35 Ripple of Strategy -33
On the crisp morning of December 25th, Alex received the news he had eagerly anticipated. The solitary instance of SCP-204, now secured, was on its way to containment, marking a significant victory and a relief for Alex.
This success offered him a brief respite to attend to pending tasks before embarking on his next endeavor: summoning another SCP in hopes of deciphering more about the mysterious system at his command.
However, the prospect of summoning another entity was not without its apprehensions. The potential emergence of a perilous Keter class SCP loomed large in his mind, as did the unique case of SCP-343. Classified as Safe due to its compliance with containment as long as it chose to remain so, SCP-343's presence in a new world posed a peculiar challenge.
Should SCP-343 perceive this universe as different and choose to explore its bounds, the Foundation, as it currently stood, would find itself powerless to enforce containment.
Risks and rewards go hand in hand, they said, and this was a risk worth the reward indeed.
Before long, the system updated Alex with the news that Jon, the young boy embodying SCP-204, had been safely transported to his new residence at SITE-19. This update not only marked the successful containment of a significant anomaly but also represented a moment of triumph for Alex and his team.
[Ding! Congratulations to Host for the successful containment of SCP-204! Rewards are being given out!]
Upon receiving the system's notification, Alex quickly discerned that the message didn't specify the containment of a singular entity, leaving him uncertain about the rewards for multiple instances of an SCP.
This realization sparked his curiosity about how the system would respond to the containment of SCPs with multiple manifestations, noting the necessity for a different SCP with such characteristics for further exploration.
However, his attention swiftly shifted to the reward at hand, a sense of accomplishment washing over him as he evaluated its significance. The reward for containing the Keter class SCP was exceptional, surpassing all previous compensations he had received.
[Ding! Congratulations to Host for receiving the reward. Ability: Ripple Retreat!]
This ability was looking to be far more useful and powerful than any of the traits and abilities he had gotten so far. Well, maybe, except for the ability to turn anything he touched to gold, but he still only had half of that power!
That was indeed an ability right out of legend; this one, however, wasn't bad either. More so since it was a lifesaving ability in the right situation.
Yet, Ripple Retreat wasn't without its limitations. Unlike the instantaneous nature of teleportation or the mystical portals conjured by the Masters of the Mystic Arts, this ability had constraints that required careful consideration.
"System, can you explain the ability to me? I'm quite sure I already understand it, but I wouldn't mind an explanation."
[Ding! Understood Host! The power to teleport to any body of water you've previously touched but emerging from the water is noisy and conspicuous, and the process is slow and visible!]
As Alex digested the system's response, he found himself frustrated by its partial disclosure. It seemed the system had omitted several critical details about Ripple Retreat that had appeared in his head upon gaining the ability. These omissions, covering key aspects of the ability's operation, underscored the system's habitually enigmatic nature.
"As unreliable as always!" he grumbled, leaning back in frustration. Despite the system's cryptic tendencies, Alex recognized the strategic value of his new ability, even within its limitations.
Resolved not to let the day slip away without leveraging his unique position, he decided to proceed with his plan. "Well, I might as well just summon today's SCP before it gets too late; it's supposed to be a Christmas morning thing, after all," he mused, preparing to embrace the uncertainty and potential chaos of summoning yet another SCP, in keeping with the spirit of the season.
"System, summon one random SCP!"
[Ding! Understood, Host, please stand by as the random SCP is summoned!]
[Ding! Warning! SCP-137 has appeared!]
[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!]
Upon encountering an SCP unfamiliar to him, Alex quickly dove into the Foundation's database for clarification. Relief washed over him as he identified the SCP in question as belonging to the Euclid class—a designation he found a bit high, personally he saw it having the potential for a safe classification. To him, the SCP's nature as extraordinarily realistic toys didn't warrant heightened concern.
The realization that this SCP, like the previous ones he had summoned around the Christmas period, was connected to themes of festivity and joy, bolstered his skepticism towards the system's supposed randomness. The pattern was becoming undeniable, with each summoned SCP bearing relevance to Christmas. This recurrence was too consistent to be mere coincidence, prompting Alex to question the underlying mechanics of the summoning system more critically.
"How do I test it further? Do I wait until next year?" Alex mused, wrestling with the challenge of validating his suspicions. After some deliberation, he acknowledged the difficulty in devising an immediate and effective test, short of summoning numerous SCPs in rapid succession—a strategy fraught with its own risks.
Resolved to maintain a vigilant eye for patterns in the SCPs' appearances and their thematic connections, Alex decided to table his theory for ongoing observation. The immediate excitement of exploring his newly acquired ability, Ripple Retreat, provided a welcome diversion.
…
Positioned by the poolside, Alex oversaw the preparation for his experiment with the Ripple Retreat ability. His appearance was incongruous with the task at hand, still clad in a sleek black designer suit, a stark contrast to the practicality of the exercise.
Beside him, an aide stood ready with a towel, a subtle reminder of the leap from the ordinary to the extraordinary that was about to take place. The members of ALPHA-1, including the chief of his personal security detail, were assembled, embodying the highest echelon of trust and confidentiality within his organization.
"Fill it all the way up. More water isn't going to hurt, but too little will be annoying," he directed, ensuring the large casket before them was adequately prepared for what was to come. His command halted the personnel in their tracks, prompting them to comply fully with his instructions.
Once the casket was brimming with water, Alex initiated a discreet dismissal of the lower-ranked personnel. With a nod, ALPHA-1 escorted them away, ensuring the sensitive nature of the forthcoming demonstration remained within a tight circle. The underground base swallowed the dismissed personnel, a physical barrier between the ordinary and the secrets that were about to unfold.
Turning to his remaining team, Alex's demeanor shifted to one of solemn gravity. "Alright, what you are about to be informed about is highly confidential and must not be leaked under any circumstances!
I do hope this is understood; the only reason you are even allowed to know this is due to the current situation and your status as my guards. Do you all understand that?" His voice, firm and commanding, cut through the air, demanding absolute secrecy and loyalty.
The response from his team was immediate and resolute. "YES, SIR!" they affirmed, their unified shout piercing the calm of the morning. Their posture, rigid and unyielding, reflected their commitment and the weight of the trust Alex placed in them.
"Good, then observe," Alex commanded with a tone of finality, signaling the imminent demonstration of his newfound ability. He approached the pool, a precursor to the extraordinary act he was about to perform. His fingertip met the cool surface of the water, an interaction unnoticed by his senses due to his unique trait that rendered him impervious to temperature variations.
Without hesitation, Alex then moved to the large casket prepared on his instructions. Its dimensions were generous, designed to accommodate a man of his stature fully submerged. With a deliberate step, he entered the casket, lying down until the water enveloped him completely.
The ALPHA-1 team, tasked with his protection, watched intently as the water began to churn unnaturally, as if heated to a boil. Concern sparked within them, prompting a collective lean forward, ready to intervene. But their movements froze as they witnessed the impossible; their leader had vanished from the casket.
A murmur of disbelief rippled through the group as their eyes were drawn to the pool, now mirroring the casket's earlier disturbance. The water's surface roiled vigorously, heralding the re-emergence of their boss. Weapons were instinctively tightened in their grips, a reflex of their training, but they soon relaxed, recognizing the figure emerging from the tumultuous waters.
Alex rose from the pool with a measured slowness, each movement causing ripples to fan out, capturing the attention of all present. After about 20 seconds, he fully emerged, stepping onto the poolside. His eyes flickered open, and he drew a calm breath, signaling the end of the demonstration.
The display of Ripple Retreat, from disappearance to reappearance, left an indelible mark on those who witnessed it. It was a stark reminder of the extraordinary capabilities at their leader's disposal, a vivid illustration of the power that lay beyond the bounds of ordinary understanding.
For the members of ALPHA-1, it was a moment of awe, a glimpse into the depth of secrets and abilities that defined their enigmatic charge.
"Ensure a casket like this is always at hand during outings; additionally, staff must be prepared here to receive me, should I need to utilize this retreat method. There will be no questions, no answers. You've witnessed its execution; adapt accordingly," Alex instructed the assembly with a tone that brooked no debate.
He then accepted the towel from his aide, a gesture of practical necessity rather than comfort. His unique trait might negate the chill of the water, but it did nothing for the discomfort of a soaked, cumbersome suit.
The purpose behind revealing Ripple Retreat to his security detail was strategic, born from a need to ensure his safety in unpredictable situations.
The ability to disappear and reappear at will, while a formidable asset, came with its own set of limitations and vulnerabilities that needed to be understood by those closest to him.
This knowledge was crucial, not just for operational efficiency but for preventing potential friendly fire incidents due to misidentification.
Alex acknowledged the compromise involved in sharing the specifics of his ability. Informing his team about the preparatory requirement of touching the water first and the ability's slow execution might diminish its surprise element.
However, the decision was calculated. Without a foolproof means to dodge a barrage of bullets, the trade-off for transparency with his trusted circle was deemed necessary for his survival strategy.
As he contemplated the utility and constraints of Ripple Retreat, Alex hoped the necessity to employ this method would remain minimal.
While it provided an invaluable escape mechanism, the ideal scenario would involve no need to abandon his escorts or rely solely on reinforcements awaiting his reemergence.
With these thoughts, he proceeded to change out of his drenched attire, ruefully considering the likely ruin of his suit—a small price for the demonstration of a life-saving ability.
…
After swapping his drenched suit for a fresh, crisp one, Alex settled back into the relentless rhythm of his daily responsibilities. His thoughts, however, couldn't help but drift towards the remarkable journey of the past month—a period marked by an unprecedented surge in SCP summonings. Indeed, the frequency and volume of these occurrences had shattered all previous records, casting the month in a unique light of both triumph and challenge.
The month had kicked off with a singular summoning on December 1st, which unexpectedly brought two additional SCPs into the fold, courtesy of the system's milestone reward—a mechanic that, while helpful from an outside perspective, was a real danger.
Subsequent further summonings on the 24th and 25th further bolstered the count, culminating in a total of five SCPs integrated into the Foundation's care within a mere thirty days. This influx, while strategically significant, also underscored the unpredictable nature of his interactions with the system.
Among the Keter class SCPs summoned, their threat levels varied. One posed a direct danger due to its inherent lethality, another was deemed impossible to contain, and a third, though less lethal, threatened the delicate balance of normalcy the Foundation strove to maintain. The remaining two SCPs, oscillating between Euclid and Safe classifications, presented their own set of challenges and opportunities for containment and study.
This surge in activity had propelled the Foundation into a period of rapid expansion, with its global personnel count swelling to over a quarter of a million. The strategic advantage of such a vast network of operatives was undeniable, providing Alex with a robust foundation to navigate the complexities of his role.
Yet, this expansion was not without its drawbacks. The sudden increase in personnel, while a testament to the Foundation's growing capabilities, risked attracting unwanted attention, posing a potential threat to the secrecy that was paramount to the organization's operations.
There were still forces, such as the ancient one, around which he would be powerless to do anything against. Having an SCP object in his containment that would allow him some measure of ability to restrain her would indeed be most welcome.
Alex would make do with what he had, and he was not unhappy with what he had gotten at all, for while most of the safe class objects contained within the Foundation were of minor usefulness, he was aware that he also could have gotten some incredibly dangerous objects.
Overall, he thought that these first six months had played out rather well. Given the fact that the Darkhold was safe, it was an enormous relief. Having that fall into the hands of either Morgana le Fay or Agatha Harkness would have increased their danger rating to a whole other level.
At their current level, he was relatively sure that the Foundation could eliminate them both if necessary. Had they secured the Darkhold, he would have no hope and could, at best, have called for the sorcerer supreme and hoped she would act, but who knew what she had seen with the time stone.
No, the ancient one was a dangerous and unpredictable wild card. Sure, he had no intention of going against her. She was too valuable for the world and, by extension, Alex, but that did not diminish her own threat to both him and the Foundation as a whole.
She was undoubtedly preferable to strange, someone who was arrogant, rash, and thought himself the best. Believing himself to know everything and have all the answers.
Perhaps he would end up meddling enough that she wouldn't die. He did, after all, have SCP-006.
Not just the ancient one, but even Oden the allfather might benefit from those waters. Another risky move. After all, he had been a warmonger once and incredibly powerful, but he could be a powerful card against the likes of Thanos, not to mention that keeping him alive would keep hella locked up.
As thoughts and plots swirled within his head, Alex couldn't help but be thankful that he'd arrived sometime before things started to kick off, as it would allow him a more steady progression to the point where he could begin changing events to benefit himself.
Speaking of changing events to benefit himself, the Hulk and Hank Pym already having somewhat joined up with the Foundation would also have an impact on the future, even if minor, but he did intend to make good use of them and the changes his actions have brought.
Why with these changes, his future knowledge might become less valuable, but he did not regret it, as knowing about the future and doing nothing is no different from not knowing at all. The key is to know when to act and when not to, and so far, his actions have not changed anything significant in the short term, at least.
Bruce Banner and the Hulk were always destined to reconcile. And Pym was always destined to save his wife and help cure Ava. This had stayed the same. He just pushed some timelines around.
The rescue of the Black Widows from the Red Room and their incorporation into the Foundation was another move with long-term implications, further exemplifying Alex's proactive approach to altering the course of events for strategic advantage.
Informing Tony Stark about S.H.I.E.L.D.'s secrets, however, was a gamble that could have unforeseen consequences. This action underscored the delicate balance between utilizing his knowledge to effect change and the risk of unintended ripple effects.
With the year drawing to a close, Alex allowed himself a moment of respite. He had a week before he would summon yet another SCP into the world. Time he hoped would see another of the loose SCP objects out there found and contained. SCP-469 in particular would allow him to sleep a bit easier once contained.
He wouldn't turn down having 134 contained either, though the system provided no direct means to facilitate their capture. It was just as useless as always.
