and desert climates to a reduced degree. While shrapnel becomes 
inert once retrieved from soil, applying an explosive force to it will 
provoke reproduction in suitable conditions. Therefore, it is theorised 
that the energy produced in SCP-3968 detonations serves as the 
catalyst for its reproduction. 


Available nutrients are the main variable affecting SCP-3968 
reproduction, with remains from casualties of SCP-3968 detonation 
being most relevant. Although no method of growth or nutrient intake 
has been discovered in SCP-3968’s construction, remains in 
proximity to SCP-3968 decompose at an accelerated rate. Human 
remains appear to have the strongest effect on the reproductive 
process of SCP-3968, with the presence of other animal and plant 
matter causing slower reproduction. 


Each detonation produces roughly 5 to 200 (SCP-3968-1) or 20 to 
400 (SCP-3968-2) new examples of SCP-3968, depending on the 
previously mentioned conditions. The discrepancy in numbers is due 
to the larger size of SCP-3968-2 compared to SCP-3968-1 and 
differing mechanism of action. Given this property, any detonation of 
SCP-3968 increases the difficulty of containment significantly, and 
may result in an exponential increase in the size of contaminated 
areas. Chemical defoliation and use of chemical area-denial 
weapons has proven a valuable multi-modal containment strategy, 
limiting the SCP-3968 nutrient supply by destroying plant matter, 
reducing soil quality, and discouraging civilian entry into 
contaminated areas. 


The second anomalous property shared between SCP-3968-1 and 
-2 is a limited awareness of its surroundings combined with an ability 
to detonate selectively. This property is utilised to maximise inflicted 
casualties and subsequently increase the reproduction of 
SCP-3968. Anomalous behaviour demonstrated by SCP-3968-1 and 
-2 includes, although is not limited to, the following; 


¢ Avoiding detonation when triggered by animals in areas with 
high human traffic 

¢ Detonating when triggered by animals of sentimental or 
economic value, to draw attention of owners 

¢ Avoiding detonation when groups of people approach a 
contaminated area, until the entire group has entered a lethal 


range 

Creating false ‘safe’ pathways through a contaminated area 

Giving the impression of an inactive device when retrieved, 

then detonating when taken into enclosed spaces 

Avoiding detonation when triggered by armoured vehicles, 

detonating when occupants exit 

Avoiding detonation by individuals in protective gear, or 

detonating in patterns targeted to penetrate vulnerable points 

in said equipment 

* SCP-3968-1 examples detonating in order to injure an 
individual, with surrounding SCP-3968-2 detonating when 
others attempt to render assistance 


It is unknown whether these behaviours are engineered or evolved, 
or the degree to which they represent higher intelligence on the part 
of SCP-3968. 


Over km of land is affected by SCP-3968 worldwide. It is 
estimated that this area contains upwards of examples of 
SCP-3968-1 and -2. SCP-3968 has been responsible for 
approximately civilian casualties and 141 casualties amongst 
Foundation personnel since its cataloguing. 


Addendum 3968-1: SCP-3968 received an SCP item classification 
in June of 1968, when Foundation sources within Prometheus Labs 
were alerted to an incident at a Prometheus-affiliated location in 
[REDACTED], Pennsylvania. 


Foundation agents arriving on the scene discovered a factory 
complex at the centre of surrounding terrain contaminated by 
SCP-3968 in a 1.5km radius. Access was gained to the facility with 
acceptable casualties, where machinery for the mass production of 
SCP-3968-1 and -2 was discovered. 


All machinery had been rendered unusable by explosive damage, 
and the state of the facility offices and trace recovered material 
suggested that documents presumably relating to SCP-3968 had 
been intentionally destroyed during this event. Within the facility the 
remains of 6 Prometheus Labs employees were discovered, having 
died of either starvation or self-inflicted gunshot wounds. One of 
these individuals, a male in his mid-40s, was discovered in the main 


office of the facility, having expired from a self-inflicted gunshot 
wound to the temple. Document 3968-1 was retrieved from this 
area. 


The facility was estimated to accommodate 100 employees when in 
operation. The whereabouts of the remaining individuals are 
unknown. 


Document 3968-1: 
+ Document 3968-1 
Dear Paul, 


Thanks for bringing this matter to my attention. 
The good news is that you have nothing to 
worry about - our demonstration for the 
Ordnance Corps has already gone ahead 
swimmingly. General Westmoreland loves 
what we have here, and tells me he plans to 
fast-track an order for an additional ten 
thousand units of each type. Given this 
situation, | see no need to scale back our 
production or revisit the earlier models — quite 
the contrary. 


| will elect to not mention to others what you 
brought up about the capabilities of the project 
being unplanned or beyond your original 
scope. Regardless of how this has come 
about, whether by accident or design, you and 
your team are deserving of full credit for 
making this possible. 


It sounds like you have been listening to the 
news too much. We both know what we do 
here can be unpleasant at times, but you have 
to put that aside when you build something 
incredible. In any case, the potential benefits 
of this are huge — deployment could end the 
war in six months and save thousands of 


American lives. 


| appreciate this is still difficult for you, so I’ve 
enclosed your mid-year bonus early. I’ve 
personally seen to it that it's considerably more 
than the usual. Take a few weeks off, bring the 
family and go somewhere nice. Hopefully this 
puts you in the right frame of mind to come 
back and do more great work. 


All the best, 
Frank 


The following message was handwritten on the reverse 
of the page. 


Fuck you, Frank. You’re just like 
Westmoreland and McNamara and all the 
other sons of bitches who preach a world for 
free men but really mean a world free from 
Communism, where a barren wasteland is 
better than a place where men live and farm 
under a red flag. I’m not going to be a part of 
your destroy-the-village insanity any more. 


Susie, if you’re somehow managing to read 
this, | hope you can remember me as 
someone who tried to do the right thing in the 
end. You were the one good thing | left in this 
world. 


Addendum 3968-2 (11/04/2015): 
+ LEVEL 3 CLEARANCE REQUIRED 


Experimentation has demonstrated that salting 
SCP-3968 contaminated areas with radiological 
weaponry significantly inhibits SCP-3968 reproduction. A 
cobalt-60-based weapon is able to reduce the amount of 
new SCP-3968 formed after a detonation by 94%, rising 
to 99% when used in conjunction with chemical 


is... off-putting. 
O5-11 


« SCP-513 | SCP-514 | SCP-515 » 


weaponry. Director has provisionally approved 
further development of this procedure, but has elected to 
refer the matter to the Ethics Committee, given that this 
process results in severe ecological damage and renders 
areas unfit for human habitation in the long term. 


UPDATE (19/01/2016): In a 3-2 vote (see Committee 
Decision #1003) the Ethics Committee has approved 
limited use of cobalt-60 radiological salting as an adjunct 
to existing SCP-3968 containment measures, in 
situations where environmental contamination of 
SCP-3968 is intractable. Research staff and MTF Delta-2 
unit commanders should seek level 4 staff approval 
when they wish to implement this procedure. 


SCP-3969: Hofmann's Nightmare 


WARNING: The following file contains an /kelos class oneiric filtering ag 
inaccessible to dream-based entities. It is known to cause detrimental cc 
certain anomalies. Do not continue viewing if any of the following conditi 


* You have recently been affected by a dream-based anomaly. 

¢ You have recently experienced a lucid dream. 

* You have a Cognitive Resistance Value (CRV) of less than 13. 
¢ You are currently viewing this warning while inside a dream. 


[ ACTIVATE IKELOS CLASS ONEIRIC FILTERING AGENT] 


[ NO DREAM ENTITIES DETECTED. DECRYPTING 
DOCUMENT ] 


SCP-3970: i want to contain too 


Item #: SCP-3970 
Object Class: Euclid 


Special Containment Procedures: Site-211 has been created 
around SCP-3970 under the guise of a geologic research facility. 
Security checkpoints have been established on all roads leading to 
Site-211 to deter unauthorized access. 


Entrances to Unit-01 are to be guarded at all times. Personnel 
without Level 4/3970 clearance must receive permission from the 
site director to enter, perform experiments on, or otherwise interact 
with SCP-3970. 


SCP-3970 is to be given a psychological evaluation every week. 


Description: SCP-3970 is located in the town of , Washington, 
near the Glacier Peak region of the Cascade Mountains. SCP-3970 
designates a former elementary school building. SCP-3970 is 
composed of two main hallways, with each end facing a cardinal 
direction. The main entrance and administration offices lie at the 
southern end of the school. Following the hallway north leads to a 
large cafeteria/auditorium, which includes a bathroom and small 
stage. Classrooms are present at the east and west ends of the 
school, with 6 in total. SCP-3970 has been fully integrated into 
Site-211 and is now known as Unit-01. 


Various phenomena have been documented inside SCP-3970, 
including: 


* Movement of floor/ceiling tiles 

¢ Reconfiguration of electrical wires 
¢ Movement of walls 

¢ Removal/relocation of doors 

¢ Reconfiguration of piping 


¢ Activation of fire suppressant systems 


SCP-3970 can communicate through rearranging chalk dust on any 
of the blackboards present within the former classrooms. Similarly, 
communication with SCP-3970 is possible by inscribing words upon 
the blackboards. Upon discovery, SCP-3970 used a crude form of 
written English, often misspelling words and misplacing punctuation, 
but since first contact, SCP-3970 has improved its language use 
considerably. 


SCP-3970 is fully sapient, having approximately the intelligence 
level of an average seven-year-old human. SCP-3970 possesses 
two forms of "senses", which allow it to feel and perceive areas 
within itself. SCP-3970 can detect when pressure is applied to any 
part of its structure, reacting to forces as little as 1 mN. SCP-3970 
has also shown the ability to detect heat levels within its dimensions. 
This effect is believed to give SCP-3970 a form of sight through an 
effect similar to thermal imaging. 


Discovery: Prior to 12/9/199 , SCP-3970 was a fully-functional 
school known as Northern Washington Elementary School. The 
building was taken under Foundation control to serve as a 
temporary containment site for SCP- _, and was shut down after 
transfer procedures were successfully completed. The area came 
back under observation when a field agent notified the Foundation of 
police reports detailing multiple missing persons, all of which were 
last seen near the former Foundation site. MTF Psi-7 ("Home 
Improvement") Division 3 was subsequently sent to assess any 
possible threats and destroy the building if necessary. Upon arrival, 
the team discovered the decommissioned containment area had 
been sealed by a brick wall. After demolishing the wall, a small blue 
sphere was found within the containment tent, along with 7 bodies 
matching the description of police reports. The sphere was later 
found to be a non-anomalous children's toy, commonly called a 
"magic-8 ball". While investigating one of the building's classrooms, 
a message manifested on the blackboard: "pleese dont hurt me". 
The team was evacuated, and initial contact was attempted. 


+Initial Interview Log 


Foreword: After the structure was given SCP 


designation and temporary containment was 
established, Senior Researcher McKnight was 
assigned to oversee the construction of 
Site-211 around SCP-3970. Accompanied by 
MTF Psi-7 Division 3, Senior Researcher 
McKnight entered the classroom in which 
SCP-3970 was observed to possibly 
communicate. 


Date: 10/20/200 
Interviewer: Senior Researcher McKnight 


Interviewee: SCP-3970 


Note: All communication listed is in the form of 
chalk writing on the classroom blackboard 
unless otherwise noted. Senior Researcher 
McKnight will be referred to as McKnight for 
the purposes of this interview. 


<Start Log> 
McKnight: Can you read? 


(The chalk written by McKnight shifts, forming 
crudely drawn letters.) 


SCP-3970: yea 
McKnight: What is your name? 
SCP-3970: i dunno i dont realy have one 


McKnight: From now on, your name is 
SCP-3970. Is that alright? 


SCP-3970: i gess thats ok 


McKnight: SCP-3970, why did you put a 
magic-8 ball in the containment tent? 


SCP-3970: it was magic so i had to keep it 
safe 


McKnight: And why did you kill those people? 


(SCP-3970 does not respond for 
approximately 30 seconds, before commenting 
in visibly worse writing.) 


SCP-3970: i jus tryng to help you guys 


(SCP-3970 does not respond to any further 
questioning. Senior Researcher McKnight 
ceases the interview.) 


<End Log> 
Addendum-3970-1: Psychological Evaluation Logs 
+Psychological-Log-3970- 1-1 1/03/200 
<Start Log> 


Dr. Underwood: Hello SCP-3970, my name is 
Dr. Underwood. | will be your psychologist 
from this point forward. 


SCP-3970: whats a psychologist. 


Dr. Underwood: | make sure that you are 
happy. That you enjoy your situation, if you 
will. 


SCP-3970: you sond beter than that other 
person. 


Dr. Underwood: What do you mean? 


SCP-3970: he cam here wit those other meen 
guys. 


Dr. Underwood: Oh, Senior Researcher 


McKnight? Don't worry about him, he is only 
doing his job. I'll be with you from now on. 


SCP-3970: promise? 


Dr. Underwood: Yes SCP-3970, | promise. 
One more thing before we end this session. 
I've noticed you have been using periods at 
the ends of your sentences. Why is that? 


SCP-3970: i saw you guys using it soi am. 


Dr. Underwood: Thank you SCP-3970. 
Anything else on your mind? 


SCP-3970: are those peple ok? 


Dr. Underwood: They are in a safe place, 
don't worry about them anymore. 


<End Log> 


Note: SCP-3970 shows a remarkable ability to 
learn. | want a language tutor in there ASAP. 
-Senior Researcher McKnight 


[DATA OMITTED] 
+Psychological-Log-3970-19-03/09/201 
<Start Log> 
SCP-3970: Hello Dr. Underwood! 


Dr. Underwood: Hello SCP-3970. | heard 
your lessons were going well. 


SCP-3970: Yes! | have learned so much! 


Dr. Underwood: That is good news! | hope 
you are getting along well with the engineers 
and architects. 


SCP-3970: It was a little weird at first but | am 
used to it now. 


Dr. Underwood: Good to hear that. Any 
concerns at the moment? 


SCP-3970: When do | finally get to start 
helping? 


Dr. Underwood: Sorry SCP-3970, but | do not 
know. Keep up the good work and it might be 
soon. 


SCP-3970: Wait! There is something | have 
been working on. 


(SCP-3970 creates a drawing of a smiling 
stick-figure in a lab-coat labeled "Dr. 
Underwooa" standing inside a large rectangle 
labelled "Me".) 


<End Log> 
[DATA OMITTED] 
+Psychological-Log-3970-28-08/25/201 
<Start Log> 


Dr. Underwood: How are you feeling today 
SCP-3970? 


SCP-3970: I'm so excited to get new training, 
but I'm a little nervous. 


Dr. Underwood: It's okay SCP-3970, you'll do 
great. Remember, it's only a test. All of it's 
made by us to help you train for the real 
things. 


SCP-3970: You said the best way | can help 
you guys is if | work hard, right? 


Dr. Underwood: Spot on. It'll be just like all 
the other training you've done. | fully believe in 
your abilities. 


SCP-3970: If you think so then it must be true. 
| just feel so big now.