Return(6)

– Shooting Range, Site-17 - 10:05 AM –

In the shooting range room, Rodeo calmly loads the ammunition into the Casull and Jackal pistols, positioned himself with his legs, arms, feet and the center mass of his body in a way that the recoil of the two powerful guns doesn't break him or sends him flying backwards because he knew very well how deadly these guns are in terms of power and that someone powerful like Alucard could wield them like a boss.

Sure humans who have become Stands possessed extraordinary strength but strength doesn't determine whether these weapons can be wielded properly or not. It depends on the user himself. Rodeo had the same notion.

"Wonder if I can return these back to Alucard?" Rodeo mused, "But that's not going to happen anytime soon so might as well keep them with me for now."

Aiming the pistols at the bullseye targets on the shooting range, Rodeo took a deep breath a couple of times and pulled the triggers on both guns, firing two rounds from them and impact against the bullseye target, penetrating it entirely and striking the wall behind it.

"Woah! Work in progress."

The recoil of the two guns did cause Rodeo to be pushed half a feet backward, but it would have been much worse if he hadn't anchored his feet to the ground and positioned himself perfectly.

"Recoil almost kicked me back but since the cloned bullets are working perfectly like the original, I say we're good."

"meow~!"

Instinctively, Rodeo immediately points Casull and Jackal to the one who made that noise, only to find it was SCP-529, also known as Josie the half-cat.

[IMAGES]

"meow~! :3"

"Oh. Didn't expect you to be here in Site-17," Rodeo said, putting his guns away, "How are you, Josie?"

":3 meow~!"

Crouching down, Rodeo proceeded to pats her head and she started purring, "Cute…" he lightly chuckled. A moment later, he let out a sigh, "Sorry for pointing those guns at you. Just been on edge these days."

Josie tilts its head in confusion.

"...Of course, you wouldn't understand."

"Rodeo."

Glancing to his right, he saw Amelia approaching him.

"I see you've met SCP-529, but I'm pretty sure you know who she is given your knowledge of Scps."

"Yeah... I do."

"…Rodeo, don't you think you should get a break or take a day off today or try to spend time with the others? You just came yesterday, wounded, and even after you had recovered... you've already started working again."

"...I want to be okay, but knowing fully well my enemies are out there preparing, I'm keeping myself prepared for what's to come. I just can't take breaks right now, not in times like these," Rodeo said, looking at Amelia who still had the look of worry visible in her stern look, "Amelia, your concerns for me are alright but I just can't do it these days and combine that with me being a leader of an MTF team, it's hard okay."

"...Can you at least try to meet SCP-053, she's been asking your whereabouts to Michelle during the days that you have been absent. You can do that right?"

Rodeo seemed very hesitant, "...I'll meet her. Might help get my mind off of some things." he said reluctantly.

Amelia smiled, not before long her expression changed, "I'm sorry you had to go through two different universes and... getting hurt, if we could-"

Rodeo interrupted her, "Amelia, I took the risk with SCP-507 and getting involved in two worlds and fighting against two factions of a different universe. You don't need to blame yourself for not trying to save me at Mount Foraker, I'm just happy to see you again."

Amelia returned her smile, "Me too."

"Okay I'll go meet Abby. Keep Josie with you." Rodeo said as he handed the cat Scp to Amelia before departing the shooting range.

Watching as he leaves, Josie stared at Amelia and meowed.

":3 meow!"

Amelia couldn't hold her smile upon seeing this, "Cute."

At that moment, Amelia noticed Miguel emerged from her shadow.

"Miguel? What brings you here?"

"Michelle requires your assistance. Think you can lend a hand?"

"I got no work for today, so perhaps."

——————————————————————

– Abby's Containment Cell, Site-17 - 10:09 AM –

Lying on her bed, Abby's face painted a very bored expression as she stared up at the ceiling.

"I'm bored."

Not until she heard a knock on the door, but it still doesn't change her mood and her disposition remains unchanged

"Come in."

As the door opened, she saw it turned out to be Rodeo.

This time, her expression lightened, "Big bro!"

"Hello, Abby."

Immediately, Abby stood up from her feet and leaped over to Rodeo and Koala hugged his chest. With a light chuckle, Rodeo pats her head and sets her back down.

"It's so great to see you again! Big sis told me you were gone for some important work," Abby cheerfully said as she hopped a couple of times, only to stop when she noticed the cracks on him and her expression deepened to a look of concern, "What are those?" she asked.

"These are just... something I got from work."

"You got hurt didn't you?" Abby said with a saddened look.

"I... yes. But hey, I'm still alright."

"You sure?"

Rodeo pats her head, "I'm very sure, Abby." he said reassuringly in a comfort tone.

"...Okay!" Abby said with a grin, feeling his words might hold true, "You got any gifts for me when you went for work?" she asked.

Rodeo, unfortunately, couldn't get anything for her given the situations he was in the two universes he had gone to.

"Well, I…" Rodeo went deep on thought for a while, trying to think of anything that wouldn't sadden her, until a sudden idea formed in his mind, "Abby, Can you give me a minute?"

"...Sure."

Moments later, Rodeo had returned, but he is not alone as he is along with Angie the doll, who was staring at Abby curiously while Donna was hiding behind Rodeo, too shy to look at Abby.

"This is Angie, Abby." Rodeo said, raising Angie in full display to her.

"._."

"._."

"Uhhh... hello there?"

"...TALKING DOLL!"

"What?"

Before Angie could process this, Abby snatched her out of Rodeo's hands and spinned her around with the biggest smile on her face which warmed Rodeo's soul.

"You're a bit weird looking but you look great in the dress." Abby said, staring at Angie with a broad smile.

"...Thanks." Angie replied as she smiled back.

"The bravery and childish curiosity is strong with this one." Donna murmured behind Rodeo, who let out a nod.

"Yes she is."

At first, Rodeo wasn't sure about her meeting Angie but he knew she wouldn't be scared of Angie if given the chance to understand her. After all, she had made friends with terrifying monstrosities like Scp-682.

"Want to play with me?" Abby offered.

"Sure!"

As the two played, Rodeo glanced at Donna and tilted his head to their direction, "Come on. Don't be shy. She's friendly. Go play with her."

"I... don't know."

"Donna, you along with Angie have been in a house for so many years and had no friends in a way until I came along, and who knows you might find some happiness by playing with her, she needs it because she lost her parents a long time ago... much like you."

"...She has?"

"Yes. The day when I came to Site-17, I made her feel a sense of happiness, and family as well with me, Michelle and the rest of my team, and I believe you should also offer that to her."

"...Okay."

"That's the spirit."

Mustering her confidence, Donna went over to where Angie and Abby were playing one another.

"Hi!" Abby exclaimed as soon as she noticed Donna.

"H-Hi, you wouldn't mind if I... uhhh, join you?" She asked in a shy manner.

"Of course! Any friend of Rodeo is a friend of mine."

Donna smiled, "Thank you."

Rodeo was about to open his mouth to speak when Abby called him out, "Come on, big bro. Join us!"

"...Sure."

And so, Rodeo and the other three played together, Abby was really happy with this and Rodeo couldn't help but feel the same way knowing she got some new friends. Rodeo knew she truly needed this and given that this was the best way to make it up to her for spending more than a week in two different universes.

The four played for another five minutes as Abby drew crayon drawings for them.

Upon checking the time, he learned that they had been playing for five minutes. In the remaining five minutes, he had to convince Donna and Angie to leave the cell to avoid being affected by Abby's anomalous abilities.

As he watched as the playing continued, he soon noticed a few crayon drawings lying on the desk.

"Hm?"

Curious, Rodeo stood up from the floor and approached the desk to inspect one of the crayon drawings, only to find it to be the drawing of... the Scarlet King.

Upon finding this, darkness clouded over Rodeo's eyes as he spoke, "...Abby. What is this?"

"Oh it's that meanie that keeps talking to me in my mind sometimes," Abby answered with a pout, her frown displaying annoyance, "I drew that out of boredom a day back, but it didn't look cute, so I put it on the desk and ignored it."

"...What does he say to you?"

"Getting out with Atanti."

"You mean 682?" Rodeo deeply frowned, already knowing who Abby was referring to. Atanti-ql-Paneu, the true name of Scp-682, infamously known as the Hard-to-Destroy Reptile.

"Yes, but I mostly call him Lizzie."

Rodeo fell silent for a moment, "...What other things did he say to you?" he later asked.

"Free him from his prison. Me being his daughter. The whole Blah blah blah stuff."

"...I see,"

Feeling another wave of anger enveloping him, growing to the point that nearly caused him to grip the paper tightly which would be crushed, Rodeo immediately calmed himself down as he returned his gaze at the young child.

"Abby, I'll head out for now and I'm taking this crayon drawing with me."

"Okay!"

"And us?" Donna and Angie asked.

"Continue playing with Abby for now, but only for less than five minutes, trust me," Rodeo said with a sharp gaze, making the two understand he is being serious with his statement, "Once you two are done or nearly the five minute mark or felt the urge to harm Abby, leave the containment cell immediately."

Donna nodded, "Okay."

Letting out a smile, Rodeo turns around and walks out the containment cell.

——————————————————————

Down the hallway, Rodeo was strolling through while looking at the crayon drawing of the Scarlet King he was held in his hand. Until then, he came to a halt and angrily gripped the paper so hard that he blew it up to atoms.

"Just what the hell are you planning, Scarlet King?" Rodeo muttered in sheer anger and hate, "Forsaken is enough, but dealing with another cosmic God like you hits my nerves."

"You know if you keep talking to yourself like that people just might call you insane."

"Hm?"

Hearing a male's voice behind him, Rodeo spun around and saw it was a scientist with blonde hair and a cowboy hat. And Rodeo already recognizes the person with a cowboy hat.

Dr. Alto Clef.

"Scared ya, kid? Believe me, I scare a lot of things in my life, mostly to death."

"You're Dr. Clef aren't you?"

"The one and only," The man named Dr. Clef said, raising his cowboy hat between his fingers and letting out a friendly nod.

"Oh… and hey, Clef. Is it true you allowed a bunch of D-classes watch you and SCP-173 had se-"

Dr. Clef immediately interrupted him, "Ey! Ey! Ey! I don't know where you get that information from but don't talk about my love life and kinks, okay?" he said with a threatening tone, "Anyway, Spy was kind enough to ask me and Bright's assistance for D4C and he told me some things about you. You're one of those kind hearted people who prefer to put emotions first even though you clearly know the foundation's motto of being heartless," he stated, staring at Rodeo solemnly, "You better know this kid when desperate times come, you need to set all those things aside for the greater good. Believe me I've seen what emotions can result in, and I regret that I created those results."

"You don't need to remind me, Clef. I know a lot of things about you as well, one of them involves having bloodlines and relationships that are anomalous and you know who I am talking about."

Clef chuckled, "Listen kid, I suggest not diving too far into my past with said anomalies that I have... ties to, you'll regret it and even if you do know about them, what do you hope to gain?"

"I know you care about your children, you just don't show it because you believe those emotions will distract you and then the world ends."

"And it almost happened during the Cornwall incident, and if you know about that then you are smart enough to know that I had to end her otherwise we would have gone back to the stone age. If you've read about the biggest wars that happened in the 20th century, then you'll understand what I mean."

"...I already have."

"Then you're just a toddler who doesn't want to accept it, because you're afraid of accepting it," Clef sighed, "I ain't got time for this since I need to discuss with Jones regarding some containment chamber layouts. Better take my words to heart, it might help you live longer."

With that, Clef walked past him and carried on down the corridor.

"Clef!"

Halting his advanced, Clef slightly gave Rodeo a sidelong glance with a raised eyebrow.

"I understand you had to cut ties or try to end them, but I know you loved them one way or another."

"...Perhaps I did or still do, but right now in these times, I'm not sure."

After finishing his statement, Clef continued on walking until he was no longer in Rodeo's sight.

"...Good grief."

"Hey Rodeo!"

Hearing another voice, this time, a feminine one, Rodeo looked behind him to see Iris approaching him.

"Oh… hi Iris."

"I heard from Michelle last night that you came back and…" she pauses as soon as she notices the cracks on his body, "It seems like you've been through... stuff."

"Yeah I have... been through stuff."

"Want to explain them?"

"I'll make it quick."

Taking a deep breath, Rodeo began to explain what he went through, and the more Iris learns, the wider her eyes became.

"Woah…"

"It was wild but I made it, and have been thinking about the whole... change things that I should. That I should mature."

"Is that why you're so bothered?"

"...Yeah."

"Look change... can be tough sometimes but once you slowly accept it, you'll move perfectly with the flow of the change."

"...I don't know. At this point I think changing myself could create something worse out of me and the insanity I've been going through."

Iris raised an eyebrow, "What do you mean?"

"...Nothing. I'm just going to go to my room and take a break."

"Oh, okay sure."

Walking past Iris, Rodeo continued on walking down the hallway with his hands behind his back.

Watching his figure disappeared from her view, Iris sighed, "Can't get a break from the chaos, can he?" she asked herself.

At that moment, Miguel emerged from her shadow and stood right in front of her.

"Oh hey Miguel."

"Hola Iris, Michelle needs your assistance. And Bright, know where he is?"

"I think I saw him in the cafeteria."

"I see. Just meet up with Michelle in the briefing room. I'll bring Bright there myself."

——————————————————————

– Cafeteria, Site-17 - 10:29 AM –

"DROP THAT THING!"

Agent Simmons was racing across the cafeteria trying to apprehend Dr. Bright who was holding a chainsaw and running around, swinging it left and right while Agent Ramsey, Sgt. Johnson and Lucy watched the whole thing from their seats.

"He'll never change." Johnson mumbled, rubbing his forehead in exasperation.

Lucy added, "I mean can you stop him being... well him?"

"...No. You're right."

"Well seeing them running in a circle is giving me a damn headache." Ramsay remarked.

Until then, Dr. Bright stops running as he sees something on the floor.

"Stop Simmons!"

"Why?" Simmons asked, stopping his sprint.

"Shoosh," Bright silenced Simmons as he pointed at the floor, "Look."

Looking down on the floor, what Simmons and Bright found was... a tiny engineer.

"...You're. Ugly."

"What?"

Wearing a creepy smile on his face, the tiny engineer breaks into a dance.

"YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!"

——————————————————————

Miguel was standing outside the cafeteria and was about to enter through a door when he suddenly heard the sound of an explosion erupted from the other side of the door.

BOOM!

"An explosion?!"

Busting the door open, Miguel immediately entered the cafeteria, where he find the entire cafeteria along with Lucy, Ramsey, Johnson, Simmons and Bright covered in black soot in a sort of cartoonish manner as they had a look of shock and confusion on their faces.

"Qué diablos pasó aquí? (What in god's name happened here?)"

"Hey Miguel." Bright said, smoke bursting from his mouth as he coughed.

Miguel sighed, "Bright, what did you do?"

"Welllllllll…"

"You know what, don't," Miguel shook his head and inhaling deeply, "Everyone I need all of your help with something that Michelle has planned and it could help lighten the soul of a certain someone."

His words already caught everyone's attention.

"Okay."

"Good and I'll try to explain what happened here in the cafeteria to Jones."

——————————————————————

Inside the vents, a tiny desk engineer watches the people leave the cafeteria after this guy explains something to them through the vent gate gaps.

"Heh."

Then he continued dancing down the vents as no one knows where it's heading.