096

The lights of the dimly lit room flickered as Inspector Arlia leaned against the table, scribbling notes with her pen. Across from her, Dr. Daniels sat with an air of fatigue, his eyes bearing the weight of what had transpired. The topic of discussion was a tragedy that would forever be etched in the annals of the mysterious "SCP" facility. The 096-1-A incident had been one of those unfortunate events that left a stain on the organization's otherwise commendable record of research and containment. Arlia had been summoned to the facility to discuss the aftermath of 096's catastrophic breach. As she began to recount the events, it became clear that Dr. Daniels was already acquainted with the details. His solemn demeanor and measured tone lent an air of gravity to the conversation. "It started with a minor malfunction in the containment unit," Dr. Daniels said, his words measured as he carefully chose each syllable. "One of our scientists had entered the cell to perform a routine inspection, but 096's advanced senses picked up on the vibrations of the individual's footsteps. It... reacted accordingly." Arlia winced, her eyes drifting to her notes as she scribbled a few hasty lines. The scientist who had entered the cell to inspect 096 had been one of the unfortunate 63 that had perished in the subsequent "genocidal rage," as Dr. Daniels had termed it. The scientist, whose name Arlia couldn't recall at the moment, had been caught in the direct line of sight of 096's singular vision, which seemed to be directly linked to the human brain's own sense of sight. As their eyes met, it was as if 096 had sensed the presence of the human, sparking a ferocious reaction that only one could be certain of. "It's as if it sees our souls," Dr. Daniels said, a faint tremble running through his voice. "When it gazes at a person, it knows exactly where to strike. That level of understanding is far beyond anything we can comprehend. That's what drives our decision to terminate 096 – not just for our own safety, but for its own sake, as well." In an effort to protect its subjects and prevent further tragedies, the 05 Council had given Dr. Daniels the authority to pursue termination of SCP-096 using the most humane methods available. The task at hand was daunting, and Arlia couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding wash over her. The termination process was, in a word, complicated. SCP-096's cellular structure seemed to be capable of regenerating, almost regenerating itself at an alarmingly rapid pace. The team had managed to come up with only minor methods to temporarily disable the creature, but the long-term effects were unpredictable at best. A key question lingered – would 096 even be aware of what was happening? Was this some sort of sentient, self-aware organism, capable of suffering, or was it simply a beast driven purely by instinct and a singular goal? Whatever the reason, Arlia knew that it was the team's duty to put an end to it, no matter how difficult it seemed. "This process will be an arduous one," Dr. Daniels continued, anticipating her train of thought. "We can't just lock it away somewhere and wait for it to starve or waste away. No, this is a deliberate attempt to end its existence – for the sake of humanity and the sake of 096 itself." As the interview drew to a close, it was evident that Arlia would need to discuss the plans further with the 05 Council. Though it seemed a bleak and hopeless endeavor to the uninitiated, Dr. Daniels and his team were resolute in their pursuit of a solution. Their dedication to putting an end to SCP-096 was one that could never falter.