Selected prey are always notably social or outgoing.
Leavings from cache (necrotising skin).
Item #: 343
Object Class: Hippocrates-Hypatia-Pythagoras
Special Containment Procedures: Postoperatives now reliably deposited in and around the Rangers' Golfing Club. Located subjects may be repaired and processed into DOD-affiliated research programs where possible. Confirmed prey are to be obstructed from leaving roaming territory until stalking cycle is complete.
Description: Item active around the Jordanelle reservoir, especially in Hideout, UT. Uniformly identified by targets as "Peter Cameron Silas".1 Appearance unknown; reports from prey are hazy, but describe continuous freckled skin texture over entirety of body (including eyes, teeth, and so on). Quantity/placement of limbs &c. not consistently recalled and believed to be variable. Non-prey categorically fail to note item's presence or traits as unusual under any circumstances, and may describe item as tall or gaunt, but not remarkably so.
Prefers tourists or otherwise transient individuals, but will target locals in case of serious deprivation of other subjects. Selected prey are always notably social or outgoing.
Once identified, item establishes caches or theatres around areas of interest to the target.2 These are constructed in basements, attics, closets, tunnels &c., and are tightly packed with canisters of nitrous oxide, sheeted epidermal material, preserved tissue of varying origin, and surgical/mining equipment.
Item will now engage in "stalking" behaviour, appearing at social events the prey frequents. It keeps to the edge, away from the prey's attention, and flees immediately when spotted. This behaviour induces paranoia and asociality in the prey, who seeks to shrink his social circle, preferring increasingly isolated events with closer friends. At each such event, no matter how small, the item appears and lurks until acknowledged, to the distress of the target. If allowed to leave, the prey will typically exit the Jordanelle region. Otherwise, he will choose to isolate himself totally, e.g. by attempting a solo hike. At this point the prey disappears, and cannot be contacted.
When he reappears (on the green of the Rangers' Club, since contact with the Program), the target will have undergone serious anatomical alteration. Typically, the majority of the difference can be attributed to the addition of bones, limbs, and organ systems to the prey's body plan. Occasionally some tissue has been removed to make room for these additions.
Concurrent with these physical changes, the target will have gained new mental faculties. These are often of interest to the Program. A list of illustrative target profiles follows.
Target: Susan Dean, 24, divorced after shotgun marriage. Formerly law student. Infertile; pursued skiing at Hideout as a distraction from domestic-economic problems.
Addition: Discomfort and visual examination identified lump in stomach. Further analysis by MRI/laparoscopy discovered implanted human head, apparently identical to her own, in perpetual state of hyperventilation. Motions of mouth suggest attempts to scream, though no noise produced due to lack of functional larynx. Movement died down considerably after seventy-two hours.
Subject granted world-class talent with the violin, sufficient to play at any major orchestra (as assessed by Sgt. ██████).
Aftermath: Subject returned to parents' home, and remained resident for a period of eight months. Eventually became employed as a secretary. Pursued amateur violin subsequently. No further contact with ex-husband.
Target: Pranay Surana, 27, accountant employed by nearby University of Utah. Intended to stay with friends for a period of around two weeks. Enjoyed kayaking; captured on one such excursion.
Addition: At first examination, seemed unaltered. Entanglement with SCP-343 was not immediately ascertained. However, biopsy of subdermal tissue revealed the replacement of all major fat deposits with cerebral matter of a similar consistency. Gained a powerful intuition for coordination and supply-chain problems, but can no longer reliably describe the preferences of any of his close acquaintances.
Aftermath: Diverted to General Dynamics recruitment. Now productively employed as a manager at Scranton Ammunition Plant. Occasionally encouraged to visit family.
Target: Solomon McReady, 46, vagrant from nearby Salt Lake City, directed to stalking territory by Program. Long-time alcoholic, generally impetuous and subverbal. Captured on extended hike into wilderness after fleeing local law enforcement over theft incident.
Addition: Bone plates emplaced between all major internal organs. Range of motion significantly limited pre-corrective surgery. Subject gains encyclopedic knowledge of tradecraft, and suffers no apparent loss.
Aftermath: Hired by Program directly and transferred to Interrogations and Psychowarfare Command of Site-Black. 4 captured/neutralised items on record.
SCP-343 represents a major recruitment inflow, and is considered a tertiary Program asset. It may be allowed access to classified material and local personnel upon request.
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