Just? Lee squinted at it. He was sure it couldn't have been a picture 
of him. How could it be? There wasn't anything left from those days. 
He blinked, rubbed his eyes, then looked again. The picture refused 
to change, and faced him indifferently. It was him, Cindy, and Andy. 
They were grinning stupidly at someone who was taking the picture. 
Lee blinked, and the wicker chair creaked as he sat down again. 


This was from the trip Lee had taken with Rusty and the others in 
'76. It hadn't been a particularly exciting trip, and the hubbub of 
almost college had entered his mind almost directly after they'd 
gotten home. Kirk Lonwood High had been one of the last times he'd 
been happy. The familiar tendrils of nostalgia began to creep over 
his shoulders as he stared. 


You should've stayed home with them. 


Lee shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts, and not 
succeeding. The photo slipped out of his fingers, fluttered down onto 
the counter. Lee closed his eyes giving himself rationalizations and 
condolences. He was okay. There was a good purpose for him here, 
and he was living his own life. Going back would've been a dumb 
thing to do now, with all the time that's passed. When he opened his 
eyes, he saw a message scrawled on the back of the letter. 


We've had a great year, haven't we? Hope to see you again soon! 


~Love, Cindy XOXOXOX 


published text, see Document SCP-701-1640-B-1. 


In short, SCP-701 is a self-evolving memetic virus, transmitted 
through unknown means through the text of the play. Dr.L has 
theorized that SCP-701 events may involve [EXPUNGED]. This 
hypothesis is consistent with a spike in levels detected via 
satellite in the vicinity of the 19 incident, indicating [EXPUNGED]. 


Foundation agents are under standing orders to suppress any 
performance or publication of SCP-701 whenever found or detected. 
Despite our best efforts to the contrary, however, the play remains 
freely available online, sometimes under different titles. All attempts 
to detect or isolate the origin of these copies have failed. 
Suppression of the play's publication has generally been successful, 
with most copies of a 1971 scholarly edition destroyed before 
distribution. Nonetheless, copies of the 1965 trade paperback turn 
up with some regularity in both college and high school libraries. 
Agents are to obtain or otherwise destroy these items whenever 
possible. 


History: The first known publication of The Hanged King’s Tragedy 
was as a quarto dated 1640. The play’s author is not listed. The 
publisher, one William Cooke, disappeared from the historical record 
soon thereafter. Strangely, the text does not appear in the 
Stationers’ Register. 


The first known SCP-701 event on record occurred in 18 duringa 


performance of the play in , , USA. Other significant incidents 
include the 19 performance at a small theater in , , 3 the 
1964 performance at the University of ; ; ; the 19 


performance at University, the first SCP-701 event successfully 
suppressed by the Foundation; the 19 performance by a student 


group in , CA; the 19 television adaptation by the 
Broadcasting Corporation (production successfully shut down by the 
Foundation before broadcast); and the 19 incident in , OH, 


USA, designated SCP-701-19 -1. 
Publication History: 


¢ Original 1640 quarto (all known copies in Foundation custody) 
* 1733 folio edition (republished 1790) 


Sleep didn't come to Lee easily that night. Images of photographs, 
red, his friends driving, listening to the radio, and everything else 
from the summer came flooding back to him. Touching his lips, 
where Cindy had kissed him, he pursed them together and thought 
about his life now. Dwelling in the past would get him nowhere. The 
photo would be off his nightstand and in the bin by tomorrow. 


... we're hitting up the amusement park later today, if Rusty and 
Andy can get the driver/navigator mechanic going. Honestly, it 
seems like they each have their own ideas of how we should get 
there. I'd volunteer, but that'd probably just cause more drama... 


The blaring of an alarm yanked Lee from his sleep, and he spasmed 
with a start. Rise from bed, eat two scoops of cereal, no milk, shave 
after combing hair, get dressed with shoes, pants, shirt, go to the 
mirror to button the coat, then undo it and button the right way, then 
out the door. The whole day was uneventful, except for the niggling 
little gremlins in his mind that had been awakened from the photo. 
As boredom wafted in, he tried to think about where the trip had 
taken him. Did it really matter? 


The picture was still there. The bin was there, so it could be dealt 
with for good. It was probably just from some ass who hated him 
back home. Maybe he should keep it then, in case more photos 
come in. Just in case. The photograph ended up tucked within a 
jacket pocket. 


That whole year was a blur... the summer was what had counted. 
Everything that had happened, then and now, came from that trip. 
Building up a whole year for one last summer, then pissing his life 
away afterwards. But the summer had been a golden moment 
between them, where nothing mattered and you could do what you 
want. A great end to a year of buildup. Instinctively, he reached his 
hand into the jacket pocket to touch the photo. Still there. 


Sleep came easier that night, with the painful memories of the day 
before replaced with the more palatable memories of nostalgia. All 
the good times at school, even before the trip. Band had been fun. 
That's where he'd met Cindy. They'd been partners for band stuff, 

and he'd helped her with... . Lee frowned, and glanced back at the 
photo. Where had Cindy met him? 


...omething about the damned money was the last | heard." She 
smiled at him, and he returned the gesture. The school was in some 
tough times, but it gave him an excuse to talk to her. Speculate on 
whether or not the place downtown could supply- 


Syncope. 


Lee bolted up, grabbing at everything around him as he scrambled 
out of bed. Hearing a buzz, his hands instinctively went to cover his 
ears, and teeth bit tongue. How could he have forgotten Syncope? 
Why should he remember it? He fell back onto his bed, clutching his 
throbbing skull. They'd been... something at Lonwood. Wincing, he 
felt blood stream down from his nose, pooling in his lips. 


There was something about Syncope. Remember. They would 
remember you. Pieces flooded his consciousness. There was a 
school he couldn't leave... his bandmates at the game... and 
Syncope. They'd been a group at the school, they were there from 
town... no, that was wrong. Lee wiped the blood and looked back to 
his nightstand, to the photo. It looked the same. The buzzing grew 
louder. 


Lee could hear it. 


Very sorry. Know you're unhappy here, and apologize for the times 
done to. Frustration and fear, and are willing to work with if only take 
the time to see the overall composure. Know that many of have 
been hurt or set to tower for the goal, but were only for the beat, 
have to make some practices to bring it to the full potential. Not a 
place, like some of have said over this time. Don't have people with, 
working to make the beauty for or otherwise. All want to accomplish 
is making the orchestra of life. All of have been playing roles, as 
single notes in grand symphony. 


Please, rise for the overture. 


« In Session | HUB | Forgetting » 


Epilogue: Last Word 


« Part Three | HUB |We never forget » 


Resurrection 


"Do you remember..." 


PART ZERO: Before Alpha-9 


In which the past informs the present. 


"| Quit" 
by TheDuckman 
"| want to be able to sleep, not thinking about whether the 
decision | made that day..." 


Snakes and Ladders 
by Zyn 
She drew a butterfly in her poetry notebook, labeled it "408", 
and added in parentheses, "someday". 


Incident Zero: The Day Everything Changed. 


( [Recent Updates]) 
« Part 1 | Part 2| Part 3| Part 4 | Part 5 » 
by DrClef 
The call, like many of the worst things in life, came at 1 in the 
morning. 


PART ONE: Introduction 


In which a new Mobile Task Force is proposed, and we meet 
players both new and old. 


Immediate Actions 
by DrEverettMann 


"105. Get up. We need to move you." 


The Seed of an Idea 
by thedeadlymoose 
"Because some people in the Foundation never stopped 
wanting to play with superheroes." 


Like We Were Ever Kindergarten Teachers to Start With 
by Eskobar 
"We're the Foundation. We are eternal, like the Catholic 
Church, or NBC." 


Contingency 
by DrClef 
"... If I'm going to do the job you're asking me to do, | need 
Adams." 


Deals with the Devil 
by Sophia Light 
"Did that woman really look me in the eyes and say ‘we're re- 
opening Pandora's Box'?" Light groaned. "I don't know how 
they take themselves seriously." 


What's in a Name? 
by DrClef 
A cold fury descended upon her and settled just below her 
heart. 


Just A Formality 
by Crayne 
"My name is Dr. Manwell Cutler and I'm a member of the 
Foundation's Ethics Committee. Perhaps you've heard of us?" 


Integrity Project 
by djkaktus 
"This is an old debt, Jean. It is one you knew would come due 
in time." 


Boss of Me 
by Roget 
"Director Gillespie, | presume?" 


New Tricks 
by DrClef and thedeadlymoose 
In an unnamed garage in a facility that didn't exist, a dog was 
trying to repair a hydraulic servo. 


The Wolves at the Door 
by DrEverettMann 
"No," Iris said, horrified and appalled. "You can't be serious." 


Light-Dependent Reactions 
by Photosynthetic 
"It was either get curious or break down entirely." 


Girls’ Night Out 
Dressing Up | Getting Drunk | Raising Hell 
by DrClef 
"Aren't you supposed to be protecting me?" Iris groaned. 
"From bullets, not bad decisions," Adams said. 


Museum of Idiots 
by Roget 
Mister Collector missed his friends terribly. 


Additional Resources 
by LurkD and djkaktus 
"Just help me keep it together fer another week then I'll put in 
the transfer..." 


Job Opportunities 
by LOrdDeath 
The young girl suddenly looked very down-trodden. "Not all of 
my vegetables. | didn't like the broccoli." 


Pythia's Wing 
by thedeadlymoose 
The oracle's laughter vibrated in the air, personable yet 
inhuman. 


Number One With a Bullet 
by DrClef 
... Then a grand piano fell on her. 


Lending a Hand 
by Doctor Cimmerian 
Cimmerian blinked twice and chuckled. "This," he thought, 
"this is how those kinds of stories start." 


The High Court With The Magic Army 
by thedeadlymoose 
"I'm going to see the other members of the Council," Ten said. 
"| want you to come with me." 


| Was Not Magnificent 
by Roget 
Light leaned in and whispered. "There's a ghost kid walking 
underneath me. Is that supposed to be happening?" 


In Harm's Way 
by Sophia Light & collaborating writers 
"You ask me, | bet the vote barely slid past." "Alpha-9 is still 
widely unpopular." "You bet your ass. And now everyone's 
going to know about it." 


PART TWO: Alpha-Niner Is Go 


In which Alpha-9 is assembled, trained, and begins its 
missions. 


Operation "Camp Granada" 
by DrClef and Foggy Golem 
Of particular concern were indications that the missing 
campers had been dragged out of their tents by force, rather 
than devoured in-situ... . 


All This Wandering 
[Note: Explicit Sexual Content] 
by Eskobar 
"Peter looked at his body, then at the sad pile of old and worn- 
out landscaping gear that had been Ritchie's life. 'Yeah,' he 
said. ‘I'm with you." 


Folly 


by djkaktus 
Karlyle nodded. "| have no doubt that this will be nothing more 
than routine, doctor." 


Back Alley Deals 
by DrEverettMann 
In Carter's office was a fragment of obsidian which was 
supposedly the oldest memory the Minders had ever stolen. 


Tasers & Thermite 
by LurkD & Dexanote 
YOU-HAVE-TERRIBLE-IDEAS 


Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Huntsman 
by LOrdDeath 
"Do you know what | hated about living in London, Gunnel?" 


We Got A Good Thing Here 
by DrClef 
Aleksander smirked. He knew what to expect from a Marshall, 
Carter, and Dark resort. It was obvious that Adams did not. 


Are We There Yet? 
by LurkD 
"Whatever. Not even halfway there and I'm already fixin' to 
drive this car to the nearest river and drown all three of you." 


| Thought You Died Alone 
by A Random Day 
Your request for whistleblower protection regarding Mobile 
Task Force Alpha-9 has been reviewed and denied... 


Ball Gags And Scrambled Eggs 
by LurkD & DrClef 
"Lie to me like he did, and you get the same. Now, tell me. 
What's Lambda-Two?" 


Up To No Good 
by LurkD 
«Road trip!» 


Elder Baconator [Recent Story] 
by Waxx & thedeadlymoose 
Tilda and Dmitri Strelnikov have a quiet dinner and absolutely 
nothing happens. 


Where Your Eyes Don't Go [Recent Story] 
by Roget 
So who's going to look into that whole assassination 
business? 


Loosen Up a Bit [Recent Story] 
by thefriendlyvandal 
“Cog, loosen up a bit. Love, Clef.” 


PART 2.5 


In which we have a temporary Act. This story is currently set 
in the future, and has not yet occurred. 


No Joke 
by DrEverettMann 
"This is too big! CHICANEROUS GANGSTER CONSPIRACY 
FASCISTS! Call 555-727-7560! Press five, and say bixby 
actual to save the world." 


Getting Into Treble [Recent Story] 
by Doctor Cimmerian 
Han hit terminal velocity approximately two kilometers above 
Ruston, Louisiana. 


Nine years ago, the SCP Foundation was a very different place. 


Supported by the United States' Bowe Commission, the focus was 
on research and development. Cross-testing and weaponization of 
SCP objects was common. Mobile Task Force Omega-7 ("Pandora's 
Box") utilized SCP-076 and SCP-105 to carry out their missions. 
Senior Staff members were given extreme freedom and autonomy, 


ignoring all rules of propriety and professionalism so long as they 
got the job done. All of this was endorsed by O5 Command, the 
High Court with their magic army. 


That era was both very good and very bad for the Foundation, but it 
ended, and it ended badly. 


There were many incidents that catalyzed the end of the Pandora's 
Box era. Kondraki's destruction of Site-19. "Incident Zero." The end 
came when Able slaughtered the rest of Omega-7. 


O5 Command realized they were losing control and cracked down. 
The old projects were shuttered. Senior Staff were kicked upstairs 
into administrative roles (and in one famous Case, assassinated). 
Research and development of anomalous technology ceased as the 
Foundation refocused on mere collection and containment. 


Nine years passed, and we reach the present day. 


The pace of anomalous incidents is accelerating. Thousands of 
SCPs have been discovered in only the last few years. New GOls 
are forming and being discovered every day. The Foundation can't 
keep up. O5 Command is becoming desperate. They wish to once 
again tilt the scales in their favor. 


They are reopening research into SCPs outside of containment 
purposes. They are re-implementing cross-testing and 
weaponization. Endorsing in-house scientific journals. Creating an 
entirely new class of SCPs (Thaumiel) specifically to contain others. 
Re-opening old casefiles from the Bowe era, looking for old swords 
to resharpen for the new battles to come. 


They privately call this "Project Resurrection." 


One of those old swords is Project Pandora's Box. Mobile Task 
Force Omega-7, now known as Alpha-9 ("Last Hope"). 


Not everyone is happy about this. They remember the bad old days. 
They worry this is going to be the end of the Foundation. 


They may be right. 


* 1813 Cambridge University Press edition 
* 1965 trade paperback edition 
* 1971 hardcover edition 


Agents should note that copies of the play have often been misfiled 
under different titles or spellings of the title. Furthermore, 
photocopies of the 1965 text have been found in circulation 
throughout college theater departments in the continental United 
States and in the United Kingdom.