Seven more perriots have marched themselves to that frozen waste. This time, they have a plan.
-
Info
Despite Everything, Site-69 is Still Fine by
Croquembouche.
⚠️ Content warning: Visual blood (actually Diamine Oxblood ink) on pages 3PM and 4PM.
Reading time: 6 pages, 15-20 mins per page.
Check the author post for more info.
Also: Olicus' Gallery
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Photograph of a notebook with handwritten notes. Some text is fairly neat and keeps to the lines on the page, some is written without care or regard for the lines. Ink marks are everywhere.
NOTES
Found a handwritten note that recommended writing everything down. Therefore:
- Transferred to Site-69 2024-08-01. Did not volunteer - instruction origin unclear. Assuming temp assignment for now. (a caption with an arrow, added later: don't remember this?)
- Previous: Site-44 - not going to write down role in case someone finds this
Drawing of a shape resembling an Australia/New Zealand plug socket and a question mark
Scrawled text, smudged: Why is everyone so OK with being here?
TODO
- Unchecked: What does Tyler do in the middle room?
- Checked: Vikram memory?
- injury -> cybernetic enhancement
- Unchecked: Is Frankie OK
- Unchecked: Jess in office corridor?
- Partially checked: How to leave?
- arranged a meeting with everyone
OTHERS
- Vikram Singh - early 30s - English. Field agent, Site-91. Claims to have perfect memory.
- Scrawled: boyish/immature. complainer -> indulge in argument. let him tire himself out
- Tyler Anderson - 30ish - Australian. Evaded background questions.
- Scrawled: Technically proficient? Do NOT TRUST
- Unintelligible, scribbled out
- Jess Brommer - late 20s - Scottish. Junior researcher?
- Scrawled: just leave her alone. brash - no respect. avoid inciting
- Frankie Welsh - late 20s (crossed out - correction: late 30s?) - NZ. Armourer?
- Circled, underlined: They
- Scrawled: aloof, disconnected. seems to be getting worse? Jason is keeping an eye on
- Lucy Williams - early 30s - US. Researcher, Site-13.
- Scrawled: seems nice enough. crush on Jess? could be useful
- Jason Greaves - late 40s - English (crossed out) Welsh (crossed out) UK. Unintelligible, crossed out. Amnestics chemist/inventor.
- Scrawled: Mourning -> distracted -> harmless
All recorded footage from Site-69 is available for review:
| Site-69 local time | Eastern Standard Time |
|---|---|
| January 9th 2000 | August 1st 2025 |
| 12:00 PM to 01:00 PM | 12:00 AM to 04:00 AM |
↓ SELECT A ROOM TO OBSERVE ↓
↑ SELECT A ROOM TO OBSERVE ↑
Server Room
What might once have functioned as the Site's data centre is now thoroughly defunct.
There are several rows of server racks, implying capacity for about a hundred servers, but all have been pushed to the back of the room. At least one has been partially disassembled, the servers that were once held by it stacked in a neat pile nearby. In one corner is a pile of cables, organised by type and spooled into wheels, bound with electrical tape. There is no possibility that even a single server is connected to anything.
The rest of the room is free, and this remaining space has been retrofitted as a makeshift gym. The components from the disassembled server rack have found new life as not particularly safe-looking gym equipment. Two of the supporting struts have each become a handles for a barbell, electrical tape wrapped thickly around where they would be held, and nebulous mechanical contraptions at either end provide the weight, presumably assembled from scrapped server units. The larger of the two barbells is resting on the floor near the western wall.
Vikram Singh is lying on some homemade equivalent of a lifting bench, face up, the smaller of the two aforementioned barbells in his grip. He's doing his best to lift the weight, and the struggle is apparent on his face.
Behind him is Lucy Williams, spotting, her hands hovering carefully below the shaking rack strut, ready to catch it.
Cafeteria
Yetunde Akinyemi and Jason Greaves are present. Yetunde is standing over one of the kitchen counter islands, and Jason is sitting at a seat pulled up to one of the small tables. Each nurses a mug, and the way they are holding them suggests that the contents are too hot to drink. The cloudy brown surface of Jason's drink is visible to the camera.
I can't help but feel like this is stupid. There's a little voice that keeps telling me it's a silly idea. They won't go for it. And it was silly to call it a meeting in the first place.
He holds eye contact with Yetunde for a moment, expecting a response, but breaks his gaze after a moment, lowering it into his mug.
We can't start doubting ourselves now.
I know, I know.
Just another artificial feeling pushing the real ones aside. Find what pushes on you and push back. We have to keep pushing, no matter what. And we need to get them to start pushing, too.
Me and you, we've got this.
He pops a pair of finger guns at her.
What are you doing?
It's… never mind.
Don't do that. It doesn't suit you.
Server Room
Vikram carefully lowers the barbell onto the rack and sits up. He says something to Lucy, which prompts her to laugh and clap him on the back. She easily removes the barbell from its rack and places it on the floor near the larger one. Vikram watches at first but quickly turns away.
Corridor: East Ring
Tyler Anderson is in the east ring corridor. He walks slowly northwards, tracing his left hand along the wall, gazing distantly at or through it, looking intently at nothing in particular. When he reaches the northernmost corner he stops and stares in the direction of the main containment cell, hands to his face, deep in thought.
Cafeteria
Jason slides his cup in a small circle on the table, staring down into the little vortex on the surface of the liquid.
Just a few more minutes.
Server Room
Lucy speaks. It takes Vikram a moment to respond — enough time for a deep sigh — but he nods resolutely and accepts her hand for a boost as he gets up. He's a little shaky on his feet, but he's more than stable enough to walk. The two of them head out into the corridor.
Corridor: Server Room
Lucy Williams and Vikram Singh enter from the server room, with Vikram taking the lead, a little unsteady on his feet. Lucy, behind him, seems poised to catch him should he fall, but her concern is proven unnecessary.
They continue into the north ring corridor.
Corridor: North Ring
Vikram Singh and Lucy Williams come into view from the server room corridor.
Corridor: Offices
Jess Brommer is in the offices corridor, standing about halfway between the doorways to the office and the break room, facing north. Her left hand is pressed against the outer wall of the caféteria for balance. Her face isn't visible to the camera from this angle, but she is breathing deeply and rapidly.
Corridor: North Ring
Vikram raises his arm to make a curt wave towards the east ring corridor, then both he and Lucy head into the cafeteria.
Corridor: East Ring
Tyler spares a hand to signal a hello down the corridor, and then catches a glimpse of something in the corridor to the north. He doesn't acknowledge it, but he stares in that direction for a second — before jolting into motion, as if having remembered something important. He heads straight into the north ring corridor.
Armoury
The armoury consists of storage for collection of protective equipment, with areas of the room designated for environmental and combat provisions.
Most supplies are either mounted against the walls or stashed in lockers. Lockers have had their doors removed and all are positioned such that the camera can see their contents.
Mounted on the north wall are 6 standard environmental protection suits in two sizes, flattened, with their glassy black helms attached to their chests. There are 29 sets of combat protective armour, each folded neatly into a locker, which bear a similar design to those that were used in mobile task forces, though they are outdated by around 20 years. There are plenty of weapons: a set of 16 titanium spears, and standard issue firearms mounted in racks around the room. There are ten ammunition lockers, all empty.
Frankie Welsh comes into view from the southeastern corner of the room, where they had been out of view directly beneath the camera. They walk quickly and head out into the corridor.
Corridor: North Ring
Tyler Anderson enters from the east ring corridor and follows directly into the cafeteria.
Corridor: Offices
Jess turns around very suddenly, retracting her arm and taking on a more relaxed posture. She stares to the south for a second, motionless. Then she says something to herself and heads down to the north ring corridor.
Corridor: Armoury
Frankie Welsh enters from the armoury.
They head into the west ring corridor.
Cafeteria
Vikram Singh and Lucy Williams enter from the north ring corridor, with Tyler Anderson not far behind. Jason, sitting with his back to the door, turns and peers backwards over his shoulder, raising his hand in greeting, despite clearly having not turned around enough to actually be able to see anyone who'd just come in.
Vikram, Lucy and Tyler wordlessly take seats around the room — Vikram and Lucy each have a table to themselves, and Tyler sits with Jason. The room's attention is focused on Yetunde, who takes a sip from her mug before speaking.
Thank you for being on time. But we can't start until everyone is here.
It's possible they're not coming at all. They weren't happy about being asked to do something.
Lucy glares at him. Tyler and Jason don't react.
They'll be here. Jess is probably in that corridor again, and Frankie is Frankie.
Tyler makes eye contact with Lucy and gives her a knowing look.
They sit in silence a moment longer.
Corridor: West Ring
Frankie Welsh enters from the armoury corridor. Their breathing is loud and slighly laboured.
They stop outside the entrance to the cells corridor — just before they would be visible if anyone were waiting there — then sniff loudly, and breathe a long, shaky exhale. They pause a moment longer and, after regaining their composure, proceed into the north ring corridor.
Corridor: North Ring
Jess Brommer enters from the offices corridor, walking slowly. She heads into the cafeteria.
Cafeteria
Jess Brommer steps into the room.
Hey. Am I the last one?
We're still waiting on Frankie.
Jess nods and goes to take a seat.
Corridor: North Ring
Frankie Welsh enters from the west ring corridor. They turn and continue into the cafeteria.
Cafeteria
Frankie Welsh enters, hovering by the open door for a moment, as if surprised to see the room full of people.
There we go. That's everyone. Sit down, please.
Frankie does so without quarrel. Jason's gaze follows them as they sit down, frowning slightly, as if deep in analytical thought.
Yetunde claps her hands together and takes a short, sharp breath before speaking, drawing the room's attention to her. Jason keeps looking at Frankie for a few more seconds before joining everyone else.
I appreciate you all being here. It's very rare that we're all in the same room, let alone all talking to each other at the same time. But we all share a problem, and I believe it's in our mutual interest to solve it.
She pans her gaze across the room.
I trust that you all know what it is.
Her comment is met with silence and sullen nods from most of those present. Only Frankie seems genuinely confused — they look at those nearest to them, Vikram and Lucy, for validation, but find no foothold: they are comparatively nonplussed. Tyler keeps his attention fixed solely on Yetunde.
What is that problem?
Her voice is quiet and affirmative. She seems completely confident that someone will answer, but no one does.
What's our biggest problem? Vikram?
Vikram stammers, clearly not expecting that he'd be asked to speak.
Biggest problem? That, uh, that we don't know what we're supposed to be doing. We haven't received any instructions.
Lucy?
There's nothing to do.
Frankie?
I don't know.
Tyler?
He hesitates.
That we don't know why we're here in the first place.
Yetunde smiles at him before turning her attention to her next target.
Jess?
Jess is silent for a long moment before she answers, her head turned towards Yetunde, who returns her eye contact for the entire time. She finally answers, whispering.
We don't know how to leave.
Yetunde changes posture, slipping into a more relaxed position, disengaging from the hawk-like stance she'd slowly adopted over the past few seconds.
It seems, perhaps, that my trust is misplaced. We're not on the same page about our mutual problem at all — distracted by facets of it, not seeing the larger picture. All of you are correct, to some degree.
She steps out from behind the kitchen counter and starts slowly walking around the dining area of the cafeteria, wandering between the tables. She stops behind Vikram and places a hand on his shoulder.
Vikram: you have touched on perhaps our most immediate problem. We have no means of communication with the Foundation. That means we cannot receive instruction, yes; but also it means that we cannot ask for help. We are isolated. We are alone. That too means that we cannot simply ask why we are here — or how we can leave.
Yetunde moves away from Vikram — who breathes a nearly-imperceptible sigh of relief — and back towards the kitchen area, where she resumes her position behind the counter, using it as a podium.
I think those assertions are known to all of us. But there is a much greater problem that threatens us.
She slams her hands on the counter, startling Tyler and Frankie in particular, and a note of anger rises into her voice.
We have been here for nearly three months. We have had three months to become intimately acquainted with our situation. And in that time, what steps have we taken to meaningfully remedy it? Hm?
She points at Jason.
What have you done?
Jason's expression is one of betrayal, but Yetunde's finger has moved on, and he quickly calms as she repeats her question towards Lucy to hammer in her point.
What about you?
Nothing! Nothing at all. None of us have done anything. And why not?
She glances around the room, this time seemingly hoping for an answer, not demanding it.
We just haven't. I don't know why. We just haven't.
It's not like we've spoken about this before now.
Yetunde grins and nods.
Yes. Exactly. Why not?
Jess shrugs, looking around the room for support, but she doesn't find anything. Everyone is looking at her.
I guess we just, like, accepted it. Not like there's much we can do about it.
Yes, Jess. Exactly. We just accepted it. Without argument, without complaint. I can't speak for everyone here — but that's not me. Hah! No. I know I wouldn't accept this. And yet, clearly, I have. And that bothers me. I really, really hope it bothers you too.
She lets the silence linger for a long moment, her hands placed on the countertop in a commanding position. The room murmurs in vague agreement. Frankie shrinks down into their seat, tugging on their shirt collar. Jason takes a sip of his drink, then goes to put the mug back down, but changes his mind and takes several full gulps.
So, Yetty, what are we going to do about it?
Yetunde takes a breath before replying — a dramatic pause, expertly executed.
I must be clear. I don't have a plan. I want everyone to be on the same page and in agreement — that's why I gathered everyone together. I want to figure out, all of us, what we should do.
She turns to address the room.
So — any ideas?
The room is quiet. Tyler looks from face to face, and, on seeing that no one is about to speak, takes the initiative.
There's an obvious starting point, right? Is there anyone here who hasn't been into the central room?
Frankie raises their hand, and after a moment, Yetunde does too.
For the benefit of you two, then: the corridors in this Site trace out a large empty square. Somewhere along the wall, opposite the rooms we're using as bedrooms, there's a sliding door with a little corridor behind it, then another sliding door, and in that room there's a machine. The feeling of being near it — it's indescribable. You feel clear-headed, you feel confident, you feel afraid, and then you leave and it's gone. That machine is right in the middle of the Site. It has to be why we're here.
I'd like to see this machine.
Well, hang on. I've seen this so-called 'machine'. It didn't look like anything mechanical to me. Even if it was, who's to say it's not a generator or something?
It's no simple little generator room. That little sliding door is hard to find on the best of days. You gotta actually be looking for it to find it. I'm not surprised that Yetty and Frankie both didn't notice it. They wouldn't hide just a generator behind that kind of door… I don't think.
They might. They probably don't want us messing with it, especially if it's a generator. It's very cold outside; if one of you were to accidentally break it, you'd all be screwed.
Yeah! Brilliant point. It's really cold outside. None of us have actually been out there, right? If you were building this place and you wanted to hide something, wouldn't you put it out there? No chance in hell they expect any of us to go outside. We should start there.
That's too risky.
Lucy turns around in her seat so that she's facing everyone in the room at the same time.
We have environmental suits, right? In the armoury. You spend a lot of time there, right, Frankie?
Yeah. Yes, we do.
So it should be fine.
She turns to Yetunde and then Jess for approval. Jess nods and shrugs, and the two move to leave.
Well, hang on.
She raises a hand in a 'hold' gesture, prompting Jess and Lucy to sit back down.
There might be better ideas. Let's all agree on an approach before we do anything. Does anyone have any less dangerous ideas?
Lucy sits down right away. Jess takes a moment longer, but acquiesces, taking a seat next to her. Yetunde nods her approval.
How about we have a look in the security room?
Nah. It's locked. It's always been locked.
Alright, in that case, how about… how about the documents room? There are files in there that go back years. I know I've not read any of them in any detail — have any of you? There could be gold in there, if we can find the right files.
His suggestion is met with no enthusiasm, save for Yetunde's obligatory nod.
A fine idea. What else?
The room sits in silence for a moment.
Just the records store and Tyler's machine, then?
What about the note?
What note?
The one that was on the fridge when we arrived. The one that isn't there anymore. You all… we all read it… right?
They shrink backwards, eyes scanning the room. Jason and Yetunde frown. Lucy looks first at Jess, then Vikram.
Yeah… there was a note. I guess I must have forgotten. Where is it?
Frankie's right. It was on the fridge.
Vikram gets up and heads into the kitchen area, approaching the refrigerator, and points at a specific area on its upper door, pressing his finger against it.
Right here. One sheet of A4, handwritten. I can remember exactly what it said, obviously — 'Site-69 is a fucking joke' — but if Frankie didn't mention it, I don't think I ever actually would have.
Lucy turns to Jess and and, very quietly, asks a question quietly enough that the microphone doesn't pick it up. Her face is fully visible to the camera.
Lip-reading
What's A4?
I remember it too. I don't remember it word-for-word, of course, but there's little bits that stuck out to me, even as overwhelmed as I was when I read it for the first time…
He frowns and casts his glance to the side.
…but I'm not sure when exactly that was.
Vikram pulls away from the fridge, his motion dislodging the sheet of paper that was wedged below his finger, sending it fluttering to the floor, and stands next to Yetunde behind the countertop.
Ringing any bells, Yetty?
No.
Maybe you just didn't have a chance to read it before it disappeared. I can recite it for you, if you like.
No need for that. Frankie — we were talking about things we could try to fix our situation; that situation being, of course, that we are stuck in Site-69 with seemingly no recourse. How does an alleged note help us?
Yetty, that's not fair—
Yetunde raises a hand to silence him, her gaze fixated on Frankie.
It's the only link we have to what might have happened here. It was written by someone who lived here, for people who lived here. I don't think it said anything about getting out, but it might help us understand what this place is.
Very well. Then, we can look for the note, as another option.
We don't need to actually find it. I can tell you what it said, to the letter.
Do you remember where the note is, Vikram?
It was right there on the fridge. I don't know where it is now.
Then your memory is not as perfect as you claim. We will find it —
That's such a non-sequitur.
— and we may very well discover that you know it perfectly. We will know for sure.
That's stupid and you know that perfectly well. You know what? I'm going to go to the documents room, which is where we keep everything that was written by previous Site-69 inhabitants, and I'm going to read stuff from there to see if it 'might help us understand what this place is', because we decided that doing that was a 'perfectly' valid angle of attack, right? Unlike certain other suggestions.
Vikram is standing, incensed — it's plainly obvious, even to the camera. Yetunde is nonplussed, expressionless.
I would go to greater lengths to keep a polite face.
My last boss was a telepath.ⓘDr. Melanie WestResearcher Singh worked under Senior Investigator West, a Level-1 Telepath, as a field agent on several investigations including of SCP-8822-EX ("Inert Stone Heads").- I've gotten used to saying exactly what's on my mind. And you know what, I prefer it that way.
Frankie, you are more than welcome to join me.
Frankie stares at him for a moment, and then nods.
Jason gets up, his chair scraping across the floor as he pushes it backwards.
Sorry, Yetty. This one was my idea, I have to see it through. If you'll let me join you, Vikram.
Vikram nods, and the three of them make their way to the door, leaving via the corridor.
Corridor: North Ring
Much later, Vikram Singh, Frankie Welsh and Jason Greaves enter from the cafeteria.
They start heading east, but slow to a stop, talking to each other.
Cafeteria
Yetunde drums her fingers on the countertop as they depart.
Jess, Lucy and Tyler sit in silence.
Corridor: North Ring
Vikram gives Frankie a quick hug, which they immediately try to worm their way out of, so he quickly relents.
They say something to him. He says something to them. Jason says something out loud, making an inscrutable hand gesture towards the east end of the corridor, prompting them to continue moving.
Cafeteria
Well, then. That was uncalled-for. But no matter.
Cell 1
Secondary containment cell 1 has been retrofitted as living quarters for one person, with a hammock strung up against the left wall and two luggage cases tucked underneath it.
The room is in pristine condition.
Cell 2
Secondary containment cell 2 has been retrofitted as living quarters for one person.
A hammock is strung up against the rear wall, and the room is otherwise in very average condition. It looks lived-in.
Cell 3
Secondary containment cell 3 has been retrofitted as living quarters for one person.
The rear of the room is taken up by a makeshift mattress: the hammock fabric has been laid flat, supported underneath by a thick layer of padding comprised of clothing and other fabrics, which is raised away from the ground by six luggage cases that have been pushed against the back wall.
The room is otherwise in fair condition.
Cell 4
Secondary containment cell 4 has been retrofitted as living quarters for one or possibly two people.
A hammock is strung up against the east wall, and another is strung up against the west, but only partially — one end is disconnected and is slumped against the floor.
Two luggage cases are in the middle of the room, upright, about a metre apart.
Otherwise, it doesn't look like anyone spends much time here.
Cell 5
Secondary containment cell 5 has been retrofitted as living quarters for one person, with a hammock strung up diagonally across the room.
The room is a mess with various personal effects scattered over the floor.
All walls that are visible to the camera are covered with artwork hand drawn on copier paper, in both monochrome and multicoloured media. Most of the drawings are of people and faces, but there are also some more diagrammatic pieces along with scenery and images that are either abstract or unrecognisable.
Cell 6
Secondary containment cell 6 has been retrofitted as living quarters for two people.
Two hammocks are strung up, one against the left wall, one against the right. Below one of the hammocks is what looks like one of the servers from the data centre, but almost fully disassembled. Electrical components, bits of metal, and sheets of paper are scattered across the floor nearby.
The area around the other hammock is very tidy in comparison, with the exception of a laptop and a nonstandard USB cable on top of the pillow.
Storage
The storage room is dominated by luggage cases scattered around the entire room, uncountably many — a hundred for sure, possibly two, probably not much more than that.
Four huge shelving racks are also present, one against the west wall, one against the east (blocking the southern exit on the east wall), and the other two parallel near the middle of the room, but pushed up against the north wall. Below those two shelves a circle two metres wide has been carved out of the luggage pile, with suitcases stacked neatly around its perimeter.
There has been some effort to clean up the northwest corner of the room, with most of the suitcases here moved to nearby shelving or stacked neatly, revealing a large area of usable floorspace near the door. A small pile of fabric — the same material as those used for the hammocks in the living quarters — is bundled nearby.
Main Cell Airlock
The primary containment cell airlock is empty and silent.
Main Cell
Silence.
Security
Constant white noise, barely loud enough for the microphone to hear.
Exterior
An icy plain extends as far as the camera resolution permits, covered in snow and stone, and dotted with the occasional tree. A persistent mist obscures anything further than about 300m away.
Records
The rear wall of the records store is stuffed with filing cabinets, eight of them in a row, each with four drawers.
On the floor is a small pile of manila folders and documents, with a couple more scattered around the room.
One of the filing cabinet drawers is open, showing about a hundred manila folders containing a least a few sheets of paper each.
Office
Six computer workstations are set up around a bank of desks in the middle of the room. Three of the monitors are facing the camera, and all three computers are visibly powered off.
The room is silent.
Hangar
The hangar is home to two biplanes, neither of which look remotely functional.
Pantry
The pantry contains several racks of shelving, which are about half-full of supplies. Most of the stock is preserved foods and cleaning products, but there are some fridges and freezers tucked near the back of the room.
Near the door, there is an empty serving trolley.
Break Room
Same as any other Site. A few chairs and tables. A little kitchenette with a coffee machine and kettle. Cupboards, drawers, a sink and a dripping tap.
Foyer
The foyer is a huge room that seems to serve almost no utility.
Vehicle Bay
The vehicle bay door is a little dented. Next to it, along the wall, is a small rack of shelves with various accoutrements that might be used to maintain a road vehicle.
No vehicle is docked.
Corridor: Cells
The corridor looks little too thin for its six doors. If everyone tried to leave the cells at the same time, it would be an uncomfortable squeeze.
Corridor: South Ring
The corridor is long and featureless.
