I like this one a lot. I'm wondering if it's related to the time loop.
When does the actual 'reset' take place in our world? Is it whenever they close the window or at the end of 26 hours during our time. I am quite curious as to what one see if looking out the window during this 'resetting' event.
Don't get me wrong, however, and assume that I am saying your story is flawed. This was superb. Upvote.
:D
The reset happens every 26 hours 15 minutes. If you're looking out the window at that moment, you see a sudden *blink* and it's Friday morning again - different people on the streets, different arrangements of horses, etc.
What happens if the window is open during the reset is not known; although the Foundation would like to know, it's entirely possible that it would do something terrible.
What happens if somebody(D-Class?) is in the window during the reset?
If by "in the window" you mean "halfway through the open window", then your question doesn't work. The Foundation makes sure the window is closed no later than 90 seconds before the reset; anyone who isn't entirely through the window by that time is out of luck.
Your question simplifies to "what happens if the window is open during the reset".
Love it.
How about some exploratory mission logs?
I'm seconding evil eye here, I'd love to read more on exploring this place.
I love it. Throwing my vote in on some exploration logs. This is an SCP I want to know more about.
pretty cool in concept. definitely want to see some experiment logs for it though. also worthwhile would be finding out just how permanently things vanish once placed inside. not that it's the IDEAL way of disposing of troublesome SCP objects, but if stuff really truly disappears from our reality and doesnt just travel back in time within the existing timeline, then it might at least be a good way to dispose of hazardous wastes or dangerous (but preferably unintelligent) objects.
I like this quite a bit. I'd be fascinated to read additional logs (of any kind), but it's also good as it is. Upvoted.
Log of a chat I had with Tox a few months back
<Tox|AtSchool> hey Voct, what happens to people in there when it resets
<Voct> you mean modern people or 1875 people?
<Tox|AtSchool> modern people
<Voct> well, that depends
<Tox|AtSchool> I kind of want to write an exploration log of what happens if people stay in there past go-time
<Tox|AtSchool> so like the log picks up at t-minus five
<Tox|AtSchool> with a team racing back to the portal
<Voct> problem is, I see only two possibilities
<Voct> a) the timeline gets sliced off
<Tox|AtSchool> either they vanish entirely or are incorporated into 1875?
<Voct> and they're trapped in 1875
<Voct> yeah
<Voct> they retain everything about who they were
<Voct> but now they're trapped there
<Voct> and they've been doing all kinds of weird-ass shit
<Voct> because they were assuming that it wouldn;'t matter
<Tox|AtSchool> or they just vanish entirely
<Voct> yeah
<Tox|AtSchool> either possibility will have the same — Ooooh.
<Voct> what would happen if the window is open during the reset: it would probably be VERY BAD
<Tox|AtSchool> like what
<Voct> like the whole world turning into 1875
<Tox|AtSchool> oh, would it actually do that
- Voct shrugs
<Voct> it's a contained time loop
<Voct> having it open at the point when it loops….
<Voct> could do horrible things
<Tox|AtSchool> "Addendum 982-01. Subsequent to Test Log 982-2, a badly degraded sample of fabric was recovered from
||||||. Testing confirms it is the style worn by D-|||| at the time of the Event."
<Voct> I dunno.
<Tox|AtSchool> It definitely adds to the creep factor to state that they're trapped in 1875
<Tox|AtSchool> and it supports the theory that having it open during reset will cause a global reset
<Voct> even when marshall carter and dark was renting this thing for Chicago Rapefests
<Voct> they made damn sure to close the window whenever it was time for the reset
<Tox|AtSchool> yeah but
<Tox|AtSchool> the question is
<Tox|AtSchool> how the devil did they know the timing
<Voct> MC&D has their own research staff, you know
<Tox|AtSchool> yeah but how do they determine the reset timing, leave it closed and just run a stopwatch?
<Voct> Sure.
<Tox|AtSchool> hm
<Tox|AtSchool> I think I personally like the "They get stuck in 1875" theory
<Tox|AtSchool> mind horror
<Voct> "<Tox|AtSchool> either possibility will have the same — Ooooh."
<Voct> you mean that either way, it'll look the same to the people in the present, right?
<Tox|AtSchool> Yeah
<Tox|AtSchool> the only way they'd know is if they find some record of their presence in our present
<Voct> is it a recording? Or is it a time machine?
<Voct> And they won't.
<Voct> Because it's a new timeline.
<Voct> It gets split off.
<Tox|AtSchool> ^
<Tox|AtSchool> if it's strictly a recording, how would one interact with it
<Voct> [DATA EXPUNGED]
<Tox|AtSchool> :I
<Voct> a TOTAL RESOLUTION recording
<Voct> your mind is a recording of your thoughts and memories and experiences, yes?
<Tox|AtSchool> I'm not sure *what* a mind is, exactly.
<Tox|AtSchool> I'd say it's more than the sum of.
- Voct waves that aside
<Voct> ever play Super Mario Brothers?
<Tox|AtSchool> Which one
<Voct> the first
<Tox|AtSchool> Who hasn't?
<Voct> (or, really, any of them)
<Voct> the point is
<Voct> that world is a recording
<Voct> but you can interact with it
<Voct> your character can interact with it
<Voct> make a difference
<Tox|AtSchool> To be precise, it's a program
<Voct> you saw Groundhog Day?
<Voct> the same day repeats and repeats
<Voct> but Bill Murray interacts with it
<Tox|AtSchool> Yes. Bill Murray is funny.
<Voct> it's like a recording
<Voct> we have no idea what the Polack *did*
<Tox|AtSchool> Whatever it is, he probably doesn't know what he did
<Tox|AtSchool> or that he succeeded
<Voct> mm
<Tox|AtSchool> also I don't know if one can advance a "Groundhog Day" argument
<Tox|AtSchool> also also
<Tox|AtSchool> the start and end times of the loop correspond to what actions?
<Voct> the start of the loop corresponded to some deliberate action
<Voct> the end of the loop corresponded to the expiry of some resource
<Tox|AtSchool> So…
<Tox|AtSchool> the activation of the Polack's device
<Tox|AtSchool> and the expiry of its power source
<Voct> something like that, yes
<Voct> or something breaking
<Tox|AtSchool> let's assume that for the sake of argument
<Tox|AtSchool> well, yes
<Voct> and the polack and the patent attorney are *not within the recording*
<Tox|AtSchool> let's assume that the timeframe is the operant lifespan of the Polack's device
<Voct> yeah
<Voct> except that the meeting was *the previous evening*
<Tox|AtSchool> So. That the Polack and the Patent Attorney are not within the recording suggests some field of exclusion
<Voct> exactly
<Voct> it was in the office
<Voct> that's why the window is the portal
<Voct> the secretary was not within the field of exclusion
<Tox|AtSchool> That the meeting was the previous evening….suggests some sort of imprint on local spacetime
<Voct> yes
<Tox|AtSchool> But the patent attorney did not leave the office on the Thursday….which implies that the field of exclusion
was not merely exclusionary
<Voct> ah
<Tox|AtSchool> but was some sort of point of departure
<Voct> that's another possibility, yes
<Voct> by the way, I'm pretty sure that the guy wasn't *actually* Polack
<Voct> just sounded it
<Tox|AtSchool> well, okay
<Voct> he may not have even been human
<Tox|AtSchool> but for the sake of brevity, we shal adopt Polack as his designation
<Voct> yep
<Tox|AtSchool> So, Polack's device could have possibly been some sort of dimensional engine, capable of tearing a hole in
spacetime, which would explain their absence and perhaps the delay of effect
<Voct> Yeah
<Voct> You're quite good at this
<Tox|AtSchool> Have I been pegging your ideas point-for-point or roughly so thus far?
<Voct> Pretty close, yes
<Tox|AtSchool> :D I can't explain it.
<Tox|AtSchool> I'm just advancing theories
<Voct> we have no idea if the patent attorney ever *really* got home
<Voct> thsoe records have been lost
<Tox|AtSchool> No. That he did not show up to work on Friday, nor go home Thursday…means that he disappeared
sometime Thursday afternoon.
<Voct> right
<Voct> except that we only know these statements hold true *within the recording*
<Tox|AtSchool> Moreover, he disappeared from his office, as his secretary doesn't remember him leaving.
<Voct> right
<Tox|AtSchool> What do you mean "within the recording"
<Voct> and none of the beggars or street vendors saw him either
<Voct> I mean, if you go into 1875 and interrogate everyone, they'll say "we never saw him leave"
<Tox|AtSchool> the recording is the frame of reference to which we are restricting ourselves, no?
<Voct> ah
<Voct> yes
<Voct> I meant, from OUTSIDE that frame of reference, the data has been lost
<Voct> but…. actually, I like the notion that he was never seen again either way
<Tox|AtSchool> Well, of course. We have no corroborating data
<Voct> and that's why his business went under ==> the *abandoned* business offices
<Tox|AtSchool> External records (the "real world" has no idea) show nothing
<Voct> right
<Voct> so, from within the frame of reference of 1875, he just vanished
<Voct> and no one knows who the Polack actually *was*, so they can't really hunt him down either
<Tox|AtSchool> Along with Polack, near-silently.
<Voct> (but yes, he has vanished too)
<Tox|AtSchool> I point out near-silently because otherwise the secretary would have noted *something*.
<Voct> yep
<Tox|AtSchool> Let us make the assumption that patent attorneys in 1875 Chicago held normal business hours, 0900-1700.
<Voct> Yep
<Voct> so Polack came by around 1645
<Voct> very insistent on seeing patent attorney
<Tox|AtSchool> "Last client of the day" means that there were others, so yes, Polack rocked up in the afternoon.
<Voct> yep
<Voct> secretary is used to crazy immigrants with big ideas
<Tox|AtSchool> That he had no appointment or visiting card suggests that Polack knew the attorney somehow. Whether the
knowledge was mutual or not is unknown.
<Voct> Exactly
<Voct> I'm pretty sure the patent attorney had no idea who the Polack was
<Voct> but was willing to have a look
<Tox|AtSchool> Of course. Polack comes in, sets his device on the table, excitedly starts speaking about the device….this
takes some time, whereupon Attorney asked for a demonstration. Let's say 1745.
<Tox|AtSchool> nononono
<Voct> hm?
<Tox|AtSchool> Let us revise our timeline
<Tox|AtSchool> hmm
<Tox|AtSchool> perhaps not
<Tox|AtSchool> Polack complies, activates the device….and bam, no attorney, no Polack. The device runs for 26 hours, then
breaks down.
<Voct> yes
<Voct> or
<Voct> first it runs for 12 hours
<Voct> at the end of which its effect is so intense it starts (doing something)
<Voct> and then after another 26 hours
<Voct> it breaks down
<Tox|AtSchool> then we shall revise our timeline
<Tox|AtSchool> Hmmm. Timeline…
<Tox|AtSchool> the effect ends at 1045 hours on Saturday
<Tox|AtSchool> with the breakdown of the device comes the time loop reset
<Tox|AtSchool> knock it back 26 hours puts you at 0830 Friday
<Tox|AtSchool> knock it back 13 hours (neat multiple of two) puts you at 1930 hours on Thursday.
<Tox|AtSchool> mark that as Activation.
<Tox|AtSchool> "Following me, camera guy?"
<Voct> Ye[
<Tox|AtSchool> It warps spacetime around the pair of them, whisking them off to [Candyland|Polack's true home|/dev/null]
<Tox|AtSchool> but the device is left sitting there, warping gravity more and more intensely
<Voct> yep
<Tox|AtSchool> finally, after thirteen hours, it's warped spacetime and gravity so intensely that it has actually folded the fabric
of space around itself, funneling it into the device. Nobody is any the wiser, because who can see spacetime as it goes past?
26 hours later, the device malfunctions and implodes, removing itself from our universe and releasing its captured spacetime.
<Voct> Yep
<Tox|AtSchool> attorney and Polack give no shits, as they are gone
<Voct> yep
<Tox|AtSchool> Where did they go, what is the device's true function, and who was the Polack, really? All these answers are
literally lost in time, like tears in rain. Thus ends the tale of 982 :D
<Voct> yep
<Voct> *Very* good
<Tox|AtSchool> I try.
<Voct> Do you want to write a story about that?
<Tox|AtSchool> About what? I just put text to YOUR story.
<Voct> Yes, and you did it fairly well
<Tox|AtSchool> What did I not get quite right?
<Voct> Nothing in particular
<Voct> I'm just being restrained in my praise
<Tox|AtSchool> :P
- Tox|AtSchool 's ego swells to the size of the chrysler building
<Tox|AtSchool> kidding
<Tox|AtSchool> I don't have much of an ego
<Voct> You've basically figured out the whole implicit story
<Voct> including some details that I hadn't quite decided on
<Voct> the Foundation tells its exploration teams "it doesn't matter what you do while you're in there - shoot to kill if you have
to"
<Voct> and then when you get trapped in there
<Voct> it turns out that it VERY MUCH matters what you did
<Tox|AtSchool> Which details, what exactly the device was or what happens to guests who…overstay their welcome?
<Voct> more #1
<Voct> also what happened to the patent attorney
<Tox|AtSchool> ah
<Voct> and the timeline of events
<Voct> so, very good work
<Tox|AtSchool> Why thank you.
<Tox|AtSchool> You didn't have the timeline worked out>
<Tox|AtSchool> ?
<Voct> not in that detail
<Voct> in that *much* detail
<Voct> it's late and I'm getting worbly
<Tox|AtSchool> worbly is a good way to be
<Voct> the stuff we worked out
<Voct> write it up
<Voct> I'll approve it for integration
<Voct> okay
<Voct> thanks
<Tox|AtSchool> Alright, how do you want me to write it up? Timeline form?
<Tox|AtSchool> or do you want me to weave what could be known (time of arrival and such) into the narrative
Woah. Okay, that text log's interpretation there pretty much solidifies an upvote.
Additionally, the morally ambiguous nature of the conduct permitted inside this slice of time sells the article quite well. There aren't any repercussions. At all. You can get away with literally anything. I can see what MC&D consumers would be interested in it for.
Now I'm left wondering how the hell someone in the 1800s could've cobbled together the technology to make something powerful enough to split spacetime like that.
That was pretty much reson for +1.
Huge necropost, but this log is the reason why I upvoted. Not only does it add a backstory to an otherwise mundane skip, it also has some troubling implications of exactly what lengths MC&D are willing to go to satisfy their costumers. Assuming that the man who activated the device that caused the time loop was an MC&D worker, that would mean that MC&D is willing to subject an entire alternate timeline/dimension/universe/earth to repeat the same day over and over- perhaps one of the most existentially horrifying fates- in order to create some shitty interactive window pane that most people will just keep in an attic and forget about. Gotta get that cash money, I guess.
And if the whole world is crashing down… fall through space out of mind with me.
marshall carter and dark was renting this thing for Chicago Rapefests
Jesus. I've known about this skip for years—it was the thing that spawned the Chicago Spirit mythos, after all—but for some reason the deeper implications of the MCD connection never occurred to me until I read this log just now. That's some serious fridge horror right there.
