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1:00

S-C-P. I'm

1:03

still waking up as I move through

1:05

all the crazy security protocols in place

1:07

to make sure I'm not hiding some atrocious

1:09

SCP up an orifice

1:11

or that I haven't been brainwashed by

1:14

one of the too many to count cults that worship

1:16

the various demigods in foundation

1:18

custody.

1:20

Or that I'm not a shape-shifting demon bent

1:22

on eliminating the foundation so

1:24

I can let chaos reign supreme as

1:26

I enjoy the sounds of screaming humans as

1:29

the cities of earth crumble into killing fields

1:31

where the blood flows like wine.

1:34

Anyway,

1:35

this is what working at the foundation does to your

1:37

brain.

1:38

And besides, I'm just waking

1:40

up

1:41

and I'm hungover.

1:43

After security, I board the elevator

1:46

with a small group of other non-shape-shifting

1:48

demon coworkers and zone out for

1:50

a minute.

1:51

As the elevator doors open,

1:53

the ding sends a spike of pain into my brain.

1:56

Not so loud, I tell the elevator,

1:59

before remembering. remembering it's an inanimate

2:02

object.

2:02

I can feel the other people who rode down

2:05

with me staring as I get off and walk

2:07

down the hall on sub level 9. It

2:10

takes me a moment to register the flurry of activity

2:12

on the level. People are

2:14

talking excitedly here and there, while

2:17

others hurry around, carrying

2:19

boxes of files and other supplies. I

2:22

step into the break room, the smell of

2:24

coffee at once tantalizing and disgusting.

2:28

Jeb and Martina are in the room, chatting

2:31

and clear eyed like they're already

2:32

awake and ready for the day. Damn

2:35

heathens. Grunting an acknowledgement,

2:38

I grab a mug from the cabinet.

2:40

Looks like you're doing well this morning.

2:43

Jeb says when he sees me.

2:44

Yeah, Martina says, getting

2:47

in on the fun. How do you always look so

2:49

good in the mornings? I'm super jealous.

2:52

I ignore them, pouring coffee into

2:54

my mug while squinting against the

2:57

fluorescent lighting in the room. What's

2:59

everyone so worked up about? I

3:01

ask. Seriously? Jeb

3:04

says. You don't remember? I

3:06

attempt to search my memory for anything

3:08

that would account for the buzz on sub level

3:11

9, but the part of my brain responsible for such

3:14

a Herculean task gives me the

3:16

finger and rolls back over. Like

3:18

I said, not quite awake yet.

3:21

Take pity on me. I say. Just

3:24

tell me what's going on. Self

3:26

savage is coming today. Martina

3:28

says. It all comes rushing

3:30

back to me. Oh, right. I

3:33

say. I forgot. The

3:35

way everyone's running around here. You'd

3:37

think it's Rex Manning day or something. Jeb

3:40

chuckles, but Martina looks confused.

3:43

Who's Rex Manning? I shake

3:46

my head. Damn zoomers. Don't

3:48

get my 90s pop culture references. Sipping

3:51

my coffee. I look at the pair. You

3:53

really think you'll be able to kill it? I

3:56

do. Martina says. If

3:58

anyone can, Wolf Savage. can,"

4:01

Jeb shrugs. "'I think so. What

4:04

about you?' "'No way,' I

4:06

say. I don't think it's possible." Just

4:09

as Martina is about to say something, there's

4:12

a shout from down the hall. "'He's coming

4:14

down! Everyone get ready.'" "'Get

4:17

ready for what?' I say. "'We're

4:19

supposed to greet him when he gets off the elevator,' Jeb

4:22

says. "'What is he, the Pope?'" I

4:25

ask, following my two coworkers

4:27

out into the hall. Everyone

4:29

who works on the floor is getting lined up on either

4:32

side of the hallway, near the elevator. Dr.

4:35

Wilson is at the front, looking back

4:37

at us from behind his horn-rimmed glasses. "'Get

4:40

lined up,' he says. "'Orderly

4:42

now! Orderly!' he points at me. "'Munson,

4:45

get lined up.'" The elevator

4:47

dings behind him. Maybe it's

4:49

just me, but I think the doors

4:52

open slowly like they're parting for some rock

4:54

star, making his grand entrance on stage

4:56

for the first song.

4:58

I half expect to see fog pour out of the elevator.

5:01

Instead, it opens on a tall,

5:04

wiry man dressed in a cowboy hat, a

5:07

fancy silver suit, and alligator-skin

5:09

cowboy boots. He has a

5:11

bushy gray mustache in the face of a man who

5:13

was born into the wrong era.

5:15

He could double Sam Elliott in a Western, no

5:18

problem. He's carrying

5:20

two long, heavy-looking cases in his

5:22

hands, and the elevator is full of other

5:24

cases. As he steps off

5:26

the elevator, he stops and looks around.

5:30

Eyes squinted, like he's looking for hostiles

5:32

on the horizon.

5:34

Everyone in the hall is quiet as Dr.

5:36

Wilson steps up to him. "'Welcome,

5:38

Mr. Wolf. Uh, Mr. Savage?

5:41

Mr. Wolf Savage?'"

5:43

The guy looks at him and says, "'Savage.'

5:46

"'Right, yes. I'm Dr. Wilson.'"

5:49

He holds out his hand to shake. "'Savage'

5:52

lifts one of the heavy cases and puts it in

5:54

Wilson's hand. The scientist

5:56

is nearly yanked to the ground. The case

5:59

is so heavy."

6:00

I need help with the rest of my things."

6:03

Savage says, Yes, of

6:05

course, Wilson says, still

6:07

struggling with the case. His eyes

6:10

go up for volunteers. I press

6:12

myself against the wall, hoping he doesn't

6:14

pick me.

6:15

But of course, he does. Monson,

6:18

Jebidiah, give Mr. Savage

6:21

a hand, please. Sighing,

6:23

I hand my cup of coffee to a smirking Martina

6:26

and head over with Jeb to haul the cases down

6:28

to the 682 observation room. As

6:31

we put the stuff down, I glance

6:33

into the containment cell at 682. The

6:36

massive, lizard creature sits in the

6:38

cell, soaked in the acid that

6:40

is constantly pumped into the room. It's

6:43

a nasty looking one, with sharp

6:45

claws and sharper teeth in its long, alligator-like

6:48

mouth. Its bones are visible

6:50

here and there as the acid dissolves

6:52

its thick, leathery skin.

6:55

But the skin is constantly growing back due

6:57

to the creature's regenerative properties.

7:00

The acid really only serves to keep the thing

7:02

from breaking out of containment and killing everyone,

7:05

which has happened way too many times over the Foundation's

7:08

history. Pretty much

7:10

every method has been used to try to kill the reptile,

7:13

but none have worked. As I

7:15

stand, looking down into the cell, Savage

7:19

steps up next to me, peering down as

7:21

well.

7:23

He says, nodding. You

7:25

really think you can kill it? I ask him. Killing

7:29

is what I do, he says without looking

7:31

at me. So how come you've never tried

7:33

before? Boy, you

7:36

know how long my waiting list is. The

7:39

Foundation is my main client. But

7:42

I take the job as they come from the various

7:44

containment facilities around the world. Which

7:47

means I'm booked up years in advance.

7:50

I nod. Well, I

7:53

wish you good luck.

7:53

I don't need

7:55

luck. I've been preparing

7:57

for this job since I agreed to take it.

7:59

I studied all the other

8:02

attempts and developed my own methods,

8:05

perfected by years of killing.

8:08

I'll have that there giant lizard dispatched

8:11

by end of day, you mark

8:13

my words. I'm a

8:16

professional, you know what that means?

8:19

No, I don't think so. Because

8:22

your generation has it easy. Bunch

8:25

of lazy bastards haven't worked a

8:27

day in your life. Wow,

8:29

I say. Okay, great.

8:32

What a pleasant conversation. Can't

8:34

wait to do it again. I back away

8:37

and head out of the room with Jeb while

8:39

savage mumbles curses at me. As

8:42

Jeb and I step into the hall, we look at each

8:44

other.

8:45

You still think he can do it? I ask. He

8:48

seems pretty confident, Jeb says. Okay,

8:52

hundred bucks says he fails. Deal,

8:55

Jeb says.

8:57

The rest of the day passes quickly as I focus

9:00

on my work, analyzing data from all the

9:02

previous attempts to kill the thing. Whether 682

9:05

dies today or not, the work still

9:07

needs to get done. Plus, my

9:10

hangover has finally gone away, which

9:12

makes everything so much easier. It's

9:15

an hour until quitting time when Savage makes

9:17

his announcement, telling us he's ready.

9:20

He requested the help of a couple of D-Class

9:22

people to set up his equipment, and

9:25

as I step into the crowded room overlooking the

9:27

cell, I glance at one of the CCTV

9:29

monitors. There's a torn orange

9:32

jumpsuit dissolving in the acid, and

9:34

there's blood dripping down the creature's jaw.

9:37

Some poor bastard had to die so Savage

9:39

could get all his junk in place. But

9:42

as far as junk goes, it's all pretty

9:44

impressive. There were already

9:46

catwalks in place above the creature, but

9:49

it looks like Savage has installed a series

9:51

of contraptions along the catwalk railings.

9:54

There are a couple of things that look like futuristic

9:57

guns propped along

9:57

the railings, along with something that

9:59

It looks like a rocket-propelled grenade launcher

10:02

with some kind of strange bulbous rocket attached.

10:05

Shouldering my way through the crowd, I make

10:07

it to the front so I can look through the window instead

10:10

of watching one of the CCTV monitors.

10:12

I see Jeb there and make a place next

10:15

to him. Wolf savages

10:17

out on the catwalk. He looks through the

10:19

window and seems satisfied with the size

10:21

of his audience. Watch and learn,

10:24

people, he says. He

10:26

pulls out his phone and navigates to an

10:28

app. Money presses a series

10:30

of buttons. The acid drains

10:33

from around 682. The

10:35

creature looks up at Savage, seeming to

10:37

smile as it does.

10:39

Savage grins down at it.

10:41

You're one ugly son of a bitch,

10:44

he says, and presses a button on his phone.

10:47

The contraptions affixed to the railing shoot

10:49

streams of white foam down onto the lizard,

10:52

covering its body with a strange substance. Savage

10:55

presses more buttons on his phone and the contraptions

10:58

stop with the white foam. Then they

11:00

belch what looks like to be green powder down

11:02

on the creature. The foam and

11:05

powder immediately begin reacting, creating

11:07

millions of miniature explosions all around

11:09

the creature. The roar that

11:12

escapes 682 seems to shake the room

11:14

as the explosions

11:14

continue. Meanwhile,

11:17

Savage steps over to one of the futuristic rifles

11:20

and aims it down. He pulls

11:22

the trigger, sending a pulse of blue-white

11:25

light down, which hits the creature's

11:27

back, blasting a hole in its already

11:29

weakened spine. I'll be

11:31

damned, I say. It's working.

11:34

Next to me, Jeb smirks. Savage

11:37

shoots the thing again at the same spot, making

11:40

the hole slightly bigger. I

11:42

can see the creature's organs despite the blood

11:44

burbling

11:44

out of the gaping wound. The

11:47

small explosions are fading off, revealing

11:49

more and more of the creature's skeletal structure.

11:53

Nearly all of its skin is gone, and

11:55

its bones look like they've been chewed on by termites.

11:58

Savage puts the rifle down.

11:59

and moves over to the grenade launcher with the

12:02

strange rocket. He hefts it

12:04

on his shoulder and aims it down at the hole

12:06

in 682's back. He

12:08

pulls the trigger and the rocket shoots down,

12:11

disappearing into the hole. Nothing

12:13

happens for a second. Then

12:15

the creature explodes from the inside out. Its

12:18

organs blast out through its mouth and its

12:21

ribs blow outward. Everything

12:23

comes to rest as Savage looks down,

12:26

a smile on his face. The

12:28

creature is essentially in two parts, blown

12:30

in half at the back. But all that

12:32

was once inside it is now outside.

12:35

The organs are nothing but messy blobs of blood

12:38

and tissue. There's

12:39

no movement but the dripping of blasted

12:41

meat off the acid proof metal walls. Savage

12:44

moves to the window and peers in at Dr. Wilson,

12:47

who has a tablet in his hand.

12:49

Savage asks. Dr.

12:52

Wilson studies his tablet for a moment. Flatlined,

12:56

he says, but I'm

12:58

going down, Savage says, walking

13:01

over to a portion of the catwalk that can be raised

13:03

and lowered by wires running up into the ceiling.

13:06

He grabs the other sci-fi rifle as

13:08

he goes. I get a trophy

13:11

from every kill. Yes, but

13:13

Mr. Wolf Savage, I don't think that's a good

13:16

stuffy boy. I know what the hell

13:19

I'm doing.

13:20

Take me down.

13:21

Wilson stammers as he uses the tablet to control

13:24

the platform. Savage aims

13:26

the rifle at the creature's head as he gets close, then

13:29

shoots it one last time for good measure, blowing

13:32

a hole in its skull with a strange energy weapon.

13:35

The platform clanks to the floor, half

13:37

destroyed organs squelching under its weight. Savage

13:41

steps off, approaching warily.

13:44

Jeb turns to me and puts his hand out. 100 bucks,

13:47

please. What is this? The 90s?

13:49

They say. No one carries cash

13:51

anymore. Besides, it

13:54

isn't over until it's over. Savage

13:57

uses a pair of pliers to extract a tooth

13:59

from the

13:59

creature, which he then clips in his pocket.

14:03

He gets back on the platform and shouts for

14:05

Wilson to bring it back up. Wilson

14:08

obliges. About halfway

14:10

up, there's a snapping sound, and

14:12

one of the cables attached to the platform breaks.

14:15

The whole thing tilts wildly, and Savage

14:18

tumbles off, hitting the ground awkwardly,

14:20

twisting his leg under him. He screams

14:22

out in pain, looking up at the tilted platform.

14:25

I stare on, dumbfounded. Get

14:27

me out of here, he shouts. My

14:29

damn leg's broken. Wilson

14:32

gasps. The vitals, he shouts.

14:35

Not five feet away from Savage, the creature

14:37

moves its head. We've all been so fixated

14:40

on the man that we didn't notice the thing was regenerating.

14:43

Savage sees the movement and reaches for his

14:45

rifle, which fell along with him. But

14:48

it's too far away. Get me

14:50

out of here, he screams again. The

14:53

top half of SCP-682 pulls

14:55

itself forward on half-destroyed legs, opening

14:57

its jaw. Savage scrambles

14:59

away, but the creature catches his

15:02

useless leg between its teeth and

15:04

clamps down. Savage screams

15:06

one last time before the creature pulls him into its

15:08

mouth with a wet crunch. The entire

15:10

observation room is silent. I

15:13

turn to Jeb and say, ah, you

15:15

owe me a hundred bucks.

15:18

SCP-682 is a large, reptile-like

15:21

creature of unknown origin.

15:23

It appears to be extremely intelligent,

15:25

occasionally engaging in complex communication,

15:28

including speaking English to its captors.

15:31

The creature appears to have a hatred of all life,

15:34

which has been expressed in several interviews

15:36

during containment.

15:38

SCP-682 has always been observed

15:41

to have extremely high strength, speed,

15:43

and reflexes, though exact levels

15:45

vary with its form. Its

15:47

physical body changes very quickly, growing

15:50

or decreasing in size as it consumes

15:53

or sheds material.

15:54

It gains energy from anything it ingests,

15:57

organic or inorganic.

16:00

seems to be aided by a set of filtering gills

16:02

inside SCP-682's nostrils,

16:05

which are able to remove usable matter from any

16:07

liquid solution, enabling

16:09

it to constantly regenerate from the

16:12

acid it is contained in. SCP-682's

16:15

regenerative capabilities and resilience

16:18

are staggering, and it has been seen

16:20

moving and speaking with its body 87% destroyed

16:23

or rotted. In

16:25

case of containment breach, SCP-682

16:28

is to be tracked and recaptured by

16:30

all available mobile task forces,

16:33

and no teams with fewer than seven members

16:35

are cleared to engage it.

16:37

To date,

16:37

attempted breaches have numbered 17,

16:40

while successful breaches have numbered 6. Thanks

16:46

for listening. Spotify now allows

16:48

listeners the ability to rate their favorite

16:50

podcasts. If you could please take a

16:52

second to leave a rating for the SCP

16:54

experience, I would greatly appreciate

16:57

it.

16:57

Thank

16:58

you so much.