Item #: SCP-X
Object Class: Keter
Special Containment Procedures: The coastline of Antarctica is to be continually patrolled by Foundation personnel under the guise of surveying for unknown Antarctic wildlife. A region within 50 km of the ruin of Area-1937 is to be monitored by satellite. Each week, a random selection of Antarctic wildlife is to be dosed with Cmpd C-Γ-Κ. Any lifeforms positively identified as instances of SCP-X-1 are to be incinerated and the population from which the lifeform was selected is to be fully surveyed for further potential instances of SCP-X-1. All humans moving out of Antarctica are to be screened in a similar way using Cmpd C-Γ-Κ. Sightings of dead animals or animal body parts located above the snow or in locations where there were previously no observed dead animal tissue are to be treated as instances of SCP-X-1 and incinerated on sight.
In case of symptoms of SCP-X infection being reported in any living organism outside of Antarctica, quarantine of a region within 50 kilometers of the place where the symptoms were reported is to be established. Incineration and disinfection of all potentially infected tissue or contaminated terrain within the quarantine zone is to be carried out within 6 hours.
Description: SCP-X is a pathogenic microorganism which has been tentatively classified as a bacteria. The organism exhibits a spherical morphology and possesses several flagella at multiple locations around the cell. The cells are small, ranging from 300 to 450 nm in diameter (400 to 600 nm including flagella). The organism has displayed both parasitic and saprotrophic traits, being able to attain nutrition from both living and dead animal tissue. The organism has been observed to infect a large set of animals, successfully infecting 56% of tested species in the superclass Tetrapoda, within which it successfully infected 100% of tested species in the class Mammalia. No species outside superclass Tetrapoda have been successfully infected.
Examination of the cellular structure of SCP-X reveals an irregularity in the cell interior. At the center of the cell body is a spherical spatial distortion which prevents observation or interaction with areas inside the distortion. Ribosomes have been observed in the cytoplasm of the cell, but no RNA has been observed. This has lead to the assumption that either protein assembly happens inside the spatial distortion or the RNA is difficult to detect and unstable enough that it decays immediately after interaction with the ribosomes. Cellular reproduction is preceeded by the spatial distortion duplicating itself inside the cell, acting in a manner similar to the core of a eucariotic cell, leading to the assumption that any DNA is stored inside it. This spatial distortion is also believed to tie into SCP-X's primary form of movement: translocation. Individual cells of the organism have displayed the ability to teleport between 0.69 and 8.15 km, at a average rate of one teleportation every 28.9 hours. Cultures of the organism tend to teleport en masse, with each cell in the culture teleporting simultaneously to the same location.
Subjects infected by SCP-X have been given the designation SCP-X-1. There are three main stages of infection by SCP-X, each characterized by a set of symptoms exhibited by instances of SCP-X-1 during that stage. Stage 1 begins within 13 hours of initial infection and is characterized by confusion, micropsia, and macropsia. Stage 2 begins within 27 hours of Stage 1 and is characterized by tacticle and visual hallucinations relating to the shapes and sizes of objects. Stage 3 begins within 42 hours of Stage 2 and is characterized by unpredicatable teleportation. Instances of SCP-X-1 exhibiting the teleportation symptom are translocated distances ranging from 0.69 to 8.15 km. Instances of SCP-X-1 are teleported in random directions and are teleported to a stable surface at whatever location they appear in. Teleportation events can occur within seconds of one another, but the average rate of teleportation events has been observed at one event every 28.9 hours. The teleportation symptom can manifest in deceased instances of SCP-X-1.
All known cultures of SCP-X were recovered from [[SCP-2423]] on ██/██/20██. Initial transfer of the organisms placed them in a temporary BSL-4 compliant lab in ████████, ██. After the exact nature of the organism was uncovered and risk of containment breach was evaluated, a permanent containment area, Area-1937, was prepared in Antarctica and all cultures were transported there. [DATA REDACTED] was utilized in the sterilization of any contaminated areas from the temporary lab. Special permissions to conduct experiments aiming to more fully define the nature of SCP-X were granted to personnel staffing Area-1937. As an unintended result of these experiments, the liklihood of SCP-X breaking containment rapidly increased. In an attempt to avoid containment breach, the on-site nuclear warhead was detonated on ██/██/20██ by order of Dr. ████████, senior researcher at Area-1937.
Cmpd C-Γ-Κ is a chemical developed by researchers stationed at Area-1937 which can be used to identify instances of SCP-X-1. When ingested by an instance of SCP-X-1, Cmpd C-Γ-Κ triggers an often fatal seizure. Individuals not infected by SCP-X are not affected by Cmpd C-Γ-Κ, and pass it through their system without issue.
Addendum: Attached are audio logs from Area-1937. These audio logs were recorded as summaries of conditions at Area-1937 as well as updates on progress of experimentation on SCP-X. Recordings were made once every █ weeks, except for log E, which came █ days early.
Foreword: Status report following initial set up period for Area-1937 and subsequent personnel acclimation period.
<Begin Audio Log>
[The hum of a strong fan can be heard in the background for a few seconds before a man with a light and quick tone begins to speak.]
Beginning report A. Alright, let's hit the operational stuff first. Facility is stable, systems running nominally. There was a bit of an issue with the heat in the armory day one, but the engineers fixed it pretty quickly. Everything else has been working perfectly.
Morale has been high, but people are impatient and eager to begin research. I would like to thank whoever ordered the arcade cabinets in the lounge. They've been great to give people something to do.
The researchers are excited about the special permissions for studying this anomaly. I suspect, with the minds we have working here, that we might be able find a cure for it ahead of our projected timelines. Some of the senior researchers were even spitballing applications for the anomaly, for after it is established as neutralized.
The plan of study that we've written up is fairly aggressive. We intend to have working knowledge of the bacteria's biology before the next status report. After we have that, we will split the research team into groups, specialized on different topics involved with the anomaly. Crew and equipment will be shifted between groups, depending on need. More groups might be created as new options become available and other groups will be discontinued if it is believed that research in that group is heading towards a dead end. With any luck, it will only be another [AUDIO DELETED] weeks before we have some tangible results.
In the spirit of fairness, I feel I should state some misgivings that doctor [AUDIO DELETED] has expressed. He feels we run the risk of creating additional anomalies if we experiment too aggressively. We're confident that this is a very unlikely outcome, but I want to give him the attention a professional with his experience deserves, and make an official note of it.
With that, I bid you a fond farewell. Ending report A.
<End Audio Log>
Foreword: Status report █ weeks into active research. Topics include progress and complications during research.
<Begin Audio Log>
[The hum of a strong fan can be heard in the background for a few seconds before the same voice from previous log begins to speak. His tone is still light, but is a bit slower and less upbeat.]
Beginning report B. We're on track for the plan of study. We have a good sense of the bacteria's biology and we've assigned people to their respective teams.
There were … a few complications during research.
As you know, the anomaly inside the cell vanishes upon cell death. During attempted interaction with an anomaly in a living cell, it expanded in size, severly damaging junior researcher [AUDIO DELETED] hands and arms. Most damage was repaired, but she's completely lost her left hand and all but two fingers on the right hand. I've placed a request for some prosthetics.
Anyways, the, uh, spatial anomaly is still in the lab. It's about a meter across at this point, and separates any matter that passes into it. The engineers have constructed an enclosure around it while we consider our options. Since doctor [AUDIO DELETED] specifically warned us about this, I've put him in charge of revising the safety procedures.
There have been a few infections as well. Five people were infected, terminated, and incinerated since the last status update. Junior researchers [AUDIO DELETED] and engineer [AUDIO DELETED] will be missed. I've typed up letters to their families and would like to request they be printed and mailed.
Results from our research having been coming fast and quick. We have developed a prospective set of potassium-based compounds to help in identifying infection. The crew is pretty excited about these compounds. Several are already being synthesized and tested.
I believe that's everything. Ending report B.
<End Audio Log>
Foreword: Status report █ weeks into active research. Main topic is complications during research.
<Begin Audio Log>
[The hum of a strong fan can be heard in the background. The sound of the fan lingers for a few seconds longer than normal before the speaker from the previous logs begins to speak. His voice is still light, but it sluggish, implying exhaustion and some degree of depression.]
Oh, the recording already started? Uhm … beginning report C …
[Speaker lapses into silence for a few seconds. The fan is the only sound present.]
There have been further complications with research. Additional expanded spatial anomalies, like the one I mentioned last time, have been created in the different labs. It seems the spatial anomalies are very sensitive to changing conditions and any direct interaction leads them to expand. Laboratory C and sanitation area C are currently uninhabitable due to the number of anomalies present in them.
We suspect these anomalies to be extradimensional in nature. Some have emitted sounds. Most commonly, it's the sound of something scratching at paper, though some personnel have reported hearing voices as well. We've observed erratic behavior from people who spend too much time near them, so I've given an order to not avoid the things. I plan on writing up some procedures for more dedicated research of these spatial anomalies, as soon as I determine how many people we are willing to take off of research of the bacteria.
The number of personnel has been steadily decreasing, however, as infections have increased. There has been a total of ██ terminations and incinerations since the last report. I was trying to keep up and write a letter to the family of each person, but it began to eat up too much of my time. I've needed to help more directly, now. Out of senior research staff, only about ███ of us are still alive.
In spite of these setbacks, I still believe that we have control of the situation. We are still making progress. One compound, C-Γ-Κ, identifies infection with a near 100% rate of success. We are hoping that this compound will slow the rate of people being infected by eliminating person-to-person spread of the disease. This, combined with some more remote operation of the facility should help mitigate risk of further infection.
[Speaker lapses into silence again.]
Though, if I am to speak honestly, my optimism regarding our progress and our future has been decreased recently. Every interaction with the cell's internal anomaly causes damage to our space-time. I can't help but feel that this implies the anomaly could not be formed in our reality at all. There is also the organism's behavior which allows it to avoid immune responses. It strikes me as too efficient to have arisen naturally. The most drastic symptoms appear designed to make organization of infected populations impossible…
[Speaker lapses into silence again.]
I have decided to put in request for information regarding the origins of this particular anomaly. This information could help us in piecing together some crucial details about the organism. I will fill out the forms and send them with this recording. Ending report C.
<End Audio Log>
Foreword: Status report █ weeks into active research. Main topic is speculations by Dr ███████████████.
<Begin Audio Log>
[The hum of a strong fan can be heard in the background for a few seconds before the same voice from previous log begins to speak. His tone is slow and heavy with exhaustion.]
Beginning report D.
I appreciate the limited information regarding the origins of the bacteria which has been sent in response to my request. It has illuminated some details about the bacteria.
I have come to the conclusion that this facility, where the bacteria was found, must have been where the bacteria first started existing. Given the specifications of the facility, I cannot imagine the bacteria being successfully contained there for longer than a few…
[Speaker falls silent abruptly. Something indistinct and muffled, like a child's voice, can be heard in the background for a few seconds.]
I… I also have come to the conclusion that the spatial anomalies act as gateways to some other reality. There is an intelligence on the other side which has been communicating to area personnel. It seems to enjoy making offers to people, and becomes upset whenever those offers are declined. We haven't been able to research it in any great detail yet, due to the continued losses of personnel, but we are collecting information as time progresses.
[Speaker relapses into silence again.]
Back to the topic of the bacteria. I believe it must have been created with intention. It slips out of containment too well. How many weeks have we been working? Already over half of us are dead. It's designed to spread, to overtake populations without any hope of slowing it's spread down. It's a biological weapon, I am sure. We need to consider destroying it at the earliest opportunity. Ending report D.
<End Audio Log>
Foreword: Last audio log. Report from Dr. ████████ indicating that the on-site warhead is going to be detonated.
<Begin Audio Log>
[The audio log begins in total silence. An unfamiliar, gruff voice comes on quickly.]
This is doctor [AUDIO DELETED]. Containment has failed. Head of research, doctor [AUDIO DELETED] is dead, so I'm recording this in his place. I've given the order to detonate the nuke, as there is no hope in continuing containment at a local level, but it is my hope that the blast will incinerate all remaining cells. Any remaining data from experimentation has been sent ahead of this notice. Goodbye.
<End Audio Log>
Item #: SCP-X
Object Class: Keter
Special Containment Procedures: The coastline of Antarctica is to be patrolled by Foundation personnel under the guise of surveying for unknown Antarctic wildlife. A region within 50 km of the ruin of Area-1937 is to be monitored by satellite. Each week, a random selection of Antarctic wildlife is to be dosed with Cmpd C-Γ-Κ. Any lifeforms positively identified as instances of SCP-X-1 are to be incinerated and the population from which the lifeform was selected is to be fully surveyed for further potential instances of SCP-X-1. All humans moving out of Antarctica are also to be screened using Cmpd C-Γ-Κ. Sightings of dead animals or animal body parts located above the snow or in locations where there were previously no observed dead animal tissue are to be treated as instances of SCP-X-1 and incinerated on sight.
In case of symptoms of SCP-X infection being reported in any living organism outside of Antarctica, quarantine of a region within 50 kilometers of the place where the symptoms were reported is to be established. Incineration and disinfection of all potentially infected tissue or contaminated terrain within the quarantine zone is to be carried out within 6 hours.
Description: SCP-X is a pathogenic microorganism which has been tentatively classified as a bacteria. The organism exhibits a spherical morphology and possesses several flagella at multiple locations around the cell. The cells are small, ranging from 300 to 450 nm in diameter (400 to 600 nm including flagella). The organism has displayed both parasitic and saprotrophic traits, being able to attain nutrition from both living and dead animal tissue. The organism has been observed to infect a large set of animals, successfully infecting 56% of tested species in the superclass Tetrapoda, within which it successfully infected 100% of tested species in the class Mammalia. Immune responses have not been found to have any impact on speed of infection. No species outside superclass Tetrapoda have been successfully infected.
Examination of the cellular structure of SCP-X reveals an irregularity in the cell interior. At the center of the cell body is a spherical spatial distortion which prevents observation or interaction with its interior. Ribosomes have been observed in the cytoplasm of the cell, but no RNA has been detected. This has lead to the assumption that either protein assembly happens inside the spatial distortion or the RNA is difficult to detect and unstable enough that it decays immediately after interaction with the ribosomes. Cellular reproduction is preceded by the spatial distortion duplicating itself inside the cell, acting in a manner similar to the nucleus of a eukaryotic cell. This spatial distortion is also believed to tie into SCP-X's primary form of movement: translocation. Individual cells of the organism have displayed the ability to teleport between 0.69 and 8.15 km, at a average rate of one teleportation every 28.9 hours. Cultures of the organism tend to teleport en masse, with each cell in the culture teleporting simultaneously to the same area.
Subjects infected by SCP-X have been given the designation SCP-X-1. There are three main stages of infection by SCP-X, each characterized by a set of symptoms exhibited by instances of SCP-X-1 during that stage. Stage 1 begins within 13 hours of initial infection and is characterized by confusion, micropsia, and macropsia. Stage 2 begins within 27 hours of Stage 1 and is characterized by tacticle and visual hallucinations relating to the shapes and sizes of objects. Stage 3 begins within 42 hours of Stage 2 and is characterized by unpredicatable teleportation. Instances of SCP-X-1 exhibiting the teleportation symptom are translocated distances ranging from 0.69 to 8.15 km. Instances of SCP-X-1 are teleported in random directions and are teleported to a stable surface at whatever location they appear in. Teleportation events can occur within seconds of one another, but the average rate of teleportation events has been observed at one event every 28.9 hours. The teleportation symptom can manifest in deceased instances of SCP-X-1.
All known cultures of SCP-X were recovered from [[SCP-2423]] on ██/██/20██. Initial transfer of the organisms placed them in a temporary BSL-4 compliant lab in ████████, ██. After the exact nature of the organism was uncovered and risk of containment breach was evaluated, a permanent containment area, Area-1937, was prepared in Antarctica and all cultures were transported there. [DATA REDACTED] was utilized in the sterilization of any contaminated areas from the temporary lab. Special permissions to conduct experiments aiming to more fully define the nature of SCP-X were granted to personnel staffing Area-1937. As a result of these experiments, the liklihood of SCP-X breaking containment rapidly increased. In an attempt to avoid containment breach, the on-site nuclear warhead was detonated on ██/██/20██ by order of Dr. ████████, senior researcher at Area-1937.
Cmpd C-Γ-Κ is a chemical developed by researchers stationed at Area-1937 which can be used to identify instances of SCP-X-1. When ingested by an instance of SCP-X-1, Cmpd C-Γ-Κ triggers an often fatal seizure. Individuals not infected by SCP-X are not affected by Cmpd C-Γ-Κ, and pass it through their system without issue.
Addendum: Attached are audio logs from Area-1937. These audio logs were recorded as summaries of conditions at Area-1937 as well as updates on progress of experimentation on SCP-X. Recordings were made once every █ weeks, except for log D, which was sent █ days early.
Foreword: Status report following initial set up period for Area-1937 and subsequent personnel acclimation period.
<Begin Audio Log>
[The hum of a strong fan can be heard in the background for a few seconds before a man with a light and quick tone begins to speak.]
Beginning Report Alpha. Alright, let's hit the operational stuff first. Facility is stable, systems running nominally. There was a bit of an issue with the heat in the armory day one, but the engineers fixed it pretty quickly. I thought it was gonna take longer, but it was only a few hours. They've been keeping things top notch. Everything else has been working perfectly.
Morale has been high, but people are impatient and eager to begin research. I would like to thank whoever ordered the arcade cabinets in the lounge. They've been great to give people something to do.
The researchers are excited about the special permissions for studying this anomaly. We might be able find a cure for it quickly, and maybe even before [AUDIO DELETED]. Some of the senior researchers were even spitballing applications for the anomaly.
The plan of study that we've written up is fairly aggressive. We intend to have working knowledge of the bacteria's biology before the next status report. After we have that, we will split the research team into teams. Different teams will work on different topics involved with the anomaly. Crew and equipment will be shifted from team to team, depending on the speed of progress, with faster rates of progress being favored. More teams will be created as new options become available and other teams will be discontinued when progress grinds to a halt. With any luck, it will only be another [AUDIO DELETED] weeks before we have some tangible results.
In the spirit of fairness, I feel I should state some misgivings that doctor [AUDIO DELETED] has expressed. He feels we run the risk of creating additional anomalies if we experiment too aggressively. We're confident that this is a very unlikely outcome, but I want to give him the attention a professional with his experience deserves, and make an official note of it.
With that, I bid you a fond farewell. Ending Report Alpha.
<End Audio Log>
Foreword: Status report █ weeks into active research. Topics include progress and complications during research.
<Begin Audio Log>
[The hum of a strong fan can be heard in the background for a few seconds before the same voice from previous log begins to speak. His tone is still light, but is a bit slower and less upbeat.]
Beginning Report Beta. We're on track for the plan of study. We have a good sense of the bacteria's biology and we've assigned people to their respective teams.
There were … a few complications during research.
As you know, the anomaly inside the cell vanishes upon cell death. During attempted interaction with an anomaly in a living cell, it expanded in size, severing junior researcher [AUDIO DELETED] hands and arms. Most damage was repaired, but she's completely lost her left hand and all but two fingers on the right hand. We're going to have to find prosthetics to make sure she can play the arcade cabinets. She loves those things …
Anyways, the, uh, spatial anomaly is still in the lab. The engineers have constructed an enclosure around it while we consider our options. Since doctor [AUDIO DELETED] specifically warned us about this, I've put him in charge of revising the safety procedures.
There were a few infections as well. Five people were infected, terminated, and incinerated since the last status update. Junior researchers [AUDIO DELETED] and engineer [AUDIO DELETED] will be missed. I've typed up letters to their families and would like to request they be printed and mailed.
Results from our research having been coming fast and quick. We have developed a set of potassium-based compounds to help in identifying infection. The crew is pretty excited about these compounds. Several are already being synthesized and tested.
I believe that's everything. Ending Report Beta.
<End Audio Log>
Foreword: Status report █ weeks into active research. Main topic is complications during research.
<Begin Audio Log>
[The hum of a strong fan can be heard in the background. The sound of the fan lingers for a few seconds longer than normal before the speaker from the previous logs begins to speak. His voice is still light, but it sluggish, implying exhaustion and some degree of depression.]
Oh, the recording already started? Uhm … beginning Report Gamma …
[Speaker lapses into silence for a few seconds. The fan is the only sound present.]
There have been further complications with research. Additional expanded spatial anomalies, like the one I mentioned last time, have been created. Laboratory C and washroom A are uninhabitable. The rest of the facility is riddled with stationary distortions.
We suspect these anomalies to be extradimensional in nature. Some have emitted sounds. Usually, it's people crying or the sound of wind. We've observed some erratic behavior from people who spend too much time near them, so I've given an order to not go near the things.
Infections have increased as well. There have been many terminations and incinerations since the last report. I was trying to keep up and write a letter to the family of each person, but it began to eat up too much of my time. I've needed to help more directly, now. Out of senior research staff, only myself and doctors [AUDIO DELETED] are still alive.
I still believe that we can get the situation back under control. One compound, C-Γ-Κ, identifies infection with a nearly perfect rate of success. We are hoping that this compound will slow the rate of people being infected by eliminating person-to-person spread of the disease.
[Speaker lapses into silence again.]
Though, my optimism regarding our progress and our future has been decreased recently. Every interaction with the cell's internal anomaly causes damage to our space-time. This implies to me that it likely could not be formed in our reality at all. There is also the organism's behavior which allows it to avoid immune responses. It's too perfect to have arisen naturally. The most drastic symptoms appear designed to make organization of infected populations impossible. It's almost like a form of biological warfare from another reality …
[Speaker lapses into silence again.]
Ending Report Gamma.
<End Audio Log>
Foreword: Last audio log. Report from Dr. ████████ indicating that the on-site warhead is going to be detonated.
<Begin Audio Log>
[The audio log begins in total silence. An unfamiliar, gruff voice comes on quickly.]
Containment has failed. Head of research, doctor [AUDIO DELETED] is dead, so I'm recording this in his place. At least 90% of surviving personnel are infected. I've given the order to detonate the nuke. There is no hope in continuing containment at a local level, but it is my hope that the blast will incinerate all remaining cells. Any remaining data from experimentation has been sent ahead of this notice. I hope the research we have conducted will be enough to arm the Foundation in case this disease resurfaces.
<End Audio Log>
Item #: SCP-XXXX
Object Class: Voynich
Special Containment Procedures:
Description:
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