August's expression froze at Murphy's words. His face turned cold, voice clipped and sharp.
"How did you know? We keep all anomalies confidential, Mr. Lu."
Murphy's signature smile curved across his lips. "I already knew that. But a little bird told me you've made a mistake in classification. SCP-3043 isn't Safe. It's Keter."
The moment those words left his mouth, August's face stiffened. Even the live-stream viewers were left stunned.
What?
SCP-3043 — a Keter-class object?
Inside S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters, agents exchanged shocked looks. Even Nick Fury's single eye widened in disbelief.
Everyone understood: the difference between a Safe-class anomaly and a Keter-class one wasn't just paperwork — it was a giant leap in danger.
Safe-class didn't mean harmless. Even SCP-343, the so-called omnipotent God, was still labeled Safe because it was easy to contain.
But Keter?
Keter meant uncontrollable, extremely dangerous, and with a tendency to break free.
From the 083 Vampire Duke to the Devourer of Worlds linked to the Crimson King, every Keter-class object was a nightmare. If 3043 shared that classification, then its containment difficulty — and threat level — was terrifying.
And that was before considering its unique property. With a 1.21 effect ratio, it could literally downgrade real people into the "lower level of narrative." That power alone made it something to fear.
---
In the video feed, Murphy's declaration made August turn fully toward him. The two locked eyes in silence.
Finally, August smiled faintly. "I suppose you've already spoken to Dr. Lewis. Where is she?"
Murphy's gaze sharpened — he sensed something was wrong. Men like August only smile when they think they've already won.
"It's safe," Murphy said evenly. "Unlike 3043. Why?"
August's narrowed eyes were the only warning. Murphy's instincts flared.
Two agents flanking him suddenly pulled their pistols, pointing them directly at his head.
The tension snapped taut. But Murphy… smiled.
Without warning, Murphy slammed his left elbow into one man's gut, simultaneously yanking a .44 Magnum from his coat. The second man was just pulling his weapon when the barrel met his temple — one squeeze, and he was down.
Murphy pivoted, firing three deafening shots into August's desk. The air filled with splinters and smoke.
The chat in the live-stream exploded:
"What the hell just happened?!"
"They were just talking, and now they're killing each other!"
"Murphy's reflexes are insane!"
August didn't flinch. His gaze was calculating, not afraid.
Murphy took the opening. "3043. Last chance. What is it?"
August's lips curved into something between amusement and pity. "It's you, Mr. Lu. You are SCP-3043."
Murphy's eyes narrowed dangerously. He knocked another man to the floor, then bolted from the room.
The feed cut to black.
---
The live audience exploded with confusion.
"Wait… Murphy's an anomaly? He's 3043?!"
"Wasn't he SCP-3143 before?!"
"This makes no sense!"
Before they could piece it together, the scene faded back in.
---
EXT. Foundation Garage
Murphy sprinted toward the Foundation's parking area. His car was still there — but when he yanked open the door, the driver's seat was empty.
Dr. Lewis was gone.
3043 got to her first, Murphy thought grimly.
The tires screamed as he floored the accelerator, disappearing into the night.
If the Foundation can't contain 3043… I'll do it myself.
---
Back at S.H.I.E.L.D., Natasha Romanoff muttered, "Damn… for a second there, I thought he was possessed by James."
"SCP-3043," Fury said curtly, eyes on the screen.
Natasha frowned. "You mean… this whole subplot could be created by 3043, just to eliminate Murphy?"
"Exactly." Fury's voice was flat. "And if that's true, that's exactly why it's Keter-class."
---
INT. DR. LEWIS' LABORATORY
The door burst open — Murphy stepped in, hat low over his eyes, Magnum raised.
The lab looked more like an office: walls lined with shelves of scientific journals, desks piled high with scattered papers.
In the center sat a chair, turned away from him.
Murphy advanced cautiously, narrator's voice echoing in his mind: She said she heard the 'typing sound'…
He spun the chair around.
Sitting in it was a 1937 black Olympia Elite typewriter. A sheet of paper was already rolled in, and the keys began tapping rapidly by themselves.
[SCP-3043: How… how is this possible?]
Murphy grinned darkly. So 3043 is the damn typewriter.
More words hammered onto the page:
[SCP-3043: Why can't I rewrite this stupid story?]
[SCP-3043: What are you?]
From the shadows, Dr. Lewis emerged — a .45 in her hand, pointed straight at Murphy.
"Step away from the typewriter, Mr. Lu."
The keys clattered again.
[SCP-3043: How did you do that?]
---
Meanwhile, in Stark Tower, Tony Stark squinted at the screen. "If the typewriter created the sub-narrative, how the hell is it appearing inside its own sub-narrative?"
Colonel Rhodes frowned deeply… and then his eyes widened. "Damn. Who says this is the lower narrative?"
Stark blinked — and then realization hit. "You mean… this was always the real reality. 3043 just described it as a lower-level narrative."
Exactly.
By doing so, 3043 could rewrite reality, even altering its own classification from Keter to Safe — lowering everyone's guard. Murphy wasn't a written character, so the moment 3043 saw him, it rejected him entirely.
Everything suddenly made sense.
---
Back in the lab, Murphy shouted: "It's controlling you, Professor! Just like it controls August and the others! It's pretending to be Safe so no one realizes it's intelligent!"
Dr. Lewis' expression flickered — her eyes clearing, then clouding again. The typewriter's keys banged furiously.
[SCP-3043: STOP]
[SCP-3043: How the hell could you rewrite my story into this stupid Humphrey Bogart fanfiction?]
Dr. Lewis trembled, muttering, "I… I must… contain you…" Her hand shook violently until the gun clattered to the floor.
3043's desperation grew.
[SCP-3043: This is not right]
[SCP-3043: I'm supposed to be in control]
[SCP-3043: This should be my story, not yours]
Murphy leveled the Magnum at it, smiling coldly.
[SCP-3043: Wait, wait—damn it—]
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