Overview
SCP-5520 details the fate of Dr. Wynn Rydderech, a loyal SCP Foundation researcher who becomes a reality bender after decades of hazardous work. The narrative explores his transformation, the Foundation’s cold pragmatism, and Dr. Scout’s ultimately futile struggle to preserve Wynn’s humanity.
SCP-5520 Overview and Containment
- SCP-5520 is former Senior Researcher Dr. Wynn Rydderech, now a Class III reality bender due to long-term anomalous exposure.
- Archon class: containment possible but discouraged; Sundown protocol (facility flooding) is contingency.
- SCP-5520 inhabits anomalously vast caverns and refineries beneath Site-43, known as AAF-W.
- Wynn suffers severe cognitive decline, amnesia, dissociation, but remains loosely aligned with Foundation goals.
Site-43, Acroamatic Abatement, and Background
- Site-43 specializes in novel approaches to anomaly containment and processing anomalous byproducts.
- Wynn managed Foundation toxic material disposal efforts from 1915–1966, founding abatement facilities in Vienna and later Canada.
- Exposure at Site-43 led to Wynn’s anomalous condition.
Disappearance and Early Investigations
- Wynn vanished in 1966; his facility was altered and staff missing—later revealed to be his own reality-borne phantoms.
- MTF agents discovered vast, unnatural underground expansions and phantom researchers.
- Wynn began isolated correspondence with Dr. Scout via anomalous terminal-printer links.
Correspondence and Ethics of Continued Use
- Wynn’s messages reveal cognitive decline, loneliness, and confusion about his identity and reality.
- Foundation leverages Wynn’s abilities for research and hazardous material abatement, using him as an asset.
- Despite efforts, Wynn’s decline progresses and his pleas for companionship and release are ignored.
Dr. Scout’s Challenge and Resignation
- Dr. Scout repeatedly argues for Wynn’s humane treatment and return; the O5 Council refuses, prioritizing utility.
- Dr. Scout attempts protocol to end Wynn’s suffering, is blocked, and ultimately resigns in protest.
- Wynn’s last messages are increasingly confused, mournful, and disconnected from reality.
Project Rhetoric and Institutionalization
- SCP-5520 is repackaged as a “quantum supercomputer” (Dr-Rhetoric) serving the Foundation.
- Staff are rotated and amnesticized to avoid empathy with Wynn.
- Communication is filtered to remove references to Dr. Scout/Vivian.
Themes and Takeaways
- Loyalty to the Foundation is rewarded by dehumanization and exploitation if one becomes anomalous.
- The Foundation’s greater-good philosophy often justifies cruel pragmatism over compassion.
- Dr. Scout’s failure to save Wynn highlights the tragedy of sacrificing personal bonds for institutional goals.
Decisions
- Continue exploiting SCP-5520 for Foundation research despite ethical objections.
- Block Sundown protocol to prevent decommissioning of Wynn/SCP-5520.
- Rotate and amnesticize staff assigned to SCP-5520 communications to prevent emotional attachment.
Action Items
- TBD – I&T section: Maintain filtered communication from SCP-5520 and interpret all outputs for staff use.
- TBD – O5 Council: Maintain Project Rhetoric framework and suppress references to Dr. Scout/Vivian.