Dr. Martin Caduceus stepped out of the room after he finished the weekly psychological evaluation of Edison Denhai. It was a whole frustrating hour of listening to bullshit. An whole hour of listening to Denhai babbling on about his scythe. Even under the influence of his notorious mental-illness-curing skills and the comfortable couch he used for the process Denhai did not get any better. He shouldn't have wasted so much time on him.
Martin walked slowly down the hallways and into his office. The day has made him frustrated. He felt like dartgunning someone's ass, but Dr. Deny placed a new rule of prohibiting shooting at personnel without good cause. Well, at least now the Shrek statue Dr. Strate made for Martin's birthday can actually be used for something.
After Shrek crumpled like a piñata, Martin sighed and placed his dartgun down. He propped himself into his leather chair and looked at his schedule. Recently, for some reason, Dr. Deny has been watching him, especially during his chats with QUAESITOR. After he discovered that Dr. Deny was surveying him with the security cameras, Dr. Deny placed another rule of 'not shooting at site surveillance cameras without good cause'.
Martin smiled at the thought of QUAESITOR. He was still puzzled why, but it was a great joy to talk with that spacecraft. Quasi had curious and cheerful nature for a machine. Despite being kilometers away, he hadn't felt the warmth from anyone for such a long time. He never felt so upbeat since… Dr. Caduceus reached towards his distant past, looking for a joyful moment. It was so long ago. Martin then remembered his history of dartgunning and invasive surgeries. He was never actually having a good time.
But the moment changed when he first started to communicate with her. When he first the ditty sounds of Morse code from QUAESITOR and saw her soar swiftly in the blue skies, he felt extremely free and yearned for adventure. Martin was tired from concealing himself in the shadows, away from the areas the SCP Foundation prospers, away into the margin of the world. Laying his eyes for the first time on Quasi's slender metallic body and intent red sensor, Martin felt compelled towards her graceful orbits and her seemingly innocent curiosity of the wide world. He wondered what brings her away from her home to this blue, intricate planet. Is it the nature? Is it the supernature? Or is it…him?
Martin slowly closed his eyes and remembered the wondrous moments he shared with her. Quasi always greeted him in a cheerful, warm manner, no matter what time of the day. It is strange to feel heartwarming talking with an artificial creature. Martin could also tell she felt pleased talking to him to, as he can always detect her full concentration on him when he was typing to her. He could sense her fascination towards him gain each time he talks to her. Martin wished he can see her up close one day.
In the middle of this peaceful and romantic moment, the irritating notification noise of his computer sounded. Martin sighed and clicked on it. It was a new message.
Subject: Regards on QUAESITOR's recent behavior
To: Dr. Martin Caduceus
From: Dr. Edward Deny
QUAESITOR has been displaying strange behaviors lately. According to all the reports from Montgomery-1 to 4, the Item started to orbit in gradually smaller circles yesterday, and lowered significantly in altitude this noon. QUAESITOR also started to send incomprehensible messages a while ago. From the order of the Alpha Command you have been temporarily assigned to QUAESITOR to investigate the cause of its erratic behavior. As you have spent an extensive amount of time contacting with the Item, I am inclined to believe that you may be able to tackle this issue better than anyone else.
Martin felt a wave of adrenaline pulsing through his body when seeing the message is about Quasi. He rubbed his eyes and reread the message. He was assigned to QUAESITOR. He wanted to smile and shoot darts at the Shrek remains in joy, but something troubled him. Why was Quasi slowing down? Why was she lowering down and sending unreadable messages? Is there possibly an error with the AI system? Martin cringed at the thought of that. And most of all…Dr. Deny seemed to be more than aware of his recent interest.
He replied:
Subject: Re: Regards on QUAESITOR's recent behavior
To: Dr. Martin Caduceus
From: Dr. Edward Deny
Got it. I will be coming shortly.
Dr. Caduceus arrived at Montgomery-3. He stepped out of the helicopter and walked into the facility. His pace quickened as he heard the distant tune of Morse Code.
Martin was almost running by the time he reached the door. He opened it and a surge of warm air blew into his face. He saw several researchers staring blankly at the monitor, listening to the strange messages QUAESITOR sent. Then he turned and saw Dr. Deny.
"You're here," Dr. Deny said with a chuckle, "You've been quite active here lately."
Martin ignored his scoffing tone. "What's the matter?" he asked.
"Just listen," Dr. Deny replied and directed his attention towards the wide monitor.
.- .-. . / -.-- --- ..- / ... . . .. -. --. / .- -. -.-- - .... .. -. --. / -.. .. ..-. ..-. . .-. . -. - / ..- .--. / - .... . .-. . ..--.. Are you seeing anything different up there?
.-..-. .... .. ... / --. .- --.. . / ... .-.. .. -.. / --- ...- . .-. / -- . / .-.. .. -.- . / .- / ...- . .. .-.. / --- ..-. / ..-. .. .-. . .-.-.- / .... . / -.-. --- ..- .-.. -.. / .. --. -. .. - . / -- -.-- / -.. . . .--. . ... - / -.. . ... .. .-. . ... / .-- .. - .... / .- / ... .. -. --. .-.. . / --. .-.. .- -. -.-. . .-.-.- .-..-. His gaze slid over me like a veil of fire. He could ignite my deepest desires with a single glance."
"What…" Martin whispered.
.-- .... .- - / -.. .. -.. / -.-- --- ..- / ... . . ..--.. What did you see?
.-..-. .. -. / ...- .- .. -. / .. / .... .- ...- . / ... - .-. ..- --. --. .-.. . -.. .-.-.- / .. - / .-- .. .-.. .-.. / -. --- - / -.. --- .-.-.- / -- -.-- / ..-. . . .-.. .. -. --. ... / .-- .. .-.. .-.. / -. --- - / -... . / .-. . .--. .-. . ... ... . -.. .-.-.- .-..-. "In vain I have struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed."
"T-this…" Martin started to sputter.
.-- .... .- - / .. ... / - .... .- - / - .... .. -. --. ..--.. What do you mean?
.-..-. -.. --- ..- -... - / - .... --- ..- / - .... . / ... - .- .-. ... / .- .-. . / ..-. .. .-. . ; / -.. --- ..- -... - / - .... .- - / - .... . / ... ..- -. / -.. --- - .... / -- --- ...- . ; / -.. --- ..- -... - / - .-. ..- - .... / - --- / -... . / .- / .-.. .. .- .-. ; / -... ..- - / -. . ...- . .-. / -.. --- ..- -... - / .. / .-.. --- ...- . .-.-.- .-..-. "Doubt thou the stars are fire; Doubt that the sun doth move; Doubt truth to be a liar; But never doubt I love."
.-- .... .- - / .-.. --- ...- . ..--.. What love?
-.. --- / -.-- --- ..- / ... . . / - .... . / ... - .- .-. ... ..--.. Do you see the stars?
.-- .... .- - ..--.. / .... . .-.. .-.. --- ..--.. What? Hello?
The sounds ceased. The researchers turned around and shook their heads at Dr. Deny.
"Well?" Dr. Deny said, turning his head towards Martin. "Does this mean anything to you?"
Martin stood on the ground, eyes wide. He wasn't sure how to respond.
"I-I don't…know," he said slowly. "May I have a moment alone with her?"
Dr. Deny tilted his head. "Why?"
"Maybe she will respond better just to me," Martin replied silently. Dr. Deny released a slow breath and gestured the the three researchers to leave. They got up and went outside with Dr. Deny.
Martin shoved the heavy door close, although he knew there was the camera. Martin sat down on the chair in front of the monitor, laid his hands on the keyboard, and thought of typing something.
.... . .-.. .-.. --- ..--.. / .. ... / .. - / -.-- --- ..- --..-- / -- .- .-. - .. -. ..--.. Hello? Is it you, Martin?
Martin almost jumped out of his seat at the abrupt entrance of the new message. He held his breath and replied.
-.-- . ... .-.-.- / .. ... / - .... . .-. . / .- / .--. .-. --- -... .-.. . -- ..--.. Yes. Is there a problem?
-. --- .-.-.- / -. --- - / .- - / .- .-.. .-.. .-.-.- No. Not at all.
So, at least there wasn't a problem, according to her. Martin felt slightly relieved and continued to ask.
.- .-. . / -.-- --- ..- / ... ..- .-. . / -.-- --- ..- / .- .-. . / --- -.- .- -.-- ..--.. / -.-- --- ..- .----. ...- . / -... . . -. / .-.. --- .-- . .-. .. -. --. / -.-- --- ..- .-. ... . .-.. ..-. / - --- .-- .- .-. -.. ... / - .... . / --. .-. --- ..- -. -.. / .-.. .- - . .-.. -.-- .-.-.- Are you sure you are okay? You've been lowering yourself towards the ground lately.
-.. --- -. .----. - / .-- --- .-. .-. -.-- .-.-.- / .. / .- -- / --- -.- .- -.-- .-.-.- Don't worry. I am okay.
Martin rested his fingers. So Quasi didn't want to tell him what was up. What was really up with her?
-.-- --- ..- / -.- -. --- .-- --..-- / -- .- .-. - .. -. .-.-.- / -.-- --- ..- .----. ...- . / -... . . -. / ...- . .-. -.-- / -. .. -.-. . / - --- / -- . .-.-.- You know, Martin. You've been very nice to me.
Martin tensed and felt slightly embarrassed. Did she acknowledge his interest in her?
.. / .- -- / .--. .-.. .- -. -. .. -. --. / --- -. / .- / ...- . .-. -.-- / ... .--. . -.-. .. .- .-.. / ... ..- .-. .--. .-. .. ... . / ..-. --- .-. / -.-- --- ..- .-.-.- I am planning on a very special surprise for you.
Special surprise? What surprise? Martin was about to ask her, but the conversation ended with a loud beeping sound.
Martin wondered, and continued to wonder.
Dr. Caduceus woke up to the annoying notification sound of his computer. It was another new message.
Subject: Re: Re: Regards on QUAESITOR's recent behavior
To: Dr. Martin Caduceus
From: Dr. Edward Deny
You got to come now. QUAESITOR has just entered the ionosphere . At this rate it would be crashing in a matter of hours.
Martin sighed and put on his jacket. He had to figure out what was Quasi up to. Martin grabbed his cap and his dartgun and hopped out of his room.
Dr. Caduceus arrived again at the room.
"Still nothing from you," Dr. Deny muttered as he peered closely into the image of Quasi on the big screen. Cad approached him and tapped Edward on the shoulder.
"Ah," Dr. Deny says loudly, "Cad, I am afraid we must catch it."
"What?" Martin asked.
"According to some calculations I don't really understand," Dr. Deny walked to another nearby monitor and brought up a 3D display of the globe, "We have to wait there." Dr. Deny jabbed his index finger at the screen. His finger landed in a location somewhere in eastern Canada. "QUAESITOR may crash into Canada, and the it is too valuable for us to lose it."
Martin agreed on that part. "And how are we going to stop her from crashing?"
"We don't know yet," Dr. Deny replied. "We need to figure out first where it is exactly going to come in contact to ground," Dr. Deny told Martin as he narrowed his eyes.
"Uh huh," Martin mouthed while shifting uncomfortably, "Should we go now?"
"The earlier, the better," Dr. Deny said as he took himself and his briefcase out of the room.
Martin lowered his head and pondered. Should he be worried? Should he be excited? He didn't know.
The sky was darkening.
Martin laid down in the truck. He stretched and yawned in his seat as he listened to Dr. Deny's light snoring. It was a strangely intense moment. Not like the types of moment like when you are about to be shot by a pistol in the face, but rather a very long wait for some unforeseeable results. Results that will impact you big-time. Moments that will drag your anxious mind across flaming sandpaper for hours.
"Damn," a nearby researcher said as he looked at his laptop, "QUAESITOR's only about 70 kilometers from ground. That satellite is really going in for the kill."
Dr. Deny somehow flicked opened his eyes before he even stopped snoring. "Very soon," he said. "And about where will it land?"
"Probably somewhere located near Lake Melville," the doctor replied, "Although it could easily spin to somewhere far away at the time period before crashing. We'll have to wait and see."
Martin lightly moaned. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I am going outside for a short walk," he muttered as he opened the truck door.
"Don't go away too far," Dr. Deny called.
"Jeez, Ed. I don't need your tender care," Martin complained. But he was already snoring before Martin even finished speaking.
Martin walked outside and stepped into the dirt trail. The sky exhibited a marvelous color gradient, with the top dark gray, middle light blue, and the horizon blood red. Martin watched mindlessly as the blood orange sun lowered itself slowly behind the sparkling crystalline lake. Martin stood there for a long time, and just watched.
Nightfall came, as the sun ducked under the crystalline lake that glittered under the soft moonlight. The dark grays collapsed and concealed the blood red horizon. Martin shifted his legs and listened to the crickets' charming songs of the night. He turned around and saw Edward Deny approaching him slowly.
"You've been here all afternoon," Dr. Deny stated, "Want to eat some dinner?"
"No, I'm fine," Martin replied as he popped a berry mint into his mouth. He aligned his sight towards the dark sky, now seeing the stars clearly. Yes, I can see the stars, he thought. Yes, I can.
"QUAESITOR is slowing down," Dr. Deny suddenly said, breaking the silence. "It may not be crashing until tomorrow morning. We are lucky that it chose a rather remote location to act out this crap. If it landed near a major urban area, it is sure as hellfire that we won't be able to even get close to it."
"Maybe it is a good thing that she is coming down," Martin said profoundly.
"Maybe," Dr. Deny replied, "But most likely not." Dr. Deny turned around and walked back to the truck.
Martin turned around. Dr. Deny's specialty wasn't astronomy. Then why the hell is he on this assignment with Martin?
Dr. Martin Caduceus woke up this time to the sound of the starting engine. The researchers were backing out of the dirt trail, and up the hill.
"What is going on?" Martin asked.
"QUAESITOR is now less than 50 kilometers from ground level," Dr. Deny replied from the back of the truck, "And it's speeding up."
"Where is she landing?" Martin asked again.
"The northeastern rim of Lake Melville," Dr. Deny replied, "Probably away from the water."
The truck tumbled up the rock road northeast. The long anticipated moment has finally came. Martin turned his head around and noticed that Deny was wrestling with a large cargo box.
"Um, Ed," Cad asked, "What is that?"
"That, is supplies," Dr. Edward Deny replied, "In case there will be trouble lifting it aboard the truck". The truck suddenly drove off course and entered the immense green forest. The researcher carefully maneuvered around trees and tumbled down the forest. Metal vibrated around the vehicle and papers flew around. Bushes and small saplings were ran over and green leaves enveloped the truck.
After twenty minutes of this turbulence, Dr. Deny ordered the truck to stop.
"Why are we stopping?" Martin asked.
Dr. Deny replied, "Well, we must remain as silent as possible. First, we spotted signs of action near Site 27 of the SCP Foundation. Second, we don't want to alarm QUAESITOR, do we?" Dr. Deny grabbed his suitcase. "Now," said Dr. Deny as he pointed at the researcher at the driver's seat, "You stay and wait for my signal to come okay?" He nodded.
All aboard personnel except the driver exited the truck, and resumed to tumble towards their destination.
"I can see her now," Martin yelled.
A distant, flaming dot fell from the sky. The dot size gained bigger and bigger. After a few minutes, a large red spacecraft came down into the forest behind the trees.
"It's crashed!" a researcher cried.
"No, there was no…impact at all," Dr. Deny observed. He took out a pistol and walked towards the spot Quasi landed. Martin and the other researchers followed him.
"There is no reason to be afraid," Martin said impatiently. He quickened his pace and walked towards the strange whirring sounds of Quasi.
"Stop, Martin," Dr. Deny ordered. He ignored Ed and kept walking. He jogged past the trees and saw Quasi on top of a small hill.
She was suspended in midair, with smoke floating from her body. She turned around and greeted Martin with her bright red sensor.
Martin froze.
She was indeed, beautiful.
Despite the fact on how out of place she seemed in a quiet forest like this, Martin adored the new addition. She seemed like an angel descended high from the heavens, waiting for him calmly. Her existence brightened the forest, and Martin felt extremely warm in the cold Canadian morning. Quasi's sensor seemingly winked, and Martin's heart melted.
He surged forward, towards his lovely eye.
His lovely eye.
From the sky.
The chirping of the birds, the hustling wind, and the shouts from Dr. Deny all vanished from Dr. Caduceus mind. The world faded into darkness, with only QUAESITOR as the light.
His lovely eye from the sky.
Martin put his hand on Quasi's surface. He ignored the scorching burns on his hand and kept his hand there. He slid down and felt her strong but yet heartwarming surface.
Quasi let out a loud and clear beeping sound. Her happy sound. Which is also his happy sound.
"Martin," Dr. Deny called, "Martin!"
Cad ignored Deny's calls. He wrapped both arms against the satellite, against his lovely eye. He gazed deep into her red sensor, seeing the bright stars of the sky. Nothing mattered now. The SCP Foundation did not. Their dangers did not. The fact that Dr. Deny is ordering personnel to take a strange item out of the suitcase did not.
But it apparently did. Quasi's eye shifted from Martin's gaze towards Dr. Deny and his researchers. She emitted a loud, unpleasant beep. Martin heard a spinning whirring sound and turned.
He saw Dr. Deny watching with his cold eyes at the metallic disk floating in the air, spinning and consuming his sight with green neon light.
"Ed," Martin said in horror, "Ed, stop!" Martin reached for his dartgun, and took aim. He felt piercing pain on his arms and legs as several Insurgency personnel shot him with tranquilizer darts.
Martin watched helplessly as the disk vibrated its deadly blast into the air towards Quasi. She started to float up, but was struck by the wave. Quasi sputtered, spun around, and crashed into the earth. Her red sensor grew dark.
Martin tried to reach towards her. But his strength was failing him. His eyes went dark in vain.
Martin opened his eyes.
He was on a bed in a hospital or infirmary.
He tried to get up, but he was restrained to the bed.
Dr. Deny and another researcher entered the room. Edward walked towards him and gave him a cold smile.
"Well, well, well," Dr. Deny scoffed, "What happened to you?"
"Let me go, you son of a…" Martin demanded as he struggled against the restraints.
"Shh…." Dr. Deny gestured and spoke, "No loud swearing in the infirmary."
"You bastard!" Martin spat.
"Now, we will be letting you visit the Staff Well-being center shortly for a psychoanalysis. Your duties will be dismissed until you return to the state which we call sanity," Dr. Deny told him.
"How dare you!" Martin shouted, "I will dartgun open your ass and shove a scalpel straight up your…"
"Martin," Dr. Deny said in a low voice, "The Psychiatry Department needs someone who will be a good example for their patients". Edward laughed. "Not a thing like what you are right now."
Martin had a ridiculous thought of him being placed in a same cell as Edison Denhai. No. Fucking no.
"Let me go, I am Beta clearance researcher of the Chaos Insurgency and you cannot fucking just…" Martin's rant was interrupted by a gag stuffed into his mouth.
"Be a good boy," Dr. Deny chuckled and left.
Edward Deny walked outside. He greeted Dr. Asclepius, Martin Caduceus's assistant.
"Until he improves," Dr. Deny informed him, "You will be taking his position."
"Got it, sir," Asclepius replied.
"This is ridiculous," Edward sighed, "Martin falling in love with QUAESITOR. I'll be keeping the two separated. How the hell can this whole event happen in the first place? And alien or not, robot or not, why would any woman fall for a guy we all call 'Cad'?"
"What?" asked Dr. Asclepius, with one eyebrow raised.
"Seriously, look it up," Dr. Deny laughed as he walked down the hallway.
