For the tape, this is Dr. Tillman with Captain Drake, former commander of retrieval team Zulu 9A.

It is Wednesday, November 13, 2024, 1033 AM.

The doctor turns his clear blue eyes to me. Captain Drake, tell me about the mission.

I take a deep breath, but there isn't enough air in the world to make me feel calm after what

happened. I clasp my trembling fingers together under the table. What do you want to know?

Let's start from the beginning.

The beginning.

I can do that.

Nobody likes initial retrieval duty.

We're rarely given enough information to prepare for the job, and this time was no different.

We were simply told to bag and tag.

That's it.

I can't help but wonder what would have happened if we'd known more if we were given the full story.

Dr. Tillman frowns.

The mission, Captain Drake?

Right. Fine. So I was in one chopper with my team. And Dr. Caldwell was in the other with the backup team, Zulu 9B.

We were given a patrol path,

and it didn't take us long to find the thing. For the tape, the thing is SCP 96. The doctor interrupts.

I wait for him to say more, but he gestures for me to continue. I sigh and close my eyes,

going back to that awful day. The woods were

thick, but it was a clear day and the target stood out. Why is that? He was bigger than a bear,

for one, easily over seven feet tall, maybe even eight. Not to mention, he was buck naked.

...