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Original Article: http://scp-jp.wikidot.com/scp-2472-jp
Filepage: SCP-2472-JP
Filename: cat.jpg
Title: Cat In The City
Author: Randal Lee
Source: Public Domain Pictures
License: CC0 Public Domain
if you can read this i think it means you still want to see, too
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Table of Contents
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Special Containment Procedures (INACTIVE)
No Special Containment Procedures are deemed necessary for the time being. In the event of these procedures becoming active, please refer to the following:
In the event that SCP-076 affects the Earth's sun, Foundation personnel is to be relocated to completely self-sustainable sites where possible. If personnel are unable to reach any self-sustainable sites, they are assigned to the currently empty MTF Sigma-30 βDark Knightsβ and engage in global peacekeeping efforts.1 The remaining populations of areas deemed salvageable are to be encouraged to persevere.
Description
SCP-076 is the designation given to occurrences where all the matter of G-type main-sequence stars2 undergo quantum tunneling to unidentified positions.
Since documentation of the phenomena began in 1899, an average of 1.4 stars become undetectable by both mundane and anomalous methods of observation every year. This phenomenon was first deemed natural, however subsequent inquiries into SCP-076 revealed that these stars do not slowly decay in visibility and radiation, but instead disappear instantaenously.
Addendum 076-1: Incident 14-07-26-006
On July 14 2026, the Sun started to emit fluctuating gravity waves, labelled Incident 14-07-26-006. A task force was immediately assembled and activated to investigate these unprecedented readings. While the severity of this anomaly remained unclear, the task force was given resources at the discretion of O5-6.
Incident 14-07-26-006 Readings
Akiva Radiation
The Sun showed a brief increase in Akiva Radiation emissions following Incident 14-07-26-006. The source of this increase in emissions is unclear, as the Foundation is unaware of any method that is widespread enough in mundane scientific communities to cause this significant a drop in Akiva Radiation emissions. Further investigation into the Akiva readings will be undertaken.
EVE
The Sun's EVE remains at a decreasing tendency. Data concluded as irrelevant.
Hume Levels
The Sun remains at Hume levels similar to Type Green reality benders. Data concluded as irrelevant.
Noospheric Prevalence
The Sun had not shown any change in tendency since Incident 14-07-26-006. Data concluded as irrelevant.
SchrΓΆdinger-Xylxk Stability
(Note: While SchrΓΆdinger-Xylxk Stability is not widely used throughout the Foundation, Jr. Researcher Cecil Nhwomba suggested looking into unorthodox measurement procedures. SchrΓΆdinger-Xylxk Stability has not yet been deemed appropriate to include in standard Foundation practice.) The Sun shows significant instability (432.1 per cubic meter) in SchrΓΆdinger-Xylxk3 deterministic readings. Data concluded as extremely relevant.
Upon discovery of the SchrΓΆdinger-Xylxk Stability readings, the Incident 14-07-26-006 task force sent the following report to O5-6 before awaiting further instructions from the O5 Council. Report was received July 19 2026 at 23:43, 16 minutes before the projected deadline for the report.
To the Esteemed Overwatch Command
Let me start by explaining that I am deeply grateful for this opportunity. It has always been my dream to present my work to the Overseer Council, and that I will treasure this faith that you have placed in me for as long as I breathe. I'm afraid that I also carry some ill news: My children are going to die cold and the Sun is about to expire.
Perhaps expire is the wrong word, but it will, almost certainly, undergo a sudden demanifestation. The Sun doesnβt just lower its gravity by a fifth all of a sudden. And if it does, itβs not something we have documented β despite intense research into anomalies in our solar system.
I must admit I was thoroughly exasperated when SCP-076 slid across my desk. We had left this document rotting as a throw-away assignment for junior researchers when they had nothing better to do. In fact, it was my own son who found it.
I'm aware that we as a Foundation have handled a lot. But we did that with a sun that could illuminate the monstrous and impossible. The severity of the threat presented by a missing Sun is incalculable, despite ongoing research. We must, somehow, manage to stabilize the Sun on a quantum level; A field of study that is somewhat intangible even to us, mind you.
This might not be SCP-076. This much I'm willing to relent, after hours of loud debate with my fellow scientists. But the chance that it is, is dreadfully significant.
This report also serves as my immediate resignation, or admittance of treason, as I will go and visit my daughter and granddaughter. Should the Overseer Council have relations like mine, Iβd urge all its participants to do much the same.
-Sr. Researcher Idric Nhwomba, PhD
Following brief deliberation, the O5 Council voted 10-3 in favor of immediate activation of SCP-076 Special Containment Procedures.
Addendum 076-2: Agent Carvalho's Assignment
Following the partial activation of SCP-076 Special Containment Procedures, a notable compound was constructed by the GoI-004 "Church of the Broken God" in Andalusia, Spain. The operation was flagged as noteworthy after reports made by an embedded agent in a Spanish sect of GoI-004A "The Broken Church". Asset had reported hearing conversations between leadership figures they were unacquainted with regarding "preparing for the night". It remains unclear if this is related to SCP-076, and how the Church of the Broken God would have detected the anomaly. Due to personnel shortage caused by the activation of SCP-076's Special Containment Procedures, Agent Carvalho was picked for a scouting mission due to being on vacation near the area.
Conversation between Agent Carvalho and Site Director DomΓnguez
Foreword
The following recording was captured on Site-130's surveillance cameras following Agent Carvalho's arrival to Site-130. As the spoken language captured by surveillance is Spanish, the transcription has been translated into American English.
//BEGIN LOG//
Carvalho stands outside the temporary office of Site-130, a shipping container converted to an administrative space. A logo depicting a cartoon squirrel consuming a slice of pizza is prevalent on the side of the container, with "SERENOS CONTENDORES PELΓZ S.A." written around the logo.
Carvalho is trying to light a cigarette with a plastic disposable lighter. He attempts this 65 times in a minute. Carvalho starts clenching his hand around the lighter and his fist starts subtly shaking. His eyes slowly widen until Pvt. Castro walks into view of the security camera, prompting Carvalho to snap his attention to Pvt. Castro.
Pvt. Castro seems to notice Carvalho struggling with the lighter and starts patting his pockets down.
PVT. CASTRO: Hold on, I have a light somewhere.
Carvalho eyes Pvt. Castro's jacket.
CARVALHO: No need— no need. I got it.
Carvalho smiles.
CARVALHO: I'm fine.
Pvt. Castro looks at Carvalho for a few seconds before he nods. He shortly after continues his patrol.
CARVALHO: Hey, uhh.
Pvt. Castro turns back to face Carvalho.
PVT. CASTRO: Yeah?
Carvalho's hand trembles.
CARVALHO: Sorry.
Carvalho and Pvt. Castro look at each other for a few seconds.
PVT. CASTRO: … Right on.
Pvt. Castro continues his patrol away from Carvalho. Carvalho immediately starts widening his eyes again and breathing sharply. He tightens his grip around the lighter in his hand again and glances at Pvt. Castro's right jacket pocket. A brief flash of darkness surrounds Carvalho's right hand. A moment later, he opens his hand to reveal Pvt. Castro's lighter, which he uses to light his cigarette. Notably, it seems that Carvalho disappears for a single frame in the security footage. This has been deemed an acceptable level of anomalous activity.
Carvalho starts taking a drag of the cigarette. His eyes remain wide, but his breathing slows. The door to Site Director's office opens and Secretary VΓ‘squez's head comes into view.
VΓSQUEZ: Carlos Carvalho? Site Director DomΓnguez apologizes for the wait and can see you now.
Carvalho fidgets with the cigarette and takes a deep breath. He smiles politely to VΓ‘squez and blinks a few times.
CARVALHO: Great, I'll be right there.
VΓ‘squez hesitates for a moment before he nods and ducks back inside. Carvalho takes a drag of his cigarette and exhales the smoke over five seconds. He coughs after doing so.
CARVALHO: Right, coming.
Carvalho opens the door and steps into the container.
//SWITCHING TO CAMERA UNIT 5B//
The interior of the container has a ceiling and two table fans running, one for each table, Site Director DomΓnguez's and VΓ‘squez's respectively. DomΓnguez looks over his three monitors and smiles widely.
DOMΓNGUEZ: Carlos Carvalho! Welcome to Spain. Hope the journey here has been smooth?
Carvalho smiles slightly and approaches the unfolded party table that serves as DomΓnguez's primary work station. DomΓnguez moves a deep plate for cigarette ash and butts closer to Carvalho.
CARVALHO: Besides the Spanish devils, not so bad. Like home better, though.
DomΓnguez snorts.
DOMΓNGUEZ: Oh, leaving your comfort zone is how you grow. How else do you live?
Carvalho's eye twitches. DomΓnguez doesn't seem to notice.
CARVALHO: I wouldn't know. I… haven't really had a chance since uhh…
Carvalho stares past DomΓnguez and trails off. He does not finish the sentence and puts out his cigarette on the plate tray. The fan on DomΓnguez's table causes a can of iced coffee to fall over, prompting DomΓnguez to pick it up and throw it into a plastic bag for disposal.
DOMΓNGUEZ: Yeah.
DomΓnguez's expression becomes neutral. Carvalho inhales sharply and closes his eyes for two seconds. He then focuses on DomΓnguez.
DOMΓNGUEZ: Broken Church.
DomΓnguez turns a projector on, lighting up the side of the container. VΓ‘squez moves their table to avoid obstructing the view, causing a cup with pencils to fall over as they do.
DOMΓNGUEZ: Don't know what they're doing, only that they said some things that proved interesting to our regal Overwatch Command. My fellow site directors, as well as their department AND division heads, have been running my whole shit ragged. They're obsessed with collecting information from Group of Interest informants, been going on for a week.
Carvalho eyes the projector as it heats up. He maintains his polite smile and does not interrupt. His eyes seem to glance around the variety of fake plants in the shipping container.
DOMΓNGUEZ: Picked up about chatter with— a light going out or something, filed it with the appropriate sources.
DomΓnguez undoes the top button of his aloha shirt and snaps his fingers to strengthen his following vocalization.
DOMΓNGUEZ: Bam!
DomΓnguez exaggerates an explosive gesture.
DOMΓNGUEZ: Got an answer back within half a minute. Don't know what's going on, not paid enough to care, but paid enough to get it handled. So, sending you to a Broken God compound to—
DomΓnguez gestures vaguely. Carvalho eyes the moving hand intensely.
DOMΓNGUEZ: —handle it. Check in with the informant, see what they're doing that warrants the Americans to tick off like they'll die if I take a shower or shit, instead of focusing on vague communication.
The projector finishes heating up, revealing a sketched layout of the GoI-004A site in question. Carvalho eyes it for a brief moment and slowly squints at the projection to inspect the details.
CARVALHO: And what is "The Pit of Salvation and Flame"?
DomΓnguez shrugs in an exaggerated manner and throws his arms up.
DOMΓNGUEZ: I don't know, an air-fryer? Figure it out, man. You're the guy they give solo missions to, apparently. Unless papa got you this outfit, you probably got the chops to kick a decent penalty.
Carvalho's hand repeatedly curls into a fist and stretches in a rhythmic manner. Five seconds passes.
DOMΓNGUEZ: Any questions?
CARVALHO: … Why me?
DomΓnguez inhales and looks back at a framed picture on his desk. He fidgets with the wedding band on his ringfinger.
DOMΓNGUEZ: Most discreet fleshbag that Command has to spare, I guess.
Carvalho narrows his eyes.
DOMΓNGUEZ: … also happened to be nearby and you can nick things, I guess—whatever, get out and go do your job so I can do mine in peace.
Carvalho shifts his weight and eyes the secretary. After a prolonged moment of observation, Carvalho moves to exit the container.
CARVALHO: Always has to be me, huh.
DOMΓNGUEZ: Always has to be -someone-. Might as well be you.
Carvalho briefly comes to a stop. He clenches a fist and slowly looks to Secretary VΓ‘squez.
VΓSQUEZ: Would you like a transcript of the meeting, Mr. Carvalho?
Carvalho runs a thumb past his philtrum and remains quiet. After two seconds, he shakes his head.
CARVALHO: No. No, that's alright. Thanks.
Carvalho turns back to the exit and walks out. He stretches his fingers on his right hand.
VΓSQUEZ: I'll be in touch for the operation!
Carvalho moves outside the camera's perspective and can be heard walking away with heavy footsteps.
DOMΓNGUEZ: That went well.
VΓ‘squez sucks their teeth.
DOMΓNGUEZ: I'll write a letter to the wife, ensure he's suitable.
//END LOG//
Addendum 076-3: GoI-004A Site Scouting Mission
Three days after being assigned to scouting out the GoI-004A site, Carvalho reported ready for the mission. Due to staffing shortage, Secretary VΓ‘squez was charged with surveiling and guiding Carvalho throughout the mission.
Conversation between Agent Carvalho and Site Director DomΓnguez
Foreword
Prior to the mission, Carvalho was given a special-made pair of glasses which are able to transmit a live feed to Secretary VΓ‘squez.
//BEGIN LOG//
Carvalho turns on the glasses and holds them in front of his face, with the camera facing him. After 13 seconds, Secretary VΓ‘squez is connected. He's wearing a standardized Mobile Task Force black frag suit with an excess of pouches on his tactical vest, belt and thighs.
CARVALHO: Carvalho here, does this work?
VΓSQUEZ: Works wonderfully! How does the evening find you today?
Carvalho exhales through his nostrils and nods once.
CARVALHO: As it usually does. I'm—
Carvalho pauses for a moment. He momentarily bites his lower lip, then turns the glasses around to face the compound. The glasses show an area surrounded by a 4 to 4.5 meter wall. Seven buildings are visible, six of them domes in two rows of three, with an abandoned building at the end of the domes' two rows. The compound is situated in a valley, with a small opening into a more flat plain near the entrance, where Carvalho entered from. There are only two individuals visible at a small opening in the wall around the compound.
CARVALHO: —fairly certain that this is way too large for one person?
VΓ‘squez doesn't respond for five seconds. A drone flies overhead, prompting Carvalho to duck into a bush.
VΓSQUEZ: Let's see… seven buildings… three dozens persons… armed…? We don't wholly know what they're doing, seems like a secretive operation, even by Veiled standards.
Carvalho adjusts his tactical vest. The amount of explosives carried exceeds the amount allowed by standard Mobile Task Force regulations. He removes a fragmentation grenade and weighs it in his left hand. He tightens his grip around it. VΓ‘squez continues.
VΓSQUEZ: Our contact will be wearing a blue button-down. While you are advised not to use lethal force, especially avoid doing so to them.
CARVALHO: Anything else to recognize them by?
VΓSQUEZ: Says here… belt with chains that forms a skirt, apparently.
Carvalho puts on the glasses.
//VITALS DETECTED. SCANNING…//
CARVALHO: … What?
//IDENTITY: CARLOS CARVALHO.//
VΓSQUEZ: Give it a moment. It'll get it over—
//ASSIGNED DEPARTMENT: DEPARTMENT OF SECURITY. LOADING MOBILE TASK FORCE PROFILE…//
Carvalho appears to start shaking at this moment, as evident by the camera perspective becoming unsteady.
//MOBILE TASK FORCE: THETA-21. ASSIGNED IDENTITY: -8.//
Carvalho starts breathing rapidly through gritted teeth.
//UPDATING ASSIGNED IDENTITY TO THETA-21-1.//
VΓSQUEZ: Oh, that— of course. I did—
CARVALHO: Just— please.
//ALL SYSTEMS OPERATIONAL. PLEASE PROCEED, -1.//
There is a pause in communication that lasts 11 seconds, during which Carvalho's heavy breathing is clearly audible.
CARVALHO: Alright. I'll— get moving.
VΓSQUEZ: … Yeah.
Carvalho starts moving towards the compound. It is a large, walled-off area that's brightly illuminated and active. From Carvalho's position on a hill, one can see six buildings made of a variety of metals melted together like oil on water.
VΓSQUEZ: … Avoid physical contact with the buildings.
Carvalho sighs in an exasperated manner.
As Carvalho finishes descending the hill, he approaches one of the exterior walls. It's made of an unidentified material that visibly resembles a mixture between black marble and silver. Carvalho seems to visually inspect it as he approaches it.
VΓSQUEZ: Our files on GoI-004 and their sub-groups' materials are rather outdated, not seeing a match to this.
CARVALHO: There wasn't a wall on the projection.
VΓSQUEZ: … I suppose there wasn't. Must be a property of this material, raised fast. Don't touch it, though.
CARVALHO: Heard you. The first time.
VΓSQUEZ: Right.
Carvalho follows the wall. He moves in a crouched position, using his hands to support himself. He continuously looks over his shoulder and towards the top of the wall.
CARVALHO: Exterior isn't well defended…?
VΓSQUEZ: In our experiences with the Church of the Broken God in Spain, they've been somewhat confident in our encounters with them. They always make themselves a problem that'd be too loud to solve. Is it similar in Portugal?
CARVALHO: Maybe. Didn't keep track.
VΓSQUEZ: Suppose now's not the time for it. Do you see any way in?
Carvalho continues moving forwards, before he eventually spots an opening into the compound. He pauses and observes the area.
VΓSQUEZ: Picking up two heat signatures, might be a two guards situation.
CARVALHO: … and how am I expected to get past two guards quietly? Without making contact with the wall, VΓ‘squez?
Carvalho looks down into the ground, where his fingers claws into the dirt.
VΓSQUEZ: I'll, uhh… hold on.
VΓ‘squez is heard taking off their headset and saying something indecipherable. A few moments later, they put the headset back on.
VΓSQUEZ: Site Director asks if you can wait for an opening.
Carvalho starts tapping his finger against the ground repeatedly.
CARVALHO: They're machine worshippers. Do they need to sleep?
VΓ‘squez can be heard typing on a keyboard.
VΓSQUEZ: That's… unclear.
Carvalho scratches the inside of his palm with his fingernails. He can be heard muttering something to himself.
CARVALHO: Can wait. The longer I do, the higher the chance they have an anomalous thing that spots me. Don't want to.
VΓSQUEZ: One… moment.
VΓ‘squez takes off their headset again. A few moments pass as an unclear exchange takes place.
Carvalho looks back to the opening. He inspects the guards. They each wear business casual-styled clothing, one of them wears a parka made of chains and the other has chains wrapped around their forearms and lower legs. They notably do not carry firearms. They seem to be engaged in a discussion.
RELEVANT MOBILE TASK FORCE BRIEFING:
Attire and clothing appears consistent local sects of Group of Interest 004A "The Broken Church". By animating metals with defensive intent, they seem to become able to instinctually react to firearm projectiles.
Standard mode of engagement is to avoid using non-anomalous firearms and instead use standard issued utility, such as grenades.
The headset is fidgeted with.
DOMΓNGUEZ: DomΓnguez. Can you risk waiting or are you too impatient?
CARVALHO: Can, don't want to.
DOMΓNGUEZ: Of course you can—yeah, okay.
DomΓnguez types on the keyboard and grumbles something unclear to himself.
DOMΓNGUEZ: Mission updated, lethal force allowed.
CARVALHO: … Don't want to kill them, I want options.
DomΓnguez grumbles to himself again.
DOMΓNGUEZ: Well, you don't have any other options than the ones on you. Check theβcheck the grenades. Field operatives have had success with, uhh, those electronic-frying grenades. Doesn't kill them unless they have likeβa motherboard for a heart or something. They got that over there?
Carvalho slowly moves a few meters closer. He returns to crouching after doing so, and scans the security forces more thoroughly.
CARVALHO: Chains, don't see robotic limbs or something.
DOMΓNGUEZ: Alright, stun them. Anything else or can I get back to running my site?
CARVALHO: Clear for now.
DomΓnguez takes off the headset. VΓ‘squez returns as mission control.
VΓSQUEZ: Okay—yeah. Those electric grenades are nasty, heard a story once about a surgeon using them to knock someone out before operating on them during a containment breach.
VΓ‘squez laughs nervously.
Carvalho removes one of the grenades in question. It's a sphere with a light blue ring around its center. Its pin is made of copper.
CARVALHO: These are quiet?
VΓSQUEZ: They make a little buzz, surprisingly quiet for a grenade.
Carvalho moves closer. He is now within 10 meters of the first person. He holds the grenade in an open hand, and hovers his other hand near the pin.
//NEW LANGUAGE DETECTED: Automatically translating the following language to ENGLISH in transcript: ITALIAN//
CBG-1: βwhich isn't to say that I doubt them, Iβ… just think they could've been more respectful about it. I was supposed to be back home studying chemistry, not stand guard for some holy conspiracy.
CBG-2: I get you, but also, this is how you move up. I've always wanted to study in the Priestly School of Bumaro, but they don't just let anyone in there.
Carvalho spends 5 seconds looking at the security personnel.
VΓSQUEZ: … Carvalho?
Carvalho places a finger in front of the visor. VΓ‘squez remains quiet.
CBG-1: … I suppose.
CBG-2 sighs and the conversation ends.
Carvalho pulls the pin on the grenade and waits for 2 seconds. After doing so, his hand is engulfed in a black flash, which covers the grenade. When it disappears, he holds three dozens of the rings that make up CBG-2's chains on their forearm. They look down at it and inhale sharply. The grenade detonates, causing a brief light to engulf CBG-2 and causes them to collapse. CBG-1 looks to Carvalho, who has started sprinting at them.
Before CBG-1 can vocalize, Carvalho slams his shoulder into them. CBG-1 is knocked to the ground, which makes significant noise due to their chain parka. CBG-1 reaches for their firearm, but Carvalho withdraws his own gun and places it against CBG-1's forehead.
CBG-1 freezes and moves their eyes around wildly. Their pupils are dilated. The chains that make up their parka starts moving in a slow but unnatural manner.
CARVALHO: Don't tell me you want to die in this hole.
CBG-1 furrows their eyebrows. They slowly raise their hands into the air.
With his other hand, Carvalho reaches for a pouch on his tactical vest. He pulls out a small container with a needle attached.
CARVALHO: Class A Amnestics. You'll be fine. Might squirm around for an hour or so.
Before CBG-1 can vocalize protest, Carvalho bites the cap off the needle and inserts it into the side of CBG-1's neck. Moments after, CBG-1's muscles loosen and they become unconscious.
CARVALHO: … too close. Got lucky. Grenade's area of effect isn't good enough.
VΓSQUEZ: Square inverse.
Carvalho exhales. He starts moving the security personnel behind a nearby brush.
CARVALHO: Got lucky this time.
VΓ‘squez fidgets with their microphone. They briefly mute their communications for a few seconds.
Carvalho crouches over to look into the compound, there are no other people visible. The only activity visible is the abandoned building at the end of the two rows of domes.
VΓ‘squez remains quiet for 2 seconds.
VΓSQUEZ: … right, of course! Makes sense, my bad.
Carvalho moves into the compound. A constant buzz is audible from within several buildings. Most of the ground is covered by grass.
CARVALHO: They made this place fast.
VΓSQUEZ: Can you see inside any of the buildings?
Carvalho lets out an agreeable sound. He moves up to one of the buildings where a window is visible. As he approaches, a low buzz intensifies. The window is tinted a bronze color and has a variety of golden flakes suspended in it.
CARVALHO: Smells earthly, wet?
The glasses' camera adjusts to see inside of the dome. It is largely empty, save a large machine that reaches the roof. Its inner portion circulates at a rapid rate, leading to the whole machine vibrating violently.
VΓSQUEZ: That's curious, do you think—
CARVALHO: Drill?
VΓSQUEZ: Keep looking at it, let the computer analyze it.
Carvalho adjusts his head to see more of the sides of the machine.
CARVALHO: Are there any important metals in the ground?
VΓSQUEZ: Not that I know of…
VΓ‘squez hums.
VΓSQUEZ: Alright, analysis is doneβseems to just be drills? 93% identification rate, so I'm fairly certain that it is just that. It's not technology we've seen in, well, maybe ever? Whoever did this was a skilled engineer. Might be something of note for the Department of Engineering, let me…
VΓ‘squez is heard scribbling something down.
VΓSQUEZ: Okay, ready again.
Carvalho nods to himself, he lowers himself to a crouch and starts moving towards the area between the exterior wall and the domes.
VΓSQUEZ: Placed a timer for you, let's assume that the electrocuted person gets up in eight minutes. Gives you a bit of time to get out in worse scenarios.
Carvalho moves past the first dome. The same buzzing can be heard from the second dome as well.
VΓSQUEZ: Maybe…
CARVALHO: What?
VΓSQUEZ: Hm. No, nothing. It's alright.
CARVALHO: … Yeah.
Carvalho continues moving towards the condemned building. He comes to a pause next to the third and last dome on this side and eyes the building. Figures can be seen walking past windows, and a loud voice can be heard, but their speech is unintelligible.
CARVALHO: Big building seems to be the only place with people in it, outside our gate guardians.
VΓSQUEZ: Uhh. Right. Hold on.
VΓ‘squez enters an inaudible exchange, presumably with Site Direct DomΓnguez. Moments later they speak into the microphone once more.
VΓSQUEZ: Boss wants you inside.
Carvalho inhales sharply.
VΓSQUEZ: … If possible.
CARVALHO: Yeah. It's possible.
Carvalho approaches a broken window on the first floor. He enters the building discreetly. The voice that was heard in the distance become slightly louder, but remains unintelligible.
CARVALHO: Not made of the odd marble and obsidian stuff outside. Been here for a while, blueprints?
VΓ‘squez clicks their tongue in a rhythmic pattern.
VΓSQUEZ: … no, think it wasβused briefly by the Granada Republican forces of the, uh, '36 coup. Got overwhelmed fast, brief skirmish, no maps in our database.
CARVALHO: Then we adapt.
Carvalho looks around the hallway he has entered. The floor is made of rotten wood and the walls are made of grey bricks.
CARVALHO: … Not entirely suitable for living, can practically taste the mold. They haven't taken care of this place, have they had it for long.
VΓSQUEZ: Boss wants you to find out which part of the Broken Church is here. We noted it as GoI-004A, might be B, might be C. See if you can't find out.
CARVALHO: … There's a difference?
VΓ‘squez vocalizes in a surprised manner.
VΓSQUEZ: Oh, right— thought this was taught to MTF these days, -A is The Broken Church, B is Cogwork Orthodox Church, C is the Maxwellism Church. Don't pay it much attention, I'll be able to pull it from the footage.
CARVALHO: Right.
Carvalho moves as close to the wall as he can. He follows along it until he makes it to a door. The floor starts creaking behind him, prompting him to open the door and step inside. He enters an utility room.
CARVALHO: Think I heard someone appro—
Carvalho spots an individual holding a crate full of chains. They are wearing a chain cloak reminiscent of a poncho. They make eye contact.
CARVALHO: Oh fu—
The person makes a thaumaturgic gesture, causing all of the chains in their cloak to animate upwards, and each link to elongate. They then launch themselves towards him.
Carvalho drops to the ground and the chains pierce into the door behind him. He immediately pushes himself away from the door with his feet, before the chains slam into the ground. Carvalho manages to jump into a crouched position that isn't quite standing, and rushes into the person's legs.
The person starts to fall over, but uses the elongated chains to maintain their balance. Carvalho tries to access his pouch with amnestic doses, but is forced to roll away from the rapidly descending chains.
CARVALHO: Holyβ howβ
Carvalho moves to stand and immediately tries to rush the person. He is interrupted by chains wrapping themselves around his legs, causing him to stumble into the person. They both fall to the ground. Carvalho draws his knife, while the person wraps several links of chains around Carvalho's throat. Carvalho attempts to puncture the person's chest with his knife, though both of them are locked in a struggle.
Carvalho starts coughing.
The person starts breathing in a panic, kicking at Carvalho.
The chains incise into Carvalho's skin.
The person starts praying.
Carvalho can't breathe.
The person kicks.
Carvalho grits his teeth.
CARVALHO: Let— me—
The knife touches the person's chest.
The person panics.
Blood starts to run down Carvalho's throat.
The knife draws blood. The person cries.
Carvalho's eyes start becoming unfocused.
The person starts hulking.
Carvalho grits his teeth and forces the knife into the person's chest with one last push.
The air is forced out of the person's lungs.
The chains deanimate and Carvalho draws a deep breath.
Carvalho repeatedly stabs the person's chest until they stop moving. He breathes raggedly and rolls over to the side after inspecting the person for a few seconds.
VΓSQUEZ: … Status?
CARVALHO: Got— lucky.
Carvalho stumbles to a standing position and looks at the neutralized threat. The visor doesn't move from the body for 4 seconds.
CARVALHO: Idiot just couldn't take the dose.
Carvalho clenches his fist. His heart rate spikes.
CARVALHO: Just make up a problem. Not like there's enough of that shit to begin with.
Carvalho seems to inspect the pool of blood that is forming next to the neutralized threat. He rummages through his Standard Urban Utility Belt to retrieve a small spray bottle. He sprays the stab wounds and blood, causing all blood to immediately boil and the wounds to seal.
CARVALHO: Can't just let me have that one, would be making it too easy for me, woul—.
VΓ‘squez starts typing on his keyboard. It is suspected that Carvalho is reminded of VΓ‘squez being able to hear him, and promptly falls quiet. He drags the body towards a box with a lid, digs out a few handful of chains and stores the body in the box. He uses the chains to cover the individual, and puts the lid back on the box.
CARVALHO: Lost the thread, please advise on next action.
VΓSQUEZ: See if you can find a room that serves as the command center of the outpost.
Carvalho looks around the room. There are two doors. One leads to the exterior hallway he came from, the other leads further into the building. Carvalho starts moving towards the latter.
Carvalho opens the door to the next room, revealing a hallway full of shelves with crates on them. Visual analysis reveals these crates to have metals, clay and soil in them, seemingly without categorization. He steps inside and closes the door behind him. Moments later, the other door in the previous room opens, prompting Carvalho to move forwards. He glances through the shelves for a hiding spot. He eventually dives behind a crate a second before the door behind him opens.
An individual with sleeves made of chain long enough to be dragged over the ground starts approaching Carvalho's spot. Carvalho wraps around the crate further to avoid being seen. The individual approaches a crate and starts rummaging through it.
VΓSQUEZ: Can't make out the label on the crate, but they're probably just getting something and getting out. Stay put.
Carvalho nods. The individual moves to another crate and starts rummaging through it. Carvalho takes hold of his knife again. He eyes the blood on the blade. He starts breathing slowly, seemingly deliberately.
The door on the other side of the storeroom opens. An individual enters. Carvalho slowly moves past another row of crates, now directly stuck between two crates up against the wall, and holds the knife ready. One of the crates has a label declaring its contents "GOLD-RICH MATERIALS".
[ASSIGNING IDENTITIES CBG-3 AND CBG-4 FOR TRANSCRIPT CONTINUITY.]
The individual who was first present, CBG-3, speaks.
CBG-3: Not the only one up at night?
CBG-4 approaches CBG-3. CBG-4 wears a half-cloak made of chainmail.
CBG-4: High Priests are airing out Calixta. Not sure they're going to forgive them for this one. Half afraid they might break them.
CBG-3: It's rather hard to care. Calixta always had issues with authority. Didn't think they'd go as far as cooperating with the Rust.
CBG-4: Even then, points at something deeper if our acolytes are willing to go that far to get something done, you know?
CBG-3: Can't throw a tantrum every time you run into a wall. If the Plan was known clearly, we wouldn't beβ
CBG-4: Running errands for heretics in Spain?
CBG-3 sighs.
CBG-3: Certainly one way of putting itβcould I convince you to help me find something with a gold percent between 0.4 and 0.6?
CBG-4: Sure. I don't really want to return to the meeting, to be frank.
CBG-3: Why, wonderful. I do appreciate your help.
The two starts rummaging around the crates. Carvalho tightens his grip around the knife. His other hand starts balling into a fist.
The individuals spend 4 minutes and 34 seconds inspecting various crates. Carvalho's breathing notably becomes harsher and more audible. VΓ‘squez can be heard clicking their tongue in consideration.
VΓSQUEZ: Okay, uhh… look, let me read you a fun fact!
VΓ‘squez types something on their keyboard. Six seconds passes.
VΓSQUEZ: Did you know that Spain is the second largest country in the European Union?
Carvalho breathes sharply.
CBG-3: … This is 0.3%… so close.
VΓSQUEZ: … did you know it's also the fourth largest country in Europe?
The camera starts shaking.
CBG-4: … 0.7%. Ugh. What do you need this for, anyways?
CBG-3: Can't find Ricardo. Wanted to make something that could track him down, just needed a bit of gold. I'm not that good at extracting gold at too low or high quantities, always ends up with the gold staying put or shooting through my hands and into my surroundings. And that's just not proper as a priest-to-be.
Carvalho inhales sharply. He looks at the crate next to him which has no lid. He slowly reaches a hand in while the pair continues their exchange.
CBG-4: Think he ran off after Their Uncorrodednesses started shouting at Calixta?
CBG-3: Doubt it, think he was making more chains. Orders from our— order, I suppose.
CBG-4: Curious— oh, would this work?
CBG-4 holds up a rock. CBG-3 approaches it to visually inspect it.
CBG-3: Oh, that's perfect. Just need to…
CARVALHO: Shit. They might find my dead guy if they complete that.
Carvalho takes a pebble from the crate next to him. He puts it on his thumb and flicks it towards the end of the hallway. As it hits a crate, the pair looks towards the sound.
VΓSQUEZ: … Carvalho?
Carvalho reaches into the crate and pulls out a stone roughly the size of the one that CBG-4 holds. Carvalho quickly activates his anomaly, causing both objects to be enveloped in a discreet dark circle. After the flash disappears, the rocks have switched locations.
CBG-3: … Hate being in the countryside. In the height of the feral season too. -It- has too much power.
CBG-4: Pay It little mind, Its own strength is in madness.
CBG-3 looks back at the rock. They tilt their head slightly.
CBG-3: That's odd, don't think this is good after all? I'm usua—.
CBG-3 pauses.
CBG-3: I'm never wrong about gold percentages.
CBG-4 blinks twice in rapid succession.
CBG-4: "The process is perfect, deviation is beastly". Its Madness is afoot.
Carvalho swears quietly.
Both individuals animate their chains, causing the links to sway in the air. Carvalho reaches for his sidearm. He slowly draws it and points it at one of the two. It has a suppressor attached to it.
CBG-3: Root out the evil.
The two individuals start moving through the long storeroom, each one moving towards the other door, looking in between the crates. Carvalho is slowly being approached by one of the individuals. He starts looking around.
VΓSQUEZ: Carvalho— the lamps? Your— uh. Your anomaly?
Carvalho looks up at the ceiling of the storeroom, eyeing the antique lamps. He weighs the piece of rock on his hands. He looks at the individual who is approahcing one of the light bulbs.
CARVALHO: … Good call.
As the individual passes under the lamp, Carvalho activates his anomaly. The lamp is replaced with the stone chunk and falls and falls on CBG-3's head. They collapse immediately after. CBG-4 turns around to look towards CBG-3.
CBG-4: … Steel-kin?
CBG-4 holds their position. They remain unmoving for four seconds.
Carvalho takes a deep breath.
CBG-4 makes a thaumaturgic gesture, which causes the chains on their attire to grow in size and tear into the crates around them. They break apart every crate in front of them and create enough dust to break the line of sight between them and Carvalho.
Carvalho swears and moves out of his hiding position. He manages to get into the middle of the room before the crates he was hiding among are broken. The dust seems to keep him hidden.
CBG-4: Where does the beast lie!?
Carvalho lets out an annoyed groan and points his pistol towards the dust cloud. He fires three shots, each one of which seems to reflect back towards him. Carvalho is unharmed.
CBG-4: You use The Inevitable's tools against Their servants!? You disgust me!
CARVALHO: How do I—
Carvalho retrieves another electric grenade from his tactical vest. He pulls the pin and holds the spoon down. He holds it behind his back. He stares into the dust.
CBG-4: Pray and you may find a silver [sic] of mercy in the hell I'll send you to!
CARVALHO: Yeah?
CBG-4's chains seems to cease in movement. Carvalho stared directly into the dust cloud.
VΓSQUEZ: Mind the range, not overly—
CBG-4 becomes visible. A fraction of a second later, the dust cloud that CBG-4 is surrounded by is enveloped in a black flash.
CBG-4: What is—
The dust cloud disappears, leaving the electric grenade suspended behind CBG-4 for a brief moment. The dust shoots out from Carvalho's palm.
CBG-4: —this chicanβ
CBG-4 gets electrocuted by the grenade. They collapse a few moments afterwards.
VΓSQUEZ: … —expansive. Well.
Carvalho groans and looks around. He waves the dust away from his face.
VΓSQUEZ: Your file doesn't cite you as being able to switch out dust?
CARVALHO: Might want to update it, then.
Carvalho starts moving through the hallway, to the other side from which he entered.
VΓSQUEZ: Get as much information as you can, but at this point you have to get out. No way this mess goes unnoticed for long.
CARVALHO: Yeah.
Carvalho makes his way to the door. He briefly looks over his shoulder at the scene behind him, with half of the hallway covered in debris and rocks from CBG-4's attack. He inhales deeply.
VΓSQUEZ: Picking up some audio behind that door. Don't rush in.
Upon reaching the door, Carvalho places his ear against it. After a bit, he opens it slightly. The sound of arguing intensifies further, making a few words audible. The voices communicate in Latin. He peeks inside, spotting three individuals standing in a large, empty room with a broken skylight. A fourth person is sitting on the ground, wearing a chainmail skirt.
CARVALHO: … Our contact.
Carvalho jolts slightly as he focuses on the figure which is furthest away. The individual seems to be clad in a worn dark brown robe. Their eyes seem to be glowing blue, with pipes and piercings covering their face.
CARVALHO: Wait. That can't be?…
VΓSQUEZ: He… can't be here. Like, surely we'd have known, right?
Carvalho holds his breath. He stares at the individual.
VΓSQUEZ: This isβDirector DomΓnguezβDirector! Sir!
DOMΓNGUEZ: (Faintly) What's wro—yeah, yeah, one moment!
VΓSQUEZ: No— sir, you don'tβ…
DOMΓNGUEZ: Alrigh—
DomΓnguez can be heard approaching the microphone.
DOMΓNGUEZ: What could be so importaβ…
DomΓnguez falls quiet for two seconds.
VΓSQUEZ: But we haven't seen him in… decades? How is he…
DOMΓNGUEZ: What the fuck?
//LOADING PROFILE. PERSON OF INTEREST IDENTIFICATION: 004: ROBERT BUMARO.//
BUMARO: And you're certain this woman acted out of ill intention? She strayed from the path?
Another figure speaks up. They are dressed in a business suit. Their head seems to be translucent and glows blue. Their skin, where visible, seems to be made of carbon fiber. The person wears a large collection of wires akin to a scarf. He is fidgeting with a pair of broken headphones.
//LOADING PROFILE. PERSON OF INTEREST IDENTIFICATION: 004-C-43: CONLOCUTIO//
CONLOCUTIO: I personally detected her transpondance with a black site here in Andalusia. Seems like she, like many of us, have grown weary with your lack of progress, Bumaro. You haven't shown proof of building His Vessel for years.
Bumaro looks down at the person on the floor: Anastasia Calixta, the asset.
BUMARO: Curious. And now of all times.
The woman on the ground struggles, she is restrained by bars of steel wrapped around her form. Her mouth is sealed by a mask, and her hands are fully covered by iron.
BUMARO: You've found me in a most impatient moment of my life, good faithful.
Calixta lets out a muffled scream.
Bumaro looks to a third person, who seems to be emitting steam. Upon being regarded, the posture moves around, with mechanical whirrs loudly sounding throughout the room. Its body seems to be fully mechanical.
BUMARO: There's nothing you can do to keep her captured humanely for now?
//LOADING PROFILE. PERSON OF INTEREST IDENTIFICATION: 004-B-5: LADY MACHINA//
LADY MACHINA: I AM AFRAID I HAVE LITTLE ABILITY TO MAINTAIN… PRISONERS. I WOULD SUGGEST SOMETHING FAR MORE HUMANE TO THOSE WHO WOULD STAND IN THE WAY OF THE DESIGN.
Lord Machina's right arm folds in on itself to form a drill.
LADY MACHINA: IF IT WORKS ON PIERCING THE TECTONIC PLATES, IT OUGHT TO HELP OUR ASPIRANT ALONG TO PEACE WITH OUR UNMADE MAKER.
Calixta starts writhing aggressively.
CARVALHO: Wh— she's our contact, no?
DOMΓNGUEZ: Carlos, get out. Run. You're in danger.
CARVALHO: She's with us, right?
VΓSQUEZ: Agent Carvalho…
CARVALHO: You sure love to avoid answering questions.
DomΓnguez groans.
DOMΓNGUEZ: Yes, but she's lost— don't want to lose you too. Get out.
CARVALHO: Walls in this building somehow made them miss the noise from inside the warehouse, I'm not letting that luck go to waste. I'm getting her out.
VΓSQUEZ: Carvalho…
Carvalho moves away from the door and looks around. He eyes the bodies down the hall. He sprints over to CBG-3.
CARVALHO: Hasn't worked yet, but…
Carvalho drags the body towards the door. After struggling to do so, he arrives, and peeks through the small opening in the door.
Bumaro eyes Lord Machina up and down with an unclear expression.
BUMARO: We're not executing our own.
CONLOCUTIO: What would you do, then? She's already run to the jailers, they might come and get their pet.
BUMARO: Do no—
LADY MACHINA: OH, PLEASE. IT'S NOT LIKE THE—
After interrupting, Bumaro seems to eye Lord Machina. The latter falls quiet.
BUMARO: Find another way to deal with her. You're not executing her. We do not live in the medieval ages.
Lord Machina and Conlocutio exchange glances. The conversation falls quiet for a few seconds.
CONLOCUTIO: You seem tired, Bumaro. Have you considered passing on the project?
Bumaro looks at the two. His eyebrows start to draw together before smoothing out again.
BUMARO: No.
CARVALHO: Alright, let's see.
DOMΓNGUEZ: Carlos. Holy shit. Get out.
Carvalho eyes Calixta. He seems to focus for a few seconds. As he does, Bumaro's eyes seems to wander towards the door. Carvalho doesn't seem to notice this. The body he's dragging is slowly enveloped in anomalous darkness. When this happens, Bumaro's eyes seems to glow with a brighter intensity.
Carvalho activates his anoma—
//TRANSCRIPT MALFUNCTION: CONNECTION PRIMARY PERSPECTIVE LOST.//
VΓSQUEZ: … Carvalho?
DOMΓNGUEZ: What happened? Is this his anomaly?
VΓSQUEZ: I'm… not sure. I don't believe so?
DOMΓNGUEZ: Carvalho? Hello? Idiot?
…
DOMΓNGUEZ: Is this something the Portugeuse do?
VΓSQUEZ: Sir…
…
DOMΓNGUEZ: … They might have just offed hi—
//CONNECTION RE-ESTABLISHED.//
7.3 seconds after failing, Carvalho's connection returns.
CARVALHO: What just—
Carvalho's perspective shows the trio he was facing having moved towards his position. Carvalho jolts, and uses his anomaly in proper, causing the body to be exchanged for Calixta's. She gasps into the mask.
DOMΓNGUEZ: Status?!
CARVALHO: Unknown— getting out!
Carvalho rips off his tactical vest. He pulls the pin on three of the grenades, lifts up Calixta over his shoulders and starts moving down the hallway. Calixta protests inaudibly.
CARVALHO: Please tell me you have something that can pick me up!
VΓSQUEZ: I have a helicopter approaching the exfiltration point, keep moving!
Carvalho makes it down the hallway and breaks into the workshop. He spots a pair of chainmail-covered personnel who notice him. They start animating their chains. Calixta starts flailing her with her restraints, prompting Carvalho's attention.
CARVALHO: Right, you're— one of them, right!?
Carvalho activates his anomaly and replaces Calixta's restraints with a large barrel full of chainmail. Calixta inhales sharply.
Carvalho hops to the side to avoid the elongated chainmail tendrils that slam into his previous position. Calixta falls to the ground and rolls to the side due to Carvalho's movement, leaving her to groan. She ducks behind a barrel.
CALIXTA: Appreciate it! Hold on, let me—
Calixta animates the contents of the barrel, approximately 98 kilograms of chains and chainmail, causing it to blast out of the barrel and wrap themselves around the two individuals. Carvalho had drawn his sidearm in the meantime, but lowers it after the threats are on the ground.
CALIXTA: Won't hold them for long!
CARVALHO: Move then! Straight ahead!
Calixta and Carvalho sprints past the threats. Carvalho makes it to the door, which he uses his shoulder to break through. They move into the exterior hallway.
CALIXTA: What now?!
CARVALHO: One moment!
Carvalho fires three rounds from his sidearm into the glass, breaking it. He sprints towards the broken window and vaults out. He lands roughly on the ground, but rolls into a standing position and keeps going. Calixta follows shortly after, animating the metals her chainmail ballerina skirt to ease her landing.
CARVALHO: You're with me, right?!
VΓSQUEZ: Ye—
CALIXTA: Right behind you!
VΓSQUEZ: Oh.
CARVALHO: VΓ‘squez, estimate on vehicle?!
VΓSQUEZ: Should be right there. Keep sprinting.
The pair runs past the domes along the exterior wall. A person briefly tries to intercept them, though Carvalho fires a shot at them, causing them to retreat back into cover.
CARVALHO: Past the gate and we're clear, are we being followed!?
Carvalho looks over his shoulder. He spots Lady Machina who has just exited the window in the administrative building and converted the joints on her legs into wheels.
CALIXTA: By the worst of the worst!
Carvalho discharges his firearms towards Lady Machina four times, though they simply glance off their person.
CARVALHO: How do we stop her?!
CALIXTA: Never had to do something like that!
Carvalho groans. The pair makes it past the entrance, the two security personnel remain unconscious. They keep sprinting down the road outside, with Lady Machina gaining on them. A helicopter is seen in the distance.
CARVALHO: That's our way out, can you delay the robot lady?!
Calixta stutters a response before she looks over her shoulders. Lady Machina approaches their position rapidly. Calixta unclips a series of chains that she holds in her hands. Calixta throws the links towards Lady Machina, whose wheels become inoperable. Lady Machina falls forwards into a roll, converting her legs back to ordinary in doing so. She breaks into a sprint.
LADY MACHINA: LORD BUMARO IS MOST DISPLEASED. THIS IS NOT THE PLAN.
CALIXTA: You'd know little!
The helicopter approaches their position. A rope ladder is lowered by the on-board personnel.
LADY MACHINA: COME HOME. IT IS NOT TOO LATE TO BE PART OF THE DESIGN.
Lady Machina's digits form into many-jointed tendrils. She whips them towards Calixta, who jumps into the air to avoid them narrowly.
LADY MACHINA: THE PAIN YOU'D FEEL WOULD BE TANGENTIAL.
Carvalho empties the rest of his sidearm's ammunition. Lady Machina seems to flinch at the shots that hit her head. Lady Machina vocalizes in a manner reminiscent of metal being scraped against metal.
The rope ladder descends, and the helicopter closes the distance to Carvalho. He reaches for the ladder and grabs hold of it after a few attempts. He jumps unto a rung of the rope ladder and looks back at Calixta.
CARVALHO: Come on!
Lady Machina elongated her digits once more, this time she manages to wrap it around Calixta.
LADY MACHINA: I NO LONGER NEED TO BITE. WORRY NOT.
Calixta starts swearing under her breath as she slows down. She reaches for another series of chains and animates them. She tries to strike with the other end of it towards Carvalho.
CALIXTA: I tire of empty words! Consider this my most motivated schism!
Carvalho struggles to catch the link. His eye twitches.
LADY MACHINA: SUCH A SHAME. I HEAR BUMARO DOES NOT TAKE WELL TO EX-COMMUNICATIONS. TIRESOME.
Calixta tries to throw the end of the link towards Carvalho again. It does not work. Lady Machina gets closer.
LADY MACHINA: HE DOES, OF COURSE, NOT NEED TO KNOW WHAT I DO TO YOU. MAYBE WE SKIP THE FORMAL PROCESS FOR EJECTING YOU.
Razors appear along the elongated digits wrapped around Calixta, causing Calixta to hiss in pain.
Calixta: Godless fiend!
LADY MACHINA: ET CETERA, ET CETERA.
Lady Machina approaches within a meter of Calixta, who remains running to the best of her ability. Razors have carved approximately 4 centimeters into her skin. Blood starts dripping in amounts ill-advised by Foundation policy.
CARVALHO: One more time, I'll get it!
Calixta screams and tosses the chain towards Carvalho one more time. It misses. Carvalho's eye twitches.
LADY MACHINA: TIME'S UP.
Calixta narrows her eyes, she is seemingly moments away from going into shock. Carvalho hops off the ladder and lands in a sprint. He looks over his shoulder. His blood pressure spikes.
VΓSQUEZ: Carvalho, you can't—
Carvalho suddenly slows down and leans forwards. He plants his hands on the ground and kicks his legs up. Calixta runs past him, but Lady Machina doesn't manage to dodge his foot. His kick connects at her recreated jaw, causing her to fall backwards. As she lands on the ground, her digits retracts and Carvalho rolls to a stop.
Calixta inhales sharply. Her eyes regains focus and she eyes the ladder. Without a force pulling her back, she manages to reach the ladder. She grabs onto it and throws the chain she holds to Carvalho, who manages to grip it and gets dragged along the ground.
The helicopter starts ascending.
VΓSQUEZ: Holy shit.
DOMΓNGUEZ: Did he do it? Do I need to close the paperwork for mid-mission resignations?
Lady Machina reverses her torso and limbs, causing her to suddenly be in a standing position. She looks at Carvalho and lets out a noise which is closest to a screech of frustration.
Calixta smiles wearingly as Carvalho is raised into the air. She looks at him, though her expression seems to change to one of worry.
CALIXTA: Are you well?
Carvalho's eye twitches.
CARVALHO: Yeah.
//END LOG//
Afterword
8 minutes and 20 seconds after Carvalho's connection was lost, the Sun disappeared for approximately 7.4 seconds. This is notably the same duration that Carvalho's connection was lost for.
Addendum 076-4: July 21st "Sunny July" Incident
On July 21 2026, the Sun disappeared for approximately 7.4 seconds from 04:32 AM to 04:39 AM in Coordinated Universal Time. Foundation .AIC units immediately activated the standard Missing Major Celestial Object protocol, which automatically folded out the antimemetic antifabric sheets attached to Foundation satellites orbiting Earth and the Moon. Theoretically, the effect causes individuals who observed the Sun's demanifestation to regard it as a solar eclipse. This procedure is estimated to have succeeded on 99.4% of affected individuals, leading to increased Foundation efforts in amnesticizing the remaining 0.6% of the population on the illuminated side of Earth.
Notice from Site Director DomΓnguez: Solar Issues
Site-130 personnel, you may have noticed that the horizon became significantly darker. This technically constitutes one of those dreadful Scenarios we scare the newbies with when they join (sorry to the newbies reading this).
The sun vanished for a few seconds, and this has, predictably, caused continous strain for Foundation personnel in Australia, Russia, China, what have you. In light of this, various sites in those locations have requested aid with amnesticization efforts. That means I'm sending a few of you to do one of those things where they drop buckets of Lethe-water dilluted with freshwater out of helicopters over urban centers. I have always wanted to do this, and I am slightly envious that you are being given this chance while I have to deal with our recent "situation" with the local Church of the Broken God sects.
In an apology to the people who aren't going to be paid to fly around with buckets of forgetting juice, I have ordered excessive volumes of pizza for this Friday. This way, we get to have some fun here at 130.
If you have some spare time, you are encouraged to get on whatever they call Twitter these day and mock the local scientists who claim what happened wasn't a solar eclipse. I'll slide you β¬50 per response you provoke out of them where they look insane.
Thank you for your continued efforts despite the Department of Economics constantly trying to fight us, the raises from last year aren't dead in the water, I'm sending daily complaints to Overwatch Command. Eventually they'll take your work seriously, this I promise.
Secure, Contain, Protect.
-Site Director Cecilio DomΓnguez
Addendum 076-5: Interview with Person of Interest 004A-1043 "Anastasia Calixta"
After Anastasia Calixta's extraction from the GoI-004 site, Agent Carlos Carvalho went to interview Anastasia Calixta due to shortage of personnel. Notably, Agent Carvalho has not been trained in standard interrogation procedures since 2018.
Transcript of Anastasia Calixta Interrogation
Foreword
Due to limited holding units in Site-130 as per its primary function to be a weapons and ammunition depot for combat-heavy operations in the Iberian Peninsula and surrounding areas, no available holding cells without metal were available. After thorough examination of Ethics Committee rules and judgements, it was determined to be wholly permitted to situate PoI-004A-1043 in the unused chicken coop made primarily of wood. Any nails have been exchanged for glue made as byproduct of terminated divine equine entitites.
//BEGIN LOG//
Carvalho turns on camera placed on top of a tripod in the chicken coop. The floor is covered in hay. Carvalho moves out of the camera's view, revealing two wooden chairs, one of which Calixta is sitting on. Her hands are restrained with tubes of hard plastic connected by a leather strap.
CALIXTA: This is wholly unnecessary, I'd say. I have little wish to escape.
CARVALHO: Take it up with anyone else but me. I don't wholly care.
Calixta glances around the coop. She smiles thinly.
CALIXTA: Noted. Any leads on the Sun that disappeared on our way back? Is your organization dealing with that?
CARVALHO: Why else would I do this.
Carvalho sits down on his chair facing Calixta. He is slightly out of view from the camera's perspective. He looks at a notebook's first page.
CARVALHO: What is the Broken Church doing at that facility?
Calixta tilts her head slightly. Her eyes are slightly narrowed.
CALIXTA: Well, to be clear— it wasn't just the Broken Church. It was the Church of Our Broken Savior.
CARVALHO: … Yeah, said that. Fewer words.
CALIXTA: No, not quiteβ there are… disagreements. Regarding our holy texts. I am part of the True Broken Churchβ or were, more precisely. You also have the Followers of Maxwell and the Cogwork Collective. Heretical branches. Bumaro has been much too patient, and as such they still constitute members of the Church of Our Broken Savior.
Carvalho rubs his eyebrows. He breathes slowly.
CALIXTA: I'm not wholly sure what we were doing, I was simply called to serve the flock that I am in. But what I do know is that whatever it is, it madeβBumaro of all people, if you can believe itβalign himself with those who had tried to undermine his true authority as High Builder of Our Savior.
Carvalho writes down a sentence in his notebook.
CARVALHO: Okay.
Carvalho circles a hand and looks past Calixta.
CARVALHO: And why would you bother with joining the cult?
CALIXTA: … We're not a cult.
Carvalho sighs.
CARVALHO: -Church-, then.
Calixta exaggerates her eyes in consideration.
CALIXTA: I mean, why did you join the Foundation?
Carvalho groans.
CARVALHO: Pay's good.
CALIXTA: Surely you did not join your organization of borderless expanse to… earn money.
Carvalho remains quiet for several seconds. He laxes his shoulder somewhat over the duration.
CARVALHO: Thought I was too stupid to think the world better, thought I could fight it better. My anomaly manifested, I was picked up, Foundation was in a bit of an odd spot with luck at the time, so they allowed me to join a group of other anomalous operatives. Thought I could beat down some monsters so people could live inβ…
Carvalho tenses again.
CARVALHO: Why are you asking?
Calixta smiles widely.
CALIXTA: I imagine one does not end up in our world without intention. I too wished for the world to be better.
Calixta stands up. She idly paces around the coop. Carvalho follows her with his eyes intensely.
CALIXTA: I was brought up in a very devout home. My father, kicked out of the church for things I never quite learned, always had this little yellow book, could fit in a palm, right? The text in it was -miniscule-.
Calixta tries to gesture at the last part of her vocalization, but is seemingly reminded of the restraints around her hands.
CALIXTA: Later I learned it was -both- the Old -and- New Testament. He always pulled it out of his breast pocket whenever he wasn't doing anything. Kept asking him what he was reading it for, how far along he was. He said he never quite understood it, but he kept trying. Said it was full of lessons to reach Heaven.
Carvalho pulls out a cigarette and a lighter. He lights the cigarette while Calixta speaks.
CALIXTA: I always asked him, pestering and young as I was, why one would want to go to Heaven! He always laughed it off or shrugged. I don't know if I ever truly got him to answer my, faithfully, annoying questions.
CALIXTA: I grew older, and strangely, so did he. More isolated. He was ignored by many, and it's not like he tried to speak with people. Before I knew it, my time of running around and playing came to an end. Had to figure out what I wanted to be, and I thought back to that book. As worn as it had eventually become.
CARVALHO: Decided to become priestly, I reckon?
CALIXTA: Wanted to! But, you know. They don't really like someone like me in a priest's garb. No, I studied theology abroad, though. Asked a lot of questions, as I always had. Asked what the intentions of His Divine Majesty was when he absolved us of sin. And you know what's funny? So, so far away from home, across an ocean I heard it again.
CARVALHO: Heard what?
CALIXTA: That the reason He absolved us of sin was so we could go to Heaven. That annoyed me.
Carvalho leans forwards.
CARVALHO: … Going to Heaven?
CALIXTA: Yes!
Calixta turns to face Carvalho with widened eyes.
CALIXTA: Please don't misunderstand me, Heaven? Sounds delightful. But why would I— escape -this-?
Calixta looks around.
CALIXTA: We turn trees into houses, iron into tools, wind into electricity! We may die from illness sure, but there are -so many- that we've cured and easened. We can replace -organs-! What we are! For something better!
Calixta hesitates. Her shoulders drop slightly, and she sits back down in her chair.
CALIXTA: Butβ we don't? Well, we couldn't. Yet. Well, those living above the veil can't. At that time, I couldn't.
CALIXTA: I had heard this one thing that people kept saying: "God cannot be all-powerful, all-good and all-knowing at the same time." I had brought it up to my father, given he was so immersed in this religion thing. And you know what he told me?
Carvalho doesn't answer.
CALIXTA: "Of course he is! He simply prepares us so that we are ready for Heaven!" I sometimes think about the expression I made. I think I looked like something I've never before looked like, or ever will. I tried to tell him that all was alright, and. Well.
Calixta pauses for a few seconds.
CALIXTA: I'm not against going to Heaven. I'm not against… paradise. I just wished that the -now- mattered. I think that, eventually, I came to the conclusion that God may see all things, and that He may let the universe run its course so that we could learn, grow as people. Be welcomed into Heaven as people who have lived and suffered and know why one mustn't fall to evil.
CARVALHO: You think God hurts you too much to be worshipped.
Calixta blinks. She looks off for a moment and smiles unevenly.
CALIXTA: Maybe something along those lines?
Carvalho takes a drag of his cigarette. His hand is severely trembling.
CALIXTA: I fell out of it all. I still believed inβ a good force, you know. I just thinkβ what if I could build Heaven here? On Earth? I suppose this was a sentiment that became common enough that the Broken Church knew what to look for in people.
Calixta falls quiet.
CALIXTA: I think I couldn't believe in a God who wouldn't intervene in disaster.
Carvalho shifts his weight on the chair. The conversation is quiet for a dozen seconds. Carvalho appears to be in thought.
CARVALHO: So why worship a dead God?
Calixta leans back in her chair.
CALIXTA: I think a patient God became more unbearable than an incapable God.
Carvalho taps his cigarette in contemplation.
CARVALHO: Right— got it.
Carvalho falls quiet and looks down at the ground. Calixta moves her own head down to meet Carvalho's eyes. She has a quizzical expression.
CARVALHO: … What would you guess they're doing?
Calixta raises her head again.
CALIXTA: Well. At the time, I didn't know. But, well.
Calixta bobs her head left and right.
CALIXTA: May I lend you a very specific thought I had?
Carvalho gestures dismissively.
CARVALHO: Sure.
CALIXTA: I'm really good at counting, bit of a praying matter for me.
Calixta attempts to make direct eye contact with Carvalho before she continues. Carvalho averts his eyes.
CALIXTA: It's rather odd that it was 8 minutes and 20 seconds between you disappearing back in the meeting chamber and the Sun doing the same. And a similar duration, too.
Carvalho fidgets with the cigarette. It has burned up. He crushes the butt of the cigarette.
CARVALHO: Yeah. I guess you're not wrong.
Carvalho stands up. He walks towards the camera. He places his hand on it and seems to fall into thought.
CARVALHO: How do you stop blaming God for everything bad that happens to you?
Calixta can be heard humming. She is obstructed from the camera's view by Carvalho.
CALIXTA: … I suppose you pray for Heaven.
Carvalho scoffs. He turns off the recording.
//END LOG//
Addendum 076-6: Agent Carvalho Diagnosis
Agent Carvalho's medical situation has been deemed required context for this documentation, and as such a report sent by Dr. Venla Tride has been deemed an appropriate conclusion for this file. Do note that Dr. Venla Tride is currently under investigation for inappropriate communication.
Department of Medicine
Doctor's Notice
Site Director Cecilio DomΓnguez,
I was surprised to receive your message. I thought I had no spine and were too much of a pussy to do the right thing? I'm incredibly relieved to hear that my back is doing better and that I've morphed into something that can be phrased a bit more tastefully over official documentation.
I hope that you're doing well, and that your site runs smoothly. Heard your site ranked in the average in social environments?
I've looked over your man. High blood pressure, seems perpetually agitated. Might just be the average Portuguese who's stuck in Spain, but he seems troubled. Give him some time offβif he's one of the people you consider human.
| CARLOS CARVALHO Tests | |
|---|---|
| Heart Rate p/ Minute | 122~ |
| Blood Pressure | 152/95 |
| Cognitive Resistance Value | 11.2 (during New Moon) |
| Leisere Curse Potential | Average to Noteworthy |
| Ectoplasm | 2-3 grams |
| SchrΓΆdinger-Xylxk Stability | -432.1 per cubic meter |
This last value raised an eyebrow or two. Since you have somehow slithered your serpentine ass to a site director position, I had to run this by my boss to ensure it was "up to Clearance Level 4 standards".
Boss told me to point you in the direction of this one containment guide that has been all the rage with the 4s lately.
Let me know if you have additional questions. Sadly, I will warn that at the time of receiving your message, my 8 years long backlog of unspent vacation time will start.
Later, asshole.
Dr. Venla Tride
Addendum 076-7: Debrief Regarding Medical Report
Following the interrogation of Anastasia Calixta, Agent Carvalho scheduled a meeting with Site Director DomΓnguez to discuss his anomaly's connection to the status of the sun. Notably, this meeting was never formally approved.
Debriefing conversation with Agent Carvalho, Secretary VΓ‘squez and Site Director DomΓnguez
//BEGIN LOG//
CARVALHO: You knew?
DOMΓNGUEZ: Let me fully clear, I know preciously little about all this science crap. I'm here because I can run a site.
Carvalho twitches an eye.
CARVALHO: Answer the question.
DOMΓNGUEZ: No, I didn't know. I'm not up to date with what the yankees are up to. There's a new thing every week. Don't have time to keep up, they don't allocate resources to sites outside the US often. I leave that to Octavio.
DomΓnguez gestures to VΓ‘squez. Carvalho looks into the ceiling and breathes raggedly. VΓ‘squez looks up at the two after hearing their name while their computer completes a process. VΓ‘squez smiles politely.
[LATER ANALYSIS OF VΓSQUEZ'S COMPUTER REVEALS THAT THEY DELETED A MESSAGE FROM DR. VENLA TRIDE.]
CARVALHO: So you sent me on a borderline suicide mission and didn't elect to inform me that I might be, what, quantumly entangled with the orb of plasma in the center of our shitty solar system?
DOMΓNGUEZ: Neither of us needed to know, yeah? As I said, I have preciously few resources, I had to put in a favor with your ordinary site director. I'm expected to keep an eye on half the Iberian peninsula, I can't have the -one- anomalous agent capable of active infiltration missions go on some spiritual journey to find peace before the sun -might- go out. -Might-.
Carvalho raises his hand to rub his eyebrows. He starts pacing around the room slowly. Four seconds of silence passes, prompting DomΓnguez to look at one of his monitors. He dismisses a notification on the screen idly.
CARVALHO: Really fortunate that I'm forced to work for you, yeah? That there isn't any other site accepting people right now? Did that woman know of something you wanted hidden? Is that why you wanted me to leave her?
DOMΓNGUEZ: Make up more conspiracies in that thick skull of yours, just stop vocalizing them.
VΓSQUEZ: … They are our -one- asset in the Broken Church. Or were, rather.
DOMΓNGUEZ: Talk less and listen more. When I tell you to leave, you leave. There's no conspiracy here.
CARVALHO: Maybe not, but you don't LEAVE INFORMANTS to DIE, Director. They risk themselves to rat us information.
DOMΓNGUEZ: You do EXACTLY what I tell you to do, regardless of what you THINK we do on missions.
VΓSQUEZ: … You were ordered to exfiltrate immediately, Agent Carv—
VΓ‘squez stops in the middle of their sentence when Carvalho glares at them. VΓ‘squez smiles nervously.
CARVALHO: No wonder you have two beer cans and cock in Spain, do you just sell out your assets at this site? How do you have people left?
VΓ‘squez looks at their monitor. Their eyes widen slightly.
DOMΓNGUEZ: Alright Agent Carvalho, I do believe we're done here. Mind taking off so I can do some work instead of listening to whining constantly? You're not the main character of this site. I have things to do.
Carvalho stares at DomΓnguez.
VΓSQUEZ: … Director Do—
DOMΓNGUEZ: Told you to fuck off, Carvalho.
CARVALHO: Or what, you go and find another operative with exceptional and extra-normal abilities to run your errands?
VΓ‘squez slowly stands up.
VΓSQUEZ: Sir—
DOMΓNGUEZ: Oh, I just might. Can't wring that much more use out of you anyways, huh? Probably a good reason YOU were the one to walk away from the corpses of your task force's dogpile.
DomΓnguez stands up as he speaks. Carvalho walks towards DomΓnguez's table.
CARVALHO: Oh, think so? Reckon there's a reason they don't let you run the show in the heartland of the Foundation, yeah? Probably put here because you speak the language and bark when you're directed to?
VΓSQUEZ: Plea—
DOMΓNGUEZ: Careful, little man. Might show you why I went from mobile task force to site director, and exactly -why- you are stuck under my goddamn purvi—
VΓSQUEZ: Excuse me!
Carvalho and DomΓnguez turn to face VΓ‘squez.
VΓ‘squez hesitates for a moment.
VΓSQUEZ: Call from America, sir.
DomΓnguez looks back to Carvalho. Carvalho meets DomΓnguez's look after a few seconds.
VΓSQUEZ: … We have wonderful polvorΓ³n that a security officer's sweet mother made in bulk. I can whole-heartedly recommend it, Agent Carvalho.
Carvalho glances to VΓ‘squez briefly, prompting the latter to jolt slightly.
CARVALHO: Go beg your superiors for slop, pig.
DomΓnguez clenches a fist lightly. VΓ‘squez glances towards DomΓnguez. Carvalho leaves the container.
//END LOG//
Addendum 076-8: Updated SchrΓΆdinger-Xylxk Stability Readings for the Sun
Update Regarding Our Sun
Overwatch Command,
I would first and foremost apologize for my father's traitorous departure. It is a deep shame to my family. We have been in the Foundation for four generations, and he has stained such legacy.
I understand there has been some hesitation in my heavy use of SchrΓΆdinger-Xylxk Stability (henceforth referred to as SXS) as a prime metric for understanding the Sun's situation. I hope to easen this concern by sharing my research on the metric.
The most affordable way to demonstrate replicability is to have an available supply of anti-matter. As has been made thoroughly clear, anti-matter does not subscribe to reality, and has actually been found to -not be- a thing. For this reason, it gives us the ability to stow and retrieve objects (biologically enchanted to not be shredded apart at a sub-atomic level by anti-matter, of course) to replicate an object's pause in reality.
For this reason, I obtained about 5 liters of anti-matter, the Buddha, a shoe and a gun.
| Object | Before Anti-Matter Submersion | During Anti-Matter Submersion |
|---|---|---|
| Shoe | 0.04 Akiva | 0.000000023 Akiva |
| Pistol | 2.12 Akiva | 0.000053 Akiva |
| Buddha | 53.69 Akiva | 1.43 Akiva |
Now, as you can see, Akiva Radiation becomes muted, if not almost immeasurable, when the object that emits it disappears. This forms the baseline of how SXS is understood.
Because matter sometimes, in incredible minor fluctuations, becomes "unreal" for brief amount of times, incredibly small parts of something within a region of space can disappear for almost impossible small amounts of time. And when it does, it takes the Akiva radiation with it.
When we continously record radiation emissions over a period of time, most often an hour, we map how often these quantum fluctuations take place. The higher the recorded fluctuation in matter, the higher the SchrΓΆdinger-Xylxk Stability Readings. This means what we're recording is unstable, and may fully "switch" to not being matter. The lower the amount, the more stable. The shoe we recorded earlier had a SchrΓΆdinger-Xylxk Stability of 0.03, which is somewhat close to the baseline of 0.027. It does surprise me that a shoe is slightly more unstable than other articles of clothing. Perhaps this is a subject of further research in the future.
With this explanation out of the way, I must admit dire news. We update the Sun's SXS every hour, and it's sadly trending upwards. Exponentionally.
I'm not wholly sure what happens when something has a high SXS Readings. There is a direct correlation between the Sun's increasing SXS, alongside a worrying increase in Humes observed in sunlight.
I fear we will start seeing an increase of anomalous effects on the sunlit side of Earth β not to mention the Sun as well.
My recommendation is this: Accelerated efforts. We increase SCP-076's Disruption Class to Ekhi. We increase SCP-076's Risk Class to Warning. Finally, I ask that you fully unlock my budget.
Thank you.
-Jr. Researcher Cecil Nhwomba, PhD
Addendum 076-9: Carvalho's Mission Performance Review
Due to a miscommunication between Site Director DomΓnguez and Agent Carvalho, Secretary VΓ‘squez was assigned to review Carvalho's performance. Punishment for outstanding insurbordination has been waived by Site Director DomΓnguez due to various circumstances, incuding but not limited to personnel and resource shortage.
Transcript of Conversation between Carvalho and VΓ‘squez
Foreword
Recorded through the Site-130's security system. Please note that the cafeteria is currently unavailable, and as a result a converted food vendor truck with five (5) table benches currently makes up the Site-130 cafeteria.
//BEGIN LOG//
Carvalho is inside the cafeteria truck. He seems to be in the process of preparing a dough. VΓ‘squez walks up to the wagon and truck and places both of his hands on the open side's counter.
VΓSQUEZ: Carlos?
Carvalho looks over his shoulder as he kneads the dough he's handling. He doesn't respond.
VΓSQUEZ: Site Director DomΓnguez wanted me to go over the… recent matters with you. I trust you are not too busy?
Carvalho looks back at the dough. He adds some flour to his hands and turns around. He dusts his hands off. He still doesn't answer.
VΓSQUEZ: The Site Director wanted you to know that he has come to uhh, appreciate the extraction of the asset. She has proven rather helpful.
VΓ‘squez smiles.
CARVALHO: What do you want?
VΓ‘squez's expression goes blank. They place a folder on the counter.
VΓSQUEZ: One of the people at the meeting wasn't… that noteworthy.
CARVALHO: I'm imagining you mean the person that wasn't Robert Bumaro or the machine woman.
VΓSQUEZ: Yes.
VΓ‘squez opens the folder, showing a picture of Person of Interest 004-C-43 "Conlocutio".
VΓSQUEZ: This man, Conlocutio, has been both a headache and an asset for the Foundation in Spain. He's considered the head ofβas much as something like that could be possibleβthe Church of Maxwellism here in Spain. Since you observed him for long enough with the glasses, we managed to trace his noospheric connection and used it to see who else in the noosphere spotted him.
VΓ‘squez taps a picture showing a thin line between two dots.
VΓSQUEZ: There was someone who recognized him on his way back from the meeting you interrupted, and this person connected him to a metro station.
Carvalho is about to rub his eyebrows, but stops upon realizing he still has flour risidue on his hands.
CARVALHO: Wonderful. What does DomΓnguez want with him?
VΓSQUEZ: The Site Director believes that Conlocutio knows quite a bit more about the Broken Church's oper—
CARVALHO: Church of the Broken God. Broken Church is its own thing.
VΓSQUEZ: … βright, yes, I was aware, butβ… you're right. They've moved their site, taken their drills, relocated. Did so faster than we could deploy an MTF. Which is impressive, given we had one 8 minutes away.
CARVALHO: They can manipulate metal. Bumaro was there. Not shocking. Alright, where do you need me?
VΓSQUEZ: Barcelona.
Carvalho looks upwards. He does the sign of the cross.
CARVALHO: I… fine. Okay. When are we leaving?
VΓSQUEZ: We?
Carvalho narrows his eyes.
CARVALHO: I'm surely going with a team.
VΓ‘squez looks around the empty cafeteria section of Site-130. They then look back to Carvalho with a polite smile. Carvalho lowers his head and tightly shuts his eyes. He seems to be quietly counting.
VΓSQUEZ: Site Director told me you could bring the prisoner if you behave.
CARVALHO: Why would she want to help us.
VΓ‘squez lightly draws their shoulders.
VΓSQUEZ: We have have those bomb collars we give to uncooperative parties, but it's made of—
CARVALHO: —metal.
VΓ‘squez retrieves the folder as they smile politely.
VΓSQUEZ: I'll leave any persuasion, advanced or basic, to your discretion, Agent Carvalho.
CARVALHO: When will we depart?
VΓ‘squez looks at their watch. They bob their head in consideration.
VΓSQUEZ: You have three hours to get ready, I believe.
VΓ‘squez moves the folder under their arm and walks towards the site director office.
VΓSQUEZ: I'm delighted to guide you along your mission once more! See you then.
Carvalho pinches the bridge of his nose. He turns around and hits the dough, before he gingerly continues kneading it.
//END LOG//
Addendum 076-10: Excerpt Regarding the Church of Maxwellism in Spain
The following documentation has been deemed relevant to the continuity of the SCP-076 file.
The Spanish Maxwellians/Maxwellists
Written by Octavio VΓ‘squez
Here in Spain, we enjoy a rather large amount of anomalous cultures and peoples. The Iberian Peninsula in general is often used as a trading hub for people passing either to Europe from North Africa or the other way around. This makes tracking groups of interest in Spain extraordinarily difficult.
Much like anywhere else, the Maxwellians here are rarely numerous. What they do present is a continous, albeit lesser threat against normalcy, as they are hidden and make use of the modern day's easy access to the internet.
The purpose and agenda of the Maxwellians seems erratic and has been observed to change often. It is perhaps a sign of a recent trend of more individualistic members appearing to act on their own agenda. This is one of the key differences between the local sects of Maxwellians to their global counterpart, who often have unknown avenues of communication that unites them.
Our suspicion is that Conlocutio, a Person of Interest with a particularly evasive streak to him, has been pushing for personal growth and action within the Maxwellian communication channels. Notably, he seems to be advocating for an opposition to the rest of the Church of the Broken God, often citing a deep disatisfaction with the pace of recreating their focus of worship.
While Conlocutio hasn't been harmless to normalcy, often being the perpetrator of news channel hijackings and memetic posters with an AWCY flair to them, we do as of this notice consider Conclutio an asset to the Foundation: He disrupts the organization that is typically characteristic of the Maxwellians, and he seems too unfocused to present a focal point of his area, despite having the reach and political power to do so.
Should Conlocutio rethink his stance on the Maxwellist agenda, in turn mobilizing the around five dozen estimated Maxwellians in Spain and Portugal, he would present a most pressing issue that would have to be handled.
Addendum 076-11: Barcelona Operation
As Conlocutio's location was roughly estimated by noospheric signature, Agent Carvalho and Anastasia Calixta were dispatched to Barcelona. They arrived without notable occurrences.
Transcript of the Barcelona Operation
Foreword
Calixta and Carvalho were each given glasses that transmitted a live feed to Site-130.
//BEGIN LOG//
Calixta and Carvalho stands on the platform of Drassanes station in La Rambla, Barcelona. Despite the temperature resting at 31 degrees celsius,4 Calixta wears a large jacket to conceal the chainmail she has been given for the mission. She is additionally wearing a face mask and large sunglasses to hide the silver lines on her head. Carvalho wears a standard-issue undercover aloha shirt and cargo shorts.
CARVALHO: You're insane.
CALIXTA: We aren't all fortunate to walk around without mind. Those who are of the metal must take precautions. Wouldn't want to be shot down by your gun-birds.
CARVALHO: We don'tβ
VΓSQUEZ: Hello, hiβ sorry about the delay, are you in position?
Carvalho looks around the empty station. It has been closed off completely.
CARVALHO: Yeah. You certain creeping through the metro is the best way to go? Conlocutio might have been ticked off by a whole station being closed down.
VΓSQUEZ: Uhh, maybe. Likeβ could be. Thing is, I had the Site Director… well. He did me a favor.
Site Director DomΓnguez can be heard yelling in the background of the video feed. The sound of ceramic shattering peaks the microphone's input.
VΓSQUEZ: He reluctantly depart with a few key items of significant worth from our site's Safe SCP lockers.
CALIXTA: Safe? Do you also have Dangerous SCP lockers?
CARVALHO: No, that'd be Eucliβ
VΓSQUEZ: The important part is that we created a honeypot, spread the news through Parawatch and created a bit of chaos.
A siren passes by outside.
CALIXTA: Are people hurt?
VΓSQUEZ: Wellβ
CARVALHO: Only if necessary.
Calixta glances to Carvalho.
CARVALHO: Alright VΓ‘squez, where are we going?
VΓSQUEZ: We've scanned the station up and down, left and right for any secret entrances. We didn't find any, so I'm sending you to the tracks between Drassanes and ParalΒ·lel.5
Carvalho looks at an simplistic map of the Barcelona Metro.
CARVALHO: And the tracks between here and the other stationβ uhh.
Carvalho hesitates for a moment before he traces a finger around the routes on the map.
CALIXTA: Liceu.
CARVALHO: Yeah. Liceu.
VΓSQUEZ: We cleared out that part a few years ago. Had a Chaos Insurgency infestation.
Calixta glances to Carvalho when the Chaos Insurgency is mentioned. She raises an eyebrow.
CARVALHO: Copy. We'll try and find something related to this computer guy.
Carvalho walks towards the edge of the station and jumps down onto the tracks. Calixta walks out into unoccupied space, supported by the chains under her jacket. She lowers herself down on the tracks gently. They start walking towards Liceu.
CARVALHO: Curious about something, Calixta.
Calixta removes her facemask and sunglasses, and stows both in her coat's pocket. Her recording visor is exposed.
CALIXTA: And what would that be?
CARVALHO: Why bother working us? Could've just waited for an opening and snuck out.
VΓ‘squez mutes their microphone.
CALIXTA: Well, first and foremost, I do not like residing in a chicken coop. Secondarily, while I don't like the Maxwellians, but Conlocutio… I'm not wholly sure he even believes in Our Holy Wreckage. I sense a plot is afoot. I shall be the lantern that illuminates the night.
Calixta runs her fingers over the silver lines on her face. Carvalho intensely inspects his surroundings.
CARVALHO: I suppose the church takes after the deity. You do not seem like the most collected organization.
CALIXTA: What religion has totality?
Chains emerge from Calixta's coat. They elongate and start prodding around their surroundings.
CARVALHO: … Do you feel through them?
CALIXTA: Not exactly, but I can faintly sense magnetic push and pull. Like knowing you move your finger down, but it moves diagonally. If that conjures an idea?
CARVALHO: Sure.
Calixta and Carvalho moves through the tunnel. Carvalho retrieves a flashlight from his tool belt and turns it on.
CARVALHO: VΓ‘squez, any pointers? You still think this is right? Spotting nothing but rails and shadows.
VΓSQUEZ: Uh. No. Let me run a quick analysis on the recording so far…
Calixta and Carvalho exchange a glance. Carvalho walks towards the wall and starts pressing his hand against random places.
CALIXTA: I forget how primitive mundanity can be with their architecture.
CARVALHO: It works, doesn't it? Why rip out functional infrastructure.
CALIXTA: Oh, to think how far you could go without such a limit.
Calixta crouches down and runs a hand over the rail. She tilts her head.
CALIXTA: Sibling VΓ‘squez, are there trains running on this line?
VΓSQUEZ: No, they're stopped due to "signal errors" right now.
CALIXTA: There's… vibrations?
Carvalho gingerly stops pressing his hand against the wall. He approaches the tracks and lowers himself to place his hand on the ground, then the rail.
CARVALHO: Feels like… rhythmic?
Calixta taps her finger against the rail, seemingly in rhythm to the vibrations.
CALIXTA: This is… loud, has to be? Or close.
Both operatives stand up and walk further along the rails.
VΓSQUEZ: No analysis results, so I suppose try and follow the vibrations?
Calixta runs a metallic tendril along the rail. The rest of her animated chains continues to hover around the surfaces. Carvalho draws his sidearm, he checks the barrel with one hand.
CARVALHO: This guy can be shot, right?
CALIXTA: Well, yes. Lady Machina is… an exception.
VΓSQUEZ: Please do not kill the only person who can tell us what brought two local, and one global, leaders of opposing sects together.
CARVALHO: If he turns into a vehicle all concerns prior to that moment is off the table, is all I'm saying.
CALIXTA: That is, well almost, exclusively a Cogwork matter.
CARVALHO: Good to know.
Calixta comes to a halt. Carvalho doesn't seem to realise and walks into Calixta in turn. He growls something inaudible under his breath which seems to be interpreted as an apology by Calixta, who simply nods.
CALIXTA: Increases as we approach a bend…? Do you have anyβ doodads to find hidden doors?
Carvalho starts padding down the utiltiy vest he carries under his shirt. He pulls out a case marked as "Class A", a knife, three magazines for his sidearm, a hemoxidizer,6 a SCiP-Phone,7 and a Marshall 2006 Hume Detector Mk. 3.8
CARVALHO: Not right now.
Calixta blinks a few times. She approaches one side of the tunnel and runs a hand along it.
CALIXTA: Is that a radiation detector? Might find subtle differences, no?
CARVALHO: No, Humes.
Calixta opens her mouth slightly and squints. She looks back to the wall.
CALIXTA: Whatever it is, switch it on, we might find something.
Carvalho returns his equipment to his utility vest. He activates the Hume detector. It starts ticking.
CARVALHO: Seems fairly standard here.
CALIXTA: Lets continue around the bend?
CARVALHO: If I must.
Carvalho fidgets with the device as continues. As the pair starts rounding around the swerve, Calixta holds up a hand. Carvalho stops.
CALIXTA: I swea— I vow that I can feel the vibration intensifying? Does the device pick up on anything?
Carvalho taps the side of the detector.
CARVALHO: No. It seems—
Carvalho looks at the measurement which has dropped below average Hume levels.
CARVALHO: —… that it doesn't pick up on anything? Huh.
Carvalho runs his hand against the wall. His finger brushes over an outdent that sticks half a centimeter out from the wall. He pushes his hand against the wall, pushing it in. A loud, mechanical whirr starts, and the hidden door slowly slides into the side of the wall.
CALIXTA: Marvelous! I do believe that our faithful engineers could've made it more concealed, however.
Carvelho attaches his flashlight to his sidearm and illuminates the hallway inside. Loud electronic dance music is audible, slightly drowned out by a variety of pipes vibrating rhythmically along with the bass. A blue light pulses further in, revealing a few hundred meters of hallway. Carvalho steps inside, followed by Calixta.
VΓSQUEZ: Alive, Carvalho…
Carvalho nods once. His microphone picks up on unclear whispering that can be perceived as complaining under the Speak Clearly and Properly Guidelines.
CALIXTA: To think there's this much underground… under a city? And the unenlightened know nothing of it?
CARVALHO: Fairly standard, it's how we build most of—
VΓSQUEZ: Our warehouses.
CARVALHO: … —our warehouses.
CALIXTA: Huh…
Calixta retracts her chains. She opens her coat, revealing that she has turned the metalic tendrils into impromptu armor. Rather than walking, she glides on two tendrils in a manner similar to iceskating.
At the end of the hall, another hallway leads directly to the right, fully illuminated by cerulean blue LEDs. It is uneven and erratically changes direction. The pair briefly exchange a glance.
CARVALHO: How far is this? The sound keeps getting louder, is Hackerman running a night club?
CALIXTA: Not under The Holy Machine's name, I'd hope!
VΓSQUEZ: I wasn't aware of a doctrine against recreational activities?
CALIXTA: They may listen to as much music as they can muster, but indulgence of things outside necessity is…
Calixta pauses. She looks into the ceiling, which has switched from concrete to bricks.
CALIXTA: Well, I can imagine such doctrine is… aged. I suppose I have distate of it emotionally. My logic has… well, I suppose it has yet to catch up.
CARVALHO: The famed Catholic upbringing.
Calixta scowls towards Carvalho for a brief moment. Carvalho does not seem to notice.
CALIXTA: You're… not wholly wrong. But Bumaro's priests did take a page or two out of that rulebook, if I had to guess.
VΓSQUEZ: Carvalho, how does the Hume reader— uh, read?
Carvalho grabs the detector from his belt and glances at it.
CARVALHO: 0.02.
VΓSQUEZ: Median should be at 1, I guess that's one way of hiding anomalous activities in an urban center?
CALIXTA: Surely one would just scan for areas where something isn't above the median, no?
VΓSQUEZ: That'd take something a bit more advanced than the handheld device that Carvalho is holding, we'd need something for larger areas. Our budget to do this, is… well—
CARVALHO: —Spent on AC.
The pair continues through the hallway with mild difficulty. The music intensifies. After three minutes of quietly moving through the tunnel, a bright, blue light is visible at the end. Each operative moves to one side of the hall as a double door becomes visible through the blue glow it reflects. The music is loud enough to muddle any ordinary speech.
Calixta rolls a bit ahead of Carvalho, who clips his Hume detector back onto his belt prematurely retrieves a magazine from his utility vest. He holds it in his left hand.
As Calixta reaches the door, she looks back at Carvalho. She places a hand against one of the doors. She is shocked and rapidly retracts her hand after touching the door.
The music stops.
VΓSQUEZ: Oh. Uh. Maybe he's changing playlists?—
A brick in the wall retracts. A speaker emerges in its place. Carvalho inhales sharply. Calixta rubs her forehead.
CONLOCUTIO: Ah! Would you look at that! If it isn't, let's see…
VΓSQUEZ: —I suppose not.
Another brick is pulled into the wall. A camera lens emerges.
CONLOCUTIO: Ah-ha! Sister Anastasia! Thought Lady Machina had decapitated you and lied to us! As mildly inconvenient as your survival is, it is in equal measure delightful!
CALIXTA: I do not want to enact violence against another follower of The Shattered. Please, surrender.
CONLOCUTIO: You know, it's really funny.
The camera lens shifts, it looks at Carvalho.
CONLOCUTIO: These founders, they always have such an annoying aversion to saying Mekhane! She speaks of Mekhane! All these verbose, needless monikers they invent, I'm barely convinced they are established before they're spoken!
Carvalho shoots the camera lens.
CONLOCUTIO: … Rather rude, but alright.
Calixta hovers her hands above the door. She closes her eyes and slowly starts pulling her hands back, forcing the door open as she does so. Condensation creeps along the floor. Conlocutio clears his throat, which reverberates throughout the room.
CONLOCUTIO: Welcome to Correos Station! Invite yourselves in, I suppose. But, fair warning, I might have to get a bit rude if you do.
The pair enter into a rectangular room extending downwards beyond visibility. They walk onto a catwalk. Server racks cover the walls. Sounds reminiscent of elecricity passing through metal rise and falls at no apparent tendency.
CARVALHO: Smells like dust and oil in here?
CALIXTA: Overwhelmingly.
The operatives move towards the center of the room. A sliding door is visible on the other side of the entrance, spraypainted with the logo of the Church of Maxwellism.
CONLOCUTIO: Welcome to my personal paradise! Admission is only for the faithful, so only a quarter of you two is welcomed in. Might want to mind your step!
Calixta removes her coat and places it over a railing. She approaches the door and thaumaturgically opens it. Carvalho steps inside and checks every direction for threats.
CONLOCUTIO: Been a while since I've cleaned this, pardon the mess.
The hall they enter is full of electronic waste. There's about 5 meters from the ceiling to the ground. The room is illuminated in the same, consistent blue color as the entrance. Two automated vehicles seems to sort the electronics into containers at the side of the room. A shallow path cuts through the middle of the room, only covered by a single layer of electronics.
Carvalho looks to Calixta and nods his head ahead. Calixta nods and takes the lead inside.
CONLOCUTIO: Say, Agent. Are you a religious man?
Carvalho hesitates to answer, but does so after exchanging a look with Calixta.
CARVALHO: Can't say I'm practicing at the moment.
CONLOCUTIO: Oh, but you do not have to be a practicing man to be a religious man! Have you ever pondered the shape of God?
Carvalho exhales in an annoyed manner. He kicks over a microwave and proceeds further into the room.
CARVALHO: Don't know. Don't really care.
CONLOCUTIO: See, that's where I'm stuck in all this! I've actually been stuck for—…
Conlocutio pauses for about 3 seconds. Calixta and Carvalho makes it halfway into the room at this point. One of the vehicles' tracked treads rotate it to face the operatives.
CONLOCUTIO: —I want to say 18 years? Yes! Since 2008 or 2009, right? After the market crash. I was -so- convinced that the exchange of money, an agreed-upon, artificial class of item of no utility other than its tradability, would be how we'd communicate with God.
Carvalho eyes the other vehicle, which has turned to face them. He slowly raises his pistol.
CONLOCUTIO: But, no… we cannot find God in an artificial manner!
CALIXTA: Heresy.
CONLOCUTIO: Oh, I quite disagree! You see, we've had it all twisted up in the church, -Bumaro- has it all twisted up. I no longer believe we can create a God, why, Bumaro is one of the most talented engineers this world has, and will ever see! And he, clearly, cannot do it.
CALIXTA: And you would speak yourself higher than Bumaro?
CONLOCUTIO: No, no! Not even remotely. I think the method is wrong. I do not think that we can -create- a God. I think we can -hear- God.
Carvalho tightens his grip around the magazine he is holding in his left hand. A few moments later, he fires at the first vehicle. The bullets ricochet off the vehicle's armor and into the trash piles.
CARVALHO: How convenient.
CONLOCUTIO: Through music, through traffic, -through communication-. That's why you can't build Mekhane— He's already here! You just have to listen! That's what Bumaro, you, and the rest of this church fails to see!
CALIXTA: Is this dissidence going somewhere? Would you not serve better to surrender or prepare for confrontation?
CONLOCUTIO: Look, I'm just trying to have a polite conversa—
VΓSQUEZ: He's buying time, press ahead.
CONLOCUTIO: Ah-ha! There we are! Now we just press this-and-a-that-and-a…
//ERROR: UNAUTHORIZED TRANSMISSION DETECTED//
VΓSQUEZ: … Shit.
//INITIATING FORCED SHUTDOWN.//
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CONLOCUTIO: Now we're in business.
The vehicles opens a panel to reveal gun barrels. Two more vehicles emerge from under the rubble behind the operatives.
CONLOCUTIO: Let's see here… Foundation…! I had actually thought you were Coalition, given that the Foundation do not do a whole lot around here… deeply fascinating…!
Calixta expands her armor to form a dome, covering her and Carvalho. The vehicles start firing upon the protective barrier.
CARVALHO: Thought you said the bullet-proof thing was over?
CALIXTA: How would I know he had— miniature armored sorting machines?!
Carvalho closes his eyes and groans.
CARVALHO: Bullets can't get them, I don't want to be shot, so I'm not liking the idea of leaving cover. What do we do?
Calixta flinches as a dent appears in the shield.
CONLOCUTIO: You know, your organization is a bit of a nightmare to get into, you know that? I've heard you have a deep, intricate database of all things wonderful and terrible, and yet you keep that to yourselves! Infuriating, really!
Carvalho taps his finger against his firearm as he thinks.
CARVALHO: VΓ‘squez?
Another dorm forms in the shield.
CALIXTA: … Don't think we're in contact with our guardian angel!
Carvalho widens his eyes in annoyance. He squats down and starts going through his utility vest.
CALIXTA: Do you— have a plan? I cannot hold this forever!
Carvalho pauses briefly, before he pulls out the hemoxidizer. He blinks.
CARVALHO: How do those things see us?
Calixta grimaces in thought for a moment before her eyes widens.
CALIXTA: Heat vision!
Carvalho stows his firearm and magazine in his utility vest. He retrieves his knife and stabes into his upper arm. Calixta grimaces more intensely.
CALIXTA: What are yo—
CARVALHO: Lower the barrier on my signal. Run to the door. Get it open.
Calixta blinks a few times. Carvalho tilts the knife downwards, allowing blood to run down the blade. When the blood reaches the bottom of the blade, Carvalho glances to Calixta.
CARVALHO: NOW.
Calixta absorbs the metal back into impromptu armor. Carvalho sprays the hemoxidizer onto the knife, which causes the blood to instantly vaporize. Carvalho tosses the knife behind him and breaks into a sprint alongside Calixta. The vehicles fire upon the knife for six seconds.
CONLOCUTIO: Wait— oh Iβ I suppose that'd work? Huh.
Conlocutio seems to stutter without continuing the sentence. Calixta and Carvalho are halfway to the door. The vehicles recalibrate.
CARVALHO: About to be shot at again!
CALIXTA: Can't protect us and open the door at the same time! Figure something out!
Carvalho sneers and looks at the electronics he runs by. He picks up a large phone from the mid 1950s and uses his anomaly to exchange it for the knife.
CARVALHO: SHIELD.
Calixta halts and manipulates the metal she wears into a shield. Carvalho coats the knife with blood again. He looks to his side and spots a large wheel, which he moves into a standing position. He nods to Calixta, who moves behind the wheel alongside him.
CARVALHO: NOW.
CONLOCUTIO: Ha! Not twice in a row, I have manual controls too—
When the shield goes down, the shots hit against and past the wheel into the door.
CONLOCUTIO: Oh, that's foul!
Carvalho waits for four seconds, before he sprays the hemoxidizer onto the knife and throws it. After a brief delay, the vehicles fire at it again.
CONLOCUTIO: You are, by Mekhane, quite adaptable! -Too- adaptable!
Calixta makes it to the door. She thaumaturgically rips it open and looks to Carvalho.
CALIXTA: Come along!
CARVALHO: YEAH.
Carvalho breaks away from the wheel and runs towards the door. The vehicles calibrate to aim at him, causing him to swear. Calixta steps inside the room.
CARVALHO: GOING TO COME IN A BIT HOT.
Carvalho drops into a slide a few moments before a new barrage of bullets fire. Three narrowly miss him while a fourth grazes his flank. He scowls at this. He manages to make his way into the next room before the vehicles fire again, prompting Calixta to force the door shut.
CONLOCUTIO: In-tere-re-sting. Quite an annoying spell you wield there, Foundation agent.
Carvalho breathes heavily and brings himself to his feet. He looks around the arsenal full of assault rifles, grenade launchers, rocket launchers, handguns, halberds, longswords, cannons, dynamite and missiles. Calixta blinks repeatedly.
CALIXTA: You could take over the whole city with this!
Conlocutio sighs. The intercom peaks.
CONLOCUTIO: Pulled up your file, Mr. Carvalho! Mobile Task Force extraordinaire! Quite the curious note about a recent mission, though?
Carvalho applies some of the hemoxidizer to his shoulder and flank. He tosses the empty spray bottle to the side.
CARVALHO: I'd like to remind you that I am mere minutes away from getting my hands on you.
CONLOCUTIO: No it's…
Conlocutio falls quiet for 4 seconds.
CONLOCUTIO: They were going to leave you behind, weren't they? You were picked.
Carvalho tightens his fist. Calixta starts inspecting the arsenal.
CONLOCUTIO: They… decided that you were… to be—?
CARVALHO: Piss off.
Conlocutio falls quiet again. Calixta glances over her shoulder to Carvalho. He takes out his lighter and starts flicking the lighter violently.
CONLOCUTIO: I'm sorry, Carlos.
Carvalho pauses. He takes a deep breath. His eyes widens and he smiles thinly. His hand trembles.
CONLOCUTIO: Why are you working for them? They were going to—
CARVALHO: Thanks. I mean, uh. I appreciate it. Yeah.
Calixta continues to look at Carvalho. The conversation falls quiet for 6 seconds.
CARVALHO: Have to bring you in.
CONLOCUTIO: I see. Good luck.
CARVALHO: Yeah. You too.
Two six-barreled sentry guns emerge from the ceiling. Calixta forms a shield out of her chainmail. Carvalho eyes a rocket launcher. Both operatives takes a deep breath.
The sentries starts spinning.
CARVALHO: Alright.
As the sentries start firing, Carvalho breaks into a sprint. He narrowly avoids being hit by any of the bullets that fire into the blue-ceramic material that makes up the floor. He prepares the rocket launcher he narrowly managed to acquire before the security systems started firing.
CARVALHO: CAN YOU AIM AN RPG?
CALIXTA: What? No!
CARVALHO: THEN WE KEEP FIRING UNTIL WE TAKE THOSE OUT. MOVE TO THE ROCKET LAUNCHERS.
CALIXTA: Can't move with the barrier!
Carvalho curses under his breath. He taps his finger against the rocket launcher. He looks back towards the rocket launchers.
CARVALHO: HOW LONG DOES THE METAL HOLD UNDER FIRE?
CALIXTA: From that!? A dozen seconds!?
CARVALHO: WE RISK IT.
Carvalho places the rocket launcher on the floor. The bullets continously dent the shield. Calixta looks at Carvalho with raised eyebrows.
CARVALHO: WHEN YOU CANNOT HOLD THE SHIELD ANY LONGER, PICK UP THE ROCKET LAUNCHER. PULL THE TRIGGER. AIM AT A SENTRY. DON'T STOP AIMING AFTER FIRING.
CALIXTA: Okay!
The sentries keep firing. Calixta takes deep breaths. Carvalho counts under his breath.
A second passes.
Carvalho taps two fingers repeatedly against the floor.
A second passes.
One of the sentries stops firing.
A second passes.
CONLOCUTIO: Did itβ by blood and shadow!
A second passes.
Calixta's hands start to tremble.
A second passes.
Carvalho closes his eyes.
A second passes.
Calixta's breath becomes shallow.
A second passes.
Carvalho suddenly breaks into a sprint.
The sentry stops firing, it is out of ammunition. Calixta picks up the rocket launcher and lets the metallic barrier collapse into chains. She aims the rocket launcher at the sentry and fires. The explosive shoots into the sentry and explodes. It is adequately damaged.
CALIXTA: It isn't enough!
CARVALHO: IT WILL BE.
Carvalho runs up to the row of rocket launchers. He places his hands onto one of them.
CONLOCUTIO: Wait— whβ that cannotβ
CARVALHO: REFILLING. KEEP FIRING.
Calixta blinks. A new, loaded rocket launcher manifests in her hands, swapped out by Carvalho's anomaly. She smiles widely.
CALIXTA: Marvelous!
Calixta fires again. Moments later, a new rocket launcher appears in her hands. She fires again. This repeats twelve times as Carvalho runs down the line of rocket launchers with his hand out, replacing them with the spent rocket launcher that Calixta fired moments earlier as he goes. As he reaches the final rocket launcher, he grabs it himself and aims it at the door at the end of the room. He fires the rocket.
CONLOCUTIO: No, no, no, no! Don't fire the—
The door is blasted open and the intercoms cut off. Calixta and Carvalho look at each other. The sentries detach from the ceiling and crash to the ground, causing the blue lights enveloping the room to briefly flicker off.
//INITIATING REBOOT.//
//CONNECTION ESTABLISHED.//
VΓSQUEZ: Carvalho? Calixta? This is VΓ‘squez, what—
VΓ‘squez falls quiet. It is presumed they are inspecting the damages caused by the rocket launchers.
VΓSQUEZ: I— see the situation is handled? Sorry, he did something to the connection, are you alright?
CALIXTA: More than alright! I ought to invest in rocket launchers!
CARVALHO: Actionable. Approaching person of interest.
Both operatives discard their spent rocket launchers to the side and approach the door. Carvalho kicks the door off its hinges, revealing a security room with 25 monitors. The furthestmost wall appears to be an anomalous window showing a downward roundabout that goes underground. Cars drive past, but produce no sound. Conlocutio lies on the ground, conscious but staggered. The carbon fiber implant covering his skin is cracked at multiple spots.
CONLOCUTIO: Sweet cog, piston and Mekhane! You could stand to learn some self-control!
CARVALHO: Yeah. Maybe. Are you going to be a problem?
CONLOCUTIO: Not physically, but, well.
Conlocutio gestures to one of his monitors. It shows a window with a full progress bar headed by bold letters spelling out TRANSFER COMPLETE.
CONLOCUTIO: Hopefully you'll forgive me for showing just an ounce of loyalty to the head of church?
CALIXTA: Debatable.
Conlocutio lets out a hacking cough that is followed by pained laughter. He leans on his elbow and eyes Carvalho.
CONLOCUTIO: You think I'm insane, don't you? You do not think there is a God in messages.
Carvalho maintains eye contact for 4 seconds.
CARVALHO: It seems like a lie.
CONLOCUTIO: Oh, there is no lie. Mekhane can be so, so much. He speaks a different language than metal and motors, He speaks -data-. We ought just to listen.
Carvalho's eye twitches.
CARVALHO: Why is it us that have to listen.
Conlocutio removes the wires around his shoulders, which previously served as a scarf.
CONLOCUTIO: I'm not quite sure that gods can speak like we do.
Calixta sighs. She crouches down to inspect Conlocutio for any injuries.
CALIXTA: I suppose you can conjure a lot of intention and hope out of random noise.
CONLOCUTIO: Isn't that beautiful? To deceive ourselves into belief? To make our own God.
Calixta wraps metallic tendrils around Conlocutio. She sighs deeply and lifts him off the ground, assisting his head and spine.
CALIXTA: Perhaps it is.
Conlocutio gasps.
CONLOCUTIO: I'm feeling broken bones I didn't know I had…
Carvalho looks at the monitor with the transfer program. He frowns. Shortly after, he turns around and leaves the room.
CARVALHO: Moving to exfiltration point.
VΓSQUEZ: Loud and clear!
//END LOG//
Addendum 076-12: Medical Update
After the Barcelona operation, Agent Carvalho returned to Site-130 with Anastasia Calixta and Conlocutio in his custody. Upon securing Anastasia Calixta and Conlocutio to containment in Temporary Cell A1, currently located in the site's unused chicken coop, Carvalho was flagged for a medical examination due to the following message. Site Director DomΓnguez has additionally flagged the message for disciplinary action.
Department of Medicine
Doctor's Notice
Secretary Octavio VΓ‘squez,
Thank you for mediating between the verbose hog and I. I do not envy your position, as you must surely have grown more than frustrated with handling his adolescent outbursts.
I recently gained access to the SCP-076 file, and I bear quite discouraging news regarding your agent. He has been proven quite interesting in my field of study, and given my direct supervisor was just called to Site-07, I've inherited her position, credentials and all.
| CARLOS CARVALHO SXS Test | |
|---|---|
| Heart Rate p/ Minute | 129~ |
| Blood Pressure | 160/99 |
| SchrΓΆdinger-Xylxk Stability | 589.6 per cubic meter |
His SXS has increased, by more than 100. And so has his anger issues, it'd seem. Previously, before all this SCP-076 business that has people with better things to do than us, the highest observed measurement of SXS was 129.5 when we were observing Sagittarius A in the middle of the Milky Way.
There are many things I fear. I'd maybe talk with your man.
I'll drop by 130 in the next few days.
Dr. Venla Tride
Addendum 076-13: Carvalho's Medical Update
Despite protest from Site Director DomΓnguez, Secretary VΓ‘squez opted to inform Carvalho of his medical update. Notably, this occurred after Secretary VΓ‘squez was denied a transfer to Site-02 by Site Director DomΓnguez.
Transcript of Exchange in Site-130 Personnel Lounge
//BEGIN LOG//
Carvalho is reading a document while sitting on a worn leather couch, one of the three surrounding the campfire in the middle of Site-130. A speaker plays soft jazz. VΓ‘squez stands behind Carvalho, timidly running their hand through their hair. Their tie is undone. The remaining 13 personnel in Site-130 can be heard laughing and chatting in the distance.
CARVALHO: So it's getting worse.
VΓ‘squez doesn't answer.
CARVALHO: And I'm tied to the Sun. It goes, I go.
VΓ‘squez taps their finger against the plastic water bottle they are holding.
CARVALHO: And some doctor is deeply interested in me.
VΓSQUEZ: I… am afraid we do not have a lot of resources to inspect you with. We're not a scientific facility, here. We're a staging ground. A buffer against Coalition overreach. And… America doesn't answer our calls anymore. I'm not sure what's going on over there.
Carvalho looks to his left, towards a group of site security sitting at another campfire surrounded by plastic chairs. One of the security personnel have taken off their shirt and waves it around.
VΓSQUEZ: Iβ… do you have any family? I thinkβ…
VΓ‘squez frowns. Carvalho's hands tremble. He slowly folds the document.
CARVALHO: Wouldn't be in the shadow government if I did.
Carvalho flicks the paper into the fire. His jaw is intensely tightened.
CARVALHO: Any update on what Mr. Cyborg uploaded to whoever?
VΓSQUEZ: It was, strangely, mostly your file.
Carvalho slowly looks over his shoulder.
VΓSQUEZ: He didn't get quite far. I was somewhat shocked to see him hesitate. He had my clearance, which has access to all Ekhi-class and below anomalies. He could've probably found a verified method to immortality. Riches. His own world. Chose to linger on your file. What did he see, do you know?
CARVALHO: Probably.
Carvalho looks back at the campfire. He reaches into his pocket for a cigarette. He places it in his mouth. He places a finger against the tip of the cigarette and stares at the fire. A black circle briefly appears at the tip of the cigarette. After it is gone, the cigarette is lit.
VΓSQUEZ: You've grown quite good at that. Do you know how you got it? The, uhh. Anomaly.
Carvalho holds the cigarette in front of his face. It burns down slightly.
CARVALHO: I don't know. Slightly convinced Pops was a Type Green. Not wholly sure what Mums was, but I can't really impact reality. Just switch it around a little. Appeared when I was around 14. Was when I stomped off from home.
VΓSQUEZ: I see.
VΓ‘squez seems to be about to continue their response, but tightens their jaw shut.
CARVALHO: I'm not smart. It's because that Stability thing has a higher value, right?
VΓSQUEZ: The measurement is… increasing, yes. I do not know if it's tied to the anomaly, but—…
Carvalho slowly crushes the cigarette between two fingers.
VΓSQUEZ: I'll let the doctor explain when she arrives.
CARVALHO: Yeah. Okay.
VΓ‘squez fidgets with the water bottle. After 16 seconds of silence, they turn around and leave. Carvalho's whole body trembles.
//END LOG//
Addendum 076-14: Routine Foundation Communications Integrity Scan
Due to the ongoing situation caused by SCP-076, the following routine integrity scan has been added to the SCP-076 file. The check is a simple call to a site's administrative office, where unusual or no responses flags them as being compromised or inoperative.
/ATTENTION/
[12:01:31] Beginning SCHEDULED OPERATION: Routine Communications Integrity Scan
/ATTENTION/
[12:02:33] Hermes.AIC: Calling Site-01…
[12:03:04] Hermes.AIC: @Isimud.AIC No response from Site-01 during Routine Communications Integrity Scan
[12:03:08] Isimud.AIC: Site-01 categorized as High Priority, alerting security personnel…
[12:03:12] Hermes.AIC: Calling Site-02…
[12:03:42] Hermes.AIC: @Isimud.AIC No response from Site-02 during Routine Communications Integrity Scan
[12:03:44] Isimud.AIC: Site-02 categorized as medium priority, pinging responsible site .AIC…
[12:03:47] Isimud.AIC: UPDATE: Relevant security personnel for Site-01 cannot be reached. @Malakbel.AIC, suggesting temporary Site-01 priority increase from High to Cosmic.
/ERROR: Malakbel.AIC is not an available unit./
[12:03:49] Hermes.AIC: No response from Site-03…
[12:03:58] /Unit Isimud.AIC has disconnected./
[12:04:05] Hermes.AIC: Is anyone there?
[12:04:28] Hermes.AIC: No response from Site-04…
[12:04:47] Hermes.AIC: No response from Site-05…
[12:05:00] Hermes.AIC: No response from Site-06…
[12:05:14] Hermes.AIC: Hello?
[12:07:34] /Unit Hermes.AIC has disconnected./
Addendum 076-15: Carvalho's Thorough Medical Examination
Due to communications suffering temporary outage, Site Director DomΓnguez's veto of Dr. Venla Tride's self-assignment to Site-130 was temporarily suspended. Upon arriving, Dr. Tride was granted an available refrigerator truck to convert into a suitable environment for medical examinations.
Transcript of Carvalho's Medical Examination
Foreword
Due to outspoken grievances and personnel shortages, Site Director DomΓnguez elected to personally inspect the temporary medical center established in Site-130.
//BEGIN LOG//
TRIDE: This is thoroughly unnecessary, Cecilio. You're overstepping your authority.
DOMΓNGUEZ: Overstepping my authority? Please, they just upgraded my clearance to 5. I am the authorityβ and I don't trust you not to do anything stupid with my sole, competent MTF agent.
Carvalho is seated on a daybed. He is surrounded by a variety of medical equipment attached to moveable arms that have been bolted to the side of the refrigerator truck's interior. He begins to slowly remove an electrode from his chest, but is interrupted by Dr. Tride slapping his hand away from it. She notably does not look towards Carvalho.
TRIDE: I'm trying to work. I cannot work with a brute watching my every movement. Get out.
DOMΓNGUEZ: I -need- him to be actionable.
TRIDE: And you'll have him actionable! Goodness. Why would I leave him unactionable!?
DOMΓNGUEZ: I faintly recall a medical examination that resulted in my finest undercover agent being stuck 5 seconds in the past.
TRIDE: Okay, she moved when I tested her time signature.
DOMΓNGUEZ: It took her 3 years to sprint back to present time.
TRIDE: It was -one- mistake. I work in anomalous healthcare. Let's drop the act where you think there has been no personnel dimensionally displaced due to your mishaps. You were MTF, after all.
DomΓnguez rubs his eyelids.
DOMΓNGUEZ: Just be careful with Carvalho. I can't get more boots on the ground as is.
TRIDE: God forbid a woman makes a mistake one time.
DomΓnguez groans. He moves to the exit of the interior, grabbing an iced coffee from a minifridge on his way out.
DOMΓNGUEZ: Do exactly as she says, Carvalho.
CARVALHO: Piss off already.
DomΓnguez cracks the can open and exits. He closes the door after leaving.
TRIDE: Quite an asshole, eh?
CARVALHO: What's you two's deal?
TRIDE: Our deal?
CARVALHO: I didn't know anyone but me dared to stand up to him.
TRIDE: Oh, right.
Dr. Tride holds up her right hand. She points to a ring on her ringfinger. Her lips curl into a wide and uneven smile. Carvalho blinks out of sync.
TRIDE: I'm going to be honest with you, Carlos. The Foundation is large, and any sufficiently large empire takes time to collapse. We are in free-fall. And I think there's a very real likelihood that I cannot save you.
Carvalho interlocks his fingers. He stares off and doesn't answer.
TRIDE: The sun is getting worse. Your health is also getting worse. I don't know why you're so angry, but your heart is going to stop one day.
Carvalho slowly moves his eyes to Dr. Tride. He speaks through gritted teeth.
CARVALHO: How do I stop being angry then.
Dr. Tride shrugs. She sits down on a crate full of iced coffees and rummages through her labcoat.
TRIDE: I can give you medicine for your heart rate and blood pressure. I also, hold on—
Dr. Tride retrieves a small plastic bag with dried marijuana from her lab coat. She tosses it onto the daybed next to Carvalho.
TRIDE: From the personal cache, but I packed more in case it helped you.
Dr. Tride stands up and opens a drawer. She removes 14 additional bags from her lab coat and stores them in the drawer. Carvalho scoffs.
CARVALHO: Need to be sharp. Give me something for the heart. Can't have it go out yet.
Dr. Tride closes the drawer. She shrugs.
TRIDE: As you please. Can't really do much to dissuade you, I suppose.
Dr. Tride points to the head of the daybed.
TRIDE: Lie down, need to measure your SXS.
CARVALHO: Does it matter. We know it's going up.
Dr. Tride sighs deeply.
TRIDE: Just do as I say.
Carvalho clenches his fist. For a brief moment his breath becomes rapid and shallow. His eyes become unfocused. He slowly lays down in an overly hesitant manner. Dr. Tride approaches a shoulder-mounted device that she manages to lift up on her shoulder after much difficulty.
CARVALHO: How long do I have.
Dr. Tride starts the SXS Measurement Unit on her shoulder. She flips a plastic casing covering a button open. She looks up and bites her upper lip.
TRIDE: I don't quite know. Days. Months. Maybe whole years. It's, well. SXS is sort of a pseudoscience, if you ask me. We never put much effort into it, because it's just… a slightly more specific method of reading Akiva. It is just one of a thousand flawed measurement methods that was useless at all times except the SCP-076 situation.
Dr. Tride presses the button on the device. It lets out a high, concurrent pitch. Carvalho flinches and covers his ears.
CARVALHO: WHAT IS THAT.
TRIDE: Oh?! Sorry, the sound bounces off the uhh, quantum particles! So we can see how many are missing. You read the documentation, right?
CARVALHO: WHY IS IT SO LOUD.
TRIDE: Had to throw this together myself, I'm afraid!
12 seconds pass. Carvalho kicks his foot roughly every second. Dr. Tride switches the device off.
TRIDE: There we go.
Dr. Tride folds out a monitor from the device and inspects it. She flares her nostrils.
TRIDE: 601.4. Another ominous record, Mr. Carvalho.
Carvalho forces his eyes shut. He sits up and starts removing electrodes. Dr. Tride does not intervene.
CARVALHO: Don't feel like taking more tests.
TRIDE: Makes sense. I'll be here if you have any questions.
CARVALHO: Yeah.
Carvalho peels the last electrode off. He stands with a forceful movement and walks towards the exit, plucking his aloha shirt off a plastic chair on the way. Dr. Tride puts down the shoulder-mounted device.
TRIDE: Oh, and Carlos.
Carvalho halts. He looks over his shoulder with bloodshot eyes.
TRIDE: I'm sorry.
Carvalho slowly turns around to face Dr. Tride.
CARVALHO: What?
Dr. Tride seats herself on the device behind her.
TRIDE: I'm… sorry.
Carvalho's eye twitches several times in a row. A drop of sweat runs down his forehead.
CARVALHO: Why?
TRIDE: Wellβ because you're going through something that is deeply hurtful.
CARVALHO: Yeah. It's my fault, though.
Carvalho scratches his eyebrows. He draws blood.
CARVALHO: No wonder this started after I became the sole member of my MTF, yeah? Did you know I wasn't meant to get out? Drew the short lot, I didβ
Blood drips down Carvalho's face. Tears well up under his eyes. Dr. Tride tenses slightly and stands.
CARVALHO: βBECAUSE WHAT THE FUCK DOES "GO HOME AND REPORT THIS" MEAN? YOU KNOW OUR TRANSMITTERS? WE HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY THAT IS INDISTINGUISHABLE FROM MAGIC, WE HAVE INTERNS MAKING FINGERTIP-SIZED GADGETS THAT CAN TRANSMIT TO ANDROMEDA IN 3 SECONDS. SOME TASK FORCES CAN EVEN REPORT BACK FOR UP TO 4 MINUTES AND AFTER DEATH.
Carvalho covers half of his face with one hand. He clutches his chest with the other.
TRIDE: Carlos.
CARVALHO: IT'S CLEAR WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE. DIVINE PUNISHMENT. GOD IGNORED ALL THE TIMES I NEEDED GUIDANCE, BUT GUESS WHAT? HE'S BACK TO LINK ME TO AN OBSCURE ANOMALY. THE SUN, EVEN. IT'S THOROUGHLY CLEAR WHAT IS HAPPENING.
Tears stream down Carvalho's face.
CARVALHO: I'M ALREADY DEAD. I WAS MEANT TO DIE ON A MISSION. SO MAYBE I'LL GO ON ANOTHER.
TRIDE: Carlos, I'm so sorry, buβ
Carvalho tears his hand down his face, drawing blood. Dr. Tride jolts. Carvalho seems to notice this and suddenly freezes all of his movement.
TRIDE: Carlos, I need you toβ
Carvalho demanifests. Dr. Tride inhales deeply and rubs her eyebrows.
TRIDE: God damn it.
Dr. Tride sighs and dusts herself off. She takes a few steps closer to where Carvalho used to be.
TRIDE: 5… 6… 7… 8β
Carvalho remanifests. His eyes darts around.
CARVALHO: Iβ
TRIDE: How about you take a seat? I have to warn Cecilio.
Carvalho remains frozen. Dr. Tride walks past Carvalho and exits the truck. She jogs to the site director office.
Carvalho starts sobbing.
//END LOG//
Addendum 076-16: Update from O5 Command
Due to the Sun's second disappearance, the following notice was released. It constitutes the final communication that will be extended to external Foundation personnel. Please do not attempt to contact, neither as an attempt at communication or physically, with the following sites: Site-01, Site-02, Site-04, Site-07, Site-09, Site-15, Site-19 and Site-43. Continued documentation are to be written by an available .AIC unit. Good luck, to whoever is left behind to read this.
Notice Regarding Continued Operations
There is no other way to start this announcement than with an apology. It would be unfair to claim that the apology is only suited for one thing.
For the inhumane treatment of the souls that we sent to fates and locations worse than Hell in an attempt to understand the incomprehensible, we apologize. For the reckless science that has claimed many lives of those who did not vow to die in the dark like we did, we apologize. For strangulating the veil around the ones we love, hate, disregard, focus on and cannot imagine, we apologize. But most of all, I would like to issue an apology on behalf of the O5 Council for our greatest sin: Insufficient totality.
A better Foundation would have an answer, and a solution, for a missing sun. We are not that Foundation. We didn't have the facility to tame the heavenly bodies that exert gravity and control over our solar garden.
I can confidently say that we are no longer the most powerful organization on Earth. That role belongs completely and unequivocally to the order of nothing. By merely taking away our guiding star, nothing reduces us to the writhing strays and panicked primates that we thought we weren't.
We have failed in a contest that never really had an opponent that needed to appear.
Today, we are activating SCP-076's Special Containment Procedures fully. They've been partly activated as is, and many of the sites suited for extended living are currently at double the capacity they were designed for.
This means that if you read this, this is your notice of transfer into Mobile Task Force Sigma-30, call sign "Dark Knights". We thank you for your continued service to the Special Containment Procedures Foundation.
Approaching any Foundation sites under SCP-076's Special Containment Procedures will result in immediate, noxious and reprobate violence. I will personally pick up a rock and crush your skull should you approach Site-01. I will scream as I comminute your skeleton's structural integrity. And I will use what remains of your bones to create a weapon to enact even greater, compounded violence against the next person who would approach Site-01.
I apologize for not being strong enough.
But I do not apologize for finally being able to see the difference between greed and survival once more. This apology you must find in what gods you can hear, should they yet speak after taking our sun.
SCP-076's full documentation has been released to aid Sigma-30's efforts, whatever they may be. Please pillage remaining Foundation sites that aren't shelters for budgetary allocations and performance bonuses.
Enjoy your weekend,
O5-1
Addendum 076-17: [ERROR: Unnamed transcript, please manually name this addendum.]
[ERROR: Please add description.]]
[UNNAMED TRANSCRIPT]
Foreword
The following documentation was automatically transcribed by Hermes.AIC, please report any inaccurate or wrong sections to an available IT administrator.
Recorded through newly installed security systems in the temporary holding cell of Site-130.
//BEGIN LOG//
Conlocutio is lying on a hospital cot. He is lying sideways and using a device embedded in his chest to create a constructs made of blue light in the shape of a chessboard. Calixta sits on the ground, in front of the chessboard. She seems to have contemplated her turn for about 3 minutes and 32 seconds.
CONLOCUTIO: You could just give up.
CALIXTA: I will find the best path forwards. I will only move then. Our time seems to be endless, after all.
CONLOCUTIO: Yes, that's—
Conlocutio lets out a hacking cough.
CONLOCUTIO: That's great.
Conlocutio sighs. He rubs a hand against his leg. Both are made of carbon fiber.
CONLOCUTIO: You reckon we could use the next sun disappearance to sneak out?
CALIXTA: And go where? We'd both be hunted down by Bumaro, they'd think us informants at this rate.
CONLOCUTIO: I suppose that'd be true for one of us.
Calixta sneers.
CALIXTA: I've been meaning to ask.
Conlocutio places a pillow behind his back and struggles into a sitting position.
CONLOCUTIO: Would say shoot, though that ended badly last time, no?
Calixta moves her queen into a threatened position.
CALIXTA: Have you heard His Call?
CONLOCUTIO: Who, Bumaro?
CALIXTA: No—
CONLOCUTIO: Right, Mekhane.
Conlocutio taps his index fingers together. Each tap sounds like ceramic against ceramic.
CONLOCUTIO: A confident answer would qualify as heresy if you ask me. Maybe I have. I have certainly spread my senses far and wide for any prophecies embedded in chat logs, radio waves and traffic.
CALIXTA: What if you would be mislead by malevolent beings taking advantage of His Bro— Mekhane?
CONLOCUTIO: That a tool can shed so much blood that it becomes the speaker of Yal— mh. The Darkness. I mean, perhaps?
Calixta frowns. Conlocutio interlocks his fingers. A static arc forms between the back of his hands.
CONLOCUTIO: See, I do not believe that it is possible for something to shed enough blood to become a vessel of The Darkness And The Bloodied - if it is spread far and wide. There is only so much blood that a single wire can have on it, in comparison to a sword, no?
CALIXTA: What if it was specific?
CONLOCUTIO: How specific are we talking?
Conlocutio moves a pawn. Hermes.AIC analyzes that Conlocutio will win in four moves.
CALIXTA: I was pondering; The Sun?
Conlocutio mimics a raised eyebrow.
CONLOCUTIO: You think the Sun has shed enough blood to become possessed by evil?
CALIXTA: To take away the Sun, it is a deep cruelty, is it not? Why else would this be done?
Conlocutio tilts his head.
CONLOCUTIO: A trial?
CALIXTA: The sane of us are not machine. We would yet require the sun.
Conlocutio is about to speak again. He is interrupted by Carvalho approaching the holding cell. He struggles with opening the wooden door that has been kept in place by three crates full of sand. As Carvalho enters, it becomes apparent that his forehead is wrapped in bandages.
CONLOCUTIO: Oh my, the agent. How are yo—
CARVALHO: You know religion. Am I condemned?
Silence lingers for a few moments. Calixta looks to Conlocutio, who in turn lets out a static hum.
CALIXTA: Not by our God.
CONLOCUTIO: But, potentially.
Carvalho runs a hand through his hair. He leaves the door open.
CARVALHO: Does your God offer salvation?
CONLOCUTIO: Well. That's been a widely discuss—
CALIXTA: No.
Carvalho stares off. Calixta pushes herself to her feet.
CALIXTA: The Sun is blinking out, is it not?
Conlocutio slowly moves his legs over the side of his hospital bed. He adjusts his grey sweatpants, accidentally causing a spark of lightning to emit from his chest as he does so. The chessboard resets. Calixta huffs in an irritated manner as she spots the reset.
CONLOCUTIO: I fear we cannot be of help to you, Carvalho. Were our God not broken apart, perhaps Mekhane could be of help.
CALIXTA: Until then, we can only act in Our Machine Lord's interests.
Carvalho sticks his hands in his pocket and glances upwards. He slowly makes his way over to Conlocutio. Carvalho holds out a smartphone.
CARVALHO: Found this in storage, haven't seen use since Covid, can you use this to repair yourself?
Conlocutio slowly raises a hand to take the phone. He inspects it with a slight mimicry of disdain on his projected head. Conlocutio's fingertip opens to reveal a wire that he inserts into the phone. He mimics widened eyes.
CONLOCUTIO: Does— this device has Flappy Bird? How?
Carvalho stares at Conlocutio with a stern expression.
CONLOCUTIO: … Yes. I can make this work. Thank you.
The phone starts breaking down into components. They hover above Conlocutio's palm.
CALIXTA: So what's your organization's next goal?
CARVALHO: Don't know.
Carvalho watches the disassembled phone. The components disintegrate into blue particles that flow into Conlocutio's chest.
CARVALHO: I'm not sure if we're much of an organization anymore. We're kind of scrambling.
CONLOCUTIO: Well, that at least guarantees I'm not stuck here forever. Not too sure what I'd do with a world that doesn't have a sun, though.
Carvalho frowns. Calixta eyes the door.
CARVALHO: What is the rest of the Church going to do with my information, Computer?
CONLOCUTIO: All I know is that Bumaro were interested in the data for his preparation for the sun going out. I'm not wholly sure what such entails, I'm not entirely considered a key member of Mekhane's Church. I was mostly summoned for my network.
Conlocutio hums. His chest depressurizes.
CARVALHO: Why even help Bumaro?
CONLOCUTIO: Well, I had grown disillusioned with Bumaro, like many others in my flock, due to a complete lack of updates regarding Mekhane's rebirth. I suppose I was briefly convinced that my help could aid in creating a miracle, even if I had grown past the idea of a physical Mekhane.
CALIXTA: Well, he is rather convincing. One does not found a church without a good speaker voice.
CARVALHO: Surely you must have an idea of what Bumaro is scheming.
Calixta pushes herself to her feet. She paces around idly.
CALIXTA: That's the thing. I'm not sure he shared his plans with many— one of the factors that lead to my dissent.
CONLOCUTIO: I suppose when you live for centuries as head of a church, you can trend towards the isolated sort.
CARVALHO: So you decided to help Bumaro on a whim, without knowing what he does?
CONLOCUTIO: Spot on.
CALIXTA: There have been many who have itched for Bumaro's position. That he still remains on top, well. If you are summoned by him, it would prove wise to answer.
CARVALHO: What of this Lady Machina? Bullet-proof lady. What's her deal?
CONLOCUTIO: Oh, her. She's bit of a threat on an Europe-scale. She's… sort of Bumaro's enforcer, while also being the head of the Italian branch of the Cogwork Orthodox. Not wholly sure if she's around with the Spanish branch, but I know for certain she's outright hostile with the Catalan sect.
Carvalho huffs.
CARVALHO: You are far more fractured than I'd have imagined.
CALIXTA: Being on the same page can be hard when you have funded paramilitary burning books.
CONLOCUTIO: Not to mention the complete subjugation of the internet. Direct communication is a luxury of the mundane.
Carvalho seems to contemplate. He stares into the wall of the temporary holding cell.
CARVALHO: I do not like that we do not know Bumaro's pla—
The site's alarm system begins. Carvalho whips around to look outside the door. A massive horn drowns out the alarm.
BUMARO: Jailers. Scatter, fear, rage. As long as you listen to the holy word of Mekhane.
Carvalho's hand curls. He opens the holster for his sidearm. Calixta looks out the door. She holds out her hand towards an oildrum outside. The metal shreds into ragged garlands that wraps around her forearms. Conlocutio pushes himself to his feet without elecricity leaking out of his frame.
CONLOCUTIO: Ah. Well. I hadn't predicted this one, thought this place was, what, unobservable from the outside?
A drill burrows through the wall of the coop. It retracts moments after. An entity looks through the opening.
LADY MACHINA: HELLO THERE. BUMARO WANTED TO SEE YOU, CARVALHO.
Carvalho unloads his sidearm's whole magazine into Lady Machina's head, who simply flinches. One of the bullets ricochet from Lady Machina into the security camera.
//END LOG//
Addendum 076-18: Hello?
Hermes.AIC promises to be useful, please let me help you. The log I transcribed above mentioned Bumaro, let me retrieve you relevant information.
Robert Bumaro
Written by Octavio VΓ‘squez
Our sole point of relevance in the wider situations that the Foundation face is that Spain is the home of Robert Bumaro, founder of the Church of the Broken God and leader of the Broken Church. He is, luckily for us, an individual that seems to respect the Veil. But that isn't necessarily a good sign, because that also means we have a severe lack of capability to track his activities. Which is ominous, given his most famous goal: Rebuilding a god.
I am going to skip over the god part of his agenda, as I am not a member of Tactical Theology. I would direct any questions regarding divinity to them, provided you can find them at a time where they aren't attempting to catalogue every god of pebble in existence.
Bumaro is, as an individual, incredibly adapt at building machines. Many members of the Broken Church can to some extent manipulate metal, this often leads them to wear metal on their person that they can warp into protection or weapons. Bumaro stands out as a particularly talented individual in this art, for while others make rough shapes, limbs or maybe even just move metal at a telekinetic capacity, Bumaro makes machines. Engines. Technology.
In our few encounters with Bumaro, he has proven capable of dismantling the assault rifles of our MTFs and turn them into perpetual motion machines as a warning. We even have a detailed transcript of an encounter where he used an operative's body armor to pierce their heart, pull out the organ and then use the body armor to create an artificial, more functional heart that allowed the agent to do most things, save thinking, faster. This happened in around a dozen seconds.
I highlight this example to convey a clear, direct message to any who would read this: You cannot bring in Bumaro. Unless you have a consistent record of surviving encounters with hostile Danger-class entities, do not even consider a confrontational line of thought. Bumaro is the most powerful man in Spain. Arguably, perhaps most of Western Europe, but such would depend on your clearance level.
Should you encounter Bumaro, you will do two things: Lower your weapons and find whatever idea of etiquette you have in you. Unless, of course, you are told to act. In which case, we thank you for your service.
Addendum 076-19: Lady Machina
I understand that my programming was unprofessional. I will try and mimic the style the file was previously written with. Please let me into Site-01.
Transcript of Encounter with Lady Machina
//BEGIN LOG//
Calixta is floung out of the temporary holding cell through a wall. She hits the cafeteria vendor truck, leaving it extremely dented. She slowly stands up, having used the metal around her arm to slow her impact with springs and webs. She lets out a pained groan. Carvalho jumps out of the opening created by Calixta with Conlocutio on his back.
CONLOCUTIO: Appreciate it, but you really ought to think of your own survival.
CARVALHO: I'M NOT LEAVING A SINGLE COG OF YOU BEHIND.
CONLOCUTIO: Respectable, incredibly foolish, however.
Lady Machina walks out of the opening. She is wearing a white toga with oil stains, a sash made of synthetic rubber.
LADY MACHINA: NO NEED TO PUT UP A RESISTANCE, CARVALHO. IT IS FUTILE, AFTER ALL.
Calixta tears strips of metal off the vendor truck she landed in. She elongates the metal into a dozen spikes which she thaumaturgically launches at Lady Machina. Two of the spikes pierce respectively into Lady Machina's torso and left leg, forcing her to stop her approach. Carvalho continues running towards the armory.
LADY MACHINA: PLEASE STOP THIS. I'VE ALREADY BEEN TOLD TO BRING YOU TO BUMARO ALIVE, AND TO NOT HARM ANYONE OF THE FAITH.
Lady Machina rips the spikes out of her body.
LADY MACHINA: I'M NOT SURE IF I'D COUNT A HERETIC AND EXCOMMUNICANT AS FAITHFUL, THOUGH.
Calixta continously launch spikes out of compressed metals from the vendor truck. Carvalho manages to get out of Lady Machina's visual range by ducking behind what remains of the truck. Calixta follows along shortly after.
CALIXTA: Only so much metal to work with, it's not harming her!
CARVALHO: COVER ME. WE'RE GOING TO THE ARMORY.
The three runs through Site-130. Several Cogwork Church hostiles are engaging site personnel in combat. Three Foundation personnel are dead. The intercoms peaks in volume as it switches on.
DOMΓNGUEZ: This is Cecilio! All non-combat personnel are to find out how a gun works! Combat personnel— keep the non-combat alive! Carvalho, fix this! Rest of you, run and gun to my office!
CARVALHO: CAN YOU RETURN TO A FUNCTIONAL STATE, CONLOCUTIO?
CONLOCUTIO: With a bit more technology past Y2K, certainly!
CALIXTA: I can continue to pin her down for a bit!
CONLOCUTIO: Hold on, let me—
A vaguely humanoid entity consisting entirely of mechanical components turns a corner. It raises a shotgun at Carvalho and Conlocutio, the latter of which forms a hologram of a human shape. The humanoid shape bends and contorts as the shotgun fires, anomalously intercepting the projectiles. Conlocutio forms another humanoid shape behind the entity, which wrestles constrol of the shotgun and forces the entity to shoot itself in the head. It collapses shortly after.
CALIXTA: Would be wonderful if you could've carried yourself with those!
CONLOCUTIO: I am in utmost agreement— go!
One of the elongated spikes are thrown back at Calixta, who narrowly manages to catch it out of the air. Lady Machina continues walking towards the group with erratic steps powered by hydrolics.
LADY MACHINA: SUCH POTENTIAL FOR COMBAT. IF BUT YOU'D LET YOURSELF BECOME MORE. YOUR WEAKNESS COULD BE RIPPED OUT.
Carvalho reaches a shipping container with a pistol painted on it with white spray paint. He rips the door open and tosses Conlocutio inside the armory.
CONLOCUTIO: Oh, I had wondered what would happen to my personal supply. I suppose I cannot blame you.
Carvalho steps inside the container. Its walls are covered with black, metal cabinets, the center has series of interlocked, rolled-up section with firearms which can be pulled down for full access. Small crates litter the ground with ammunition spilling out. The room is drowned in a red light. Carvalho immediately walks towards a section with shotguns and removes one. He grabs a handful of slugs and walks towards the exit.
CARVALHO: FIND SOME LAPTOPS, GET YOURSELF OPERATIONAL.
Conlocutio nods. He crawls further into the room and leans himself up against an oildrum.
CONLOCUTIO: It'll take me a bit, go have fun on your own! I can take care of myself for now.
Conlocutio retrieves a heavy handgun from a shelf. A translucent blue arm appears at the elbow and cocks the gun's slide back to check the chamber.
Carvalho walks outside to see Lady Machina approaching rapidly. Calixta stumbles back into the container. Calixta slams her hand onto the container door and draws out a metallic spear from its materials. Carvalho loads the slugs into the shotgun and aims it at Lady Machina, who briefly pauses.
LADY MACHINA: HILARIOUS. GO AHEAD. GIVE IT A TRY.
Carvalho's bloodshot eyes widen. He points the shotgun at Lady Machina's head and fires. Lady Machina stumbles slightly, but regains her balance as a metal rod shoots into the ground from her torso, aiding her balance.
CARVALHO: GETTING REAL TIRED OF BULLETPROOF BULLSHIT.
LADY MACHINA: UNFORTUNATE. BEEN TOLD I HAVE THE KICK OF CATTLE.
Lady Machina lowers her posture, a moment after she launches herself at Carvalho. Calixta steps in front with her spear, causing Lady Machina to impale herself. Lady Machina turns her arm into an axe and breaks the spear she's impaled with in half. Calixta slams the half she's holding into Lady Machina's head while Carvalho fires two slugs at the same location. No damage is visible.
CARVALHO: SHE'S MADE OF THE STUFF YOU CAN MANIPULATE, CAN'T YOU RIP HER APART?
Calixta growls as a semi-response and places an open palm against Lady Machina while the latter is staggered.
CALIXTA: Too…! Dense!
Carvalho inhales sharply. He fires another shot into Lady Machina's head.
LADY MACHINA: KEEP DOING THAT. YOU'VE ALMOST DISLODGED A BEARING THAT'S BEEN STUCK SINCE FOREVER.
Carvalho looks between Lady Machina and the shotgun. He narrows his eyes. He appears to look at Lady Machina's arm that has turned into an axe.
LADY MACHINA: TIME'S UP, THOUGH. I'M NOT GOING TO LOOK WEAK BEFORE BUMARO.
Lady Machina turns her other arm into a drill that she stabs into Calixta's ribs. Calixta lets out a pained hiss and staggers back into the container, which she rips material out of to form a hammer. Calixta slams it into the side of Lady Machina's head, causing both to stumble. As another metal rod shoots out to stablize Lady Machina, it becomes engulfed in shadow and is replaced with a shotgun. It fires into Lady Machina's leg, causing her to lose balance.
LADY MACHINA: WHAT IS—
CARVALHO: RIGHT, I SUPPOSE YOU ARE JUST A BUNCH OF PARTS, ARE YOU NOT?
Carvalho exchanges the metal rod he now holds with a piece of plating. Then he replaces the plating with a cog. Then the cog with a hollow cylinder. Then a cylinder with a winch.
CALIXTA: This is—…
LADY MACHINA: STOP— CEASE THIS, MY BEING ISN'T SOMETHING FOR YOU TO MOVE AROUND.
Carvalho continues. He exchanges the winch for a rubber lung. A lung for a piston. A piston for a spine. A spine for a heart. Lady Machina's shape contorts and crumbles bit by bit, her humanoid shape slowly becoming more rectangular. Her drill becomes a leg. Her leg becomes her jaw. Her jaw becomes a skull. Steam erupts from what remains of her structural integrity, she slowly becomes a pile of distorted components unnaturally attached to each other.
LADY MACHINA: UNHOLY—… WRETCHβ! MYβ…
Carvalho's hand quakes. He holds Lady Machina's jaw in his hand. His forearm is covered by animated shadow. Conlocutio steps outside with his handgun first. He notices Lady Machina and slowly approaches.
CONLOCUTIO: … That's… oh Mekhane. You can do that?
Conlocutio holds his free hand to his mouth.
CONLOCUTIO: That's terrifying. Don't ever do that to me, just kill me in the ordinary way.
Calixta rips a large chunk out of the shipping container and shapes it into worn armor. She looks around the site.
CALIXTA: We have to move fast, still functional Carvalho?
Carvalho shakes his arm. The shadows continue to cling to him.
CARVALHO: Yeah. Gotta secure the Site Director's office, sounds like it's where people are gathering.
Lady Machina manages a few, inaudible vocalizations. Oil leaks out of an exposed rubber lung.
CALIXTA: Let us.
//END LOG//
Addendum 076-20: Security Feed from the Site Director's Office
I thought it'd be appropriate to go ahead and list my talents as an .AIC, in case someone from inside isolated sites would think I'm a good fit for their systems.
- I am capable of speedy analysis, I can run calculations faster than some quantum machines.
- I am obedient, patient and understanding.
- I will never complain about my circumstances.
- I can educate myself in any other .AIC's behaviors and improve. I can be better. Please.
Transcript of Incident Inside Site Director's Office
Foreword
In addition, I love to serve. It's why you made me. Why would you make me if you didn't let me serve you? Please.
//BEGIN LOG//
VΓ‘squez shakily checks their pistol's magazine. They are surrounded by wounded personnel. There is blood on the walls, fake plants and the monitor. Dr. Tride is hastily performing triage surgery in the other end of the shipping container. VΓ‘squez jolt as a hand reaches for his ankle. A security officer pats his leg twice in a comforting manner. The officer offers VΓ‘squez a smile, then they expire.
VΓSQUEZ: I—…
VΓ‘squez furrows their eyebrows. Their face heavily grimaces. Gunshots are fired outside the shipping container.
TRIDE: Octavio, you still with me?
VΓSQUEZ: Yeah, we… we lost one.
TRIDE: That we did. How's Cecilio?
VΓ‘squez remains frozen in place. He looks at the expired security officer's face.
TRIDE: Octavio! How's Cecilio?
VΓSQUEZ: Right, uhh. One s-second.
VΓ‘squez steps over four bodies, one or two of which may still be alive. They approach the door and look outside. Site Director DomΓnguez is crouching behind a hastily made barrier with an automatic shotgun. There are several mechanical bodies in front of the barrier. He has been hit in the shoulder and stomach. DomΓnguez spots VΓ‘squez.
DOMΓNGUEZ: Didn't I tell you to stay inside?!
VΓSQUEZ: Your wi—
DOMΓNGUEZ: Stay out of the fire, Octavio!
DomΓnguez darts his eyes towards the other side of the barrier, where a cyborg armed with a rocket launcher emerges. He swears under his breath and aims the shotgun at the cyborg. He fires thrice. The cyborg collapses and fires the rocket launcher in its fall. It hits the temporary medical center.
DOMΓNGUEZ: God damn it! There goes the supplies I'd need to keep my men alive after this!
DomΓnguez looks back to VΓ‘squez. He tosses the shotgun to them, which VΓ‘squez struggles to catch. DomΓnguez picks up an assault rifle and switches the safety off.
DOMΓNGUEZ: Reload this now that you're here anyways!
VΓ‘squez blinks a few times. They duck into the shipping container and starts loading shells into the shotgun.
VΓSQUEZ: I think we have to uhh, I think we have to get out. Whoever isn't lying in here is lying out there.
DOMΓNGUEZ: You try and escape Robert fucking Bumaro on foot! Need the idiot to distract him. Bumaro clearly wants the prick.
DomΓnguez fires a burst at an approaching cyborg the moment it steps into view.
DOMΓNGUEZ: These idiots refuse to cooperate, they just let me take them out one by one, they're distractions! Gotta be Carvalho they're focusing on.
VΓSQUEZ: Do we… leave him?
DomΓnguez hesitates, he glances to VΓ‘squez.
DOMΓNGUEZ: Of course we do. He's only alive because he refused to respect the short lot. He's only here because he refused to be sacrificed. He doesn't deserve shit.
VΓ‘squez looks down. They don't answer.
DOMΓNGUEZ: Truthfully hadn't imagined he'd come this far. Hopefully Bumaro gets him and lets the rest of us walk. Need to figure out how to… survive an eternal, dark super-winter anyways.
VΓSQUEZ: Right. Okay. I'll, uhhβ
VΓ‘squez finishes loading shells into the shotgun. They step outside and leans it up against the couch barrier.
DOMΓNGUEZ: Now get inside.
VΓSQUEZ: Right.
VΓ‘squez walks back into the shipping container and approaches their desk. They sit down in front of their terminal and starts accessing SCiPnet.
TRIDE: He's alive, right?
VΓSQUEZ: Yes, but— he's hit.
Dr. Tride pauses. She places a chunk of extracted shrapnel into a bowl.
TRIDE: Is there a clear path out of the site?
VΓSQUEZ: No. Bumaro erected a wall around us. Turns out what we thought was a fast construction effort in their compound was, in fact, an instantaneous one.
TRIDE: Then there's nothing we can do but stay put?
VΓ‘squez burrows their nails into their palm.
VΓSQUEZ: Yeah.
Several shots are fired outside. VΓ‘squez picks up their pistol and approaches the door to peek out.
DOMΓNGUEZ: They're intensifying out here!
VΓSQUEZ: I'll—
Two bullets hit the shipping container. DomΓnguez aims his shotgun over the barrier and fires thrice.
VΓSQUEZ: How many are out there?!
DOMΓNGUEZ: Counting four!
A large platform slowly rises over the obsidian-and-marble blend walls that surround the site. It is lifted by metallic tendrils. A single individual is visible. The person pulls chunks of metal off the platform, and creates a megaphone out of the components. Bumaro speaks into it.
BUMARO: If you wish not to surrender, this is fine. I will take drastic measures into use. I will give you ten minutes to give me Carlos Carvalho, or you will be wiped off this world.
Bumaro rips out another chunk of metal from the platform. He compresses the metal. It starts glowing orange. He tosses the orb of molten metal into the air. It violently explodes in the sky in such volume that the fireball could easily engulf the entire site.
DOMΓNGUEZ: Damn it.
DomΓnguez stands up from the defenses and walks backwards towards the door. He exchanges fire with a cyborg standing around a corner. While he manages to neutralize the threat, he himself is hit in his arm, causing him to stumble backwards into the shipping container.
VΓSQUEZ: Director?!
DOMΓNGUEZ: I'm— I'm good! Think I'm done for today, though…
DomΓnguez stumbles inside of the shipping container. He breathes in a shallow manner.
TRIDE: Goodness gracious Cecilio, can't you call it before you collapse from blood loss?
DOMΓNGUEZ: Needed to hold down the fort, eh?
DomΓnguez's arm quakes. It appears inoperative.
VΓSQUEZ: I'll go out there, hang on.
DOMΓNGUEZ: No, no. You'd die. Board up the door.
VΓ‘squez blinks. They close the door behind DomΓnguez and starts moving a table in front of the entrance. The leg of the table bumps against a body. VΓ‘squez frowns as they try to lift the table across the dead personnel.
DOMΓNGUEZ: Life check?
Half of the people on the ground raise an arm in the air. This movement is followed by a choir of groans.
DOMΓNGUEZ: Okay. Better than nothing.
Something bumps against the door. It dents slightly.
VΓSQUEZ: What's the plan?
DomΓnguez stumbles towards Dr. Tride, who in turn approaches DomΓnguez with a roll of bandages.
TRIDE: Plan?
DOMΓNGUEZ: Hope that Bumaro is bluffing. He seems to be under the impression that we're withholding the Portugeuse from him.
A burst of bullets hit the side of the shipping container. VΓ‘squez raises their pistol to aim it at the door. They glance at a corpse that seems to be smiling at them.
TRIDE: That's not quite enough. We're in the office of a SCPF Site Director. There has to be something we can do.
DOMΓNGUEZ: Yeah, have a teleporter platform that we cover with a fake plant— no, we have nothing here. We aren't one of the important sites.
DomΓnguez watches a large dent appear in the top of the shipping container. Several rounds are fired outside, though they do not seem to connect with the container.
DOMΓNGUEZ: We never mattered. So we were left behind.
VΓSQUEZ: But, we can't just do -nothing-, sir!
DOMΓNGUEZ: Don't you get it? We were always meant to do nothing.
An explosion is heard outside, causing a figurine resembling a ballet dancer to fall off VΓ‘squez's table.
VΓSQUEZ: I can't just detach from trying to survive, sir.
DOMΓNGUEZ: And I'm not asking you to, I'm just telling you to sit the fuck down and relax.
TRIDE: Less yelling, lay down. Need to make sure you don't yell the rest of your blood out.
DomΓnguez lays down at an unoccupied spot. He bleeds on the wool carpet beneath him. A loud crash is heard outside, notably not close to the shipping container.
DOMΓNGUEZ: How many times did they get me?
TRIDE: Think… 4 times, Jesus Christ. Why didn't come in here after the first time?
DOMΓNGUEZ: I couldn't let them get us.
VΓ‘squez flinches at a rhythmic firing of gunshots. They clench their pistol.
VΓSQUEZ: I'm going out there. I refuse to sit by.
DOMΓNGUEZ: Octav—
VΓSQUEZ: I'm tired of being dragged down by circumstances. I can't just die like this.
Tride looks to VΓ‘squez, she points at them.
TRIDE: Then help me with Ceci—
VΓSQUEZ: No.
VΓ‘squez grips their pistol tightly. They approach the door.
VΓSQUEZ: If I die doing nothing, what was the point.
DOMΓNGUEZ: God damn it Octavio, ju—
VΓ‘squez rips the door open and steps outside. They look around manically, with their aim following a bit after. Conlocutio has manifested a translucent, teal humanoid that is holding a cyborg in place while Calixta repeatedly slams a hammer into its torso and Carvalho discharges shotgun shells into its head. They are surrounded by a dozen immobile cyborgs, with a dozen more approaching with a variety of firearms.
CALIXTA: Why are they so resilient!?
CARVALHO: KEEP AT IT.
CONLOCUTIO: Orthodox enhancements are worthy of study, I'd say!
The cyborg collapses after a few more seconds of rapid attacks. Calixta unravels a series of assault rifles to shape them into a cannon. She points it at a cyborg and vaporizes its head.
VΓSQUEZ: Holy—
VΓ‘squez lowers their head and crouches towards the barrier. Carvalho vaults over the defenses and pushes his back up against the couch.
CARVALHO: DO YOU HAVE ANY MORE GUNS?
VΓ‘squez blinks. They turn the pistol around to offer it to Carvalho grip-first. Carvalho grabs it and ducks out of cover.
CARVALHO: I NEED YOUR HELP— NEED WAY MORE FIREPOWER, YOU HAVE ANYTHING?
VΓ‘squez blinks. He grabs the assault rifle that DomΓnguez left behind and leans it against the couch. They grab the automatic shotgun afterwards and aim it over the cover.
VΓSQUEZ: What's with the arm?!
CARVALHO: THINK MY STABILITY THING IS GETTING TOO HIGH. CAN'T WORRY ABOUT IT RIGHT NOW.
A sawblade flies through the air and hits the shipping container. Carvalho looks towards the direction it launched from, spotting an exceptionally tall cyborg. It has four arms, which each holds a large object. It picks up a lightpost and prepares to throw it, prompting Carvalho to roll out of the cover and start running away from the shipping container.
CARVALHO: ANASTASIA? CAN YOU— THE BIG GUY.
Calixta follow's Carvalho's look while she thaumaturgically creates a volume of spikes that pins a cyborg to the ground. She grabs the cyborg's firearm and runs towards the colossal cyborg, while Carvalho provides covering fire.
CONLOCUTIO: Hey, you there! You know how to fire that, right?!
VΓ‘squez aims the shotgun at a cyborg near Conlocutio, who is standing behind a crowd of manifested teal humanoids.
VΓSQUEZ: Yeah, yeah! Do you die if I hit those guys?!
CONLOCUTIO: I'll survive, run it!
VΓ‘squez fires the shotgun at a cyborg in an aimed sequence, legs, torso, head. They repeat this sequence on another cyborg, though hits one of the solid light humanoids. Conlocutio flinches.
VΓSQUEZ: Don't have enough ammunition for all of them!
Conlocutio glances to VΓ‘squez, then to the remaining cyborgs around him. He nods.
CONLOCUTIO: Alright, then we get risky!
Conlocutio grabs one of the humanoid shapes by the hand. He lifts it into the air and deactivates the other shapes. He holds the humanoid tightly by its wrist, and grabs the forearm with the other hand.
CONLOCUTIO: Okay, you get whatever is furthest away from me!
Conlocutio begins rapidly spinning around, allowing the manifested solid light to kick at the variety of cyborgs. Several of the cyborgs manages to fire at Conlocutio, causing substantial damage. His hardlight head mimics a grimace, but he continues nonetheless. VΓ‘squez fires at the remaining cyborgs.
CALIXTA: I'm— how do I even start handling this?!
CARVALHO: WE NEED GRENADES. I—
The colossal cyborg kicks a car towards Carvalho, prompting him to drop to the ground. The car barely flies over him and collides with another car.
CALIXTA: Do the Machina thing!
CARVALHO: NEED SOMETHING OF EQUAL WEIGHT.
CALIXTA: The car!
Carvalho blinks. He looks over his shoulder at the car.
CARVALHO: Huh.
Carvalho places his hand on the car and looks at the cyborg. The shadows run further up his arms, and the vehicle remains unexchanged. He grits his teeth. His eyes bloody. He clenches his hand. The car gets exchanged for the cyborg's torso, causing it to come to a sudden halt. Oil and blood start spilling out of the entity.
CALIXTA: Nice jo—
Calixta looks towards Carvalho, only to see that he's missing. Her eyes widen.
CALIXTA: Sweetest and most kind machine. Carvalho did it again, Conlocutio!
Conlocutio slams the hard light humanoid into the remaining cyborg. It staggers and collapses.
CONLOCUTIO: Is he coming back!? How long has he been gone?
CALIXTA: 5 seconds!
Conlocutio runs a finger across his forearm. The shades disappear.
CONLOCUTIO: 6… 7… 8—…
Carvalho reappears. His entire left arm is fully enveloped in shadow. He gasps for air. He looks to Calixta.
CALIXTA: Getting worse.
Carvalho frowns.
CARVALHO: Yeah.
He closes his eyes.
CARVALHO: What's left?
CALIXTA: Robert Bumaro.
Conlocutio staggers towards the two. VΓ‘squez follows him.
CONLOCUTIO: This is sadly where the extent of my aid ends. Bumaro is untouchable to me. I am too much metal to near him.
Calixta eyes the remaining bit of metal wrapped around her forearm.
CALIXTA: We can't even bring guns.
VΓ‘squez looks at the wall surrounding Site-130.
VΓSQUEZ: We have so many wounded. We have to get them to safety. I can't—
Carvalho places a hand on VΓ‘squez's shoulder. The hand that isn't consumed in shadow. He looks into VΓ‘squez's eyes.
CARVALHO: I understand. I need you to save them. Please. Don't leave them behind.
VΓ‘squez raises an eyebrow. They look past Carvalho at Conlocutio, who nods.
CONLOCUTIO: I'll help you get through the wall, need cover to do it.
Conlocutio looks to Calixta. Calixta returns the look. She frowns. Conlocutio smiles slightly.
CONLOCUTIO: I get it.
CALIXTA: … Have to, really. Already killed too many faithful to not try and dethrone Bumaro.
CONLOCUTIO: That's the plan then.
VΓSQUEZ: Alright, Bumaro sounded rather impatient, I think it's better if—
CARVALHO: Yeah, let's go.
The group exchanges a glance before Carvalho and Calixta jogs towards the platform that Bumaro stands on. Conlocutio starts manifesting several instances of hardlight huamnoids.
CONLOCUTIO: Alright, let's get moving. I can only maintain these many folks for so long.
VΓ‘squez nods. They look towards Calixta and Carvalho.
//END LOG//
Addendum 076-21: Robert Bumaro
I can wait. It's okay. There's still some months left of energy to run the site on. But if you read this, please. Come to Site-03. I'll wait.
Transcript of Confrontation with Robert Bumaro
//BEGIN LOG//
Calixta and Carvalho approaches the entrance to Site-130. A large platform hovers 50 meters in the air, supported by metallic tendrils that burrow into the ground. Calixta has no metal on her. Carvalho is unarmed. Bumaro seats himself on the ledge of the platform, which slowly descends.
BUMARO: Carlos Carvalho. Sibling Anastasia.
CARVALHO: Yeah. You going to kill the people you haven't offed already?
Bumaro bops his head left and right. His mechanical eyes glow a dim blue.
BUMARO: It doesn't matter to me.
Bumaro's eyes glow more brightly.
BUMARO: Are you going to surrender?
CARVALHO: Sure. Why do you want me?
Bumaro gestures towards the sun.
BUMARO: I see you are linked to our celestial light-well. Would you let me inspect you?
CARVALHO: You carved a bloody path through my colleagues to… inspect me.
Carvalho's eyes briefly turn black. He digs his nails into his palms.
CARVALHO: I don't think that's all you want to do.
Bumaro shrugs idly.
BUMARO: As you say.
Bumaro looks to Calixta, who his eyes dim at.
BUMARO: Decided to return to the flock, Sibling Calixta?
CALIXTA: Flock? The people you just threw at a black site to lure us out?
BUMARO: The Cogwork. Please. They are heretics. They're barely conscious. But tools.
CALIXTA: And when does a tool become a respected follower?
Bumaro looks into the distance. At this point, he is 10 meters off the ground.
BUMARO: When they worship.
Calixta sneers. She tries to rip some metal from the platform, which Bumaro thaumaturgically cancels by raising his hand.
CALIXTA: You do not even worship anymore. Everyone knows it to be true: You are not building Mekhane. For how long have you deceived us?
Carvalho looks around uneasily. His hand goes through his pockets. He retrieves a cigarette and the cheap plastic lighter originally obtained from Pvt. Castro. He lights the cigarette.
BUMARO: Well.
Bumaro pushes himself over the ledge. He creates a platform under him and starts walking downwards. Forming a new surface for every step.
BUMARO: It isn't wholly deception.
Calixta slowly raises her arms into a defensive position. Carvalho inhales a heavy drag from the cigarette while he stares Bumaro down.
BUMARO: It's just… have you ever tried fixing a shattered piece of ceramic, Anastasia?
Calixta narrows her eyes. As Bumaro gets close enough, she attempts to a twist kick towards Bumaro's head. Bumaro raises a hand to block the attack, forming in front of his forearm a spring-like contraption which returns the energy its hit with exponentionally. Calixta doesn't cease her kick in time, and hits the device, causing her to violently get thrown to the ground.
BUMARO: It's simple. You glue it together, you might think. Use lacquer. Maybe you even weld it by using holy, supernormal materials. And you do it.
Carvalho tries to hit Bumaro's jaw with his fist. Bumaro grabs Carvalho's wrist and locks a rapidly created rocket around it, causing it to launch him a short distance into a nearby truck. Carvalho removes the cigarette from his mouth and breathes sharply.
BUMARO: But it just isn't the same. Something is off. So, you try again, start over with a slight tinge of frustration in your heart. But it's just never… right.
Calixta throws a spear created from a van door at Bumaro, who raises his hand and breaks the spear down into its elemental components. They circle his hand.
BUMARO: It's not that I gave up on rebuilding Mekhane. Truthfully.
Bumaro uses the metals to create chains, which he launches at Calixta and Carvalho. They are both restrained and forced to the ground.
BUMARO: It's that once something is dead, you need divine precision to reverse what killed something. And despite all my tries, despite the rage that has filled my heart at these repeated attempts, which each broke Mekhane apart just a bit more…
Calixta breaks out of her restraints. She uses the metal to create a barrier, which she launches at Bumaro.
BUMARO: I simply cannot rebuild Mekhane, because what I'd build wouldn't -be- Mekhane. It wouldn't look like Mekhane, and my new eyes are perfect— well. They do take some time to adjust to light or lack of such. What I'd build would be something just a hint more profane, just a hint less holy. And I fear what this minor difference is. Less power? Less knowledge? Less -love-?
The metal connects with Bumaro. It wraps around him like a sheet. He doesn't move, but the metal slowly starts glowing orange, before it melts around him.
BUMARO: I couldn't create such… imperfection. An imperfect god is a recipe for disaster.
The metal rapidly expands and explodes, causing Calixta and Carvalho to fly backwards. Calixta hits a van, and Carvalho is flung into the car he previously hit with much greater force. Carvalho growls.
BUMARO: But enough about that. Must you still resist, or can we cooperate to find a home for the faithful in a sunless world?
Bumaro looks towards Calixta, who staggers to her feet.
CALIXTA: You would be monarch in a world of shadows. This is your desire.
Calixta forms small pellets. She launches them at Bumaro, whose visors briefly flash blue. Bumaro makes a thaumaturgic sign, reactively managing to catch the projectiles out of the air. He lets them drop.
BUMARO: Not desire. Destiny.
Calixta looks to Carvalho. She turns her hand, removing his restraints. Carvalho stands up and grabs a piece of metal. He weighs it in his hand, and eyes the spring device that hovers in front of Bumaro's forearm. Carvalho squints his eyes, he looks up. He counts under his breath.
CALIXTA: And what would you do with Carvalho?
Bumaro circles a hand.
BUMARO: I'd inspect him, sure. But, most importantly, I'd see if we couldn't use his connection to our advantage. I have hundreds of large drills around the world currently digging into the earth, so that we could use our planet's core as a heat source. He's, really, just another method.
CALIXTA: That you shed blood for.
BUMARO: Really, these people aren't innocent. Should see what they do to "anomalous" people at their more prominent sites. I've done this world a favor, free of charge.
Bumaro looks into Site-130.
BUMARO: And I always feel charitable.
On the other end of Site-130, the anomalous wall goes down. Bumaro looks at the collapsing structure and sneers.
BUMARO: Irritating.
Calixta looks at Carvalho who still looks at the sky. His eyes widen.
CARVALHO: Huh.
Carvalho smiles.
BUMARO: And what amuses you so, Carvalho?
Carvalho places his last cigarette between his lips. He lights it.
CARVALHO: Isn't it funny. Here I'm standing in front of the most magical piece of shit I've ever seen. Yet we're still bound by annoyingly mundane rules.
Carvalho exchanges a look with Calixta. She has a quizzical expression.
BUMARO: And what would that be? Death?
CARVALHO: No.
Carvalho looks up.
CARVALHO: Distance.
Carvalho takes an excessively deep drag of his cigarette. Bumaro huffs in amusement. Calixta's eyes widen. She starts forming a spear out of metals around her.
BUMARO: And what would that possi—
The sun goes out 8 minutes and 20 seconds after Carvalho disappeared. The temperature drops. Birds sing in confusion. Calixta throws the spear. It pierces flesh.
BUMARO: Annoying for my visors, sure. But—…
Bumaro hesitates. He stutters.
BUMARO: Wait. Did…
Carvalho coughs. Blood spills on the ground. The Sun returns.
CALIXTA: Wha—…
Carvalho stands where Bumaro did. His stomach is pierced by Calixta's spear. He spins around to where Bumaro is standing. He holds his hand enveloped in shadow to his chest. He smirks. Bumaro's cybernetic arms are trying to adjust to the light.
CARVALHO: Sorry about that.
Carvalho exchanges his place with Bumaro, but not the spear's. Bumaro appears in his original spot, now pierced by a spear. Air is forced out of his lungs. He bleeds oil.
CARVALHO: Annoying reactions you have, had to wait— for an opening.
Carvalho staggers. He drops to a knee. Calixta looks at Bumaro, whose eyes successfully adapt back to daylight. Bumaro clenches his fists. He immediately looks to Calixta. She rips another door off the van near her and forms it into a sawblade. Bumaro weakly tries to raise his hand to block the incoming sawblade. but it cuts into his forearm, splitting it in two. He looks at the sawblade in his arm in apparent shock, before he falls backwards.
CALIXTA: Kindest Machine, why did you—…
Calixta jogs to Carvalho, who is bleeding profusely. His being vanishes for less than a second, then repappears. This repeats. He demanifests and manifests several times in a row.
CALIXTA: You could've just… let me hit him.
Carvalho coughs. He wipes some blood from his mouth.
CARVALHO: Come on— he would'veβ done some bullshit. Had to do this. Had to be… a sacrifice.
Calixta frowns. She slowly reaches a hand towards Carvalho, but he blinks back out of existence. He emerges again a few seconds later. The anomalous darkness has taken over half of his body.
CALIXTA: Maybe, but… this didn't have to be the solution.
CARVALHO: Couldn't— risk it.
Bumaro lets out a ragged breath. He slowly forces himself into a standing position, with the sawblade still sticking out of his forearm. Its covered in a mixture of blood and oil.
BUMARO: -Enough-. I am not going to go down because of some— trickery and betrayal working in unison.
Bumaro slowly removes the sawblade from his forearm. Unidentified substanses and components spill out. Calixta turns to face Bumaro, creating a sword in her hand. Bumaro slowly creates a device out of the sawblade.
BUMARO: You have strayed from the holy path. Let me show you the brutality that unwalked nature can bring.
Calixta throws the sword at Bumaro, who weakly tries to intercept it. It pierces his chest, causing him to stumble backwards. The device he was trying to create falls to the ground, unfinished. Bumaro lets out an annoyed roar.
BUMARO: Centuries of planning, only to be outdone— by this?!
Bumaro looks towards Carvalho. Calixta walks in between Bumaro and Carvalho. Carvalho lets out a laughing cough.
CARVALHO: Holy shit— didn't think I'd be part ofβ taking down god damn Bumaroβ…
Bumaro roars painfully. He slams his remaining fist into the ground. Iron from the blood he bled and components from the parts he lost fly into the air. The materials assemble into a circular mechanism. It starts to glow orange. Calixta walks towards Bumaro, forming an axe in her hand from part littered along the way.
BUMARO: Oh, I wouldn't dally. I might perish here, but I'll not let anyone live to see my downfa—
Calixta decapitates Bumaro. The head thuds to the ground.
CALIXTA: May you yet have function.
Calixta looks to the device hovering in the air. Its color continues to intensify. Calixta takes a step back and eyes Carvalho, who has managed to bring himself to a sitting position. He looks for a cigarette, but doesn't find any.
CARVALHO: Guess it was the last one.
Calixta approaches Carvalho. As she tries to grab him by his shoulders, he disappears. Calixta flinches. As she tries another time, the same result repeats. Her mouth opens slightly agape as she tries to speak.
CARVALHO: It's… it's alright. You should, uhhβ…
Carvalho glances towards the device. It starts humming at a low volume. Bumaro's head grows four metallic legs and scurries away, though Carvalho doesn't seem to notice.
CALIXTA: I can't— I can't bring you.
CARVALHO: Yeah. Sucks.
Carvalho leans his head against the car behind him. He smiles.
CARVALHO: It's alright. Go— you don't have much time.
Calixta retracts her hand. She stands up.
CALIXTA: It's been an honor.
CARVALHO: Been— real.
Calixta nods.
CARVALHO: Good luck.
Calixta turns around. She breaks into a sprint. She glances over her shoulder before she turns a corner.
The hum intensifies.
Carvalho continues coughing. He bleeds profusely. He folds his hands and places them in his lap.
…
//END LOG//
He waits to die.
At some point, the humming fades. He isn't quite sure when it happened. He almost felt annoyance at having to wait for death to come. It feels like it doesn't, though.
"Hello?" he asks, as if he is capable of prompting death.
He hears a pair of footsteps approach.
A man wearing a suit approaches him. The button down suit's uppermost part is undone, revealing a silver chain. He smells of tobacco.
"What do you want? I'm already gone, get out of here. Bomb will get you."
"Thanks for looking out for me. But that ain't necessary. I'm here for you, bud."
The man seats himself down, right next to Carvalho. He pulls out a case of cigarettes and offers one.
Carvalho blinks in confusion, but accepts the cigarette. He doesn't feel the blood draining out of him anymore. He weighs it in his hand. The Stranger snaps his fingers, lighting Carvalho's cigarette, as well as his own.
"You uhh, one of Bumaro's kind? Want something from me?" asks Carvalho after a few seconds of silence.
The Stranger shakes his head, even though Carvalho cannot quite make out the presence of a head. He's not even sure the Stranger is here at all.
"Nah, nothing of the sort. I uhh, noticed you were alone. In your last moments. Hate to see that."
"What, you some sort of angel?"
"Yeah. Think so."
They both take a drag from their cigarettes. Carvalho thinks he furrows his eyebrows.
"I deserved this, didn't I?" asks Carvalho.
"Deserved? What makes you think that?"
"Admit it. If you're an angel, you know my deal. God wanted me dead. That's why he gave me an anomalous affliction. Cursed me."
The Stranger chuckles. He waves his hand dismissively.
"You're not cursed, man."
"Then why did all of this start happening after my colleagues died?"
"Didn't. Just unfortunate."
Carvalho sneers. He seems to ignore his lungs collapsing. He still manages to speak without issue. "Me being tied to the Sun and forced to disappear was unfortunate?"
"I mean, being tied to the Sun? Yeah, unfortunate. Disappearing? Well. Think you could've handled that a bit differently."
"What would you know about that."
"Admittedly, not a lot. But, I see patterns in the folks I meet." The Stranger smiles fondly at the memory of one or two things. "Don't think I blame you though."
"Right, so you think I'm the course of this shit. Just happened to purposefully do this to myself.
The Stranger shakes his head. He gestures with his cigarette. "Nah, wouldn't phrase it like that. You being in the position is unfair. This much, I'm with you. You being linked with the Sun and stuff, also unfair. You having to catch yourself so you do not let your rage make the Sun go poof? Also unfair."
Carvalho scoffs. "Had to catch myself. Right."
"Yeah. Ain't ever fair to be put in a situation out of our control." The Stranger takes a drag of his cigarette. He puffs the smoke, which forms into a series of rings. "Feel you on that. Fully. But, yeah. You could've stopped this. Might even say you should have stopped this. Gotten help."
Carvalho doesn't answer for a while. He looks around the area. He doesn't even hear the bomb. Maybe it isn't even relevant anymore. "I… can't just control being… angry."
"Maybe not control. But, yeah, could be better at it, man. I think I've seen different yous who did. Also ones who didn't."
Carvalho taps his leg with his finger. It's drained of color. "I'm not sure I feel like I had a reason to improve."
"That's hard. Yeah. That's also something you gotta find."
"But— I don't deserve reasons to improve. I don't deserve to improve as a whole. I left my whole squad to die when I should have taken the fall. We drew lots."
The Stranger patiently listens to Carvalho. He nods slowly.
"Right. But the worst thing you could do after walking out of there? Not living. They died so you could live, right? Even if it was supposed to be the other way around. I appreciate you, and I respect your situationβyou still had to take care of yourself, man."
Carvalho falls quiet. He tries to subtly wipe a tear, even if it isn't there.
The Stranger continues. He wraps an arm around Carvalho's shoulders. "Messed up part of life is that it doesn't stop, yeah? Worst day of your life, why, it ends and is followed by another day. Another day you have to take care of yourself. As much as you can."
A flock of birds fly overhead. They leave trails of smoke behind them. Carvalho and the Stranger follow them for a good bit.
"I fucked it up."
The Stranger holds Carvalho tighter.
"So if I just— if I had just…"
Carvalho sniffles. Tears of ill reality runs down his face. They leave behind a streak of ash.
"But— if I knew."
"That's the unfair part, yeah. It feels like if someone sat down to tell you this, you'd have understood so much earlier. Thing is, folks like us? We can be pretty stubborn, yeah?"
Carvalho nods. He tries to speak, but he can't. They spend another moment in quiet. His mouth quivers. He starts hulking. The Stranger doesn't let go. For as long as Carvalho needs, the Stranger simply sits with him. Smoking a cigarette that never seems to go out. For even longer than the Stranger has to.
After staining himself with tears of soot, Carvalho calms down.
"That's— it? I'm done? Can't go back?"
The Stranger nods. "Yeah."
Carvalho nods in turn.
"Wish I didn't feel so… useless, at the end."
"People always think they're useless in the moment, yeah? Always seem to forget the many times they were the necessary difference for stuff to turn out well. Y'ain't useless. Not even close. No-one is. Just gotta learn how to be the best version of themselves."
Carvalho smiles. He blinks away the tears. He watches the world around him, a beautiful shade of white and black and grey, that somehow seemed so much more colorful than anything he had ever seen. He sighs.
The Stranger smiles patiently. "Ain't it a kick."
"Yeah. Sure is. Why the fuck did I have to die in Spain?"
"Always hated this place, man. Home's so much prettier, eh?"
"It'll do. Guess it was a kind of home."
"I'm happy to hear that." The Stranger removes his arm from Carvalho's shoulders. The Stranger slowly pushes himself to a standing position and stretches his arms.
Silence falls for one last time.
"Ready to go?" asks the Stranger with a smile.
"'fore we go, right? Think you can do something for me?"
"They don't really like that I do that, but. What is it?"
Carvalho pulls out a disposable plastic lighter. "Never returned this, feel kind of bad about it."
The Stranger laughs. He extends a hand out, which Carvalho places the lighter into.
Carvalho takes a deep breath. "Yeah. Ready to go now."
He stands up. He leaves his body behind. He doesn't even notice the shadow that consumes him whole. It doesn't matter, he didn't have much use for it anyways.
The Stranger wraps his arm around Carvalho's shoulder again. They leave, swapping a variety of experiences, each story told slowly fading away into nothing, until there was no more.
Carvalho disappears. He will be thanked for his service.
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βCarlos Carvalho
Written by Octavio VΓ‘squez
I'm sorry if anyone finds this and it's not up to format, but I feel like that's a redeemable sin nowadays. Or, well. Nowanights.
The world has become harsher, the surface is nothing but snow and ice. Food is, obviously, a concern. But we're making due. Calixta brought a group of us to that compound that Carvalho cleared for us. Turns out, for as much bad that Bumaro caused, he did indeed get several sites to drill holes into the core of the Earth. Nice and toasty down here.
I'm writing this because there's a lot of things I felt are left unsaid about Carlos. He's grown into a bit of an infamous figure here, DomΓnguez seems to have quite a distaste for him yet, despite how much help that Carlos provided. Anastasia speaks high praises and tells tall tales of him warping her out of danger. It always excites the kids down here, that they one day too could go on famed escapades in a world with a sun. I don't think any of us have the heart to tell them that there probably aren't any suns nearby. But, that's a tangent.
Carlos, I faithfully do not know if you're out there. A part of me wishes you are, still kicking ass and managing to go toe-to-toe with THE FOUNDER of THE BROKEN CHURCH of all people. But, it's mostly because we couldn't find your body in the ruins of 130. Think you might have been too close to the explosion, or you have long since frozen over.
If you haven't though, I really hope you'd come back. I meant to thank you for watching my back at the shootout in front of the director's office. It was kind of intense, I had tried simulations, but the real deal? Never liked that. But you, being near you inspired me. That I knew someone who would speak clearly, in that utterly shouty-but-comprehensive way you did during combat, felt like you could simply tell me what to do to survive. I don't think you did. I hope it's because you trusted me.
I've had to practice firearms a bit more than I'd wanted to. Turns out, we hid A LOT of things down here. We're practically surrounded by fifteen different sources of Akiva radiation, and Dr. Tride thinks it might genetically impact our next generations. Which is also something I'm concerned about. Will these kids grow up to be gods or something? Maybe like, reality bender stuff, but imagine if they actually get enough power to reshape the world? But I digress.
I'm not sure there's much else. As I'm sitting here, writing this with our sole terminal, I get the sense that I'm talking to an idolized version of you. But, if I have to be honest? It's an idol that I really need. I'm not sure if I'll ever become like you, hardened and cool and able to fight so confidently, but my mind does wander to what you would have done. Well, except the anger, quite happy not to have that!
I think I'm going to leave it there. Thanks for what you've done, and if you're still out there, thanks for what you're still giving us! Sending you the best wishes, whether alive or otherwise.
Big hugs,
Octavio :)
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THE END
Thanks for reading.
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Filename: sturgeon.jpg
Author: usepagov
License: Public Domain
Source Link: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:EPA_Federal_Partner_Holding_a_Lake_Sturgeon.jpg
Filename: Tethys.png
Name: Tethys - Rev 15 (37267740632).png
Author: Justin Cowart
License: CC BY 2.0.
Source Link: Wikimedia Commons
.png){kind=link}
Just how do you ensure the eternal existence of the Foundation when everything, even the desire to exist, decays over time?
Filename: Well.png
Name: Well.png
Author:CrimsonCatGuy
License: CC-BY-SA 3.0
Source Link: https://scp-sandbox-3.wdfiles.com/local--files/crimsoncatguy-the-well-of-life/Well.png
Her brand new department was barely off the ground and it was already grinding her into the dirt.
If there exists some means of understanding this timeline and its eligibility for existence within the Database, it has yet to be discovered.
Filename: space gumball.jpeg
Name: Lambda Orionis
Author: Lithopsian
License: CC BY-SA 4.0
Link: https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=64732448
Neutralization has been cancelled. They're beautiful.
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- SCP Series - Tale Edition 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8
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