Extra 70+ chapters available in patreon š¤©š„³
Discount code " 4D346"
Just check it out š¤šā„ļø
_______________________________________________________________________
As soon as the voice fell, Dr. Kondraki's face shifted from curiosity to solemn concern.
"But," he said, his tone low and deliberate, "I still don't recommend you get involved in those projects too early."
The weight in his voice was palpable. The live broadcast chatroom, which had been buzzing just moments before, fell into sudden silence. Viewers were confused, their curiosity piqued.
"What project is he talking about?"
Even Zyn and Lois, who had been standing beside him, exchanged glances of confusion.
James, standing tall with a calm demeanor, responded without hesitation, "Doctor, I already have Level 4 clearance."
Dr. Kondraki's expression stiffened. He stared at James for a long timeāsilent, unmoving, as if debating something internally. Then, he finally let out a long sigh and muttered, "Sometimes, ignorance really is bliss."
Without offering any clarification, he gently patted James on the shoulder and walked away, shoulders slumped with fatigue. His departing figure seemed older, more burdened than before.
The audience noticed this immediately.
"A few years have passed, and Dr. Kondraki looks like he's aged decades."
But curiosity quickly overrode sentiment.
What was this mysterious project? Why had Dr. Kondraki reacted so strongly?
As if voicing the collective curiosity, Lois turned to James. "What does he mean? What project have you applied for?"
The viewers didn't expect a response. Up until now, most information had been cloaked in Foundation secrecy. But to everyone's surprise, James answered without hesitation:
"SCP-2317."
There was a pause. Then Lois blinked. "SCP-2317? I've read that file before. There's nothing particularly strange about it, right?"
James gave a small smile. "That's because your clearance level is only Level 2."
The chat exploded in confusion.
"What does clearance have to do with it?"
"Are they implying the file changes depending on your level?"
Back in the SHIELD headquarters, Natasha Romanoff squinted at the monitor. "Could it be that people with different security levels see different versions of the same SCP file?"
"Very likely," Nick Fury said with a nod. "We have files like that in SHIELD too. Restricted layers of intel based on clearance."
As the conversation returned to the topic of clearance levels, Lois didn't press further. He simply shrugged and muttered, "You're the boss."
Only Zyn remained serious, her gaze fixed on James. "The containment procedures for that object mention a ritual. Do you understand what that entails?"
Ritual?
The viewers blinked in confusion. A flood of speculation soon followed.
"A ritual? Likeā¦ a religious ceremony?"
"What kind of SCP needs a ritual?"
"Maybe it's symbolic, like an opening ceremony?"
"I've read that some ancient tribes still perform rituals to appease their ancestors or gods..."
Inside SHIELD, Natasha's expression turned grim.
"Rituals," she murmured. "To pleaseā¦ who?"
Her words trailed off, but everyone present felt a chill down their spine.
"Gods."
The whispered word spread like a wave across the room and chat.
Nick Fury leaned forward. His brow furrowed as he stared at the screen. This was no ordinary SCP file.
Before James could answer Zyn's question, the screen dimmed, signaling a transition.
The audience leaned in, their interest in SCP-2317 now reaching a fever pitch.
When the scene returned, James stood inside a vast, sterile roomāthe Foundation's internal database.
He faced a futuristic terminal.
[Welcome to SCiPNET Direct Storage Terminal. Please enter password.]
James quickly began typing.
[Please enter user permissions.]
He typed in a clearance level.
[Permission accepted. Please enter SCP number authorization password.]
"scp-2317," James typed.
The terminal rejected the input.
[Wrong format or unknown password.]
[ACCESS: Display of special containment procedures requires a specific password format, e.g., ACCESS SCP-number authorization-level.]
Undeterred, James entered a new command, this time using credentials that clearly weren't his own:
"Username: Jonathan Vance, Position: Research Assistant, Site-18. Expand SCP-2317. Clearance Level 0."
The file loaded.
[Project Name: Gate to Another World]
[Item #: SCP-2317]
[Object Class: [DATA EXPUNGED]]
[Special Containment Procedures: SCP-2317 is to be stored in a 3x3x3m reinforced chamber within Containment Area-179. Armed guards must remain on duty at all times to prevent unauthorized access.]
[Description: SCP-2317 is a wooden door and doorframe originally located in a 19th-century Massachusetts brownstone. When opened, individuals stepping through the door are transported to an alternate reality.]
The chatroom collectively blinked.
"That's it?"
"That's all?"
Even compared to other SCP entries, this was remarkably short.
"It's just a door to another world? Why the panic?"
Inside SHIELD, Natasha narrowed her eyes. "Wait. Look at the bottom."
A small line of fine print flashed at the bottom of the file:
[More information about SCP-2317 is available only to personnel with Level 1 clearance or higher.]
"That explains everything," Nick Fury muttered. "No wonder James emphasized clearance. This is just the sanitized version."
In the next scene, James once again accessed the terminal, this time with Level 1 credentials.
Immediately, new information filled the screen.
[Object Class: Keter]
The word hit like a hammer.
The chatroom went dead silent.
Even Nick Fury grimaced.
After his experiences with SCP-239 and SCP-682, the word Keter had become synonymous with dangerāexistential danger.
And here James was, diving head-first into another one.
The file continued:
[Personnel assigned to SCP-2317 must undergo psychological evaluations every two months.]
[Applicants must score at least 72 on the Milgram obedience test, be unmarried, have no children, and demonstrate absolute loyalty to the Foundation.]
The chat was confused again.
"No marriage or kids? Why such strict conditions?"
Inside SHIELD, Natasha frowned. "This sounds less like a scientific project and more like a cult operation."
Nick Fury didn't argue. He was too focused on the next section.
[Assigned personnel must wear identity-concealing helmets with voice modulation. Team members may not remove these helmets in front of each other. All rest periods must be spent in isolated dorms.]
[Each month, one D-class individual convicted of murder must be assigned to SCP-2317 to perform a task labeled Procedure 220-Kayla Basas.]
[During the ritual, at least one Level 3/2317 personnel must observe via video feed.]
[After the procedure is complete, all D-class individuals must either be returned to dormitories or terminated via their explosive collar.]
The atmosphere thickened.
Even the most hardened viewers were rattled.
This wasn't science. This wasn't containment. This was something darker.
Nick Fury's instincts flared. Every line of the file screamed ritualistic, secretive, and religious. And now it was clearer than everāthis wasn't just about exploring another world.
James continued typing.
Another authorization was grantedāLevel 2 clearance.
[You are attempting to access a Level 2 Security Clearance (Restricted) document. This access will be logged and reported to RAISA.]
The room held its breath.
More text appeared in the file's 'Description' section.
[Exploration beyond the door is limited, but the immediately accessible area appears to be a salt flat several kilometers in diameter.]
[Approximately ten meters from the doorway stands a circular formation of seven stone pillars (SCP-2317-A through SCP-2317-G), each carved with unintelligible symbols in a style unrelated to any known culture.]
Inside SHIELD, Natasha stared at the screen. "Pillars and symbols? Still not adding up to 'end of the world'."
The rest of the agents murmured in agreement.
Keter? For a salt flat?
But then came the final blow.
[Addendum 1: Procedure 220-Kayla Basas must be performed daily at noonācoinciding with the sun's highest point over SCP-2317.]
[Any deviation or failure in the execution of this ritual will result in an XK-Class End-of-the-World Scenario.]
[In the event of failure, all personnel must retreat immediately, the chamber must be sealed, and a Level 2 emergency will be reported to the O5 Council.]
Silence.
Utter, suffocating silence.
The chatroom, SHIELD HQ, the livestreamāall froze.
"ā¦XK-Class?" someone finally whispered.
"A ritualā¦ to stop the apocalypse?"
"So the door's not just a portalāit's a seal."
"A seal keeping something outā¦"
Or worseākeeping something in.
Nick Fury leaned back in his chair. His hands trembled slightly as he wiped away the sweat that had collected on his brow.
The file wasn't finished.
There were still more levels of access to go.
But even now, the truth was becoming unavoidable.
This wasn't containment.
This wasn't research.
This was desperation.
And James had just walked into it willingly.
------------------------------------------------------
Get membership in patreon to read more chapters
Extra chapters available in patreon
patreon.com/Dragonscribe31
-----------------------------------------------------