Pet Skull

Item #: SCP-XXXX

Object Class: Euclid

Special Containment Procedures: SCP-XXXX is to be contained in a standard inanimate objects locker in the center compound of site 82-B. The object can be handled freely by any personell with security clearance 2 or higher. Non-mammalian terrestrial organisms of the kingdom animalia are not to be brought within 10 meters of the object except during testing approved by at least two researchers with level 3 security clearance.

Description: SCP-XXXX is a white plastic terrarium decoration shaped like a crocidilian skull of an unknown genus. The object measures roughly 17.8 centimeters in length, 7.5 centimeters in height, 11 centimeters in width, and weighs 0.82 kilograms. The eyesockets of the skull each contain an eighteen-faceted opaque red prism.

Until both of its activation conditions are met, SCP-XXXX shows no anomalous properties and is entirely indestinguishable from a regular terrarium decoration. Activation conditions are as follows:

• SCP-XXXX is within 10 meters of a single live non-mammalian terrestrial organism of the kingom animalia. (Henceforth refered to as SCP-XXXX-1). This condition has successfully been met nine times to date, with the following animals: one Heloderma Suspectum, one Python Regius; one Phrynosoma; one Carassius Auratus; one Lycosa Tarantula; one Danaus Plexippus; one Terrapene Carolina Bauri; one Lithobates Catesbeianus; and one Serinus Canaria Domestica.
• SCP-XXXX is placed within a containment unit suitable to keeping SCP-XXXX-1 in as a pet.

Upon activation, the prisms in the object's eyesockets will begin to emit low levels of gamma radiation. No source of this radiation has yet been discovered. Additionally, SCP-XXXX-1 will display an unusual affinity for the object within minutes of its activation, generally resting atop or inside it.

Neither SCP-XXXX nor SCP-XXXX-1 exhibit any further anomalous behavior until a human sapient humanoid enters REM sleep within 50 meters of SCP-XXXX-1. Upon entering REM sleep within SCP-XXXX-1's area of effect, subjects enter a physiologial state medically indistinguishable from a coma. After waking, subjects report dreams wherein they interacted with an enlarged version of of SCP-XXXX-1 (Henceforth refered to as SCP-XXXX-2). Exact descriptions of SCP-XXXX-2 instances vary from subject to subject, but all subjects describe SCP-XXXX-2 as being at least 4 meters tall and having exaggerated musculatory systems. Subjects also report somehow knowing SCP-XXXX-2 is connected to SCP-XXXX-1 despite, very little physical similarity.

Actions taken by SCP-XXXX-2 appear to affect the real world, including but not limited to harming or killing the subject, [REDACTED], and apparent destruction of the matter composing the subject's body (Such as in incident SCP-XXXX-A52, which led to SCP-XXXX's discovery and aquisition by the foundation). It's currently theorized that such matter is actually displaced to a different dimension, though this theory is still unproven.

The behavior of SCP-XXXX-2 appears to be directly linked to the temperament of SCP-XXXX-1. An instance of SCP-XXXX-1 in a foul mood is likely to cause its SCP-XXXX-2 counterpart to attack or consume any subject its presented with. An instance of SCP-XXXX-1 in a positive mood, however, it likely to cause its SCP-XXXX-2 counterpart to interact positively with any subjects, oftentimes sharing highly technical scientific and/or philosphical knowledge for the duration of the subject's REM cycle.

Addendum:
Recovery Notes & Incident SCP-XXXX-A52:
SCP-XXXX was recovered in southern █████████, Brazil on █████████, 1999 by recon team 227, "Party Crashers". Foundation was alerted to the presence of a potential anomaly by local police when Henry ███████, 47, was discovered dead in his bed with his body missing from the navel up. Marks on the remains were unidentifiable, the closest match being the bite mark of a Heloderma Suspectum, or Gila Monster, though on a much larger scale. Investigation of the house revealed a hidden basement that housed a number of illegal exotic pets, including one Heloderma Suspectum. The animals were all taken into foundation custody for further examination. It wasn't until a security guard fell asleep on the job that the true nature of the anomaly became clear (See Interview SCP-XXXX-B11).

Interview SCP-XXXX-B11:

Interviewed: Dane Ruchstetter, Site 82-B security guard

Interviewer: Dr. Morrey, Senior Researcher

Foreword: Interview was taken upon Mr. Ruchstetter claiming he knew the nature of SCP-XXXX.

<Begin Log>

Dr. Morrey: Good afternoon, Mr. Ruchstetter. You claim to know the nature of SCP-XXXX. Can you please explain what you mean?

Ruchstetter: It's not the lizard, doc. It's the skull.

Dr. Morrey: Pardon?

Ruchstetter: The SCP. It's the skull decoration in the lizard's tank. The lizard is just getting its powers from it.
Dr. Morrey: And what powers are those, exactly?
Ruchstetter: I-
Ruchstetter pauses, looking momentarily embarassed.
Ruchstetter: Well, I fell asleep, right? And when I woke up, I wasn't anywhere, and all I could see was that lizard. But it was HUGE! And the damn thing had muscles like popeye. You ever watch Popeye, doc?
Dr. Morrey: Please remain on topic, Mr. Ruchstetter. So you saw SCP-XXXX in your dream?
Ruchstetter: No, doc, you're not listening. I saw the lizard in my dream, but it's not the SCP. The skull is.
Dr. Morrey: And how do you know this?
Ruchstetter: The lizard told me.
Dr. Morrey: A lizard told you about an SCP in your dream? Mr. Ruchstetter, I'm beginning to feel like you're wasting my time.
Ruchstetter: That's not all it told me though, doc. It's the eyes in the skull - it said if you check them you'll see they give off radiation.
Several seconds pass in silence.
Ruchstetter: You already knew that, huh?
Dr. Morrey: Yes. Please continue to describe your dream.
Ruchstetter: The lizard, it thanked me for the 'better living conditions', whatever the hell that means. It said it killed the guy that kept it in a little cage - bit him in half the second he got the chance. I asked it what it was, and it told me it was, uh… Hental Suspect? I don't remember exactly. It sounded latin.
Dr. Morrey: Heloderma Suspectum?
Ruchstetter: Yeah, that! Is that it's name or something?
Dr. Morrey: It's the scientific name of the Gila Monster, so in a way I suppose so. Please continue.
Ruchstetter: Right, right. So we got to talking, and it said that when the last guy brought home the skull, he knew it was important. Get this doc, it said that night the skull told it how to "get back to the real world". How crazy is that?
Dr. Morrey: Did it tell you what that means, or how it did so?
Ruchstetter: Naw, I wish. It said my language didn't have the words for it. That empty place I went in the dream has to be the place it meant though, right? That's what I assume at least.
Dr. Morrey: I see. Did it say anything else?
Ruchstetter: Yeah, it tried telling me all sorts of stuff about quantum theory but I didn't get much of it. I mean, I failed college physics. It seemed eager to share though so I listened.
Dr. Morrey: Quantum theory? Alright. Anything else?
Ruchstetter: Nah, that's pretty much it. Hey, am I going to be reassigned? I kind of want to talk to the lizard again. It seemed pretty chill.
Dr. Morrey: That's not up to me. Thank you Mr Ruchstetter, that will conclude this interview.
<End Log>

Closing Statement: Mr. Ruchstetter was administered a class A amnestic and reassigned to security duty at the administration office.