Per 
- Anomalous Tech Support
- Anomalous Tech Support notes
- Idea
- Mole parasite
- SCP-XXXX 2.0
- Crit Eskobar
- Feedback Taylor
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SCP-XXXX
Item #: SCP-XXXX
Object Class: Safe
Special Containment Procedures: The office building housing SCP-XXXX has been purchased by the Foundation, and all non-Foundation employees have been dismissed under the guise of bankruptcy of █████ ███ Electronics. Employees that were involved with SCP-XXXX have been administered amnestics and were released.
Description: SCP-XXXX is an ISDN type videophone, primarily used for home offices and small businesses, situated in the former █████ ███ Electronics office. SCP-XXXX is functionally identical to its non-anomalous counterparts, apart from the display, which seems defective when used for a video call.
A single phone number (hereafter referred to as SCP-XXXX-1) is stored in SCP-XXXX's internal memory, which has more digits than can be displayed on SCP-XXXX's screen. Attempting to call SCP-XXXX-1 on any other device results in failure.
Selecting SCP-XXXX-1 instantaneously connects the caller with an automated selection bot, which speaks to the user in 17 languages before English is offered. In a separate test, over 4093 different dialects were discerned before the test was terminated after 13 hours. Most these languages have no resemblance to any languages used throughout history. Some vocalisations are unable to be reproduced by human vocal chords or are outside of the frequency spectrum audible to the human ear. After English is selected, the user will be connected to a representative of SCP-XXXX-A, an anomalous help-desk named ''Universal Information Technology''. The caller can then inquire on various topics, even abstract queries like the laws of physics, philosophical problems and metaphysical concepts.
It is unknown who registered the number in SCP-XXXX's memory, but SCP-XXXX-A was seemingly used to provide █████ ███ Electronics with information that could be used to improve electronic devices rapidly, giving the company an edge over their competitors.
| First contact | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date: 21.02.2019 | ||
| Name: Dr. Collins | ||
| Foreword: After questioning of witnesses, SCP-XXXX was revealed to be the source of the unusual leap in technological advances that █████ ███ Electronics made in the last year. Witness could not provide detailed explanation, which was the reason for this test. Dr. Collins performs the call. | ||
[SCP-XXXX is used, instantly connects to SCP-XXXX-A. Dr. Collins selects English and connection with a representative (hereafter referred to as SCP-XXXX-2) is established.]
SCP-XXXX-2: Thank you for calling Universal Information Technology, my name is [UNINTELLIGIBLE1], how can I be of service?
Dr. Collins: Erm… Hi. I'm Dr. Collins, I'm calling because I have a few questions about this telephone.
SCP-XXXX-2: Are you asking about the device you're calling on or telephones in general?
Dr. Collins: This one. How is it that it can connect with you?
SCP-XXXX-2: I'd have to put you through to Communication Electronics for that. So from what I see here this isn't your first time calling, correct?
Dr. Collins: No, I mean this is the first time I'm calling, but this phone has been used before.
SCP-XXXX-2: Sorry for prying sir, but that sounds a bit… Can I talk to the original owner? I'll have to verify if they consent to your usage of their account.
Dr. Collins: I'm afraid that he is unavailable.
SCP-XXXX-2: Ah, yes I see. [pause] It says here that he is no longer aware of us. You're part of a different organisation, correct?
Dr. Collins: How did you know that?
SCP-XXXX-2: It's what the case file says. Do you have something to write with?
Dr. Collins: I erm… I do, yes.
SCP-XXXX-2: Okay, your case code is: A324-E3212-564I-4242. Now sir, hold onto that because any future call will be asking for that, ok?
Dr. Collins: I understand.
SCP-XXXX-2: So how can I help you?
Dr. Collins: Well, this is going to sound strange, but I'm not entirely sure who you and and what you work for.
SCP-XXXX-2: Can you be more specific? You're calling Universal Technical Support, and I'm a representative. Like a support line?
Dr. Collins: How is this telephone able to connect to you?
SCP-XXXX-2: I'd guess by phone-line. Do you… is there any reason it would not be?
Dr. Collins: No, I'm just asking because this number doesn't work if I use any other device.
SCP-XXXX-2: Oh. Well, I can find that out for you, but I'd have to message the product specialist first and get back to you.
Dr. Collins: That's fine, I'll get back on that later. Can you tell me what the previous owner of this phone asked about in previous conversations?
SCP-XXXX-2: Sorry sir, I can't tell you that. Company policy, I can't disclose that information due to privacy reasons.
Dr. Collins: Oh, that's unfortunate. Okay, so what do you uh… what is your area of expertise?
SCP-XXXX-2: Bit of everything, not specialised. Laws of Physics, you know, basic stuff.
Dr. Collins: Quantum Mechanics?
SCP-XXXX-2: Yeah, stuff like that.
Dr. Collins: Do you mind holding on for a bit? I want to confer with a colleague.
SCP-XXXX-2: [Laughs] Hey, that's my line!
Dr. Collins: Hah. Anyway-
SCP-XXXX-2: Yeah go ahead, I'm not going anywhere.
[Silence for 2 minutes]
Dr. Collins: I'm back, hi.
SCP-XXXX-2: Welcome back. What did you want to know?
Dr. Collins: When and how did the universe start?
SCP-XXXX-2: Well sir, that depends on your definition of universe and start. What level of theory is your civilization currently operating?
Dr. Collins: What level?
SCP-XXXX-2: Surely you've written that down somewhere, sir.
Dr. Collins: I… don't know if I have.
SCP-XXXX-2: The original owner must have? That's not practical, on account of them being dead. I'll put you through to universal registry, one moment please.
Dr. Collins: Uh, sure. Thank you.
[Half a second of poorly recorded music plays before another instance picks up. Interviewer notes a monotone, disinterested tone.]
SCP-XXXX-3: Universal registry, how can I help?
Dr. Collins: Hi, erm, I'm Dr. Collins, and your colleague said you could help me with-
SCP-XXXX-3: Yeah okay, do you have a case number please?
Dr. Collins: Right, sorry. It's A324-E3212-564I-4242.
SCP-XXXX-3: On the name 'Collins'.
Dr. Collins: That's right.
SCP-XXXX-3: So it's going to be hard to figure out your universal code if you don't have anything to give me the right place to look.
Dr. Collins: Sorry but, how am I supposed to know how you categorise our universe?
SCP-XXXX-3: Well surely you had some form of documentation when you first got it? We have a lot of them, infinite even. We'd be doing this for seven [UNINTELLIGIBLE].
Dr. Collins: Documentation from whom?
SCP-XXXX-3: Well, wherever you first got it! How long have you had the Universe?
Dr. Collins: 13.7 billion years?
SCP-XXXX-3: [Sighs] And you lost it already? You know that voids your warranty, right?
Dr. Collins: Warranty for what?
SCP-XXXX-3: Technical errors, obviously. You know, fabrication mishaps. Unless you damaged the Universe yourself, that's user damage.
Dr. Collins: What about damage outside of my control?
SCP-XXXX-3: You call your universal insurance.
Dr. Collins: Do you have that number?
SCP-XXXX-3: Well, where did you sign up? What company?
Dr. Collins: I don't know.
SCP-XXXX-3: [Sigh] Sir, I don't know that either. Have you written that down at least?
Dr. Collins: I'd… have to check. Sorry, this is all very new to me.
SCP-XXXX-3: It's okay sir. Do you maybe have someone around that has more experience with this? Then you can just hand them the phone and we'll figure this out for you.
Dr. Collins: I don't think anyone here knows more than I do.
SCP-XXXX-3: Very well sir. Do you want me to wait or will you call back when you find the information we need?
Dr. Collins: I'll call you back, sorry for wasting your time.
SCP-XXXX-3: That's alright. We'll hear from you!
Dr. Collins: Goodbye.
| What is love? | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date: 23.02.2019 | ||
| Name: Dr. Collins | ||
SCP-XXXX-2: Thank you for calling Universal Information Technology, my name is Tom, how can I help you?
Dr. Collins: Hi erm, this is Dr. Collins again.
SCP-XXXX-2: Oh hey! I had you yesterday.
Dr. Collins: Are you sure? I don't remember a Tom.
SCP-XXXX-2: Yeah no I know, I didn't think you could pronounce my actual name with your vocal chords so I looked up the translation, like, good for conversation if we can actually say our names, huh?
Dr. Collins: Hah, can't argue with that.
SCP-XXXX-2: Did you get your answer yesterday?
Dr. Collins: Eh, no I didn't have the info on our universe, so…
SCP-XXXX-2: He was annoyed? Sounded bored?
Dr. Collins: You could say that, yeah.
SCP-XXXX-2: Yeah I know him, don't worry about it, he's always like that. He's just a stick-in-the-mud. We call him Smiley. He doesn't like it, so that makes it better.
Dr. Collins: Good to hear that it wasn't just me. So, you can't help me find the serial to the universe either, can you?
SCP-XXXX-2: Nah man, I wouldn't know where to start. I don't have the details, but the lifespan of the universe you're in versus the lifespan of the being in it? Whew, they're not even close. No wonder you lost the serial and warranty information. Being straight here: Questions about manufacturing process and dates aren't going to be easy, might not even be possible. Best case scenario, you figure out the exact time of creation on your own and we trace it back until we find yours.
Dr. Collins: Creation?
SCP-XXXX-2: Eh, creation, coming into being, whatever, it's semantics.
Dr. Collins: I don't really get how that… so it's created and has a creator?
SCP-XXXX-2: Nah, not always. Some universes, sure. Not all of them. I'd get into more detail, but I'm having a hard time with doing so because you don't have a lot of words for it. English is a cool language though, very casual. Short words, like it.
Dr. Collins: Thank… you.
SCP-XXXX-2: No problem! So did you have any specific questions for me?
Dr. Collins: Oh right, I almost forgot. Erm, they told me to ask what love is.
SCP-XXXX-2: Okay, so for that I can put you through to… chemistry, biology or philosophy. I personally recommend chemistry or biology if you don't want to stay on call for two hours.
[[FURTHER DATA REDACTED, ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION IS RESTRICTED TO CLEARANCE LEVEL 5]]
Note: An additional 7 conversations have taken place since first discovery, transcripts of which are available on request. These requests may be filed to Dr. Belrose.
| N/A | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date: 24.02.2019 | ||
| Name: Dr. Collins | ||
SCP-XXXX-2: Thank you for calling Universal Information Technology, my name is Tom, how can I help you?
Dr. Collins: Hi erm, is this Tom?
SCP-XXXX-2: Hey yeah, how are you doing?
Dr. Collins: Yeah, fine. How about you?
SCP-XXXX-2: Can't erm, can't complain.
Dr. Collins: That doesn't sound convincing.
SCP-XXXX-2: Eh, part of the job I'm afraid.
Dr. Collins: Want to tell me what happened?
SCP-XXXX-2: Ah, it's stupid.
Dr. Collins: Try me.
SCP-XXXX-2: Ah it's just… this client calls me because she didn't know when a Universal Repairman came today because her [ILLEGIBLE]universe broke or something, so I call the guy and he says like: ''I sent her like 4 reminders to agree to the repair fee and she didn't respond.''
Dr. Collins: Let me guess, she felt stupid and wanted to let that out on you?
SCP-XXXX-2: She seriously wants to file a complaint using my name because ''it's not clear'' and that ''she didn't receive any reminders''. Sure ma'am, even though you got the first message, all of those must have been lost in the ether. So I say: ''You want to file a complaint because I notified you about the lack of responses on your end?'' and she gets annoyed and says like: ''No it's nothing against you, just unhappy with the situation''.
Dr. Collins: The situation she herself caused?
SCP-XXXX-2: Right? But it's fine, I'm used to it. ''Everyone's at fault but me''.
Dr. Collins: Sorry to hear that, Tom. Don't worry about it, if she actually goes through with it she'll look really stupid.
SCP-XXXX-2: Thanks, I think you're right. Anyway enough about me, did you have a question for me?
Dr. Collins: What? Oh yeah, I eh, this is a bit of a weird question I guess?
SCP-XXXX-2: Good, normal questions are boring.
Dr. Collins: So erm… Is what I'm doing actually helping?
SCP-XXXX-2: That's ah… not really a technical question, I think.
Dr. Collins: I know, it's just…
SCP-XXXX-2: Curiosity?
Dr. Collins: Let's call it that.
SCP-XXXX-2: That's alright, we'll improvise. So you in particular, since your organisation contains things that aren't supposed to be that way, it's helpful in protecting your people from it. I mean, you can argue that what your kind views as anomalous technically isn't, since it wouldn't exist in your universe if it was…
Dr. Collins: We have some anomalous that can be considered extra-dimensional.
SCP-XXXX-2: Very true.
Dr. Collins: What about me, personally?
SCP-XXXX-2: It wasn't your fault, if that's what you ask. Not if you ask me, anyway.
Dr. Collins: My colleague was killed, Tom.
SCP-XXXX-2: Not by you.
Dr. Collins: I could have saved her if I would have been more careful.
SCP-XXXX-2: Well yeah, that's easy to say in retrospect, but the lifeform she was killed by was unpredictable.
Dr. Collins: Is the future set in stone?
SCP-XXXX-2: In your universe? Technically, you can predict a lot on the quantum level, but not in any way your species would be able to read properly. No offence meant, of course.
Dr. Collins: None taken.
SCP-XXXX-2: I'm sorry for your loss, but I'm just technical support. I can't bring her back, and by the time we complete a model for your universe on the quantum level, it already experienced heat death.
Dr. Collins: I see. Thanks anyway Tom. Can I… do something to show you that I'm happy with your service?
SCP-XXXX-2: You'd do that?
Dr. Collins: Sure, you deserve it.
SCP-XXXX-2: I'm… happy about that. Thank you.
Dr. Collins: No problem at all.
SCP-XXXX-2: I'll be in touch then! Is there anything else?
Dr. Collins: Let's leave it here for now.
SCP-XXXX-2: Alright, let me know if you need anything else!
On 03/05/2019, the fax machine in the office building housing SCP-XXXX printed the following survey:
Thank you for taking the time to let us know what you think of Universal Technical Support!
| Survey | |
| Are you capable of physically interacting with your universe [yes/no]? | |
| How many limbs does your species possess? | |
| Is your universe created with a specific purpose or did it manifest without reason? | |
| What is the maximum velocity of light, measured in your most common units? | |
| Is your species aware of what occurs after death [yes/no]? | |
| Is your species aware of the multi-universe entanglement field [yes/no]? | |
| From a number from 1 to 10, how satisfied are you with Universal Technical Support? | |
| In your own words, describe how you feel about Universal Technical Support. | |
| Do you have any additional comments or feedback for us? |
Thank you for your feedback!
Morthos:
16:09 <Mortos> "which speaks to the user in roughly 17 languages before English is offered." Seems like you could drop the "roughly" here, unless it changes each time
16:16 <Mortos> "''No it's nothing against you, just happy with the situation''." Iassume that's meant to be "unhappy" there
16:19 <Mortos> ok done reading it
16:20 <Mortos> the interview logs are fun
16:20 <Mortos> I'd consider adding something that implies there were a lot more calls to the phoneline between logs 2 and 3 though
16:20 <Mortos> ie, the whole thing comes across a little strong considering they've only talked twice before
16:21 <Mortos> overall I enjoyed it but I was expecting something a bit weirder in the customer survey thing at the end
16:21 <Mortos> ie, its just a bog standard regular survey and nothing about it stands out
16:22 <Mortos> I'm leaning towards upvote, but I definitely feel like that last incident could be stronger
Leveritas: some random survey thoughts - it might be interesting if they were trying to work out exactly *what* they were surveying. like, they might not even know
15:53 Leveritas: "are you capable of physically interacting with your universe [yes/no]?" "how many limbs do you possess?" "are you capable of sensing the [some made up word] field?"
- Help desk for abstract things.
''When and how did the universe start?''
''Well sir, that depends on your definition of universe and start. What level of theory is your civilization currently operating?''
''What level?''
''Surely you've written that down somewhere, sir.''
''What is love?''
''For that we can put you through to chemistry, biology or philosophy, sir. Would you mind filling out a survey after your call?''
Stallmantic: hear me out: a random company believed that it was their IT guy
3:17 PM until they realized they could ask it anything and started using it as a guru for their lives
Maybe they used the knowledge to create anomalous objects in their tech to make it better than their competitors?
hmm, not so sure, i would say maybe they were telling a bunch of people that if they need advice they should call that number
3:20 PM and it became a local phenomenom until the Foundation investigated
Would they give up the edge if it was useful? Or is it more amusing/more interesting if it's almost never useful, akin to 914 outputs?
3:22 PM <+Stallmantic> it probably should never be useful for important questions or be completely unexpected
it should be an IT backronym
Information Technology
Universal Information Hotline?
"Is there anybody out there who actually reads the containment procedures?"
is what I’m doing actually helping people?
- Reviewer of anomalies that the Foundation would find the most interesting, employs minions, it's never good enough.
- Glimpses of possible anomalies in the future, only a few of them actually happen. Analogy to the real life forums. Story revolves around figuring out what exactly it does, and what to take seriously.
- Wall that changes and tells a story.
- Help desk for abstract things.
- Simulation of a perfect world, people get to be with their former loved ones. Unplugging not possible. Revolves mostly around getting people away from it.
- SCP that is secretly a town where all inhabitants had botched amnestic treatments.
''What the bloody hell happened here?!'' 914 tale.
Foundation and GOC treaty.
Item #: SCP-XXXX
Object Class: Euclid
Special Containment Procedures: Victims suspected to be infected by SCP-XXXX are to be either sterilised or euthanised on a case-by-case basis, at the discretion and written approval of at least two members of the Ethics Committee.
Foundation webcrawlers are to actively monitor hospital intranet servers for cases of moles appearing on the body at an accelerated rate.
The minister of healthcare of every relevant nation has been informed of SCP-XXXX's, to ensure compliance.
Description: SCP-XXXX are segmented parasitic worms, superficially resembling Hirudo medicinalis. Unlike their non-anomalous counterparts, SCP-XXXX lacks an acetabulum2. Instead, their unique mouths posses an unusually intricate set of teeth, able to burrow beneath the skin of their hosts with almost no bleeding or scarring visible. SCP-XXXX will then act as a more traditional parasite, leeching the nutrients from its host while leaving the host alive. The only part of SCP-XXXX that remains visible is a portion of its tail, which is indistinguishable from a Melanocytic nevus3.
SCP-XXXX has proven to be exceptionally difficult to detect once attached to a host outside of an autopsy. X-Ray imaging is unable to distinguish SCP-XXXX from a normal blood vessel or artery, and SCP-XXXX does not use enough nutrients to mark a notable difference in blood analysis.
SCP-XXXX is able to mimic regular neural impulses perfectly, seemingly having an inherent awareness of the normal behavioral mannerisms of its host. The brain of the host is no longer able to influence the body after around 7 days of infection, despite neural activity continuing to be detected in neuroimaging.
Detailed analysis of SCP-XXXX's hunting behavior has not been successful so far, but occurrences of SCP-XXXX infection have been recorded on every continent apart from Antarctica. SCP-XXXX is able to asexually reproduce while attached to a host, presumably passing down larvae to their offspring. When containment or termination of the host is impossible/undesirable, sterilisation is acceptable as an alternative containment option. Relevant hospitals and personnel has been made to comply and/or amnesticised to ensure that this will successfully take place.
Due to the fact that neurological activity is still present in the host brain, it is presumed that the victim remains conscious and aware of their state, despite no longer having the ability to communicate this to others.
WARNING: THE FOLLOWING FILE IS LEVEL 3/4550 CLASSIFIED
ANY ATTEMPT TO ACCESS THIS FILE WITHOUT LEVEL 3/4550 AUTHORIZATION WILL BE LOGGED AND WILL LEAD TO IMMEDIATE DISCIPLINARY ACTION.
Main Facility
Item #: SCP-4550
Object Class: Keter
Special Containment Procedures: Personnel working with SCP-4550 are specialised cognitohazard containment teams, each headed by Level 4 personnel. Said containment teams are required to take part in a re-evaluation course every six months.
Electronic equipment/communication devices are not permitted within 50 metres of SCP-4550's outer containment zone outside of controlled exploration. The remains of personnel presumed MIA/KIA are not to be retrieved, even if the above procedures are followed. Any electronic device believed to be carrying SCP-4550's effects is to be immediately incinerated or otherwise destroyed.
MTF Eta-10 ("See No Evil") are to maintain one primary and three backup emergency telegram communication lines, connected to the outer containment zone.
After initial discovery, all progress in exploration and extraction of SCP-4550-A has been done by remote controlled drones.
Description: Currently, the accepted understanding of SCP-4550-2 indicates that it is a type of electronic cognitohazard or memetic phenomenon. SCP-4550-2 is capable of propagating through electronic equipment, and is presumed to trigger immediately when visually observed4.
SCP-4550-1 is an unregistered but fully operational Foundation Site located close to [REDACTED], USA, which either houses or is the source of SCP-4550-2. No records or witness accounts of this Site have been found. However, security codes from Foundation personnel are able to unlock doors and the Foundation seal is present on the structures, systems and materials within the facility. Whether SCP-4550-2 is directly connected to SCP-XXXX-1 itself or an infohazardous object inside is unknown.
Any person, regardless of prior Foundation employment, exposed to SCP-XXXX-2 becomes convinced that they are employed at SCP-XXXX-1 and will presumably lose memory of their prior life. Moreover, those exposed (designated hereafter as SCP-XXXX-A) will treat SCP-XXXX-1 as the only legitimate Foundation Site and assume that other Foundation establishments are faux. So far, all attempts at communication have been met with hostility.
84% of captured SCP-XXXX-A were in possession of Foundation ID's that were tested and confirmed to be authentic5. Research into the personnel archive of global Foundation personnel records indicate the possibility that SCP-XXXX somehow tampers with records as well as memories.
The absence of SCP-XXXX-1 (marked Site-█ on recovered ID's) in digital archives suggest anomalous tampering, as records are spread around globally and fractured in the case of foul play. Investigation by Rho-9 ("Technical Support") and Foundation archivists uncovered that information about the former Site-█ is present in outdated paper records. According to said archives, Site-█ was decommissioned and demolished in 1958 after an outbreak of multiple SCPs destroyed the majority of the structure. No information prior to and after this incident has been recovered.
Addendum A
Exploration
Performed exploration, while resulting in loss of personnel, provides additional insight in the spread of SCP-XXXX-2
NOTICE FROM THE FOUNDATION RECORDS AND INFORMATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
The following material has been confirmed clear of any known cognitohazardous material. However, personnel diagnosed to be sensitive to cognitohazards are required to consult their available Containment Specialists to be granted permission to view this document.
— Containment Specialist Stevens, RAISA
SCP-XXXX-1, capture by drone
Exploration Video Log Transcript
Date: 07/02/2016
Exploration Team: Remote Exploration Team Tau-1 (DETT-1)
Subject: SCP-XXXX
Team Lead: Operator Simon Belle
Team Members: Assistant Operator Juan Sanchez
[BEGIN LOG]
Command: Are we ready for deployment?
Drone operator: Yeah, we have been for two hours. We need to infiltrate one of our own Sites, security and all. This isn't like exploring some old house or abandoned school building. We don't have any blueprints, but they hope the ventilation system will take the clearance codes we got from the people that Larry6 brought back.
C: Understood. You are cleared to launch.
D: Copy that. Sanchez, wake the drone up. We deploy 200 metres above the target. Focus on the blind spot between the air duct and the western wall.
A: The blind spot that we presume is a blind spot? You got it.
Drone deploys from 200 metres above SCP-XXXX from a weather balloon. Camera feed activates and displays SCP-XXXX's rooftop. For the next 30 seconds, the drone steadily lowers the altitude to 63 meters. No activity outside of SCP-XXXX.
C: Anything?
D: Nope. What would we do if we thought a drone was spying on us?
C: Wait until it lowers below 50 metres and destroy it remotely.
D: I was afraid you'd say that.
Drone dives to 55 meters before hovering in place.
D: So… we know this can spread through the video feed? The effect, I mean?
C: That has been confirmed.
D: So in other words-
C: Do not get caught.
D: Understood. Lower her down, Sanchez. Nice and easy.
Drone continues descend. Target air duct is now clearly visible through camera feed. The drone hovers 2 metres above the target and attempts to remotely activate maintenance shaft.
D: Isn't this going to trip an alarm or something?
C: Correct. However, as long as the codes are valid, it will be viewed as routine maintenance. From SCP-XXXX-A instances, we confirmed that maintenance is scheduled to be performed today.
D: We got through.
Camera feed shows target airduct opening in its entirety. Drone lands and switches to driving mode.
C: We have 30 minutes until the actual maintenance crew arrives.
D: Copy that. I'm trusting you, chief. [Inhales and exhales audibly] Don't get us brainwashed okay? I don't pull off the tinfoil hat look well.
Drone enters SCP-XXXX's air vent system. Movement is minimal to reduce noise and the on-board flashlight is activated. The camera system flickers occasionally. Microphone picks up muffled speech from adjoining rooms, as well as unidentified vocalisation similar to animal snarls.
D: Do we have tabs on what they're actually containing here?
C: Unconfirmed hypothesis. The paper archives show multiple SCPs that were never recovered from the outbreak of 1958. It stands to reason that they are contained here.
D: Where do they even get the money to keep this going?
C: Unknown.
D: Right. We're coming up to a lightsource here.
C: Make sure to deactivate your own.
D: This ain't my first rodeo, captain.
Drone arrives a a supply duct. Visual feed show what appears to be a cafeteria. Multiple SCP-XXXX-A are present.
D: Hm…
C: Status.
D: I don't know if this means anything, but they are dressed weird. The girls are wearing skirts all the way to the floor and the guys look like the Apollo 13 control crew.
C: Clarify.
A: He means like, they all wear old-timey suits. Fourties or fifties. Did the Site work with objects that screwed with time?
C: Unknown.
D: Yeah, see that Sanchez? Look at that phone, it's a rotary phone. They must either be hipsters or there is something wrong here.
D: What the… Sanchez? Come look at this.
C: Status.
D: It's not… [a chair is being moved, presumably to give operator Sanchez a clear view of the feed] Sanchez, isn't that…
Sanchez: She seems so familiar.
C: Repeat, status.
D: We… we're not sure. There's someone here that's… deja vu, you know?
C: No, I don't. Operator Belle, deactivate the drone. Do not look directly at the video feed. I repeat, do no-
D: Sanchez, look! That's Milly7! What [PAUSE] what the fuck am I doing? Sanchez? Why are we…
A: Is this some kind of trick? Why are we spying on our own people? Who the fuck is this?
C: This is command, snap out of it! Abort the mission, we can still-
[Audio feed registers sound of either the drone operator or assistant (now SCP-XXXX-A-1 and SCP-XXXX-A-2) attempting to exit the observation booth, which is locked from the outside in case of cognitohazard exposure.]
C: Lose this channel.
Audio connection is terminated.
C: [Sighs] God damn it. Have ETA-10 put those two in containment. XXXX-A personnel designation. Turn the log off. We're done.
[END LOG]
Addendum B
Blackbox data
Update: While the raid on SCP-XXXX has resulted in the loss of the entirety of the raid squadron, an encrypted signal was broadcast from the personal blackbox of agent ███████8
AUDIO LOG
Capture sent to command 3 minutes before first audio entry.
DATE: [23/12/20██/14:00/Exploration Log 12]
NOTE: [Name: Agent Gabriel Romero] [Agent number: 2738-9322 (does not match personnel record)]
[BEGIN LOG]
TIME: [14:02]
I think I went too far ahead from the group. The door from… I think this is a broom closet - it closed on me. And erm… a good ten minutes of exploring this tiny space has shown no crack, no vents, and no tools I can use to somehow open the door. I'm not even sure I want to.
Let the record show, should this be found, that I did try banging on the door, but the sound was muffled on both sides and I don’t believe that they heard me. I can't get a hold of Perez or Norton - I haven’t heard anyone else for a while now, either. So, I flipped over the Foundation’s Standardised Exploration Form (EF1) and I erm, started writing. There is a dim motion-activated light on the wall; I can just about see. I don’t think we have an insider record yet of what happens here, when it happens here, how it happens here… Not at my clearance level anyway - so maybe my mission isn’t a total loss if I record myself slowly… becoming not myself.
TIME: [14:13]
They say, much like a motorcycle accident, it isn’t a matter of if you have an accident with an anomalous item, but when. I guess my number came up, and it was my own fault,
Everything seems so very normal here. Even though I am definitely trapped and well-know what happens to Agents who become MIA here. I mean, it’s far from the most unnerving place I could be. It's almost more unnerving being so dull. I more expected to be taken down by some otherworldly horror, but I will forever be a cautionary tale for new recruits, I think. One of those vids they show the newbies. ''Never scout ahead alone, greenies. Don't be an idiot like Gabriel, whoever that was.''
I feel normal, too. Dumb. Embarrassed. But normal. Maybe the paperwork was right when they told of uncertainty about how this place works – the rest of the force could be along any second and free me, or I could be here for a while and… die of starvation, whilst fully aware of how cocky I was. My watch says it’s ten past two now. It’s worthwhile me devoting some more time trying to figure out if there’s a way out of here.
TIME: [14:30]
I threw the watch across the room. It was mocking me. I close my eyes, and I try to picture people. But the images are weird, their faces blurred, and their bodies are twisted, like they're broken. They are…not what I know they should be. Sometimes, I can see their faces, and they have disappointment on them. I try to make myself remember things. Who I am, what my name is, what happens to make me come here, why I even wanted to join the Foundation in the first damn place – anything to check I’m not forgetting, not yet.
Researchers would about give their left arms to figure out how this place works, but I’m the one trapped in the middle of it. Dumb reason or not, I doubt any of them would care about the fact I’m here. It's bitterly unfair that, at the end of their workday, they can go home. To the family they remember, and I’ll still be here, and I won’t be me. Wish I started a family. Did I?
I thought earlier I heard voices, but maybe it’s the isolation playing tricks on me – it’s not been that long, I don’t think, but it’s amazing how dark your own mind can become without the existence of other people. I don’t mean dark-morbid, I mean bits of my brain feel like they’re turning themselves off. The lights are on, but nobody’s home. Maybe that’s less isolation, and more of a symptom. I don't know what my last name is.
TIME: [15:54]
I try to think about what I’ll miss the most, then I’ll forget what it is, then I’ll have to start all over again. I think - I think of something different each time, but I couldn’t really tell you for sure. Sucks to be you, Researchers – turns out, when someone’s losing their mind, they’re not exactly a reliable witness. I don't remember why I'm talking into this box. It makes me feel better though
It’s slowly catching up to me that I think I can only remember things that happened in the last year. The last month. The last week. I think I remember a baby, but then its face disappears, and it’s replaced by one of a rabbit. I think I remember long hair tickling my nose whilst in a loving embrace, but then the other person disappears and I’m hugging the air. I think I remember burnt rice (blue?) and anger, softened at the corners by a smile, but then he’s dead on the ground, and I think that’s a memory that hasn’t happened yet, which I guess makes it not a memory at all.
Either way, I know I’m steadily losing me.
Maybe if I flip over the form and read the notes there, I’ll be able at least to remember how I came to be in this mess. But I’m scared to, because these notes have a strange familiarity to them. They feel like Déjà vu. What if changing the paper somehow removes every memory from my mind? I keep checking back on myself and I’m dismayed to realise I think I’ve forgotten even more, if that makes sense. I think I’ve forgotten… I think I’ve forgotten… I think I’ve forgotten…
TIME: [16:42]
Have I forgotten now?
Yes? No? Maybe?
Tall-man-smell-of-tobacco-blood-salt
Try to picture his face and it’s nothing.
Try to collect my thoughts into a neat little bundle and they scatter like scared animals.
Try to remember this is for the Greater Good and I feel sick.
Please, for the love of everything, let me
R E M E M B E R
TIME: [17:02]
You don't work here. Your name is Gabriel and… you work with someone called… Gabriel. But he doesn't work here. I don't either. No wait, I'm Gabriel. I'm hungry. I can't remember when I last ate. I want to go home. Why don't I know anything? There's something bad outside. I think.
TIME: [17:32]
The next I know, I’m sitting in this room. Muffled shouting is outside. A clipboard is on my lap. A standardised form. EF1 stands boldly in one corner alongside a symbol. Yes/no/maybe questions. Gabriel Romero? That name sits awkwardly with me. But an Agent? Yes/no/maybe I’m an Agent. I stand, and wait to be greeted by the blur of voices outside.
TIME: [17:50]
Hey Belle! Let me out, damn it! It's not funny the first time, it's not funny the third either!
[Microphone picks up the sound of an automatic door sliding open]
Jesus, that's bright. Is this one of your pranks again, Bel- Oh, it's you.
[Unknown]: Erm, Romero? Why are you in a closet? I thought you came out of that years ago.
You're a fucking comedian. Where's Belle? I'm pretty sure he locked me in here. I want to congratulate him on his hilarious joke.
[END LOG]
Addendum C
Termination
The feasibility of termination or otherwise neutralising SCP-XXXX is currently under investigation. Multiple proposals are currently heavily debated.
Notice: Clearance level XXXX/4 or higher are required to view this addendum. Please submit your username and password below. Due to the sensitivity of this information, please be aware that 3 failed login attempts will deploy [REDACTED] to your location for incarceration/termination at their discretion.
Access granted. Your session has been logged.
| PROPOSED PROTOCOLS | |
| Tau (''Live and let live'') | The Foundation will keep monitoring SCP-XXXX indefinitely, only interfering when SCP-XXXX poses a clear threat to the secrecy of the Foundation or anomalous objects. No other actions, hostile or otherwise, will be taken without prior provocation. |
| Theta (''Asphyxiate'') | SCP-XXXX will be contained permanently by physically obstructing entry or exit by any means. This will result in the termination of all SCP-XXXX-A instances and might neutralise the anomaly. However, this proposal poses a significant risk of anomalous objects or entities breaching containment and may result in a significant loss of life and resources should the containment measures be inadequate. |
| Omega (''Hammer'') | Physical destruction of SCP-XXXX in its entirety through weapons of mass destruction. Impractical to execute without alerting the general populous but considered to have a higher chance of neutralising SCP-XXXX and the anomalies contained within permanently. |
Addendum D
Discovery and classification
On 08/03/2015, Prime Minister (Taoiseach) of Ireland informed the Foundation that they recieved a complaint from the Department of Preservation9. According to the report, the Foundation supposedly captured and relocated a "Mactirmór" that had been under surveillance by said department in ██████, Meath. The Foundation has no records of activity in ██████, Meath around the time of the letter's arrival. The ''Department of Preservation'' summarily interpreted this capture of the entity as a hostile action on the Foundation's part. Shortly afterwards, SCP-XXXX received its classification.
In my opinion, the only really necessary piece of information that this conveys is that there are time travel shenanigans afoot, and the calendar does a lot of that implying for you. You can build on that in other ways; during the drone fly-in, have the operators comment on other bits of the architecture and design that have a 1950s style to them. Guys looking like the Apollo 13 control crew (I know that's not the 50s, but that's the 50s sort of style). Big floor length skirts on girls. You don't necessarily have to change anything else, either, like the bit at the beginning where they're worried about their drone being shot down; they don't know that it's a 1950s site before this. The only thing you'd have to change, if the people in the site are really supposed to have just been in the year 1958, is the bit with Gabriel at the end where [unknown voice] references him coming out of the closet, since that wouldn't really be congruous for 1950s humor and I don't think that expression really existed outside of the cloistered gay community of that time, like Polari or something.
This is assuming, based on what I'm reading so far, that the idea is supposed to be that the real anomaly is something between the Site, which is a perfectly normal victim of time travel shenanigans from 1958, and the containment zone, which is in 2018. I draw that conclusion from Addendum C, which sort of shows the transition through that liminal zone.
I also think, just based on what I'm seeing right now, you could close this off after Addendum D. In fact, you could close it off before Addendum D also, have just the drone reconnaissance and the guy's exploration log, leave a bunch of mystery. I've never particularly worried too much about people's frustration at the ending; SCP writing, more than most genres, is one where you sort of expect to end up frustrated by a lack of information. The frustration is part of the fun, because the reader has to paint the broader strokes around the little snippets you give them. (This is to be distinguished from expungements, which force the reader to paint small strokes inside the snippets you've given them, which is often asking them to do an unreasonable amount of work for what's supposed to be the author's writing. But my position on expungements is pretty well documented, I think :))
Leveritas Hit me up if you feel like it, I guess =] no rush, I write at the speed of the average glacier/continent.
15:04 taylor_iOStkin I’m good to look
15:05 Leveritas Alright, here goes: http://scp-sandbox-3.wikidot.com/leveritas-ii
15:05 Leveritas I might be slow to respond, might get a call. Still here ^^
15:06 *** taylor_iOStkin is now known as taylor_critkin
15:06 Leveritas Nice touch.
15:07 taylor_critkin Thanks I have a lot of these
15:07 taylor_critkin >Electronic equipment or -communication are not permitted within 50 metres of SCP-XXXX's outer containment zone.
15:07 taylor_critkin Weird hyphen there that you don’t need
15:08 Leveritas Isn't the hyphen a stand-in for ''electronic''? Otherwise it would say that you're not allowed to talk to each other.
15:09 taylor_critkin Eh. I’d say use equipment/communication instead
15:09 taylor_critkin The hyphen makes it look weird and isn’t as easy to interpret
15:09 Leveritas Alrighty
15:09 taylor_critkin The slash is pretty universal
15:09 taylor_critkin > The remains of personnel presumed MIA/KIA will not be retrieved, even if the above procedures are followed.
15:09 taylor_critkin I’d suggest changing ‘will not’ to ‘are not to be’, but that’s only one part
15:10 Leveritas Gotcha
15:11 taylor_critkin > One primary and three back-up emergency telegram lines from the outer containment zone with MTF Eta-10 ("See No Evil") are required to be operational.
15:11 taylor_critkin This reads really strangely
15:11 taylor_critkin Something like,
15:12 taylor_critkin ‘MTF Eta-10 are to maintain one primary and three backup emergency telegram communication lines at all times from the outer containment zone’
15:12 taylor_critkin Or something
15:12 taylor_critkin That’s not a whole lot better but you get the gist
15:14 taylor_critkin You start the description by describing -2, and I’d suggest giving at least a 1 sentence description of what XXXX is as a whole
15:15 taylor_critkin > Whether SCP-XXXX-2 directly connected to SCP-XXXX-1 itself or an infohazardous object inside is unknown.
15:16 taylor_critkin Missing an ‘is’ there, after -2
15:16 taylor_critkin Also, I’d suggest adding a location, even if it is redacted
15:16 taylor_critkin Like
15:16 taylor_critkin >SCP-XXXX-1 is an unregistered but fully operational Foundation Site which either houses or is the source of SCP-XXXX-2
15:16 taylor_critkin In this sentence
15:16 taylor_critkin Adding a location because my immediate presumption was that it was a hypothetical site or something - reading on made me aware it wasn’t but it could help with understanding
15:16 Leveritas Right, got it.
15:20 taylor_critkin Leveritas: So What I’m getting so fsr is this is a temporal anomaly
15:20 Leveritas taylor_critkin Very sharp!
15:20 taylor_critkin Leveritas: fucking with time and bringing this thing back
15:21 taylor_critkin Nice crosslink btw
15:21 taylor_critkin To twenty minutes
15:22 Leveritas To twenty minutes? Which one was that?
15:22 taylor_critkin ‘Him’
15:22 taylor_critkin Remember ‘Him’
15:22 Leveritas OH THAT
15:22 Leveritas Yes.
15:22 Leveritas Thanks!
15:23 taylor_critkin Leveritas: So I finished the draft
15:23 taylor_critkin I’ll be honest - I’m not ever too keen on the idea of Foundation-specific anomalies
15:23 taylor_critkin But
15:24 taylor_critkin This is pulling it off in a different way - it’s not an anomaly specific to the Foundation because it’s the foundation of whatever - it’s temporal and PRESUMABLY the result of either a different anomaly or just where it is and the foundation got unlucky
15:24 taylor_critkin And therefore I was able to enjoy
15:24 taylor_critkin Leveritas: all in all this is pretty solid and the backstory saved the foundation-specific-ness in my eyes
15:24 taylor_critkin I’d upvote it
Zachary Maxwell for the critique and addition of the blackbox addendum (as well as letting me use one of his characters).
I wrote this SCP so slowly that I'm positive that I didn't get everyone that critiqued it. If you're one of those people, let me know here or shoot me a PM about it and I'll add you.
