fragment:SCP-8403-1

Link to article: fragment:SCP-8403-1.

.contain-class .class-text::before {
  color: #cccccc;
}
div.image-bg {
  filter: invert(1);
}
.warning-box {
  margin-top: 3em;
  margin-bottom: 2em;
}
@media only screen and (max-width: 56.25rem) {
  :is(div.image-block, div.scp-image-block).block-right {
    max-width: 100% !important;
  }
}
@media only screen and (max-width: 600px) {
    .scp-image-block.block-right{
        float: none !important;
        margin: 10px auto !important;
    }
}

(none)

```
blockquote
```
```
blockquote
```
```
blockquote
```

[[<]]
[[https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/scp-8403/offset/0 Access previous revision.]]
[[/<]]

[[include :scp-wiki:component:acs-peppo-split
|object= euclid
|object-image= https://scp-wiki.wdfiles.com/local--files/component%3Aanomaly-class-bar/euclid-icon.svg
|object-color= euclid
|esoteric-color= two-color
]]

[[module css]]
.contain-class .class-text::before {
color: #cccccc;
}
div.image-bg {
filter: invert(1);
}
.warning-box {
margin-top: 3em;
margin-bottom: 2em;
}
@media only screen and (max-width: 56.25rem) {
:is(div.image-block, div.scp-image-block).block-right {
max-width: 100% !important;
}
}
@media only screen and (max-width: 600px) {
.scp-image-block.block-right{
float: none !important;
margin: 10px auto !important;
}
}
[[/module]]

**Special Containment Procedures:** SCP-8403 is kept in a standard humanoid containment cell, which is outfitted with Foundation-approved paintings, a television that plays cartoons during daytime hours, a cardboard house hideout, and a donut bed.

SCP-8403 is to be monitored daily for Hume level changes. Scranton Reality Anchors (SRAs) are to be brought and outfitted to its cell consistent with standard procedure for containment of low-level ontokinetic entities.

**Description:** SCP-8403 is a brown rat belonging to the subspecies Rattus norvegicus domestica[[footnote]]Commonly known as the laboratory rat.[[/footnote]]. It is fully corporeal, with no noticeable physical or behavioral differences from a regular rat of its subspecies, and possibly sapient (though no forms of communication have been established).

Its primary anomalous property is its Hume level, which has been gradually increasing since its initial containment by the Foundation. At present, it reads ██ Humes, which is near the minimum threshold for Foundation classification of a low-level ontokinetic entity.

Previously, SCP-8403 appeared as an adult humanoid female, with anomalous properties including translucency, intangibility, and a below baseline Hume level that allowed for its form to be manipulated. The last property resulted in its transformation to its current state on 05/12/2011. These properties no longer seem to be present.

The project lead, Senior Researcher Milton Hale, has requested reassignment away from SCP-8403. This request is currently pending.

**Addendum 8403-1: Video Log**

Due to SCP-8403's form, socialization is not required. However, Junior Researcher Alfie Xiao has requested and been permitted to visit SCP-8403 on a daily occurrence, provided that doing so does not interfere with other duties.

[[div class="blockquote"]]
<BEGIN LOG>

//SCP-8403 is seen resting within the cardboard house, which has gnaw marks on most of the walls.//

//Xiao enters the room.//

**Xiao:** Hey, 8403?

//SCP-8403 stirs and lifts its head. Xiao sighs.//

**Xiao:** I wish I’d gotten your name. Won’t you spell it out for me? I’ve got paper and paint, but I can bring something else if you don’t want to get your paws wet.

//SCP-8403 tilts its head.//

**Xiao:** I know you can understand me. You have to, even inside that little… rat brain of yours.

//SCP-8403 crawls towards Xiao, who kneels and unfurls his hand to reveal several small blocks of white, half-melted cheese. The entity sniffs and moves forward cautiously.//

**Xiao:** They had brie in the cafeteria today. Sorry it’s so mushy; I came here as fast as I could. I'll put it in a container next time.

//SCP-8403 begins nibbling on the cheese.//

**Xiao:** If there's anything else you want, please let me know somehow, although I don't really have the authority to get you much. These shitty sterile paintings must be such a bore, huh? You mentioned wanting paintings the first time we met, so I figured… well, better than nothing. Still, I should've asked you what else you liked while I had the chance.

**Xiao:** All this… it's not my fault, right? I'm nothing but a lackey. It's the Foundation that locked you up here, Hale and Luzia that treated you like nothing but an object. Honestly, they're the ones to blame, not me.

//He laughs, causing SCP-8403 to startle and briefly scurry away.//

**Xiao:** Sorry, sorry.

//SCP-8403 slowly re-approaches the cheese.//

**Xiao:** Who am I kidding? I'm one of them, after all.

//He glances at the camera, then takes a deep breath.//

**Xiao:** I've realized that I'm the perfect fit for this job. I'm weak, and scared, and I don't talk back to my superiors.

**Xiao:** And because of my weakness, you…

//His voice cracks and he sniffles.//

**Xiao:** I-I hope… I hope you hate me with all your heart. It's what I deserve. It's all my fault, and I'll never be able to make it up to you.

//He swallows.//

**Xiao:** I’m sorry. Hearing all this must wear real thin, huh? You never signed up to be my therapist.

//SCP-8403 finishes the last piece of cheese and climbs into Xiao’s hand. He cups his other hand underneath.//

**Xiao:** I still can’t tell you much about what’s going on, even though nobody probably checks these recordings anymore. You’re not… well, they don’t really care about you anymore. Hale doesn’t want anything to do with a failed project, but at least that means no more testing, right?

**Xiao:** They’re going to bring in a couple things to put around the place and leave you be. Just so they can keep you a boring normal. And then you’ll be kept here until, until…

**Xiao:** Well, anyways. I still don’t know what you like, but I did write a few new poems since last time, so let me read them to you, okay? If they annoy you, bite me and I’ll stop.

//He slowly raises his cupped hands, in which SCP-8403 moves in a circle before settling down.//

//Xiao proceeds to recite and explain several poems of mundane nature, the contents of which have been omitted for brevity.//

//Approximately thirty minutes later, he sets SCP-8403, which appears asleep, back down, and he exits the cell.//

<END LOG>
[[/div]]

[[include :scp-wiki:component:object-warning-box-source
|bg-image=https://scp-wiki.wdfiles.com/local--files/component%3Aobject-warning-box-source/scp-logo.svg
|bg-opacity=0.1
|text-top=BY ORDER OF THE OVERSEER COUNCIL
|text-bottom=The following information is Level 4/8403 Classified
Unauthorized access is forbidden.
|object-number=8403
]]

**Addendum 8403-2: Incident Log**

On 08/05/2011, SCP-8403’s Hume level was recorded to reach a minimum threshold. In accordance with containment procedures, two SRAs were brought to its cell and activated. However, SCP-8403’s internal Hume level continued to increase unobstructed.

To confirm the effectiveness of the SRAs, the Hume levels of SCP-8403’s surroundings were also measured. It was then discovered that the area inside its containment cell, and extending to approximately 22m outside of it, was experiencing irregular, nearly imperceptible Hume fluctuations with frequencies of nanoseconds[[footnote]]Baseline reality is expected to maintain an entirely steady Hume level as measured by all modern Kant counters.[[/footnote]].

After the SRAs were deactivated, the Hume fluctuations increased in amplitude, mostly negative (below baseline reality), and lasted longer, up to milliseconds. This phenomenon was communicated to the project lead, who identified it as a possible sign of an ontokinetic entity attempting to maintain certain Hume levels differently from their natural state, with imperfections resulting from inexperience or lack of power.

Dr. Hale declared a localized emergency and requested at least double the number of SRAs, while on-site security personnel with counter-ontokinetic training were mobilized and put on standby.

Below is a record of the proceedings leading up to the subsequent incident.

[[div class="blockquote"]]
<BEGIN LOG>

//The assembled crowd is standing outside of SCP-8403’s cell, beyond its estimated range of effect. The site security chief is engaged in conversation with Dr. Hale, who seems agitated.//

**Security Chief:** And the skip hasn’t done anything yet?

**Hale:** It has, I’m telling you it has!

**Security Chief:** Right, so, from what you’re saying, it’s been hard at work… what, making nothing happen? Everything looks normal, and I had someone skim through the recordings. Everything’s //been// normal. Your own researcher hasn’t noticed anything off, has he?

**Xiao:** N-No, sir.

**Security Chief:** So what’s the supposed emergency?

**Hale:** This entity has been using previously undetected ontokinetic abilities to maintain the baseline of its chamber, and we only discovered it because your SRAs didn’t work. Its Hume levels are still rising as we speak. Allow it time to recognize its abilities and we’ll all be dead in a blink of an eye!

**Security Chief:** What do you want me to do? You’re being provided with more SRAs, but there’s no imminent threat, is there?

//He raises a hand to cut off Hale's retort.//

**Security Chief:** Look, I’m not questioning your expertise, but I can’t be having some of my best men and women babysitting a rodent. Not unless you want us to terminate an anomaly in containment, which has to be //your// call. Is that what you want?

**Hale:** That… I don’t think that—

**Xiao:** Definitely not, sir.

**Security Chief:** There you go. The way I see it, this is your job. The skip’s anomalous—figure something out. Request the necessary provisions. Call us back when it starts breaking things and you need it stopped or killed. I’ll keep you on priority dial.

//At this point, four more SRAs are brought in and a containment specialist begins setting them up.//

**Hale:** Oh, finally. Somebody get the Kant counter ready.

**Xiao:** I’ve got one.

//The security chief waves for the assembled security officers to follow him out. Hale mutters underneath his breath.//

**Hale:** What happened to my authority?

**Specialist:** SRAs ready, sir.

**Hale:** Activate them, if you please.

//All six SRAs present are activated.//

**Xiao:** Well, it’s baseline out here.

**Specialist:** Mine reads baseline too. With exceedingly minor fluctuations, I think?

**Hale:** And what of SCP-8403?

**Specialist:** I’ll—

**Xiao:** Let me do it.

//He approaches the keypad.//

**Specialist:** Sir, I’ll have to ask—

**Xiao:** I’m opening the door. Any objections?

**Hale:** If you must, lad. Time is of the essence.

//The others move out of line-of-sight of the door, and Xiao scans his keycard. The door slides open, and he enters the cell.//

//SCP-8403 is lying in its donut bed, awake.//

**Xiao:** Heard all the commotion? Sorry. The old doctor thinks you’re going to kill everyone, or that you could if you wanted to at least. Crazy, isn’t it? I don't believe it either.

**Xiao:** I’m going to measure your Humes now. It’ll just take a second.

//He approaches SCP-8403, who slowly crawls out of the donut bed and approaches him, sniffing at the air. Kneeling, Xiao holds up the Kant counter.//

**Xiao:** Let’s see…

//A beep. Xiao pulls back and shakes his head, staring intently at the counter’s display.//

**Xiao:** Huh. That’s actually pretty high.

//He looks at the entity, which sits back onto its hindquarters.//

**Xiao:** Let’s try that again.

//He holds the counter closer and another beep sounds.//

**Xiao:** It's even higher! What’s happening to you?

//A knock on the cell door startles him, and the counter nearly slips from his grip. He ignores the shout from outside and stares wide-eyed at the entity.//

**Xiao:** Are you actually hiding your abilities?

//SCP-8403 becomes humanoid. The change is instantaneous[[footnote]]The camera records at 30 frames per second.[[/footnote]]. The entity resembles its initial, fully corporeal form, with long brown hair draped across its shoulders. It sits cross-legged on the ground, both hands clasped between its legs.//

**SCP-8403:** Well, rat’s out of the bag now, huh?

<END LOG>
[[/div]]

**Addendum 8403-3: Incident Report**

Following SCP-8403’s transformation to a humanoid entity, a reality destabilization zone manifested, hereby designated SCP-8403-1.

SCP-8403-1 comprised roughly --25-- --32-- 50 meters of area, centered on SCP-8403’s cell, which experienced a significant decrease in Hume levels below baseline. This affected every physical object, including sections of Site-152 itself, and all living entities within the region. Objects or entities that entered into SCP-8403-1 immediately became affected as well.

Affected objects and entities were largely transparent and intangible. Affected entities seemed immobile and unable to vocalize.

The only identified exceptions to this effect were the array of active SRAs and the interior of SCP-8403’s containment cell, including all furniture, the surveillance camera, SCP-8403 itself, and Junior Researcher Alfie Xiao.

Moments after SCP-8403-1’s appearance, a site-wide emergency was declared. It was observed that SCP-8403-1 was expanding in size at an initially slow but exponentially increasing rate, constituting a potential ongoing [*https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/k-class-complete-list CK-Class Restructuring Scenario]. Evacuation procedures were begun for on-site personnel and essential items in containment, and O5 command was notified. MTF Epsilon-11 ("Nine-Tailed Fox") was dispatched, equipped with experimental ontokinetic suppression technology, and authorized to use lethal force. Other nearby MTF units also began to converge on Site-152 to assist in termination efforts.

The following log, however, concerns only the interior of SCP-8403’s cell. It occurs immediately after the conclusion of the previous log, captured by the single functional camera remaining.

[[div class="blockquote"]]
<BEGIN LOG>

//SCP-8403 is sitting on the ground, wearing a sheepish smile. Xiao stands up and drops his Kant counter with a clatter.//

**Xiao:** I-I knew it.

//He steps forward almost instinctively and reaches out for SCP-8403, then flinches and holds still.//

**Xiao:** I’m sorry, I—

//His hand drops and he looks to the side.//

**Xiao:** If you wanna kill me, or worse, I don’t blame you, but you have no idea how much I—

//He cuts off as SCP-8403 jumps to its feet and lunges at him.//

**SCP-8403:** Oh, shut up.

//She embraces him, nearly knocking him over. Her head rests against his shoulder, and after a while, Xiao tentatively reaches up to embrace her back. His hands shake slightly.//

**SCP-8403:** No more self-pity, okay? I already forgave you a while ago, but I just couldn’t tell you yet.

//Xiao initially chokes on his words.//

**Xiao:** But we… I failed you, I was complicit in all the—

**SCP-8403:** Hey, what did I just say? No more of that. It’s all in the past, Mister Alfie Xiao. What matters is that you stayed with me after it all happened.

//She pulls back to look into his eyes.//

**SCP-8403:** You came by every day, at least once but sometimes more. Gave me treats, talked to me, read me your poems…

//She smiles at him and he glances to the side.//

**Xiao:** …did you like them?

//She laughs.//

**SCP-8403:** I'm sure I would if I actually understood them. I know you tried explaining what they meant but it all flew right over my fuzzy lil head.

**Xiao:** Oh.

**SCP-8403:** But that’s okay! I could tell you put your heart into each word, and that was enough for me.

**Xiao:** Yeah… yeah, that I did.

**SCP-8403:** Now come on, isn’t there anything you want to say to me?

//Xiao swallows and takes a deep breath. He looks down and shuffles his feet.//

**Xiao:** Um… what’s your name?

//SCP-8403 grins.//

**SCP-8403:** It’s Noria.

**Xiao:** Noria. That’s… thank you. Noria. No more numbers for you, Noria.

//Her face reddens.//

**Noria:** Aw, and I’d gotten used to those four digits, Alf.

**Xiao:** Alf, huh? This is, wow, this is just surreal.

//He fidgets with his shirt.//

**Xiao:** I mean I always hoped you were still in there, but… wait, why didn’t you tell me before? When you were a rat, I mean. Uh but i-if you don’t want to talk about that, it’s fine, I don’t want to-

**Noria:** No, it’s fine.

//She releases Xiao and sits back onto the floor, patting the ground in front of her. She takes a deep breath.//

**Noria:** I don’t really know how it works, but even on that day, I was still a human in there. I could still think, somehow, and I was thinking a lot of very colorful words that I won’t repeat right now.

//Xiao exhales sharply.//

**Xiao:** Yeah, I uh, I had some of my own too.

**Noria:** Mhm, I’m pretty sure I had more. Anyways, I think I was just a normal person packed into a little rat’s body at that point. It was pretty funky. I felt like a rat and craved like a rat, but I could still think human thoughts, you get me?

**Xiao:** Not entirely, but go on.

**Noria:** It was kinda fun, actually. You see things very differently when you’re that small, even though I still knew deep down that I was me. And I had plenty of time to think, too. I think… I think I figured out how it all works. Any guesses, science man?

//Xiao sits up straight.//

**Xiao:** Of course, I've been mulling it over every day. It's just a hypothesis, but I might know what makes you special. You absorb Humes from your surroundings, don’t you? You started at zero or some very low amount, but you’ve gotten much more powerful since then. I had no idea you could actually //use// those powers as a rat, though.

**Noria:** Uh, probably. I don’t know what Humes are, but that sounds sciency enough to be right. Back then I felt like I was constantly dissociating, like I didn’t really belong in the world. But as days dragged on, I felt more and more real every day. It feels like the world itself is pouring into me now. I'm like a… giant balloon that should've popped ages ago.

**Xiao:** That sounds painful.

//Noria grins widely.//

**Noria:** Sure, but guess what? Now I’m realer than //anyone// else. Watch!

//She stands up and spreads her arms out. A second later, the containment cell shudders and begins to reconstruct itself, and she tilts her head back in apparent elation.//

//The formerly concrete walls stretch tall and gilded while a red velvet carpet rolls across the floor. A large, thick throne emerges from the ground, studded with gleaming jewels, and she sits down onto it, crossing one leg over the other.//

**Noria:** Now I can do anything!

//Xiao recoils as thousands of tiny glowing objects flicker into existence around him. Unseen trumpets blare and multicolored confetti fills the air.//

**Noria:** Riches, stars, sounds, smells, tastes. I’m doing all this, me, and all I have to do is think!

//She pushes off the throne and huffs a cloud of smoke into the air, which dissipates to reveal a swarm of fluttering, iridescent butterflies.//

**Noria:** I’m literally creating life! And I can take it just as easily, too. Dr. Hale is outside, isn't he?

**Xiao:** Noria…

**Noria:** What do you think, Alf? Should I do it? Or do you want something else? Anything, it can be yours, and all you have to say is—

**Xiao:** Please, don’t.

//He reaches out and touches her arm. She flinches and whirls around to thrust her palm into Xiao’s face, breathing heavily.//

**Noria:** What? Is this not enough for you?

**Xiao:** You’re scaring the shit out of me.

//Noria blinks rapidly. Her brows furrow in confusion and the butterflies that fill the room freeze in place. Slowly, she retracts her hand and licks her lips.//

**Noria:** Oh, come on.

//The butterflies fall to the ground and crumble into ashes.//

**Noria:** I just got a little carried away, no biggie.

//She pulls away from Xiao. Tilting her head up, she spins around in a circle, splaying her fingers out behind her.//

**Noria:** Wow. I did all that.

**Xiao:** Yeah.

//She turns and kicks the throne.//

**Noria:** Stupid, stupid.

**Xiao:** Hey, look—

**Noria:** Listen, you have no //idea// what I’m feeling right now. What I’ve been bottling up under my skin. I didn't have a choice! I couldn’t let you guys discover the truth while I was still weak, just so you could shut me down again.

//Xiao gingerly reaches a hand out towards her face.//

**Xiao:** Noria, I’m… I’m on your side this time. I promise.

//Noria turns to look at him and pushes his hand away. She bites her lip.//

**Noria:** Alf, right now, I feel like I could flatten the world with a thought.

**Xiao:** I…

//He gulps.//

**Xiao:** Given enough time, you probably will be able to.

**Noria:** But I don't want to! I never wanted to do anything big. I mean, jeez, I…

//She laughs unsteadily.//

**Noria:** I don’t know if any one person is meant to feel all of this, especially not little ol' me. You know I’m sucking power from you, right? From everything within this place. I’ve been doing it for a while and I can't stop it. The only reason you’re still moving and talking is because I’m putting everything I can into keeping you real. Isn’t that fucked up? You should be terrified of me.

//Xiao kneels at the foot of the throne. She flinches, but lets him take hold of her hand.//

**Xiao:** I don’t care. I’m here for you, you know that. I'm not leaving your side.

**Noria:** Y-Yeah, okay.

//Both their faces are red.//

**Xiao:** Just don't destroy the world.

**Noria:** Well, maybe I could figure out a way to exclude just you from the-

**Xiao:** Noria.

**Noria:** Okay, fine. We'll save the world and all that stupid crap. But we gotta do it fast. It feels like there's a million ants trying to dig their way out of my skin. I think those—

//She gestures outside.//

**Noria:** Those things speed it up. I couldn’t see them turn it on, but I felt it, the surge of power. How do I stop this?

**Xiao:** I, we have no idea. Maybe there’s someone in the Foundation who’ll figure it out, but there’s nothing I know that can stop what’s happening to you. Those devices, the SRAs, they were supposed to be our solution. Now that you're strong enough to overpower their influence, none of it matters anymore.

//Noria lets go of his hand, quivering slightly.//

**Noria:** So you don’t have a plan? Seriously?

//Xiao rubs his eyebrows.//

**Xiao:** Not any good ones, anyway.

**Noria:** Even a bad plan is a plan, come on. Hit me with it.

**Xiao:** Listen, just let me come up with a diff-

//His hands turn into blocks of cheese. As soon as he notices, they revert back to normal.//

**Xiao:** …you did that?

//Noria blushes and shakes her head violently.//

**Noria:** Sorry, sorry, old habit! I’m having a hard time focusing here, okay?

**Xiao:** If it feels better for you to uh, let some of it out, you should probably do that.

//She looks to the side, and mushrooms sprout on the far wall, lifted by circular stalks of painted wood.//

**Noria:** Just tell me your plan already! I don’t care if it’s stupid, it’s worth trying.

**Xiao:** It’s too risky.

**Noria:** What’s riskier than losing the world?

//Xiao sits down and stares at her, exhaling shakily. She glances back at him.//

**Noria:** Oh.

**Xiao:** …yeah.

**Noria:** It's okay, Alf. I’ll do it.

**Xiao:** Listen, I…

//He trails off as a squirrel jumps from the throne onto Noria’s head. Its face is a flat, featureless mask of matted fur. He shivers, though she doesn’t seem to notice.//

**Noria:** It's not that I want to die, but we're out of options, right? I mean, you would've told me if you could think of literally any other—

//She stops abruptly and tilts her head.//

**Xiao:** What?

**Noria:** Something… no, a lot of somethings is coming[[footnote]]This observation coincided with MTF Epsilon-11 breaching the perimeter of SCP-8403-1.[[/footnote]]. They're still pretty far away, but I can't tell who or what they are. They look like blind spots moving through a sea of light. How is that…

//She puts a hand to her forehead, appearing pained.//

**Noria:** How is that possible?

**Xiao:** I don't know. We don't know much about reality bending, any of us, but I'm sure the Foundation's got backup plans to, well, terminate someone like you.

**Noria:** Almost makes the testing worth it, huh?

**Xiao:** No. Not at all.

//Noria looks down at her lap.//

**Noria:** …anyways, I’ll do it. Your plan. So come on, we've got no more time to waste.

//The gilded walls of the room begin to alternately expand and crumple in different places. Cracks start to spread like spiderwebs through the surface. Noria trembles noticeably.//

**Xiao:** I’ll need an SRA.

//One SRA from outside the room de-manifests from its original position and reappears before him, making him jump. He takes a deep breath.//

**Xiao:** Listen, so, SRAs work by siphoning reality from dying universes and pouring it into ours. My hypothesis is that you can redirect it to siphon from you instead.

**Noria:** That's fine, right? Can’t I make it suck just a little away from me, enough to stem the tide?

**Xiao:** I believe SRAs work instantaneously, or at least at a time scale too quick for us to measure. I don’t know their workings very well… very few people do, but I do know they're meant to work with universes, so on an individual person, there probably won't be any time to react at all.

**Noria:** So if, if I can do it, I’ll just go poof. You think it'll hurt?

**Xiao:** Maybe… listen, I—

//Xiao steps towards Noria, then pauses and looks down at his body, which flickers translucent. He turns back to Noria, who is visibly sweating and digging her nails into her palms.//

**Noria:** Alright. It's our best option.

//She moves to the SRA and places her hands on it. Her eyebrows knit together.//

**Noria:** I think I can do it. It'll work, and… I'll be gone.

//Her head hangs low and her hair falls down to obscure her face.//

**Xiao:** I'm sorry.

//Seconds pass. Finally, her voice comes out, small and wavering.//

**Noria:** Hey Alf, keep working on your poems, okay? One day kids will read them in school. Write one about me, and it'll be like I never left, right?

//She takes a breath. Xiao stumbles over and wraps his arms around her.//

**Xiao:** Why'd it have to be you, Noria? Why couldn't it have been me?

//His voice cracks.//

**Xiao:** I hate it, feeling this powerless. I would give you my everything and it still wouldn't be enough. I couldn't save you then, and I still can't save you now, and I'm so, so sorry. I wish we'd known each other sooner, and… maybe in another life, we could've painted and read poems together, and never had to deal with all this. You never deserved any of this.

//Xiao flickers in and out of existence. Noria looks up, her eyes shining and wet, her nose crumpling like paper.//

**Noria:** Why’d you have to go and make it all sad? You're ruining my last words.

**Xiao:** Are you scared?

//Her shoulders shake.//

**Noria:** More than I ever thought was possible.

**Xiao:** Take me with you. We'll die together.

//She laughs, tears streaming down her cheeks.//

**Noria:** No way.

<END LOG>
[[/div]]

In the next observable instant, SCP-8403 de-manifested from reality, and all Hume levels within SCP-8403-1 were restored to baseline with no detectable fluctuations.

Objects and structures which were previously within SCP-8403-1 exhibited signs of physical deterioration consistent with weeks to years of use. Repair and restoration efforts are to begin pending a comprehensive evaluation of affected equipment, supplies, and site structural integrity.

Affected SCP objects are being handled on a case-by-case basis; at present, no noteworthy containment breaches have been identified as a result of SCP-8403-1's effects.

Affected personnel reported varying degrees of symptoms typically associated with dementia, such as disorientation and memory loss. Research into mitigating these symptoms and restoring full work capacity of involved personnel is ongoing.

It was noted that the severity of all after-effects corresponded proportionally with the distance between the affected and the center of SCP-8403-1.

SCP-8403's transformations to its former containment cell were largely retained, including gilded walls, red carpeting, and a large, jewel-encrusted throne made internally of aged parmesan cheese. These items were determined to be non-anomalous in nature.

Additionally, Junior Researcher Alfie Xiao was recovered alongside six active SRAs, one of which was smoking and non-functional. After a post-incident interview, Xiao was commended and promoted one level for his role in resolving the incident.

SCP-8403 is pending reclassification to Neutralized.

_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
[[size smaller]]//Fetching update...//[[/size]] _
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_

[[collapsible show="This file has one new revision." hide="Months later…"]]
On 12/25/2011, sensors detected an unnaturally low Hume level at the main security checkpoint. Surveillance footage revealed an extremely faint outline of a humanoid with similar stature and build to the last known form of SCP-8403. Investigation into this matter is [*https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/unreal-real-surreal ongoing].
[[/collapsible]]

fragment:SCP-8403-1

Module Styles

Inline Styles

Includes

CSS Classes

Page Source