Elias woke up, looking at the ceiling lights in his barracks room. He turned over to look at his alarm clock. The time read 0529 am, he had set his alarm to 6am. However Elias knew that he would wake up before his alarm clock went off, he always did.
He sat up from his bed, and started scanning his room. He made sure that everything was where it was suppose to be. The door was locked, the dresser drawers was closed. Inside his dresser his uniforms were neatly folded. He checked the corners, and even the ceiling vent. He had spent 10 years as a special operative for the US, and another 6 years working with the Foundation. Both had taught him that being paranoid wasn't something to be ashamed of, it was how people in his field survived.
Only when his room inspection was completed, was he able to take a breath and start his morning hygiene routine. He took a shower, giving himself an inspection. Elias did this to make sure that he haven`t been infected or something worse. He had been people becoming infect with diseases and parasites that to this day gave him nightmares.
Once his was done with his morning hygiene routine, he got back to his room in his barracks. He dried off and looked at his missing right arm and with his left hand reached for his prosthetic. The prosthetic arm was Foundation approved, and when he put it on there was a soft mechanical click. With his prosthetic in place, he was able to start his day.
By 0600 am almost exactly he had his uniform on, and he was out the door. Elias walked through the corridors making note of the staff. What were they doing? Were they a threat? Elias was always taking mental notes of everything around him. When he got to his guard post it was not even 615am. His co-worker looked at him confused and said.
"Hey Elias you know that you don't have to be here this early right? There isn't a shift change until like 7 man."
"I know, but I couldn't sleep. "
"Alright man. Hey some of the guys from Hammer down invited me for some drinks out in town later tonight. Its crazy but I think that I might be finally be able to go from security guard to an exact task force member."
Elias looked at the young man in front of him, who looked visually excited about getting sent to a task force. Colton was his name, and he had joined the Foundation a few months ago. Colton, like most other new hires joined as a security personnel first. Colton had no combat experience, and has no exposure to any skips yet besides the one already in containment. The only training he had was the MTF basic training. Elias thought about telling him to just stay as a guard but decided against it.
Both jobs were difficult and had chances of not making it back home. Elias could at least hope that the guys from Hammer down would treat their own with respect and care. From experience knew that Hammer Down was a good task force to be sent to. They were a rowdy group, and this invitation that they gave Colton was probably a way to star the "initiation" into the task force. Every task force had their own version of this, and those that did usual had the highest moral amount their members. Elias remember briefly recalled his time with his team. The initiation process for getting into the team was being able--[A/N: Thanks for pointing this out]---- to memorize each site's evacuation route, as well as being able to navigate each site in the dark.
"That is good to hear Colton, I am glad to hear that. And before you ask the answer is no. I don't want to go out."
"Oh come on Elias. I have been here for months now and not once have I seen you do anything expect this guard duty? You know there is a joke going around that you are a robot or something."
Elias chuckled at that and said.
"Yes, well you can stop the rumors now. I am a human, that I can assure you. Look Colton are job here is serious and you need to stay focus. Working with the Foundation can be unpredictable, and you should be ready for anything."
"Yeah, I know I have heard that from you and everyone else like a thousand times. I know I get it unpredictable and all of that. Anyway, thanks for coming early."
"Anything to report on SCP-082?"
"No sir. The only thing he-"
Elias interrupted
"It. Colton. It. These things aren't human and shouldn't be treated as such. Report you need to follow protocol with these things."
"Yes sir. 082 hasn't really done anything, h-..It has just been watching TV."
"Good work Colton. I got it from here."
"Cool alright Elias best of luck."
Elias watched as Colton left the room. He could only shake his head at the young man. Elias knew that Colton was too green and too eager to be part of an MTF. Hell, most new hires are. It was better pay, a huge bonus, better assignments and everything in-between. Elias sighed as he wondered how Lombardi was. He hadn't talked to him in a while, and Elias refused to use a phone after watching someone being partially sucked into one.
The day continued on, researchers came and went inside along with D-class to conduct interviews with 082. Why they were so hellbent on doing interviews with that thing was in Elias opinion just plane stupid. What could they possible learn from it? Beside the fact that it eats people and believes it is a king of France. It was 4 hours later at 10am that someone called him
"Captain Elias Sir."
Elias stopped for a moment and looked at the person that called his name. It was the Enrique who had called him. He looked at Enrique before saying
"Yes?"
"Director wants you in the office. I don't know why. Sir, but he was insistent about it"
"Alright. You got a turn over for me?"
"Yes sir, that would be myself."
Elias left once he knew that he had done a probably turn over with Enrique. Enrique had very been guard for 082, and Elias wasn't going to let the kid die over something like 'not knowing what to do in case of a containment breach'.
Elias made his way into the Area Director`s office. The whole time wondering if there was a possible breach or if something else had happened. Elias made a list of the things that it possible be, and not one of them was good.
When he got to the door of the Area Director`s office Elias was just about ready to hear any kind of news. From the death of his friends to the possible end of the world happening.
Elias knocked on the door
"Enter" an older male voice said.
When Elias entered the office, his training kicked in. He walked smoothly into the room, about 6 steps from the desk where the Area Director was and immediately went into parade rest.
Elias looked at the man who had served the Foundation for more than two decades. Elias could say with confidence that he looked up to the man, most people here did. Area Director Thomas MacLean was on some of the recovery and mission report logs. Thomas MacLean was a strict but fair leader. Made sure everyone was safe, sound, and knew what they were doing at all times.
"Sir, Elias reporting"
Maclean looked at Elias for a few seconds before sighing.
"Captain Elias. Are you aware of Omega-7 concept?"
Elias thought about it, and didn't have an answer to that question. He knew most if not all the MTFs that the Foundation had, and he never heard of Omega-7.
"No sir. I am not."
Maclean reached into his desk and pulled out a folder, and handed to Elias. Elias looked confused before opening the document and reading it. The more he read the document the more confused he became.
The document listed what Omega-7 was. It was a task force that would utilized humanoid SCPs for their operations. Elias flipped through the file and couldn't believe what he was reading. This was beyond stupid, skips were unpredictable and unreliable. What was even worse was that two of the operative SCPs were on their way no, SCP-076-2 and SCP-8937.
What was the high command thinking? Two dangerous SCPs in a place where there were biohazards skips. The damn heart was bad enough in this place. Elias was going to speak up against this put stopped when he saw MacLean.
Maclean had a serious look on his face, and Elias could tell that there was more to this.
"I have worked with the Foundation for years. Sometimes I don't agree with what the Command tells me. This is one of them. However, I cant deny the benefits of this MTF. Containing 076 is difficult and has cost the Foundation good man. People that I have trained have been killed by that thing. I want it locked up as much as the next agent. But, personal feelings aside it is getting more and more dangerous out there for our agents. Command believes that if we throw SCPs at 076 it will either calm down or die. Both work in our favor."
"Sir what about 8937?"
"Psychology evaluation has determined that 8937 can be molded to fit our mission objectives. Not only that, but somehow the command has signed a contract with it. 8937 can not harm any of Foundation personnel directly or indirectly. Not only that, the 'new hope' orphanage were his friends are, is currently undergoing secret training. Command believes that if we can get the people 8937 believes are it`s friends as agents then it will be more cooperative."
The room was silent for just a brief moment before Maclean continued.
"The agreement with 076 is that it can chose any member to be part of its MTF team. That isn't the case with 8937. Elias, I read through your records. I know that…incident…wasn't something you want to talk about and I know that you joined the guard work here to get out of MTF work. But, I need you on this. I need someone like you. Someone who has experience, knows how to lead, and knows the ins and outs."
Maclean got up from his desk and chuckled as he said.
"You know there was a vote on who would lead this team. It was down between you and another agent. But, I believe that you are the right person for the job."
Elias was surprised that Maclean would think allowing him to lead a team again. He hadn't lead a team in a few years, and he didn't know if he could. His mistake cost his comrades and his team more lives than he could bear to admit.
"Sir…I…Look sir I don't know if I can lead this team. I am sure you read the report. I was regardless and don't my men and researcher personnel killed. I-"
"You think I havent? Son, let me tell you something. In our line of work, not the command or the eggheads or whatever. But, US, the agents the guys out in the field. Our line of work saves lives. We all know that we are going to die someday. Its not a matter of when but if. That being said, being a leader and a commander in this lead of work is difficult. We miss up, I have missed up. But, you got to pull that aside and pick up the fight. Because 'We die in the dark-"
"So you can live in the light…Alright sir. If I am leading this team I want everything we know about 8937. I also want to see who the candidates are for my team."
Maclean smiled and said.
"Perfect. Here is everything we have on 8937, as for the members have Kate pull that list for you. Anything else captain."
"No sir."
"Good. Once you have the teams selected. I will be relaying your orders to you directly. Keep in mind that this MTF is new and will be doing multiple task. You need to keep your team ready to go at all times. You are dismissed Captain Kavanagh"
Elias salute the Area Director and left the room.