are capable of such mercy?! What was this one on!?
Her punch halts his thoughts and ribbons through the air like lava, an infinity for infinities, struck him to his bitter core, heart of hearts, knocking off the sediment. Taking the full brunt, Ables body armor broke off the speed Turning into a spearhead. He did a loop around the solar system, flew up, crashed his head into a seagull, and like a laser made of dynamite, the lines, the web that connected it all, shattered and fell apart.
_
"Here we are at the super-duper weenie—" she was… dancing to the spongebob movies "goobiegober". She jumped up and down and clapped at every guitar solo and screamed and laughed. Security personnel seemingly unaware of the plane the event took place.
"Do you talk just to hear yourself talk?"Comments Metatron/Enoch.
"Shut up! I need time to Re-stabilize! Your not the one who had the balls to kill him, I was! I'm allowed to reward myself."
Metatron smiled down at her,"Very well, still we've broken away the scarlet king, wouldn't be the next resolve, next step to be to emend things; You've left things scattered. Or must I get out the rule book every time?"
"Fuuuuuck I hate this…"She rose to her feet,"I'll go get them…"
"—and put things back in place, in the correct order."
"Damn it, you're worse than papa!"
“Riiiiight. I don’t know you.”Able said trying to be coo,l but causing insufferable embarrassment.
“Oh my god. Adda, not in my story. Your dead now.”
In that moment, Able hollered in Sumerian.“Everyone, look at my Stupa!”
Sam pulled down on her hair in an attempt to hide her embarrassment.”Adda I’m going to send you to another plane of existence, stop it!”
At that Able chuckled"You could cut out my spine and I'd still ask how well your day was going" he smiled, there was no way she could ever make him mad, mostly.
"What about your cube? Your keeping it?"
He gave a low effort shrug,"…More of a challenge."
All Sam could do was frown.
“I heard you were gone what was this about?”
“Oh… that? I sorta…”
One explanation later…
“…what? They force feed you…fried chicken.”
“Wait, let me get Uncle Cain. Try to find me I gotta do something else real quick.”
Able and Cain were immediately summoned in a Library where there was an eternity in architecture and dimensions.
“Where is this — I see no end!”
Cain didn’t answer yet, Both him and able found them selves somewhere else, Instead, he went over to a shelf and opened a book, Immediately, nearby there were two nude men, both ready for each other.
“Katsuragi my love.”
“Yes… lets…”
The noises rose as Cain watched in reluctance. Concerned for both thier mental well beings. Able shut the book with an expression of disapproval and it all went away.
“We… are in her Mind space… a yaoi room.”Cain surmised.
"Excuse me what did you just say!?"Able yells.
“Her mind space, huh, and these are…?”Cain took another book off the shelf, There was more yaoi this time, a harem of men. It instantly shut.
“They could be her thoughts…”Able said, "Not sure how much I’d want that to bet he case… then again I'm glad they're passive."
Cain blinked.“What kind of raunchy lewd disgusting— I am in shock!”
“Don’t act like you weren’t intrigued.”Able poked.”It wasn’t just shocking.”
“I looked away!”
Able squinted in disgust,"You are pathetic. This is denial for you then."
The two entered a chamber of porcelain and amythest. Where a book hung in the center, a glow and purple glitter flowing off.
“It is not!”
“Then tell me, who did you first want to consider when building the city of Enoch?” said Able wanting to egg out the obvious closetedness of one very close to him.”You make your self even sadder to me denying it. Do you think I will judge you?”
“I… didn’t think you knew that—”
“The way you look at men, brother it is obvious. I can understand why you would hide it, however, father was— indignant of our needs anyhow.”
Sam ran in."Hey uncle Cain thinking about coming out of the closet?"
"No! I am not Gay!"
"Enoch said you were though… you even told our aunt
Awa."She said, her eyes were dim,"Why did our— I have a few questions about grandfather."
Able looked down at her as she looked up at him. "And we disgruntingly have a few questions about your tastes. Where is your integrity?”
"I have to agree."says Cain."I under stand having desires, but keep them to yourself. You are so very much like Seth…"
“Oh wow! What is this, the kink shame committee! I’m sorry. This is my Sandbox. Welcome to Etcetera, by the way. That's why I told you how to find me.”
“I make my intentions clear enough.” mentioned Able, "It's no one else's business far from that. And how did you show us how to find you we've been wandering around for ages!"
“Wow… that's unhealthy. And I left arrows on the wall.”
Able face palmed."Those could mean anything."
"Oh… those are quite magical,"said Cain.
"You are not helping."
“ You are… right… Samari… I am so sorry…”Grieved Cain,”If I had only kept this grief in longer, you would still be here with us."
“Yo. What are you talking about? I am right here right now. Oh. my death! Yeah… you didn't even know if i'd be there, I' didn't even know if you'd be there. Actually I did. It wasn't entirely your fault. I was just being angsty. It's fine.”
“Yes… what are you talking about?”Able said in a threatening demeanor,"I heard about something, do mean to imply you had a hand in that!?"
“I had… told the ones of Omega-7 of her existence… thinking if you were brought here it may aid your condition, the out come, however, was one I did not anticipate—”
There was no debate after that, only one last scolding,"You Fool! You have all that knowledge but you could not!!!?—" Able was slightly astonished for once in his life, then he wasn't.”You idiot of a man."Able braces himself, the taste of those words made him cringe, at this point, not expecting for any traces of him to be left in him," No. I know why. Because you use it for ulterior and useless things. Your head always in the cloud!”
“As far as I know, I haven’t been written in yet, I prefer it that way, I can work covertly. But I want to know why I live and die in a world of lies. Why is the truth the last to prevail? And uncle cain you say you want to bring me here, but do you know where here is?”
"Dad…"
"Yes stupa?"
"Can I ask about something? Grandfather…"
Able began to stare of, not even a blink in between.
“Adda, It’s okay.”
His face was flushed and he replies, “I know… I know…”
“Don't know who he is?” said Sam.
Cain looked up, his face was as stern as his voice.“He hides his true self, much like—"He bit his cheek to keep that detail to himself," That man doesn't even know who he may be, he controlled every story he was in to make himself admired to the fullest extent without a single fault aside from his deceit. — We wish for you to never meet.”
“We had, Which we dealt with, and if that's the case then this as well shall be with his tirades if need be as well,” said Able.
Cain threw his hands in the air in rare frustration."This is absolutely ridiculous. That man will only use those people and the rest as stepping stones!!"
"We apologize for telling you nothing when you were young. We only want to protect you."
And now it was her turn, not just for them but for everyone, For as long as she lives she swore to keep them in these walls for their own protection. In any way possible. If it meant shoving herself in one of these cells, (as if the one she built of her own apathy wasn't enough.) she would do it. Because she knew, not everyone was happy being free. It cannot exist without tolerating the compromise.
"I'll kill you both if you fuck up!!"Sam forced out her lungs, her chin trembled, and suddenly, she cursed the human emotions."Don't think I won't…" Cain was shocked, Able, on the other hand, smiled with a serene tenderness. Sam blinked back at him, making sure her face had collected from the tears with her silk sleeve, with a bitter-sweet sinking feeling — A calloused hand patted her hair,"Do what you can. You've organized yourself well. The mere fact you said that means to me that your truly my little general. I am sorry my acts have forced you into it…"
___
Able sighed, "Very well. What needs to be done?"
"I need you guys to destroy the UNKNOWN and the Bloom."
"Destroy it?"Says Cain,"Why? has it not- I know why…"
Sam nodded."Then you understand as well as I. It was useful for them to solve thier problems thierselves… but they never stopped at the first Conflict. They continued, never gave it a chance to improve or settle down, or made attempts to get better with the future in mind. Not only that, they don't know it's unfinished, anything is good enough, it's only doing half of what it does because it's half of what it is!! So I made the activation more exclusive, only my loved ones. But knowing you guys… they'll find out too… please they need to feel life… see change."
Cain nodded."The fear…"
"I see… Speaking of which you no longer truly experience things on our level of thrill, or at all, do you?" said Able.
Sam sighed heavily, slouching her shoulders down."…I'll have to bring you back now I'm also working for the foundation, so don't kill any one. "
"You told me, Rubatu, and do not worry about what I do. It will not effect you. That will be what I mourn. Do whatever it is you are doing. We will be fine."Able told her.
"We will… attempt to set apart from one another. In order to avoid detail slips by bias."
Able shot a glare," Works out for you doesn't it?"
"You guys stop!
El capo Elfine Floats down in on Titania. The fairy queens prison walls are silent, the wizard agent herself is cloaked in white. A parasoul of lightweight suspension closes and her feet touch the ground. She blends in against the walls with a single target in mind, the King, Outlaw of heaven yet heir to its throne, key to its gate, Adam el Asem.
“Bout time you made it.”Said L.S
“Yes, you won’t believe how cold it is in the stratosphere.”
“I’m surprised you agreed with the insurgencies oath.” said the Little sister.”Then again we all are on the same page. The foundation must crumble.”
“Indeed, I’m sure the first man will be grateful for this. Entry will be guaranteed for us all, I can just see it now, the endless pilafs, life on the beachfront…” her trailing off stopped with respect for Allison,” Oh sorry, what is your paradise going to be?”
“My father, my family, my sanity. I want my life back.”
“Sensible. Shall we carry out our plan? Any more talk and we’re sure to be caught.”
An 8-foot figure was silhouetted in gel and shadow from within a pod arm crossed against the chest, remains quiet as planned. Then the cap tip of her umbrella comes off as El capo Elfine takes aim and with a trigger on her handle takes a flick of the thumb.
BLAST!!
The Chamber shakes and L.S leaps 7 whole feet back from the explosion the pod looks like a shot through can with nothing inside.
“What?!”
“What did you do!? Where is Adam!?”
“He is!—”A large, masculine shadow in the back of swats her like a fly. She breaks like a toothpick. Her body splats after a shock collar of air on the chamber wall over a pod directly across. L.S is taken back as the umbrella, once wielded by one of the GOCs to wizards falls to the grounds. He who stood as a shadow, 8 feet tall finally came into the light.
His hair white rubbing his wrist, he picked up the umbrella, as if it was a weapon of attack on L.S and El Fine part, however… it was easy to crush in his hands much like she was. Frail women, freeing the king of all men? What insult. He didn’t even have an inch of interest in what they had to offer. Still, it could be of some use, as long as he played along. He heard thier talk outside his pod. This was a truce of flimsy ground. Breaking the ice in a certain way, will leave them on cold terms.
“I-I apologize!”Adam said in a meek tone,” I cannot yet control my might. It has been so long. Allow me to bring her back! Terribly sorry, I’m! So sorry!”
A handheld out toward the wall he took off the splat the blood, the mangled corpse that was once stuck happened in reverse. Snap, pop, crack. Bones and joints fall back into place. Blood flows back into closed wounds and lack of hemorrhaging. was back in action.
“Who… what happened…?”
L.S was relieved,” Your back!”
Adam cried out, “Do not act so relieved!”
“Excuse me—”
“I was told to revive her by you, but I will not keep the secrecy you made me swear! Woman! This woman is the woman who originally killed you! In order to take my strength for her own!”
El Capo El Fine scowled,”I knew that the hand of the serpent wasn’t to be trusted! Where is my—” Adam looked at her umbrella before she did, and it was back to normal, in her hands as she rolled and aims at L.S. Firing several warning shots” Get back! I’m taking this Bixby with me!”
L.S drew two sais, “He’s deceiving you!he is the one who killed you! For whatever reason! He is manipulating this situation! Wait where did he go!?”The pods around them open with a blue glow that screams activation.
Titania’s heart is broken by his hand, ripped out by her roots unheld. The bullets weighed into gold as the "Reserva communal El Sira" in eastern-central Peru goes into full lockdown.
Bullets turn over by themselves and aim back flying to the armed men, shooting in front of him. They fall dead in an instant, and El Fine and L.S return to him, the umbrella the only shield from the golden hail storm. Passing by corpses with unseen blades in thier backs.
“This is what I get? Pathetic!” remarked Adam
“Adam! What have you done to prison! We freed you! Come back to us!” said El Capo El fine.
“What a pathetic display, all your attempts seem to of fallen flat of disfunction without me.”
“Yes, Adam that is why we have freed you—” said L.S
“Did I ask? Did I ask to be freed?”
“No! I—”
“I shall be joining neither the wizardry nor the serpentry! My goals belong elsewhere! With those whom I have a true promise to keep!”
He faded into transparency. the corpses, ones dead before the two women had shown up, the ones stuck in the back with unseen blades rose from the grave. Each took the blades and chopped off thier own heads. Mindless drones, a head less ensemble of dead Mtf surround the two women.
"Now to solidify my return to this narrative; From this point forward I am Lucius Infernus Eternium. You all may call me Luci for short. Good day to you all."He sprang up and away into the sky.
___
“A keeper!!? That won’t keep him from killing others!! He already has!!” yelled Iris,
“The amount was minimal.” said the man across from her.
She tried to figure out the type of man he was. Was he the type to go on a rampage? " I said only 5, and new advancements have arisen that now guarantee our complete handle over the situation.”
“Like what!?" she said uncomfortably by his casualness," They obviously didn’t work last time. I'm surprised the nukes didn't set off.”
"We actually have no clue what happened," said Hardin, "I have logged memory from a second memory, one from another reality."He leaned over an Mtf badge flashes under flourescent light,
“We have… the keys. As for that… I learned, and Its jarring but Threat levels are dropped by two alerts apparently when ever she is active. Her mere presence alone… and no one knew about it.”
“The what? The keys…?”Then, Iris hit reality.“Wait we do!? Since when!? Who is this?”
“SCP 076-2 was initially confined within a cube, held by 20 locks. I’m sure you read that report yet?”
“…I…I have. What will that do?”
Hardin nodded.”That we do. Our plan… was to give you access to them…”
“What changed?”
“A peculiar effect… happened. We assume it did because well she defeated him and that earned her some points but—”
“Defeated him?? Okay you have to tell me…”
“The agent in charge of his custody… and soon the entire site
Iris tilts her head, someone beat Able? The embodiment of voracious husbandry.”You fucking with me now. I know you are.”
“We’re… I wish I was… but I saw it myself. Saved my life. I thought she might’ve been a skip as well— using a fucking butter knife. I can’t get over that shit. But no, apparently, she’s always been around, just under the radar.”
“Soooo, she stabbed him with a butter knife?”
“That doesn’t even half describe it. More like, got into a sword fight.”
Iris blinked and recoiled her head.”So, what happened with the keys?”
“Only she can lock him in. And possibly put him in his place.”
“I want Sophia. I want to meet this bitch now.”
“She’ll be in any second. She just wanted me in as an eye witness, to fill you in, the situation will be in good hands…”
“I’m not convinced sorry. //?This person will be handling the monster that killed my team. I won’t feel comfortable unless I know for sure who they are.”Iris tells him, in the space of that, Sophia enters at the behest of security personnel, Hardin exits.
“You get what you need?”
“I want to see her.”
"We can't exactly authorize that… plus… we are unsure if Alpha-9 is to even continue, you see there was an incident, regarding the individual in question.”
" At this point, it’s a matter of gauging who is fit and who is not. Put your fates into consideration. The human brain is hard-wired to desire face-to-face interaction."
"You’d be surprised by the good some faults can bring out. You had at least one inspired. To that point, she seems drawn to you, it's not all over due to a few mistakes.
___
Present Plotline
The overhead lamp light stayed with several others.
“All I ever wanted was a family… but he refused my requests… so, I refused his…”
“And? What did he do?”
“Made me seem the fool. I attempted to get him banned from the garden, without that place, he would never see the need to step out the boundaries of what is necessary. He was indeed the victim. Not even for his own good would he flee. He’d have me replaced, for comfort alone.” said SCP-336.
Cain was unmoved, hands folded on his lap, he crossed his other leg.”And then.”
“Why?”
“…”
“Why discuss this to you? There is no storm of emotions, no concern. The only reason you have arrived is to aid them.”
“Perhaps you are right. In whichever the case, I have a conviction.”
“Conviction. No. This is not what this is. I’ve seen it in him. This is cowardice. The same sign on your forehead.”
Cain blinked his eyes as if were the lights, but it was something else.
“You will never defeat him as an imitation. Remaining where you feel at ease… “
Cain hung his head at her statement, then smiled tenderly.”Hevel’s daughter…”
“?”
“Somehow took after you… “
“She was never supposed to be. Her fate is as dared as mine. She is a woman, after all.”
“…”
“Well? Anything less to say? Son of man?”
Cain stood and tucked in his chair.“I believe the time for our session is up.” 336 was already back at her vanity the next time he looked back.
_
“Anything happen?” asked Iris, sitting beside Andrea.
“Yes. Here is the transcript.”Cain laid the manilla folder gently in her hands.
Iris flipped it opened and read, a sorry look showed up on her face.”Wow… um… Are you okay?”
“Satisfactory.”
It put a dazzling smile on Andreas' face,” This is great! Just what we need. Great call Iris.”
“I would say so, but Cain, was the one who—” she was caught off by the sound of the clink of him begining to walk off.
There were the monthly memorial calls over the site announcements. He could recall, the few that were mentioned, in the speeches of the men he interviewed. Freely wiping away tears in unashamed displays of sorrow, then there was him, making an attempt to stave off everything, sitting ramrod straight through it all. Saying,"All will be fine." No. No choice but to hold it all in… the words he never said, the silence that finally made his brother hate him…
"I need the gratitude to envelop the pain, the loss, and the scars, and I need to see the beauty in the pattern of the strange roads I took that led me to having my life saved by you all."
Their looks. His own faint smile. Some he helped. Others he angered. Was he truly listening? He was present but distant. Everyone making up excuses for their vile acts as his. If was all for the reaction. Why lie? He couldn’t tell if he tried. Re-imaging what it could have been. Only helps build a better foundation, not stepping stones, for every better template.
That the mighty Elohim, the ones placed upon his head… not that man, had power over him by.
Not a man who would abandon his kingdom to return to godhood. Ignoring all who loved him at his own peril, the principle of all survival, Imagination. What's his never was. But without the trust out those he abandoned for himself. What did it matter if he let the walls the plants rot? It had a purpose, unlike him. Would he always be content in this cradle of pity? Drag those with his regret?
He sympathized with that demon, and could not forgive himself, they were the same."
"Hey Cain!"a sheepish voice called out. His baseline straightened out. He had work to do.
"Iris." He smiles back with appreciation." I apologize. I had somewhere to be quick."
"Heh, no. That's fine. I figured. I received this note for you earlier…"
"For me from whom?"
He obliged and received the note. The air around them was frozen. Letter by antient letter he read. Cain closed in for a punch that hit his father in the chest knocking him far back into a wall. Adam anchors his feet with a low effort like they were anvils themselves. They met… but he could not defeat him not alone, not with Iris, not with the confidence he had then. The smile so the same it was at this moment Cain knew he was no different. Adam was gone from the hole by the time he snapped out of it.
“Cain! What’s wrong!? What are you staring at?” cried Iris, "What does it say?”
Suddenly he was struck by a stupor of laughter that shook his whole body. Sobs quavering. Past so many levels of done with this shit.
“Dammit..” he holds his head in pain. “forget… forget…”
"Uh? Cain, you okay there?"
"I'm alright, not sure to what degree. It would appear as if Alpha-9 will be needed soon."
"We are? what for?"
"It looks like my father has escaped from prison."
___
“What? Huh? A note?”
“SCP-105 said that it came down from a dove.” said Moose.”A carrier pigeon, newly tamed apparently according to the memo brought in by MTF Lambda-4. Native to Peru.”
“Where we’ll be headed. Speaking of task forces, what was the death toll on Mobile Task Force Xi-9 "The Wardens" behalf?”
“Only 5 survivors. The others have been…” A click on a separate tab led to the photographed and knowledge of the cut up fates of over 48 men.”They didn’t make it…” said the intern.
“And the components of SCP-2932? Where are—”
“The entities contained within SCP-2932, disappeared, alongside SCP-2932-B, What are we calling that? A breakout. How did it even break out?!”
“Surveillance footage caught a collaborative effort, between the Serpent’s hand and the GOC?”
“That’s impossible, right? You would know?”
“Impossible isn’t above him.” a voice mellow and yet, stern came in. Dr. Johnson, in front of Cain.”I apologize, I spoke to your asset on the matter. As the head researcher on SCP-2932, I didn’t want new issues arising. Especially on my site. But this one — go on ahead. Tell them what was just said.”
“Cain! Of course!" Sophia sat upright and wheels her chair to the skip pronto.”Are you—”
“Yes, I am in relation to SCP-2932-B Adam el Asem, as is SCP-076-2.”
“That was, we thank you and appreciate your honesty, but do you have any clue as to its whereabouts?”
“No. His only where about is with others like him my words are only to warn others of his vile nature,” says Cain.
“Others like him?”
“Those who will lead in his cause, one of pure self-regard, and none other than himself.”
“Again the honesty, but what cause?”
“For humanity to once again join Eden,” Cain says to them. The room grows quiet still, no one says a word but him,” To avoid his own torment. But paradise is not the way things should always be. That is the lesson he has yet to, and will never learn. And for his ignorance so shall we. All so he can hold on to the one anchor that delays it all, his power. Now he will take back his control, which we stripped from him! In order to seal him away.”
"Who might he be drawn to? In that regard?" asks Johnson
“Who else but the ones desperate to get back in. God’s bastard angels. Not the Meckanites, ”
_
There was a knock and Iris’s door opened.“You must be Iris Thompson?”
Iris Looked up from her empty desk, there was a redhead? Hair so red it was like blood — looking down at her — she continued what she was thinking about as the woman walked into her cell. Not something many others did. Who was this lady?
“Y-yeah?”
“I heard you asked for me. And like an old teacher of mine said “I’ve come to deliver.” what did you need?”
Iris blinked.”Hold on! Your-”
“Yup!”Sam took a seat on the bed after closing the door,” Most people stay away from the one who can knock out the impossible.”She would adjust her goggles to a comfortable fit,” But you go ahead and ask first permission. I can see something different… you still have a spark for life even after all these years, something like that requires a reward!”
“A reward?”
“Let me let you in on a little secret, that only the 05 know…”
“Wait! Then don’t tell me!”
“I’m allowed to say it as long as it’s crucial for foundations progression. The agenda, I made sure, will 100% be upheld! Even with this intel slip, there is that much certainty. Now, here’s something you may not know about 076-2, those who defeat it, gain the catbird seat of sealing it in its box.”Sam said reaching into her breast coat pocket there was a little jingle-jangle then out came,” All you need are the keys.”
“To the— Are those to the— they look!—”
“Now listen! Who was the one who beat him?”
“You…"
"You did too. At one point. Listen, I can't do this alone, karma is a bitch."
wait then what was the point in showing me them? To rub them in?!”
“No. And yes.”Sam stood and paced and them with her back turned to the solid cat poster wall at the end of the cell stopped and looked back around.”This is mostly to uh, get something off my chest. You see, I did something horrible to you a long time ago, when my hormones were raging and my judgment was impaired.”
“That sounds… terrible. I don’t know what you’re implying but—”
Sam cut Iris off before this went anywhere indecent.“The keys, I am aware, can be passed down by the one who originally beat 076-2. And then they too can be able to seal them. However… only once, not any time like the original victor. And so Iris…” Sam walked her way back, slammed the keys to SCP-076-1 on the top of the desk, and headed for the door.”I give you these, I need to pee, I’ll tell your superiors you have them now. Stay strong. Theres more people here for you than you know.”
She left Iris in a state of confusion, holding a metal ring of 20 black keys.