//------------------------------// // Security Clearance Authorized. Opening "SCP-009 — Living Nightmare" // Story: SCP-███ // by Journeyman //------------------------------// Item #: SCP-009 Object Class: Euclid Keter Special Containment Procedures: SCP-009 currently resides at Site-16 in the mind of a host (dubbed SCP-009-1) in a chemically-induced coma. The containment chamber is placed at the bottom of a fifty (50) two hundred (200) meter elevator shaft. SCP-009’s containment chamber is a standard 5x5x5 meter cell equipped with automated life support for SCP-009-1. Should any damage be present in the primary or secondary cell walls, SCP-009 must be moved to a prebuilt cell of identical design. Preceding the transfer, Site-16 must undergo a full evacuation of nonessential personnel. The evacuation must not be called off until SCP-009 has been safely transferred. A site-wide mandatory 50mg injection of █████ amphetamine solution will be issued to all remaining personnel. Any personal who display symptoms of SCP-009 other than SCP-009-1 will be terminated on sight. An SCP Foundation-licensed psychologist must be on site at all times for any individual who works near SCP-009’s containment chamber. Any host for SCP-009 must have all limb tendons severed to prevent their use in case of awakening from sleep. All unicorn horns shall be surgically removed. Under absolutely no circumstance is SCP-009-1 to die or be under the threat of termination. Any D-Class that becomes host to SCP-009 is exempt from termination. Any Foundation employee that becomes SCP-009-1 will have all security clearances reset and their ID tags destroyed. Should a site-wide containment breach occur, the elevator shaft will be remotely disabled if the security of SCP-009-1 cannot be assured. Any occupants will be terminated via gas dispersal in order to lessen SCP-009’s chance of escape. Only Level-4 or higher medical personnel are allowed to enter SCP-009’s chamber at any time, and only under unanimous approval by the O5 Council. Any emergency interaction (i.e. intense trauma or degrading medical conditions of SCP-009-1) must be preceded by alerting Site Director ████████ and the O5 council of the situation, and issuing a general Site evacuation of all nonessential personnel. Any unauthorized personnel demanding access to SCP-009’s containment cell will be terminated on sight. Should SCP-009-1’s physical and mental status be in question or be near death, a D-Class individual will be brought to SCP-009’s containment chamber and injected with a 50mg ████████ solution to induce sleep as an offering for a new host. Should SCP-009 wish to speak through SCP-009-1, sedation of SCP-009-1 is momentarily disallowed for the purpose of intelligence gathering. SCP-009-1 is to be immediately sedated (See Addendum 009-4). This process must be overseen by no less than one (1) member of the O5 Council.  A site-wide mandatory 50mg injection of █████ amphetamine solution will be issued to all personnel. All who resist injections will be terminated. Under no circumstance shall researchers or any other pony or individual with a higher security clearance than four (4) approach SCP-009’s cell, save for medical personal, lest SCP-009 gain access to such confidential information. Although incorporeal, SCP-009’s ability to “jump” to hosts is markedly more difficult as distance increases. The top of the shaft is guarded at all times by no less than four armed security personnel. All guards must have a minimum of eight hours of sleep within the last ten hours preceding their shift at SCP-009’s cell. Each guard is given a 50mg dose of █████ amphetamine solution to ward off REM sleep. Under no circumstance are any guards allowed to sleep on their shift, lest SCP-009 has a chance of escaping. If any guards are suspected of approaching sleep, they are to be immediately escorted away from SCP-009’s cell. Refusal to do so is grounds for immediate termination. Embedded Agent [REDACTED] will submit Princess Luna’s dream warden schedule to Site Director ████████ two weeks in advance in order to anticipate any astral interference she may produce. Upon the eve of such a date where the princess’ astral form will come too close to Site-16, Mobile Task Force Omega-7 “Dream Warriors” will converge on Site-16 to provide added security. It is their primary duty to mask all nightmares SCP-009 produces from the Princess’ attention via magical astrael shielding. Should any nightmare become of significant strength and primary measures fail, it is Omega-7’s secondary duty to enter the dreams of civilians outside of SCP-009’s area of influence and induce nightmares as a diversion. Should secondary fail-safes prove ineffective and an Omega-7 member is discovered in the astral plane, a registered Level-3 Foundation medic will awake the sleeping agent with sleeping salts or ammonium carbonate. Embedded Agent [REDACTED] will then penetrate Castle Canterlot security and awaken Princess Luna. This will result in the agent’s loss of cover and [REDACTED] will self terminate to keep Foundation secrecy. Site-16 will use the borrowed time to transport SCP-009 to an alternate facility. Description: SCP-009 is currently contained in: ► Geologist [REDACTED] ► Captain Stark ► [REDACTED] ► D-027  ► Doctor Sable  ► D-0192 ► D-92636  (See Document 009-2773 for a complete list of known hosts). SCP-009 is a noncorporeal entity that manifests itself primarily in the dreams of those that it inhabits. The entity has no known physical body and freely alters its appearance for the torment of its host. SCP-009 gains complete control over a host when it sleeps, but usually restricts its influence for personal torture. Although no physical scars or wounds ever result from SCP-009’s activities, it’s cognitohazard influence incurs extreme mental and psychological trauma in its host. Over time, this hyperstimulation creates physical damage through psychosomatic stress up to and including: tachycardia, hyperventilation, fever, fatigue, limb paralysis, weakened immune system, organ failure, and death. Although SCP-009 is easiest to contain while its host is asleep, its abilities are also at its maximum. When its host is asleep or unconscious, SCP-009 is capable of stimulating the audio and visual cortex, hypothalamus pain sensitivity, cerebral functions involving touch, and most other voluntary and involuntary muscles and sensations (See Document 009-2386 for full catalog of abilities). SCP-009’s finds sadistic amusement in using its abilities to inflict trauma on its host. As of this time, no means of destroying SCP-009 exist, as termination through cardiac arrest due to extreme mental trauma or by Foundation measures only expels SCP-009 from its current host. SCP-009 drawn as one of its nightmare incarnations before its host was rendered unconscious When SCP-009-1 is awake, SCP-009’s effects are diminished due to need the need to fight a conscious mind, but no host has been capable of resisting the subject’s influence indefinitely. It usually attempts to force its host to sleep, but  is still capable of inducing cognitohazard ailments up to and including: ► Startling and/or horrific hallucinations ► Feelings of intense unease or distress ► Fatigue and sleepiness ► Paranoia ► Dementia ► Phantom pain SCP-009 has shown some degree of dominance, coercion, or manipulation towards conscious subjects, usually under the threat of psychological torture; subjects are forced to bend to its will under the threat of pain. SCP-009 has the ability to communicate to agents and researchers by its host proxy, but does not often request to do so in the few moments before it is brought a new host. All SCP-009-1 hosts must undergo immediate sedation if the subject does not wish to communicate. Over the course of these brief moments, SCP-009 has made increasingly more persistent demands for hosts with stronger mental fortitude, declaring it is more entertaining to break individuals who resist its influence. All communication with SCP-009 is disallowed. Containment History: Under a routine investigation of urban and rural myths, SCP researchers discovered a long-standing superstition in the Zebrican savannah concerning a cursed underground cavern. All zebras avoided the cavern, for any who entered never returned. Archival records insist the forest contained this property since records in the area existed. The savannah in question was first settled twenty-four hundred (2,400) years ago. Mobile Task Force Kappa-644 “Dust Devils” proceeded to the cavern under cover of darkness and established a temporary base of operations. Geologist [REDACTED] and anthropologist [REDACTED] investigated the caverns under armed guard and discovered hundreds of corpses in varying states of in decay from recent to long-term dead (See Addendum 009-1 for more details). After finding over a hundred confirmed corpses, including those from [REDACTED], the team returned to camp for the night. After only an hour, the geologist started displaying extreme aggravation and paranoia, claiming he could feel insects crawling under his skin and something looking at him from the darker portions of the caves. The Kappa-644 medic attempted to restrain the geologist, but was rendered unconscious after he fought back. Stating that the medic was actually trying to poison him, [REDACTED] attempted to kill him with a stone and was terminated by Captain Stark. Fearing the cavern may have certain memetic or cognitohazard properties, Kappa-644 was ordered to return to base while a team outfitted for such measures was dispatched. Over the return trip home, Captain Stark began displaying signs of paranoia and hallucinations, but in a much decreased capacity. Recognizing possible memetic contamination, full memetic quarantine was placed in effect before the team’s return. Upon a quick nap, Captain Stark did not awaken. After eighteen hours of sleep, the captain was forced to consciousness with a 50mg █████ amphetamine solution. Captain Stark awoke in an extremely frightful and agitated state, declaring he was under constant torture from an unknown entity. Captain Stark started to display panic, declaring he could see some unknown entity in the room. Slowly, saying he was under threat of even more torture, Stark spoke as the entity’s proxy with a negotiator (See Addendum 009-2 for transcript). SCP-009 declared it wanted fresh victims, saying that the dangerous and paranormal experiences of the SCP Foundation and the oddities involved give it fuel for nightmares beyond any superstitious individual. A deal was forged with SCP-009, providing it with a continuous stream of hosts if it remains in containment. SCP-009 has willingly remained in containment ever since. ██/██/████ Ever since the containment breach on date [REDACTED], SCP-009 was reclassified as a hostile Keter threat. No more bargaining with SCP-009 is to be attempted. Addendum 009-1: Audio transcript of the ███████ caverns by geologist [REDACTED]. I see very typical limestone caverns hollowed out from ancient rivers and flooding. The walls are speckled with Schistostega pennata moss and lichens. I see a few others from my university days... Can’t remember the names for the life of me. I’ll leave a written reminder once my memory returns. This place has been inhabited in the past. Can’t quite say how long until the archeologist returns. Can’t remember his name. I’m so terrible with names. Place looks older than shit. Kinda rustles the jimmies a little. I’ll have a better estimate on the age once I take a couple samples. Initial guess... I’d say ten to twenty thousand years. The lower levels echo with running water. That’s not surprising; desert savannas sometimes flood in heavy rains and these caves are a convenient drainage point even without underground rivers. I’m going down there now with a few blokes armed for combat. Upper levels show signs of past inhabitation, but we can’t find a soul anywhere. I want to get an estimate on how deep this place is before I start taking samples. The sound of water is getting louder the deeper we go. You know, I don’t see that many zebras or griffons or gargoyles work Foundation security. Why is that? Is it just me, or is the Foundation kinda racist? Now one of the blokes is glaring at me. Shut the hell up, this is my log, not yours. Coming across an underground riverbed about forty meters below the surface and I’d say... a good three hundred meters walk? That sounds about right. Ground is littered with silt and silica particulates. Very fine grain sand and silt one would expect from weathering via water and–GOD DAMN! (Unintelligible sounds of protest from the security detail) Is that... is that real? I read the historical report, but mother’s milk in a cup, that scared the shit out of me! Is there more than one? There’s two over here. Hey, check around the bend. Right around the pillar over there. Yeah, where your light’s pointing... goddamn... there’s got to be close to a dozen just here. Uh... we just stumbled right onto a pile of corpses. Right on top of us. Like somepony shat them right on your face close. Anthropologist is running down the tunnel with a couple more guys. He’s looking them over now, saying that these poor bastards have been dead for at least a good decade. That’s good; don’t want them dead too soon. Don’t want what did them in to still be here. At least we got an idea about what happened to some of the missing victims. Anthro dude and the medic – Helios? – is looking them over now. They’re saying that some bone fractures were caused by blunt forced trauma. Not enough meat on their bones for a cause of death, however. Holy shit, though. Nearly walked right into one leaning against the wall. I see another with his – her? – head caved in over a rock. Ugh, half of its skull is collapsed. Nasty. (Sounds of somepony beckoning the group) That bloke is calling us over. Looks like he’s seen a ghost. Hey, we’re down far enough I think the dead might hear us. I don’t know what the fuck compelled these jackasses to die right on top of each other, but anthro and medic pony said that some of them died at least thirty years apart from each other. What in Celestia’s name would make you decide to kick the bucket right next to a pile of corpses? This shit ain’t right. Around the bend is... (Everypony is silent for approximately forty five (45) seconds) ...May the gods have mercy on us... uh... fuck... right. Anthro? Medic? Will.... yeah, do what Stark said... We... we are looking at... FUCK! WHAT IS THAT! (Captain Stark responds) I have no idea... Well... for the record, this is fucked... We are... looking at a wall and floor plastered with bones and blood. I will sever my nuts if there are less than fifty bodies right in front of me. By Celestia’s flank, they’re scattered all over the goddamn place. The walls are painted with black paint... what? You’re fucking with me. I swear to whatever god you pray to you better be fucking with me... The medic is saying that’s not black paint... it’s coagulated blood. Blood is plastered on the walls. Fucking everywhere. It’s like some cloven-humping, shit-eating transvestite’s idea of a sick joke. It’s all framing some kind of phrase: “Maybe you will have a lovely little dream...” Some poor bastard next to the wall who looks as old as fucking Starswirl the Bearded if he dropped dead and aged a billion years. He’s holding his own fucking femur and it’s stained with blood. THE FUCKER WROTE THIS WITH HIS OWN GODDAMN LEG! NO! FUCK YOU, STARK! YOU DEAL WITH THIS SHIT! I”M FUCKING GONE! I deal with rocks! (Sounds of a struggle. Audio ends) Addendum 009-2: Transcript of conversation between Captain Stark, and Agent “S”. Captain Stark is currently under memetic influence of SCP-009 and is very fatigued, despite eighteen hours of sleep. Due to memetic quarantine, the interview is overseen by Director ███████.) Agent “S”: Alright, this is now on record. I will help you, Captain, but please, calm down, and speak slowly. Now, repeat what you just said. Captain Stark: (Very fatigued and upset) I... uh, there’s something in my head. Something speaking. It’s real. I... I know it’s there. The same thing happened to [REDACTED] before we had to terminate him. Agent “S”: Can you describe what is with you? Captain Stark: No... it keeps changing. (Captain stares at the opposite wall for several moments.) It’s right there... (Note that security footage shows nothing where Mr. Stark indicates) Agent “S”: I believe you, Stark. I can’t see it, so it’s only showing itself to you. Now, what else can you tell me? Captain Stark: It’s... it’s hard to describe. Hungry? [DATA REDACTED] (Captain Stark is screaming in pain, clutching his throat. Agent “S” is attempting to stem the flow of blood from a wound across his temple) Agent “S”: Hold him down! Secure him! No! No, no sedation! Not yet! Stark, you have to listen to me. Can you communicate with this entity!? Captain Stark: (Strapped to the table, pained) Y-y-yes... it says... it likes us. It feeds on us like a parasitic predator. Agent “S”: It requires substance? Captain Stark: ...A-amusement. (Agent “S” begins to speak, but is interrupted by Captain Stark. The captain starts speaking to a blank corner) What? W-why? (A look of fear crosses the captain’s face) Yes, yes! I will! I’m sorry! Agent “S”: Captain? Captain Stark: I-it wants to... to make a bargain. Agent “S”: (Hesitantly) And the terms of this bargain? Captain Stark: U-us. An offering. Individuals to cultivate nightmares. (The captain screams again. Heart rate and blood pressure are spiking. It should be noted that Captain Stark is reacting to extreme pain, but has not been dealt any surface or deep tissue trauma.) Agent “S”: Sedative! Mild one! I need him conscious! (The medics on standby comply, but injections do not seem to help) Stark! The bargain! What is it!? Captain Stark: (Unable to respond) Agent “S”: STARK! Captain Stark: Ussss...... It wants one of us.... host... Agent “S”: Why? Captain Stark: Fu-fu.........fun.... It wants a plaything to control... Agent “S”: (Hesitantly) And in return? (Captain momentarily loses consciousness. Medics induce consciousness with smelling salts) Captain, if it wishes to bargain, that implies it wishes to give something in return what is it? Captain Stark: C-c... Agent “S”: Stark, stay awake! Don’t fall asleep! Captain Stark: (At this, Captain Stark jolts upward, agitated) Sleep. No, sleep is bad. It’s stronger when you sleep. (Captain Stark screams in pain once again and pulls on his restraints. The stress causes the captain to fall into unconsciousness once more. Captain Stark proceeds to flatline and Agent “S” dismisses himself, meeting Director ███████.) Director ███████: I wish he could have finished what he was saying. I was quite interested in what an SCP would have to say to us. Agent “S”: (Agent freezes) I think I know... Director ███████: Then I suppose you better be strapped to the table? Agent “S”: (Visibly shaken) Yes... It says it wants us. It will let itself be contained... if we get it some prey. We’re... “fascinating” to it. I suppose its an occupational hazard... Director ███████: Very well. Surrender your sidearm. Addendum 009-3: Memo from Site Director Belladona spread across Site-16 due to decreasing morale involving SCP-009’s presence. As one of the more sadistically vile creatures we have contained, it also marks a sobering lesson for Foundation employees. Not all we do is pleasant. Sometimes it is downright horrifying, but the consequences would be far more severe. If you think what we do is dangerous and borderline immoral, you are right. But a crisis of conscious will not help you in the slightest if SCP-009 gets out. As long as it is caged, we know where it is and can mitigate the damage. The last thing this world needs is a wandering torture ghost. There is no “catching” a nightmare, especially not in this situation. You just pray you are strong enough to overcome it. As long as it is here, it’s not among the populous. It’s a small comfort, but you need to find comfort where you can ~Site Director Belladona Addendum 009-4: Transcript communication with SCP-009-1 in regards to SCP-009’s nature and abilities. Doctor Stable: Are you well, SCP-009-1? SCP-009-1: It’s amazing how full of shit you all are. First I was a D-Class, now I’m some fucking monster’s plaything. These designations are a real comfort for you all. Don’t even know my name, do you? (SCP-009-1’s eyes do not move from the corner of the room.) Doctor Stable: SCP-009-1, I am here in case SCP-009 wishes to speak to me. SCP-009-1: Fuck you. (SCP-009-1 visibly jumps as if burned) It does. Doctor Stable: Very well. I would like to know anything it can tell me. SCP-009-1: (Speaking to the corner) Of course he does. Everyone does. (SCP-009-1 clutches abdomen with a look later described as “great discomfort”) It calls itself a dreamer, the fuck that is. The last dreamer. A traveler. Doctor Stable: What constitutes a... “dreamer?” SCP-009-1: “Something that can only see truth in dreams...” What the fuck does that mean? (SCP-009-1 must be strapped to the table as it starts fighting staff violently. Doctor Stable calls the medics for sedation) Doctor Stable: I’m not taking the chance. Put him out. SCP-009-1: Wait! (SCP-009-1 resumes looking at the corner) Oh, you’ve gotta be shittin’ me. Doctor Stable: Explain. SCP-009-1: Do you have any fucking clue who the thing in my head is, doc? Doctor Stable: Enlighten me. SCP-009-1: ██ ██ █ █████ ██ ██ ████ ███████ ████████. █ ██████. █ ██████ ████. ████ █ ██████, █████████, ███████ ██████ █ █████ ██ ██ ████ ██████ ███████. [DATA CORRUPT] [DATA CORRUPT] [DATA CORRUPT] After the events in Addendum 009-4, Site 16 underwent a full memetic containment breach. With a previously unknown facet of it’s abilities, SCP-009 jumped to several hosts simultaneously, forcing each to [REDACTED]. Twenty six (26) deaths resulted from the breach before a full site lockdown was initiated to contain the threat. Another ██ deaths resulted from containing SCP-009 and ██ escaped SCPs. Further communication with SCP-009 was discontinued and security measures updated in light of recent events. Threat level was upgraded to Keter. Termination orders of SCP-009 are undergoing O5 Command approval. Why should you be afraid of the dark? You shouldn't; the monsters can't see you. Turning the light on however... well, that speaks for itself. ~Lady Incantus on regards to records concerning the Gates of Tartarus Crossover with the SCP Foundation For chapter updates and my ramblings, visit my page on Fimfiction HERE Nightmare Fuel Fluttershy picture belongs to the Ask Murdershy tumblr. (NSFW) Editors: Genesis1212, Reader Review Prereader: Softy8088