Barnes pulls off his hospital gown over his 
head. He stands and walks towards the 
partition pointing towards the marking on his 


chest. It resembles a circle with three equally 
spaced arrows pointed inwards. 


Pvt. Barnes: Our logo! Fucking Secure 
Contain Protect. 


Barnes punches the glass, then sits on the 
floor. 


Dr. Quaile: | see. How many infected persons 
would you say had this mark? 


Pvt. Barnes: All of them. Every last one. 


Dr. Quaile: Interview is ended at this time. 


Barnes folds his hands over his knees and 
remains silent for three minutes. Quaile 
organises his notes and places them in his 
briefcase. He removes his glasses, pinching 
the bridge of his nose. Quaile shuts off his mic, 
triggering hidden mics within the room to 
continue recording. 


Dr. Quaile: Samuel... | just want to say I'm 
sorry about your situation. | know it's- 


Pvt. Barnes: You fucking should be sorry. 
Dr. Quaile: Samuel - 


Pvt. Barnes: No, don't play like you're my 
friend. I've read the fucking file. Two-five-five- 
nine. Steele showed it to me, was trying to 
reassure me everything would be alright if | 
just calmed the fuck down. Didn't realise it only 
meant | was more fucked, that I'd been fucked 
from the second that girl pulled my headgear 
off. It's like - when you were a kid, did you ever 
get scared of dogs? | was terrified of them 
when | was growing up. 


Dr. Quaile: My neighbour had a pitbull, treated 
it badly. | would take a longer route to school 
so as to avoid it barking at me. 


Pvt. Barnes: Right, yeah. And I'll bet at some 
point a parent or teacher said the stupidest 
thing ever - that as long as you weren't scared 
of them, they wouldn't attack, because they 
could smell your fear. Smell! your fear. What 
kid hears that and doesn't instantly shit their 
pants? That's what it's like with this thing. Who 
gets told you don't need to be worried about 
infection and doesn't immediately worry, in 
some small stupid corner of their mind? That's 
where it gets you. Those tiny background 


worries. It slips in through the cracks. | know 
we're not supposed to personify it, but... it 
feels intelligent, doesn't it? Prowling, poking at 
little fucking fishing towns and villages, letting 
the rest of us crumble under our own recursive 
insecurity. When was the last time someone 
just retired from this site? 


There is a long silence in the room lasting 
almost two minutes. 


Pvt. Barnes: You know, | don't remember that 
woman. In Mkwiro. I've never talked about that 
before. | have all these patches in my memory, 
and that mission is the biggest by far. | get 
flashes, sometimes, nightmares - her standing 
over me with my biohazard suit, pushing me 
into quarantine instead of the other way 
around. So much of that time in my life is... 
fuzzy. My friends on the squad said I'd 
changed afterward, seemed lonelier even 
when we were all together. | figured it was 
PTSD or something, my own shit to deal with. 
Thought that's why they transferred me to u-4 - 
everyone knows we haven't had a mission in 
decades. Cushy detail for softies. 


Barnes stands and presses his face against 
the partition, clenching his fists. 


Pvt. Barnes: But that's not true, is it? Because 
| saw the file. Dozens of missions. All places 
I'd been with other teams. Sesimbra, 
Chenggong, Kaliningrad... 


Dr. Quaile: Samuel, |- 
Pvt. Barnes: Mkwiro. 


Dr. Quaile: | promise you it was necessary, 
Samuel. The number of MTF members we lost 


before we implemented these protocols- 


Pvt. Barnes: It was you. The glorious fucking 
Foundation. Of course it was necessary. Of 
course it was for the best. You think | don't 
realise that? It doesn't mean | can't hate you 
for it. Who was the woman? 


Dr. Quaile: |'m so sorry, Samuel. 
Pvt. Barnes: Who was the woman, Quaile? 


Dr. Quaile: Medical will be through shortly with 
the results of your blood tests. 


[END OF INTERVIEW] 


Addendum: Following examination of this transcript, the 
Amnestics Committee believes there is evidence to 
suggest MTF-u-4-37 SCP-2559-1-555 was hindered in 
action due to improperly wiped memories of Corporal 
Tanya Barnes (SCP-2559-1-408). The Ethics Committee 
has authorised an update of amnestic procedures on 
MTF-u-4 members to encapsulate romantic, sexual and 
paternal feelings associated with deceased teammates, 
effective as of 15/12/2015. 


« SCP-2558 | SCP-2559 | SCP-2560 » 


Other works by Rimple 


SCP-2779, Rating: 187 
SCP-3880, Rating: 169 
SCP-2338, Rating: 153 
SCP-2559, Rating: 145 
SCP-948, Rating: 134 
Operation OverMeta, Rating: 120 

SCP-3559, Rating: 71 

SCP-3772, Rating: 68 
SCP-3373, Rating: 56 


SCP-3224, Rating: 46 
Headache, Rating: 30 
This Year, Rating: 19 


SCP-2560: Polar Opposites 


Item #: SCP-2560 
Object Class: Safe 


Special Containment Procedures: SCP-2560-01 is to be kept in 
large document storage locker in Reliquary Site 32. Only three 
approved Foundation personnel, plus 10 Class-D personnel, are 
allowed to view more than 256 pages of SCP-2560-01 at any given 
time for purposes of testing. SCP-2560-02 is currently disassembled 
pending testing. 


SCP-2560-03 are currently kept in a glass display case at Reliquary 
Site 32 for all site personnel to view at their leisure, due to the 
benign nature of the anomaly present. It is to be removed from the 
case once weekly to check for any signs of decay or deterioration. 


Despite the fact thatthe home ofE  L is a tourist attraction 
in Florida, no containment procedures around it have been deemed 
necessary due to a lack of anomalies in the area. Regular 
observation of the area is to be carried out by agents embedded in 
the park's staff. 


Description: SCP-2560 refers to several anomalies related to or 
createdbyE L , a Latvian sculptor born in 1887. 


SCP-2560-01 is a 1024 page written manuscript! and mainly 
concerns what the author refers to as 'magnetic currents’ that hold 
‘life’ together originating from the North and South poles within 
matter, as opposed to magnetic fields generated by ions. Despite 
the fact that this and several other theories presented have no 
scientific basis, experiments within SCP-2560-01 can be replicated 
by individuals who have read directly from the text, and experiments 
will often have results similar to what the author presents. 


SCP-2560-02 is a magnetic construction created by L 


SCP-2560-02 uses forty-two (42) anomalous versions of the 
‘perpetual motion holder’ assembly invented by L , with 16 
placed on the front and 26 placed towards the rear. SCP-2560-02 
will not activate unless at least 256 pages of SCP-2560-01 have 
been read by the individual operating it. When this condition is met, 
SCP-2560-02 will disintegrate matter placed at the center of the 
magnets, with the exception of pieces of limestone, specifically 
oolite. Exactly 16 minutes 26 seconds later, matter seemingly 
destroyed by SCP-2560-02 will be re-integrated into reality at their 
original location. Human subjects that have used SCP-2560-02 
report seeing a landscape matching either the magnetic north pole 
(75.7667° N, 99.7833° W) or the magnetic south pole (90.0000° S, 
0.0000° W) of the Earth; subjects do not appear to be corporeal 
during this time. Furthermore, subjects report seeing a man 
matching the description of L standing nearby, designated 
SCP-2560-02A. SCP-2560-02A will occasionally respond to 
attempts to initiate conversation with humans who use 
SCP-2560-02. For details, see Interview-2560-1. 


SCP-2560-03 are the cadaversofE L andA S_ ,a 
Latvian woman who was L 's ex-fiance. Despite both 
individuals being deceased for and_ years as of 2014, neither 
instance of SCP-2560-03 has experienced any decay either 
externally or internally. Nasal, oral and endoscopic examination has 
shown that both instances SCP-2560-03 are sterile, and all tissue in 
the instances is impermeable, including all epithelia and ocular 
tissue. Furthermore, when not restrained, both instances hover 
approximately 20cm above any surface they are placed on. 


Recovery Log: SCP-2560-01 was discovered by the crew of the 
television show Debunking the Pyramids, a skeptic show dedicated 
to eliminating paranormal myths and conspiracies about the 
construction of ancient structures such as the Pyramids at Giza, 
Egypt. The host of the show, found the manuscript after 
inspecting the well at L 's home in Homestead, Florida, and 
assembled SCP-2560-02 with help from his production crew, under 
the assumption that it was a construction tool used by L 
SCP-2560-02 was then activated in a live streaming broadcast on 
the program's website, resulting in the disintegration of Mr. _ . After 
16 minutes 26 seconds, Mr. reappeared. However, technical 


when he blacked out. 


Simultaneously with the cessation of 
SCP-286's Sigma state, there was a sudden 
emergency in [REDACTED] when SCP-435-1 
unexpectedly entered an active state, moving 
erratically and [REDACTED] impacting the 
ocean basin at [REDACTED] causing an 
[REDACTED]. Contingency 435-XK-Alpha had 
been initiated, but was cancelled when 
SCP-435-1 came to rest three minutes later. 


Note: SCP-286 classification is hereby 
upgraded to Euclid — O5- 


Footnotes 

1. According to current historical evidence, Liubo is known to have 
been popular with upper-class Chinese from at least the Warring 
States Period (476 BCE — 221 BCE) until it fell out of fashion some 
time during the Jin Dynasty (265-420). 

2. ca. 1500 BCE 

3. This is a hypothesis based on non-invasive sensors, it has so far 
been impossible to retrieve a token for direct physical examination 
4. As with the game tokens, direct physical examination of the dice 
has proved to be impossible 

5. Instances of SCP-286-1 will take a position on the side nearest 
the “light” game tokens. Instances of SCP-286-2 will take a position 
on the opposing side, nearest the “dark” game tokens. 

6. SCP-286-1 always uses the “light” die, SCP-286-2 always uses 
the “dark” die. 

7. The 18 possible die results from this opening roll can be 
represented by points on a matrix with two axes: one denoting 
geographic proximity and the other denoting of physical similarity to 
the subject. The most proximate roll (designated side 1) resulted in 
selecting another D-Class subject of the same race and gender from 
the site housing SCP-286. The least proximate roll (designated side 
18) resulted in the selection of a opposite-genderedPhascolarctos 
cinereusfrom its native habitat in Northeastern Australia. 

8. The actual rules for the historical game of Liubo are unknown, 
and gameplay during Sigma events shows no clear correspondence 


difficulties prevented crucial portions of the event from being 
streamed, and it was widely dismissed as a hoax. Foundation 
operatives administered Class-A amnestics to the crew of 
Debunking the Pyramids. 


Following the recovery of SCP-2560-01 and -02, the body of E 

L was discovered missing by cemetery caretakers in Miami- 
Dade County, Florida. After 26 hours, the body spontaneously 
materialized in the center of SCP-2560-02, and an additional sixteen 
hours later, the cadaverofA S appeared. SCP-2560 was 
classified as Safe on 02/16/1992. 


Interview 2560-03: On 01/21/2014, Dr. Richard Ferrel was selected 
to use SCP-2560-02 to communicate with the entity designated 
SCP-2560-02A, and record the results once he returned. Dr. Ferrel 
was selected due to his fluency in Latvian and a highly retentive 
memory, as recording equipment ceases to function upon use of 
SCP-2560-02. 


(Dr. Ferrel reports appearing in front of a barbeque pit 
located at the Magnetic South Pole. The pit is reported 
identical, albeit in better condition, to the one present in 
the former home of L . Contact was initiated by the 
entity resembling L 3) 


SCP-2560-02A: Ah, hello. Would you like a hot dog? 
They're almost done. Only two cents! 


Dr. Richard Ferrel: No, thank you. How can you eat 
that? 


SCP-2560-02A: They're delicious! That's how | can eat 
them. 


Dr. Ferrel: No, | mean... you're incorporeal. How can 
you be eating a hot dog? 


SCP-2560-02A: (produces a hot dog from a pressure 
cooker over the barbeque pit, and places it into a bun it 
produces from its coat) It's because they are life, my 
friend. And life, even in death, cannot be destroyed. 


Dr. Ferrel: That's... rather philosophical, Mr. L 


SCP-2560-02A: Ah! You have heard of my work? Of 
course you have, why else would you be here? 
(SCP-2560-02A begins consuming the hot dog.) 


Dr. Ferrel: | have. Tell me, how... how am | here? | was 
just at a facility in [REDACTED]. 


SCP-2560-02A You are here because your body has 
been destroyed. Now, you are all magnets. And magnets 
originate from the north and south poles, so naturally, 
you must be drawn to either the north or south pole. You, 
my friend, were a north pole magnet, so you are naturally 
drawn to the south pole. 


Dr. Ferrel: So... I'm dead? 


SCP-2560-02A | would imagine not. You're not like the 
rest of them. (SCP-2560-02A indicates the empty space 
around them.) You have more... vibrancy to you. You'll 
go back soon, like that television person. (SCP-2560-2A 
spontaneously vanishes, and is replaced by an unknown 
humanoid entity, appearing to be in a great amount of 
pain. Dr. Ferrel later noted that the entity seemed to be 
dissolving.) 


Unknown Entity: E __... ir... arpratigais@ 
Dr. Ferrel: Who are you? 


TOT Entity: Dabu vinu uz pili un liec vinam nomirt! 


Dr. Ferrel: What? 


Unknown Entity: (At this point, the entity begins 
flickering out of existence, being replaced by 
SCP-2560-02A). Nestasti vinam ka es biju Seit!4 


(SCP-2560-2A re-appears, doubled over as if in pain. Dr. 
Ferrel arrives to assist it.). 


Dr. Ferrel: What was that? 


SCP-2560-02A It happens occasionally. My magnets 
were not stable, so | sometimes go up north. It happens 
when you use my machine too much. (SCP-2560-02A 
stands up) | used it to try and become Northern. 


Dr. Ferrel: Northern? | don't understand. 


SCP-2560-02A (Angrily) Use your brain! You are a man 

of science, are you not? Do | have to spell it out for you? 
You are all akin to children, except children are far better 
than you. 


Dr. Ferrel: Please, if you would. For the record. 


SCP-2560-02A Bah! Very well. My Sweet Sixteen> was 
a Southern Magnet, as was |. Only people who are 
opposites in terms of polarity may be together; north and 
south only. South and south or north and north repel, like 
iron magnets. |... attempted to use my creation to 
reverse my charge. 


Dr. Ferrel: So... you reasoned that if you were opposite 
polarities, that you could be together? 


SCP-2560-2A: Yes. But there is a problem | did not think 
of. (SCP-2560-02A begins tending the barbeque pit once 
again) She is southern, so she goes north. | am north 
most of the time, so | go south. 


Dr. Ferrel In other words... you can never see her. 


SCP-2560-02A: It is the curse of the magnets. Opposites 
attract. And as long as we are opposite, we can never be 
together. (SCP-2560-02A sighs, and produces another 
hot dog from the barbeque, handing it to Dr. Ferrel.) It 
will be time for you to go soon, | think. How time flies. 
Have this one, as you Americans say, on the house. 


Dr. Ferrel: (Dr. Ferrel takes the hot dog, and bites into 
it.) Could use some ketchup. 


SCP-2560-02A: (laughs) Can't please everyone, | 
suppose. 


(At this point, Dr. Ferrel reappeared in the center of 
SCP-2560-02A, and the entity seen by him has been 
classified as SCP-2560-02B. The hot dog that returned 
with Dr. Ferrel is currently undergoing extensive testing.) 


Footnotes 

1. Only 512 of these pages are written on; the remainder are left 
blank for a reader to 'make their own conclusions’. 

2. Latvian;"E —_is a lunatic/madman." 

3. Bring him to the castle and make him die. 

4. Do not tell him | was here.