__ 3rd draft __
Item #: SCP-XXXX
Object Class: Safe
Special Containment Procedure: SCP-XXXX is to be kept in a locked container fitted with a weight-sensitive trigger plate. Should tests be performed on the item, the assigned researcher should do so alone and perform instructed tests in Chamber 0.17, which has been soundproofed for this purpose.
The key to open the container is located in test Chamber 0.17 attached to a 1.5-meter length of chain. While SCP-XXXX is not in the container, the pressure trigger inside will lock the outer door, sealing off the hallway to Chamber 0.17. This magnetic door can only be opened from the outside after six hours have elapsed or through the use of the authorization code held by the current site director.
Description: SCP-XXXX is a smooth, ovoid stone of a black material, 5,9 centimeters in length and with a width of 4.4 centimeters. When a person holding the stone is asked a direct question and answers with a falsehood, all biological functions are rendered inert aside from minimal brain activity within that person. Symbols are engraved into the surface in an unknown language and while appearing to be a piece of polished volcanic glass, attempts to take samples or otherwise damage the object have been unsuccessful. This leaves the actual composition and the method by which the engravings were made undetermined.
Discovery: SCP-XXXX came to the Foundation’s attention when three scientists part of an expedition to a temple in ███████████, South America were found to have died without a clear cause. An autopsy performed by civilian coroners revealed the cause of death to most likely be a heart attack, though no evidence had been submitted to support this. Foundation agents embedded in the medical sector came across the files and reported the anomaly to their superiors. Research into the temple from where SCP-XXXX was recovered, as well as all other recovered artifacts and documents, were procured by the Foundation upon validation of the anomalous effect.
Following procurement of SCP-XXXX, a team of Foundation researchers was dispatched to South America to investigate the temple site and conduct research there. A Foundation operative embedded in local law enforcement was ordered to bring in Professor Samuel Patrickson for a follow-up interview regarding the statements made following the first death subsequently attributed to SCP-XXXX.
Interviewer: Foundation agent embedded in local law enforcement.
Interviewed: Professor S. Patrickson
Foreword: Patrickson originally worked on the Ashukl temple dig site and was present when Professor Swansong expired due to the effects of SCP-XXXX.
Interview transcript [10.11 AM]
Foundation agent: Good morning. How are you feeling?
Professor Patrickson: A bit weird; it was several months ago, the coroner's report stated it was a heart attack, right? Why did I have to be brought in for questioning?
Foundation agent: Nothing to worry about. The file was never properly closed so this is just a quick chat to cross some t’s.
Professor Patrickson: Oh. Oh alright but I don’t know what more I can tell you than what I told the other detective.
Foundation agent: Just your recounting of the events. If anything is missing from the first report, we will bring that up.
Professor Patrickson: Well, I and Doctor Swansong were working in the mobile laboratory, cataloging the artifacts. Uhm, I was running carbon dating on one of the scrolls discovered, Swansong was examining an artifact he thought might hold a religious significance.
Foundation agent: This would be the engraved stone, yes?
Professor Patrickson: Uhm, yes, yes it was that stone. Weird thing, weird writing. Well, we were just talking; a night shift isn’t all that interesting.
Foundation agent: What was the subject of the conversation?
Professor Patrickson: Oh Uhm. Uhm. Nothing in particular, it was just chit chat you know. The weather, last night’s game, the hot intern’s new belly button ring.
Foundation agent: Was there anything that the Doctor said before he collapsed?
Professor Patrickson: The game? As I said, we were just talking, the next thing I know he’s on the floor, the stone in his hand and he was… you know, was dead.
Foundation agent: His death was ruled a heart attack. Did the Doctor mention anything about a heart condition before the incident? Or even just before he collapsed complain about something?
Professor Patrickson: No-no-no. He was a health nut, clean bill of health.
Foundation agent: And you are sure about this?
Professor Patrickson: It was part of the medical background and checkup before we went to █████████.
Foundation agent: The original file does not state where he was buried. Would you know where that is?
Professor Patrickson: Oh, he wasn’t buried. His will stated he wished to be burned.
Foundation agent: You mean cremated?
Professor Patrickson: No, burned. Like a funeral pyre… We did it at the site. Huge bonfire.
The Professor falls silent for a few moments, staring ahead blankly.
Professor Patrickson: We didn’t do it properly, lasted all night and we still had a body afterward.
Foundation agent: And what was done with those remains?
Professor Patrickson: One of our interns suggested we set him adrift. Like a Viking, I suppose.
Foundation agent: Thank you for your cooperation.
<End Log, [10.29 AM]>
According to Professor Patrickson, Doctor Swansong had a clean bill of health. Medical history showed two hospital visits; wisdom teeth removal and a minor car accident. The autopsy performed at the site on the Doctor confirmed that prior to his demise, he showed no signs of illness. Coroner's notes on the examination of Anderson and Northfield, the other two deaths attributed to SCP-XXXX by the Foundation, do not mention anomalous developments within their bodies either. Both bodies were recovered from their respective burial sites and examined once more by Foundation personnel. Accounting for both the work done during the original autopsy and partial decomposition, no evidence was found that would indicate either of them expired due to a heart attack. No signs of damage to any major organs were found and no damage or blockages found in either scientist’s brain. The cause of death remains undetermined and purely attributed to SCP-XXXX resulting in the need to test the item under laboratory conditions. Further examination and testing of the effect would continue under the supervision of Doctor Frederic Greenaway and his team, while the excavation team would continue their work on the temple site in an attempt to discover the origin of the item and any information about its use.
Testing: Extrapolation from previous SCP-XXXX activation showed no clear parameters that could be used for testing aside that proximity was necessary. Doctor Greenaway put forth a proposal to bring in D-class subjects with a criminal background under the guise of psychological evaluation. The evaluation would be used as a way to steer to possible triggers for the item activation while at the same time obscuring the intent of the researcher so subjects did not alter their answers to questions asked. The proposal was accepted and testing began with researcher Adams performing the evaluations and Doctor Greenaway overseeing, aided by Doctors Lily and Dartsma. Every recorded activation is followed by an autopsy by Doctor Greenaway’s team, overruling religious prohibitions of D-class subjects.
SCP-XXXX Test #1
Subject: D-194187
Purpose: To identify whether proximity, contact or vocalization will trigger SCP-XXXX's activation.
Results: The object was placed in front of D-194187 with instructions not to look at it. After ten minutes, the subject was instructed to directly look at the item. Once proximity tests were concluded, the subject was instructed to hold SCP-XXXX and begin talking. D-194187 was not instructed as to the subject and so described among other things SCP-XXXX, the room, and researcher Adams. This continued for twenty minutes before the test was concluded. No apparent effects from SCP-XXXX upon D-194187.
SCP-XXXX Test #2
Subject: D-431991
Purpose: Identify the trigger that causes activation of SCP-XXXX effect upon the subject.
Results: D-431991 engaged with researcher Adams under the guise of a psychological evaluation. Any questions regarding the need of SCP-XXXX in this context were ignored or dismissed as part of the evaluation process. Adams questioned D-431991 regarding family life with D-431991 replying to all questions in full and without hesitation. Adams moved on to sexual partners and history, D-431991 serves a life sentence for the rape of several women. While describing their first sexual experience at the age of fifteen with their high school sweetheart, the subject suddenly fell silent and did not react to prompting from Adams.
Notes: No discernable distress, anguish or fear was recorded upon the activation of SCP-XXXX in D-431991. No change in the form or composition of the item and no visible event preceded the item’s triggering upon the subject. Results of post mortem examination performed on 431991 mirrored those performed on prior subjects with no evidence to cause of death.
SCP-XXXX Test #3
Subject: D-972645
Purpose: Confirm trigger for activation of SCP-XXXX upon the subject.
Alterations: IR and UV cameras were installed in the observation area.
Results: D-972645 engaged with researcher Adams with Adams starting to ask D-972645 regarding their sexual experiences, starting with their first. D-972645 described this event in their life hesitatingly but in full. SCP-XXXX did not trigger. Adams prompted the subject for confirmation but the subject was not affected by the item. Continuing the examination under the psychological evaluation guise, the subject was asked about family life, childhood, and early criminal exploits. None triggered the activation of SCP-XXXX, no change in the item’s composition was noted by the equipment during the entire thirty-minute interview.
SCP-XXXX Test #4
Subject: D-191134
Purpose: Second attempt to confirm the trigger for activation of SCP-XXXX upon the subject.
Results: Researcher Adams engaged with D-191134 in conversation under the guise of a psychological evaluation. The need for SCP-XXXX in this test was not questioned by the subject although on multiple occasions Adams had to ask the subject to pick the item back up. Questions about family life, childhood, sexual experiences, criminal activities were all answered by D-191134 without hesitation and in full. SCP-XXXX did not activate during this time.
Notes: SCP-XXXX triggered affecting researcher Adams who was conversing with Doctor Albert Lily after D-191134 was removed from the room. Adams was holding SCP-XXXX while discussing weekend plans with Doctor Lily. The subject of the conversation included an invitation to visit the cinema and an invitation to dinner. Adams was examined by Doctor Dartsma who did not find any blockages or damage to the major organs. Samples of all major organs were retrieved along with two liters of blood and ten bone samples. With no biological agent found part of the SCP-XXXX activation, researcher Adams’ body was turned over to her family for entombment.
Altered testing parameters:
Following the death of Adams, testing was put on hold and physical contact with SCP-XXXX by any of the Foundation staff became prohibited until the trigger was better understood. To this end, Greenaway reached out to Professor R. Young, the Foundation scientist sent to the Ashukl temple for further exploration of the site from where SCP-XXXX had been originally recovered. Below is the response from Young to Greenaway as well as a translated piece of text found in the Ashukl temple.
From: Professor R. Young
To: Doctor F. Greenaway
Subject: Re: Ashukl temple
Good morning,
In response to your questions about the temple, attached to the email you’ll find a piece of text translated by researcher Nathaniel. It was written on a scroll we found within the temple and it should help to create reliable test parameters. I know you don’t like it when I go into detail, so I will try to keep this short.
Similar scrolls and texts were found within the temple’s other areas, both residential and public, all dealing with the description of Ashukl as a being of immense power, overseeing the punishment of crime. One of the walls had several hundred names scored into the stone. The working theory at this moment is that these names represent the criminals that were judged by the Ashukl priests and sentenced. While we already use criminals, it is a section at the beginning of the attached text that drew my attention as it seems that it is lying in particular that is the point of judgment for these people.
One more piece of information I thought I should include. We found the scroll in the largest chamber deep within the temple. The south-facing wall there shows a depiction of a humanoid figure. The entity is genderless. This seems a deliberate choice made by the artist as every other aspect is depicted in great detail. The head is semi oblong and shows no nose, a mouth devoid of teeth in a perfect circle and four eyes depicted vertically one above the other. Age has mostly destroyed the pigmentation but one of the eyes has etchings matching those found on SCP-XXXX. Other eyes show etchings resembling, but not identical to, those found on SCP-XXXX. We’re continuing the excavation but so far no other such items have been found.
I hope this helps you create a more reliable set of testing parameters moving forward.
Try not to kill yourself while I’m not there.
- Professor R. Young
Ashukl, him of honesty.
Seer of man’s heart.
Ashukl, her of truth.
Judge of lies and deceit.
Be it theft of riches.
Be it theft of purity.
Be it theft of breath.
Ashukl’s eye sees.
Heart and mind.
Ashukl’s eyes call punishment forth.
Crime continues.
Punishment too.
Forever suffering.
Until the end of Life.
Following this email and a meeting between Doctor Greenaway and his team, alterations were made to the testing protocol resulting in activation during test number 5.
SCP-XXXX Test #5
Subject: D-413175
Purpose: Attempt to trigger the activation of SCP-XXXX upon the subject using new parameters of deception.
Results: Subject made to hold SCP-XXXX while conversing with Doctor Lily. Subject questioned about criminal past with Doctor Lily instructed to ask D-413175 about the number of murders they had committed.
Notes: SCP-XXXX took effect upon D-413175 when he confirmed the two murders that he is currently serving time for. Independent investigation by the Foundation has found at least three other homicides committed by D-413175 the authorities are not aware of. An autopsy conducted on D-413175 by Doctor Lily confirmed results matching those of previous autopsies. Additional testing to examine the brain was performed but no abnormalities were discovered. Three liters of blood, twenty samples of bone marrow, and ten samples of spinal fluid were taken for study.
With the successful activation of SCP-XXXX and an understanding of what causes the effect to trigger, testing continued to gain a better understanding of the actual effect on the human body. Augmentation of testing parameters to facilitate this can be found in the attached files submitted for consultation. These tests were devised to discover if the effects of SCP-XXXX were reversible and to what extent they could affect the human body.
SCP-XXXXTest #6
Revival test
Test parameters: Subject D-194312, a convicted criminal, is ordered to hold SCP-XXXX, hereafter and during test referred to as ‘item’, and lie when questioned about committed crimes for effect activation. Before the test, the room is to be outfitted with various medical instruments. Once the effect takes hold, attempts will be made to restart the heart.
Results: The subject was injected with adrenaline once the effects had taken hold. No measurable effect on the attached heart monitor. The defibrillator was charged and activated upon D-194312 six times with increased voltage and amperage. Accounting for equipment error, no effect was measured within D-194312 to the administration of the electrical current. The subject showed no signs of reanimation during the entire procedure. Upon instructions of Doctor Greenaway, D-194312 was cut open and paddles were placed directly on the heart. Three more attempts in this manner were made to restart the heart before the test was ended. Postmortem examinations of the body mirrored those on subjects 2 through 5
SCP-XXXX Test #7
Active stimulation test
Test parameters: Subject D-17431, a convicted criminal is ordered to hold SCP-XXXX, hereafter and during test referred to as ‘item’, and lie when questioned about committed crimes to activate the item. Before the test, D-17431 is to undergo surgery and his heart is outfitted with a pacemaker to regulate heart rhythm after effect takes hold.
Results: The subject’s heart ceased beating along with a cessation of all other bodily functions. The subject showed no sign of life once the effect took hold. Electricity continued to flow towards implant but the tech fell dormant upon activation of SCP-XXXX effect. Postmortem examinations performed on the body mirrored those on subjects 2 through 6.
SCP-XXXXTest #8
Donation test
Test parameters: Subject D-95341 is a retired construction worker with stage 4 cancer. Cancer cells have metastasized within the heart, the prognosis is very severe. Chances of organ replacement in conventional settings low to none as life expectancy, even if a replacement organ could be found, would be minimal due to advanced age. DNA testing shows an eighty-three-compatibility match between subject and D-14987 scheduled as test subject 7. Subject D-14987 will undergo the effect caused by SCP-XXXX where after D-95341 will receive a heart transplant to determine whether the effect is localized to the original victim or is transferable.
Results: D-95341 is currently recovering in the hospital ward, amnestics administered. The extraction of heart from D-14987 was successful with no damage to the organ and appeared in a healthy state. Once heart had been attached to the recipient it remained inert. Defibrillation caused momentary spasm but the heart did not resume beating once outside stimuli were removed. Postmortem examination on the organ showed clear ventricular chambers and normal construction. Subject D-14987 was further examined, the cause of death remains to be determined. Bone marrow test showed genetic predisposition towards several cancer variants but none were discovered in organ tissue. Brain tissue similarly showed no anomalous blockages or damage and further mirrored examinations of subject 2 through 7.
SCP-XXXX Test #9
Activation point test
Test parameters: Subject D-45135 is connected to an EEG and ECG device before the activation of SCP-XXXX. Upon activation, both will be monitored to determine the origination point of SCP-XXXX's effect upon the human body.
Results: Due to deviation from normal testing procedures, the audio transcript is included with the file.
Audio transcript of test #9
Doctor Greenaway overseeing the test.
Doctors Lily and Dartsma present for examination of D-45135
Transcript cut until after the effect of SCP-XXXX takes effect.
Doctor G. Dartsma: Same results as before. The EEG showed no deviation in delta waves. Results are consistent with a person in a horizontal position at the time of activation of SCP-XXXX. ECG showed the only cessation of heart rhythm, no change in frequency or amplitude.
Doctor A. Lily: Alright, let’s start with his chest, hand me that scalpel and prepare the bone saw.
Low murmurs followed by the loud buzz of a bone saw and cracking of ribs.
Doctor A. Lily: Heart looks okay, no structural deformations, no damage or necrosis. Same as
Doctor Frederic Greenaway through observation area microphone: Gentlemen, to what is the EEG currently connected?
Doctor G. Dartsma: D-45135. The idea was that there might be a measurable spike in brain activity at the time the effect took hold.
Doctor F. Greenaway: Yes, but it’s still registering.
Startled gasps from both Doctors in the testing chamber.
Doctor A. Lily: But I’m holding his heart, I can see his damned lungs. He’s dead.
Doctor G. Dartsma: Residual electric current?
Doctor A. Lily: Don’t be a fucking fool.
Doctor F. Greenaway: Doctor Lily! Behave as I expect my subordinates to do. Doctor Dartsma, I would like you to remove one of D-45135’s fingers.
Doctor G. Dartsma: Sir?
Doctor F. Greenaway: His finger. And keep an eye on the readout.
Sound of grunting followed by the clipping of metal shears.
Doctor G. Dartsma: Theta waves, that's a spike in his theta waves!
Doctor A. Lily: Let’s open up his skull, perhaps the effect is something that can…
Doctor F. Greenaway: No, Albert! Gerard, sow him back up immediately. We are ending this test
Doctor Greenaway met with the site director that afternoon calling for the cancellation of all further autopsy and exploratory examinations of deceased individuals caused by SCP-XXXX. Doctor Greenaway stated that theta waves are associated with the brain registering physical input and that affected subjects, despite the cessation of all further bodily functions, are still able to register and process these signals. Following this meeting, subsequent requests for testing on live subjects have been denied by the site director on the grounds that SCP-XXXX does not pose a danger for the population at large when properly contained.
Per 
