weltall's draft for SCP ideas

Item #: SCP-XXXX

Object Class: Euclid Keter Euclid

Special Containment Procedures: SCP-XXXX is to be placed on a transparent glass pedestal precisely in the centre of a 12 x 12 metre containment room in Site-██, with the inner walls completely painted white. Illumination inside the room is to be maintained at no lower than 500 lux.¹ Constant monitoring of SCP-XXXX with a security camera is done by officers scoring high in anti-cognitohazard training. Observed reduced brightness warrants illuminance reading of the containment room. Any discrepancy, along with detected visual aberration, must be reported, followed by vacating of the room and preparation for SCP-XXXX activation.

SCP-XXXX is accessible via a single vault door requiring individual passcodes, voice recognition, and fingerprints from three non-Class-D personnels. Entering the containment room may only be done after security camera view of inside the room confirms that SCP-XXXX is inactive.

Due to the increased risk possessed by these individuals, anyone fluent in Chinese or possessing extensive knowledge of history of China, particularly regarding Tang Dynasty, the second Zhou Dynasty, or the historical figure Wu Zetian must never be assigned to SCP-XXXX's containment area at any time.

During SCP-XXXX's active phase, SCP-XXXX-1 is not be looked upon, directly or indirectly. Otherwise, personnel doing so must ceaselessly maintain the line of sight using only peripheral vision. Under no circumstance is anyone to maintain full view of SCP-XXXX-1, break line of sight after visual encounter, or go within 5 metres from SCP-XXXX. Dart guns loaded with combination of maximum dose of rapid-acting sedatives and a B-class amnestic must be available on location and readily accessible for this instance.

The original Chinese and English transcript of SCP-XXXX-3 are locked in a standard safety box within Site-██, access to which requires Level-4 clearance. Reproducing and spreading SCP-XXXX-3 is strictly forbidden and will result in immediate termination of the individuals directly responsible.

Description: SCP-XXXX is a Chinese ding vessel². It is of round shape and without ornaments, with two handles and supported by three legs. The dimension of SCP-XXXX are as follows: a maximum diametre of ██.█ cm, inner depth of █.█ cm, total height of ██.██ cm, and height without handles of ██.██ cm. Unlike regular ding vessels, SCP-XXXX is made entirely of black jade with prominent white and grey marbling all over the surface. The Chinese word '皇后'³ is engraved on SCP-XXXX's surface. Traditional dating of SCP-XXXX estimates that SCP-XXXX came into existence some time during Tang Dynasty. More precise methods narrow the date to 655 ± 12 A.D., later noted to hold some significance to SCP-XXXX's nature (see Addendum XXXX-3).

The true anomalous property of SCP-XXXX comes to light apparent when placed under dim lighting. Approximately 74 minutes under illumination below 500 lux or 14 minutes below 100 lux, SCP-XXXX enters its active state. This active state, marked with SCP-XXXX-1 manifestation, lasts approximately 4 hours 44 minutes and 44 seconds, after which SCP-XXXX-1 disappears and SCP-XXXX once again becomes inactive. After last activation, SCP-XXXX enters dormancy for 4 days until it can be triggered to reactivate.

+ SCP-XXXX activation

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Activation begins with a universally experienced visual aberration occurring within 5 metres radius from SCP-XXXX, that the affected area becomes dimmer (contradicted with a normal illuminance reading result). In approximately 14 minutes, other visual aberrations along with auditory anomalies manifest in the same area. Several kinds of abnormalities are consistently observed:

Wobbling or flickering of objects seen past the affected area
Recurring gradual temporary ‘blurring’ inside the affected area
Radical colour shifts inside the affected area
Soft static noise gradually amplifying in intensity until deafening
Sound of two ceramic objects striking each other, often described as ‘thrill-inducing’ and ‘bone-shattering’
Sound of a cat and a mouse, gradually becoming louder and distorted⁴

Approximately 74 minutes after activation, a humanoid figure manifests (designated as SCP-XXXX-1) next to SCP-XXXX, taking form of a woman approximately 1.55 metres tall with waist-long wavy hair. The entity is almost entirely black, with the Chinese word '淑妃'⁵ on its chest shimmering in dull red. Those who look at SCP-XXXX-1 experience amplification of the sensory aberrations as well as progressively overwhelming fear and dread. Any indirect view of SCP-XXXX-1, e.g. through a camera feed or seeing the reflection, also triggers the same effect. 10% of these individuals will maintain a full gaze on SCP-XXXX-1 and [REDACTED]. The remaining 90% will instinctively look away, after which they will have a strong urge to approach SCP-XXXX (designated as SCP-XXXX-2, See Addendum XXXX-A).

Only SCP-XXXX-2 instances are able to approach SCP-XXXX. Any non-SCP-XXXX-2 instance entering the 5-metre zone about SCP-XXXX will disintegrate rapidly. After approaching SCP-XXXX, SCP-XXXX-2 instances will have approximately 100 deep cuts inflicted all over their bodies before their hands and feet were swiftly chopped off via unknown means, which then are thrown into SCP-XXXX. SCP-XXXX-2 will also ceaselessly chant mantra-like phrases (designated as SCP-XXXX-3, see Addendum-XXXX-B and C). Throughout the altercation, SCP-XXXX-1 will remain completely immobile and passive.

Approximately 174 minutes after the activation, another Chinese word (崩)⁶ appears on SCP-XXXX-1's head in bright red. Then approximately 4 hours 44 minutes and 44 seconds after the activation, SCP-XXXX-1 kneels down and bows toward SCP-XXXX and then vanishes abruptly, as the everything returns to normal. SCP-XXXX is later found to contain no trace of the objects thrown into it. All SCP-XXXX-2 instances in the 5-metre zone are also found to already be decapitated and all missing body parts cannot be located.

So far, placing SCP-XXXX-1 on peripheral vision is the only way to avoid becoming SCP-XXXX-2 after catching a glimpse of SCP-XXXX-1. Moreover, high scores on anti-cognitohazard training significantly reduces fear and dread and grants ability to break contact from SCP-XXXX-1 providing visual contact is maintains under 3 seconds.

Tests on SCP-XXXX are currently focused on preventing SCP-XXXX from ever entering its active state. Proposals for testing protective measures against SCP-XXXX-1's hazardous effects are pending approval.

SCP-XXXX was discovered on ██/██/01 in Xi'an, People’s Republic of China and later submitted to a Shaanxi History Museum. Until the Foundation retrieved SCP-XXXX three months later, SCP-XXXX had entered active state approximately █ times, although culminating in only █ deaths, thanks to the swift actions and further cooperation of Dr. Weng ███-████⁷[[/footnote]]. Due to inadequate resources in China and difficult state of Chinese government at the time, it was decided that SCP-XXXX was to be contained in Site-██ in ██████. Civilians involved with SCP-XXXX and the deaths were administered class-D amnestics and all corpses were completely purged. Transport of SCP-XXXX proved perilous, as ideally replicating and sustaining the basic containment protocol during transport was difficult, resulting in complete obliteration of ██ retrieval teams, leaving only a single survivor from the last group, who discovered the peripheral vision technique by accident.

8/12/04: In light of several latest activation of SCP-XXXX despite meticulous containment efforts, it is highly suggested SCP-XXXX runs an intrinsic countdown, which causes it to spontaneously activate approximately either 74 or 174 days after the last active event. The mechanism of this countdown is so far unclear.

23/4/09: Report of consecutive █ activation events following the installation of the new vault door system on 15/1/05 based on results of Experiment Log XXXX.5 showed promising results. Mortality rate during SCP-XXXX's active phase is decreased from ██% to █%, although severe injury rate are slightly increased from ██% to ██.█%⁸ and overall personnel satisfaction falls from ██.█% to ██.█%⁹. The vault door is thus deemed effective in fully containing SCP-XXXX's effect and is to be maintained as such. Requesting to level down SCP-XXXX's class to Euclid. Request to reclassify as Euclid approved.

+ Addendum-XXXX-A - Notes on SCP-XXXX-2

- collapse

Observations have noted that SCP-XXXX-2 instances are capable of communicating with simple coherent sentences. They are able to engage in conversations but are easily distracted by their compulsion. Recognition of their own identity and other personnel's are largely intact. Concentration, memory recall, problem-solving skills, and thought process are however severely blunted, frequently halted by emotional outbursts and compulsive thought intrusions, and are marked with excessive violence (See Experiment Log XXXX.3).

All SCP-XXXX-2 instances are generally calm even toward non-SCP-XXXX-2 instances. They only react highly hostile toward attempts to intercept their actions. Emotion swings are pronounced and often result in destructive outbursts after minimal provocation. These violent tendencies are observed amongst themselves as well, despite their recognition and ability to cooperate with their own instances. SCP-XXXX-2 instances are found not to possess forms of hive mind or gestalt consciousness, instead exhibiting highly egoistical and opportunistic behaviour as well as readiness to eschew established cooperation or mutual understanding (See Experiment Log XXXX.5)

SCP-XXXX-2 instances who fail to access SCP-XXXX during its active phase will retain all signs of compulsion and hostility. They will continuously attempt to reactivate SCP-XXXX and then stay within the 5 metre radius. SCP-XXXX-2 instances also very frequently refer to a figure outside SCP-XXXX-1 as 'the empress', citing the need to give their hands, feet, and heads as 'the best offering to the empress'. Such entity has yet to be observed, providing SCP-XXXX-2's information is to be accepted. although Dr. Weng strongly believed in its existence (See Addendum-XXXX-C).

Despite the time needed, administration of strong sedatives using a dart gun from the distance is the only effective and safe non-lethal method to incapacitate SCP-XXXX-2, while removal of symptoms from SCP-XXXX-2 requires administration of class-B amnestics.

+ Addendum-XXXX-B - Notes on SCP-XXXX-3 - WARNING: SUBMIT LEVEL 3 SECURITY CLEARANCE

- Access granted

Analysis of SCP-XXXX-3 revealed a highly memetic-infectious qijue¹⁰. Neither the choice of words nor the tone of the poem matches any known characters of classical Chinese poetry. Moreover, Dr. Weng, who aided the interpretation and translation of SCP-XXXX-3, expressed his trepidation that reading SCP-XXXX-3 felt more like a disembodied female voice spoke out loud in his head.

Exposure to SCP-XXXX-3 results in creation of SCP-XXXX-2, although the instances exhibit more severely affected behaviours and more resistant to treatment. Non-lethal method to purge the infection requires administration of class-D amnestics followed by high-voltage electric shock therapy in a sensory deprivation chamber, with frequent side effects of [REDACTED]. The unique aspect of SCP-XXXX-3 infection is that it is highly associated with language comprehension. Reading or reciting the English transcript of SCP-XXXX-3 will only infect those fluent in the language of the transcript. Also, SCP-XXXX-3 chanted during SCP-XXXX active phase will somehow always be in Chinese and thus only affect people fluent in Chinese.

"You’re lucky that one has to understand Chinese in order to be infected by those chants during the active phase. Another reason why it must be contained outside China. Actually, it was a fortune that active events in the museum involved very few civilians, otherwise the entire population of China would have been annihilated within a month or two, probably." – Dr. Weng

You’re about to view an English transcript of SCP-XXXX-3. The following version of text has been purged of the memetic infection and therefore are safe to read. A memetic kill agent has been laden onto this transcript as additional safety protocol in case of intended circulation. Proceed with caution.

Free out of the cold inside of the wine jar prison
The flawless empress consort shall again rise to her prime
The treacherous mouse shall be grabbed on the neck
And buried under the mud and grime of Yangtze River

+ Addendum-XXXX-C - Notes from Dr. Weng - WARNING: SUBMIT LEVEL 3 SECURITY CLEARANCE"

SCP-XXXX draft 0.2

Item #: SCP-XXXX

Object Class: Euclid Keter Euclid

Special Containment Procedures: SCP-XXXX is placed on a transparent glass pedestal precisely on the centre of a 12 x 12 metre containment room in Site-██, with the inner walls completely painted white. Illumination inside the room is maintained at no lower than 500 lux.¹³ The containment room is accessible via a single vault door requiring individual passcodes, voice recognition, and fingerprints from two non-Class-D personnels.¹⁴ Entering the containment room may only be done following security camera control of inside the chamber. In addition, all female personnel, anyone fluent in Chinese at any comprehension level, or anyone with extensive knowledge of history of China, particularly regarding Tang Dynasty, the second Zhou Dynasty, or the historical figure Wu Zetian is to be granted direct access to SCP-XXXX, regardless of clearance level. Dart guns loaded with combination of maximum dose of rapid-acting sedatives and a B-class amnestic must be available on location and readily accessible.

Constant monitoring of SCP-XXXX is done by officers scoring high in anti-cognitohazard training. Observed reduced brightness must be instantly controlled with illuminance reading. Any discrepancy as well as visual aberration must be reported and warrant immediate vacating of the room and preparation for SCP-XXXX activation.

Should SCP-XXXX to be exposed to complete darkness, all personnels who happen to be inside the containment room are to be considered lost. Until illumination is back inside the room, confirmed by the illumination reading, and confirmation of the inactive state of SCP-XXXX, no personnel is to enter the containment room nor view the active camera feed. Any personnels found after the event are subject to immediate quarantine for further examination and possible termination.

The original Chinese and English transcript of SCP-XXXX-3 are locked in a standard safety box within Site-██, access to which requires Level-4 clearance. Otherwise, reproducing and spreading the content of SCP-XXXX-3 is strictly forbidden and will result in immediate termination of the individuals directly responsible.

Description: SCP-XXXX is a Chinese ding vessel¹⁵. Like any regular ding vessels, it is of round shape with two handles supported by three legs, with the maximum diametre of ██.█ cm, inner depth of █.█ cm, total height of ██.██ cm, and height without handles of ██.██ cm. Unlike regular vessel dings, SCP-XXXX is made entirely of black jade with prominent white and grey marbling all over the surface. The Chinese word '皇后'¹⁶ is engraved on the outer surface. Traditional dating of SCP-XXXX estimates that SCP-XXXX came into existence some time during Tang Dynasty. More precise methods narrow the date to 655 ± 12 A.D.¹⁷, which later was noted by some Foundation researchers to hold some significance to SCP-XXXX's anomaly.

The true anomalous property of SCP-XXXX comes to light when placed under dim lighting. Approximately 74 minutes under illumination below 500 lux or 14 minutes below 100 lux, SCP-XXXX starts entering its active status, leading up to the manifestation of SCP-XXXX-1 and subsequent unfolding events lasting approximately 4 hours 44 minutes and 44 seconds, after which SCP-XXXX-1 disappears and SCP-XXXX once again becomes inactive. After last activation, SCP-XXXX enters dormancy for 4 days until it can be triggered to reactivate.

+ SCP-XXXX activation

- Hide

Activation begins with a universally experienced visual aberration occurring within 5 metres radius from SCP-XXXX, that the affected area becoming dimmer (contradicted with normal illuminance reading result). Approximately 14 minutes later, more visual aberrations along with auditory anomalies manifest, all occurring within the 5 metre radius. Different subjects perceive different kinds of abnormalities; some of the most commonly reported include:

Wobbling and flickering of the objects inside affected area
Recurring gradual temporary ‘blurring’ of the affected area
Change of colour inside the affected area
Soft static noise gradually amplifying in intensity until deafening
Sound of two ceramic objects striking each other, often described as ‘thrill-inducing’ and ‘bone-shattering’
Sound of a cat and a mouse, gradually becoming louder and distorted¹⁸

Approximately 74 minutes after the activation, a humanoid figure manifests (designated as SCP-XXXX-1) next to SCP-XXXX, taking form of a woman approximately 1.55 metres tall with waist-long wavy hair. The entity is almost entirely black, except for the Chinese word '淑妃'¹⁹ on its chest shimmering in dull red. Those who look at SCP-XXXX-1 will experience rapid amplification of the sensory aberrations as well as progressively overwhelming fear and dread. Any indirect view of SCP-XXXX-1, e.g. through a camera feed or seeing the reflection of SCP-XXXX-1, also causes the same effect. 10% of these individuals, without prior knowledge, will maintain a full gaze on SCP-XXXX-1 and [REDACTED]. The remaining 90% will instinctively look away, after which they will have a strong urge to approach SCP-XXXX (designated as SCP-XXXX-2, See Addendum XXXX-B).

Different altercations happen to SCP-XXXX-2 depending on the victim’s gender following approach. Male SCP-XXXX-2 will have approximately 100 deep cuts manifest all over their bodies before their hands and feet were swiftly chopped off via unknown means, which then are thrown into SCP-XXXX. All the time, the victims will ceaselessly chant some repetitive mantra-like phrases (designated as SCP-XXXX-3, see Addendum-XXXX-C and D). Female SCP-XXXX-2 on the other hand [REDACTED], the same outcome to unaffected people entering the 5-metre lethal zone. Throughout the altercation, SCP-XXXX-1 remains completely immobile.²⁰

Approximately 174 minutes after the activation, another Chinese word (崩)²¹ appears on SCP-XXXX-1's head in bright red colour. Then approximately 4 hours 44 minutes and 44 seconds after the activation, SCP-XXXX-1 vanishes abruptly, as the interior of the room returns to normal. SCP-XXXX is later found to be completely empty and no sign of inserted objects can be found. All the remaining bodies are found to already be decapitated and the heads cannot be located.

Tests on SCP-XXXX are currently focused on inactivating SCP-XXXX permanently. Proposals for testing protective measures against SCP-XXXX-1's hazardous effects are pending approval.

SCP-XXXX was first discovered on ██/██/01 in ████████, People’s Republic of China and was submitted to a historical museum in ███████. Until the Foundation retrieved SCP-XXXX three months later, SCP-XXXX has entered active state for approximately █ times, although culminating in only █ deaths, thanks to the swift actions and further cooperation of Dr. Weng ███-████, one of the museum historian staff and [DATA EXPUNGED] in China.²²

Due to inadequate resources in China and difficult state of Chinese government at the time, it was decided that SCP-XXXX was to be contained in Site-██ in ██████. Civilians involved with SCP-XXXX and the deaths were administered class-D amnestics and all corpses were completely purged. Transport of SCP-XXXX proved perilous, as it was extraordinarily difficult to ideally replicate and sustain the basic containment protocol, and hence resulted in complete obliteration of ██ retrieval teams, with the exception of a sole survivor from the last group, MTF ██-█ (See Addendum-XXXX-A).

8/12/04: In light of several latest activation of SCP-XXXX despite carefully controlled containment environment, it is highly suggested that SCP-XXXX runs an intrinsic countdown, which causes it to spontaneously activate between approximately either 74 or 174 days after the last active event. The reason or mechanism of this countdown is so far unclear. Monitoring must absolutely under all conditions be done closer upon approaching these sensitive time periods after the last activation and if possible, no maintenance work or research work is to be performed during those times as well.

23/4/09: Report of consecutive █ activation events following the installation of the new vault door system on 15/1/05 based on results of Experiment Log XXXX.5 showed that the new vault door significantly decreased death rate during SCP-XXXX's active phase from ██% to █%, although slightly increased severe injury rate from ██% to ██.█%²³ and decreased overall personnel satisfaction from ██.█% to ██.█%²⁴. The vault door is thus deemed effective in fully containing SCP-XXXX's effect and is to be maintained as such. Requesting to level down SCP-XXXX's class to Euclid. Request to reclassify as Euclid approved.

+ Addendum-XXXX-A - Interview Log

- Hide

Note: The following is the audio transcript of an interview conducted by a Site-██ personnel with Agent Masaya Mukumbi, the only member of MTF ██-█ surviving the transport of SCP-XXXX to Site-██. At pick-up following request, Agent Mukumbi collapsed and required subsequent extended medical attention. Only after 5 months of frequent psychiatric counseling was the agent ready for an interview about the mission.

<BEGIN LOG>

Dr. Jarosz: Good afternoon. You look really well today, Agent.

Agent Mukumbi: [scoffs off] If having less violent night terrors and no longer being easily startled by any shadows in the dark counts as that.

Dr. Jarosz: Maybe. Small steps. Okay, before we start, I want to confirm once again. Agent Masaya Mukumbi, are you absolutely sure you want to conduct this interview right now? We can postpone it if you-

Agent Mukumbi: [interrupts] I think I am. I should be, right? I mean, those drugs and counseling sessions should have some effects, don’t they? Besides … this is crucial, right?

Dr. Jarosz: All right. Now please begin at your own pace.

Agent Mukumbi: Right … [exhales] so there were 5 of us that horrible day. Not counting the driver. Ditter, Bottrop, Kim, Parekh, and I. We had heard about the incidents with the previous teams, but we figured we only had to escort this thing from [REDACTED] to the site, right? I mean … we already received the basic protocol too and it was simple. At least 4 of us must always cast the lights from our flashlights to that thing throughout the entire drive, right? [EXTRANEOUS DETAILS REMOVED] Then I felt slightly tired and decided to take a short nap. Told the other to wake me up if they need something or if shit happens. [takes a deep breath]

Dr. Jarosz: Please continue.

Agent Mukumbi: I’ve heard stories from various personnel and fellow agents about this dandy man who visits you in dream. Never thought he would come to me.

Dr. Jarosz: Interesting. Do you remember what he said to you?

Agent Mukumbi: Whispered in my ear calmly, saying he didn’t have much time and I had to listen carefully. He told me to get out of the container with that thing. And I need not care about the other thing at all. Pretty vague at that time. I didn’t understand about what the other thing referred to, but upon awakening I understood. Anyway, after he whispered everything, he snapped his fingers and I woke up. [hesitates momentarily] I really won the jackpot that day. I opened my eyes and that other thing stood right there on my right, almost making contact with my right cheek. I didn’t even have to look right to see her. Talk about invasion of personal space.

Dr. Jarosz: That must be really disconcerting. I can see that, Agent. And how was it with the rest of your team?

Agent Mukumbi: Only a blink since I didn’t have much time to look around. Kim … he’s … he’s reduced to a fountain of blood gushing from his neck and both wrists. Messy bits of what seemed to have used to be his head and hands all above the place. Dieter and Parekh stood up as the roof of the container allowed them, both in complete trance and chanting some freaky unknown shit and deep gashes just appeared all over their hands and bodies, like an invisible blade or whip lashed through their skin. And Bottrop, oh my Lord, Botrrop, she [DATA EXPUNGED]. I couldn’t help throwing out.

Dr. Jarosz: And you’re trapped within.

Agent Mukumbi: [laughs nervously] Yeah, but luckily the lights are still on. I remember very clearly that thing must not be shrouded in darkness.

Dr. Jarosz: [waits for further response for a moment] Then what happened?

Agent Mukumbi: I slowly crawled around inside the container to reach the container door. I remember crawling over Kim and getting spurted by his blood, the metallic smell and the warm sticky blood, ugh. I remember pushing Parekh aside, that guy’s reduced to a rag doll, really.

Agent Mukumbi: I was kicking the door open when then the transport rocked violently – the driver must’ve been affected too. I knew I had to get out immediately. I remember the extreme pain when I succeeded in forcing the door open, must’ve twisted a muscle or so. When the truck suddenly decelerated, I grabbed the cursed thing and jumped out. Then I just rolled on the damp ground and bumped my head on a piece of boulder and all went black.

Dr. Jarosz: Yes, I can see the wound healing really well. And what of SCP-XXXX-1 at that time?

Agent Mukumbi: I didn’t pay any attention to that thing at all. I was busy saving my own ass! But judging I was still alive and unaffected, it didn’t get me, right? I mean, how I even survived all those was … a miracle, I have to say.

Dr. Jarosz: If miracles do exist. I would rather call that a string of serendipitous occurrences. That at that moment, the probability of things happening in favour of your survival simply lined up. Mathematically that is possible in spite of the rare chance.

Agent Mukumbi: [chortles] Damn it. You really sound like a professor lecturing.

Dr. Jarosz: [lets a single chuckle out] I'm just presenting my point of view here, Agent. Everything is quantifiable, including chance of survival and event unfolding. Let's move on. I have read the report of the rescue team, but how were you managing during the waiting time?

Agent Mukumbi: I think I only passed away for a short time, because when I woke up, the sun was still in the sky, though on the verge of starting to set down. I looked around me. The truck had overturned several yards ahead next to a tree snapped in half. Saw that vile trash lying in the middle of the street about a foot from me. No sign of the … other thing elsewhere. So I did what I had to do. Grabbed my flashlight, went over to that thing, shone my flashlight on it. Fortunately contact with Control was intact. Requested immediate extraction.

Agent Mukumbi: Felt really dizzy afterward. I broke my right arm pretty bad, although thankfully the pain kept me awake. And I genuinely prayed to the Lord that the ride arrives before the last speck of sun disappeared under the horizon. I mean, I was 13 when I last went to church and prayed, do you understand? [exhales heavily and shakes head] It was right at the moment the sky was about to turn pitch black when I saw the lights in the distance. Then I woke up here. [gulps down and sighs] I don’t know, Doc. I don’t know. I should’ve died back then. Really.

Dr. Jarosz: You shouldn't say that, Agent. You had done your best to both the mission and your own preservation. I understand you must've felt terrible about your team and repulsed by SCP-XXXX's properties. There's no denying it. But you're here, well and alive. That alone is a good thing, isn't it, Agent Mukumbi?

Agent Mukumbi: Yeah, I suppose so. [inhales and exhales several times] You have a point, Doc. Thanks.

Dr. Jarosz: So, should we take a break? Or maybe you want to continue this next time? The choice is yours to make.

Agent Mukumbi: [ponders for a while] I … I think I want to finish this. Better that I don't recall any of this shit ever again. Gives me goosebumps and nausea just thinking about it.

Dr. Jarosz: Understood. Okay then. Just remember, you can stop anytime you want, Agent.

Agent Mukumbi: Noted.

Dr. Jarosz: So … as much as it really unsettles you, Agent, I want you to do a little more recalling about the moment you were trying to get out of the transport container. I know you have made it clear that you barely heed the entity’s presence at all. But given you’re in extremely close proximity with it, did you recall anything unusual?

Agent Mukumbi: Again, I didn’t really have the time and mind to really notice that creepy thing. But that thing’s black, maybe darker than black. I mean, a flashlight happened to shine on that thing and I still couldn’t see anything but blackness. No discernable feature too. It’s like a completely black human-shaped shadow with very sharply defined edge. No, cross that. There are actually two very dull blood-coloured Chinese characters on what should be the chest of that thing. Of course I can't read them.

Dr. Jarosz: Okay, and anything else? Maybe she’s flickering or blurry? And maybe you noticed some visual abnormalities in the container around the vessel or the entity too?

Agent Mukumbi: Nope, nothing else unusual. Unless … [hesitates] despite it being a complete silhouette, I could somehow tell the head’s disconnected from the body and so were both hands and feet. Yet they’re also there like normal. It’s like the aforementioned body parts were both detached and attached at the same time and all times.

Dr. Jarosz: Noted. And did you notice any weird sound? Or did you feel anything else?

Agent Mukumbi: Outside the crazed chants made by my teammates? None. Although … I don’t know how to describe this more precisely, but that black thing was trying to communicate with me.

Dr. Jarosz: Communicate? As in speaking or conveying words?

Agent Mukumbi: [seems unsure] … yes … and no. It’s more like it’s projecting words into my head, like telepathy or something like it. All in Chinese though, I could recognise those character. Obviously I didn’t understand them at all – I don’t speak Chinese – but I could feel something else. That thing’s not only projecting messages, it’s sending emotions and other things too.

Dr. Jarosz: Emotions and other things? I don’t understand. Are you trying to say that … it is capable of emotions and other things strictly possessed by us humans?

Agent Mukumbi: [nods] That thing is sentient to an extent, I’m certain of it. I would also confidently say that it has an aim in mind, if it possesses any. I'm telling you, Doc, those things are not killing people for nothing. Again, I don’t know, but judging from the things I feel from that interaction, it has an aim and not at all a good one.

Dr. Jarosz: So you’re saying it has some sort of a plan in mind? And all the activation and victims are a part of it?

Agent Mukumbi: Very likely. Yes.

Dr. Jarosz: That’s an unexpected development. And these emotions, what sort of emotions? Did you actually feel them, like perceive them personally?

Agent Mukumbi: Of course. It's like it's channeling it to me, made me understand how it felt. I remember sensing burning wrath. Vehement desire for vengeance and something else. And weirdly, some kind of sense of servitude, as well as feeling that it is missing something badly.

Dr. Jarosz: [briefly deliberates] Missing as in you missed a bus or as in missing someone you haven't seen in a long time?

Agent Mukumbi: Oh, definitely the latter. Yup.

Dr. Jarosz: Huh. Do you suppose that might be correlated with SCP-XXXX and its activation?

Agent Mukumbi: [keeps silent for a while then chuckles] What kind of question is that, Doc? I don’t think I can answer that. I may have had a glimpse on whatever it … felt — note that I don't have any better choice of word here, but certainly not any of its reasoning.

Dr. Jarosz: And servitude … what a weird thing for you to mention. Can you please specify this further? What do you mean by that?

Agent Mukumbi: I don’t know, but I have this very acute feeling that this thing was serving something else and is probably still doing so.

Dr. Jarosz: I see. Well, what fascinating things we've talked about, haven't we? So, I think that’s all I need to know about. Anything else you want to add?

Agent Mukumbi: Well, I’m not very sure of it myself, but now that I think about it, during the dream sequence with that man, I think that man, while he was whispering things to me, put his hands into the right pouch of my combat jacket. I never really thought of it until now and I never checked my pouches at that time either. I don’t know. Maybe it was only something insignificant in the dream. Maybe you need not heed that. Why did I even mention that? [laughs]

<END LOG]>

Being the only survivor after being within SCP-XXXX's active lethal perimetre, several days after his awakening, Agent Mukumbi was subjected to the cognitohazard and antimemetic department for testing. All tests and examinations yielded negative for possible infections. Repeated examinations after the interview remained satisfactory.

Three months after the interview, Agent Mukumbi was declared fully healthy and ready for future deployment. He chose to be administered amnestics prior to reassignment. Request approved.

Consistent with his recollection, on the day of extraction, [DATA EXPUNGED] was found inside Agent Mukumbi’s jacket’s right pouch, at that time of unknown significance. Following the interview, tests were run on the object and it was discovered that [DATA EXPUNGED], explaining Agent Mukumbi's unlikely survival. The item was later assigned as SCP-████.

+ Addendum-XXXX-B - Notes on SCP-XXXX-2

- Access granted

Observations have noted that SCP-XXXX-2 instances are capable of communicating in coherent speeches, although only in simple regressed sentence. They can be lured to engage in simple conversations but are easily distracted by their compulsion. Recognition and recalling of identity of previous selves and other personnels are largely intact. Concentration, memory recall, problem-solving skills, and thought process are severely blunted and often interrupted by emotional breakdown and compulsive thought intrusions and thus are marked with excessive violence and force (See Experiment Log XXXX.3).

Instances are also shown to be extremely volatile. Emotion swings are pronounced and often result in destructive outbursts after minimal provocation, even amongst instances, despite SCP-XXXX-2's ability to distinguish its own instances. SCP-XXXX-2 furthermore shows ability to cooperate between instances to achieve the same goal are possible. The process leading to this is however slow and frequently hampered by various means are found not to possess any form of hive mind or gestalt consciousness, instead exhibiting highly egoistical and opportunistic behaviour as well as readiness to eschew established cooperation or mutual understanding (See Experiment Log XXXX.5)

SCP-XXXX-2 instances are highly hostile toward non-SCP-XXXX-2 individuals trying to intercept their actions. Any SCP-XXXX-2 instances who don't manage to get close to SCP-XXXX for any reason and therefore survive the activation event will retain all signs of compulsion and hostility. These individuals will attempt to reactivate SCP-XXXX or subject SCP-XXXX to complete darkness and then stay within the 5 metre radius.

Administration of strong sedatives using a dart gun from the distance is the only effective and safe non-lethal method to incapacitate SCP-XXXX-2, while removal of symptoms from SCP-XXXX-2 requires administration of class-B amnestics.

Note: Below is the interview log conducted with one of a surviving SCP-XXXX-2 (here referred as SCP-XXXX-2-14). All possible memetic infection agent has been purged from the log.

<BEGIN LOG>

Dr. Lucente: So, how are you feeling today?

SCP-XXXX-2-14: [restrained in two reinforced strait jacket and wearing a mouth muzzle] Look Doc, I really must go. I have important things to do. Must go. Must go now Dr. Lucente.

Dr. Lucente: We're not in a rush here. Where must you go?

SCP-XXXX-2-14: Must go now. It's important. Why you do this to me. Why. It's me. It's [REDACTED]. Don't you remember me.

Dr. Lucente: Why is it so important for you to go now? What is the point of this action?

SCP-XXXX-2-14: You don't understand Dr. Lucente. Important. My life to her. My life to her is important.

Dr. Lucente: Her? [talking to himself] Please note that this is the first time a SCP-XXXX-2 instance mentioning a figure. Although unlikely, could it be SCP-XXXX-1? [returns to SCP-XXXX-2-14] Who is this 'her'?

SCP-XXXX-2-14: [hisses and spits then roars] You don't speak of her with such tone! You with you filthy tongue! You're not worthy! Release me now! Must go now! She's waiting! Must go now! [abruptly calms down]

Dr. Lucente: This figure you're referring to must be so important to you, isn't it?

SCP-XXXX-2-14: [laughs erratically] Dr. Lucente. You with your small brain will never understand. She's the greatest. She will rise. Out of the jar. [cites SCP-XXXX-3 in Chinese] You not worthy of her. Must go now Dr. Lucente. My life to her. My life to her. Really Vito don't you remember me? We work together. We often lunch together with [REDACTED].

Dr. Lucente: Your life to her. Does that mean you'll be a sacrifice for this figure?

SCP-XXXX-2-14: Not sacrifice. Offering. My body as an offering. No. More precisely my head. My hands. And my feet. She needs them badly to restore hers. Right. The best offering I can present. To make her whole again. It's important. Very important.

*Dr. Lucente:* Whole again? What do you mean by whole again?

SCP-XXXX-2-14: It's so easy to understand. Don't you see that Vito. I can make you understand. All you have to do is to let me. I'll be patient. Just let me go. I promise I'll be good.

Dr. Lucente: I'm afraid I can't, not after you [REDACTED] the last time.

SCP-XXXX-2-14: [scoffs] They filthy. Not worthy. An insult to the great empress. [recites SCP-XXXX-3] Must go now Vito. Let me go. Why you do this to me. Let me go. Now. She's waiting.

Dr. Lucente: [talking again to himself] Empress. Interesting. Like the content of SCP-XXXX-3. [returns to SCP-XXXX-2-14] Is the shadow being this empress you've mentioned?

SCP-XXXX-2-14: [lurches forward but held back by the chain] YOU WITH ROTTEN BRAIN! HOW DARE YOU! I'LL [DATA EXPUNGED]

Dr. Lucente: [talking again to himself; remains composed] So SCP-XXXX-1 is indeed not the empress. As expected from its appearance. Either SCP-XXXX-2-14 is referring to SCP-XXXX directly as the empress or there appears to be another possible entity that still remains in the background here. I think I have a pretty good idea of what's going on here. [suddenly drawn back to SCP-XXXX-2-14] Hey, hey! What are you doing?

SCP-XXXX-2-14: [bellows and jolts violently] MUST GO NOW SHE'S WAITING IMPORTANT LET ME GO YOU FILTHY IMPURE BASTARD MUST GO NOW MY LIFE FOR HER NOW NOW NOW YOU SON OF A SWINE YOU I WILL [DATA EXPUNGED]

<END LOG>

Security guards came in right the moment the chains binding SCP-XXXX-2-14 snapped. Despite successive shots of tranquilisers, SCP-XXXX-2-14 remained hyperactive and attempted [DATA EXPUNGED]. resulting in its termination. Dr. Lucente got away with a broken nose but was terribly traumatised and received multiple psychological counseling.

+ Addendum-XXXX-C - Notes on SCP-XXXX-3

+ Addendum-XXXX-D - SCP-XXXX-3 transcript -- WARNING: SUBMIT LEVEL 4 SECURITY CLEARANCE

+ Addendum-XXXX-E -- WARNING: SUBMIT LEVEL 4 SECURITY CLEARANCE

- Access granted

It is of utmost importance that SCP-XXXX not be left in the darkness for even one second. Yes, it has never happened before, or at least, not in a situation where it was exposed to any living human. No, we will not try to enact such situation. Anyone who dare to make such proposal will be terminated on spot personally with my both bare hands.

Think about it. This damned thing activates within a mere 14 minutes under brightness of a very dark overcast sky. How long do you think an activation would happen in complete darkness? Also, that shadow lady is a complete light-absorbing black object. Do you think you can avoid looking at her when you cannot set her apart from the background? I know some of you think that seeing something is to be taken on a physiological level, that unless your eye nerves can distinguish an object from the surrounding, you do not literally see something. But how are you sure that’s how the shadow lady acts? How are you so sure that the definition of looking here is the one stated beforehand and not the act of setting your line of sight upon anything that it passes?

Last but not least, Dr. Weng and the other staffs from China have several concerns about SCP-XXXX, including about the identity of the shadow lady, that presumably there exists another entity tied to SCP-XXXX that has until this day not yet manifested, as well as its identity, suppose this another entity really exists. None of these forebodes anything good. In fact, it is so bad that these conjectures themselves, while existing as a commonly known historical fact, in combination with the knowledge of SCP-XXXX turns into a lethal memetic infection, so bad that dr. Weng’s team had to terminate some of its core staff due to the infection and special precaution must be taken before the information may be spread onto us in small snippets. In regard to the small fragment of information from a SCP-XXXX-2 instance, these speculations are very likely to be true.

End of discussion.

Dr. Mieczysław Shvloka

Footnotes

11. The year 665 marked the rise of Wu Zetian from a lowly consort to empress consort and the death of Empress Consort Wang, the first wife and empress of Emperor Gaozong, and her ally Imperial Consort Xiao. Wu Zetian implicated Empress Wang and Imperial Consort Xiao for the death of her infant daughter and falsely accused them for witchery, causing Emperor Gaozong to banish them to confinement inside the palace. After some time, both were stripped off their ranks and demoted to commoners. Not long after, both had their hands and feet chopped off and tortured slowly to death by being kept in wine jars, after which their carcasses were decapitated. This is a crucial event that later culminated in Wu Zetian's ambitious rise to becoming the only Empress Regnant of China.

SCP Sandbox III

Sandbox III: Revenge of the Sandbox