The livestream audience was gripped by a deep, inexplicable fear.
Even if the file might be fiction, they couldn't shake the unease that had settled in their bones.
> "WTF? This is insane!"
> "Is this supposed to be a containment file or a psychological torture manual for Talloran?"
> "Whoever wrote this must be a total psychopath!"
---
S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters
The sentiment was echoed by most agents and viewers inside the S.H.I.E.L.D. control center.
> "So… this is all just a prank file?" Natasha Romanoff asked, her expression uncertain.
> "Maybe…"
Even Nick Fury couldn't give a definitive answer.
A disturbing duality gnawed at him—an uncomfortable contradiction that wouldn't resolve.
Suppressing his unease, he turned his attention back to the screen, watching Leon Lake.
---
> "Do you feel anything?" Leon asked.
Zyn Morgan looked pale, obviously disturbed by the content.
Lois Keller wasn't faring much better.
> "Feel what?" he asked.
> "Inconsistency. Logical contradictions…"
> "Yes! That's exactly it!" Lois nodded quickly, then leaned forward.
"So what do you think?"
> "I have two theories," Leon said calmly.
Lois blinked, surprised.
> "Wait… you already figured something out?"
> "First," Leon said, "the file was written by someone with schizophrenia. The inconsistencies reflect distinct mental states."
Lois stared in silence—until his eyes lit up.
> "Damn, you're still sharp as hell. What's the second theory?"
> "The second…" Leon took a breath. "I'll need to finish reading the file before I say anything."
---
The screen shifted, displaying new lines of the SCP-3999 file.
> [What will SCP-3999 be classified as?]
> [Researcher Talloran's colleagues are to be terminated.]
> [All cafeteria staff who interacted with Talloran are to be poisoned — up to and including O5 Council members.]
> [SCP-3999 cannot be contained.]
> [SCP-3999, with Talloran, will be handed to the Serpent's Hand as a "gift."]
> [Talloran is to be given a new identity: Lois Frederick Bondiski, Fifth Church leader.]
---
The livestream erupted in confusion.
> "What the hell is going on?"
> "Now they're pretending he's a cult leader? This is so broken."
---
Back on screen, Leon's eyes narrowed.
> "Interesting…"
> "Interesting?!" Lois threw up his hands.
"I'm losing it here, and you think this is interesting?"
> "Lois, wait," Zyn cut in. "Leon, tell us what you're thinking."
Leon pointed at the document.
> "Didn't you notice? These parts share a common trait."
Everyone leaned closer.
> "The writer is obsessed with defining SCP-3999," Leon explained.
"And after failing to define it, they turn to punishing Talloran."
He closed his eyes, steadying his breath.
> "I can now reject my first theory. The writer isn't schizophrenic. The truth is…"
He looked up.
> "SCP-3999 and Researcher Talloran are the same entity."
---
The livestream detonated.
> "WHAT?!"
> "You're telling me Talloran wrote this file himself?!"
> "If they're two consciousnesses in one body… that would explain everything…"
---
S.H.I.E.L.D. Control Room
> "This is madness," Natasha murmured.
Nick Fury didn't speak. He was deep in thought, reviewing the structure of the file.
> The crossed-out parts… the uncrossed parts… if I separate them…
Suddenly, he jolted.
Eyes wide, he stared at the screen.
Leon might actually be right.
---
> [RESEARCHER TALLORAN [FORCEDLY REMOVED FROM SCP-3999]]
[RESEARCHER TALLORAN [REMAINS WITH SCP-3999 AT ALL TIMES]]
[RESEARCHER TALLORAN [TERMINATED]]
[RESEARCHER TALLORAN [SHALL BE KEPT ALIVE AT ALL COSTS]]
[RESEARCHER TALLORAN [IS NOT SCP-3999]]
[RESEARCHER TALLORAN [PLACED WITHIN SCP-3999]]
[THERE IS A DEEP CONNECTION BETWEEN TALLORAN AND SCP-3999]
Everyone stared.
Lois's voice was barely a whisper.
> "This one… isn't crossed out?"
He looked to Leon in disbelief.
> "That means… it's real?"
> "Yes," Leon confirmed quietly.
"It's the truth."
---
The live chat went dead silent.
---
> "If the parts without lines are true…" Natasha said slowly, her face pale,
"Then his friends and family… they really are dead."
Nick Fury clenched his fists.
> "Then everything in the file… actually happened."
Suddenly, his eyes narrowed.
> "No—wait. Something's off."
Back on screen, Zyn caught on too.
> "If they're dead, then how do we explain this?"
She pointed to the next paragraph:
> [Talloran's mission is to accompany SCP-3999 through life, enjoying the world surrounded by family and friends.]
> "That contradicts the torture section," Zyn argued. "They're all dead, so how could they show up again?"
Leon didn't answer.
Lois did.
> "What if SCP-3999… is a reality bender?"
Zyn flinched.
She turned back to the document and read further:
> [Talloran's coworkers are to have their hands cut off and eyes gouged out.]
> [SCP-3999 will dismember Talloran's sister… heal her… and take her for banana splits at Meyer Dairy in Pennsylvania.]
Even the audience stopped breathing.
This wasn't containment.
This was cosmic sadism.
And if 3999 could warp reality… it meant it could undo anything, only to redo it again.
Endlessly.
---
In the cafeteria, more Foundation members arrived—Dr. Kondraki among them.
But he stepped aside respectfully for a woman of unknown age.
The moment she spoke, everyone in the livestream knew:
She was an O5.
---
> "Please continue."
Leon didn't. Instead, he asked:
> "Is there any record of Talloran in the Foundation's personnel database?"
The livestream audience suddenly snapped to attention.
> Of course! Just look him up!
> If he exists, it's real. If he doesn't, it's fiction.
Everyone stared at the O5.
Her answer?
> "...Actually, I forgot."
> "You forgot?" Lois blinked.
> "What kind of answer is that?!"
Only Leon remained calm.
> "You forgot… or you 'forgot'?"
---
S.H.I.E.L.D.
> "Are they speaking in riddles now?" Natasha said, clearly annoyed.
> "No…" Nick Fury suddenly looked grim.
"Think back. The Yellowstone Incident. The TK-Class event…"
A wave of realization swept through the agents.
> "Holy hell. Reality reconstruction!"
> "They forgot about the Flower anomaly too, remember?"
> "So if memory itself can be erased from existence…"
---
Back on screen.
The O5's expression darkened.
> "My instincts tell me… I interviewed Talloran once."
She looked directly at Leon.
> "But I remember nothing. Not the time. Not the location. Not even that the interview existed—until you said his name."
> "A ZK-Class end-of-reality event," Leon murmured.
The words chilled everyone.
The O5 said nothing more. She silently pulled out a device.
Pressed a button.
> "This is O5-[DATA EXPUNGED] reporting—
We are in big trouble."
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