^^ SCP-XXX in its inactive "pose" ^^ |
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Item #: SCP-XXXX
Object Class: Euclid
Special Containment Procedures: SCP-XXX is to be housed in an indoor large-animal enclosure at Bio-Research Site 13. Enclosure climate control should emulate the average conditions of spring or early summer in midwestern North America, as well as an appropriate day/night cycle. The enclosure is to be planted with vegetation consistent with a North American deciduous woodland, including several large trees to allow SCP-XXX to graze as it presumably would in the wild. Plant materials should be supplemented daily with 25 kg of fresh, high-quality hay and a source of clean water. Weekly “treats” consisting of 5 kg of plastic or silk imitation plant material may also be provided as rewards for good behavior.
SCP-XXX is to be monitored at all times by a series of closed-circuit cameras. Personnel interactions are currently allowed only for feeding and cleaning duties to prevent causing distress to the subject. All other access must be approved by Dr. Haury, the onsite veterinarian.
Description: SCP-XXX is a life-size, museum-quality model of an extinct giant ground sloth of the genus Megalonyx. The subject stands 2.9 m tall at the shoulder when resting on its hind legs, and weighs in excess of 350 kg.
In its inactive (or camouflage) state, SCP-XXX appears to be a normal model: X-ray scans indicate it is composed primarily of plastic resin on an internal metal scaffolding.
The subject’s anomalous properties become evident only when it is left undisturbed for a variable period of time (usually 6 to 8 hours, with a range of 45 minutes to 4 weeks). If undisturbed, SCP-XXX will enter its active state and begin moving around its enclosure, despite the fact that its body has no apparent musculature, internal organ structure, or even moveable joints. Hairs recovered from the enclosure during cleaning are primarily synthetic fiber, but a very small number (<1%) are mammalian hairs with DNA similar to that of extant sloth lineages.
The subject’s active state behavior is comparable both to extant species of sloth and to other large herbivores. Most of its time is spent browsing on the vegetation in its enclosure, but it has also been observed sleeping in a ground “nest” constructed in a secluded area, scratching and rubbing on trees, and “playing” with various objects. Examination of high-definition video footage indicates muscles moving under a flexible hide and breathing movements in the chest, suggesting that the subject undergoes considerable morphological change between active and inactive states.
SCP-XXX consumes plant material at a rate consistent with other mammalian herbivores of its size, but does not excrete. It greatly prefers an herbivorous diet, but will also consume meat, wood, plastics, plaster, and bite-sized pieces of metal. How it metabolizes food is unknown, and it does not appear to need food, oxygen, or sleep in its inactive state. It has also exhibited a fondness for decorative imitation plant material, which appears to have been its primary diet before being placed in Foundation custody.
If startled by a person, loud noise, or other sudden event, SCP-XXX will instantly revert to its inactive state, “posing” by sitting on its hind legs with one forearm raised. It appears able to maintain this state indefinitely, and will not react to any stimuli, including physical trauma. SCP-XXX retains memories of events during its inactive state: after the removal of “tissue” samples and other traumatic tests, it remained inactive much longer and behaved in a nervous, agitated manner after returning to its active state. While agitated the subject may become destructive, and has caused significant damage to its enclosure attempting to breach containment. For this reason, unnecessary human exposure has been suspended. When allowed to remain active, damage caused in the inactive state will heal at approximately 3 times the normal rate.
sCP-XXX was discovered on display in a large diorama at the ████ ████ Museum of Natural History in 199█, in the pose it maintains while inactive. Museum inventory indicates that the original sculpture was created in 197█ by Alicia Mayberry, an artist routinely employed by the museum. None of the artist’s other works exhibit anomalous properties.
SCP-XXX was displayed for twelve years, and exhibited no documented anomalous properties during this time. It came to the Foundation’s attention when Agent McComb, embedded in the ██████ Police Department, responded to reports of repeated vandalism at the ████ ████ Museum of Natural History. In May of 199█ the doors of the museum were found smashed open, as though impacted by a large object travelling at considerable speed. SCP-XXX itself also exhibited considerable damage, including a number of long, jagged cuts to its back and face, large bald patches, and several broken claws and teeth. It was repaired and returned to display.
Dried patches of a clear, sticky liquid, reported by police as some type of glue, were found on the door, in the museum foyer and near the subject’s diorama. No testing on the liquid was conducted, but examination of crime scene photographs indicate that the spatter pattern is consistent with blood spatter from a large, wounded animal.
Approximately once per three months thereafter, museum employees found all decorative vegetation in SCP-XXX’s area stripped bare. SCP-XXX itself appeared to undergo rapid deterioration of claws and teeth, and would consistently lose large patches of hair despite repeated restorations. Agent McComb contacted the Foundation, and SCP-XXX was removed from display and placed in a standard containment facility at Site-19. Surveillance cameras first observed it entering its active state three weeks later, whereupon it was reclassified as a living organism and transported to Bio-Site 13.
Addendum A: Dr. Haury has noted that the recurring damage to SCP-XXX while on display as a museum piece (hair loss, tooth and nail degradation, etc.) are consistent with symptoms of chronic malnutrition and insufficient living space in large mammals, and its active state behavior is often consistent with zoo and circus animals subjected to long-term abuse. These symptoms have not been observed since the current containment protocols were adopted.
Addendum B: Plans to gradually acclimatize SCP-XXX to human interaction approved as of May 201█, when the subject was observed returning to its active state only ten minutes after cleaning personnel exited the enclosure. SCP-XXX has since returned to active state with a researcher present in the enclosure several times, provided the researcher remains still and silent, and recently remained active while cleaning personnel were present. It is hoped that acclimatizing SCP-XXX to human presence will allow further research into its active state functions, as well as a potential insight into the behavior of a prehistoric species.
Document XXX-1: Additional notes from Dr. Haury, attending veterinarian
The current containment procedure for SCP-XXX gives the impression that the subject is some kind of statue that comes to life. Personally, I no longer believe this to be accurate. The events that brought SCP-XXX to our attention, as well as its ability to massively alter its physiology between animate and inanimate states, suggest to me that we do not have a magical sculpture of a sloth: what we have is another entity entirely, which found a sculpture of a sloth to be a convenient hiding place. This theory does raise the question of why it chose to be a sloth, and if it could be persuaded to enter and animate similar objects. Perhaps an object that doesn't eat 200 kg of hay a week. —Dr Haury
Document 2 - XXX: Note from Supervising Agent McComb
Regarding Dr. Haury’s new theory about SCP-XXX: determining the nature of the entity is her area, and I won’t speculate here as to whether she’s wrong or right. However, the memo listed here as Document 1- XXX has given me pause for thought. We are well aware that, at least in its current state, SCP-XXX is both very resilient and very strong. However, as the only member of the Foundation who saw the state the thing was in when we found it, I have to wonder. If it really did just find the sloth sculpture as a place to hide…what is it hiding from?
Item #: SCP-XXXX
Object Class: Euclid
Special Containment Procedures: SCP-XXX is to be housed in a standard human containment cell at Site 19. Proper bedding and clothing are to be provided, along with three (3) standard meals per day. Up to two (2) additional snacks may be provided if requested. A selection of books of appropriate reading level, as well as a television and gaming system with a selection of games, have been approved for entertainment purposes. Further requests may be granted by the containment team. SCP-XXX is permitted four (4) hours per week recreational time in the inner courtyard of Site 19, with appropriate supervision.
Per the update to containment procedures following incident XXX-a, personnel of Level 3 clearance or above are to limit all interaction with SCP-XXX to eight (8) minutes in person or twenty-five (25) minutes via intercom. A third party must be present to observe SCP-XXX: all interaction must cease at the first signs of imprinting. Caretakers and janitorial staff may interact with SCP-XXX while carrying out their duties, but are advised to keep sustained conversation to a minimum and exit the containment area immediately if SCP-XXX shows signs of imprinting.
Description: SCP-XXX is a human female approximately 20 years old, of Brazilian descent. The subject possesses an unconscious psychic ability which causes her to internalize the memories of any person she speaks to for a sufficient amount of time (usually ten to twenty minutes, although the time to imprint varies). Once the subject has imprinted upon another person, she will assume that person’s identity and memories as her own. An imprint event will last between one and four hours, at which point the subject will gradually regress to her base personality. Another imprint cannot be formed until the regression is complete. The subject retains memories of meeting persons she has previously imprinted on, but is entirely unaware of her anomalous abilities. Recent testing has demonstrated that traumatic or emotional experiences will affect the subject's behavior after the imprint event. Both imprinting and regression take time; however, the subject will immediately know the name of any person she speaks to or interacts with physically. The exact parameters of her abilities are as yet poorly understood: see testing logs for details.
When not imprinted, the subject will give her name as Tabitha. She reacts with confusion to questions about her surname, home, or other personal details. She is fluent in both Portuguese and English, but will still imprint upon a person speaking another language, and speak that language for the duration of the imprint event. Her behavior in her base state is indicative of moderate to severe mental retardation, exhibiting the mental capabilities of an 8 to 10 year old child. She is normally friendly and sociable, and shows very active curiosity about the people she converses with.
Testing Logs
Test A
Subject: Dr. A. Jones, chief researcher assigned to SCP-XXX
Procedure: Doctor Jones conducts a standard interview with SCP-XXX via intercom.
Results: SCP-XXX imprints on Dr. Jones after 70 minutes of conversation.
Analysis: SCP-XXX does not require physical proximity to form an imprint, although the process is slowed significantly.
Test B
Subject: Dr. A. Jones, F. Barkley, Level 3 research assistant.
Procedure: Dr. Jones gave Ms. Barkley a list of interview questions for SCP-XXX. She was instructed not to deviate from the prepared transcript in any way.
Results: SCP-XXX initially expressed confusion when asked to identify herself. After 45 minutes of sustained conversation SCP > XXX identified as Dr. Jones.
Analysis: This test may indicate that SCP-XXX forms an imprint based on thought processes and mental function specific to an individual: in this case, she imprinted upon Dr. Jones, whose thought process gave rise to the questions she was asked.
Test C
Subject: Agent Joseph L████
Procedure: Agent L████ was to recount an event which he found amusing, but which could be viewed as upsetting or offensive by others, in hopes of determining whether SCP-XXX accessed emotions associated with imprinted memories.
Results: SCP-XXX addressed Agent L████ as “Christine.”
Analysis: What emotions SCP-XXX associates with imprinted memories inconclusive. Agent L████’s counseling sessions indicate that SCP-XXX has immediate knowledge of the name by which the subject refers to themselves.
Dr. Jones’ proposal to employ SCP-XXX as a screening procedure to determine mental state or need for counseling in Foundation personnel is under review. —O5
Test D
Subject: F. Barkley
Procedure: Ms. Barkley was allowed to converse with SCP-XXX until an imprint was formed. SCP-XXX was then asked a series of questions about Ms. Barkley’s thesis research, a study involving extremely complex, abstract psychological concepts.
Results: SCP-XXX was able to answer basic questions and define concepts, but became confused when asked for more complex explanations, or to rephrase a definition in her own words.
Analysis: SCP-XXX has access to the memories of the imprinted subject, but is only able to parrot concepts back. She gains no understanding of complex concepts beyond her grasp.
Incident XXXa
Following Test D, SCP-XXX was escorted back to her quarters by caretakers as normal. SCP-XXX was placed in an elevator with two other researchers discussing the updated containment procedures for SCP-████. Still imprinted on Ms. Barkley, SCP-XXX corrected a statement made by one of the researchers with classified information. It is recommended containment and research protocols be updated to prevent SCP-XXX obtaining access classified information in the future.
Test E
Subject: D-34723
Procedure: D-34723 was instructed to describe her mother to SCP-XXX in detail, including several pieces of false information. Once imprinted on D - 34723, SCP-XXX was questioned about the information given.
Results: SCP - XXX was aware of the false information given and was able to correct it, although she expressed confusion: “I said my mother is dead, but that’s not true, I don’t know why I would say something like that.”
Analysis: SCP-XXX’s imprinting abilities are based on the actual memories of the subject, not the information provided to her.
Test F
Subject: D - 1349
Procedure: D-1349 was shown a short film, and then issued a mild amnesiac. SCP-XXX was allowed to imprint on D-1349, and then questioned about the content of the film.
Results: SCP-XXX began to show signs of acute distress as soon as imprinting began. SCP - XXX began to cry and embraced D - 1349, repeating “It wasn’t my fault, I couldn’t have fought back, it’s okay.” D-1349 reacted with extreme shock and distress, and refused to continue the test. In later interviews, D-1349 admitted to a series of traumatic events in his childhood, memories of which he had largely repressed.
Analysis: Effects of amnesiac on SCP-XXX’s abilities inconclusive. SCP-XXX appears to gain access to unconscious or repressed memories. This test may indicate that she has an emotional response to imprinted memories unique to that of the subject. This test is also the first to indicate that SCP-XXX may remain aware of the original subject after imprinting.
Test G (Incident XXXb)
Subject: D-4923 Note: D-4923 was convicted for a string of extremely violent crimes. He exhibits no remorse over his actions, and has been diagnosed as a true psychopath.
Procedure: D-4923 was instructed to describe an event over which he had regrets, as in Test C.
Results: At first signs of imprinting, SCP-XXX displayed signs of emotional trauma, crying hysterically for 17 minutes before becoming withdrawn and unresponsive. She refused to participate further in the test, tipping over her chair and hiding in a far corner of the interview room. SCP-XXX attempted to tear pieces of fabric from her shirt to block her ears, repeating “What did I do, what did I do, why did I do that,” and similar phrases. This repetitive babbling continued for several hours, often making references to violent acts committed by D-4923. When returned to her room, SCP-XXX hid under her bed, and was heard repeating “I don’t want to be me.”
Analysis: While imprinted, SCP-XXX fully believes that she carried out all actions of the original subject, but seems to maintain at least some of her own mental and moral framework, expressing extreme remorse not felt by the original subject.
Addendum
Since Test G, SCP-XXX has refused to participate in any further testing and resists speaking to caretaking personnel. Three days after Test G she attempted suicide by ingesting approximately 25 g of [REDACTED]. When released from medical care and returned to her quarters, she used a ball-point pen to puncture both ear drums: Foundation doctors do not know yet whether she will recover her hearing.
All further testing is suspended indefinitely.