Video Log Transcript: Panel Room
Exploration Team: Zeta-9 (“Mole Rats”)
Subject: SCP-6616 / SCP-6616-1
Team Lead: Zeta9-1 (Theta)
Team Members: Theta / Rho / Kappa
[BEGIN LOG]
Theta: █████, ███… ██████! Here it is. Christ, how do people not get lost in this place?
Rho: I don’t know, but it’s 4:45. We need to get in or we’re gonna miss something. If we didn’t have to stop on the way-
Kappa: I said I was sorry! I had to go!
Theta: Look, it’s fine. We made it on time. Kappa, you remembered to turn your camera off, yeah?
Kappa: Of course I did. Though, you should really see the bathrooms in this place. Those dimensional-toilets are insane! It’s a very efficient waste disposal system. Well, for us at least.
Theta: …alright. Ignoring that-
Theta turns back towards the Panel Room.
Theta: Come on. Let’s go. We don’t want to miss anything.
The team walks into the Panel Room. Standing on either side of the double doors are two SCP-6616-1 entities.
6616-1: Please make sure all electronic devices, robotics, trans-quantum wave allocators and pagers are switched off. Enjoy the show!
Kappa: Thank you!
Theta nods and continues walking. The room is moderately filled, holding around 250 people. The stage is 15 meters long and backed against the north wall of the room. Behind the stage is a large, gray curtain with the letters M, C and D inscribed on it in gold lettering. The team walks down the center aisle of the room, seeing three open seats.
Theta: Excuse me… sorry.
The team moves past three individuals while getting to their seats. Two men and one woman, all wearing dark green robes. Each individual has a small snake coiled around a closed fist stamped on the back on their hands. The team sits down in their seats.
???: So, are you three excited for the presentation?
Sitting to the right of the team is a man wearing a dark grey, wool sweater. His face appears blurred on the video feed.
Theta: Yeah, we are. Have you been to many of these before?
???: Not many, but enough to know how they work. They have a big panel every year. MC&D won the lotto this time…
Rho: What do you mean “lotto”?
???: Well, speaking in front of this many people is great publicity. Especially for them. Anomaly sales are going to skyrocket after this, if they can pull it off.
Theta: What other panels has there been in the past?
???: Wondertainment, Anderson, you name it. Even Nobody, one year. Though, that one was pretty boring. Nobody was there.
Theta: Hm.
Theta turns back towards the SCP-6616-1 entities near the door.
Theta: And what about these things that are floating around everywhere? What’s up with them?
The man tilts his head.
???: You’re very curious, aren’t you?
Theta: Sorry, it’s our first year. We’re just trying to learn as much as possible.
???: And what group are you with? The more organized ones should have filled you in before coming. They wouldn’t want you to misrepresent them, after all.
Theta extends his hand, displaying the INDV.
Theta: We’re individual. My two friends and I.
Rho and Kappa both wave.
Kappa: It’s nice to meet you!
The man sighs.
???: I’d cherish your individuality while it lasts. It won’t be long before someone comes along and scoops you up into their organization, or cult, or insurgency or foundation. Things are so political nowadays. You know, when I was younger, we could do magic all we wanted without having to worry about being shoved in a box and tested on! I mean, imagine trying to get a job in this landscape when the only thing that comes up when someone searches your name online is SCP- blah blah blah! It’s incredibly difficult!
Theta: …right. What group did you say you were here with?
The man laughs.
???: I didn’t. But, since you asked, I-
A voice comes over a loud speaker in the panel room. The man stops talking.
Loud Speaker: Ladies and gentlemen, dead and undead, anomalous and non-anomalous, type green, type blue and every type under the goddamn sun!
The lights in the room dim as two spotlights are aimed towards the stage. The audience starts to applaud.
Loud Speaker: We’ve kept you waiting long enough. AnomalyCon 2020 is proud to present… Marshall, Carter and Dark!
The gray curtain on stage rises. The audience starts to shout and applause. A single man in a black suit is standing on stage, a microphone in his hand. Behind the man is a projection of a slide presentation, though no projector can be located. The projection reads “Profiting Off of the Anomalous”, with a clipart stack of dollar bills under it.
MC&D Rep: HELLO ANOMALYCON! How are you all doing tonight?!
The applause slowly dies down.
MC&D Rep: I, for one, am doing fantastic and looking forward to teaching you how to turn monsters…
The image on the projection becomes a stock photo of SCP-173.
MC&D Rep: …into money!
A red ‘X’ appears over 173. A black arrow leads away from the image and towards a clipart dollar sign. The audience is silent.
MC&D Rep: Now, I bet I know what you’re all thinking…
One of the three robed individuals sitting next to Zeta-9 turns to the other two.
Serpent’s Hand POI: Who the fuck is this?! Ophidian said one of the Big Three would be here!
Serpent’s Hand POI 2: Shhh! We stick the plan! This could still be a massive blow to their operations! And a blow is a blow, no matter how small.
Kappa mumbles something about talking about your blows in a more private setting. The man on stage continues.
MC&D Rep: …wait a minute, he’s not one of the Big Three! And you’re right, I’m not. Unfortunately, they were just too busy to make it this year.
A collective sigh sweeps through the audience as many people start getting up and walking towards the exit.
MC&D Rep: But wait, there’s more! I can provide all the essential information about starting your own anomalous startup that they could, if not more!
The three robed figures turn towards each other.
Serpent’s Hand POI: Shit… they’re leaving! Ophidian said-
Serpent’s Hand POI 2: I know what Ophidian said! Alright, if we want the greatest amount of people to see this, we have to go now!
Kappa: Can you be quiet? We’re trying to listen!
All at once, the three robed figures stand and walk into the center of the aisle.
Rho: Theta…
Theta: Just be ready.
The man laughs.
???: Oh, this should be good.
From the center aisle, one robed figure steps forward while the other two fall back behind her. She points to the man on stage.
Serpent’s Hand POI: YOU! YOU CLAIM TO REPRESENT THE WICKED MERCHANTS, MARSHALL, CARTER AND DARK?!
The room falls silent as all eyes are drawn to the figures and the man on stage.
MC&D Rep: Uhhh… yeah?
Serpent’s Hand POI: You slimy, despicable fuck! Selling anomalies like slaves to the highest bidder! You make me sick!
MC&D Rep: Wha- you guys are with the Serpent's Hand, right? I thought we were cool with the Serpent’s Hand?!
Serpent’s Hand POI: The Serpent’s Hand maybe. But the Serpent’s Will knows better… the ones you treat like livestock could erase you from the minds of every person on earth with a single blink, ripping any memory of you from their heads like the filthy parasite you are! You cannot even comprehend the power they posses, and yet when you behold them in all of their glory, all you see are numbers… the veil can only be dropped and we can all only be free once people like you are purged from this reality! NOW!
A figure behind the woman pulls a book out of his robe and starts reading in an unfamiliar language. The woman rolls up the sleeve on her right arm, revealing an intricate snake tattoo winding from her shoulder to her wrist, where the snake’s mouth sits agape in the center of the woman’s palm. As the man reads, the tattoo begins to peel itself off of the woman’s arm, the ink beginning to twist and writhe in the air. Once fully animated, the snake bares its dripping, black fangs and winds back, ready to strike at the man on stage. It shoots forwards, towards the man, who cowers, covering his eyes with his hands.
Serpent’s Hand POI: STRIKE THAT HERETIC DOWN WHERE HE STANDS!
Instantly, an SCP-6616-1 entity appears in front of the animated snake, grabbing it by its neck. The entity squeezes and the snake vanishes into a cloud of dark smoke.
Serpent’s Hand POI: What-
The entity appears behind the woman, grabbing her by the back of her head. The entity sighs, sounding like white noise through the video feed.
6616-1: I wish you would’ve kept your weird, magic snake tattoo for after the convention, ma’am.
The entity slams the woman’s head into the ground, causing ripples to spread out from the site of the impact. The woman begins to sink into the floor, as if it was mud. She opens her mouth to scream, but floor just fills any space it has access to, cutting off her scream with a chocked sob. Then, the woman is gone, only a bright smear of red remaining where her face hit the floor. Two other SCP-6616-1 entities appear behind the two other robed figures. One entity grabs the man with the book by the hood of his robe, and flings him up towards the ceiling. Like an origami fortune teller, a pitch black square unfolds onto the ceiling above him. No light passes through the square and nothing can be seen beyond it. The man flies into the contained void, as it folds itself in half continually until it too is gone. The entity picks up the book and it ignites in its hand, the ashes slipping through its fingertips. The man sitting next to Zeta-9 chuckles.
???: That never gets old…
The last entity grabs the remaining robed figure by his wrist and starts dragging him towards the stage.
Serpent’s Hand POI 3: W-wait, it was her idea! I swear, I didn’t want to do it, I didn’t! It was all her!
The entity makes its way onto the stage and turns to the MC&D Representative, still covering his eyes.
6616-1: On behalf of the entire STAFF, I apologize for the disturbance. You may continue with your presentation shortly.
The entity drags the robed figure off stage, behind the drawn curtain. Muffled crying can be heard.
Serpent’s Hand POI 3: I swear, it wasn’t me! I can tell you where they are! I can give you names, locations, anything, please! I SWEAR IT WASN’T-
The crying stops. The entity emerges from the behind he stage, hands dripping. It nods to the MC&D Representative and floats away.
MC&D Rep: …h-holy shit…
The MC&D Representative clears his throat.
MC&D Rep: W-well folks, sorry about that little interruption! We should b-b-be good to go!
Theta stand and turns towards Rho and Kappa.
Theta: We need to leave. Now.
Theta walks into the aisle and towards the door. Rho and Kappa follow. The man calls out after them.
???: Hey, where are you guys going? What, never seen someone get killed before?
As the team exits the panel room, an SCP-6616-1 entity turns towards them.
6616-1: I’m really sorry about that, sirs and ma’am! I hope that didn’t ruin your convention experience this year!
The team runs past the entity and out the door. Once in the main convention center, Theta spots a familiar SCP-6616-1 entity in the distance, who waves them down.
Theta: Derek!
Theta turns and gestures for his team to follow.
Theta: Come on!
The team runs towards the entity.
Rho: Holy shit! Holy fuckin’ shit! What the hell was that-
6616-1: Who was it?
Rho: …what?
6616-1: Who was it, who started the fight?!
Theta: It was the Serpent’s Hand. Called themselves the, uh… the Serpent’s Will. They called themselves the Serpent’s Will.
6616-1: HAHA, YES!
Rho: What?
6616-1: And who did they start the fight with?
Theta: This guy representing Marshall, Carter and Dark during the panel.
6616-1: TWO FOR TWO, FUCK YEAH! That’s 50 bucks, baby!
Rho: Excuse me, what the fuck are you talking about?!
6616-1: There’s been talk of a Serpent’s Hand splinter cell that started to form a few months back. Super radical. Anyone who isn’t with them is against them.
Theta: So why’d they go after MC&D of all people?
6616-1: Apparently, they hate them the most. Something about anomalies not being property, and “you can’t sell people!” blah, blah, blah. They’re super touchy about people like me, too. As if we need them fighting for our rights.
Rho: And you… BET ON THEM!
6616-1: Yeah. We all do.
Rho: How many fights are there?! I thought you were supposed to be security!
6616-1: Did anyone besides the Serpent’s Will douchebags get hurt?
Rho: I… well, I guess not…
6616-1: Exactly. People come here every year thinking it’s a perfect opportunity to get revenge on someone, or turn the tides of whatever imaginary war they’re fighting. They hear the rumors, but they think that’s just what they are: rumors. They don’t take the STAFF seriously. But make no mistake. We take our jobs… very seriously.
Rho: …right. Understood.
The entity nods.
6616-1: Good. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I want to go see the damage! Did June do the thing with the floor? Oh, I bet she did! That always scares the shit out of them! I saw one guy literally shit his pants as he sank into the floor! We had to get a new carpet, cause the shit merged with it as he sank…
The entity starts to float away towards the panel room. As it does, the doors open and people start flooding out.
6616-1: Get out of the way! Move it, just- fuck it.
The entity vanishes. Theta turns toward his team.
Theta: Come on. I think we have enough for an initial report.
Rho: Initial?! Man, I just saw someone drown in the floor like it was fucking silly putty!
Kappa: Yeah, we all saw! Besides the whole killing thing, it wasn’t really that bad.
Rho: Christ Almighty, I do not want to see whatever you consider bad!
Theta starts walking towards the entrance to the anomaly. His team follows. As the team approaches, a booth can be seen standing next to the entrance.
Rho: Hey Theta?
Theta: Yeah, what is it?
Rho: Why does that booth have the Foundation’s logo on it?
In front of the team stands an all black booth with the Foundation’s insignia drawn on the front.
Theta: I… uh…
Kappa approaches the booth, picking up a pin of the Foundation’s insignia that lays on the counter.
Kappa: …what the hell? They have pins? Wait a minute… five dollars?! For a shitty pin?!
A man wearing a dark grey, wool sweater walks out from the back of the booth.
???: That’s right, five dollars. Or gears, or paints, or 7th dimension ingots or whatever currency you use. Five of them… hey, it’s you guys! Where did you run off to in such a hurry?
Theta: Wha- but we just saw you in the panel room. How did you get out here so fast?
???: Oh, I always like to get my stand up and running as people start to leave for the day. They make great customers on the way out!
Theta: I asked how you got out here so fast. Not why.
???: …anyways, see anything you like?
Kappa: I would say the pins, but five dollars is highway robbery! How much does it cost to make these?
???: Pretty much nothing. I got a deal going with The Factory, so I get hundreds of these things.
Kappa: …cheap.
???: It’s called business. I guess you would know what I’m talking about if MC&D didn’t drop the ball so hard, am I right?
The team is silent.
???: Heh. Well, I have other things if you don’t want the pins. How about a picture? Or an autograph? I’m actually pretty high up in Foundation ranks, so my autograph is pretty valuable!
Kappa: Yeah, cause you can always trust someone who says their own autograph is valuable.
The man shrugs.
???: Whatever.
Theta: …high up in Foundation ranks…
Theta gets closer to the booth.
Theta: Wait… dash twelve? Is that you?
05-12: …who’s asking?
Theta: MTF Zeta-9.
05-12: Uhhh-
Rho: And why does your booth say “Happy 5th anniversary”?
05-12: …oh shit.
[END LOG]