The SCP Foundation

Chapter 50: SCP-038

General Brooks was standing in front of SCP-038, together with Captain Polonskaya. They were inside the containment cell to inspect the overhead mister used to water the said SCP.

The SCP seemed to be a perfectly normal apple tree, of average height. However, it can do more than growing apples, or fruit.

"Well, the mister looks fine to me." the general spoke up. "I guess we should head back now..."

"Ma'am, we have to make sure that it properly activates." the captain replied. "That way, our technicians can fix it sooner."

"Ugggh... fine..." the general groaned. "You do it, captain. I don't feel like doing it myself."

"Yes, ma'am..."

The captain went over to the keypad next to the containment cell door, which displayed humidity levels, temperature readings and a few other controls, and activated the overhead mister.

A few seconds later, the mister was supposed to mist for the SCP to be hydrated. However, the mister didn't do so, signifying that the mister was malfunctioning.

"What's taking so long, captain?" the general asked, becoming impatient.

"Ma'am, the mister isn't working." the captain answered.

"What?" the general looked back. "Let me have a go at it."

The general walked over to the controls of the mister and started to press random buttons multiple times, just wanting to get the inspection finished ASAP.

"Ma'am, don't do that." the captain told told the temporary site director. "You'll break the controls."

"Don't tell me how this works, captain." the general simply replied. "I'm sure that after I'm done with this, it'll all be..."

The keypad then showed a red caution sign on it, signalling a malfunction in the system, then suddenly shuts down.

"Oh..." the general reacted. "That... that wasn't supposed to do that, was it?"

"No, ma'am..." the captain answered. "You made the entire system malfunction and unresponsive..."

"Why didn't you stop me, captain?"

"I tried, but you didn't listen..." the captain answered.

"Well, guess we have something that the technicians will fix..." the general sighed, then looked at the SCP. "What even is this tree anyway?"

"That's SCP-038, ma'am." the captain answered. "It can clone anything that touches it..."

"Did you say cloning?" the general interjected.

"Yes, ma'am." the captain nodded.

The general, with now a smile on her face, looked back at the tree and walked towards it, much to the captain's surprise.

"Ma'am, what are you doing?" the captain asked.

"Oh, me? I'm not doing anything." the general answered. "Anyways, this tree can clone people too, right?"

"Yes, ma'am." the captain nodded. "But I don't think you should be..."

The captain was about to speak further on why the general shouldn't be touching the tree, but it was too late; the general had now touched the tree's bark with her left hand.

"Well, I touched it." the general spoke up, taking her hand off of the tree's bark. "What happens now? Is it cloning now?"

"It should be..." the captain sighed. "Ma'am, you shouldn't be doing these sorts of things..."