After hours of gameplay, the clock in the real world has now struck midnight. Yet, the late hour does little to dampen the enthusiasm of the game's fans. Many are unable to play during the day, so they choose to indulge at night, either by gaming themselves or tuning into Twitch streams to watch their favorite streamers in action.
Thanks to this, the number of viewers watching Brit and others has not waned; it has surged. The stream's popularity is almost ridiculous: the chat becomes denser with every passing second, flooding the screen with messages as the viewer count climbs higher and higher. Every moment, countless chats ripple across the interface, creating a relentless tapestry of noise.
Despite the chaos, the players immersed in the game remain largely unfazed. As the gameplay deepens, they become increasingly absorbed, their focus narrowing until it feels as though they have truly transformed into D-class personnel of the Foundation, nervously navigating the escape routes of the facility.
"Electrical Center? Aha, I remember! Our next target is the Electrical Center!" Kiwo said excitedly.
They recalled the details from the strategy guide.
"Yes, the Electrical Center!" Brit confirmed with a smile.
They proceeded through the Light Containment Area, then the Heavy Containment Area, finally arriving at the Office Area.
According to the guide, their task in the Office Area was straightforward but not without peril: locate the Electrical Center, shut down a specific control unit inside, then return to the Heavy Containment Area to find SCP-079, the "Old AI."
While simple in concept, executing this task is challenging. The Office Area is vast and complex, and no one can be certain whether lurking dangers hide within. Beyond the possible hazards, there are also threatening SCPs like The "Old Man," The "Shy Guy," and The "Plague Doctor." Particularly daunting is the "Old Man," whose Pocket Dimension appears to lead anywhere, at any time. Such unpredictability raises the difficulty bar, making the game all the more tense.
"Our next step is to figure out where we are now, then locate the Electrical Center and shut down that control unit," Brit said, taking a deep breath, shifting his position to steady himself, and confirming he was ready.
"Yes, let's move quickly!"
"Hurry up! I don't think I can last much longer!" Kiwo and Vale responded in unison, their voices tense with urgency.
They scanned the room carefully, searching through the few facilities within. After confirming there was nothing else useful, they prepared to move out. The only exit was a metal door behind the "Tickle Monster."
Having already understood the nature of the "Tickle Monster," they no longer feared it. Despite its odd appearance, perhaps unsettling at first glance, it now seemed almost cute. Knowing the truth had changed their perception; nothing about it felt truly frightening anymore.
"We need to find the Electrical Center. Will you come with us?" Kiwo asked, curiosity evident in her voice.
Brit and Vale also looked at the "Tickle Monster" with interest. Since the creature could understand human speech, they were eager to see how it would respond to this request.
In response, the "Tickle Monster" waved its tentacles, wriggled its body, and moved toward the metal door, seemingly leading the way.
Surprise flickered across their faces. Then, an uncontrollable sense of excitement surged within them. They exchanged silent glances, nodded, and followed the creature.
Their confidence was rooted in the SCP file of the "Tickle Monster," which described it as capable of understanding human language, a fact that had been proven before.
If it could comprehend their questions, then perhaps it knew the location of the Electrical Center. Its behavior, leading them toward the door, suggested it was guiding them there.
Though they didn't fully understand the brain mechanisms behind the "Tickle Monster," they knew it was not cognitively impaired. Its ability to understand and communicate with humans, combined with its apparent affection for them, strongly implied that its actions were purposeful. It was leading the way.
"If it really helps, that would be fantastic! It could save us a lot of time," Brit murmured softly.
Kiwo and Vale nodded in agreement.
As SCPs like the "Tickle Monster" dwell within the facility, it's reasonable to assume it's familiar with the site, especially the office area. Since the Electrical Center is particularly elusive, it makes sense that this SCP would know its location. If it can lead them there, the entire mission becomes much easier.
"Excuse me, are you going to take us to the Electrical Center?" Brit whispered again, confirming his suspicion.
Hearing this, the "Tickle Monster" paused voluntarily. It waved its tentacles swiftly and pointed toward the metal door, emitting a faint "crack" sound.
"It must be! I think it's urging us to follow," Kiwo said, eyes sparkling with excitement.
Brit nodded slightly. "Yes, it really wants to lead the way!"
Vale remained silent, but the eager expression on his face betrayed his enthusiasm.
Just as they felt a surge of hope, a loud noise shattered the moment. Immediately afterward, a clear voice echoed from the corner of the room:
"Attention all personnel! Mobile Task Force Nine-Tailed Fox is about to enter the facility..."