 Item number SCP-204 Object Class Keter Special Containment Procedures SCP-2041 and SCP-2042 are to be kept in a 10 meter by 10 meter fortified holding area in sight. The holding area must be constructed out of armor plated steel and heavily reinforced concrete. The holding area must also be vacuum sealed and contained within an outer shell with a higher air pressure that must be always maintained with at least two PSI over the current air pressure in the holding area. At least one full security team must be kept on standby at all times. It is only during SCP-2041's scheduled feeding times that D-Class personnel are allowed to enter for the purposes of maintenance. SCP-2041's typical diet consists of any kind of meat, preferably from living subjects. Such subjects will often consist of aggressive animals such as wild dogs, bulls, or any other animal that must be euthanized due to aggression. However, D-Class personnel will also suffice if such food sources are unavailable. SCP-2042's diet consists of a regular human diet, with no special measures given. SCP-2042 is allowed to make special requests, but any and all requests must be given O5 approval. Any personnel caught attempting to deliberately provoke SCP-2042 will be immediately terminated. Security personnel are required to ignore any and all of SCP-2042's attempts to provoke a response from them, unless there is a clear and present risk of containment breach. Failure to do so will result in harsh administrative punishment. When SCP-2042 is about to turn the age of 14, the Foundation must initiate Containment Protocol 204. Further details may be found in Containment Protocol 204 requirements. In the event of a containment breach, EMP generators must be immediately activated in order to keep SCP-2041 disabled. Once EMP generators have been activated, security teams have approximately 30 seconds to neutralize SCP-2042 before SCP-2041 can adapt and reassemble itself. If containment cannot be achieved in this time, SCP-2041 must be contained by conventional means. Security teams and agents are authorized to use any conventional weaponry at their disposal to contain SCP-2041 and SCP-2042. If SCP-2042 is terminated during containment, then Containment Protocol 204 must immediately be initiated. Description SCP-2041 is a semi-organic nanomachine colony that follows SCP-2042 as a form of protector. SCP-2041 spends the majority of its time in a dispersed cloud, where it is almost impossible to perceive with normal human senses. However, if SCP-2042 is put into danger, or if SCP-2042 commands it to, SCP-2041 will instantaneously materialize into a solid, physical form. The exact shape and nature of this form is subjective, depending wholly upon SCP-2042's view, state of mind, and imagination. Despite its variable nature, SCP-2041 has a number of common traits. These include massive strength, large size, basic intelligence, perfect obedience to SCP-2042, and the ability to regenerate itself after consuming living flesh. SCP-2041 is vulnerable to conventional weaponry and can be temporarily forced back into its dispersed state if enough damage is inflicted. SCP-2042 is always a child, ranging from 4 to 14 years old. Physically, there is nothing outstanding about SCP-2042 besides its ability to call upon SCP-2041. All incidences of SCP-2042 have common traits. All of them have had a history of abuse and danger, with many developing acute mental disorders as a result. This makes instances of SCP-2042 difficult to contain in any traditional manner, as great care must be taken to keep them in a stable state. It appears that SCP-2041 is attracted to such children, though why or how it finds them is currently unknown. If SCP-2042 is terminated, or reaches the age of 14, then SCP-2041 will abandon it and find a new child to imprint on. As a form of self-preservation, if SCP-2041 cannot find a suitable child, it will immediately materialize and go berserk, attacking anything in sight. Once SCP-2041 finds a suitable candidate to protect, it immediately imprints upon SCP-2042 and will follow it until SCP-2042 expires, or until SCP-2041 decides to leave of its own accord. At first, SCP-2041 appears benign, protecting SCP-2042 from overt threats. However, through careful study and observation, it has been noted that all incidences of SCP-2042 begin to adopt much more aggressive, danger-seeking behavior, with little regard for human life. It is theorized that SCP-2041 is able to manipulate SCP-2042's thought processes in order to behave in a fashion that would benefit it. It is assumed that, since SCP-2041 requires organic flesh for sustenance, it needs SCP-2042 to be in danger in order to justify its activation. Addendum 1 There have been numerous recorded incidences where it is believed that SCP-2041 has been involved. The first such recorded incident was when a car was found in a residential street, completely torn apart, and covered in partially devoured human remains. Similar incidents occurred until agents managed to track SCP-2041 to where they made contact with the first recorded incarnation of SCP-2042. It took three more attempts and numerous casualties before SCP-2041 and SCP-2042 were successfully contained. Interviews with SCP-2042 revealed that it seemed to feel a need to experience danger, such as standing in traffic or provoking hostile responses from others. When questioned on its reasons, SCP-2042 simply replied that SCP-2041 allowed it to. Containment Protocol 204 In order to keep SCP-2041 successfully contained, it has been necessary to keep a permanent stock of candidates to replace SCP-2042 in the event that the current one is terminated or abandoned. Ideally, all candidates should be orphans, below the age of 10, with a history of abuse. However, in times of need, Article 12 of Containment Protocol 204 may be authorized to allow candidates that don't meet specific requirements. They will be put under the supervision of caretakers, which will consist of D-Class personnel, convicted of violent crimes, and with Foundation staff present to prevent inadvertent termination of candidates. If SCP-2042 successfully reaches the cutoff age of 14 years, and SCP-2041 abandons it, the former SCP-2042 must undergo a rigorous amnestic treatment and a thorough psychological examination before being reintegrated into a government foster program. If it is deemed that the former SCP-2042 cannot be successfully reintegrated, then the subject must be immediately terminated. Addendum 2 As of the writing of this report, the Foundation has contained 13 instances of SCP-2042. 11 instances exhibited the trademark hostile and violent behavior typical among all instances of SCP-2042. However, two instances of SCP-2042 showed a marked improvement in their mental health and stability, and had the lowest number of containment breach attempts. It is currently unclear what specific factors trigger these differences in behavior, as the exact mechanism SCP-2041 uses to manipulate its host is still unknown. Addendum 3 Though there is evidence to suggest that SCP-2041 may be sentient, or possibly even sapient, all attempts to communicate directly with SCP-2041 have resulted in failure. Currently, the only feasible method of communicating with SCP-2041 is to use SCP-2042 as an intermediary. Unfortunately, the violent tendencies and hostile behavior exhibited by nearly all instances of SCP-2042, as well as their questionable mental stability, make this approach highly unreliable. Lesson Complete If you missed the previous orientation, go watch SCP-203, Tortured Iron Soul, right now. Or for the complete course, watch this playlist.