They have always shown the rise and fall of empires. What are they showing now? Do they even just show?
BY ORDER OF THE ANOMALOUS CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DIVISION
The following file is classified. Unauthorized access is forbidden.
XXXX
| USERNAME | Senior Agent Pareekshit |
| fpcs.dica|A.tihskeeraP#fpcs.dica|A.tihskeeraP | |
| DEPARTMENT | ANOMALOUS CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DIVISION |
Special Containment Procedures: All 5 instances of SCP 9000 are to be kept in a general storage vault at storage Site-28
Description: SCP 9000 are a series of five (5) oil paintings numbered 9000-1 through 9000-5. An analysis of painting techniques and materials by the Department of Art History estimate it to have been created around 18██. However, carbon dating, despite inconsistent results, put its age as much older. The paintings show the different phases in the rise and fall of empires.
The entire series of paintings changes to display a different empire or faction at irregular time intervals. While still unclear, its frequency and nature of change appear to vary with its location, owner, and current events. Each painting is enclosed within polished redwood frames with different captions written using golden font.
9000-1: Alpha: portrays events before the creation of the respective civilisation
9000-2: Struggle: portrays the process of formation of the civilisation
9000-3: Gold: portrays the "golden age" of a civilisation at the height of its power
9000-4: Rot: portrays events contributing to the fall of civilisation
9000-5: Omega: portrays the events after the fall
The origin of the paintings is unclear. The Department of Art History's attempts to trace its provenance reveal a history of being surreptitiously exchanged. All 5 paintings would be sold off to separate buyers in the late 1800s, and would continue to be sold in black market deals.
In the 1940s the Nazi ObskuraKorps captured all 5 paintings throughout their campaigns across Europe. Post-war, all 5 instances were stolen by Nazi officials fleeing, and would subsequently spend the following years being exchanged between private art collections. In 1991, Foundation Agents embedded within Sotheby’s, Christie’s and other art auction houses would recover all 5 instances of 9000-5.
All recorded instances of 9000 changing
| S.no | 9000 Instance | Theorised Trigger | Scene Shown |
| 1 | 9000-1 | Possession by high ranking Wehrmacht official | Coronation of Frederick I as the first king of Prussia |
| 2 | 9000-3 | Smuggling to Peru by fleeing SS official | The Sapa Inca overlooks the annual sacrifices during the Inti Raymi1 |
| 3 | 9000-5 | Stashed in Rome by official of Italian Fascist Party | Gothic Tribesman cutting down Roman Legionnaire while the city burns |
| 4 | 9000-2 | Possession by Vichy France Military Commander | Napoleon Addressing the Soldats Ma Villa Garde2 |
| 5 | 9000-3 | Stolen by British Commander and smuggled into India | Srivijayan king Vijayatungguvarman, Sri Lankan king Mahinda V and Bengali king Mahipala kneel before Chola Emperor Rajendra I |
| 6 | 9000- 4 | Indonesian Independence | King Wikramawardhana of Majahapit oversees the execution of prince Wirabhumi |
| 7 | 9000-5 | Indian Independence | Female Personifications of India and Africa stand tall with broken chains, Brittania is knocked down |
| 8 | 9000-3 | Auctioned to French Collector | Napoleon marches into Moscow |
| 9 | 9000-2 | Auctioned to Chinese business family | The Shunzi Emperor commands a Manchu army into China |
| 10 | 9000-1 | Exhibited in Japan | 2 Samurai of opposing Shogunates fighting |
| 11 | 9000-1 | Fall of Soviet Union (In Foundation Custody) | Peasants work the Russian countryside |
| 12 | 9000- 2 | Fall of Soviet Union (In Foundation Custody) | Lenin addresses a speech |
| 13 | 9000-3 | Fall of Soviet Union (In Foundation Custody) | Khrushchev awards Yuri Gagarin in front of a massive formation of soldiers from the Red Army |
| 14 | 9000-4 | Fall of Soviet Union (In Foundation Custody) | Protests in the Red Square, with Ukrainian, Estonian and other nationalist flags seen |
| 15 | 9000-5 | Fall of Soviet Union (In Foundation Custody) | The Berlin wall is torn down by demonstrators |
ANOMALOUS CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DIVISION
ACID CASE FILE -6785-8644
Primary Investigator: Senior Agent Pareekshit
Secondaries: Agent Chase, Agent Lecroft
Forensic Scientist: Dr Abigail
Medical Examiner: Dr Trivikrama
Accused: Foundation support staff Barry Sherrington, Lee Liu Wong, Oskar Mann, Larry Stevenson, and Juan Carlos.
Charges: Removal of anomaly from Foundation mandated containment protocols,
robbery of foundation assets, aggravated assault upon Foundation personnel, possession of controlled substance, unauthorised communication with external factors, communication of controlled information, espionage
Case Report: On the date ██/██/████ aforementioned foundation personnel stole approximately $██████ and several anomalous artifacts including all 5 instances of SCP 9000, SCP ███, SCP ████ SCP ███ and several other minor anomalous artifacts.
Owing to the status of Site-28 as a low security site for support functions and storage of very low risk safe class anomalies, security protocols were lax and the night shift was manned by a skeleton crew.
At approximately 0330 hours, toward the end of night shift, Barry Sherrington, pretending to flirt, would bring coffee to the night security guard. She would accept it, unaware that Barry had spiked it. While she was unconscious Barry and the others, who were employed as janitors, would enter the secure storage at around 0335 hours with carts of cleaning supplies.
Once inside, CCTV recordings show them dumping the cleaning supplies, opening individual safes and vaults and filling the carts with whatever they could find. They would exit the secure storage at around 0400, leaving the site immediately on a rented minivan.
At 0415 hours another security officer would come to relieve the night guard. Upon finding her unconscious and displaying symptoms of Opioid Overdose, she would alert the nearest medical officer, who would successfully administer Narcan and stabilise her condition. Later Toxicology reports from the doctor and ACID forensic scientists would confirm high concentrations of Zolpidem, a common sleep-inducing drug in both the coffee and her bloodstream.
At around 0500 day shift employees would enter the secure storage to find it ransacked and in a state of disarray. The Site Security Director would call in ACID at 0530 hours, with ACID agents on site by 0600.
ACID would attempt to track down all 5 accused to no luck so far. The minivan was found abandoned approximately 5 Kilometres away. Their electronic devices were found in a dustbin and all their bank accounts had been liquidated nearly a week before. ACID has posted agents at all nearby airports, train stations and bus stops.
Personal Statement: I personally think there is a bigger force behind this. The plan appears foolproof but these idiots fumbled big time in the execution. They left the facility in a state of disarray, left loads of biometric evidence, overdosed the coffee, forgot to wipe the CCTV recordings and were just messy and sloppy in general. More concerningly, instead of taking more cash, they took with them anomalous artifacts. To monetize them is difficult and one needs many contacts. Further, I doubt these nimrods are bright enough to completely vanish as they have. It's as clear as the day that an external hand is present in this affair.
I think its a matter of importance to find these people as soon as possible. Its highly concerning that a hostile GoI could recruit a foundation employee/insert an agent into the foundation, and go on to carry out a heist without being caught. Its a matter of luck that these people targeted only minor anomalies and didn't target anything of greater value.
To: fpcs.dica|A.tihskeeraP#fpcs.dica|A.tihskeeraP
From: fpcs.dica|G.J.yoreL#fpcs.dica|G.J.yoreL
Subject: Tipoff
I received intel that a Marshall Carter and Dark broker will be meeting with Barry Sherrington in a Hotel at St Croix in the United States Virgin Islands. I can get you on the next flight over here.
Yours
Leroy
[Action log]
Location: Saint Croix, United States Virgin Islands
[BEGIN LONG]
ACID agents Pareekshit , Lecroft and Chase stake out the lobby of the Hotel . At around 1330 hours Barry Sherrington walks into the lobby with suitcases and proceeds straight to the elevators.
Chase and Lecroft follow him onto the elevator while Pareekshit stays behind, eventually taking the next elevator
All travel to the rooftop. Barry proceeds to the rooftop restaurant, currently closed for a private event. A door keeper ushers him inside. Chase and Lecroft stay out of sight behind a wall.
Pareekshit comes up.
Chase: Sir he went in there. If the intel is right they are gonna complete the deal there. Should we grab them on the way out?
Pareekshit unholsters his weapon.
Pareekshit : No, grab your guns. We are going in now.
All 3 agents step out from behind the wall. The door man tries to tell them off but Pareekshit raises his finger to his lips and points his gun at him. The door man opens the door. Lecroft cuffs him
Lecroft: Keep quiet and don't move.
All 3 enter the restaurant. Inside Barry sits at a table with a woman.
Pareekshit : EVERYONE FREEZE! HANDS WHERE I CAN SEE THEM!
Both raise their hands. Lecroft opens the suitcase and starts to dig through
Woman: Officer, what charges are you arresting us on? I have several lawyer friends, and I will not hesitate to make it known how you harassed an innocent couple. Surely having a meal in a fancy restaurant is not illegal?
Pareekshit : It is when you are dining with a criminal.
Woman: What utter nonsense, I can assure you…
Lecroft pulls out one of the stolen anomalies out of the suitcase
Lecroft: Sir isn't this SCP ████?
Woman: What the hell are you saying?! This is a 15th Century-
Pareekshit: (angrily) Cut it. We know that you are Marshall Carter and Dark. Also we have Barry and his accomplices, whom i'm sure you know, on camera stealing from Site-28.
She pauses for a second, purses her lips, then turns onto Barry.
Woman: BARRY DID YOU FORGET TO WIPE THE CCTV RECORDINGS? I VERY SPECIFICALLY TOLD YOU TO DO THAT.
Barry:(Taken aback) I…..I…. Panicked and had to improvise.
Pareekshit : I have seen literal crackheads carry out cleaner heists.
She slams her fist on the table, sits down and puts her head in her hands.
Woman: I REALLY should have bribed someone else. Anyone other than this damn primate.
Barry: HEY, dont blame me, YOU said that they wouldn't be able to track us here.
They both get up and into each others faces screaming insults. Pareekshit intervenes just as they start to push and shove. He and Chase pull both apart and make them sit down on opposite sides of a table.
Pareekshit : annoyed I hear one more word from either of you, I will personally put enough bullets in you to cause a global lead shortage.
Lecroft digs up SCP 9000-1 and SCP 9000-2 from the bottom of the suitcase.
Lecroft: (Surprised) Uhh…..Sir you should see this.
Pareekshit : What is it?
Lecroft: It's 9000-1 and 9000-2
Pareekshit : What about it?
Pareekshit goes over to Lecroft while Chase keeps an eye on the two.
Lecroft: Aren't they supposed to show a Russian countryside and Lenin making a speech respectively? They are no longer showing those.
Pareekshit : inspecting the paintings. Huh.
Lecroft: Isn't it supposed to show the course of an Empire? I know the last one was the Soviets but I don't know this one.
Pareekshit : Neither do I. Barry, what did you do?
Barry: shocked I..I..I didn't do anything
Pareekshit : Yeah right. It just decided to change in it's own didn't it?
Barry: Yes, that's right. It did change in it's own I suppose.
Pareekshit : Shut up. You act smart, I will personally ensure you get Keter duty with something really nasty.
Barry: Visibly scared No…No..No Sir, look, I-I'm TELLING THE TRUTH. When it changed and I told her, she told me to come meet her. That's why we are meeting today. I asked the others but theirs haven't changed yet, that's why I came alone.
Woman: He is right gentlemen, the value just went up. Say, I have many contacts and I can easily get you 7 figures, 8 if the clients are feeling generous. Just turn this idiot in and claim I got away with them, I will sell them and split the money to you 3.
Barry: HEY!
Pareekshit :sigh Just shut up. Chase, take these 2 down to the car. Use the fire exit to avoid attention.
[END LOG]
CONVERSATION LOG
[BEGIN LOG]
Senior Agent Pareekshit meets with Director Davenport in his office.
Pareekshit walks in, a bag slung over one shoulder and carrying 2 boxes labelled "EVIDENCE"
P: Good morning sir.
D: Ah, Pareek, come in, come in! You will excuse my office being a bit of a mess, I was not expecting you until much later. Cynthia told me that your flight got delayed. Anyway,- just take those files off the chair and pass them to me, will you? - Take a seat. Was the trip good?
P: Eh, It was fine. The tourist boom is yet to start so thankfully, we were able to silently slip in and out. Anyway, I have 2 in custody. Both Barry, and the MCD broker claim they has no idea were any of the others were. Anyway, the main reason I wanted to meet was since 9000-1 and 9000-2 have changed.
D: (Surprised) What do they show now?
P: I dont know sir. Me and Lecroft did try to google it up on the way back, but nothing conclusive. Even weirder, the artstyle changed.
D:(Incredulous) Really? That's bigger than I thought. Show them to me.
Davenport stumbles around trying to find his glasses while Pareekshit pulls out the paintings from the box.
P: I'm no art expert but if I had to guess 9000-1 looks like something by Picasso. I looked up a few of his paintings and they look similar. This one seems to show 2 people cowering from bizarre creatures surrounding them. Again, its in the Picasso style, so most of the creatures are just shapes with aggressive faces drawn on them. But there are a few ones which were drawn definitively. I think the circle at the top is the sub, and I think that is a crocodile of some sort.
Davenport adjusts his glasses to look more carefully at it.
D: Huh, you're right. Also look here, this one also looks well drawn, but I think this is just a very tall boulder? Do you by chance know of Avant Garde symbolism techniques?
P: With all due respect sir, I used to spend my art history classes catching up with my sleep schedule.
D:smirks Alright, what about 9000-2?
Pareekshit opens the other box and gives Davenport 9000-2.
P: I'm guessing this one is a proper oil painting, since it looks like the ones I have seen elsewhere. It seems to show a bunch of people in a conference. I'm no historian but these people do look like important figures from the 1700s or 1800s. I looked up a bunch of meetings which happened back in the day- Congress of Vienna, Oath of the Tennis Court, Treaty of Paris. None of them match this. Even weirder, their faces are blotted out with black paint.
D: You're right. Never seen this before. Are you sure Barry didn't do anything stupid?
P: He swears up and down that he didn't do anything. I normally wouldn't believe him, but I did a cursory exam and doesn't look like it was tampered with. I'm still sending this to the art history department to see.
Davenport quickly cleans his glasses and continues examining the paintings.
D: Yeah, im sure the art department will want to take a look. Hey, look here. A painting within another painting? I thought this style was common in the 1600s? Wait, isn't that the crocodile and tall boulder from 9000-1?
Pareekshit takes the paintings and looks closely.
P: Yeah I think so. I'll be honest sir, I don't get the symbolism or metaphors or whatever here. I'll ask the art history department while I'm at it.
D: Yeah, fair. Tell me once you get back from them.
[END LOG]
OFFICIAL NOTICE
Subject: Happy Foundation Day!
On behalf of the O5 council we would like to wish everyone a very very happy Foundation Day!
While the exact date is a secret, we chose this day to celebrate the formation of the foundation. A secret number of years ago, the foundation would formally be created when the first O5 gathered ambassadors from all major nations in a top secret assembly and convinced them to put aside their differences to work together and fight against the supernatural. An excerpt from the speech of the first O5:
“ Not much is known of where we came from. The chaplain says God created us 6000 years ago. The modern scientist claims we came from monkeys 30,000 years ago. I am neither a priest nor a student of science. I can, however, say with all due confidence that we have spent too long fighting what we never understood. We called them Gods, we called them demons, we called them witchcraft, and we called them wizardry. It doesn't matter what we do call them, what matters is the fact is they terrified us. How many have died as a result of this fear?
They say this is the age of science and enlightenment, a fight against ignorance and the unknown of some sort. While I do say “Long Live” to this noble cause, I wonder what happens when they realise, that some darkness cannot be expelled. Some things cannot be explained, and some are not meant to.
Will this not return us to a state of fearful ignorance and destroy all the progress we have made since the birth of man?
By God, humanity can NOT return to that state of fear! We cannot allow this! To fight, not for King, or Kingdom, but for secrecy and the veil, is not a choice but in fact a DIVINE MANDATE! We must secure! We must contain! We must protect!”
As they say, the rest of history. Ever since, the foundation has been the first, and the last line of defence of humanity against the things they must never see. We can all be inspired by the overseer's resolve, and ponder upon the criticality of our jobs.
We die in the dark so they may live on in the light.
On another note, expect a special feast today in the cafeteria. SCP 5031 has personally curated a 10 course meal. Inform the chefs in case of dietary restrictions.
Good day to everyone!
To: fpcs.dica|A.tihskeeraP#fpcs.dica|A.tihskeeraP
From: rf.fpcs|P.naeJ#rf.fpcs|P.naeJ
Subject:BOLO arrest made
Do you remember that BOLO3 you put out a few months ago? For the site ██ robbery?
We caught one of them. Agents embedded within the French DGSI4 detained Oskar Mann in Monaco. That bastard has been living the dream in Monte Carlo. Thankfully, he had the incredibly bright idea of gambling away most of his fortune. This idiot then tried to convince the casino staff to accept 9000-3 as payment instead.
We recovered one thing matching your description of SCP 9000. The Frame remains the same, except this one is labelled Gold. I did see your report on its transformation, and you were right. This didn't show Josef Stalin saluting Yuri Gagarin and the Red Army.
Its in a more ancient Greek art style, and it shows 3 soldiers in greek armour. 1 soldier is spearing a crocodile, one soldier in the centre is protecting a little girl using his shield, but weirdly, there is one soldier wrapping a chain around a very tall rock. I have no idea what that means.
I'm sending over Oskar, 9000-3 and the little cash he didn't blow at the casinos over. Expect him to arrive tomorrow on the weekly transport from Paris
CONVERSATION LOG
Good evening ladies and Gentlemen. Its me, Director Davenport. I have good news from the office of the Director-General. He personally wrote this open letter to all member of ACID, which im going to read out right- Cynthia, where are my glasses? - Ah here -right now
"I am pleased to report a very good year. ACID has successfully closed a record number of cases. Intra Foundation crime has had a fall of 30%, and we have successfully reduced external anomalous crime rates by 10%. ACID has shown timely and efficient responses to anomalous crimes at the most remote parts of the world, from Kiribati to Antarctica, and retained a 87% conviction rate. As such, we have carried out duties par excellence.
The Department of Upper Administration has approved a massive budget increase package, which includes better facilities and a wide range of bonuses and promotions! Congratulations and keep up the good work."
I can hear the cheering from up here. Hold it, since I have more good news to cheer for. They already sent the list of promotions and bonuses.
Deputy Director ██████████, congratulations! Your early retirement request has been approved! Pack your bags, since you can finally go to that beach house you have been fantasizing about for the last few years. Aruba is very nice these days, just saying. On behalf of all of ACID , we thank you for your decades of dedicated service….and the booze we expect at your retirement party.
Don't worry, we will not be without deputy director for long. Senior Agent Pareekshit, you're promoted! I congratulate you on your new position, but, I would like to remind you that heavy is the crown. You are no longer just an agent, but a leader. Every single warrant, request, command and dispute goes through you. I do, however, think you can be excellent at this job. Report to my office on Monday for the orientation
Agent Lecroft, or should I say, newly promoted Senior Agent Lecroft, congratulations! Unfortunately, Director Vance poached you for his ACID branch. I know, sad to see you go, but I DID hear that you are getting your own team! They will get assigned to you after your return from paternity leave. Speaking of which, congrats on your upcoming child, and we all think you will make an excellent father!
Agent Chase, congratulations as well, guess you don't have to "chase" the position of Senior Agent anymore. Oh god, that sounded MUCH better in my head, sorry. On the bright side, I was able to fend off the other directors who wanted to poach you, and get you a team assigned here itself!
For the others, don't despair, there are a few more rounds of promotions yet to be decided. Also, expect a FAT bonus this year Holiday season!
That's it for now! Back to work!
To: fpcs.dica|A.tihskeeraP#fpcs.dica|A.tihskeeraP
From: fpcs.dica|r.yeliR#fpcs.dica|r.yeliR
Subject:BOLO arrest made
Good Morning Deputy Director
I wanted to report to you that I caught Larry and Juan from the BOLO you filed 2 years ago. Agents caught them passing through Heathrow airport.
My boss, Senior Agent Chase, wanted me to inform you. Apparently, you were his boss back in the day when he first picked up this case. He is handling the arrest protocols.
We questioned them, but they did not know where Lee was for certain. They did however, guess that he went to his native Hong Kong, so we will be going to Hong Kong to continue searching.
He also wanted me to tell you that they found 9000-4 with him. It has changed again. It shows a bunch of people in robes and hoods gathered around a cage. A few of them are whispering, and a few are holding gold coins.
You were right, there is a crocodile and a tall rock in this. They are locked in the cage, but the cage appears to have cracks. Neither me nor does my boss know what it represents. I did spend some time in the library reading up on my history, but to no avail.
Yours
Junior Agent Riley
To: fpcs.dica|A.tihskeeraP#fpcs.dica|A.tihskeeraP
From: fpcs.dica|C.tropnevaD#fpcs.dica|C.tropnevaD
Subject:Budget
Hello Deputy Director
I saw the budget package you were going to send higher up. I must say you made a critical mistake. I'll correct it this time, but be careful next time.
You were too honest with our budget. Take a minute to think about it. Dr ██████████ wants newer equipment - fair request right? No, not to the pencil pushers.
First, some idiot in the accounting department purges everything that's too expensive in his book. Then another nimrod takes all the equipment which sounds too fancy or sounds too similar to another thing off the list. Boom, half the stuff the good doctor requested is gone. Then the request goes to some idiot employee in the procurement department, who deludes that saving 5000 dollars by buying a “Semens” instead of “Siemens” will make or break the budget this year.
Want a few bone saws or biopsy drills? Demand a full autopsy revamp and a dedicated General Electric Medicine MRI machine. New field kits? I think you mean the latest Cellebrite mobile labs. A few extra guns for the armoury? Accept nothing but the finest, handcrafted SIG Sauers, Armara Sawblades and Scar H units. By the time they get through the red tape I doubt you will have even snake oil or Napoleonic war muskets.
I know this might seem extreme, but as they say, when bureaucrats go to hell, they go as the damnation and not the damned. It doesn't help that upper admin thinks we are a mere support branch and jump like a starved wolf at any chance to cut our budget. They do this while dumping upon us every slight issue with law and order within the foundation.
You need to be smart, specific and downright vulturous or you need to be prepared to watch as our resourced vanish faster than a cheetah leaving a salad bar.
I know you might find this immoral, but you are a Deputy Director. You command 200 people who would storm hell and arrest the devil at your order. It is your duty to ensure every single person of this ACID branch gets their due, and that mandate is supreme.
Sincerely
Director Davenport
ACID WEEKLY BULLETIN
Site-39 embezzlement case: 3 members of the Accounts department have been arrested. Significant funds, numbering upwards of half a million USD have been transferred into overseas accounts from the Medical and Pension funds. Further investigation needed.
8980 Case has been taken over by Ethics committee in view of the “sheer brutality and level of misuse of power” carried out by Head Researcher Byrnes. All files are to be ceded to the Omega-1 Special Investigation Division.
Murder of Dr Elise: Security Officer Murray confessed to strangling Elise in her living quarters. He claimed that he did so since Dr Elise would not return his advances. Booked for murder.
Class D escape investigation: 5 personnel booked for aiding and abetting escape, claiming that all the escaped Class D were innocent, and were falsely implicated. Mass resignations in solidarity with the accused have spread across Site ███ and ACID. Upper Administration has ordered a full stop of investigations into the alleged innocence of aforementioned class D, and ACID is ordered to detain any and all those who resign in protest.
Manhunt for Lee Liu Wong: Search range increased, expanding across Hong Kong, Singapore, Republic of Korea, Japan and People's Republic of China. Details have been forwarded to respective ACID stations.
CONVERSATION LOG
Person(s) Involved: Deputy Director Pareekshit, ACID
Head Researcher Krishnaswamy, Foundation Institute of Pataphysics and Reality Sciences
On ██/██/████ Pareekshit would meet Krishnaswamy at Leh, near Site-35.
K: Hello Pareek, long time no see!
Gestures for Pareekshit to join him at his table. Pareekshit shakes his hand.
P: Hello Krish, how are you?
K: I'm fine, I'm fine. What brings you to India?
P: Some conference in Delhi. I decided to pop over to see you and then catch the red eye flight back.
K: Oh nice. Have you tried the Thukpa5 here? It's excellent.
P: Alright I'll have it. Say, I thought the Institute only operated in Geneva?
K: Oh, Site-35 is brand new. Mountains have higher Hume field concentrations6 so they dampen reality bending effects. Back then we only had them in the Swiss Alps and the Canadian Rockies. Thankfully, they are building more. The Alps were good but the Himalayas are even better at dampening reality benders. Apart from a series of bases all across India, Tibet and Nepal, they also are building one near Mount Kilimanjaro and one in Chile. Its nice being Head Researcher in a brand new base, but damn, Geneva was the best! I still remember the days there as a trainee.
P: Oh hell yeah. Do you remember the parties the MTF would throw? Damn those guys could celebrate. I tried to get a transfer there but the bossman denied. Sly bastard then got transferred there himself.
K: Oh, you know what happened to that guy who commanded the acid station there?
C: Oh him? Retired and living in Ibiza. What about that guy from the department of applied pataphysics, I think his name was professor ██████████?
K:(Sadly) Passed away last year. He just went to sleep and didn't wake up one day.
P: Ouch, he was such a nice person.
Pareekshit appears conflicted for a second, but then seems to make up his mind. He pauses, then talks rather slowly, trying to appear casual.
P: Anyway, tell me, how do you find a reality bender?
Krishnaswamy looks up. He stops drinking his soup.
K: (Visibly confused), what kind of question is this?
P: Oh it's nothing.
K: I can't tell you, it's confidential, and you know that. Why do you ask?
P: I had an interesting case, and had a weird hunch. Purely hypothetically, could someone bend critical evidence out of existence?
K: No way. All foundation sites have Scranton anchors which would detect and correct any Hume field irregularities.
P: But still, could it be possible?
K: Pareekshit , is there something you need to tell me? Reality Benders are really messy. They can mess you up.
P: Nothing at all. I was just curious. Trust me
K: Alright then.
The food arrives. Pareekshit takes a spoonfull of the thick noodle filled soup. He appears impressed.
P: Damn, you were right this stuff is excellent.
K: Local delicacy. Wherever I come into town, I have it.
Pareekshit drinks more soup, then suddenly looks up?
P: Hey, what happened to Director ██████████?
K: Who?
P: The dude whose wife cleaned out his bank account and eloped with their neighbours barely legal son.
K: Oh him. Yeah, he never recovered from that. He tried to put himself back into the dating market, but nothing worked out. After a particularly tragic date failure, he, uhhh, he hanged himself.
Pareekshit pushes leftover food away
P: Wow. How appetizing.
K: I know. Tragic. Want dessert? They have an excellent spread of 5 desserts from around India.
P: Yeah, okay. So, I was wondering, could a reality bender be harnessed in any way?
K: No. Of course not. Where did you get that idea?
P: I don't know. I was just thinking.
K: Why the sudden interest in reality sciences? I get the feeling you are trying some……wait, this is a test right?, Seeing how careful I am with confidential information?
P: Hey, no, just a shower thought. Not testing you, that's your onsite acid agent's job. Senior Agent █████, right?
K: Okay fine. Here try this flavour of Puttarekulu7.
P: You remember Commander ██████████? The MTF command? What happened to him?
K: He also retired. From what I can tell he moved to the Tyrols, bought a farmhouse and started a family.
P: Damn. I also heard a rumor that Director █████ got divorced, left Switzerland and now lives in Thailand with a full scale harem?
K: Oh damn didn't hear that one. No way it's real
P: I didn't believe it either. But this rumor mill is pretty reliable.
K: It tell you anything else?
Pareekshit once again appears to be conflicted. He takes a very long pause, then begins talking very slowly
P: No….. Well, yeah… but not about anyone or anything you know. Oh, wait, I think I did hear something about the reality sciences department.
Krishnaswamy appears to be interested
K: Huh, what?
P: Oh, it's that apparently most of the Benders y'all find are usually Vlam….
Krishnaswamy looks up
K: Who told you this? This is classified…
P: (Oblivious.) And apparently you all rarely come across Keneq classes.
Krishnaswamy is becoming visibly angry
K: No one told you this did they?
P: Still oblivious and I was wondering if an Ekhi class was even possible. Something about Hume fields….
Pareekshit finally sees that Krishnaswamy is visibly angry.
P: Woah what's wrong?
K: No way in heaven or hell did you hear this in a petty gossip vine.
Pareekshit is visibly taken aback. He then tries to act nonchalant
P: What can I say? The reality science gossip forum is so juicy. I frequently login as part of my investigative duties.
K: Bullshit. Both you and I know damn well that this is confidential. You're hiding something, aren't you? Why are you asking this?
P: Hey wait do you remember lieutenant….
Krishnaswamy gets up and turns on Pareekshit.
K: PAREEKSHIT, DONT TRY TO BE SMOOTH. It was never your strong suite. ANSWER ME! What. Are. You. HIDING?
Pareekshit flinches. He then tries to regain his composure, but is not succesful.
P: I-I-I told you, it-it's just curiosity!
K: BULLSHIT. I want answers. NOW.
P: Look, you-you-you wouldn't get it.
K: Try me. I have been researching reality benders for over 20 years. I am the Head Researcher of applied pataphysics in the Foundation Institute. MY name is on more research papers and patents than you can count. I have no idea what kind of crap you're in right now but trust me, you can always sink deeper. Now, will you TELL ME what you have been talking about?
P: I told you, you wouldn't get it, just trust me on this one, please.
Krishnaswamy calms down a little bit and turns toward his own chair.
K: Did you even want to meet me? Was this entire goddamn attempt at catching up and making small talk your idea of subtly gleaning info? Cause if so, you are absolutely pathetic.
P: Look, I didn't mean to hurt you, I just needed to know if….
Krishnaswamy stands up and starts to leave.
K: Snarly It was nice meeting you. Goodbye.
Krishnaswamy walks out. Pareekshit stammers an excuse and starts to follow him, but eventually stops. He tosses his credit card at the waiter, goes back to the table, and buries his face in his hands.
CONVERSATION LOG
Person(s) Involved: Director Scott, Site-28
Deputy Director Pareekshit, Anomalous Criminal Investigation Division
[[ BEGIN LOG ]]
Director Scott comes into Pareekshit's office.
S: Hello Pareek.
Pareekshit does not look up from his system and gestures to a chair.
P: Oh hi Scot, take a seat, why did you ask to meet?
S: The usual business I'm afraid. I need updates on the cases.
Pareekshit closes the computer and faces up.
P: Anything in particular?
S: Yeah, what happened to the counter corruption investigation? Heard you guys found a few embezzlers?
P: Oh, that. Financial Crimes is still building up a case. They think there are more people involved.
S:(Annoyed) Y'all have been building a case for 4 months, and this is one of the faster cases.
P: My apologies, I'll tell them to hurry up. Its just that finance crimes are hard to investigate. You would be shocked how quickly money and evidence can vanish. Leave that aside, anything else?
S: Nah it's the usual flow of arguments, drunkenness, pranks gone wrong, and drama.
P: The rookies and probies should handle those. But then again, it's the lowest priority. We are swamped as is, especially given the site ██ breach investigation.
Scot's expression turns solemn
S: I completely forgot site ██ was also in your jurisdiction. Its sad honestly. I knew that MTF commander, he was also our heavy reinforcements, you know? So many dead, and for a breach that was fully preventable.
Scot takes a minute to compose himself.
S: Speaking of which, is it true you arrested Director ██████ since he cut corners on the containment systems? I met him many times and he always seemed very straightforward. I heard a rumor he was forced to do so since someone in upper admin took kickbacks from a contractor.
P: We did bring him in for questioning. I also got the impression that he was straightforward.
S: He would not have done that. Trust me on this. Did you find any evidence on him?
P: Look, I cant say anything till the investigation is completed. I can assure you that Senior Agent Berkely is fair and thorough. For now though, let that be, do you have anything else?
S: Actually, yes, when will you release SCP 9000 back to containment?
Pareekshit is taken aback.
P: What?
S: You know, the paintings.
Pareekshit appears nervous for a second. Then he regains his composure.
P: Oh those. Yeah, no, I still need those in ACID custody, I'm afraid. It's still evidence in an ongoing investigation.
S: You released all the other SCPs from the robbery case, why not this?
P: Trying to improvise. We …have our reasons.
Scot raises an eyebrow.
S: Those being?
Pareekshit thinks for a moment
P: The 9000 collection is still incomplete, and we expect that the last will should pop up soon. We need the others for……forensic reasons.
S: Fine, keep it. But I want it back as soon as you find the fifth. Its been away from Site-28 for far too long.
P: (sarcastic) Perfect. That way it can rot in your basement.
S: (sarcastic) Yeah. Better rot in peace in my basement than rotting AND taking up space in your damp and depressing little evidence locker. Remind me again, how much budget they allotted for you to deal with the evidence overflow and backlog?
P: (sarcastic) Yeah. You know, it's gonna occupy so much space, I don't even know how I will store it here! What are you going to do to store it there? Clear out the scrantons, the basement cafe, or, heavens forbid, the people in the skeleton closet?
S: Nice try. You're the only person in the closet, we aint high budget enough to have scrantons and even the basement cafe food is better than the slop they serve in your little ACID station.
P: visibly shocked You guys don't have scrantons? I thought all foundation bases had those!
Scot grimaces.
S: Don't think you're the only one who is running a tight ship with no budget. I've been begging for site upgrades for years now, but no, we apparently aren't important enough to deserve that. I tried to tell them that some day that we will get another entity like 184, and we would all be fucked, but still, it doesn't matter.
P: Damn I thought they were only this miserly with us.
S: Evidently not.
[[ END LOG]]
ANOMALOUS CRMINAL INVESTIGATION DIVISION
ACID CASE FILE -1485-8006-INTERNAL
Primary Investigator: Deputy Director Pareekshit
Secondaries: Chief Evidence Custode Marco, Senior Agent Berkely
Accused: NO SUSPECTS
Charges: Tampering of evidence, destruction of foundation assets, vandalism, breach of security measures
Case Report: On ██/██/████ around 0000 hours, unknown person(s) gained entry to the Evidence locker. Upon entry, they would ransack the cold case section, randomly knocking down shelves and throwing things about. Ink was dumped over several case files, and a variety of obscene words and lewd symbols were drawn on the wall and on several files using a combination of ink, spray paint, and sharpie markers.
Artwork was particularly targeted, with many crime scene sketches and mugshots being overwritten with stick figures and lewd symbolism.
The damage was discovered at 0900 when evidence Custodes reported for the start of shift evidence accounting. After the alarm was raised, on duty ACID agents would secure the scene and initiate lockdown.
Most of the damage was restricted to case files, for which restoration works are underway. A few old murder weapons and shells were knocked out of their boxes, but labels were not ripped, allowing Evidence Custodes to return them.
SCP 9000 appears to have been specially targeted, with it being overdrawn with stick figures, which surprisingly appeared to be doing wholesome things, instead of the other's lewd content. It appears that normal ink was used to do so, but no damage was done. All 9000 instances seem to have an anomalous property protecting them from modification. Owing to this Evidence Custodes were able to simply wipe it clean. According to Head Evidence Custode Marco, all evidence is accounted for.
The CCTV recordings and access logs were found to be wiped. Whoever ransacked the place was a professional, leaving no fingerprints, DNA or any kind of biometric evidence.
An attack on the Evidence locker, within a secure ACID site is quite clearly an inside job. While some agents are of the opinion it was a very badly thought of prank, all angles will be investigated.
To: fpcs.dica|A.tihskeeraP#fpcs.dica|A.tihskeeraP
From: fpcs.dica|C.tforceL#fpcs.dica|C.tforceL
Subject:Advice
Hi boss
I think you must have heard of the Camp Grenada Incident8 incident by now. They are claiming it was done by the GOC or by Chaos.
I don't think so. Save for our own Biotechnology labs, I doubt anyone has the capacity to modify 008. I have been trying to investigate this, but I'm being stonewalled. No one seems to know anything, and the ones who do vanish or pass away. Evidence seems to evaporate left, right, and centre. My own higher ups seem enthusiastic to cease all further investigations and close the case, and have repeatedly advised me to drop it as well.
I think this goes very high up. I would not be shocked it it went up to upper administration or even beyond that. I want to take this to Omega-1, but I don't think I have enough evidence. I don't know what to do, and I could really use your advice. Can you help me out here?
Yours
Lecroft
To: fpcs.dica|A.tihskeeraP#fpcs.dica|A.tihskeeraP
From: fpca.dica|C.tropnevaD#fpca.dica|C.tropnevaD
Subject: Condolences
Hello Pareekshit
Im sorry to report that your former colleague Lecroft took his own life yesterday. He stopped picking up calls and when someone inspected his office, they found that he had hung himself. His body is being shipped back from Director Vance's station
You were his boss and you knew him and his family best. I know it might be difficult but could you by any chance assist with the funeral and deliver the eulogy? His wife is heartbroken and his kid is too young to understand. Casualty Assistance is with them, but I think it would be better if a familiar face was helping them out
Yours
Director Davenport
To: fpcs.dica|A.tihskeeraP#fpcs.dica|A.tihskeeraP
From: fpcs.dica|D.esahC#fpcs.dica|D.esahC
Subject: Arrest
We finally found Lee. He gave us the slip in Hong Kong but we caught him in Singapore. We finally found 9000-5. I am bringing them back. I think you will be happy to put this behind you. After 5 years the case is finally closed.
Anyway, I am catching the next flight out of Singapore and I will arrive by tomorrow morning.
Yours
Chase
ACTION LOG
Senior Agent Chase is checking in SCP 9000-5 to the evidence locker Pareekshit comes in.
P: Chase, long time no see!
C: Boss! How are you!
P: I'm fine, how are you?
C: Oh excellent. Im happy to finally close this damn case.
P: Let me see 9000-5.
Chase gives him 9000-5.
C: Oh here, have a look.
Pareekshit takes a look. His face becomes visibly disturbed and angry
P: I'll go deposit this inside the locker. You finalise the paperwork with Marco.
Chase Turns toward Marco
C: Alright.
Pareekshit enters the locker and Chase starts to work in the paperwork. After some time, Chase also enters the evidence locker.
C: Sir, I need your signature on this one. Can you sign it?
Sees Pareekshit had thrown it and all other 9000 instances into the floor in a pile. He has also broken the frames and attempted to tear the canvass. All are doused in petroleum
C: Sir, what are you doing?
P: (Plainly and Coldly) My job.
C: (Shocked) Sir, those are not only evidence, they are also assets of the foundation sir. You cannot destroy it.
P: I have to. It's for the greater good
C: The greater good?
P: (Worked up) NO ONE REALISES. THIS IS IT. THIS IS THE REASON.
C: REASON FOR WHAT?
P: All of it. Why do we beg for human interaction. Why is every single connection we form based off of common factors? You know, likes, dislikes, political opinions, nationality, religion, culture, line of work, socio-economic background, I could go on and on. Why do we salute the flag? Why do we kneel before God? Why do we even speak language? Why do we live beside other humans? Why do we give a damn what others think about us.
C:(Concerned) Sir I don't think your okay-
P: WHY CHASE TELL ME WHY!
C: I…I…..Don't know.
P: Worked up, making wild hand gestures Humanity is meant to be part of something greater than us. Each and every single person wants to be part of something bigger than us. We naturally gravitate towards this. That's why we want order, that's why we want similarity. It is natural that we want to fight chaos, want to create order. The more order the better. It's the most primary urge we have. We want bigger empires, more order, less disorder. Someone randomly randomly splotches colour on a paper it's an eyesore but if the colour is in a pattern it's art. We must know what is happening, and we must know what comes next. Its why we fear death, its why we have been stacking rocks since 7000 BCE, its why we go mad when we are alone. Don't you see Chase?
C: I still don't see how that matters here.
P: Think about it. We love order. We love society. Why doesnt order and society it last forever? Why isn't anything eternal? Why is the world littered with the ruins of empires? Why do they fall?
C: They decay. Decay is natural.
P: No! No! No! This is not. We are meant to be part of something greater. Every time an Empire falls, chaos takes it's place. Imagine. Imagine. How many lives lost? How many years do we get set back? How much suffering?
C: (Trying to calm him down) Sir, that is the circle of life. From destruction, does creation rise again. It's nature.
P: No. Don't you realise? This is not natural. Falling to chaos is not natural. It goes against everything.
C: Okay, but why do you want to destroy 9000.
P: Don't you realise it is the reason? Why would a civilisation fall, against all odds, against nature itself. It can't. This makes it happen. This is why Sumer fell. This is why Egypt fell. This is why India fell. This is why Rome fell. Spain, France, Germany, Britain, this is why they all fell. Forget all these, look around you. It's the year of the common era TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE and the world inches closer to ruin WITH EVERY PASSING DAY. Do you think Humanity wants this? Do you think this is natural?
C: Sir, calm down, the world has seen worse and come back better.
P: Leave the damn world out of this. The painting wants to doom us to far worse than before. Did you even see it?
C: I did. I have no idea what it shows however. How is tha-
P: HOW THE HELL DO YOU NOT GET IT? IT'S OBVIOUS!
C: Look, Sir, i'm sorry, but it does not matter. Fact is you are destroying foundation assets. You are going against orders and spreading chaos yourself.
P: Getting more agitated by the second FOUNDATION, FOUNDATION, FOUNDATION, DO YOU NOT SEE I'M DOING THIS FOR THE FOUNDATION. THE END HAS BEGUN. CORPSES ARE PILING UP ALREADY. IM SEEING NEW DEAD BODIES IN AUTOPSY EVERY SINGLE DAY.
C: Sir, you are a ACID deputy director sir, you only see the very very worst of humanity. I know its tough, im an agent myself, but there is good out there, and we have to keep fighting for it. It might seem tough but-
P: Breaking down into tears THEY KILLED LECROFT. REMEMBER HIM? HIS WISE CRACKS? HIS OBSESSION WITH LATE 90S ROCK? HOW HE WOULD CARRY HIS SON AROUND ON HIS SHOULDERS DURING BRING YOUR KID TO WORK DAY? ALL THE THINGSWE DID TOGETHER? HE IS DEAD! DEAD! I SAW HIS COLD BODY ON A SLAB. I WATCHED THEM BURY HIM.
C: Sir, I know you mean well. Even I miss Lecroft. But please, put down the lighter. We can deal with this together, Lecroft would not want this.
P: HE IS JUST ONE AMONG MANY. SO MANY HAVE DIED AND SO MANY MORE WILL DIE.
C: Look, sir, you are not alright. You're psychotic. Calm down.
P: WE ARE THE FIRST AND FINAL LINE OF DEFENCE. WE CANNOT FALL. I CAN'T LET THIS HAPPEN
Chase pulls out his gun
C: Sir I didn't want to escalate it to this level, but I'm sorry. Put down the lighter
Pareekshit appears to calm down slightly
P: Chase, you are a good agent, please don't do this. Please understand. This. Is. Necessary.
C: Sir, I'm sorry but I'm going to have to ask you to stop. I'm not trying to trivialise this, but even if they are reality benders, we won't know unless they get tested.
P:Worked up again BOTH YOU AND I KNOW DAMN WELL THEY WONT TEST THIS. PULL YOUR BLOODY HEAD OUT OF THE SAND. THEY DON'T KNOW, THEY DON'T CARE, AND THEY MOST CERTAINLY WILL LABEL THIS AS PARANOIA. THEY WILL BURY THIS LIKE CAMP GRANADA, LIKE THOSE CLASS D!
C: Sir, calm down, even then you cannot just destroy them, remember what happened to the chair?
P: Resolute no No NO NO. This has to happen.
Pareekshit drops the lighter, lighting the 9000 instances on fire. Chase fires 1 shot, hitting Pareekshit just below the sternum. Chase, and Marco, who entered the room hearing the shots, would extinguish the fire, but not before significant damage to all 9000-5 instances. Chase would then rush to the wounded Pareekshit.
/Chase begins putting pressure on the wound//
C: Sir, stay with me.
P: Praisingly You always were a excellent shot, Chase.
C: Starting to tear upSir, stay conscious. The medics will be here.
P: closing eyes Asato Ma Sadgamaya. Tamaso Ma Jyotirgamaya. Mrityorma Amritam Gamaya9.
Medics would respond within 5 minutes, but despite the best efforts, Pareekshit would pass away from Hypovolemic shock and blood loss
ANOMALOUS CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DIVISION
AFTER ACTION REPORT
All 5 instances of SCP 9000 have been severely damaged, deemed irrestorable. ACID sketch artists will reconstruct them based off eyewitness descriptions
Due to the fact that the fire was quickly suppressed, damage to other assets was minimal. Save for a few melted shelves and plastic boxes, no major monetary or asset loss has been recorded.
Senior Agent Chase suffered light scratches and burns. Doctors discharged him after a few bandaids and burnol. He faced an internal inquiry but has been cleared of all wrongdoing. Chief Evidence Custode Marco and 2 other first responders who suppressed the fire were not questioned under the Ethics Committee's good samaritan rights mandate.
Senior Agent Chase has testified to the late deputy Director Pareekshit’s genuine intentions and mental instability, and urged that he be cleared of most wrongdoing and laid to rest with full honours worthy of a deputy director. The verdict is still out, and the ethics committee is yet to make a decision.
As per the final request of deputy Director Pareekshit and the special request of Senior Agent Chase, Dr Krishnaswamy of the Foundation Institute of Pataphysics and Reality Sciences has agreed to test out SCP 9000 for anomalous effects. Dr Krishnaswamy has requested that all remnants of 9000 remain in the Foundation Institute of Pataphysics and Reality Sciences, Leh.
Item #: SCP-9000
Object Class: Neutralised
Secondary Class:Unknown
Special Containment Procedures: The remnants of all 5 instances of SCP 9000 are to be kept in a secure storage at the Foundation Institute of Pataphysics and Reality Sciences, Leh. Each painting remains to be kept in separate frames, with intact parts in their respective positions. Every week visual inspection of the remnants are to be carried out. Any variances with the Hume fields of the paintings are to be corrected by use of Scranton Anchors.
Description: The Sybilline Paintings are the remnants series of five (5) oil paintings numbered 9000-1 through 9000-5. The paintings used to show the different phases in the rise and fall of empires. Reality Bending properties are up for debate