KaktusKontainer

VIDEO LOG

DATE:

NOTE:

Containment Attempt: After conventional containment strategies failed, Researcher Richards and Agent Briggs were granted security clearance to access SCP-XXXX-1 for the purpose of negotiations with the shopkeepers. Agent Briggs had previously been transformed by exposure to SCP-5917 and had experience that was deemed relevant.

Interviewed: SCP-XXXX-1A and SCP-XXXX-1B

Interviewer: Researcher Richards

Foreword: Briggs and Richards both make an attempt at convincing the employees to relocate SCP-XXXX-1. Interview recorded via hidden camera attached to Richards’ uniform.

<Begin Log>

<Briggs and Richards arrive at Wellington Mall, Florida, after closing hours.>

Richards: Alright, lead the way.

Briggs: Sure thing.

<Briggs leads Richards to the current location of SCP-XXXX-1, which is in a half-rotten cardboard box next to a dumpster.>

Richard: Really? In this thing?

Briggs: Yep, just check your camera and you'll see.

<The camera rustles slightly from Richards' grasp. He opens the soaking wet covers of the cardboard box and brings the SCP-XXXX-1 instance into view. It pulses light softly.>

Richards: …Go figure.

<Briggs leans down and places an open 'hand' over the instance of SCP-XXXX-1. A bright flash of light erupts from the mark, momentarily blocking the video feed. When the light subsides, a ladder is revealed going downwards.>

Richards: Now that's some interesting thaumaturgy.

SCP-XXXX-1A: Oh, sister, we have customers!

<A high-pitched bell can be heard in the distance.>

SCP-XXXX-1B: Oh, customers! Do come on in!

Richards: I take it those are SCP-XXXX-1A and -1B?

Briggs: Yep.

Richards: Well, here I go. <Richards turns around and climbs in feet first.>

SCP-XXXX-1A: Welcome, welcome! How nice of you to have found our little bodega!

Richards: Yes, hello to you as well. Now then, my colleague there—<Richards turns around and gestures to Briggs, who is currently climbing down the ladder.>—and I would—

<The camera shakes a little as Richards is knocked slightly off balance.>

SCP-XXXX-1A: Oh, Fourth Wandsman of Earth! Have you finally decided to join us? <It tightly embraces Briggs, who struggles in its grasp.>

SCP-XXXX-1B: Fourth Wandsman of Earth?

<Richards turns around and sees the other retail owner appear from around a corner. It excitedly runs past Richards, also knocking him slightly off balance, and embraces Briggs.>

SCP-XXXX-1B: We were wondering when you'd finally snap to your senses and join us!

SCP-XXXX-1A: And you even brought your friend. Do introduce us to him. He's quite the handsome young lad.

<Briggs squirms out of the embrace.>

Briggs: Actually, madam, we're—

SCP-XXXX-1A: Madam? So well behaved. You're already fitting in.

<SCP-XXXX-1A steps behind the checkout counter and begins rummaging through a box random objects.>

Briggs: Okay, what I'm trying to explain is—

<SCP-XXXX-1A grabs an armful of currently unidentified anomalous items, all unrelated to multiversal knowledge and literature, and begins stumbling towards Briggs.>

SCP-XXXX-1A: As I'm sure you're already aware, you'll be undergoing a significant amount of training before we can officially assign you as a reporter.

Richards: Hold on just a moment—

<SCP-XXXX-1B runs to Richards and grabs him by the arms.>

SCP-XXXX-1B: Welcome to our humble little bodega. Please, please, make yourself at home. <It begins forcibly pulling Richards towards empty bookshelves and down aisles with no visible merchandise.> as you can see here, we have quite the wide selection of products for your perusal. This, for instance—

<SCP-XXXX-1B grabs what appears to be nothing and hands it to Richards, who holds it.>

SCP-XXXX-1B: —is an issue of one our new hottest scoops.

<A loud crash, a thud, and some yelps of pain can be heard from behind.>

Richards: Briggs!

Briggs: I'm okay! Just- I'll manage!

SCP-XXXX-1B: Oh, never you mind them, dearie. Sister will take good care of your friend. Speaking of which, how did you come to meet our new little brother? It's not often a curious human has a membership to our little store, but it's even more rare for one to be led to us like this.

Richards: You have this all wrong.

<SCP-XXXX-1B abruptly stops and faces Richards.>

SCP-XXXX-1B: Have this all wrong? What-what do you mean have this all wrong? Well, you're here, and you can see our merchandise, presumably because our dear Fourth Wandsmen gave you a membership here, isn't that right?

<Richards wrenches himself free from SCP-XXXX-1B's grasp.>

Richards: You're jumping to far too many conclusions. Listen, I am Richards of the SCP Foundation and I'm not here to make any purchases.

<The entire room suddenly goes quiet. More objects crash in the background, with Briggs grunting in pain again.>

SCP-XXXX-1B: S…C…P? SCP? SCP?! <It stomps its foot in anger.> That's why you're here? Here to harass us and our customers again? Just when we finally managed to get our foot off the ground in this universe, you lot decided that it would be best to harass each and every single paying customer we've had since?

SCP-XXXX-1A: Sister, wait. There's no need to be so hostile.

SCP-XXXX-1B: Get out. Now.

Richards: Listen, madam. I'm not here to start a fight. I just want to talk.

SCP-XXXX-1A: Sister, if he was here to cause trouble, he would have done so already, as well as our new baby brother. I say we should hear him out.

<SCP-XXXX-1B breathes heavily and slowly relaxes itself.>

SCP-XXXX-1B: …Fine. Alright, skippy. You better give us a good reason for coming here, as well as involving him in it, too. <It points to Briggs.>

<The four of them go to the counter near the entrance to engage in discussions.>

Richards: I understand that my colleagues have been rather forceful in attempting to get you two to relocate to another universe. So, I offered a more diplomatic solution to their attempts. A negotiation.

SCP-XXXX-1B: And what makes you more trustworthy than them?

SCP-XXXX-1A: Sister, if you're going to continue to be this hostile, then perhaps I should be doing the negotiating?

<A moment of silence passes.>

SCP-XXXX-1A: Alright, Mr…apologies, we never got your name.

Richards: Bernard.

<The two creatures look at each other for a moment before looking back at Richards.>

SCP-XXXX-1B: Clever little boy.

SCP-XXXX-1A: <Ignores SCP-XXXX-1B.> Alright, Mr. Bernard. I'm all ears. What are you offering? And to what gain?

Richards: I have three offers to make, two of which I'm sure will appease you. You take one or more of them and leave our universe.

SCP-XXXX-1A: Considering how crucial this universe is to the emergence of dark powers, I find it doubtful that any of these will interest us more, but I'm willing to listen.

Richards: Okay. An alternate universe where the Veil is already breached.

SCP-XXXX-1B: Boring. No reason to share stuff there. Next.

SCP-XXXX-1A: I said let me handle this. <It shakes its head.> Anyways, she's right. Information has already leaked left and right there. There's no point having us share anything there, and more than a dozen of our brethren are already getting hot scoops as we speak.

Richards: Okay. Next. An alternate universe nearly identical to ours, also with its own Veil. We don't care what happens there, so long as everything here stays intact.

SCP-XXXX-1A: We're already there, too.

Briggs: What if I offer my own take, then?

SCP-XXXX-1B: Well of course, sweetums.

Briggs: …Please don't call me that. Anyways, what if I agree to join you and you guys leave this world?

SCP-XXXX-1B: No.

Briggs: No? …What do you mean, 'no'?

SCP-XXXX-1B: We want you to join us on your own accord, not because your jailers want you to.

Briggs: …jailers? You think we're jailers?

SCP-XXXX-1B: No, you're not a jailer, Fourth Wandsman of Earth. Not anymore. You've grown past that but you think you're still their slave.

Richards: Agent Briggs is dedicated to the Foundation—

SCP-XXXX-1B: Oi, I've had it up to here with you lot and your Veil and the way you withhold valuable information from the people who have the right to know! <It stomps its foot in anger.>

SCP-XXXX-1A: Sister, please! I'm trying to remain civil!

<SCP-XXXX-1B steps closer to Richards.>

SCP-XXXX-1B: And I'm trying to show these pathetic jailers that their misguided manner in keeping the ignorant masses in the dark is only harming them as opposed to helping them. You want us to just leave and let your enslaved populace continue to live in a blissful lie?!

<Briggs gets between Richards and SCP-XXXX-1B.>

Briggs: And do you really think that pouring a tidal wave of reality-shattering information would help those who're still living in the Veil? No. It wouldn't. Ordinary life would break down.

SCP-XXXX-1B: Fourth Wandsman of Earth, you don't understand.

Briggs: Yes, I do. What you're doing—you're doing the informational equivalent of handing a five year old a guide on how to make rat poison out of household chemicals. Best case scenario, they ignore the book because it's too complicated. Worst case scenario, that kid is too smart for his own good and his curiosity kills him.

SCP-XXXX-1B: And we're here to make sure these 'five year olds' know to handle that rat poison.

Richards: I think we're done here, Agent.

SCP-XXXX-1B: Call our little brother 'Agent' one more time and I'll—

<Richards takes a step back, the camera rustling.¹>

SCP-XXXX-1A: Everybody! Stop! Now!

<Everybody stops and slowly relaxes.>

SCP-XXXX-1A: Mr. Bernard and Fourth…Agent, if that's what you prefer. Though I see both of your points, I will be taking my sister's side. The Veil serves no purpose other than to keep the genera populace ignorant and unable to defend themselves. The proper method would be to incrementally introduce the idea of a larger world. This is our version of subtle. A lonely little retail store where people come in and find out what truly awaits them…anyways, as much as it shames me to say this, I must ask you two to leave. Now.

<SCP-XXXX-1A gestures to the ladder.>

SCP-XXXX-1A: I'm…sorry for essentially kicking you out.

Richards: Thank…thank you for being civil about this, at least.

SCP-XXXX-1A: You're quite welcome. Take care.

Richards: You, as well.

<Richards and Briggs make their to way to the ladder and leave.>

<End Log>

Interviewed: “The Fourth Wandswoman of Chelon”, a being who appears to be some sort of negotiator for GOI-5917. Visibly it appears to be a vulture creature similar in size and build to the transformed Agent Briggs, though it has always been observed wearing fashionable dresses and hats.

Interviewer: Director Nakamura

Foreword: The following was an impromptu negotiation between an entity referring to itself as “The Fourth Wandswoman of Chelon” and Director Nakamura of Site-33. How this entity breached security remains under investigation.
This entity was previously encountered by Director Nakamura during the containment of SCP-5917. It did not appear to have hostile intent.

<Begin Log>

Nakamura: …what do you want, 4th? Are you here to pick up Lot?

Wandswoman: …the First Cartographer of the Milky Way is far beyond my power to move… or help, sadly. No, I’m here to discuss an end to the arms buildup between our organizations.

Nakamura: Your “organization” is actively disseminating dangerous knowledge to the people we’ve sworn to protect. I don’t think there’s much room for negotiation.

Wandswoman: Director, I understand your frustration… and I apologize for our retail staff's lack of tact, but neither that MTF you’re mustering nor our the Sisters deserve to die. What's more, I can imagine many ways to resolve this without bloodshed.

Nakamura: How exactly?

Wandswoman: It won't be difficult. In the grand scheme of things our organizations have always been on the same side.

Nakamura: So far, your organization has hideously deformed one of my agents, mind controlled one of my best researchers into thinking she was from 2300 BC, and taught a large group of civilians how to light things on fire with their minds. You don’t exactly seem to be on the side of Securing, Containing, and Protecting.

Wandswoman: Director, what do you think our goal is?

Nakamura: …you’re reporters, correct? You want to gather information and sell it.

Wandswoman: We are not Marshall, Carter & Dark. We’re not in this for wealth. We seek to preserve knowledge, and to acquire a treasure far greater than any palace filled with gold.

Nakamura: Which is?

Wandswoman: The Truth, director. This world is made up of 90% lies and we want to know what’s actually going on here. No guesses, no hiding ourselves from a terrible unknown… We seek understanding. I think that’s something we have in common.

Nakamura: … that truth wouldn’t be worth much to me without anyone left to share it with.

Wandswoman: We agree wholeheartedly, Director, however I fear you’re missing the volcano because you’re too concerned about our molehill. At any given moment, how many things is your organization containing that could destroy all of existence? The Foundation is powerful indeed, but you and I both know that one of these days something is going to have to give. It can either be normalcy, or your lives.

<The Creature shrugged.>

Wandswoman: Frankly, I know what I would choose, but for now, you get to have your cake and eat it too.

Nakamura: How so?

Wandswoman: You don’t care about people learning about what’s really out there so long as they’re not spreading it around. We’ll take the people who find their way to our shop away. They can join our organization or live on any number of the sapient species preserves we partner with. Your efforts have already made vanishing without a trace a perfectly normal thing on this planet. What’s a few dozen more here or there?

Nakamura: And if the Veil shatters you’ll bring them all back?

Wandswoman: I’m afraid it’s more of a “when”, dear. But if they want to come back, we will be more than happy to transport them.

Nakamura: And if they wanted to join us instead?

Wandswoman: … I would have to ask the home office, but we would most likely be amenable to that.

Nakamura: Likewise… I think I’ll need to talk to my own team.

Wandswoman: I understand completely. Thank you Director.

Nakamura: Don’t. And don’t think this means we won’t be enemies again next week… but I’ve worked with worse.

Wandswoman: I know… I think we’ll have to save each other's lives a dozen more times before there will be anything resembling trust between us. But we’re on the right path, and that’s worth something.

Nakamura: …perhaps.

<The creature vanished>

<End Log>

Closing Statement: The O5 council approved of these negotiations in a 10-3 vote.

<Begin Log>

<Log Description: Video log of Ritual 12-A-C being performed in the field>

<The recording was provided by GOI 5917 for training purposes. Its anomalous properties have been determined to be safe>

<The recording shows a room shrouded in mist.>

<SCP-XXXX-1A appears.>

SCP-XXXX-1A Hello, Johnathan Sims.

Johnathan: Gah!

<Johnathan draws a knife from his belt and holds it out defensively.>

<SCP-XXXX-1A sighs and waves a hand. The knife vanishes.>

SCP-XXXX-1A: Was that really necessary…? I suppose I can’t blame you, though. In a world as dangerous as this, paranoia pays.

Johnathan: Wha- what are you? Where’s the door back?

SCP-XXXX-1A: Someone who means you no harm. As for the door, we are all trapped here until you make your decision. I presume you read the sign outside?

Jonathan: “Warning: Enter and you shall not be harmed, but you may never see this world again?” I thought that was just a joke!

<Agent Haquim steps out of the mist, wearing the runed suit of a Foundation Thaumaturge>

Agent Haquim: Sorry kid, but you were warned. Now you have a choice to make.

<SCP-XXXX-1A makes a slow, sweeping gesture with her talons and the mist parts, revealing a library filled with books and hundreds of flying creatures of all different kinds gathered talking and reading and writing in everything from laptops to clay tablets>

SCP-XXXX-1A: Choose the map, and you shall join the Wandsmen. We are an order of reporters and scholars who explore the multiverse and teach all those who are willing to listen. The price is your body will grow similar to mine.

<Jonathan stares at the bustling library surrounding him. At the laughing creatures and complex debates in a thousand tongues.>

<He turns to SCP-XXXX-1>

Johnathan: You… You used to be human?

SCP-XXXX-1A: No, though I was something similar, at least in mind. Join us and you will work with beings from many different places with vastly different minds should you join us.

<Slowly the mist closes back around the trio, Agent Haquim makes a sweeping gesture and it parts once more, revealing a massive prison with rows upon rows of monsters and men clawing at the bars of their cells.>

Agent Haquim: Choose the keycard, and you’ll join us. We are known as the SCP Foundation. We Secure, Contain, and Protect things that fall outside of normal reality. Things like this place. The price is your safety. It is a dangerous job.

Johnathan: So what, you’re like the magic CIA or something…?

Agent Haquim: Something like that. My associate may try to sugar coat things, but most of the anomalies out there are incredibly dangerous. We keep our homes and everyone we hold dear safe as best as we can.

SCP-XXXX-1A: Most of the anomalies on Earth perhaps, but you need not stay on this planet.

<The mists in the room close and part once more.>

< The room is now a sprawling, alien village built out of massive trees, with crates being carried up and down the sides by teams of lizard creatures and humans working together.>

SCP-XXXX-1A: Choose the spyglass and we’ll take you to a colony on another planet. You’ll interact with alien races to build a new community with other adventurers like you. The price, of course, is your home. You will likely never see the planet Earth again.

Johnathan: There are people already out there then?

SCP-XXXX-1A: Several, and of many different species. Knowledge is precious to both our organizations, and there is no knowledge without people.

<The landscape fades and the mist returns once more.>

Agent Haquim: There is one last option.

<The mists part, and the room becomes a tiny 10X10 jail cell with no windows and a simple cot on one wall.>

Agent Haquim: Choose the handcuffs and we’ll lock you up for knowing too much and not playing ball. The price is your freedom, obviously. This is your fate if you refuse to choose.

<Johnathan steps back.>

Johnathan: Oookay… Fuck… This is a lot to take in.

<The mists part one final time, and the convenience store is revealed, with cots set up in the corner.>

SCP-XXXX-1A: You have time to choose. It moves differently here, after all. And we’ll give you all the information we can to help you come to a decision.

Johnathan: I… Why can’t I just go home?

<SCP-XXXX-1A and Agent Haquim exchanged a look.>

Haquim: Honestly kid, I think both of us would prefer it if you could. But sometimes the universe needs to find its own balance. And sometimes you’re just on the wrong side of that… For what it’s worth I’m sorry.

<Johnathan staggers back and sits down on one of the cots. His breathing grows heavy and tears start to stream down his face.>

Jonathan: This… This is crazy.

<SCP-XXXX-1A walks over and gently slips a blanket over his shoulders.>

SCP-XXXX-1A: It’s alright. Take all the time you need.