EXTENDED EXPLORATION LOG 7041.275
DATE: 04/18/2014
OBJECTIVE NOTES AND EVENTS SUMMARY: Tau-17 Agents Rachel Melbrook and Lindsey Forell conducted a recorded inspection of the building as well as the well-being of its occupants. After a brief discussion with SCP-7041-1 regarding the nature of their visit, they were permitted onto the premises for a four hour inspection. During this time, Agent Melbrook was separated from Agent Forell, who later returned in an attempt to retrieve her. The following logs document both expeditions as well as an additional interview conducted between Agent Melbrook and SCP-7041-1.
EXPLORATION LOG 7041.275.0: Initial inspection attempt.
[BEGIN LOG]
Agent Melbrook: Well, that went… surprisingly well.
Agent Forell: What makes you say that? Were you expecting to get vaporized?
Agent Melbrook: Or whatever she did to that dick Doles and the rest of 17-3, yeah.
The pair walk around the foyer for several minutes before heading into the main hallway of the building. Numerous doors extend on either side of the hallway, bearing placards denoting the occupant's name and birthday.
Agent Forell: Ah, hell. You don't think Sergeant Knowles would be fine with us just glancing through a few halls and calling it a day?
Agent Melbrook: Not a chance.
Agent Forell: [grumbles] Fine. Let’s just get this over with.
Agents Forell and Melbrook begin to walk through the hallway. Doors along either side remain closed, and little activity is noted for the first thirty-one doors. Upon reaching the thirty-second door, however, the Agents stop as a young girl with a Middle Eastern appearance steps out and hurries past them. Her placard reads “Samia ████████, Apr ██, 20██, █████, Syria”.
Agent Forell: [in a whisper] What…happened to her face?
Agent Melbrook turns to Agent Forell, her face in a deadpan.
Agent Melbrook: …Those are from vesicant exposure, Lindsey. I'm pretty sure anyone else from this batch of kids will have ones like these.
Agent Forell’s footage lingers on the young girl as she continues down the hallway. A few moments later, she stumbles, then sits down and begins to attempt to retie her shoes.
Agent Melbrook: Hold on a second.
Agent Melbrook approaches the young girl with palms held outward, then gestures to her shoes. She assists her and then stands, crossing back over to Forell. Agents Forell and Melbrook continue their route for 16 approximately seconds before encountering SCP-7041-1.
SCP-7041-1: Ah, there you are. Has everything been satisfactory thus far?
Agent Forell: Yes, ma'am. Everything appears to be to protocol standard.
SCP-7041-1: I should hope so. I put quite a bit of care into this place.
SCP-7041-1 moves to pass the two agents, but stops shortly in front of Agent Melbrook.
SCP-7041-1: Oh, and Rachel…your kindness is appreciated, but I believe the terms of your assignment mention avoiding direct interaction with the children here. I would proceed with caution. You risk frightening them.
Agent Melbrook: Understood.
SCP-7041-1 continues past and around the corner, as do Agents Forell and Melbrook.
Agent Forell: Jeez. She’s running a tight ship around here.
Agent Melbrook: I guess, but that's reasonable enough when you're overseeing a group of trauma victims. In any case…
Agent Melbrook pauses upon noticing an adjacent door.
Agent Forell: Rachel? What’s wrong?.. Rach?
Agent Melbrook: …Was that door there before?
Agent Melbrook points to a dull green door on the pair’s left. The door’s placard reads: Rachel Melbrook, Dec ██ 19██, █████, Retained.
Agent Melbrook: This is… me. That’s me. That’s my fucking birthday.
Agent Forell: Rach… are you sure? You weren’t on the records. Pretty sure we’d be noting down personnel who-
Agent Melbrook: No, but- why would this be here, then? If I was here… but then they told me I was- that my parents-
Agent Forell: Rachel?
Agent Melbrook: [staggering back] No, no, I need to- I need to ask Ms. Rosemary, I-
Agent Melbrook turns abruptly, beginning to run down the hallway.
Agent Forell: Wait, Rach-!
Agent Melbrook’s recording ends at this point. The following 216 minutes of footage show Agent Forell attempting to locate Agent Melbrook. During this time she grows increasingly distressed, reporting inconsistencies against known layouts of the building as well as what is described as “shuffling” of SCP-7041’s passages.
After failing to locate Agent Melbrook, Agent Forell elects to instead temporarily exit SCP-7041 in order to receive guidance from offsite Foundation staff. Footage cuts off once the exit has been reached.
[END LOG]
INTERVIEW LOG 7041.92: Interview between Agent Melbrook and SCP-7041-1.
[BEGIN LOG]
Footage for Agent Melbrook's camera resumes. A hand passes in front of the lens as if having just switched on the device. SCP-7041-1 is sitting on the other side of an oakwood table. She does not appear to acknowledge the camera, instead choosing to look solely at Agent Melbrook.
Agent Melbrook: You know what I came here for.
SCP-7041-1: [smiles] Of course, dear. An inspection. And, evidently, a bonus interview.
Agent Melbrook: A bonus int- No, no, who the hell are you? Who the hell am I? Why do I have a room in your goddamn orphanage?
SCP-7041-1 appears to grow somber, reaching out a hand hesitantly, then drawing it back.
SCP-7041-1: …Please, Rachel, do not raise your voice at me. I can tell you whatever it is you wish to know, but I ask that you not be hostile with me when I do so.
Agent Melbrook: Then answer the questions. And fast. I- shit, [sits up] Lindsey, she-
SCP-7041-1: Your partner is alright. I've ensured she can locate the exit when she wishes to do so.
Agent Melbrook: But she's going to be looking for me-
SCP-7041-1: I would prefer that we not have interruptions. I'm sorry, dear. I can only assure her safety.
Agent Melbrook pauses, but appears to settle back slightly.
SCP-7041-1: Right. SCP-7041-1 begins to visibly fidget. I owe you… several explanations, truly. I…feel I owe you an apology for not being more forthcoming with you. All I can do is assure that I made the best decisions I could with what I was given.
Agent Melbrook: Were your hands that tied considering you're able to, what? Take a fifty cal to the shoulder and keep going?
SCP-7041-1: …What do you think happened, Rachel?
Agent Melbrook falls silent for a moment.
Agent Melbrook: I think I grew up here. For a little, at least. And I'm not afraid of you, so I don't think you did anything too fucked up while I was here, but past that…
SCP-7041-1: [nods] I understand, I was… admittedly unaware of just how early they elected to progress things with some of you.
Agent Melbrook: …The Foundation, you mean?
SCP-7041-1: Yes. I'll admit I… was never certain of what became of all of you. To me you were all so young that the very idea of it all seemed impossible. By the time I discovered where you had ended up, it was far too late to intervene.
Agent Melbrook: So… so what, you didn't know?
SCP-7041-1: You were handed over into protective custody at five years of age, Rachel Melbrook, with the cover story that your parents had died in a car accident.
Agent Melbrook: And they… didn't, is what you're telling me?
SCP-7041-1: It was a series of police raid bombings. A part of the United States I had yet to see. By the time we returned, the area was razed. Some of the children in the area had living relatives elsewhere, but…
SCP-7041-1's gaze falls to its hands before it quietly shakes its head.
SCP-7041-1: If I knew a better way to share the truth with you, dearest, I would. I wish there was any way I could lessen the impact this must have on you.
23 seconds pass in silence. After this period, Agent Melbrook appears to settle back.
Agent Melbrook: …I'll be fine.
SCP-7041-1: …I see. Well. If you're sure you're alright, there is another matter I would like to discuss with you.
Agent Melbrook: Go ahead.
SCP-7041-1 takes a deep breath.
SCP-7041-1: My time in this realm is coming to an end.
Agent Melbrook: You're… are you dying?
SCP-7041-1: In a way, yes. I must say it feels long overdue, all things considered.
Agent Melbrook: And you're just fine with… Christ, okay, why are you telling me this?
SCP-7041-1: Because I've seen what you're capable of, Rachel. Not only physically, but you care deeply about others, you demonstrate sensitivity towards the children here, and… [laughs] well, perhaps most importantly, you're stubborn as a mule. You always have been.
Agent Melbrook: Excuse me?
SCP-7041-1: I mean you aren't one to be easily swayed. That, and every other trait I've mentioned, would be ideal for my successor.
Agent Melbrook appears to sit up slightly. Another period of silence, spanning 21 seconds, ensues.
Agent Melbrook: I've… I can't just…
SCP-7041-1: Then allow me to rephrase: if you did elect to stay in your current post, why would you be staying?
Agent Melbrook: What are you getting at?
SCP-7041-1: Is it out of pure loyalty and devotion to your Foundation? Because if that is the case…have you considered the fact that you may not be able to recall this conversation after you leave these walls, Rachel?
Agent Melbrook pauses. A hand reaches across the camera's field of view, and the recording stops.
[END LOG]
EXPLORATION LOG 7041.275.5: Attempt to retrieve Agent Melbrook.
NOTE: After several minutes of consultation with offsite Foundation staff, Agent Forell returned to the interior of SCP-7041. Per advisement, she was to ignore the inspection objective.
[BEGIN LOG]
The layout of SCP-7041 appears to have stabilized. Agent Forell is able to quickly locate Agent Melbrook in the front foyer.
Agent Forell: Rach? Rach, Christ, I thought you-
Agent Melbrook: I'm fine. I was… I spoke with her for a while.
Agent Forell: With SCP-7041-1?
Agent Melbrook nods.
Agent Forell: Are you- you know what? We can talk about this later. Agent Forell turns toward the exit. We need to go. Doc’ll be on our ass any moment.
Agent Melbrook: [inaudible]
Agent Forell: You're what?
Agent Melbrook: I'm not going.
Agent Forell turns back towards Agent Melbrook, who does not appear to have moved.
Agent Forell: The fuck do you mean you're not going, Rach? We're done here, if you're- if this is corrupting you or something-
Agent Melbrook: No, Lindsey, I- I have to do this.
Agent Forell: Do what?
Agent Melbrook: Stay here. Assume her role.
Agent Forell: What?
Agent Melbrook: This place needs a new Headmistress. It needs me.
Agent Forell attempts to grab Agent Melbrook's arm, but is unable to move her.
Agent Melbrook: Let go of me, Lindsey. Please.
Agent Forell: This is weird. This is fucking weird.
Agent Forell raises her radio to speak, but hears only static in response.
Agent Forell: Damn it, Rach, we need to get you back! You aren't safe here!
Agent Melbrook: And I'm safe with everyone back there? Really? This is… [laughs] This feels like the first decision I've made for myself in so long. I refuse to be forced into that life again. I'm sorry that it means I need to leave you behind.
Agent Forell: Rach, you're my partner. I need you to stick by me. It's not safe out there alone, I…
Agent Melbrook pulls Agent Forell towards her. Dialogue is muffled to inaudibility for the next several minutes before the two separate.
Agent Melbrook: Just… if it helps… think of the kids, Lindsey. They're good kids.
Agent Forell: …I know, Rach. You were one of them.
Agent Melbrook guides Agent Forell to the door, handing her a device later confirmed to be her body camera along with other Foundation-issued equipment. Once outside, 67 seconds elapse without movement before Agent Forell's hand reaches across the camera's field of view.
[END LOG]
Closing Statement from Sgt. Knowles, Tau-17: After debriefing Agent Forell, I offered her the option of receiving Class C amnestic treatment and/or being reassigned to another Site-12 task force. Agent Forell declined both offers and insisted on remaining with Tau-17. I will approve her reintegration pending a positive Sterling-Kesher emotional resilience report from the psych team. Recommending enforced limited contact between her and SCP-7041-1.
Note from Michael Brown, Head Archivist for Tau-17: Let’s make sure our logs on this thing are up to date as well to avoid another meltdown. I've got no idea how many staff might have been associated with it and I'm not intent on asking. We had a hell of a time transcribing that footage.
NOTE: Based on the documented observations, Foundation research staff associated with Tau-17 concluded that after a life cycle of approximately 100. Including the entity's lifespan before taking on anomalous traits. years, the entity will pass its anomalous properties to an adult female previously in its care. The former identity and memories of this new instance appear to be retained. These properties have been passed to Former Foundation Agent Rachel Melbrook, who will from this date be referred to as SCP-7041-1 in accordance with the events of this exploration log. The pre-anomalous incarnation of Former Agent Melbrook is to be considered missing in action.
