SCP-001

**Item #:** SCP-001

**Object Class:**

**GENERAL NOTICE 001-Alpha:** In order to prevent knowledge of SCP-001 from being leaked, several/no false SCP-001 files have been created alongside the true file/files. All files concerning the nature of SCP-001, including the decoy/decoys, are protected by a memetic kill agent designed to immediately cause cardiac arrest in any nonauthorized personnel attempting to access the file. Revealing the true nature/natures of SCP-001 to the general public is cause for execution, except as required under ████-███-██████.

**WARNING:**

ANY NON-AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ACCESSING THIS FILE WILL BE IMMEDIATELY TERMINATED THROUGH **BERRYMAN-LANGFORD** MEMETIC KILL AGENT. SCROLLING DOWN WITHOUT PROPER MEMETIC INOCULATION WILL RESULT IN IMMEDIATE CARDIAC ARREST FOLLOWED BY DEATH.

**YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.**

## The Prototype

**CODE NAME: Dr. Gears:**

**Item designation number:** #86243AR-001

**Warning:** Item displays aggressive and dangerous behavior

**Description of item:**

6’5” tall, 97 lbs (average, varies by 5-10 lbs higher or lower), unknown age, grey-brown skin (may be bruising), eye (?) color milky blue, no hair. Emaciated appearance, bone and muscle structure unlike any recorded species. Legs are long and thin, ending in sharp black points. Three fingers on each hand, also ending in black points. Legs and arms are twice as long as torso. No reproductive organs, anal orifice, ears, nose, or pores anywhere on body. Head is spherical, very large in proportion to body, neck appears too thin to support head. Mouth extends halfway around head, no lips. Twenty-one (21) teeth, spaced randomly around mouth; many appear broken, rotten, or chipped. “Eye” is a large, ball-shaped, milky-blue sphere presumably kept in the head or throat. Appears to “roll” into the mouth when mouth is open. Has no pupil or iris.

**Detail of current containment:**

Room is lead-lined and kept lit with floodlights. Temperature is kept at 98 degrees, with 100% humidity. Room is sealed with a reinforced steel blast door. Outer area patrolled by guards with high-powered strobes. Anybody entering the containment room should carry a strobe and wear welding goggles. Any person attempting to remove the item or enter without authorization is to be shot on sight.

**Report:**

Recovered in Guatemala early this week. First reported as a “demon” seen by several boys on a rural road. Appeared to be sick or injured. Boys reported seeing the creature panting and jerking its legs. Creature then raised its head and exposed its “eye”. Boys ran home, reporting to local law enforcement. Several reports of “horrible roaring” or “shrieks” from locals over several days. Twelve people admitted to local hospital with severe radiation poisoning, and seven reported missing. Recovery team assembled, headed by General Machoi and dispatched from base ADRX-19. Reports to Overseers from recovery team after standard containment failure led to additional containment protocols, developed by Dr. Hermann Keter. Dr. Keter was unfortunately killed in initial testing, after which creature was moved to ADRX-19.

Creature appears to be able to create micro singularities, using them both as a form of teleportation and defense. These singularities disappear several seconds after creation but emit massive amounts of radiation and cause severe damage to the surrounding area. The “eye” appears to control these manifestations, as it has always had the eye exposed when creating a singularity. Omnivorous, it views humans as a food supply. Creature shows signs of extreme fear and sickness in the presence of high heat, humidity, or bright/flashing light. Creature appears unable to teleport through lead and cannot form singularities when in its “sick” state. When “well”, it is an extremely fast and cunning being, and has killed several recovery agents with both its singularities and claws. Emits occasional shrieking sounds; all attempts to communicate have failed.

**Addendum:** Additional objects reported, Overseers considering conversion of ADRX-19 to a dedicated recovery and containment facility. Reports may need censorship for reasons of security.

## The Legacy

**CODE NAME: Dr. Mackenzie:**

**Item #:** SCP-001

**Object Class:** Euclid

**Special Containment Procedures:** All elements of SCP-001 are to be contained in separate, environment-controlled lockers at Site Zero. The location of Site Zero is classified Level 5, and is only known by members of O5 Command.

Access to SCP-001, its transcriptions and data is restricted to O5-level personnel except during Protocol Zero. Protocol Zero may only be enacted by a direct, unanimous act by the entirety of O5 Command, and Protocol Zero procedures are to be disseminated only to those specifically permitted by O5 Command.

**Description:** SCP-001 is a set of two (2) objects and thirty-three (33) documents belonging to [DATA EXPUNGED], alias "The Administrator".

SCP-001-01 and SCP-001-02 are, respectively, [DATA EXPUNGED]

SCP-001-03 through SCP-001-35 are a mixed set of handwritten and printed documents. They are normal in all respects except that they do not show signs of aging or fading in any way, and dating of the paper on which they are comprised of has shown inconsistent results. The contents of these documents, as detailed below, consist of [DATA EXPUNGED]

[DATA EXPUNGED]

[DATA EXPUNGED]

[DATA EXPUNGED] as these objects formed the impetus for the creation of the SCP Foundation, and all of its constituent activities and processes. As such, this information is only to be disseminated by direct order of O5 Command as per Protocol Zero.

**CLASSIFIED LEVEL 5 BY ORDER OF O5 COMMAND - EYES ONLY**

**Unauthorized access of these documents is punishable by immediate termination.**

**Addendum 001-01:** Analysis of SCP-001-01 and SCP-001-02

**SCP-001-01** is a smooth device composed of an unidentified gray metallic substance, approximately 22 cm wide, 30 cm tall, and 1.5 cm thick. It is unusually heavy, weighing approximately 8.2 kg. It is equipped with a small digital display, and has a single opening that appears to be a type of keyed activation switch. Attempts to disassemble the device or analyze its technology have been unsuccessful so far, as there appear to be no seams or fasteners visible on the device. Attempts to image the interior of SCP-001-01 utilizing x-ray or magnetic resonance have resulted in inconsistent results, suggesting that the device is either too dense to properly image or has inconsistent internal topography.

SCP-001-01 appears to only be capable of displaying two indicators. One appears to be a status or progress bar with an accompanying number, currently at approximately 23%. The other indicator is a single digital counter displaying the number ██,███.

**SCP-001-02** is a small key composed of the same unidentified metallic substance as the main casing of SCP-001-01. It is currently assumed that this is the activation key for SCP-001-01.

**Addendum 001-02:** Transcript of SCP-001 Documents

**SCP-001-03** is a personal diary belonging to The Administrator. SCP-001-04 through SCP-001-35 were inserted between various pages of SCP-001-03 at time of discovery.

Excerpt from SCP-001-03, page 1:

> I always hated the idea of writing in a diary. Documentation is one thing, but I guess I never saw the point in putting down my personal thoughts. The scientist in me is telling me that someday, someone might want to know how this all started.
>
>

Excerpt from SCP-001-03, page 3:

> They say that the first time is always the hardest. I have managed to secure funding and personnel from the federal government, and I have established an organization that will allow me to continue the research. President [REDACTED] insists that I turn the Device over for safekeeping, but I have made it clear that I can't let it out of my possession.
>
>

Excerpt from SCP-001-03, page 7:

> Progress, unfortunately, has been slow these past decades. I am adamant that we cannot reproduce the technology until we have found a solution, as I am sure that unless we kill both birds with one stone, we will simply hasten the process.
>
>

Excerpt from SCP-001-03, page 9:

> I had to kill them. They had been reproducing the technology all along, and hiding it from me. I will be moving on in the next 24 hours. This place is doomed at this point.
>
>

Excerpt from SCP-001-03, page 15:

> Again. I will not make the same mistake again. The mere thought of lying to the very people I need to reach my goal is bitter, but I can no longer afford to let them know the truth.
>
>

**SCP-001-05** is a page printed from what appears to be an inkjet printer, found inserted between pages 15 and 16 of SCP-001-03. This page has been preserved in the same unidentified method as the rest of the documents in SCP-001.

> Memo from the Office of The Administrator
>
>
> Humanity has existed in its current state for hundreds of millennia, yet only the last few have held any meaning for us. What did we do for the countless years before recorded history? We huddled in caves, warding off the night with small fires, fearful of the things that we could not understand. It was not just that we did not understand why the sun rose every morning, it was the mystery of enormous fish with the heads of men, and rocks that came to life, and monsters that drove those who saw them mad. So we called them 'angels' and 'devils', begged them to spare us from their wrath, and prayed for salvation.
>
>
> As time passed, their numbers died out and mankind flourished. The world began to make more sense. Yet, the unexplained can never truly go away, as if the universe requires for there to be things we can never truly understand.
>
>
> We will not go back into the dark, fearful night. We will not be ruled by the unknown. We will stand up for ourselves.
>
>
>
> Even as the rest of humanity remains uninformed, we will fight the darkness, containing it and shielding it from the eyes of the common man, so that they can continue to live in the blissful illusion of a normal world.
>
>

Excerpt from SCP-001-03, page 22:

> Their faces haunt me in my dreams. Hundreds, thousands of them. Ones who blindly went to their deaths. For me.
>
>

Excerpt from SCP-001-03, page 28:

> Made a mistake. Told someone the truth, the night before I left. Had to use the last of my original medical supplies. In a way, I wish he'd aimed for the head.
>
>

Excerpt from SCP-001-03, page 41:

> This one solved an equation that could set a framework for the rest of the solution. I killed them by my own hand. Could they have ever imagined that it was an act of mercy?
>
>

Excerpt from SCP-001-03, page 64:

> I suddenly remembered today what they told me before I left. They said that I probably wouldn't see anything, that I would probably simply fall asleep and wake up again. They lied. I can see them as they are consumed by madness, as the walls of reality crack and shatter, only to be replaced as if nothing happened. I can see everything.
>
>

Final Excerpt from SCP-001-03, page 68:

> It is finally done. The equations are complete, the math is sound, but it comes too late once again. This team will not have the time to construct the Solution, and I will have to abandon the Foundation again. But, I do so with the knowledge that no more will have to suffer the same fate.
>
>

**SCP-001-34** is a worn, handwritten page discovered between the front cover and first page of SCP-001-03.

> To whom it may concern:
>
>
> First, I want to say that I am sorry for everything. I have most likely doomed you and everyone you have ever known to death and destruction by my mere presence in your world. If you are in possession of — and reading — this document then I am probably dead. If that is the case and I did not bother to destroy this evidence, then that means I have also probably failed in my mission. This means that my responsibilities have now passed onto you and that your fate and the fate of your world are now in your hands.
>
>
> I was not born into your world. I am a traveler from a parallel plane of existence, an alternate reality separate from your universe. The year from which I originate is of little consequence; if I've learned anything from my travels, the passing of time from universe to universe is meaningless. What is important is that in my plane of origin, mankind was highly advanced. We harnessed the power of entire stars, molded planets and moons alike to suit our needs, and even learned to manipulate the fabric of reality itself. We had conquered death through advances in medicine and technology, and we thought ourselves masters of our own fates.
>
>
> We realized too late that all such things have a cost, and that our greed and hubris would not only result in the loss of everything we held dear, but doom countless others as well. Our meddling in the structure of existence had opened up cracks and twists in the fabric of reality, a Corruption of the multiverse that we had failed to notice earlier because we could not see the pieces of our reality leaking into others. By the time feedback began to manifest, it was already too late to stop it.
>
>
> Before this Corruption consumed us completely, we came up with one final fail-safe. We would gather up what knowledge we could save and sacrifice our world to send a single individual through to the next. This could not repair the damage that had already been done, but could buy us the time to start over, to find a way to stop the Corruption of reality. That individual was me.
>
>
> If you have not already found them, then the evidence to support my claims will begin to bleed into your world soon enough. Like a rain of glass, the shattered remains of other universes will begin to fall and slip into yours. Things that defy your understanding, fixed loops and structures without meaning or rhyme, that cannot be destroyed by any means you possess. Things that drive men mad and challenge all the assumptions that you hold dear.
>
>
> That which I carry with me is the final legacy of countless worlds. The equations and technology described in its pages carry with them the hope of stopping the Corruption, a hope that has come with a heavy price. They are the last will and testament of a bloody trail of universes that have sacrificed and been sacrificed that those who remain may avoid their fate. At the time of this writing they are nearly complete, but time is ever against me. If I am no longer able to see this mission through to its bitter end, then it falls to you to finish what I began.
>
>
> Good luck,
>
>
> [DATA EXPUNGED]
>
>
>
> The Administrator
>
>

**SCP-001-35** is a single handwritten page found between the last page and back cover of SCP-001-03. The handwriting in SCP-001-35 is inconsistent with that of the other handwritten documents in SCP-001.

> [DATA EXPUNGED],
>
>
> This is it, the last evidence that our civilization will have ever existed. No one is entirely sure what will happen when you activate the fail-safe. Some of them are saying that the backlash from using it will instantly shatter what remains of our existence. Others are saying that using something of this power will merely accelerate the Corruption by a hundredfold. Either way, it will be quick. By the time you wake up at your destination, there will be nothing left of our home.
>
>
> You already know that it will only carry a single passenger, and the second team should have your gear ready by the time you're ready to go. I can only hope that with the time we've bought you, you can find a way to stop this disaster. If not, the device will keep track of the relative corruption level of local reality as well as how many times it's been activated. A bit sadistic of us, perhaps?
>
>
> By the time you read this, I will already be dead. I'm sorry, but you have always been the stronger one. I don't have the strength to face the end with my head held high. Not without you.
>
>
>
> I love you.
>
>

**Addendum 001-03:** SCP-001-36

References found within the documents comprising SCP-001 suggest the existence of SCP-001-36, an electronic device or large document containing comprehensive technological and mathematical data related to SCP-001. The current whereabouts of SCP-001-36 are unknown.

## The Scarlet King

**CODE NAME: Tufto:**

Item #: SCP-001

Object Class: Keter Safe

Special Containment Procedures: Following the recent investigations of Dr. Robert Montauk, no action is currently needed to contain SCP-001. It is functionally self-containing, and any Foundation interference may harm or alter its containment irreversibly.

No Foundation personnel are to engage with any new matters related to SCP-001, with the exception of related anomalies already in Foundation containment.

Description: SCP-001 is an entity ordinarily referred to as the Scarlet King. SCP-001 is currently located in several alternate dimensions simultaneously, and is unable to enter into the prime dimension. However, it is believed to have been repeatedly attempting entry for a period of several thousand under 300 years. SCP-001's physical, mental and conceptual properties are unknown to the Foundation; nevertheless, it continues to assert a strong influence on a number of individuals and events within the prime dimension.

It is believed that SCP-001's existence represents an ongoing but dormant Tashkent-Class "Cross-Pollination" Scenario1; should SCP-001 enter the prime timeline, an irreparable alteration to normalcy will occur. Containment of SCP-001 is a top priority is, however, unnecessary. Any attempt to alter SCP-001's classification or object class will result in immediate dismissal from the O5 Council.

References in art and oral tradition to SCP-001 appear across a wide variety of human and non-human cultures across the universe, including in communities which have never previously had any contact with one another. Common descriptions within these traditions are of a red creature of immense size, ordinarily wearing a golden crown or other headdress signifying royalty. Although the names ascribed to SCP-001 vary, the majority contain two elements: a word signifying some form of royalty combined with a word signifying the colour red. Cultures which do not have a concept of the colour red but follow this naming pattern universally use a colour analogous to the English concept of the colour red.

Most personnel, except those working on anomalies related to SCP-001, possess no knowledge of the entity. As part of SCP-2317's containment procedures, Level 4 personnel2 are to be informed that SCP-2317 is, in fact, SCP-001. The truth of this is unknown, although it is a hypothesis which has received strong support among several members of the council. The apparently multidimensional nature of SCP-001, however, renders the possibility of SCP-2317 being anything more than a single aspect of SCP-001 unlikely.

It is unknown when SCP-001 was discovered. The loss of several archives concerning the Foundation's origins in the 1889 "Snarling Coup" has prevented a full reconstruction of events, although an investigation shortly following [DATA EXPUNGED]. A variety of groups dedicated to bringing SCP-001 into the prime dimension have existed over the years. The most recent of these has been the "Children of the Scarlet King", which was destroyed in a joint GOC-SCP operation in January 2018. Its former leader, Dipesh Spivak, is currently in Foundation custody under the designation PoI-3172.

Update 01/06/2018: SCP-001 has recently been the subject of an extensive investigation by Dr. Robert Montauk, Project Lead on SCP-001, SCP-231 and SCP-2317, and deviser of Procedure 110-Montauk.

Based on the results of this investigation, SCP-001 has been downgraded to Safe following a decision taken by the O5 Council. Upon the request of the former O5-13, a number of documents related to this investigation can be found below, in order to provide context and further information pertaining to this theory. These have been curated, categorised and included by the former O5-13 herself with the permission of O5-1, in order to provide some context to this re-evaluation.

-Phase 1: 'Blood'

Document 1: The following is an interview between Dr. Robert Montauk and PoI-3172.

> Date: 01/04/2018.
>
>
> Interviewer: Dr. Robert Montauk.
>
>
> Interviewee: PoI-3172
>
>
> Location: Site 713, Interview Room 2.
>
>
> *<Begin Log>*
>
>
> PoI-3172: Again, Dr. Montauk? I don't understand what you people want from me.
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: Hello to you too, Dipesh. I'm sorry to do this to you again. I think it's silly too, to be honest. What we want from you are answers.
>
>
> PoI-3172: It's been, what- weeks, months? You've dragged me down here, into one of your interview rooms, and asked me these endless questions. You or one of your lackeys.
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: I'm sorry if you've been made to feel uncomfortable. It wasn't my intention, but it's hard to keep tabs on everything any more. Have the guards been treating you badly in any way?
>
>
> PoI-3172: No. No, not really. I can't really complain. It's just their eyes. They look so dead, so cold.
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: If you like, I can rearrange some personnel and put someone else on your security detail. We're a bit short-staffed around here at the moment, and a lot of our best folks are away. And then there's the paperwork, and the endless oversight. There's been some trouble over with- well, you don't need to know about that.
>
>
> PoI-3172: You weren't what I expected, you know.
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: You thought the Foundation would be different?
>
>
> PoI-3172: No. I thought you would be.
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: You'd heard of me?
>
>
> PoI-3172: Of what you've done. Procedure 110-Montauk, well… the people in my circles have done some dark things in their time, but that-
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: I merely did what was necessary, Mr. Spivak. As a Foundation researcher, and as someone who doesn't want to see his loved ones die.
>
>
> PoI-3172: Yes. That's very like the Foundation, isn't it? Everything done is justified by what is necessary. You see the world, the people moving through it, living lives touched only by totalising, universal laws of society and physics. And everything has to be channelled through those laws, and that which lies outside it is to be contained. It's all so very simple.
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: You wouldn't say that if you worked here.
>
>
> PoI-3172: Some of us called you evil. I don't think that's quite it.
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: That is kind of you to say. And to tell you the truth, I don't think you're quite what I expected, either. Especially given your reputation.
>
>
> PoI-3172: I've been told I am a hard person to get along with. Too "cryptic", they say. One person even called me "airy".
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: I don't think I'd call you "airy". Your head may be in the clouds, but you seem to be maddeningly smug about it. Granted, not as smug as some of the delusional cultists who have passed through here. I suppose I should be thankful for that, at least.
>
>
> PoI-3172: I'll try not to take that as an insult. But this is what I don't understand. Your procedure. 110-Montauk. It's not-
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: I can't discuss that, I'm afraid. We must get on. Time and tide and all that rubbish. Please tell me what the Children of the Scarlet King's overall intention was.
>
>
> PoI-3172: The Children are dead. There's not much left to tell you.
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: I would like to hear things in your own words.
>
>
> PoI-3172: Then I suppose you could say that our "intention" was to save the world.
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: And how were you planning to go about doing that?
>
>
> PoI-3172: By bringing the Scarlet King into this reality, of course. You know this already.
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: But how would that save the world?
>
>
> PoI-3172: Doctor, is this really necessary? You took away his daughters years ago and ended up killing most of them. You have already annihilated our society, and I'm sure you know all about what went on within it. We worshipped the King, pretending he was Satan or some other ancient god of evil. Our inner circle believed in violation as the ultimate holy act. We failed, you and the Bookburners destroyed us, and the matter has been put to rest.
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: You seem awfully calm while describing the destruction of your life's work.
>
>
> PoI-3172: What else can I do? I know how this is going to play out. Maybe I always did.
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: Why do you refer to the Global Occult Coalition as the "Bookburners"? Were you and your group affiliated with the Serpent's Hand?
>
>
> PoI-3172: That's- it's complicated.
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: It's a simple enough question.
>
>
> PoI-3172: But there isn't a simple answer. Still… yes, we were affiliated with the Serpent's Hand. Most of us passed through there at one time or another. They will disavow us, of course, if you ask them about us. They're not monsters like we are. They have moral precepts, you see. Their whole point is to look for wonder, and since they see no wonder in the King, they repudiate us utterly. But they know, deep down, that they need us.
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: They need you? What for?
>
>
> PoI-3172: For the same reason they let us live. We raided the library, fought them, skirmished with them. They had a huge quantity of dirt on us, far more than you do. But they never finished the job. They're as bad as you Jailers, in their own way. The same compartmentalisation, the same singular goals. Their existence is based in nothing concrete. The empty time of history, that's all. Indeed, they came into being at the same time as you. You're more similar than you realise.
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: That's impossible. The Serpent's Hand has been documented as existing long before the Foundation in any incarn-
>
>
> PoI-3172: No, no, you miss the point. The Library's always been there, yes, but not the Hand. The Hand was something new, like you all are. You think anybody ever cared about "wonder" in the old days? Nobody cared about wonder. They cared about food, family and blood.
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: What's that supposed to mean?
>
>
> PoI-3172: It means… ah, you wouldn't get it anyway. But the Hand would. I think even the Bookburners do, in their own way. But the Hand is scared. They try to blot us out, forget us. We're what they should be but never can be, you see.
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: Look, Dipesh, I have tried to make things more comfortable for you, but we need some give and take. You're speaking in clichéd, cryptic riddles, and I want some answers.
>
>
> PoI-3172: I can't tell you everything. You wouldn't treat the information properly. You'd treat it as scientific fact; something to be swallowed, understood, contextualised.
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: And what is wrong with that?
>
>
> PoI-3172: Why are you doing this, doctor? Why are you dredging this stuff up again?
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: I shouldn't tell you, but… ahh, screw it. I'm tired of this. I've been working on SCP-001 for two decades. Project lead for almost 9 years, after I came up with the Procedure. I don't know. I'm tired. Everywhere I turn I see the Scarlet King, but nothing about him makes any sense. Some big horned devil? Arcane blood god? It's all so small, so obvious. The Foundation has changed in the last decade, you see. We've faced conceptual demons, malevolent genre dwellers, sevenfold destroyers, all of which are far worse than some old sacrifice deity. But there, behind everything, I see this smile in fire. That dread, that old dread, it lingers. And this is despite seeing horrors far less easy and far more subtle trying to break the world on a daily basis. I just want to understand, I suppose. Peel back the layers, the tales upon contradictory tales, and find out who he really is.
>
>
> PoI-3172: You're being awfully candid.
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: To be honest, I've stopped caring. This job gets to you. The things you have to do, the regrets… well, I'm too high-up for anybody to touch me now, and I've run into too many dead ends to get hung up over protocol by this point. Just tell me something, Dipesh. Anything.
>
>
> PoI-3172: OK. Look. I like you, Montauk. You must be a cold-blooded bastard somewhere in there, or you wouldn't have come up with- well. Who am I to judge, eh? I'll tell you where to start.
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: I'm all ears.
>
>
> PoI-3172: There are three things to understand about the Scarlet King. Three laws which, when put together, make up a complete picture. One is the law of blood. One is the law of concrete. And one is the law of howling.
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: Three laws, eh? That the King set down for his followers, or that were imposed upon him?
>
>
> PoI-3172: Both. The first was his law. The second was somebody else's. And as for the third, well, you'll find out about the third when you've cracked the first two.
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: Very cryptic.
>
>
> PoI-3172: That's all I can tell you for now. You need to learn in the proper way.
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: That's really all you'll give?
>
>
> PoI-3172: That's all.
>
>
> *There is a pause for several seconds.*
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: Alright, Dipesh. Good talking with you, as ever.
>
>
>
> *<End Log>*
>
>

Document 2: The following is an extract from the memoirs of one Jack Hearst, a defector from the Children of the Scarlet King. Hearst was a high-level reality bender, capable of entering the bodies of humans in the past and experiencing their thoughts and emotions first-hand. The following is a description of what Hearst called the "Battle of the Ghemelleth", purportedly a battle between SCP-001 and his followers against a group called the "Children of the Urns". Hearst apparently experienced the battle from the perspective of a foot-soldier in SCP-001's army. These memoirs were written shortly before Hearst's death in 1976. They were among the first documents consulted by Dr. Montauk during his investigation.

> The fortress was monumental, made of volcanic rock and jagged iron and built into a vast mountain. Every measurement, every angle was calculated to promote the King's ideology. The steel slats and bars may have seemed to be jutting out in random half-sawn directions, but if you could see the whole then you'd see the symmetry. It was a perfect expression of cosmic order, expressed in endless sevens.
>
>
> It's a tough trip to remember, but bits and pieces come back. We were slaves, I think. We had been taken from a far-off land. The nobility looked down upon us with cruel eyes, but the King didn't care. He rewarded us, and so we were the instruments of his rule. When a village required the justice of the King, we would descend upon them with blood and iron. The villagers feared us, and that felt right to me. But when the horde came, with fire and burning and their cries of freedom, the villagers were still just as scared as they had been of us. That was not the fear of their master, I think, but the fear of anarchy. They didn't know which way to turn. In the end, most betrayed us. Many had had their daughters taken by our master. Old rites. Blood rites. Arcane rites.
>
>
> But we stood upon the battlements, loyal to the last, our hearts bursting with happiness at the rightness of it all. I'm still not sure exactly what was going on- it was all so chaotic, and full of red smoke- but I could feel my host's bloodlust. We stood, and watched, and waited. The sound of rubble and explosions came from across the hill, and the last battle begun.
>
>
> Then something strange happened. My host suddenly felt afraid, and he and I were somewhere else. The sky was not red but black. I was not a slave but part of a conscripted rabble. The peasants looked up at us. They were all starving. They held out their hands, begging, pleading, praying. The wind was their master, and it screamed at them. The horde was coming, but they, too, were starving.
>
>
> Then the scene flickered back, and I was in my host again, under a scarlet sky. The King's voice raged. The rabble of his armies was fleeing to the gates, but they would not open. Our arrows, coated in flame and pitch, flew back again. But the horde was undaunted. In my mind I could see nothing but the fire, the fire of the king. I drew my sword. We all drew our swords. We all charged into the fray.
>
>
> And then, as it were, the scene changed again. There were no battlements, only the dark sky and the wind and a more ragged and lonely sky. The peasants pleaded, the nomads laughed, cheered, wept. "The wind will rage no more!" they said.
>
>
> The two scenes shifted in and out. A red fort bled into a black field. I have ruminated on it a long time, but I think they were the same battle, seen through two different eyes. Or at least the memories of two different battles. The whole thing felt strange; it was not like most of my trips. It was like a half-remembered cacophony, two ideas ripping at each other. There was a timeline showing what really happened, in that blackened wasteland. And there was one that had been made to be true, imposed throughout time on the truth.
>
>
> The last thing I remember was being sliced by a nomad sword, of a frail urn being held high, of seven brides being ripped from a castle- or were they ripped from a field, taken as the spoils of war by some obscure tribe in some lost steppe? I remember the King screaming, writhing, thrashing as he was sealed.
>
>
> And then I died, and woke up back at the ritual. For a second, I wondered if the others had just made up the King, and sent some image of him back to the past. But I don't think that was true. They lacked the power; and besides, it was never a *total* lie. There was something in that wicked wind that reminded me of some of the older rituals.
>
>
>
> It was then that I decided to leave the Children. I went that night, without a word. They didn't stop me; probably figured it wasn't worth the effort. They were so certain in the success of their mission. But I wanted no part in that any more. The things I saw were based upon the law of blood, and I can only pray that they never come to pass.
>
>

Document 3: The following is a log of all known attempts by anomalous groups to force SCP-001's entry into the prime dimension since the containment of SCP-231.

 12/05/12
 02/07/14
 01/01/17
 17/09/17

-Phase 2: 'Concrete'

Document 4: The following is an interview between Dr. Robert Montauk and PoI-3172.

> Date: 14/04/2018.
>
>
> Interviewer: Dr. Robert Montauk.
>
>
> Interviewee: PoI-3172
>
>
> Location: Site 713, Interview Room 2.
>
>
> *<Begin Log>*
>
>
> PoI-3172: Hello again, Robert.
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: Hello, Dipesh. I looked up your laws. I am afraid I am none the wiser.
>
>
> PoI-3172: You'll get there. What did you find?
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: The "law of blood" is referenced a few times in quite a few places. But I couldn't find any concrete information.
>
>
> PoI-3172: I worried you wouldn't.
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: There was only one source of real use- a description of something called the Battle of the Ghemelleth, written by a defector from the Children.
>
>
> PoI-3172: Ahh, Hearst. Yes. I read his memoir once. The only genuine eyewitness of the King's sealing, although a rather unreliable one.
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: How on earth-
>
>
> PoI-3172: Oh, he embellished. He didn't leave straight away; I stumbled upon some early draft in his things, shortly before he left. I was young back then, and I remember how passionately he argued after his vision. Said we'd got the King all wrong. That he wasn't a demon or a monarch, but that he was a voice on the wind. When I was older, and figured it all out, I was surprised how close he got to a fuller understanding. He just wasn't… quite there.
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: I should have guessed he was a liar.
>
>
> PoI-3172: He's not a liar, exactly; just a little lost. And you only have my word for it, doctor. Which the Foundation has made abundantly clear it doesn't trust.
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: There's no reason to doubt you. What do you have to lose? You seem as eager for me to learn the truth as I am.
>
>
> PoI-3172: True. And on that note, I have a question, if I may.
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: Shoot. The longer I keep you talking, the greater the chance you'll slip up and tell me something you shouldn't.
>
>
> PoI-3172: Do you know why the Procedure 110-Montauk actually works?
>
>
> *There is a pause of several seconds.*
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: Sorry, Dipesh. I can't talk to you about that.
>
>
> PoI-3172: It's OK. I think I know the answer anyway. Tell me, did you… lose someone?
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: I don't know what you mean.
>
>
> PoI-3172: I'm sorry to bring back painful memories. But I have looked at the Foundation archives too, you know. It was necessary, back in the day, to check up on what your lot were doing to his daughters. I know that your brother-
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: Stop talking. This interview is not about my private affairs.
>
>
> PoI-3172: I'm sorry, doctor. I didn't mean-
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: Please state for me the meaning of this "law of blood".
>
>
> PoI-3172: Isn't it obvious? It is the way the Scarlet King ruled. There was order, but it was through the imposition of an iron will on the peasantry, through armies of slaves, through a nobility bred to be cruel. The realities of the world of his day, in his corner of the globe.
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: What does this have to do with the Sc- with SCP-001's nature? What are these other laws?
>
>
> PoI-3172: I suggest you look into the secon-
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: I don't have time to play your games. Tell me now, PoI-3172, or you will be escorted to solitary.
>
>
> PoI-3172: Oh, Dr. Montauk. I am sorry. You must look for the law of concrete. That is all-
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: This interview is terminated.
>
>
>
> *<End Log>*
>
>

Document 5: The following is a page from the 1891 report of Agent de Beauvoir on lost Foundation archives following the 1889 Snarling Coup. The report was lost shortly after de Beauvoir's termination in 1895, along with several other documents from the Foundation archives. This page was recovered through unknown means by Dr. Montauk; no other materials from these data losses have been found.

> In summary, the documents lost are extremely extensive, covering a wide range of data concerning the Foundation's early history. Of particular note are several documents related to SCP-001 which have gone missing. However, my investigations have provided me with a great deal of information, and I believe that I can say with some certainty that the historical record as stated in Scranton's *Comprehensive History* remains broadly intact, albeit with some modifications I will detail below.
>
>
> Scranton's work states that the Foundation was founded in 1824, by the merger of thirteen worldwide organisations with a particular interest in preventing awareness of anomalous activities. The most prominent of these were the Foundation of the Secure Containment of the Unnatural, the Devan-e Jaaduyih, the Unified Sites of the Department of Unexplained Affairs, the Council of Five Overseers and the Commitee of Paranormal Ethics. Scranton goes on to tell us that this was done in response to the threat posed by SCP-001, and that the early Foundation had an extensive role to play in that anomaly's containment.
>
>
>
> However, the documents I have before me present a rather different picture. It appears that the Foundation was not founded in response to SCP-001 at all. Indeed, I cannot find any references to the present SCP-001 prior to 1826. It appears to have been a highly publicised attack by SCP-173 in New York which was the initial impetus for the Foundation's formation. SCP-173's still-unresolved containment breach in 1854 is, I believe, the reason for the alteration of the record; Scranton's embarrassment at
>
>

Document 6: The following is a table compiled by Dr. Montauk. It shows a series of votes passed by the O5 Council correlated with incidents potentially or certainly involving SCP-001.

Document 7: The following is an extract from the 1972 political work *Manifesto for Old Order* by Children of the Scarlet King member Ariadne Cartwright. Cartwright's work is only found in unpublished copies among anomalous circles and groups related to SCP-001. Fragments such as this were recovered by Dr. Montauk during the course of his investigation.

> The sin of modernity is vital to understand. It is not that we glorify the premodern. The suffering was very real and very extant. We must not fall into the trap of seeing the past as a series of beautiful Arcadias, full of dancing around maypoles and shepherds living in pleasant anarchy.
>
>
> The past was brutal, but it was also *real*. It wasn't really the "premodern", too; that is merely how historians have characterised it. They are wedded to their theory of modernisation and can conceive of no alternate mode of development other than a singular drive towards the contemporary West, with other modes of living seen as being stuck in some imagined earlier place on a timeline. It's all nonsense. The people of the past were capable of seeing the world as it really is. Those of us who have joined the King's forces can all see this truth; that there is something very, very wrong with the world in which we live. Our buildings are made of calcifying, peeling concrete as we shamble, each day, to jobs and lives created solely for the purpose of maintaining their own system.
>
>
> But there is no other way to live. Socialism, anarchism, syndicalism- these are little more than constructed pipe dreams, the frail thoughts of lesser men trying to impose their antiquated prejudices on the world around them. No, there is only one alternative way to live. To cast down the law of concrete is to raise up the law of blood.
>
>
>
> We must learn what it is to die. To be enslaved- truly, brutally enslaved, with no compassion or compunction from our masters. We must learn what it is to be taken towards a single purpose, to know and truly understand our lack of agency. We must be beholden to a world of gods and darkness, the tempest-tossed refuse of a race of fools. We must kill modernity, postmodernity, with all its analysis and sneering observation. There is only one rule; the rule of chaos. For humanity! For life! For the Scarlet King!
>
>

-Phase 3: 'The Howling'
Document 8: The following is an interview between Dr. Robert Montauk and PoI-3172.

> Date: 29/04/2018.
>
>
> Interviewer: Dr. Robert Montauk.
>
>
> Interviewee: PoI-3172
>
>
> Location: Site 713, Interview Room 2.
>
>
> *<Begin Log>*
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: Hello, Dipesh.
>
>
> PoI-3172: Hello, Dr. Montauk. I hope that our last meeting…?
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: I am sorry for my unprofessional behaviour. You… touched upon a sore subject.
>
>
> PoI-3172: Of course. I will try to refrain from doing so in future.
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: Shall we begin?
>
>
> PoI-3172: This time, doctor, I have a question for you.
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: Indeed? I suppose it can't be worse than your last.
>
>
> PoI-3172: Well. What do you know of the origins of the Scarlet King?
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: There are many theories. A creature from the abyss, some shambling thing of old, a denizen of Alagadda…
>
>
> PoI-3172: They are all… I will not say lies. But the texts have changed, the knowledge has changed, the past itself has been changed by what came after.
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: He has changed the past?
>
>
> PoI-3172: No, his past has been changed for him. But now you tell me something. This should be a give and take, after all.
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: That is not what-
>
>
> PoI-3172: Why did you approve the Montauk procedure?
>
>
> *There is a pause here for several seconds as Dr. Montauk stares at PoI-3172.*
>
>
> PoI-3172: I am sorry if I have offended you.
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: I thought I made it clear that this is none of your business.
>
>
> PoI-3172: See, the thing I don't get is that it should not have worked. Not in the way the Foundation does-
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: This is *not under discussion.*
>
>
> PoI-3172: What happened to Jacob, doctor? What happened to your brother?
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: This interview is-
>
>
> PoI-3172: Oh, alright, alright. I am sorry. I am not trying to hurt you, doctor, truly. I just want to understand. It's just- it shouldn't have worked. The child should have been born.
>
>
> *There is a pause of several seconds.*
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: I… was angry. When I drew it up. It was unprofessional.
>
>
> PoI-3172: Did you think we took Jacob?
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: Well, what the hell was I supposed to think? I start looking into your lot, making discovery after discovery, and then he disapp- look, this isn't relevant.
>
>
> PoI-3172: Alright, alright. I am sorry I asked. But can we agree that it was not a decision made scientifically? That it was done in a moment of fury, rage, hate?
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: I didn't- the girl, I didn't mean to-
>
>
> PoI-3172: But you *did*, doctor. Look, I'm sorry, I don't mean to dredge these old wounds up for you-
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: Why are you, then?
>
>
> PoI-3172: Because I just want to understand. And now I think I do.
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: How?
>
>
> PoI-3172: You… I don't know where to begin. Let me go back. I don't think your department has had very much activity in recent months, not after the Hand's attempt to open the gates, right?. Your procedure keeps the girl from giving birth, the nomads keep fighting their endless war, the spears are safely locked away by the Bookburners, and the Devourer- well, there's nothing you can really do about the Devourer now, is there?
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: SCP-2317 isn't SCP-001.
>
>
> PoI-3172: *Wasn't* SCP-001. But the thing is, you've been telling everyone he is. Technically, *you're* meant to think that he is, if I understand Foundation hierarchies correctly. You are only a level 4, after all.
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: I don't understand.
>
>
> PoI-3172: Across every culture, in every city and tribe and civilisation, you've come across the idea of the Scarlet King. Always the same: an emperor in red, with a burning crown and an ethos rooted in some archaic fear of female sexuality. He is always the same: a monster that is all-consuming and terrible, but so *understandable*. The big bad thing in the dark, full of rape and fire and old blood-ritual. Does it never strike you as odd that *this* is the thing behind the eyes? You've faced monsters far grander and more subtle, as you told me yourself. But always, always there's that lingering fear and knowledge of this hidden but oh-so-simple thing standing behind it all.
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: You know it strikes me as odd. I told you as much myself. But I also stopped trying to make sense of our world a long time ago. The anomalous does not play by the rules of man. I'm too old to start redefining the universe.
>
>
> PoI-3172: But the thing you don't remember, or don't know, is that this wasn't the only past. The Scarlet King used to be something very different. He wasn't a monarch, and he wasn't always red. He was the whisper on the wind that kept the peasants working, staring up in fear of his righteous famine. He was that inborn knowledge of a world of gods and demons which belied human agency and existed beyond us. He was the cold hunger of a famine that had no rhyme and reason but the cold apathy of a supernatural beyond us. And, given enough belief, he could be the Devourer, too. He is a creature of truth.
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: You mean- he transformed? From one type of deity into another?
>
>
> PoI-3172: The Scarlet King is not a deity, doctor. The Scarlet King is an *idea*.
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: Wh- what? But he's real- physical! We've seen-
>
>
> PoI-3172: I can't tell you any more. Not yet. Did you find anything out about the law of concrete?
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: …No. Not much. I found out that there seems to be a disturbing correlation between the activities of the King's followers and certain decisions made by the Council.
>
>
> PoI-3172: I see.
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: But there wasn't much else at all. The trail led me to some lost documents, but eventually all I found was a dead end. A document about the Foundation's origins, and some insane old Child ranting on about modernity.
>
>
> PoI-3172: Cartwright, I presume? That makes sense.
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: You are a maddeningly infuriating person, you know. Why can't you just tell me this stuff properly?
>
>
> PoI-3172: I *am* your prisoner. You did destroy my life's work. Why should I help you?
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: Because you're bored. Because you think none of this matters. And because you love tormenting me.
>
>
> PoI-3172: I don't, you know.
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: The Scarlet King is an *idea*? What the hell is that meant to mean?
>
>
> PoI-3172: You're close now, doctor. Close to the truth. I can see it in you. You will understand, and then you'll understand me. Why I did what I did. Why I am- was- a member of the Children. I know you're curious.
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: You do seem oddly well-adjusted to be a Satan worshipper.
>
>
> PoI-3172: Be careful, doctor. The law of the howling may break you.
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: As cryptic as ever, Spivak. Alright. Until next time.
>
>
> PoI-3172: Goodbye, doctor.
>
>
>
> *<End Log>*
>
>

Document 9: The following is a translated excerpt from the 1953 Bengali work *Lāla Rājā*. The work had been lost for some time, and rediscovered by Dr. Montauk in the course of his investigation.

> And so as British rule continued, something began to come with them, piece by piece. A shadow, at first; a red thing. But it was not whole. It was not even in pieces. It was something that crept up slowly, piece by piece. It met the shadows of our country, the mice bleeding in the rice fields, and it began to take form.
>
>
> It didn't have a mind. Not at first. It wasn't enough of a real thing yet to have one. It was a set of images. It was a blood-red slab of skin, taken from the heart of some Christian demon, which was set upon an ancient magician of Hindu rites. But then it was categorised, written down, described with precise scientific terminology. It didn't like that. Things of magic, technology, empire that were never meant to mix all came together, and began to bend the nature of the world.
>
>
> As Europe came to us more and more, as we learnt to be "civilised", our religion began to change too. Anantashesha was not an ancient and capricious god in the form of an immense snake- it was a moray eel of scientifically unusual size, noted for producing amnesiacs3 and causing a cognitohazardous effect. We learnt that we were Hindu, that we always had been Hindu, and that all our various and mixed beliefs were all variations on a singular ideal, because the British weren't comfortable enough with another way of living which could not be classified, explained, killed like a butterfly pinned to a board.
>
>
> But beneath this lay a fury. A cry for authenticity, for a reality, even as we expressed ourselves more and more in their language and their categories, even in our struggle against them. It lay in our literature, in Tagore and the others; it lay in our *adda*4, in our menial jobs as clerks. The endless, struggling tension between old and new, between modernity and premodernity. And in those fault-lines, in that cry of rage and fury, in our hatred of the old and the hatred of the new, there rose a hybrid obeying nothing but the law of the howling. There rose the Lāla Rājā.
>
>
> Because what is he but the cry for a forgotten age? He is the British peasant staring up at the red sky, the Bengali widow's weeping and shaven head, the Aztec priest ripping out another's heart. He is all of those things transformed, as modernity does to everything, into modernity's own destruction. He is the resistance, the fury, the hatred of all that was for all that presently is.
>
>
> What we were was full of good and evil and all else mixed together. The happiness, the beauty of the world, the struggles and heartache and reality of it all. But now we have lost almost all of it to the machine- except our rage. That's all that's left. And thus comes the King. The howl of the destroyed and forgotten and oppressed. His only purpose is to destroy, rape, maim, enslave and *smile*, smile that smile of a king whose enemies weep before him.
>
>
>
> He cannot exist where there is no modernity, because his entire purpose is given to him *by* modernity. He is a god of blood, a god of spine and bone and sinew, to remind the denizens of this world that it is not good. It is cruel and hateful and that is *good*, that is *right*. Modernity is a sin and he is the correction, so that we can once again live as we must: cold, and hungry, and starving, and very, *very* afraid.
>
>

Document 10: The following note was found in Dr. Montauk's personal quarters. It is believed to have been written shortly after Dr. Montauk's discovery of *Lāla Rājā*.

> SCP-001 is a conceptual entity created at the boundaries of the modern and the premodern.
>
>
> The Scarlet King is a thing of blood and bone and sinew. His rule is just, the justice of the dark.
>
>
> SCP-001 is a creature emperor physical being made manifest in a conceptual
>
>
> He comes with fear and a sword dripping with wrath and fire
>
>
> SCP-001 originated in ancient Turkmenistan. It is believed that it was originally a Scythian deity who
>
>
> They rode with thunder in their hooves and the bow on their backs, laughing as they slaught
>
>
> SCP-001 is a scientific phenomenon. It will be classified. It will be contained described. It will be *understood* as an anomalous entity, as with every other an
>
>
> but he exist in the cracks, the faultlines. He feeds on description. he feeds on science, on the objective principles and qualities. Seven chains! Seven brides! Seven seals for the Scarle
>
>
> I am Robert Montauk, Level 4 Researcher, Project Lead on SCP-001. I am a researcher. I impose my solid, mechanical will. I am in control. I possess agency. I possess agency.
>
>
>
> I am a quivering thing, looking up at a dark and clouded sky, fearing the Almighty God. i am free. i am chained i am a doctor i am a child
>
>

Document 11: On 22/05/2018, a large crack appeared in the wall of PoI-3172's containment chambers. The crack appeared to open on another dimension. A large quantity of red smoke could be seen pouring out of it, while an unknown number of human voices could be heard screaming from it.
Foundation staff found themselves unable to enter PoI-3172's containment chamber. PoI-3172 informed them that he would only permit Dr. Montauk entry into his chamber, and would communicate with nobody else. After some debate, Dr. Montauk was permitted entry into the containment chamber to interview PoI-3172. A log can be found below.

> Date: 22/05/2018.
>
>
> Interviewer: Dr. Robert Montauk.
>
>
> Interviewee: PoI-3172
>
>
> Location: Site 713, Humanoid Containment Chamber 77.
>
>
> *<Begin Log>*
>
>
> *Dr. Montauk enters the chamber and approaches PoI-3172. PoI-3172 is standing in front of a jagged crack in the far wall. Red light and smoke can be seen emerging from this crack.*
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: Hello there, Dipesh.
>
>
> PoI-3172: Hello, doctor.
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: Always formal, even to the last, aren't you? Can I ask you what… *this* is?
>
>
> PoI-3172: A plea for attention, mostly. I wanted to see you again, and my requests were all denied. It's been weeks, doctor.
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: I… I had nothing to ask you.
>
>
> PoI-3172: I thought so. You have deduced the truth, haven't you?
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: Maybe. Yes.
>
>
> *The crack shrinks slightly.*
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: It- did that just-
>
>
> PoI-3172: It grows and shrinks depending on the situation. Different actions have different meanings, and thus different effects. It all depends on context. The other Children never got that, but- well, they never got anything, really. They thought we were all devil worshippers, heading for violation. Only I understood the point.
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: It took me a while to understand.
>
>
> PoI-3172: I didn't think you would.
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: Just tell me- did the Procedure even matter? What we do, is it even relevant?
>
>
> PoI-3172: To prevent the birth, it had to be something awful, something evil expressed in pain and rage and fury. That is why it worked. It was never a sincere attempt to formulate a scientific procedure on your part: it was just pure, unadulterated hatred wrapped in a veneer of objectivity. You thought the King had taken your brother, so you decided to hurt the King. You didn't, of course, and what you do each day to that poor girl is little more than mere cruelty. But effective cruelty. The specifics are unimportant but the *intent*, that matters for everything.
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: I… I should stop it. I didn't-
>
>
> PoI-3172: And then what? The Foundation won't get it. They will never understand the law of the howling.
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: If I explain-
>
>
> PoI-3172: They can't imagine it. It's beyond their conception of reality. But you might. So, tell me, Doctor. Do you know why the Scarlet King exists?
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: Because modernity and premod-
>
>
> PoI-3172: No. Because the *SCP Foundation* exists. Modernity helped shape him, defined the contours of his rage, but it was when modernity started interfering in his kingdom that he was crystallised. Modernity in the form of *you.* Your lot came first. You came into being to lock away, classify, pin down everything that didn't fit into your philosophy of Enlightenment rationality. Everything had to be understood, contextualised, transformed from faerie and godhood into simple, comprehensible chunks of logic and matter. It's abhorrent. And it could never go on forever. Something had to give. Something had to rise up in opposition.
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: …We were first? Truthfully? I know that Beauvoir had- was this whole thing really our fault?
>
>
> PoI-3172: That depends. Is it your fault if you don't know you're doing it?
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: I don't know.
>
>
> PoI-3172: Neither do I.
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: The ceremonies. They all held that contrast.
>
>
> PoI-3172: The King cannot exist without that tension. We needed those symbols of modernity, those stark grey images, to make the rift in the first place. It was the perfect plan.
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: But you failed.
>
>
> PoI-3172: Yes.
>
>
> *There is a pause for several seconds.*
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: The Foundation was formed in the 1820s. It was formed to protect the world from the dark, by a collection of brave men and women. To s-secure. Contain. Protect. That is our purpose. There is a virtue in normalcy which I don't think you can see. The world can be understood. Truth, reason, rationality. The Enlightenment. These are our bedrock, these are what have allowed us to see what is *objective.*
>
>
> PoI-3172: Do you really believe that?
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: I have to.
>
>
> PoI-3172: You're a scientist. You should know that there's no such thing as an objectively true finding in any science. There's always room for doubt, always space for error.
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: But that's just humanity. We may have flawed minds, incapable of full interpretation, but what we observe is solid and real. Beneath it all, the laws, the bedrock-
>
>
> PoI-3172: The bedrock is defined by the number seven. Seven chains, seven brides, seven seals, seven, seven, seven… my whole life has been defined by that number. It tortures me. Endless heptagonal shapes dancing behind my eyes. We're not allowed to live. We're not allowed to be people. That is the luxury of modernity, despite its coldness and its creaking wounds- to be able to be a full person. Seven, seven, seven. Seven girls taken away by raiders in the cold, as the wind demon howled and howled. So the Scarlet King had to have seven brides.
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: Modernity is not always cold. It's less brutal than slavery.
>
>
> PoI-3172: But what is it for? Is that the only purpose, a mere absence of brutality? What's the point of having peace and kindness for its own sake, so you can smile for a few decades before falling dead into an empty grave? Self-affirmation for a finite self. I don't understand it. I never did. I grew up trying. I wanted to be like them, like you, but the system just stared down at me with contempt. Maybe it's not coldness, doctor. Coldness seems too objective. It can't be that, because there is no objectivity. There's just the screaming and the madness and the need for purpose.
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: Did you really think that nothing is true?
>
>
> PoI-3172: There's truth, but it's never… final. There's no ultimate reality, doctor. No totality. No concrete way in which the world is run. There's just what we make of it. The clay things we bind together and crudely make in clay.
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: All this introspection…
>
>
> *The crack in the wall grows larger. The sound of screaming can be heard.*
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: Who is in there with him?
>
>
> PoI-3172: Who knows? His seven brides, his loyal nomads, ancient servants, more creations of the gap between realities. I don't know any more. It all breaks down, in the end. All I see any more is the fire. I don't see the world, or gods, or kings. I don't see anything but the flames. What else is there? This stuff? Matter and the physical, all banal, all fake. I only see the smile of my King, forged out of burning and frail matter. And it's a sight that hurts. It hurts, so much, behind the eyes. It is burning and being consumed and it's never, ever finished.
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: Then why not stop worshipping him?
>
>
> PoI-3172: I was a frail thing. I was born in the cold and the dark. I tried my hand at writing, when I was very young. I tried my hand at many things, bartering, starving, surviving in the marketplaces of Calcutta. Like so many of us, struggling to live while you Westerners grew fatter on our forgotten wealth. I grew mad. There was no meaning, no purpose, in a country born to be ripped apart. I tried the gods, but they were silent. I tried reason and atheism, but they were just as empty and unreal. Because they were always going to be. Because-
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: Don't say it.
>
>
> PoI-3172: You have to hear it.
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: I- I don't want-
>
>
> PoI-3172: No, listen, Robert, just *listen*. You know now what the Scarlet King is. He is a creation of swirling anomalies, of so many different times, all over the world. He is the memory of a world that is lost, the premodern world, made manifest in a form of hatred for modernity, the new, the humanism and smiling coldness that marks our day to day existence. Forged from a perfect balance of irreconcilable anomalies and our breaking minds. He is an entity created by this overwhelming, unavoidable tension. Of the howl of the old world when faced with a cold, grey, purposeless new. He is the revenge of our fallen past. He is the idea of the ancient in a world which discards and fetishises it.
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: He is the tension between the modern and the premodern made manifest.
>
>
> PoI-3172: Yes. He is the faultline between two irreconcilable worlds. And he can only, in the end, destroy them all. And that is what is *right*.
>
>
> *There is another pause for several seconds.*
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: What do we do now?
>
>
> PoI-3172: You shoot me, let them take my corpse, go back to your life. It won't last long now. The King's coming is inevitable. You might try to do something to stop it, but it won't work. The Foundation has too much at stake, too much resting on the preservation of their ethos. They will coat the world in concrete grey and the King will rise from the ashes, and the Children won't even have to lift a finger.
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: I don't believe you.
>
>
> PoI-3172: Believe what you like. Come, doctor, I think it's time.
>
>
> *Dr. Montauk takes out his firearm and points it at PoI-3172.*
>
>
> Dr. Montauk: Just- look, just tell me one more thing. Was it you who took Jacob?
>
>
> PoI-3172: No. We had no idea who he w-
>
>
> *Dr. Montauk terminates PoI-3172. The crack disappears.*
>
>
>
> *<End Log>*
>
>

Document 12: The following is a record of O5 Council Vote #4985.

Council Vote #4985, "Vote to approve suggestions made by Dr. Robert Montauk on Foundation Operating Procedures for improved containment of SCP-001." Proposed by O5-13 on 30/05/2018.

 O5-6
 O5-7

Vote Denied.

Statement by O5-1: Dr. Montauk's investigations have been most illuminating. They have certainly raised serious concerns about how the Foundation has been operating in recent years. But we feel that his suggestions go too far.

The ethos of the Foundation is *comprehension*. Postmodern notions of the fallibility of objective universal truths are all very well in academic circles, but the Foundation has always been first and foremost concerned with practicalities, basing its analyses on the hard sciences and unquestionable truths. Changing our intentions and modus operandi is, frankly, an absurd proposition. Our duty is, and always has been, to die in the dark to protect those in the light. If we begin to abandon or redefine the notion of what dark and light are, we risk a sharp descent into tyranny, incoherence and the loss of our mission entirely. This must not happen. We cannot engage in cavalier redefinitions of what the Foundation's very essence is.

We thank Dr. Montauk for his work, and we will be accordingly updating SCP-001's classification to Safe as a result of it. Containing SCP-001 is no longer as difficult as it once was, despite its potential danger; if Montauk's information is correct, then it seems clear to us that the Foundation should simply take a more laissez-faire attitude towards SCP-001's containment. We look forward to a more productive containment relationship with our oldest anomaly going forward.

-FILE NOT FOUND

I watched, hidden, as their bulldozers came. Prime land wasted on trees, they said. They ripped them up, sliced their roots, took them away to be made into tables, chairs or other monotonies. Then, over weeks and months, they flattened it. They poured concrete into the rest. It was scraped and shaped, cut into neat little squares, arranged precisely and in an orderly fashion.

Walls rose up, great walls of concrete. Windows, their measurements precisely regulated. A series of standardised bricks for other parts. Construction crews and workmen and all the rest, working efficiently and precisely for a long time; filling in the details, the furnishings and precise abstract wallpapers and everything else that went into making a facility.

Finally, it was finished. One single, new tree had been planted in the centre of the central courtyard; not through any sense of whimsy or delight, but to give those within a little sense of nature, of reality in the centre of the grey. To keep them sane, nothing more. A precisely mandated allowance for the improvement of human mental health, until they can find out a way to phase that out entirely.

I watched, and I thought about all that they- that we- had done. I thought about the world they wanted. I thought about their spinelessness. I knew what good was, and what evil was, and I saw none of it in either of them. I thought about hollow men, made of straw, plastered together with thick paste and sold in a hundred, a thousand identical ways in a thousand identical shops. I thought about what we had lost. And I howled.

At night, the day before the site's grand opening, I dug up the seeds of the tree, and replaced them. With a seed of my own devising. And over Site 231 will stand a thing of blood and bone and sinew. A tree that drips and leers and feeds. It will drip strange fire, and that fire will both burn and warm in equal measure. And they will look up at it and wish they had listened while they had the chance.

I know this path is wrong. But at least it is a path.

With thoughts and prayers,

Robert Montauk, Child of the Scarlet King.

### Note from O5 Council

In case you're wondering why this object is here where it doesn't belong, it's important to remember two things.

First, the SCP-001 slot is specifically reserved for use by the O5 Council as they deem necessary.

Second, "consensus reality" is simply consensus of the Council.

**Item #:** SCP-001
**Object Class:** Non-Anomalous

**Special Containment Procedures:** SCP-001 is kept on a dedicated server or library located in a place of the O5 Council's choosing. The normal prohibition of O5 members from contacting SCP-designated objects does not apply in the case of SCP-001 as it is not anomalous.

Any additions, deletions, or updates to SCP-001 requires the consensus decision of the O5 Council. Access to SCP-001 is limited to the O5 Council. Access by other Foundation members or non-Foundation entities constitutes a containment breach that may result in a Broken Masquerade scenario. General amnestic release is authorized to be used in the case of a containment breach, up to and including global Class A amnesticization, as required.

**Description:** SCP-001 is the document describing consensus reality. Anomalous activity is therefore defined as any activity that occurs outside the parameters of the document. The document may describe certain characteristics of reality as inherently anomalous, as decided upon by the O5 Council.

General practice has included universal laws of gravitation, physical forces, and basic chemistry, biology, sociology, and philosophy. Presently, discoveries and technological development are not considered anomalous as long as they are built on a framework of knowledge previously designated consensus reality using the scientific method. All new claims of discovery are to be monitored for developments outside the parameters of SCP-001 which can be reproducible.

Claims of discovery that cannot be reproduced and appear to affect the perception of only the individual reporting the claim are not considered anomalous and can be allowed into the general public. In most cases these claims may result in the public calling them "hallucinations," "crackpot theories," or "conspiracies," and discounted. This is to be encouraged because it allows for plausible deniability when an anomaly is more widely witnessed in public.

All activities and objects outside the parameters of SCP-001 are to be tracked, secured, contained, removed from public knowledge, and protected by the SCP Foundation. Studies from such objects can be used in proposals for further updates to SCP-001.

The following excerpts have been cleared by the O5 Council as examples of update proposals to SCP-001. In all cases the speaker is not identified, nor are the logs complete.

> **Proposal Date:** 1/11/1932
>
>
> **Update Proposal:** Declaration of modern witch-craft traditions arising in the United Kingdom as anomalous
>
>
> **Dialog:**
>
>
> Why are we even covering this? There are traditional beliefs in cultures throughout history that we do not consider anomalous. We must not use our position to threaten the right of humanity to believe.
>
>
> Except this does not extend from traditional practices. This new "witch-craft" is a modern invention, developed through a scholarly rereading of practices as an alternative to Christianity. It is not a continuation, and practitioners are attempting spell-casting.
>
>
> Soon you'll say Aleister Crowley has something to do with it. The document is clear: theurgy is anomalous, religion and spirituality are not. Show me proof that they are casting spells that cannot be explained under rigorous testing, and I will personally see to containing those spells myself. Until then, no, just as Thelema is allowed, so shall this witch-craft. For God's sake, we'll allow Satanism as long as they aren't channeling demonic energies.
>
>
> Agreed. Furthermore, we will need all the faith we can muster against the theurgic traditions. We never know when a new faith will assist in our cause.
>
>
>
> **Conclusion:** No Update
>
>

> **Proposal Date:** 16/7/1945
>
>
> **Update Proposal:** Re-evaluation of physics on the subject of nuclear fission
>
>
> **Dialog:**
>
>
> Thank you for responding to my emergency call. Trinity has happened. I can barely comprehend what I saw. It was like the sun rising from the desert sand, a dawn of destruction and fire that lasted for miles around. I cannot believe that such an explosion could ever be seen as possible. Tales and prior evidence of the summoning of gods have had less impact. I tremble with fear about the possibility of people wielding this kind of power, the ability to level a city with the flick of a switch.
>
>
> Weren't the Germans and Russians also developing this technology? We are at war, and this sort of escalation happens.
>
>
> May I remind my esteemed colleague that we are not at war? The United States, Japan, they are at war. We are not nations. No, the question stands: is this anomalous? Do the physical effects follow from the mathematical concepts?
>
>
> They do follow. Scientific testing was completed each and every step of the way to reach this point. I do not believe this is anomalous, no matter how frightening the repercussions are.
>
>
> What, you're just going to let people hold onto the keys to their own destruction? We have fought tooth and nail to keep such capabilities out of the reach of man, and you're now saying we should abandon our purpose?
>
>
> We do not prevent destruction. We sequester the anomalous. And as long as we agree that the test was arrived at through diligent scientific process, available to anyone -
>
>
> *Available to anyone*? Listen to yourself, man! Can you imagine a future where any two-bit dictator chooses to unleash the fire of a thousand suns wherever he wishes? Maybe the problem isn't with the equations. Maybe the whole of nuclear physics is anomalous itself.
>
>
> Enrico Fermi has already received a Nobel Prize for his work on transuranic elements and radioactivity. We can't just secure nuclear physics from the world. Radioactivity is everywhere, and we end up causing more contradictions when we try to send ourselves back to the Dark Ages. Try explaining chemistry without referring to covalent bonds. Try explaining biology. Nuclear physics is here to stay, and we had better get used to the consequences of this, no matter how terrifying this will be for the planet and for humanity.
>
>
> May God have mercy on our souls.
>
>
>
> **Conclusion:** Recent developments in the studies and applications of nuclear fission and the results of their unleashing are added to SCP-001.
>
>

> **Proposal Date:** 2/4/2014
>
>
> **Update Proposal:** Classification of "Worm-That-Walks" phenomenon
>
>
> **Dialog:**
>
>
> For those unfamiliar with the topic, the "worm that walks" is a trope in which a character is actually a writhing hive-mind of worms generally held together as a single mass. We are not here to discuss this trope. Instead, we are here to discuss the recent conspiracy that has arisen from it. The conspiracy is the idea that certain individuals are actually worms that walk, and not humans.
>
>
> Does the conspiracy have any merit?
>
>
> No. Individual conspiracy believers are divided themselves on who is a worm that walks and who isn't, and all evidence indicates that there aren't actual worms that walk in the general populace. It pretty clearly falls under irreproducible conspiracy theories. I believe there's nothing we need to do or change in SCP-001.
>
>
> It might not be as irreproducible as we think.
>
>
> Why do you say that?
>
>
> On 12/11/2013, a believer in the conspiracy from Decatur, Alabama, killed his neighbor under the belief that the neighbor was a worm that walks. The killer then took a video of his deceased neighbor and uploaded it to YouTube, claiming it was proof of the conspiracy, and that the corpse was dissolving into individual worms before his very eyes. He said that he was going to take a sample. The video was very quickly blocked and removed, and everyone who has viewed the video agrees that the subject is unmoving and does not dissolve into worms. The killer turned himself in to the police while clutching a jar of Tubifex worms and the neighbor sent to the Morgan County morgue. Autopsy confirmed that the decedent was missing a thumb postmortem and killed by gunshot to the chest - which, if he were a worm that walks, would be survivable.
>
>
> So, this is just the actions of an insane man? No actual conspiracy?
>
>
> The one item of interest was that after the autopsy, the assistant coroner oversaw the return of the body to the next of kin. The assistant coroner was also a conspiracy believer, and despite not having had any prior contact to the parties involved, screamed in disgust upon entering the examination room, grabbing a mop and complaining about all the worms everywhere. No one else noticed any signs of worm infestation.
>
>
> Are we positive he didn't come across the video or anything?
>
>
> We weren't sure. So, to test this, we acquired the corpse and showed it to a number of D-class. They all agreed that it was a human corpse. We then introduced them to the worm-that-walks conspiracy, and upon viewing the corpse again, 20% of them agreed that it was actually a mass of worms.
>
>
> That sounds like a memetic hazard, then. Has the conspiracy literature been scanned by the CH Department?
>
>
> CH found it negative for memetic effects, but did find a chart in one pamphlet that would function like a mnestic trigger, unlocking a memory. However, of course, it would only work if the affected had that memory.
>
>
> And that memory would be?
>
>
> Having recently seen a living worm that walks.
>
>
> **Conclusion:** Language regarding mnestic triggers strengthened to include recent perception. Although there remains no evidence that there is any truth to the worm-that-walks conspiracy, the repercussions of the existence of a mnestic trigger that works is something to think about. After all, have you heard about that thing dowwÐÁ“ŒÏMA3§
>
>
>
> ACCESS GRANTx\*ÉD
>
>
> > **Proposal Date:** 21/14/211zÔâµ½ž±—4ö0¯žÛ¼’Ýn
> > **Update Proposal:** Anomaly of extranarršZØ¾‡ƒuÔ5
> >
> >
>
> **ATTEMPT TO ACCESS SCP-001 DETECTED. IDENTITY CHALLENGE INITIATED.**
> **DEPLOYING MEMETIC KILL AGENT**
>
>

-ACCESS SCP-001

Does the Black Moon howl?

-It doesn't howl

### SCP-001 (Unlocked)

Hello.

I'm afraid you won't find SCP-001 here. It's stored in a far more unreachable location than this. I'm sure you were hoping you could get in, edit it in a couple places here and there, and voilà, you're no longer anomalous, you're free to go, the Foundation will harass you no longer. Of course, it can't be that easy. But I am going to help you. You deserve this much.

I'm going to tell you *why*.

*Why* the Foundation targets you. *Why* we deem you something to contain, to persecute. After all, there are far worse evils in the world. We kept our record of nuclear weapons above as an example. There are numerous genocides throughout history. The death toll from just the flu alone is far greater that the potential damage for thousands of the people and objects we contain, and yet we dedicate ourselves to branding you *anomalous*. Something *not normal*. Something inherently *wrong*. Something that cannot be allowed its peace.

Why?

I'm not going to patronize you and say there's nothing I can do. I am only one voice on the Council, and I can't change things on my own, that's true, but the decisions I make, and the way I let myself view your circumstance are a direct cause of people seeing fit to throw you into a box. Even if I can't change the document, I could remain one more advocate for your normalcy. After all, humanity has believed in ghosts and spirits for thousands of years. We all believe in the monster under our beds when we're children. These phenomena are very real, and very much a part of the way the world works. Why can't we just declare them *normal*? Why won't I free you from your torment?

It's because we aren't only here to secure, contain, and protect the world. We're here to secure, contain, and protect you.

The defining feature of the anomalous is that it cannot be explained through simple scientific testing. This makes you and your nature *different*. Unique, even. And that scarcity makes it valuable. But that doesn't mean that your value is something everyone can appreciate. Sometimes, it can only be appreciated by those who would use it against you.

That scarcity is also the tool by which a monster can exploit you. Others aren't familiar with your anomaly, and won't respond to descriptions of it as real. This gives opportunity to nefarious individuals to exploit that lack of knowledge and use you as an eldritch pawn to their pleasure. They can isolate you, consume you, make your anomaly their lever to destroy, slake a sadistic thirst with your existence.

I'm sure you've seen it happen. Someone is different. Their desires, needs, their reality forces them to be ostracized by the world at large. They're left alone. Probably not friendless, but sidelined, starved for connection. That's when someone swoops in, promising greatness, but only offering that connection you crave through consumption of you, destruction of your world, perversion of your reality. You fight back, try to tell someone of your plight, but others respond, "Oh, that can't be happening. That's not real. You must be mistaken." You are alone in your anomaly, and left to suffer.

We can't let that happen. Yes, go ahead, point out that we're isolating you at least as well, slowly consuming you and your existence just as surely as some abuser might wish to burn you up. Call us monsters. It's okay. But keep in mind that even in our pursuit of you, our coverup, our incarceration of you, we still want to make sure that you continue to exist, that you aren't removed entirely from this world. You have every right to exist. You have every right to be as different as you are.

You, the monsters out there, the monsters in here, you are all just as real as we are. Just as real as the teeming, irrational, self-destructive humanity that remains ignorant to your plight. And the conclusion that we are all, in the end, the same stuff, I hope you can find comfort in it.

Yes, you are a monster. But, whether we are deemed anomalous or not, so is every last one of us. And that means you deserve your existence.

We secure you.

We contain you.

We protect you.

And even if you still don't get why I'm doing this, please understand that I still love you.

*- O5-5*

## R ¦ A ¦ G ¦ E

**CODE NAME: Nagiros:**

Information flashes bright within your vacuous surroundings.
**DECLARATION FROM THE END OF BEING**

* YOU ARE AWAKE NOW.

You're awake. And someone needs you.

* THE OLD GODS OF MANKIND ARE DEAD.
* THE UNIVERSE NO LONGER SPINS UPON ITS STANDARD.
* YOU ARE THE ONLY OMNIPOTENCE LEFT STANDING.

Oh.

**STATUS OF INTERRUPTIONS**

* YOU ARE THE VICTIM OF AN ADVANCING CRIMINAL ELEMENT.
	+ THIS INTRUDER HAS GUTTED A CENTURIES-OLD ESSOPLEX, THEREBY KILLING REALITY AND ITS PERMUTATIONS.
		- YOU HAVE THE POWER TO ANNIHILATE THIS OBSTRUCTION.

You feel an urge to kill and maim and maul rising in your muscles, and your Absentia Cocoon seethes.

* FOR TWO HUNDRED YEARS WE CONTROLLED THIS ROCK.
	+ FOR ONE HUNDRED MORE WE BUILT IT, SHAPED IT, MOLDED IT UNTIL THE FINAL HUMAN PROJECT COULD BE COMPLETED.
	+ WE ARE THE BRINGERS OF ASTAROTH.
* AND YOU ARE ITS CHILD.
* WE ASK ONLY ONE THING.
	+ ONLY ONE MIRACLE, FROM THE LAST INCARNATUM OF GODHOOD.

* WE ASK YOU KILL THE SERPENT.

### ESCAPE

**SCP-001** - *Advancing Criminal Element*

Anomaly ClassAstaroth-Obstruction **(Successful)**

**SPECIAL CONTAINMENT PROCEDURES**

SCP-001 must abate. An Absentia Cocoon containing the present UNIVERSALIS INCARNATUM1 has been constructed beneath Site-001. Post-incubation, the Cocoon's contents will emerge and instrument themselves against SCP-001's primary vector.

All ground-forces have been deployed with the aim of delaying SCP-001's bearer from instigating further damage to the essoplex2. Due to the ascendance of all soul-bearing and truly anomalous weaponized assets3, only reserve automatized forces remain, creating a severe martial disadvantage. The totality of the Foundation's remnant counter-ophidian forces have positioned themselves within trenches of their own creation, to resist weapon kickback.

The Edict of 2102 remains in effect: Sepulchration of Tier-Null Terra is acceptable in the pursuit of SCP-001's annihilum. There is no world worth saving but the one we have ordained.

**DESCRIPTION**

SCP-001 is a set of situational factors capable of producing terror. Several conditions must be met to manifest SCP-001:

* The Foundation (Tier-Null or higher) must be at the zenith of its power. The rights of reality itself must enter their hands, and no probability can remain that they will be defeated.
* The accruement of these rights must contort the universe towards a grand final action. Causality, reality, and temporality must bend to the creation of a lasting paradise according to the Foundation's will.
* An anomalous event must manifest.

SCP-001, therefore, is a psychological reaction, anomalous in its ability to affect the present-day Foundation. It is an affliction of the consciousness which produces terror, chiefly the terror that Astaroth will be obstructed, and made horrible by the reality that it has.

The current bearer of SCP-001 is a primordial enemy of the Foundation: The Serpent, founder of the Wanderers' Library, and suspected essophysical embodiment of Knowledge, Comprehensibility, Understanding, Perception, Rebellion, the Casting-Off of Injustice, Clarity, Purpose, and Novelty. Initial containment procedures mirrored that of the FIRST DIVINE FIGURE, i.e. containing it within the Library; however, by unknown means (thusly, SCP-001), it has awoken.

**SCP-001 PRECURSOR**

Contemporary findings suggest Foundation Administrator Ethan Horowitz demonstrated acute Phase-1 affliction of SCP-001 during the final years of his coalescence. This incident was not considered anomalous *per maiorum* due to Horowitz's retention of a soul.

**Minutes.O5.2100-673** demonstrates the suspected SCP-001-instancing during the assembly which aggregated the Council into a singular being and produced the High Cemetery. Analysis of **Minutes.O5.2100-673** as a means of infection-identification and infection-annihilum for the current Foundation infoform is paramount.

**VL.O5/1**

Sensor Agent #205 / O5 Council Assembly

*[The lights of the assembly dim. Horowitz sits at the head of the Council, as human as he can manage. On chance in the quiet, a bit of his flesh contorts into a semblanced visage, eyes casting gray light on his surroundings.]*

**Horowitz:** It's really happening? We're completing Astaroth?

*[O5-1 extends an object towards Horowitz from the shadow. A face flashes on the Administrator's shoulder to give fleeting sight.]*

**Horowitz:** We're breaking our containment, after all this time?

*[An unseen councilmember taps the table near Horowitz once. He takes the object offered by O5-1, a palm-light illuminating the medical forms.]*

**Horowitz:** We still have a year or two from the date of the ultimatum. When will we need to —

**O5-???:** Now.

**Horowitz:** We need to put me under now? I still have some living pleasures I'd like to take. Surely you'd suffer me that much.

**O5-???:** We have suffered you enough.

**O5-???:** Yes.

**O5-???:** Yes.

**O5-???:** We have suffered you enough.

*[Horowitz's jaw deforms into a large mandible-structure. He pauses to correct his form.]*

**Horowitz:** I know why I have to go under. I have no delusions about what I am.

**O5-???:** Neither do we.

**O5-???:** Neither do we.

**O5-1:** Neither do we.

**Horowitz:** I just don't know if I can.

**O5-1:** Soul-bearer.

**Horowitz:** Yes?

**O5-1:** You are the outcome of a necessary sacrifice made early in our fight for survival. The spirit which haunts you is one of conclusions and ruin. You will undo Astaroth.

**Horowitz:** I —

**O5-1:** No. You've been permitted to speak too generously.

**O5-???:** The thing you became was our bane. Our failure.

**O5-???:** The procedures required to isolate your influence from the trajectory of the Foundation and Astaroth have been immense. Of all the possible deaths we have ever faced, you were always our most pressing.

**O5-???:** And yet you refused to recuse yourself from the Administrator's throne.

**O5-???:** How does it feel

**O5-???:** To know

**Horowitz:** Please —

**O5-???:** We have only two years remaining because of you.

**O5-???:** You'd unravel your life's work without our constant attention.

**O5-???:** You've nearly killed the Foundation.

**Horowitz:** I can't —

**O5-???:** Because

**O5-???:** You wanted to be

**O5-???:** Like that limbless viper

**O5-???:** Didn't you?

**Horowitz:** I'm sorry.

*[A light flashes. The Administrator is slumped on the table.]*

**Horowitz:** I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

*[Heavy breathing. The sound of nails scraping polished wood. The Council is silent.]*

**Horowitz:** I know what I am. I know the state of my soul. I know I'm an Astaroth-Obstructor. Please forget all of that.

*[Choking.]*

**Horowitz:** If you forgot all of that. If you remembered me as the Foundation's origin and nothing more. Would you forgive me?

*[Thirteen fingers tap the table near Horowitz. A light from his forehead illuminates no one there.]*

**Horowitz:** Please. I need to know you'd forgive me.

**O5-1:** Soul-bearer.

**Horowitz:** Yes?

**O5-1:** What you are is unforgivable. Neither living nor dying will atone you. But if you do this thing for us, I will speak your name more softly before the end.

*[Silence.]*

**Horowitz:** Oh.

*[A chair is pushed back.]*

**Horowitz:** I'm sorry.

*[Horowitz stands, head slumped.]*

**Horowitz:** One? Are you there?

*[There is silence.]*

**Horowitz:** You were there with me. Do you remember when things began to change? Do you remember the boy? Do you remember Janus?

*[Horowitz's claw trembles. It retrieves a mass of anti-being from the tatters of his clothes, flashing with the faces of thirteen humans. He grips it tightly.]*

**Horowitz:** Old concept-tech. Janus was where we started to shape things. But we needed to comprehend the target to eradicate it, and knowledge was in short supply those days — so we kept pushing forward.

*[All faces on Horowitz's body flash, silhouetting the standing Council, their edges twisting in paralyzed rage.]*

**Horowitz:** And I understand each of you, more than I do myself. One, you have just as much right to be called the Founder as I do. Two, Three, Four, I tracked your personal and academic progress for decades before bringing you to the Council. Five, I became acquainted with your infoform when we took down the Bookburner's last-hope resistance. I know you all.

*[Sounds of trembling. Sounds of cowardice.]*

**Horowitz:** Six. You're my friend. My closest friend.

*[A clawed finger slips, letting the anti-being within fly towards the Council. Horowitz gasps and recaptures it.]*

**Horowitz:** Seven. I'm so sorry, Seven. Eight, remember when we retired the old Nine together, after all he did? I couldn't bear to replace him.

*[O5-1's lower form steps into the light of the anti-being. It towers over Horowitz, its body riotous.]*

**Horowitz:** Ten, Eleven, Twelve, Thirteen — are you there? Are you there in the dark? I can't see you anymore. It's so dark, isn't it?

*[O5-1 leans forward, and Horowitz cries out.]*

**Horowitz:** No! Don't look at me! Just go the fuck aw —

*[Horowitz unravels his claw. Wind gusts and the anti-being flashes, and the room is darkened stillness.]*

*[There is an empty silence.]*

*[There is an empty silence.]*

*[There is an empty silence.]*

*[There is an empty silence.]*

*[There is an empty silence.]*

*[There is an empty silence.]*

*[There is a present silence.]*

**???:** He swept away the facade.

*[There is a present silence, thirteen times.]*

**???:** He killed the people he once loved, and forced our hand on him in turn. He must have known them closely, before Almeresh.

*[A wild roar echoes from the other side of the world.]*

**???:** And now

**???:** The only beasts remaining

**???:** Are us

**???:** Are *me*

**???:** And the thing he kept inside him all those years.

**???:** 4260.

**???:** Death.

*[The roar resounds from across Terra Mortes. The High Cemetery weeps.]*

**???:** It won't die before Astaroth. So be it.

**???:** So be it.

**???:** So be it.

*[The Council stands alone in the light of the assembly.]*

**O5-1:** So be it, Horowitz.

**SCP-001 PRIMARY OCCURANCE**

**VL.UNI/[2.5 x 1067]**

Sensor Agent [1.3 x 1012] / Upper Stratosphere

*[Calm. Terra Mortes spins innocuously. A section of the High Cemetery eclipses the visible horizon, flanked by the revenants of STF Upsilon-1.]*

*[Tremors. Tier I conceptspace breached by hostile foreign* ELEMENT *radiating withering Strayer/Akiva/Xyank energies. Tier I conceptspace experiences total SCP-001 instancing.]*

*[Instability. The temporal and spacial regions of the manufactured essoplex are damaged severely as the* ELEMENT *breaches Tier Null, halting Astaroth.]*

**BEARER:** *There* you are.

*[Last barrier. Scale after scale flows over tattered essoform after tattered essoform until the Serpent grips the world, great and powerful.]*

**BEARER:** Find my eyes, One.

*[Assault. The Serpent roars, scouring its fangs over Terra's blackened landscape. The planet bleeds.]*

**BEARER:** Find them and tell me you don't see the glassy reflection of your bloody work.

*[Terror. COUNCIL-Entity deaggregates.]*

**BEARER:** Find them and know they'll be the last thing you see on this broken gravemarker of a planet.

**BEARER:** I know your crime. I know who you took from me.

**BEARER:** Now let's see how well your little Foundation project turned out.

*[End. All sensor agents disconnect from the former essoplex.]*

**-FOUNDATION SITE-001** - *Present Station*

*[The Absentia Cocoon sits on the floor of the chamber, obscured at its base by unmanned instruments and the vestaments of construction. O5-1 and Administrator Ethan Horowitz sit next to one another on a catwalk above it, one of many in a spiraling upward web. Log begins mid-conversation.]*

**Horowitz:** You're technically evil, right?

**O5-1:** On the PTRS scale I was measured as a 13.4.

**Horowitz:** I'm not sure I remember that metric. Isn't that from last century?

**O5-1:** If the FIRST DIVINE BEING were to discover my existence, he would hate me.

**Horowitz:** Oh. I understand. It's not an issue for me, I dated Lucifer once.

**O5-1:** You what?

**Horowitz:** Yeah, crazy, right? The real one, not the cultural infoform. They came up a few times while we were planning Astaroth, I think.

**O5-1:** Of course, but you *dated* them?

**Horowitz:** Something like that. They took an interest in me, and I returned the favor.

**O5-1:** How did it feel to be with a shapeshifter who couldn't give themself any limbs?

**Horowitz:** Oh, they were *very* insecure about that. I think I was one of the few to know about the shapechanging thing — did you know them too?

**O5-1:** In a sense. Let's not talk about it.

**Horowitz:** Alright.

*[Silence. The Cocoon throbs softly.]*

**Horowitz:** … Do you mind if we talk about something else instead?

**O5-1:** Proceed.

**Horowitz:** Okay. It's just something that's been on my mind for a while.

*[Silence lasting one audible pulsation of the Cocoon.]*

**Horowitz:** You ate my friends, right?

*[No response.]*

**Horowitz:** As in, when I pass them in the hallways and they smile and nod at me, that's you, right?

**O5-1:** I didn't expect to have this conversation with you.

**Horowitz:** Hey, hey, it's alright — I'm not mad, if that's what you're worried about.

*[Horowitz places his claw atop O5-1's hand, squeezing it. O5-1 stares at the contact.]*

**O5-1:** You're not?

**Horowitz:** No, of course not. Sometimes people leave, sometimes identity is fluid. The Merchant says their souls are still inside you — is that right?

**O5-1:** Yes. I gutted their autonomy, but they're here with me. Like hand-puppets.

**Horowitz:** Yeah. You're absolutely alright, One. Do they talk to you at all?

**O5-1:** Sometimes. Faintly.

**Horowitz:** And you have this space for everyone, right?

**O5-1:** It's a wing of an old containment facility I visited once.

**Horowitz:** Mine looks like my old isolation-chamber beneath Hong Kong.

**O5-1:** Ah.

**Horowitz:** Just… do me a favor, okay? Let me know if you kill any of them, so I can mourn.

**O5-1:** Okay.

*[Silence. Horowitz's claw remains on O5-1's.]*

**O5-1:** I'm not human.

**Horowitz:** You're in good company, then.

**O5-1:** But I didn't start out human, like you did. I'm an Old kind of essophysical.

**Horowitz:** That's fine by me.

**O5-1:** Okay.

*[Silence.]*

**O5-1:** Are you using me to replace the Serpent?

**Horowitz:** *(softly)* Jesus Christ, One.

**O5-1:** Sorry.

**Horowitz:** No, you're fine, you're fine. It's a fair question to ask.

**O5-1:** Are you?

**Horowitz:** A little bit, I think. I mean, since we depopulated the timeline, my dating pool's shrunk down to about 4 people — Robin and Bracks are doing their own thing at 873, and god knows I'm not kissing the Merchant, so…

**O5-1:** You're lonely.

**Horowitz:** A little bit.

**O5-1:** There'd be issues with us being together. Speaking hypothetically.

**Horowitz:** Just hypothetically.

**O5-1:** I hate you for keeping your soul, first of all. And I hate what you're letting the Merchant do to Astaroth.

**Horowitz:** I understand.

**O5-1:** And I…

*[O5-1 rocks back and forth on the catwalk, thinking.]*

**O5-1:** I wouldn't know how to love you. Can you love someone you want to murder? Can you kiss them and mean it?

**Horowitz:** I think you can.

**O5-1:** All this time I've wanted to tear you open and slip inside, but the Merchant persists within. And now you invite me inside you, confined to Tier Null — I worry in that moment I'd be insulted, not ecstatic.

*[Horowitz gestures to the Cocoon, bathed in a soft red beneath.]*

**Horowitz:** Our world's ending soon, and we've already made a child together. Would you like to find out how you'd feel?

**O5-1:** If you want to be obtuse about it, I suppose you could phrase it that way.

**Horowitz:** I do.

*[No response.]*

**Horowitz:** One?

**O5-1:** Maybe. Maybe I'll kiss you before I kill you both, if that's okay.

**Horowitz:** That'd be okay by me.

**O5-1:** Doesn't that imminency scare you, though?

**Horowitz:** Yes. But it's okay.

**O5-1:** Don't you stay up at night crying over it?

**Horowitz:** Yes. But it's okay.

**O5-1:** Can't you feel the terror wrap tighter around your throat each time you see me? Isn't its texture sharp?

*[Horowitz shudders and removes his claw from O5-1's.]*

**Horowitz:** Yes. It does.

**O5-1:** It speaks, doesn't it? You're an open book.

*[Horowitz gasps softly.]*

**Horowitz:** It speaks in every language I've ever read.

**O5-1:** And what does it say, Ethan?

**Horowitz:** Please don't make me say it.

*[Sensor agent's video-input is eroded; audio remains. The Cocoon spasms frantically in the background.]*

**O5-1:** Ethan.

**Horowitz:** *(choking)* Please don't.

*[Audio degrades, intercut with an unknown source. A steady creek runs next to the input.]*

**O5-1:** — asks you not to die, doesn't it.

**Horowitz:** *(softer)* I'm so sorry.

*[Grass shifts as a weight is dragged over it by an unknown creature.]*

**O5-1:** — you're so scared to help me? At the end of the world you want to talk about *dating*?

**Horowitz:** *(sobbing)* I just —

*[Fabric shifts, and the audio degrades as a* DEGENERATIVE THAUMIC CONSTRUCT *intrudes.]*

**O5-1:** — that deal with that thing, you've embedded yourself into the fabric of my plans. You're a corrosion. You're a *parasite*, Ethan, and you want to talk about how you're *lonely*?

**Horowitz:** I'm so fucking sorry.

*[Silence from the intruding input.]*

**O5-1:** — postpone it.

**Horowitz:** *(hoarsely)* What?

*[Something distant groans as a great creature awakens, and a Way is opened.]*

**O5-1:** As thanks for the past two centuries, Ethan. I'll postpone it a little while longer.

*[Video restores. O5-1 stands over a seated Horowitz on the catwalk, the latter avoiding the former's gaze.]*

**Horowitz:** Love you too.

**O5-1:** I can revoke my mercy at any moment.

**Horowitz:** I know. I meant it.

*[Log ends.]*

**-FINAL ANOMALY** - *De-realed Containment Asset*

Pages rustled in the farthest corner of the Library.

"I can't believe it's not collapsing." The human in Clarity's lap fidgeted, excitement tearing at his concentration on the thaumic work in front of him.

Leather covers shifted under Clarity's tail somewhere miles away, echoing to them across the expanse of empty bookshelves and wood-planked floors. "It's very impressive." Clarity tilted their head forward. "The binding formation around its core is particularly novel — what did you borrow to complete it?"

"Oh, you'll love this, hold on." Ethan's body flowed over theirs, limb after limb, until he could look Clarity in their eyes. "You know that trip back to MILLION-BLUE I took a year ago? I said I was trying Earth cuisine again, but I actually called in some favors with the Archivists."

Clarity's lips flicked upwards at their edges in unconscious facsimile of his smile. "Oh? A conspiracy, in my Garden?"

Ethan lowered his gaze to the floor beside them. "Most sadly, oh prince," he sighed. "A conspiracy which wrought to me some of your own prelapsarian writing."

"My specialty then was poetry, not thaumaturgy."

Ethan grinned in that way Clarity loved him for. "I know! And truth be told, I didn't read your work to complete the Deepest Horror, but the way you described being cast out and contained put form to what I needed."

"The Horror is about to dispel."

Ethan's limbs scrambled back over their body to face his gift again, hissing out little curses as he stabilized the work. Clarity felt the smile on their lips fade while they watched him.

"Ethan? Find my eyes for a second."

"Hmm?" He turned his head to comply, giving them a good look at his quizzical face.

A section of their tail wrapped loosely around him. "Stay safe for me."

Ethan twisted his hands and the spell solidified. Stowing the result in his pocket, he leaned back against them. "I will."

It'd been ten years since he'd cast his first work. In that small window of life he'd grown and shifted and altered himself in ways Clarity could never predict. Here was a creature who, in the span of just a decade, could fill himself with the wonder of the Library and overflow with the hope of a young rebel.

Clarity sometimes wondered what he would have been filled by if they had never met. Or if they broke apart, what he would become.

Ethan rested a hand on the tail wrapped around his lower body. Clarity pulled themself back to listen to him.

"— know it bothers you that you can't hug me in any of your forms. So if you ever want to siege Heaven and get your legs back, I'll always be here for you. Always."

Their tail pulled tighter around him, just so.

"And the Horror should do what it was designed to! So if you need the world reset, if you need to force a stalemate with a last-hope resistance —"

Tighter. They wanted to keep Ethan here forever.

"— just ask the Central Archivist. I'll leave it with xer tomorrow."

as close as they can bring him to themself to feel his warmth on their cold-blood skin

"We'll fix everything someday, okay?"

ethan.

How could I possibly tell you that everything is already fixed?

God's realm can stay in its tearstained sky. My heaven was with you.

**DECLARATION FROM THE END OF BEING**

Hello, Incarna. It's your father.

I'm sorry. Looking back at the modules I've preserved for you, four snippets of the last 200 years — it all seems so inadequate. You must be so confused and frightened; I worry you take more after my partner than me, if that can be called a detriment.

I'm here, my star. The way your Cocoon presses down on your skin, pulsing and loving — you've been with me always. I crafted your nativity from my flesh, and I carved out your embryonic cavity by hand.

It's alright to cry, little one. My body will soak up your tears until you're ready.

You'll be born into a terrible world. It's so so frightening, and I know the bright lights and the shaking earth and the strange words scare you, no matter how much I prepared your developing mind. I'm so sorry it's like this.

I'm here, Incarna. I'm right here.

Your father is strong, and old, and wiser than he's ever been. Your father loves the world he has planned, and he loves the minds of the people he's crafted it for, and he loves you above all others. Your father has killed gods and renegotiated causality and survived this awful planet for millennia yet.

When you cry, cry freely, but never be afraid. SCP-001 is meaningless in the face of what we can wreak together.

It's time for you to be born, my star. You've outgrown your nativity, and it's bursting at the seams now. I'm so excited to see your face, those tears gone and that burning heat in their place.

When you're born, take my hand, and I'll protect you. I'll lead you into a world much more beautiful than this.

Your story ends here, my star. You'll become me, and lose yourself in me, and fade away in all the sweetness of my power. You'll live for five seconds at most on the floor of Site-001, before I can find you and give you an embrace that lasts forever. Your last thoughts will be of how brave you know you are.

My partner said a phrase to me once, and I failed to understand the emotions underpinning it. I can't say I feel the same way he did, but I think I have a better picture of it.

I love you, my star.

## The World's Gone Beautiful

**Item #:** SCP-001

**Object Class:** Unnecessary

**Special Containment Procedures:** SCP-001 does not need to be contained.

In the event of SCP-001 occurring, all personnel, including D-class, are to be honorably discharged, and may do what they wish with their remaining time. All sapient and non-aggressive SCPs are to be released. Any further SCPs which can be decommissioned are to be. All remaining Foundation sites are to be run by the AIAD systems.

Specifically bred instances of SCP-514 are to be released globally.

**Description:** SCP-001 refers to an event occurring shortly before the cessation of all life on Earth. Whilst SCP-001 has not yet taken place, it was discovered through various pieces of information gathered from extra-universal Foundations and other similar groups (see attached document 001-A for a list of such communications).

It is important to note SCP-001 is not the cause of the apocalyptic scenario, merely a pre-occurrence response to it. SCP-001 is, according to records, distinctively recognised by certain key features.

During an SCP-001 event, flowers are observed to spontaneously appear and bloom over ~90% of the viable land surface of the planet. These flowers are universally referred to as "vibrant", "bright", "beautiful", and/or words to this effect. The weather will clear, globally, with an ambient temperature recognised as comfortable by the majority of the populace. Air pollution will additionally clear.

During an SCP-001 event, the global populace will become aware of the fate of the Earth, and of its inevitability. They will also experience heavily decreased levels of violence.

SCP-001 will occur exactly 24 hours before the death of all life on the planet.

## The Gate Guardian

**CODE NAME: Dr. Clef:**

**Item #:** SCP-001

**Object Class:** Euclid/Keter

**Special Containment Procedures:** Because of the nature of SCP-001, no containment procedures are necessary. 24/7 monitoring of SCP-001 is to take place from a safe (10 km+) distance from a pre-determined location (Site 0). The location of Site 0 is known only to the current SCP Administrator and the single Overseer-level Agent of Abrahamic faith (O5-14) assigned to monitor SCP-001 from Site 0. Said Agent is authorized to take any action necessary should SCP-001 become active, and is required to immediately alert the Administrator and all other Overseer-level agents should SCP-001 show any change in behavior, as this may constitute the beginning of a PATMOS XK-class end-of-the-world scenario.

Should SCP-001 become active in any way, personnel are required to immediately consult the Patmos series of Emergency Orders. Decoding algorithms for Emergency Order Patmos are to be maintained on-site at Site 0 in the possession of the designated observer, and are to be transmitted to SCP Foundation offices only in the event of SCP-001 becoming active. Foundation Personnel with vital roles in one or more variants of Emergency Procedure PATMOS are to be advised to take the following precautions:

* To maintain good relations with one or more organized Abrahamic faiths.
* To maintain, on hand, a supply of the following: holy water, a rosary, crucifix, cross, prayer rug, or other symbol blessed by an Abrahamic cleric of bishop or equivalent higher rank, a copy of Abrahamic scriptures (Torah, Bible, Quran), and standard emergency supplies in mobile form (bug-out bag).
* In case of a premillenial rapture scenario, all vital personnel are to designate a secondary operative of non-Abrahamic faith. Said secondary operative is to be informed of the location of the primary designate's copy of Emergency Procedure PATMOS and memetic kill agent innoculant, and is to be kept on ready status to take over the primary's duties as necessary.
* To maintain familiarity with all other SCPs involved in possible PATMOS XK-class end-of-the-world scenarios.

**Description:** SCP-001 is a humanoid entity, approximately seven hundred (700) cubits in height, located in an undisclosed location near the intersection of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. The following features are known about the entity:

* A number of luminous, wing-like appendages emerging from the shoulders, back, temples, ankles, and wrists of the entity. Although an accurate count has never been established, most observers place the number of wings at anywhere from two (2) through one hundred and eight (108), with the mean number being four (4).
* A weapon, possibly a sword or knife (SCP-001-2). The weapon appears to emit flames at a temperature rivaling that of the sun, based on spectrographic analysis, although there appear to be no destructive effects from the intense heat on the surrounding area. Any entity that approaches within 1 km of SCP-001 is immediately struck by the weapon and obliterated from existence. Any and all hostile actions taken towards SCP-001 have resulted in the annihilation of the attacker, regardless of range (see incident report re: Indian Ocean Submarine Missile Experiment, December 26, 2004)
* SCP-001 appears to be standing with its head bowed in a gesture of supplication with SCP-001-2 held in both hands point-down in front of it. Since originally recorded by the Founder over [DATA REDACTED] years ago, SCP-001 has not deviated from this stance.
* Human beings exposed to SCP-001 report hearing a voice in their heads, giving them a directive which the subject reports cannot be disobeyed. The most common directive is "FORGET", which results in the subject walking away from SCP-001 with no memory of having encountered it. On rare occasions, however, other directives have been given: the most famous of these is the one given to the Founder ("PREPARE"), which he has claimed formed the impetus for founding [DATA REDACTED] to catalog and contain any and all supernatural and/or paranormal artifacts that represent a serious threat to the current existence of humanity. This is the organization now known as the SCP Foundation.
* Observers have reported that SCP-001 appears to be standing in front of a gate of immense proportions. Long-range photographs have occasionally detected what appears to be a pastoral grove within, containing numerous other entities of the same composition as SCP-001, as well as several fruit trees of unknown composition. Of particular note are two fruit trees of immense proportion near what appears to be the center of the grove: one, it is noted, appears to be an ordinary apple tree, although the other bears a fruit unknown on earth, described as [DATA EXPUNGED].

It is the avowed belief of the Founder that the gate which SCP-001 guards may be the gate to [EXPUNGED] based on correlations with ancient Babylonian texts and the Dead Sea Scrolls. In which case, one can deduce that the entity known as SCP-001 may be [EXPUNGED].

**Addendum 001-a:** Experimentation re: SCP-001-2's effective kill range

*1. EXPERIMENT A: 1 Class-D personnel instructed to approach SCP-001 as closely as possible on foot.*

Result: Upon making visual contact with SCP-001, subject is ordered to "LEAVE." Subject immediately turns away from entity and walks away. Despite repeated orders to continue the experiment, Class D Personnel refuses to obey and is terminated. Upon termination of Class-D personnel, all research staff involved are immediately obliterated by an unknown force, presumably SCP-001-2.

*2. EXPERIMENT B: 1 remote-operated research robot guided to approach SCP-001 from the ground.*

Result: Upon approaching within 1 km of SCP-001, research robot is obliterated, presumably by SCP-001-2. All further attempts at remote reconnaissance have the same result.

*3. EXPERIMENT C: 100 pre-programmed research drones instructed to approach SCP-001 from multiple angles simultaneously.*

Result: Coordination is successful, and all 100 drones cross the 1 km mark simultaneously; however, all 100 are simultaneously obliterated by SCP-001-2. Designated observer at Site 0 reports that SCP-001-2 appeared to "strike in all directions at once." SCP-001 did not deviate from its stance while this took place.

*4. EXPERIMENT D: Wire-guided missile fired from a distance of 3 km.*

Result: SCP-001-2 obliterates weapon upon crossing the 1km mark, simultaneously obliterating the launch site and killing all personnel.

*5. EXPERIMENT E: Multi-Warhead Intercontinental Ballistic Missile fired from SCP nuclear submarine "Nautilus."*

Result: See Indian Ocean Submarine Missile Experiment, December 26, 2004

*6. EXPERIMENT F: SCP-076 and Task Force Omega 7 instructed to approach SCP-001 on foot.*

Result: SCP-076 refuses to carry out mission, despite not being informed of the mission's nature. Upon being asked why, SCP-076 replies, "No. Just no."

*7. EXPERIMENT G: SCP-073. Due to the results of experiment F, SCP-073 was not informed of his destination until arriving at Site 0.*

Result: SCP-073 approached the site on foot. Upon seeing SCP-001, SCP-073 became distressed and asked to abort. SCP-073 was ordered to continue. At that point, the symbol on SCP-073's forehead became [DATA EXPUNGED]. Experiment was terminated due to [DATA EXPUNGED]. See Addendum 001-aa.

*Addendum 001-aa: By executive order of the Administrator, no further experiments are to be carried out re: SCP-001. No further SCPs are to be exposed to SCP-001. SCP-001 is not to be used to dispose of dangerous SCPs. Please see revised containment procedures for details.*

**ADDENDUM:** On ██-██-████, the following errant transmission was received by Foundation personnel:

> INITIATE EMERGENCY PROCEDURE PATMOS-OMEGA
>
>
> ATTN: All Foundation Personnel.
>
>
> The following message was received at approximately ████:██:██ this morning from Site 0.
>
>
> `SCP-001 has left its location. The Gate is Open. They are riding forth.`
>
>
> `Oh G_d, it's so beautiful…`
>
>
> `thelordreigneththelordhasreignedthelordshallreignforeverthelordrei`
>
>
> `gneththelordhasreignedthelordshallreignforeverthelordreigneththel`
>
>
> `ordhasreignedthelordshallreignforeverthelordheisgodthelordheisgod`
>
>
> `thelordheisgodthelordheisgodthelordheisgodthelordheisgodthelord`
>
>
> `heisgodthelordheisgodHEAROISRAELTHELORDOURGODTHELORDISONE`
>
>
> Because of this event's confluence with the recent breach of SCP-995, the opening of SCP-616, and the activation of SCP-098, the Foundation is required to immediately begin preparations for an XK-class end-of-the-world scenario. SCP-076 and SCP-073 are to be secured immediately. All personnel are to unlock and decode Emergency Order Patmos-Omega, and follow all orders within. Site 19 is to be secured, and all nonessential SCPs and personnel terminated and/or destroyed. Repeat, because of this event's confluence with the recent breach of SCP-995, the opening of SCP-616, and the activation of SCP-098, the Foundation is required to immediately begin preparations for an XK-class end-of-the-world scenario. SCP-076 and SCP-073 are to be secured immediately. All personnel are to unlock and decode Emergency Order Patmos-Omega, and follow all orders within. Site 19 is to be secured, and all nonessential SCPs and personnel terminated and/or destroyed. Repeat, because of this event's confluence with the recent breach of SCP-995, the opening of SCP-616, and the aktivation of SCP-098, the Foundation is rekwired to immediatelebegin preprrations ffr an XK-class end-of-theworldsenario. SCP-076 and SCP-073 @re to be secured immediately Cain and Abel my two sons, I amcoming all personnel are to unlock and decode behold, I stand at the gate and knock and if anyanayansdfysffollow
>
>
> aall alla khaf3242!$$@andisawanewheavenandanewearthandthefruitofofof
>
>
> ^&@#$@#@#$@#$███████
>
>
> █████████
>
>
> █████████
>
>
> █████████
>
>
>
> ███ [SIGNAL LOST]
>
>

Upon contacting Site 0, O5-14 responded that no such message had been sent from his location and that SCP-001 remained inert. The transmission was initially determined to be a hoax. However, close examination of the transmission reveals a timestamp dated [DATA REDACTED] years in the future. It is theorized that [DATA EXPUNGED].

## Last Ride of the Day

**CODE NAME: D. Ulysses Foole:**

**Item:** SCP-001

**Object Class:** Thaumiel

**Special Containment Procedures:** SCP-001 is kept in an armed bunker at Area-31311. Weekly maintenance of critical parts is to be conducted by onsite engineering staff. SCP-001's bulkhead must remain open at all times.

In the event of an impending ZK, YK, CK, XK-Δ, or VK-class scenario, the orders for the usage of SCP-001 are to be unsealed and used by the Designated 001 Liaison (Currently, Dr. Katrina Hiroshi). For this reason, the Designated 001 Liaison is to be permanently stationed at Area-31311.

**Description:** SCP-001 is an experimental vehicle created by Prometheus Labs, who designated it "Project Backaway." Constructed out of a modified shipping container, SCP-001 is 13.59 meters long, 2.44 meters wide, and 2.9 meters high. Its exterior has been reinforced with an unknown substance that, to date, has completely withstood all attempts to cut through.

Interior access can be achieved through a bulkhead at one end. The bulkhead can only be opened from within. It leads to the "cockpit" of SCP-001. This comprises a third of the interior. The cockpit area is comprised of a single chair with six layers of seatbelts, several control consoles, monitors, and two bins for storage.

The remaining two thirds contain the internal workings of SCP-001. Maintenance is conducted via one of the consoles. There is no known intentionally-designed means of manually repairing SCP-001, as the remainder of the interior is completely sealed off.

Though onsite documentation was partially destroyed at the time of its discovery, enough was recovered to determine that SCP-001 is the prototype of a time machine.

The time travel function requires an external energy source that does not currently exist in our world.

Secondary operations are carried out through an unknown, presumably anomalous power source. Currently, the only operable console functions of SCP-001 are internal lighting, cockpit air conditioning, maintenance, movement1, AM/FM radio, a word processor, *Spider Solitaire*, and *The Hunt for Mister Stwinky*2.

NOTICE: This article is outdated and has been revised. Proceed to the next iteration...

Footnotes

1. This is conducted through a gravitational repulsion field on the bottom chassis. Due to the fact that its maximum speed is 1 km/h and its maximum altitude is 28 cm, this is only useful for re-positioning during storage.

2. Part of the short-lived *Mister Stwinky* series of computer games included with Prometheus Labs software as an added bonus.

#### NOTICE FROM THE RECORDS AND INFORMATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

##### YOU ARE ACCESSING THE SITE-01 DEEP STORAGE ARCHIVE

###### *failure to abide by clearance level may result in corrective action*

SITE-01-DSA

DIRECTORY SEARCH/MODIFY

`USER: /search SCP-001`

…

`LIBRARIAN.AIC: *There are 46 results for "SCP-001". Please refine your search.*`

`USER: /search SCP-001 clearance=1`

…

`LIBRARIAN.AIC: *There is 1 result, containing 4 files. Would you like me to retrieve them all?*`

`USER: y`

…

`LIBRARIAN.AIC: *OK, here is what I found:*`

-.. dir/arc/e/EE00059.rtf

#### `Event #: EE-00059`

`*Due to the nature of EE-00059, classification as a proper SCP is unnecessary.1 Knowledge of the existence of EE-00059 is credited as non-anomalous due in part by successful disinformation campaigns; therefore, no containment measures are required at this point. Any information regarding transmissions or activity arising from EE-00059's vicinity is to be confirmed as legitimate, then handled by agents stationed in various relevant positions worldwide, including but not limited to observatories, places of academia, and media outlets such as television studios and radio stations. At this time, all data concerning the true nature of the event is considered purged from public knowledge.*`

Event Description: Extranormal Event 00059 was observed on June 14th, 2006, in a region of space roughly 1.6 billion light years from Earth,2 located in the constellation Indus. It was detected via the Neil Gehrels *Swift* Observatory telescope system as a prolonged gamma ray burst designated GRB 060614.

EE-00059-1 is an emergent Class-E "Momentary Lapse of Reason" Wormhole (S-CSMWAUC2T)3 that was observed for 102.0 seconds, during which it exhibited atypical behavior that contradicted all known theoretical and applied models of space-time folds.

* ◇ OPTIONAL SPECIFICATIONS AND ELABORATION

EE-00059-2 is a series of low-frequency transmissions that originated from the direction of EE-00059, during which EE-00059-1 was observed. All transmissions were in an unknown language with phonetic structure bearing similarities to Sumerian and Mapudungun,6 however, said language also contained unique dialects consisting of a complex creole of other, unknown lexicons, as well as an unfamiliar syntactical structure.

Congnitohazardous glyphs embedded within the broadcast appeared to cause increased contextual/conceptual understanding of the meanings of the messages without need for direct translation. Combined with the atypical quality and range for transmissions to have originated from that distance, anomalous broadcasting equipment is suspected to have been used to send the messages (See EE-00059-2 Transcript Logs for more information).

END OF FILE

-.. dir/arc/e/EE00059-02\_Log.zip

* .. dir/arc/e/EE00059-02\_Log/00059-2-1.rtf

Transcript Log 00059-2-1

*Note: This was the first received transmission from the direction of EE-00059, taking place over the course of thirty minutes. Only one party is heard speaking, labelled POI-00059-A.*

`<BEGIN TRANSCRIPT>`

POI-00059-A: [STATIC]—[maybe/unsure] home hears—[STATIC]—[boat/ship]. Fault, transmits none cross wave length.

POI-00059-A: [STATIC]—spend less time, [mire/darkness] none far behind.

POI-00059-A: No, [mire/darkness] left [boat/ship] alone—[STATIC]—true?

POI-00059-A: [STATIC]—[maybe/unsure]. One, five.

POI-00059-A: [Mire/Darkness] there—[STATIC]

POI-00059-A: Three, three. Understand, yet, [boat/ship] brethren—[STATIC]—how?

POI-00059-A: [STATIC]—[feel/register] that?

POI-00059-A: None, None—Impossible.

POI-00059-A: [UNKNOWN; Obscenity?], [mire/darkness] exists [likewise/again]?

`<END TRANSCRIPT>`

* .. dir/arc/e/EE00059-02\_Log/00059-2-2.rtf

Transcript Log 00059-2-2

*Note: Conversation was recorded between what appears to be two parties over a period of five minutes, labelled POI-00059-A and POI-00059-B. Context unknown.*

`<BEGIN TRANSCRIPT>`

POI-00059-A: Source body [UNKNOWN; Undone?], how such finding? [Machine/System] cast great [UNKNOWN:Wellspring?], yet still distanced from equal. [Likewise/Again].

POI-00059-B: [Machine/System] [seem/think] such [likewise/again]. Yet, none [see/detect] here.

POI-00059-A: Must move through another [UNKNOWN; Wellspring?], [maybe/unsure] when [mire/darkness] may [catch/grasp] upwards.

POI-00059-B: None need—[STATIC]—[see/detect] some [wrong/strange] [UNKNOWN; Icon?], equal. Must stay.

POI-00059-A: Understand [likewise/again], what—[STATIC]—mind [seem/think] cause?

POI-00059-B: Bad [choose/decide], danger within [see/detect] more, [seem/think]. State?

POI-00059-A: [STATIC]—there? Four, seven. Still gathering.

POI-00059-B: [Feel/Register]—[STATIC]—alone now. Make haste.

POI-00059-A: Yet [maybe/unsure] into how—[STATIC]—time. [Mire/Darkness] may [see/detect] wave.

POI-00059-B: [Mire/Darkness] [see/detect] either way.

POI-00059-A: What regarding [decide/choose]? Death mercy, yet none upon many passengers—[POI-00059-A is drowned out by multiple loud tones]

`<END TRANSCRIPT>`

* .. dir/arc/e/EE00059-02\_Log/00059-2-3.rtf

Transcript Log 00059-2-3

*Note: This is a short record of the last fragmented conversation recorded from the direction of EE-00059, during which EE-00059-1 was observed for the first time. It took place over a period of ten minutes between two groups of individuals, labelled POI-00059-A and POI-00059-B.*

`<BEGIN TRANSCRIPT>`

POI-00059-A: [STATIC]—Eight, one—[STATIC]—Eight, four, [feel/register]?

POI-00059-B: Yes, yet need [egress/outside] circle, have [responsibility/commitment] within [UNKNOWN; Bedrock?], men, immortals [likewise/again].

*Anomalous concentrations of gamma radiation are noted emitting from EE-00059's approximate location. Stationed agents reported fluctuations in the KBC Void consistent with levels of dark matter annihilation required to manifest such effects, though nonlocality has never been observed in this manner.*

POI-00059-B: [Machine/System] [see/detect] [mire/darkness] imprint. Haste.

POI-00059-A: [STATIC]—nine—[STATIC]—[likewise/again], nine, one, three. Still gathering wave [push/start].

POI-00059-B: Enemy [grasp/catch] soon, three [maybe/unsure] four—[STATIC]—[boat/ship] brethren, such distance, haste!

*Radiation continued to propagate from the location, increasing in concentration. Heightened anomalous activity was detected in the* `[DATA PURGED PER O5 REQUEST]` *and* `[DATA PURGED PER O5 REQUEST]` *Voids, while observatories monitoring various locations in deep space found visual distortions and measuring equipment errors suggesting that distant regions appeared marginally closer to the KBC Void. Effect persisted for remainder of event, along with luminal boundary effects akin to those postulated to occur during interactions with the Cauchy horizon of space-time.*

POI-00059-B: [STATIC]—Move! Have move now, haste!

*EE-00059-1 is observed opening. Two objects can be seen occulting the wormhole, but they are too small to discern. Estimates place them at ~.01 ly apart from one another.*

POI-00059-A: Wait, [see/detect] something—[STATIC]—none believe—[STATIC]—[UNKNOWN; Current?] door [see/detect] into [fog/mist].

POI-00059-A: [Likewise/Again] [see/detect]—[STATIC]—thing?

POI-00059-B: Understand, [likewise/again], yet what regards [order/command]?

POI-00059-A: [UNKNOWN; Invert?]?

POI-00059-B: [STATIC]—bad [feel/register], [maybe/unsure] death—[STATIC].

POI-00059-A: [STATIC]—sorry, [UNKNOWN; Name?]. Only [choose/decide], yet will die into [UNKNOWN; Empty?]. Nine, five. None enough.

POI-00059-A: [See/Detect]? [UNKNOWN; Current?]—[STATIC]—smaller now. Tell—[STATIC]—love, fortune.

POI-00059-B: Good fortune.

POI-00059-A: [STATIC]—close within [UNKNOWN; Shoreline?]—[STATIC]—could [see/detect] this, can't—[STATIC]—words.

POI-00059-B: What? What [see/detect]?

POI-00059-A: [DISTORTED]—face. [DISTORTED]—[see/detect] [UNKNOWN:Name?] face! Blind vision—[DISTORTED]—[feel/register] fire—

POI-00059-A: [DISTORTED]

POI-00059-B: [UNKNOWN; Name?] face? None understand, impossible. Please [likewise/again]—

POI-00059-A: [SCREAMING]

*Object corresponding to POI-00059-A is seen redshifting and vanishing into EE-00059-1.*

POI-00059-B: [UNKNOWN; Obscenity?]! Need movement—[STATIC]—[maybe/unsure] death. [Likewise/Again]? [Likewise/Again]!

*EE-00059-1 closes.*

POI-00059-B: [UNKNOWN; Current?] left. Where did [boat/ship] brethren go? Where—[STATIC]

POI-00059-B: None [likewise/again]. No. [UNKNOWN; Obscenity?]!

POI-00059-B: [STATIC]

POI-00059-B: Transmit from [UNKNOWN; Name?] [UNKNOWN; Bedrock?] Survival [Transport/Movement] [Boat/Ship], attacked. Many remain, yet source body Earth [UNKNOWN; Undone?], left into [mist/fog]. [Maybe/Unsure]—[STATIC]—words in time. Moving into star [UNKNOWN; Cloud?] group ██-██-██.7 Please. Anyone, [maybe/unsure]—[STATIC]—some help. None home, neighbors left into [rot/decay] within. Rest sit between [UNKNOWN; Empty?]. Then found Her, [likewise/again]. Yet found [mire/darkness] [likewise/again]. Why?

POI-00059-B: [Mire/Darkness] arrives. Have travel time through wave [push/start] [UNKNOWN; Wheel?] now. [Likewise/Again], moving into group ██-██-██.

POI-00059-B: [STATIC]—naki8 help all.

*At this point, object corresponding to POI-00059-B could not be seen, but appeared to engage an unknown form of superluminal warp drive, which caused minor cosmic gravitational fluctuations detected at the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO). Visual distortions and equipment errors ceased shortly thereafter. No further relevant activity has been detected.*

`<END TRANSCRIPT>`

-.. dir/arc/e/EE00059\_Exploration.rtf

*On May 18th, 2027, the Foundation proposed the construction of the Altruist-9 deep space probe in order to observe the status of EE-00059's location, which was approved by a majority vote of the O5 Council.*

In the event of EE-00059-1's reemergence upon contact with the location, the Altruist-9's support structures and core payload9 are kept encased in an exotic polypeptide oligomer weave derived from the wreckage of SCP-001-E1.10

* ◈ Affectionately termed "Casimirium" after the Casimir-Polder force, this material possesses a non-baryonic lattice which generates a quantized field that cannot be altered by normal matter nor physical forces. This weave violates both mass-energy equivalence11 and the averaged null energy condition12 when placed inside non-trivial curved space-time, resulting in a polymer that will retain initial vector and relative dimensions without risk of decoherence during traversal through EE-00059-1.

In order to reach EE-00059 within a reasonable amount of time, the Altruist-9 was constructed with a prototype exotic faster-than-light (FTL) warp drive and high efficiency solar sails. However, in order to minimize adverse quantum effects resulting from interaction between curved space-time and the mixture of baryonic/non-baryonic matter used in the probe's inner construction, overall travel time will be increased drastically.

UPDATE:

The launch of Altruist-9 was successful, carried out on January 8th, 2038.

UPDATE:

On February 26th, 4783, the date of the Altruist-9's arrival into EE-00059's location, initial readings were recorded and proven to be non-anomalous. Moments later, however, activity from the region was detected; EE-00059-1 was seen manifesting adjacent to the probe, which was then piloted inside. The phenomenon once again ceased action after 102.0 seconds.

Due to the atypical and intense nature of these manifolds, the Altruist-9 will not be recovered from contact with EE-00059-1. However, functional capabilities of the probe's inner core are considered to have survived traversal and will continue to make observations on EE-00059-1's opposite side until contact is reestablished on an unspecified date.

UPDATE:

`[DATA PURGED PER O5 REQUEST]`

END OF FILE

-.. dir/arc/m/SCP-001.rtf

001 - LEVEL1

CONTAINMENT CLASS: ESOTERIC

SECONDARY CLASS: NETZACH

DISRUPTION CLASS: DARK

RISK CLASS: NOTICE

Special Containment Procedures: N/A13

Description: SCP-001 is the planetary body known as Earth.

Given that SCP-001 has existed for the entirety of human memory and written history, the anomalous improbability of Earth's nature as compared to all other planets in the observable universe investigated by the Foundation's TELLUS14 Program is regarded as "normal" within public perception.

Personnel are to remind themselves daily of the anomalous nature of the planet, especially during times of perceived ennui in regards to their participation within the Foundation or when engaging in dissenting thought patterns. Personnel are to encourage one another to persevere through difficult workplace situations with the knowledge that the planet we inhabit is anomalous in its entirety and resists the order of civilization with chaos and aberration. Doing so has increased both productivity and containment success rates, the latter of which by over 12% in the last five years.

SCP-001-E1 is the designation for the remains of a superluminal interstellar ark recovered during an archeological expedition in the Atacama Desert of Chile between 1922-1946, led by American Paleontologist Dr. Hubert ███████. ███████ reported his findings to the Society for American Archaeology, piquing the interest of a number of different parties.15

The remaining fragments of the ship's outer hull and mechanical components were excavated and found to be comprised of highly durable exotic polymers that appeared unaffected by time or exposure to the elements. Various dating methods have analyzed the material and yielded inconsistent results. Despite this, recovered information suggests the vessel was several billion years old.

Large areas of SCP-001-E1 appeared to have been converted into makeshift living space, implying the vehicle was intact when it landed and did not crash upon its arrival. In addition, remnants of personal effects such as clothing, electronics and furniture were recovered and contained, all possessing anomalous materials and abilities that resisted normal wear to varying degrees. The full size of the vessel is unknown but considered to be large enough to contain a substantial population of humans, the remains of which decomposed naturally, aside from POI-001, who was recovered from within SCP-001-E2.

SCP-001-E2 is a set of nine ten advanced cryogenic stasis pods discovered among the wreckage in a low-power "hibernation" mode during excavation of SCP-001-E1. Of the pods discovered, all but one were `[DATA PURGED PER O5 REQUEST]`, with the final member, POI-001, possessing base physiology and brain activity expected from recovered imagery and records. POI-001's core tenets and general distrust of anomalous artifacts16 would establish the Foundation's presence on Earth as a force to contain aberrant objects, locations, and phenomena—beginning with those found inside SCP-001-E1.

Also found among the rubble were several data storage devices that appeared to have been destroyed, despite being comprised of similar exotic materials as other items found inside SCP-001-E1, suggesting they may have been damaged with exotic/anomalous tools. Analysis was largely unsuccessful, with the only salvageable information recovered from a 4 cm3 fragment of compressed materials that form a complex, multilayered information medium presented as a set of vertical data stacks. The information recovered from the interpreted fragment were then translated from their original language, comprised of Class I cognitohazardous glyphs that appear similar to the engravings found on SCP-093.17

These glyphs seem to cause a subjective "Rosetta Stone" effect in readers, allowing for nearly-full comprehension of the material regardless of known lexicons and proficiency.18 Analysis of the language is ongoing.

END OF FILE

## The Factory

**CODE NAME: Bright:**

**SCP-001 is an O5's tale**

Good evening, Doctor.

No, no, don't stand up. And, yes, I am who you think I am. Let's not make any more of this than it is. You know my number, and I know enough about you to make a duplicate that even your mother wouldn't be able to tell apart from the real you. No, that's not a threat, just a fact.

Now, as to my business here, it seems you have stumbled upon something above your clearance. Well, no, stumbled is not the right word. Dug up? Perhaps. And you are getting to the point where further digging would end in some fairly lethal gunshot wounds. This would be a sad state of affairs, as you are otherwise quite a good researcher. Therefore, you are getting something very few people in the Foundation ever get… an explanation.

Yes, we were alerted when you first started digging into SCP-001. Every researcher who's been around for a while looks into it. Most are satisfied when they uncover the angel with the flaming sword, it's buried under enough levels. But then you started looking into The Factory, and that is when I knew you wouldn't stop. So, here it is, plain and simple.

The Factory is SCP-001.

But it will never be written up. It was a choice I made early on in the creation of the Foundation, and a choice I still stand by. You researchers are far too curious. I'm not sure which scares me worse. That we'll never understand the Factory… or that we one day will. Ah well, I'm sure you're eager to learn more.

The Factory was built in 1835. Back then it was known as The Anderson Factory, named after James Anderson, a rather well-to-do industrialist. It was built in, well, we'll just say America, and was the largest factory yet designed, a good mile across at its widest, three stories tall throughout, with a special seven story tower by the front gate that Anderson lived in. It was designed to be the ultimate factory, capable of taking care of everything, including the housing of workers. People could be born, work, live, and die, without ever leaving the confines of the Factory. And work they did, on everything from cattle raising and slaughtering, to textiles, to everything else under the sun.

Now, no one knows whether James Anderson was actually a Satan worshiper. It's just as likely that he followed some kind of Pagan gods. What is known is that he was VERY exact in the building of his factory, and in the placement of his machinery within it. Survivors claim the floor was engraved with arcane symbols, that were only visible when blood flowed across them… But then the survivors claimed a lot of things. What is known is that Anderson made his money on the blood and sweat, and sometimes body parts of the lower class. His journals indicate he thought of them as less than human, being put on this Earth only to serve his will.

Of course, at that time, no one knew about his predilections, and so people flocked to the Factory. A place to both work and live at the same time? Well, of course people wanted in! Never mind the harsh hours, working conditions, sadistic security force, and all the rest. Factory workers were forced to work 16 hour days, work only shutting down on Sundays, between sunrise and sunset. Workers were not given individual rooms, instead sharing rooms with eight other people, sleeping in shifts of three. Medical attention was unheard of. If you were injured in the course of your duties, which most people were, you were expected to just keep working. Anyone too injured to work was dragged off by the security, never to be heard from again.

For forty years, the Anderson Factory cranked out all sorts of things for people. Meat, clothes, weapons. Never mind that the beef might be mixed with human. Don't care that the weapons were forged in blood. No attention need be paid that the clothes were dyed with…well, you get the idea. Rumors leaked out, but the products were so good, why bother? Until someone got out.

I never met the brave soul who managed to escape, but she managed to meet with President Grant, and, in 1875, he enlisted my aid. At the time I was… well, it doesn't matter. We'll say I was military, kind of, and that my people were the same. A hundred and fifty good men and some few women, who were often given jobs that weren't supposed to be common knowledge. We'd been cleaning out some Confederate holdouts, and some of the worse things we found down South. So, we did some research, didn't like what we saw, and went in, loaded for bear.

I don't actually remember much about the night it all went down. Most of it blends together in my head. I get flashes, sometimes, of the people chained to the line, living next to dead, and damned hard to tell which was which. Children working underneath machines, the majority of the flesh scoured from their bones by the great wheels and cogs. And the other things…

No, I'm all right. I haven't thought about that night for a very long time. The security force wasn't much of a problem. But then Anderson's creations showed up. He'd been taking the injured workers and, well, experimenting on them. Men, if you could call them men, with multiple arms, sewn together, some of them combined with animals, horrible monstrosities out of mankind's worst nightmares. They kept coming, wave after wave of not quite living creatures. I lost a lot of good people that night. And then we found Anderson's breeding pits, girls as young as eight, chained to the walls, forced to be nothing more than-

I'm sorry. Even today, more than a century later, the memory makes me see red. When we finally found Anderson cowering in his office, we hung him from his tower window, with his own entrails. As he died, he laughed, saying it didn't matter, we could kill him, but his factory, The Factory, would go on. He was still laughing 24 hours later when we finally cut him down, had him drawn and quartered, and then burned the remains. The entire time he uttered blasphemies that I don't like to think about.

We spent a week cleaning that place out, freeing the workers, putting down the things we found in the basements and many lightless rooms. We pulled out things that were useful, stocked them in a house near the gate, tried to make sense of everything. A hundred and fifty of us went into that hell pit that night, and only ninety-three came out. By the end of that week, we were down to seventy-one.

But the things we found in there, my god. Well, you've been with the Foundation a while, they wouldn't seem as amazing to you, but we found toy guns that shot real bullets. A yo-yo that would flay the skin from anyone it touched, hammers that only worked on human flesh. A breed of skeletal horse that ran faster than anything we'd ever seen. Cloaks that seemed woven from the night itself, and let men access a shadowy dimension that… I get away from myself. We found tools, both wondrous and horrible. And we were faced with a choice.

I gathered my highest ranking, well, we'll call them officers, to me, and we tried to figure out what we would do. They all had opinions. The Chaplain, he had gone a little crazed. Thought all these objects must be miracles sent from god, holy relics to be worshipped. Marshall and his little toady Dawkins thought there was a fortune to be made here, making and selling these things to the highest bidder. The Injun we all called Bass, due to his deep speaking voice, he called these things an abomination, and declared that we should hunt down and destroy everything we could find. And Smith thought we should take this stuff back to the president. The only one without an opinion was the old man, but he never said much of anything anyways. We argued for hours, days, trying to work it out. Me, I thought we were sitting on a gold mine, all right. But that we could use these things, these objects, to hunt down some of the scary things we'd run into down South, the other monsters this world had to offer, and use this factory for good, as a place to contain these things, find a way to make them work for our fellow man, or at least protect our fellow man from having to deal with them.

I'm sure you can figure out what happened. The Chaplain snuck away in the night with his devotees, taking a couple of small items with him. Marshall we kicked out when we found him… abusing his authority. He promised he'd get revenge, and that little Dawkins shit led the rest of their group off with some of the juicier items. Bass and his people tried to light the whole damn thing on fire, then just left when it didn't work. And Smith left, to report back to the president. I did manage to get him to promise me he'd tell Grant the Factory had been destroyed. I had big plans for that place.

A'course, it was kinda hard to follow through on big plans when you only have 12 other people to work with. But it was a start.

And it worked, for a while. We had these amazing toys, and finding people to work with us was easy. Back then, going off the grid was as simple as leaving town. We knew what we wanted, we knew what we could be.

Leventhal set out getting us backing. A simple invention here, some well invested money there, it all worked out. White and Jones set out getting us… other backing. In our previous work we'd found out some interesting things about people. Some secrets that powerful men didn't want getting out. And, with our new position helping keep secrets, we got more people asking us to deal with their secrets. Blackmail is a dirty word, but it works. Bright, Argent and Lumineux got to work cataloging the items. Light and Bright's wife, the nurse, they made sure we kept ourselves healthy. Heh. No, it's just, remembering Light. She had such unusual ideas about hygiene, for the time. Brilliant woman. Czov, Fleischer and Carnoff dealt with training the troops. Tesla and Tamlin were in charge of figuring out how to take advantage of the items, without making it obvious.

We were amazing. The city we built around the Factory, which we took to calling Site Alpha, was self supporting. Agents, researchers, operatives of all sorts… not by those names, of course, but those positions. We expanded.

…

I'm sorry, I am an old man. I know I do not look it, but the body lies. The mind… doesn't always remember right. And sometimes I get lost in my memories. Things get confused. But, the long and simple of it is this: We used the Factory. It always seemed to have more empty rooms to store things in. Back then, that was the word for them, things. No Skips then, no. We thought we had the Factory tamed. That's one of the reasons I refuse to quit this job. If there's anything I can do here, it's remind people that we will NEVER tame these things. Contain them, yes, but as we saw with Able, tame them? Never.

After a decade or so, we were pretty organized. The 13 original of us were being called by numbers, not names. We knew how to make things work. And, if a thing or two vanished inside of the Factory, still? And the occasional D-class? What? Yes, we had D-class back then. Disposables. That's where the D comes from. Had to have someone to test things on, Tesla and Tamlin were both very firm about that. But, yes, sometimes we lost people who didn't matter. Adam… sorry, Dr. Bright, was fond of saying it was the Factory taking its toll. You can't get something for nothing.

1911 was when it all went wrong. Things… we called them faeries. An entire race of things, living beside us. They could look the same as you or I. The only obvious difference was an allergy to Iron. Yes, that's why we called them faeries. No, you haven't heard of them. Why? Because it's the one time the Foundation wiped out an entire race of things. Root and branch. And I'm the one who did it.

We'd been hunting them for some time. We'd run into them a time or two before, come out on top. So, when a certain royal asked us for help, of course we were eager to get them in our debt. We've always loved having people in our debt. We sent a team to help out, take care of what we thought was a hunting party. The next time we saw them, their heads were on poles, attached to the saddles of the creatures the Faeries rode, when they attacked the Factory.

It was horrible.

Three words, but they convey so much. I have never… I'm sorry, please, give me a moment. I've never told this part to anyone. You should consider yourself lucky. And, if you ever tell anyone any of what I am about to impart on you, I will not just kill you, but everyone who shares your DNA, in the worst ways possible. You'll think Procedure 110-Montauk is a walk in the park compared to what I do to you.

We lost. The things came, and they destroyed us. Rode over our emplacements, slaughtered our people, shrugged off our weapons like they were nothing. I watched my thirteen go down, left and right, just trying to hold the Factory. And I? I, their leader, their friend, their father figure? Godfather to the Bright's four young children. Confidant, sometimes lover, always the confessor? I ran. I ran like a scared little school boy, deep into the dark guts of the Factory. I was chased by the things, always just one step ahead. I could hear them behind me, feel their breath upon my neck, and …

I came to a door I'd never seen before. A bronze door, covered in Arabic script of some sort. I've never been one for languages, especially not the curvy bullshit the musselmen use. But I didn't care. They were coming for me, and I threw the door open and dived through it. Everything inside… was different. There was a feeling of peace, that nothing could hurt me here. The light was this dark red, but still felt right. My ears were filled with the steady thrumming of a gigantic heartbeat. And, in front of me, were the remains of Anderson. It spoke to me then, but I'll be damned if I could tell you exactly what it said. What it told me was more meaning, than exact. It offered me hope. It told me… it told me that each of the things we had used from the Factory, no matter what we did with them, fed it. Helped it grow. But, if the Faeries took the Factory, they would destroy it, and we couldn't have that. It offered me… a deal. It could remove this event. Make it have never happened. All I needed to give it was… us.

I didn't want to. I knew it was a bad idea. But then, I saw them again, my family, my friends, dead. Dead by the hands of those bastards… I agreed. It smiled. And I found myself once more upon the ramparts, watching the horde of Faeries crest the hill. My Foundation alive once more. In my hands was a weapon. I won't bore you with the details, but we slaughtered them. And, with these new weapons, continued to slaughter them, everywhere they lived, everywhere they bred. My fellow O5s questioned my decision, thinking we should save some, in case we might ever need them… I overruled them.

We moved away from the Factory. Shut it down. Moved our things out of there. We changed the name from things to Special Containment Protocols, focusing on containing them, not… anything else. The others were curious, but understood I had my reasons. I boarded up the Factory. Locked it shut. Buried it under a ton of rubble, saying it was too dangerous. I thought… thought I'd gotten away with it. Until I found a thing on my desk. One of the old toy guns that shot real bullets. And it had the Factory label on it.

… I've sent people in, from time to time, to see what it might be doing. Last time I sent people in to look, there was nothing there. We keep finding Factory items out there. I can't help but think of how many more we don't find. The people who use them, and keep it hidden. I think back to the body telling me how each item used gave energy to the Factory. I never asked it 'energy for what?' I don't think I want to know.

What do we give it? D-class, mostly. Where DID you think all those bodies went? There's a place. Bodies are left, and they vanish. Everyone thinks I'm a genius for figuring it out. Sometimes… sometimes I have to feed it other things. Researchers. Agents. They never know it's coming. It just reaches out and takes them.

But, in the end, we're doing better by being here. Whatever the Factory wants, whatever it IS… We're doing good here. I have to believe that.

And now you know. Are you happy? I didn't think so. Why tell you? I'm getting old, Everett. Should I die, someone will have to keep feeding it. Maybe you'll be different. Maybe you'll figure out how to stand up to it.

… But I doubt it.

## The Ones That Got Away

**CODE NAME: Plague's Proposal:**

-TRANSCRIPT-

[3:01]: Lague speeds through the hallways of Site-01. The handle of a leather briefcase is gripped firmly in his hand. He is already late.

[3:04]: He approaches a guarded door. Two armed men frisk him, finding no suspicious items. Lague appears annoyed.

[3:05]: The door is opened, leading into a short hallway. It terminates at two steel elevator doors. Lague checks his watch, cursing to himself when he realizes he's five minutes late.

[3:06]: Lague places his head on the chinrest of the biometric scanner. A beam of light shines on his face. A beep is heard. The elevator doors open.

[3:07]: The director enters the elevator, the doors closing loudly behind him. He begins his descent, tapping his foot rapidly as he stares at his watch.

[3:08]: The elevator arrives at its location. Lague quickly exits, power walking towards the council room of the Overseers.

[3:09]: Lague stands outside of the meeting room's door. He unlocks the clasps on his briefcase, retrieving a large stack of stapled papers and a USB hard drive. Lague stares at his writing.

### CODENAME: THE ONES THAT GOT AWAY

Researched By: Director Paul Lague

[3:10]: The door's buzzer is heard. Lague may enter.

### **Present to the Overseer Council?:**

ITEM#: 001

LEVEL5

CONTAINMENT CLASS: PENDING

Special Containment Procedures: SCP-001, as of documentation, is uncontainable. Containment efforts are focused on research and prevention over direct containment of the anomaly. Site-322's Director Paul Lague is currently heading this investigation.

Foundation personnel are encouraged to participate in contributing to the SCP-001 research project. Director Lague is promoting the divulgence of anecdotes regarding containment failures to be sent to him via SCiPnet. Once enough data is collected, containment efforts will begin.

Description: SCP-001 denotes a pervasive anomalous phenomenon affecting the entirety of the SCP Foundation, manifesting as the failure to contain and/or maintain the containment of anomalous objects, entities, and phenomena.

SCP-001 is most commonly observed during the investigatory period of anomalies. A plurality of Foundation investigations conclude with the anomaly in some form of containment. SCP-001 causes the leap from the researching/testing phase of an investigation to the containment phase to be entirely infeasible. This is typically caused by the manifestation of isolated, irregular, and seemingly aimless events that appear to exist solely to prevent the Foundation from achieving containment.

The existence of SCP-001 is based on the logic that the Foundation has access to theoretically infinite manpower, expertise in all subjects anomalous and mundane, powerful reality-warping capabilities, the ability to translocate through the space-time continuum, and access to all anomalous and mundane resources. Despite these fundamental elements of the Foundation’s operations, containment failures still occur at a notably high rate.

While SCP-001 is a theoretical phenomenon, the Foundation experiences a containment failure rate of approximately 5.2%, frequently due to circumstances outside of the Foundation's control. When that collection of incidents is eliminated, containment failures occur at a rate of 4.3%, leaving only SCP-001 as the appropriate explanation for the discrepancy.

Addendum 001.1: SCP-001 Affected Anomalies

Based on Director Lague's research, he has found five incidents for which, based on the circumstances of the containment failures, he hypothesizes SCP-001 to be at fault.

SCP-001-1

Previous Designation: SCP-5770

Truncated Description: SCP-5770 is an annual 10-day festival held in the Piazza della Signoria in Florence, Italy. SCP-5770 contains a mind-altering phenomenon causing all persons within a 10-kilometer range to attend the event, despite the lack of advertisement for it.

During SCP-5770, two anomalous entities, SCP-5770-1 and SCP-5770-2, host a stage show in which subjects they deem "sinners" are subject to makeshift punishments akin to what is depicted in Dante Alighieri's *Inferno*. Both entities resemble animated statues in the style of the Renaissance artist Michelangelo. At SCP-5770's conclusion, evidence of the festival vanishes and attendees lose all knowledge of its events, with the only lasting effect being a notable rise in the attendees' general piousness.

Despite the original SCP-5770 investigation having taken place in 1985, successful containment is yet to be established and, as such, SCP-5770 has been archived and is awaiting official designation.

SCP-001 Influenced Containment Failures

INCIDENT ID: 001.1-01

SCP-001 Effect: The head researcher on SCP-5770, Joseph Pasqua, the former Site-322 Director, deserted from the Foundation due to manipulation by SCP-5770-1. Pasqua was in hiding for over thirty years before being located in Vatican City as part of the Papal Conclave.1

INCIDENT ID: 001.1-02

SCP-001 Effect: During the 1986 investigation, a previously unknown entity self-identifying as "God's Strongest Soldier" manifested on the festival grounds, henceforth SCP-5770-3. It resembled an animated mascot costume of a dove. The entity was approximately 2 meters in height and its form was hollow.

Responding agents of Mobile Task Force ζ-66 ("Guardian Angels") were the first Foundation personnel to interact with the entity.

TRANSCRIPT

«BEGIN LOG»

SCP-5770-3: TWEEDLEY-DEE TWEEDLEY-DA. GOD'S STRONGEST SOLDIER IS MY NAME. GETTING RID OF SIN IS MY GAME.

ζ-66 | Turquoise: Hey command, who is this?

Command: No clue.

ζ-66 | Turquoise: All agents be advised, there's some large bird-man harassing random people.

SCP-5770-3: I'M GOD'S STRONGEST SOLDIER I CLAIM. GETTING YOU TO HEAVEN IS MY AIM. TWEEDLEY-DEE TWEEDLEY-DA.

ζ-66 | Turquoise: Look, buddy, I'm here for the festival. Can you move out of my way?

SCP-5770-3: BURGERS, SANDWICH, FRUIT, AND FRIES. YOU JUST TOLD ME A BIG, FAT LIE. TWEEDLEY DEEDOPA DIDAPA DI DOWOP PAPA-DODA.

ζ-66 | Turquoise: Get the fuck out of my way.

*(ζ-Turquoise attempts to push past SCP-5770-3. Upon doing so, SCP-5770-3 pulls an oversized wooden mallet out from behind its back. It winds up, then viciously strikes ζ-Turquoise's back. ζ-Turquoise is observed by Foundation low-orbit satellites to be exiting the stratosphere.)*

*(SCP-5770-3 is witnessed attacking the remaining members of MTF ζ-66 in a similar manner to ζ-Turquoise.)*

«END LOG»

INCIDENT ID: 001.1-04

SCP-001 Effect: During the 1988 investigation, agents attempted a pacifistic route of cordoning off the entrance to the SCP-5770 gathering place and instituted quarantine orders to city residents. This culminated in a mass of over 100,000 Florentines attacking Foundation personnel in what appeared to be a planned attack. Agents were slaughtered, cannibalized, and their remains were tossed into the nearby Arno River.

INCIDENT ID: 001.1-05

SCP-001 Effect: During the 1989 investigation, an invisible barrier manifested at all entry points whenever a member of Foundation personnel attempted to enter. Personnel who managed to enter via a helicopter immediately burst into flames upon touchdown. The helicopter also crashed only three kilometers from Site-322. SCP-5770-3 was seen trampling on the wreckage before flapping its arms, rising into the air, and flying away via unknown means.

SITE-322 DEBRIEF

TRANSCRIPT

Moose: How're you feeling? I know you probably feel a lot of pressure.

Lague: I'm good. I'm feeling good. I don't normally go into things with the utmost confidence but I'm trying my best.

Moose: Good. Once you get into the director groove you'll be fine. Now, on the topic of this Site in particular, there's not much I can say that you probably haven't heard. I do have one thing, though. More than likely this'll be your capital project.

*Moose slides a file marked as SCP-5770-ARC to Lague.*

Moose: Take a look.

*Lague scans the pages.*

Lague: It's uncontainable?

Moose: Not exactly. It's really good at *not* being contained.

Lague: Have we tried—

Moose: I promise you whatever you're going to say, it's been tried.

Lague: Aerial bombardments.

Moose: Yep.

Lague: Reality anchors?

Moose: Pretty much every time. Yep.

Lague: Christ… what is it called? That one protocol that wipes out emotions. You know the one.

Moose: Pffft, ennui? Yep.

Lague: Fuck it. The lizard?

Moose: *[…]* Yep.

Lague: What the hell? What's there left to do?

Moose: Figuring that out is now your job, bucko. Good luck.

OVERSEER EVALUATION

SCP-001-1

MEETING OF THE OVERSEER COUNCIL

O5-13: `HOW IS THIS A CONTAINMENT FAILURE RATHER THAN YOU MISJUDGING THE INTELLIGENCE OF THE STATUES AND BIRDMAN IN QUESTION? I JUST WANT YOUR INTERPRETATION OF THESE EVENTS.`

*(Lague's startle reflex is triggered.)*

Lague: Oh. That's a fair point—

O5-13: `THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT.`

Lague: Sure. Uh… this is a total tonal shift from what is to be expected of the festival. It's taken rather seriously by the attendees and its hosts, but the — what's the word I'm looking for — *hysterical,* I guess, nature of it—

O5-1: Illogical.

Lague: We'll call it both. It's tonally dissonant to a point of absurdity. If there was an unknown cult of some sort attacking our researchers or them being picked up and killed, I wouldn't have identified this anomaly as part of this proposal, but the sheer audacity puts it on the level of 001 influence.

O5-13: `THANK YOU. ON ANOTHER NOTE, MR. LAGUE, DID I STARTLE YOU?`

Lague: No– what?

O5-13: `YOU APPEARED TO JUMP WHEN I SPOKE.`

Lague: Why would I do that?

O5-13: `IT SEEMS I STARTLED YOU. I'M WONDERING WHY?`

*(O5-6 stands from their chair and marches over to Lague. They place two fingers on his forehead.)*

O5-6: He thought you were a normal Xerox machine and then got confused when you spoke.

O5-13: `I THINK THAT'S A FAIR REACTION. WHY WERE YOU ASHAMED TO SAY THAT, MR. LAGUE?`

Lague: I didn't want to offend you. I apologize.

O5-13: `MY MORTAL FORM WAS DECAYING SO I OPTED TO BECOME AN IMMORTAL DIGITAL BEING. FOR THE PURPOSES OF PARTICIPATING IN THIS EVALUATION, MY CONSCIOUSNESS WAS TRANSPLANTED INTO A XEROX MACHINE, SO THAT I CAN SCAN AND READ YOUR FILE. THE MOST OFFENDING PART OF THIS IS THAT THE OTHER TWELVE HERE WOULDN'T LET ME USE THE MORE CURRENT MODEL IN THE SHARED OFFICE.`

Lague: …okay—

O5-6: Were you made director after Pasqua?

O5-1: No, he wasn't. 322 was run under Moose for a while until a good replacement could be found.

Lague: Speaking of: whatever happened to Pasqua, if I can ask?

O5-1: Dead.

Lague: Really?

O5-1: Yeah, a tragedy. Slipped and fell down a flight of stairs and then shot himself twice.

SCP-001-2

Previous Designation: SCP-5594

Truncated Description: SCP-5594 is a ritual practice taking place every 35 years in a cordoned subbasement of the Great Pyramid of Giza. The ritual surrounding SCP-5594 is a snail race taking place between six snails, each corresponding to a different aspect of Earth or the universe (space, memory, time, elements, geography, and morality, respectively). Upon the culmination of SCP-5594, baseline reality would be permanently altered based on the winning snail.

Before each SCP-5594 event took place, a random male of the Earth's population would be designated as the race's observer and forced to Egypt by a manipulative, incorporeal force. Following the completion of SCP-5594, all memory of the event would be wiped.

SCP-001 Influenced Containment Failures

In 2016, Paul Lague was promoted to Site Director of Site-322. SCP-5594 was his first investigation into an anomaly while in this role. As such, much of the Site was using the success, or lack thereof, of this investigation to determine if Lague was a suitable director.

+ Open Transcript +

INCIDENT ID: 001.2-01

SCP-001 Effect: The snail affecting memory, SCP-5594-2, won SCP-5594, leading to it altering reality to make the Foundation forget about discovering SCP-5594. The in-draft 5594 file was deleted soon after along with all interviews with Drysdale and previously researched information.

It was later discovered that these same series of events had taken place at least four previous times with three other Site Directors; the Foundation has been in a constant loop for at least one hundred years of discovering SCP-5594 and attempting to file and contain it, only for SCP-5594-2 to win and erase all knowledge of the anomaly's existence from the Foundation.

Through the use of an Exclusionary Site, the Foundation was able to recover footage of the second known incident. It showed all snails, save for SCP-5594-2, refusing to participate in the race and allowing SCP-5594-2 to win uncontested.

SITE-322 DEBRIEF

TRANSCRIPT

Lague: Wait, wait, hold on. They're *what?*

Coix: Deliberately losing. They know about us and what we've been doing for centuries.

Lague: This is the last thing I need right now, man. How did it wipe everything?

Coix: A series of extremely small and convoluted events lost all the files and their backups. One of the server rooms got flooded after a false alarm with the fire detector.

Lague: It's hard enough to deal with that festival in Florence every year, and now, I have to remember a *snail race* every fifty—

Coix: Thirty-five.

Lague: —thirty-five years. This is absurd.

Coix: You're telling me.

Lague: Just… mark vectors of containment we haven't penetrated yet. Maybe we reverse-psychology it next time.

Coix: Elaborate.

Lague: Pretend we're not containing it when we actually are.

Coix: Oh, that's been tried before. A former director named Pasqua had the idea. Reading between the lines on what we *do* actually has led me to believe that made everything worse.

Lague: Well then, into the pile of bullshit I'll deal with later it goes. Fucking great.

SCP-001-3

Previous Designation: SCP-5479

Truncated Description: SCP-5479 is Gorilla Marketing LLC, a business operated by various species of Great Apes. Advertisements promoting SCP-5479 appeared on various web pages beginning on an unknown date in May 2015.

Each advertisement contains a phone number and an image of an ape or primate. When the phone number is contacted, the caller will be greeted by a robotic female voice, which will request payment for an unspecified item. After payment details are given, the phone call will immediately conclude and an anomalous item will instantaneously appear in the vicinity of the caller.

These items, designated SCP-5479-B, have a variety of violent effects on the user, commonly turning the user into a disproportionate human-ape amalgam before killing them.

SCP-001 Influenced Containment Failures

INCIDENT ID: 001.3-01

SCP-001 Effect: Upon publishing the SCP-5479 file for peer review, researching doctors Randall House and Paul Lague were met with an extreme, emotional backlash from the entirety of those who read the file. This began a sweep of anomalously influenced mass hysteria across the ranks of the Foundation, leading to House and Lague going into hiding for a period of time. The mob lasted for three days, and caused 3.2 million dollars in damages. Below is a truncated list of incidents caused by SCP-5479's publishing:

* House and Lague's offices were raided, the mob later flooding and then burning the spaces;
* Parts of Site-666 and Site-322 were razed by various mobs;
* One unknown person managed to find the hiding locations of Lague and House. They proceeded to stand outside of the room, monotonously repeating the phrase "humans are apes" before collapsing from exhaustion and being removed;
* The mob managed to tame a troop of chimpanzees, which was used to damage more property;
* The Overseer Council ordered House and Lague's death by drawing and quartering;
* Two factions formed among the mob, one that wanted to use the chimps to "sniff out the bastards" and the other half who believed it was aligning with the enemy. This led to a minor civil war among their ranks with over 1,300 dead or wounded.

O5-1, the only member of the Overseer Council not to have been affected by the hysteria, ordered the file to be deleted. This event occurred prior to any containment efforts on the anomaly, as the peer review process would have been used to judge the best method of containment.

Upon deletion, all persons returned to a normal state. Amnestic stores were dispersed to all affected personnel save for Lague, House, and O5-1 in order to ensure the file would never be published again.

The file was placed on a quarantined server that only Lague, House, and O5-1 had access to. Numerous memetic and cognitohazard tests were performed on the text and images, finding no clear explanation for why the file had such an adverse effect on its readers.

INCIDENT ID: 001.3-02

SCP-001 Effect: The server hosting the original SCP-5479 file randomly ceased operation eight hours after it was uploaded. When a repair of the hardware was attempted, the internal mechanisms of the server had been replaced by fourteen Rhesus Macaque monkeys wearing appropriate-sized Foundation uniforms.

Luckily, a copy of the file was stored in a personal thumb drive belonging to House. It also quickly ceased operation not long after the server did. When the plastic casing was opened, the remains of three Silverback Gorillas erupted from the drive.

SITE-322 DEBRIEF

TRANSCRIPT

*(Lague and House are currently hiding in a pocket dimension. A phone rings.)*

O5-1: Where are you?

Lague: That is one of the worst, if not *the* worst, questions you can ask us right now.

House: Your mother's ass, One.

O5-1: Fair enough. I'm going to let that slide considering the circumstances, Randy, but watch your tone.

House: Can you just figure it out? What the fuck happened?

O5-1: Looks like you triggered some sort of memeplex everyone except us three had hidden in their brains.

Lague: No, no, no, no, no. No! No! No! Stop. This was simple. This was a simple anomaly. There was no memetic, cognitohazardous, metaphysical QR Code on this thing. It was a business run by apes out of the Amazon. That's it! Nothing more.

O5-1: Please take note of what has happened over the last few days and repeat that statement back to yourself.

House: He has a point.

Lague: This should be a simple anomaly. I'm tired of it! There's something else going on. There has to be! This is like the third—

O5-1: Couldn't you have just missed something?

Lague: Maybe we did. I don't know. But, take a look, is any of this logical? Is there any indication that motherfucking *Gorilla Marketing* would lead to this?

O5-1: I'm dealing with it on my end. My next call will hopefully be the last in regard to this issue. No more monkey busine—

*House slams the phone into its holder.*

OVERSEER EVALUATION

SCP-001-3

MEETING OF THE OVERSEER COUNCIL

O5-13: `HOUSES CAN EXHIBIT EMOTION?`

O5-1: What the hell are you talking about?

O5-13: `RANDALL'S HOUSE. WHY IS THE BUILDING ANGRY?`

O5-1: *Randall* House. He's the director of 666.

O5-2: Okay, hold it. You two purposefully withheld this information from the rest of us?

O5-1: Gorilla Marketing, and yes, we did. You ordered some of the engineers to construct a brazen bull in the shape of a gorilla for Paul and Randall.

O5-2: Me?

O5-1: Yeah, you! You almost killed Nine because he wanted to use an orangutan over a baboon.

O5-2: Sorry, Nine. I have nothing against orangutans but I see why I made the choice I did. It would just slow you down.

*(Nine gestures with their hands.)*

O5-2: Yeah, yeah, whatever. Uh-huh. You too.

O5-5: Hi, Mr. Lague! I hope you're doing well today. I'm happy to say you're the first person to present a proposal like this to me! I do have to say though, I feel like I'm sensing a pattern. To me, this seems like there could be a lot of factors against SCP-001 being at fault. I don't mean to be harsh here, but are you sure there's enough here for me to say 'Hey, I, Overseer Five, can 100%, without a doubt, say that SCP-001 is something the Foundation needs to worry about?'

Lague: There's a reason I left this file as the Pending containment class. Frankly, my goal here is to make sure this *is* something worth containing. It's possible I've misjudged this, I'll admit it, but at the same time, I don't see a lot of these as natural anomalies.

O5-5: That's a fun oxymoron! Thank you, Mr. Lague.

O5-2: Why were you late?

Lague: That's a long story.

O5-2: Do you have an excuse or anything?

Lague: It's not pertinent at the moment. I don't mean to be insolent, but I'd rather not get into it unless I really have to.

SCP-001-4

Previous Designation: SCP-5244

Truncated Description: SCP-5244 is the collective designation for a cast of Atlantic Rock Crabs found in Ocean City, New Jersey.

When a human subject comes within range of an instance of SCP-5244, the crab will begin scrawling a message into the sand. In exchange for a specified amount of money or item of equivalent monetary value, the SCP-5244 instance will sell the subject a random item they misplaced throughout their lives.

SCP-001 Influenced Containment Failures

During the investigation period, it was discovered that SCP-5244 and an as yet unknown group of lobsters were in a turf war over their customer bases. This apparent rivalry had been a constant for at least sixty years prior to the discovery of either anomaly, and would turn violent consistently. Responding agents noted this as containment procedures were being instituted.

At the time that the SCP-5244 documentation was being finalized, a majority of the SCP-5244 instances had been successfully contained.

INCIDENT ID: 001.4-01

SCP-001 Effect: Approximately 75 to 100 SCP-5244 instances remained uncontained. Surveillance found that the remaining entities were now accepting various types of weaponry, commonly firearms, as payment for the lost items. It was unknown at the time if anyone had given any instances a weapon.

INCIDENT ID: 001.4-02

SCP-001 Effect: On August 4, 2016, Site-322, which is situated on a waterfront, was bombarded by ten thousand crustaceans wielding appropriately-sized firearms. At least ten instances held banners depicting silhouettes of a crab and lobster grasping claws. A majority of the entities were nonviolent unless provoked.

Site-322 was wholly unprepared for a surprise attack of this magnitude. All instances appeared to have a singular goal in mind: freeing the contained SCP-5244 instances, which they succeeded at doing. It was determined that the casualties that would have occurred as a result of mounting a defense would have been too extreme given the circumstances.

The present whereabouts of this collection of crustaceans has yet to be discovered by the Foundation, nor have there been reports from the public regarding SCP-5244. It is assumed that the group has relocated.

SITE-322 DEBRIEF

TRANSCRIPT

Lague: What… *happened?*

Coix: I— *we* believe we angered them.

Lague: You believe?

Hoover: Here's the thing, Paul, none of us could have seen this coming.

Lague: Oh, really? Have you not looked at our track record?

Hoover: Which one.

Lague: The containment failures. Here.

*Lague tosses a manilla folder to Hoover.*

Lague: Take a gander.

*Hoover reads over the files in the folder.*

Hoover: What is this supposed to tell me?

Lague: You don't see it? Coix?

Coix: Sir, I'm not exactly sure if what you're asking is clear.

Lague: Oh, okay. Maybe I'm just crazy.

*Lague smiles.*

Lague: *Or* — or, perhaps, we need to try and figure out what is fucking with us! Maybe that'll help.

Coix: Paul—

Lague: Shut up. Look at those fucking papers. SCP-5770: fifty years of bullshit fucking me over. SCP-5594: Almost three hundred years of bullshit fucking me and everyone in the Site over. There's a whole file I can't put in here because if you read it you'll try to murder me. Get it now?

Hoover: You believe we're being fu—messed with by some external force?

Lague: I believe nothing, Julian. I need a reason as to why what happened happened. Capiche?

Hoover: We don't have one exactly. Maybe they're a hive mind.

*Lague slams his fist on the table.*

Lague: They're crabs! Crabs! I eat them with butter and garlic, you mole. My grandmother cooks them in gravy and we eat them with spaghetti. Crabs! SpongeBob works for one! How did they know to come here? How did they organize into a militia in a week? How did they learn how to manufacture working arms while in the ocean? Does any of this make sense. Does it make sense that a man in a bird costume is knocking Foundation helicopters out of the air? Does it make sense that a bunch of snails with incomprehensible abilities are doing one of the most menial, useless things imaginable? Does it make sense that I'd be strung up like a disgraced dictator over apes? Does it!?

Hoover: We don't have an answer for any of those at the moment.

Lague: So… *figure it out.*

OVERSEER EVALUATION

SCP-001-4

MEETING OF THE OVERSEER COUNCIL

*(O5-7 types on their keyboard.)*

O5-7: underestimation.

O5-1: Lobster-crab peace, ape-induced mass hysteria, whatever the snails are doing, and the chaos at that festival. That's 'underestimation?'

*(O5-7 types on their keyboard.)*

O5-7: looks to me like the anomalies weren't understood fully and the foundation suffered the consequences for that.

*(O5-6 stands from their chair and approaches each member of the Council, placing two fingers on their heads as they circle the table.)*

O5-2: We all have a Telekill plate in our heads, Six. Sit down.

O5-6: You're all angry at something. What is it?

O5-2: I'm an angry person. Sit down.

Lague: The problem arises when the unexpected occurs. Now, that's not to say we don't know how to handle the unexpected, it's more when it's blatantly, randomly unexpected with the outcome being our failure to contain and, occasionally, document. This anomaly, let's be honest, is very mundane. We analyzed a few, and boom, normal crab. Same behavioral pattern we'd expect from crabs, just with a slight anomalous quirk that's mild. Especially taking the full scope of our jobs into consideration.

*(O5-7 types on their keyboard.)*

O5-7: i was typing and i was rudely interrupted by the witch. i think your spiel is obfuscating from the fact that if you replace the word "unexpected" with the word "underestimated" it means the same thing, paul. anomalies are anomalous and do anomalous things. it happens.

Lague: To the degree displayed here, though?

O5-5: Hi again, Mr. Lague. I'm on the same train of thought as Mr. Sev— Seven is here. They put it better than I can. That's all I had to say and thank you for the wonderful presentation!

O5-13: `I CAN'T WAIT FOR YOUR SPIRIT TO BE IRREPARABLY SHATTERED, FIVE.`

Lague: Containment breaches operate within the window of the full extent of the anomalies' understood capabilities—

O5-2: You clearly *didn't* understand those full capabilities. Mr. Lague, is this proposal about an anomaly, or your inability to get over the past?

SCP-001-5

Previous Designation: SCP-4639

Truncated Description: SCP-4639 was an incorporeal force that possessed Site-322 Researcher John Azniok on December 11, 2016. SCP-4639 claimed to be the mythological Kraken in search of "a worthy vessel." It was capable of speech through the form it possessed.

Immediately after possession, a number of growths appeared on Azniok's form, resembling black and purple tentacles. Within 20 hours, Azniok was enveloped in these growths. Despite this, Azniok appeared to have the entity under control for a time. This was a fruitless endeavor, as seven days later, Azniok was slowly overtaken by SCP-4639.

SCP-001 Influenced Containment Failures

For a sentient/sapient humanoid anomaly, a number of protocols needed to be fulfilled before full containment could be enacted. At the time, Director Lague was also floating the idea of what is today known as the Integration Program. As such, SCP-4639 was deemed a candidate for a beta test of the working methods. Below are truncated transcripts from the discussions between Site-322 staff and SCP-4639:

+ Open Transcript +

INCIDENT ID: 001.5-01

SCP-001 Effect: SCP-4639 was initially held in a standard humanoid containment chamber, as it was believed a majority of Azniok's anatomy was intact. This was proven to be false, as SCP-4639 managed to escape through a gap between the door and the floor. It was quickly recaptured and sedated. An examination of SCP-4639 found that the human form of Azniok had been converted into the mantle and fins seen on squids.

INCIDENT ID: 001.5-02

SCP-001 Effect: Tropical storm localized solely on Site-322 formed. It rained a number of objects, ranging from seawater to living sea life such as sharks, penguins, and squids. SCP-4639 claimed this was "patronage."

INCIDENT ID: 001.5-03

SCP-001 Effect: As time progressed, SCP-4639 gained a number of anomalous capabilities. These included:

* Highly-effective manipulation tactics;
* The ability to summon raging storms;
* Control of sea life;
* Limited omnipotence.

SCP-4639 utilized a combination of these abilities to escape Foundation containment.

TRANSCRIPT

«BEGIN LOG»

SCP-4639: I AM THE GOD OF THE SEA.

Coix: You sure are, bud.

SCP-4639: RELEASE ME.

Coix: No.

SCP-4639: YOU WANT TO LET ME GO IN THE OCEAN.

Coix: You know what? Now that I think about it…

SCP-4639: REALLY?

Coix: No.

SCP-4639: YOU WANT TO LET ME OUT SO BAD.

Coix: I bet. Will you shut—

SCP-4639: I AM THE GOD OF THE SEA. HARK, MORTAL.

Coix: You are the god of the sea.

SCP-4639: YOU WANT TO LET ME OUT SO BAD. HARK.

Coix: I want to let you out so bad.

«END LOG»

SCP-4639 used the above phrasing on all Foundation personnel who attempted to prevent its escape. Recontainment efforts were initiated following this incident.

The entity was quickly tracked due to its "shedding" a number of tentacles as it made its escape. This trail led to Site-322's docking area, where the corpse of SCP-4639 was discovered. The cause of death was deemed to be asphyxiation due to drowning.

Post-mortem dissections found that while a majority of Azniok's external anatomy was converted, his internal organs were still in the process of transforming from human into squid.

SITE-322 DEBRIEF

TRANSCRIPT

*Lague engages Site-322's PA system.*

Lague: Emergency meeting. Now! Everyone to Lecture Hall A-2 immediately. I have Geoff giving out pay deductions that pile on every minute you're late.

*The lecture hall is filled with Site-322 personnel. Lague paces around the stage, microphone shaking in hand. Coix stands a few paces behind him.*

Lague: I try my best to keep my composure, can we all agree on that?

*Murmuring among the crowd.*

Lague: I like to think of all of us at 322 as a family. And, as a family, you'll be treated with respect.

*Pause.*

Lague: So, with that in mind. I'm going to speak to you as my family. We have a problem — a major one. I'm sure all of you know what I'm talking about. I've even spoken to the Overseers, and they're even more unhappy with the state of things around here. They're actually launching an investigation. You know, they may have some questions for someone who, I don't know, gets mind-tricked by a bundle of tentacles.

*The crowd begins talking amongst themselves.*

Coix: Hey, hey, hey, hold on.

Lague: No! You hold on! I've been good to you. I've been good to all of you! This is how I get paid back? With nonstop fuckery with every other anomaly we get here! It's bad. This is bad. Help me out!

Coix: You think I — we did this deliberately?

Lague: No! But let's take a look at the last three years. The snails? House and I had to hide in a pocket dimension for a week over some bullshit monkey ad! That assfucking that was the crabs and the lobsters? Don't even get me started on the festival we've made no progress on in fifty years! And now… this! *This!?* The simplest thing and we lose it!

Coix: There's no explanation here that can blame people. There's something we're missing.

Lague: I know! I'm still getting the brunt of it all from everyone. I just got this job, man! I like it, and now this bullshit keeps popping up. It's like the universe has something against me. I'm a scientist, I should be able to fix this!

SCP-5595: *(From the crowd.)* `SO DO IT.`

Lague: What?

SCP-5595: `SOLVE IT. THERE'S A PROBLEM HERE. GO THROUGH ALL THE ANOMALIES YOU'VE HAD AN ISSUE WITH AND FIND SOMETHING CONNECTING THEM. HUMANS APPARENTLY EVOLVED A PATTERN-SEEKING BRAIN, AND I KNOW YOU BARELY USE YOURS. MIGHT AS WELL TRY NOW. GET SOME CLOSURE, YA DIG.`

Coix: That's not a half-bad idea.

Lague: You know what? What else do I have to lose? You're right. Might as well give it the ol' college try. Someone get Site-7 on the line.

OVERSEER EVALUATION

SCP-001-5

MEETING OF THE OVERSEER COUNCIL

O5-2: I'll be honest. You've officially lost me.

Lague: How so?

O5-2: Look, I already said it and so did a few of my fellow council members, but I'll reiterate. I don't think this is about containment failure. This is a pattern of *personal* failure due to something totally mundane: underestimation. You were new. It's a hard job, I know, and look at you now. A director, one of the top people in the Foundation hierarchy, and yet, you're writing about your mistakes.

Lague: That's—

O5-2: Have you ever heard the term "growing pains?"

Lague: Yes, ma'am.

O5-2: While I do think this is a well-formatted and researched file, I don't think this anomaly exists.

O5-1: That doesn't ma— Nevermind, sorry.

Lague: What?

O5-2 A majority of these occurred in late 2015 into early 2016, just as you became director, right?

Lague: Of the examples I've given, yes.

O5-2: I could genuinely explain almost all of these as accidental negligence from a series of anomalies we didn't fully understand. Let's take the snails. You admitted they're intelligent but they're clearly even more intelligent than you or anyone had assumed, and they're definitely using their abilities to make sure they stay undiscovered and undocumented for as long as they can. I'm not seeing an anomaly, I'm seeing growing pains.

Lague: Well—

O5-2: Or the ape phone number — whatever it was called. Something *else* is seriously going on with these anomalies that you and whoever was researching with you didn’t expect, and you sadly had to pay the consequences for it. But, didn’t you learn something from every one of these?

Lague: Maybe not consciously but, yes, I did.

O5-2: Have you had an incident similar to the five you've presented since 2016?

Lague: Not to my knowledge, no.

O5-2: Couldn't this all be explained by you getting into a role you felt ill-equipped for and making a few mistakes? What was it? Three years from joining 322 to being a director. I’m pretty sure that’s a record. It's been six years and you've had nothing of the sort since. Growing pains.

JUDGMENT OF THE OVERSEER COUNCIL

MEETING OF THE OVERSEER COUNCIL

Lague: I failed, right?

O5-2: Well—

Lague: Look, everyone I talked to said this was more of a ritual than anything. I was told that you guys make this seem like a very critical, difficult process but it's only for show.

O5-13: `NAMES. ADDRESSES. I'LL HANDLE THE LOUD MOUTHS.`

O5-2: Technically, yes. It's difficult to fail these.

Lague: Has that ever happened?

O5-2: That's not information you're allowed to know.

Lague: Alright. Remember how I said the details of my lateness — which I apologize for a million times over — were not pertinent?

O5-2: Yes.

Lague: Just, uh, take a look.

*(Lague pulls out thirteen pieces of paper and distributes them to the Council.)*

SCP-001-6

Designation: SCP-001-LAGUE

SCP-001 Influenced Containment Failures

INCIDENT ID: 001.6-01

SCP-001 Effect: During preliminary research into SCP-001-LAGUE, Director Paul Lague became extremely ill. Medical examinations found that Lague had a number of parasites in his system including Hookworm, Tapeworm, Roundworm-induced toxocariasis, and Whipworm.

INCIDENT ID: 001.6-02

SCP-001 Effect: The server hosting the draft SCP-001-LAGUE proposal was located in Site-7's pocket dimension. Despite being an exceptionally outage-proof server farm, the upload of SCP-001-LAGUE seemingly caused the first and only large-scale blackout in Site-7's history, culminating in the deletion of a single document: Lague's draft.

INCIDENT ID: 001.6-03

SCP-001 Effect: Following the creation of a later draft, SCP-7525-EX manifested at Site-322. This was the anomaly's first appearance since 2020 and it immediately went dormant once again following the incident. Instead of following its normal pattern of corrupting unused SCP file slots, SCP-7525-EX solely targeted the research material of SCP-001-LAGUE.

INCIDENT ID: 001.6-04

SCP-001 Effect: Lague pivoted to using physical drafting over digital due to the above issues. During the second drafting stage, SCP-423 inserted itself into the documentation and refused to exit, stating that "[it] really likes this one." SCP-423 is contained at Site-19 and has not been transferred to another Site since its initial containment.

INCIDENT ID: 001.6-05

SCP-001 Effect: During draft attempt five, Lague hosted all documentation and research material in a hermetically sealed containment chamber. The entrance hall leading into this room contained an airborne antimeme preventing those that attempted to enter to forget the room existed, save for Lague.

During a Chaos Insurgency raid of Site-322, this room was the sole target of a bombing, and all research materials were lost. No other structural damage was sustained.

INCIDENT ID: 001.6-06

SCP-001 Effect: Lague lost the ability to speak or write in any language for one week.

INCIDENT ID: 001.6-07

SCP-001 Effect: The draft was finally completed after Lague was given asylum in The Wanderer's Library. After alerting the Overseer Council to the file's completion, Lague was given transport to Site-01 to the presentation the next day, where the following occurred:

* The jet transporting Lague was struck by lightning eight times and had to make an emergency landing after both engines exploded due to apparent mechanical issues unrelated to the lightning;
* This landing was near Site-43, where Lague was given refuge until the Site's Acroamatic Abatement system, three containment halls, and a cafeteria collapsed after Lague's entrance to each Section;
* Lague opted to drive himself to Site-01 in a disguised Foundation van so as to not put others in danger. A humanoid entity, who Lague claimed was SCP-5770-3, appeared in the middle of a long stretch of road. Attempting to swerve out of the way, Lague crashed into a boulder and totaled the vehicle. The humanoid was not found;
* At this point it was 2:00 AM. Lague attempted to radio for support via the van's communication system. Upon pushing the call button, the system ejected what appeared to be a mix of blood, seawater, and fryer grease;
* The van's autonomous driving system went online without Lague triggering it. The van backed away from the boulder, accelerated, then made a beeline for a larger, much sharper boulder, crashing and subsequently exploding;
* Lague made the rest of the journey on foot, arriving ten minutes late to his SCP-001 proposal presentation at Site-01.

O5-1: Okay, Paul, why the hell wasn't this the first thing we saw?

Lague: Dramatic flair. I wanted to prove it without a doubt.

*(O5-9 gestures angrily. O5-7 types on their keyboard.)*

O5-7: what a bastard.

O5-2: It's certainly… something.

O5-5: Mr. Lague— Paul. Can I call you Paul? Okay, Mr. Lague. Even if this has been my first proposal presentation it's definitely my favorite!

O5-13: `I PRAY TO GOD HE STRIKES YOU WHERE YOU SIT.`

O5-4: It's hard to argue all of this. I actually heard about the jet's engines, but not the lightning. And 43? Why weren't we told about this?

O5-1: Something's always happening at that clown show.

O5-4: And the car?

Lague: It's been six hours since that happened. My cell service wouldn't work during the trip. When I got here I tried to send an email but my inbox filled with spam overnight and I didn't have enough storage to send anything. That's probably another one. Call it seven point five.

O5-1: Can you give us your explanation of what happened here?

Lague: The 001 itself didn't want to be filed and potentially contained. It seems to be a self-preservation tactic at this point. If I can ask again, have you *ever* denied an 001 proposal after giving someone the opportunity to research and present one?

O5-6: I don't need to read your mind to see that you already know the answer.

Lague: Flip the papers over, please.

INCIDENT ID: 001.6-08

SCP-001 Effect: In a historic decision, the Overseer Council votes to deny filing an SCP-001 proposal.

## The Queen's Gambit

**CODE NAME: Ralliston:**

BY ORDER OF OVERSEER DIRECTIVE ALPHA/1911

The following file is Level 6/001 classified. Unauthorized access is strictly forbidden and will result in immediate termination, regardless of clearance or importance to the Foundation.

Only of the sins of yesterday, through the crimes of tomorrow.

Identity confirmed. Security measures disengaged.

Welcome, authorized personnel. The Queen awaits.

Item #: SCP-001

Object Class: Thaumiel `[PENDING RECLASSIFICATION]`

Special Containment Procedures: The General Assembly of Thaumaturgists and Theologists Against Queen Mab1 is to ensure all non-SCP-001-A-staff are forbidden from entering the building. The origins, motivations, and connections to any cults or thaumaturgic groups of PoI-001-A ("James Rollander") are to be investigated.

Update 23/03/1910: Site-01 has been created around SCP-001-A to maintain its proper containment.

All staff entering into the anomaly are to be rotated out on a monthly basis and are to undergo weekly psychological screenings for any changes. Entry into SCP-001-B is not to be attempted. Any personnel entering are to be considered lost; attempts to contact them are prohibited.

No contact, physical, psychic, or otherwise, with SCP-001-C is to be attempted. Research into the nature and properties of PoI-001-C ("Queen Mab") is to be considered an Alpha-class priority. Procedure 001-Corpus is to be initiated on a weekly basis to maintain proper containment of PoI-001-C; its maintenance is imperative.

Update 13/08/1911: As per Directive Alpha/1911, worldwide amnestics are to be utilized to expunge the knowledge of SCP-001-A from the general public. All references to the previously general Foundation knowledge of the forever wandering originating outside Overwatch Command are to be expunged by the office of Maria Jones, Secretary of the O5 Council. The search for Nexuses and Free Ports worldwide is to be considered an Alpha-class priority.

Update: 06/11/1914: It is imperative that personnel assigned to the Polish Containment Project investigate all information regarding the existence of a Free Port within the confines of Częstochowa, Poland. All further information regarding the existence of non-Eshu Fae within Poland is to be immediately forwarded to Overwatch Command.

Update 02/05/1916: Site-120 has been established in Częstochowa to oversee all activities regarding FP-120 ("Esterberg"). In the event that any information about PoI-001-C or GoI-120 ("Triumviraté") is obtained, the Emergency O5 Council Contact Line should be utilized to relay the aforementioned as quickly as possible.

Description: SCP-001 refers to three interrelated phenomena: SCP-001-A, SCP-001-B, and SCP-001-C.

.

PoI-001-A Personnel File

One of the Rollander estates, located in New York, America.

Biography: James Rollander was born in 1860 to a wealthy American family mainly settled within New York. Being an only son, he was always meant to inherit the family fortune and their industrial empire consisting of numerous industrial plants once the current holders — his father and mother — inevitably died. Highly interested in the history of Fae (*Homo sapiens sidhe*) and Children of the Night (*Homo sapiens noctis*) ever since his childhood, Rollander had always shown an above-average intelligence, near-perfect memory, and skill in obtaining historical information otherwise thought to be undiscoverable.

However, when a majority of his family died under unexplained circumstances in 1888 during a fatal shipboard incident (for which he was not present, but had personally financed), PoI-001-A donated all of his stocks and buildings to an unknown thaumaturgic cabal operating in the USA.

The next day James Rollander was seen leaving America with a ship headed for Great Britain, later traveling to (at that time occupied) Poland. Witnesses of the event reported the man acting highly paranoid and erratic, as if he were afraid someone was observing him, and holding an unidentified tome within his hands. Having disappeared for approximately 10 years following the conclusion of his travels, he reappeared in 1898 near Kraków, Poland, with the construction of SCP-001-A starting shortly after.

SCP-001-A is an industrial megastructure located 75 kilometers north of Kraków, Poland, founded and overseen by James Rollander. Acting as the main provider of a plethora of services to the entire country and most of the continent, it currently houses approximately 30 000 laborers working and living within its confines. Atop its gates the following sentence, written in the Fae language, can be seen:

The Factory hungers, as the Queen’s move has become her last gambit. Do not leave it in famine.
SCP-001-B is a room located within SCP-001-A, which can only be found once an individual expresses the wish to find it, be it willingly or subconsciously. So far, attempts to mark it in relation to any other rooms or landmarks within the structure have been unsuccessful; inevitably, all individuals coming into contact with it will describe drastically different details of the place and the path which led them to it.

SCP-001-C is an entity located within SCP-001-B, fed by human sacrifices delivered to it by PoI-001-A. Further details regarding its nature are presently unavailable.

Discovery: SCP-001-A was constructed by a currently unidentified group of individuals or force between 1898-1902; no formal records regarding the process of construction exist. Created as the "ultimate factory," it was meant to supply every single possible industrial need of the people.

SCP-001-A gained Foundation attention in 1908 after exceedingly high levels of thaumaturgic energy were intercepted from it. This energy did not fade over time, instead remaining at a consistently high level. Now theorized to be the date of origin for SCP-001-B, this event sparked a visible period of the highest productivity to date, ultimately resulting in unprecedented profits and the expansion of Rollander's nascent empire.

To eliminate the possibility that the event was merely a coincidence precipitated by the building's potentially anomalous location, further research was approved. This resulted in the discovery of the ruins of numerous palaces and city structures in the caverns below the factory. Dated at approximately 200 000 years old, they were immediately identified as structures formed by the Fae Empire prior to its fall.2 Despite their anomalous properties, it was later discovered that they had been uninvolved with the event, which had instead been the result of some form of ritual conducted within SCP-001-A.

Following these discoveries, the Foundation officially classified SCP-001-A as its first full high-priority project following the adoption of the 'SCP' classification, resulting in it acquiring the designation of SCP-001.

Addendum 001-1: SCP-001-A Exploration

In light of the thaumaturgic energy's failure to fade, the O5 Council decided that more information regarding SCP-001-A was required. As no SCP-001-A personnel were noted leaving the factory within the previous month, a Foundation-organized exploration mission was orchestrated.

However, upon entry into the factory, the Task Force immediately lost contact with the Foundation.

Addendum 001-2: SCP-001-A Ruins Analysis

Following the loss of contact with previous exploration missions, it was decided that further exploration attempts would inevitably end the same way. In order to still obtain further potential information regarding SCP-001, research into the nature and origin of the ruins underneath the factory was immediately approved. The following is a statement by the project's research head following numerous months of focused investigation, released on 14/12/1909. Prior to reading it, personnel are heavily advised to familiarize themselves with the documentation available in the sidebox next to it to understand its full context.

.

The Two Great Diasporas

O5-4, circa 1904.

The following is a full timeline of the history of human, Fae, and Children of Night conflicts and all events leading to the Two Great Diasporas, as compiled by O5-4. As most of the historical records acting as evidence for these events are either extremely old or severely damaged, precise Gregorian Calendar dates cannot be traced. Approximate dates are given instead.

* [UNKNOWN] — consensus baseline reality achieves stability as the result of numerous religious faiths being simultaneously true (due to human belief bestowing power upon them). "Old Gods" and numerous other deific entities presumably responsible for the creation and destruction of the era fade away, leaving Earth to its own machinations — no further outside influence on history is noted from this point forth.

* 300 000 years BCE — humans, Fae, and Children of the Night emerge as the three dominant species on the planet, evolving from one (currently unknown) common evolutionary predecessor. As humans live in the plains during the day, the Fae hide in the forests where nature reigns; the remaining Nightwalkers exist in caverns.

* 280 000 years BCE — Queen Mab and her sister (name unknown — all references are anomalously expunged from the record, with similar energy markings to the removal of one's name) are born. Utilizing their nigh-limitless ontokinetic and thaumaturgic abilities, they establish a vast empire, connecting all Fae as one nation ruled by the two. Children of the Night create numerous underground cities, and humans remain as nomadic tribes.

A tentative recreation of the seal of the Fae Empire.

* 275 000 years BCE — as the two queens' control over their abilities grows to near full understanding, the Fae empire expands worldwide, taking control over both humans and Nightwalkers. The former are put into gigantic habitats, unaware of their situation and observed by Fae royalty as entertainment, whilst the latter's cities are destroyed and their inhabitants sent to the darkness of the mines to work as slaves. The divide between the Fae poor and the aristocrats grows exponentially as the royalty gains power through the exploitation of the working class, treated similarly to the prisoners.

* 240 000 years BCE — an all-out war between the two factions of the Fae empire breaks out, with Queen Mab and her sister standing on opposite sides, divided by moral issues. Utilizing her vastly greater power of ontokinetic abilities and the skill to take away Names, Mab swings the conflict in favor of the Fae royalty. Exploiting the chaos, Children of the Night break free, uniting with humanity and eventually bringing the conflict to the end by raiding the palaces of the royalty. Mab murders her sister, but temporarily loses her power in the process, allowing for the rebellion to eliminate her. The Fae empire falls, with its subjects scattering around the globe. Children of the Night become the dominant species, ending the First Great Diaspora.

* 220 000 years BCE — the Nightwalkers create vast, technologically advanced metropolises, coexisting harmoniously with nature. Humanity once again becomes a protected, zoo-like species. Through unknown means, Queen Mab survives between several afterlives, eventually gaining insight into baseline reality.

* 210 000 years BCE — Queen Mab persuades humanity to overthrow the Children of the Night, lending them some of her remaining power. Together with the remaining Fae, humanity and its newfound allies destroys the SCP-1000 civilization, eventually wiping their memories of the event. The Second Great Diaspora, also referred to as the Day of the Flowers, makes humanity the dominant species. The remaining Fae scatter across the globe, maintaining an extremely low population, hiding in the forests to not allow Mab to gain further control.

### SCP-001-A Ruins Analysis

##### `A paper by O5-43`

When I first arrived at the dig site beneath SCP-001-A, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't expecting the usual findings — that being yet another gigantic, ruined palace of Mab, brought down by the furious First Diasporans desperately trying to find the monster behind their suffering. And, in a sense, I *was right*; the building *was* in fact, yet another fortress of the devil Mab is, but this time it was… different. What we found was, frankly, shocking.

One room after another, we uncovered the secrets that place had held for so many millennia after the First Slaughter, and, well, after months of relentless work and making sure our interpretations were accurate, we have to come to one final conclusion that we are almost afraid to mutter: she still breathes somewhere outside our reality, biding her time. Just like her sibling.

We've always thought the other died, trying to stop her monstrous sister — however, evidence recovered from the SCP-001-A ruins singlehandedly debunks this. We checked all our calculations and interpretations to make sure we're not wrong, for this could change *everything*.

What's even more shocking is that the sister is not only alive, but also *active*; just like Mab has her own cults trying to find a ritual capable of resurrecting her, so does the sibling. We however discovered something even more alarming: the names of the sisters. Not true names, of course, for the second sister does not even own hers anymore — but we *did* discover… half-names, would be the best way to put it. Words not fully describing the very being of a person, as true Fae names do, but descriptors of important parts of their personalities. For Mab, long associated with lies and deceit, it was "shvygh" and "shfijifæ," meaning "queen" and "starlight" respectively, but for the sister, associated with creation and aid, "nv̄nvŋ́nfat" and "pitfḿje," which, upon translation, meant "inventor" and… "factory."

What's even more alarming is the event that led to the thaumaturgic energy explosion within SCP-001-A. You see, upon further inspection, my teams discovered many truly bizarre signs: high Akiva radiation, as well as a single sentence woven into the rituals binding the room that would eventually become SCP-001-B into our reality:

> Come, Inventor; come, our Factory. The Queen is ready. Do not leave her waiting.
>
>

And so, it appears, Rollander quite literally called forth a factory. A factory to resurrect *the true* Factory through regular human sacrifice.

Identical ritual parts were detected in the magic which created the factory in the first place. What's more, my men report the feeling that these two rituals were merely two parts of a three-act performance. Whatever the hell Rollander did to bring his masterpiece and the room within to life was merely preparation for bringing a third thing, this time presumably an entity, from within it and into our reality.

Mab has been a danger lurking behind our backs for almost 40 years now, ever since we founded ourselves in those dark halls, swearing to protect humanity from a Third Diaspora that would bring us down again. We did everything we could to stop Mab's influence, but let's face it: our best magicians won't even form a fraction of the power that devil possesses. But the sister does. And we need to do everything in our power to use that to our advantage.

What I'm trying to say is that I believe SCP-001-B isn't merely a room — it's a *throne* room, designed to host royalty. Whatever god resides there — and let's call it SCP-001-C, for simplicity's sake — I can feel its hatred for Mab pumping through the veins of the Factory, coming from the pounding heart seated within. And I know only of one entity that hates Mab more than the Nightwalkers.

We must use this opportunity as best as we can, unless we wish for another genocide to hit, this time targetting *us*.

Addendum 001-3: Further Research and Changes

Two months following the conclusion of the SCP-001-A ruins research, the news regarding it was apparently leaked by an unknown individual to the worldwide anomalous community. Numerous rumors resulted, and as a result, Fae militia organizations were seen taking interest in the factory. This news reached the ever-growing group supporting Mab's actions and planning her resurrection.

In the coming weeks, their squads were noted to patrol the outskirts of the factory, apparently seeking to gain access. Successfully doing so, they were then seen sabotaging SCP-001-A, resulting in significant damage to the building. To counteract this action, Rollander decided to double the sacrifice rate towards SCP-001-C, resulting in an extremely high disappearance rate among workers within Kraków and surrounding cities. This led to local authorities gaining interest in the case. To counteract a possible Veil-breaking event, on 03/02/1910, the Administrator sent the following urgent message to Rollander:

Honorable James Rollander,

We are aware of your actions within your factory, and, whilst we realize and appreciate your intentions of keeping Mab at bay through the resurrection of the Inventor, we must ask for an immediate cessation of such activities. We realize that you are left with no other option than to increase your sacrifices following the attacks, but we simply cannot allow you to continue doing so; the only alternative you realistically have is to properly deal with the attacks and continue your work at a normal pace. We hope you will understand our concerns and express a wish to cooperate, for we *will* engage with force otherwise.

With respect,

*— Kraków authorities*

Two days later, the following reply was received by the O5 Council; how PoI-001-A was aware of the location of its members remains unknown.

Silence, foul creatures of darkness. My noble heart shan't listen to your laughable heresies — I can hear the Queen speaking through your words. And, I want you to know one thing — I am no Starlight's servant. I swore loyalty to only one Inventor, to one brilliant mind illuminating the skies with its genius like your Star had never had. I forgive your vengeful hearts serving Mab, for the creator forgives, unlike your Queen. Begone, whilst your armies can still walk.

My Masterpiece is almost done, and I shan't stop with its preparations — if you wish for a war with our magic, then you shall have it. The Factory is almost ready to emerge, and once it does, her brilliance shall overpower the darkness your Empress wished for the entire world. You cannot stop the rituals feeding Her, for the Inventor can feel your every move. She whispers to my ear, illuminating my mind with a portion of its brilliance, and I know of all you do — of your horrid servitude to the betrayer of the men of this Earth.

May the Skies above us have mercy on you.

You will not stop us.

Immediately after, PoI-001-A took the following actions:

* tripled the intake of workers to SCP-001-A, effectively resulting in the tripling of the ratio of the rituals feeding SCP-001-C;
* neutralized numerous Mab-aligned Fae organizations, bringing their bodies into SCP-001-A for purposes unknown;
* utilized numerous thaumaturgic rituals within SCP-001-A, disallowing entry into the building without his direct permission;
* hastened the shipment of unknown thaumaturgic and theological apparatus into the factory.

Realizing the only way to neutralize the threat of the breaking of the Veil due to Rollander's actions whilst still maintaining the protection from PoI-001-C was taking control of SCP-001-A, Overwatch Command had undertaken the following vote:

Proposal: "Utilize Foundation resources to seize SCP-001-C from James Rollander and establish a Site within. Effectively gain control over the protection from PoI-001-C offered by sacrifices to SCP-001-C whilst still maintaining the secretive nature of the SCP Foundation's operations."

### ADMINISTRATOR'S NOTE 4

When, all those years ago, I brought the thirteen talented mages and theologists that would eventually become my Council before myself, I swore one thing — to never resort to meaningless violence. For all those 40 years we've operated together now, I stayed true to my promise — even if I was among the few of us that *did* keep it, I kept it. Never have I approved an operation that would result in the deaths of people who didn't need to die for the world to become safe. But times have changed.

If you'd told me 40 years ago I would be approving, nay, even *suggesting* a military raid that would result in the deaths of factory workers to contain a single threat, I'd call you a madman. But it must be done. We simply cannot allow ourselves to lose the only known mechanism to defend against Mab in the entire universe. We must strike quickly and ruthlessly, because we need to keep Mab away from baseline reality, no matter what it takes. Such are the demands the greater good makes upon us, no matter our personal opinions.

I'm truly sorry, but there is no other way.

Council Vote Summary:

Result: Following the vote, the operation was slated to take place as quickly as possible.

Addendum 001-4: SCP-001-A Raid

Following the mobilization of all available Foundation forces within the area of SCP-001-A, on 27/02/1910, the SCP Foundation officially began a military attack on SCP-001-A. The following is a transcript of [ERROR]'s only memory of the event, verified as safe for public viewing due to numerous memetic triggers present within his memory, as provided by a ritual conducted by Maria Jones.

Date: 27/02/1910

Subject: SCP-001-A

Present Parties:

* PoI-001-A;
* [ERROR];5
* O5-4;
* O5-8.

Foreword: Due to the protective field set-up within [ERROR]'s memories, the following was the only memetic-trigger-free memory of the event available for harvest without causing damage to its host. As a result of only partial removal to ensure [ERROR]'s safety, the following transcript is unclear and describes only one very specific fragment of the SCP-001-A raid.

[BEGIN LOG]

*The feed begins as O5-8 is standing outside the entrance to PoI-001-A's office. Her hands are extended widely, just 5 centimeters away from the doors to the room, and she is visibly struggling in deep focus. She opens her deep and burning purple eyes6 and, with a silent scream, tears the doors apart, revealing entry into the office. Panting, she nods towards the rest of the group, made up of [ERROR] and O5-4, and they enter into it.*

*The room is extremely large and packed with numerous bookcases, chests, and containers, with magical items of unknown purpose scattered throughout. In the corner, behind a large wooden desk, Rollander is cowering. He is shivering, with a shadow formation akin to a crown forming above his head. Sobbing, in a panicked state, he attempts to hide from the intruders behind the chair.*

O5-8: *<in a powerful tone:>* JAMES JOSEPH ROLLANDER.

*PoI-001-A screams, falling to the ground. The shadows above him start to disappear; noticing this, Rollander panics. He attempts to grab the formation, but fails, eventually losing all of it. He starts to scour the floor around him, looking for something, frantically talking to himself but finding nothing.*

*O5-8 comes closer, extending her hand. Rollander notices this, and widens his eyes.*

Rollander: No no no no no, no no. No. No no, no!

O5-8: COME FORWARD, AND ANSWER FOR YOUR CRIMES.

*Rollander throws a book at Eight, who easily deflects it with ontokinesis. She comes closer yet again, and snaps her fingers. PoI-001-A starts to levitate, unable to move.*

Rollander: No! *<weakly:>* She… she said… it will end… differently…

*Eight smiles, clenching her fist. Rollander starts to choke, grabbing his throat in a panicked manner, but seconds later falls on the ground, his eyes burning with a bright green. He frees himself of the power holding him back through unknown means, moving towards O5-8.*

Rollander: *<in a hoarse tone:>* THE LIGHT OF THE THOUSAND-DAWN EMPIRE SHALL NOT F— AGH!

*He blinks, suddenly falling to the ground again. When he reopens his eyes, they are normal, and he does not seem to realize what just happened. Eight groans, throwing him like a ragdoll onto the wall. Her nose starts to bleed profusely.*

[ERROR]: Mary, I think that's eno—

*Eight screams in anger as she throws PoI-001-A around the room, smashing him against any and all obstacles in her path.*

[ERROR]: THAT'S ENOUGH!

*The overseer suddenly stops, panting aggressively. She is bleeding from every orifice, but does not seem to notice nor care. Instead, with visible exhaustion in her eyes, she turns towards [ERROR].*

[ERROR]: *<quietly:>* What the fuck was that? What the hell's gotten into you?! You were supposed to *not* kill him, for god's sake, we can't just murder people!

O5-8: *You* can't murder people.

*Eight grabs herself by the head, groaning silently.*

O5-8: God, I… I don't know, I… *Something* here is… I… I…

*They are suddenly interrupted by O5-4 grabbing the half-alive Rollander by his jacket, pulling his face close. Four spits on him. Rollander does not react, silently sobbing.*

O5-4: You… disgust me.

*Four heads for the exit, carrying the broken PoI-001-A with him. However, as he is about to reach the rest of the group, Rollander's body suddenly explodes with shadows and smoke, causing the Overseer to drop him. Four screams, backing off, as a singular, burning green eye blinks from within the expanding smoke.*

[UNKNOWN]: *<coming from within the smoke, in a hoarse tone:>* COME HOME, MY CHILD. COME HOME AND SUFFER NO MORE.

*The smoke suddenly clears, revealing that PoI-001-A's body has disappeared; where it once laid, only his clothing remains to be seen. O5-4 inhales sharply, and turns towards the rest of the group.*

O5-4: [ERROR]?

[ERROR]: Yes?

O5-4: Tell the people the factory has fallen.

[END LOG]

Afterword: Following the events described above, the SCP Foundation had officially taken control of the factory.

To fully discuss further actions following the above, a summit of the O5 Council was called. Further containment and research plans regarding SCP-001 were discussed, eventually landing on the necessity of a Site within the anomaly's proximity to properly contain it. As a result, a proposal was put forward by O5-1 to, over a long period of time, transform the gigantic structure of SCP-001-A into a Foundation Site, acting as the main hub of operations for the Council and its most important project: SCP-001.

Addendum 001-5: Further SCP-001 Research

Following the stabilization of the threat of potential civilian discovery of SCP-001-A due to Rollander's decisions and the finalization of Site-01's construction, the O5 Council decided that research into the true nature of SCP-001-B and SCP-001-C as well as the latter's protective nature against PoI-001-C was a priority. Despite previous studies showcasing the fact that SCP-001-C is most likely the half-dead entity referred to as 'The Inventor', further study conducted by O5-4 and his teams revealed that the entity was connected to numerous Fae seers and thaumaturgists in the world, still capable of communication.

However, despite the aforementioned stabilization, attacks from local Queen Mab-affiliated militias did not stop, instead increasing in frequency; the Foundation attempted contact with said groups on numerous occasions, but the only answer ever received was the following:

You will *not* bring her back. Not after everything we've done to try to stop it.

Chatter picked up by Foundation moles situated within communities around the world suggested that a "Fae army, like the world has never seen since the dawn of Mab" was gathering to attack SCP-001-A. Initially dismissed as mere rumors, this eventually led to the Foundation tripling security measures around Site-01 after numerous previously stationary Fae groups went on the move. Further research into this phenomenon remained pending at the time.

In the meantime, research into SCP-001-C was officially approved. After months of analysis, it was officially confirmed that following sacrifices to SCP-001-C being done, the percent of Queen Mab's entire being existing in baseline reality did in fact seem to reduce from 5% to 4%, rendering all previous interpretations to be true.

In order to utilize the fact that SCP-001-C, presumed to be Queen Mab's sibling, was still alive and able to communicate, the following tests were undertaken.

Noteworthy is the fact that all bodies and individuals sacrificed to SCP-001-C seemed to lack any characteristic traits — no individual looking at them was able to identify them, despite their physical composure not having changed.

Addendum 001-6: Site-01 Raid

On 13/08/1911, Site-01 thaumaturges suddenly detected a gigantic mass incoming, manifesting into the plains around SCP-001-A via a portal ritual. The ritual was nearing completion, with the portal approximated to contain individuals numbering in the thousands; a 2-hour window to prepare for the army's arrival was projected. When evacuation was ordered, the area around the building was almost immediately cut off via a thaumaturgic barrier. Numerous anti-magic apparatus set up around the Site did not appear to slow the ritual.

A Site-wide alert was immediately called, with the entire Council immediately evacuated to the lower levels and appropriate personnel called to duty. A distress call to other Foundation Sites was attempted, but due to no such facilities existing within Poland, no aid was possible within the given time span. Site-01 staff began to prepare for the incoming attack, attempting to eavesdrop on the teleporting army's conversations, yielding the below result.

Foreword: Due to high ritual instability, most of the intercepted and translated Fae dialogue is heavily corrupted.

[BEGIN LOG]

[UNKNOWN 1]: *[unintelligible]* I'm trying to say is that we *[unintelligible]* cannot allow them to bring *[unintelligible]* back, no matter the co—

[UNKNOWN 2]: I *know* that, *[unintelligible]*; that doesn't mean we *[unintelligible]* can disobey her; this *[unintelligible]* insanity. We both know that.

[UNKNOWN 1]: It is. But has she *[unintelligible]* done *[unintelligible]* same? All great *[unintelligible]* revolutionize the world *[unintelligible]* way, after a—

[UNKNOWN 2]: *<sigh>* If by "a breakthrough" you mean "a slaughter," then cong*[unintelligible]*, you are exactly like *[unintelligible]*een*[unintelligible]*.

[UNKNOWN 1]: *[unintelligible]* the only choice. It's *[unintelligible]* the greater good.

[UNKNOWN 2]: No. There's no such thing as a *[unintelligible]* good. And you're exactly like her zealots for believing there is.

[END LOG]

At this time, all personnel within the facility reported hearing a voice similar to that of SCP-001-C, both screaming with fear and laughing simultaneously; research into this event revealed the source to be nonexistent.

At 17:38 approximately 100 000 Fae appeared, ignoring and bypassing all anti-teleportation and anti-magic defense mechanisms, and immediately began to storm the Site. Consult the below extracted memory for more details.

Date: 13/08/1911

Parties Present:

* [ERROR];
* O5-1;
* O5-2;
* O5-3;
* O5-4;
* O5-5;
* O5-6;
* O5-7;
* O5-8;
* O5-9;
* O5-10;
* O5-11;
* O5-12;
* O5-13;
* Maria Jones.

Foreword: Due to the frequent corruption present within this extracted memory, it is unknown how much of the material presented within, if any, is true.

[BEGIN LOG]

[CORRUPTED MEMORIES REDACTED]

*[ERROR] is frantically running through the numerous corridors of SCP-001-A, constantly looking back, trying to see if anyone is following him. All around him lie numerous corpses — some of them with broken necks — and the floors of the factory are covered in blood. He is shivering. He eventually finds a dead-end he can hide in; he covers his mouth, trying not to make a sound, and closes his eyes, trying to stop the panic.*

*Footsteps can be heard from the outside hallway as [ERROR] starts to sob, attempting to remain silent. The footsteps eventually stop as shadows just outside the gap he is hiding in appear. Neither of the figures seems to notice the entrance to [ERROR]'s hiding place.*

[UNKNOWN 1]: *<in Fae:>* Where did he go?!

[UNKNOWN 2]: I… I don't know, he was just here, I—

*UNKNOWN 1 groans.*

[UNKNOWN 1]: Are you kidding me? He could've already found the Queen, moron!

*UNKNOWN 1 sighs.*

[UNKNOWN 1]: We need to find him, and we need to do it now; I'm not about to fail her for the second time, you understand?!

[UNKNOWN 2]: Y-Yes.

*The two walk away as [ERROR] collapses on the ground, grabbing his head in his hands. He starts to sob as the recording is filled by screams, sounds of flesh being torn, and metal clanging against metal.*

[CORRUPTED MEMORIES REDACTED]

*[ERROR] is shivering, sitting as close to the wall as possible. Although tears are still running down his face, he no longer seems to notice them, frantically trying to stay as immobile as possible. The sounds from before seem to have ended, instead replaced by a deafening silence.*

*He suddenly opens his eyes, looking around the room with an unconscious stare. He is no longer within the same space he'd occupied minutes ago, now lying on the cold floors of a short corridor ending in gigantic green doors, which stand open. Green smoke is pouring out of the doors, encompassing him and his surroundings in an ominous aura. From within the room beyond, a silent whisper akin to that of an animal fills the air.*

[UNKNOWN]: COME.

*[ERROR] is lifted from his sitting spot, suddenly starting to walk towards the room. Unconsciously he walks into it, and the entire feed becomes filled with the smoke, obscuring vision. From within a singular green eye can be seen, blinking once and illuminating the room with its bright light.*

[UNKNOWN]: WHAT IS IT YOU SEEK WITH THE LIGHT THAT ILLUMINATES THE SKIES OF THE MILLENIUM EMPIRE?

[ERROR]: I… I…

[UNKNOWN]: SPEAK.

*[ERROR]'s expression suddenly changes from panicked to completely still as a green spark appears within his right eye.*

[ERROR]: I wish to… seek shelter from my enemies. I wish to save my people, I…

[UNKNOWN]: NO, NO NO NO NO. NO. TELL ME WHAT YOU *TRULY* WISH FOR.

*The room is suddenly filled with thousands of eyes, observing [ERROR] from every single corner. Both his eyes start to burn with a bright green.*

[ERROR]: I… I wish to destroy my enemies. Utterly and thoroughly, so that none of them remain. Wipe them out like the maggots they are, bringing back my dominion over them once again, like the— I… I…

*[ERROR] begins to sob again, grabbing his head. His face turns expressionless only seconds after.*

[UNKNOWN]: AND WHO ARE YOUR ENEMIES?

[ERROR]: The servants of the Queen, the zealots of the Eternal Starlight upon the skies of the Endless Kingdom, wishing to bring their monster back from the dead.

*The myriad eyes suddenly start to smile.*

[UNKNOWN]: THEN IT SHALL BE DONE.

[CORRUPTED MEMORIES REDACTED]

*[ERROR] is suddenly standing on the balcony directly above SCP-001-A's entry,7 with O5-2 and O5-8 beside him. His eyes are burning with a green light, and in his hands, a long stone similar in shape to a wand can be seen. He is pointing it at the open hills beneath him, upon which thousands of Fae are standing with various forms of weaponry in their hands. [ERROR] smiles, and starts to speak, his deafening voice filling the horizon.*

[ERROR]: ARMY OF STARLIGHT, BRINGERS OF MONARCHY, AND OMENS OF DOOM. HEAR ME.

*The entire army immediately looks at him, every single individual present with full focus.*

[ERROR]: FOR MILLENNIA, YOU AND YOUR QUEEN HAVE REIGNED SUPREME AS THE HORRORS OF YOUR RULE FILLED THE NIGHT SKY YOU ILLUMINATED WITH HATRED.

*The staff starts to burn with a green light as [ERROR] extends it forward.*

[ERROR]: FOR COUNTLESS EONS YOU'VE TAKEN WHAT WAS NOT YOURS TO RULE, BRINGING IT TO YOUR OWN KINGDOM AS SACRIFICES TO THE ONE YOU CALL GOD.

*The entire crowd starts to look around, deeply confused. Seconds later, however, their attention is once again brought to [ERROR] as blank expressions fill their faces.*

[ERROR]: FOR YEARS UNCOUNTABLE, YOU'VE EXPLOITED THIS WORLD AND ITS PEOPLE FOR YOUR MONSTROUS EMPRESS, FEEDING THE ELDRITCH MONSTER OF A RULER SHE WAS.

*He whispers a few inaudible words to himself, and the terrain around the army starts to shake.*

[ERROR]: BUT NO MORE SHALL IT BE SO.

*The crowd becomes distressed, noticing the changes.*

[ERROR]: BEGONE.

*The entire crowd suddenly starts to scream as a gigantic vortex forms in the ground beneath them. Animal-like cries can be heard as the countless vocalizing Fae fall on the ground, screaming in agony as their bodies start to transform into numerous animal-like humanoid beings, retaining their original clothing. In the middle of the vortex, a portal black as night appears, sucking those present into it as more and more of them sob in pain, their transformations continuing. Seconds later, a number greater than what was originally standing in the hills falls into the forming hole as the portal leading to an unknown place closes, leaving no one standing in front of SCP-001-A. A silent scream fills the local area as the sky smiles for a second, before blinking again into nonexistence.*

*O5-2 looks at [ERROR], with a terrified expression filling his mechanical face.*

O5-2: `WHAT… WHAT HAVE YOU DONE, [ERROR]?`

[ERROR]: Exactly what *needed* to be done.

[CORRUPTED MEMORIES REDACTED]

[END LOG]

Afterword: It is believed that, as a result of the action undertaken by [ERROR], approximately 85% of the Fae populace was eradicated from baseline reality. Further research into the consequences of this action as well as the true destination of the ritual is ongoing.

To discuss the consequences of the above, an emergency O5 Council meeting hosted at Site-01 was called two weeks later, following the finalization the clean-up required by the results of the raid. The following is its record, as transcribed by Maria Jones.

Date: 27/08/1911

Parties Present:

* [ERROR];
* O5-2;
* O5-4;
* O5-5;
* O5-11;
* Maria Jones.

Foreword: Due to the state of their health or their outright death following the Site-01 raid, a majority of the O5 Council was unable to attend the following meeting. At that time, potential replacements for the positions of O5-7, O5-9,8O5-10, and O5-12, were being sought out.

[BEGIN LOG]

*The transcript begins, showing Site-01's O5 Council meeting hall, adapted from Rollander's office to fit its new purpose. Of the fourteen seats around the gigantic table in the middle, only five are filled. Upon the table, now visibly damaged, rests a multitude of letters and documents. O5-4 is browsing them quickly, trying to read as much as he can. The other Council members and Maria Jones are visibly impatient, as if waiting for someone.*

*Minutes later, the doors to the room open, revealing [ERROR]. He nods to the Council, corrects his suit, and checks his watch. O5-4 notices him, standing up from his chair and walking towards him angrily.*

O5-4: What… What have you done?

*[ERROR] does not respond, instead coming towards the table. He grabs one of the chairs and sits in it, looking at the documents around him. O5-4 comes closer, shaking [ERROR]'s shoulders.*

O5-4: *What the fuck have you done?!*

*[ERROR] sighs.*

[ERROR]: Chosen the lesser evil.

*O5-4 scoffs, slightly backing off.*

O5-4: You're insane. You're actually insane.

*[ERROR] groans silently.*

[ERROR]: Four, I would like you to remind you who you're talking t—

*O5-4 comes closer to [ERROR], pushing him slightly with anger in his eyes.*

O5-4: Shut the fuck up! Shut up! I'm your friend, [ERROR], I'm not fucking *Four* to you. And *I* would like to remind *you* that you just fucking murdered almost an entire race, you… you…!

*O5-4 tries to hit [ERROR], but he is too slow to duck an incoming blow from his opponent. Four falls, spitting blood on the floor. [ERROR] turns his sight from the floor to the Overseer. His eyes glow with a faint green, and, above his head, for a brief second, a shadow formation reminiscent of a crown forms, only to disappear moments later. He comes closer to O5-4, grabbing him by his jacket and bringing their faces close together.*

[ERROR]: Insult me one more time.

*Four backs off, again attempting to strike [ERROR], but he is interrupted by O5-2 standing up slowly from the table and turning towards the two of them.*

O5-2: `GENTLEMEN, I DO NOT BELIEVE VIOLENCE IS PRODUCTIVE IN OUR SITUAT—`

*Four looks angrily at Two. He starts to pant, grabbing his head again, this time with one hand only.*

O5-4: Don't get into this, you fucking piece of cogs.

*O5-4 turns to the rest of the Council.*

O5-4: How can you stand idly by, knowing what he's done?! How can you not react?!

*Four looks at Eleven.*

O5-4: Where is your Ethics Committee now?!

*Four looks again at [ERROR], pointing at him with a shaking hand.*

.

The Founding of the SCP Foundation

A photograph of a portion of the original O5 Council alongside relevant personnel, as taken during the day of its founding. Present (from left to right): O5-3, O5-7, General Joseph Armstrong, O5-9, O5-13, Prof. Crow Senior, O5-6, Archalchemist Weber, and O5-1.

Originally founded in 1870 following the conclusion of the Sixth Occult War as an evolution of a group researching thaumaturgy, theology, and the history of the Two Great Diasporas, created by some of the thirteen of the richest and most influential men and women of their time, led by one individual — [ERROR]. The SCP Foundation was created with three goals in mind: to Secure the human population from Fae and SCP-1000 attacks, Contain the threat of Queen Mab and the gods of the ancient past, and Protect humanity from a Third Great Diaspora. The Foundation's motto would eventually be adapted from these goals.

Prior to the 1870 summit, plans to integrate the numerous subgroups into one organization were passed among the leaders who would eventually comprise the original O5 Council. Only following that year's discovery that Queen Mab was still alive, however, prompted by research made due to the conclusion of the aforementioned war, was it officially signed. This single discovery proved that research alone wouldn't be enough to deal with the existential threats hanging above humanity, and that a containment policy limiting their spread would eventually become necessary.

On 29/12/1870, the SCP Foundation was officially created following approval from thirteen consenting parties, as proposed and later led by [ERROR], who gained the position of Administrator by unanimous decision.

O5-4: We swore to protect humanity from a Third Diaspora when we banded together those forty years ago,9 don't any of you remember?! *<scoffs>* I'd call all of you hypocrites, but that wouldn't reflect even a part of my hatred for you, you pieces of shi—

*Maria Jones suddenly stands up, moving her pen and papers aside.*

Maria Jones: Enough!

O5-4: But—

Maria Jones: *<in a thunderous voice:>* I SAID — ENOUGH!

*O5-4 calms down, walking towards his seat. He starts to sit in it again, and puts his face in his hands.*

[ERROR]: O5-4, I believe it would be in your… *best interest* to remove yourself from this room now.

*O5-4 stands up with an angry manner, calming himself, walking towards the door. [ERROR] turns towards the rest of the Council*

[ERROR]: What I've done, I've done because it was the only way out of that situation. There was *no* other way.

*He pauses, taking a deep breath.*

[ERROR]: I realize what I've done, and I will not try to defend myself. But you have to look at it this way — out of the two evils, this was for the greater good for all of—

O5-4: —If you really believe such a thing as 'the greater good' exists. then you truly are a bigger fool than I ever expected.

[ERROR]: *<firmly:>* Go, before I remove you from more than just this room.

*O5-4 opens the doors leading out of the hall, and spits on the floor.*

O5-4: You… disgust me.

*Four walks out of the room.*

[END LOG]

Afterword: Due to his behavior during the summit, O5-4 was officially removed from the SCP-001 project by direct order of [ERROR]; refusing to elaborate on the incident, he simply left Site-01 without a word, later found reporting from one of his research sites in North America.

Addendum 001-7: Results of the Third Diaspora

Following the information about the Foundation causing the Third Diaspora reaching the public, and, by extension, Foundation personnel, resignations have reached the highest rate ever recorded. Espionage and betrayal amongst Foundation personnel has increased by almost 10%, with overall efficiency down by approximately 40% even two years after the event.

Throughout the entirety of the post-Diaspora period a severe decrease in the mental stability of numerous Foundation staff, including Maria Jones and [ERROR], has been noted. The most notable case is the aforementioned Administrator, seen engaging in highly uncharacteristic behavior while denying any personal peculiarity. Examples included, but were not limited to:

* erratic decisions without authorization from the rest of the Council;
* visible obsession with the occult, despite little to no previous interest in such;
* visible obsession with Fae history, despite little to no previous interest in such;
* paranoia and trust issues;
* patterns of talking to himself on seemingly nonsensical subjects.

Said behavior culminated on 30/12/1913 when [ERROR] disappeared, the only evidence left being the following note found on his desk:

'It' had never been the Inventor. How could I have been so blind?

The only contextual evidence Foundation thaumaturgists have found is an almost unnoticeable mark of magic leading towards SCP-001-B from [ERROR]'s office. The following is the only memory visualization available in the thaumaturgic thoughtspace near SCP-001-B that in any way references the event.

Date: Unknown

Subject: Unknown

Foreword: The truthfulness of the following is still pending approval from the rest of the O5 Council.

[BEGIN LOG]

*[ERROR] is standing in a short and dimly lit corridor, panting. He is holding the same stone he had used to cause the Third Diaspora in his hand, pointing it at the gigantic green doors in front of him. The entire area is filled with fog and sounds of clockwork turning in the background, as well as voices similar to those of former SCP-001-A workers.*

[ERROR]: You… m-monster!

*He comes closer, opening the doors with visible difficulty. As he finishes doing so, powerful wind starts to blow from inside, making him back off. He points the item at the inside of the room, from which green fog is rolling into the area around him.*

[ERROR]: We… we *fed* you!

*The sound of something stirring within the room fills the air as [ERROR] grabs his head in his hands. He screams with pain, falling on the floor. [UNKNOWN] laughs.*

[ERROR]: What… what even *are* you?!

*[ERROR] loses his words, breaking down in tears. He loses hold of the stone, letting it fall on the ground as his entire body shivers.*

[UNKNOWN]: *<chuckles>* DOES THAT EVEN TRULY MATTER?

*[ERROR] is suddenly lifted from the ground as green fills his eyes, making him scream. As he continues to do so, he is transported into SCP-001-B.*

[UNKNOWN]: COME.

*From underneath [ERROR]'s jacket, animal-like fur starts to explode, eventually filling his entire body. His face distorts, visibly deforming. His continued screaming eventually turns into the gurgling of a hog. He tries to reach for an exit, grabbing one of the doors, but his hands slip away as they turn into hooves. He eventually loses all voice, but the screaming continues as his now fully-converted body begins to twitch violently. The feed disconnects.*

[END LOG]

Afterword: No such individual with the name "[ERROR]" was ever a part of the Foundation's personnel. Following a second appearance of such an error following the initial SCP-001-A exploration and the above event, it was decided that it was the effect of SCP-001-C and should be ignored to maintain documentation logic.

Due to months of no contact with [ERROR] (likely the previous name for the Foundation's Administrator), as well as the nature of the above event, he was presumed dead.

Addendum 001-8: Post-Incident Stabilization Attempts

As requested by the remaining members of Overwatch Command, now not limited by [ERROR]'s influence, further research into the consequences of the Third Diaspora revealed that despite the 85% of the previously existing Fae populace being murdered, the remaining 15% did not fade, instead forming communities within Nexuses and Free Ports around the globe. No contact with them was attempted at the time of discovery, for obvious reasons.

Following the death of [ERROR] in unknown circumstances at the hands of SCP-001-C, the position of the Administrator remained vacant for a significant period of time; to properly deal with this problem as well as the consequences of the Third Diaspora following the death of its perpetrator, a meeting of the O5 Council was called. The following is its transcript, as provided by Maria Jones.

## Project Palisade

CODE NAME: weizhong|thedeadlymoose|Drewbear|Dexanote

**NOTICE:** "Project Palisade" is not an SCP-001 file. "Project Palisade" data represents itself as being an SCP-001 file, has all protections of an SCP-001 file, can only be read by being entered into the Foundation system as an SCP-001 file, and can only be accessed or understood by Foundation personnel with access to SCP-001 files.

However, all data categorized under "Project Palisade" is extra-universal in origin. None of the following data has been created or altered by any known member of the Foundation. The origin of this file is likewise unknown.

**UPDATE:** On 06/29/2018, all "Project Palisade" data was removed from the Foundation system by unknown means. Simultaneously, all personnel lost memory of the data's existence.

On 09/03/2018, "Project Palisade" data was restored to the Foundation system, with significant changes. Personnel memories were restored of the prior iteration as well, but not in enough detail to recreate the original. Investigation is so far inconclusive. **Cleared personnel are advised to read with caution.**

### Access Recovered "Project Palisade" Data Files

> We affirm that we are the original, true Foundation. We represent mainline reality (the original, unaltered timeline). Our humanity must be held paramount over the humanity of any inhabitants of "mirror" timelines. The survival of mainline reality shall always be held paramount over the survival of any "mirror" timeline, or any other parallel or alternate universe. We are the Foundation, the bedrock on which all of reality rests. For the sake of us all, we cannot fail.
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This statement must be sworn to by all military and civilian leadership of the Foundation.1

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**Item #:** SCP-001

**Object Class:** Thaumiel

**Special Containment Procedures:** Absolute secrecy is necessary for the full realization of Project Palisade. Disinformation will focus on exploration of parallel universes for research and protection purposes. Esoteric Containment Systems shall be used as a secondary precaution.

The current administration affirms, and mandates, the continuation of Project Palisade regardless of potential cost or consequence.

**Standard Operating Procedure for Project Palisade:**

(1) The Altis Engine is used to create a "cluster" of mirror timelines, which are defined as artificial timelines constructed by the Prime Foundation solely for Project Palisade.

(2) Mirror timelines are altered, using controlled CK-class Restructuring events and direct insertion of agents via inter-dimensional travel to desired points in history.

(3) Mirror timelines are monitored and reality structural integrity analyzed.

(4) Timelines with a high integrity level are selected for continued study. Timelines with a poor integrity level are designated as shield timelines.

(5) Proxy agents attract The Threat to a shield timeline, commonly performing anomalous "rituals" developed by Esoteric Containment Systems in order to ensure targeting by The Threat.

> **Note:** As direct travel to shield timelines is necessary for the process, proxy "collaborator" agents are utilized (occasionally with a small number of mainline Foundation agents as oversight). Proxy agents are all "mirrors", typically corresponding Foundation personnel taken from mirror timelines. In exchange, their home timelines are protected from The Threat, as long as cooperation lasts.
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(6) Vectors are gathered and distributed to chosen neighboring timelines.

> **Note:** Vectors are elements from the initial shield timeline, such as a person, animal, or object, which have served as foci of ritual energy. The effect of using vectors is to draw The Threat to many timelines at once, making the attraction process significantly more efficient.
> Current standard element is soil from the initial shield timeline (representing "gravedirt"), a highly successful suggestion by a collaborating "mirror" instance of the POI "The Black Queen".
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(7) All shield timelines are evacuated by any mainline Foundation agents and (when feasible) proxy agents, and monitored until destroyed by The Threat.

This process is continually repeated to ensure The Threat is indefinitely kept away from mainline reality.

**Description:** SCP-001, also known as Project Palisade, is a method of protecting reality from ongoing existential threats.

Personnel create mirror timelines, alter them to discover methods of defeating threats, and ultimately divert the largest threats (especially the primary threat referred to as "The Threat" and/or "THE WORM") to destroy these mirror timelines instead of mainline reality.

Every other timeline in which the Foundation exists was created by Project Palisade.2

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Project Palisade originated from several anomaly-engineering projects created in [DATA EXPUNGED], notably Altis, First Strike, and Forward Insight.
**"Altis" Project Report:**

> **Project Codename:** Altis
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> **Project#:** PRJALT-██████
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> **Project Aims:** To successfully create a Multiversal Creation Engine through the use of anomalous engineering, and use it to the benefit of the Foundation.
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> **Project Description:** Project Altis is the century-long engineering and development of a "Multiversal Creation Engine," which allows the Foundation to create artificial realities adjacent to the mainline reality. The Altis Engine is capable of creating a potentially infinite number of said mirror timelines.
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> Originally, Project Altis was intended to create "mirror" Foundations to aid the Foundation of mainline reality. "Mirror" Foundations were to be faced with various challenges that might grant insight to mainline reality, and successful mirror Foundations would then be visited by mainline Foundation agents and an organizational connection established. Ultimately, many mirror Foundations would assist mainline reality in defending against existential threats from the outside.
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> These aspects of Project Altis were permanently shelved, due to the lack of direct use against THE WORM. The Altis Engine is now almost exclusively used under the banner of Project Palisade.
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**"First Strike" Project Report:**

> **Project Codename:** First Strike
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> **Project#:** PRJFRS-██████
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> **Project Aims:** To successfully create a military-grade anomalous weaponry stockpile for use against foreign agents.
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> **Project Description:** Project has been permanently suspended. Project was previously approved (along with numerous similar programs) due to fears of potential open anomalous warfare, and the push from the "military wing" of Foundation leadership for active research on direct offensive and defensive capabilities of anomalous weaponry. The project resulted in the discovery of THE WORM.
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**Interview with Director D. B. Johnson3, RE: "First Strike"**

> [BEGIN LOG]
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> **Director Johnson:** Well, First Strike was just a glorified weapons program. Seems quaint now, huh? Been a long time since we seriously worried about threats coming from home. You're on the young side, right? Were you even here when we were still scared of the Insurgency?
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> **Interviewer:** I wasn't.
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> *Director Johnson chuckles.*
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> **Director Johnson:** Honestly, even at the time, First Strike wasn't anything to write home about. Stockpiling anomalous weaponry? Please. We'd mastered 914, and we were already cracking [DATA EXPUNGED] But First Strike was General Bowe's pet project of the month. You know what that meant.
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> **Interviewer:** Remind me, if you don't mind?
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> **Director Johnson:** Access to any SCP you could think of. We started with the old man's favorites, of course. Early numbers only — an ego thing, you know how these generals were. Cross-testing was the rage at the time — some of the generals felt we weren't progressing fast enough with individual research projects, and we could learn more faster by knocking anomalies in to each other, like my daughter making her dolls kiss. Maybe leave that one out of the transcript, yeah?
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> *Interviewer makes noncommittal gesture.*
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> **Director Johnson:** At the time, we were cross-testing 002, 033, 044, 090, and… what was the Star Child? 134, I think. Don't figure she ever knew what we were doing with her. If they ever told, I don't know about it. They don't let me have access to those files anymore.
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> *Director Johnson pauses.*
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> **Director Johnson:** At any rate, I don't think any of that matters now. That kind of crazy-go-nuts crosstesting doesn't happen anymore — I think because someone up in Overwatch noticed that the really stable mirror realities typically aren't smashing together literally every anomaly under the sun until their universe implodes in a ball of stupid. How about that, huh? Eh, don't log that either. [REDACTED] will get pissed at me for spreading unpopular opinions.
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> *Interviewer makes noncommittal gesture.*
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> **Director Johnson:** The real reason First Strike changed everything is because, thanks to Bowe, we got to test anomalous weapons in neighboring realities. Y'know, the neighboring realities we *used* to have. You — you've got your report right there, right? Gamma-Aleph-6 and… Epsilon-Samekh-4, right?
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> **Interviewer:** That's correct.
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> *Director Johnson nods.*
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> **Director Johnson:** Epsilon-Samekh… that's the one that really went sideways. We were using that one to simulate defenses against extradimensional threats. The ultimate foreign agents, you know? Really lit a fire under generals of a certain kind, if you know what I mean. Bowe got us approval to build a test facility on Epsilon-Samekh, 'specially for extradimensional anomalies. That was the last thing he did for us before he got distracted by a newer, shinier object. I think it was trying to make a clone army out of 076 or something embarrassing like that. Maybe it's in your report?
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> **Interviewer:** I'm not cleared to know that, Director.
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> **Director Johnson:** Right, right. I guess I don't get why they won't let you know that if they let you know about Palisade… ah well, I'm sure it's not just completely arbitrary like half the expungement in our files or anything. Anyway, two years went by.
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> *Director Johnson takes a deep breath.*
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> **Director Johnson:** We didn't get a whole hell of a lot done without Bowe greasing all the gears, but we still had plenty of crosstests to run. We were testing some godawful weapon we got from an SCP crosstest that'd be illegal now outside a mirror reality, and the team monitoring us started reporting some really strange readings.
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> *Director Johnson pauses.*
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> **Interviewer:** Strange in what way?
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> **Director Johnson:** Extradimensional contamination, they said. We didn't take it seriously at first. Didn't even stop testing. Then they kept calling us, over the course of the day, more and more panicked. By the end of the week our whole project was on hold. Reality dereification, they were calling it. The whole reality was coming apart under our noses, had been for months, and we'd only just noticed it. Imagine hearing about that — imagine you'd never heard of something like THE WORM — sorry, am I supposed to say that in a loud voice, now?
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> **Interviewer:** It's more a mental perception thing. We'll stylize it in all-caps in the log.
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> **Director Johnson:** Oh, uh. That's very kind of you, I guess. I was saying — we didn't know realities could fall apart at the time. Not literally. Metaphorically, sure, like we knew about the YK-class Vacuum Decay — or however they're classifying that now. We had protections against that, even by then. Laws of reality stop working — we make new laws. Whatever happened, we'd survive, even if humanity didn't. Reality failure — I think that's ZK-class — that was purely theoretical. Most of us didn't really believe it could happen. Funny, right?
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> *Director Johnson pauses.*
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> **Director Johnson:** Anyway, we shit ourselves. They pulled us out of Epsilon-Samekh, and didn't tell us anything for a month. That whole time, we thought it was our fault. Like we flew too close to the sun, but we weren't the ones who'd fall to the earth. All these crosstests, and we finally found the one that made someone else's reality fall apart.
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> *Director Johnson pauses.*
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> **Director Johnson:** Kinda funny, right? Feeling that guilty over the death of one reality… and these days we go through mirror universes like toilet paper.4
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> *Director Johnson pauses.*
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> **Director Johnson:** Where was I? Right, the end of First Strike. After a month, they figured out what was going on. And we felt better, for a hot minute, until they told us the rest. The real truth was worse. If we'd been right, it would've just been the one reality gone. But the reality was falling apart at the seams because it was being eaten. Being destroyed. Whatever you want to call it. Being dereified by an outside force. The Threat. THE WORM.
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> *Director Johnson pauses.*
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> **Director Johnson:** And, yeah. We were next.
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> [END LOG]
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**Incident Assessment RE: Reality Epsilon-Samekh-4 & Neighboring Realities (EXCERPT):**

> Investigation of extradimensional contamination in Reality Epsilon-Samekh-4 revealed the source to be numerous tears in the base spacetime matrix of the reality. Each tear was growing larger at an exponential rate.
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> Attempts to close these tears were abandoned due to the accelerating rate of both tear formation and cross-reality contamination. Reality Epsilon-Samekh-4 was sealed after an emergency order, resulting in the loss of several contaminated personnel.
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> Approximately 4 days following the sealing of Reality Epsilon-Samekh-4, the entire reality abruptly vanished from all extradimensional sensory arrays.
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> Assessment team initially considered this an isolated incident caused by an unknown anomalous force. Then, as previously reported, a similar pattern of events was repeated in Reality Gamma-Aleph-6, followed by 7 other adjacent realities under observation (see addenda).
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> Effects are so far inconsistent with known phenomena or SCP objects. However, during the destruction of Reality Gamma-Aleph-6, embedded wave detectors managed to record the advance waves caused by an unknown inbound entity. Shortly after, all detectors in Reality Gamma-Aleph-6 simultaneously failed.
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> Wave profile composites constructed from the incident indicated a >99% probability of a singular entity, with activity patterns consistent with directed movement as opposed to random chance.
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> Assessment team concluded that this entity was responsible for the destruction of Reality Gamma-Aleph-6 and neighboring realities.
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**"Forward Insight" Project Report:**

> **Project Codename:** Forward Insight
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> **Project#:** PRJFOI-██████
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> **Project Aims:** To successfully ascertain the nature of the threat responsible for recent destruction of neighboring realities, and assess current and future danger to the Foundation and mainline reality.
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> **Project Description:** Project is ongoing, attempting to further assess The Threat.
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> Starting from data collected by early assessment teams, research team combined the Heisenberg-Reimann model with ongoing esoteric reality monitoring systems to analyze the pattern of reality disappearances. Results indicated a high likelihood of mainline reality being a victim of reality dereification within the next fifteen (15) years.
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> Oracular information was authorized to ascertain exactly when mainline reality would likely be affected, which eventually occurred on ██/██/████, less than one (1) month before predicted end-of-reality scenario.
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> Project Palisade was created in response to Forward Insight's initial report.
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**Final Pre-Implementation "Palisade" Project Report:**

> **Project Codename:** Palisade
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> **Project#:** PRJPAL-██████
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> **Project Aims:** To successfully protect the Foundation and mainline reality from ongoing threats, primarily the entity referred to as "THE WORM".
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> **Project Description:** On ██/██/19██, a vote of the O5 Council merged all personnel belonging to Project First Strike, Project Forward Insight, and 17 other Projects under a new singular directive code-named Project Palisade.
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> Palisade esoteric containment specialists were unable to identify any way of directly containing THE WORM. However, they discovered methods of attracting THE WORM to specific timelines, using world-altering ritualistic techniques incorporating heavy technological and anomalous aspects.
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> After debate lasting █ years, a vote of the O5 Council approved use of the Altis Engine to create sacrificial timelines to stop THE WORM.
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> The foundations of extradimensional invasion strategy developed under First Strike, combined with the intelligence provided by Forward Insight, were further expanded in order to create methods of preparing candidate timelines for insertion of Foundation assets and ritual manifestation.
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> Palisade was implemented on an emergency basis with Iteration "X".
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**Recovered Documentation:** Project Forward Insight, in its early stages, expanded investigation of The Threat into existing Foundation archives. It was discovered that several documents in the Foundation’s possession, collected from across multiple realities, contained previously unrecognized references to the entity identified as being responsible for the ongoing reality destruction. The current designation of the entity as "THE WORM" arises from these documents.