The Bestest Boy
Class: Euclid/Safe (Potential Thaumiel reclassification pending review of the O5 council)
Subcategory: Unconfirmed, research on-going. It must be stated that this particular subject has been observed by many witnesses and there is a large amount of evidence and research regarding this subject. However definitive proof and 100% recollection by witnesses is not available. The most that can be said about this subject is that we as an organisation are 100% confident in our assessment of this SCP but cannot present the required proof.
Special Containment Procedure:
Due to the subject being present within the foundation for an extended period of time before its recognition as an SCP, it has been agreed by the ethics committee that the subjects containment protocol should remain as close to its current housing protocol as possible, due to obvious success. From hence known as: Forever Home Protocol.
SCP XXXX is to be housed in a standard on-site officer domicile housing unit cohabiting with SCP XXXX-α (Alpha)
Equipment:
• 1 standard dog bed (to be changed for size depending on SCP XXXX iteration)
• 1 standard dog water bowl
• 1 standard dog food bowl
• A selection of pet toys for stimulation, preference for balls.
• 2 standard pet dog meals per day provided by Alpha.
Activity:
• 1 Hour of training per day to be provided by Alpha
• 1 Hour (minimum) of play with any member of site staff. Preferably SCP XXXX-α(Alpha) or SCP XXXX-β (Beta) should be present but not required.
• Inclusion in any and all appropriate Foundation duties of Alpha, including but not limited to patrols and security sweeps of Site. (Limited clearance for inclusion in off-site activities approved by the O5 council)
• For field use, 1 K9 Body Armour Tactical Vest. (Foundation modified for purpose. Based apon Shadow Spartan K9 Tactical/Carrier/Armour Harness #III.)
• Once every 30 days all members of the pack (Subject, Alpha, Beta’s) must partake in a hunt off site. The hunt must occur on land considered to be unowned and no member may use firearms. Once complete all members must consume of the prey (cooker or uncooked) regardless of their religious, political or dietary requirements/ preferences.
Forever Home Protocol:
This containment protocol exploits the natural tendency of domestic dogs/Canis Lupus Familiaris to imprint emotionally to a human being.
The Subject; SCP XXXX
Alpha; Member of SCP foundation that Subject has imprinted upon. (Permanent)
Classification as Alpha is determined by the Subject in a (Not fully understood or realised) ritual known as ‘Being Chosen’.
The Subject is to live with the Alpha in much the same way as a family pet, time apart should be avoided as much as possible.
To date ‘Being Chosen’ itself is not fully understood, therefore it is best for the foundation that we present potential Alphas that are ideal for the Foundations needs.
Alpha:
- Must live on site grounds.
- Preferably no living family members.
- Preferably no emotional ties such as lovers/regular sexual partners or lifelong/significant friendships.
- Preferably in a position that does not answer on a regular basis or directly to an authority figure.
- Preferably in a position that includes a high level of active/field work.
- The candidate must must have a stable emotional state at all times (preferably positive) and must surrender to stringent psychological screenings on a quarterly basis, as well as fortnightly council sessions.
- Only Alpha may secure Subject in K9 Body Armour Tactical vest.
Beta; Members of SCP foundation that subject accepts as part of Pack/Family. Number variable but ideally incorporates 11 members. Has been at its lowest 2, and at its highest 11.
Classification as Beta is initiated by the Subject in a small ritual known as ‘Being Marked’.
‘Being Marked’ is completely at the discretion of the Subject but is predictable by anybody who is familiar with dog behaviour. Foundation Beta member prediction success rate 75%.
Beta:
- Can comprise of any member of Sitexx Staff.
- Beta members should spend time with the subject at least weekly, preferably daily.
- Preferably members of unit of Alpha.
- Absolutely must not have direct enforceable seniority/authority over Alpha.
- Beta members must significantly try to maintain honesty and frankness at all times with other Beta members and Alpha where possible.
- Beta members must not harbour negative feeling towards Alpha.
- No Beta member at any time is to be allowed to be perceived by the Subject as significantly challenging the Alpha. At the risk of initiating a ‘Lupus Event’.
If a member of Beta should start to develop negative feelings or resentment towards Alpha they should immediately report this to Site Administration or Medical. This will begin the process of declassification as a member of Beta and or relocation, in an attempt to reduce risk to member and site by avoiding the initiation of a ‘Lupus Event’.
The rules apply to everyone. Part 1
You ever heard that saying “Greatness thrust upon you!” right now that's my life. I didn't ask for any of it. Don't get me wrong I’m not being a whiny bitch here, I don't wanna give it back. My life makes sense now, I have a true role in this world, a purpose. I have never felt so alive.
But I didn't ask for it!
None of it!
Especially the dark side of it.
The cost!
Me… well, same story as most grunts working at the Foundation. Service ended, came home to a world I didn't fit into any more. People had got on with things while you were away, like they should, and you came back to your space to find it filled in in any number of ways. Sometimes a whole other person.
Nobody to really talk too, nobody to relate too. Everyone else caught up and pouring themselves into small, shallow unimportant things. Mortgages, next years holiday, upgrading the car, moving to a better house, redecorating, little Jimmy plays the Triangle to a grade 9 level, well little Jolene can already order her own MacDonald’s breakfast on my I-pad.
Where has the fire gone in you all, we miss the fire. We don’t fit here.
So we go back to what we know. Some get back into the military, most get into private security work, and some… with the right psych record, combat history and friends, some might get the tap on the shoulder I did. “Would you like to protect the world and its secrets?”
Speed through 3 months of training and psychological evaluation, then the testing is started by pitting you against each other. Another 3 months later, there are only a handful of you left and finally the curtain is lifted.
Welcome to the Foundation, our mission: Secure, Contain, Protect!
2 years later I'm manning the guard hut at the service entrance on the east side of Sitexx. Ive been at this post for 6 months now, BORED out of my mind. Ive been in the foundation for 27 months now, Ive never even seen a SKIP outside of training. Oh I see the odd transporter vehicle, some of the trucks are ridiculous. And yes there have been breaches, SKIP’s running all over the Site. But I’m parked out here on the arse end of the site, nothing comes out this way.
In 6 months I could count how many vehicles I’ve let through on my fingers. Its just me, some old building rubble, the featureless green fields, noisy crows, some roving stray dogs and the occasional foot patrol checking the perimeter.
The guy who I took this posting over from had told me how, when he got bored, he used to interact with the dogs. Giving them food trying to play fetch with them but they were not great at it. I quickly realised why he had given me this unwanted and unneeded information. After 2 weeks my mind was numb with boredom, I checked through the activities log. As far back as the records had gone… nothing. I took his hint and tried to get the animals attention but they were not interested.
I slowly came to accept that I just had to get through it, it was just 9 months and then maybe my request for field work could be revisited.
After months of trying to interact with the strays a puppy turned up. Couldn't have been more that a few months old and obviously to hungry to be afraid of me. It ate the food out of my hand before slinking off into the fields. A few weeks later the pup slept in a corner of the hut from time to time, no harm no foul. We were told to report any changes at all so included this interaction in my daily reports, heard nothing back so after a few weeks stopped including the puppy in my reports.
Some weeks later whilst passing in a corridor my CO turned and addressed me directly for what I’m sure was the first time.
“Crpl, saw something about an animal in some of your reports. Explain?” It was more of an accusation rather than a question.
I steadied my nerves and just laid the situation out as plain as I could, like a report. The bridge of her nose crinkled up slightly and her eyes bored into me as her mind turned this info over. I held my breath as a few tense seconds past.
“Knew someone who worked that post once.” I honestly couldn’t tell if she was even talking to me. Another few excruciating seconds felt drawn out.
“Don't let it disrupt your duties.” In the time it took my brain to register what had been said, the officer had spun on her heel and was already striding away down the corridor. An unexpected relief washed over me, I breathed out.
Because I had such a permanent role on Sitexx I had been given a domestic unit rather than staying in barracks. It was small but mine, not exactly private due to every inch of this facility being under security surveillance, but MINE. A level of luxury in this type of life precious few got to have.
It was cold and wet that night. The puppy had run off just like every end of my shifts. I trudged my way through the mud and rain anticipating the long hot shower I was looking forward to. I passed by the barracks and turned the blind corner to the domicile units.
My feet stopped moving before I lifted my head, I just knew. I looked up and there was the puppy sat bolt upright at my threshold staring straight at me.
For a few moments it was like everything just diluted away, everything just drifted into the background. It was just me staring at the puppy and the puppy staring straight back, a loop feeding off each other. It almost felt like I could imagine seeing myself through the animal, but I could also imagine the animal seeing itself through myself.
The daydream clarified, solidified and crossed from imagining to seeing. Intensity seemed to shoot down my spine and I shivered, shaking my whole body like someone had dropped an ice-cube down my shirt.
Things were normal again, the puppy wagged its tail and waited for me. I was a little worried though, that episode just then felt like I was high for a second, I thought about reporting to medical the next day.
I gave myself another mental shake and walked to the door looking at the puppy, thinking.
“How did you even know where….”
“Of course, your a good-boy, you can probably smell…” Why did I say good-boy, I’d never checked.
“Great timing to just as my CO….” I reached the door, put my hand up to the data reader to scan my biometrics chip embedded in my wrist. There was a beep of confirmation and I heard the whirring as dead bolts slide back within the door itself, I gave it a light push. I remember looking down at the puppy as the door swung open, he was looking up at me tail wagging, tongue lolling out of the side of his mouth.
“You wanna live with me?” I asked. “Its not much but its just you and me. We’ll work the rest out as we go.” He made a little shuffle but remained on the spot, he seemed excited. After a second he made a small muffled half whine half bark. Again that feeling of intensity grew within me.
While looking down at the puppy I lowered my chin to my chest then made an upwards sideways nod, indicating into the house.
The puppy yipped and launched himself over the threshold into the domicile unit. That overwhelming intense feeling, like ice, shot down my spine again shaking my whole body in a shiver, then things were normal again.
The rest of the evening was easy, he fit right in with my life, he never got in the way, didn’t need any extra work, didn’t cause mess or noise. It just felt right!
I was sat at my desk writing up my weekly overview report, with the puppy sleeping on my feet, when there was a hammering on the door. I looked up at the wall clock, 10pm role-call. I answered the door,
“Evening Srg.” I said as the door swung open
“Evening dipshit.” This was my best friend. “How are things out there on the arse end of nowhere?”
“You know full well! I just count every second I get closer to dying.” I hadn’t wanted to moan, he had heard it all before, but he had asked. I recall looking up then to his smiling face.
“Look buddy I’m not making any promises, but I’ve had the tiniest positive response about developing a crack response security team here for the Site.” He paused to let me respond. My mind had been a jumble that would be perfect for me. He had to let me be part of it.
“You have to let me in!” the words tumbled out of my mouth. He’d smiled wider.
“Look I would remember you as my mate anyway, but your records, history and medical would have you at the top of the list anyway….” His voice had trailed off as he looked past me. Then it came to me thinking ‘Shit I forgot to tell him about the dog’.
“Oh yeah, I’ve made a friend. CO said as long as he doesn’t get in the way of duties its kosher. Probably a moral thing.” The Srg scoffed.
“So what, he’s just your dog now?”
“Guess so, yeah! Think of him as our new K9 unit.” The Srg frowned a little and tugged on his belt buckle, then sighed.
“Ok if you say so, but I’m gonna have to run it by control, no offence but you get that right.” He looked a little worried. I nodded and feigned annoyance.
“Of course mate, what the hell. I’m not asking you to do me any favours. Now fuck off I need my beauty sleep.” The Srg smiled again as he began to turn away.
“Alright buddy catch you later.” He dismissively waved over his shoulder as he continued his role-call duties.
I had watched him go for a while. Before closing the door I just caught the sound him radioing into control. I knew the puppy was thirsty so got him a bowl of water before I sat down at my desk again. I had picked up my pen and looked down at the pages, but my mind could not focus.
I could hear him lapping at the water, my mind seemed to drift. No images, I wasn't seeing or hearing anything in my mind. I felt like I was floating on waves of feeling, emotion, instinct and then the smells hit. It was like being hit in the face, there is to much to deal with, for a second up is down left is right, then the next moment your back grounded again. That feeling but instead of a punch it was smells.
I drifted back out of the daydream. The puppy had stopped drinking and was sat across the room from me. I had spun my chair around and was facing him. We stared at each other and that feeling of looping began again, the intensity built, the words just made their way up out of me.
“Your my Dog aren’t you.” The looping feeling dissipated, his tail wagged, and as I looked at him, every fibre of his being radiated the response.
“Yes.”
He flung his head back and howled… I say howled… but that's not… I mean he did howl, but…
I mean he cant have been more than 4 or 5 months old at that stage, but the noise that came out of him. Look don't even bother me about it, I’ve tried before, there is no way I can explain it in words. It must have been in my mind anyway though because nobody else was outside when I got out there, checking if my ears where bleeding genuinely worried. It must have been the acoustics in the domicile unit that focused or amplified the sound somehow. I explained it away but I remember a feeling of unease, not fear, just unease.
I was woken from exhilarating, primal dreams by the door buzzer. I sluggishly came back to fully conscious, It was 3:42am, I had been asleep maybe 4 or 5 hours. I reached the door and closed my eyes while I took a few breaths and shook the sleep out of my mind. Besides I had to wait for the dog to take his place on my left. When I knew he was ready, I took one last breath, opened my eyes and opened the door.
I was blinded by a light, I lifted my arm to shield my face.
“Kill that light, cummon guys…” A voice in-front of me said. I couldn't see who had spoken but I knew he wasn't military. The spotlight blinked out and the scene was lit by the light from my domicile behind me. A 4 man security detail, no pips, no ranks, no ID at all, off grid, all unarmed, standing way back. Right in-front of me a beanpole of a man with glasses and a mop of frizzy blond hair tied back in a small bun. His face cast in shadow. But I didn't much notice any of that, what caught my eye was the white lab coat peaking out from under his rain coat.
“Hello Cprl, I'm Dr XXXX.” he extended his hand, I shook it lightly.
“I'm part of a research team from XXXXX, we have been on standby 3 years now. I was worried our work was over but then last night, readings across the board.” He looked down and saw the dog, his eyes widened, he dropped down.
“Hello Boy! How are you.” I expected the dog to shy away because he had been so timid with me, but he licked the Dr’s hand with almost familiarity. “Ohhhhh your such a good-boy. Anyway!”
The researcher stood up, the security detail hadn’t moved an inch but I could tell all of them had been tense, now I saw shoulders relax. He looked me right in the eye and smiled, I noticed two different eye colours in the gloom.
“You have been cleared of all duties this week, you’ll pack essentials right now and come with us.” I noticed that this hadn’t been phrased as a question. I hesitated for just a moment. He dipped his head slightly to catch my eye and with a smile loudly said.
“Chop chop old boy. Come on we have a lot to discuss Cprl.” His smile widened further.
“Or should I say Alpha!”
Per 
