He put his sword back into the sheath and braced the spear in his 
two hands. He knew some spellcasting, and worked it around 
himself, filling in the gaps with the natural magic of his people. He 
was not prepared for battle, but he would never be. He was, 
however, prepared to make a statement. Nobody was around to 
hear it, but that was of no consequence. He wasn't making it for 
anyone but himself. 


Delbaeth charged. 


Wayfarers Hub 


"What did the probes say about this exit?" Dr. Baldric 
asked. He sat next to Sgt. Darren Wells, in front of 
Director Kauffman's desk, looking over several reports 
included in a briefing document. 


"Tundra Biome," Kauffman replied, "Atmosphere suitable 
for terrestrial life. Presence of alien megafauna. Possibly 
megaflora. All in all should be a fun trip." 


"You have us going pretty deep into the Passage. Any 
reports of Hand activity out there?" Wells asked as he 
looked over a copy of a map of the known Gate 
Passage. 


"All outposts reported in this morning that things are 
pretty quiet on that front. We figured that they're either 
avoiding the sections of the passage we've been using, 
or our presence is less trouble than we originally thought. 
Either way you shouldn't encounter any Hand agents on 
this particular entry." 


The Director then slid a list across his desk towards 
them. 


"Here is your roster for the run. As always, your preferred 
personnel were selected where appropriate." 


"Lot of green people on here..." Wells commented with a 
small frown. 


"If you know of any cushier Gate entries coming up to 
break in the new talent, by all means inform me," 
Kauffman replied sharply. 


"Hey, at least we got Turner and Candle," said Baldric as 


he grinned at Wells. "We'll be fine. What's the worst that 
can happen?" 


Series Overview: 


Mobile Task Force Eta-13, also known as "Gulliver's Tourists," was 
the SCP Foundation team created to journey into a massive series 
of tunnels extending through extra-dimensional space, colloquially 
known as "The Gate." Lead by Sgt. Darren Wells and Dr. Johna 
Baldric, the task force set out to explore the seemingly infinite 
number of worlds and pocket dimensions accessible from within the 
Gate Passage, and the hundreds of alien lifeforms and societies 
encountered there. 


However, several agents of the Serpents Hand have noticed 
Eta-13's recent "invasion" and do not plan to sit idly by as Eta-13 
prepares for its next expedition... 


Tales: 


¢ Part 1: Wayfarers 

¢ Part 2: We Boldly Went 

¢ Part 3: Razumite Games 

¢ Part 4: What Happened Beneath Cronos 
¢ Part 5: The Homecoming of Eta-13 


Supporting Documents: 


* SCP-2344 
* The Hydra's Spine 


distorting the subject's tissue in order to pass. It almost always 
causes permanent damage in this passage, despite the fruit itself 
being distorted to some degree in the course of ejection. The object 
regurgitated is always an ordinary, perfectly formed specimen of the 
fruit type initially consumed. It does not possess SCP-757-1's 
anomalous properties. 


SCP-757 has been observed to produce the following types of fruit, 
in decreasing order of frequency: peaches, plums, apples, pears, 
watermelons, bananas, pineapples, strawberries, blueberries, 
raspberries, blackberries, kumquats, kiwifruit, lemons, and (in one 
case) pumpkins. 


There is presently no cure for SCP-757's effects. If the new organ is 
surgically removed before fruit regurgitation, it regrows at a rate 
identical to that of the first growth. Testing to determine a physical, 
chemical, genetic, or foreign cause of the effects is pending. Testing 
to determine whether SCP-757-1's juice retains its anomalous 
effects is pending approval. Proposals to cross-pollinate SCP-757 
with SCP-1147 have been denied. 


SCP-757 was discovered in , , after several reports of 
people regurgitating fruit appeared in a local newspaper. It was 
eventually discovered in the backyard of an abandoned house. A 
large amount of rotten fruit was found at its base, along with several 
malnourished corpses. 


« SCP-756 | SCP-757 | SCP-758 » 


Wayfarers 


T-0 Hours 


Within the interior of SCP-2344 was a section unlike any other. 
Rather than a pitch black tunnel of packed dirt, the Gate Passage 
was fully lit by an unseen source. Thick ivy covered every surface. A 
peaceful, warm breeze blew past, carrying with it a faint scent of 
summer. Save for a herd of fourteen SCP Foundation agents 
running for their lives through the overgrown tunnel, the scene would 
have been quite tranquil. 


At the back of the pack was Sgt. Darren Wells. Tall and stocky, his 
lumbering stride easily allowed him to keep a fair distance ahead of 
those pursuing him. As sweat poured from his bald head, he quickly 
gazed behind him. Several yards back was a horde of mechanical 
spiders made from polished brass. In place of an abdomen, each 
carried a large glass sphere. 


Wells watched as one of the researchers suddenly tripped on a vine, 
the poor woman falling head over heels, and crumpling into the 
foliage. She only managed to raise a hand weakly before the spiders 
were upon her. There was a scream, followed by a cloud of red mist. 
With a delighted squeal, another spider jumped out of the horde, its 
sharp legs moving with gleeful anticipation as it sailed towards 
Wells. 


T-4 Hours 


The sound of construction filled what would have otherwise been the 
serene quiet of a forest clearing. Around the clearing’s perimeter, 
Foundation Site-93 was being put up at a slow but steady pace. A 
small army of construction workers rushed back and forth among the 
skeletons of several incomplete buildings, resembling ants at a 
picnic as they moved a plethora of supplies and equipment to and 
fro. The air was thick with a mixture of sweat and anticipation that 


seemed to stain every surface like an invisible paint. Indeed, once 
finished, Site-93 stood to be one of the greatest Foundation sites 
yet. 


At the clearing’s center, however, stood an entirely different 
structure. Seemingly untouched by the changing landscape around 
it was a pile of branches of various lengths and tree types stacked in 
such a manner as to resemble a door frame. A group of twenty 
people stood in two lines in front of the structure. Each person was 
dressed in the uniforms of an exploratory Mobile Task Force. Eta-13 
was embroidered on their vests. Sgt. Darren Wells stood at the front 
of the right pillar. Three chevrons on his vest indicated that he was 
the commanding officer of the task force’s security division. 


“We're ready when you are,” Wells said to the man in front of the left 
pillar. The short, bespectacled anthropologist gave a sharp nod in 
acknowledgement. 


“Ladies and gentlemen,” Dr. Johna Baldric began after briefly 
clearing his throat. “Be sure that you each have your pair of 
chicken’s feet on you now. Additionally, try not to lose them along 
the way. They will be your only way in and out of the Gate for the 
duration of our mission. | can promise you that you'll be long dead 
before we have a chance to get you a replacement.” 


Mumbles of acknowledgement could be heard as the various 
members of the task force attempted to surreptitiously check to 
ensure they had their key. Wells rolled his eyes and smiled. “Losing 
your key” was a pretty shitty way to die. The crew now ready, all 
present faced the Gate. 


“Ready to go again?” Baldric whispered, attempting to hide an 
enthusiastic grin. 


“As I'll ever be...” Wells shook his head. 


Baldric removed a small container from a large pouch on his pack 
and zipped it open. He then slowly pulled out a set of dried chicken's 
feet as if he were handling an unstable explosive, and held it aloft. 
The space within the door frame began to shimmer and warp, 
eventually becoming opaque. Baldric gingerly returned the chicken’s 


feet to the pouch with a sharp nod. One by one, they passed 
through the Gate and onto the other side. 


For Baldric, the crossing caused the conflicting sensations of 
slipping into a warm bath, while simultaneously replacing his blood 
with ice water. Wells, on the other hand, felt a short electric shock 
followed by the taste of bacon. Upon shaking away the 
unpleasantness, both men looked around. They found themselves 
within a large underground tunnel carved into packed soil. The 
tunnel extended beyond their limited line of sight. 


“For those of you first timers,” Baldric raved as the task force 
regrouped, “Welcome. You’re in for a treat.” 


T-3 Hours 


From deep within the The Hydra's Spine, a door leading to the 
Wander's Library creaked open. Three individuals dressed in black 
emerged, carrying with them several large crates which they 
promptly placed on the ground. Their faces were obscured by red 
masks, the emblem of a serpent wrapping around a human hand 
engraved on the center. 


Without a word, the trio proceeded to open the crates. Inside, neatly 
folded in upon themselves were hundreds of mechanical spiders. 
The shortest of the three masked figures waved her hand. The 
spiders' glass abdomens glowed briefly with a faint red light. One by 
one the mechanical arachnids came to life. 


"Seek," said the first masked figure in a deep voice. The spiders 
gave a small squeal of acknowledgement and then scurried away. 


"Where did you get those anyway?" the second figure asked as she 
watched the automatons disappear into the darkness. 


"Vance knew a guy who tinkers in his spare time,” the first replied. 


"What makes you think they'll work?" the third figure asked in a 
guttural voice. 


"Call it a hunch." The first figure shrugged. "Besides, they don't need 


to kill the Jailors. Just stall them until the Camdorians are ready." 


T-1 Hour 


For most of the trip, Eta-13 marched in silence, flashlights bobbing 
against the darkness like the lures of a school of anglerfish. The 
damp environment passed them by seamlessly. Only the occasional 
sign or a periodic fork in the path indicated that the group had made 
any progress. 


In the middle of the herd, a tall lanky man with a medic’s patch 
turned to a short, young, engineer with a head of messy dark hair on 
his left. Even in the dark it could be seen that the young man was 
constantly looking around, the long threads of his hair whipping back 
and forth. 


“You okay there, champ?” the medic asked. An amused smile 
spread across his lips as he watched his teammate’s head swivel. 


“Huh?” the young man asked, the rapid fire of his wandering gaze 
coming to a halt. “Oh? Yeah, I’m fine. Just amazed.” 


“Why’s that?” 


“The temperature here suggests that we’re actually a fair distance 
below ground, but this tunnel has no supports. That means 
something else needs to be keeping it open...” 


“Ah,” the medic replied. “This your first time in here?” The young 
man turned a slight shade of red. 


“Yeah... it’s that obvious?” 


“I’m afraid so,” the medic chuckled, and extended a hand. “James 
Candle.” 


“Joseph Bell.” The young man enthusiastically accepted Candle’s 
handshake. 


The two fell quiet for a few more moments. 


“So...” said Bell, “What do you experience when you go through the 
Gate?” 


“An overwhelming smell of burnt toast,” Candle chuckled. 
“Every time?” 
“So far.” 


“How many times have you been down here?” Bell asked. Candle 
gave a sheepish smile in response. 


“More than anyone else on this task force.” 
“So... twelve?” 

Candle shook his head and pointed up. 
“Twenty?” 


“Warmer. I’ve had the good fortune to go Gate hopping thirty-three 
times.” 


Bell didn’t respond, but rather stared at Candle, his mouth hanging 
slightly open. 


“| guess you’d know if we'd be passing through Broadway on this 
excursion, wouldn't you?” 


Candle raised an eyebrow. 
“You know about Broadway?” 


“It’s the thing I’m looking forward to seeing the most. A lot of the 
other researches said it’s the most amazing thing.” 


“It certainly is,” Candle agreed. “And yes, we'll be passing through 


Candle’s lips curled into another grin, as he held up a finger for 
patience. It was then that the passage began to descend, diving 


down sharply and then suddenly opening. The dirt walls gave way to 
a polished obsidian passage, perfectly smooth and circular. A dim 
light was visible beneath the floor, pulsating every few minutes to 
change color, causing the entire passage to glow vibrantly. Red, 
blue, yellow, green, purple, white, orange, and all mixtures in 
between filled Bell’s eyes with wonder. The obsidian walled section 
of the passage continued onward in very much the same manner as 
the previous dirt section had, the shining tube stretching far off into 
the horizon. Candle laughed as he watched the young researcher’s 
mouth drop to the floor. 


“Welcome to Broadway, champ,” Candle smiled, “Come on, let’s not 
fall behind.” 


T-30 Minutes 


At the front of the herd of Eta-13 agents and researchers, Dr. Baldric 
and Sgt. Wells kept the rest of the team moving at a brisk pace 
through the strobing light of “Broadway.” After a while, Baldric turned 
his head slightly to Wells. 


“| saw your proposal to Director Kauffman.” Baldric frowned. 
“What of it?” Wells continued to look ahead. 


“Why do we need two times the security we have now, Darren?” 
Baldric maintained his gaze on his colleague, and nervously 
chuckled. “We’re an expeditionary force, not an army.” 


“As commanding officer of this task force | deemed such a request 
to be in the best interest of the people under my command, Johnna.” 
Wells shrugged. “It’s my job to ensure that these people make it 
home in one piece, and having more security makes that an easier 
task.” 


“We're supposed to be making contact with new civilizations.” 
Baldric smiled. “How do you think it’s going to look if we emerge 
from the Gate armed like Psi-7?” 


“It’s going to look like we’re prepared for the worst.” 


“To some, sure." Baldric grinned. "But to a lot more creatures it’s 
going to look like we’re the Spanish setting out to conquer the 
Aztecs.” 


Wells sighed and rubbed his temples. He finally turned his head to 
Baldric with a furrowed brow. 


“You want to have this debate now? Fine! Look around you! You 
may notice that we’re in a goddamn Way. At least 15% of these 
passages lead directly to the Wanderer’s library. How much longer 
do you think it’s going to be before we run into Hand agents or 
something worse? Not everything in in the multiverse can be killed 
with bullets, and | refuse to allow what happened to Blaire to 
happen...” 


Wells froze and raised his hand for the party to stop. Baldric raised a 
finger to question the action, but bit his tongue when Wells put a 
finger to his lips. 


“Candle, Turner, get up here,” he whispered as he unslung the rifle 
from his shoulder. The lanky medic and a slender Asian woman 
came forward, both following Wells’s lead. The commanding officer 
whispered something inaudible and the two agents nodded and 
raised their rifles. Several moments passed in sheer silence before 
three triggers were pulled. Distant sparks lit up the far reaches of the 
tunnel as something let out a mechanical squeal. 


“We were being watched,” Wells said. His head slowly turned to 
Baldric. 


Within a few seconds, a scout team had returned with the kill. 
“Well shoot...” Baldric mumbled. 


The soccer ball sized objects appeared to have once been 
mechanical spiders made of polished brass. A large glass sphere 
had been used in place of an abdomen. The emblem of a serpent 
wrapping around a human hand was engraved on a camera-lens- 
covered head. 


“| promise | won't say ‘I told you so.” Wells snickered. 


“Great. Now you have a sense of humor.” Baldric scanned the 
tunnel. “Do you think there are more?” 


“If there were, they'll certainly be gone by now. But hey, at least now 
they know that we know.” 


“That’s the part that worries me.”