de palma

An image of SCP-XXXX prior to containment.

Item #: SCP-XXXX

Object Class: Safe

Special Containment Procedures: SCP-XXXX is currently contained in the low-priority containment wing of Site ███. Any personnel with a history of violent thoughts or acts towards children below eighteen years of age are to remain at least 100 meters away from SCP-XXXX, as there is currently no defined area of effect for SCP-XXXX events.

SCP-XXXX can be safely contained in a standard containment locker. All requests to remove SCP-XXXX from containment must be approved by Dr. ███ ██████.

Description: SCP-XXXX is a small porcelain doll, measuring 28.2 centimeters tall and 19.3 centimeter wide and weighing approximately 1.58 kilograms.

SCP-XXXX is composed of a porcelain head and cotton-stuffed body and joints with limited opposable range. SCP-XXXX is dressed in a blue floral-patterned dress and white apron, both composed of cotton fibers. Testing of the materials that make up the composition of SCP-XXXX have discovered no anomalous properties. SCP-XXXX resembles porcelain dolls made in the United States near the beginning of the twentieth century and bears strong resemblance to any number of porcelain dolls kept as antiques in the modern day. Located on the back of SCP-XXXX’s body is a tag reading ‘Jerome and Sons Novelties of Chicago, Illinois.’ Attempts to locate such an establishment have yielded no results, and it appears there has never been such an establishment with that name anywhere in the Chicago metropolitan area.

Unless initiating an SCP-XXXX event, SCP-XXXX exhibits no anomalous properties.

SCP-XXXX is classified as a Type C¹ entity on the De Palma Scale, however psionic properties can only be measured during an SCP-XXXX event.

If SCP-XXXX is within the vicinity of a living being that either has active malicious intent towards a child, or an established history of aggressive or malicious intent towards children, an SCP-XXXX event will occur. During an SCP-XXXX event SCP-XXXX will float approximately one meter of the surface it resides on, and the usually black eyes of SCP-XXXX will begin to glow red. The target of the SCP-XXXX will be enveloped in a psionic cloud, invisible unless footage of such an event is later viewed by a Brentenhouse Psionic Viewfinder². Within thirty seconds of the initiation of an SCP-XXXX event, the target of the event will begin to exhibit the same physiological effects as if undergoing a grand mal seizure. Within ten seconds of the seizure ending, the target of the SCP-XXXX will disappear, leaving no physical trace behind. SCP-XXXX will then return to the surface it had originated from, and enter an inactive state.

Testing has revealed that an SCP-XXXX event can occur within a limited vicinity of a suitable target, however, SCP-XXXX requires a direct line of sight to attack the target in question. If SCP-XXXX activates and it cannot immediately see its target, it will begin to search a limited area until it finds a target expressing malicious intent or acts towards a child. Upon the completion of an SCP-XXXX it will then rest where it found the target.

Testing with radio locator beacons implanted within targets of SCP-XXXX events prior to testing have allowed the Foundation to determine that the targets are nowhere on the planet’s surface following an event. While such a conclusion cannot be confirmed given the lack of evidence, given the history and intent of SCP-XXXX, targets are presumed to be deceased following an event.

SCP-XXXX was first brought into Foundation hands on November 16th, 1993 near ██████, Wisconsin. SCP-XXXX was gifted to Dr. █████ ███████ by Miss Fiona ███████, then an instructor at the School of ███████. According to Dr. ███████ he was gifted SCP-XXXX as a reward for the Foundation’s help in the events of November 13th, 1993 at the School of ███████. Miss Fiona gave SCP-XXXX to Dr. ███████, and quote, “because we know your people like to poke and prod at strange things.”

When Dr. ███████ inquired Miss Fiona ███████ about the origins and properties of SCP-XXXX, Miss Fiona told Dr. ███████ that SCP-XXXX and seven others like it were created by an instructor named Miss Gretchen to aid in the defense of the School of ███████ should any living being threaten its pupils. When Dr. ███████ inquired as to the nature of SCP-XXXX, Miss Fiona said that Miss Gretchen had created it to, and quote, “protect our children, and all children, from those that would harm them.”

Addendum: Below is an excerpt from the journal of Dr. █████ ███████ concerning his first encounter with SCP-XXXX. The journal was turned over to Foundation custody following the events of November ██, 1993.

Mister Charles and I had made our way back to one of the dormitories to try and protect some of the children. Those invaders were everywhere, and all of the instructors were spread around the grounds to try and put as many bodies between them and children. Mister Charles and I had gotten ourselves inside the building and had gathered about twenty of the children, none of the older thirteen, and were ready to run when more of those thugs forced their way inside. Three of them marched into the entrance hall, two with guns and one with one of those awful swords. The men with the guns were there to kill us, and if I understood how those swords worked, the third was there to harvest the children. Mister Charles tried to fight them off with powerful psychic attacks but the man with the sword deflected those attacks like they were leaves in the wind. I thought I was going to die. I tried to pray but no thoughts of faith came to my soul. I tried to beg for my sake and for the sake of the children but no words came to my lips. I had never felt fear such as this in my life. One of the thugs raised his gun to shoot Mister Charles, but before he could pull the trigger he fell to the ground and started to shake. I turned around to see one of those dolls floating a few feet off the ground. It's eyes were burning like fire, and the children started to cheer once they saw it. I looked back at the armed thug in time to see him vanish from sight. A few seconds later the second man armed with a gun seized then disappeared. The assassin with the sword raised it to strike at one of the children but before he could bring it down on one of them he started to shake. I could see it in his eyes that he had tried to fight, but the doll was too powerful. He vanished a few moments later, the sword dropping to the ground once he was gone. They were all dead. A doll, a simple toy that looked much like the antiques my aunt kept at home, and managed to subdue a team of armed and dangerous men. Miss Fiona was right when she told me that those things existed to keep these children safe. Now that I have seen them work with my own eyes I will never doubt anything the instructors at this school tell me.

Test Log A

Test A – April 15th, 1994

Subject: Subject is D-20145, human male, aged 38. Subject was selected as his criminal background reveals a conviction for the abduction and murder of his two young nephews.

Procedure: Testing room has had a Brentenhouse Psionic Viewfinder fitted to the audio and visual recording devices in order to properly analyze psionic activity during testing. D-20145 is seated in the testing room. SCP-XXXX is brought into the testing room by D-20149 and placed on a table in front of D-20145. D-20149 then departs the testing room. D-20145 sits in silence for ten minutes with no signs of activity from SCP-XXXX. D-20145 is then instructed to describe the crimes committed against his nephews. D-20145 begins to describe the manner in which he strangled his first nephew, and an SCP-XXXX event occurs. SCP-XXXX begins to float one meter off the table it has resided on and its eyes glow red. Twenty seconds following the initiation of the SCP-XXXX event, D-20145 begins to violently spasm and he begins to make choking sounds and appears to be having a seizure. D-20145 spasms for twenty seconds before stopping, following which D-20145 disappears from the test room leaving no physical trace behind. SCP-XXXX then returns to an inactive state.

Results: D-20145 is presumed deceased, officially declared missing on file. There is no notable change to SCP-XXXX.

Analysis: Preliminary analysis seems to confirm that SCP-XXXX operates in such a manner as described by Miss Fiona Haverson. A review of the footage obtained by the Brentenhouse Psionic Viewfinder shows that during the SCP-XXXX of the test D-20145 was enveloped by a cloud of psionic energy consistent with powerful Type C entities. SCP-XXXX was also enveloped in a similar cloud. Both clouds of psionic energy dissipated at the conclusion of the event.

Test Log B

Test B – April 22nd, 1994

Subject: D-20214, human male, aged 27. A review of the subject’s record shows no instances of violence or aggression towards children prior to joining Foundation custody.

Procedure: D-20214 is seated in a room equipped with a Brentenhouse Psionic Viewfinder. D-20214 has a radio beacon implanted within his right arm. D-20214 also has a sealed envelope containing three notecards, each with a phrase written by Dr. ███████ of Site 101 one day prior to testing. SCP-XXXX is brought into the testing room and placed in front of D-20214. After three minutes D-20214 is instructed to open the envelope and read card one. D-20214 does so, saying, “I once killed a child.” This elicits no reaction from SCP-XXXX. After five minutes D-20214 is told to read card two. D-20214 does so, and says, “I am going to kill a child.” This also elicits no reaction from SCP-XXXX. Five more minutes pass and D-20102 is introduced into the testing environment. For the record, D-20102 is a human male, age 15. D-20214 is then instructed to read the third and final card in the envelope. D-20214 hesitates, but does eventually read it and say, “I am going to kill that child.” This causes an SCP-XXXX event, with SCP-XXXX floating one meter off the table and its eyes glowing red. D-20214 then appears to undergo a seizure after twenty-four seconds have passed since the beginning of the event. Ten seconds following the end of D-20214’s seizure, the subject disappears from the room, leaving no physical traces. SCP-XXXX then returns to an inactive state.

Results: There is no notable change to SCP-XXXX. A review of telemetry data in the search for D-20214’s radio beacon yielded no results anywhere on the planet’s observable surface. D-20214’s status is presumed as deceased. D-20102 is slightly confused by what had occurred during the test.

Analysis: A review of the Brentenhouse Psionic Viewfinder’s visuals shows psionic activity consistent to that observed in Test A. Given the lack of radio telemetry data from D-20214’s implant, suspicions that targets of SCP-XXXX events are either killed or transported to some inhospitable location are further confirmed.

Test Log C

Test C - May 5th, 1994

Subject: Subject is D-20305, human male, age 41. A review of the subject's criminal record reveals a long history of physical abuse directed at young children.

Procedure: A simple labyrinth was constructed in the testing environment equipped with a Brentenhouse Psionic Viewfinder . D-20305 is placed in the center of the labyrinth. Prior to testing D-20305 was implanted with a radio locator beacon. SCP-XXXX is introduced into the testing environment at the entrance to the labyrinth, 15 meters away from D-20305 but without a line of sight. Five minutes pass with no activity from SCP-XXXX and the subject is instructed to begin recounting his crimes. As D-20305 begins to describe his first violent acts an SCP-XXXX event initiates. SCP-XXXX floats one meter off the ground but its eyes do not flash as in prior events. SCP-XXXX begins to float through the labyrinth, stopping when it comes within two meters of D-20305 and reaching the subject within one minute. SCP-XXXX's eyes flash red and D-20305 begins to spasm. The seizure continues for thirty seconds, and upon conclusion D-20305 disappears without physical traces left behind. SCP-XXXX then returns to the ground.

Results: There is no notable change to SCP-XXXX. A review of telemetry data reveals that D-20305 is nowhere on the planet's surface and is presumed deceased.

Analysis: A review of Brentenhouse Psionic Viewfinder feeds reveals similar psionic activity as previous tests. It appears that while no line of site is required to initiate a SCP-XXXX event, line of sight it required for SCP-XXXX to 'attack' a target.

Footnotes

1. Type C entities, as defined and described by the De Palma Scale, are inanimate objects given limited instructions through a basic form of psionic programming. Type C entities typically can only perform one or two actions, and remain in an inactive state unless a proper initiation trigger occurs.

2. A Brentenhouse Psionic Viewfinder is an additional component that can be added to standard Foundation camera equipment in order to detect and record invisible psionic activity. The primary component of the Viewfinder is a dense mass of heavily engineered optic nerves and gray matter integrated with a sophisticated optical array.