"Again, so fatalistic. The short answer is yes," the stranger stared 
into the director's eyes. "I only wish to talk with the esteemed 
Doctor. For what it's worth, | can promise that no one will come to 
harm because of this." 


The director was the first to break eye contact. She sighed. "So, in 
essence, | can tell you how to find him, or force you to seek him out 
yourself. | notice that both of those choices that you present end 
with the same result. So, why would | not inconvenience you? | do 
not see any reason why | should cooperate." 


"As you said, | will find him eventually." The stranger paused, 
carefully considering her next words before continuing, "And, 
unfortunately, the longer | am here, the more likely | will become an 
inconvenience to you. You have been Director for many years, yes? 
And sterling record as well. | would hate to be the one that would 
cause you undue distress, Ms Ottmar." 


"So, now you choose to threaten me?" 


"Not a threat, Director. | cannot abandon the path on which | am set. 
| therefore ask that you be the one to step aside.” The stranger took 
a long drink from her now lukewarm beverage. "I only ask you to 
wash your hands of this. Allow your superiors to decide matters, as 
is your normal procedure when dealing with me. Director, you must 
make so many difficult moral decisions as part of your daily work. | 
am simply asking you to not answer this one. Do not burden yourself 
with this choice, when you already have so many worries. Tell me 
what | would like to know." 


The Director hesitated, but she eventually gave way. She told the 
stranger where Dr. Bright could be found. After the strange woman 
left, the Director called and reported the incident to her superiors. 
Logically, she should feel upset after this. In some way, she had 
given surrendered when she had promised herself long ago that she 
never would. She should feel devastated. On the contrary, Director 
Ottmar felt relieved, like a weight she did not realize was present 
had been lifted. Let her superiors handle this one. She still had to 
finish her coffee. 


When asked why she never attempted to remove SCP-683-2, Miss 
replied, "It's a nice little picture, isn't it? Why take it down?" 


« SCP-682 | SCP-683 | SCP-684 » 


The noon day sun was radiant, reflected shimmering in the waters of 
Lake Geneva. Several pedestrians were milling about, enjoying the 
feel of the weather and the sights of the great city. 


A man sat on a park bench, looking out over the water. Though he 
was only middle-age, his eyes were the eyes of an old man. Eyes 
that had seen too much. Suffered too much. This time was the only 
time he could truly rest, as the night is no sanctuary for those that 
cannot sleep. This man had used many names, but the only true 
name was Dr. Jack Bright. 


Another man sat down on the bench next to Dr. Bright. Like Bright, 
he was dressed in a suit and tie. Like Bright, he seemed far older 
than his appearance suggested. Like Bright, his eyes were eyes that 
had seen much suffering. They sat in silence for a time. 


lt was Dr. Bright who broke the silence. "Well, to what do | owe the 
pleasure?" 


The stranger grinned, and couldn't quite suppress the chuckle 
underneath his words. "Oh come on now, Jack. No need to be a 
sarcastic ass. |'m just here to talk." 


"Oh really? What could we possibly have to talk about?" 


"Lots of things, actually." The stranger shrugged, "I mean, after all, 
we're sort of in the same business. Don't you think comparing notes 
could do some good?" 


Bright scowled. "Look, | consider myself pretty good at being able to 
bullshit someone, so | know when someone's giving the runaround 
to me. Let's just cut the crap, OK? I've only got twenty minutes left in 
my lunch break." 


The stranger nodded, serene and relaxed. "Really, | wasn't just 
screwing with you. I've noticed a lot of similarities between us. | was 
hoping that cooperation could help both of us with our... problems. 


Bright barked out a harsh laugh. "You and me similar? | don't see it. 
What do we possibly have that is similar?" 


The stranger's expression became sullen. The mirth gone from his 
words, he whispered, "We are both trapped, Dr. Bright." 


At that, Dr. Bright turned to stare at the stranger. His hand found 
itself caressing the amulet he wore underneath his shirt. 


After only a moment, the stranger's former expression and 
demeanor returned. He grinned. "I figured that would get you to 
listen. | mean think about it. We both have rather varying identities. 
We both pass on our qualities to our successors. Most importantly, 
we are both suffering from anomalous conditions we cannot seem to 
break." 


"Sounds to me like a whole bunch of coincidences. Seems like 
you're stretching things a bit to make those connections." 


The stranger sighed. "Maybe. | admit | have my share of logical and 
emotional failings. I'm not perfect. However, | do feel there is a 
possible connection. Is that not worth exploring? Hell, worst case 
scenario is we don't find out anything, which puts us exactly where 
we are now." 


Dr. Bright frowned. "OK, you're going to have to explain a bit more. 
Quit with the whole mystery and riddles thing. What do you mean by 
connection? And what the hell do you actually expect me to do?" 


The stranger stood up, and took a few steps towards the lake. "I'll 
answer your second question first. | don't expect you to do anything. 
| honestly don't expect this conversation to have any affect on your 
life at all. That said, I'd hoping that it does, and would be happy if it 
did have an impact. | would say the result | most hope for is that we 
become allies after this encounter." 


"As to your first question,” the stranger continued, talking over Dr. 
Bright's scoff, "I'll try to explain in a straightforward way. | think that 
the origin of your amulet and the origin of me could be related." 


The bottom fell out of Dr. Bright's stomach. "So, are you saying that 
I'm like you? A...?" 


The stranger interjected, "An artificial one, perhaps." The stranger 


spread his hands, "Or at least an attempt to do so. It's hard to say 
for certain. After all, how can you really measure the impact your life 
has had, and compare that result to how things would be if you 
never existed? Of course, this is all just my personal theories. But, 
now don't you feel like this might be worth looking into?" 


At that, the stranger began walking away. Dr. Bright quickly stood 
up. "Hold on," he called out. "That's it? You're just going to leave 
now?" 


The stranger looked over his shoulder at the doctor. "I've said what | 
came here to say. | know that | can't change your opinions. | mean, | 
literally can't. Whatever happens next, it has to be something you 
decide. So, | guess I'll just have to wait to see what you will do." The 
stranger smiled. "If you ever want my help, look for me. You'll Know 
how to find me. After all, we're kindred spirits, you and I." 


As the stranger left for good, Dr. Bright sat back down on the bench. 
He did not return to work after his lunch break. He continued to sit 
for many hours, his fingers slowly tracing the ridges of the amulet 
beneath his clothing. Bright stared into the horizon until long after 
the sun had sank beneath the sea. 


What Nobody Wants 


"We're not the bad guys. All that about us using anomalies to 
destroy or take over the world, it's nonsense! The fact is, the deck is 
stacked against us. With so much out there that could destroy 
everything so easily, we're gonna lose sooner or later. We're trying 
to prevent that. We're trying to use the anomalies to break reality 
just enough to give us a fighting chance. The rules say "we have no 
hope", but we're gonna scratch that out, or white it out, or just write 
our own damn rule-book that says "Humanity Wins". 


His speech finally finished, the scraggy-faced man slumped into an 
empty chair. Across from him, separated by a thick metal table, sat 
another. Both men were dressed in unmarked military uniforms. 
Both were young and in peak physical condition. Both had the sharp 
stare of one who had faced death. In fact, especially in the dark and 
featureless room, it may have been hard to tell the two apart. 


The other man relaxed in his seat, hands folded in front of him. 
Throughout the entirety of the scraggy-faced man's speech, he had 
shown no outward reaction. Now he spoke, in a somewhat amused 
tone, "When | said that | needed a reason, Mr. Kaiden Reed, that's 
not exactly what | meant." 


Kaiden reeled in surprise. "So, you listened to that whole thing for 
nothing? | was talking for like, fifteen minutes! Why didn't you stop 
me?" 


The relaxed man smiled. "I actually thought it was rather interesting. 
| especially liked the boxing analogy. Humanity fighting against the 
anomalies is like an athlete against an impossible opponent? Rather 
poetic stuff, for a soldier." 


"Oh. Well, thanks, | guess." 


"In my line of work, it is always helpful to understand who people 
are. Comparing your organization to a boxer who attacks the referee 


in order to end the match before being defeated by a stronger 
opponent... Breaking the rules in order to avoid losing. It is an 
interesting perspective on the Chaos Insurgency..." at this, he 
nodded towards Kaiden, "and the people who support their cause." 


Kaiden smiled, his expression beaming. After a moment, his face 
dropped. He stammered, "Don't tell me | told you something | 
shouldn't have. Am | going to get in trouble for this?" 


The calm man laughed quietly. "You haven't been at this very long 
have you?" 


Kaiden shook his head. "D-class, up until about three months ago. | 
just passed all the Cl tests and became a full member last week." 


He was answered with a nod. "You didn't tell me anything | didn't 
already know. No, if anything, your speech helped me understand 
you, and what sort of incentive you are willing to offer me." 


"So, that's what you mean by a ‘reason’. You're looking for some 
form of payment? | was under the impression that you types didn't 
really go for that sort of thing." 


"Well, we don't. At least, not in the way that you're thinking. We 
prefer... other types of payment." 


At this, Kaiden looked nonplussed. He quickly covered his 
expression with a false laugh. "Really? So, is this some sort of deal- 
with-the-devil type thing? Am | gonna have to give you my soul?" 


It was the other's turn to laugh. "Not exactly. It's rather difficult to do 
anything useful with a complete soul anyway, and I've already 
collected more than enough to last me." After a brief pause to 
appreciate Kaiden's wide eyes and gaping frown, he continued, "I'm 
only joking, of course." 


The two shared a bit more laughter, although Kaiden's was a touch 
higher pitch and breathy than usual. 


"No, the type of payment | need is a bit more... quantifiable. 
Something more concrete than a 'soul', and something far less 
dramatic." 


"Like?" Kaiden prompted. 


"Well, | was quite fond of the passion you displayed earlier during 
your speech. | can accept that. Knowledge and memories are also 
helpful, if you are willing to part with those. However, that sort of 
thing is a bit trickier since | can only determine their value once 
you've already given them up." 


For a minute, Kaiden was speechless. "You can really do that? Just 
take that stuff from me?" 


Once again, his guest responded with a nod. "Well, it is a difficult 
thing to explain. When someone around me is the source of 
something, whether that is emotion or ideas or even appearance, | 
absorb a bit of that. Depending on circumstances, this sort of thing 
can be temporary or permanent." 


"Wow. How did you end up like this?" Kaiden asked breathlessly. 


The soldier's expression darkened. "To be honest, I'd rather not go 
into that. | couldn't really give you a satisfactory answer anyway." 


"Oh, OK. Right. Weird anomalous nonsense?" 
"Exactly as you say. Weird anomalous nonsense." 


The two were silent for a moment, briefly considering their past 
troubles and the terrible hand that fate had dealt them. After the brief 
recollection, Kaiden broke the silence. "I really do care about the Cl. 
I'm willing to give up a lot to help them out. But... My memories, my 
emotions... | don't really want to lose that kind of stuff forever." 


"And you won't. This process will not be very different than how you 
naturally change over time. You forget old memories, but you will 
make new memories. You lose your old passions, but find other 
things to invest in. The only difference is that | might be able to 
make use of it, rather than these things just being lost." 


"But why? Why do you want that kind of stuff?" 


The man began to smile. "Because, Kaiden Reed of the Chaos 
Insurgency, | am not whole. You ask why | desire that as payment? 


Well, | suppose this simplest answer is this: Because |ama 
Nobody." 


Days before the Chaos Insurgency was to raid Site-37, the entity 
known as Nobody infiltrated the base. Nobody contaminated the on- 
site water supply with an unknown red liquid and remained on site to 
ensure its distribution. According to Nobody, this contaminant would 
hinder Foundation personnel's ability to have a meaningful effect on 
their surroundings. If successful, this would effectively nullify 
Foundation efforts to resist insurgents. 


The operation was a dramatic success for the Chaos Insurgency. At 
the end of the day, Kaiden and his team had left with twelve 
potential new recruits, one potentially useful anomaly, and a wealth 
of information about the Foundation's operations. More impressively, 
out of the thirty operatives that had participated in the mission, only 
two had been captured and one killed. The others were perhaps 
tired and injured, but alive and free. 


Despite this overwhelming victory, Kaiden Reed didn't feel excited. 
On the ride back to base, he sat elbows on his knees and face in his 
hands. While the others sang and laughed and cheered, he was 
silent. He didn't feel happy. He didn't feel anything really. The events 
of the day had shaken him harder than he could have anticipated. 
During the raid, he had come across several unarmed researchers. 
Under order from his superiors, and threat of death if he didn't 
comply, he had shot them all. 


He had once been so invested in the dream of the Insurgency that 
he would have been willing to give anything to help it. They had 
saved him from torture and death at the hands of the Foundation. 
Showed him the possibility that men could turn a stacked deck into 
their advantage. Spoke to him of the future where men could do 
more than just contain anomalies, but survive them. Succeed 
against them. 


After what had happened, what he had been forced to do, he had 
begun to lose faith. Was the future preached by the Insurgency 
recruiters really achievable? Even if it was, did it really matter? 
Maybe the costs of victory were simply to great. Thinking back, one 


of the main reasons that Kaiden had chose to fight against the 
Foundation was because he felt that doing evil for the sake of the 
"big picture" was still wrong. 


Now, the day's events had shown him that the Chaos Insurgency 
was just as capable of rationalizing their sins as the Foundation was. 
Though the two organizations were seeking different goals, they 
were both just as willing to take any means to achieve them. His 
idealism had been misplaced. He felt like a fool. 


As the days wore on, Kaiden found it more and more difficult to 
justify supporting the cause. The idea of abandoning the crusade 
and settling down somewhere peaceful grew stronger and stronger. 


Finally, the feeling grew too intense to be ignored. He waited, and 
when one night he saw his chance to escape, he left. He walked 
away, and left the anomalous world behind him.