Gileum - Belonephobia
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SCP-3186 as seen after recovery from ████ ████ Studios warehouse and safely trimmed for storage and travel

Item Number: SCP-3186
Object Class: Euclid

Special Containment Procedures:

SCP-3186 is to be kept in a standard humanoid containment vault, placed inside a 2 meter squared plot of desert soil, no more than 2 meters deep. The depth of the plot is to be lined with standard issue, interlocking stainless steel plating to create an air/water tight containment area.

The primary mass of SCP-3186 is to be covered in an 8 centimeter thick acrylic containment unit, 10 meters tall, by 2 meter squared, so that no physical contact with SCP-3186 can be made, but SCP-3186 may be observed without obstruction.

The acrylic containment unit may be removed under no circumstances, except for testing purposes with express permission from on-sight administration personnel.

A fresh 10 Liter tank of water must be refilled as needed and kept within SCP-3186’s containment vault at all times. Water is to be distributed from connected showerhead and water lines, suspended directly above acrylic containment unit and sprinkled in through “checkerboard” pattern of air holes lining the top of the containment unit. Watering is to take place on a bi-weekly basis.

UV lamps in all four corners of the containment vault are to be shined on SCP-3186 at all times to encourage health in SCP-3186. Bulbs in UV lamps are to be changed as needed

All personnel entering SCP-3186’s containment are to wear lead-lined protective hazardous materials suits, with accompanying protective eye-wear and gloves to ensure SCP-3186 cannot puncture or otherwise compromise the suit or personnel within. All interactions with SCP-3186 are to made using provided standard metallic clamps or assigned tools.

If growth of SCP-3186 exceeds the volume of the acrylic containment unit, overgrowth attempts to grow through air holes in the top of the acrylic containment unit, or needles measuring in excess of 8 centimeters in length, acrylic containment unit is to be removed, and SCP-3186 is to have all additional “arms” or “branches” amputated until only the central stalk of SCP-3186 remains. Containment vault is to be scanned for excess needles which may have fallen off or evaded initial clean-up procedures, and processed through following disposal instructions:

Amputated arms and excess trimmings of SCP-3186 are to be handled with provided metallic clamps, tweezers, or tools, and placed into lead containment chest and taken to on-sight [REDACTED] for disposal.

Research Personnel who have come into contact with needles of SCP-3186 are to be terminated upon completion of their research duties and taken to on-sight [REDACTED], after having being anesthetized via standard issue projectile hypodermic dart launcher, containing level 3 anesthetic solution. D-Class personnel who come into contact with SCP-3186’s needles are to be similarly anesthetized, detained and observed in adjacent testing chamber and subject to impromptu testing. See Test Logs for further details

Memo:

"All maintenance personnel are to have their maintenance protocol pamphlets updated to stress importance of observation and awareness of instances of SCP-3186-A and B" -Site Administrator Keebler

Description:

SCP-3186 was initially discovered at ████████ Pop Culture Convention, located in ██████, Arizona on 09/20/1999. Researcher ███ Horton was incidentally in attendance of this event. Researcher Horton was euthanized after initial containment. See Incident Report SCP-3186-01 for more details.

SCP-3186 outwardly resembles an average Saguaro Cactus, with the exception that 99.5% of its surface area is covered in protective needles, labeled "SCP-3186-A." This excess of needles was initially thought to be the result of a genetic mutation resulting from the cacti’s natural defense mechanisms, but further study of SCP-3186’s genetic composition shows that it does not match any known plant genome on record.

SCP-3186’s protective needles measure in average length anywhere between 4 to 8 centimeters. Electron Microscope imaging has shown that the needles typically begin at 0.25 millimeters thick and taper off to 0.5 microns thick at it’s maximum length. The thickness of the tip of the needle seems to directly correlate with the length of the needle. IE: The longer the needle, the sharper the point.

The longest recorded instance of SCP-3186-A measured in at over 13 centimeters long. The tip of this needle is thought to be measured in quarks at its maximum length, easily penetrating the surface of most materials on a quantum level. Discovery of this “quantum needlepoint” was found when D-Class personnel were tasked with trimming SCP-3186 when SCP-3186’s growth was seen trending towards one of the air holes in the top of its acrylic containment unit. For further details, see Incident Report: SCP-3186-02

SCP-3186's anomalous properties emerge when living organisms prick their skin, or otherwise come into contact with the tips of SCP-3186's needles, even if the subject is unaware of such a puncture.

Once punctured, over a period of 3 days, subject’s skin will begin to lose moisture until hardening into a cellulose-esque substance of unknown origin or molecular makeup. At day 7, the hardened surface of the skin will begin to extrude into points, covering approximately 90% of the subject’s epidermis. This phase of transformation takes approximately 1 week. During this phase, subjects will often complain of thirst or seek moisture, such as dumping water on, or submerging themselves. No amounts of water provided have been shown to satisfy this urge, regardless of delivery method (ingestion/contact). Once the “needle” phase has completed, subjects may continue to move around regularly, suffering no loss in mobility, with the exception of needles brushing against or contacting each other and the subject. Needles must be trimmed from the soles of the feet if Subject is to walk with ease. Subject retains ability to speak, provided needles around oral cavity are removed. Trimming around eyelids to allow for eyes to open, also shows Subjects retain functional eyesight. Trimmed needles however grow back at nearly twice the rate of the initial growth. Bodily functions continue as normal (urination, defecation, breathing, sweating) in spite of the growth of needles and change in skin composition. This period is known as “Phase 1”

D-6689.jpg

D-6689 after breach of containment site, trimmed of all instances of SCP-3186-A for safe transportation. (See Incident Report SCP-3186-03)

After approximately 1 month of transformation, Subjects begin subsisting on a liquid diet more and more as time passes, until all solid food is declined by the subject with the exception of foods with a high water content, such as Cucumbers or Watermelons. “Phase 2” subjects begin to exhibit signs of strained or labored mobility, describing their muscles as feeling “waxy” or stiff, but still malleable and mobile.

Two months into transformation, “Phase 3” Subjects begin to have trouble speaking, and appear to take on odd stances when at rest. X-ray and MRI scanning show that plant material has begun spreading from the epidermis inwards through the subject’s muscle tissue, pushing the subject into a variety of odd limb positions, generally trending with legs straight, elbows bent between 20 - 45 degrees, arms elevated, and fingers pointed, or clenched into fists. Hair and eyelashes begin to fall out of subject’s follicles.

At 3 months transformation, “Phase 4” subject’s optic tissue has been fully converted into plant material. Subject’s require assistance to remain standing on their own. Speech is no longer possible, except when assisted by Foundation personnel via cutting open oral cavity if merged shut. Complex words are typically unable to be formed, with subjects communicating via various grunts, moans, or "gurgles," as water has begun pooling in the lungs.

At 4 months, transformation is complete. Subject is no longer able to vocalize or move. Invasive plant material has progressed to subject’s bones, and is unable to proceed deeper. The growth pattern of invasive plant material typically leaves subject’s bodies elongated in a similar fashion to SCP-3186, effectively turning affected subjects into a new instance of SCP-3186. X-ray and MRI scanning indicates subject’s brain activity remains functional, and subject is not in a vegetative state, though there are currently no means known to initiate or receive communication. Subject may be kept alive through regular watering and typical care taking methods usual for those of a Saguaro Cactus.

The method of “contamination” is still not fully understood, as SCP-3186 contains no detectable pathogens or transferred plant materials upon puncture or contact.

Incident Reports

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Test Logs

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NOTES: All proposals for weaponizing SCP-3186-A are to be denied by order of Site Administrator Keebler. See attached memo:

"SCP-3186 and SCP-3186-A pose too great a risk of infection to the user, and could potentially cause an outbreak scenario if instances of SCP-3186-A are misfired, misplaced, or effected individuals are not properly disposed of after onset of Phase 1 symptoms. I wish we could turn the A/C back on, but you have ████████ to thank for this. It's been months since we had to throw him into the [REDACTED], and we're still finding D-Classes showing up to their shifts pin-cushioned every now and then. Keep that damn thing watered, and leave it alone." -Site Administrator Keebler