Dr Ilya Alexander

Ghosts of Pirates Past

Item #: SCP-XXXX

Object Class: Keter

Special Containment Procedures:

Due to its unpredictable pattern of manifestation and ability to materialize and dematerialize at will, SCP-XXXX is impossible to contain. Instances of SCP-XXXX are to be approached and apprehended as quickly as is safely possible not to be interacted with by any personnel, regardless of circumstances (see Incident Log I-XXXX-01). At least two members of Oceanic Task Force (OTF) Iota-13 (“Boarding Party”) are to be present on any and all possible vessels which may experience a manifestation of SCP-XXXX to initiate and assist in evacuation if necessary.

Description:

SCP-XXXX is the collective designation for a group of entities that appear to target luxury cruise liners located in the Caribbean Sea, where the average net worth of all of the passengers is in excess of $1m USD, and only on vessels in excess of 50km from shore, and 20km from any other vessel. Instances of SCP-XXXX only appear between 10 PM and 4 AM, local time. Approximately two hours after its initial appearance, SCP-XXXX will de-manifest. This marks the beginning of a series of catastrophic mechanical or navigational failures, which eventually results in the vessel sinking. This process generally takes between four to seven hours for the vessel to become completely submerged.

SCP-XXXX manifests itself in multiple instances resembling famous pirates and privateers from the Golden Age of Piracy (circa 1650-1730 AD), categorized by recorded appearance. These include, but are not limited to: Captain Edward Teach (alias Blackbeard) (SCP-XXXX-1), Captain William Kidd (SCP-XXXX-4), Captain Henry Morgan (SCP-XXXX-5), Captain Bartholomew Roberts (alias “Black Bart”) (SCP-XXXX-7), and Captain John Rackham (alias Calico Jack) (SCP-XXXX-11). All manifestations resemble their respective historical figures during the height of their careers.

Instances of SCP-XXXX are observed as being exceptionally strong, fast, and resilient, making them exceedingly difficult to neutralize (see Contact Log C-XXXX-A). SCP-XXXX is never overtly hostile towards civilians or Foundation Personnel but will defend themselves when threatened.

+ Incident Log I-XXXX-01

Incident XXXX-01 – 06/24/20██

Subject(s):
OTF Iota-13 Agent █████ (Codename: Walleye), SCP-XXXX-1

Location: 14°20'45.4"N, 77°23'59.9"W, on the isolated upper deck on board “The █████ of the ████.”

Event:
Upon observing the appearance of SCP-XXXX-1, OTF Iota-13 Agent Walleye immediately attempted to apprehend the instance, in accordance with set containment procedures (which have since been revised). The moment Agent Walleye came into physical contact with XXXX-1, it moved with “blinding speed,” drew one of the four .50 caliber Flintlock pistols strapped to a bandolier on its overcoat, and proceeded to fire it into Agent Walleye’s torso from point-blank range. Fortunately, the tactical vest he was wearing beneath his steward’s uniform prevented the soft lead projectile from penetrating his body.
Immediately succeeding this event, SCP-XXXX-1 proceeded to de-manifest. Medical treatment for blunt-force trauma to the torso as well as several broken ribs was administered to Agent Walleye by his partner. The alarm was then sounded and evacuation procedures were initiated, since despite the early de-manifestation of SCP-XXXX, the series of events that eventually caused the vessel’s submergence did not fail to occur.

+ Contact Log C-XXXX-A

Contact XXXX-A – 08/12/20██

Subject(s):
OTF Iota-13 Agent ███████ (Codename: Pike), SCP-XXXX-7

Location: 17°23'29.8"N, 81°24'38.3"W, in the common lounge on board the “███ del ███.”

Event:
A drunken and irate passenger had stumbled into SCP-XXXX-7 and became aggressive towards the instance, blaming it for being “in his way.” The passenger then attempted to strike XXXX-7, at which point it had grabbed the man by the throat, lifted him approximately thirty centimeters above the floor, and slammed the man into the opposite wall, covering the sixty meters across the lounge area in what appeared to be less than a second.
OTF Iota-13 Agent Pike, disguised as a member of the onboard security force¹, opened fire on the instance in an attempt to rescue the civilian. XXXX-7 absorbed thirteen rounds of .45 ACP caliber ammunition, before turning its head at an unnatural angle to stare directly into Agent Pike’s eyes. It appeared to formulate a facial expression similar to a disdainful sneer, and disappeared. All civilians present were treated with Class-A amnestics, and the passenger that had been the victim of SCP-XXXX-7’s assault was provided with medical treatment on-site. Evacuation was initiated immediately.

+ Addendum XXXX-R

Foreword: The following footage and communications were recovered from a research submersible and dive team tasked with exploring the aftermath of an SCP-XXXX event on 04/19/20██.

<Begin Log>

A video feed from a diver’s helmet mounted camera transmits a dim image of the interior of what appears to be the interior of an upper-class suite.

Diver I-13-1: Dive team, sound off.

Diver I-13-3: ████████. I’m here LT.

Diver I-13-2: Dash two, ten-four.

Submersible Commander: Lieutenant. Give us a sitrep. What’s going on in there?

Diver I-13-1: We’ve cleared the common areas and are now moving through the passenger cabins. We haven’t found anything out of the ordinary so far.

As if on cue, Sgt. ████████’s voiced crackled over the radio.

Diver I-13-3: Hey LT, I think we’ve got something here.

Submersible Commander: What have you found, Lieutenant?

Diver I-13-1: Sir, it appears as though every passenger cabin we’ve searched thus far has been completely stripped of valuables. There’s no sign of them anywhere. We’ll keep you posted as to what else we uncover. 13-1 out.

<End Log>

Closing Statement: The entire vessel seemed to lack anything of value priced at over $100 USD. There also appeared to be multiple hull breaches that resembled strikes from 32-pound cannon balls. However, no such munitions were recovered from the hull.

Footnotes

1. All security personnel on this particular vessel were armed with a H&K USP.

A Little Girl In The Sun

She woke up to screams.

Screams as though the world itself was ending. Which, although she didn't know it yet, happened to be the case.

Then some screams became howls. Howls of predators, hunting prey. Howls that seemed almost human. But not exactly. Like a human had been twisted. Their humanity itself being torn asunder, leaving little more than a monster behind.

She covered her ears with her pillow, trying to drown out the noise. Trying to simply get back to sleep.

But the monsters would not go unheard.

One by one, they coalesced. Each contributing to the size and danger of the other. Then the alarms began to sound.

The shrieking and roaring of anomalies breaching containment filled the corridors outside of her room.

One by one, they fell silent, being assimilated into the mass that was slowly approaching her own door.

She turned to face the wall, still wanting nothing more than to just go back to sleep.

But sleep would not come. Not with the monster outside, not with the tortured shrieks that it emitted, and most certainly not with the crash of the door to her containment chamber being torn off of its hinges.