The Hand of Okra [An SCP Fanfiction]

2. The First Step

SCP-049 sat at its desk, several notebooks splayed in front of it. The words swirled in front of its eyes. Dammit, zoning out again. It lifted a hand to its face and hit its forehead with the ball of it. Focus! It had to replace the studies that Dr. Ember took for research again. They would never be complete at this rate.

Chk-wssshhh

The SCP snapped from its trance and looked towards the door. Three people walked in: two security guards and a researcher. The MTF units wielded restraining bars, so 049 knew it was going to be transported. Running fingers through her dark hair, the researcher spoke, although hoarsely.

"Eh, SCP-049?" She opened a filing folder in her arms. "Yeah, that's right. Um, we're taking you... to do a cross-test. Now if you could kindly c-comply." She motioned for the entity to come closer.

"I see," it muttered, standing from the desk. "Might I ask who you are? I do not recognize you."

"I, uh, can't disclose that, sorry."

The MTFs approached SCP-049 and attached their restraints to its throat. Were they looser than usual? 049 shook the thought. That wouldn't happen, especially not under Ember's rule.

The three approached the researcher, who was standing by the door. In fact, the MTFs placed the SCP within arm's length of her. It was confused, but a wave of rebellion suddenly overtook it.

As the woman held her ID to the door, 049 reached a hand to her arm. Closer, closer, closer. Until its palm landed on her shoulder. Nobody reacted, nobody moved. Not even her. She turned her head to face the anomaly, her face contorting into a grin. Her dark eyes pierced the SCP.

"Oh-four-nine. Do you not recognize me?"

Its heart skipped a beat. The woman's voice had dramatically dropped in tone, sounding more like a man than anything. The SCP's eyes darted across her body, observing her hair, skin color, and stature. It knew this person!

"Doctor Okra!" it declared in a whisper. "You came back-"

But he pressed a finger against his lips, silencing the creature.

"There are areas in the hallway where we can speak further," a male MTF spoke from behind SCP-049. He clicked his tongue. "I'll signal when it's safe."

Okra turned back to the door, sliding his keycard across the monitor. SCP-049's hands snapped to a position in front of its body, receiving heavy handcuffs from the guards behind it.

They stepped into the hall with the fake researcher leading the way. He cleared his throat and returned to his wavering, high-pitched voice.

"Now, if-if you could just cooperate. We're going, uh, offsite. Because this is going to be quite a... potent combination. I think."

The four passed a small group of people who were speaking and laughing amongst themselves. As they turned the corner,

Clock.

"Cross-testing," 049 began in a whisper. "Who am I doing that with? Why?"

The female MTF scoffed from behind the SCP. "There's no way we're actually doing that. We're busting you two outta here."

Okra raised a hand to the side. "Exactly," he added. "And it's SCP-035, since you two seem to have been close. We have observed your interactions from breaches and interview footage, thanks to Eric back here."

Clock.

SCP-049 spotted a security camera down the hall. It panned in their direction as they passed. They just exited its range when-