Item #: SCP-5731

Object Class: Safe

SCP-5731

Special Containment Procedures:

SCP-5731 is kept in Containment Locker 56 at Site-64 when not being tested. Request to gain access to the item is to be submitted to Dr. Green.

Description:

SCP-5731 is a square music box which is 6 cm in length, 5 cm in width, and 3 cm in height. Its top is made from clear plastic, allowing the interior to be viewed. When its anomaly is not in effect, it plays a rendition of “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah” when cranked. When in the vicinity of a non-sapient biological entity, its anomalous effect is triggered. If cranked nearby one of these entities, SCP-5731 will instead play English human speech. This is believed to be the broadcasting or “translation” of the non-sapient entity’s thoughts. The voice from the music box is always that of a young female, despite the sex of the effected entity. Tests discovered wildly varying personalities in the music box between test subjects used. It is not believed the female voice is its own consciousness, rather a projection of the ones surrounding it.

Discovery:

SCP-5731 was purchased by Researcher Pret’s wife from a yard sale at some point during the summer of 2013. Researcher Pret was not aware of SCP-5731’s effects until 8/17/2018 when his daughter wound it in proximity to the family cat, which triggered SCP-5731’s effects. Researcher Pret surrendered the object to the Foundation for testing.

Testing:

+ Tests

- Access granted

Testing is currently overseen by Dr. Green. She is to be contacted for further testing logs.

Test
Subject
Result

#1
Researcher Pret's cat "Missy"
SCP-5731 complained of being "too cold". A blanket was provided to the cat, and the complaints ceased.

#4
D-8113
SCP-5731 played "Zip-a-Dee-Do-Dah."

#13
SCP-███
SCP-5731 played "Zip-a-Dee-Do-Dah." SCP-5731 has not had any other results for any sapient entity, anomalous or not.

#24
Dr. Reed's dog "Duke"
SCP-5731 remarked how "funny this place smells".

#39
A raccoon retrieved from the forest surrounding Site 64
SCP-5731 cursed something called the "tall things" repeatedly.

#53
A female orangutan "Peaches"
See log below

#65
SCP-529
SCP-5731 requested cheese. The request was denied.

#101
SCP-096
During SCP-096's calm state, SCP-5731 repeated the phrases "so sad" and "ugly, ugly". Permission denied to deliberately trigger SCP-096 for testing purposes. Addendum 07/ 23/2020 : During an unrelated termination attempt, 096 was triggered and its thoughts transcribed through SCP-5731. It recited complicated equations of aerodynamics and physics. These are thought to be SCP-096 'calculating' how best to reach its target.

#106
SCP-2845
The music box played "Zip-a-Dee-Do-Dah", suggesting that SCP-2845 is sapient and has not been able or willing to speak to date.

+ Log for Test #53

- Access granted

Test Log

Testing run by Dr. Green on 12/02/2018

Subject: “Peaches” A female orangutan who displayed a high comprehension of human language.

<Begin log>

0:00 Dr. Green cranks SCP-5731

0:01 - SCP-5731: Hm? What’s that you’ve got?

0:03 Peaches signals “What’s that?” with her hands.

0:04 Peaches’ caretaker signs “Music”.

0:12 - SCP-5731: I think I’ve seen one of those before. Something, something like it. Something different from it though. That music isn’t right.

0:25 - SCP-5731: Hey! That sounds like you. It isn’t playing music. Is it talking to you?

0:31 - SCP-5731: What’s it saying? That thing isn’t like you or me. I don’t think I like it very much.

1:02 Peaches signs “Afraid”.

1:05 - SCP-5731: I know some of those words the music is telling me. It’s… it’s saying words that are in my head. That’s not right. No, no. I hate it. Ouch, my head hurts.

1:23 Peaches growls and signs “Afraid” again.

1:27 Peaches’ caretaker signs “Safe” to attempt to calm her.

1:51 - SCP-5731: You humans have to get rid of that thing. You don’t like it all that much either, right? Look at you! This whole time you’ve been sitting around with fear in your faces.

2:14 Peaches’ caretaker signs “Safe” again.

2:16 - SCP-5731: Safe? I think you’re lying. I wish I understood what's going on. I know that thing you’re holding is… unnatural. Normally being with humans is so much fun, but not today, not today. Do you hear the words I’m thinking? Well, listen to these words: Put that thing back in the place you found it!

<End log>

Addendum 07/04/2020

On 6/21/2020, an unauthorized number contacted Dr. Pines. The person possessed knowledge of SCP-5731 that she was not cleared to have.

+ File

- Access granted

Texting between Judy T████ and Dr. Pines

This is the conversation Dr. Pines had with the unknown number.

Following this, the number was tracked and found to belong to Judy T████.1 The Foundation retrieved her for questioning.

+ Interview 06/022/2020

- Access granted

Interview 06/22/2020

Interviewed: Judy T████

<Begin interview log>

Interviewer: Good evening, Judy. I have a couple of questions for you.

Judy T████: About the music box, I bet.

Interviewer: Yes, of course. How did it come into your possession?

Judy: If I answer the questions you’ll give it back to me, right?

Interviewer: Certainly.

Judy: Alright, I got it as a gift when I was little. From my aunt.

Interviewer: Do you know where she got it?

Judy: No.

Interviewer: What’s her name?

Judy: What, are you gonna go after her family too? I already know you’re mad enough at me for knowing about… all this… the weird stuff out there.

Interviewer: Tell us her name, please.

Judy: Ugh, it’s █████ ██████. But don’t bother. She’s been dead for 6 years now.

Interviewer: Thank you. How did you find out about “all this”?

Judy: Well, it started with the music box. One thing kinda led to another and… I guess I just never stopped believing in magic as a kid, you know?

Interviewer: And about the Foundation?

Judy: Came across it in my search for the music box.

Interviewer: Could you elaborate?

Judy: How do I elaborate? I don’t remember exactly when I found out about it. At that point I’d already known about the supernatural stuff for years, so a place that collects that stuff ain’t so hard to imagine. And I figured a place that collects magic stuff might have ‘collected’ something that was mine.

Interviewer: Hm, what was your aunt like, then? Do you know if she was aware of the anomalous?

Judy: She definitely knew what the music box could do. That’s why she gave it to me. My best friend even back then was Sparky, and I really wanted nothing more than to talk to him. I don’t know what else she knew about anomalies. What, do you think she was a witch?

Interviewer: Ha, well that’s not entirely out of the realm of possibility. How exactly did you lose the music box?

Judy: I didn’t lose it. It got sold at a yard sale. I like to think that it accidentally got swept up with the other things that were getting sold, but my mom may have just gotten rid of it on purpose.

Interviewer: Your mother was aware of it, then?

Judy: Yeah. She didn’t like the music box or my aunt. She wasn’t real fond of magic, and she always said that I needed to make actual friends, cause a dog wasn’t good enough or something. [ Judy laughs ]

Interviewer: I see. Do you have any more information?

Judy: Nah. Can I have the music box back now?

Interviewer: I’ll see what I can do.

Judy: Hey now, you just said ‘certainly’ at the beginning of our chat, and now it’s ‘I’ll see what I can do’?

Interviewer: I will try my be-

Judy: No! No, that’s not good enough.

Judy stands up from her seat.

Judy: Swear to me you’ll get it back.

Interviewer: I d-

Judy: Do it! Please… [ Judy's voice falters ]

Interviewer: Please remain calm, Judy.

Judy: That thing is mine, and I’m running out of time. Swear you’ll give it back.

Interviewer: Fine then, I swear! Please Judy, sit back down.

Judy sits and breathes deeply.

Judy: Stand by your word, or I’ll be back on your doorstep tomorrow- I swear to that.

<End Interview Log>

Closing statement: Judy T████ provided no further useful information. She received amnestics to remove all memory of SCP-5731 and the Foundation, and was released from Foundation custody.

Why didn't they let her say goodbye? What is one person on the outside knowing about us? No no, amnestize everything away. She remembers nothing about her best friend. To her, he was nothing but a dog. Why? Because we're the Foundation, and we're cold.

Footnotes

1. Surname redacted intentionally.