บท 200: Extermination

It was the third morning of Zhang Jue and Yang Xue's arrival at Site-237. The storm had just stopped, the air was still filled with sand and dirt, and the scene in the distance was not at all clear.

Zhang Jue found Kiddo behind the site's stone monument and a metal coffin. The coffin was buried deep in the sandy bottom, and if the storm hadn't blown the top layer of sand away, they might never have found it.

The coffin was specially made and required a palm print to open. Zhang Jue was about to use the force, but the coffin made of metal suddenly opened on its own. In the coffin, a middle-aged man with long black hair lying quietly inside. Looking at the face, it looks like Yang Wenbai. It could also be the possibility that this person was Yang Wensong.

After the metal coffin opened, there is a compartment inside. It is made of a special glass material. Yang Wensong was lying inside. Zhang Jue looked carefully and found that the other person's chest was rising and falling regularly, and surprisingly there was still a heartbeat. When he saw the familiar face, Yang Xue's pupils dilated slightly.

"Father?" She shouted softly.

But Yang Wensong did not respond to her. He was lying at the bottom of that coffin, as if he was really dead.

"Don't be anxious." Zhang Jue patted her shoulder, "He is still alive,"

It was a very significant discovery that Yang Wensong had been buried here. Unlike Gray and other people like Loris. Yang Wensong was specially invited to Site-237 by Healey, who is the Head of the Antimemetics Division.

The entire underground palace was built with his participation, and he was the important figures in the Antimemetics Division fighting with SCP-3125. By bringing him back to life, they will be able to restore the whole truth of this site.

The most important thing is that after this battle with SCP-3125, Yang Wensong actually survived. Perhaps he already knew the way to defeat SCP-3125. This metal coffin is obviously specially made, and the structure is very delicate. Yang Wensong didn't know how long he had been lying in it. Zhang Jue guessed that his current physical state was similar to hibernation, controlling his metabolism to just enough to sustain life. No matter how many years had passed, as long as the power inside the metal coffin did not run out, he could remain dormant forever.

The metal coffin is very heavy, probably weighing several tons. The good thing is that Zhang Jue's current body is no longer an ordinary person. Even if you can't move it, you can still drag it. Several people found ropes and tied the coffin tightly around the coffin, and Zhang Jue dragged the coffin back to the main building.

...

"We have to open this thing." Zhang Jue said as he looked at Yang Xue.

Yang Xue knew what he meant, because such an act had risks. Yang Wensong's life might depend on it, and by risking opening it, Yang Wensong might die immediately. A more conservative approach, it would be better to bring this metal box back to the Foundation.

But now they can't do it at this moment. Yang Xue thought about it and nodded her head.

"Since he put himself here, he should have considered someone finding him, and I'm sure he has a way."

Zhang Jue hummed, he was on the same page. Yang Wensong was rigorous and talked about backhandedness, so he shouldn't make such a low-level mistake. The two of them made up their minds. Zhang Jue took out his own long sword and sliced at the layer of specially made glass.

His sword quickly cut through the glass with a sound. A cool air seeped out from inside, mixed with an unknown smell. Zhang Jue smelled it and guessed that it was some kind of nutrient that could be absorbed by the skin.

When the airlock was broken, Yang Wensong could no longer remain in hibernation. His chest rose and fell violently, and his breathing sharply. Yang Xue rushed up to check the situation. After a few minutes Yang Wensong's breathing and heartbeat gradually returned to normal, seems to have adapted to the current external conditions but still did not wake up.

Yang Xue checked his pupils and heartbeat as usual. Then he took out a small instrument and put two electrodes on Yang Wensong's temple, seemingly observing his brain waves. A few minutes later, Yang Xue stood up with a frown on her face.

"Well..." Zhang Jue asked.

Yang Xue shook his head slightly, her face full of doubts. "Father's brainwaves are very strange, different from those of the researchers. As if..."

"As if what?"

"As if a vegetative person." Yang Xue looked down at her father's face, "Only a vegetative person brain waves would show up like this."

Hearing Yang Xue say that. Zhang Jue raised his eyebrows. It was so hard to find Yang Wensong, but it turned out that he had turned into a vegetative state.

Zhang Jue asked, "Could it be affected by some SCP?"

"I can't be sure, I can only say that it's possible." Yang Xue said, "My equipment has limited capabilities. If I want to figure out why my father became this way, I need to do a full examination of his brain before I can do that."

Loris asked, "Can't those devices in the site work?"

Yang Xue shook her head, "Most of the equipment here is for research use, not for medical use."

"Don't bother, just leave it to me."

Zhang Jue said, reaching his hand towards Yang Wensong's head. He wanted to use the SCP-049's ability on Yang Wensong. But Yang Xue held his wrist and Zhang Jue lifted his head.

Yang Xue looked at him and said softly, "Be careful."

Yang Wensong's current state was very strange, and there was a good chance that there was some unknown danger in his consciousness. Zhang Jue patted Yang Xue's hand and pulled a smile out of the corner of his mouth.

"Don't worry."

...

Zhang Jue activated his ability. In a flash, he arrived in the middle of Yang Wensong's subconscious. The landscape changed. In Zhang Jue's eyes was a foggy haze. If he hadn't prepared his mind long ago, Zhang Jue would have thought he was back in his own world. But this place was also very different from his world.

Everything in front of his eyes was black and white and there was dead silence all around, with no life at all. Zhang Jue couldn't tell where he was going, but luckily there was only one path in front of him.

He traveled along the path all the way forward and found a tall building. He felt as if the shape of the building was somewhat familiar, and took a few more steps forward before he confirmed what it was. It seemed to be the main building of Site-14, the one he often looked out over from the roof.

Some of the surrounding podiums hadn't been built when Yang Wensong left, so Zhang Jue didn't recognize it at first.

"Hey! Yang Wensong, are you there?"

Zhang Jue stood at the entrance of the building and shouted, but no one responded to him. Zhang Jue walked into the building and found it to be an empty shell with nothing inside. Zhang Jue walked out of the building and found that the other side of the path was still stretching into the distance.

He followed that path and continued on. Along the way, he found many buildings, some of which he had seen before, and some of which he had not. But without exception, all of them were SCP Foundation buildings.

These were probably the places where Yang Wensong had stayed. He subconsciously divided these into categories, and they were all yarded on both sides of a small road. Only all the buildings were empty, with only one shape.

As Zhang Jue made his way forward, not knowing how far he had gone. He realized that it seemed like a long time since he had encountered any buildings. As he was thinking this, the path beneath his feet suddenly disappeared and seemed to have reached its end and just then, the thick fog that had been surrounding him slowly dispersed.

Zhang Jue looked up and saw the three buildings that were seen in the distance. It was Site-237. The last stop in Yang Wensong's life was here.

Without walking in, Zhang Jue saw that the buildings here were very different from those he had encountered before. The buildings he had encountered before were all very exquisite, completely restoring the original appearance of the buildings.

The three buildings at site 237 were in a state of destroyed. Zhang Jue even saw traces of artillery bombardment on the walls. It seemed like this place had gone through a very violent battle. Only when he got closer did he see that the ground here and the walls seemed to be all covered in blood.

Although the images in his eyes were all in black and white, he could still see the ferocity of the battle. As far as the eye could see, there were spurts of blood almost everywhere. Zhang Jue couldn't help but be a little curious.

What exactly had happened in Yang Wensong's consciousness?

"Yang Wensong, are you there?" He shouted again.

Still no one responded.

"Strange."

Zhang Jue cupped his chin. He had explored all of Yang Wensong's subconscious mind, but still hadn't found out where he was. Even if he was in a vegetative state, he wouldn't be in this state. What was strange to Zhang Jue was that he hadn't found any living things in Yang Wensong's mind, not to mention ordinary plants and animals. Not even a single fly.

Zhang Jue had never encountered such a situation before, which was really strange. Zhang Jue searched all the sites from beginning to end again, and after confirming that there was no Yang Wensong's figure, he exited his subconscious mind.

Seeing Zhang Jue wake up, Yang Xue immediately looked at him with expectant eyes. Zhang Jue shook his head slightly and told her what he had just seen. Yang Xue also fell into deep thought. How could a normal person's subconscious mind be filled with scenery and no living things? The strangest thing was that even Yang Wensong himself was not in it.

It seems that what they found was just a shell. Yang Wensong's own consciousness was no longer here. Originally, Zhang Jue thought Yang Wensong was schizophrenic, and he was thinking that he might encounter two Yang Wensongs in the subconscious world. But it turned out to be the exact opposite, none of them were to be found.

Zhang Jue and Yang Xue both sank down to think, while Loris and Kiddo were staring at each other with wide eyes. Just then, a sudden change occurred, and a loud noise suddenly came from outside. It seemed like something had suddenly exploded.

Zhang Jue looked outside. He saw that the monument with the name of Site-237 had actually collapsed with a bang and seemed to have been blown up.

What the hell? A bomber?

Zhang Jue immediately rushed outside, with Yang Xue and Loris both following close behind. Kiddo was still very weak, and he seemed to want to follow. He took a chance and stumbled, so he was left behind.

Only when Zhang Jue and the others ran far away. He turned around, a strange smile on his lips. He was holding a dagger in his hand at some point and walked towards Yang Wensong step by step.

At this moment, his physique is normal, where he looks like a normal person. Probably the weak state he showed since he woke up was all just a fake.

Three steps, two steps, one step. He arrived in front of Yang Wensong.

Looking at the characteristic steely face of the Asian man, Kiddo's face showed a look of disgust. He seemed to have a deep-seated hatred for Yang Wensong. He raised the dagger in his hand and moved to stab Yang Wensong's heart.

It was a close call. A gunshot can be heard. The bullet hit Kiddo's wrist, and blood instantly spilled out. Under the pain, the dagger in Kidd's hand flew out. He turned his head back. He saw Zhang Jue leaning against the door frame, looking at him in amusement.

"Kiddo Boy, I'll count to ten for you to come and make up a reasonable reason for me, is that enough?"

"I..."

Kiddo covered his wrist and was about to speak.

Only to hear Zhang Jue said, "Ten."

Then there was another shot, hitting Kiddo in the abdomen. While ensuring that he wouldn't die immediately, it also left Kid completely incapable of fighting back. Zhang Jue walked over to him and picked him up like a chicken.

"Are you wondering why I didn't fall for it?" Zhang Jue laughed, "The reason is simple, I already knew you were wrong. Remember when I said I was going to leave here? I was talking to you."

Kiddo looked at Zhang Jue with a sinister look, "You already knew that I was watching you from the shadows. So, you deliberately said you were leaving to lure me to show myself."

"You deserve a reward for answering correctly." Zhang Jue said, and shot him again in the thigh.

Kiddo let out a pig-like howl.

Zhang Jue looked at him, "I thought people infected by SCP-3125 wouldn't feel pain, but so far it seems like that's not the case. You're disappointing me."

Kiddo looked into Zhang Jue's eyes, wanting to swallow Zhang Jue in one gulp. However, Zhang Jue smiled.

"It seems like you're really weak right now."

He said this to SCP-3125. It was in its prime, but it would infect whoever knew it. Where it would be so wretched as it was now, and it would take time to infect a person.

"Why my ability has no effect on you?" Kidd looked at him and roared, "Tell me why!"

"I'm not going to tell you, so go ahead and guess for yourself."

Zhang Jue chuckled. But half a second later, he changed his mind.

"How about this, let's make a deal. How about that?"

This was Zhang Jue's usual tactic. He already didn't know how many people he had screwed over with this trick.

"Kiddo" asked, "What kind of deal?"

"I'll tell you why I'm not infected, and you tell me why Yang Wensong turned out like this." Zhang Jue narrowed his eyes and smiled heatedly, "How's that for a fair deal?"

"Kiddo" thought for a moment, then said, "Yes, it's a deal. You first!"

"I can't tell now, you're smart." Zhang Jue said, "Don't you see? You have no qualifications to talk about conditions now or I shot you."

"You'll only kill one of my infected." "Kiddo" said calmly, "Even if you kill everyone here, you can't threaten me."

This statement really spoke to Zhang Jue's heart. He had been circling around here, refusing to leave, in order to find a way to completely wipe out SCP-3125.

"Alright, I'll start." Zhang Jue sighed.

He was about to speak. Loris and Yang Xue also walked back.

"How is it on your side? Was the explosion serious?" Zhang Jue asked.

Yet neither of them answered his question. Their eyes were vacant as they each pulled out a pistol. Pointing it at Zhang Jue's head.

"Kiddo" sneered, "Advisor Zhang, it seems I no longer need to know why you're not infected. Exterminating you physically seems a bit more straightforward."