T/N:
Just attended 4 hours long Mass.
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"Who's that? Hey! Stop right there!"
"A civilian? Do they carry a memory-erasure device?"
"Yes… Wait! Ma'am, please stay where you are! Damn, it's an anomaly! Her physical abilities are far beyond that of an ordinary human!"
Foundation investigators noticed a cute girl with crimson twin tails and scarlet eyes near a farm.
At first, the Foundation thought she was a regular civilian and intended to use memory-erasure protocols.
They carried B-Class memory-erasure devices.
(Black sphere tech, open the small box, white flash, memory erased.)
However, the girl ignored the investigators' commands and began to flee.
During the escape, she demonstrated superhuman physical traits—her speed and jumping power far exceeded normal human limits.
The team had only been dispatched to investigate the aftermath left by the Plague Doctor (SCP-049), so they were lightly equipped.
Only a few armed personnel accompanied the team—no Mobile Task Force or Agents were present.
Without the support of exoskeletal armor, the difference in mobility was too vast.
The Foundation quickly lost track of the girl.
Her information was reported and archived as an anomaly.
However, since she showed no hostility toward humans and displayed no anomalous traits beyond enhanced physical capabilities, her containment priority was much lower than the Plague Doctor.
On another front, the Foundation had already located the Plague Doctor through satellite tracking.
It was on foot, heading toward France.
Roughly 30 kilometers from the city outskirts, the Foundation dispatched D-Class personnel to intercept it.
Oh thank heavens, the area is remote and deserted.
Containment Log:
"I'm D-496, assigned to this anomalous contact mission. I believe I've spotted the target."
The Plague Doctor calmly walked toward D-496, who hesitated as he looked at the figure.
The Foundation ordered the D-Class to approach and attempt communication.
"Alright… I'll try."
D-496 cautiously walked toward the Plague Doctor and waved.
The Plague Doctor paused and looked at D-496.
Then it spoke.
Wearing a bird-like mask, its face was obscured, and the rest of its body was covered in a black robe.
It was impossible to determine how it spoke or whether it had human vocal organs.
"Oh hello! It's so nice to see someone here, I haven't seen anyone in ages. (French)"
Its voice was muffled by the mask, making it hard to tell the gender, but it didn't sound particularly old.
"Uh, was that French? I think we need a translator. (English)"
D-496 called for help from the Foundation.
He was a death row inmate transferred from a French prison—not highly educated and certainly not fluent in French.
"Oh, proper English. No problem, I can speak English too. (English)"
The Plague Doctor responded again, now in English.
D-496 blinked in surprise and continued the conversation.
"Oh wow, even the anomaly's more educated than me. (muttering)"
"May I ask who you are and what your goal is? (loudly)"
The Plague Doctor paused before replying:
"As for my name, I seem to have forgotten… But I am a doctor. My purpose is simple: I must save people and cure this great calamity!"
As they spoke, D-496 and the Plague Doctor gradually got closer.
Perhaps because the Plague Doctor was able to communicate and appeared very polite and courteous, D-496 let down his guard a bit and didn't maintain distance.
The Foundation then ordered D-496 to explain their intention to contain the entity.
Just as D-496 was about to comply, the Plague Doctor suddenly pointed at one of the D-Class personnel.
"Plague! That one carries the plague! Get away from him! Allow me to treat him!"
The sudden shift caught everyone off guard.
The Plague Doctor's tone turned urgent and agitated.
In the next moment, it charged at the identified D-Class.
The other D-Class personnel panicked and tried to flee.
The Foundation immediately ordered them to stay put or face termination.
They froze in fear, watching the scene unfold.
Only the one identified by the Plague Doctor continued to flee.
The Plague Doctor's speed exceeded that of a normal human—the chase didn't last long.
As soon as it touched the D-Class, readings indicated immediate death due to organ failure.
Then, the Plague Doctor pulled strange surgical tools and unknown chemicals from its robe.
After a round of "treatment," the D-Class personnel was turned into a Plague Doctor thrall.
The Foundation demanded an explanation.
D-496 asked in a trembling voice,
"Why… Why did you do that?"
Having calmed down, the Plague Doctor returned to its courteous demeanor.
"He had the plague. I am a doctor. It is my duty to cure him."
D-496's eyes widened.
"You're saying… what you just did was a treatment?"
The Plague Doctor nodded.
"Of course. Now he's healthy. I've cured him of the plague, haven't I?"
Upon investigation, the Foundation confirmed that the D-Class had recently suffered from a contagious flu.
They hypothesized that his infectious illness triggered the Plague Doctor's behavior.
Later, a team of thoroughly examined, completely healthy Foundation researchers wearing protective suits approached the Plague Doctor.
After further discussion, it agreed to accompany them to a Foundation Site.
On the journey, all civilians were evacuated, and the route was heavily disinfected.
At the site, anyone with any illness was quarantined outside.
The Plague Doctor entered calmly and was taken to a containment room.
Initial containment was successful.
The two 049-2 zombies were destroyed.
By the time Haruto arrived at France, the Plague Doctor had already been secured.
Dr. Seju, the site researcher, was attempting to converse with it to learn more.
Log of the Exchange:
Plague Doctor: Oh, hello! So, how shall we begin? With introductions?
Dr. Seju: Sure. My name is Seju, and I'm a researcher at the Foundation—a Doctor.
Plague Doctor: Oh! What a coincidence! I'm also a doctor! A kindred spirit! May I ask, what is your specialty?
Dr. Seju: Extraction and synthesis of biological hormones.
Plague Doctor: That sounds quite complex. But I'm glad to meet you. (laughs)
Plague Doctor: I thought I was kidnapped by common street thugs! (glances around the room) And this place—is this your lab? I suppose so. It's so clean—almost no traces of plague!
Dr. Seju: Plague? Could you clarify what exactly you mean by "plague"?
Plague Doctor: The catastrophe! The great extinction. Oh, you know… uh— (angrily tapping his temple) What did they call it again?
Plague Doctor: Ah, never mind. A plague is a plague, yes. It's everywhere beyond these walls. You know it. Many have already succumbed, and more will, unless a perfect cure is developed.
Plague Doctor: Luckily, I'm very close. You see, freeing the world from its grip is my life's mission. To end all illnesses!
Dr. Seju: By "the great extinction," are you referring to the Black Death?
Plague Doctor: Uh… I don't know what that is.
Dr. Seju: When you identify the plague, you "treat" them. But didn't you realize your treatment kills them?
Dr. Seju: Or would you say… your treatment revives them? In some way?
Plague Doctor: Hmm, perhaps. But Doctor, you're thinking too small. Broaden your perspective. Life and death, disease and health—those are amateur terms used by amateur physicians.
Plague Doctor: There is only one disease in this world—the Plague. Nothing else! Don't be mistaken. They're all sick—every last one of them.
Dr. Seju: I don't think we can allow you to roam free any longer.
Plague Doctor: That's fine. I can continue my research here.
Dr. Seju: Research here? Are you saying you accept Foundation containment…?
Plague Doctor: Enough talking. Show me my future laboratory. We don't have time to waste, the plague is urgent!
Plague Doctor: Even if I must spend a lifetime on my research, I will. That's fine. I will succeed eventually.
Plague Doctor: I need a laboratory without interruptions, some instruments, and assistants… well, I can provide those myself.
Afterward, Dr. Seju left the containment room.
Inside, the Plague Doctor began producing tools from its body and started conducting experiments.
It also requested a new "assistant"—a D-Class individual—every three months.
The Foundation agreed.