Chapter 113:
Leonard and Graves stood facing each other, their contrasting sizes making the moment almost surreal. Graves, towering over Leonard by three heads, was clad in the distinctive uniform of Resh-1, imposing and battle-worn.
Leonard tilted his head, eyeing Graves up and down. "I'd love to catch up," he began dryly, "but it seems we still have company." He gestured casually at the knights and winged riders, now staggering to their feet after the shock of Black Eagle's arrival.
Graves turned his head to look at the recovering enemies, then let out a quiet sigh. Without a word, he raised his hand and snapped his fingers.
In an instant, every enemy froze, their heads separating cleanly from their bodies. Blood erupted like fountains as their lifeless forms collapsed to the ground. The air filled with the metallic tang of fresh blood, and the battlefield was eerily silent.
The other operators of Resh-1 regrouped around Leonard and Graves, saluting the towering figure. "Commander!" they said in unison.
Graves acknowledged them with a simple, "At ease." He then turned back to Leonard. His face remained hidden behind the visor of his helmet, but his demeanor shifted. Slowly, he dropped to one knee before Leonard.
"Boss," Graves bellowed, his voice echoing across the place, "I DESERVE TO DIE!"
Leonard blinked, caught entirely off guard. "Huh?"
Graves kept his head bowed, his tone filled with guilt. "This is all my fault! It was my decision to put you on a civilian flight instead of a Foundation jet. Everything that's happened… it's because of me. If you wish to kill me, I will accept my punishment without complaint."
Leonard's face twisted with a mixture of confusion and discomfort. He glanced at the other operators, who looked equally unsure of how to respond. Finally, he sighed and asked, "Wait. Just… why a civilian flight in the first place?"
Graves hesitated, his hands clenching slightly at his sides. "I… I thought you missed a normal life, Boss. I've seen you sigh sometimes when you look at ordinary people, walking around without a care in the world. I thought… maybe you'd like a small moment of normalcy. Just for a while."
Leonard's expression softened. For a moment, he stood in silence, staring at Graves' kneeling form. Then, with a shake of his head, he muttered under his breath, "You idiot…"
Leonard looked at Graves, his expression softening. "I forgive you," he said firmly. "Now, we should head back. Not that I'm complaining, but I'm tired, filthy, and honestly, I miss the comfort of a real bed… with fries and a steak. What do you say, guys?"
The operators broke into smiles, their tension easing. In unison, they replied, "Yes, Boss!"
Graves activated his helmet's communicator and spoke firmly, "Black Eagle to all stations. The Administrator is secure. I repeat, the Administrator is secure."
Across the radios, a wave of relieved voices responded with affirmations and cheers.
Graves continued, "Black Eagle to Alpha-2, ETA to my position?"
Red Eagle's voice came through, "ETA two minutes."
"Understood," Graves replied.
He turned back to the group, glanced at Leonard, and snapped his fingers. In an instant, all the operators were clad in standard MTF uniforms, their faces obscured by tactical masks. Leonard himself found his signature outfit and mask restored, as if by magic.
Leonard smiled as he adjusted his familiar attire, comforted by its presence. He clapped Graves on the shoulder and said, "Hand me your helmet."
Graves removed his helmet without hesitation and passed it to Leonard. Leonard placed it over his head, adjusting it slightly before activating the comms. "This is the Administrator to all stations. I'm back."
A voice responded almost immediately. "Sir, this is TA-A. Welcome back, sir. We're preparing your arrival at Area-19 as we speak."
Leonard paused for a moment, raising an eyebrow beneath the helmet. "Area-19?" he asked, looking over at Graves.
Graves nodded and explained, "It's our operational base in this dimension. It's directly connected to Site-19."
Leonard reactivated the comms and replied, "Understood. And have fries and a steak ready for me. I'm starving."
Laughter rippled through the operators and across the comms. TA-A's voice responded with a hint of amusement, "Yes, Boss."
At the far end of the street, a large group of Foundation operators emerged, moving in a precise tactical formation, their weapons raised as they hugged the walls of the surrounding houses.
They swiftly advanced toward Leonard and his group, forming a secure perimeter around the entire area.
One of the operators stepped forward, stopping respectfully just outside Resh-1's protective circle. He saluted Leonard sharply. "Good evening, sir. I am Red Eagle, an operator from Alpha-1 under O5-1."
Leonard returned the salute with a calm nod. "Good evening."
He turned to Graves. "Let's head back to base."
Graves nodded in response and snapped his fingers. Suddenly, the ground beneath their feet rumbled and cracked. A massive stone platform rose from the earth, lifting everyone into the air. The block shot upward before accelerating horizontally at incredible speed, leaving the city behind in seconds.
Leonard gave Graves a complicated look and sighed. "A Level-4 reality bender is ridiculously OP." Despite their rapid ascent and speed, there was no wind resistance around them. A transparent barrier encased the group, shielding them completely.
Graves raised his radio. "Black Eagle to Overwatch. Returning to base. ETA one hour."
A confirmation buzzed back across the line.
Leonard glanced at the Foundation operators standing stiffly at attention, still scanning the surroundings and avoiding eye contact with him. He chuckled. "Relax. We've got an hour-long ride ahead of us."
The operators exchanged uncertain glances, hesitant to lower their guard. Leonard's laughter only grew at their discomfort. Finally, he moved to the edge of the platform and sat down casually between two operators. Resh-1 instinctively formed a semicircle around him, their relaxed postures contrasting sharply with the rigid stance of the Foundation soldiers.
The two operators seated near Leonard seemed at a loss for words, visibly uncomfortable in his presence. Leonard ignored their nervousness, leaning back slightly and gazing at the landscape rushing past beneath them.
The silence was broken only by the soft hum of the platform as it sped through the air, carrying them all toward the horizon.
---
An hour later, they arrived at the base, illuminated by the strange sky that grew brighter without the presence of a sun. As the massive stone platform descended and came to rest on the ground a few hundred meters from Area-19, the base erupted into activity.
A massive contingent of operators emerged, accompanied by a convoy of military vehicles, including tanks and heavily armored black trucks. The vehicles raced out of the base, swiftly surrounding the stone platform where Leonard and his group stood. The operators secured the perimeter, their weapons scanning the horizon for threats.
Several vehicles came to a halt directly in front of Leonard. From the nearest trucks, a hundred Resh-1 operators poured out in perfect formation, surrounding Leonard with a protective wall of bodies and weapons.
One of the Resh-1 operators stepped forward, saluting sharply. "Boss! We're relieved to see you safe."
Leonard returned the salute with a nod, his expression calm but tired.
The operator continued, "Please follow me. We're here to escort you to a secure location."
Leonard glanced at Graves and the others, then stepped forward without hesitation. The protective formation adjusted seamlessly, ensuring Leonard remained at its center as they began to move toward the base, the vehicles rumbling alongside them and scanning for threats.
Eventually, they arrived at the camp. Leonard looked out the window and saw a vast array of MTF units, field agents, researchers, and administrative staff lining the path to salute his vehicle. The convoy moved through another heavily fortified area, this one directly under the control of mixed teams from Alpha-1 and Omega-1, who monitored every entrance and patrolled the surroundings.
The convoy came to a halt in front of the largest tent, guarded by more than twenty armed agents. An operator stepped forward and opened the door for Leonard, and every operator present stood at attention.
Leonard stepped out and walked toward the tent, passing through the heavy security. Inside, he found himself in a cutting-edge command center. The space was illuminated by a myriad of holographic screens displaying live feeds, tactical maps, and real-time updates on Foundation operations in this dimension.
At the center of the room was a sleek electronic table, its surface projecting the positions of deployed teams and critical mission data. Around the table stood five individuals, all dressed in formal attire. Among them, Leonard immediately recognized Franz.
"Franz!" Leonard exclaimed, his tone a mix of relief and warmth.
Franz, barely able to contain his grin, replied, "Boss! I'm so glad to see you safe."
Leonard glanced at the four other individuals around the table and asked, "And who are they?"
Franz gestured toward a striking woman with an air of authority. "This, Boss, is O5-1, the head of the O5 Council."
Leonard was momentarily taken aback by her beauty and felt a strange sense of familiarity. O5-1 offered a polite smile and said, "A pleasure to meet you, sir."
Franz then pointed to a stern-looking man. "This is O5-10, responsible for commanding the Foundation's military forces, MTFs and tactical assets like nuclear submarines and advanced weaponry."
Next, he gestured toward a woman with a striking green streak in her hair. "This is O5-7, a research specialist and staunch advocate for the weaponization of anomalies."
Finally, Franz pointed to the last man, an African gentleman with a warm, genuine smile. "And last but not least, this is Odongo Tejani, Chairman of the Ethics Committee."
Odongo extended his hand with a hearty laugh. "Hello, Boss. It's an honor to finally meet you."
Leonard shook Odongo's hand, then turned to greet the rest of the O5s. Despite the weight of the moment, a small smile formed on his face as he realized he was finally among allies.
After a moment of silence, Leonard focused on the table and asked, "So, what's the plan?"
The group exchanged glances before O5-1 stepped forward. "Boss, the first priority was finding you. Now that we've accomplished that, we have several strategies to discuss for how we handle Nexus-12 moving forward."
Leonard tilted his head. "Nexus?"
O5-1 smiled slightly. "Yes. Think of a Nexus as a place where anomalies are part of daily life, an area that's inherently supernatural but still houses a permanent community. Imagine a city like New York, except maybe it never experiences daylight, or the people occasionally turn into animals, and everyone treats it as normal.
"Normally, when the Foundation or other organizations encounter places like this, we treat them as SCPs. That means evacuating the population, shutting the area down, and securing it permanently. But sometimes, we can't do that. Maybe it's too big, too complex, or would cause more damage than good. In those cases, we classify them as Nexuses.
"These areas are officially acknowledged as anomalous zones but left intact, monitored closely by a governing body or another authority. They're hidden from the outside world, and we erase any evidence of their existence to maintain the Veil.
"There's also something larger, a step above Nexuses, called Free Ports. These places are completely disconnected from the regular world and serve as sanctuaries where the Veil doesn't apply, everyone inside already knows about the anomalous. Free Ports usually manage themselves and are recognized as independent states, though they still cooperate with outside authorities."
Leonard's expression shifted as he absorbed the explanation. "So Nexus-12 is one of those areas?"
"Yes," O5-1 confirmed.
Leonard grinned faintly. "Like Wonder World or Three Portlands?"
"Exactly," O5-1 replied with a small nod.
Leonard leaned back slightly and said, "Alright, let's cut to the chase. What are your proposals?"
Franz stepped forward, his tone measured. "We currently have three plans in mind.
"The first option is a slow and steady approach. We withdraw from Nexus-12 for now and focus on exploring it gradually. It's the safest and least confrontational route.
"The second plan involves taking a more political angle. We'd identify and establish contact with opposition groups within Nexus-12, supporting their efforts to overthrow the current ruling authority.
"The final plan," Franz paused, glancing at Leonard before continuing, "is more direct, and far more aggressive. We would invade Nexus-12 outright, dismantle the existing power structure, and seize control ourselves."
All eyes turned to Leonard as he sat deep in thought. Finally, he turned to the rest of the room and asked, "And what do you all think?"
The response was immediate and unanimous from the three O5s:
"INVADE THEM!" (x3)
Leonard blinked, utterly stunned, his mouth hanging open as he stared at the three council members. They looked completely unfazed, as if casually suggesting global conquest was just another Tuesday.
He slowly turned to Odongo, who looked more composed. Odongo adjusted his tie and replied, "I believe the second plan is the best course of action. These are still human beings from our Earth. Cooperation with the locals, rather than outright colonization, is not only morally sound but strategically wiser."
Finally, Leonard turned to Franz, raising an eyebrow. "And you?"
Franz sighed, folding his arms. "We can't forget that there are still two level 4 reality benders in play. A direct confrontation without sufficient intel and preparation could lead to catastrophic losses. I'm with Odongo, I support the second plan."
O5-10 interjected sharply, "If we do nothing, those two reality benders could attack us at any moment. And if they do, it'll hurt badly. We have to strike first before they get the chance."
Franz leaned forward, his voice steady but pointed. "We can't suppress the effects of a Level 4 reality bender with first-generation SRAs. Maybe if we had at least a thousand of them, or higher-generation models, we could effectively contain them. But that's just not possible right now.
And even if we attack first, how exactly do you plan on neutralizing both of them at the same time?"
An uneasy silence fell over the room. None of the O5s had an answer.
Franz pressed further, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "Come on, no need to beat around the bush. Even with Black Eagle on our side, another Level 4 reality bender, it's still one against two. And frankly, it's not a guaranteed win."
Before anyone could respond, the quiet was broken by an unmistakable sound: grrrroooowl.
All eyes turned toward the source of the noise, Leonard.
The boss gave a sheepish grin, rubbing the back of his head. "Sorry, I haven't eaten anything yet. I think I'll grab a quick bite."
The five members around the table gave him a respectful nod and chimed in unison, "Enjoy your meal, Boss."
Leonard left the tent, immediately flanked by his Resh-1 escort. Graves was waiting just ahead, arms crossed and a rare smile on his face. "Boss, your meal is ready. This way, please."
The group moved toward another tent. Resh-1 operators stood guard at the entrance while Leonard and Graves stepped inside. The interior resembled a cozy bedroom, complete with all the amenities one could hope for in a makeshift camp. On the table, a steaming plate of food awaited.
Leonard's eyes lit up, and he didn't waste a second. He dove into the meal with the enthusiasm of a man who hadn't eaten in days. Once he was done, he leaned back in satisfaction and looked over at Graves. "I'm going to rest now. Wake me up if there's an emergency."
Graves gave a crisp salute. "Understood, Boss," and left the tent.
Leonard stripped off his gear and placed his mask carefully on the bedside table. He slid under the covers, finally allowing himself a moment of relaxation.
Just as he was about to drift off, a soft chime echoed in his mind.
[Ding! You have several unread notifications. Would you like to review them?]
Leonard growled and opened his eyes
Then he thought, Yes.
[Ding! The Host has reconnected with Foundation forces and now has full access to all system functionalities again.]
[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for exploring a Nexus. The Host is rewarded with MTF Lambda-5, "White Rabbits."]
[Ding! It has been detected that the Host has terminated more than three anomalous animal species. The Host is rewarded with the "Cryptozoology" pack.]
[Ding! It has been detected that the Host has had extensive and direct contact with magic multiple times. Congratulations to the Host for being rewarded with the "Thaumaturgy" pack.]
Leonard blinked rapidly as the series of notifications lit up his vision. The faint hum accompanying each alert felt almost surreal. He sat up in his bed, glancing around the tent as if expecting someone to explain.
"Full system functionalities? Cryptozoology? Thaumaturgy? What the hell is going on now?" he muttered, rubbing his temples. It seemed the day wasn't over yet, even if his stomach had been satisfied.
Suddenly, Leonard's eyes lit up. "Wait… Thaumaturgy?!"
He sat upright, the notifications swirling in his thoughts. "System, open the Thaumaturgy pack!"
[Ding! The Thaumaturgy pack has been opened. Congratulations to the Host for receiving the following rewards:
MTF Beta-777 "Hecate's Spear"
MTF Tau-9 "Bookworms"
MTF Omega-20 "Thought Police"
Site-91 (Rural Yorkshire, England)
Magical Potential]
Leonard grinned as the list of rewards materialized before his eyes. "This is amazing…" he murmured, taking in the significance of the names and resources. But then, his gaze fell on the final reward: Magical Potential.
His smile faded slightly as curiosity took over. "Magical potential? What does that even mean?"
He mentally combed through the system interface, searching for answers, but none were immediately forthcoming. Frustrated but intrigued, he muttered, "I'll ask Franz about this later."
Leonard sighed, running his hand through his hair. "System," he said, "open the Cryptozoology pack."
[Ding! The Cryptozoology pack has been opened. Congratulations to the Host for receiving the following rewards:
MTF Gamma-4 "Green Stags"
Cryptozoology Division
Site-44 (Foulness Island, Essex, England)]
Leonard smirked as he read the notification. "Well, it looks like I've established quite the presence in the UK," he muttered.
Pulling the blanket over himself, he let out a content sigh and closed his eyes, hoping for a moment of peace. But the silence was short-lived as a new notification chimed.
He groaned, cracking one eye open. "What now?" he muttered, accessing the message. His eyes widened in horror as he noticed the +99 unread messages. Dark circles seemed to form under his eyes instantly.
Opening the first few, he quickly realized that most of them came from the Global Occult Coalition. Without hesitation, he typed a curt reply:
[SCP:F]: Could you stop spamming me already?
The response came almost instantly.
[GOC]: Finally, you answer! I've been trying to contact you for two weeks!
[SCP:F]: Why? What's the urgency?
[GOC]: Too much has been happening lately. First, there's the reality shock in Africa that your subordinates barely managed to contain. Then there's the escalating conflict between Yeda Zoher and ORIA. Oh, and a dimensional rift appeared over the Atlantic. When my aircrafts got there, all they found were your people. Also, a passenger plane passed through that area and vanished. Do you know anything about that?
Leonard's eyes shot open as he bolted upright. "The passengers!" he exclaimed. A memory suddenly clicked, he had completely forgotten about the captured passengers on the plane.
His voice rang out urgently. "Graves!"
Almost instantly, the tent flap opened, and Graves stepped inside. "Boss?"
Leonard pointed at him, his tone sharp. "The plane passengers. Find them. Now."
Graves nodded without hesitation. "Yes, Boss." He turned on his heel and exited the tent, his voice carrying as he barked orders to his team.
Leonard ran a hand through his hair again, muttering, "How could I forget something so important?" He leaned back against his bed.
Leonard sighed as he opened the chat again, already dreading the flood of messages waiting for him.
[SCP:F]: Yes, we've launched a rescue operation for the passengers, but it's going to take some time.
The reply was almost instantaneous.
[GOC]: Got it. If you need help with the rescue, let me know. Also, there's something else I need to talk to you about.
[SCP:F]: ?
[GOC]: Paris, last week. Was it you who wiped all the evidence?
Leonard blinked. [SCP:F]: Huh?
[GOC]: Don't play dumb. None of my subordinates remember anything, but I do. Well, I've started to. I still have the messages detailing the Paris containment plan.
Leonard paused for a moment before typing: [SCP:F]: … Yes, it was me.
[GOC]: Oh damn, remind me never to piss you off 😂
[SCP:F]: 😂
[GOC]: Anyway, I don't know if you've noticed, but Nexuses are popping up everywhere. Even Eurtec has reappeared thanks to the Servants of the Silicon Norn. I've set up a big base there, and I'd like to propose conducting joint scientific experiments with your researchers.
[SCP:F]: That sounds like a good idea.
[GOC]: One more thing, next month, the GOC is hosting a massive meeting for all anomalous groups in the Hope System, along with some neutral factions. It'll be a chance for everyone to communicate, collaborate, and decide on the future. I hope you'll attend. Having the main organization running all this chaos show up would be a big win.
[SCP:F]: -_-
[GOC]: Seriously, though, I hope you'll consider it.
[SCP:F]: I have to go now. I'll think about it.
Leonard closed the chat, leaning back with a long sigh. "A global meeting, huh?" He rubbed his temples, already imagining the headache this was going to cause.
Leonard pulled the blanket off and sat up, rubbing his face in frustration. Sleep was clearly out of reach. With a resigned sigh, he called out:
"Graves, are you there?"
A moment later, Graves entered the tent, standing at attention. "Yes, boss?"
Leonard leaned back against his cot. "Got anything to report? I can't sleep."
Graves hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Well, before coming here, we discovered a camp near Area-19 that we suspected belonged to bandits. I was dispatched with my team to clear the area and gather intel on Nexus-12. While there, we found several bodies, women who had been physically tortured and sexually abused."
Leonard's expression darkened instantly, his jaw tightening. "Anything else?"
"We found several books and letters. We also captured someone who appears to be their leader. At first, we couldn't interrogate him due to the language barrier, but now that we have personnel fluent in Isleen, the translation is underway. Alexei and his team have been assigned to translate the books. Among the documents we recovered, Alexei found a letter. He specifically asked me to deliver it to you once you were available."
Graves snapped his fingers, and a single sheet of parchment appeared above his palm. The letter floated into Leonard's hands.
Leonard unfolded it and began to read.
"Dear Darreau,
It has been some time since I last wrote to you. I hope all is well on your end. Just a day ago, a flying ship belonging to those filthy Earthlings crashed into the capital, destroying the Royal Market. Among them were some who wielded magic. They were attacked by the royal troops and the winged cavalry. These fighters managed to repel several waves of the royal forces before retreating, pursued by the army.
However, those who did not fight remained behind and were captured. The king has decreed that they be imprisoned for life. I propose we launch an assault on the Shadow Labyrinth Prison and rescue these Earthlings. Once freed, I want you to execute them immediately. If you or your troops wish to amuse yourselves with some of the Earthling women to lift morale, I will not stop you. By killing these Earthlings, when reinforcements arrive to investigate, they will find their own executed by the kingdom and will fight back unknowingly aid us in dismantling the kingdom and reclaiming it for our own.
Our days of glory are at hand. Long live the Delisist movement.
Signed,
The Owl"
Leonard's grip on the letter tightened as he finished reading. The contents sent a wave of fury coursing through him, his expression unreadable but his knuckles white.
Leonard asked, his rage barely contained, "Who is The Owl?"
Graves replied, "According to our prisoner and the women we rescued, it's the nickname of the leader of the Delisist movement."
Leonard felt an uncontrollable fury erupt within him. Without another word, he donned his mask and quickly suited up. His movements were sharp and deliberate, his anger palpable. Exiting the tent with a furious stride, he exuded an aura so intense that no one dared to meet his gaze for fear of attracting his wrath.
A squad of Resh-1 operators fell into formation around him, their silence indicating they understood the gravity of the situation. Together, they made their way to the largest tent in the camp, where the meeting was still being held.
Leonard stormed inside, the sheer force of his presence silencing the room instantly. Every eye turned to him, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. They all noticed the glowing demonic markings on his neck and hands, manifestations of his power, barely restrained.
Franz, seated near the center of the room, hesitated before asking, "Boss?"
Leonard's voice was low and cold, yet filled with unyielding determination. "There's no need to debate anymore. I've made my decision."
He stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the attendees. "I approve and order Plan 3." He paused for effect, his tone growing even darker. "That is, the direct invasion of Nexus-12."