Special Containment Procedures:
Description:
Addendum XXXX-1:
Special Containment Procedures:
SCP-5000 is contained in situ at the location of its discovery. A five square meter table has been constructed in the center of a 15 x 20 x 5 m containment chamber on Sub-Level 5 of Site-17. The containment chamber is outfitted with the Mk V Temporal Sink, to be maintained at constant TVM1 unless otherwise directed by the item’s HMCL Supervisor (currently Dr. Marcus Kitterman), Site Director, or O5-12.
All instances of SCP-5000-1 are subject to interrogation, containment, and termination on sight as necessary. Instances may be retained for study under HCP-32 in the adjoining containment cells. Instances are to be terminated after a maximum of 364 days in containment to prevent causal interference with subsequent instances. No writing material is permitted in the containment suite or adjoining interrogation rooms to prevent SCP-5000-1 from employing memetic temporal displacement methods.
Access to the containment chamber is restricted to members of the Temporal Anomalies Department with L-5/5000 clearance, general L/5Δ clearance, or higher. Due to continued active temporal anomalies surrounding SCP-5000 and all sub-designations, permission to assemble SCP-5000-G and explore SCP-5000-2 may only be granted to members of RCT-Δt with at least 250 hours logged mission time. A steel alloy frame has been constructed sufficient to support the weight and shape of the various fragments in an assembled position, and is stored against the western wall of the containment chamber. Personnel accessing the containment chamber or exploring SCP-5000-2 must be anchored to the chamber’s exterior via 5 mm steel tether. If for any reason the tether becomes detached prior to successful egress, the untethered party is to be considered a hostile entity, interrogated, and permanently contained or terminated as appropriate.
Redundant copies of all documentation relating to SCP-5000 must be kept in causal isolation at all times.
Description:
SCP-5000 is the collective designation of six large (0.5 - 2.25 m length) fragments of layered sardonyx bearing detailed relief sculpture often referred to as cameo in art literature. The aesthetic of the relief is consistent with other large cameo carvings from Europe created during the late Republican / early Imperial period of Rome. When viewed separately, each engraving will depict a different individual scene, using the entire space available with no visible damage. However, when any two or more engravings occupy the same visual field, observers become aware that they are looking at a fragmented singular work which encompasses all six fragments.
Personnel with Level 5/Δ or 5/5000 may access Catalog 5000-1.1 for detailed description of all six fragments.
SCP-5000 has the effect of nullifying all ambient tachyon fields within a 5m radius of the collection’s center of mass, rendering it impossible for time to pass within the chamber unless the embedded Mk V Temporal Sink is activated. Interactions between this suspended temporal reference frame and our native TVM progression are not well understood, due to the impossibility of verifying any reported observations of experimental D-Class personnel or other entities leaving its area of effect. From an external perspective, such persons appear to enter and exit the active area instantaneously, and report vastly inconsistent experiences of duration spent within.
SCP-5000-1 designates all humanoids animate entities attempting to leave the active zone. All such instances to date have identified themselves as former members of RCT-Δt. Credentials recovered from SCP-5000-1 appear to be consistent with those in use by the Foundation at their reported time of origin, but none have thus far been verified by extant assets, agents, or databases. SCP-5000-1 instances manifest at a rate of three individuals per year, every year on the 23rd of December since the item’s discovery. Each manifestation always contains two males and one female. All sets have been genetically identical to one another despite occasional presentation of significant morphological differences. To date these have included:
- Entities with radially symmetrical body plans. Vivisection of instances reveals anatomical structures resembling those of phylum Echinodermatta3.
- Humanoid entities of increased stature with six phalanges on all extremities, and at least one organ structure of unknown purpose contained within the abdomen.
- Otherwise normal humanoids suffering advanced stages of SCP-217 infection.
- Three normal and healthy Corvus corax4 specimens carrying weapons, clothing, spectacles, and other equipment designed to be operated by avian physiology.
- [DOCUMENTATION INFOHAZARD EXPUNGED]
Update, 15/5/2027: Previous manifestations of SCP-5000-1 have categorically refused to cooperate with attempts at interview. SCP-5000-1.41-A, -B, and -C have granted interviews to containment personnel. Information will be released to this document pending verification. Researchers may access Document 5000-INT for transcripts of each interview.
Update, 30/6/2027: Following the interview with SCP-5000-1.41-A regarding a hidden space within SCP-5000, efforts were undertaken by RCT-Δt to reconstruct the complete object, designated SCP-5000-G. As of 8/6/2027, the project was concluded and resources diverted to exploration of SCP-5000-2.
SCP-5000-2 designates a spatial anomaly accessed from the obverse side of SCP-5000-G. This area is only accessible when the relief is fully assembled in the upright position. SCP-5000-2 contains a mock Roman city state of the early first century CE in a state of suspended animation.no tachyon field has been successfully detected within SCP-5000-2, rendering standard recording equipment non-functional. Exploration Summary 5000-2-E is compiled from multiple oral and written accounts of SCP-5000-2 exploration by various RCT-Δt assets.
Attached Documentation:
Catalog 5000-1.1:
Item Designation | Approximate Dimensions | Image Description |
---|---|---|
SCP-5000-A | 0.5 x 0.33 m | A nude female figure pouring water from a large vase. She appears to be weeping. Smaller humanoid figures are visible in the resulting flow of water. |
SCP-5000-B | 0.69 x 0.4 m | Two male figures in Roman battle attire. Armor and decoration indicate they are both officers. One thrusts his spear forward into the chin of the other, killing him. Observers universally indicate they are both depictions of the same person, though photographs of the fragment do not bear this out conclusively. |
SCP-5000-C | 1.21 x .75 m | A male figure sitting upon a palanquin, borne by four others - three male and one female. The seated figure is dressed in a manner consistent with contemporary depictions of Roman Emperors from the same period. He gestures forward, leaning out of his seat. Of note is that the figure is depicted wearing spectacles. |
SCP-5000-D | 0.2 x 2.25 m | Engraving of text in period Latin. “PRAEPARATVR OMNIA CONVIVIVM HABERETVR LVGVBRES”5 |
SCP-5000-E | 1.1 x .80 m | Three figures, two male and one female, hands joined in a ring and dancing. A large box stands in the center of the ring. Details of the box are impossible to resolve conclusively despite their size. |
SCP-5000-F | 1.5 x 2.25 m | Depiction of a large feast or banquet with several figures seated along a long table. At the center of the table is seated three figures wearing spectacles, flanked by several military officers and young women. Food at the table is depicted in a decomposed state. |
Update, 30/6/2027 SCP-5000-G | 2.25 x 3.5 m | Designates the fully assembled relief, which presents several significant departures from the previously described scenes. An inscription along the bottom reads “QVAM PARAVIMVS LUCEM VITAE”6. A female figure oversees the burning of spears and swords in the upper left. Two gladiators engage in combat, in the upper right. Three figures dance nude in a ring around a pike bearing three human heads in the central left. Several high-status males and one female carry a crowned figure in peasant/slave clothing on a palanquin, who leans back in his seat drinking from a large jug of wine. Central to the piece is a depiction of a large banquet, where a figure resembling contemporary depictions of Caesar Augustus shares a large, appetizing banquet amongst many assembled servants, soldiers, and peasants. |
Exploration Summary 5000-2-E:
Administrative Summary Re: Exploration Accounts of SCP-5000-2
Compiled by: Agent Regina Watts, RCT-Δt
Most Recent Revision Date: 15/8/2027The entry point of SCP-5000-2 is a free standing invisible event boundary surrounded entirely by an open field of grass. Visible below the hill is a small Roman city in immaculate condition. The time of day within the anomaly cannot be confirmed, but appears to be late evening. Compass navigation is impossible, and all non-mechanical recording equipment is non-functional.
The town limit is approximately 1.5 km from the point of entry. Everything remains absolutely still until interacted with by one of our agents. Fire still gives light and heat, but the flames do not move unless one of our people is holding the fuel source. Humanoid figures in direct contact with our people do not regain consciousness as expected. Instead, their bodies deteriorate rapidly after contact, dissolving to dust entirely after approximately five ‘minutes’ based on accounts. These figures, torches, and other materials will return to their original configuration following the teams’ egress.
Based on facial expressions, mode of dress, and food stuffs present, the town seems to be in the middle of a large festival. Statues depicting Saturn, the Roman god of bounty and time, are adorned with offerings of ceramic masks. Priest figures in the midst of ceremony have heads uncovered. Celebrants are observed gambling, exchanging gifts, indulging in wine, and fornicating more or less openly in the streets.
Progressing toward the city center, the scene becomes more sinister. Some prisoners (celebrants? They seem almost happy about it.) are being executed in temples surrounding the plaza. There is a lot of blood present in the temples, and no less than 10 human heads have been arranged on an altar before another large statue of Saturn. Beyond the plaza, there is a large procession of some 200-300 celebrants, carrying torches. At the heart of the procession is a palanquin carried by four masked figures in the garb of patricians. The chair they hold aloft is empty, save for a gilded laurel wreath and a set of rough peasants clothes.
It is the conclusion of RCT-Δt that the celebration is congruent with records of the festival Saturnalia, a Roman midwinter celebration of bounty, light, and renewal dedicated to Saturn. There appears to be significant juxtaposition of both archaic and latter day traditions within the scene. However, without seeing the area in true motion, it is impossible to determine this conclusion with certainty.
Most troubling about these discoveries is the absence of the King of Saturnalia; an ‘elected’ figure which presides over the festival, who we assume was supposed to be riding that palanquin near the center of town. Mapping the likely progression of the procession based on the state of residents of the town, the most extreme aspects of the ritual seem to have happened in this palanquin’s wake.
Whether this confirms or refutes the claims set forth by SCP-5000-1.41-A and -B cannot be determined at this time. The absence of ambient tachyon fields within SCP-5000-2 does seem to lend itself to that conclusion. However, there do not seem to be any empty spaces where an icon or statue of Saturn would reside. The absence of the King of Saturnalia may well be construed to be the absence of a priest, celebrant, or other human figure which is necessary for the scene to continue progressing. Or it may simply be a result of the object’s state of repair.
As a precautionary measure, I recommend amending containment procedures to prohibit future assets from interfering or interacting with the palanquin, as well as an additional SCP-5000 sub designation for this object.
- Agent Regina Watts, RCT-Δt
Document 5000-I:
On 23/12/2026, three humanoids manifested in the containment chamber of SCP-5000 and were immediately apprehended by onsite security assets. This marks the 41st such manifestation event since initial containment. Though initially uncooperative, all three instances of SCP-5000-1.41 independently approached containment personnel with a desire to be interviewed by RCT-Δt or other Temporal Anomalies Department agents and researchers.
Date: 25/4/2027
Interviewer: Agent Regina Watts, RCT-Δt
Observing: Dr. Marcus Kitterman, HMCL Supervisor
Interviewee: SCP-5000-1.41-A
Note: Subject does not outwardly appear to be anomalous. However, biometric scans indicate large portions of it’s anatomy have been replaced or augmented with advanced prosthesis. Interestingly, the subject still elects to wear spectacles despite obvious access to advanced surgical techniques. For some reason, this appears to be a common trait among -A type manifestations, no matter their body plan.
- Dr. Marcus KittermanR. Watts: Alright, we’re rolling. This is Regina Watts interviewing SCP-5000-1.41-A. Can you please state your name for the record.
SCP-5000-1.41-A: (sighs audibly) … This is Dr. Thaddeus Xyank, former Chairperson of the Temporal Anomalies Department, founder of Research and Containment Team Δt. Also former SCP-110-1. Fun to be back on this side of the table…
R. Watts: Oh yeah? And how exactly does a skip go from designee to research doc?
SCP-5000-1.41-A: And back. You forgot the ‘and back.’ The answer is… complicated. It’s good to see you again, though. I haven’t… Dammit Reggie, I’m really sorry. I have really fucked this one up. I should have brought you all back in before I left.
R. Watts: Listen, I understand you’re scared-
SCP-5000-1.41-A: I’m not. I know I don’t have any power to implicate you in anything. And I know ‘you’ have ‘never met’ me, but… I knew a Regina Watts. She was one of my best retrieval agents. She recovered [REDACTED] and I don’t know how many more since then.
R. Watts: … Okay. You know a thing or two about the department… How did you come by that knowledge?
SCP-5000-1.41-A: (his head flops forward and smacks the table before looking back upward) Because I’m your fucking boss, Reggie. Frankly I can’t tell if you’re being thick, or if you really don’t recognise me. I authorized your GCS back in ‘08. We even sent you to 2035 for it so you could get it done properly! …How are you healing up, by the way?
R. Watts: (visibly perturbed) Right, I don’t know who the fuck you are or how you know that, but if you don’t stop with this evasive bullshit then this interview is over.
SCP-5000-1.41-A: (chuckling) Oh nooo, not the containment cell! However will I cope with all the naaaps? (sips water) Come on, you’ll have to do a little better than that. I have sat in on dozens of these types of interviews.
R. Watts: Then you know you better get to the point before I call security.
SCP-5000-1.41-A: Alright, I’ll play. So… if you’re still on Δt in this timeline, then you should have access to SCP-110? I can’t be sure of what has and hasn’t been redacted. Hell, I don’t even know if I exist on this string anymore, but it’s not just a city. It’s a containment facility, too. That’s where this object was first contained. Back then… or, well, I suppose that hasn’t happened yet, but when I first saw the cameo, it was whole. I was assigned to 5000 in my role as an extra-dimensional topologist. We knew there was some kind of looping scripted pocket space inside the thing, so it was my job to oversee exploration and catalog the properties of the interior. But eventually, I got the bright idea to test its interior dimensions.
R. Watts: So you broke it?
SCP-5000-1.41-A: You could say that. However, it might be more accurate to say that the object… hatched. Some unknown entity emerged from a fissure in the front face and… (rubs his eyes under his spectacles) Apologies. The experience is very difficult to recall.
R. Watts: Okay… Is that why you’re here now?
SCP-5000-1.41-A: No. That’s just how I got back to 1972. My aim in coming here comes much later; sometime in late 2010. After figuring out temporal displacement stabilization and using the knowledge I gained to resolve as many paradoxes as I could, I discovered that time is… entirely incoherent. It’s complete chaos. What we see as strings is just a person’s mind doing its best to form a coherent narrative out of that chaos, and our navigation techniques are far more like dialing a radio tuner than actually moving through space. The memetic ones are just shifting focus from one apparently coherent moment to another.
R. Watts: Yeah, and I have also read the primer, but -
SCP-5000-1.41-A: You still have a primer? HA! Perfect. Who wrote it?
R. Watts: Who wrote what?
SCP-5000-1.41-A: Who wrote the primer, Reggie?
R. Watts: It… We’re getting off topic again.
SCP-5000-1.41-A: Fine, but you’re about to miss a trick. I know we’re not the first people to come out of that room. As soon as my colleagues found the right path to the object… Hell, I couldn’t even check my watch before there was a gun in my face. That has happened only once before, when I walked into an open infinite loop. How long have I been sho-… wait, 1.41-A? Forty-one iterations? Christ… Where are you keeping the rest of me?
[INTERVIEW TERMINATED]
Closing Note: I’ve checked and triple checked. I can’t find an author for the RCT-Δt Primer. Can we loop up with RAISA to see if this is an intentional omission or not? Something isn’t adding up. He knows too much. Either there’s a leak that’s gotten into our personnel files or something has gone pear shaped.
- R. Watts
Date: 27/4/2027
Interviewer: Agent Lorainne Mickelson, RCT-Δt
Observing: Dr. Marcus Kitterman, HMCL Supervisor
Interviewee: SCP-5000-1.41-B
Note: Relieved Agent Watts after the last interview. The anomaly suddenly breaking silence, and dropping confirmed information like that is somewhat troubling. This one looks a bit more like a field agent than the other two. Hopefully there will be more information we can use.
- Dr. Marcus KittermanL. Mickelson: This is Field Agent Loraine Mickelson interviewing SCP-5000-1.41-B
SCP-5000-1.41-B: Forty-One?!
L. Mickelson: If you please, sir?
SCP-5000-1.41-B: Yeah, yeah, sure… Wow, that’s a lot. We are fucked.
L. Mickelson: State your name, please?
SCP-5000-1.41-B: Homer Fucking Simpson. What does it matter? I’m clearly already dead. (covers face with hands)… Sorry. Agent Bertrand Tomlin, former reconnaissance team lead, RCT-Δt. I uh… I went off the radar with the other two a couple of months - I mean, a few months prior to - Fuck. From my perspective, we were out of Foundation sight for about two months before you nailed us.
L. Mickelson: Excellent, thank you for that. You say you went off the radar. Can you elaborate on that?
SCP-5000-1.41-B: …Thad called Attie and me into an office downtown in NYC one morning and showed us something I wish I hadn’t seen. He took an XACTS device and turned it on with a window open -
L. Mickelson: I’m sorry, a what?
SCP-5000-1.41-B: Wait, seriously? You are the Loraine Mickelson, right?
L. Mickelson: That is my name. Look, pretend you’re an anomaly and I don’t know who you are or what you’re talking about. Matter of fact, don’t pretend. You’re an anomaly. I don’t know who you are or what you’re talking about.
SCP-5000-1.41-B: (leaning forward) The Xyank-Anastasakos Constant Temporal Sink. The physics behind it was published in Foundation in 1892. You don’t even have a department without that damned box!
L. Mickelson: We can come back to that, but I would like to focus back on what you imagine you’re doing here, please.
SCP-5000-1.41-B: Alright, fine. Never mind who invented the central tech of your department, we got a script to follow, yeah? Brilliant. Super duper. …We were after something that Thad said he saw once because he reckoned it was Father Time. Some fancy term for it, I think it started with an E? The idea was supposed to be to put whatever that was back inside the cameo somehow and time - which as you probably know, is super fucked - would just sort of settle back into a proper line as soon as we did it, and our perspective would become the only remaining timeline.
L. Mickelson: And what gave him that impression?
SCP-5000-1.41-B: I dunno. It seemed as likely to work as anything else I’d done that week, so… Anyway, we were going to all do it together. Breach 110 on our own, dive into that enormous casket as a team, and when we got to the cameo, and follow whatever breadcrumbs we could to find this… thing… and…
L. Mickelson: Go on.
SCP-5000-1.41-B: You know what, never mind. Saying it out loud makes it sound so dumb. We… Nope, it’s bugging me. Loraine, I can hear the hum. You might not know what XACTS’ are, but we’re sitting inside of one. Or something very much like it. You’re keeping this place causally isolated?
L. Mickelson: I’m pretty certain you know how I’m going to answer that question.
SCP-5000-1.41-B: Yeah, I know it… I hated this part of the job. You were always way better at it, anyway. I must have interviewed a hundred former Agents and Researchers. Some of ‘em I even knew and had to play like I didn’t. Don’t show your cards. Don’t collaborate with an anomaly. Don’t even breathe Thad’s name… (subject looks into the camera through the one-way glass) Which means that’s either Marcus or Liza over there, lookin’ at me, deciding whether to bring me out of the cold or keep me in lock up for the next… I don’t know how long. Guess until the next iteration moves through. (pause) Listen I… don’t do well in cages. Even less now that I know I’ve got a termination over my head, so can I make just one request?
L. Mickelson: Words are still free. I can’t promise much, but you can say it.
SCP-5000-1.41-B: …When the time comes… Can I just do it myself?
[INTERVIEW TERMINATED]
Closing Note: That makes two pieces of tech this anomaly is claiming were invented by SCP-5000-1 instances. Two cornerstone pieces of tech for our department. I’ve authorized RAISA requests for both of these claims. I really hope it’s just need to know.
- Dr. Marcus Kitterman.
Date: 15/5/2027
Interviewer: Dr. Marcus Kitterman, HMCL Supervisor
Observing: Dr. Iliza Schrader, Research Lead, Temporal Anomalies Department
Interviewee: SCP-5000-1.41-C
Note: I’m not looking forward to this. There’s a pattern forming here I don’t like. RAISA came back empty. Actually empty; they assured me that L4/Δ would be plenty enough to answer those questions. The department, SCP-5000, and all the docs before this one appear overnight. Considering the power draw we require and how many of us are involved actively in this project, that is a big problem. I’m going to take this interview on personally. This one says she’s supposed to have Liza’s job. I have to be sure I’m asking the right questions.
- Dr. Marcus KittermanDr. Kitterman: Is it on? Alright, good. Hello SCP-5000-1.41-C, my name is Dr. Marcus Kitterman -
SCP-5000-1.41-C: I know…
Dr. Kitterman: Heh. I had a feeling you might. I’m HMCL supervisor for SCP-5000. Are you alright to tell me your name?
SCP-5000-1.41-C: My name is Dr. Athena Anastasakos. I was at your wedding, Marcus. Quit it. Going through this once was enough. Just… just drop the act. I know we went off the grid. I know what we did wasn’t authorized, I know that has consequences, but throwing our own security procedures back in our faces is so low I could… (takes a deep breath)
Dr. Kitterman: See, that’s the thing… Okay, you know me, yeah? You know if I’m lying or not. Am I lying right now, saying I’ve never seen your face before in my life?
SCP-5000-1.41-C: …God- ! …No, you’re not. So let’s talk. What do you know about the object?
Dr. Kitterman: How? How could I tell you that? How can I possibly even attempt to justify that? On record?
SCP-5000-1.41-C: Because what we saw was an anomaly that, among other things, stopped the flow of time. I don’t think you understand how that causal island holding firm interacts with the bulk of the timeline as a result.
Dr. Kitterman; Oh? OH. How would that… Wow…
SCP-5000-1.41-C: And of course you’re recording this. (looks directly at the camera) I can see the light on one of the cameras from here. If those cameras are working properly, that means there’s a sink in operation. Nearby.
Dr. Kitterman: That’s irrelevant. The field is contained. It’s only… It’s contained.
SCP-5000-1.41-C: If the field needs only the five meter buffer I saw in the containment chamber, a desk unit would be able to handle it. Are you sure the field is contained in that room?
Dr. Kitterman: … I suppose I’m really not.
Dr. Schrader: (audible only to Dr. Kitterman) Marcus! Focus!.
Dr. Kitterman: Never mind, the point is we’re safe now. I wouldn’t be here if everything wasn’t accounted for.
SCP-5000-1.41-C: It’s fine, that isn’t the pertinent question right now, anyway. What matters is whether or not the sink you are using was on or off when we came through. Because if it was on, we’re caught in the wake of an artificial TVM as the rest of the time plane moves around it. If it’s off, then this facility is inadvertently sliding through time from string to string and stopping all of our attempts at re-containing a Code Black Keter along the way.
Dr. Kitterman: Well that doesn’t… sound… good.
SCP-5000-1.41-C: Honestly, Marc? I’m much more worried about the third possibility.
Dr. Kitterman: What’s that?
SCP-5000-1.41-C: That the Foundation made you all forget us on purpose. That someone upstairs wants time this way.
[INTERVIEW TERMINATED]
Closing Note: I would like to formally request reassignment to another SCP project.7
- Dr. Marcus Kitterman
Addenda:
Update, 30/8/2027: During a containment breach of SCP-████, Site-17 suffered catastrophic power failure, including the failure of redundant generators supplying power to SCP-5000’s containment unit and embedded Mk V Temporal Sink. When power was restored via an emergency hard-start of Sub-Level 5 generators three minutes later, SCP-5000 was discovered in SCP-5000-G configuration, and all three adjoining HCP-3 containment cells were discovered opened and empty.
The following note was found in the cell housing SCP-5000-1.41-A:
Item Number: SCP-5000
Object Class: Thaumiel, you idiots.
Special Containment Procedures: Causal isolation protocols matter. I thought we taught you better than this.
Description: You have been put in a box meant to make you believe that putting a box in a box is an effective containment strategy for the thing that used to be in that box. How did this thing even get here? Who designed the unit? Who wrote the ConProcs? Who invented the tachyon tech you’re using to contain it?
Get your shit together, and let us do our jobs.
- ██
Revision to containment procedures is currently under review. SCP-5000-1.41-A, -B, and -C are pending reclassification as Persons of Interest.
RCT Δt Retrieval Log 110901.1 - 110901.130, Agents R█████ and A███████████.: The following log is compiled from respective agents temporally local recording devices and are presented isochronossly for ease of analysis. During routine pickup of SCP-████ at Convergence Point 110901 (relevant strings 1-158, designated “Foundation Baseline”), field assets encountered sudden onset retrocausal restructuring. Transcript presented below. Full video edited to remove potentially cognitohazardous material is accessible to those with Level 3Δ clearance from Site-17 high value records storage, SB2.
Body camera of Agent A activates in darkness, followed approximately 30 seconds later by that of Agent R. Agents both activate handheld flashlights and check time simultaneously. Both watches read 10:49:58 am.
Agent R: Skipper?Agent A: Skipper?
Audio feed records each voice independently. No crossover. Agent A’s body camera records scenery consistent with disused pneumatic subway infrastructure as expected. Agent R’s body camera displays only the beam of his flashlight, no structures visible. Agent R retrieves radio communication device and activates. Audio is garbled and full of static. Agent A does the same and receives no signal. Agent A activates isochronoss communicator as Agent R continues scanning for clear frequency.
A: Paul?
R: Shit. [ into communicator ] Yeah, Sandy, I’m here. Where the hell are you?
A: I’m at the drop. What’s going on?
R: Radio’s acting weird. I can’t get a clear signal. Incoming on string 1. What string did you come in on?
A: Standby. … I’m from 130. You have 11:02? If you’re just running late I’ll wait.
R: Yeah, 11:02. What gives?
A: You have coordinates?
R: … Shit, no GPS. Hang on, I think I found a radio channel.
Agent R’s radio begins receiving vocalizations from unknown humanoid entity speaking in an unidentified language similar to ancient Summerian. R’s flashlight begins to illuminate nearby objects which appear to be piles of commingled human and animal bones. Agent R drops flashlight, which then illuminates the wall of the passage, revealing several baas reliefs depicting unknown sacrificial rituals.
A: Paul, talk to me.
R: I’m… Oh fuck me. I don’t know where I am but this sure as hell isn’t a subway.
A: [ Hearing radio chatter through R’s mic ] Okay, calm down. Everything is going to be alright. Do you still have the Temp-ex that brought you there?
R: No, it burned up after I used it.
A: Alright, try and get somewhere safe, I’m going to head topside and start hopping down strings to get to you, okay? You still have it?
R: Yeah, still in my bag.
A: Good work. Keep the Iso hot, I’m coming.
Agent A begins scaling stairs to the surface as R attempts to navigate the chamber. Over the next 10 minutes of radio silence, R continues to illuminate and record points of interest. Bones in the debris on the floor include humanoid skulls with divergent anatomy. Metallic augmentations visible on some instances, as well as enhanced dentition, additional optical orbits, and markings resembling (but not identical to) modern and ancient Semitic writing systems. Other bones are in disarray and cannot be easily identified on tape. Markings on the wall appear to indicate direction to landmarks or places, and appearance of some post-modernist iconography depicting humans and humanoids with divergent anatomy are present. R follows signage indicating stairs to the surface, and ascends.
Agent A reaches topside on Broadway near Houston St, and confirms presence of dust and debris/evacuation in progress. A conceals herself in a nearby alleyway and begins calculation.
A: Still with me?
R: [ whispering ] Yeah, I think… I’m on my way up.
A: Alright, dropping to string 65. That should… Whoa.
Body camera for Agent A records anomalous temporal decoherence event. Static periodically covers portions of the video frame and the scene is replaced by bone, sinew, wood, and stone construction in a style consistent with High Daevite and mid-20th century brutalist architecture. Agent R appears in frame at a nearby entryway and attempts to covertly draw Agent A’s attention. Audio synchronizes at this point.
Agents A and R continue to record objects of interest throughout video. Notable are the presence of two large spires of mirrored black stone in the skyline, surrounded by large unidentified flying animals. Traffic present on the streets includes no motor vehicles. Entities present on the sidewalk resembling instances of SCP-610-A. Large humanoids adorned with gold and marked with ceremonial tattoos are present in vehicles drawn by these instances and apparently non-anomalous or early-stage infection humans.
R: [ whispering ] Do you have the ‘lifeboat’?
A: [ whispering ] No! We [ unitelligible ] for emergencies!
R: [ whispering ] This isn't an emergency?!
Loud vocalization from out of frame. Screeches growing in intensity. Camera pans to see a large mass of entities swarming toward an unknown animal and tearing pieces from its flesh. Both agents begin running in the opposite direction, low to ground. Identifiable on footage are several pieces of print media in the same unknown script seen throughout, discarded food packaging, and other trash consistent with habitation of a large modern city. Also present is a high volume of blood running through gutters carved into the solid floor of the alley.
R: Door!
Agent A reaches into her bag and retrieves an instance of X-1780-Δ, fastens it to the wall and opens the wooden door next to her quickly. Dr. Thaddeus Xyank appears in frame, armed with a shotgun and wearing Foundation issue tactical breastplate.
Dr. Xyank: Grab the plate. Hurry!
Agent R’s body cam spins quickly, and the door closes. No light is visible outside any windows in the office or through the door.
Dr. Xyank: Do you have it?
Agent R produces a small biohazard bag containing a locked steel canister from his bag.
Dr. Xyank: Good. Good. Not that it’s likely to matter much in a few hours, but better to have it safe.
A: What the hell was that?
Dr. Xyank: Don’t worry, I have people on it. Please, have a seat.
R: No. No no no. What the fuck happened to New York?
Dr. Xyank: The convergence point has been compromised. We’re looking into it. Sit. Down.
Agents A and R sit opposite Dr. Xyank at his desk. Dr. Xyank pours them each a cup off coffee and puts it in front of them. They both drink. There are a few seconds of silence before Agent A and Agent R begin to yawn.
Dr. Xyank: Better?R: Yeah… Thanks… Duh-
Agent R falls unconscious. Agent A turns toward her companion and begins to laugh. Laughter intensifies for approx. 10 seconds before waning. Agent A lowers her head slowly to the desk and begins to sleep. Dr. Xyank turns off both body cameras. When video resumes, time-stamp has advanced two hours. Dr. Xyank speaks directly to both cameras.Dr. Xyank: Apologies for the abrupt response, but these two were not cleared for what just happened to them. Don’t worry, it’s just an oral Class B. They’re gonna wake up feeling like a million bucks. Speaking of which, If you don’t have L4-2000 clearance, turn the video off now.
Dr. Xyank breifly exposes Cognitofilter 084-9-3 to the camera and then lowers it.
Dr. Xyank: To whoever is still watching this, I’m sorry. I failed to see this one before it was too late. This is… a very out of hand situation. Baseline causality has been compromised by a containment breach of SCP-140 sometime within the last 48 hours. The extent of the damage is not yet known, but incursion of Daevite civilization into all 158 of RCT Δt’s designated Foundation baseline strings is complete as of… [ checking notes ] 29 minutes ago. My lifeboat is operating as designed, but I can’t fix this by myself. I’m sending these tapes to as many Foundation-outlier timelines as may still be available, because frankly, I can’t be certain I can reach Yellowstone from here. I leave that to you. Based on our predictive history model, and how quickly the strings were all overwritten, anything you try to do later than the Second Punic War is probably irrelevant. Start with Hannibal. If we need more strings, we can work backward from there.
[END OF LOG]
A juvenile instance of SCP-XXXX |
---|
Item #: SCP-XXXX
Object Class: Euclid
Special Containment Procedures: The current colony of SCP-XXXX consists of twenty-seven (27) individuals, housed in a 6 x 6 x 4 m beach dune vivarium (maximum sand depth of 1 m) located in Bio-Containment Site-XX. Access for feeding and socialization to improve morale is granted to all personnel; however, removal of an instance of SCP-XXXX for any purpose, including experimentation, requires approval from one (1) Level 3/XXXX researcher. Personnel exiting the vivarium are subject to search and decontamination at the discretion of the acting HMCL Supervisor on duty.
Care of SCP-XXXX is identical to that of Ocypode quadrata, or the North American Ghost Crab. Vivarium is to be maintained at 50-90% humidity, with temperature of 25-35°C. At least 3 kg of assorted food scraps and detritus is to be delivered to the enclosure daily. Hand feeding of vegetables, fruits, and meat scraps is permitted.
Instances of SCP-XXXX-1 are to be contained in standard humanoid containment cells surrounded by faraday cages to prevent unauthorized transmissions. No instance of SCP-XXXX-1 is permitted to access any computational device connected to the Internet or SCP Foundation Intranet. SCP-XXXX-1 access to any computational device or any other instance of SCP-XXXX-1 is for approved experimentation purposes only, pending approval of at least one (1) Level 4/XXXX researcher.
Description: SCP-XXXX is the collective designation of an anomalously altered subspecies of Ocypode quadrata. Instances can be identified by a small trap door on the rear of their carapace which, when opened on mature individuals, reveals one (1) micro-USB ██.█ port, one (1) port of unknown format and function, and an embossed serial number unique to each instance. They are otherwise visibly identical to wild O. quadrata specimens. SCP-XXXX has a very social lifestyle, preferring to burrow in close proximity to other instances to allow for sharing of foraging and hunting responsibilities for the colony as a whole. In addition, SCP-XXXX shows no fear of humans, and will use vocalizations and gestures to attempt to get their attention.
Dissection of SCP-XXXX reveals abbreviated biology. Though all major anatomical components are present, the area normally taken up by the digestive gland, stomach, and heart is filled with dense, fibrous neural tissue, which is connected to the data ports previously mentioned. The miniaturization of its digestive system seems to have no adverse side effects on its ability to absorb nutrients.
When placed on the neck of a human subject, SCP-XXXX will immediately extend a long proboscis into the spinal column, administering a slow-acting general anesthetic. Though test subjects feel no pain upon injection and report lightheadedness and fatigue, resulting in the subject lying face-down on any surface provided. Over the next hour, SCP-XXXX will perform a complex surgical procedure on the subject using its pincers and legs as tools, wherein SCP-XXXX consumes the cerebellum and inserts itself into the subject’s skull. Subjects of this procedure are designated SCP-XXXX-1.
SCP-XXXX-1 will retain all memories, knowledge, and motor functions of their previous lives, and possess immediate knowledge of SCP-XXXX’s presence in their brain system. Although its personality remains largely unaltered, SCP-XXXX-1 will display improved intellect, abstract reasoning skill, and computational ability to its former non-anomalous state. Though impossible to verify at this time(see Addenda), SCP-XXXX-1 claim that SCP-XXXX’s primary function is that of a common personal computer.
SCP-XXXX-1 has demonstrated the ability to access aural, textual, and visual data stored on Wifi-connected devices. Instances also show the ability to retrieve information stored in remote intranet sources and test pages created for experimentation purposes. SCP-XXXX-1 are also capable of causing reproduction of SCP-XXXX (which can be removed via surgery) by ‘ordering one’ though a ‘form’ which is as yet unidentified. Also commonly claimed is that surgery for removal of new instances of SCP-XXXX would be unnecessary if a ‘licensing fee’ of $2000 is paid. The phone number and physical address provided by SCP-XXXX-1 for this purpose are not currently registered in any country.
Addendum XXXX-1: Thanks to information gained from interviews with SCP-███-██ by Foundation electrical engineers, a converter has been developed for the unidentified data port present on SCP-XXXX, allowing output to standard VGA video monitors. Research has confirmed that SCP-XXXX functions primarily as a personal computer, designed to interface with human neural anatomy directly. Documentation recovered from both activated and inactive instances of SCP-XXXX reveals that these computers are running an as-yet undeveloped build of the Linux operating system, and is written in an apparently advanced standardization of “████████ ████”. SCP-███-██ has further claimed that SCP-XXXX is non-anomalous apart from being anachronistic, and was developed first “sometime in the late ████’s”. Further research is required to verify this claim.
Addendum XXXX-2: Continuing analysis of brain scans for SCP-XXXX-1 instances prior to and during cohabitation with SCP-XXXX has revealed that SCP-XXXX is able to record and replicate the state of the cerebellum during consumption, and replace its function entirely. Signals pertinent to SCP-XXXX’s computational capability are transmitted through the medulla, r-complex and neo-cortex in the same manner as other neural impulses originating from the rest of the body.
Note: Looking at this with an eye to the future, there isn’t anything about these objects/organisms that cannot be explained with our current understanding of computational architecture, neural anatomy, and genetics. Yes, the little critters do represent a level of technological sophistication far and beyond what we’re capable of, but theoretically, there’s nothing new here.
I’d like to request that we move this into the –EX file. Attached to this request is a full summary of our findings regarding the neural architecture, system specifications, and genetic sequencing of SCP-XXXX, as well as several successful cloning case studies.
Sure, they’re really weird. But no weirder than a pocket calculator would be to Alan Turing.
-Dr. ███ █████
Request denied. Until we can reasonably release this technology into the wild, and reproduce it from a non-anomalous crab, the Euclid classification remains appropriate. Imagine for a moment someone had given Turing a calculator and we're sure you'll agree.
- O5-█
“SCP-110-1.”
A very bored anomalous person put down his weathered paperback and pulled a pair of bulky ugly ‘glasses’ off of his face to clean them. Ten years of this. Ten years lit by Neolithic electric tubes. Ten years shoved about by cavemen in black Kevlar and white polyester. What in hell could they possibly want now?
“SCP-110-1, respond.”
“I’m here.” That’s right. Keep cool. Give them just one excuse and they’ll rip that state-of-the-art technology right out of the back of your skull if it suits them.
“Please prepare for cell inspection. Stand and place both hands on the wall in front of you, with your feet shoulder width apart. Do not move until you are ordered to do so or you will be terminated. Is that understood?”
“One-one-oh.”
“Is that understood?” the voice replied with a special edge.
“Yes,” he replied clearly, hopped up from his cot and did as he was told. Summary execution; of all the primitive crap! Ooga booga booga to you, too! An alarm buzzer sounded as the electromagnetic lock gave way. Three sets of footsteps moved into the room, and one pistol’s hammer was cocked back inconspicuously. Hands roughly swept down his body and up the insides of his legs and arms. The pistol de-cocked and the faceless hands grabbed him by the shoulders and turned him around. A young man in a fine suit looked back with a bit of wonder in his eyes and cautious optimism on his lips.
“Can I help you?” SCP-110-01 asked, his voice carrying a little more disdain than it should have.
“I certainly hope so.” The suit nodded to the guards who looked at one another nervously and departed, closing the door (but not locking it) behind them. “According to the file, you claim to be one of us from the future. Is that right?”
SCP-110-01 smirked. “Does the black moon howl?”
The suit chuckled and scratched the side of his nose. “Clever. What year was that?”
“What year is it?”
The suit promptly shut the fuck up and glanced at his watch. No doubt deciding on how best to change the subject. “…Mind if I ask your field of study?”
SCP-110-01 looked at the suit suspiciously, glancing to the door and back.
“Don’t worry about the guards. We won’t need them.”
The prisoner crossed his arms and pulled his lips tight. “…I believe the best translation is ‘extraspatial topology.’ I used to build non-euclidean spaces for—”
“Spatial anomalies, you mean,” the suit corrected.
“You people keep using that word for everything… I’m not sure anyone here actually knows what it means. Everything can be reproduced and reverse engineered; even the most intricate distortions. I made these ‘anomalies’ myself for containment purposes, especially on the old skips.”
“Such as?”
SCP-110-01 smirked. What was that saying, again? “A gentleman never asks, a lady never tells.”
The suit seemed satisfied with that and nodded, pulling a folder out from under his arm and handing it to the prisoner before him. “I’d like you to take a look at something, tell me what you think about it.”
“What’s in it for me?” A bar of chocolate? An hour of sunshine? Hell, a new book to read? Anything; he was dying in there. Muscles and mind atrophying out from under him…
“We’ll see.”
SCP-110-01 took the file in hand and opened it. Like riding a bike, he booted up his calculator and let the blue screen fill his occipital lobe at 50% transparency overlay to start the simulation. It was a schematic, a technical document. A bank of capacitors on one end with two access points, a large power supply, huge banks of computers clearly not diagrammed in short-hand (had these people even heard of the integrated neural circuit?) and a… oh yegods…
“A time machine?!” he exclaimed.
The caution in the suit’s eyes disappeared in an instant. “Why do you say that?”
“There are two bottled pseudo-Riemannian manifolds, here and here,” 110-01 said, pointing. “Those are F-shielded rather thoroughly here, and both of them draw space-time out of this circuit, here.” He tapped for emphasis. “That’s a symbol set aside around 2200 CE for a theoretical tachyon emitter; everything else here is spatial distortion control, which you need to make sure whatever you’re transporting doesn’t just pop out into inter-planetary space somewhere. I’m impressed but… so far as I know, there’s never been a working prototype.” And though he already knew the non-answer, he couldn’t help but ask: “Where in Hell did you find this?”
“Never mind that. How’d you like to work on it?”
“DOCTOR XYANK?”
His eyes shot open and grabbed focus on the face of one Agent Bertrand (“for Christ’s sake, just call me Burt”) Tomlin.
“Hm?”
“Two minutes. Get your shit,” Tomlin said, pulling on a helmet with a rather cute headlamp on the front and snapping the strap closed beneath his chin.
By god how Thad hated field work. Hated it hated it hated it. The helicopters were noisy, filthy things, even the very best ones. Deafening was the word for it; and always spewing hot smoky waste out of the back as they sliced haphazardly through the air to hold themselves aloft. Pulling his vest tight and grabbing his shot-gun from the overhead rack, Dr. Thaddeus Xyank took one last inventory of all of his monitoring equipment and the few bits of retrieval tech he had managed to replicate in his spare time. The zipper sealed and he slung it on his back, grunting under its weight a moment and letting himself adjust. BP, 129/83. Pulse 89. Temp 37.17ºC. Neuro-conductivity 85% efficiency. Running a little hot…
Corporal Ben Taggard nudged Burt Tomlin and nodded toward the Doctor. “Ain’t never seen a research Doc on one of these trips deck themselves out like that before. Hey Doc!” he called out. “You know something we don’t?”
“Probably,” Thad replied tersely.
It was hardly ideal to drop an MTF team onto an anomaly in public, but SCP-110 was far enough into the boondocks of upstate New York, and the whole site surrounded by so much ‘government’ material that no one would notice. USGS was a good cover story, and the team was behind a barricade when they stepped out of the heli in their black gear carrying big and scary looking weapons. Supposedly this was enough cover. Thad wasn’t so sure.
“Dr. Xyank?” a befuddled looking researcher asked Dr. Anastasakos (she and Kitterman the only folks from the chopper still wearing a lab coat, pushing carts of instruments).
“Over here!” Thad called, and slung his weapon over his shoulder. The researcher stammered a moment before shaking hands.
“Paul Gibson,” he said. “Level 3-Σ, Geology.”
“Thad Xyank. Department Chair, Temporal Anomalies.”
“Welcome to One-Ten!” Gibson said, ushering him into a tent.
Welcome back, you mean, Thad thought but did not say.
“Glad you could get a team here on such short notice,” Gibson said in the welcoming tone of a doctor who isn’t quite a peer to the person he’s talking to, but desperately wants to believe that he is. Of course, maybe Thad was just being an ass about it. The mobile command center had a lot of equipment. Seismographs, Geiger counters, a few poorly rendered ground-penetrating-radar images, some basic hand-drawn maps of the cave system beneath and the drilling and mining operations around it. A lot of work had been done in the last twenty years. “We’ve had it pretty easy here for a while but… now that we’ve found the entrance I wanted to be thorough,” Dr. Gibson continued. “Is this all of you? I had asked for twenty. This is a lot of territory to cover!”
“The budget said five plus the researchers,” Tomlin interjected. “Lost a lot of people this week.”
Thad sighed. Of course, after losing a lot of valuable personnel, the orderly thing to do is move forward with a dangerous exploration and retrieval mission under-staffed. The Doctor would have spat a curse if his mouth wasn’t so dry.
“Well… It’s not ideal, but it’ll do, I guess,” Gibson said, pulling down a chart. “Okay. Here’s the main elevator shaft, recently completed. It’s a twenty minute ride down in the car to what we believe is the main entrance here, at the foot of the dome. We don’t know what the situation is like inside this thing so-”
“That’s fine, thank you,” Thad said. “If it’s all the same I’d like to get in there immediately. Anything we should know about the structural stability of the dome?”
“Only that we spent five years trying to drill through it before we gave up,” Gibson replied. “It’s harder than the diamond drill we tried to cut it with. I’d be more worried about how the seismic activity is affecting whatever’s inside of it. It’s radar-opaque.”
No containment failure. That was the best news he’d had all morning. And maybe the worst. “Well done, Dr. Gibson. We appreciate everything you’ve done to secure and study this anomaly. Please confer with my assistants, Drs. Athena Anastasakos and Marcus Kitterman, for any further details.” Thad pulled a folder from under his arm and placed it into Gibson’s hands. “You will find their security credentials are in order. As of now, this is a matter for the Department of Temporal Anomalies. That will be all.”
Dr. Gibson began to protest, but Thad was already on his way to the elevator, the rest of the MTF’ers hot on his heels.
“What is up your ass today?” Tomlin asked, keying in the code for the elevator from memory. “Gibson has been head of this project since ‘95. Was that really necessary?”
“No,” Thad answered dispassionately.
“Then—?”
“Agent Tomlin, I am hardly in the mood to explain every action I take. If what you’re about to say is not directly related to our mission today, I’d just as soon you let it drop.”
The doors slid open, and without another word, the team stepped inside.
Darkness… Everywhere darkness and a sharp pain on his face where a pair of visual enhancement modules rightfully ought to hang. Instead he found only shards of screen and twisted wire. What the hell happened? Last thing he remembered, he was in the experimental chamber with… FUCK!
In the pitch black he sat up like a shot, and immediately regretted it, laying back down in the puddle and whimpering. Something was wrong with his back and his neck, and warm blood ran down his face. The young doctor reached up and felt the cut; damp and goopy. It was clotting. He’d live… if he was found.
No telling where he was or how far he’d gone in some unimaginable direction. The cerebellar device could find a signal nowhere, which meant he was at least 3 km from any kind of civilization. And no GPS signal meant he was too deep in the ground or on the wrong planet for his tracking device to work. So he sat, in the dark, propped against his escape pod for what felt like an eternity but was, in reality, only a few short hours. Then the first rays of light rounded a crag and hit his blurred and fading vision. And the sound of clamping boots and chattering humans soon after.
He called out to them. Told them he was in here and alright, and someone had better call Director Tojiich. And that was when he heard the clatter of weaponry and the barking of some kind of…something from the deep past that he hadn't heard since… Yegods… Was that…?
“DON’T MOVE!” They shouted. “HANDS ON YOUR HEAD!” they shouted. “SOMEONE GET A MEDIC DOWN HERE, NOW!” they shouted
English. Early post-modern English. He hadn’t heard it spoken aloud since secondary school. And as the realization cascaded across his brain that it had been at least two centuries since this language had been a common tongue…
“Wh…what…year? What year this is?” he asked.
He never did get a proper answer.
“Alight everyone, synchronize watches
Possible containment: 123. 513. 294. 419. 612. 433.
Item #: SCP-XXXX
Object Class: Euclid
Special Containment Procedures: Due to SCP-XXXX’s immobile and isolated nature, containment efforts are focused on information control and limitation of civilian access. 75 Hectares of the Black Forest in Germany surrounding coordinates 48.████° N, 8.████° E has been relinquished to Foundation control for the containment of SCP-XXXX. Area-104 has been constructed to serve as a primary containment and research facility for SCP-XXXX and any related anomalies. Due to SCP-XXXX’s isolated location, security need is minimal. A simple chain-link fence has been constructed outside visual range of SCP-XXXX’s active perimeter, and is to be patrolled by 3 security details of 2 personnel each, with rounds completed every 4 hrs. Civilians attempting to gain access are to be given a cover-story regarding wilderness/wildlife conservation efforts and turned away. Detention, interrogation, and administration of Class A or B amnestic agents to trespassers may be undertaken at the discretion of the items HMCL supervisor (Currently Dr. Heinrich Kohler).
All Area-104 structures have been constructed of red clay brick, concrete, or cinder block as a primary material. For standards of future Area-104 construction projects and effective loss-prevention techniques, refer to Document XXXX-CG. No female personnel under the age of 30 are permitted entrance to Area-104 outside of approved experimentation protocol. The area in which SCP-XXXX-1 is capable of manifestation has been marked by red brick pylons 3 m tall, spaced every 15 m around the active perimeter. Entry is currently restricted to male D-Class personnel. Proposals from Level 2 Junior Research personnel may be approved by any two Level 3 Tenured Researchers.
Destructive testing of SCP-XXXX-2 is currently suspended pending administrative review (See Incident XXXX-53). Other analysis of SCP-XXXX-2 may be approved by the anomaly’s HMCL supervisor.
Description: SCP-XXXX-1 designates a Type-4i (corporeal/intermittent) spectral manifestation of an uncommonly large Canis l. lupus (Eurasian wolf) capable of appearing anywhere within 250 m of a large tree of unidentified species in Germany’s Black forest. The tree itself (SCP-XXXX-2) is marked with a length of red ribbon of unknown material, hanging from each of the three major divisions of its trunk.
Manifestations are estimated to stand 1.7-2 m at the shoulder and up to 3-4 m long from nose to tail. Though apparently amicable during initial containment, SCP-XXXX-1 has grown increasingly uncooperative. SCP-XXXX-1 has been known to feign cooperation and friendliness with new personnel to great effect. No residual effects of exposure to SCP-XXXX-1’s voice have been identified, and the effect has been determined to be the result of skilled interpersonal manipulation. Personnel are reminded to disregard all requests and instruction from SCP-XXXX-1. Noise-cancelling headphones are available upon request.
Although SCP-XXXX-1 is always visible at some location within its range of influence, the entity appears to have some level of control over its own location and corporeality, sometimes disappearing from one location entirely and appearing in another, or ‘flickering’ between corporeal and non-corporeal states while remaining stationary. While SCP-XXXX-1 remains corporeal, it appears to be susceptible to physical damage as expected for an animal of its size; however, any damage inflicted upon the entity will be undetectable after its next non-corporeal state.
SCP-XXXX-1 is intelligent, capable of fluent speech (English, German, French, Gaelic, Basque, and several dead Norse dialects), and hostile to human presence in general and the Foundation in particular. During the construction of Area-104, SCP-XXXX-1 was known to regularly destroy temporary Foundation structures such as tents and cabins, and topple Foundation vehicles and construction equipment by howling, barking, shouting, or blowing in the direction of its target. The source of this extraordinary force is still under investigation, but appears to be the result of an extreme air-pressure gradient generated by SCP-XXXX-1 through anomalous means.
Foundation attempts to identify and investigate the cause and nature of SCP-XXXX-1 have been confounded by the entity’s ability to dematerialize at will within its radius of effect, as well as its violent tendencies toward humans and the unpredictable nature of its manifestations. However, some consistencies have been discovered in the entity’s behavior and effects.
- SCP-XXXX is most actively destructive of its environment and most openly hostile to personnel on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
- The entity grows more active when any female with blonde or red hair is present on site, regardless of age.
- Manifestation coincides with increased prevalence of workplace accidents at Area-104, primarily due to component failure rather than operator negligence.
- SCP-XXXX does not require sustenance, but will consume pig, goat, and human flesh if it becomes available. The entity does not eliminate any waste following ingestion.
- Activity increases by a factor of 3 whenever trees are intentionally felled within a 20 km radius of the active perimeter.
History: Formal reports of missing foresters, hunters, and travelers in this region which may be attributable to SCP-XXXX date back to at least 1643 CE. Foundation assets first took interest in the region following WWII when Western Germany first fell under Allied control. Surveys of the region concluded that rudimentary containment measures had been enacted by the National Socialist government in response to the disappearance of several SS units, although no official record has been found to date. Within the active perimeter, artifacts dating as far back as the Gallic Wars (~58 BCE) have been recovered. Most commonly found are juvenile women’s garments (over 80% of which were originally red in color) and remains, partially consumed pig, goat, and human bones, and forestry equipment. Weapons and the remains of basic wooden or thatched structures have also been recovered. Of particular note is one intact stone chimney within the active zone dated between 400-500 CE, containing the intact skeletal remains of three human infants. As a result of its uncontained status through much of this history of Western Civilization, SCP-XXXX has had a significant, lasting impact on European oral tradition.
…
In the dark of early morning, Doctor Thaddeus Xyank watched carefully as the world he knew ended. Not insofar as the death of all things or the collapse of societies. That would come later. Maybe months later, maybe years. But the moment that would be remembered as the end was playing on the screen before him.
Video was streaming out of Argentina of a giant black spider demon falling from the sky and wiping its proverbial ass with an ancient god of the sky. The visceral beauty of it would make the wildest imagination of a Hollywood special effects team look like two kids in a sandbox playing Legos. Thad's cerebellar device hadn't stopped receiving panicked emails and conference calls for at least five hours. Several suicides of high-ranking officials had been reported, including the HMCL supervisors of SCP-231, SCP-089, and several other skips of dubious ethical handling.
Thad had no such ethical concerns. For the past twenty years his department had been above reproach. His 4Dx personal armor units and work on the Cleromantic Difference Engine had saved countless civilian and Foundation lives. What concerned him wasn't how the fallout of a torn veil would affect his life personally. As for the world collectively… it said much.
Watching the feed, he knew a few things for certain. First, the Americans had broken a very serious treaty by lassoing an elder sky deity and putting it on a government dole. He knew it was a deity, and probably a Greco-Roman, one because he had the misfortune of encountering a beast like it once before. He knew it was the Americans because the United Nations was involved in the resulting shit show, and had let a few too many details slip about who was responsible.
Secondly, he knew the GOC had been involved. Not that it was impossible for some other group to summon a soul-eating demon from the sky, but it sure would have been harder for any other group to put it back when they were done.
Finally, he knew the world had between four and twenty four months left before the survival of humanity became a real problem. This he knew because the machine had told him.
Spinning in his chair and picking up a bottle of embarrassingly expensive whiskey, Thad surveyed the Cleromantic Difference Engine. A still black-boxed Thaumiel object he had spent the better part of a year reverse engineering, and then another three shepherding carefully to figure out what to do with the astonishing amount of output. Most of the machinery in the room was just devoted to interpretation and rendering of several probable futures; the meat of the calculation was handled by a surprisingly small server rack absolutely covered in an ancient Daevite text that, on translation, proved to be little more than superstitious drivel. Maybe the belief in them held by the researchers who built it had something to do with how it was first made, but those people were long dead. Exactly one symbol still mattered, and for safety, he had taped a bit of black construction paper over it not long after figuring out what it meant.
But just about none of that is what came to his attention. It was the binary output on the monitor that kept him transfixed.
Secrecy. Antithetical to science, perhaps, but ever since the arms race with GOC and CI had picked up in earnest, especially since Prometheus packed up their bags and went home, Thad hadn't been a scientist. Now he was a full time engineer. And secrets are an engineer's best friend. So it wouldn't do to have this output be read and interpreted by just anyone. It had to be read and interpreted by someone who knew how the future was supposed to look. Someone with a cerebellar device and a PhD in extraspatial topology awarded at Oxford in the early 2400's. Someone like Thaddeus Xyank.
The binary said that sometime in the next four months, the United Nations would necessarily come forward to the public about the Global Occult Coalition, the SCP Foundation, Prometheus Laboratories, and at least two other active Groups of Interest. The idea behind it would be sound: squash public hysteria about the end times being upon us, dispel rumors and hoaxes, and force the major players to come to the table for a diplomatic solution before tensions rose any higher and too many documents were burned in panic. This would be exactly the wrong move.
Russia and Argentina would demand that America pay reparations for violating a treaty no one knew about before the announcement. America would categorically refuse, using none other as mouthpiece than the ghost of J. Edgar Hoover himself. For all the credibility that would give them, Thad mused, they may as well roll Nixon's head out in a jar to give a speech about a puppy dog all over again. No one on the international stage would be fooled, until a shadowy organization known as "The Pentagram" dropped knowledge of several other active 'eigenweapons' projects, in the hands of others. And depending which GoI the UN let out of the bag, a show of force would be forthcoming.
Global nuclear war was looking pretty good right about now.
It was no longer a question of 'if', but of 'when' humanity would face extinction. 'When' was getting shorter and shorter by the second. Thad took a drink and watched a few tic by idly for emphasis.
Tick.
Tock.
Tick.
Tock.
Time… His specialty and his nemesis. It would still be 400 years until his present finally came around again, and the human race was on track for a complete disaster. Thad had fed every tactical idea possible into the Machine. Intense negotiation, biding more time from the UN before their announcement, attempting to force the Americans, Russians, Foundation, and CI to abandon eigenweapon research by showing them the goddamn outcomes in black and white, Tau-5 raids on everyone and everything, enacting protocol ENUI-5. Bubkiss. The best case scenario said that in twenty four months, 99% of the human population would be dead, and the survivors isolated.
…Then it occurred to him that despite history irrevocably unraveling in such a way as to prevent his own existence, Thaddeus Xyank still existed.
"Paradox," he said, pressing his drink to his forehead. "God. Dammit."
He was dialing his research assistants before he was even conscious of it. Dr. Kyle McDougal answered.
"Temporal Division, McDougal speaking." His voice was hoarse and wavering. It was clear he had not slept.
~Kevin, it's Xyank, 88947. Secure?~
"One moment," there were two loud clicks in the line. "Yeah, go ahead."
~I've run the numbers. We're all dead.~
A reluctant sigh. "Yeah, I figured."
~Kevin, if we're all dead I shouldn't exist.~
"Oh? …OH!" A glimmer of recognition and hope had returned to him. "Wait, what does that mean, exactly?"
~I'm not sure yet, I'm working it out. Attie was working on something when last we spoke… something about a temporal sink? I can't remember the details. It's supposed to stabilize tachyon flux in the event someone tries to create a paradox?~
"Y-yeah, she's in the lab with it right now. She thought she had it this morning and was just doing some final tests with it. I-uh…I haven't had the heart to tell her about all this yet."
~Better bring her up to speed. I need to look at her notes. I'll be stepping in a dilation field to do some math. Use the green buzzer.~
He did not wait to be acknowledged before disconnecting. There was another call to make.
"Department of Analytics. Please provide clearance"
Thad jotted and equation on a bit of paper, checked the time, and read twelve hexadecimal digits to the operator. ~I need to speak with Director Piertrykau. Immediately.~
"…Please hold while I connect you."
Thad tapped his finger so hard on the desk he nearly broke the cheap wood-grain pattern laminate.
"Simon Pietrykau. Xyank, this had better be good."
~What if this didn't happen? What if there was a way to undo it?~
"Thaddeus if you're trying to suggest we intentionally create some kind of temporal paradox -"
~Right now, Sir, I am a paradox.~
There was silence on the line for a long time. "And you're sure the Machine is going to back you up on this." It was not a question.
~I'm absolutely certain. We have maybe two years before humanity is extinct. None of this is supposed to happen.~
"…so you're talking about repair device?"
~I don't know. I need math and I need time to make sure this is even possible, but if Dr. Anastasakos is as near to a breakthrough as she claims, we have a fighting chance. If my hunch is right… Simon, we could potentially prevent all of this.~
Thad didn't speculate on what was going through Pietrykau's mind. It was supposed to take at least 12 people of his caliber and experience to make a decision this weighty, but the nature of the situation demanded speed. Thad would not hang up the phone until he had an answer.
It took three minutes.
"I need a proposal, in writing, with proof of concept by end of day tomorrow. Later than that, and we'll be forced to investigate other options. Overseers are going to hate this, so bring me your A-game or don't come at all."
This time, it was Thad's turn to be hung up on.