Chapter 109

Chapter 109:

The night settled over Roseen as more and more torches were lit. Léonard waited patiently in his room as, one by one, the Resh-1 operatives sent out on missions returned, slipping through the window. Léonard sighed and turned toward Alexei, who was climbing in through the same window.

"Are you seriously obligated to use the window to get in or out of my room? There's literally a door," he said, pointing at the wooden door behind him.

Alexei turned to him and smiled. "Sorry, boss, but we can't afford to be seen walking past everyone downstairs."

Léonard sighed. "Fair point. Anyway, let's wait for the others."

Half an hour passed before all the operatives had returned to the room. They scattered notes and maps across the floor and gathered around them. Léonard looked at the group and said, "One by one, from left to right, give me your reports. Alexei, you start."

Alexei nodded. "I managed to get a map of the city and make several observations based on it." He pointed to the map. "We're currently in the northwestern district of the city, in an area frequented by travelers and locals alike. About 300 meters north of our temporary base of operations is the city guard's northern barracks. They function as both a police force and a militia serving their lord.

"Speaking of their lord, his name is Duke Gryamor II of the Roseen family. He governs the city and all the lands in the Duchy of Roseen. He resides in his private estate in the northeastern part of the city, which also serves as a sort of 'town hall' and administrative center for his domain.

"He also has a private elite force called the Order of the Scarlet Roses. They act as his guards and personal agents. Now, about the Duchy of Roseen, the name comes from the fields of roses that surround the city.

"The Duchy of Roseen is one of the eight main territories of the kingdom: the royal domain and its seven duchies. I'll present the details of each later, but let's stay focused on Roseen for now. Roseen is predominantly an agricultural region, divided into counties, marquisates, fiefs, and baronies.

"The structure is almost identical to the medieval kingdoms of our universe, and society here is divided into three main classes: serfs, the clergy, and the nobles."

Alexei finished his explanation and passed the floor to another operative. Each member of the team reported their findings: updates on the city's situation, the state of its defenses, and other relevant details.

Finally, it came down to the last three operatives. Léonard grinned and exclaimed, "Alright, my money printer, how did things-" He suddenly froze, his expression shifting to concern. "Oh, hell, you look like a zombie. Are you sure you're okay?"

The operative stood there, his eyes vacant, his limbs trembling under the weight of his own body. Still, he managed a weak smile. "Creating that many coins drained me a bit, but I can manage, boss. I made a total of 1,785 bronze coins," he said, pointing to a neatly stacked pile of coins nearby.

Léonard frowned and said firmly, "Go lie down. You're not in any shape to continue."

The operative saluted weakly, "At your orders, boss," before his legs gave out entirely. He collapsed, but his teammates quickly caught him and lowered him gently to the ground.

Léonard pointed toward one of the beds. "Get him on a bed now," he ordered.

As the others carried the unconscious operative to rest, Alexei leaned closer to Léonard and whispered, "Boss, using his abilities for such a massive quantity and at this level of precision completely drained his energy. Please, I'd ask that you don't punish him too harshly."

Léonard replied calmly, "I wasn't planning on punishing him." He glanced over at the bed, watching as the operative's teammates ensured he was comfortable. "Let him rest. He did well."

Léonard turned toward the two remaining operatives. "And you two, what did you find?"

One of them stepped forward and reported, "Boss, we were able to confirm the information that woman gave us last time. Everything checks out."

Léonard sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I suppose it's time to think about the next steps. Alexei, any ideas?"

Alexei shrugged casually. "Maybe we could-" He suddenly froze, cutting himself off mid-sentence. All the operatives in the room immediately turned their attention toward the door, their movements swift and coordinated.

Weapons were raised in unison, pointed at the entrance. Alexei whispered, "Someone's behind the door."

Without hesitation, two operatives moved to form a protective barrier in front of Léonard, their expressions tense and focused.

A heavy silence settled over the room, broken only by the faint sound of something brushing against the floor. Then, with a soft thud, a letter was slid under the door.

The team remained frozen, eyes fixed on the doorway, weapons trained. After several seconds of stillness, Alexei commented, "They're gone."

The operatives maintained their defensive formation, ensuring Léonard was fully shielded. Several of them activated defensive spells, shimmering protective barriers appearing in the air like faint, glowing ripples.

Two operatives slowly advanced toward the letter, cautious and deliberate in their approach. The tension in the room was palpable, every sound amplified by their heightened alertness.

The operatives who had retrieved the letter immediately cast several counter-surveillance and trap-detection spells, their focus unyielding. Once they confirmed no curses or hidden dangers were present, they carefully opened the letter and scanned its contents.

One of them finally commented, "It's safe. No memetic agents, Cognitohazard, or curses detected."

The team gradually lowered their guard, easing the tension that had gripped the room. The operator holding the letter began to read aloud:

"We know your story."

Alexei muttered under his breath, "Fuck. We've been exposed?"

The operator continued:

"Two souls abandoned by the kingdom, merely seeking a better life. But by staying passive, you will never succeed. The kingdom sees us only as tools, slaves meant to serve and die. The church indoctrinates and brainwashes us to obey them without question. But what if I told you that you could turn the tide? Join us. Join the resistance of the Délisist Movement. Together, we can fight this oppression. Meet us tomorrow night, when the three bells of the church chime. Burn half a candle and come to the Laughing Boar tavern. Approach the bar and say: 'I'd like two glasses of Saint-Paul Jacks.' More instructions will follow there."

The operator folded the letter and added, "That's the end of it."

A heavy silence fell over the room. Every gaze turned toward Léonard, who was deep in thought, his fingers lightly tapping the table.

Alexei opened his mouth to speak, but Léonard cut him off, his voice calm but resolute. "I know what you're going to say. It's too dangerous. It's obviously a trap. But it's also an opportunity, a chance to gain allies. No risk, no reward. I say we take the gamble."

He paused, meeting the operatives' eyes. "Besides, we still have our cover. They don't know you, and they think we're just two desperate wanderers. That gives us an edge."

The room remained quiet as the operatives exchanged glances, waiting for further orders.

Léonard smiled warmly at Alexei, watching as his lieutenant pondered the situation. After a moment, Alexei spoke with a measured tone, "Normally, I'd never agree to expose you like this, boss. You're the absolute priority among all Class-A personnel. But extraordinary situations demand extraordinary choices. Wherever you go, I'll follow."

He then turned to the rest of the operatives, asking, "What about you guys? What do you think?"

The operatives exchanged glances for barely half a second before one of them answered firmly, "We'll follow the boss anywhere, through life or death. Just give the order, and we'll carry it out without fail!"

Léonard couldn't help but smile at their dedication. He sighed, his voice tinged with gratitude. "You guys are… something else. Damn it, I love you all. Listen, I promise, the moment we're out of this dimension and back home, I'm buying everyone a round of drinks."

The operatives grinned but remained silent, careful not to attract any unwanted attention.

"Alright, it's decided," Léonard said with resolve. "Tomorrow, we go. Alexei, use the money we've got to book us two rooms, one for three people, the other for four. Make sure everyone gets some rest tonight. And don't forget to document all the information we've gathered so far. We'll regroup tomorrow morning for a briefing."

Alexei nodded, saluting briefly before heading out to secure the accommodations.

Meanwhile, Léonard descended the stairs, accompanied by one of the operatives, and went to the bar to eat. The other operatives diligently followed their orders, organizing their notes and securing the room.

The night passed in silence, the only sound being the faint rustling of wind through the streets and the occasional murmur from the inn's other patrons. Outside, the world remained shrouded in darkness, the faint glimmer of torchlight flickering in the distance.

---

Lina walked out of her tent, her bloodshot eyes revealing she hadn't managed to get any sleep since they returned from the raid last night. She noticed Onru staring at the sky, talking with another Tau-5 operator. Both of them had a mechanical tone to their voices as they gazed upward.

"Hey, Nanku, how is it possible to have a day-night cycle without a moon or a sun?" Onru asked.

Nanku shrugged. "Don't ask me. Even the white coats are still trying to figure that out."

Lina greeted them, "Good morning."

Both of them turned to her, and Nanku replied, "Good morning, SCP-8888."

Lina pouted. "You know, you can just call me Lina."

Nanku shrugged again. "As you wish, SCP-88- Lina, I mean."

Rolling her eyes, Lina suddenly heard her radio buzz to life.

"This is Black Eagle to First Squad. Briefing in 30 minutes at the briefing tent."

A string of confirmation responses came from the squad members, and Lina replied as well, "Understood."

She then asked, "Do you know where the cafeteria is?"

Onru pointed in a direction and answered, "Go straight to that tent over there. The cafeteria is right behind it."

"Thanks," Lina replied before heading off to the cafeteria. She ate her breakfast quickly and then wandered briefly around the camp. She passed by the portal and noticed it had grown eight times larger than the day before.

Eventually, she made her way to a massive tent. As she entered, she saw over a hundred operators inside. Bear, one of her teammates, noticed her and waved her over to the front row. She joined them, finding that the whole team was there except for Black Eagle.

Bear asked, "Not too tired?"

She responded sarcastically, "Oh, I've never slept better in my life. Slicing humans in half with my cannibal tentacles in the middle of the night in another dimension is just the dream."

Bear, catching the sarcasm, chuckled. "Haha, welcome to the Foundation, where the abnormal becomes normal."

Mendoza, sitting next to Bear, leaned over and added, "Wait, but haven't you killed people like that before?"

Lina replied, "Yes, but they were demons or Sarkics. To me, Sarkics weren't human anymore, and I had no remorse killing them. Plus, it was for revenge. But this time… I saw the terror in his eyes, looking at me like I was a monster. Colonel, am I really becoming a monster?"

Mendoza rubbed his chin. "That's a tough question to answer."

Then, a voice interjected. "Perhaps I could provide an answer to your question."

The three turned toward the voice and saw Odongo Tejani, the Chairman of the Ethics Committee, accompanied by four operators from Omega-1. The three immediately stood and saluted. "Sir."

Odongo smiled warmly and said, "At ease."

He gestured to the seat next to Lina. "May I?"

Lina nodded. "Of course."

Odongo took the seat and turned his attention to her. "Have you ever heard of the Ship of Theseus paradox?"

Lina shook her head. "No."

Odongo began, "The legend of the Ship of Theseus is mentioned by Plutarch. Theseus, after leaving Athens to defeat the Minotaur, returned victorious, and the Athenians preserved his ship. Over the years, they replaced the worn planks one by one until, centuries later, none of the original parts remained. And so, a question arose: if every part of an object is replaced, is it still the same object?"

He paused for a moment to let the question sink in before continuing.

"This paradox can also be applied to us as people: are we still the same if our physical bodies change? What about when our personalities change? These questions have remained unanswered for centuries. Philosophers could never agree, some said yes, others no."

Odongo then leaned forward slightly, his tone thoughtful. "And what about you, Lina? What do you think?"

Lina took a moment to think, clearly troubled by the question. Finally, she responded, her tone more confident than before:

"I think the question needs to be approached from two complementary perspectives: physical and psychological."

Odongo nodded, encouraging her to continue. "I'm listening."

Lina went on, carefully choosing her words: "Physically, the ship is no longer the same. If every piece has been replaced, then materially, it's a completely different object. None of its original parts remain, so you could say it has lost its physical identity."

She paused briefly before continuing: "But psychologically, or symbolically, it's still the same ship. Its purpose, its role, and the way it's perceived haven't changed. People still see it as Theseus's ship because its identity isn't just tied to its materials but also to its history and meaning."

Odongo smiled, intrigued. "That's an interesting distinction. So, applying your logic to yourself, who are you? A monster, or Lina?"

Lina thought deeply before replying: "Physically, there's no denying it, I've become something monstrous. My body isn't human anymore, no matter how much I might wish otherwise. But psychologically… I'm still Lina. My memories, my thoughts, and my sense of self are intact."

Odongo leaned forward slightly. "So, who are you?"

Lina smiled faintly but with growing confidence. "I'm Lina, an Omega-7 operator and a proud member of the Foundation!"

Odongo stood, smiling. "Well said, Lina."

As he walked away with his escort, Lina called after him, "But how did you know my name?"

Odongo turned back with a warm smile. "I know the name of every agent involved in this operation, except those from Resh-1 and Alpha-1obviously."

With that, he moved off to speak with other operators. Lina let out a deep sigh. "I thought most of the Ethics Committee were heartless bureaucrats, but I guess I was wrong."

From the same row, Viper leaned toward her and whispered, "Are you kidding? That's Chairman Tejani, one of the kindest and most respected people in the Foundation. Even if we hate the Committee, hating him is impossible."

Mendoza and Bear nodded in agreement. "Completely on point," Bear said.

Suddenly, a voice shouted, "Overseers entering!"

Everyone in the room immediately stood up, turned toward the entrance, and saluted. Marshal entered the tent, accompanied by O5-1, O5-10, and a team of Resh-1 and Alpha-1 operatives. Marshal walked confidently to the front, adjusted the microphone, tapped it lightly, and began to speak:

"Good morning, everyone. At ease."

The operators sat back down, their eyes fixed on the commander.

"Forgive me for being blunt, but I will get straight to the point with this briefing," Marshal announced. "Last night, we managed to establish a landing strip and deployed reconnaissance drones across the region. Finally, we found a lead."

He gestured to the screen behind him, where an image of a crashed airplane appeared, located in the middle of a gothic-style city. The aircraft was completely wrecked and surrounded by what appeared to be knights and mages.

The room filled with murmurs as operators exchanged glances, processing the implications of the photo. Marshal continued, his tone steady: "As some of you have likely guessed, let me confirm your suspicions. Yes, this is the plane used by the Administrator."

This revelation sparked a wave of hushed conversations throughout the tent, the tension thick in the air.

The image changed to a rough map of the city. Marshal pointed to various sections as he continued: "Tonight, we will launch an infiltration operation into this city. The primary objective is to secure the wreckage of the aircraft and search for any leads on the Administrator's whereabouts. Here is how the operation will be organized:

The First Group, consisting of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd squads, will parachute north of the crash site. The 4th squad will be dropped an hour earlier to secure the landing zone for the main force.

The Second Group, made up of the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th squads, will be parachuted across the city to cover the First Group and create diversions if necessary.

Finally, the Third Group, formed by the 9th and 10th squads, will secure the northern gate to establish an extraction route.

Once the objective is achieved, all units will regroup at the city's northern gate for helicopter evacuation back to base. You will have aerial support from armed drones, equipped with missiles. Each squad leader will be issued a laser designator to call in airstrikes when needed."

Marshal's voice grew more serious as he added, "Prepare thoroughly for this mission. You will be parachuting directly into enemy territory. The success of this operation depends on precision and discipline. Mission details will be provided by your squad leaders. That is all. Briefing over. Dismissed."

Marshal left the tent quickly, followed closely by O5-1, O5-10, and their escorts.

Black Eagle approached his squad, his voice calm but firm: "You have free time until 8 PM. Your watches are already synchronized with this dimension's time. Rest well, eat enough, and gather your strength. We regroup at 8 PM in the armory. Dismissed."

Lina stood up and exited the tent, taking a deep breath of fresh air and stretching her arms. Her thoughts wandered to the mission and the missing Administrator. She sighed heavily, the weight of uncertainty pressing on her.

Suddenly, a firm voice called out: "SCP-8888, follow us, please."

Startled, Lina turned around and saw two Alpha-1 operatives standing behind her. Her body tensed immediately. "Yes, sir," she replied, her voice steady despite her apprehension.

The two operatives turned without another word and began walking through the camp. Lina followed closely, her unease growing with every step. They entered the administrative section of the camp, a restricted area that Lina had previously tried to access but had been blocked from entering.

Passing through a heavily-guarded checkpoint, she noticed Alpha-1 and Omega-1 operatives scanning everyone who entered. The air felt heavier here, the atmosphere charged with authority and secrecy. Lina couldn't help but feel like she was being scrutinized with every step.

The group approached a large tent, its entrance guarded by several operators. One of the guards stepped forward, holding up a hand to halt them. The two Alpha-1 operatives stepped aside, clearing the way for Lina.

The guard scanned Lina silently with a handheld device, the small beep of the scanner echoing in the tense quiet. Finally, the guard gave a curt nod to the Alpha-1 operatives, who left without saying another word.

A moment later, another Alpha-1 operative emerged from the tent. This one stood out from the rest, bearing the designation O5-7 just below the Alpha-1 insignia on his armband.

He looked Lina up and down, his gaze sharp and analytical, but he remained silent. After a brief pause, he stepped aside, gesturing subtly for her to enter the tent without uttering a word.

Lina entered the tent, her eyes immediately drawn to the interior. It was nothing like she expected, a high-tech laboratory filled with advanced equipment, glowing screens, and intricate machinery. At the center of the room stood a sleek workstation, where a woman in a lab coat was bent over a microscope.

The woman had a fine, delicate face framed by a ponytail, with a striking green streak running through her otherwise dark hair. She appeared entirely absorbed in her work, muttering incoherent phrases under her breath as she meticulously adjusted the microscope's settings.

The Alpha-1 operative cleared his throat. "Ahem. Ma'am, SCP-8888 is here."

The woman froze for a moment, then slowly turned her attention toward Lina. A warm smile crossed her face as she spoke, her tone calm yet commanding. "Ah, good morning, SCP-8888."

Lina stiffened instinctively, offering a polite salute. "Good morning, ma'am."

The woman pushed back from the microscope and approached Lina, extending a hand toward her. "I'm O5-7. A pleasure to meet you."

Lina hesitated, her body growing tense at the realization of who she was addressing.

O5-7 noticed and chuckled softly, her smile never fading. "Normally, I'm not supposed to show my face. But, honestly? Who cares." She waved a hand dismissively. "No need to be so tense, I don't bite."

The casual tone eased some of the tension in Lina's shoulders. She nodded slightly, trying to relax.

O5-7 gestured toward a nearby table with two chairs. "Come, sit down."

Lina followed the instruction, sitting carefully as O5-7 took the seat opposite her. The woman clasped her hands together on the table and leaned slightly forward, her sharp eyes studying Lina with a mix of curiosity and professionalism.

"So," O5-7 began, her voice calm yet probing, "do you know why I've called you here?"

Lina shook her head in response, signaling she didn't know. O5-7 smiled faintly and leaned back in her chair. "Because I want you," she said matter-of-factly.

Lina's brow furrowed in confusion, her expression a mix of suspicion and curiosity.

O5-7 let out a soft chuckle, her tone light and teasing. "You're making a very amusing face right now." She waved her hand dismissively, as if to brush away the tension. "But let's get to the point. I'm an expert in anomalous weaponry and combat development, and I've decided to take you under my wing. I want to help you enhance your combat capabilities."

O5-7 leaned back slightly, her confident smile unwavering as she continued, "Normally, I wouldn't have even called you in. I'd have just issued the order, plain and simple. But you're under the jurisdiction of the Administrator's Office. That means I can't force you without risking my boss breathing down my neck. So instead, I'm asking you, would you be willing to come under my wing? If you accept, I'll submit your request to TA for approval."

Lina's expression remained unreadable, but inside her thoughts were a whirlwind.

She weighed the possibilities carefully.

If she accepted, she could gain something invaluable: mastery over her powers. She had already witnessed firsthand how dangerous her abilities could be when left unchecked. Training under someone as skilled as O5-7 could mean better control, sharper instincts, and a much-needed edge on the battlefield. With O5-7 and Lucretia, she could reach a new level."

But there was a darker side to this proposal. Accepting could strip away the last remnants of her autonomy, turning her into nothing more than a finely tuned weapon in the Foundation's arsenal. Did she really want to become a tool, losing herself in the process? And O5-7's intentions, though stated clearly, weren't necessarily trustworthy. Could this "mentorship" really be about helping her, or was it purely to exploit her potential?

Lina finally broke her silence, her voice steady, though a trace of doubt lingered. "So… what you're really saying is that you want to turn me into a weapon, right?"

O5-7's smile widened, her sharp green eyes gleaming with unshakable resolve. She leaned forward slightly, her tone unwavering as she answered, "Yes. Exactly."

Lina was taken aback by the bluntness of O5-7's answer, her resolve wavering as her emotions threatened to overwhelm her. She looked down, her voice trembling as she spoke, "I'm sorry… but I can't accept. I don't want to become anyone's weapon."

O5-7 sighed deeply, her expression a mix of disappointment and resignation. "I figured you'd say that. But it was worth a shot." She paused for a moment before glancing back at Lina. "Do you have a phone?"

Lina hesitated, then nodded. "Yes, the standard-issue one for all Foundation members."

"Perfect," O5-7 said with a faint smile. "Hand it over."

Without thinking too much about it, Lina reached into her pocket and retrieved her phone, handing it over cautiously. O5-7 tapped on the screen a few times, her fingers moving with practiced precision, before handing it back to Lina.

"I've added myself to your contacts," O5-7 explained, her voice calm and measured. "If you ever change your mind, call me." She turned to the Alpha-1 operator standing by the entrance and gestured with her head. "Escort her back to the checkpoint."

The operator saluted silently and motioned for Lina to follow him. Lina gave O5-7 one last glance, unsure how to feel about the strange encounter, and trailed after the operator.

They walked through the administrative sector in silence, the checkpoint looming ahead. As they reached it, the operator stopped, nodding curtly to Lina before turning back toward the high-security zone and disappearing from view.

Standing there alone, Lina let out a deep sigh, her shoulders slumping as the tension she hadn't realized she was holding began to dissipate. She clutched her phone tightly, staring at it for a moment, her thoughts a storm of confusion and doubt.

"Why me…?" she thought to herself, feeling a pang of despair. "Why does it always have to be me…?"