Per 
State of SCP-XXXX upon initial discovery.
Item #: SCP-XXXX
Object Class: Euclid
Special Containment Procedures: SCP-XXXX's containment cell in the botanical wing of Site-08 is lined with soundproof padding and fitted with an airlock entrance. SCP-XXXX is to be kept on a growbed in its containment cell with low-intensity UV lights overhead. Twice per day, one C-Class is to spend up to ten minutes exposing SCP-XXXX to sound waves between 20 and 40 decibels. While exposing SCP-XXXX to sound, the C-Class must stand at least 3 feet away from the growbed. Access to SCP-XXXX outside of this is restricted to research staff with level 2 clearance for purposes of testing. Following the incident on 05/08/2020, testing of SCP-XXXX is on hold for any personnel below level 4 security clearance.
Under no circumstance is SCP-XXXX to be physically disturbed in any way. Any testing must be approved by both the SCP-XXXX project head and the site director, and must not involve any taking of biological samples. Testing must also take measures to limit physical contact with SCP-XXXX. In the event that SCP-XXXX is damaged, a lockdown of the botanical wing is to begin immediately, and
last for no fewer than 200 minutes. All personnel in the vicinity of the resulting event are to stay in place and await medical staff. In the event of any threat to Site-08 as a whole, protection of SCP-XXXX is to be considered a top priority for security staff in the botanical wing.
Description: SCP-XXXX is a cluster of Hyacinthoides italica currently in anthesis. At this time, the number of individual specimens in the cluster is 48, with heights ranging between 10-15 centimeters. Roots have been observed to grow a relatively shallow depth into the soil compared to non-anomalous specimens of the same species, and grow horizontally to connect with other specimens. When a root from SCP-XXXX connects with the roots of a non-anomalous Hyacinthoides italica specimen, the specimen will join the SCP-XXXX cluster after a connection period of three minutes.
SCP-XXXX does not absorb nutrients from water. It grows in response to sounds that reach above 20 decibels. SCP-XXXX appears to absorb sound waves it is exposed to, as vibrations come to a stop upon reaching contact with the soil. The volume of the sounds exposed to SCP-XXXX determine its growth, with sounds above 40 decibels speeding the process up considerably. When exposed to sounds above 60 decibels, SCP-XXXX has been observed to sprout new individual specimens out of its soil in their entirety. When starved of exposure to sounds above 20 decibels, SCP-XXXX specimens will begin to wilt just as a non-anomalous specimen would when deprived of nutrients. As with non-anomalous specimens, SCP-XXXX does require regular exposure to ultraviolet radiation to facilitate photosynthesis.
If SCP-XXXX is physically damaged it will release a considerable amount of the sounds it has recently absorbed. The sound released after damage has been observed to dramatically increase the intensity of the original audio. Length and volume of the release varies in proportion to the damage done to the specimens. It is theorized that if SCP-XXXX dies completely, every sound it has absorbed in its lifetime will be released in this way. This event could necessitate abandoning Site-08 completely.
Incident Report XXXX-1
Date and Time: 05/08/2020, 15:30
Involved Personnel: Dr. Backus, Dr. Klein, Junior Researcher Group 77, Four Security Personnel
Description: Project Head Targus directed the SCP-XXXX research team to collect a biological sample for testing. Stated goal was to study genetic makeup and determine if specimens displayed anomalous properties on a molecular level. Dr. Klein noted that this would be a good opportunity to give a Junior Researcher Group hands-on experience with the testing of an anomalous item. Dr. Klein led Junior Researcher Group 77 to the entrance of SCP-XXXX's containment chamber while Dr. Backus looked on from the observation room. Dr. Klein demonstrated the process of collecting a sample to the group on a non-anomalous specimen. Dr. Klein then directed Junior Researcher Arima to proceed towards SCP-XXXX and collect a suitable sample for biological testing.
Junior Researcher Arima approached SCP-XXXX with one pair of shears and a petri dish. She clipped a single petal from a specimen, before doubling over and covering her ears. Dr. Klein ordered the containment chamber's doors open, and was immediately struck by what he described as a "piercing screech" in his ears (later review of records found that last sound SCP-XXXX was exposed to prior to the incident was whistling). The sound lasted for 20 minutes, and effectively immobilized Dr. Klein and Junior Research Group-XXXX. Dr. Backus, suspecting a possible sonic attack, called for security after the sound readings in the containment chamber and entrance stabilized.
While awaiting information from Site Command, Dr. Backus went to secure SCP-XXXX under the idea that a potential hostile actor could be targeting the specimens with a sonic device to force its growth out of control. As Dr. Backus attempted to prepare the growbed for movement, Junior Researcher Arima grabbed his legs and yelled out "Don't". When he warned her to watch her volume and asked her to clarify, she shook her head and grabbed his waist in an attempt to stand up. Dr. Backus asked a member of security to calm her down and bring her to medical staff while he continued to attempt to move the growbed.
The immediate events leading into the following three hours are in dispute. Dr. Backus wrote that Junior Researcher Arima rushed away from security and attempted wrest him away from SCP-XXXX. Junior Researcher Arima wrote that Dr. Backus ignored her attempt to warn him of the impending consequences of his actions, and caused due to a lack of attention paid to his handling of SCP-XXXX while he called for more security to restrain her. What is known for certain is that a single specimen of SCP-XXXX was subsequently severed from halfway up the stem.
Written statements from the 11 involved personnel all recalled different sounds heard over the course of the following three hours. Asked to read over each other's statements, none denied memory of the sounds the others had listed that they had not. Consistent across all accounts is the high volume and distortion of the audio. Most commonly recalled and reported sounds are the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance, tracks from the albums "Rubber Soul" and "Revolver" by The Beatles, and poetry identified in the personal journal of Assistant Researcher Saxton. All sounds reported seem to correlate with records of the last 18 sound exposure sessions conducted in SCP-XXXX's chamber.
The 11 affected personnel have been examined by medical staff, and are determined to have suffered permanent hearing loss. Junior Researcher Arima, Dr. Backus, and Security Officer Gates had ruptured eardrums. All have been placed on medical leave.
Notes: I've removed Dr. Targus from his position as the SCP-XXXX project head. I'll be keeping him and his immediate staff on hold from reassignment while a full investigation into the acquisition and research history of SCP-XXXX is conducted. How could such a powerful and unstable secondary anomalous effect go unnoticed by him and his team? The conflicting reports on who was to blame for the second damaging of the specimen concerns me as well. We'll have to request a consultation with new containment specialists and come up with a way to test for anything else they might have missed. SCP-XXXX is a fragile and dangerous item, and I fear that any changes that may have to be made to to its containment procedures in light of a full review will be difficult to implement without setting it off again.
Grave errors were made in the discovery and containment of SCP-XXXX. Errors that can only be attributed utter incompetence or malice. I'm not sure which one troubles me more.
- Dr. Serafin, Site Director
