SCP-237: Self-Made Man

SCP-237: Self-Made Man SCP-237 begins with someone uploading videos of himself bringing small sculptures to life. He appears to be a young Japanese man, although his identification papers are false. The Foundation traces the videos to his home and takes him into custody along with sixteen animated figures made from clay and polyurethane resin. The sculptures can see, hear, think, and move independently. Most speak Japanese, and several also speak English. Their appearances vary from human figures to a penguin, a skeletal creature, and an insectlike character with a top hat. Their ability to communicate is not limited to speech. A faceless samurai writes with his sword, while a baby-shaped figure uses Japanese Sign Language. Many are damaged, incomplete, or limited by the way they were sculpted. One remains permanently seated. Another has unfinished feet. Repairs have left one figure's head facing backward. These details initially look like the consequences of delicate bodies and limited repair materials, but the interview later gives them a more disturbing context. Their creator also turns out to be made from clay and resin. During transport, he collapses into disconnected pieces. Unlike the small figures, whose material is uniform inside, his body contains extraordinarily detailed replicas of human organs. The entry does not explain why he falls apart, who originally made him, or whether his remains could become active again. The Foundation stores his pieces separately and monitors them for movement. The other figures receive individual cells scaled to their size. They can visit one another under supervision and request material for repairs, but the supplies are limited and unused material is removed. The Foundation also watches for additional figures and suppresses copies of the videos. Nearly four years into containment, the penguin tells a researcher that the others are still waiting for their creator to rescue them. Some believe he escaped. Others believe the Foundation captured a decoy. The penguin concludes that he must be dead because he has not returned and the figures have been left repairing themselves. The researcher refuses to confirm it. Then the penguin explains why sixteen is such a small number. There used to be more. When their creator became bored or dissatisfied, he would crush a figure back into raw material and start again. The penguin remembers individuals who no longer exist and says the current baby is the third version. Their creator was willing to give them awareness before finishing their bodies, then destroy them when the results did not please him. The penguin can recognize that they may be better off in Foundation custody. He can describe what their creator did and identify the suffering it caused. Yet he says he cannot blame him. When the researcher presses him, he clarifies that this is a literal inability shared by all the figures, not simply forgiveness. That makes the interview particularly sad. These are intelligent beings capable of examining their circumstances, but something prevents them from reaching a judgment about the person responsible. They remember the others being destroyed and still wait for him to return and care for them. Original Entry: https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/scp-237