Evolie

99 Red Balloons

Item#: XXXX
Level1
Containment Class:
safe
Secondary Class:
none
Disruption Class:
vlam
Risk Class:
notice

Special Containment Procedures: All instances of SCP-XXXX are stored in Radioactive Object Secure Storage Lockers. Interactions must follow the Safety Around Radioactive Materials Protocol.

In the case of an SCP-XXXX-A event, Cover Story 3 "Failed Advertisement Stunt" is to be applied.

Object Description: SCP-XXXX is the collective designation for ninety-nine red balloons, each designated -1 through -99. Instances have been numbered in order of discovery.

SCP-XXXX-1 has a printout of an SCP file attached, while -2 through -99 each have Foundation-branded postcards1 attached. No successful attempts of removing the postcards attached to the balloons have been made.

No means of deflating or causing change otherwise to any SCP-XXXX instances have been successful. SCP-XXXX instances do not lose air over time. Instances are filled with gas at 108 kPa pressure2. The gas is composed typical to Earth's atmosphere, except for much higher levels of airborne particulate Cobalt-60. Despite Cobalt-60 being heavy, SCP-XXXX-23 and -83 are recorded to have been flying in the sky during discovery.

SCP-XXXX-1 has a ripped printout of an SCP file attached. Attempts at matching readable lines with the Foundation database remain futile. The following text from the file’s Special Containment Procedures, Object Description and discovery log have been recovered3:

[…] Standard Humanoid Containment Procedures with Class III Soc[…]
[…] must always be within proximity of the effects of a Mk I Temporal Sink […]

[…] is a human reality bender capable of weight-limited time-based displacement of […]
[…] Recent experiments indicate limited, passive telepathy based […]

[…] at age ten, after displacing its smartphone in front of its parent's eyes […]
[…] Cover Story 19 "Died in Housefire" was give. Amnestic treatment […]
[…] displays great desire to meet family again, and gave it as reason for attempted […]

Across this, the following sentence was written in handwriting.

This is it. This is the end. We're all going to die. You don't die entirely if someone remembers you, right? I've spent my whole life erased from memory, so please, remember me for a little bit.

Following the discovery of SCP-XXXX-1, ninety-eight further balloons were discovered in various locations. Each of the instances is attached to a Foundation-branded postcard containing handwritten messages by different individuals4. 48 messages’ handwriting was matched with existing Foundation employees. Mnestic therapy-based questioning confirms none to have any recollection of the messages. No DNA traces of the respective individuals were found on the postcards.

What's going on?!

I love you, mom, dad. I’m so sorry for not visiting more.

I never thought it would be us. Always the monsters, never humans.

Duck and cover… It's been a while, huh…

We have to fix this, right? We have to!

Why aren't we doing anything? Isn't saving the world what we do?

ohgodohgodohgodohgod

How is the normal world ending us all?!

Addendum 01: On 23/06/2022, various cities and Foundation sites5 reported a swarm of red balloons akin to SCP-XXXX in the sky. The objects’ movement was described “as if rewinding a video” and to be moving in the opposite direction of the wind, implying a force moving them. No such force has been recorded before or after this event. Due to their similarity to SCP-XXXX, extensive searches were held to retrieve the balloons, all of which were failures. Since the event, no further instances have been discovered. Cover story 3 "Failed Advertisement Stunt" was dispatched.


Author Notes

Idea Thread: [[https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/forum/t-14642778/99-red-balloons]]

Draft thread: [[https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/forum/t-14661165/99-red-balloons]]

Questions to reviewers:

  • Do the messages feel natural? If not, how can I improve them?

Critters: ashbelEro, GlassAutomaton, meltedbee, Meserach, NDHeckfire, rockemsockem, andromedaz


"Evolution"

Item#: XXXX
Level2
Containment Class:
euclid
Secondary Class:
none
Disruption Class:
vlam
Risk Class:
warning

Assigned Site


Site-302

Site Director


Dr. Te Aroha Henare

Research Head


Dr. Xenia Zimmer

Assigned MTF


MTF Kappa-10

Assigned Site


Site-302

Site Director


Dr. Te Aroha Henare

Research Head


Dr. Xenia Zimmer

Assigned MTF


MTF Kappa-10

Special Containment Procedures: SCP-XXXX-A instances are stored following Standard Digital Anomaly Containment Procedures and are not to connect with any outside network, device, or connection.

Interaction with SCP-XXXX is only permitted for Class-D and Foundation personnel classified as SCP-XXXX-B. Due to the lack of understanding of transmission methods, all infected individuals are to be contained following Standard Anomalous Disease Infection Protocols. Medical departments of sites containing SCP-XXXX are to be briefed on its nature and pre-emptively quarantine symptomatic individuals.

Foundation anti-virus software includes digital scanning, recognition, and containment measures for SCP-XXXX. On-going improvement is handled by MTF Kappa-10 ("Skynet").

Description: SCP-XXXX is an anomalous computer virus. It erases all data when infesting a computer system or storage medium, which are designated SCP-XXXX-A. Subsequently, upon new data being recorded, erases that data within a timeframe ranging from 32 seconds to 219 minutes. No means of deleting SCP-XXXX is known.

SCP-XXXX occupies zero physical storage medium and can only be detected based on its deleting patterns. Analysis of SCP-XXXX indicates its source code is written in a programming language based on or similar to ICRDTA6.

Following initial containment, SCP-XXXX displayed the ability to infect humans. The exact methods of computer-to-human transmission are unknown but believed to be information-based. Infected individuals, designated SCP-XXXX-B, develop anterograde amnesia and suffer limited retrograde amnesia of up to 24 hours. Previous SCP-XXXX-A instances outside containment did not have the ability to infect humans.

A change in the database entry has been detected. Click to load.


Feedback by: TheDesk


Transfer Request

Designation: Anomalous Item #FFIHC263
Object Class: Anomaly
Disruption Class: Dark
Risk Class: Danger

Containment Procedures: General Containment Procedure Protocol for Non-Sentient Objects.
Assigned Location: Secure Storage Locker 839, Shelf 4 at Storage Site 24.
Processed by: Dr. Edison Huckleberry

Description: The item is a Grade 7 Mathematics textbook owned by a school library in Los Angeles, California. Upon borrowing it, students write their names into a register in the book. If an individual's name is written on the item, no matter who writes it, the individual dies of a heart attack seven seconds later. This name does not need to be the True Name8; as long as the writer of the name knows what individual they are referring to, it works.

Discovery: An undercover agent in the Los Angeles Police Department alerted the Foundation following the third death caused by the item.
The public believes the death to be a natural heart attack. A potential investigation into the object's origin has been handed to the UIU.




17:20 edison.huckleberry has joined the channel.

17:21 <edison.huckleberry> ahmed.amin there's a chance they'll transfer me out of this hell hole

17:21 <ahmed.amin> Will they, though? You said that when you applied for Site-32, too, you got denied as a janitor.

17:22 <edison.huckleberry> yeah, but that's because their head of janitorial hates me
17:22 <edison.huckleberry> nobody at this site knows about the breach i caused
17:22 <edison.huckleberry> WHICH WAS AN ACCIDENT

17:22 <ahmed.amin> What is the promotion for?

17:22 <edison.huckleberry> Boss of the GAICD at 17

17:22 <ahmed.amin> I thought that Site-17 was a humanoid containment site? Since when do they store anomalous items?

17:22 <edison.huckleberry> nah i mean storage site 17
17:22 <edison.huckleberry> its a different site
17:22 <edison.huckleberry> literally the same work as before
17:22 <edison.huckleberry> but i get to boss people around
17:22 <edison.huckleberry> ITS A PROMOTION!!!

17:23 <ahmed.amin> That's great. Good luck in getting it.

17:23 <edison.huckleberry> how are things at your site?

17:23 <ahmed.amin> Gravity disappeared from a part of the site last Friday. We took time off to play soccer in three dimensions in the cafeteria. It was very refreshing and good for staff morale. I was surprised site command permitted it, but we've been doing a lot of over-time, so there was a need for a break.

17:24 <edison.huckleberry> space soccer
17:24 <edison.huckleberry> are you kidding me
17:24 <edison.huckleberry> LET ME OUT OF HERE


10:59 <edison.huckleberry> I got the job
10:59 <edison.huckleberry> I AM OUT OF HERE

11:00 <ahmed.amin> Congratulations. When are you transferring?

11:00 <edison.huckleberry> tomorrow morning

11:00 <ahmed.amin> What about delegation of your duties?

11:01 <edison.huckleberry> there's nothing to delegate

11:07 <ahmed.amin> I see. Let me know how your new site is.
11:08 <ahmed.amin> Congratulations, Eddy. I'm happy for you.

11:08 <edison.huckleberry> sure ill keep you updated


09:00 <edison.huckleberry> ahmed.amin uhhhhhhh hey you there

09:05 <ahmed.amin> Yes, I am available.

09:05 <edison.huckleberry> so… there's something wrong with the site

09:05 <ahmed.amin> What do you mean?

09:05 <edison.huckleberry> the entrance just talked to me

09:05 <ahmed.amin> Please elaborate.

09:05 <edison.huckleberry> uhhhhh
09:05 <edison.huckleberry> this is hard to explain

09:05 <ahmed.amin> Pretend it's an anomaly and describe it.

09:05 <edison.huckleberry> IT IS AN ANOMALY

09:05 <ahmed.amin> Oh. Report it to your new Site Command for containment.

09:05 <edison.huckleberry> SITE COMMAND IS INSIDE THE ANOMALY

09:05 <ahmed.amin> Oh. That's problematic.

09:05 <edison.huckleberry> YES IT IS

09:05 <ahmed.amin> Can you call the general reporting line?

09:05 <edison.huckleberry> I'm kinda worried they'll notice me if i talk so pls call for me
09:05 <edison.huckleberry> am hiding in the taxi

09:05 <ahmed.amin> Okay. Where are you at?

09:05 <edison.huckleberry> outside storage site 17
09:05 <edison.huckleberry> make sure they know it's STORAGE site 17 not secure site 17.

09:05 <ahmed.amin> Yes, I have told them. Describe the situation.

09:05 <edison.huckleberry> so I arrived at the airport and got into a cab and got to the site
09:05 <edison.huckleberry> oh btw there's a very shocked taxi driver here
09:05 <edison.huckleberry> and now the site ITSELF is speaking to me via speakers
09:05 <edison.huckleberry> saying "oh great food has arrived!"
09:05 <edison.huckleberry> its definitely not a human
09:05 <edison.huckleberry> cuz nobody is inside the watch point
09:05 <edison.huckleberry> I can see the self-driving car that got sent here
09:05 <edison.huckleberry> oh fuck there's that murderous bicycle
09:05 <edison.huckleberry> imma go inside and check it out

09:05 <ahmed.amin> That seems like a bad idea, Eddy.

09:05 <edison.huckleberry> yeah, but if I'm the first to go in, they might assign it to me
09:05 <edison.huckleberry> give me my first skip!!!
09:05 <edison.huckleberry> I'll keep you updated


Application for Reclassification


Subject: Storage Site-17
Previous Classification: Secure Storage Site
New Classification: Euclid-Class Anomaly requiring Special Containment Procedures
Assigned Contact: Dr. Edison Huckleberry

Reason: All the Dark/Danger Anomalies merged with the site structure itself into a collective consciousness with the site's structure itself and are eating the personnel on site. Please send MTF to get the survivors, including Dr. Huckleberry, out.

Status: PENDING. Special Containment Procedures are undergoing development. Assigned contact has been changed to Dr. Ahmed Amin of the Department of Anomalous Architecture.


Application for Termination of Employee


Subject of Request: Dr. Edison Huckleberry (ID: 4820-2893-312)

Submitter of Request: Dr. Ahmed Amin (ID: 2910-2391-924)

Reason: Huckleberry has a record of activities that endangered the life of his colleagues, including Containment Breach 182-2021-06-192 which led to the death of three researchers and five guards. Recently, he discovered that Storage Site-17 had become anomalous, and rather than waiting for trained professionals to arrive, he entered the anomaly on his own. This led to the need for more personnel to be sent inside the anomaly for personnel recovery, which resulted in two agents being KIA.

Status: GRANTED. Last day of employment and application of Class C amnestics to occur on 2022/04/20.


Critters: GlassAutomaton