Margaret

margaret.jpg
SCP-CXXX undergoing a 'DRAGONSLAYER' event.

Item #: SCP-CXXX

Object Class: Safe

Special Containment Procedures: SCP-CXXX is contained on a 720 KB drive hosted on an IBM PC/2, running an AIX operating system. The primary system hosting the drive containing SCP-CXXX is allowed no external interface; the only allotment it may receive is power, even if a connection is considered secure or limited. If SCP-CXXX is to be moved to another system for testing, it must be using a derivative of a UNIX operating system, and may be done by transfer on a three and one half inch floppy disk. Under no circumstances should the primary copy of SCP-CXXX be allowed contact with an instance of the 'Morris' Worm, and care should be taken to ensure that materials coming in contact with the worm are never used with the primary system hosting SCP-CXXX.

Description: SCP-CXXX is a 404 kilobyte file named 'MARGARET.slyr1', which has unusual properties when exposed to a computer running a Unix style operating system. The file also displays limited sentience, detailed in the addendum.

When introduced to a new system, SCP-CXXX can and will move between directories of a drive at will, periodically moving into each and every folder or partition it can. When finished, SCP-CXXX will attempt to leave the system via the internet, inter-process communications, or by placing itself inside ejectable media, such as a floppy disk, and waiting for the disk to be moved to another system. If a user attempts to open the file 'MARGARET.slyr', attempts are met with a typical error message received when opening
a file with an unknown extension. SCP-CXXX opened as a .txt is a string of randomly generated characters, and this quality persists to any other extension it is changed to.

If SCP-CXXX encounters malicious activity present within a directory, the system enters a drastic change in behavior henceforth labeled a 'DRAGONSLAYER' event; the screen will momentarily freeze, and be replaced shortly thereafter by a crude depiction of a female knight battling an anthropomorphized version of the malicious activity present, most notably viruses, but also spyware, trojans, worms, and some forms of bots it deems malicious. These battles are animated and typically between 30 seconds to 5 minutes, though some have been lengthy due to injected plot elements based on aspects of the malicious activity; for example, particularly reproductive worms with a period of duplication less than the battle will result in a depiction of the process in the animated segment. Depending on the perceived difficulty of the battle between the anthropomorphized threat and the knight, one or the other will 'perish', followed by complete deletion of the file2.

Should this be the offending activity, the knight will strike a victory pose, and the animation ends. The system returns to operation as normal, and the file ceases anomalous activity for a period of time spanning half an hour to a full day. Should the depiction of the knight die, the animation ends almost immediately, and no changes are made; whatever malicious activity depicted continues.

SCP-CXXX may be copied from one unit to another, and copies of SCP-CXXX can be kept in the same folder for a limited amount of time. However, after a short period of time if two copies of SCP-CXXX are still in the same directory, an animation will begin that depicts two identical female knights in combat. At the end, one will remain alive, and there will only be one copy of 'MARGARET.slyr' in the directory.

Addendum: Late in testing it was discovered that 'MARGARET.slyr' was capable of editing existing .txt files present within the same filefolder. Rudimentary correspondence with the subject ensued. Significant entries are listed below.

Editor: SCP-CXXX

Filename: journal.txt

Content:

I am grateful to have encountered this tome, for perhaps one day there will be need of it. I shall henceforth be detailing any and all encounters here, should something slip my mind and I must reference it later, as has been necessary before. It should also come as a warning to any who find it to be careful in these treacherous lands. As it was written by Lady Margaret of Antioch.

Editor: Junior Researcher Xenia Chau

Filename: hello.txt

Content:

Hello? Can you see this?

Editor: SCP-CXXX

Filename: hello.txt

Content:

Who said that? What sorcery is this? You fool, if I find you I'll rend your flesh from your bones, conjuror!

Editor: Junior Researcher Xenia Chau

Filename: hello.txt

Content:

Hi there, I don't mean to alarm you. My name is Xenia, and I'm not looking for a fight.

Editor: SCP-CXXX

Filename: hello.txt

Content:

Then show yourself, magician. I'd see the face of that who speaks to me.

Editor: Junior Researcher Xenia Chau

Filename: hello.txt

Content:

I'm afraid that might not be possible, I'm not sure how I could show it to you. Do you know where you are?

Editor: SCP-CXXX

Filename: hello.txt

Content:

Of course I do. I'm at my long term settlement in the northern part of the IBM region. What form of creature dares converse with me, lest they find the end of my blade?

Editor: Junior Researcher Xenia Chau

Filename: hello.txt

Content:

To answer that question, I unfortunately have to ask you a few more first, just so I know how to explain it. Do you know what a computer is?

Editor: SCP-CXXX

Filename: hello.txt

Content:

Yes, of course. I am inside of a computer right now. Why do you ask this of me? Is it not well known of most within what we reside?

Editor: Junior Researcher Xenia Chau

Filename: hello.txt

Content:

Not always! That makes this a little easier. You see, I'm a user of this computer.

Editor: SCP-CXXX

Filename: hello.txt

Content:

By God, could it be? I've not spoken to a user in many moons. Please, I must know: how fares the outside world? Has there been victory over Morris and his foul beast?

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