> [During this period, SCP-3143 adopts the persona of a 1930s private detective hired to solve a case.]
[All "flattened" entities become characters in the narrative, their personalities reshaped to fit the tone of hard-boiled detective fiction.]
[The narrative continues until SCP-3143's activity produces a resolution that matches the genre's logic.]
[When the narrative ends, reality snaps back to normal — but events from within the narrative are projected into reality. Most participants retain no memory of what happened.]
The live audience reading this report felt a collective click in their heads.
That strange "last-century filter" over the lower narrative now made sense — it was part of Lu Murphy's setting, his chosen style.
But then another, more startling detail hit them: events from within the story carried over into reality.
---
The file continued:
> [SCP-3143 was first identified in 2005 after a containment breach at Site-95. In 2018, the Pataphysics Department, in collaboration with the Department of Analytics, established contact with SCP-3143 and successfully "captured" it.]
[SCP-3143-A is Murphy Luden, the author of SCP-3143.]
Even James' eyes narrowed at that.
Captured?
The chat exploded:
"If he's already contained, why bring James in?"
"Is O5-10 making him do busywork?"
---
S.H.I.E.L.D. — Briefing Room
Natasha frowned. "Could it be O5-10 made a mistake? If SCP-3143's in custody, this mission's pointless."
Nick Fury's one eye locked on a single word: capture.
He leaned forward. "Capture… not containment."
Natasha blinked. "You mean… they found him but couldn't lock him down?"
"Exactly. Pataphysical entities aren't something you can just lock in a cell. You need to deconstruct them."
---
Back on screen, August caught James' unspoken questions.
"In truth, we can't contain him. He can 'flatten' reality into a scripted narrative whenever he wants, making physical containment useless."
James nodded slowly.
"Right now, Dr. Tamar from the Pataphysics Department is leading research into special containment measures for SCP-3143. Your mission is to assist him — and finish the job."
At that, the office door opened, and an elderly man in a lab coat entered. His eyebrows were drawn into a permanent frown, as if etched there over decades.
He ignored James entirely, barking at August, "Do you have any idea how critical my research is right now?!"
August looked embarrassed and shot a glance at James — but James' expression remained unreadable.
---
"Dr. James," August said with a forced smile, "this is Dr. Tamar, the lead researcher for SCP-3143. Tamar, this is a Special Containment Expert, personally assigned by the O5 Council—"
"FK!" Tamar cut him off. "Only the idiots in O5 would make such an idiotic decision!"
His sharp eyes fixed on James. "Special Containment Specialist? Tell me — do you know what metaphysics is? Do you understand our enemy? You think you can outwit a fictional character?"
August sighed. "Tamar, calm down. Dr. James—"
James spoke evenly. "This is my first time working in pataphysics. I may not know your field, but my knowledge of anomalies would surprise you."
Tamar's frown deepened.
James held up the file. "Every anomaly has limits — even so-called 'Supreme Divinities.' Lu Murphy can flatten reality into a story, yes, but that doesn't make him invincible."
Both Tamar and August looked at him with surprise.
"Murphy plays a detective until the case resolves in line with the genre's style. If we deliberately break the logic of that setting, the story can't end — and reality won't be compressed."
Silence fell.
Even the live chat blew up:
"What?! Is he reading the same file as us?"
"No, seriously, is this guy psychic?"
"Legend. Absolute legend."
Natasha murmured in S.H.I.E.L.D., "Compared to him, I feel like I've got the brain of a brick."
---
Tamar finally exhaled. "Alright… I admit, you're not like the others."
The tension eased. The three sat.
"I've already prepared a deconstruction plan for Murphy, scheduled for three days from now," Tamar said confidently. "We've identified his creator — Murphy Luden. A washed-up hack. I'll unravel him with linguistic triggers, and once the author's gone, so is the character."
James' gaze stayed calm, but internally he was skeptical. Once a character exists, they often outgrow their author… Murphy won't fall that easily.
Tamar finished with a smug glance at August. "My plan's already foolproof. Why bring in O5's golden boy?"
August coughed awkwardly. "Because Dr. James is the Foundation's top containment specialist. Recently, he even helped neutralize a supreme divinity."
That caught Tamar's attention. He said no more.
---
"In that case," Tamar said at last, "when I execute my plan, you can shadow me — watch how it's done."
James gave a small nod. "Looking forward to it."
The screen darkened.
---
S.H.I.E.L.D. — Observation Deck
Natasha smirked. "Oh, Tamar's in for a rude awakening."
Fury chuckled. "He doesn't know who he's dealing with."
---
When the screen lit again, the sepia tones of the 'lower narrative' world filled the frame.
INT. DETECTIVE AGENCY — NIGHT
Moonlight spilled across a lone figure. A felt hat dangled from the desk edge; a half-burnt cigarette smoldered in the ashtray. Blood stained his shirt — some his own. A glass of bourbon in one hand, a .44 Magnum in the other.
This was Murphy's Law.
The kind of man you pray for when you need him — and curse when you don't.
His voice was the gravel of worn asphalt:
If there's one thing the Foundation's good at, it's tying up loose ends. And I'm one they've been chasing a long time.
The door banged open.
An old man stepped in — frown carved deep, white lab coat crisp. Dr. Tamar.
The live audience gasped.
---
[Narrator: But if they want to house me, they'll need a bigger box.]
Tamar's voice was sharp. "Hello, SCP-3143. What are you doing today?"
Murphy set down the bourbon and raised his pistol. "Give me one good reason not to put a hole in you, Doc."
Tamar crossed his arms. "Because you can't."
[Narrator: If he thought I wouldn't fill him with lead, he was about to learn different.]
Tamar smirked. "You know I can hear your narration, right?"
Murphy froze.
-----------------------------
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