The collection of Mr. Lost, from Little Misters ® by Dr. Wondertainment.
SCP-L920: SOLVITUR AMBULANDO (IT IS SOLVED BY WALKING) by mxsinister
For the rest of my work, visit mxsinister's corner office.
DUE TO GOI-386 INTERFERENCE, OBSTRUCTION OF EVIDENCE BY FORMER MEMBERS OF THE OVERSEER COUNCIL, AND MISHANDLING OF DATA DURING ETHICS COMMITTEE INVESTIGATIONS, THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS NO LONGER EXIST WITHIN THE FILE OF SCP-920.
SOLVITUR AMBULANDO
IT IS SOLVED BY WALKING
SPECIAL CONTAINMENT PROCEDURES: ████████ ███ █████████ indefinitely in Area-920 █████ ██ "Labyrinth-IV". ████ ████████ ████ ██████ ██ ██████ █████████ ███████████████ ██ Any developments in the containment of SCP-920 are to be reported directly to O5-04.
LABYRINTH-IV, [LOCATION LOST]
DESCRIPTION: ███████ ██ ████████ ████ ██████████ Mr. Lost, from Little Misters ® by Dr. Wondertainment. ███████ ██ ██████████ ██████████████████ "wander" ████████████ ██████ ███████ ███████████████ ███████████████ a compulsion to "walk and talk with him". ████ ██████ ████ ███████ ███ ██████ ███████ █████!™ ██ █████ ████ ███ ██████████ ██ ████████████████ ██████ result in ██████████ becoming lost. ███████1
NOTICE FROM THE FOUNDATION RECORDS AND INFORMATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
Attempts to further salvage corrupted data have been inconclusive.
— Maria Jones, Director, RAISA
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EC/L920 CLEARANCE: APPROVED
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NOTICE FROM THE FOUNDATION ETHICS COMMITTEE
According to official records, SCP-920 was restrained by Foundation personnel on ██/██/██ and Site-207 was established at its location to contain it. However, within ██ hours, personnel could no longer locate Site-207. After ██ days, Site-207 was abandoned due to critical supply issues.
Further investigation confirmed this was a fabrication by O5-04 to obstruct the embezzlement of several items between the years 19██ and 20██, principally those belonging to the Little Misters by Dr. Wondertainment. Despite being classified as uncontained, SCP-920 was held in the personal custody of O5-04 without the knowledge, consent, or oversight of the Ethics Committee.
— Jude Sharp, General Secretary, EC
ADDENDUM L920.██
DATE: ██/██/2002
<Begin log. SCP-920 walks hurried through Labyrinth-IV, exhibiting distress. O5-04 approaches SCP-920 from the opposite end of a stone corridor.>
O5-04: Ah, hello there! Beautiful day we're having.
<SCP-920 backs up two steps.>
O5-04: No need to be frightened, Mister Lost. I mean you no harm.
<O5-04 approaches SCP-920. They begin to walk.>
SCP-920: Let me out.
O5-04: Oh, but I've only just found you
SCP-920: Who are you?
O5-04: You can call me Four. Or Mister Collector, if you'd like.
SCP-920: You …
O5-04: Still a bit foggy in the head from transit, are we? Mm, understandable; this should clear things up. Where did I put it—? Ah, here.
<O5-04 removes a piece of paper from his back pocket and shows it to SCP-920. It contains the following:>
Wow! You've found them all and became Mr. Collector!!
00. Mr. Collector ✔
01. Mr. Chameleon ✔
02. Mr. Headless ✔
03. Mr. Laugh ✔
04. Mr. Forgetful ✔
05. Mr. Shapey ✔
06. Mr. Soap ✔
07. Mr. Hungry ✔
08. Mr. Brass ✔
09. Mr. Hot ✔
10. Ms. Sweetie ✔
11. Mr. Life and Mr. Death ✔
12. Mr. Fish ✔
13. Mr. Moon ✔
14. Mr. Secret ✔
15. Mr. Money ✔
16. Mr. Lost ✔
17. Mr. Lie ✔
18. Mr. Mad ✔
19. Mr. Scary ✔
20. Mr. Stripes ✔
<SCP-920 stares at the document for four seconds before refolding it neatly along its creases, returning it to O5-04 with downcast eyes.>
SCP-920: You have … all of us?
O5-04: The whole set. Lost a lot of good people gathering you all up, but it was worth it, I'd say.
SCP-920: Not enough, apparently.
<O5-04 shrugs.>
O5-04: C'est la vie. I'm not short resources.
SCP-920: But— for what? A doctor's note?
O5-04: Why do people collect anything unique and valuable?
SCP-920: Not a clue. The challenge? A control thing?
O5-04: Funny you should say that, considering you were by far the most difficult to collect. Quite the slippery one, aren't you?
SCP-920: … But alas, you're a stubborn man?
O5-04: Precisely. Happy you understand.
SCP-920: And apparently not satisfied collecting stamps like a regular person …
O5-04: Funny enough, that's how I got started.
SCP-920: And what will you do now?
O5-04: Same as I did with the stamps: keep you. You're limited edition, after all, and the spatial properties of this architecture, well—
<O5-04 taps the stone wall with his knuckles.>
O5-04: I spared no expense, I'll say that much, and we're nothing if not good at keeping things in boxes. Have to earn that 'C' in our name, don't we?
<SCP-920 scoffs quietly, and is silent for three seconds.>
O5-04: Actually, you should be thanking me, at least, that you're not in a display case. This maze might not give you quite the breadth you're used to, but it's rather humane, all things considered. You have room to walk.
SCP-920: … Is a condition of my containment listening to you talk?
<O5-04 blinks in surprise before his smile grows wider.>
O5-04: No. You just have that effect on people.
<██ minutes of subsequent footage lost.>
NOTICE FROM THE FOUNDATION RECORDS AND INFORMATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
In violation of Foundation Recordkeeping Regulation III Section XI "Destruction of Evidence", an estimated ██████ logs pertaining to SCP-L920 were destroyed, corrupted, or concealed by personnel within the Office of O5-04. Further jurisdiction of this matter is the responsibility of the Ethics Committee and the Department of Internal Affairs.
— Maria Jones, Director, RAISA
ADDENDUM L920.██
DATE: ██/██/2011
<Begin log. O5-04 accompanies SCP-920 for a walk around Labyrinth-IV.>
O5-04: You know, it's funny—no matter how certain I am of my whereabouts when I step into this place, I get all turned around when I'm in here with you.
<SCP-920 does not reply.>
O5-04: Guess that's the point of a maze … Still, all those precautions against memetic hazards and the like, and I still couldn't tell you what state we're in. I want to say Boston? But no, I wouldn't hold you so close to home …
<SCP-920 does not reply.>
O5-04: Ah, well, at least I'm getting my cardio in.
<SCP-920 does not reply.>
O5-04: My, quite sullen today, aren't you?
SCP-920: You speak as though you won't find your way out.
O5-04: Well, of course, eventually, but—
SCP-920: That makes one of us.
<O5-04 sighs and gives a small smile as they turn the corner.>
O5-04: Are your conditions so horrible? Walking around with no destination — what's the difference, really, between wandering here, versus some other reach of the world?
<SCP-920 scoffs.>
SCP-920: What difference is there between a fishbowl and the ocean? Don't play stupid.
O5-04: Ah, fair … Still, you have your mandate, I have mine. You needed to be secured and contained.
SCP-920: Please, spare me.
O5-04: Pardon?
SCP-920: I was no threat to anyone. I just wanted to walk.
O5-04: Well, now, that's not entirely fair. You made others want the same thing. A lot of good men and women will never find their way back, thanks to you.
SCP-920: You say it like you care.
<O5-04 shrugs, brushing his fingertips along the wall as he walks.>
SCP-920: Is there a difference between containment and collection to you?
O5-04: Only that "Mister Container" isn't a title I hold.
<SCP-920 does not reply.>
O5-04: You were the last one in the set, you know. Nevertheless, I collected one more Little Mister the other day. Even more of a hassle to keep hold of than you, that one. Violent little rascal.
SCP-920: Who might that be?
O5-04: Do you know a Mister Redd?
<SCP-920 stops walking.>
COVER LETTER FOR AFTER-ACTION REPORT:
OPERATION TREASURE HUNT
AUTHOR: Gen. Luvar Kraja <MTFC, Omega-1 "Law's Left Hand">
DATE: 01/██/2012
This file contains all pertinent reports from MTF Ω-1's unprecedented December 2012 mission, which had the following two objectives: the first was to unseat O5-04 from power and the second was to recover several anomalies believed to be in his personal possession (designated "VAULT-IV").
Goal 1 has been successful. ███████████ ███████████ (previously designated O5-04) was captured from a safe house in ███████, ██████. He has been stripped of his title and moved to an Ethics Committee black site in █████, █████ to await sentencing. Deliberations over a replacement Overseer are ongoing.
As for Goal 2, Ω-1 conducted simultaneous raids on ██████ sites across ████ countries, principally the underground complex designated Repository-01, which—among ████ other items, inventoried within—contained the entire set of the Little Misters by Dr. Wondertainment.
While all repositories belonging to O5-04 were eventually secured by Ω-1, we were met with significant resistance from MTF α-1, 05-4's Factotums, private mercenaries, and other militarized aggressors. Ultimately, all of O5-04's Factotums and personnel working directly for the Office of the Fourth Overseer were successfully detained. However, during this stage of the conflict, we faced several concurrent breaches. Several of these anomalies were hostile to all parties present, while others used the chaos of the conflict to flee. At present, an estimated ████-██████████ items have not yet been re-contained.
CCAO2 CAM!™ BY DR. WONDERTAINMENT
FALC-10817.
SOURCE: BIRD3 ID: FALC-10817
LOCATION: OLMOS, PERU
DATE: 06/10/2016
START TIME: 00:06
<MR. LOST recognizes the BIRD on the power line and stares at it for a moment before proceeding down the empty street. Seven minutes later, he sees a man with red hair and a matching hoodie turn the corner.>
<LOST recognizes MR. REDD and turns on his heel, hurrying away in the opposite direction.>
REDD: Hiya there, Lost!
<REDD gives a sharp-toothed grin and waves enthusiastically before approaching LOST with bounding steps.>
REDD: Wait up! Long time no see.
LOST: Could have lived with going a bit longer.
REDD: That's not very nice :(
LOST: How did you make that s— you know what? Nevermind. What brings you out here?
<REDD falls into stride beside LOST as they turn off the main street, continuing onto a flat landscape of dirt and gravel.>
REDD: Well, I hadn't seen you since we flew the coop back in twenty-twelve! Wanted to check in on my favorite brother.
<LOST laughs, sticking his hands in his pockets.>
LOST: Your favorite brother—I forget you're funny.
<REDD cocks his head.>
REDD: You're not surprised Mister Collector got me too?
<LOST shrugs.>
LOST: I was surprised when Four told me, sure. But when you've wandered the world as much as I have, things stop being shocking … Though, I always wondered how he got you in the first place.
REDD: Honestly? I ran away from home. Got lost, then found.
<Up the way, a boy no older than ten is kicking a ball around. He stops as LOST and REDD approach. His face slackens with fascination, and he draws closer to LOST, his feet continuing to dribble the soccer ball in front of him as he falls into stride beside the pair.>
REDD: Scram, kid! The adults are talking!
<The child pauses, not understanding. With a snarl, REDD manifests a black knife in his palm and hurls it straight into the child's soccer ball. He shrieks in alarm and, spell broken, takes off running in the other direction.>
LOST: Wow, still real popular with the customer base, I see.
REDD: I do my best.
LOST: … We don't make for very good toys, do we?
REDD: Ha. Not terribly. Though I guess there's the argument that kids don't walk enough these days.
LOST: And what's your excuse? That the kids don't know their primary colors?
REDD: Ah, but I'm not a toy like you, is the difference.
LOST: No, you're not … But you didn't come all this way to rub in the fact that I'm a first draft, did you?
REDD: 'Course not! Rather, I'm here to brag about my promotion.
LOST: Oh? Ha—do tell.
REDD: Well, after we broke out of jail, I was on my own for a good while—a bit like you, really, just wandering the wide world. Thought I'd live out like that forever, until Isabel found me and talked me into coming back.
LOST: Sorry to hear that. You'd have been better off away from all of that.
REDD: Really? What a downer take! Dad just made me Chief Operating Officer. Izzy's got the Chief Creative role to her name as well.
LOST: That's excellent news, really. But my answer's no.
REDD: Answer to what? I haven't asked anything!
LOST: You're going to ask me to come back, aren't you?
REDD: … You could have whatever role you want—
LOST: No.
REDD: You wouldn't be a toy. You'd be on payroll—
LOST: No. No, no—
REDD: I need people I can trust.
LOST: NO! DAMMIT, N— AH!
<REDD snaps his hand around LOST's arm. His touch burns, eating through the hoodie's green fabric.>
REDD: I didn't want it to be like this.
<LOST sobs, his hopeless shrieking consumed indifferently by the cold landscape.>
LOST: LET GO!
REDD: Quit trying to run from me, Lost.
LOST: I just wanted to walk! God, fuck—! I'M NOT GOING BACK THERE!
REDD: That's what I said. But we all have our parts to play— HEY!
<REDD loses his grip, and LOST bolts across the plain. REDD pursues.>
REDD: Would you at least consider being a traveling salesman?!
<16 hours of extraneous chase footage.>
The following journal entry is not accessible via any Foundation database, as nobody has sufficient clearance.
January 4, 2020
I've spent the better part of my week exchanging dead-drops with a GOC contact in Budapest. I'd just finished fishing a spool of microfilm out of a crumpled cigarette pack buried in the trash when I saw him:
Asian man, average height, indeterminate age. Green hoodie. Pristine clothes except for his shoes—that's what stood out to me. He struck me as someone running from something.
He spotted me: it's not often people do that. I approached him head on—horribly advised spycraft, but I don't know, I just had to. We started walking together.
The first thing he asked was if I would like candy. I'm pretty sure we were speaking English. The wrapper was in English, at least: Musement Mint-ees! by Dr. Wondertainment. I declined, because one can never guess the side-effects of those.
Satisfied, he put it back in his pocket, just shrugging and saying "Well, I had to try once."
I asked if he worked for Dr. W. "Something like that." Get this: he turned out to be an honest-to-god Little Mister. Mr. Lost—said people liked to walk and talk with him. Sure enough, I found I did like walking and talking with him, and I've always wondered what the hell the deal was with those collector's items. I thought they'd all been put up in someone's display case or something back in the early 2000s, but then again, I'd heard rumors about them being scattered to the wind again over the past decade.
Lost didn't mind my curiosity, though I did try my hardest to be respectful with my inquiries. Heaven knows I'm as far from an open book as you'll find.
According to him, the Little Misters were a first draft—a set of 20 humanoids the Good Doctor made in preparation for the twins. (Lovely kids, the one time I met them). After they'd been successfully created, Doctor W. decided to kick off his "sick little scavenger hunt", as Lost so fondly put it. He was released out into the wild, while others were shipped directly to the Foundation, MC&D, or some lucky families.
Didn't matter where they started out—eventually, they all ended up in O5-4's collection. I knew the guy was thrown out of power a while back. Shot execution style against the wall by Foundation Ethics. Never thought I'd get the full story.
I could tell he wasn't thrilled to relive all that, so when I decided I knew enough, we started swapping travel stories. We have plenty between us, and Lost said he liked walking with me because "the eyes didn't ever get good sight of me".
It was obvious what he meant. Bird-watching goes both ways with Wondertainment, and Lost seemed pretty sure the Foundation had managed to lock a satellite back in on him. Of course, cameras have nothing to see with me.
I bought an anti-surveillance ward from a merchant-mage in London a few years ago, back when they started sticking cameras in every inch of the underground. I have a few different recipes and sigils, so I sent Lost on his way with a couple to choose from; in my line of work, there's wisdom in redundancy.
Anyway, I'm writing this from a train station in Bratislava. Bratislava! How the hell did I lose a week and 200 km??
I hope we meet again.
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Last known sighting of SCP-920.