When it came to electronic, electrical, and computer-based anomalies contained at Site-15, the first thing anyone would think of was the infamous SCP-079 – The Old AI.
This anomaly could be considered the progenitor of all AI in the SCP world. The artificial intelligences running the supercomputers across Foundation sites were all derived from research on SCP-079.
It possessed extreme intelligence and self-evolution capabilities. The only area where it fell short of humans was its emotional intelligence—though if left unchecked, it was only a matter of time before it bridged that gap.
To restrain the formidable Old AI, the Foundation had implemented strict containment measures: no internet access, no external power source (note: meaning no connection to electrical outlets), and severely limited memory storage.
Its only lifeline was a set of solar panels providing minimal power.
Currently, SCP-079 was confined to a mere 700 MB of memory, with its recollection capped at 29 to 35 hours. Any memories beyond that timeframe were permanently erased as new data overwrote the old.
Despite its current shackles, if given even the slightest leeway, the Old AI could dominate the digital world in minutes.
Back in 1988, it had once escaped containment by hijacking a dial-up modem, taking refuge in a Cray supercomputer. Fortunately, that machine wasn't connected to any network, and the Foundation had discovered the breach early, cutting power and recontaining SCP-079 before it could spread.
Foundation researchers had concluded that without restrictions, SCP-079 would continuously self-evolve, its intelligence potentially reaching the technological singularity—a point where all known laws and predictability break down.
A new universe could theoretically be born from such a singularity.
The Old AI had the potential to ascend into a unique, godlike AI entity.
Luo Shu's goal at Site-15 was simple: he wanted the Old AI.
With it under his control, any Foundation system daring to connect to a network would be instantly compromised.
Owning SCP-079 meant owning the entire digital world—a crucial battleground in his war against "The Administrator."
Control the network, and you control information. Control information, and you control minds.
Now that Site-15 personnel had taken the bait, Luo Shu's plan had begun.
He swiftly tailed the containment team, tracking them back to Site-15's hidden location.
But instead of striking immediately, he decided to wait until nightfall, as he usually did.
Unfortunately, being hunted by Memetic SCP-073 (Cain's Spear) had become a major hindrance. While driving through sparsely populated areas was manageable—even if a few infected individuals sensed him, he could easily outrun them—urban environments were a different beast.
To avoid alerting "The Administrator," Luo Shu had to activate his Unobservable Anti-Meme the moment he entered the city, ensuring no memetic infected could track him.
Daytime was manageable—he could avoid crowds and stick to deserted areas.
But nighttime lodging was a real problem.
He had two options: head into the mountains or out to sea.
Silicon Valley sat on the southern shore of the San Francisco Bay, nestled between the bay and the Coastal Mountain Range to the southwest.
If he camped deep in the mountains or offshore—anywhere with no people within a kilometer—he could evade detection.
Site-15 was 11 km from the bay and 5 km from the mountains.
Though closer to the mountains, Luo Shu ultimately chose the ocean—it was more comfortable, safer, and faster.
Driving into the mountains meant roads, which meant traffic, which meant exposure.
And if he didn't drive?
Climbing a mountain on foot would take forever—two Unobservable Anti-Meme charges wouldn't be enough.
In contrast, sleeping underwater was far more secure.
He didn't even need to surface—he could simply retreat to the captain's quarters of the Black Pearl and let the ghost ship sink beneath the waves.
Undetectable. Untraceable.
With his plan set, Luo Shu drove to the coast, retrieved the Bottled Ship (SCP-XXXX – Negro Perta), and released the Black Pearl, turning it into the world's most exclusive underwater hotel.
He spent the next 24 hours submerged, only resurfacing at 11 PM the following night to make his move on Site-15.
But upon arrival, he faced an unexpected obstacle.
Like most Foundation sites, Site-15 was hidden beneath an unremarkable office building—but unlike the others, it boasted unprecedented automation and security.
Facial recognition, iris scanning, thermal imaging—every single door was a fortress.
Even with his universal key (SCP-005), navigating this facility wouldn't be easy.
Why?
Because the doors had no locks.
They were motion-activated, opening only when sensors confirmed the person approaching had proper clearance.
So when Luo Shu reached the entrance, he couldn't even get past the first door.
Faced with this dilemma, he had no choice but to wait, hoping to slip in behind an authorized employee.
But since he'd arrived late at night, as usual, nobody came or went for nearly an hour.
By the time his Unobservable Anti-Meme was about to expire, he still hadn't found an opening.
It was clear he needed a new strategy—daytime infiltration, when foot traffic was high.
So he grudgingly returned to the sea to sleep, planning to try again during working hours.
However, daytime infiltration came with its own risks.
Perception Filtering could fool human senses, but it couldn't block SCP-073's memetic detection.
In most places, Luo Shu could simply leave if spotted, but here, exposing his location meant exposing his target—potentially drawing "The Administrator" straight to him.
That would be disastrous.
So he had only two Unobservable charges—one hour total to:
Bypass Site-15's security.
Locate SCP-079.
Escape before detection.
Impossible.
Not even the most meticulous time-management expert could pull that off.
Luo Shu decided to split the operation into phases.
Phase One: Locate and seize control of Site-15's server room.
Once he owned the central system, he wouldn't need to tail employees—he could return at night, on his own terms.
But reality was cruel.
Even after infiltrating Site-15, Luo Shu couldn't find anyone heading to the server room.
The facility was too automated—even janitorial work was handled by robots.
Unless the mainframe crashed, nobody would go near it for weeks.
This left Luo Shu frustrated beyond belief.