SCP-1425: Star Signals. Self-help books, motivational seminars, life coaches, therapy, spiritual
guides, and so on are all based around the concept of improving one's state of being,
mentally and physically. A large number of these techniques are crafted specifically
to take money from gullible customers, while others are spread by those who fully believe
in what they preach. Like so many concepts in our world, these ideas are taken into the
scp universe and amped up into the very strange and unusual. SCP-1425 is very much connected
to a group of interest known as the Fifthists, or the Fifth Church, which would be too much
to go over here in addition to 1425. I'll let this video serve as an introduction to
a later video on the fifthists then, and let's just discuss Star Signals.
SCP-1425 is a hardcover book, with the words Star Signals on the cover, and the message
on the back reading, "Did you know that some stars in the sky are dead, but we still see
their ancient image?
With the best-selling novel Star Signals, sold in four countries and translated into
hundreds of languages, you too can tune in to the celestial frequencies, and then become
like the stars!"
It seems vaguely reminiscent of many other self-help books, although it's questionable
how many would be interested in becoming like a star. Diving into the book, a reader finds
that it teaches a self-help process called the five-step star signal method, designed
to help them achieve their dreams and ambitions. Unlike many self-help books however, there
is no practical advice passed on, but rather the star signal method consists of mantras,
positive affirmations, and overall essentially wishful thinking. The book is filled with
various nightly rituals that must be performed in order to connect to celestial bodies through
star signals. Which celestial body is used for the rituals is determined by a calender
printed at the start of the book, so that all practitioners of the star signal method
will be focused on the same object at the same time. The anomalous effect, of course,
is that the star signal method actually works. If an individual follows the guidelines presented
in the book, and focuses on a desire they have, reality will warp in order to accomplish
the goal. If someone wishes to win the lottery, they'll do so the following week. If someone
wishes to have a new car, they'll soon be driving one. The person following the book
doesn't even necessarily have to do anything extra aside from the rituals, as the effect
will still succeed 80% of the time.
So far, this seems pretty incredible, and by itself it could certainly be considered
a beneficial SCP, but you know there's more to the story. The book contains a number of
memetic triggers throughout the repeated rituals designed to slowly alter the individuals thought
processes. In the first half of the book, these are simply used to make the reader more
agreeable to the overall concept of the star signal method, but the later chapters begin
influencing the person's political and philosophical ideologies. 60% of individuals that read through
the entire book begin exhibiting a condition known as Ojai Syndrome, but more on that later.
The foundation believes that Star Signals was written and published by the Fifth Church,
a cult whose membership consists largely of celebrites. Essentially, an SCP version of
Scientology. These cult members are typically identified through a polished green stone
worn as a necklace, bracelet, or other accessory, called a Star Stone. Celebrity endorsements
and national media coverage quickly spread the word of Star Signals, and it became a
best seller within two weeks. We're given a number of excerpts taken from the book,
curated to avoid memetic triggers. Early sections are reminiscent of self-help books, although
some of the language used is odd. One section discusses concentrating on the void inside
of one's self, using it as a space to build your will until you hear music. It says this
is not a metaphor, you should hear music, and to remember that nothing in this book
is a metaphor.
Another section involves repeating a mantra while focusing on a specific star. Some elements
of this mantra have been redacted by the foundation, but it says, "Now is our time. Here is our
space. We take your star. We hold your bonds. Repay your debt." It also says to not worry
about memorizing the mantra, as once you say a specific mind-clearing word, you'll remember
the mantra. If done correctly, the star will disappear. The sixth chapter discusses the
concept of the fifth world, a vaguely defined idea that allows an individual to shape their
reality and gives them true freedom. By the 9th chapter, things have gotten pretty strange,
and so I'll read the complete excerpt. "Some helpful advice that will save you in your
coming weeks:
Mirrors are for other people. Sit in a dark room by yourself for at least
an hour per day. Move around as much as you’re made to.
If you feel yourself developing a soul, go outside immediately and follow the direction
of the smoke until you meet them. Always listen for the sound slon of trwoll
plr mlgn thei. Love the archons. When you hate them, they
see you."
The 10th chapter, titled You Cannot Wake Up, seems to consist almost entirely of the indecipherable
language, which if you can understand it, is probably not a good sign. It would seem
that the book is designed to take away a person's individuality and free will, combined with
creating a sort of unified connection to the stars. Let's move on to the most interesting
part of SCP-1425 then, a log of the events that occurred from the publishing date of
Star Signals up to the point that the foundation managed to shut the entire thing down. The
first print run of the book was done on an unknown date, and was reserved for members
of the fifth church and their friends and family members. The second print run, with
more widespread intentions, was completed on April 22nd, 2005, in three different locations,
one in Texas, one in Maine, and one in England.
A week later, a daytime talk show devotes an entire episode to discussing and promoting
Star Signals. At one point, a guest, Hugh Laurie, makes a joke that the host's success
might be due to the book's advice, adding, "I hope nobody hates you." The host stares
at the copy of Star Signals in their hands, utters the f-word, and remarks, "it's finding
the holes." Despite the controversy over the obscenity, or perhaps aided by it, star signals'
sales grow fifty times their current rate during the following week. By the 12th day
after release, reports of mental illness begin to increase across the southwestern United
States. A notable case involved a family of three in the city of Ojai, California, who
were arrested after a violent incident. The family were standing in a steet several miles
from their home, loudly discussing their surroundings using odd phrases such as, "I love how the
buildings don't line up anymore." When approached by a bystander, the father assaulted the man
with a pocket knife while the daughter shouted in an unknown language. The bystander was
being forced to repeat the phrases, and if he made an error, the father cuts a square
shaped pattern on his face. The following day, the foundation begins to look into the
family's case and their connection to star signals. They learn that despite the widespread
attention on the book, there have so far been no actual reviews or analysis of the text
itself, apparently an effect of the mind-altering anomalies so readers don't openly discuss
the text. The next day, foundation researchers conclude that star signals is responsible
for the recent spread of mental illness, and classify it as scp-1425. Since it's now classified
as an SCP, this constitutes a massive containment breach. A plan is created, designated Protocol
Ophiuchus, involving shutting down the publishing company, recalling every copy of star signals,
and removing any mention of star signals from broadcasts. MTFs are dispatched to the three
printing locations in Texas, Maine, and England, where they meet armed resistance but are ultimately
successful. Foundation agents put out a fake press release saying that the published form
of star signals is both missing the 11th chapter and the 10th chapter is misprinted. All existing
copies still on shelves are pulled and consumers are given a $25 voucher if they return their
copies.
Another episode of that day time talk show is broadcasted, and during an interview with
the muscian Beck, the host interrupts and looks directly into the camera, saying, " You
have to keep calm. Take a good, deep breath. Remember what the man said. Stars may die
in threes, but worlds die in fives. Like insects injected with maggots." The interview then
continues as if nothing occurred. The network puts out a statement that the host is suffering
from exhaustion, but the foundation is unable to locate them for detainment. 16 days after
initial publication, the media has caught wind of the increasing number of individuals
suffering from strange behavior. The mental illness is dubbed the Ojai Syndrome due to
the family in California and is unexplained among the general public. The foundation finds
that amnestics can reliably cure Ojai syndrome. More broadcasts are intercepted by the foundation
featuring individuals affected by Star Signals discussing events in odd terms or even discussing
events that never occurred, such as Gandhi's public suicide.
By day 17, 200,000 copies of star signals have been confiscated and destroyed by the
foundation, aided by another fake press release that some copies of star signals may have
been contaminated by terrorists with ricin poison. The Foundation works with the CDC
and the NHS to treat individuals suffering from Ojai Syndrome, after a fake presentation
claiming the syndrome is caused by a parasitic organism. They gather anyone they can locate
exhibiting symptoms and adminster amnestics before returning them to mental health facilities.
18 days after publishing, confiscation begins to slow down due to the fact that remaining
readers are fully under the thrall of the text and have no intention of relinquishing
their copies. The foundation begins travelling door to door in hazmat suits in areas where
they are most likely to find copies of the book, under the ricin powder cover story.
Three senators attempt to report President Bush to the FBI, claiming that he's an imposter
as the real Bush was executed months ago. The senators suggest a live execution of the
fake president on tv, hosted by comedian Dana Carvey. An episode of American Idol is completely
pulled from broadcast after Paula Abdul begins emitting large amounts of black smoke from
her mouth, and host Ryan Seacrest urges fellow panelist Randy Jackson to take a deep breath
in order to join her in hell. Jackson replies that he'll do that in his own home, and that
Seacrest should take off his mask. Seacrest responds by tugging on his cheek and saying
that this is real, they'll have to rip it off of him. They finish by both agreeing that
they are alive with the words.
Symptoms of Ojai Syndrome reach their peak on the 19th day, as many are found walking
through the streets claiming to be following smoke. 400 people in the US and 300 people
in Britain are detained and treated by the foundation. A final episode of the same daytime
talk show is broadcast live, featuring the host alone on a dark set, as she proceeds
to conduct an interview with Dave Chappelle, despite the comedian not being present. 20
minutes in, the host is interrupted while speaking, by a dark gloved hand from behind,
pulling her backwards out of sight amidst muffled screams. Foundation agents arrive
shortly afterwards, finding an empty studio. By day 20 and on, less than 100 copies of
Star Signals are believed to be out in the public, and a number of celebrities offer
apologies for their erratic behavior. All personalities involved in televised incidents
claim to have no memory of the events, and those that suffered from Ojai Syndrome seem
to experience no long term effects. The foundation continues to monitor and handle any mention
of star signals and any previously undiscovered sufferers of the syndrome. Planning commences
to deal with the fifth church, designated Operation Stargazer.
The final piece of the documentation we're given is from the director of project Ophiuchus,
who explains why the project actually managed to work. He first says that the situation
was much worse than they realized, since this would've resulted in a massive chunk of the
population with reality warping capabilties working towards a singular goal, essentially
restructuring our reality. Secondly, they really messed up in England, as they thought
that they had more or less eradicated star signals from britain, but during a royal parade
on the 21st day, thousands of affected individuals shifted reality. According to him, for 45
minutes, London looked as if it had been dismembered and sewn back together. He says no one remembers
it, and the foundation possesses the only recording of the event. Third, he says that
the fifth church actually began covering up much of their work for them, as once they
realized that their goal of reshaping the world wasn't going to occur, they worked on
protecting their secrecy. This is what prevented most of the witnesses of the strange events
from actually remembering things, although the foundation's not sure how. He also mentions
that the cooperation of the FCC and Ofcom to allow them to kill broadcasts was very
helpful, but the favor that the foundation had to do them is beyond even his clearance.
Fourth, he says that there were some gaps in project ophiuchus, and additionally that
they ended up having to use another SCP to help with the project. He mentions having
to utilize project Lethe, a name you might recognize from SCP-3002, and that they're
still dealing with the consequences. Strictly speaking, the two project lethe's were not
written to be one and the same, but that doesn't mean they can't be. Finally he says that the
foundation was betrayed in England by fifthist members that had infiltrated foundation facilities.
He finishes by saying that he believes there to be more moles within the foundation, and
if there are any fifthists reading this, he asks if the phrase "A * A *" means anything.
This goes unexplained, but is possibly some sort of fifthist mental trigger that causes
an adverse reaction.
SCP-1425 is interesting for multiple reasons, such as the connection to the fifth church,
the details of such a large coverup by the foundation, the effects of a mind-controlling
cult capable of warping reality, and the similarities to organizations in our world. Aside from
the whole, reality warping, speaking in tongues, and mind control, scp-1425 isn't that implausible
of an scp. Like I said, most people are interested in improving themselves, and celebrity endorsements
and media attention can go a long way to popularizing a product. We'll take a closer look at the
Fifth Church in a future video, but scp-1425 provides a lot of groundwork for their introduction.