Work Text:
It was definitely past midnight—specifically, 01:31 at least. The sky above that can be seen and is visible to the naked eye is as dark as death's eye; it was like a cloth that was stained by ink. However, two researchers at the Site-15 were still not asleep, and it looks like they weren't going to be able to either way. Reason? Well, just say that they were called to stay in their research office because Branzy, the site director, will need them to do something. Perhaps another research project, or maybe something else, for God's sake.
It was fine for both of them though, they’re used to staying up until past midnight like in this scenario and not even sleeping—of course, as long as they have their beloved drink, coffee. The researcher with an eburnean mixed with periwinkle-like colored hair sipped onto his favorite mug full of Americano coffee, still waiting for the site director to come with his research partner, who was sipping a Cappuccino coffee.
After a few more minutes of waiting, the person they'd been waiting for finally came, holding a folder with a few documents, as it seemed.
"Hello researchers, I am deeply sorry for being late. I know I told you that I'd be here at least at 22:00, but let’s just say that some accident happened and I was delayed." He told them in a low, apologetic voice. The researchers both stood up to greet the site director.
"It’s fine, sir; no worries. We understand." One of the researchers replied.
"Oh, thank you for that." He smiled at them a little. "Though, I’ll make this quick because the accident is still not completely resolved. Is it fine for you two?"
"Yes, of course, sir." The researcher, who was still holding the mug with Americano coffee, responded to the question. While the other continuously nodded.
"Okay, so… Tomorrow– Oh, I meant today. Sorry." Branzy properly corrected himself and apologized. "I’ll need the two of you to interview a newly-contained subject. Don’t worry, this subject is… safe. You can decide the time whenever you’re ready." He said as he gave the folder to one of the researchers. "You’ve done this several times, it’ll be easy. Adding the fact that the subject you’ll interview is reliable and not harmful. That’ll be all, thank you two for your work around here." He patted both of them on their shoulder and hurriedly left the researchers’ office.
It took a few minutes for both of them to process what had just happened until one of them finally broke the silence.
"Wow, kind of rude, not gonna lie. Didn’t even let us process what he was saying. Hmph." as he drank the last bit of his Americano coffee. "True", his partner replied as he sat on one of the office chairs within their office, the other also doing the same thing.
The researcher with dark-coated hair looked down at the anomaly file that the site director had given him,
"SCP-7820, temporary code name: Spoke (formerly 'Black Haze')", it read. "Huh, how I wonder how this newly-contained subject already got a former code name." He slightly chuckled. "Oh my? Really? That’s.. kind of odd." "Yeah."
They didn’t sleep, at all.
They read the documents gathered by the Foundation Personnel about SCP-7820, or should we call it ‘Spoke’. After they’ve read all of it, a lot of questions arose from their minds; One being, why was his first code name which is ‘Black Haze’ quickly changed into ‘Spoke’? Adding the fact that the code name sounds… strange. Anyhow, they’ll get the answers to those questions soon enough.
They’ve already called for the interview an hour ago, and soon enough, probably next few minutes, the subject should be already inside the interrogation room with the two of them. Funnily enough, they still got their coffee with them 'til now.
Time quickly passed by, and the subject is finally in the room, with the researchers.
Oh, well, looks like the interview and interrogation shall now begin.
One of the researchers gestured 'Spoke' to sit down across them, which the subject followed to do so.
Apparently, the anomaly file was correct, 'Spoke' really looks like a black haze, kind of built like the air, almost in a humanoid form.
"Please give a brief personal introduction." The researcher with Cappuccino coffee stated to the anomaly with them right now.
"... I don't want to, not until you two introduce yourself first." The anomaly replied, with a monotonous tone.
"Okay, okay... To start off, I am Roshambo, one of the researchers assigned to study and interview you. Though, I would prefer to be called 'Ro' in short." The other researcher holding a mug of Americano coffee straight-forwardly told the subject sitting across him with his partner, "And on my right is Mapicc, my partner in this research." He continued, while Mapicc nodded at what he said.
"Now, please, introduce yourself." Mapicc added to Ro's statement.
"Like... what's my name?" 'Spoke' asked, as he eyed the researchers. They nodded to answer the anomaly's question.
The void-like air awkwardly laughed, before saying, "I'm gonna be honest with both of you... I—.. I don't know either."
Due to that, the researchers gave the subject a confused look, before glancing at each other and looking back at 'Spoke' again. This continued for a few moments.
Until Ro decided to break the silence, "Okay, that's fine... Though, we two were wondering, how was your code name quickly changed from 'Black Haze' to 'Spoke'."
"Oh, it was because I disliked that code name, it's just straight-up shit. Imagine code naming me 'Black Haze'? Hell, I can accept any other nicknames, not just that." The anomaly sarcastically yet slightly laughingly responded.
"So, I plead them to change my code name. Though, on my first tries, they didn't want to. So, guess what I did?" The night fog-like entity questioned the researchers, "Uhm.. What?" Mapicc asked back, wanting an answer.
"I screamed and screamed and screamed! Until they change my code name." 'Spoke' told them, wheezing so hard. "Y'all should've seen their faces, literally so funny."
Both of the researchers took a glance at each other, the two of them feeling bad for the Foundation Personnel 'Spoke' screamed at. Judging from his voice and loud laughing, his shouts must have been very hurtful to human ears. He may be categorized as a Safe-class SCP, but his yells are certainly Keter-class.
"I see. Are you satisfied with your code name now though? Are you sure don't want to change it anymore to something cooler?" Mapicc questioned.
'Spoke' shook his head, "No, no, not anymore. I'm satisfied with my current one."
"Uhuh, okay then. I guess we'll make it your permanent code name." The researcher replied back. "Now, moving on, can you tell me something about yourself that you are totally aware of?" He continued.
"Uhm... I surely am not like you guys, and uhm, I'm probably a 'male' or whatever you all call that in this world and stuff."
"Yeah, that's... totally not obvious already." Ro sarcastically taunted. "Though, may you give us an idea where you came from?"
"Yeah, yeah, I'm from a world where it's like complete darkness and stuff. It's a depressing world, honestly. Full of hatred, darkness, and murder." The SCP answered. The researchers nodded, a sign for him to continue ranting about his place of origin.
"I... seriously hate that hellhole. Every day, there's someone that wants to kill me. It's always dark in there. And yeah, I just didn't see any hope left in that place. So I took the only option I have left, which is to go to another parallel universe. And yeah, as you may know, I landed here, on your planet." He continued.
"Oh... I'm sorry to hear that. I hope I didn't trigger any bad memory or something..." Ro apologetically said.
"Yeah, no. It's all good." The anomaly reassured him. "We can continue this session."
Mapicc nodded and continue asking questions, "Okay, nice to hear. So, are you able to create a portal back to your 'reality'?"
Spoke grinned, "Of course, I can. I can create any portal to any reality possible. And so, I can go back to that place anytime, I simply chose not to do so."
"Oh, interesting. I see, I see..." Mapicc continued as he sip his Cappuccino coffee, "Are there any other entities like you?"
"Yes, the humans in my 'reality' is like me, my species." The SCP claimed, "Though, if you're gonna ask what are we called... I'm sorry to inform you, but I don't know about that part either."
"Rest assured, no worries." The Americano coffee-addict researcher confirmed. "So, when did you get into this 'reality'?"
"Well, from what I remember, ██/██/20██."
"Oh my? You've been here for a while, huh. That explains how you're able to speak English... How did you stay hidden for such a long time? What tricks do you have up in your sleeve?" Ro proceeded on questioning the anomaly.
"I mostly stay hidden in forests and dark places. And I only come out when it's night. If it turns daytime, then I hide again. And then the cycle repeats. Well, not until y'all caught me."
"Okay!... Next o—" Ro was shortly cut off by Mapicc, "Nope, nope, wait! Let me ask my questions first before you proceed."
Ro rolled his eyes in return, "Fine, whatever."
"So, you're from another 'reality' right? Do you have y'all own languages there?" Mapicc asked. "Of course", the subject responded. "I thought I already told that to the Foundation Personnel.." The researcher gave him a perplexed look, "Huh? You did?"
"Yeah, he did Mapicc. We literally read it from his anomaly folder, page 7." Ro gave Mapicc a non-chantingly look. "Jeez, okay.. Sorry, anyhow."
"Is portal or reality jumping fun? Like, what do you feel about your ability?" He proceeded.
"Oh! Going on other realities is quite fun, actually."
"Uhuh, I could see that."
Ro then interrupted the two, "Okay, so can I now interview again?"
"Yeah, yeah."
"Okay, so next one: What is your impression of your time with the Foundation so far?" He interrogated.
Spoke did think a bit, before answering, "Well. It's fine. It's actually better for me to be able to interact with all of you more compared to hiding in the dark and only coming out when it's night." The anomaly continued, "Plus, it's nice to know that I'm not alone."
"Do you have more thoughts?" Ro once again asks him.
"No, not really. Other than how you two are strangely obsessed with coffee."
"Wow, you noticed that?" Mapicc raised an eyebrow, Spoke just laughs in return, and answered with a sarcastic tone, "Of course, I did. I'm not a dumb entity, you know."
"Okay, okay, so... This is the last question, Spoke," Ro told him in a serious tone. The latter nodded.
"So you've been quite cooperative with our Foundation, during your time here." He continued on, "If given the chance, would you work with us?"
Silence. Both of the researchers took a look at each other, the two of them waiting for an answer.
Until, after Spoke thought for a while, the black haze finally answered while grinning, "I would love to."