SCP-2032

Description

SCP-2032 appears to be an elderly man of Middle Eastern origin. His true age and ancestry are not currently known, although plausible records would indicate connection to the ████████ Caliphate circa ███ - ███ CE. Although SCP-2032 has an apparent inhuman longevity, his physical and mental health are estimated to have begun deteriorating with age several decades prior to coming into Foundation Custody. SCP-2032 is currently receiving daily treatment for moderate Alzheimer's and mild dementia, along with physical therapy for arthritis. SCP-2032 is now also undergoing speech therapy following a stroke (The cause of which is detailed in Addendum 2032-A).

The main anomalous quality of SCP-2032 is that his memory directly affects the general public's historical recollection. As SCP-2032's memory begins to fade, numerous branching opinions on historical events, consisting of conflicted accounts or other inaccurate information, appear. This loss goes so far as to directly alter historical texts as well. SCP-2032 has written several journals to keep his memory accurate.² There is a theorized safe zone from the reality altering effects of SCP-2032's memory for any documents or persons within three meters of him. Additionally, as time passes and the event becomes less current, it is considered to have reached SCP-2032's long-term memory in which the public may not be informed but scholars and historians are. When information passes from this stage of memorization it is considered lost.

Following the discovery of the 'safe zone' within SCP-2032's presence, newspapers and other information are placed in the containment cell until they can be more appropriately archived. A team of Foundation archivists now works daily to write down SCP-2032's recollections, starting with the farthest memories. The journals in which these events are kept are locked in a safe inside SCP-2032's cell to prevent the loss of this information.

The general global opinion and knowledge of recent world events creates new memories for SCP-2032. These recollections have been described to researchers as hazy at best, requiring outside information for accurate clarity. While an event is happening yet not understood, mostly being speculation or rumors, SCP-2032 likens it to recalling a dream. SCP-2032 will gradually gain more clarity around this event, causing knowledge to become public. Despite the impact on his mental health, SCP-2032's knowledge of an event is not what causes the public reaction. As more cultural factors affect the private understanding collective areas have of an event, the psychological reaction on SCP-2032 becomes apparent.

SCP-2032 is on a daily regimen of medication to ward off the ongoing symptoms of his mental deterioration. At the current rate of deterioration, it is predicted that in ██ years all written history prior to 685 CE will be lost. Ongoing research is currently underway on how to slow this degradation, and if possible reverse it. Requests to utilize SCP-500 have been denied due to the likelihood of reversing the amnestics used to remove traumatic events from SCP-2032's memory. In the time following his stroke (See Addendum 2032-A) numerous protests and conspiracy theories became widely spread among the public until SCP-2032's condition stabilized. The hypothetical effects of any further potential damage to SCP-2032's memory could lead to a theoretical CY-class global government destabilization scenario, including a loss of all written and remembered accounts of human history.

Despite the continual deterioration of his mental state, SCP-2032 does not seem to age on the cellular level. Through DNA testing it has been confirmed that SCP-2032 does not suffer from telomere shortening, and has not visibly aged in the decades since his initial containment, it has been proven theoretically probable that SCP-2032 has reached his oldest biological age already and will not continue to age further.

It has been discovered manipulating the memory of SCP-2032 will alter the knowledge of events for the public, but cannot alter the actual series of events. All facts are changed to what SCP-2032 remembered, anything that happened to contradict these facts still happened yet cannot be acknowledged by humans. Following critical containment failures SCP-2032 is given selective amnestics and implanted with false memories to skew the public recollection of events. All O5 ordered historical alterations are written, with a copy of documentation of the original events locked in a safe kept in SCP-2032's vicinity, in case it is ever deemed appropriate to revert the changes. Any staff personnel found to implant false information into SCP-2032's mind will be interrogated as to the purpose of their alteration and subsequently terminated.

The log of SCP-2032's initial interview follows :

Interviewed: █████ ███ ████, henceforth SCP-2032

Interviewer: Dr. Lucan

Foreword: Subject contacted Foundation personnel claiming to be an anomaly, after asking █████ authorities for protection. After considerable testing to verify his claims, an interview was approved.

<Begin Log, April ██, 19██ 10:25AM>

Dr. Lucan: Mr.████, if you can recall, how and when did your abilities initially manifest?

SCP-2032: Abilities? Eh, the memories… the memories were always perfect. Always, all records matched what I recalled..

[SCP-2032 takes a noticeable pause]

SCP-2032: The Caliph, █████ ███ ███████, asked me personally to be his historian. Bastard could not remember which wife warmed his bed each night. This was long ago yes? I don't know the date. We never.. I do not remember it. Still, my mind is strong, and will remain strong, inshallah. I was overjoyed yes, I could have anything in the East I desired. I could say anything I wish, bastard Caliph would not even know. But I was honest, all throughout.

Dr. Lucan: Please focus on the details pertaining to your abilities.

SCP-2032: [Long pause] I cannot remember my birth. What man can? At some point, the memories begin to stick, and you cannot forget. A man comes to your house, demands tribute and your father refuses. He beats him with a stick. Your father complains to the shariff, and bastard does nothing. No one cares about these things, but still you remember them more clearly than you remember important things. At some point, the memories always stick.

Dr. Lucan: And what made you desire to contact the Foundation?

SCP-2032: Bastard men, snakes the lot of them, sharply dressed and clean-shaven. They came to me one day. They ask me to work for them. I refused, politely of course, and they tripled their offer, as if the money was all that mattered. I notice them following me for days after. Sometimes one man, sometimes many. Sticking to me like shadows.

Dr. Lucan: So you came to the Foundation to request Asylum?

SCP-2032: God willing, yes. I can think of worse fates.

<End Log, April ██, 19██ 10:55AM>

Closing Statement: SCP-2032's request to enter Foundation custody has been granted, following the interview he was transported to Site-06-3.

The initial log of tests to determine the scope of SCP-2032's abilities follow:

Addendum 2032-A: On 11/6/1963, immediately following the self-immolation of Thích Quảng Đức at the apex of public opposition towards the Vietnam War, SCP-2032 had a moderate stroke. SCP-2032 was given class-B selective Amnestics and implanted skewed facts to lessen public outcry, preventing a worsening of his condition.

Addendum 2032-B To prevent further complications to SCP-2032's health, like those in 2032-A, O5 has approved selective amnestics to be given to SCP-2032 for any global events which may cause public outcry or mass hysteria.