SCP-XXXX "The Odyssey"

Image taken of the photo of Odysseus inside the textbook

Item #: SCP-XXXX

Object Class: Safe

Special Containment Procedures: SCP-XXXX is to be kept in a standard containment locker in Site 28. Removal for experimentation can only be authorized by the site manager or specified level 3 personnel. Due to the nature of SCP-XXXX, eye contact is not to be made with page 1128, specifically the picture of Odysseus, under any circumstance. All personnel affected by SCP-XXXX's anomalous properties are required immediate transportation to a Foundation medical bay and are to be monitored until consciousness is restored.

Description: SCP-XXXX is a ninth-grade English textbook manufactured by McDougal Littel. The textbook itself possesses no anomalous properties apart from page 1128, which contains a vandalized image featuring a statue of Odysseus. The image is accompanied by an educational analysis of "New Coasts and Poseidon's Son", with the text printed alongside the picture not appearing to possess any anomalous properties either. Upon viewing, all sentient life forms will enter a comatose state varying between one to 20 days, with the length of time appearing to be reliant on how long the picture of Odysseus was viewed. It should be noted that the effects of SCP-XXXX do not occur if the image being viewed is a digital or analog copy of the picture in question.

During the period of unconsciousness, the affected individual experiences vivid hallucinations closely resembling the events of Odysseus's journey in Homer’s Odyssey. Upon recovery from their comatose state, individuals will lack all memories prior to viewing SCP-XXXX and will believe they are Odysseus. Individuals affected describe the experience as incredibly realistic, with the supposed 10-year journey actually feeling like 10 years despite only being incapacitated for a fraction of that time.

All attempts to apply amnestics and restore the previous memories of those affected have resulted in the emergence of an infantile state, leaving the victim with the memories and intelligence of a newborn child. As of now, all procedures to attempt to restore the memories of affected individuals are forbidden by the O5 council. (See Addendum XXXX-1)

Addendum Discovery: The Foundation came into possession of SCP-XXXX on June 18th, 2003 after several high schoolers falling into a comatose state were reported to have occurred at Bloomfield Hills High School in ███████ ██████, Michigan. Upon investigation, all three students were found to have been sharing SCP-XXXX during third period English and went comatose at around the same time. SCP-XXXX and the aforementioned students were seized in connection to the incident and Class A amnestics were applied to all students and staff present.

Addendum XXXX-1: SCP-XXXX results in the overwriting of all previous memories during its time of influence, however, persons affected have shown incremental recovery of memories is possible, although incredibly unpredictable and non-substantial (See Affected Individual XXXX-3). Attempts to remove the memories of the affected individual's time as Odysseus will result in complete loss of memory, reverting the mind to an infantile state.

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The following logs detail the experiences and events regarding the three apprehended students affected by SCP-XXXX before recovery. No attempts are to be made to restore Julian ██████ or Craig ████████'s memories.

Name: Julian ██████ (XXXX-1)
Status: Deluded

Julian ██████ shows no recollection of prior memories and only responds to "Odysseus" or "Ulysses". When communicated with by a translation team specializing in ancient Greek dialects, Julian displayed a complete lack of understanding of modern technology or customs, with his patterns of behavior consistent with the societal norms of wealthy Greek men during 1168 B.C.E.

Julian is allotted two hours of physical exercise a day and is to attend re-integration services daily. These meetings with Foundation psychiatrists are three hours long and designed to help Julian learn about current societal customs and how technology functions.

As of now, exercise and psychological services are to be ceased until Julian begins to show signs of decreased aggression towards Foundation personnel. See report below.

Open XXXX-1 report

Julian ██████ had complied with Foundation orders for approximately two months before becoming hostile and aggressive. The cause for the sudden shift in attitude has not been explicitly stated by Julian, but prior to the change of behavior, Julian had insisted the Foundation let him see "his people" on numerous occasions, all of which had been denied.

Julian's aggression had started as incessant belittling of female staff but shortly advanced to more malicious acts such as picking fights with facility guards and intentionally bumping into doctors. Upon psychological evaluation, Julian had assaulted Dr. Ty in an attempt to escape and is now confined to a 4-meter by 6-meter cell and is only allowed to interact with members of the Foundation when supplied with food and water.

Name: Michael ███ (XXXX-2)
Status: Infantile

Michael ███ was the first individual given amnestic treatment in an attempt to reinstate memories prior to their comatose state. After approximately 60 hours of treatment, Michael began to show signs of severe mental degradation and amnestic treatment was promptly canceled. Approximately 30 minutes after being taken off amnestics, Michael mental state resembled that of a newborn infant and was unresponsive to intelligent communication of any kind. Michael ███ is currently incapable of speech and higher thought processes such as object permanence. Michael is to be given access to therapy and re-education services until otherwise stated by the O5 council.

Name: Craig ████████ (XXXX-3)
Status: Deluded

While believing he is the historical figure, Odysseus, Craig possesses fragments of his past memories; having appeared to vaguely recall events such as his first day of high school, his 10th birthday, and his first kiss. Craig displays an eagerness to restore his mind, although this state of enthusiasm varies in an indeterminable pattern.

Dr. Ty sees Craig as being the most likely candidate for regaining their memory and is currently given the most attention in hopes that Dr. Ty and his team can develop some sort of cure for the memetic effects of SCP-XXXX.

This kid got his life destroyed at 15 years old. Can you believe that? The kid never got to drink his first beer, graduate high school, he's never even seen a pair of titties. We know he's retained some of his memories, we just gotta figure out how to make the rest come out. We owe it to him. - Dr. Ty

Name: D-4537
Status: Deceased

D-4537 was tasked with taking the photo of SCP-XXXX as seen above. Shortly after D-4537 took the photo he fell into a comatose state. For the next 82 hours, D-4537 was monitored via a CT scan device, however, only a minimal amount of information was gathered during observation. The information gathered from D-4537 had confirmed the events of Homer's Oddessy are in fact taking place during the state of unconsciousness. When D-4537 regained consciousness he was immediately hostile and was terminated shortly after. This stark difference in behavior remains unexplained.

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Addendum XXXX-2: The particular statue of Odysseus photographed is one in the possession of the National Archeological Museum in Sperlonga. Upon investigation, it was determined that the statue possessed no anomalous properties, ruling it out as a potential cause of the anomalous effects.