Polarissb

Item #: SCP-3871

Object Class: Safe Euclid

Special Containment Procedures:
SCP-XXXX is mostly inert as long as the crystals are kept in separate light-proof, refrigerated safes. Should refrigeration fail, it will likely remain inert, but due to SCP-XXXX's complexity and capacity for energy absorption and storage, this cannot be completely guaranteed. SCP-XXXX-D is kept in a more heavily-reinforced safe, and is restricted from testing or exposure to the other SCP-XXXX crystals.

Exposure to any light, whether visible or radio, microwave, ultraviolet, etc, is only permitted under controlled circumstances, and handlers are required to wear eye protection rated for direct solar exposure whenever SCP-XXXX crystals are in line of sight. Experiments are only to be performed during the first four hours of local night to minimize the impact of a breach. SCP-XXXX must not be exposed to any anomalous light source such as [[SCP-712]] until such time as SCP-XXXX is deemed fully understood.

Description:
SCP-XXXX is a set of six apparently identical oblong crystals, numbered SCP-XXXX-A to F. Each measures 11.4cm x 5.8cm x 1.5cm. The crystals are composed of some kind of transparent mineral similar in appearance to mica, though its actual composition is unknown, as it is similar to a diamond in hardness and spectrographic analysis has presented unique challenges (see Appendix-01). While the substrate is clear, SCP-XXXX appears hazy due to estimated billions of nanostructures throughout the crystals. SCP-XXXX's age and origin are unknown, but the crystals constitute some kind of optical computing system, likely intended as a probe and/or weapon.

Information gained from the SCP-XXXX-D incident indicates that SCP-XXXX is connected to the ████████ solar monument. Investigation of the monument revealed ██ indentations that would fit SCP-XXXX crystals, indicating that there may be more present in the region or worldwide.

Behavior
When exposed to light, SCP-XXXX crystals trap and direct it through different structures and mirrored internal surfaces, emitting it in different patterns, wavelengths, and directions. The crystals communicate with one another; visible-light laser pulses have been noted between them when within line-of-sight, and radio waves have been detected when they are separated. SCP-XXXX is not a full artificial intelligence, but the crystals do have sophisticated programming that allows them to adapt and respond to different circumstances. In particular, the crystals exhibit exploratory behavior, as well as defensive behaviors against approaching objects and optical/electronic scanning.

SCP-XXXX crystals are capable of scanning the area around them, as well as releasing stored light in the form of illumination or lasers. With sufficient energy, an SCP-XXXX crystal is also capable of movement, likely with some kind of resonant cavity thruster since it does not appear to exert force on anything around it. As well as information, the crystals can transfer energy between one another via laser pulses, as has been noted on multiple occasions when SCP-XXXX energized a single crystal to move or fire a laser. It is believed that SCP-XXXX uses perfectly mirrored cells to store light indefinitely. The upper limit on light they can store is unknown, and it is impossible to determine how much energy an SCP-XXXX crystal currently contains. SCP-XXXX-D is believed to presently contain the most energy (see Events), and is kept isolated from the rest of the crystals.

When left in a lit area, an SCP-XXXX crystal will activate and attempt to explore it (Appendix-02), storing energy over time and releasing it in propulsion bursts to move around and "see" objects from different perspectives (in a room with standard fluorescent lighting, a crystal moves at a rate of around once every five minutes, about half a meter each time). The brighter the light, the more active the SCP-XXXX crystal will become. If approached, SCP-XXXX crystals respond by directing blinding laser pulses at the person or device near them. They seem able to identify optical sensors, both biological and mechanical, as targets, and employ microwave-based EMP attacks against electronics. SCP-XXXX scales its attacks in proportion to the amount of light available; SCP-XXXX-D was and likely still is capable of inflicting permanent blindness and charring flesh. They typically avoid shadows, though SCP-XXXX-D abandoned this behavior once it became sufficiently charged.

When multiple crystals are left out, they network together and exhibit similar behavior, though they redirect energy between each other to move a single crystal more frequently, as noted above.

Addendum-01: Discovery

SCP-XXXX was unearthed at a construction site in █████, ██████, Europe on ██/██/02.Workers interviewed by the Foundation reported that they noticed something "sparkling like glass" in an excavator's scoop. When they paused digging to investigate, it began "flashing white light in our eyes." Agent █████ caught the story in a local newspaper, and the Foundation investigated the site, finding four more crystals to match the two already present. The workers were administered class C amnestics, and the story was covered up as the workers having found a small cache of diamonds, which reflected the sunlight into their eyes (several diamonds were provided to the construction crew as corroboration). The Foundation purchased rights to the site in order to search for further crystals, but no further instances of SCP-XXXX have been unearthed. The containment team secured the crystals in a foam-compartmented case, though not without being attacked by further light flashes. The crystals were transported provisionally to Site-06-03 for evaluation. SCP-XXXX did not exhibit the ability to move at this point. After the SCP-XXXX-D Incident, all six instances of SCP-XXXX were transferred to Site-15.

Addendum-02: Spectrometry

Test A - ██/██/02
Procedure: SCP-XXXX-A was placed in a spectrometer for analysis.
Result: After 5.2 seconds of exposure, SCP-XXXX-A directed a laser flash into the spectrometer aperture, then released a small microwave EMP, destroying the device.

Test B - ██/██/02
Procedure: SCP-XXXX-A was placed in a spectrometer with an EMP-hardened interior.
Result: After 3.8 seconds of exposure, SCP-XXXX-A directed an identical laser flash and released another EMP. The spectrometer continued to function. However, when SCP-XXXX-A was removed, it released a second EMP, again rendering the spectrometer nonfunctional.

Test C - ██/██/02
Procedure: SCP-XXXX-A was placed in a fully EMP-hardened spectrometer for analysis.
Result: After 3.1 seconds of exposure, SCP-XXXX-A again attempted to blind and disable the spectrometer. It released a further two EMP pulses upon removal. Spectrometer identified the crystal's composition as 100% pure iron.
Analysis: The researchers determined that a transparent crystal comprised of iron was highly unlikely, both from its appearance and because SCP-XXXX differs radically from iron in electrical conductivity, hardness, and density. SCP-XXXX's being powered by ambient light was then unknown, and it was left in a dimly lit area between tests, which likely accounts for the shortened period before attacks.

Test D - ██/██/03
Procedure: SCP-XXXX-B was placed in the same spectrometer as SCP-XXXX-A.
Result: SCP-XXXX-B attempted to disable the spectrometer in the same fashion as SCP-XXXX-A. The spectrometer again identified it as pure iron.
Analysis: SCP-XXXX crystals seem aware of being scanned, and use their ability to radiate light at chosen wavelengths to actively produce erroneous results.

Addendum-03: The SCP-XXXX-D Incident

On ██/██/03, SCP-XXXX-D was subjected to an array of halogen spotlights with output totaling 240,000 lumens as a test to observe how SCP-XXXX behaved under extreme illumination. Instead of activating in a manner typical to SCP-XXXX crystals, SCP-XXXX-D remained mostly inert, though it did periodically release bursts of radio waves in an apparent attempt to contact other SCP-XXXX instances (in line with documented SCP-XXXX behavior). Apart from radio signals, SCP-XXXX-D did not move or act, except when it attempted to disable the monitoring camera (which was EMP hardened and equipped with light filters) early in the test. After two hours of constant illumination, the test was declared a failure and the lights were switched off. The camera, which was designed to observe SCP-XXXX-D during the intense light of the test, was of little use in the darkened room, so the researchers were unprepared when they opened the door for the sight of SCP-XXXX-D hovering in the air, above the protective opaque barriers. SCP-XXXX-D promptly blinded both researchers and exited the observation room at high speed, traversing the hallways in a simple left-turn maze solving algorithm while releasing frequent visible light and X-ray pings and microwave EMPs.

During the ██ minutes of SCP-XXXX-D's escape, Site-06-03 security personnel laid a trap in the corridor that led out of the secure containment wing, remotely closing a door after SCP-XXXX-D had passed and enclosing it between two locked doors. SCP-XXXX-D spent approximately 30 seconds scanning the hallway before burning a hole into a ventilation shaft and proceeding upward in it. It exited the ventilation system aboveground in the Site-06-03 main office and escaped shortly after, traveling through the gaps under closed doors. Level 2 Security Officer ████ actually caught SCP-XXXX-D in one hand as it passed, upon which SCP-XXXX-D released what appears to have been an omnidirectional ultraviolet flash, inflicting immediate third-degree burns on Officer ████'s hand and other exposed skin. She avoided being blinded, as site personnel had been warned by then that a breach had occurred, and to avoid eye contact with any strange object. SCP-XXXX-D escaped her grasp and exited the building by smashing through a window. Once outside, it proceeded in a straight line at a heading of ██° ██' ██".

Mobile Task Force Eta-10 was deployed to intercept SCP-XXXX-D, managing to intercept and contain the crystal in a light-proof safe before it reached the coast. MTF Eta-10 suffered no injuries in the intercept, but four civilians were injured by laser pulses. The Foundation treated these individuals and administered class B amnestics, and covered up the event by mislabeling it a UFO sighting on major online forums.

Addendum-04: SCP-XXXX-D Aftermath
After SCP-XXXX-D's escape, Mobile Task Force Eta-10 transferred all of the SCP-XXXX crystals to Site-15. One final experiment was staged to determine SCP-XXXX-D's destination, where it was allowed to escape again, this time outside. The crystal assumed a heading of ██° ██' ██" before being recaptured. Comparison to its first escape showed that its projected courses crossed at the ████████ solar monument in ███████.