Chapter 72: Demon Invasion - Part 8

Chapter 72: Demon Invasion - Part 8

Lina stood atop a military jeep, gazing down at her wristwatch. The time read 08:30 AM. She exhaled deeply, fatigue weighing on her, as her eyes swept over the carnival of different uniforms assembled before her—soldiers from various factions preparing for the upcoming battle. Her gaze eventually landed on the Administrator, who was in deep discussion with the leaders of the other organizations. The sight of their unified presence, despite their stark differences, filled her with a sense of unease and anticipation.

Suddenly, the radio crackled to life: "Five minutes until counter-attack." Lina's stomach tightened. She settled back into her seat, letting her thoughts drift to everything that had transpired. Images and moments from the recent events flickered in her mind, but soon her thoughts returned to the strange dream she'd had. Her jaw clenched as she recalled the vividness of the vision, the chilling message from the unknown figure. The dream had shaken her, and she knew she couldn't ignore it any longer.

Resolute, Lina jumped down from the vehicle, landing with purpose. Without hesitation, she marched toward the group of leaders. The guards immediately blocked her path, standing tall and imposing, but before they could speak, the Administrator turned and waved his hand. "Let her through," he said in his calm but commanding voice. The guards stepped aside, and Lina trotted toward the assembled leaders, her nerves fluttering in her chest.

Standing before the five most powerful individuals in the coalition, Lina stiffened to attention, trying her best to keep her composure. Clara, one of the leaders, was the first to address her, curiosity evident in her eyes. "Who is this?" she asked, her tone firm yet intrigued.

The Administrator answered, his voice steady. "This is SCP-8888, not originally from the wiki." 

Clara's eyes flickered with interest as she responded, "I see…" Her gaze lingered on Lina, studying her carefully. There was something about this new figure that piqued her curiosity.

Leonard, sensing Lina's urgency, spoke next. "If you've come to see me, it must be important, correct?"

Lina swallowed hard, her nerves tightening, but she managed a nod. "Yes, sir."

Leonard gave a reassuring smile. "Relax. There's no need to be nervous. No one's going to kill you here, except maybe him," he added, jerking his thumb in DC's direction, who smirked and casually flipped him off.

A few chuckles rippled through the group, but Leonard's expression softened as he turned back to Lina. "Now, SCP-8888, give me your report."

Taking a deep breath, Lina recounted her dream in detail, describing the man who had appeared to her and the ominous warnings he had delivered. Her voice wavered slightly as she described the scene—the castle engulfed in flames, the souls trapped in a River of suffering, the demons warring in the distance. The vividness of it all unsettled her once again, but she pushed through, determined to deliver the message.

When she finished, a thick silence hung over the group. The leaders exchanged uneasy glances. The Administrator was the first to speak, beckoning one of the Resh-1 operatives. "Get a sketch based on her description," he ordered.

The operative swiftly set to work, drawing as Lina described the man she had seen in her dream. Her words poured out, and as she spoke, the image took shape on the paper. When the sketch was complete, the operative turned it around, revealing the finished drawing.

Lina's heart skipped a beat. It was him—the man from her dream.

The leaders all stared at the drawing, their faces grim. They exchanged knowing looks before saying, almost in unison: "SCP-990. The Dream Man."

Clara, confused, frowned. "SCP-990? Who is that?"

The Administrator stepped forward to explain. "SCP-990 is an anomaly that appears in the dreams of Foundation personnel to warn them of future dangers. He has never failed to predict a threat, though his appearances are sporadic."

Clara's expression darkened. "So, according to this SCP, we're all going to die if we enter the portal?"

A heavy silence followed. The weight of the revelation seemed to settle over them like a dark cloud. Everyone stood frozen for a moment, absorbing the gravity of what they had just heard. Finally, DC broke the silence. "Wait, SCP-8888," he said, turning to Lina. "Can you re-describe the environment from your dream?"

Lina nodded and repeated the details—the castle, the flames, the River filled with souls, and the demons battling one another in an endless struggle.

As soon as she finished, DC's eyes lit up with recognition. "I know what this is! This portal… it's not just any portal. It's a high-level summoning spell connecting Earth to what I believe is the 5th Circle of Hell."

He turned to the others, his excitement growing. "Instead of charging in and marching to our deaths, we can use a portable nuclear device. Detonate it at the portal's entrance, and the collision of energies could cause an enormous explosion, collapsing the connection between the two realms! Midnight—damn it—this plan might actually work!"

Midnight, standing off to the side, raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "I'm surprised," she said dryly.

DC grinned smugly. "Surprised at my genius? I get that a lot."

Midnight's lips curled into a smirk. "No, surprised that you have a brain and actually know how to use it."

Without missing a beat, DC shot her a middle finger, prompting an amused snort from Leonard.

But Clara, more focused on the practicalities, frowned. "There's one problem with that plan," she said. "As you all know, a nuclear bomb would cause massive and immediate damage. The time it would take to evacuate all of our troops would be at least ten minutes. By then, the demons would either send the bomb back to us or move it away from the portal, which presents a huge risk of failure."

Leonard, stroking his chin thoughtfully, nodded. "True. But what if we left a team of thirty of our best fighters? They could enter the portal and hold the position long enough to ensure the bomb stays in place. Then, they could cast an apportation spell ten to twenty seconds before the explosion, ensuring they escape in time."

The other leaders exchanged glances, weighing the options. Finally, they agreed—the plan was doable. Without further delay, they turned to organize the 30-member team that would stay behind during the retreat. Among those chosen were Lina, Cain, Black Eagle, the Administrator, the commander of Alpha-6, and another Thaumaturgist—six Foundation members who would form part of the final line of defense.

As the teams prepared, Lina instinctively moved toward one of the regular jeeps, but a Resh-1 operator quickly stopped her, motioning toward a specific jeep where the Administrator and the other selected members of the Foundation were already gathered. Hesitant but obedient, she joined them, seating herself while the Administrator took his place beside the driver.

Final checks were made, and then the Administrator rose, grabbing his radio. His voice rang out, cutting through the tension of the moment: "For humanity, move out!" Instantly, the convoy of vehicles roared to life, engines vibrating with purpose. Lina felt a surge of adrenaline as they sped forward, rolling across the war-torn landscape of rural France.

The scene outside was both beautiful and harrowing—a once peaceful countryside now scarred by the devastation of battle. Lina watched as the distant hills bore the marks of combat, while the occasional crack of gunfire echoed in the air. The humans' progress through the battlefield was almost too easy; each skirmish they encountered ended swiftly, the demons torn apart without a single human casualty.

At one point, a towering mech lumbered beside their jeep. The cockpit opened mid-stride, and DC leaped out, landing effortlessly in the back of their vehicle. His mech continued to march autonomously.

"Hey man," DC said casually to the Administrator, "I'm just going to call you TA because I'm too lazy to say Administrator every time. Listen, can you save me a few demons? I need them for my research into narcodemonics."

Lina's eyes widened at the mention of the term, her unease deepening. The Administrator raised an eyebrow. "Narcodemonics? You're trying to create drugs?"

DC leaned back, grinning. "Sort of. The idea is to engineer a force of genetically enhanced humans."

The Administrator's face darkened slightly. "Let me guess, the goal is to kill anomalies even more effectively?"

DC laughed. "You know me so well," he said, his eyes glinting with a twisted kind of humor.

Lina couldn't suppress the shiver that ran down her spine. The words DC was saying—casual as they were—stirred something deep within her, a profound sense of dread. Sensing her fear, DC glanced at her and chuckled. "Why is it that every time I show up, she looks like she's going to piss herself?"

The Administrator didn't flinch. "Because she's an anomaly, and your job is to kill all anomalies."

DC smirked. "True, but I've adopted a policy of inclusion lately. Non-hostile anomalies, or those not dangerous to humanity, won't be killed by us. So she doesn't need to be afraid of me."

The Administrator's expression remained unchanged. "There's another reason," he said flatly.

DC raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh? What reason is that?"

The Administrator's eyes shifted toward Lina. "She bears the Seal of Ion."

At those words, DC's entire demeanor changed. Without hesitation, he drew his weapon, his face now deadly serious. In a flash, the gun was pointed directly at Lina's head.

The sudden shift threw everyone into action. The other members of the jeep immediately raised their weapons, aiming them at DC. The tension in the vehicle skyrocketed. Lina was frozen in place, terror coursing through her veins, unable to speak, unable to move.

DC's voice was cold. "Her existence is too dangerous. She has to die."

The Administrator, still calm, spoke. "No. She isn't dangerous. We control her, and she's an excellent agent for the Foundation."

DC's eyes narrowed. "That's a hell of a risk you're taking, TA."

The Administrator's gaze didn't waver. "No risk, no reward."

For a long moment, it seemed as though DC might pull the trigger, his hand hovering just slightly over the threshold. But then, with a heavy sigh, he lowered the gun. "I hope you know what you're doing. If she ever becomes a threat, you can bet I'll be the one to take her down."

The Administrator nodded. "I'll remember."

Without another word, DC leaped back into the cockpit of his mech, sealing it shut before the massive machine strode ahead of the convoy, its footsteps rumbling like thunder.

They arrived at the village of La Guintre, where a large armed force awaited them. As they disembarked from the vehicles, the Administrator addressed the group, his voice steady. "Alright. From here, we proceed on foot. Our target is 40 minutes northwest. Due to the portal, the Humes Index here is chaotic, so vehicles are out of the question. I don't wanna get blown up before we even start."

Every squad designated for the portal assault had gathered, ready for the upcoming battle. DC, never one to waste time, stepped down from his mech and positioned himself in front of the soldiers. "Alright, folks, no need for a big speech. We shoot anything that looks like a demon and deliver a special package to those demon bastards. Beer's on me for all survivors when we're done."

The promise of beer, though humorous, drew enthusiastic cheers from the men. They pumped their fists in the air, their voices booming in unison, feeding off the adrenaline. The women in the group, however, reacted differently—some sighed, rubbing the bridge of their noses or shaking their heads in silent exasperation.

Midnight clapped her hands, bringing the focus back to the mission. "Alright, let's get serious. We've got demons to kill." With that, the squads began gathering for final equipment checks, making sure everyone was battle-ready.

As the soldiers busied themselves, Lina found herself lost in thought, reflecting on the magnitude of what lay ahead. The Administrator, noticing her distraction, approached her and let out a weary sigh, startling her from her thoughts. He pulled out a bottle of water, tilting it just enough to expose his mouth beneath the mask, and took a long drink before resealing the bottle. Adjusting his mask back into place, he spoke, his voice softened but resolute.

"If we make it back alive, I'll allow you to see your family again. Maybe even talk to them. Let them know you're still out there."

The weight of his words hit Lina like a tidal wave. The thought of reconnecting with her family, of finally being able to let them know she was still alive, rendered her momentarily speechless. But then the images of her loved ones filled her mind—faces she hadn't seen in so long—and she clenched her teeth, her expression hardening into one of fierce determination.

The Administrator, noticing her shift in demeanor, nodded approvingly. "That's better," he said before standing and taking his position with the rest of the team, ready for what was to come.

---

Extra Note: Humes Index is the official unit (of SCP Universe) used to measure the density of "reality".  It's a very long and complex subject, so I'll just translate it into an example. Imagine the universe as a vast desert. Some areas have more sand per square meter than others. Well, Humes work similarly. When an area is unstable, it's like a "desert storm" that shifts, removes, and deposits sand. You can find information on SCP wiki or wait for new chapters where I will explain it.