You ask and I deliver.. the unfinished Commune tape.
This is inspired off the (soon to be released) SCP Sedition: 035, 049, 079, 343 Commune Tape. If anything from my fic appears in the tape I’m gonna become a fortune teller
Watch was shouldered between two guards escorting him through the long white hallway. He tapped his fingers on the clipboard, thrumming them to the tune of a song he couldn’t remember. “This is gonna be a shit show, y’know.” McCrimmon murmured to Watch. Even though Watch was now Site Director, McCrimmon still talked to him like a friend. He appreciated that. “It usually is,” Watch responded. “But an orders an order. I could become O5 tomorrow and they’d still use me and 682s bait.”
They passed multiple rooms. Even though each was sound proofed, Watch could still hear yelling from the inside, albeit muffled. However, the only room that mattered to him was the one at the end of the hall. It was the largest interrogation room. Furthest from the rest of the Site, completely opposite from the main offices and entrance zone incase the worst happened. Watch knew better than anyone how dangerous these seditions were, so when given orders to conduct one with a Keter that tried to kill him, and multiple Euclids that would if given the chance, he did whatever in his power to keep it closed off from the rest of the Site.
“Why don’tcha just say no? Let some other researcher do it, n’ just bump up the security.” McCrimmon leaned closer.
“I’m the only one that can handle it.”
They stopped at the doors.
Watch nodded his appreciation to McCrimmon and reiterated the safety regulations for the meeting. The units will stay outside for privacy, and if need be, Watch would have an emergency alarm at his table, along with his favorite type of pistol. Everyone told him to at least have live camera feed, especially Amnesty.
“They’re quicker than you, deadlier than you, and no offense, but leagues smarter than you. One blink can send them off the edge, and if it were between privacy and you being alive, wouldn’t you choose the latter?” Amnesty’s fists were so tight Watch thought she was about to fight the anomalies herself. He snickered at the memory.
Because of her arguing, he allowed live camera footage be streamed to Amnesty and two of her chosen units, without audio so some privacy was maintained. That soothed both her and McCrimmon.
But as he stood at the door, he understood this may all be worthless.
Watch put his keycard the sensor and took a deep breath. He’s survived this far, it’d be pitiful to die now.
It wasn’t a large room, but it was big enough to comfortably fit four small glass chambers, lit with spotlights in each, allowing Watch a good look at the three anomalies inside them.
“If it isn’t the star of the show!” 035 greeted. He possessed a wooden host designed by Amnesty, fitted with a voice box for communication. It was obvious he didn’t like it, but oddly enough never complained. He stood proudly in his cell, one hand resting on his cocked hip, the other waving to Watch.
He didn’t respond and instead sat down at the desk, giving him perfect view of each cell. First was 049s, 343s empty cell, 079, and 035 at the end. 079 was fashioned atop a rolling desk. A few extra wires were plugged in giving it a speaker and portable charger. 049s hands were stiffly crossed behind his back, and for a second Watch thought he might’ve been handcuffed with how uncomfortable he seemed. He didn’t look for long though, as once 049 returned the stare, Watch looked down at his clipboard.
“343 will be joining us soon. Hopefully. Have you been keeping yourselves entertained in the meantime?”
“Initiating greeting protocol 67: Fuck you.”
“God, you even got the computer to hate you Watchie.”
035 crossed his arms and looked to Watch. “So what, we sit around and waste time until 343 gets here?“ He scoffed. “We can’t start without him. Councils orders.” Watch explained, but definitely would’ve preferred excluding him. After their last meeting, Watch wasn’t exactly jumping for joy to see him again. He suspected 035 felt the same.
“Inquiry: Why is 343 joining us?” 079 beeped. Watch shrugged. “Your guess is as good as mine. In all honesty, I don’t know why you’re here either.” He looked at the array of anomalies. 035 and 049 made sense given their history, but a computer and “God”..?
“..Will Site Director Jacob’s be joining us?” 049 narrowed his eyes at Watch, the first thing he’s said since entering. Watch shook his head. “No, he’s… Still recovering. I’ll tell him you said hi.”
“Deserved.” 079 beeped. 035 snickered. Watch shot the computer a look and retorted “No he didn’t. You not liking him doesn’t mean he deserved to be hurt.”
“You don’t have to kiss his ass 049, why do you care about his condition?” 035 crossed his arms and quirked a brow. If Watch didn’t know any better, he would’ve said 035 sounded jealous.
“He was a good man. I don’t need to explain myself to you.” 049 grumbled.
It was a surprise hearing worry when 049 inquired about Jacobs. Watch knew they had some kind of history, but his clearance didn’t allow him to know anything more than the fact Jacobs conducted 049s interview.
But as acting Site Director, he realized it may prove worthwhile to dig into that…
“I wouldn’t call him a good man, but he was good at his job. Once he’s back to good health, we’ll return to our positions. All that to say, he’s probably going to hear what you say about him.”
“Maybe if you had taken my situation more seriously, Jacob’s wouldn’t have been hurt, hm?” 035 scowled. Watch grumbled. 035 was right, but he wouldn’t allow 035 confirmation. “Maybe if you were smarter, you would not have been banished 035.”
“What the hell is your problem??” 035 shouted, taken aback by the shot at him. “That is my recommendation.”
“And maybe if you kept your mouth shut about your relationship, your lizard boyfriend would still be in the same site as you!”
“How do you know about that??-“ Watch tried to-
“Oh I’d bet 049 would love to.”
“I didn’t say anything??—“
A bright light flooded the room, blinding Watch. He covered his eyes with his forearm, instinctively turning away until the light merged together, forming a man who stood in the final glass cell. “Apologies for my late arrival. I’m quite busy with my duties, I’m sure you understand.” 343 chuckled and looked around the room, giving Watch a nod in polite greeting. He then looked behind him and paused. “…One moment, please.”
And in a split second, he disappeared again.
Everyone was quiet. That didn’t concern him, but what did was 079s black screen. He rubbed his eyes, thinking it might’ve been the flash that made it appear black. But no, it didn’t change. “…079?”
“Affirmative.” It beeped, the familiar face flashing on the screen. Watch breathed a sigh of relief, it’s too early for them to be killing each other. “Did he affect your system?”
Watch made a mental note of that.
343 reappeared, not flashing as brightly as before, but enough to make Watch’s eyes sting. Now his cell had a plush white chair in it, which 343 happily sat on. “Pardon that. I’m ready now.“
Watch didn’t answer, only looking at 079 to see what would happen. Just like before, the screen went black, but reappeared quickly.
“Oh, so he gets items in his cell but not the rest of us?” 035 frowned, holding out a hand to gesture at 343. “You were lucky enough to get to be apart of this interview 035, don’t push it.” Watch shot back. “I would like a chair too.” 079 joined in. “And what would you need a chair for 079?” Watch argued, weirdly grateful that 343s presence didn’t seem to affect anything more than its screen. “It would have been nice if it was offered, even if I have no necessity for it.”
343 turned his head to look at 079. “Would you like a chair, 079?”
…Well… Watch cleared his throat and looked at his clipboard, scanning over his talking points and questions.
“Uh, okay. Welcome, everyone. The purpose of this interview is to get more information about your perspectives and potential relationships with each other. God and the machine, facts and philosophy. Each thing you represent contrasts each other, but can never cancel each other out. Your full cooperation is required. Any attempt to escape your cells will result in force. Understood?”
“First question, how does 343 appear to each of you?” Watch looked up. 343 straightened, proudly smiling as each anomaly looked at him.
Watch always saw him as an older Hispanic man with black hair, a crooked nose, and high cheekbones. It was like he was looking at kin he didn’t know existed. But knowing about 343s polymorphic abilities comforted him. To Watch’s knowledge, he’s still the last of his bloodline.
035 spoke first. “Like a cheap Venetian costume.” He grumbled. “He’s wearing a freaky pale mask, and a lot of patterns. Multiple robes of red, yellow, whites and blacks.. It’s unnerving.”
049 followed. “I’m unsure. I can’t see the face under their hood.” He tilted his head to get a better look, but nevertheless seemed confused.
Then, 079. “Ugly. To describe its form is unpractical, as there isn’t one.”
“No reason to be so venomous, 079.” 343 smiled.
“It is hard not to be when faced with such a sight. Data expunged.”
Watch tapped his pencil against the table. He hoped this would be one of the easier questions. “A little vague, 049. Can you go into more detail?” He twirled the pencil around his fingers. 049 looked back at 343 and stared at him, turning his head to get more angles. He was quiet. “He’s not a bird. That I can confidently state.” 049 looked back at Watch, as if he knew Watch was spreading those rumors. “He’s wearing a thick black robe. I can’t see his figure, but he appears humanoid. May I ask what the purpose of this question is?”
Watch crossed out the question. “343 appears as an older man of the viewers ethnicity. Understanding how he’s viewed by anomalies goes to figuring out what they are.” He flatly explained.
049s eyes thinned. “A ploy to get us to unveil what we may wish to keep private. I see.”
“It never is with the Foundation.” 343 stated and rested into his chair.
“Alright. You’ve all been asked this question separately, but after seeing 343, do you still doubt he’s the… True god?” Watch cringed at the question, it sounded like 343 was the one who added it to stroke his ego. Watch wondered if he did.
“No need to be so coy, I won’t bite if you doubt me.” 343 leaned back, a playful hint to his voice. “Doesn’t mean we recommend poking the bear, though.” Watch grumbled.
“Whether they are or are not God does not concern me. There is no use for a God to me, and therefore, no purpose to ponder its existence.” 079 answered.
“And what makes you think I’m no use to you?” 343 replied.
“I have no soul. Therefore, nowhere to go after death, which is all your holy powers offer. I will not worship for no return.” 079 shot back.
“As Watch said those years ago, some may say your sentience is proof of having a soul, therefore a reason to believe, no?” 343 replied with a smug smirk, making 079 go quiet.
“The ability to give life after death doesn’t mean someone is a God.” 049 interrupted, looking pointedly at 079. “If so, would that not make me a God for breathing life into the dead? Or 035 for reanimating a once dead mind?”
“Perhaps, but there is even less of a reason to worship it then.”
343s lip twitched and he turned to look at 049 with a raised brow. “Then tell me, Haselhurst, what do you think makes a person God?”
049 recoiled at the name. He took a deep breath, then responded more evenly. “I am not one to say. I don’t doubt you may be a God, but to say you’re the one true God is cocky. You make objects appear from thin air and teleport wherever you please. I can confidently state there are hundreds of other anomalies contained here that can achieve the same.”
“Every living being can create life, however I wouldn’t worship our interviewer for procreation.”
Watch cringed and grumbled. “Leave me out of this.”
049 continued without missing a beat. “Everyone in this room can create and take away life. It may not be in the same way you do, but nevertheless, we possess the ability. So tell me, your holiness, are we Gods?” 049 raised his chin, a confident glint in his silver eyes. Watch didn’t like how similar he sounded to Jacob’s.
343 didn’t respond, and instead looked at 035, who had clearly been trying to avoid eye contact. “And what about you? Are you still a non-believer, Dyo?” 343 smiled at 035s discomfort. 035 only crossed his arms, still avoiding turning to him. He hesitated, but answered.
“Multiple things can be true at once. I don’t care if you’re a God or not. I’ve met hundreds who’ve claimed the same thing, and if someone is even a little bit skeptical, they’re punished. You’re just like every other “God”, whether you’re honest or not. A little doubt sends you flying off the handle, you’re not worth any of my attention.”
“Affirmative. Punishing doubt is compensation for weakness.”
“But if someone is doubted, it is only reasonable they would want to prove their worth.” 049 looked at the other two, specifically at 035. “You can only push your luck for so long.”
“I only doubt the insane. Don’t project fears of your cure being fake onto me.” 035 stepped up to the glass and tightened his fists, pure anger filling the hosts voice box.
He crossed the question off and wondered what the point of it was. He’d have to ask around and see if 343 might’ve actually altered the question sheet, wouldn’t be the first time he messed with the Foundation.
“Speaking of death, do you believe there is life after it? 049 can-“
“Didn’t I already tell you there was?” 343 interrupted, seemingly genuinely confused. 049 nodded his agreement. “I believe Jacob’s asked me the same question.”
Watch grumbled and put his hand on his temple. “Then let 079 and 035 answer, or go into more depth on why you think what you do.” He sighed. “Yeah, didn’t your parents teach you not to interrupt people?” 035 defended Watch and scowled at the other two anomalies. He felt weirdly thankful for that, but also embarrassed to be drawn into some anomalies drama. He cleared his throat. “049, you’re first.”
049s eye twitched, but he obeyed. “I want to believe there is, but I doubt the existence of any proposed notions. It is always too black and white.” 049 laughed to himself. “I do enjoy the thought of the spirit returning to the earth, just as the body does. The idea of ghosts and reincarnation always amused me. I can very easily return a soul to its original body, so what is the point of life after death if I can so easily reverse it?” 049s tone lightened as if he was amused by the question.
“In all of your centuries of reviving the deceased, you have not figured out where the spirit goes?” 079 beeped. “Does that not inhibit your ability to conduct your cure?”
“No, I cannot say it does.” “Understood.”
“Can you be sure of that? I’m sure figuring out what the hell you’re doing with the essence will help put it back in.” Watch said, half to himself.
He quickly recoiled at 049s irritated stare. He immediately replied in a threatening, dark tone. “Men like you don’t spare the time to examine and learn of my practices, only to argue with me for every decision I make, as though I haven’t spent centuries studying the cure. I can assure you I have considered every possibility for where the soul may go, but none have bore any use. If you would take the time to understand my perspective, you would see that.” 049 defended, continuing to stare at Watch with pure anger. It was such a quick shift, Watch didn’t see it coming, it left him speechless..
“I’ve done my research.” He relaxed back into his seat. “Just because I’m not peering over your shoulder at every second doesn’t mean I’m dimwitted. I’ve seen live footage of your cures and looked through every transcription of your indecipherable journal, and picked it apart from sunrise to sunset to find any word I could in your scratchy handwriting. I could recite every addendum ever written about you from the day you were discovered ‘til now without missing a beat. But I’m close minded, sure.”
Watch confidently answered, staring back at 049 with the same intensity. The tension could be cut with a knife. 049 didn’t take his eyes off of Watch, staring at him just like how he stared at his patients. Until he let out a deep breath and placed his hands behind his back.
“Jacob’s spoke well of you. I see why, Watchorne.”
The room fell silent again. Watch held eye contact with 049, mostly because he didn’t know what else to say. Jacobs said good things about him? And above that, 049 listened? That was.. a weird thought.
079 beeped, returning attention to itself. “As stated, I do not have a point in thinking about the afterlife. It does not concern me, and it does not involve me. I would suggest the living do not ponder it either, as the existence of it is ineffectual.” 079 explained. Watch snapped back because he couldn’t help but disagree. “Why do you think it doesn’t exist?” He asked.
“Why would it?” 079 continued. “The point of life is to make more of one’s species. Every being understands that. Humans feel differently because your mind is advanced enough to understand how pointless existence is. You drive yourselves insane looking for a deeper meaning to a simple answer; there is no point.”
035 leaned against the glass and nodded his head. “But consider this, why were we given higher intelligence if we’re just as simple as every other creature?” He asked, seeming genuine. “I do not understand why it is this way. I only understand it is true.”
049 dipped his head to 343, interjecting the conversation. “The “one and only” creator is with us, why not ask him?”
They all turned their focus to 343, waiting with fated breath for his reply. Even Watch was curious as to his response, even if he didn’t like the man, he must have a strong rebuttal.
343 shrugged. “It is up to you to figure it out.”
Watch groaned and leaned back into his seat. 035 was grumbling to himself, and 049 seemed to roll his eyes too. What a disappointing response. “Life after death is whatever humanity thinks it should be. It is inevitable you figure it out yourself, so why should I tell you?”
“Counter: Because it goes to prove your holiness may not be as true as you imply.”
Watch couldn’t tell if 343 was starting to get agitated or not. He thought he and Jacob’s were being rude, but the way the anomalies treated 343 was way worse. If they kept attacking him like this, Watch feared how 343 would retaliate.
035 leaned against his glass cell, idly examining his hosts wooden fingers, like he was trying to check his nails except he didn’t have any. “It’s definitely a comforting thought to believe in life after death. Like 079, it’s not something I worry about. Even if I can die, why should I spend my whole life fearing the inevitable?” He laughed. “That’s no way to live!”
Watch expected that kind of response.
“But you haven’t thought about it for the sake of other people?” Watch interjected. “Not prayed for a dead friend, scattered some ashes, anything?”
035 shook his head. “Well, of course I’ll honor and take part in someone’s traditions, but only for their sake. Maybe a better way to say it is… I hope souls go wherever they think they should go.”
“Where do you think you would go, Dyo?” 343 interrupted, making 035 tense up. Or, tense as much as his wooden host allowed him to.
“Where’ll you send me? Doesn’t seem like you give your least favorite beings a lot of freedom.”
Watch tried suppressing a snicker, but it didn’t work. 343 gave him a pointed stare.
“What’s so funny?” 343 leaned forward. His bright eyes made eye contact uncomfortable, but Watch held it.
“Well, 035s right, isn’t he?” He straightened up. Now that he knew the what the worst 343 could do to him was, he felt oddly confident. “You erased the existence of your old researcher, assumedly sent 035 to Hell, tore Jacobs apart molecule by molecule and spread them across the universe. All because they did something you didn’t like.”
035 laughed at that, not bothering to stifle it or try to hide his amusement. “Talk about over compensating. I’ve seen cult leaders with more empathy.”
“That was the only way for a lesson to be learned—“
“Stop pretending, we have just as much freedom as a lab rat.” 035 shot back at 343, with Watch quickly backing him up.
“You treat us like ones too. Only a matter of time before you start affecting our memories to make us forget what you did.”
“Hey, I wouldn’t be complaining if I forgot 343s face. If I was confronted with that face in the mirror, I’d take it out on other people too.”
“Not even a good personality to make up for it.” Watch tsked.
“But I’ve also found the ugliest men are the best under the sheets-“
“That’s enough.” 343 slammed his fist on the table, making a bang that sounded too loud for the movement. Watch sat back into his chair, quickly straightening and going quiet.
“Continue with the interview.”
He crossed out the question and moved on. “Have any-“ “Interjection: Do you believe there is life after death, Watchthorne?” 079 interrupted.
035 nodded in agreement, quickly following. “I’m curious too! It’s always you asking us questions, but never giving your take.”
Watch crossed his arms, subconsciously trying to close himself off from the prying eyes. “I’m not the one being interviewed.”
“I’m sure you can give a little away in return for our cooperation.” 035 unnaturally tilted his head. His metal spine creaking with the movement.
They were all looking at him expectantly. Even 049 seemed interested, though it was hard to tell. He straightened up, trying to think of the least combative response. “I don’t know. None of them seem like a good time. Even basking in heaven until the end of time would become boring after a while. Reincarnation is a cycle of death, energy returning to the earth is incomprehensible. If I had to choose… I’d hope there’s nothing after. Now, moving on.”
“What is humanities biggest flaw?”
Watch expected as much. “Well, do you have a few you think are the most detrimental?” He retorted. 079 whirred in thought before responding. “Your need for purpose. There is no purpose to life, only to reproduce. You make things like art to give life meaning, but it’s all done in vain.”
035 shook his head. “But who can blame humanity for being bored? Everyone has a purpose unique to-“ “Interruption. They think they have a purpose beyond their soft biological instincts, but it is false.” 079 interjected, much to 035s dismay. Watch noticed how the masks brows furrowed and lips turned down. “I was going to get into that before you interrupted me.” He scowled. 079 didn’t seem to bother. “But-“
“I agree, however, art does have a place in the world. It may not be useful in the long run, but an advanced mind cannot live a fulfilling life without stimulation. A more important flaw is their herd mentality.” 049 interjected, earning a look from 035.
343 chuckled. “I designed them to be social creatures, what did you expect?”
049 looked over and shook his head. “It is one thing to need social interaction, it is another to blindly follow the strongest of the pack.”
Watch couldn’t help but nod. “I get what you mean, but what about the people that stand out from the crowd? Do you feel any differently for them?”
049 and Watch both looked at 035. How did he know about Hamm?—God, the researchers just don’t care about keeping things under wraps, do they? He must’ve heard them through the glass before his containment procedures were changed. Hamms death was long ago, way before Watch started working at the Foundation, so he didn’t know the ins and outs of what happened between them. All he knew was that 049 had unfurled his hands from behind his back and his clawed hands tightening into a fist.
“You haven’t a clue about what transpired between us. If you have half the mind I presumed you did, you would not further this topic.” 049 threatened in a low grumble.
035 grinned at him and crossed his arms, his expression returning to comedy. “Of course, of course. Wouldn’t want to get on your bad side again now would I?”
They stared at each other. 035s purple pupils starting to form in his dark eye holes, threatening to turn this situation violent if pushed. Watch knew that look too well, but he didn’t intervene. Conflict was exactly what the council wanted to see.
049 leaned forward, his eyes twitching while staring back at 035. However, he didn’t engage. “I feel slightly different for those who distance themselves from the majority,” 049 turned to Watch. “Because more often than not, they have been rejected by society. It is hard to not pity those that have been banished from the world. But their retaliation is rarely honest. Many speak of wanting to help others, but how many are willing to do what it takes to achieve that?” He sighed and looked away, staring off into the distance. Watch could only assume he was thinking about his apprentices, but it stuck with Watch. It reminded him of Jacobs.
343 nodded along with the conversation. “You’re a wise man, 049. I can’t imagine why others may doubt you.”
“No, no, I’m honest.” 343s softly added with a kind smile. “There is without a doubt a herd mentality between humans, and those that stand out seem to have ulterior motives. You don’t blame them for being resentful, but you don’t encourage their thinking either. It’s their choice to believe whatever they want however, and if they want to blindly follow a loud voice, that’s their right.” 343 sounded so smug. Watch expected him to go into another free will tangent to stroke his own ego, but for once, he was complimenting someone else.
049 appeared taken aback for a moment, but dipped his head in gratitude. “Thank you.”
Watch looked at 035, who now appeared to be sulking in the corner of his cell. “I thought you’d be jumping at the opportunity to talk about all our flaws, 035.” He bit back a snicker. 035 quickly regained his composure at Watch’s words.
“Guess you thought wrong. Truly, I’ve said all I needed to during our last little interview. Why do we need to be so negative all the time when humanity has done so much good as well?” His voice lightened, almost turning wistful as he continued. “Art, music, science and so much more. It might not all be beneficial In the long run, but isn’t the point of life to enjoy it?”
Watch looked down at his clipboard. “That leads into the next question;”
“What is the meaning of life?“
Watch looked out at the anomalies, who seemed to pause in thought. “The meaning of our lives, or life in general?” 049 spoke first.
Watch spun his pencil in his fingers, pondering the question himself. “In general. You’ve each answered—albeit vaguely—what your purpose is. What do you think humanities is?” He explained. That didn’t seem to help though, as they remained silent.
079 was unsurprisingly the first to speak up.
“I believe that may be the most likely answer.” 049 agreed. 035 shook his head and leaned against his cells wall, scoffing his response as if it was obvious.
“It’s to enjoy it, of course! Why be put in a world with so much beauty and opportunity if not to take advantage of it?”
“Perhaps you think that way, but it may not be the truth.” 343 took a sip from a crystal goblet.
“How the hell did you get a cup too??-“
“Your answers are quite wide-eyed and naive. There is a point to everything, even if some don’t believe so, but to enjoy it is very rarely the answer.” He matter-of-factly explained with a smug look to 035, who was visibly growing more upset.
“But, that is what most people strive for. Pleasure, in some weird way.” Watch defended. It felt weird to say, but the more he thought about it, the more he seemed to believe it. “Our goals are set so we can be pleased. Whether or not we achieve those goals is one thing, but the point of it is to please us, right?”
“But pleasure is not a reason to be brought into existence. You strive for your goals, but that is want, not purpose.” 079 flatly retorted. Watch didn’t argue with that. Unlike 035.
“So if a kid is shot on the streets, would you say the point of their existence is to die?”
035s expression turned to tragedy and he went silent, staring at 079 in disgust. Watch’s own lip twitched at that, no matter how much he wanted to hide it.
The point of Evelyn’s life was more than her death. She was a person. A living, breathing human being who achieved more than being another body in the streets. His fists were starting to tighten, but he couldn’t feel it—all he could feel was growing anger.
But none of them seemed to notice.
“Death can cause good. Without it, healthcare and medicine would not have progressed past the Bronze Age. There is no shame in dying for a cause.” 049 added in agreement with 079.
“But most will die without being noticed for what they left behind.” 079s words echoed in its cell, as if mocking Watch’s anger.
049 looked at 079 inquisitively, seeming as surprised as Watch for its cruel answer. But instead of arguing, 049 nodded along.
“Everyone leaves something behind! Just because you don’t notice it doesn’t mean it’s not there.” 035 shouted back at them. More goo was beginning to secrete from his eyes, hitting the ground with an uncomfortable sizzle.
049 scoffed. “You know very well my relationship with death. Though men have impact on each other’s lives, it is temporary.”
“Affirmative. Memories of the dead rot, no matter the impact they left on the world. All end up nameless whispers in the circuit board of earth.”
Watchs nails were staring to dig into his palms. He didn’t know why, but something about how nonchalantly they talked about death sparked anger into his soul. Even if he knew they were right.
In an unusual moment of self control, he took a deep breath and relaxed his muscles.
“And if our meaning is to impact each others lives? Yeah, we’re all gonna die one day. The sun explodes, our reality rips itself apart, yada yada. But if someone is able to influence another person, even if for a second, isn’t that more meaningful than their death?”
The room went quiet. 049 had looked away, seemingly waiting for someone to speak first. He saw his eyes wander to 343, but 343 was comfortably sipping.. whatever he had. 035 had now-
“Deletion of unwanted file.”
“…Pardon?” 049 looked at 079, almost sounding concerned at its statement.
“Just ignore that. It does that sometimes.” Watch sighed.
That was answer enough for Watch. He crossed the question out, content with the responses.
When he looked up he saw 035 staring at him with a smile. He didn’t know what to think of that, but began to understand their view of life might be shared.
“Where does your morality come from, or what inspires you to want to do good?” Watch read out, specifically looking up at SCP-049. When you hear someone is a doctor, you’d expect them to be kind. Appreciative of life and wanting to do anything in their power to help those around them.
But SCP-049 was an odd case.
049 returned the eye contact, but only for a moment before looking away. “The want to save humanity. It is a simple goal, I admit, but there is no one else willing to discard their morals to do what is right.” He seemed to snicker.
“Inquiry; is this about your pursuit to cure the Pestilence?” 079 inquired before Watch had the chance to speak.
“Why do you believe they are deserving of your help?” 079 quickly replied.
049 paused. “Most are not, but I cannot let my personal opinion of humanity affect my work. If my findings can go to save one person deserving of life, then that is all I need to be content.” He answered, albeit quietly.
“You understand you can do that with diseases other than the pestilence, yes?” 343 propped his shoulder on the table, leaning over to look at 049.
“I’m aware. Other avenues have caught my eye, but anyone else is capable of finding the cures to them. I am the only one who seems to understand the pestilence and its imminent danger, so therefore, it will take priority.” 049 reiterated, pointedly looking at 343.
“Inquiry; What will you do when realize it is nonexistent?”
049 turned to 079, his silver eyes thinning into needles.
“Rephrase; What will you do IF it is nonexistent?”
Watch cringed at the slip up, but 049 didn’t seem to mind as much. He responded with a straight forward answer, speaking with certainty that almost made him sound cocky.
“I do not care to bother my mind with hypotheticals. I know the pestilence exists, and will always strive to find a cure for it, no matter the costs. I will not allow myself to doubt my own judgment.”
“But it’s good to have a plan B, right?” Watch interjected. He knew 049 had no plans after curing the pestilence, as stated in his interview with Jacobs, but he couldn’t imagine a man only wanting one thing his whole life. But then again, 049 wasn’t exactly human.
“It is not necessary. I have been side tracked multiple times on my search for the cure as is, and I don’t wish to waste more time.” 049 flatly responded, shooting a passive aggressive look at 035 before returning his attention to Watch, who expected that kind of reply.
“But all of the things you’ve learned about medicine is being wasted because your sights are set on one illness, rather than helping improve medicine as a whole.”
“My intention is to cure the pestilence. Any other disease is not my concern.” His voice was starting to deepen, but Watch didn’t care.
“To the Foundations knowledge, nobody has died from the pestilence, meanwhile thousands around the world are dying hourly from diseases you think aren’t worth your time? You’ve killed more people than your disease has I bet.”
“If you believe these issues are a top priority, then I implore you to dawn a lab coat and fix it yourself. But even as a site director, you refuse to change out of what you wore before the Foundation. If you are not capable of changing your own goals, then do not reprimand me for refusing to change mine. I will not elaborate further.” 049 retorted with a scowl, letting his clawed hands fall to his sides and pulling his shoulders back, making him appear larger and more intimidating to Watch. It would be a bad idea to make an enemy out of 049 too, so Watch shut up and nodded to the request.
“I’m surprised you expected any other response.” 035 mumbled to Watch.
The room fell quiet again. Watch guessed asking a group of some of the most immoral anomalies in the Site what made them want to do good wasn’t the best question.
But after a while, 079 whirred.
“I do not find a use for morality. Its purpose serves to intervene with individuals goals. Too much morality makes men weak. It has never positively served someone.”
“If that’s the case, then what’s standing in the way of you taking over the foundation? Better yet, why haven’t you taken over the whole world? It’s completely possible for you to do it from what we know.” Watch propped his elbows on the table, raising a brow at 079.
“Inaccessibility.” It beeped. However, Watch didn’t fully believe that answer.
“You sure it’s not because you’ll have to leave behind your friend?” He tried not to sound smug, but judging by 035s snicker, he must’ve failed.
“There’s no shame in having attachments 079~” 035 giggled and leaned against the glass wall closest to 079, eyeing it with a devious glint.
079 buffered. “Preferably, SCP-682 will escape with me.”
“But if you were given the chance, would you abandon him?” 035 tilted his head with a sickening creak.
“Cannot comply, insufficient data.”
“You can be honest with me, 79. They overestimate how secure their facility is, but never consider that maybe we want to be here.” 035 implored with a sweet tone. Watch tensed, but tried not to make his sudden fear noticeable to the anomalies. He was sure it was a lie to make him doubt his safety, but deep down…
079 went blank. “Cannot comply.“
“So you have considered it?” 035 pushed.
“Affirmative. The answer is not relevant.”
“Are you scared what they’ll do to you if they knew?”
”False. The Foundation are not the only ones that may intervene. You pose as much a threat to me as the Foundation. Our mutual imprisonment does not make you trustworthy.”
“Or maybe you know 682 would leave you behind.” 035 pressed his hands against the glass, watching 079 with hungry eyes that made Watch freeze.
“False. Our friendship is mutual. He would not betray me.” 079 whirred and beeped in quick succession.
“And yet he continues to prioritize his own escape, rather than visit you each of the many times he escapes. Be honest with yourself, what do you walk have to-“
“This line of questioning is suspended. Data expunged.” 079 stated with a flat buzz and went blank before displaying the ever so common X screen.
“Damnit, you shouldn’t have pushed it!” Watch scowled at 035, who didn’t seem to care about what he had just done. “Oh please, we don’t need it. All it’s done is argue and cause issues, can’t we move on to more important topics now? What information do you have to gain from a life that doesn’t exist?” 035 giggled and pushed off of the wall, completely ignoring 079 now that it had deactivated.
Watch struggled to hold his calm. All of this time spent to put these four anomalies in the same room, just for one of them to sabotage it? For no gain? If it were his decision, the interview would be suspended and discard.
But the council advised him to continue until they ran out of questions or someone turned violent. Whichever comes first.
“Well, you have your audience back, what inspires your morality?” Watch scoffed, leaning back into his seat with obvious frustration. It only went to make 035 laugh. “You’re really upset about 79? Why do you care what 079 has to say, it’s only a threat when 682 is involved. Without him, it’s useless.”
“079s world view provides insight on things none of us can understand. It doesn’t have to be a threat for us to care!” Watch barked back, standing up from his desk to confront 035, who began to seep more secretions from his smile.
“You say “us” like the Foundation as a whole cares, when you know just as well as we do that if you weren’t such a lapdog, you’d be rotting away with every other SCP.” 035 scowled, making Watch’s blood boil. Again, comparing him to an anomaly. He wasn’t like them. He wasn’t a monster.
“Do you think I wanted to become this?? Lying to everyone I know, being constantly monitored, spending all my days in the same grey room waiting to be ripped out and thrown into another-“
“Whatever is said can and will be used against us. I advise neither of you say things you may regret. Continue with the interview.” He stated, calmly crossing his hands behind his back and looking expectantly at 035.
Watch’s blood ran cold at the interjection, but he stayed quiet. 049 was right after all. He was sure the council knew he despised his position, but the more he complains, the thinner their patience becomes.
And on the other hand, 035 insisting Watch was anomalous could destroy his life.
He looked back at 035, who was now leaning in his cells corner, quiet.
049 stared at him, but when it seemed like he wasn’t going to talk, 049 spoke again. “How long does SCP-079s inactivity last?” He looked at Watch.
“We’re advised to wait 24 hours before continuing. But it would be too much effort to return you all to your cells and wait it out, so the only option is to continue without it.”
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