SCP-2136

Day 1

1400
Assigned to a new potential SCP, working with Dr Fletcher (astro-biologist) and Dr Masrur (biochemist, translator). I'd like to record my thanks to Dr Richards for assigning me my first supervisory role, and look forward to reporting back once we're through the initial 96 hour quarantine.

MTF Eta-10 have secured two subjects (-1 and -2) in a containment cell, and have also brought in tissue samples from a human corpse found with the subjects. The MTF leader noted that the subjects expressed a desire to remain together during capture and transport.

2130
Commenced CCTV observation. Subjects were seated on beds, facing each other and conversing. Dr Masrur noted that the subjects' spoken language was a Bengali dialect, indicating that subjects were not native Sentinelese. Subjects were interrogated using the cell's speaker system, and confirmed that they were agents from the Indian government. When we refused to release them, they ceased to answer our questions.

India sent agents as well? What were they after?

Day 2

0830
Subjects have refused to sleep, and have continued to demand release, but have shown no outward signs of anomaly. They certainly don't seem to be affected by a visual hazard. Perhaps Eta-10 picked up the wrong people on their blind excursion?

1620
Following a long whispered conversation, the subjects asked whether another person can join them in their cell. He says that otherwise it is too dangerous for them to sleep, but won't explain why. I have refused their request until they cooperate with us.

2135
There is an anomaly here after all! At 2130, subject -2 finally drifted to sleep, despite -1's urgings. Within a minute, -1 stiffened and fell to the floor, immobile. The noise woke -2 up, and as soon as he did, -1 recovered. Dr Fletcher and I agree that visual contact appears to play a role in the effect we've designated 2136-A. Dr Masrur is talking to the subjects again now.

2215
I have requested a D Class to be assigned to enter the cell, in return for the subjects telling Dr Masrur what they know. Not much more than us, as it turns out. Their observer reported that the Sentinelese were living in much tighter groups than normal, sleeping in shifts and not letting anyone go off alone. The observer also noted some odd behaviour from some of the Sentinelese, with jerky, uncoordinated movements. Then the government lost contact with their observer. When they went to retrieve him, they found him dead, but with no sign of violence.

During retrieval, the subjects were spotted by two Sentinelese, who attacked with spears. The subjects attempted to escape, but fell victim to 2136-A. It was only when the Sentinelese warriors caught up to them that they were able to move, and fight off the tribesmen. They were then preparing to leave the island when Eta-10 captured them.

2300
The requested D Class (designated subject -3) has arrived at the cell. Dr Fletcher ensured that subject -3 entered the cell safely, without subjects -1 or -2 being seen outside the cell. I have asked containment to construct an outer door to the cell in case we need to open it again.

After 5 minutes, we asked subjects -1 and -2 to slowly turn away from -3, keeping each other in view. As expected, -3 stiffened and fell, confirming that the anomaly affects him too. Subject -3 was revived by -1 and -2 re-establishing visual contact. So the anomaly is definitely infectious, and the line-of-sight theory could be right. Subjects have been instructed to sleep in shifts - we'll do the same in the observation room to make sure we don't lose any subjects to tiredness.

Day 3

0600
The implications of this anomaly are fascinating. Dr Fletcher and I have been up all night debating its method of infection and potential source. Dr Fletcher insists that the anomaly is some form of virus, and while I don't think there is enough evidence yet, we have agreed to refer to it as a "pathogen" in the draft containment procedures. Dr Masrur joined in some of the discussion, but later I could see her in the reflection from the CCTV monitor, napping on the bench nearby. We'll run some detailed tests today.

2145
A very long day. Testing has been difficult - every instruction needs to be delivered in English and Bengali, and the subjects were unwilling to cooperate until I told them the tests would help us find them a cure. Why wouldn't they be on edge? They've had hardly any sleep. Not that we have either.

Observations. I'll write up the full test logs later, but for now we've learned:

• average time for 2136-A effect once line-of-sight is broken is around 45 seconds;
• line-of-sight for 2136-A purposes is not disrupted by reflection or refraction. I requested mirrors for the subjects to hang in the cell, which should help keep them within each other's view;
• line-of-sight needs to include skin to avoid 2136-A effect. We've asked the subjects to strip to the waist for now, and have updated the draft containment procedures.
• Dr Masrur has identified some anomalous structures in the tissue samples Eta-10 brought back - looks like this is some type of parasite after all.

We ceased testing at 2130, and the subjects are currently hammering hooks into the walls of the cell to hang up the mirrors. Subject -1 is terrible at it - seems to miss as often as he hits, meaning it's taking forever. Constant hammering is not helping the anyone's nerves, especially subject - 3, whose shift it is to rest.

Day 4

0335
Awake again, and on my observation shift with Dr Masrur, making sure no more than one subject sleeps at a time. When sleeping, subject -2 seems in the grip of nightmares, twitching and spasming. Could the infection be degrading motor control even while subjects are under watch from another host?

Dr Masrur apologised again for spilling coffee on my draft logs. I've reassured her that it was an accident, but we will need to get a back-up team on this, as the lack of sleep is wearing us all down.

1240
Today's tests have been inconclusive. Subjects -1 and -2 have grown disruptive, failing to comply with some instructions. At one stage, subject -2 stood up in the middle of a test and lurched jerkily across the cell. Dr Masrur tells me he was shouting "I can't stop! Help!" Subject -3 is showing signs of agitation at this behaviour, and has been less cooperative than before. Any test results we have are probably compromised.

1810
Testing cancelled for the day. Subjects -1 and -2 are no longer compliant, sporadically staggering around the room with voices raised in alarm. According to Dr Masrur, the subjects appear to be conscious of their behaviour, but unable to exercise gross motor control. Dr Fletcher agrees that this appears to be a new stage of the infection. It has greatly alarmed subject -3, who keeps yelling at the other subjects to back away. Nothing we can do for him, of course, and I can sympathise with being stuck in a small room with two other people and no sleep.

2125
The back-up team arrives tomorrow to take over. We'll tell them to shorten the observer shifts - Dr Fletcher is so tired he can barely hold his pen straight, and I've given up on cutlery. The only good news is that subjects -1 and -2 have recovered some motor control, and are sitting still, or moving slowly and carefully. They've stopped shouting too, lapsing into a slurred drawl when they speak at all. Subject -3 is crouched in a corner of the cell, with the hammer from the mirror-hanging. He is glaring at the others and twitching, but I'll take that over the shouting. Not much longer to go, and then some rest.

2345
Oh shit. Shit shit shit. How the hell will I The experiment is terminated. The subjects are dead.

At approximately 2330, subject -3 started to fall asleep despite his best efforts. As he did so, subjects -1 and -2 stood up and advanced on him. Their movement was deliberate but controlled, and they repeated a single word - Dr Masrur translated it as "Look!". Subject -3 woke with a start, and backed further into the corner, clutching the hammer and yelling at them. But they kept coming, and when they got too close He was uncoordinated, but they were slow, and still clumsy. And he had the hammer.

We watched it all, and it seemed to take forever.

And then, as he stood there, slick with blood and shreds of tissue, we realised what would happen next.

His heaving chest froze. The hammer slid from a frozen hand. He fell, motionless.

We watched him suffocate in a room full of air.

Day 5

0010
I've sent Masrur to get help. Fuck quarantine.

0020
Forgive me, Dr Richards. I need to record a containment breach of SCP-2136. We have been infected. Fletcher denies it, but he must have seen the subjects when letting the D Class in. I know he must have, because Fletcher looked away from me.

When I was nine, I fell into a river and almost drowned. This was worse. I was desperate to breathe. Frantic. And I could do nothing. There was no water to claw at, no gasping, just the knowledge that I was watching myself die. Helpless.

If he hadn't turned around, I would be dead. Thank god I froze looking at him, or we would both be dead. Would all be

0030
Dr Masrur made it as far as the hallway before she collappsed. Dr Fletcher and I stumbled out together to find her - we must look like a bad joke,, trying to keep each other in view, lumbering into doors. SHe didn't deserve this.

0555
Hafrd tio type now, even bedtween spasmsd. Its like sittimg in the paassenger seat ofv my brain, and someome edlse iws drivimg. Fledtcher is gettging worse too.

1125
He's watching me, I know it. If he wasn't, I would be dead. But I'm not watching him. If I don't turn around, he can't move, and he'll die, and then I'll die. So I've got about 5 minutes of typing, and then another 5. Good. The back-up team will be here in less than three hours, and we have to be dead by then. They can't find us alive - it has to die with us.

The spasms have finally worn off, and I still have some time before it takes me over, so I can type. A warning. This pathogen is more complex than we realised. We thought it was collecting electrical impulses just to feed, but it was storing them. To use. To drive us. Once it understands the muscles, it knows where to push, where to pull. Our consciousness, trapped in an electrical puppet made of flesh that is no longer ours to control. Talking is more complicated, but it can learn that too. I have been mumbling gibberish for hours. So has Dr Fletcher. And then he spoke.

"Look!" he said, staring at me avidly, "Look! Look! Look!" He started to shuffle towards me, and I didn't think. I closed my eyes.

And now I'm typing, and waiting for him to die, and trying to resist the urge to turn around. He wants me to look, but I can't. I can't look. I can't look. Icantlookicantlookicant

LOOOK