33 Darkhold and Angels -31
(I personally consider the TV show, Agents of Shield to be cannon, including how they handled the Darkhold.)
That night, sleep eluded Bruce as he found himself ensnared in an endless loop of analysis, replaying the footage repeatedly to capture every nuance, every detail that might have previously escaped his notice.
He paid particular attention to the Hulk's eyes, subscribing to the notion that the windows to the soul could also be the mirrors of the mind. This method, albeit theoretical at this stage, served as his preliminary approach to gauge the Hulk's cognitive abilities in the absence of more definitive tests.
Bruce's quest for understanding extended beyond mere intellect; he sought to unravel the emotional complexities harbored within the Hulk.
The footage offered fleeting glimpses into this inner world, notably through the Hulk's interactions with the effigy of Betty Ross. The gentleness displayed, a stark contrast to his usual ferocity, hinted at a depth of feeling and thoughtfulness that belied his monstrous exterior.
Equally telling was the Hulk's cautious engagement with the provisioned food. His hesitation revealed a level of suspicion and critical thinking, recognizing the potential for deceit in what was an ostensibly benign offering. Yet, the eventual succumbing to hunger illustrated a struggle with impulse control, a trait not uncharacteristic of a young child's developmental stage.
These observations led Bruce to speculate about the Hulk's emotional maturity and intellectual capacity. Could it be that certain facets of Bruce's own intellect were manifest in the Hulk, albeit filtered through a prism of raw emotion and primal instinct? The footage provided no definitive answers but instead offered a foundation upon which Bruce could build his hypotheses.
This intricate dance between the Hulk's brute strength and emerging signs of a more discernible consciousness fueled Bruce's determination to delve deeper into the psyche of his other self, searching for the threads that connected them both in ways more profound than mere physical transformation.
As inspiration struck, Bruce meticulously documented each emerging thought, envisioning the comprehensive discussions and strategic planning sessions that lay ahead.
In the ensuing weeks, these preliminary observations would serve as the bedrock for designing a more nuanced approach to testing the Hulk's cognitive and emotional capacities.
The concept of enriching the Hulk's environment with games struck Bruce as a promising avenue for exploration. 'Enhancing the complexity of activities in his containment could serve as a gateway to testing his cognitive functions,' he mused, recognizing the potential for play as a tool for mental assessment.
Pondering the introduction of puzzles and more intricate games, Bruce acknowledged the inherent risks of provoking frustration or aggression in the Hulk.
Yet, he couldn't shake off the conviction that such challenges could offer invaluable insights into the Hulk's problem-solving abilities and emotional regulation.
In his notes, Bruce underscored the necessity of a gradual escalation in complexity, starting with tasks that leaned more towards physical interaction. This phased approach would not only facilitate a deeper understanding of the Hulk's intellectual boundaries but also provide critical data for fortifying his containment.
The questions that haunted Bruce's mind were fundamental yet profound: 'Is it possible to teach the Hulk? Can he learn, and more crucially, can he be engaged in reasoned dialogue?' These reflections were pivotal, framing the Hulk not merely as a subject of containment but as a potential entity capable of growth and understanding.
Bruce grappled with his ambivalence towards the Hulk. The entity was, for now, a looming threat in the absence of a cure, but the prospect of leveraging the Hulk's immense strength for protection and intervention in handling other SCP objects was tantalizing.
The myriad dangers cataloged within the Foundation's archives both alarmed and fascinated him, igniting a mix of fear and curiosity.
However, recognizing the need to narrow his focus, Bruce momentarily shelved his curiosity about other SCP entities. The immediate priority was to unravel the complexities of his shared existence with the Hulk.
Yet, the intrigue surrounding SCP-4255 lingered in the back of his mind, a reminder of the season and the mysteries that remained to be explored.
With a renewed sense of purpose, Bruce returned to his notes, the weight of his dual identity pressing upon him yet also offering a unique vantage point from which to engage with the world's anomalies.
The journey ahead was fraught with challenges, but it was driven by an unwavering quest for understanding and, perhaps, a semblance of harmony between Bruce Banner and the Hulk.
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[SITE-001]
[With Alex]
While Bruce was busy Hulking out in the time up to Christmas, Alex was following the case about SCP-204 closely while also checking the locating tool daily to see if more had appeared or only the one.
So far, he was lucky, and no other had appeared, but with each day that passed without catching the boy Jon, who had been unlucky enough to become SCP-204-2, the higher the chance of a new instance appearing before getting the current one in containment.
The reward was ever so close yet still so far away. It would be the perfect way to celebrate the holiday.
'But getting it sooner would still be better. Just two more days left now.' he thought to himself as he walked the halls of his mansion. He had just finished relaxing by the pool like he did almost every day, at least every day he was home.
However, on the eve of December 23rd, as Alex harbored hopes for an early Christmas miracle in the form of SCP-204's capture, fate had other plans. The day's end brought with it news that diverged from his expectations—a different kind of victory, a reward not in the shape he had anticipated, yet significant nonetheless.
While he had been immersed in the realm of paperwork and administration, his team had been engaged in activities far more dynamic and critical.
One unit in particular had just been engaged in a mission, that unit is mobile task force Tau--5, also known as samsara.
It had been some time since Alex was informed that the Foundation had successfully located the Darkhold. It had yet to be in proper containment at the Foundation due to the potential dangers of the object.
After all, the object wanted to be used and would no doubt resist falling into the hands of the Foundation, a group that would very much prevent it from being used and causing the chaos and destruction it sought.
The men and women of the Foundation were all steadfast in their beliefs and commitment to the work the Foundation does. Yet the anomalous abilities of the darkhold to twist the minds of any who possessed it would still be of considerable risk.
After all, the object would attempt to twist the minds of the agents holding it to use it, maybe to impress him or to find more SCP objects. This was something that has been heavily discussed in the upper level of management just below the O5 council.
It was for this reason alone that no action had been taken so far, as countless horrible scenarios had been cooked up in the mind of management.
The fear of agents going rogue and releasing certain SCP objects from containment or potentially shattering the illusion of normality that was carefully maintained by the Foundation wasn't taken lightly.
Mobile task force Tau 5 presented the best option here as the semi-immortal cyborgs were uniquely equipped to deal with situations such as this. At least as uniquely equipped as any parts of the current Foundation were.
Even then, it had taken a while before a proper consensus had been reached for how to proceed with this operation. After all, There were still plenty of dangers and risks involved with the object.
In particular, if Tou 5 themselves should become compromised, as they were without a doubt one of the most powerful, an elite task force of the entire Foundation.
Therefore, a complex system of handoffs and transportation had to be completely arranged ahead of time. To prevent any member of the Foundation from being able to access The Darkhold.
Vault locks and lockboxes have been designed and perfected to the point where as soon as the members of Tau-5, had the object secured and locked away. They would then transfer the lockbox to a new team that would be responsible for further transport.
To mitigate the risk of any one individual within the Foundation becoming overly familiar with the Darkhold or possessing comprehensive access to its containment mechanisms, a rigorous protocol was established.
This involved a cyclic repetition of security measures designed to prevent any single person from having the knowledge or authorization to bypass all the numerous safeguards enveloping the artifact.
Ultimately, the Darkhold would be encased within a formidable structure consisting of 111 nested lockboxes and safes, each progressively larger to enclose the preceding one. This intricate nesting would culminate in a room-sized vault, securely housed within SITE-19's containment cell.
Despite SITE-19's reputation as one of the Foundation's most fortified locations, there lingered the possibility that it might not serve as the Darkhold's perpetual repository. The latent threat of the Darkhold exerting its influence over other SCP entities necessitated caution, making its tenure at SITE-19 provisional, especially considering the SITE's currently limited SCP objects.
The plan for the Darkhold's future involved its relocation to a site specializing in the containment of inanimate SCPs, prioritizing those classified as safe or, at the utmost, Euclid. This strategic consideration aimed to minimize the risk of cross-contamination or the artifact's manipulative reach extending to other anomalies.
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Engaging with the festive spirit of Christmas, Alex decided to mark the occasion in a manner befitting his unique circumstances. "System, please summon one random SCP," he instructed.
His decision was rooted in a deeper curiosity than mere holiday cheer; it was an investigative measure to probe the system's capacity for randomness. He harbored doubts about whether the system's selections were genuinely arbitrary.
Christmas just happened to be a good way to test this further. The plan was to summon a SCP and then see if it would follow the trend of being Christmas-themed as the first three this month had been.
To rigorously assess this phenomenon, He planned a follow-up summoning tomorrow, the 25th. This methodological approach aimed to cast a light at the true randomness of his system.
The inherent risks of summoning multiple SCPs in quick succession were not lost on him. The potential for unintended consequences was significant, yet the prospect of gaining insights into the system's operational nuances justified the endeavor.
[Ding! Understood, Host, please stand by as the random SCP is summoned!]
[Ding! Warning! Host a SCP has appeared in the world and is outside Foundation control! Host is asked to deal with the situation and follow the Foundation's goal of Securing, containing, and Protecting!]
[Ding! Warning! SCP-469 has appeared!]
"Well, that could certainly have been a lot better," Alex mused with a hint of irony as he hunkered down in his bunker, poring over the details of the SCP entity that had just been thrust into the Marvel universe.
The entity, designated as a many-winged Angel, intriguingly aligned with the Christmas theme, lending credence to Alex's suspicion. However, the festive alignment was overshadowed by the entity's classification as a Keter class anomaly, which spelled out considerable danger.
Unlike SCP-169, whose containment was fundamentally unattainable, this Angel's challenge lay in its relentless growth, something not even the original Foundation had been able to stop.
This revelation raised the alarming possibility of an impending apocalypse, triggered by the unchecked expansion of an ostensibly divine creature.
In a bid to circumvent this catastrophic outcome, Alex contemplated the use of vibranium. Known for its vibration-absorbing properties, vibranium emerged as a potential solution to mitigate or even halt the Angel's growth.
Constructing a vibranium-enforced anechoic chamber was innovative, potentially reducing the anomaly's growth rate significantly. However, the scarcity of vibranium posed a significant hurdle, with Alex's quarter-ton stockpile falling short of the requisite amount for such an ambitious containment strategy.
The strategic value of vibranium was not lost on Alex, its utility extending beyond the containment of a single entity to encompass a myriad of other challenging SCPs. The metal's potential to securely contain beings as notorious as the "shy guy," the "old man," and even the "hard-to-destroy reptile" underscored its unparalleled worth.
This realization brought Wakanda into focus as a critical ally or adversary, depending on the outcome of negotiations for access to more vibranium, especially in light of a threat as grave as the many-winged Angel.
Faced with the uncertainty of the Angel's emergence location, Alex hoped for a scenario akin to its original appearance in a remote cave, far from the cacophony of urban centers like Times Square. Such isolation would naturally limit the anomaly's exposure to sound, thereby slowing its growth.
As Alex redirected his attention to the system interface, contemplating the "pre-capture rewards" typically associated with Keter class entities, he acknowledged the silver lining in the daunting task ahead.
The system's generosity in rewarding the containment of high-risk anomalies offered a semblance of consolation, even as he braced for the complex challenges of managing the latest addition to his extraordinary collection.
