The break room contains approximately seven personnel engaged in conversation. Site Director Clover Parker is visible near the coffee machine speaking with Dr. K███ Parker.
Clover: Joyce.
Sternum inclines his head slightly.
Sternum: Director.
K: We were talking about the new intake evaluations. How'd they go?
Sternum stirs an untouched cup of coffee.
Sternum: About the same as usual.
K: Rough?
Sternum: Mhm.
Brief silence.
Sternum: Every new intake ends the same way.
Several personnel exchange glances but do not interrupt.
Sternum: I get that I stand out like a sore thumb here, but it's the excessive eye contact. The forced politeness. And the apologies for things nobody asked them to apologize for.
Sternum gives a small shrug.
Clover: I think they're just trying not to upset you.
Sternum: I know. It doesn't make me feel any better though.
K: What would make you feel better then?
Sternum: Let me access it.
Clover: It?
K: The anomaly file.
Clover: I thought you gave up on that request years ago?
Sternum: I did. But I've noticed everyone else seems so comfortable talking about it, more than me at least.
Clover: Joyce, I don't know if accessing that file, revisiting that time is going to help you.
Sternum: Maybe not. But I barely remember anything from back then. Just pieces, evaluations and people talking like I wasn't in the room. I just feel strange, having years of my life reduced to paperwork I haven't been allowed to read.
K: We kept it from you for a good reason.
Sternum: I know.
K: There was a lot of cleaning up we had to do after the incident. As you often say, ignorance is bliss.
Clover: If we approve your access, you do understand that those files won't help you get your old life back?
Sternum: I'm aware, but I would still like to know what happened to it, what you told them.
Clover: Alright then, don't spend your Christmas break reading through it though.
Sternum: I'll try not to.
Sternum gets up and nods to his colleagues before exiting the break room and heading to his office.
[PERSONNEL LOCK OVERRIDDEN | FILE ACCESS GRANTED]
Welcome, Dr. Joyce Sternum. 2026/12/24
| Assigned Site | Site Director | Assigned Staff | Assigned Task Force |
| Site-454 | C. Parker | J. Sternum | N/A |
SCP-7942-1
Special Containment Procedures: SCP-7942 is currently contained within the ribcage of SCP-7942-1. SCP-7942-1 remains within Sub-Level 1 to 14 of Site-454 and is prohibited from accessing the Ground Level or exiting site grounds.
Description: SCP-7942 resembles a green human heart suspended within the thoracic cavity of SCP-7942-1 by a network of fibrous structures threaded through the ribcage and spinal column. Attempts at removal have proven unsuccessful. SCP-7942 appears to simultaneously restore and consume SCP-7942-1's biological tissue, preventing both complete regeneration and permanent death.
SCP-7942-1 is Dr. Joyce Sternum. SCP-7942-1 lacks soft tissue and internal organs, with the majority of its skeletal structure remaining visibly exposed. Despite this condition, SCP-7942-1 remains fully animate, cognitively intact, and capable of speech, sensory perception, and independent movement.
Dr. Joyce Sternum currently serves as the Head of Psychological Evaluations at Site-454.
ADDENDUM 7942.1
2009/03/17
Context: On 2009/03/17 at approximately 18:32, Dr. Joyce Sternum was discovered by Researcher Hales exiting Elevator-C on Sub-Level 4 in a state of advanced bodily deterioration. Despite rapid loss of soft tissue and internal organs, Dr. Sternum remained conscious and responsive. Medical intervention proved unsuccessful in halting the degeneration, during which SCP-7942 was identified within the thoracic cavity.
Twenty-four hours following admission to Site-454's Intensive Medical Care Unit, Dr. Sternum had lost all remaining tissue while remaining cognitively functional and responsive. Dr. Sternum was subsequently interviewed by Dr. Parker regarding exposure circumstances.
ADDENDUM 7942.1 | Follow-up Interview
2009/03/18
Interviewed: Dr. Joyce Sternum
Interviewer: Dr. K███ Parker
[BEGIN LOG]
K: Can you hear me, Joyce?
Sternum: I can hear you fine.
Brief silence.
K: Do you know where you are?
Sternum: Sub-Level 2 Intensive Care Unit. I take it checking up on me isn't the only reason you're here?
K: No, unfortunately not. I'm going to need some information from you. Tell me what happened.
Sternum: Right.
K: What were you doing on Sub-Level 15?
Sternum: I— It had been a long day. I hadn't slept in two days. I forgot what level I was on, took the elevator without thinking. Didn't realize it was Elevator-C.
Dr. Parker continues writing.
K: What happened after you arrived?
Sternum: Nothing. Not immediately, at least. The lights were still on. Everything looked normal.
K: Then?
Sternum: I followed the hallways. It was all just hallways. Modern ones, like the upper levels. But the further I walked, the older everything started looking.
K: How long were you down there?
Sternum: Minutes. Maybe hours. I'm not sure. It's— Never mind.
Brief silence.
Sternum: I eventually found a door. Old Foundation construction. Had one of the old logos on it.
K: What was written on the door?
Sternum: Fortune Spiral Testing Unit.
K: Did you enter?
Sternum: I did.
K: What was inside?
Sternum remains silent momentarily.
Sternum: A sphere. Floating above the floor. Light coming off it in waves.
Sternum shifts slightly within the hospital bed. Audible bone contact recorded.
Sternum: It felt angry.
K: Angry?
Sternum: I don't know how else to describe it. The room didn't feel right.
Brief silence.
K: Continue.
Sternum: I wanted to leave, but—
Sternum pauses.
Sternum: I can't remember.
Silence lasting approximately five seconds.
Sternum: After that it was all blurred together. My chest started hurting. Felt like something was tightening around my ribs. Then it felt like my body was burning away from the inside.
K: And you returned to the elevator?
Sternum nods.
Sternum: I think I scared your apprentice half to death.
Sternum laughs dryly.
K: Joyce.
Sternum looks toward Dr. Parker.
K: How much sensation do you currently possess?
Sternum: Enough.
K: I see.
Brief silence. Dr. Parker resumes writing.
Sternum: K███, be honest with me. How bad is it?
K: We're still evaluating your condition.
Sternum: That's not what I asked.
Dr. Parker stops writing.
Sternum: Have you contacted my wife yet?
K: Not yet.
Sternum: Why not?
K: We needed more information first.
Sternum: Fuck.
Silence.
Sternum: I told her I'd be home tonight.
Prolonged silence recorded.
Sternum: Am I going to die?
K: We don't know.
Sternum exhales audibly. Several moments pass in silence.
Sternum: K███?
K: Yes?
Sternum: Am I going to be locked up here?
Dr. Parker does not respond immediately.
K: I'm not sure.
Sternum: Wonderful.
[END LOG]
Afterword: Following the interview, the anomalous organism residing within Dr. Sternum's thoracic cavity was formally designated SCP-7942. Site Command subsequently conducted an internal review regarding Dr. Sternum's classification as an anomalous entity and the applicability of standard containment protocols. No consensus was reached, Dr. Sternum still pending.
A message pops up on Sternum's screen. NOTICE: USER INACTIVITY DETECTED. Sternum scoffs and resumes scrolling.
Sternum: Jesus Christ… They held a vote. Fair enough I suppose, though I wonder…
Sternum continues to read through the Afterword. Sternum then minimizes the document and opens Site-454's staff directory. He stares blankly at his page. Foundation Psychiatrist. Sternum breathes a sigh of relief.
Sternum: Hah, still here.
As Sternum re-opens the document to continue reading, he hears a buzz from his phone. Sternum stares at the notification, it's from Researcher Barristen.
Barristen: Heya Sternum, just got off for the day. Wanna join us in the break room?
Sternum: Thank you for the offer, but I have some work I need to finish tonight.
Barristen: You sure? It's Christmas sir, you shouldn't be working!
Sternum: I'll pass.
Barristen: Suit yourself.
Sternum turns off his phone and scrolls on.
ADDENDUM 7942.2 | Site-454 Command Review Meeting
2009/03/19
Site Director: Clover Parker
Head of Anomalous Development: Dr. K███ Parker
Head of Informational Technologies: Dr. April Crowley
Head of Containment Operations: Dr. Lincoln Krowefitt
Chief of Security: Agent Andrea Mulligan
Ethics Committee Liaison: Harry Chamberlain
[BEGIN LOG]
Audio begins. Multiple personnel are already seated.
Clover: Alright. Let's get this over with.
Brief silence. Shuffling of papers is audible.
Clover: Current topic of discussion is regarding Dr. Joyce Sternum. Specifically, whether or not Site-454 intends to classify him as an anomaly and subject him to containment.
Mulligan: He already is one.
Krowefitt: Andrea—
Mulligan: What exactly are we debating here? He's infected with an unidentified anomaly that's both killing him and keeping him alive. I dunno, seems pretty anomalous to me.
K: He's still a member of staff.
Mulligan: The Foundation has locked up weirdos for less. We should lock it up and call it a day.
Crowley exhales sharply through her nose.
Crowley: Can we not talk about him like he's an object? Dr. Sternum can still think. Hell he can still talk!
Mulligan: So what? Plenty of anomalies can talk. What if the thing inside him spreads?
Crowley: We don't even know if it can spread.
Mulligan: Exactly.
Silence follows.
Chamberlain: What are the current medical projections?
K: No indication of cognitive degradation within the subject. No signs of increased aggression either. As far as we can tell there's no evidence the anomaly can transmit to another host.
K pauses. He can be heard flipping through his notebook.
K: From my own personal interaction with the subject, it appears despite lacking any physical tissue or organs, he has been able to utilize all five of his senses without issue.
Krowefitt: Physically speaking, Joyce shouldn't be alive right now. But he is.
Mulligan: For now.
Clover folds her hands together.
Clover: Joyce has worked at this site for eleven years. It would be different if he was an unidentified humanoid we pulled out of a ditch.
Mulligan: So what? Give him a nicer room to sit in?
Crowley: Oh for fuck's sake.
Crowley gets up from her chair and leans on the table.
Crowley: You saw him downstairs. Like Dr. Parker said, he isn't aggressive.
Mulligan: And?
Crowley: And maybe treat him like the person he is before talking about containment cells.
Silence lasting approximately six seconds. Crowley returns to her seat.
Chamberlain: So what are the proposed containment recommendations?
Mulligan: Permanent isolation and long-term study.
Krowefitt: That's just containment with nicer wording.
Mulligan: If that's how you see it then so be it.
Krowefitt: Joyce isn't dangerous.
Mulligan: We don't know that yet.
Krowefitt: And what about you? I bet the dirt under your nails is ten times more than the damage he could ever cause.
Mulligan: This isn't about me.
Clover: Quiet.
Silence. Chamberlain resumes writing.
Chamberlain: The Ethics Committee is currently neutral. Foundation policy regarding cognitively intact anomalous personnel remains unclear under current circumstances.
Mulligan: So make it clear then.
Clover: Andrea—
Mulligan: We are a containment facility, Director. Are we all forgetting what it is that we do here at the Foundation? We contain anomalies, regardless of if they're human or item, young or old, man or woman or whatever else.
K: So what happens when we lock up our best psychiatrist?
Silence.
K: Anomalous Development, using anomalies to help humanity. If we take away the person that helps everyone else cope, what happens to us then?
Prolonged silence.
Krowefitt: Has anyone actually asked Joyce what he wants?
Mulligan: That's irrelevant.
Krowefitt: No, I think that's pretty fucking relevant actually.
Clover: Enough. I will not ask you two again.
Clover scribbles a few notes into her sheets.
Clover: Final Vote. The motion is to classify Dr. Sternum as a standard containment subject and treated as an anomaly.
Chamberlain: All votes in favor?
Mulligan raises her hand. Several seconds, later Chamberlain raises his own.
Chamberlain: All those opposed?
Crowley immediately raises her hand. Krowefitt follows shortly afterward.
Chamberlain: K███?
K: Abstaining.
Chamberlain: Motion inconclusive. Director?
Clover nods and stands up.
Clover: Joyce Sternum is remaining under medical observation until we get a clear understanding of what SCP-7942 is. No containment protocols will be enacted at this time.
Mulligan: So what are you saying?
Clover: Dr. Sternum remains Foundation personnel. We'll revisit this matter once we understand more about this situation.
Mulligan: What a waste of time.
Audible chair movement. Personnel begin exiting the room.
[END LOG]
Afterword: Dr. Sternum has been designated as SCP-7942-1 for ease of research documentation.
Krowefitt: Christmas Eve and I find you mopey in your dingy office.
Sternum jolts slightly. He hadn't heard the doors open nor notice anyone enter. He leans slightly to his right and sees Dr. Krowefitt standing in the doorway.
Sternum: Oh, right. Hello Lincoln.
Krowefitt walks over and glances at the terminal.
Krowefitt: What're you reading?
Sternum: My file.
Krowefitt: Ah. They let you read it after all.
Brief silence.
Krowefitt: How's that going?
Sternum: Good, good… Apparently there was a vote on whether or not I counted as a person.
Krowefitt: Yeah, I remember that.
Sternum: You voted against it.
Krowefitt: Of course I did.
Sternum: Why?
Krowefitt looks at Sternum for a moment.
Krowefitt: Because you're my friend, Joyce.
Silence.
Sternum: That's not exactly a good reason. Especially for the O5.
Krowefitt: Good thing I wasn't talking to the O5.
Krowefitt pushes himself away from Sternum's desk.
Krowefitt: Anyways, everyone's in the break room. You should come join us.
Sternum: Maybe later.
Krowefitt: That's what you said last year.
Krowefitt exits the office. Sternum watches the doorway for several moments before returning his attention to the screen.
Sternum: …Maybe later.
Sternum continues scrolling.
ADDENDUM 7942.3 | External Contact Requests
2009-2012
Context: Following Dr. Sternum's designation as SCP-7942-1 and stabilsation of the subject's condition, SCP-7942-1 was permitted to continue daily duties as Site-454's Psychiatrist. During this period SCP-7942-1 submitted multiple requests seeking authorization to contact immediate family members. Immediate family members were informed SCP-7942-1 is deceased. Relevant request logs have been documented below.
Date: 2009/03/22
Request: Requesting permission to contact spouse. She should be informed of my current condition.
Status: Denied
Response: Immediate family members have not been informed of SCP-7942 or your present condition. In accordance with Foundation secrecy protocols, they have been notified that you are deceased.
Date: 2009/04/11
Request: Requesting permission to provide written will to spouse. Direct contact is not required.
Status: Denied
Response: Request denied. Existing civilian cover story is to remain in effect.
Date: 2009/08/03
Request: Requesting confirmation that my spouse and daughter have received financial compensation following my reported death.
Status: Approved
Response: Compensation package has been delivered in accordance with Foundation casualty procedures.
Date: 2009/10/27
Request: Requesting permission to attend daughter's birthday under supervision. No direct interaction required.
Status: Denied
Response: Civilian exposure risk remains unacceptable.
Date: 2010/01/14
Request: Requesting updated information regarding immediate family members.
Status: Approved
Response: Immediate family members remain in good health.
Date: 2010/12/24
Request: Requesting visual confirmation of immediate family members.
Status: Approved
Response: Attached.
Date: 2012/10/27
Request: Requesting permission to attend daughter's birthday under supervision.
Status: Denied
Response: Civilian exposure risk remains unacceptable.
Date: 2012/11/02
Request: Requesting updated information regarding immediate family members.
Status: Approved
Response: Immediate family members remain in good health.
Date: 2012/12/10
Request: Requesting status of approval for seeing family. When will I be able to see them?
Status: Undetermined
Response: Exposure to civilians still poses an unacceptable risk. No determined timeline for approval.
Afterword: Following 2012/12/10, SCP-7942-1 requested to close the submissions portal. No further requests have been submitted or actioned.
Sternum remains motionless for several moments. The monitor illuminates the empty office. The only sound is the low hum of ventilation from somewhere overhead.
Sternum: Seventeen times…
Sternum scrolls back up to the photograph request.
Sternum: I haven't looked at these in ages.
Sternum opens the attached file. A family photograph appears on-screen. A woman and young girl stand in front of a Christmas tree. Sternum studies the image for several moments before closing it again.
Sternum: It has been a while.
His phone vibrates.
Mulligan: Krowefitt told me you were snooping around your old file.
Sternum: I am.
Mulligan: Is it doing anything to help ya?
Sternum: Somewhat.
Mulligan: Well hurry it up, Barristen saved you a seat.
Sternum: I don't think I'll be joining you.
Mulligan: For real?
Sternum: For real.
Mulligan: Fine, but don't get too upset in there. If you want company you know where we are.
Sternum reads the message but does not respond. After several moments, he places the phone face-down on the desk and scrolls onward.
ADDENDUM 7942.4 | Internal Discussion Log
2013/12/24
Context: The following discussion occurred approximately one year following SCP-7942-1's ceasation of requests. At the time, SCP-7942-1 remained under residential restrictions and was housed separately from other Site-454 personnel.
[BEGIN LOG]
Site Director Parker can be heard shuffling through papers.
Clover: You're still here?
K: Am I not allowed to be?
Clover: God forbid a lady wants to do her work in peace.
K: Unfortunately there's little chance of that around me.
Clover chuckles.
Clover: Have you spoken to Joyce recently?
K: Yesterday. The same as always, professional and polite.
Clover: I see.
K: I'm worried about him.
Clover: I know. But what else is there for him to do?
K: That's exactly why I'm concerned. I think he's alone.
Clover: Most people would be after what happened.
K: You mean like us?
Several seconds pass.
Clover: We had each other. For someone like Joyce, I'm surprised he's still willing to work. I thought when I approved his return to work things would get easier.
K: They did, just not for him.
Brief silence.
Clover: What do you think we should do?
K: Treat him like what he is.
Clover: And that is?
K: Joyce. A person. Staff gathering in the break room starts in about an hour.
Clover: You want to invite him?
K: Let the people gawk, they'll get used to him eventually.
Clover: He'll decline.
K: I know.
Clover: Then what?
K: Invite him anyway. At the vote we held, Lincoln was right. We never asked him what he wanted, what he needed.
Clover: Then we should start there.
Clover begins typing into her terminal.
Clover: Council be damned, I'll approve this proposal myself. Remove the residential restriction.
K: Really?
Clover: Mhm.
K: He'll appreciate that.
Clover: It's the least we can do to make things right. But I'm not doing this for no reason, if he says no you'll need to drag him down yourself.
Both individuals laugh quietly.
K: I'll be sure too. Merry Christmas, Director.
Clover: Merry Christmas, K███.
[END LOG]
Afterword: SCP-7942-1's residential restrictions were amended. SCP-7942-1 was subsequently authorized to participate in non-essential Site-454 social functions and recreational activities. Effective immediately, SCP-7942-1 is no longer to be referred to by its official designation, instead by its given name Dr. Joyce Sternum.
Sternum lingers for a while, taking it all in. His gaze wanders to the next section, the terminal prompting him.
[ACCESS SCP-7942 REMOVAL ATTEMPT LOG?]
Sternum ponders momentarily before taking another glance at his phone.
Crowley: Barristen is super bummed out you're not here man!
Krowefitt: Get out of that dirty office. Tundras is singing Christmas Carols!
Mulligan: Do I need to come get you myself?
Clover: I hope you'll be able to make it.
K: Hey, I hope this message reaches you well Joyce. There are a few gifts here with your name on it, please come and open them.
Sternum takes one last look at the terminal before closing the document and standing up. He turns off the terminal before exiting his office.
