"Seriously? You expect me to believe that?" 
"| don't know what else to tell you." 

"Look, are they making you say this? 

"I'm doing this of my own free will.” 

"| can't accept that." 

"You have to," she said, and turned away. 


"| thought there was something between us. A little bit. Maybe not 
now, but...at some point." 


"You were mistaken." 


"C'mon, Lakshmi. Last night - you let me hold you. You came to me. 
You didn't have to, but you did anyway. Don't tell me that doesn't 
mean anything." 


"It was a natural response to a traumatic event," she snapped. "I'm 
on your research detail, 5760. Do you really need that explained to 
you, what that means? Because it means | don't care about you. 


That's what it means." 
5760 looks at her blankly. "Go," it said finally. 
"I'm afraid | can't do that." 


"Just go. I'll be fine. | don't want to deal with this right now, okay? 
Just let me sleep." 


Lakshmi didn't think twice as she left 5760 alone in the forest and 
locked the door behind her. 


"Hi, 5760," she called into the forest. No response. It had been a 
week since their last meeting. Lakshmi wasn't entirely certain how 
receptive SCP-5760 would be to her presence. 


"Don't take it personally." Gonzalez's voice crackled in her headset. 
"It had a rough night - whatever's trying to possess it was laying low 
for the last month or two, but it resurfaced tonight with a fucking 
passion. Nobody was hurt, but there was a hell of ruckus. It 
managed to gain control in time to save three researchers and an 
agent, but the thing didn't like that. It kept bashing itself into the 
walls, cutting itself - we think as punishment." Gonzalez spat the 
word out. "We had to sedate it in order to treat it. It's sleeping right 
now." 


This is my fault. 


"I'll be quick, then." She tried and failed to keep the guilt from her 
voice. 


Lakshmi picked her way past shrubbery made of metatarsals and 
found 5760 sleeping with its nose tucked under its tail. 


This would be a hell of a lot easier if it didn't look so much like an 
overgrown puppy sometimes. 


As she knelt down beside it, it cracked open one bleary eye. 


"Hey," she whispered. "Didn't mean to wake you." 


"Mrr." 
Avery always was a terror in the mornings. 


"| just wanted to apologize. For earlier. | just..l said some things | 
shouldn't have. | didn't mean what | said, about you not...| was 
angry and | wanted to hurt you like you hurt me. | regret it. | wish I'd 
never said any of it. And before you say it was fine, it wasn't. And | 
understand if you don't want to talk to me, and..." 


"No. 's fine. 'pology ‘cepted. Woulda done same." 


"I'll leave you to your nap, then," Lakshmi said, patting it on the skull 
before starting to creep away. 


A rustle. 5760 cocked its head ever so slightly. "Stay?" 
"Of course. Of course I'll stay." 


"Th'nk." Lakshmi knelt and allowed 5760 to rest its head in her lap. 
She stroked its head gently until its slow, even breathing had 
drowned out the never ending chatter of the skeletal forest. 


In spite of herself, before she left, she planted a quick kiss on 5760's 
skull, right between its antlers. 


"Gonzalez," she called, not bothering to knock, "! know I'm early, but 
you said you wanted to see me -" But Gonzalez was gathering his 
things from his desk and packing them in a cardboard box. He 
looked up and gave her a wry smile. "Actually, Chief of Security 
wanted to see you. That's not me anymore. When an overgrown 
hairball escapes from the cell you built for it special so it wouldn't 
escape, you lose a lot of job security." 


A woman with skin like coal and eyes like onyx walked in, 
dreadlocks braided back impeccably. 


"Dr. Agarwal, | presume." 
"Yes," 


"I'm Monika Lowell. New chief of security.” 


"I'll be out of here," Gonzalez said, pushing through the door with his 
shoulder. 


"Sit, Doctor," requested Lowell, and Lakshmi sat. 


"Gonzalez gave me a summary of the current containment 
procedures for 5760," she said. Lakshmi nodded. "It seems to me 
your initial concerns were completely legitimate. Ethics will certainly 
be hearing about this." Lakshmi's stomach dropped. "I'm taking you 
off of 5760's research detail," Lowell continued. 


Lakshmi had always known this would happen, in the back of her 
head. The idea was a relief, and yet... 


"I'm not certain that's a good idea," she managed. 
"The fact is, you never should have been on it in the first place." 
"| don't think you understand -" 


"Gonzalez told me all about their experiments with 5760. But he 
forgot that we don't cater to anomalies just because they threaten 
us. Also, the blatant disregard for professionalism - | mean, it used 
to be your partner. There's no way you could ever be objective." 


Lakshmi was silent. She couldn't protest, because that would be 
evidence of attachment. It would be easier to just acquiesce. To give 
in. And didn't she want this? But when she tried to open her mouth 
to agree, she could feel those pale green eyes watching her. 


| thought there was something between us, she'd said, quiet and 
resigned. And she'd been right. 


"I'll let you Know what the new containment procedures will be so 
you can approve them, seeing as you have a history with 5760. After 
that, you'll be reassigned." 


She merely nodded, and begged Avery not to judge her. 
What choice do | have? 


End of Part 4 


Dr. Mirth: Very impressive. We will be testing it, I’m sure 
you know. 


Mr. Deeds: | did not know that you would, but it makes 
sense, | suppose. Will there be anything else, Dr. Mirth? 


Dr. Mirth: Yes. For your next task, | would like for you to 
acquire for me a blue 1963 Corvette convertible. 


Mr. Deeds: | am quite sorry, but that is not possible. 
Dr. Mirth: Why not? | really want one. 


Mr. Deeds: Again, | cannot say why except that | just 
know that one cannot be gotten via my methods. 


Dr. Mirth: And what are those methods? 
Mr. Deeds: | do not recall. 


Dr. Mirth: Very well, | would like a Fabergé egg, any will 
do. 


Mr. Deeds: Ah, well, regretfully, that is impossible as 
well. 


Dr. Mirth: And | suppose you cannot say why? 
Mr. Deeds: That is correct. 


Dr. Mirth: How about some caviar? Any brand or type 
will do. 


Mr. Deeds: That | can do. 


Mr. Deeds once more entered the hallway outside the 
interrogation room. This time, the cameras were turned 
off after visual confirmation of Mr. Deeds’ entry into the 
hall. One minute later the cameras were turned back on, 
but Mr. Deeds had already returned to the interrogation 
room at this point. 


<< HUB >> 


I Slip, I'm Still An Animal 


SCP-5760 Incident Log Delta: 

As of 05/04/2016, SCP-5760 has breached containment 
and has not been reclaimed. Former Security Head 
Gonzalez appears to have organized its escape, in 
addition to contacting the Serpent's Hand and arranging 
pickup of SCP-5760. MTF Rho-27 (Good Boys) has 
been sent in pursuit. Below is a timeline of the incident: 
[11:00] Dr. Lakshmi Agarwal enters SCP-5760's 
enclosure for a final meeting, as was permitted by 
Branch Security Administrator Lowell. Security Head 
Gonzalez waits outside, claiming to be supervising. 
[11:02] All surveillance cameras in SCP-5760's 
enclosure cease function and security systems are 
electronically overridden. 

[11:05] SCP-5760 escapes enclosure, carrying Dr. 
Agarwal with it, and all instances of SCP-5760-A 
following behind. It appears to be making its way to the 
helicopter landing platform. Site-81 goes into lockdown 
and security teams are deployed. 

[11:09] SCP-5760 encounters a team of security guards 
equipped with tranquilizer guns. SCP-5760 is told to call 
off all SCP-5760-A instances and return to its enclosure. 
SCP-5760 manipulates the security guards' bony tissue 
and causes them to shoot themselves in the thigh with 
tranquilizers, and proceeds uninhibited. 

[11:15] SCP-5760 exits the building onto the helicopter 
pad after disabling the exit override with assistance from 
Gonzalez. 

[11:16] SCP-5760 and its cohorts are ambushed by a 
squad of containment agents, who attempt to open fire 
onto SCP-5760. SCP-5760 forces all agents to drop their 
weapons, and encases them behind a circular wall of 
bone tissue. SCP-5760 climbs the wall surrounding the 
Site-81 compound and evades capture by entering into 


the forest outside the compound, where a contingent 
from the Serpent's Hand retrieved them. 


"Who are these guys again?" 5760's teeth were a little too close to 
Gonzalez's ear for Lakshmi's comfort, but she'd still rather have 
been in Gonzalez's spot. Crushed between 5760 and a particularly 
unfriendly-looking Serpent's Hand agent, she was practically sitting 
on Avery's lap. 


"Kinda like PETA, but for SCPs." 
"Oh." 


The van went over a bump in the road, slamming 5760 and Lakshmi 
against the gruff Serpent's Hand operative. 


"Watch your goddamn dog, will you? Jesus. Almost got crushed." 


"She can watch herself," Lakshmi grumbled. "And she's not my 
dog." 


"Are you going to be angry at me the entire trip?" 


"| don't know, 5760. How long would you take to get over your anger 
at being abducted?" 


"We didn't abduct you -" 


"| was taken out of the site against my will and with no prior 
knowledge or consent to the situation." 


"Okay, fair, but can you at least be angry at him, too?" 
Gonzalez leaned over 5760 and towards her. 


"| don't think you understand the situation. They had, well, 
compromising footage." 


Snickers from the Serpent's Hand agents. 


"Not that kind of footage, you sick fucks. But they saw you and her 


in the hospital room together. Ethics Committee was due to meet on 
what to do with you the day we broke out. There was no way they 
were going to do anything other than shoot you, kid." 


Lakshmi looked away. "Thank you," she said sheepishly. 


"There was no time to tell you," Avery added quietly. "We would 
have if we'd had the chance." 


"And don't tell me you wouldn't have gone," Gonzalez said. "You're 
stubborn, but not that stubborn." 


"Well..." Avery said. "That's...debatable." 

"| swear to god, | will have you muzzled." 

"You should get some sleep," Avery said. "You're exhausted." 
"I'm fine." 

"Sleep, Lakshmi, or | will sit on you." 


Lakshmi leaned back and closed her eyes. The van was moving too 
much for her to truly fall asleep, but she was able to reach that half- 
asleep, restful dream state reached only in moments of 
transcendent meditation, exhaustion, or boredom. She overheard 
Avery's conversation with one of the friendlier-looking team 
members. 


"It's funny, actually...We were dating before all this. | broke up with 
her a little while before she joined the Foundation." 


"No shit. Really? Must've been a hell of a first date." 


"Yeah. Really. She didn't know who | was at first, but we ended up... 
well, reconnecting isn't the right word. Pro tip: saving girls from 
gigantic, corrosive hairballs turns out to be one hell of a romantic 
gesture. Until it isn't. Hopefully she'll forgive me for all this. She's like 
that. Chew you out ferociously for a while, but she comes around 
eventually. Even then, though...it'll be rough going." 


The agent laughed. 


"Yeah. | can think of a couple of...obstacles." 


A different voice. "Can | make the doggy-style joke, or is it too 
soon?" 


"Come on, man," said the first agent. "Don't be a fucking creep." 
"It's the elephant in the room!" 


"The elephant in the room is a giant bonewolf that has teeth the size 
of your hand," Lakshmi murmured sleepily, no longer content with 
merely listening. "Learn to read a room." 


Avery bounded through the woods of Canada, her muscles lithe and 
powerful under Lakshmi's legs. It was easier having them run 
alongside the van like this - the roads were deserted, and it kept 
from Avery crushing everyone in the van whenever they hit a 
pothole. Lakshmi had decided that the fresh air was worth the 
potentially awkward conversations with her ex. 


"So," Avery said, after they'd been running for about twenty minutes. 
"You heard us talking earlier." 


"| did." 


"| want you to know that we would have asked you if you wanted to 
come with us, if we could have. If we had another option. But we 
both would have died otherwise." 


Lakshmi said nothing. 


"Look, | get you're angry. | do. | really do. But you're all | have left, 
Lakshmi." 


"Maybe you should have thought of that earlier." 

"I'm never going to see my family again. Or any of my friends. I'm 
alone now, except for you. And you're pretty much in the same boat. 
Could we at least try to be friends again?" 


Lakshmi paused to think for a moment. "| suppose it would be best if 


we could at least be on speaking terms. All right, then." 
"Friends?" 


"Friends." 


"Hi, Lakshmi." 
Lakshmi nearly dropped the stack of books she'd been carrying. 
"Don't just - make noise when you move, why don't you?" 


"| made plenty of noise. | think you were just concentrating. Looking 
for something?" 


"The Tome of the Valkyries, Volume Three, annotated edition." 
Avery reached up and plucked the book off of the shelf for her. 
"Thank you." 


"Any time. Um. Can | ask you a favor?" 
"Go ahead." 


"So, um. I've been having a little bit of a difficult time with...um. 
God." 


"Do you want me to pluck burrs out of your fur again?" 


"No, although thank you for that. I...1 need help. Reading. | mean, | 
can read. It's just. New physiology isn't too well designed for turning 
pages." Lakshmi merely looked at her for a moment. "You know 
what, forget it. It was a stupid idea. | can ask one of the weird 
creatures they have around here to do it for me. You're super busy 
with researching how to make me human again, and...yeah, just 
forget it." 


"Of course I'll do it," Lakshmi said. "Of course." 


They spent hours together in the little loft Avery calls a bedroom, 
Lakshmi reading aloud from tomes with fragile pages. She read 
about possession rituals and exorcisms, about the northern spirits, 


and beings made of hunger. They read until long after sundown, 
falling asleep in a pile of books and notes and candles. 


Lakshmi already woke up screaming. The bestial face looming over 
her when she opened her eyes didn't help. She grabbed the first 
available object and flung it at her assailant. It's only after the first 
volume of The Necessity of the Beast whacked Avery between the 
eyes that she regained enough calm to realize who's in the room 
with her. 


"Nice aim," Avery said, rubbing her nose. "I heard you screaming in 
your sleep. As did half the Library." 


"For somewhere that's so fixated on being quiet, I'm shocked their 
walls aren't soundproofed.” 


Avery lay down next to her. "What were you dreaming about? Christ, 
Lakshmi, you're trembling. Was it -" 


"8004, yes." Avery didn't say anything, but merely pulled Lakshmi 
closer, against her side, where Lakshmi could feel her deep, 
rhythmic breathing and smell the pine and winter air smell of her fur. 


"I'm here," she murmured in Lakshmi's ear. 


"Avery?" Lakshmi whispered, as she began to nod off. She was 
somehow still embarrassed, like a child running to her mother after a 
nightmare. But the shame was overwhelmed by the fear and the 
exhaustion. "Will you stay?" 


"Of course," Avery said, but Lakshmi was already asleep. "I love 
you," she whispered, before lying down and closing her eyes. 


That phrase must have found her way into Lakshmi's dreaming 
mind, because the first thing she said upon waking was "I love you 
too." 


"And they all lived happily ever after," Lakshmi said, and closes the 
book quietly. 


The audience of children and adults, human and not, gathered 
around them leaves after Lakshmi shoos them away. Avery and 
Lakshmi watch them go. 


"Our little reading sessions have attracted quite an audience," Avery 
said. 


"And to think it only started because your paws were too big for 
books."