Per 
Item #: SCP-5840
Object Class: Safe
Special Containment Procedures: SCP-5480 is contained in a locked storage closet, accessible to research personnel with Level 2 clearance or higher upon approval of a written request.
Description: SCP-5480 is a copper-plated instrument 15cm in length with an appearance similar to that of handheld commercial flashlights from the late 1940's and early 50's, but not matching the design of any known brand. It was recovered from an archaeological site in ████, Colombia. To an observer whose native language is American English, the phrase "Prometheus Corp. One-of-a-Kind Flashdark!" appears inscribed on the grip.
Upon activating SCP-5480 via the switch located on its grip, a beam is emitted from the bulb in the front of the device. This beam darkens the area it intersects. Testing suggests that the device functions by emitting particles, designated SCP-5480-1, which absorb, destroy, or displace photons within a certain range of their path. SCP-5480-1 particles otherwise manifest properties similar to that of photons (masslessness, polarization, etc). How these particles are created by SCP-5480 is currently unknown. They do not appear to be harmful to humans, although directing the beam into a subjects eyes will render them unable to see until the beam is directed elsewhere.
Careful deconstruction and reconstruction of SCP-5480 has revealed that each individual part is indistinguishable from those of a normal flashlight. SCP-5480-1 particles only manifest when the device is assembled with every piece intact. A single missing screw will prevent the device from operating. Attempting to install parts of SCP-5480, such as the bulb or battery, into a non-anomalous instrument of similar construction will cause the instrument to become permanently and inexplicably nonfunctional, even once the pieces from SCP-5480 have been swapped back with their original component. After hundreds of hours of testing, SCP-5480's battery has not been depleted and its bulb has not burned out.
During initial testing conducted by Dr. ████ and a British assistant researcher, it was revealed that to native speakers of British English, the inscription reads "Prometheus Corp. One-of-a-Kind Untorch!" Further testing shows that variations on this phrase can appear in any language to native speakers of that dialect. When observed by multiple people at once, even over recorded video, each person can observe a different inscription. Individuals who are deaf from birth see hand symbols like that of sign language. Tests to determine what infants and animals see, if anything at all, have been inconclusive. A full list of tested languages and their results is available in Document 5480-00.
As of 23/06/██, SCP-5480 was placed into SCP-914 with the selected setting of Fine, creating SCP-5480-B. SCP-5480-B presents as a modern, titanium-plated LED flashlight, with an inscription that reads "Prometheus Corp. One-of-a-Kind High-Powered Flashdark!" (American English). Its beam almost completely eliminates any photons in its path, blacking out instead of just darkening the intersected area. The particles emitted from SCP-5480-B will cause permanent blindness if the beam is fired directly into a subject's eyes and mild to severe loss of sight upon passing at an angle. As a result, all testing must now be conducted with specially made protective goggles.
Document 5480-00: Analysis of Perceived Variance
This document is subject to expansion and alteration with additional testing.
| Native Dialect | Observed Phrase |
|---|---|
| American English | Prometheus Corp. One-of-a-Kind Flashdark! |
| British English | Prometheus Corp. One-of-a-Kind Untorch! |
| Mexican Spanish | Prometeo SA ¡Lintscuridad Única! |
| Japanese, Tokyo dialect | プロメテウス㈱唯一の暗い中電灯 |
| American Sign Language | None; Pictographs akin to SignWriting |
Addendum-5480-A: You idiots decided to run the flashdark through 914 without telling anyone and now I have two perfectly good researchers who can't see a damn thing. If you're going to do something as stupid as risking the only known instance of 5480, the least you could do is submit a proper report before returning it to the closet. -Dr. ████
