Per 
- Dance Till You're Dead
- All But Alone
- Atlas, Incarnate
- Soul Music
- 223-Alabin
- Shuffle
- The Iceman
- Remote of God
- Grub Doctor
Item #: SCP-XXXX
A non-anomalous instance of Chrysidinae. Photographed and tested for abnormalities by Dr.████.
Object Class: Euclid
Special Containment Procedures: SCP-XXXX instances are to be held collectively within a glass observation chamber, and smoke exhalers are to be embedded within each corner, allowing quick neutralization and dispersion of the colony. Instances are to be fed a 250.0g mix consisting of 70% fruit and 30% dead insects, primarily small spiders, and ants, 4 times a week. Absolutely no species larger than a common mouse are to be fed to SCP-XXXX. SCP-XXXX is to be observed twice a month for any signs of colony growth, in which case, mandatory culling is to take place through smoking SCP-XXXX's containment chamber and extracting excess instances. Only 20 instances of SCP-XXXX are to remain alive at one time.
Any testing of SCP-XXXX must be performed by Class-3 personnel or higher, moreover, it must first be approved by Class-4-XXXX personnel assigned to SCP-XXXX's containment. Any staff who interact with SCP-XXXX must allow themselves to be subject to an MRI scan, medicinal treatment, and pyrethroid cleanse at any moment. Any and all recreational audio-visual appliances are to remain outside of SCP-XXXX's containment. In case of a containment breach of SCP-XXXX, all instances of SCP-XXXX are to be terminated and the site is to be placed into lockdown. It is unknown if all instances of SCP-XXXX have been contained.
Description: SCP-XXXX is a tribe of insects descending from the family of Chrysididae1, more commonly known as the cuckoo wasp. Cuckoo wasps are related to over species of 3000 bees, wasps, and other insects, primarily through their physique and personality. One of the most striking physical features of the species is their shiny metallic carapaces, which have been designed with microscopic structures so thin they interfere with visible light. SCP-XXXX shares many similarities to its relatives, including kleptoparasitic breeding habits and structural coloration. SCP-XXXX, however, appears to possess a greater diversity of structure amongst its tribe, allowing varied shades of green, blue, pink, red, yellow, magenta, and combinations of the group. Instances of SCP-XXXX have also grown considerably larger than non-anomalous species, ranging from 1.2 cm (0.5 inches) to upwards of 5.1 cm (2.0 inches)2. Instances of SCP-XXXX possess an ovipositor to assist in egg insemination, although not only do they substitute the area and functionality of a stinger, male instances appear to lack both.
SCP-XXXX instances are for the most part identical in behavior to their non-anomalous counterparts, save for an apparent quirk of newborn wasps to create 'colonies' near hatching points. Newborn SCP-XXXX instances also appear to mature especially quickly, as most natural births take place after about 3 days, compared to a full week. SCP-XXXX instances also do not appear to prefer eggs to host their larvae in, rather introducing its larvae to both living and freshly killed animals. SCP-XXXX has been discovered having infected:
- (4) White-Tailed Deer.
- (2) Desert Cottontail.
- (1) Red Fox, observed consuming a Cottontail.
- (1) Black Bear.
- (1) German Shepard.
- (4) Human males.
Discovery: SCP-XXXX was first discovered 8km east of Oak Creek, Colorado after 4 individuals (henceforth designated POI-XXXX-1 through 4) were reported missing. One such individual was a Jebidiah Carswell3, an avid hunter, and a community spokesman for the area. Foundation agents found that Mr. Carswell had recently purchased a hunting cottage near Stagecoach State Park, and had emailed a select few of his colleagues to meet him that weekend. Foundation agents were successful in obtaining Mr. Carswell's property records and quarantined the cottage, which had become infested with SCP-XXXX. Mr. Carswell had allegedly scheduled a hunting trip for his colleagues and, after a failed night of searching, decided to celebrate instead. MTF Lambda-12 was dispatched.
Exploration Video Log Transcript
Date: 1999/03/13 — 06:30 am
Exploration Team: MTF Lambda-12 ("Pest Control")
Team Lead: Lambda-1 ('Lanie')
Team Members: Lambda-2('Colin'), Lambda-3 ('Jameson'), Lambda-4 ('Alan')
Note: MTF Lambda-12 agents are equipped with modified smoke blowers strapped to their backs as well as a sidearm.
[BEGIN LOG]
00:00—Personal body cams are switched to active, revealing agents stacked up on the cottage door.
Lambda-1: "Stack up. Prepare some smoke. Ready for breach."
00:10—(Lambda-4 casts a smoke grenade into the entryway as agents disperse within the room.)
00:20—(Smoke clears and POI-XXXX-2 is visible laying adjacent to the door face down.)
Lambda-1: "Search the building. Remember protocol."
00:35—(Lambda-1 investigates POI-XXXX-2. hoisting up the body reveals what appears to be numerous wounds in his back, resembling holes.)
00:40—(Lambda-3 likewise discover POI-XXXX-3 and a German Shepard in the kitchen area. POI-
XXXX-3's chest is visible having been opened outwards from the sternum. The pup4 appears relatively sound save for a cavity in its head.)
Lambda-3: "Found a dog and a body, still no sign of an anomaly."
Lambda-1: "Roger, continue search. Lambda-2, report?"
01:00—(At the same time of Lambda-1 transmission, Lambda-2 opens the bathroom door. POI-XXXX-4 is discovered stooped inside of the bathtub, his innards [REDACTED]. A large number of SCP-XXXX instances are present and begin droning loudly.)
Lambda-2: "—Oh fuck. Bathroom! Bathroom! 315° West right fucking now!"
1:05—(Lambda-2 activates his smoke blower as Lambda-4 releases a smoke grenade through the bathroom door, he then promptly slams it shut. Smoke is seen pouring out beneath the doorframe.)
Lambda-4: "You're welcome."
Lambda-2: "Fuck off. Have you found the last dude?"
1:25—(Lambda-4 nods and gestures towards the far eastern wall, where a large stereo had been overturned. Large amounts of alcohol are seen having been placed or knocked over around the system.)
Lambda-1: "Have you located the final POI?"
Lambda-4: "Yes sir, eastern wall."
Lambda-2: "I don't see him."
Lambda-4: "Look closer."
1:40—(Upon closer inspection POI-XXXX-1 was located, having been wedged between the wall and a loudspeaker, causing it to fall forward and become inoperable. POI-XXXX-1's head had been split open, and a single adult instance of SCP-XXXX is acknowledged burrowing into his brain.)
Lambda-2: "huh, You don't see that often. Bag up the bodies and let's get the hell out of here. Jameson, help me deal with the bathroom."
Lambda-3: "Roger that."
[END LOG]
Addendum: Following a successful operation, MTF Lambda-12 was able to contain a number of living instances of SCP-XXXX. 127 active instances were contained.
SCP-XXXX instances do not hatch easily in conventional conditions, as controlled trials using rats revealed only a ~20%5 successful birthing rate. Use of carcasses during trials reduced this number to ~16%. It is currently unknown how to keep the number of SCP-XXXX instances in containment at a stable number, as breeding seems unreliable at best.
SCP-XXXX's primary anomalous properties were discovered during a routine cleaning of the facility after janitor ███ clocked into SCP-XXXX's testing chamber.
The janitor ███ had entered the chamber during a trial on grounds of 'routine sweeping' but had been listening to a Bluetooth speaker fastened to his belt, causing him to be unable to hear Researcher Calloway's shouting. Background noise within the chamber immediately spiked to about 95db, whereupon erratic shuffling was noticed from the subject.
Subject unexpectedly began convulsing before ██ instances of SCP-XXXX violently erupted from its corpse and began hurling themselves against the glass. The janitor ███ did not appear to notice the incident, but Researcher Calloway was able to activate the smokers, neutralizing the instances. The janitor ███ was commended for his contribution and then immediately demoted to D-class for negligence.
Following recent discoveries, it has been noted that auditory stimuli meeting certain qualifications (such as bass distortion and a 90db minimal requirement) appears to cause accelerated hatching6 within subjects. Test trials commenced afterward included the presence of a speaker blaring audio. Birthing rates increased throughout said tests to ~92%. SCP-XXXX can now reliably be replenished for testing. It is still unknown if any further stimuli can accelerate maturation.
Preword: All subjects are to be placed into a glass containment chamber 1m by 1m, along with select instances of SCP-XXXX. These tests are to determine how exactly SCP-XXXX is able to accelerate its incubation process.
Subject: (1) White rat. (1) SCP-XXXX Instance.
Materials: N.A.
Result: Subject is released into containment chamber and is immediately attacked by SCP-XXXX. SCP-XXXX is quickly able to inject larvae into the subject before escaping to the upper-left corner of the container, where it remains for several days. The subject eventually collapses and a Genesis Event occurs; (2) instances hatch within the subject, exiting through its mouth. An autopsy later reports the presence of several deceased larvae.
Subject: (3) White rats. (1) SCP-XXXX Instance.
Materials: N.A.
Results: Subjects are released into containment chamber and are immediately attacked by SCP-XXXX. SCP-XXXX is successful in injecting one subject before being ripped in half by the pack. The injected subject was immediately removed from containment and a foreign body surgery was performed, which resulted in several surviving larvae being removed. No further damage is reported.
Subject: (1) White rat. (2) SCP-XXXX Instances.
Materials: N.A.
Results: Subject is released into containment chamber and immediately attacked by SCP-XXXX. Both instances are successful in injecting the subject, but instead of fleeing begin striking its backside. Eventually, one instance is successful in piercing the subjects' skin and burrows itself within the subjects lower back. Subject collapses and Genesis Event results in (5) instances of SCP-XXXX. Autopsy reveals the presence of fewer larvae than previous tests, but not significantly.
Subject: (2) White rats. (2) SCP-XXXX Instances.
Materials: (1) Portable Bluetooth speaker.
Results: Bluetooth speaker is amplified upwards to 90db and placed directly outside the chamber, and both subjects are released into the containment chamber. SCP-XXXX immediately charges the rats, and Subject 1 is injected before it even fully enters the chamber. Subject 2 frantically scurries to the other side of the chamber and after only 1 hour a Genesis Event produces (14) instances of SCP-XXXX from Subject 1. Instances quickly swarm subject 2 and (12) additional instances emerge after an additional hour. Autopsies reveal significantly fewer larvae persisting in carcasses than previous tests.
Subject: (1) Black-footed ferret. (4) SCP-XXXX Instances.
Materials: (1) Portable Bluetooth speaker.
Results: Bluetooth speaker is amplified upwards to 95db and placed inside the chamber, and the subject is released into containment. Two instances are able to inject the subject before it completely enters the chamber. 1 instance, the only male of the group, is unable to inject or bite the ferret, instead deciding to enter the ferret's mouth. The male instance is successful and exits seconds later through the subject's skull. 30 minutes after initial contact Genesis Event begins and (25) instances of SCP-XXXX emerge.
Subject: (1) Desert cottontail. (2) SCP-XXXX Instances.
Materials: (1) Portable Bluetooth speaker. See Results Log.
Results: Bluetooth speaker is amplified upwards to 100db and placed directly inside the chamber, the subject is released shortly afterward. Both instances are successful in injecting the subject just as it bashes the speaker, rendering it inoperable. The subject was later successful in terminating both instances of SCP-XXXX. Just as testing was to conclude a containment breach of SCP-████ occurred, prompting severe flickering in site power. During this time, a fluorescent light illuminating the test chamber began flickering violently, and the subject became erratic. after 10 minutes of violent thrashing, subject's upper back split open and (42) instances of SCP-XXXX emerged.
Subject: (1) Human male: D-9974. (6) SCP-XXXX Instances.
Materials: (1) Portable Bluetooth speaker. (1) LED strobe light.
Results: [DATA EXPUNGED BY ORDER OF ETHICS COMMITTEE]
Visual stimuli also appear to have an effect on SCP-XXXX events, as irregular or extreme illumination shows to accelerate gestation within host subjects. The exact reasoning behind these reactions is unknown, but it should be noted the incredible increase in growth that hives experience upon encountering these circumstances. It should also be noted that containment procedures have been altered slightly in regards to the aforementioned information: All shrubland within 8km of Discovery Site-XXXX is to be tested for signs of SCP-XXXX and cleansed of insect life.
Incident Log-XXXX-1:
On the date of 1999/06/22 Foundation observationalists overlooking the town of Oak Creek in Routt County, Colorado noted numerous jumbled police reports. Each report remarked complaints of a "loud buzzing noise" resonating from the local area. Local police were delayed by agents while surveyors attempted to triangulate the location in question. GPS tracking eventually led Foundation agents to Soroco High School, where the yearly prom night was being held. MTF Lambda-12 was dispatched.
Date: 1999/06/23 — 12:00 am
Exploration Team: MTF Lambda-12 ("Pest Control")
Team Lead: Lambda-1 ('Lanie')
Team Members: Lamda-2 ('Colin'), Lambda-3 ('Jameson'), Lambda-4 ('Alan')
Note: MTF Lambda-12 agents have been equipped with modified flamethrowers mounted upon their rifles.
[BEGIN LOG]
00:00—(Body cams are switched to active, revealing MTF Lambda-12 agents following Foundation personnel as they secure the perimeter. Faint dance music is heard in the background.)
Agent ███: "Well boys, we've just about been as fucked as anyone else could be. Your mission is to go in there, look for survivors, and neutralize every instance of SCP-XXXX you find. I don't care where the things are or what your moral compass says, you do it. Understood?"
Lambda-1: "Yes sir, we do. Team, fall in and prepare for insertion."
Lambda-4: (Lambda-4 leans away from Agent ███.) "That was a little harsh yeah?"
Lambda-2: "Embrace the suck Alan, we have a job to do."
00:45—(MTF Lambda-12 is visible stacking up against the front door. Lambda-4 quickly releases a smoke grenade as the team enters.)
Lambda-1: "Lobby clear, continue the search."
Lambda-3: "Can anyone else hear that buzzing?"
Lambda-2: "Nah Jameson I don't. In fact, I think I can hear some crickets praising your commentary."
Lambda-4: "Shut the fuck up Colin or I swear to God—"
01:00:—(Buzzing within the school appears to increase in intensity, nearly drowning out the loud thudding resonating from the east of Lambda-1.)
Lambda-1: "Standby." (Lambda-1 raises her hand to her radio.) "Agent ███, this looks like the gymnasium."
Agent ███: "Copy, proceed as instructed."
01:10—(A thump is heard once again from the gymnasium door, followed by nearly ten seconds of erratic banging. Eventually, the noises seize, and Lambda-12 agents approach the door.)
Lambda-1: "Prepare for breach."
01:30—(Lambda-4 tosses two more smoke grenades before agents approach the room. access reveals several corpses scattered across the floor of the gym. The buzzing is now deafening loud as the team moves towards the center of the room. swarms of SCP-XXXX instances are seen fluttering across the room in mobs. The body of a young girl, swollen and covered in red marks, lays near the entrance.)
Lambda-1: "Keep your masks on and assess the damage. We'll torch this place after we identify where the hive is."
Lambda-4: "Colin, make sure that door's shut and help me count the bodies."
Lambda-2: "Sure thing, but what if there are survivors?"
Lambda-1: "Unlikely. Prep for extermination."
Lambda-2: "Oh c' mon boss! at least let me get some moves in under the disco ball? Please?"
Lambda-3: "You mean the disco ball above all the bodies? Most of these kids are probably half your age Colin. Then again, they'd be perfect for you, prick."
Lambda-4: "You're both fucking disgusting."
02:00—(Lambda-1 approaches the body of a young boy whose body had become heavily bloated, laying skywards beneath the disco ball. A multitude of limbs are seen crumpled into a near singular mass, and instances are seen crawling between several orifices. Suddenly, the abdomen of the young boy bursts and ███ instances of SCP-XXXX emerge.)
Lambda-1: "Jesus fuck! Open fire!"
02:05—(Lambda-12 agents activate their flamethrowers and begin neutralizing targets throughout the gym, as large quantities of SCP-XXXX are seen fluttering towards the team. Nearly all traces of music is drowned out by buzzing before the feed cuts.)
02:50—(Body cam feed returns to an active state, revealing the majority of the gymnasium to be choked in embers. Several seconds pass before visual confirmation is made of MTF Lambda-12.)
Lambda-3: "Son of a bitch! everyone, report?"
Lambda-2: (Coughs violently.) "Jesus Christ, I did not expect that much smoke."
Lambda-1: "What did you expect Colin? A gentle smoky flavor? search the rest of the building, Jameson and I will stay here in case there's more."
03:10-06:50—(Agents proceed to search the majority of the building where little of interest is noted, save for a supply closet on the second floor. Lambda-2 approaches the door with caution.)
POI-XXXX-5: "Somebody! Help us, please!. Oh my God—hold on Jackie, it'll all be okay"
06:55—(Camera footage picks up the image of a middle-aged man, dark in complexion, huddled over a young girl. 8 other students are seen cowering nearby.)
Lambda-2: "Hey! You all okay? How're you holding up?"
POI-XXXX-5: "Holy shit, aren't we lucky to see some police? Finally. Listen, we need your help man, you gotta get us outta here."
Lambda-2: "Hold on dude, can you explain what happened? I'm a little fuzzy on the details here and I didn't get a full report."
POI-XXXX-5: " I don't know! The graduation ceremony is next week so we scheduled the prom for tonight, just like every other year. Prom started at 10:00 pm, music started at 11:00 pm, everything else went just as it was supposed to. It wasn't supposed to end like this! I had gone to get a coffee before the slow dance; there was this whole 'midnight gala' theme, we thought it would be cute."
(The man groans loudly before continuing.)
"When I came back I opened the door… and then I saw Daniel. He had gone out to get some fresh air but when he came back he kept scratching his arm really bad, I thought it was just a mosquito bite. He was the valedictorian, y' know, always the proper and tidy kid. But, I see him on the dance floor and he just sorta doubles over and pukes all over his date's shoes! I was gonna get a mop and then…There were these bees. No, wasps. Oh, I don't fucking know! but they were there! I watched them just, crawl all out of his face, and they were shining so bright, it was too painful to see what the hell was going on. Nobody but his date noticed, and she was trying so hard to scream over the music, but before you knew it they just started landing on people. One by one they just picked their targets, and everyone just fucking danced! Then the first kid dropped dead."
Lambda-2: "What about the kid in the corner? Is she alright?"
POI-XXXX-5: "She got attacked by one of those damn things. They started biting everyone, and I watched one crawl right in her mouth. Then she just started seizing. I think one of them stung me too, I'm itching all over. He's gonna be alright, right?"
Lambda-2: "Fucking hell, sorry dude."
07:35—(Lambda-2 is seen unholstering and chambering his rifle. POI-XXXX-5 appears distressed before [DATA EXPUNGED].)
[END LOG]
Addendum: MTF Lambda-12 was deemed successful in their mission of eradicating the site of all traces of SCP-XXXX whilst minimizing loss of innocent life. Despite best attempts, however, a local investigation revealed the presence of SCP-XXXX in nearby homes. Class-C amnestics were administered to surviving inhabitants of Oak Creek and cover story 29 'Localized Blaze' was put into effect. The population of Oak Creek, Colorado prior to Incident-XXXX-1 was estimated to be about 1,020.
SECURITY FOOTAGE ACCESS IS RESTRICTED TO SITE TECHNICAL PERSONNEL.
ARE YOU SURE YOU WISH TO ACCESS THIS FILE? Y/NACCESS GRANTED
COMMITTEE MEMBER JOHANSON'S OFFICE—1999/06/25 — 8:35 am
[BEGIN PLAYBACK]
Johanson: "Good morning. I didn't expect anyone to come in so early—"
Dr. Calloway: "Who do you think you are?"
Johanson: "I beg your pardon, Doctor? That appears awfully rash of—"
Dr. Calloway: "Joe, just listen to me for a second."
Johanson: "… Make it quick, doctor."
Dr. Calloway: "Do you have even a clue about what you're doing? What made you think that you had the best course of action? This supposed job of yours to 'protect' doesn't seem to be doing a hell of a lot of anything!"
Johanson: "Excuse me? I have no idea where these disturbing accusations are coming from Doctor but I am determined that I—"
Dr. Calloway: (sigh) "I saw the records, Joe."
Johanson: "…Oh"
Dr. Calloway: "You're damn right 'Oh'. I understand that we had to understand its capabilities to some degree, even on the D-class, but could see why we needed to protect the public from those things. What was the point of those tests? Why did we have to test these things in the first place? I thought there was a point to learning what they could do? We learned that we could save lives, Joe, but what have you chosen to do instead? I'm not ignoring this."
Johanson: "I had to decide what was necessary to keep the normalcy, Doctor, this was the only way I saw that would actually work. Every decision I make, every choice I agree with, is for the well-being of the people. I am sorry that you think—"
Dr. Calloway: "Children, Joe, fucking children. Your 'choice' decided that turning them to ash was the best course of action? What about all the homes? We could've treated so many people, helped so many people, but you concluded that that would harm the masquerade? Are you really willing to eradicate an entire town because of these things? Are you willing to annihilate all animal life in the state?"
Johanson: "I'm sorry, Doctor, I truly am. But it was for the greater good."
Dr. Calloway: "Greater good? Greater fucking good?! Listen to yourself Joe, what the hell happened to you? Do you really think that what we've done here was for the 'greater good'? Have you ever thought about why this is happening?"
Johanson: "Are you here to enlighten me, Doctor?"
Dr. Calloway: "We've found wasps that only hatch normally in obnoxious social situations with humans. Don't you find that even a little weird? I mean, we found these things in the deserts of Colorado! Have you ever seen obnoxious noise in the desert? It doesn't make any damn sense!"
Johanson: "What's your point? I still stand by my answer, we have to evolve to defend humanity from everything else that wants us dead."
Dr. Calloway: "Just like them."
Johanson: "Pardon?"
Dr. Calloway: "Shiny bugs, in the middle of the desert, that breed to loud ass music and disco balls? Last I checked EDM music didn't originate in the wilderness! They've evolved against us, Joe. Who fucks up the planet as much as we do, huh? What other being on this earth is as much of an abomination to nature as we are? We drain their rivers, chop down their trees, mine their resources, and then we up and complain when the universe tells us to fuck off! When we decided we didn't give a rat's ass about the planet, it decided it didn't have to give a damn about us either. Humanity isn't going to make the earth uninhabitable for nature, no; Nature is going to make the earth uninhabitable for us."
Johanson: "That was a poetic revelation, Doctor, but I still have very important work to attend to. There are matters much larger than a couple of shiny bees, from a single city, of a single state, in the United States. Now if you would be so kind—"
Dr. Calloway: "Call me by my name, Joe."
Johanson: "Goodbye."
Dr. Calloway: "Call me by my name you fucking rat!"
Johanson: "Goodbye. Doctor."
[END PLAYBACK]
SECURITY FOOTAGE ACCESS IS RESTRICTED TO SITE TECHNICAL PERSONNEL.
ARE YOU SURE YOU WISH TO DELETE THIS FILE? Y/NREQUEST GRANTED
Name: Alban Giuseppe
Title: All but alone
Material Requirements:
- Staging ground (Preferably a deserted stage, eases the setup process)
- Studio Speaker (2 in possession, additional donations are appreciated)
- Assorted fittings (Cables, cords, power bars necessary for setup process)
- Blindfold
- Binding Material
- Surgical Kit
- Armchair (Specific chair desired, already in my possession)
- Participant (Already in my possession)
Abstract:
Intent:
bruh
bruh
Verib Ponis Pulvis
That's what they used to teach us, back in school. The same repetitive phrase, without end, over and over again, pushed through my ears like a cork popped out of a bottle of champagne. They used to tell us it symbolized 'the indefinite struggle to find reality in a world of fiction, to reach out and touch God's hand and discover not its validity. Rather, its faults.'
I can't believe I used to gobble that shit up, but what was I supposed to do? I was just a kid.
Looking back, I'm surprised the absurdity of it all didn't come to me sooner. Lessons were separated into periods, but they were never just 'Math' and 'Physics.' No, they always wanted to make a point out of a mathematical flaw, or an example out of a classmate's mistake, and go over specifically why it was impossible. Never a docking of marks, not once was I told I had been "close enough", if your answer was wrong you were berated and told how it was wrong. Because of that, I never rose my hand for fear of being ostracized, while the professor rattled on about "the impossibility of negative momentum" and "the definite limit of atomic weight."
Scientia, Ubi Fallacia Consumet
It was about a month ago, my first assignment. Rarely did we have the opportunity to see the world around us at face value, our professor's constantly reminding us of the 'dangers of a young mind, open to belligerence and foolishness'. I never got used to that fucker's lectures, even after 22 years stuck between concrete walls and dirt. Lodge Alcove wasn't exactly a cozy home, but it kept me safe, and I was always occupied with work and recent events. Once in a while, they'd let the students come above ground for excursions; for the most part, that entailed sitting on our asses in the grass while our professor explained yet again that the earth, does indeed, revolve around the sun. I always liked the way the apple trees swayed.
I was 20, back then, young and full of depressive vigour. I'd been assigned along with a small fire team for reconnaissance against an ana-contradictory event. There were nine of us; three detailers, a four-person team of RUBIES, specialized in physics simulations, my batshit professor and I. They hadn't told me until we were already 2 hours inland that we were heading to Idaho, hiking along with some ZIRCON journalists to investigate some call about 'strange happenings.' I would have appreciated being told beforehand, but instead, I got to listen to an eight-hour discussion on the Magnus Effect. By the time we made it to the containment zone, I'd already fallen asleep, and it took a RUBIE shaking me awake to get me out from the truck.
Enodari Dubitantium
We spent more than four hours scrambling through that park, with nothing but our novels for company. As per usual, one of the ZIRCON's had already started writing his thesis paper on the subject, stating that the fact that nothing was present proved that nothing ever existed. The report had said that police found some rich athlete in the area, his legs snapped at a 120° angle to the thigh. There was no sign of forced struggle, no high places to fall off of, just a long trail of blood where he had apparently dragged himself and then dropped like a sack of shit. He wasn't the first person to end up dead in this park, but the only reason we had shown up was that he was a donator, and so it'd be on our ass anyways. We'd ended up cutting the area down to a small section south of the incident, all the while those fucking ZIRCON's kept speaking aloud to their camcorders and their microphones, some collaborative vulture screech which made me want nothing more than to pull my face off
Then came the sound of tearing, like someone had ripped dried glue off of a piece of paper.
All I remember seeing was my professor standing there, his elderly skin sagging loosely, and then the sight of his skeleton, collapsed on its knees, nearly a foot away. He had tripped on a small stone, his body still elevated in the air as if upright and human, and yet his bones stood up as if nothing was wrong, and he stared at me. Two empty sockets burrowed into my fucking sight. All he could do was stand there with his jaw unhinged as if he were screaming at me. Screaming for someone. For help.
By the time the others had arrived, they simply stared back. Those same cold eyes reverberating back at the poor man. My professor dropped to the ground, followed by the rest of him, and that was it. No remembrance, no tears, not even a fucking celebration that I didn't have to listen to his lectures anymore. I remember hearing one of them rationalizing it down to "an accident, in which Professor McCarthy fell upon a stone and suffered from complete excarnation." He'd taught me for nearly half my life, he was every inch and aspect of my education, and they simplified whatever just happened to him to a fucking accident? There was no way I was accepting that, so I ran. I ran as fast as I could in the opposite direction, as deep into the forest as I could go. I don't even think they noticed I left.
This world has always been confusing, full of strange and curious things, those of which I was always taught to doubt and understand. The rules are supposed to make sense, science is meant to have the answers, but not like this. Never in this way. I don't wanna doubt anymore. I don't want to live in the dark.
I Want To Believe
Item #: SCP-XXXX
Object Class: Safe
Special Containment Procedures: SCP-XXXX is to be kept within Site-11’s recreation wing, contained within a footlocker and monitored daily for continued appearance. In case of recurrence of Incident-XXXX-01, the remainder of SCP-XXXX is to be relocated to the nearest clearance center and submerged within a ≥1m plastic container of hydrochloric acid via an overhead release. SCP-XXX is to remain completely engulfed in the substance until █ hours have been allotted, where the object may then be removed for evaluation.
Description: SCP-XXXX is a handcrafted box of playing cards, encased in an 8 cm3 cube of nonadhesive resin. Observation of the substance reveals a similarity to that of plexiglass, although stress tests involving puncturing, bludgeoning, and extreme temperature regulation suggest a substantial increase in tensile strength.
The front and backside of SCP-XXXX is etched with acrylic paint
Addendum: [Optional additional paragraphs]
Item #: SCP-XXXX
Object Class: Euclid
Special Containment Procedures: Due to ongoing validation of anomalous properties, SCP-XXXX is to kept within a standard 20x20x5 cubic metre humanoid containment chamber, stripped of all appliances and externals and internally lined with tantalum. Room temperature is to be monitored and equalized as to never exceed 5° celsius, and ventilation is to be double-packed as to prevent exfiltration of SCP-XXXX-2.
SCP-XXXX is to be procured a variant of heated appliance, size varying upon demand of test structure, once per month. The object is to be delivered to SCP-XXXX's containment cell via openable chamber in the door, and should be wrapped in any variety of rag or towel capable of covering the object completely. Once SCP-XXXX-2 has made contact with the object, it is to be considered contaminated and ignored. No attempts are to be made to acquire objects delivered in this manner.
Description: SCP-XXXX is a mummified human corpse belonging to a male, approximately 178cm in height. Its muscular tissue shows significant signs of decay, being too small to function and possessing a dark brown coloring. SCP-XXXX's axial structure and part of its appendicular structure (specifically its right clavicle, sixth left rib and both rami of its jaw) have been broken. Most of its digits have been bent into inoperable condition, and two (the right hand's third finger and the left foot's fifth toe) are missing altogether. Only nine teeth remain in its gingiva and most cartilaginous structures are absent through decay, the nasal cavity and ear canals fully exposed.
The left eye remains undamaged, only showing signs of the later stages of subconjunctival hemorrhaging with a yellow tinge. Examination of SCP-XXXX's behavior has noted several irregularities in regard to its facial response to stimulus1. Its behaviour is erratic, unable to focus for long periods of time, and is often noted scanning its surroundings. SCP-XXXX-1 possesses a fixation towards objects and creatures capable of movement, and is capable of passing the MSR test (refer to Addendum-1). Its pupil does not dilate, implying some form of acute blindness. Observation into the manner of SCP-XXXX-1's behavior has lowered the possible solutions to that of a flight or fight response, sometimes triggered via sight of SCP-XXXX.
Within SCP-XXXX is a black, mucus-like substance possessing endothermic and acidic properties. Despite said properties, there have been no signs of acidic breakdown within SCP-XXXX. SCP-XXXX-2 has been noted to be related to SCP-XXXX's behaviour, and will absorb the heat of any object it makes contact with before dissolving it and evaporating. It has also been observed to be the source of SCP-XXXX's state of animation, as all current attempts to damage SCP-XXXX have proven futile due to SCP-XXXX-2 repairing the split tissue. A seemingly infinite supply of the substance has replaced all natural bodily fluids, including blood. As a result of this, it constantly streams from most orifices except for the left eye. The only situations where this is seen to occur in the left eye is under stressful or traumatic conditions, leading researchers to believe that SCP-XXXX-2 has replaced the aqueous solution found in the tear ducts.
Addendum: [Optional additional paragraphs]
WARNING: THE FOLLOWING FILE IS LEVEL 4 CLASSIFIED
ANY ATTEMPT TO ACCESS THIS FILE WITHOUT LEVEL 4 AUTHORIZATION WILL BE LOGGED AND WILL LEAD TO IMMEDIATE DISCIPLINARY ACTION.
Item #: SCP-XXXX
Object Class: Thaumiel
Special Containment Procedures:
Description: SCP-XXXX is a television remote, similar in style and stature to that of an LG TV set. SCP-XXXX, while incapable of affecting televisions as intended, is instead capable of performing a CK-class atomic restructuring scenario. Whenever SCP-XXXX is pointed at an object and one of it’s buttons is pressed, the command transfers over and affects the object that SCP-XXXX was pointed at. A table of the effects of pressing one of the remote’s buttons can be found below.
| INPUT | OUTPUT |
|---|---|
| “Power” | The target enters a ‘powered down’ state, and cannot utilize energy. |
| “TV/Radio” | Switches targets in close vicinity. |
| “Subtitle” | All auditory cues target produces is repeated in a white text that floats .43 meters above the target. |
| “Ratio” | Changes the target’s length and width, current limits unknown. |
| “AV Mode” | Target becomes slightly blurred. |
| “Input” | Target is transported to an unknown dimension. The target returns to the exact space they were transported █ hours after initial travel. If used on an anomaly, the period of time decreases to █ seconds. |
| “1” | N/A. |
| “2” | N/A. |
| “3” | N/A. |
| “4” | N/A. |
| “5” | N/A. |
| “6” | N/A. |
| “7” | N/A. |
| “8” | N/A. |
| “9” | N/A. |
| “0” | N/A. |
| “List” | Unknown. |
| “Q-View” | Unknown. |
| “Volume Up” | Target’s volume of any noise it produces increases by █ decibels. |
| “Volume Down” | Target’s volume of any noise it produces decreases by █ decibels. |
| “Favorite” | Target gains a faint yellow aura around them, further effects unknown. |
| “Guide” | Unknown. |
| “Mute” | Target is unable to make noise, any attempt at making noise via an external source, such as firing a gun, does work however. |
| “Text” | Unknown. |
| “Info” | A manual containing all the memories and information about the target appears █ meters in front of the remote. This input does not have any effect on other SCPs or anomalous objects. |
| “T.OPT” | Unknown. |
| “Settings” | Unknown. |
| “OK” | If the target is contemplating a decision, it takes the option it is currently thinking of. |
| “Positional Buttons” | Target is moved █ centimeters in a cardinal direction corresponding to the button pressed and the remote’s relative location. |
| “Back” | Target rewinds █ seconds in time, does not affect SCPs or anomalous objects. |
| “Exit” | Target is erased from the current dimension. This input does not affect SCPs or anomalous objects. |
| “AD/*” | Unknown. |
| “Record” | Target’s next thoughts, movement, and actions are recorded into the remote, which can be viewed with the ‘Info’ input. |
| “Stop” | Stops the ‘Record’ input. |
| “Rewind” | The target begins to rapidly de-age at a pace of █ days per second. This input affects SCPs and anomalous objects much less effectively. |
| “Play” | Stops the ‘Rewind,’ ‘Pause,’ and ‘Fast Forward’ inputs. |
| “Pause” | The target enters a stasis and becomes unable to move for ██ minutes. This input affects SCPs and anomalous objects for about ██ seconds. |
| “Fast Forward” | The target begins to age extremely quickly at a pace of ██ days per second. This input affects SCPs and anomalous objects much less effectively. |
| “A” | N/A |
| “B” | N/A |
| “C” | N/A |
| “D” | N/A |
Addendum:
Item #: SCP-XXXX
Object Class: Safe
Special Containment Procedures: SCP-XXXX is currently located in Bio Research Site-104 and occupies a milk thistle tree7 that has been subsequently sectioned off to prevent wandering from the item. It is to be monitored for three hours each day by two D-Class personnel, as it is still unknown whether or not it can undergo natural metamorphosis. In the case of metamorphosis (or signs indicating) occurring, personnel are required to contact Dr. Francis from Site-██ immediately.
Description: SCP-XXXX is a hairless caterpillar.8 Its flesh is black with brown splotches and lines across its body and a purple sheen in some lighting conditions, typically in direct sunlight. It abnormally measures at 5cm long and approximately 5mm in width. The head of the object appears normal, but is in actuality a growth. The true head is located in place of the thorax. The folds and segments comprising the face are vaguely humanoid and inexpressive, two triangular segments in the position of eyes, another triangular segment resembling a nose and a segment resembling a lower jaw which the faux head attaches to, all of which move and twitch occasionally. It possesses twelve functional stemmata on the faux head but none on the true head. Inside of its mouth are three rows of small translucent teeth, estimated to be 20 teeth per row, totalling at 120 teeth.
SCP-XXXX is docile and is incapable of physical harm. The behaviour of the object widely consists of average behaviour displayed by larvae of the Lepidoptera family of insects. It spends 20 hours collectively per day eating and it is encouraged by staff to provide food during observation. However, when in the vicinity of more than two people, measured to be a radius of about 150cm, SCP-XXXX will close its true face and attempt to hide in its tree. When only one person is within its vicinity, it will be available for a diagnosis. To obtain a diagnosis, a subject must make direct eye contact with the true face when they are in its sight. The object will then speak in the subject's native language in a very formal and forward tone. The pitch of the voice varies but is often described as "gravelly and high-pitched" (see Experiment Log-XXXX-13). It will diagnose a single health issue the subject has. It is currently unknown if it creates the illnesses or simply detects them. Once the subject has undergone a diagnosis, they can never receive another. SCP-XXXX will not diagnose external issues, such as skin diseases, infections or external injuries. Any attempts at this result in either a failed diagnosis (no response) or a diagnosis of an internal health issue such as onset kidney failure.
Discovery: SCP-XXXX was discovered in the rural village of ████████, Northern France on ██/██/1993 in the possession of one ███████ ██████████. Mr. ██████████ had been cited by the local populace as a member of a family with extensive medical experience, and as such had made his home similar in style to an impromptu pharmacy9. The item's exact whereabouts were in a potted plant within a brass bird cage in the back room of a hut which was identified as Mr. ██████████'s residence. The decorations around said room alluded to SCP-XXXX being used as a spectacle, which he has admitted to having made profit off of. As revealed in an interview, he had been running the business for approximately two decades and had brought an impressive number of tourists to the village considering its small size.
Foundation personnel were alerted to the existence SCP-XXXX itself upon discovery of a tape recording, which had processed SCP-XXXX's anomalous properties taking place. Researcher Dr. Francis had been on stress leave in ████████████ when he had purchased the tape labelled "Docteur Chenille" at a market stall10. Upon discovering the contents of the tape and analyzing it for possible tampering, Dr. Francis requested an investigation ticket. SCP-XXXX was seized and transferred to Site-██ swiftly for a three-month probation course until being sent to Bio-Research Site-104 as its current location.
Mr. ██████████ is still under questioning by the Foundation as to how he obtained the item and refuses to provide enough sufficient information. as of 01/██/2001 deceased via a non-anomalous brain tumour.
Audio Transcripts:
The following is a transcript of the first successful interview with Mr. ██████████, wherein he provides the most information on the situation. It has been translated from French for reader convenience.
Interviewed: Mr. ███████ ██████████
Interviewer: Dr. Hughes
Foreword: Mr. ██████████ was sedated and handcuffed to a desk to prevent potential issue. Dr. Hughes was the first staff member to receive information on SCP-XXXX and replaced Dr. Francis in this interview due to stress caused by verbal hostility from Mr. ██████████. A single armed security guard was instructed to wait outside in case of further difficulty. After being informed of the circumstances, Mr. ██████████ appeared significantly more willing to co-operate.
<Begin Log, 19:07 ██/██/1993>
Dr. Hughes: Good afternoon, Mr. ██████████. Take your time to wake up. I want you fully conscious when you answer my questions. My name is Dr. Hughes.
██████████: I thought you fuckers would leave me alone after that nine-fingered bastard walked out.
[Rattling of handcuffs]
Dr. Hughes: I would appreciate if you don't insult my colleague.
██████████: The fuck is this shit?
Dr. Hughes: Seeing as you're not willing to co-operate, I had to make adjustments. This is a serious matter, Mr. ██████████. Your refusal to work with us has brought you into this situation. I have handcuffed you to the leg of the desk here.
██████████: No matter what you do, I'm not telling you anything. I don't care if I have to lose this hand, not a single fucking word will leave my mouth. Now ge-
Dr. Hughes: There is a guard outside this door. He is armed with a FAMAS G2 assault rifle and is under orders to fire at your limbs if you refuse to co-operate with me. Do you understand the importance of this interview, Mr. ██████████?
[██████████ ceased resistance immediately after the warning.]
██████████: O-Okay, I get it, just… how long are you gonna keep me here for?
Dr. Hughes: Until you finish answering my questions.
██████████: Shit… Just do it.
Dr. Hughes: Thank you. How did you obtain SCP-XXXX?
██████████: Do I really have to-… Okay, uh, I don't feel comfortable answering this question.
Dr. Hughes: I would prefer to make this quick, Mr. ██████████.
██████████: Please just skip it then. Please.
[Pause]
Dr. Hughes: What were you doing with SCP-XXXX?
██████████: Okay, so, I've been pressured for a while to continue this long legacy thing with my family where everyone's in the medical field. That isn't me. I can sell you a product but I can't heal your cuts. Not to say that I'm selfish but I just can't stand all the blood. I'm squeamish. So I was using whatever you call that little caterpillar thing to earn money. The people in my village are dumb and they believe anything, so I had to convince them that it was an alien or something similar. We all live in the countryside so there isn't much nearby. It was easy. I didn't mean anything malicious if that's what you want me for, I just wanted to make a living and make my mother proud.
Dr. Hughes: I see. A conman with an honest heart. I can respect that.
██████████: A-Are we done?
Dr. Hughes: Almost.
██████████: O-Okay, this isn't so bad.
Dr. Hughes: It isn't hard. It's just talking. That's all we're doing here.
[██████████ laughs]
Dr. Hughes: How much do you know about SCP-XXXX?
██████████: Uh, let's see, I know it's just like a normal caterpillar. It eats plants and occasionally shits. It sometimes does that thing where they curl their whole bodies up and stand on their back legs, which I find funny. When it comes to the weird stuff, it gets scared when more than two people are in a room with it. It'd be fine with us here but the moment that guard comes in it'll try its best to hide in the plant. Another thing, the face makes me uncomfortable and I don't know why it has it. It sometimes feels like its looking straight at me but because it doesn't have eyes there I get super creeped out. It's really cool, don't get me wrong, but it's scary.
Dr. Hughes: I can tell you're not lying seeing as current tests line up with that behaviour. I see you're more relaxed.
██████████: Not relaxed, but less scared.
Dr. Hughes: Understandable. Are you aware of the anomalous effects of SCP-XXXX?
██████████: Anomalous?
Dr. Hughes: The strange effects it may have on its surroundings or towards other people.
██████████: Oh. Oh, okay. Yeah, I think. Let's say someone walks into the room, and I leave the room. It speaks to him and then it'll never speak to him again. That's about it.
Dr. Hughes: Could you be more specific? What does it say to him?
██████████: Every time so far it tells him that he has something wrong with him inside his body. He has a stomach cramp, for example. Sometimes it's less obvious, like a cancer. Mostly things to do with organs and muscles. Occasionally bones. I had someone come in once with an infected cut on her hand and it didn't talk to her. She got really angry at me and wanted her money back but I turned her out the door after five minutes.
Dr. Hughes: I see. Do you know if it causes these illnesses or if it just identifies them?
██████████: Half of the time I have no idea. Someone with a bone marrow disease or something told me that the doctor had said the exact same thing a week before he came to me and other similar situations have happened. I still don't quite understand it yet.
Dr. Hughes: Thank you for the information, Mr. ██████████. This has been a great help. I want to especially thank you for your co-operation today.
██████████: You're welcome. Are there gonna be any more of these now?
<End Log, 19:41 ██/██/1993>
Closing Statement: Mr. ██████████ was unhandcuffed and released. He was escorted back to his cell without issue.
