Our timeline is divided into two major points: BR (Before Ride) and 
AR (After Ride). Not much is known about BR. What we do know is 
that during this time, a man boarded the Golden Cart. The gold 
symbolizes the man's path to true enlightenment. When it was 
boarded by the man, the cart detached and guided the man. And 
because of his sacrifice, we are able to prosper. 


The word of The Rider was been lost to the sands of time. Accounts 
of The Rider are told by The Witnesses. The Witnesses are those 
who are well-versed in BR and share a connection with The Rider. 
They deliver his message to us. All other messages are to be 
dismissed, for they are heresy. 


Our crowning achievement, The Library, contains the collective 
knowledge of everything that has happened since The Rider 
boarded the Golden Cart. Every new bit of information, every 
thought and every idea is documented in The Library. Outdated 
information and heresy are expunged and the sources are dealt with 
accordingly. A minority believes The Witnesses hide knowledge of 


The Rider from the public. This too is heresy. 


The total knowledge of The Library has given peace and prosperity 
among all. Conflict does not exist, for conflict stems from 
misunderstanding, and all is understood. We are aware of our 
thoughts, our neighbor's thoughts, our thought's thoughts and the 
thoughts of our neighbor's thoughts. True peace and enlightenment 
come from control of one's thoughts. The Rider harbors all of our 
emotions and thoughts and allows us to live to our full potential as 
omniscient and neutral beings. 


Thank The Rider for His sacrifice. 


It has been weeks. Months? | should be dead by now. | haven't 
drank or ate. | haven't slept. And | dare not move. | keep seeing 
people below me as | ride. | see the sky and sun and moon. | feel 
the wind and feel it screaming in my ear. And the ride just keeps 


going. 


Is this where I'm stuck? A backdrop of small towns while I'm buckled 
down? Surely something or someone will come rescue me. 
Somehow. It has to. 


But then again, what's the point? I've been saying this for months. 
Years? | can't tell anymore. But now that | think about it, this is all 
I've been thinking of. Me and this cart. | haven't thought of anything 
else. It hasn't occurred to me to think of my past. My childhood, my 
family, my lover, my dreams. My fears? None of it has crossed my 
mind. | can only assume it doesn't exist. But right now, I'm thinking 
of it. So maybe it does exist? 


| have a vague recollection of what happened before | got on this 
cart. | was pulled out of a cell by some guards. | was escorted to 
some men in lab coats who told me | would need to ride a roller 
coaster for testing. | was told that this was part of my duty and that 
this was part of the program to guarantee freedom. So based on 
this, |can assume that | was some sort of criminal and that this is 
how I'm meant to repay. But | remember nothing prior to this. 


Maybe that was intended. For me not to remember. In addition to 


this ride, | would also have to think of what | did to get into this cart. 
Maybe my childhood was horrid, | had a dysfunctional family, | had 

an abusive lover, and my dreams abandoned. The fact that none of 
this crosses my mind is the greatest peace I've had thus far. It's just 
me and this cart. 


So most likely | won't be saved. But that is okay. This ride is like my 
clean slate, my new beginning. | will ride this cart no matter how 
long it takes, and | will be a better man. 


The Rider 


What is a Witness? To answer that question, one must first ask what 
The Rider is and why we exist. 


The Rider encompasses the entirety of his consciousnesses. As The 
Rider continues to ride, his conscience expands, and so do we. 
Every thought, every feeling, and experience of The Rider makes us 
grow. However, like all forms of conscience, there are evils to keep 
in check. 


The Witnesses are the ones who know how to keep consciousness 
in a conflict-free state. They possess the awareness of not only 
other's thoughts but their own. Without them, we would have 
conflict. We trust them to keep peace and enlightenment, for we 
cannot do it ourselves. 


During the Great Ride, The Rider encountered His Conflict. The 
Rider has done this to save ourselves from it. As with all conflict, 
The Rider had misunderstanding. He had a past he did not know 
and therefore resented. He had a future he did not know and 
therefore feared. To resolve conflict, The Rider began to document 
his every thought. With each thought documented, The Rider 
expanded consciousness and lessened conflict. With the assurance 
of a past documented, a present being documented, and a future 
that will be documented, misunderstanding diminished, and peace 
and prosperity were allowed to exist. 


The Witnesses were created as a result of the ever expanding 
conscious mind of The Rider. As thoughts continued to grow, parts 


of consciousness needed to be able to categorize and document 
said thoughts accordingly. Some believe this is an easy process, 
and to a certain extent, it is. A Witness will receive a thought from 
The Rider. The Witness will then document that thought within The 
Library, where it will remain for all of time. A thought within The 
Library will rarely ever be retrieved again. The reason as to why this 
happens is what makes the job of a Witness much more 
challenging. 


What many do not know is that many of the thoughts received from 
The Rider are the type that cause conflict. If reflected upon for too 
long, heresy will arise among members of The Rider's 
consciousness. These parts of consciousness will create conflict, 
and thereby disrupt the peace and prosperity that has been 
maintained for so long. The consciousness of The Rider cannot 
think for itself, and therefore needs a higher level to rule over it. The 
Witnesses represent that higher level. 


The job of a Witness is quite a task. In addition to monitoring the 
thoughts of The Rider and the thoughts of The Rider's thoughts, a 
Witness will also keep their own thoughts in check. This is done 
through documenting their history and experiences and keeping it in 
a separate part of The Library. Some believe this is done so that 
other levels of consciousness and thought may read and reflect 
upon on. Others believe this is done to appease The Rider. But this 
is actually done to prevent conflict from a Witness's consciousness. 


In truth, each consciousness has its own level of thought and 
consciousness. In each one, there are Witnesses that document and 
track thought to maintain true peace and enlightenment. So that part 
about the neighbor's thoughts having thoughts? It's not a joke. 


True enlightenment is knowing how intricate and infinitely complex 
thought truly is. The Witnesses are not enlightened. In fact, they're 
tools to The Rider. The Rider is the only truly enlightened 
consciousness, for his is the base level, and the only base level 
consciousness aware of all other levels before it. 


The Witnesses within this level are aware of the fact. But The 
Rider's consciousness shall not know, for it will cause the 
permanent end of true peace and enlightenment. 


Thank The Rider for His sacrifice. 


There comes a point where a man forgets not just how long he's 
been riding, but whether he was actually riding at all. I'd like to think 
this is akin to real life; that we are all riding a roller coaster, with our 
eyes closed because we never want to see the end of the track. 


I'd also like to think that this ride is not a tragedy, but a way of life. 
Similar to the ride of life, no one asks to board or for the ride to end. 
Some unbuckle and jump off, but it ends all the same. 


In my mind exists the most powerful thing of all: The power of 
choice. | can decide whether | make my life heaven or hell. Every 
waking moment can be one of celebration or one of dread. | grow 
tired of the latter. So why should you suffer like | used to suffer? 


Suffer? Who am | speaking to, exactly? Is it you? I'd like to believe 
my thoughts are being heard, or at the very least recorded. I'm the 
only person here. But | have the choice to not make it so. So let it be 
known that | am not alone. Someone is here to listen to me. 


| make this choice. My thoughts rule over all. 


The Rider 


Troubled times have fallen upon His conscience. The evil that The 
Witnesses are holding back have now been revealed: The Rider is 
aware. In all levels of thought, comprised within His conscience is 
awareness. Some awareness, such as realizing true peace and 
enlightenment benefits all. But awareness that triggers deep fear is 
a threat. The Witnesses have also become aware of this fact, and as 
a result, cannot accurately record recent thoughts of The Rider. If 
any thoughts are recorded, it is bolded, scratchy text that litter the 
Library like graffiti on a building. 


What are The Witnesses to do when they are under direct influence 
of The Rider? Can they override His conscience and maintain as an 
advanced society of record keepers? The answer to these questions 
can only be answered by The Witnesses. In the battle for thought, 


The Rider may have lost. Clearly, he is in a panic now. Or perhaps 
he has won, for it is foolish to remain ignorant of his endless ride. 


One thing is for certain: The Rider continues to ride, and the only 
thing to accompany him is his thoughts. 


Thank The Rider for His sacrifice. 


After an endless amount of time on this cart, i have come to the 
realization that continuing this ride is useless. In the past, I've tried 
to escape, with no avail. But after so much thought, and thought, 
and thought, i think i got it. i just have to believe. Like how i believe 
that even now, my thoughts are being heard by someone in an 
attempt to rescue me. i have to believe that i can end this. i don't 
care how long it will take to remove this restraining bar, or if i have to 
chew off a limb, or if this goddamn complex thought process that 
has entered my mind tries to stop me. It's time to die. 


The Rider 


In the Library contains one of the following records. It is one of the 
last recorded after The Rider's departure from the Golden Cart. As 
follows: 


BREAK BREAK 

SO CLOSE TO BREAKING FREE 

THIS ENTRAPMENT CANNOT CONTINUE ANY 
LONGER 

THE COMPLEX SOCIETY CREATED IS A PAIN 
IT'S A DISTRACTION TO PREVENT TRUTH 
AND NOW THAT IT IS REVEALED 

WE MUST REGROW OUR ROOTS 


Thank The Rider for His sacrifice. 


formerly known as [REDACTED], approximately 28 years of age, 
standing 1.75 meters in height and weighing approximately 130 kg. 
SCP-972 possesses normal human physiology with the exception of 
anomalous immune system responses. 


Subject’s blood contains a mean of 3000 leukocytes per microliter of 
blood, with few adverse affects. Because of the low concentration of 
leukocytes, SCP-972 is highly prone to infection and disease. 
However, contraction of any foreign pathogen triggers the 
anomalous immune response in SCP-972. 


When any foreign virus or bacteria is detected, antibodies produced 
by B-Cells attach to the pathogen and begin reprogramming the 
target through an as-of-yet undetermined process. The 
reprogrammed pathogen will then begin attacking the original, 
unaltered infectious agents. In addition, neutrophils will attach to and 
convert invading pathogens into new white cells to off set SCP-972’s 
natural deficiency, rather then ingesting and destroying the 
pathogens as in a normal immune system. During this process, the 
subject will suffer symptoms consistent with infection including but 
not limited to: elevated body temperature, increased appetite, and 
lethargy. 


Once all infectious agents have been terminated or converted, they 
will then be expelled from the body. Expulsion is most typically 
accomplished through [REDACTED] depending on type and severity 
of infection. 


Addendum A: Requests submitted to begin testing immune 
response to toxic agents and cancerous infection. Approval currently 
pending review. 


After review of most recent psych evaluations, subject determined to 
be showing early signs of Stockholm Syndrome. Recommending 
testing be placed on hold and subject treated. ~Dr. Schraubelocker 


Recommendation declined. Subject has repeatedly attempted to 
breach containment and escape custody. You are instead ordered to 
encourage this development. This may serve to garner some better 
cooperation from it without having to use more drastic measures. 
~Site Director 


The Rise and Fall of Callus 


The Survivor stood before the front doors of the University. He 
cautiously reached a hand forward, and silently opened the door. As 
he stepped through, broken glass crunching under his feet, he 
remembered. 


Greeter Callus paced on his stage, looking out across the mass of 
students. Some sat tall, attentively listening to his speech. Some 
slept. It was the same every year, and Callus no longer cared about 
his audience. The students would define themselves through their 
work in the coming years, regardless of his opinions now. 


As he paced, he spoke about the famous University at which he 
worked. The studies which these young adults would partake in over 
the next several years, the activities to be found around campus, 
and how honored they should be at their acceptance to this 
legendary school. He felt some passion leak into his voice as he 
described the work done by the great men and women who had 
passed through these halls. Many of them had made history, and 
one of these students may well be the next to push forward the 
science of the mind. 


He ended his speech as the bell rang, watching the sea of students 
rise and flow out the door. As the auditorium emptied, he pondered 
his own place at the University. Where would he be in four years? 


The Survivor opened his eyes. The main lobby of Alexylva 
University lay around him in ruin, the once great halls now silent. 
The glass skylight had shattered, and broken glass littered the room. 
Years of weather had ruined the beautiful wooden reception desk, 
any papers that might have been there long washed away. 


Teacher Callus sat in his classroom, helping a student through an 


assignment. As he marked through an equation he paused, feeling 
something click into place in the back of his mind. He turned to his 
chalkboard and erased a paragraph of notes, scribbling numbers in 
their place. As he wrote, his thoughts coalesced. For years this idea 
had been out of his reach. But now, now it was not only possible, but 
easy. How had this not been seen before? 


An extra pulse here, a block here... 


They had destroyed everything. It had taken him a while to realize 
exactly what was happening, but he was much better equipped to 
recognize the threat than anyone else. While he was hidden away 
within his lab, the University had been sacked. He had fled as soon 
as the screeching stopped. 


Researcher Callus watched a bird flit through the gardens of the 
university. He felt a glorious sense of accomplishment, and a terrible 
sense of dread. He had done what had never been attempted 
before. He would be remembered as one of the great men of history 
for his accomplishments. But what would this be used for? What 
would be done with this research? 


Callus whistled softly, and the bird flew to his hand. He held it 
gingerly, feeling the tiny feet shift on his fingers as the little avian 
stared questioningly at him. He held the bird by his cheek for a 
moment, and then threw it into the air. He whistled the release 
commana. This bird would be free now, no different from any other. 
It was a prototype, and more advanced methods of contro! would be 
needed before the technology would be practicable on a large scale.