A quiet nostalgia for a time that never was

CAPTION-GOES-HERE

Item #: SCP-XXXX

Object Class: Neutralized (formerly Keter)

Special Containment Procedures: As of 12/04/4473, no SCP-XXXX outbreaks or Kaf events have occured for over 3 years. SCP-XXXX is therefore assumed to be succesfully neutralized by the Beowoulf campaign. In the event that a new outbreak or Kaf event is recognized, a report following the Mnemosyne template is to be sent to the colony director or a level 4 personnel. The Mnemosyne template is attached in the addenda below.

+ Restricted to level 4 and above

Immediate response to a Kaf Event is to undertaken by Foundation linkcrawlers¹, and affected pocket spaces hosting link system are to be quarantined. If civilians have encountered the affected pocket space, they are to be immediatly retrieved to a Foundation or MCF Facility and treated with amnestics or therapy if possible (as of 17/08/4468, all known MCF members are to be kept away from affected civilians at all cost. See the Carmen event for more information).

A disinformation camapaign is to be immediatly taken up by Foundation aic systems under the direct supervision of mtf Kappa-10 and a level 4 researcher (See the Anemoia event for more information.). This campaign must be unique and untracable to the Foundation, and under no circumstances are two disinformation campaigns to have a discernable link to each other. In the event a link is suggested by reputable sources, said source is to be silenced unless doing so would further risk interest in Kaf events. The blanket excuse for Foundation cleanup of Kaf events is of physical damage to the pocket space hosting the link system.

In the event of an outbreak all individuals determined to be SCP-XXXX-A instances are to be quarantined in a secluded pocket space. If possible, they shouldn't be allowed contact with each other. All outposts in which an outbreak occured are to be secluded from contact through the link system to other outposts. In addition, all entrants from these outposts are to undergo a rigorous mental evaluation by trained phsycologists to determine if they harbor SCP-XXXX. An outbreak is considered contained if no new SCP-XXXX-A instances are recorded in the span of 12 days and all SCP-XXXX-A instances have become SCP-XXXX-B instances.

Description: SCP-XXXX is a cognitohazard that spreads rapidly. The first recorded instance of SCP-XXXX is the diplomat Lont Enté, where upon his first contact with the Outcomers on 13/05/4312, he quickly succumbed to SCP-XXXX and became an instance of SCP-XXXX-A. This initial infection was spread through pocket space to all remaining human outposts and colonies. It was only contained thanks to the Beowoulf campaign.

Kaf events are characterised by an area of the link system "going under" so to speak. Any who were in the pocket space harboring an affected database of the link system are liable to spread SCP-XXXX, but they themselves do not become instances of SCP-XXXX-A. These affected individuals are designated SCP-XXXX-A-1. SCP-XXXX-A-1 cannot become SCP-XXXX-A instances. Undergoing the correct phsycological treatment will transform SCP-XXXX-A-1 instances into SCP-XXXX-B instances.

Outbreaks can occur at random, and there is currently no known way to fully eliminate this possibilty. The main source of outbreaks is rampant Kaf events, wherein many SCP-XXXX-A-1 instances are created. This can quickly spiral into the link system as a whole, creating an immense amount of SCP-XXXX-A instances. If unchecked, it is estimated that the entire human population would become instances of SCP-XXXX-A within 1615.5 hours (approximately 63 days).

SCP-XXXX-A instances are characterized by positive feelings towards the Outcomers. They will express regret at their plight and fell little hatred towards them for their previous atrocities. Exposure to SCP-XXXX-A instances for extended periods of time will logarithmically higher the chance of the exposed individual becoming an SCP-XXXX-A instance themselves (with a 100% chance of conversion after approximately 5 hours, a 70% chance after 3 hours and a 38% chance after 1 hour). The stages of SCP-XXXX are as follows, with a logarithmically lowering chance of becoming SCP-XXXX-B instances during each stage (each stage typically lasts between 1-4 days):

Stage	Effect	Chance of becoming SCP-XXXX-B instance during stage
1. Melancholy	Quietness, moodiness.	72%
2. Longing/Nostalgia	Expression of dissapointment in life. Sometimes childhood nostalgia trips are observed.	58.5%
3. Reflection	Expressions of loss. Sometimes causes large spikes in activity and productivity. If not, then inactivity and bouts of violence.	41.7%
4. Guilt	An all consuming feeling of guilt is observed. Over the most minor and major faults of the individual. Once sources of "true" guilt are exhausted, individuals tend to imagine to themselves importance they don't have in order to be guilty about larger problems.	20.2%
5. Depression	An overwhelming depression overcomes the individual. They will express a longing for a time of peace and prosperity constantly. They will rarely remember their physical bodies over their rantings and ravings on a time where mankind took to the stars.	0%

No instances of SCP-XXXX-A that have entered stage 5 have been observed to become an instance of SCP-XXXX-B, even with extensive amnestic and physcological treatment.

SCP-XXXX-A-1 undergo the same stages as SCP-XXXX-A, except for the fact that they never progress past stage 3. As such, if left alone for long enough, they will invariably become instances of SCP-XXXX-B at some point.

SCP-XXXX-B instances are previous SCP-XXXX-A or SCP-XXXX-A-1 instances that overcame their feelings. They are less susceptible to becoming SCP-XXXX-A instances than unexposed individuals, but they can become SCP-XXXX-A instances. As long as they don't become reinfected, SCP-XXXX-B instances will be generally happier, healthier and more well rounded. They will express a love of life and their surroundings frequently, barring major political news, which they will invariable view with disgust and disinterest. The only exception to this is when issues to do with the Outcomers arise. In these cases, SCP-XXXX-B instances will express a great hatred towards the Outcomers and will vehemently support any sanctions or restrictions proposed against them.

Addendum:

+ The Beowoulf Campaign. Enter Passcode?

SCP-XXXX is a cognitohazard that plants false memories into its victims. It is suspected that it was engineered by the Outcomers, though the means remain unknown. The first 3 stages of SCP-XXXX infections are direct consequences of the conflict between memories. The transition into SCP-XXXX-B is the result of the brain sorting out the conflicting information. Depending on the individual's worldview, this can lead to a feeling of self realization that will last a lifetime, or simply a contentness that everything makes sense again that will fade withing a few weeks.

Stages 4 and 5 of the infection are direct results of the Beowoulf camapaign. This is the reason that the distinction between SCP-XXXX-A and SCP-XXXX-A-1 exists. The original intent of SCP-XXXX seems to be to transform all of the remnants of old humanity into pacifists that want to coexist with the Outcomers. On 22/06/4312, the 05 council deemed this an existential threat to humanity, and the beowould campaign was born.

Footnotes

1. The link system acts as an internet between remaining outposts of old humanity.