"Plague!"
"Plague!!"
"Plague!!!"
"Don't you understand?!"
Arthur and Komini watched as 049 excitedly drove the black stick in its hand straight into the corridor wall of Lobotomy Corporation—composite metal specially constructed to prevent Abnormalities from escaping—piercing it with a single thrust.
"You let the Plague spread here!"
"You have succumbed! And your succumbing will only lead to more people succumbing!!"
Several minutes of furious venting followed. Thankfully, even in this state, 049 still restrained its aggressive urges.
This was likely related to 049's subconscious belief that it was a Doctor, not a murderer.
However, even though it desperately wanted to prove itself a "qualified" doctor, no one actually knew what the Plague 049 spoke of truly was.
In Arthur's opinion, 049's beliefs were, in some sense, very similar to Carmen's. Both believed that humanity had contracted an unspeakable disease—one that would ultimately lead to the extinction of mankind.
The difference was that, compared to Carmen, 049's methods were far more brutal. It would first kill the patient physically, then "resurrect" them through surgery.
After a few more minutes, 049's emotions finally stabilized. It walked back toward Arthur and Komini, who had taken the opportunity to retreat several steps, and its beak mask once again faced Arthur.
"Phew… Sorry, Doctor. I lost my composure."
"Calmed down?"
Arthur silently loosened his grip on Decisive Heart, still concealed beneath his white coat.
"Yes, Doctor. I apologize. I did indeed generalize."
A hint of remorse came from beneath 049's massive beak mask.
"I forgot—you are a qualified doctor. At least for now. From you, I see no trace of the Plague. That alone proves your protective measures are quite thorough…"
?
Arthur was slightly surprised. According to 049, he himself was not infected?
Without giving Arthur time to think, 049 continued.
"But the one behind you, Doctor—she is very ill."
"We must immediately perform swift and effective surgery on her!"
Using its height, 049 leaned past Arthur, looming over Komini. Fresh blood from her colleagues was still clearly visible on its beak mask.
"Ah… ah… ah…"
Fear nearly consumed Komini. In her panic, she raised her pistol.
But she knew it was useless.
If the M4s in the hands of the Safety Department couldn't stop this monster, how could she?
Dad… Mom… your daughter might really turn into pieces and lumps today…
"Please rest assured. For thousands of years, humanity has been tormented by the 'Plague'… until a perfect cure could finally be developed."
"Child, you are very fortunate. My treatment is close—this will be the treatment that ends all treatments!"
049's black-gloved hand slowly reached out, about to gently caress her face—
"Please stop, 049. She is my patient."
Arthur's voice rang out between them.
"We are all professionals fighting the 'Plague'. And professionals generally don't interfere with one another's work, do they?"
049's movement halted.
…It worked?
Arthur quietly exhaled. Although he couldn't fully comprehend Plague Doctor's logic, compared to most Abnormalities, 049 was one of the most reasonable.
The first rule of negotiating with it was to fully accept its worldview.
"..."
Plague Doctor fell silent. After several seconds, it seemed to reach some kind of realization.
"Ah… hmm… Doctor, it seems we are both seeking a way to combat the 'Plague'?"
"Yes. Interfering with another professional's treatment plan is an extremely offensive act, no matter how one looks at it!"
"..."
Plague Doctor appeared deep in thought, as if wrestling with a contradiction.
After several more seconds, a heavy sigh escaped from beneath the beak mask.
"Very well… very well. Doctor, for the sake of trust between colleagues, I believe you will cure her."
The black-gloved hand slowly withdrew from Komini's pale face. Before she could look at Arthur in gratitude, Plague Doctor's next words made her heart leap again.
"However, Doctor, regarding the 'Plague,' I do not believe there is a superior method to my own treatment plan," it shook its head.
"I still maintain that suppressing the spread of the Plague here is the optimal solution."
Komini clutched Arthur's hand tightly, shaking her head as she muttered incomprehensible sounds.
"No… uh… ah…"
…Has this unfortunate child been frightened senseless?
Arthur sighed inwardly and spoke again.
"Perhaps we can exchange research notes at a later time. For now, please return to your dormitory. Don't worry—we will support your research."
At the word dormitory, Plague Doctor nearly flared up again.
"Of course," Arthur added quickly, "it's a brand-new dormitory. Please follow me."
He stepped ahead of Plague Doctor.
Taking advantage of the moment when 049 couldn't see him clearly, Arthur activated the communicator on his collar. In his haste, he accidentally connected to the Control Department.
"Arthur?" Yulia's voice came through. "I heard you went to suppress an Anomaly. What's going on?"
Arthur replied in a low voice.
"Yulia, get personnel to the Training Department immediately. I need a containment room that's been thoroughly disinfected—no stains whatsoever. Also, evacuate all staff from floors -7 to -10."
"What?" Yulia sounded confused.
"Hurry," Arthur hissed, his cheek twitching. "Otherwise, I won't be able to control this thing without several Mobile Task Forces."
This was no exaggeration. Though SCP-049 was only rated HE on the system panel, Arthur knew it possessed corpse reanimation, instant-kill contact, and terrifying physical combat ability. If not for its communicative nature, it would easily qualify as WAW-class.
"…P6 containment room. Thirty minutes," Yulia replied after a pause. "That's the best we can do."
"Understood."
Forty minutes later.
Arthur and Plague Doctor arrived at the P6 containment room.
It was clear that Yulia had executed his orders flawlessly.
Plague Doctor surveyed the area, then gently ran a black-gloved finger across the desktop in the clerks' workspace.
"Barely… acceptable…"
Hearing this assessment, Arthur finally relaxed his grip on his weapon.
He still didn't understand what the 'Plague' truly was, but one fact was undeniable—the Plague spread among people.
That was why Arthur had ordered the evacuation of all surrounding floors.
He had even taken the opportunity to send Komini away when they reached a corridor junction.
Now, even if the Plague hadn't been eliminated, its "concentration" here was at least low enough to keep Plague Doctor calm.
"Plague Doctor, are you satisfied with your new dormitory?"
"..."
Plague Doctor said nothing, instead beginning to arrange its tools on the desk.
"Alright. Let's discuss research."
"Hush," Plague Doctor raised a finger. "Doctor, I am thinking."
Only after everything was neatly organized did it speak again.
"Hmm… you are different from the others. You understand, Doctor."
"Life and death, sickness and health—these are amateur distinctions. There is only one disease in the human world: the Plague. Nothing else."
Plague Doctor retrieved a thick, cowhide-bound notebook from its bag. The cracked leather testified to its age.
It handed the notebook to Arthur. Flipping through it, Arthur found elegant yet incomprehensible notes.
"The Plague spreads more severely here than I anticipated. They are all very sick. Our work must begin immediately."
"What do you need?" Arthur asked calmly.
"A laboratory of my own, where I may research without interference. And assistants—though I can supply those myself."
"We'll provide equipment as best we can. Modifications, however, are limited to this room."
This was Lobotomy Corporation's bottom line.
"Of course. I'm accustomed to conditions," Plague Doctor nodded. "Compared to my old associates, your proposal is generous."
"Anything else?"
"I require test subjects," Plague Doctor paused. "My research favors human anatomy."
"No problem. But all subjects must be designated, and if abnormalities occur, we reserve the right to destroy them."
"!"
Plague Doctor hadn't expected such immediate agreement.
"Doctor… you agree?"
"Of course."
Arthur nodded, though his heart churned.
Because this wasn't the Foundation.
This wasn't Earth.
This was the City.
Human rights?
In this place, there were no laws—only taboos.
People died everywhere: by Fixers, lunatics, rats, gangs, monsters.
This world was full of corpses.
Plague Doctor bowed politely.
"I will not forget your generosity."
Arthur forced a smile.
"Happy cooperation…"