RailroadRider

Remember To Thank The Contactless Ticketing Machine

Item #: SCP-X

Object Class: Keter

Special Containment Procedures: SCP-X is to be contained in a standard small anomalous item locker.

Description: SCP-X is a universal public transport ticket. When active, appearance appears to be derived from the most recently used ticket on the selected mode of transport, and when inactive from the merged images of all previously active modes. Size and texture appears to average over use, as of writing SCP-X is roughly five (5) centimetres by twelve (12) centimetres by three (3) millimetres. Texture at time of writing has been characterised as "slightly furry plastic"¹.

SCP-X can only be activated on a ticketed, regularly scheduled transport service. Said activation occurs when a subject passes SCP-X to a ticketing operator², and requests "[number of passengers]³⁴ tickets to [destination]⁵, please." SCP-X thus activates, transforming to represent a valid ticket on the active network. It is to be noted that the operator has always been seen to comply, unless spoken to rudely,⁶⁷ and to always return SCP-X regardless. Upon taking a seat within/upon the vehicle and blinking the secondary element of activation begins. During this secondary phase, blinks will transfer the subjects into empty seats on transportation between the boarding and the destination⁸. SCP-X transforms to a valid ticket on every intermediary mode of transport. As with the operator interaction, civilians not using the ticket have thus far not noticed the appearance or subsequent disappearance of the subjects. Upon reaching the the final mode of transport at the destination, the vehicle will stop, and the subject must thank the ticketing operator equivalent before the doors open, allowing them to exit. Upon all subjects exiting the vehicle, SCP-X returns to it's inactive state.

SCP-X was recovered by MTF Pi-5 (Paul)⁹ after responding to an advertisement on █████.com.au for "INFINITE TICKET (RARE!!) FAMILY HEIRLOOM" in the inner-eastern suburbs of Hobart, Australia. MTF Pi-5 met the owner¹⁰ at his property at 16:34 on 16/7/2016. MTF Agent Paul ███¹¹ and Mark discussed the item for roughly fifteen minutes. Mark explained that the item had been passed down in his family, kept in a leather envelope, from his great grandfather. His family had used SCP-X for holiday trips, but following the death of his father, his inheritance of the object, and a falling out between him and said family, Mark had chosen to list the object on █████.com.au for $5000 AUD. During this discussion Mark provided the majority of previous information regarding SCP-X. Agent Paul then asked for a demonstration, and so the pair left the residence for a nearby bus stop. While waiting Mark explained the procedure for using the object. A bus arrived after seven minutes¹² and Mark demonstrated the effects by requesting "two tickets to Rome, Italy, please." Mark then instructed Agent Paul to "blink quickly." Upon being seated, Agent Paul's GPS device pinged very rapidly across a roughly straight line between Hobart, Australia and Rome, Italy¹³. Upon arrival, Mark very sincerely thanked a contactless ticketing machine, before alighting from a tram in front of Roma Termini station. Approximately forty-five seconds had elapsed since the pair had taken their seats on the bus in Hobart. Both proceeded to wander in front of the station for roughly four minutes, before boarding a nearby bus, and Mark invited Agent Paul to request "two tickets to ████ Street, Hobart, please." It is worth noting that the return journey took roughly forty five minutes, as that was the time until the next scheduled service to ████ Street. During this time Agent Paul registered no GPS location. Mark discussed the time gap upon thanking the bus driver and alighting. Once returned to Mark's property, Agent Paul transferred $5000 AUD to Mark's bank account. Mark then offered tea, and both entered the residence. Once Mark returned, Agent Paul offered biscuits containing an amnestic-sedative solution. Following Mark's consumption of the biscuits, Agent Paul proceeded to complete the [REDACTED] process to fully amnesticise Mark. By this time other Foundation operatives had removed the listing on █████.com.au. Agent Paul then left the residence, taking the object, envelope, and remaining biscuits. Against the advice of Foundation handlers, Agent Paul boarded the next available bus from ████ Street, and requested "one for █████ Parade¹⁴, please." Shortly afterwards Agent Paul disappeared from GPS. It should be noted that no scheduled transport service has ever run on █████ Parade.

Footnotes

1. - MTF Agent Paul ███.

2. For example, a bus driver, train conductor, or turnstile.

3. One or greater, and five or lesser.

4. Although up to five individuals may move via SCP-X, only one needs to interact with the ticking operator.

5. The destination does not need to be on the same network.

6. Rude speaking has thus shown to be determined by tone, manner, or the exclusion of "please" following the request.

7. Civilians have also been seen to accept the interaction, even in the case of a non-human operator, unless the subject speaks rudely.

8. For example, the subject may board a subway train, blink and be transported to a bus a short distance away, blink again and find themselves on another bus, et cetera until reaching the next regularly scheduled service for a destination. All intermediary services must be regularly scheduled.

9. A single person MTF based in Hobart, Australia.

10. Hereby referred to as "Mark."

11. Agent Paul.

12. Five minutes behind schedule.

13. It should be noted that at some points the pings became very concentrated as the path intersected with cities containing major public transport networks.

14. The location of the Foundation's Hobart offices.