Hamalama
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Rust_Macro.jpg

A closeup of SCP-RUST spreading across a ceramic plate.

Item #: SCP-RUST

Object Class: Euclid

Special Containment Procedures: SCP-RUST must be sealed inside the multi-layered containment sphere (known as The Jawbreaker), while not in testing. This sphere is currently comprised of 374 distinct layers of corrosion resistant materials, each separated by a charged film of electrically conductive gel. The containment sphere is housed in a facility 0.4 km below Site-██, accessible via an underground funicular.

The interior of The Jawbreaker must be kept near absolute zero in order to optimally slow SCP-RUST's progress through the layers. Security personnel, and response teams assigned to The Jawbreaker and testing facility must be equipped with cryonic weaponry at all times. In the event of catastrophic containment breach, COLD SHOULDER protocols will trigger and the facility (including the funicular) will be pacified via cryonic sublimation.

Under no circumstance is any active portion of SCP-RUST to leave Site-██ unless authorized by the Site Director. Testing the effect of SCP-RUST on other anomalous objects is not allowed without prior approval from Chief Researcher Ronas. The inert waste of SCP-RUST must be disposed of in accordance with HZW-4 guidelines. At no time should any instance of SCP-RUST be allowed contact with unrefined petroleum (see Addendum Rust-2).

Description: SCP-RUST is a sentient sapient corrosive rust capable of affecting any material, even those developed specifically to prevent corrosion. SCP-RUST is non-organic, and does not require any oxygen or outside energy to fuel its activity. This process is orders of magnitude faster than any known form of corrosion including: oxidation, organic acid, and [DATA EXPUNGED]. When compared with iron-oxide, SCP-RUST process was over 240,000 times faster, with other comparisons yielding similar results.

Visually SCP-RUST is very similar to iron-oxide; however, depending on the material affected, it can take on much more varied textures and coloration. Under high magnification the substance is seen to be composed of many hooked particles which latch together to create micro-structures capable of tasks such as locomotion, defense, and manipulation of its surroundings.

When a new substance is encountered, SCP-RUST will enter a dormant period lasting 1-5 hours, after which SCP-RUST will adapt and gain the ability to corrode the new material. While SCP-RUST does grow when processing matter, it tends to shed excess mass as inert friable waste when needed. SCP-RUST's largest recorded mass was 483.4 kg, and its smallest 0.02 g.

Due to SCP-RUST's decentralized nature it is difficult to discern where its consciousness lies. Samples taken from SCP-RUST remain part of the whole, but after 5-12 hours the micro-structures collapse and they are rendered inert. Up to 45 separate active samples have been created simultaneously, although only one instance (the main mass within The Jawbreaker) remained stable beyond 11 hours 24 minutes. SCP-RUST remains in control of these instances (until they collapse), and decides which will continue on as its main mass.

Test on active samples indicate SCP-RUST may be impossible to destroy via conventional means. Extreme heat and radiation have shown no effect thus far, but testing has been limited by the samples short "lifespans". Extremely low temperatures (below −196°C) have proven effective at slowing SCP-RUST up to 60 percent, how SCP-RUST continues advancing at such temperatures is unknown.

Drillbit.jpg

Corroded drill recovered from [REDACTED] University.

SCP-RUST was discovered on the destroyed head of a borehole drill, part of an off-shore oil drilling operation in the Gulf of Mexico. An engineer sent the destroyed drill to [REDACTED] University for analysis, and researchers there immediately noted anomalous qualities. During later testing, SCP-RUST broke containment by infiltrating electrical conduits to create a fire in the lab area. At this point, The Foundation became aware of SCP-RUST via a contact employed by [REDACTED] University's Physics Department.

While incapable of higher thought (See Addendum RUST-1), SCP-RUST is able to perceive and manipulate complex systems such as electrical, plumbing, and even computer networking. If placed into an enclosure SCP-RUST will focus on the weakest point rather than spread out evenly on the entire surface. On at least 3 separate occasions the subject has used subterfuge to escape containment:

  • In the [REDACTED] University Lab where SCP-RUST was brought upon discovery, it attempted to escape by causing an electrical fire while simultaneously flooding into the school's fire suppression system. In doing so it escaped into the pumping system of a local fire truck where Foundation Field Agents finally tracked SCP-RUST down.
  • While undergoing observation at UNIT-██ SCP-RUST tricked researchers into thinking that it lacked the ability to corrode a Polyaniline coated container. While placed there it made several seemingly failed attempts to corrode the vessel. This substance was then used to create SCP-RUST's first "Permanent Containment Unit". The subject escaped the unit less than an hour after direct observation ended.
  • During cleanup and containment of the aforementioned breach SCP-RUST demonstrated a new behavior by forming needle like structures on its surface. One of these "needles" broke through a D-Class crew's Hazmat suit entering her skin, SCP-RUST quickly consumed the iron in her blood and formed a scab-like structure. SCP-RUST did not attempt further consumption of the D-class, instead it then went dormant. Researchers now agree SCP-RUST was attempting to escape by hiding within her body. Immediately following amputation and recovery of the specimen, funding for The Jawbreaker was approved.