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One of SCP-9000's auxiliary components during inspection.
Special Containment Procedures: SCP-9000 has been disassembled and had all component elements destroyed. Persons outside of the Overseer Council and Ethics Committee that were unaffected by Incident 9000-Alpha or who possessed knowledge of SCP-9000 have been amnesticized. All documentation pertaining to these topics is to be stored in Site-01's archival servers indefinitely.
Research into the creation of constructs similar in function to SCP-9000 by Foundation personnel or relevant groups of interest is to remain under close observation and be acted upon at the discretion of the Overseer Council.
Description: SCP-9000 was a paratechnological apparatus constructed during Project Rememory, a research and development operation that was conducted by the SCP Foundation from 1961 to 1965. Once operational, SCP-9000 allowed the manipulation of latent noöspheric1 energy in target humans to effectively manifest subjects' thoughts and memories as stable matter in a manner similar to reality bending. While the system was heavily oriented around the creation of such constructs, it also possessed limited capacity to influence the mental state of individual persons.
Once given input, SCP-9000's target was determined through a noösphere mapping algorithm intrinsic to the system that would locate them in noöspace using information made available to it, such as that subject's name or other personal characteristics. Upon locking onto a user, SCP-9000 would then allow the generation of a desired output.
Following the events on 10/29/1965 and 11/3/1965, Project Rememory was decommissioned and SCP-9000 was dismantled.
Addendum 9000.1: Research and Development
Dr. Karl Lütcherath in 1945.
Inquiries into the possibility of manifesting mental constructs as physical matter began in 1940 with Dr. Karl Lütcherath's initial inquiry into the subject. Lütcherath was a Swiss researcher involved in several fields of what would become known as anomalous sciences; he held a particular interest in the ability of certain reality benders to create matter at will, as well as the act's association with the human mind. In a paper Lütcherath published to the anomalous science community in 1943, he proposed a design for a machine capable of effectively synthesizing this process in a controlled environment.
Lütcherath's writings were primarily made available to members of the Allied Nations, though copies are believed to have been leaked to the Axis Powers shortly after publication. Attempts at replicating the technology were made by both sides, though none succeeded. Lütcherath would become the target of multiple kidnapping attempts, as well as a failed assassination. He fled to the United States in 1948, where he cooperated with the SCP Foundation to remain in hiding; during his tenure, he provided insight into how a device could be realistically constructed to help facilitate the containment of anomalies with extremely specific or unorthodox requirements.
By 1961 sufficient information was compiled to begin assembling a theoretically functional prototype, and Project Rememory was established, with the device being pre-emptively designated SCP-9000.
Iota-55 with a segment of SCP-9000's reactor.
Construction and maintenance of SCP-9000 was performed by Task Force Iota-55 ("Iron Horizon"), consisting of fifty-three personnel originating from various backgrounds, ranging from conventional disciplines to more occult fields of study, such as scireology, ontokinetics, and mechano-thaumaturgy. Lütcherath was not officially involved with construction. Dr. Ryan Burkes instead oversaw operations and the development of SCP-9000. Construction of the item was performed at Site-74, near Lee Peak, Nevada.
Iota-55 collaborated with several other Foundation departments to create a paratechnologically-augmented reactor to allow SCP-9000 to function unimpeded. Enabled by anomalous enhancements, this reactor system was designed to draw on ambient noöspheric energies, similar in nature to the ones being manipulated by SCP-9000, resulting in a tremendous energy output. Proposals to replicate this technology for application at other Foundation sites have been put forward, however concerns surrounding the hazardous nature of the reactor, in addition to immense financial, logistical, and ethical2 issues involved with its construction have greatly hampered such motions.
Contextual Documentation Attached:
Burkes in 1943.
Personnel File: Dr. Ryan William Burkes
Date of Birth: July 3, 1906
Affiliated Divisions: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, SCP Dept. of Ontokinetics, Senior Site Director Panel
History: A Columbia University graduate who specialized in physics and thermodynamics, also known to have been among the first mainstream scholars to have studied Ontokinetics. Drafted into the into the United States military and eventually served as a consultant for the Manhattan Project in 1942. Burkes became acquainted with Dr. Karl Lütcherath during this time.
Burkes consulted little on the nuclear elements of the Project, instead focusing on the development of ontokinetic weaponry, which culminated in the creation of the device that would cause SCP-4200. Due to his experience with anomalous phenomena and ontokinetics, Burkes was recruited by the Foundation shortly after. Burkes quickly established himself as a highly dedicated researcher, especially focused on reality-bending anomalies.
In December of 1959, Burkes' family was killed in a Weissnacht Event which targeted their home in upstate New York, USA. During the Event, Burkes was away overseeing a project at Site-300. The incident claimed the lives of his wife and daughter Adeline and Penelope Burkes. His remaining child, Garrett Burkes, was taken by SCP-4666 and is presumed dead. Burkes was placed on bereavement leave for eight months, then resumed his work and dedicated himself further to the study of reality-benders and the containment of Keter-class entities.
During the planning stages of Project Rememory, Burkes was the primary candidate for Director and Lead Site Admin, and was eventually granted the positions once the initiative was fully greenlit.
Addendum 9000.2: Experimentation
On September 10th, 1963, SCP-9000 was declared operational. The following is a video transcript of the system's first successful test run.
VIDEO LOG
DATE: 9/10/1963
NOTE: Ruben Tremley, a member of Iota-55 volunteered to perform this experiment. This was the seventeenth test run of SCP-9000, with all prior tests having been unable to produce output.
[BEGIN LOG]
(Footage begins at the control panel of SCP-9000, behind Dr. Burkes. Tremley can be seen sitting in the manifestation chamber through the window past the console. The room is rectangular in shape, with various transceivers and other apparatuses attached to the walls. Burkes nods to the camera, then leans down and speaks into a microphone.)
Burkes: Okay, let's run this back again. Ready to begin the, uh, seventeenth trial run of SCP-9000. How are you feeling, Mr. Tremley?
Tremley: Doing well and ready to proceed.
Burkes: Excellent. (Turning to an Iota-55 member offscreen.) Ms. Alba, begin cycling. Lowest output, like last time.
(A loud humming fills the room as the reactor core several floors down is activated. After a moment, it grows quieter. The ceiling lights in the room flicker faintly.)
Burkes: So far so good. ((He inputs data into the console, withdrawing after a minute.) Noösphere mapping input is set, just give it a moment.
(Tremley sits attentively. A puzzled look crosses his face.)
Tremley: Sir, how will we know when it's locked onto me?
Burkes: (Looking up from the console.) Do you feel any changes?
Tremley: It's difficult to describe, almost a sort of…
Burkes: Connectedness?
Tremley: Exactly. How'd you…?
Burkes: That's how Karl believed it would feel. Don't let go of that feeling, Ruben, we might finally be getting somewhere. Ms. Alba, is the hume rendering array set?
Alba: Operational. Should I begin channeling to the test chamber?
Burkes: Yes. Okay Ruben, clear your head, deep breaths.
Tremley: (Nods, inhaling deeply.)
Alba: The array is green. Whenever you're ready.
Burkes: Proceed.
(The transmitters inside the room begin to hum quietly. Tremley shifts in his seat, seeming slightly uncomfortable.)
Burkes: Alright, Ruben, close your eyes, and I want you to imagine for me just a simple cube, right in front of you, it can even be in your hand. Just a basic cube, nothing fancy.
(Tremley closes his eyes and breathes deeply, then holds out his hand.)
(The air around Tremley begins to distort. Translucent lines appear and elongate, gradually connecting to each other to form thin, wireframe cubes of varying size. These orbit him in mid-air as they manifest, eventually filling in into solid, black forms. He opens his eyes and looks at his hand, immediately noting the tiny black cube that has manifested in his palm. Wide-eyed, he whips his head towards the camera and Dr. Burkes.)
Tremley: Sir, i-it worked!
(He stands excitedly, and moves towards the window to show the cube to Burkes. As he stands, he clutches his head with his other hand and yelps in pain. The orbiting cubes flicker and visibly glitch in and out of sight. Most disappear while others fall to the ground as solid objects, some chipping on impact. Tremley collapses.)
Burkes: Holy shit… Get medical, now! Alba, disengage and cycle down.
(The camera is set on a table facing towards the console. The system begins its cycling down process, and Tremley is removed from the manifestation chamber. Personnel in protective suits enter the chamber to collect the cubes for analysis. Burkes, notices the camera still recording and moves to shut it off, smiling and muttering to himself ecstatically.)
[END LOG]
Conclusion: Analysis of the matter created by Tremley found it to be composed primarily of pure carbon, notably containing trace amounts of Carbon-113. Tremley was found to have experienced minor neurological strain during the event, though not to any dangerous extent.
This experiment verified that the device is capable of manifesting at least basic concepts into physical forms; SCP-9000 is therefore declared operational. More experiments are to follow.
The following table contains excerpts of notable tests performed using SCP-9000 over the course of its operation. Repeated tests, non-notable failures, and other extraneous data has been omitted. Various human subjects were utilized across experiments.
| Test Number | Prompt/Input | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Test 02 | Specified shapes | Subject successfully generates cubic, spherical, and pyramidal shapes of varying size over the course of several minutes. | Manifested objects were composed of an unidentified dark blue substance that evaporated shortly after conclusion of the experiment. |
| Test 07 | A chair | Subject appears briefly disoriented, then returns to normal and manifests a small chair composed of a wood-like substance in the chamber. | Prompt administered via SCP-9000's mental influencing system rather than verbal command. Subject was not made aware of this beforehand, and was only instructed to create what came to mind. |
| Test 29 | A child's toy | Subject manifests a worn teddy bear. | Subject expresses intimate familiarity with item, claiming it to be her favorite childhood toy. |
| Test 38 | A gun | Subject manifests a loaded pistol which successfully fired when tested. | Subject possessed minor knowledge of firearms prior to test. Test suggests that only a basic understanding of an item can allow creation of a functional sample. |
| Test 53 | A radio | Subject partially manifests a mass of metal and plastic; mass bursts, injuring the subject and causing damage to the room. | Potential volatility of reactions noted, lockdown system installed around chamber and throughout facility. |
| Test 67 | Medicine | Subject manifests a small bottle of pills. | Pills tested and found to be aspirin, safe for human consumption. |
| [Many tests of creating inanimate objects, substances, or chemicals are performed, omitted.] | |||
| Test 241 | Plant matter | Subject manifests a living oak leaf, which withers soon after. | First successful attempt at creating living matter with SCP-9000. Subject is not well-versed in botany; test suggests that SCP-9000 itself could be expanding its capabilities through repeated use. |
| Test 350 | Plant matter | Subject manifests a simple flower inside of a given pot of dirt. | Flower persisted after test and exhibited no signs of negative health. |
| Test 378 | Mammalian tissue | Subject manifests a cleanly cut piece of flesh in the chamber. Species of origin remains unclear. | Prompt administered via SCP-9000. Subject expresses discomfort at the choice of manifestation target. |
| Test 452 | A small animal | Subject manifests a mouse in a given container; mouse is unhealthy, and expires shortly after. | First successful creation of an organism from the Animalia kingdom. Subject possessed very limited knowledge of biology; test suggests complex creations can be manifested by intent when knowledge of a target is lacking. SCP-9000 reactor exhibited signs of strain during manifestation event. |
| Test 476 | A macaque | Subject manifests a Rhesus macaque in a given container. | Specimen was weak upon manifestation, but demonstrated nominal physical and mental health once fully recovered. Transferred to Site-17 for further examination and monitoring. |
| [More than 100 additional tests of creating various tissues, substances, and increasingly complex organisms are performed, some using SCP-9000's influence as input. Almost all tests pertain to the creation of biological items, by order of Dr. Burkes.] | |||
| Test 581 | See below. | ||
Contextual Documentation Attached: The following is a video transcript of Test 581 of SCP-9000.
VIDEO LOG
DATE: 10/29/1965
NOTE: Following several successful attempts at safely manifesting increasingly complex structures with SCP-9000, a test was performed to ascertain the higher limits of the system. Gladice Ysaile, a member of Iota-55, volunteered to perform this test.
[BEGIN LOG]
(The footage begins behind Dr. Burkes, with the camera looking forward into the manifestation chamber, where Ysaile is seated. Burkes nods to the camera, then leans down and speaks into the console's microphone.)
Burkes: Alright. Beginning test number five hundred eighty-one of SCP-9000. How are you feeling, Ms. Ysaile?
Gladice: Hale and whole this evening, Doctor. Ready to begin.
Burkes: Excellent. Bear with us a moment…
Burkes: Begin cycling the reactor up. 60% capacity.
(The sound of buttons and switches being pressed can be heard, then the reactor groans several floors below. After briefly running diagnostics and safety checks, the reactor reaches the set power level.)
Burkes: Proceeding with input.
(Burkes sets the mic down and approaches the input console. He pauses for a moment, glances at the chamber, and types the prompt into the system.)
Item Input: One human
(Iota-55 member Clayton Pierre standing beside Burkes gasps.)
Pierre: Sir, you can't be serious! We've only just managed to manifest tissues, at best an sickly primate or two. Glaring ethical considerations aside, this is beyo—
Burkes: Mr. Pierre, need I remind you which of us is overseeing this Project?
Pierre: (Is silent for a moment.) No, but I do think you're moving the Project too quickly with a move like this. Did you even bother to consult any of your peers, or the Ethics Committee itself, before this?
Burkes: None of us would be here without taking some sort of risk. Now step back.
(Pierre huffs, then darts for the console. Burkes moves to intercept, shoving Pierre away roughly, and knocking him to the floor. Pierre lands flatly on his back, knocking the wind from his lungs. After a minute, he regains his breath and sits up, glaring at Burkes.)
Burkes: Out. Now.
(Pierre opens his mouth to speak but is interrupted by more coughing. He stands shakily and swiftly exits the room. Burkes looks around at the other personnel seated around the room.)
Burkes: Anyone else?
(No one speaks.)
Burkes: (Huffs.) Alright.
(Burkes approaches the input console, reenters the prompt, and submits the entry. The system whirs quietly, and the Doctor returns to the main console.)
Burkes: Okay Gladice, relax, and try to keep your mind empty and clear.
(Ysaile exhales deeply and nods, closing her eyes. Various panels in the chamber buzz as SCP-9000 begins to fully initialize. The air in the chamber distorts, and Ysaile shifts uncomfortably.)
Ysaile: That's… no…
(Several pops of light flash throughout the chamber, and soon a faint outline begins to manifest in front of Ysaile. Over several seconds, it fills in with a jet black substance, which slowly gains additional texture and color. Ysaile can be seen holding her head in her hands and mumbling incoherently. More details manifest along the figure's form as clothes appear and hair unravels from the shape's head. Ysaile opens her eyes and looks at the entity in shock as its final features manifest and it drops to the ground, landing shakily on its feet and opening its eyes. The entity appears as a Caucasian human female with brown hair and blue eyes, wearing a knee-length line dress with puffy shoulders and loafers.)
Entity: Gladice? H-hvor..?
(Ysaile stares at the entity before leaping from her seat and embracing it, sobbing into its shoulder.)
Ysaile: (Voice breaking.) S-susan…
Entity: Hvorfor gråter..?
(The entity pauses and looks down at Ysaile sympathetically, and gently embraces her.)
Entity: Shhh, det er gr—
(Warning indicators light up on various panels across the control room, an alarm blares, and the ceiling lights flicker. In the chamber, the entity stumbles, collapses to its knees, coughing profusely and groaning in pain. Blood stains can be seen on its hands and clothing. Ysaile kneels and holds the entity in her arms, looking around panickedly.)
Ysaile: No, no, no, no, no…. Ryan! Get medical now! (She looks back towards the entity.) Kom igjen, se på meg, Suse, hjelpen kommer!
Entity: Gladice, hvorfor… J- jeg kan ikke se deg. Hvorfor føler du deg så kald?
(The entity gasps and coughs up more blood, then falls limp; Ysaile enters an extremely panicked state. After a moment, the entity's form flickers and fades from sight, fully demanifesting several seconds later. Parts of the entity's bloodstains remain, staining the floor of the chamber and Ysaile's clothes. Ysaile sinks to the ground and begins to weep as medical personnel enter the room. The camera turns from the chamber window towards Dr. Burkes, who appears ashen. Burkes notices the camera and swats at it.)
Burkes: Turn that thing off. (To someone offscreen.) Shut it down, we're done here.
[END LOG]
Afterword: Following this test, the Ethics Committee was contacted by Researcher Pierre and testing of SCP-9000 was suspended until further notice. Researcher Ysaile was placed on medical leave due to the immense psychological strain caused by the incident. Five days later several Ethics Committee representatives convened to discuss the continued use and application of SCP-9000, as well as to examine Dr. Burkes' behavior.
Addendum 9000.3: Ethics Committee Discussion
VIDEO LOG
DATE: 11/02/1965
NOTE: The following video log was recorded during the Ethics Committee's meeting with Dr. Burkes concerning his use and operation of SCP-9000, in addition to a behavioral analysis based on Test 581 of the system. Ethics Committee member Andrew Parmon, his subordinates William Henry and Margret Garnier, and Dr. Ryan Burkes are in attendance.
[BEGIN LOG]
(The footage begins overlooking a round table. The three representatives are seated at one side before several small piles of documents and photographs; Burkes is seated at the opposite side of the table, a small glass of water beside him.)
Assistant: (Behind the camera.) It's recording.
Henry: (Nods, then turns towards Burkes.) What the fresh hell were you thinking?
Burkes: Good morning to you too.
Henry: Don't get smart with me, Burkes. For anyone else, an ethical violation of this severity would be enough to warrant immediate dismissal. Given your reputation, however, we figured we would at least allow you to explain yourself.
Burkes: Which I do appreciate. The progress we've been making here may appear… unorthodox from a surface-level perspective.
Garnier: Unorthodox?
Parmon: Ryan, I think what you've done here extends beyond simple unorthodoxy. Do you know much about Researcher Ysaile?
Burkes: Not a wealth of knowledge, but enough to work well with her. She's a genius, published a thesis on applied scirology a few years back. She's from Norway, I believe, but you can hardly tell with how fluent her English is.
Parmon: Ysaile's family lived in the Hedmark region of Norway. Elverum, to be exact. That is, up until it was invaded by the Germans, bombed, and razed to the ground in '40. Susan Ysaile died saving her younger sister in the attack. And you, Doctor… (He holds up a printed frame of footage from Test 581.) …just made her watch her sister die all over again.
(Committeeman Parmon looks over the documents again, then sighs and leans back in his chair.)
Parmon: Gladice has been a phenomenal asset ever since the European branch recruited her, but this… this is the kind of thing that breaks someone in a way they can't easily be fixed. Your actions have both ruined her, and cost the Foundation a valuable asset.
Burkes: I am very sorry, sir. SCP-9000 was functioning correctly up until that point. Being the first time it attempted to manifest a person, it was unsure, you could say, on how to proceed. In the end, it seems the system consumed more energy than necessary for the task and the reactor was unable to keep up with the required output. If we redraw the noöspheric energy channels and perhaps apply a catalyst of some sort then… well, I digress. Yet, as tragic as the matter of the present discussion is, there is still benefit to be reaped from this failure. I would even hesitate to label this a failure at all.
Garnier: Then what would you label it?
Burkes: A step in the process. A… messy step, that I won't contest, but look at the greater picture here. SCP-9000 is learning, it's growing. When it first became operational it could just barely produce basic shapes and items. But now look at it, pulling life from thin air, and well on its way to, for all intents and purposes, raising the dead themselves!
Henry: You forget where this all stems from, Burkes. The whole reason this project received any approval and funding in the first place was as a means of helping facilitate containment measures for anomalies requiring more non-conventional specifications. Barring that, SCP-9000 would be utilized for the production of mat—
Burkes: Listen to yourselves! We can practically neutralize death itself with this incredible machine, and still you pencil-pushers insist on squandering its potential with such meager things as martial pursuits?! Think of the possibilities! We won't have to die in the dark anymore, we can win, we can even bring them ba—
(Dr. Burkes catches himself and stops speaking before resuming.)
Garnier: Hold on, we can what?
Burkes: What I meant to say w—
Garnier: Is that what this is all about to you? (Sighs.) They're gone, Ryan.
Burkes: Whether or not my interests may run parallel to SCP-9000's capabilities is irrelevant, I assure you my priorities are correctly in order. The things this machine is capable of are beyond anything even Lütcherath could have comprehended. It deepens its connection to noöspace with every activation. It learns, it grows, it spreads, it develops.
Parmon: That's precisely the problem, Ryan. You speak of it as though it has will. (He produces a folder from a stack of paper on his right.) I've spoken with several members of Iota-55, and they all led me to the same conclusion: as it stands, there currently exist no means of completely harnessing the core "essence," of SCP-9000. Full control of SCP-9000 is frighteningly precarious. All it would take is a powerful parapsychological entity drifting too close to it in noöspace, and the whole system would be out of our hands, even on the physical side of things. That isn't even to speak of the risk posed by rogue personnel or third parties. I shouldn't need to explain to you why something like this falling into the wrong hands could prove disastrous.
(He flips through some more papers, then tosses the bundle to the side and rubs the bridge of his nose.)
Parmon: Approving this project in the first place was a huge gamble, and it's becoming increasingly clear that the risks far outweigh the benefits here. The Committee was already on the fence about approving the creation of another Thaumiel4 to even just theoretically help deal with future problems. Using the anomalous to contain the anomalous is something we aim to avoid under most circumstances. This whole debacle only serves to justify their hesitancy.
Burkes: Sir, I assure you, we have safeguards in place to prevent—
Parmon: Enough, Ryan! You have not only demonstrated a breathtakingly unprofessional violation of your office, but have thoroughly shown to this Committee that SCP-9000 cannot, in good conscious and for the safety of mankind, be permitted to continue operations. On my authority as a Committeeman, I am hereby disbanding Project Rememory.
Burkes: (Jumping to his feet.) Wait! With all the time I—
Parmon: We are finished here.
(Parmon gathers his papers and motions to his subordinates. He rises.)
Parmon: We will forward the necessary information and documents to your secretary shortly. Once processed, you will be transferred to Site-19 to await further reassignment.
(Dr. Burkes starts towards Parmon.)
Burkes: Andrew, you bastard! After all the progr—
(Burkes is seized by present security personnel. He stops struggling after a moment, then Parmon motions for him to be released.)
Parmon: Ryan, let me speak plainly. If not for your reputation, you would be cleaning out containment units in Site-19 by now for something like this. If I were you, I would be grateful.
Burkes: You—
Parmon: I really am sorry that it had to come to this. (He pauses.) I know you've got a lot on your plate, but there are greater things at stake in our line of work than the short-term. Get some rest, clear your head. We'll post the announcement soon. That is all.
(Parmon exits the room. The others eye Burkes silently before following Parmon and closing the door behind them. Burkes falls back into a chair and holds his head in his hands, mumbling.)
[END LOG]
Addendum 9000.4: Ethics Committee Ruling
In the days following the Committee representatives' meeting with Burkes, and the decision to decommission Project Rememory, the following notice was made available to Site-72 personnel.
Site-72 Staff,
In light of recent events at Site-72 and a reconsideration of pertinent objectives, the Ethics Committee has come to the decision to discontinue Project Rememory. This decommissioning will take place over the next several weeks, and will consist of the relocation of Site-72's assets and personnel to Site-19 to await or request further reassignment.
We want to thank all personnel who dedicated their time towards this Project, and we understand that this type of change might feel jarring for some of you. If you have any questions or concerns at this time, we encourage you to contact your Site's personnel director for more information.
Thank you.
SCP Foundation Ethics Committee
Secure, Contain, Protect
Addendum 9000.5: Incident 9000-Alpha
On 11/3/1965 at around 3:00 AM local/Mountain Standard Time, Dr. Burkes was found to have begun activating SCP-9000 without authorization. Noting unauthorized use of SCP-9000, Site security converged on the control room to apprehend the doctor.
The following is a collection of surveillance data from various secure sites and public areas recorded during the events that ensued.
VIDEO LOG
DATE: 11/03/1965
NOTE: The following video log was transcribed from multiple surveillance cameras located throughout Site-72, beginning shortly after Dr. Burkes initiated SCP-9000's startup sequence.
[BEGIN LOG]
(Dr. Ryan Burkes can be seen running from console to console, adjusting various settings and parameters. Detecting unauthorized use of SCP-9000 and aware of Dr. Burkes' demotion, Site-72 security personnel converge on the control room, which has been locked from the inside by Burkes. He turns to the door as he works and yells to the present personnel.)
Burkes: Please, stop! I can make it work this time, you have to trust me!
(Burkes runs over to the control interface for Site-72's specialized reactor, takes a deep breath, then begins to maximize all available settings. Several floors down, a deep hum builds as the reactor begins its cycling up process. At this point several security members have left to try and gain access to the control room from a connecting door leading from another part of the facility. Burkes recognizes this and rushes to the adjoined door, grabbing a nearby chair and jamming it underneath the handle. Guards arrive and try to force the door open.)
Security: Ryan, open this door now! Stop this!
SCP-9000's reactor shortly before reaching critical mass.
(Burkes inputs a final series of commands into the primary console and grabs a bundle of devices before hastily entering SCP-9000's manifestation chamber. He locks the blast door behind him, then breaks the locking handle on his side. Burkes lays out the bundle of devices and begins modifying the room's components, also attaching various plugs and electrodes to his person as he works. Security personnel gain access to the control room at this point and unsuccessfully attempt to open the chamber door. Several personnel depart to retrieve breach equipment as Assistant Site Director Robert Weber and Researcher Clayton Pierre arrive in the control room. Pierre inspects the consoles before approaching the chamber's observation window.)
Pierre: He's locked us out of the system and thrown the reactor into max output. My God, Ryan. You've finally gone off the deep end, haven't you?
(Within the chamber, Dr. Burkes is connected to SCP-9000, leaning back in a chair in the center of the room; a series of unidentified devices and plugs are attached to his person. He looks at Pierre through the window tiredly.)
Burkes: I beg you, Pierre, Weber, just bear with me. I know what we did wrong last time, I can finally make it all right! I just need this one last chance.
Weber: Ryan, stop this and we can talk this out. It's not to late.
(Burkes shakes his head and laughs.)
Burkes: Neither of us is naïve enough to think they'd let me walk after something like this. That is unless I can prove to them what this machine is capable of. It's all or nothing now.
(He smiles, donning a helmet-like device. The wires appear to be glowing with a faint, purple light. Electricity begins to spark off of Burkes, who shakes violently. At the same time, SCP-9000's reactor begins to approach critical mass, and the lights in the building flicker. He turns back towards the two at the window. Burkes is now radiating light throughout the chamber, his eyes shining a blinding violet. Light emits from his mouth as he speaks.)
Burkes: I can't wait to show you the world we will build together.
Weber: Wait!
(There is a blinding pulse of light as a shockwave suddenly emanates from the chamber, sending furniture, equipment, and present personnel flying, and critically damaging several of Site-72's internal systems. Audiovisual signal is lost.)
[END LOG]
VIDEO LOG
DATE: 11/03/1965
NOTE: The following video log was transcribed from a surveillance camera located in London, UK, near Piccadilly Circus, collected following the Incident. The footage excerpt begins at around 10 A.M. local time.
[BEGIN LOG]
(The Circus is filled with civilians, though an ongoing snowfall has caused crowds to partially abate, many seeking shelter in the tube system belowground. Suddenly, much of the present crowd react uncertainly, ranging from individuals clutching their heads to, doubling over. A few fall to the ground unconscious. The air throughout the circus distorts, and bright sparks and pops flash through the air above the Circus, more visible inside the windows of some buildings. Some automobile drivers lose control of their vehicles, causing several accidents.)
(Throughout the crowd, thin, wireframe shapes begin to fade into view, filling up with a black substance. As they form, many civilians appear to regain their senses and attempt to flee. Some outlines crumble, while others slow their rate of manifestation, and others appear to accelerate. Over the course of several minutes, multiple humanoids have formed, and are now walking around. Some appear to be conversing with nearby civilians confusedly, while some embrace civilians nearby to their point of manifestation, apparently delighted. As more humanoids continue to manifest across the city, chaos and confusion break out in the streets.)
(Additional footage later collected from Buenos Aires, Paris, New York, Beijing, and other major cities around the world is shown. Each location appears to be exhibiting the same phenomenon. While the manifestations occur at varying rates, the appearance of the phenomenon at each location begins concurrently at the same time: 10:00 AM GMT.)
VIDEO LOG
DATE: 11/03/1965
NOTE: The following is a transcript of footage collected from Site-72's internal surveillance after the system rebooted following the power surge caused by Dr. Burkes. Many cameras were critically damaged during the process, limiting the range of surveillance throughout the facility.
[BEGIN LOG]
(As the cameras in the control room begin to initialize and reboot, several members of the Site's staff can be seen lying unconscious on the ground. Some personnel are already up and moving, including Weber and Pierre. They appear to be frantically examining the consoles and chattering into short-range radios. Behind them, the manifestation chamber is visible, with several augments having been manifested around it, including iron-concrete barriers, and a jagged crystal that appears to have grown in place of the viewing window. Security personnel ineffectively attempt to gain access to the room, but the implements appear invulnerable. Burkes' glowing form can be seen within. As the security system finishes rebooting, the audio feed cuts in. Weber and Pierre speak with each other.)
Weber: —stricted to here, it's global. They're saying these… things are manifesting all over the damned planet! Command is trying to get a hold on things, but it's too widespread, there's no other way to contain it.
(Pierre examines a chart printout from one console before tearing it out and showing it to Weber.)
Pierre: I've never once seen readouts like this before, this is absolutely insane!
Weber: The Synaptic Intensity Index isn't even being measured in millihertz anymore, just hertz… Ryan, why would you do something like this?
Pierre: Whether or not he actually intended for this to happen is the least of our concerns right now.
(The doors to the room open and Tremley enters, a radio clutched in his hand. Behind him trails the huddled figure of Gladice Ysaile, wrapped in a thick blanket. She eyes Burkes warily as the two cross the room.)
Weber: Is she alright?
Tremley: Better than I've seen her in days. Found her in the residential wing while I was looking to see who's still up after the blast. The wing was beginning to fill with those… constructs. A little shove against that frame while they're forming seems to interrupt the process. She was making quick work of several of them when I found her.
Pierre: I'm glad you're both safe. (Gesturing to his radio.) I assume you heard Command's report from the outside?
Tremley: Enough of it to know we're in some seriously deep shit.
(He takes the printout from Weber and scans it for a moment before looking back up at the other two.)
Tremley: This can't be right. Tell me this is a readout error.
Weber: I wish I could.
Tremley: No, no, no, no, this level of stress on the noösphere is… god, we've probably got a few hours before entire countries' worths of people start dropping braindead worldwide.
(A security guard beside the group straightens up.)
Guard: We'll cut it off at the source then. (He gestures to the other security personnel in the room and begins for the door.) Everyone down to the reactor level, we're shutting this thing down manually.
Weber Stop!
(The guard halts and turns back around, a scowl on his face.)
Weber: SCP-9000 is currently rooted deep into noöspace, shutting it down now would be utterly catastrophic! It could kill everyone currently under its influence!
Pierre: Dammit. It's impenetrable in this state and we can't even pull the plug on it without millions dying, at minimum.
(He is silent for a moment before straightening up suddenly.)
Pierre: Do we still have the backup sync arrays from those tests we ran back in June?
Tremley: What? Yeah, they're probably still sitting in storage. What does th—
(Tremley's eyes widen in realization.)
Tremley: Shit. I mean, that could work in theory, at least.
Weber: What do you have in mind?
Pierre: SCP-9000, and Burkes by extension, are unreachable on this side of things. Therefore our best — and likely our only — option is to follow him up there. (He gestures upwards.) Into noöspace. Once there, we'd likely have to push through a sea of whatever defense mechanisms Burkes and SCP-9000 will have conceived for themselves. (He gestures to himself, Tremley, and Weber.) We're experienced enough on this front that we can wade through, so to speak.
(The Assistant Director pauses before nodding.)
Weber: You intend to chase after Burkes to try and deactivate SCP-9000 from the other side somehow, re-engineering the arrays to allow ascension.
Tremley: Temporary ascension. The act is already inherently short-lived, but with all the strain SCP-9000 is causing throughout the noösphere right now, any longer than an hour or so up there would sever the connection between one's mind and body with this method.
Weber: (Huffs.) Well, under normal circumstances I would say this proposal is exceedingly rash, breathtakingly irresponsible, and carries an unacceptable amount of danger. But these are anything but normal circumstances. What do you need?
Pierre: Take the guards and retrieve the sync arrays from the storage level. They should be labeled, so check the loads from June.
(Pierre grabs a pen and paper from a nearby desk and writes something down, and shoves it into Tremley's hand.)
Pierre: I need you to retrieve some implements from there as well, here's the list. Make absolutely sure there isn't any thaumatic corrosion on the sciro-lines, or we'll be dead the instant we try ascend. And Gladice…
(He turns to Researcher Gladice, whose eyes are locked on Burkes' body in the chamber. He places a hand on her shoulder. She starts at his touch.)
Pierre: You know these systems better than almost anyone. I need you to keep an eye on things here.
Ysaile: (Coarsely.) I'm not letting this one out of my sight.
Pierre: Good to hear. I'll get in touch with Command and fill them in. Alright, let's move, move, move people!
(Everyone assumes their designated tasks. After roughly an hour, all personnel have returned to the control room, and Pierre and Tremley are finishing making modifications to the sync arrays. The devices appear to be large metallic crates covered in a variety of wires, glyphs, and vacuum tubes. A chair-like implement is attached to each of the three devices, topped with a wired helmet. Each device appears to connect to SCP-9000's auxiliary ports on the adjoining wall. Tremley wipes his brow as he rises from the panel of one of the arrays.)
Tremley: That oughta do it.
Weber: And they're safe to use, right?
Pierre: We're hardly in a position to be concerned about our own safety right now, all that matters is whether it works or not. Every moment we wait, SCP-9000 is wreaking even more global havoc. (He seats himself in one of the devices.) We have to do this now.
(Weber pauses and nods slowly, approaching an unoccupied array.)
Weber: What should we do once we're up there? Honestly, I'm not very sure what up there is supposed to be like at all.
Tremley: You've never ascended before? You've at least performed tests with 9000 though, right?
Weber: I've overseen some tests, but I've never personally used the equipment.
(Tremley steps between the array and Weber, raising a hand.)
Tremley: We can't send you up there then, not with the noösphere under this kind of strain and with you having so little experience. Burkes would either make quick work of you or find a way to use you against us.
Pierre: (Turning to Tremley.) Dammit, just the two of us then? I know we're seasoned, but… (He laughs.) This is fucking insane.
(As Pierre and Tremley resume adjusting the arrays, Weber straightens up. Gladice stands at his side, looking at the array before them.)
Ysaile: (Coarsely.) I'll go.
Pierre: Absolutely not.
Tremley: You've been through hell these last few days, are you sure?
Ysaile: (Coarsely.) It has to be me.
Tremley: Gla— you know what? Clayton, she might be our only option. Even in her state, she's got more test runs under her belt than both of us, the two of us just might not cut it, and either way we don't have time to argue.
(Pierre looks between Ysaile and Tremley for a moment before sighing and nodding.)
Pierre: Fine. But you have to guarantee me that the moment things start to go south, you'll pull out of there.
Ysaile: (Coarsely.) No time for guarantees.
(Tremley and Pierre shake their heads.)
Tremley: Good enough for now.
(The three seat themselves on the devices and begin adhering implements, coils, and wires to their persons; present security and research personnel assist. Final checks are run and each of the devices' functionality is greenlit.)
Weber: Everything looks good.
Tremley: Any last words?
Pierre: How about 'don't die.'
(Ysaile rolls her eyes.)
(All three devices hum, and the glyphs and tubes begin to glow, each a radiating different color. The lights in the room flicker slightly. Pierre and Tremley shift uncertainly, their eyes closed. Ysaile's gaze is fixed on Burkes' glowing form within the manifestation chamber, her own eyes beginning to radiate a pale, blue light. As she leans her head back and closes her eyes, the syncing finishes. The room fills with a deep, thrumming rumble and the faint glow of the devices increases to a blinding light that envelops the scene.)
[END LOG]
System Notice: Archived noödata detected, rendering audiovisual content.