"| see. Nice digs." Clef moved to the center of the room, picked up a 
broad sheet of what appeared to be thin plastic. He rapped in the 
center of it: the substance was incredibly strong, for being so thin 
and delicate. "What's this?" 


"784 makes them. Looks like he uses them to build nests, or 
something." Chang pointed to the piles of the substance all around 
the room, arranged in a vague circular approximation. "Since it's 
harmless, they let him." 


"| see." Clef reached down and picked up a USB stick drive, reading 


the text written on the side. "You're letting him read Eric Drexler?" 


"Director Valentine's idea, sir. She says that knowing some theory 
might help him to use his body more effectively.” 


"| see. Carry on then." Clef turned and walked out of the room, 
closing the heavy steel door behind him." 


"Holeeee-shit," Chang whistled. "Looks like all our problems might 
be over soon." 


"Why do you say that?" Vicks wondered. 
"That was AD Clef. He's an Auditor." 


"What the fuck does a tax man have to do with solving all our 
problems?" 


"Not that kind of auditing, dumbass. Auditing Towards Termination. 
He looks at a situation, and if he decides that someone needs to 
die... poof." Chang pointed his index finger towards his head and 
mimed shooting himself in the head with a gun. "Scratch one SCP. 
Rumor has it he's so damn good at what he does sometimes the 
Skips don't even know they're dead until it's over." 


"C'mon, Chang," Vicks laughed. "No one's THAT good." 

"| dunno," Chang said, scratching his chin. "He did just walk out of 
here with a sample of 784's nesting material and that USB drive in 
his pocket." 

"Doctor Lorenzo." 

"Doctor Clef." 

"Please sit down. How's the hand?" 


"Better. Medical is growing back the finger, but it might take a little 
while. Typing is... difficult." 


"| can imagine. In any case, I've finished my audit. I'd like you to 


read over the report before | submit it to the O5s. 
"Thank you." 

"... you're serious?" 

"Completely." 

"... you can't be serious." 


"Doctor Lorenzo, it's my conclusion that SCP-784 is no threat to 
anyone so long as current containment procedures are maintained. 
For that reason, your Audit for Termination is denied. | have, 
however, recommended that you be given a short medical leave, as 
a psychological evaluation indicates high levels of stress and 
fatigue." 


"... you're not serious, are you?" 


"Please sign here. You have twenty-four hours to turn over all your 
duties to your assistant. You will report to the infirmary at noon 
tomorrow for two weeks of psychological evaluation and 
counseling." 


"YOU SONOVABITCH! YOU FUCKING STUPID SONOVABITCH, 
THAT MONSTER'S GONNA KILL US ALL!" 


"Doctor Lorenzo, if you do not cooperate, | will be forced to defend 
myself." 


"YOU FUCKING SMILING SONOVABITCH, I'LL FUCKING KILL YO 


<funt> 
"... you shot me?" 
"... you'll get better." 


<crash> 


SCP-766: Human-Shaped Anomaly in Space 


Item #: SCP-766 
Object Class: Safe 


Special Containment Procedures: Due to SCP-766's immobile 
nature, Site-362 has been built around it. Operated by dummy 
corporation in , Indonesia, SCP-766 is stored ina 
locked room behind the site's storage room. A wooden crate has 
been lowered over it, which is fastened to a cleat on the floor by a 
combination lock. 


Though classified as Safe, precautions should be taken when 
interacting with SCP-766. Leather gloves and Plexiglas visors are 
recommended for handling, and are stored on-site. 


Description: SCP-766 is a human-shaped anomaly in space that 
matter cannot pass through, making it, in effect, an invisible "statue" 
of a person. Plaster applied to the anomaly has allowed researchers 
to study its shape: It is in the shape of a perfectly anatomically 
correct nude woman in her late 30s with features consistent with the 
native population of the island. It is running, mid-stride, and looking 
behind, up, and to the left. The right hand forms a fist with the 
fingers leaving a hollow, cylindrical opening, suggesting that it once 
held an implement of some sort. A band on the left shoulder is 
indented in a way that the strap of a satchel might cause. SCP-766's 
facial expression appears both exhausted and startled. 


SCP-766 was once known to the local population as the "Woman- 
Bearing Tree." A Santalum album had grown around it, suggesting 
its shape. It had been considered a local botanical oddity until a 
forest fire in 19 , which destroyed the tree and left ash resting atop 
SCP-766, making it appear that the debris was floating. Foundation 
agents intervened, sequestering it. 


SCP-766 does not appear to actually be constructed from any sort 


"Jesus... <sigh> Security, this is Assistant Director Clef. Doctor 
Lorenzo is currently sedated in my office. Please have some big, 
strong men sent down to carry him to a bed and tie him to it... wow, 
that sounded gayer than | thought..." 


Part 4: Breach 


The 784 Incident: Part 4: Breach 


Part 3:Escalation 


“Until the End of the World" 


Eighteen Months Ago 
"All right, next question." 
"Mmmm?" 


"Imagine you just won a contest and you have your choice of two 
prizes." 


"Is one of them you?" 
"No... would you take this seriously, please?" 


"I'm sorry, I'm a bit distracted by the beautiful naked girl in bed with 
me." 


"You've got another girl under the sheets right now? How mean!" 
"I'm talking about you, babe." 

"Please. I'm not beautiful." 

"Of course you are. The most beautiful girl in the world." 

"| don't believe you." 

"It's the truth. What do | need to do to make you believe that?" 
"Tell me again..." 


"You're beautiful..." 


"... a million times." 

"You're beautiful, you're beautiful, you're..." 

"Not all at once, you dork! Slower... once a day, maybe." 
"That's... about two thousand, seven hundred years." 
"Then you'll just have to make sure that we live that long." 


"Yes, dear..." 


Today 


"... in conclusion, the operation was carried out successfully, with 
minimal casualties. SCP-784 performed outstandingly. The artifact 
was captured without further incident, contained, and remanded to 
Special Containment Procedures unit." Lieutenant Takahashi closed 
her notebook with a crisp, military snap. 


"Thank you. You are dismissed." Director Valentine said, 
distractedly. She ran a finger along her armchair. There was a 
slightly dreamy expression on her face, a nearly post-orgasmic one. 
Takahashi bit her lower lip. She really didn't want to know. 


"There is one more thing," the lieutenant continued, hesitantly. 
"Skip-784 asked me a question." More like rumbled it, actually, in its 
terrifying buzzing voice, that sounded like a chorus of bees. "He 
wants to know when you will uphold your end of the bargain." 


"Mmmm? Which bargain?" Valentine asked. 
"Agent Maddox. You promised..." 


"Oh yes. Tell him that the request was put through, and is pending 
Overseer review," Valentine said. 


"... Is it, Director?" 


"Is what?" 


Her voice was catching just a bit. She seemed a bit breathless. 
Takahashi was starting to get really annoyed by that. "Was the 
request put through? IS it pending Overseer review?" she repeated. 


"If it'll help ease your mind, then, as far as you know, yes it was." 
Valentine said. The older woman bit her lower lip, and Takahashi... 
yes, she could definitely hear the slightest hint of a buzzing sound. 
"Now if you'll excuse me... you are dismissed, Lieutenant." 


The door closed behind her with a solid click. Takahashi took a deep 
breath. Behind her, in the room, she could hear the buzzing noise 
growing louder, and the definite, high-pitched sounds of feminine 
amorous moans. 


"Jesus," she whispered, shaking her head. 


Post-Incident Interview, - - 


Interviewer: Were you aware of Doctor Valentine's 
condition at the time? 


Clef: Her technophilia? Yes. Her collection of... 
mechanical aids... was rather famous around the facility. 


Interviewer: And you didn't think that it was inappropriate 
to place someone like that in charge of a mechanically 
based SCP? 


Clef: Doctor Valentine's extracurricular activities were not 
relevant to her ability to do research upon her test 
subject. no. 


Interviewer: | wonder how much you really believe that. 
Clef: Given subsequent events, it's clear that my beliefs 


were... incorrect. 


Night time at Site 19 was usually no different than any other time of 
day. The Oubliette was built rather like a Vegas Casino: every effort 
made to make sure that no one could see outside. Instead of day 


and night, an endless, constant, monotonous day, broken only by 
the changing of shifts from one set of guards to the next. 


Agent Jared Thomas had just begun his graveyard shift, had just 
settled into his comfortable station chair with a copy of the new John 
Grisham novel and a pack of bubble gum, when the door opened. 
He stood up, blinking in surprise. It wasn't exactly unusual to see 
Director Valentine here, but at two in the morning? 


"Good evening mister... Thomas..." Valentine said, after a quick 
glance at the young man's nametag. "How is Agent Andrews 
today?" 


"SCP-784 is quiet, as usual, Director," Agent Thomas said. He 
gestured through the quartz glass at the scene below: SCP-784 lay 
curled up in its concrete container, looking rather like a thousand- 
armed steel octopus crossed with a million wriggling silicon 
earthworms, slowly writhing. "I think he's sleeping, to be honest. 
Although it's hard to tell." 


"| see... sleeping." Valentine leaned over, and Thomas gulped 
nervously. The thin, white cloth of the middle-aged woman's labcoat 
was just sheer enough for the younger man to see what she wasn't 
wearing underneath. "When was the last time you got a good night's 
sleep, Agent Thomas?" 


"| slept from 0900 to 1600 today," Thomas said, smiling. 
"| said a good NIGHT's sleep, Agent Thomas." 


"Oh? I've worked graveyard shift for the past five months. I'll be 
switching back in..." 


"| see. Go and get some sleep, Agent Thomas. Sleeping in the day 
and staying up nights is bad for your circadian rhythm. I'll finish up 
your watch." 


"Actually, ma'am, I've been setting up this new rhythm for months. 
I'm not sleepy at all." 


"Agent Thomas, do you WANT to be reassigned to cleaning up 
SCP-053's diapers?" 


"Not as such, no..." 


"Then | recommend you follow orders from a superior officer. Now, 
Agent Thomas." 


"Yes, ma'am." The younger agent sullenly picked up his book, 
coffee, and jacket, and left the control chamber. Glancing over his 
shoulder, he could see Director Valentine settle into the station chair 
and look up at the monitors, the very image of the professional SCP 
Foundation guard. 


He also noticed that she was fingering the top button of her labcoat, 
a bit tentatively. 


Agent Thomas smiled. "Gotcha," he whispered to himself. On his 
way out, he took the small electronic device from his coat pocket 
and attached it to the underside of the glowing green EXIT sign with 
a wad of Bubblicious. Then he took his cell phone out of his pocket 
and called up Lieutenant Takahashi. 


"Hey, Taki," Thomas said. "Remember how you told me to let you 
know if the Iron Bitch does something strange? Get your team 
together. | think she's about to." 


Audio Log 784-T-K-421 


Chang: Jesus, Lieutenant, don't you ever sleep? It's like 
two in the morning. 


Takahashi: Don't worry, Chang, you're gonna like this. 
Here, check this out. 


Chang: Okay, I'll bite. What you got for us? 
Takahashi: Watch this. 

[loud vocalizations] 

Vicks: Holy CHRIST! Is that... 


Chang: [wolf whistle] Dayum! | usually gotta pay by the 


hour to watch stuff like this... wait, | think she's almost... 
OH! 


[loud cheering, punctuated by a cry of, "Yeah, Baby!"] 
Takahashi: Jared, are you recording this? 


Thomas: Recording, shit, | could sell this to any studio 
and make... 


Takahashi: Thomas, cut the shit, are you recording this? 
Thomas: Yeah, I'm recording all right. We've got her. 


Takahashi: Run that up to the Smiling Man. I'm going to 
head down there and arrest this bitch for gross 
dereliction of duty. 


Chang: Gross is right, did you see how she... 


Takahashi: Chang, Vicks, get your minds out of the 
gutter and grab your gear. 


Vicks: Sure thing, boss. Yowee, for an old hag, she's 
actually not bad. 


Takahashi: Christ... 


Thomas: Hang on a minute, Lieutenant, something's 
happening... oh hell. Taki? You'd better get down there 
NOW. 


Takahashi: What is it? 


Thomas: The target just left the control facility. She's 
headed inside. 


Takahashi: fuck fuck fuck fuck move! ... wait, did anyone 
hear that? 


[END OF LOG] 


Part 5: Breaking Point 


The 784 Incident: Part 5: Breaking Point 


Part 4: Breach 


"Plausible Deniability" 


Post-Incident Interview, - - 


Interviewer: And that was when Director Valentine 
breached containment on SCP-784. 


Clef: That is correct. 


Interviewer: And at that time, Lieutenant Takahashi of 
MTF-D9 had already arranged her strike team in 
preparation for arresting Director Valentine. 


Clef: That is correct. 


Interviewer: Can you explain for me, then, what 
happened next? 


Clef: To put it mildly, sir, the shit simply hit the fan. What 
| hadn't anticipated at that point was that a 
decommissioning attempt on the other side of the base 
would go horribly wrong, causing destruction and death 
on a massive scale. 


Interviewer: ... so in short, while SCP-784 was making 
its escape attempt, that was about when... 


Clef: About when Kondraki was throwing cat urine at 
SCP-083, yes. 


Interviewer: ... 


"WHADDYA FUCKING MEAN NO BACKUP'S COMING!" Takahashi 
screamed. "I'VE GOT A FUCKING KETER SCP BREAKING 
CONTAINMENT, AT LEAST ONE POSSIBLE HOSTAGE, AND I'VE 
GOT FOUR GUYS WITH PEASHOOTERS TO TRY AND CONTAIN 
IT!" 


"Lieutenant, I'm sorry, but all resources are currently being diverted 
to another incident. | can get you a fire support team in about half an 
hour..." 


"There won't BE a need for a support team in half an hour because 
we'll all be DEAD in half an hour!" Takahashi snapped. 


"Lieutenant! He's coming!" Chang shouted. 


Takahashi swore and grabbed her nine mil, checking the chamber 
and magazine for ammunition. Thirteen rounds wasn't gonna be 
enough. Hell, a thousand rounds wasn't gonna be enough for this 
one. She took cover behind a soda machine, the lurid red and white 
advertisements on the box casting a strange counterpoint to the 
amber emergency lights. The rifle in her hands felt small and 
inadequate compared to that which was approaching. 


The first sign of trouble was Valentine. The older woman was naked, 
her pale skin laced with stretch marks and pale blue veins, and she 
was slowly staggering out of the darkened corridor, pale body laced 
with blood. "Jesus, she's alive!" Vicks gasped. 


"Stand fast, Vicks!" Takahashi ordered. "Director Valentine, come 
here!" 


The older woman turned slowly, then slumped against the wall. 
Takahashi swore again, turned to Vicks and Chang. She pointed to 
her eyes with two fingers, then gestured down the corridor, and 
pumped her fist once. Vicks and Chang nodded grimly and headed 
down the corridor, sweeping the corners with their flashlights and 
pistols. They took up positions on either side of the hallway, then 
nodded to Takahashi. 


"Thomas, you're with me." The lieutenant ran to Valentine's side. 
The woman's head was lolling on her shoulders, and her body was 


covered in a thin sheen of sweat, matting her hair to her skull. "Hey, 
bitch, are you alive?" Takahashi whispered.