The SCP universe was home to many objects, some dangerous, some useful and valuable, others were just strange.
SCP-2316 was a Keter class object and the newest object Alexander had summoned, well, one of them. And it was very much one of those strange objects. Though personally, Alexander, even as a member of the O5 council, didn't know much about the object.
He knew it was named 'Field Trip' and that it was a Cognitohazard. And that was about all he knew. After all, anything labeled, Cognitohazard was something that even knowing about was dangerous, or just knowing was the danger.
Keeping the O5 council safe was also the Foundation's job, which meant that normal rules didn't apply in cases like this.
It wasn't that he couldn't know more; his authority was more than enough to force his way past the blocks set in his way. The number of files he couldn't access if he wanted was truly small.
But he honestly didn't feel like taking any risks here, so he alerted the Foundation about the object's possible reappearance and moved on to other priorities.
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Agent Keller leaned against the side of the nondescript black SUV, her gaze scanning the tree line that loomed ahead. She adjusted her radio, checking the signal for the third time in as many minutes.
The air was crisp, a sign of the late autumn chill, and the heavy scent of pine mingled with the diesel exhaust from the vehicle. They were deep in the wilderness, far from any semblance of civilization.
"You good, Keller?" asked Agent Ramirez, emerging from the other side of the SUV, her boots crunching softly on the gravel. She clutched a tablet, its screen displaying a topographic map of the area with several red markers blinking ominously.
Keller glanced at her, nodding. "Yeah, just getting a bad feeling about this one. You read the briefing, right?"
Ramirez exhaled sharply, her eyes glancing at the distant lake barely visible through the thick cover of trees. "Cognitohazard. A Keter class. Something about people disappearing, and the lake being the epicenter. I skimmed it, but…" She paused, shivering involuntarily. "It's hard to put together a good picture with so many blacked-out parts."
"They always do that for the high-risk ones," Keller replied, straightening and adjusting the collar of her jacket. She glanced down at the folder in her hand, the red stamp reading 'CLASSIFIED – LEVEL 4 ACCESS ONLY.'
Even with their level of clearance, much of the information was fragmented. Details were obscured to prevent anyone—even Foundation personnel—from inadvertently falling victim to whatever cognitohazardous effect SCP-2316 might hold.
"It's called 'Field Trip,'" Ramirez said, her voice dropping to a near whisper, as if saying the name too loudly could draw attention. "The locals reported four missing hikers around here, and our intel flagged it almost immediately."
"Yeah," Keller muttered, her eyes drifting to the distant lake. "The initial reports were a mess—talk of strange figures in the water, hikers wading out and vanishing. This... thing," she gestured towards the tree line, "doesn't just affect people. It draws them in."
Ramirez sighed, nodding. "Which is why we're keeping our distance for now. Recon first, no direct visual contact with the lake. Drones are up and running." She tapped her tablet, bringing up the video feeds from several aerial drones hovering above the site.
The footage showed a deceptively tranquil landscape—a glassy lake surrounded by dense forest, the rippling water reflecting the sky in serene perfection.
But Keller knew better. The quiet beauty of the scene masked something dangerous. "The locals don't stand a chance if they get too close. If the cognitohazard is active... it could be pulling people in as we speak. We need to get the exclusion zone up, and we need it fast."
Ramirez nodded, speaking into her radio. "Command, this is Recon Team Echo. We're in position at Site-2316. Initiating initial recon and establishing perimeter. Please advise on support resources for exclusion."
The response crackled in her earpiece, the static mixing with a calm, detached voice. "Recon Team Echo, this is Command. Acknowledged. Begin preliminary assessment. Engineering team en route to establish exclusion zone. Maintain visual caution. Do not approach the lake directly."
"Copy that, Command," Ramirez replied, before lowering the radio and glancing back at Keller. "You know, I don't like this. Cognitohazards are bad enough when they're contained—but out here, in the open? It's like we're fighting a ghost that no one can see or understand."
Keller gave a half-smile, though it didn't reach her eyes. "Welcome to the Foundation, Agent Ramirez. We do the impossible, so the rest of the world can stay blissfully ignorant." She paused, staring into the woods, the unsettling quiet pressing in on them. "Let's get moving. I want to set up remote sensors along the perimeter before sundown. The last thing we need is someone else wandering out here and getting themselves lost… or worse."
The two agents moved purposefully towards the tree line, each of them keeping their eyes firmly on the ground, avoiding any stray glances at the lake. They knew the stories—how easy it was to fall under the influence of SCP-2316. A single moment of weakness, a single careless look, and they could be next.
"Ramirez," Keller called, her voice taking on a serious tone. "Remember—you do not recognize the bodies in the water. If you start feeling like you do, get out. No hesitation."
Ramirez looked at Keller, her expression grim. "Don't worry, Keller. I know the drill." She tapped her headset, double-checking the feed from the drone. "Let's just hope we can keep the rest of the world from getting curious about this place."
Keller nodded, their eyes meeting for a brief moment of shared understanding. As members of the Foundation, it was their job to contain the unknown—to make sure that whatever lurked beneath the tranquil surface of SCP-2316 stayed hidden, its horrors kept far from the eyes of an unsuspecting world.
As they began setting up remote sensors, Keller watched as the engineering teams arrived, heavy trucks rumbling along the narrow forest paths. The convoy carried fencing materials, warning signs, and mobile command units—everything needed to quickly establish an exclusion zone around the lake.
The Foundation spared no expense when it came to containing potential breaches, and the operation was no different.
By late afternoon, a perimeter began to take shape. Workers, dressed in heavy-duty hazmat suits, unloaded rolls of razor wire and erected tall metal fences designed to keep any curious wanderers from straying too close.
Warning signs in multiple languages were posted at regular intervals, each emblazoned with stark symbols signaling danger and restricted access.
Drones buzzed overhead, feeding live footage back to the mobile command units while agents moved methodically through the underbrush, setting up motion sensors and other monitoring devices. Keller observed as large "No Trespassing" signs were hoisted up, each one bearing the emblem of a fabricated government entity—a common tactic to ward off unwanted attention.
The entire area was becoming a ghost town of activity. What had been a peaceful, secluded lake was now transformed into a heavily guarded zone of secrecy. Keller knew that by the time they were done, no one would be able to get within a mile of the lake without being detected.
Ramirez joined Keller as the sun dipped below the horizon, the sky casting deep purples and oranges across the landscape. "Perimeter is almost secure. Engineering says they'll have it fully closed off by morning."
Keller nodded, her gaze fixed on the lake, now shrouded in darkness. "Good. The sooner we lock this place down, the better." She took a deep breath, the weight of the situation heavy on her shoulders. "We need to make sure that whatever happened to those hikers... doesn't happen to anyone else."
Ramirez gave a solemn nod, her eyes following Keller's to the dark water. "We'll keep it safe. No one gets in, no one gets out."
Keller turned away, her voice low. "Let's hope it stays that way."
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The Foundation always tried to be discreet, yet with people looking for them, they were unable to hide something like this. Which meant that news traveled out and up, reaching the table of Nick Fury.
Nick Fury, Director of SHIELD, sat behind his desk, the glow of his monitor reflecting off his one good eye. The images on the screen showed the exclusion zone being established, fences going up, and workers in hazmat suits securing the perimeter. He leaned back in his chair, a deep frown etched on his face.
He was having trouble enough due to the UN coming to some great new agreement, and meddling with SHIELD affairs, and he was busy just trying to hang on to his role as director.
So he really didn't need something like this now. Though maybe… maybe he could use this to prove himself able and worthy of keeping his position?
Reaching for the comm device on his desk. "Hill, get in here."