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This article is a rewrite of a previous iteration of SCP-2144 by Schrodingers_Kitty (original Author of the work). I would also like to thank the Rewrite Team (chiefly Decibelles, who was my main contact) for the opportunity to rewrite this article.
This is inspired by my experiences in Junior College, where I initially thought Schrodinger's Cat as a literal concept.
So what's going on?
SCP-2144 is a literal Schrodinger's Cat.
Whatever Mel is, she's the same class of beings as SCP-990. Sentient dream-beings.
SCP-2144 is effectively a thought-form, a "brainchild" of Mel and Jason that is half memetic and half "realised". That was partially inspired by the Percy Jackson series' concept of a "child of Athena" who are effectively "brainchildren".
As to its odd features of its heart rate slowing to potentially death, I would say that it is the fact that it is a flawed idea – it's no meant to be a thing. It's sort of a corrective impulse (or "instinct") to set things right by sending itself towards death.
So this has developed into a Tulpa, neat!
It makes me wonder if Josie isn't also a Tulpa generated by thinking about Schroedinger's cat in a more abstract way (if you never collapse the waveform, do you have a half-cat?).
That was my plan from the beginning. I figured that the only way one can pull off a literal Schrodinger's Cat is to acknowledge its origins as something based in the world of thoughts and ideas.
As to Josie, who knows? One of my earlier concepts involve the implication that a variant of SCP-2144 will manifest when someone thinks of Schrodinger's Cat literally.
Someone was bound to make this;p
Though, a lot more unique and complex than most would go for.
Couple of details.
Its mass can also be recorded as well
Is this intended to be emphatic or is it redundant? I'd suggest taking "also" out.
On the board were the words "Eureka", in English.
Eureka is Greek, isn't it? Unless you mean it is written with the English spelling, but I'm uncertain whether it's a language-specific translation.
That said, I know what you're going for, I get it… but I'm afraid I'm not feeling it. Will re-read it.
Is this intended to be emphatic or is it redundant?
If I must pick one of the above, it would be "emphatic". The point would be to show the contrast when the "cat" is in different environments.
Eureka is Greek, isn't it? Unless you mean it is written with the English spelling
It is indeed "Eureka", as in the English spelling.
EDIT: Since the alphabets for German and English languages are largely similar, there's little point in explicitly stating that it is "in English" since it is supposed written down and not spoken. "Eureka" will still be quoted, to imply that it is one.
Yeah, that's what I got from Wikipedia. But Google Translate was hardly helpful…
But since the entire passage was explicitly stated to be translated from German, it feels odd as to why a single word is left untranslated.
A few small comments:
Once per month, the enclosure's structural integrity is to be inspected by a containment engineer. If any damage to the enclosure is identified, a containment engineer is to repair said damage.
This didn't seem to relate to the cat's anomalous properties - it's not causing particular damage to the enclosure, and any damage won't cause it to release the gas. Wouldn't general structural inspections be part of standard (rather than special) containment procedures?
An observation post is to be established along the perimeter of the enclosure, with transceivers placed in each post. At all times, a guard is to be stationed in the observation post to watch over SCP-2144. An auxiliary group of up to 3 guards are to be put on standby, in case the assigned guard is unavailable for observation duty. Guards on duty are to rotate in shifts of 2 hours apiece; see Document 2144-Ø for observation duty schedule. At the beginning of each shift, the guard on duty is to acknowledge SCP-2144's presence via transceiver.
While observation of the cat is presumably part of the reference, I felt that this was a little longer than it needed to be. Are the transceivers, standby guards and duty schedules necessary?
An observation post … in each post.
Is there one post, or more than one?
weighing scales
I'd suggest just "scales".
personnel who had held SCP-2144 estimates it to weigh
"personnel who have held SCP-2144 estimate that it weighs"
Its heartbeat can only be detected under such a state, along with signs of respiration.
"Its heartbeat and respiration can be detected only while in this state."
Furthermore, SCP-2144's image and sounds can only be photographed and recorded in this state.
"Furthermore, it is only in this state that SCP-2144's image can be photographed." If the cat ceases all movement in "dead" phase, presumably it isn't making sounds?
Its anomalous properties were revealed when it resumes motion when taken out of the residence.
"when it resumed motion after removal from the residence"
Jason Schmidt is capable of lucid dreaming and has a habit to record details of his dreams
Jason is dead, so I suggest "Jason Schmidt was capable of lucid dreaming and habitually recorded details of his dreams"
Summary: this is a nice iterative improvement, keeping the bones of the original idea. A little too much of what feels like filler in the procedures is keeping it from an upvote from my perspective.
Looking at your comments, I find most of them valid and altered them accordingly. Thank you for highlighting them.
While observation of the cat is presumably part of the reference, I felt that this was a little longer than it needed to be. Are the transceivers, standby guards and duty schedules necessary?
I can presume that the transceivers are standard issue gear for guards to begin with. However, the point is that it can only be seen by human eyes and this pertains to Special Containment Procedures (whereby it is a specific aspect of the SCP). The standby guards are necessary to ensure direct observation is maintained no matter what. The schedule is a slight add-on for the sake of practicality, to ensure it is indeed watched.
I couldn't tell you whether I was dismayed or elated when, in the middle of the description, I exclaimed, "It's Schrodinger's cat!" I became more dismayed once the concept was eluded to directly, but then the whole "dream thought birth" thing took this in an entirely different direction, not to mention the fact that they're trying very hard to keep it alive as part of the containment procedures. I think this might actually be better than the psychedelic goat.
If you're referring to SCP-2303, I read through it and was slightly perplexed by the way its anomalous features were presented. On that basis I had downvoted it… but it was the interview that kinda got me to switch to neutrality.
Since I was doing this draft while 2303 was up, I decided to go for details on my side.
Also, while 2303-1 is a goat that does not actually exist unless you know of it, 2144 is a cat that actually exists but is not meant to be.
I have not even read the description yet, but I am upvoting because these containment procedures are wonderfully evocative.
Edit: You know, this is not what I was expecting, but there was that "Aha!" moment in there, and I'm not actually sure what I was expecting. Upvote stands.
Piffy is an SCP Foundation Moderator, Lv. 9001 Squishy Wizard, and Knight of the Red Pen.
Noting here that I've updated on the SCP. To be specific, I've changed Addendum 2144-1 into something more subtle and does not cry out "Schrodinger's Cat" directly (since I suspect everyone would have figured it out on their own. If not, my Authorial posts have spoiled it.).
Furthermore, I do think that the dream diaries might have been a bit too "convenient". The content of the dream diaries still stands, although they are never recorded and only Schmidt and Mel know about it.
I have brought back the collar from the original article, although it is just a normal collar now.
EDIT: And I have also shamelessly put in one of my author avatars into this SCP to introduce her in the meta-narrative of Foundation-verse. It makes sense in-context, since An's job is a containment advisor.
I'll confess to being a bit slow to catch it. It wasn't until the acquisition that it clicked. The concept is amazing. There's also a Heisenberg factor: when free, it can be observed in motion, but not measured. In the box, it can be measured, but is no longer in motion.
Is there anywhere the original has been archived? I'm curious to compare, not having read this one originally.
Oh, and a major +1
It was basically a cat with a half skeletal head. Based on a picture something like this:
I am surprised that someone in RL even conceive such a thing as maybe a sculpture or taxidermy thing.
But on a more serious note, let's leave it at that.
It's from a museum exhibit, it's supposed to show the relationship between skeletal anatomy and external appearance, I think.
Quantum superposition is something I've been looking into for a while now, I'm even writing an SCP on it. Now that I've reread it and actually know what the concept is about, I've gotta say, this is an interesting take on it. Especially this line here:
Every idea has its right to exist.
Glad you've figured it out in the end. Quantum physics is a bit esoteric indeed (It took me till post-JC to appreciate this field of physics), so I admit it's hard to get into the meat.
Every idea has its right to exist.
LOL. My personal ethos, in fact. It's less of Schrodinger's Cat and more of an embodiment of an idea caught between life/existence and death/eradication.
