SCP - 016 "Sentient Micro-Organism"
Object Class - Keter
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Site-41, SCP-016 Containment Wing – June 20, 2025
Dr. Olivia Park checked her tablet, frowning at the blinking red icon. "Containment temperature's at 1.2°C," she muttered. "That's too high."
Her assistant, Dr. Raj Patel, glanced over her shoulder. "Should we check the coolant lines?"
Olivia nodded. "And get your MOPP gear. If anything's wrong, we're not taking chances."
They suited up, entering the airlock. The containment cube sat in the center of the room, frost clinging to the glass. Inside, a petri dish held a single, crimson smear.
"Temperature's still rising," Raj said, voice muffled by his respirator. "We need to fix this fast."
Suddenly, the alarm blared. "Code Sigma," the PA crackled. "Containment breach in progress. All personnel to lockdown."
Olivia's heart pounded. "No—no, we can't let it out. Raj, seal the vents!"
He rushed to the wall panel, hands shaking. "It's not responding—manual override's jammed!"
A faint hiss filled the air as the glass cube fogged. Olivia's breath caught. "Raj, look—"
A single drop of blood slid down the inside of her visor.
Raj stared at her, eyes wide with terror. "Olivia—are you—?"
She wiped the blood away, but more appeared, trickling from her nose.
"Get out," she whispered. "Get out and lock the door."
"But—"
"GO!"
He ran, slamming the door behind him. Olivia slumped to the floor, vision blurring.
Raj watched through the observation window as Olivia convulsed, blood pouring from her eyes, ears, and mouth. Her body twisted, bones cracking, skin bulging as something moved beneath.
"Dr. Park, can you hear me?" he called through the intercom.
Her voice was a guttural rasp. "It's… changing me. Raj, don't let me out. No matter what."
He fought back tears. "I'm sorry, Olivia."
Her body shuddered, limbs elongating, fingers fusing into webbed appendages. She pressed her face to the glass, eyes now jet black. "It's not me anymore," she whispered. "Don't let it spread."
Security teams arrived, weapons drawn. Raj met them at the door.
"She's infected. We need to terminate—now."
The lead agent nodded grimly. "On your mark."
Raj pressed the button. The room filled with ultraviolet light and a fine mist of ortho-phthalaldehyde. Olivia—no, the thing she'd become—shrieked, pounding on the glass until it cracked, then slumped to the floor, motionless.
Epilogue
The next morning, Raj sat alone in the decontamination chamber, staring at his trembling hands.
He picked up his recorder. "Incident Log 016-Delta. Breach contained. One casualty. No further spread. Recommend full review of temperature control systems. Dr. Park's last words: 'Don't let it spread.'"
He closed his eyes, Olivia's voice echoing in his mind.
It's not me anymore. Don't let it spread.