FlyPurgatorio

SCP-7944: The shadows we cast

Written by: FlyPurgatorio | Authorpage

Art Exchange gift to Nickthebrick1

Item#: 7944

Containment Class: safe

Secondary Class: none

Disruption Class: dark

Risk Class: notice

Assigned Site
Site Director
Research Lead
Case Lead

Site 312
Anna Dubois
Gijs van Oosterbeek
Harrit Swanepoel;

Sterre de Veer

Fig 1. SCP-7944 and the original box.

Special Containment Procedures: SCP-7944 is currently held in Secure Containment Locker 4 in Site 312’s anomalous storage unit in Nieuwegein, Netherlands. Rubber or nitrile gloves are to be worn when handling SCP-7944 unless cleared for testing by Lead Researcher Van Oosterbeek or Site Director Dubois.

Description: SCP-7944 is a 1940s-style attachable electric light, commonly used by the American military during the liberation of the Netherlands. SCP-7944 was preserved by its former owner in the original box, which includes a handwritten note on the side: “A man is the shadow he casts on the world,” followed by the letters “AS.”

Unlike non-anomalous flashlights of the same make and model, SCP-7944 is capable of producing coloured light. When switched on, SCP-7944 will generate an orange light with no further anomalous effects. At undetermined intervals, the colour will shift, resulting in the shadow no longer matching the illuminated subject. Instead, it will show what appears to be symbolic representations or alternative statuses. Preliminary testing determined the following options: red, yellow, blue, purple, and green, as well as “baseline” orange. Not every subject will trigger all colours.

SCP-7944’s battery compartment is not accessible, and penetrative scans have shown it is empty.

The correlation between the coloured light and its subsequent shadow, as well as SCP-7944’s source of power, is subject to further examination.

Discovery: On 2020-02-17, Foundation monitoring towers registered an unusual spike in Hume levels at the Zuyderzonne Palliative Care Home in Arnhem, Netherlands, alerting the nearest site for possible Reality Altering Risks. Field Agent Jacob Banks was dispatched to investigate, and discovered SCP-7944 in the Home’s lost and found.

SCP-7944 was previously seen in the possession of Mr. Thomas Springs, a resident of Zuyderzonne’s long-term housing wing for patients with Korsakoff syndrome.1 Nursing staff reported that Mr. Springs had misplaced it several weeks prior to the discovery event, and had started questioning other residents about its whereabouts. These inquiries grew increasingly confrontational over the weeks, eventually leading to an altercation with a neighbour in which Mr. Springs came to a fall.

Staff and residents had encountered the item’s anomalous properties in the preceding months to its discovery but had rejected it as an optical illusion. No witness could recall the changing of colour.

Due to Mr. Spring's medical condition, Agent Banks was unable to complete questioning him on SCP-7944's origins during the initial retrieval. A follow-up visit is scheduled on 2020-02-26.

Site 312’s Anomalous Technologies Specialist Harrit Swanepoel was assigned to SCP-7944 to determine the specific nature of its anomalous effects, power supply, and ontokinetic risks. See Addendum 7944/01 for the research hypothesis and an excerpt of tests performed.

Addendum 7944/01

RESEARCHER NOTES

Submitted on:
2020-02-18

Approved on:
2020-02-20

Performed on:
2020-02-21

Hypothesis: Each colour shows a different “aspect” of the item subjected to SCP-7944. These colours are not randomly assigned, but appear to have a predetermined connotation. The “orange” colour functions as the baseline (or: “present”) aspect of the subject.

Power is taken ontokinetically from the surroundings rather than an internal power source. Base readings show minor fluctuations in Hume levels if switched off. These base levels appear to increase slightly over time.

Research questions:

1) What is the connotation between a specific colour and the displayed shadow?

2) Is the specific source SCP-7944 draws power from traceable, predictable and/or manipulable?

Test design: A set of 10 randomly chosen items from around Site 312 offices, with varying levels of “uniqueness” and emotional connotation. Each item will be subjected to SCP-7944’s effects 3 times in the same location to rule out variations in Hume levels and visuals displayed.

Below are a selection of test results to illustrate SCP-7944’s effects. See Document 7944/HS-T110 for full documentation and accompanying video.

TEST 1

Item description: a randomly chosen mug from the kitchenette, unused. The mug is white and has no special print or unusual characteristics.

Light colour
Display time
Shadow

Orange
2 seconds
A mug.

Red
2 seconds
The mug, upside down (as usually stored in the cupboard).

Yellow
2 seconds
The same mug with its handle broken off.

Orange
Indefinite
A mug.

No changes in repeat tests.

Note: N/A

TEST 3

Item description: a half-burned vanilla scented candle from Lead Researcher Gijs van Oosterbeek's desk.

Light colour
Display time
Shadow

Orange
2 seconds
A candle.

Red
2 seconds
A burning candle.

Green
2 seconds
A human sitting in a lotus position.

Yellow
2 seconds
A shorter candle, still burning.

Purple
2 seconds
A vanilla flower.

Orange
Indefinite
A candle.

No changes in repeat tests.

Note: N/A

TEST 6

Item description: A red tie with several small trombones on it, belonging to Agent Jacob Banks.

Light colour
Display time
Shadow

Orange
4 seconds
A tie, bound with a simple knot.

Red
4 seconds
An unknotted tie.

Yellow
4 seconds
A tie, bound with a Full Windsor knot.

Blue
4 seconds
A moving shadow, showing a step by step guide for tying a Full Windsor knot.

Green
4 seconds
A silhouette of Agent Banks playing the trombone, followed by a briefcase and the SCP Foundation logo.2

Purple
4 seconds
A moving shadow: a silhouette of two humans from the torso up. One placing his hand on the shoulder of the other, who answers with an embrace. Due to the two figures standing close together, identifying attributes are difficult to distinguish.

Orange
Indefinite
A tie, bound with a simple knot.

No changes in repeat tests.

Note: This was the first item tested with personal significance. During the test, fluctuations in Hume were registered that were absent in earlier tests.

TEST 7

Item description: A small, 3-D printed figurine of a swan, hand-painted by Researcher Harrit Swanepoel.

Light colour
Display time
Shadow

Orange
4 seconds
A figurine.

Red
4 seconds
A roll of filament, followed by a printing [brand redacted] 3-D printer.3

Blue
4 seconds
A diagram of the printing time and amount of filament needed to make this print.

Purple
4 seconds
A swan, a paintbrush and several bottles of miniature paint.

Yellow
4 seconds
The figurine positioned next to a monitor, a picture frame, a scented candle and a desk organiser. It was later determined this resembled the setup of Researcher Van Oosterbeek’s desk.

Green
4 seconds
A silhouette of Researcher Swanepoel, surrounded by binary code.

Orange
Indefinite
A figurine.

No changes in repeat tests.

Note: Similar fluctuations in Hume levels as Test 6. Also noted is the same display duration as Test 6, leading to the following hypothesis: a more complex object leads to longer display times.

TEST 9

Item description: A vase with 3 asters in it, borrowed from the desk of Site 312’s psychologist Sterre de Veer. The vase was described as an “upcycled whisky bottle” by Ms. De Veer.

Light colour
Display time
Shadow

Orange
4 seconds
A vase with 3 asters.

Red
4 seconds
A corked bottle of wine and 3 seeds.

Yellow
4 seconds
A broken bottle and 3 wilted flowers.

Purple
4 seconds
A night sky filled with twinkling stars.

Blue
4 seconds
The molecular structure for ethanol and the word “ἀστήρ.”4

Green
4 seconds
A silhouette of Specialist De Veer.

Orange
Indefinite
A vase with 3 asters.

This test was repeated once, with consistent results. Before the second repeat could be performed, Mx. Swanepoel was asked to perform minor IT adjacent duties in another office. During their absence, Agent Claessen entered the office to retrieve a file and accidentally brushed against the vase, almost tipping it over. He steadied it and put it slightly further to the left, unbeknownst to Researcher Swanepoel.

When Mx. Swanepoel returned to run the replica test, the results were as follows:

Light colour
Display time
Shadow

Orange
4 seconds
A vase with 3 asters.

Red
4 seconds
A silhouette of Agent Jan Claessen drinking directly from the bottle. The shadow spreads until it fills the frame.

Green
4 seconds
A skull and crossbones symbol, reminiscent of the danger symbol for poison.

Yellow
4 seconds
The logo for the SCPAA.5

Purple
4 seconds
A noose.

Orange
Indefinite
A vase with 3 asters.

Notes: A spike of Hume levels was registered during this test, which extended to the monitors stationed in the flex office used by Agent Claessen. This, in addition to the changes in the test result, lead to the hypothesis that the person interacting with SCP-7944 and/or its subject affects the resulting anomalous display.

Due to the above outcome, the subject of test 10 was changed without review or approval.

TEST 10

Item description: Mx. Harrit Swanepoel.

Light colour
Display time
Shadow

Orange
4 seconds
Mx. Harrit Swanepoel.

Red
7 seconds
A baby, followed by a small child, teenager and adult pre-transition. The silhouettes resemble Researcher Swanepoel at ages 1, 6, 15 and 20.

Yellow
4 seconds
A long string of binary, overlapping until it is fully dark.

Blue
2 seconds
Personal documents, including a Dutch and South African passport, [redacted in archived test material].

Green
2 seconds
A swan flapping its wings on water.

Purple
10 seconds
In quick succession: a robot; a bunch of cables and wires; a springbok running off-screen; a puppet; a hand reaching to another hand; a computer; a duckling morphing into a swan; an umbrella with rain falling down around it; a triangle surrounded by numerous spheres and cubes; several computer chips forming connections; a goose with a small swan hiding from the rain under its wing; the same cubes, spheres and triangle, now stacked; a string of binary code.

Orange
Indefinite
Mx. Harrit Swanepoel.

A close-up of the binary and Test Item 10 (left). Translation attempts didn't result in a coherent text.

Note: A notable spike in Hume levels was registered during this test. No repeat test was performed, and Mx. Swanepoel was reprimanded for using themselves as test subject before clearing it with senior administration.

Medical review showed no neurological effects and no changes in Mx. Swanepoel’s personal Hume field.

CONCLUSIONS

After review of test results, a hypothesized key for the connection between colour and change of shadow was created.

Fig 2. Proposed key for SCP-7944's colour changes. Excerpt taken from document 7944/HS-T110.

Power supply appears to be guided by the individual interacting with SCP-7944, reflecting back on the displayed imagery. The default Hume interference is not fully understood as of yet.

To confirm this key, as well as attempting to further pinpoint the Hume level irregularities, additional testing was requested. The possibility of objective versus subjective shadow display was discussed in the context of SCP-7944's possible use during questioning. To investigate the viability of this application, a test with a live subject was requested.

Since Site 312 does not have access to D-Class personnel and no medical effects from SCP-7944 exposure were registered, Lead Researcher Van Oosterbeek volunteered as test subject.

Due to Researcher Swanepoel’s earlier unsanctioned actions, Specialist Sterre de Veer was assigned to this project as co-lead. Ms. De Veer was in charge of test design and questioning while Mx. Swanepoel’s duties were limited to technical setup, data collection and review.

Addendum 7944/02

VIDEO LOG

DATE: 2020-02-24

INTERVIEWERS:

Specialist Sterre de Veer, Site 312

Researcher Harrit Swanepoel, Site 312

INTERVIEWEE:

Lead Researcher Gijs van Oosterbeek, Site 312

NOTE: This file was translated from Dutch to English using the SwanTran4.9 Translation and Transcription Tool. Original language file available upon request.

[BEGIN LOG]

[The camera turns on. In frame is Lead Researcher Gijs van Oosterbeek, sitting on a chair with his hands resting on his legs. To the right is the SCP-7944 object, placed on a tripod and surrounded by monitoring equipment. Mx. Harrit Swanepoel is standing next to it, then steps out of frame. Ms. Sterre de Veer is standing on the left, holding a set of notecards with highlighted questions.]

STERRE: Camera is running. Are you ready, sir?

GIJS: About as ready as you can be for an interview under a bright spotlight. [Sigh] What do you want me to talk about?

STERRE: We have a set of predetermined topics to see if we can direct the changing of the light based on the conversation. We’re also trying to determine the exact nature of the green and purple colour, since they appear to be quite close but not interchangeable. So these questions are designed to draw out more symbolic responses.

[Gijs nods. He twists his wedding ring around his finger.]

STERRE: If any of these questions make you uncomfortable, or you prefer not to answer, please say so and we’ll change the subject. This is by no means an interrogation.

HARRIT: Ready?

[He nods again. Harrit, wearing a nitrile glove, switches SCP-7944 on. Researcher Van Oosterbeek is cast in an orange light, resulting in a matching shadow on the wall behind him.]

STERRE: Could you please state your name and position within the Foundation?

GIJS: Right. My name is Gijs van Oosterbeek and I’m Site 312’s Lead Researcher.

[The light quickly blinks to green, showing the outline of a goose aggressively flapping its wings and apparently hissing. Harrit chuckles, and Sterre signals them to stay quiet.]

Fig 3. Still taken from camera feed.

STERRE: Could you tell us a little bit about your work here? What is your field of expertise?

GIJS: Officially, I specialise in bureaucratohazards and containment through regulation.

[The colour changes to purple, and the shadow shows a large pile of documents and binders with a gavel on top. It then switches to green, depicting a cockroach walking in circles through a labyrinth. Van Oosterbeek pauses for a moment, eying the changed light before continuing.]

GIJS: But in practise, I spend most of my time as head of the Department of Relations and Regulations. Filling out forms, requesting grants, setting up collaboration with organisations on both sides of the Veil. All to fill the holes left in our finances due to our "challenging" budget. You know, the real exciting stuff.

[He gestures for emphasis, which isn't replicated by the shadow. It turns blue and shows a collage of forms, diagrams and underlined fine print. Clearly visible are the FITP-998/31 and EXC-819-A4/02b forms.6]

GIJS: When I do get to do research, it’s usually part of an investigation. Interviews in the field and data collection, since I’m currently the only qualified Field Researcher — although we’re in the process of changing that, aren’t we?

[He winks at Sterre. The light switches to purple, and shows his shadow handing a magnifier glass to a silhouette that looks like her.]

GIJS: God, this is nerve-wrecking. Resisting the urge to look is harder than I thought.

STERRE: You’re doing great, sir.

HARRIT: No dark secrets or repressed thoughts yet.

GIJS: Haven’t had those since I came out of the closet, anyway.

[The light momentarily switches to orange before turning purple. The shadow still resembles Van Oosterbeek, except he’s now holding a glass of wine. In the backdrop is the phrase “Normal is like, totally crazy enough.” in a loopy font. Harrit starts laughing.]

Fig 4. Still taken from camera feed.

GIJS: Did I jinx it?

HARRIT: I think the SCP just called you basic.

GIJS: [Laughing] You don’t need anything anomalous to figure that out.

STERRE: Let’s go back to the pre-established questions. Could you tell us a little bit about your career before you joined the Foundation?

[The light turns red, and the shadows show an outline of Van Oosterbeek with more hair, standing behind a podium with a microphone. It then turns green and depicts a voting ballot with a checked box.]

GIJS: Sure. Would you believe I used to be a politician? That’s where I ran into the Foundation: I tried to reform a convoluted law that turned out to be convoluted on purpose.

[The shadow shifts to a marijuana leaf.]

STERRE: And is that when you–

Fig 5. Still taken from camera feed, mid-transition between shadow displays.

[There is a knock on the door. It opens before anyone can answer, and Agent Jacob Banks briefly steps into view of the camera, then steps back. The light switches back to orange.]

JACOB: I’m sorry to interrupt, I– we just received a follow-up from the medical lab.

GIJS: You’re not going to tell me there is a medical effect after all, just as we’re experimenting on me?

JACOB: Nothing like that. [Clears throat] No, it's forensics, they -– there are -– it appears there is a–

GIJS: Spit it out, kiddo.

JACOB: They found a genetic match. For you. For one of the residents, and you.

[Van Oosterbeek freezes up for a moment. He frowns, then gets up and walks off-screen. His shadow doesn’t move. The rustling of papers is heard.]

[The light suddenly turns blue, displaying two strings of DNA. They split apart, and half of each combines into a new string of DNA.]

GIJS: [Off-screen] T-they’re sure?

[The light starts to flash in quick succession. Red: an adult woman with a one-year-old child standing on her shoes, taking steps together. Blue: the name "Arthur", followed by a question mark. Green: a razorblade and a tie being tied.]

JACOB: Yeah, positive.

[Yellow: Van Oosterbeek pacing back and forth. Red: a man and woman holding hands, with a Ferris wheel and pier in the background. Purple: the silhouette of a man with a question mark as his head. Yellow: the chair thrown across the room. Purple, then red, then purple: a 10-year-old boy crying, looking around.]

STERRE: Harrit, turn it off!

[Mx. Swanepoel has been aggressively pressing the on-switch on SCP-7944 during the interruption, to no effect. The light switches to green, showing a burning fire being put out by rain, until everything is swept away.]

HARRIT: I’m trying! It’s not letting me! The Hume readings are off the chart as well.

[Sterre turns to the camera and redirects it to the ceiling. The light is still changing colours when the feed ends.]

[END LOG]

Addendum 7944/03

VIDEO LOG

DATE: 2020-02-26

INTERVIEWERS:

Field Agent Jacob Banks, Site 312

Specialist Sterre de Veer, Site 312

INTERVIEWEE:

Mr. Thomas Springs, former owner of SCP-7944

OPERATIONAL SUPPORT:

Researcher Harrit Swanepoel, Site 312

OBSERVING:

Lead Researcher Gijs van Oosterbeek, Site 312

NOTE: This file was translated from Dutch to English using the SwanTran4.9 Translation and Transcription Tool. Original language file available upon request.

[BEGIN LOG]

[The feed switches on, showing the interior of a car from the backseat. Two men are seated in the front: Gijs van Oosterbeek, who is driving, and Jacob Banks.]

STERRE: Testing visual and audio feedback. Harrit, can you hear me?

HARRIT: [Through earpiece] Yes, I still can.

STERRE: And SwanTran?

HARRIT: [Sigh] Is transcribing every word I say as I’m saying it. I am literally watching the words appear on the screen, it’s riveting.

[Jacob turns around in his seat.]

JACOB: We’ve been using this equipment for every field investigation I’ve been part of. It all works.

STERRE: I just don’t want any surprises. It’s the first time out for the new portable Kant counter.

JACOB: And the new Field Researcher. [He makes a dramatic sound effect] Away from the safe confines of labs and offices, and out in the big bad world. Will she be ready for the real work to begin? This February, Specialist De Veer will embark on a quest of a lifetime.

[Sterre adjusts the camera on her blouse, ignoring him. She takes out a stack of notecards and starts reviewing them.]

JACOB: Alright, first thing you need to know about field work: disregard all of those questions and pick three topics to focus on. Then–

GIJS: How about you let me do the mentoring, kiddo. You can focus on fixing your tie.

[Jacob turns back around, looking down at his tie.]

JACOB: I’m just telling her what you taught me. “Don’t focus on the standard procedures and generalised questions in a non-sterile environment.”

GIJS: Yeah, because you tend to underprepare and hold onto those basics as a last resort. You’re better when you follow your gut.

HARRIT: [Through earpiece] Flailing upwards.

GIJS: Can you save the snark for your internet friends, Harrit?

[The car passes a sign reading “Zuyderzonne Tehuis; Palliative Care Home”. They turns up the driveway and park the car. Jacob gets out to help Sterre lift the suitcase that contains the Kant counter from the backseat.]

JACOB: [Quietly] What’s wrong with my tie?

STERRE: It’s hanging too high on your torso.

JACOB: [Groan] Harrit messed up my knot during testing.

STERRE: Your knot? Can’t you just retie it? [Pause] You can’t, can you?

JACOB: I usually just ask Gijs to tie them for me, and loosen the knot when I get home.

STERRE: For… every single one of your ties?

GIJS: For god's sake, Jacob. I got you that one for Christmas, have you been doing it for two whole months?

Fig 6. Still taken from Agent Jacob Banks' camera feed.

[Gijs sighs and takes the tie with trombones from Jacob. The camera feed turns to the Kant counter, which Sterre is double-checking.]

JACOB: It worked until now.

GIJS: At least I don’t have to tell you to shave, now that you dumped the soul patch.

JACOB: I was pulling that off.

GIJS: That’s what I like about you Americans: believing in dreams to the point of self-deception.

[Sterre hides a chuckle by burying herself behind her notecards.]

JACOB: [Quietly] I– uh -– I wanted to say sorry for springing the news on you on camera.

GIJS: Don’t worry, kiddo. There isn’t really an etiquette for telling your boss “I accidentally found your long-lost father and he might be magic,” is there?

JACOB: That’s fair.

GIJS: Besides, SwanTran records just about everything we do, cameras or no.

HARRIT: [Through earpiece] That includes you rapping your field reports, Lin-Manuel.

JACOB: It’s not rapping, it’s actually a slam poetry technique I use to order my thoughts. Picked it up when I was really into improv in college and–

GIJS: Nobody’s surprised. [Some muffled sounds coming from Jacob’s microphone.] There you go, Full Windsor. Remind me to show you how to do this yourself later.

JACOB: Thanks, pops.

[Jacob gives a joke-salute and walks over to the reception. Gijs and Sterre sit down in the waiting room.]

GIJS: You ready?

STERRE: I think so, just a little nervous. How are you, sir?

GIJS: Me? Fine, fine. Dealt with this stuff years ago. I’m just here to observe you two at work. [He winks] Wouldn’t want to miss your first field case.

STERRE: I’ll do my best, sir.

GIJS: I know, which is why you won't be needing those cards.

[He holds out his hand. Sterre hesitates, holding her notecards with both hands.]

GIJS: Come on, you prepared well. You don't need those.

[Sterre takes a deep breath, looking one last time at her handwritten notes. She then reluctantly hands them over to Van Oosterbeek.]

GIJS: You’re going to be fine, love. You got this.

STERRE: I hope so.

[Gijs places a hand on her shoulder and squeezes. She takes a deep breath, tightly gripping the handle of the portable Kant counter. A moment later, Jacob waves them to follow him, handing each of them a badge when they catch up.]

JACOB: He's in the west wing, room 2.31. We’ll find it easily by following the red route. Cover story is nice and simple: we're grad students doing some preliminary interviews with Korsakoff patients for our thesis. No need to go into detail on the topic.

STERRE: What about Mr. Springs?

JACOB: You tell him whatever is necessary. It's not like he'll remember an hour later.

[His eyes widen and he turns to Gijs.]

JACOB: I'm sorry, that didn't sound the way it did in my head.

HARRIT: [Through earpiece] Just like your rapping.

GIJS: Harrit, zip it. We don't need a peanut gallery. [To Jacob] It's fine, you're right. Natural amnestic treatment.

JACOB: [Cheerily] Exactly!

[They scan their badges and an automated door opens, leading to a crossroad. The floor is covered in coloured linoleum: blue on the right, yellow straight forward, and red on the left. A board hangs from the ceiling, with arrows in matching colours pointing in each direction, as well as the words “daily activities,” “treatment and therapy,” and “living quarters,” respectfully.]

JACOB: I like how they took their time decorating. Gives it a little more of a friendly feel.

STERRE: This kind of colour use helps people with cognitive disabilities like Alzheimer's and Korsakoff to find their way on their own. It lets them build more independence through routine.

JACOB: Huh, clever.

[They continue down the hallway, eventually arriving at room 2.31. The name "Thomas Springs" is posted under the number. Jacob gives Sterre a head nod, then opens the door.]

JACOB: [Quietly, to Sterre] Just follow my lead.

[They enter a small but cozy, personalised living room with a bed next to the window, and an adjacent bathroom. Mr. Springs is sitting in a chair next to his desk, carefully cutting the leaves of his bonsai tree. A large pachira tree stands in the corner, and several grass plants and cacti are standing or hanging from shelves. Sterre's camera feed passes the window in the door, showing Gijs talking to a nurse in the hallway. The view lingers on a whiteboard placed next to the door, where several pictures of nursing staff are displayed with their title and name.]

Fig 7. Still taken from Specialst De Veer's camera feed.7

JACOB: Morning, Thomas. How are we feeling today?

[Mr. Springs turns around and quickly glances at the badge on Jacob's jacket.]

THOMAS: Morning, Dr. Banks. I'm good. Just finished watering the plants.

[Jacob nudges Sterre forward. She drags the Kant counter closer and connects two wired sensors, placing the first one carefully on the desk.]

STERRE: Would you mind if I attach this, Thomas? I’d like to take your vitals.

THOMAS: You certainly can, dear. Although I’m fine, you're all making such a fuss. It's just a little bonk on the crown, and I got a dense head. You should've seen the other guys.

[Sterre extends the second sensor, attaching it to Mr. Springs' left index finger. He looks at it with interest.]

STERRE: Guys? There was more than one?

THOMAS: Yeah. There were three of them, all built like mountains. Got me right in the back when I stepped outside.

JACOB: [Frowning] Really?

THOMAS: [To Sterre] I might not look like it, but I can pack a punch. Though I gotta be honest: they got the better of me.

[Jacob is looking around the room. There are yellow post-it notes everywhere, with little to-do lists on them. "Wear striped sweater and jeans; take morning walk (crossed out); water plants (crossed out); 11:00 physical therapy; 14:30 buy groceries." is written on one next to the landline phone.]

THOMAS: And all because we're no longer allowed to smoke in the pub.

HARRIT: [Through earpiece] Hume field is within acceptable parameters. I’m taking a baseline reading, keep him talking.

Fig 8. Still from Agent Banks' camera feed.

JACOB: You know what I’d call that? Governmental overreach.

THOMAS: Damn right. [Shakes head] Those civil servants need something to worry about, or they’ll remember to do their job.

[Jacob’s feed is lingering on a set of photographs.]

THOMAS: Has anyone ever told you that you have a lovely aura, Dr. De Veer?

STERRE: [While monitoring the Kant counter] I can honestly say that’s a new one, sir. What does it look like?

THOMAS: Deep, calming indigo, like an endless starry sky on a warm spring night.

HARRIT: [Through earpiece] Mm, minor spike detected. Could be a flub, since I'm also getting some weird feedback. Can you reproduce it, Joker?

JACOB: You can’t leave me hanging after that. What does mine look like?

THOMAS: Loud.

[Harrit is heard snickering through the earpiece.]

THOMAS: And red. Like an alarm going off, or fireworks. Maybe an eagle screeching. You’re an American?

[Jacob's feed turns to a bin with discarded post-it notes: red ones with ‘Monday’ written on top and blue ones with ‘Sunday’, both filled with crossed-out to-do lists.]

JACOB: My accent already gave me away, so you’ll have to try harder to impress me.

THOMAS: Don’t have to, but I can.

[He grabs a pack of playing cards and shuffles them, holding up three cards he can’t see himself: 10 of diamonds, ace of spades, and a joker.]

THOMAS: Pick a card. Left, middle, right.

JACOB: Middle.

[He shuffles them again, then points at Sterre.]

THOMAS: Look at your badge, doctor.

[Sterre looks down. A playing card is pinned on top of her nametag. She takes it off and holds it up in front of her camera: a queen of hearts.]

HARRIT: [Through earpiece] That’s disappointing. Also: no new spikes, seems like a normal sleight of hand.

THOMAS: Because you’re a queen that just stole my heart. [To Jacob] Your card is in your pocket.

[Jacob feels in his pocket and takes out a playing card, holding it up to the feed. It is the ace of spades.]

HARRIT: [Through earpiece] Little blip there. Seems like our magician is cheating.

[Sterre turns to Jacob, then starts laughing and points to his badge. The camera feed shows a playing card in front of the visitor pass.]

Fig 9. Still taken from Agent Banks camera feed.

JACOB: [Cheerily] That sums me up, alright. Good one.

THOMAS: Wait until I get my lamp back from the police. I’ll be able to show you your deepest, darkest secrets.

STERRE: Your lamp?

THOMAS: My magic lamp. Those schoffies8 must’ve taken it when I got knocked out. Got it from my dad, a real family heirloom. It’ll reveal your true nature, in all its fragmented glory. [Sigh] I hope they get it back soon.

STERRE: Where did he get it?

[Thomas has taken out an old coin and starts flipping it between his fingers.]

THOMAS: By fighting in the American army to free the Western Front. After the war he decided to stay, fall in love, build a family. You know how it goes. [He flips the coin into the air, then grabs it] He was done with the harshness and horrors of humanity, so he turned to performance. Light up the world with magic.

[He flips over his hands, suddenly holding a bouquet of flowers, which he hands to Sterre with a wink. Jacob’s feed now shows the vase on his nightstand to be empty.]

THOMAS: Anything to brighten the day.

HARRIT: [Through earpiece] That was a spike. Biggest one we've got yet. Interference seems to be getting loopy, too. [Pause] I'm going to run some additional analysis. Got my readings, you can disconnect our magic man.

Fig 10. Flowers given to Specialist De Veer and returned to Site 312.9

[Sterre takes the flowers and thanks Mr. Springs. She starts removing the sensors.]

JACOB: Thank you for your time, Thomas. I hope they find your lamp soon.

[Thomas gives a polite nod, then turns back to his bonsai. The two leave the room, carefully closing the door, and look down the hallway.]

JACOB: Where did the gooseman waddle off to?

HARRIT: [Through earpiece] Went for a walk, he’ll be back soon. Give me a sec, I want to check something.

JACOB: That was odd, being lied to with a straight face.

STERRE: He wasn’t lying. Confabulation and interference are symptoms of Korsakoff syndrome, resulting from processing errors in the brain. He’s conflating earlier memories or distorting events, but he believes them to be accurate. At some point in his life, he was probably mugged after leaving a pub.

HARRIT: [Through earpiece] See, I wasn’t seeing things. I just rewound the feed: the flowers on his nightstand were tulips.

JACOB: That confirms he’s ontokinetically gifted.

HARRIT: [Through earpiece] Less than what we’d call a Level 1 Reality Bender, according to the analysis.

JACOB: So he's just supplementing his normal skills with it. Like instinct.

HARRIT: [Through earpiece] You think the lamp might’ve rubbed off on him, after decades of use?

STERRE: Maybe, or maybe it just enhanced what was already there.

JACOB: A missing component, in a way. [He scratches his chin] What do you say, Mx. Robot? Any change of there being co-dependency?

HARRIT: [Through earpiece] Mm, could be. That could fit with the interference I keep getting. Let me run some simulations.

JACOB: Don't you already live in one?

HARRIT: [Through earpiece] I wish. [A pause, some typing is heard] Gijs is in the hospital garden, by the way.

[INTERRUPT]

Chat with

Untitled Gooseman [GIJS]

bricked nickname[HARRIT] opened the chat

… LOADING MESSAGE HISTORY …

Untitled Gooseman [GIJS]:

into water. You can put it in soil in a couple of days.

bricked nickname[HARRIT]:

Plantony is growing babies sideways

MESSAGES FEB 24

Untitled Gooseman [GIJS]:

My tablet doesn't recognise my password again. Can you reset?

bricked nickname[HARRIT]:

omw

MESSAGES FEB 26

bricked nickname[HARRIT]:

i cut your feed to give you some privacy

lmk when you want me to get S&J

Untitled Gooseman [GIJS]:

:thumbs up:

NEW MESSAGE

Untitled Gooseman [GIJS]:

I’m good.

bricked nickname[HARRIT]:

ill let them know <3

bricked nickname[HARRIT] left the chat

Addendum 7944/03

VIDEO LOG

[CONTINUED]

[Sterre and Jacob follow the directions given to them by Harrit, and eventually find their way to a walled garden in the middle of the complex. Van Oosterbeek is sitting on a bench, staring at his phone. His eyes are red.]

GIJS: Daniël called, so I had to take it.

STERRE: Of course, sir.

[Jacob sits down next to Gijs, unbuttoning his jacket and placing a hand on his shoulder.]

JACOB: Fathers, amirite? Can’t live with them, can’t live without –- well, you can. I guess you can.

STERRE: [Scolding] Jacob.

GIJS: [Faintly smiling] I could, yeah. Done so all my life, and I think I managed pretty well. I’ve gone through the whole rigamarole: anger, mourning, accepting that I’d never know who he was or why he let my mother rot. But seeing him sit there, it just kinda hit me.

[He closes his eyes, leaning the back of his head against the wall.]

GIJS: I thought about it. What it would be like, meeting him. Four fucking decades I imagined what he would be like, what we would talk about, what his reasons could’ve been.

STERRE: It’s a little different to mourn the father he is, not just the one he isn’t.

GIJS: Yeah. [He wipes his eyes] I guess there was a moment where I thought: “well, better late than never,” but that ship has sailed. Unable to make new memories, the nurse said. Can't even remember the name of the people he sees every damn day.

[Sterre places a hand on his lower arm. He places a hand on top of it.]

STERRE: He still remembers who he was. Korsakoff isn’t regressive once under treatment.

GIJS: You think I should talk to him?

STERRE: Do you think it might give you closure?

[Gijs shrugs and shakes his head.]

JACOB: Worst case scenario, he forgets everything you said the moment you walk out.

GIJS: Leave him like he left us. Hah, it would serve him right.

JACOB: And you can do it as many times as you want!

STERRE: Jacob!

GIJS: [Laughing] You're pettier than me, kiddo. [He takes a deep breath] How did it go?

JACOB: Harrit got some strange readings. Loopy shit.

STERRE: Minor ontokinetic interference, but it's not as straightforward as you'd expect from an unintentional Reality Bender. So now we're thinking the SCP-7944 object and Mr. Springs are connected, in a way.

JACOB: Two parts of the anomaly. We were discussing having them interact.

GIJS: We could see what happens if we bring them together in the same room. [He tabs his briefcase] Maybe some additional emotional upset to trigger an outburst.

STERRE: You mean you are going to talk to him?

[Gijs gets up and straightens his back.]

GIJS: We drove all the way here, might as well finish the job.

[END LOG]

Addendum 7944/04

VIDEO LOG

DATE: 2020-02-26

INTERVIEWER:

Lead Researcher Gijs van Oosterbeek, Site 312

INTERVIEWEE:

Mr. Thomas Springs, former owner of SCP-7944

OPERATIONAL SUPPORT:

Field Agent Jacob Banks, Site 312

Specialist Sterre de Veer, Site 312

Researcher Harrit Swanepoel, Site 312

NOTE: This file was translated from Dutch to English using the SwanTran4.9 Translation and Transcription Tool. Original language file available upon request.

[BEGIN LOG]

[The feed opens on the interior of Mr. Thomas Spring’s room. He’s standing in his kitchenette, making a cheese sandwich. Gijs no longer has his earpiece in, but is still wearing a microphone. He's sitting on a chair next to the kitchen table, the Kant counter placed beside him. There is one sensor wire going into Gijs' briefcase, attached to SCP-7944, and another is set up on a nearby dresser. Jacob and Sterre are standing close to the door.]

THOMAS: I rarely get visitors, let alone visitors for lunch. You sure you don’t want anything?

GIJS: I’m good. Not hungry.

THOMAS: Your kids don’t want to join us?

GIJS: They’re not my kids. I work with them. They’re my team.

THOMAS: A whole team, huh? At least you're taking mugging seriously this time.

STERRE: We could leave, sir.

GIJS: It’s fine. Are we good to go?

THOMAS: When I reported the theft of my lamp, the officer just tried to downplay it. This country is going down the drain.

HARRIT: [Through earpiece, simultaneously with Mr. Springs] Readings are clear, no activity in SCP-7944. More weird interference, but nothing to shatter or even dent reality. Tell him I'm ready.

[Jacob gives him a thumbs up]

Fig 11. Lead Researcher Van Oosterbeek next to the Kant counter sensor, activated.10 Still taken from Specialist De Veer's camera feed.

[Thomas sits down opposite of Gijs, holding a plate with two cheese sandwiches. He looks at the badge on Gijs’ shirt.]

THOMAS: “Van Oosterbeek.” I used to know someone by that name a long, long time ago. Lovely girl.

GIJS: [Coldly] I’m aware.

[Thomas stops chewing. He looks the man opposite of him.]

THOMAS: You’re Sjaan’s kid.

GIJS: You knew about me?

THOMAS: [After a pause] Yeah. She wrote a letter telling me she was pregnant. Sent it to Arthur Springs. My father. That’s the name I’d given her.

[Gijs doesn’t say anything. Thomas puts the plate down on his desk.]

THOMAS: You have her eyes.

HARRIT: [Through earpiece] And her decency.

STERRE: [Scolding] No peanut gallerying!

THOMAS: It was just a summer fling. One summer of love in Scheveningen. I wasn’t ready to be a father.

GIJS: [Raised voice] She wasn’t ready to be a mother, but fuck knows nobody cared about that.

THOMAS: You were better off without me in your life.

GIJS: Clearly, but I would have liked a say in that.

[Pause]

THOMAS: How is Sjaan?

GIJS: Dead.

THOMAS: Oh.

GIJS: Cancer, seven years ago.

THOMAS: My condolences.

GIJS: Tief op.11

[Several moments of silence. Thomas Springs has folded his hands together and is staring at his half-eaten lunch.]

THOMAS: How did you find me?

GIJS: [Sarcastically] Magic.

THOMAS: Really? Like, Tarot cards?

GIJS: No, it was just dumb luck. I didn't go out looking for you, if that's what you're asking.

THOMAS: Oh. [Pause] You’re married?

[Gijs looks down at his hands. He has been twisting his wedding ring around his finger.]

THOMAS: I’d love to meet her someday.

GIJS: Him.

THOMAS: Oh. I mean, all kinds of stuff is possible these days.

[Another pause. Thomas rubs the back of his neck, looking around himself to avoid Gijs’ staring. After several seconds, Gijs breaks the silence.]

GIJS: That’s it, then?

THOMAS: [Softly] I don't know, what do you want me to say? I mean–

GIJS: Why didn't you look for me, if you knew about me? Why did you pretend I didn't exist?

[Thomas looks at the floor and shrugs. Gijs curses under his breath. After several seconds of silence, Thomas clears his throat.]

THOMAS: Look, I know I’m a piece of shit. I fucked you and Sjaan over. [He tabs against the side of his head] I’ve got quite a resumé of fuckups, and now I’m out of second chances.

[Thomas stands up, walking over a dresser covered by cacti and succulents. Clear on display is the photo portrait of an army officer, presumably taken somewhere in the 1940s.]

THOMAS: That’s Arthur, your grandfather. He came here after D-Day, found love and never left. [Pause] Sometimes I wish he had.

Fig 12. Portrait of Arthur Springs, on display on Mr. Springs' dresser. Still taken from Agent Banks' camera feed (zoomed in).

JACOB: [Mumbling] “A man is the shadow he casts on the world – Arthur Springs.”

GIJS: So that’s the excuse.

THOMAS: It isn’t. I don't have any. I just–

HARRIT: [Through earpiece] I’m getting a massive read. Did you turn on the flashlight?

JACOB: No, we didn’t.

[The feed shows light coming from Gijs' briefcase. It is flashing in all colours, one after the other. Thomas turns around, his eyes widening.]

THOMAS: My lamp!

[The colours start to flow together. The light is turning bright, piercing white.]

HARRIT: [Through earpiece] It’s stabilising. The loop is resolving. No spikes, no weird feedback, none. Did it turn off?

JACOB: No, it’s still on.

STERRE: I think it's neutralising itself.

[Gijs looks over. Jacob mimics a flat line, then throws his hands in confusion. The light grows brighter as Gijs opens his briefcase, taking out the box. Thomas takes it, walking back to the seating area and carefully placing the box to the desk. He opens it, taking out the flashlight.]

[His eyes tear up. He holds the light in his hand, then looks at his son. Behind Gijs is an endlessly complex series of shadows dancing on the walls, morphing into each other. A woman walking with one-year-old child standing on her shoes, taking steps together. A boy cycling. Two fish swimming in circles. Two teens walking a dog. The Eiffel tower. A small tree growing taller and thicker. A multi-tiered cake with a topper of two men holding hands. Two people dancing a waltz. A knight swinging a sword.]

THOMAS: [Softly] I'm sorry I missed all of it.

[A goose spreading its wings, with several little chicks seeking shelter under it. An outline of Harrit enthusiastically showing off a device. A castle with a wall being build up, brick by brick. Gijs placing a hand on Jacob's shoulder, who answers with an embrace. A river, its water thrashing against the banks. An outline of Sterre surrounded by books, with Gijs holding her notecards, practising with her. Eight differently shaped glasses, raised in a toast.]

[A man standing next to a cradle, gently swinging it. A mobile hangs above it, with a flower, a tie and a swan dangling from it. The castle stands in a storm, the water rising but held off by the wall. A vast sky with endless stars, 1s and 0s, and trombones twirling around in patterns reminiscent of a kaleidoscope.]

[Behind Thomas, no shadow is cast.]

[He places the lamp on the table, steps forward and wraps his arms around Gijs. Thomas is sobbing loudly, his shoulders shaking with every exhale. Gijs lets him, but doesn't reciprocate. Eventually, he pats Thomas curtly on the back.]

[For a brief moment, a tiny blink of a shape can be made out in Thomas’ nothingness. The lamp turns off.]

[END LOG]

Notes: An update in Special Containment Procedures is pending.

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Item#: 7944

Containment Class: safe

Secondary Class: none

Disruption Class: vlam

Risk Class: caution

Assigned Site
Site Director
Research Lead
Case Lead

Site 312
Anna Dubois
Gijs van Oosterbeek
Gijs van Oosterbeek

Fig 1. SCP-7944-A and the original box.

Special Containment Procedures: SCP-7944-A is currently held in Secure Containment Locker 4 in Site 312's anomalous storage unit in Nieuwegein, Netherlands. Rubber or nitrile gloves are to be worn when handling SCP-7944, unless cleared for testing by Lead Researcher Van Oosterbeek or Site Director Dubois.

SCP-7944-B resides in a monitored room at the Zuyderzonne Care Home in Arnhem, Netherlands, and poses no individual risk to normalcy outside protocol 7944/LIGHTUP, which is to be carried out once per month for stabilisation of SCP-7944-A.

Description: SCP-7944 consists of two components. SCP-7944-A is a 1940s style attachable electric light, commonly used by the American military during the liberation of the Netherlands. It is preserved in the original box, which contains a handwritten note on the side: “A man is the shadow he casts on the world”, followed by the initials “AS.”12 This note was added by Mr. Thomas Springs, hereafter referred to as SCP-7944-B, who has an ontokinetic connection to SCP-7944-A.

SCP-7944-A is capable of producing light that shows symbolic or asynchronous representations of the illuminated subject. If both components of SCP-7944 are apart for more than 19 days, SCP-7944-A with start to fragment into a coloured spectrum and generate rising levels of ontokinetic feedback.

Protocol 7944/LIGHTUP was designed to temporary stabilise SCP-7944-A fragmentation by reuniting it with SCP-7944-B on a monthly basis.

Currently, Lead Researcher Van Oosterbeek is assigned this task under the cover of a family visit.

Fig 2. Picture of the whiteboard in SCP-7944-B's room.13

Footnotes

1. A neurological disorder characterised by amnesia, confabulation and short-term memory loss, often resulting from excessive alcohol use in combination with bad eating habits.

2. Agent Banks confirmed he only started wearing ties after being employed by the SCP Foundation.

3. The same machine owned and used by Mx. Swanepoel to print the figurine.

4. Ancient Greek for “star”, etymological root of the name “aster.”

5. Support, Care & Prevail – Addiction Anomalous, the Foundation-sponsored addiction support group. Agent Claessen is the Benelux chapter lead.

6. The intern program that employed Mx. Swanepoel until 2020, and the international exchange program that funded Agent Banks’ and Dr. Demir’s extended training, respectively.

7. SwanTran image transcription: “Nick (therapeut), Emily (verpleegkundige)” Translation: Nick (therapist), Emily (nurse).

8. No direct translation found. SwanTran approximate translation: “menaces, bad kids with a mild criminal tendency.”

9. No anomalous aftereffects detected. All flowers are part of the Asteraceae family, including asters, gerberas and daisies.

10. Ontokinetic feedback made visible using filtering.

11. No direct translation found. SwanTran approximate translation: “fuck off; get out with typhoid.”

12. Athur Springs, SCP-7944-B's father.

13. SwanTran image transcription: “Gijs (zoon).” Translation: Gijs (son).