SCP: Find Us Alive - 68: Defying Orders

Episode Date: May 1, 2026

We may have allies elsewhere. But what are we doing, really?This episode was written and produced by Anna Maguire and features the voices of Logan Laidlaw (Harley), Jackson McMurray (Lancaster), Tasch Ritter (Klein), Tabitha Bardall (Love), and Anna Maguire (Raddagher).CONTENT WARNINGS: mention of self-injuryOriginal music by Jackson McMurray.Sign up for our newsletter at hodgepodgeaudio.com for updates, info, art, and more.Join us on Patreon for exclusive behind-the-scenes content! Word of mouth is the best advertising, so be sure to share with your friends if you like the show! Patreon.com/hodgepodgeaudioTHIS EPISODE'S SPONSORS: the expie, Dragondono, Carole Nguyen Vo, Gimmy Creative Support, Kurly, TJ, meowmixmk, Kicker85This podcast and all content relating to the SCP Foundation are released under a Creative Commons Sharealike 3.0 license.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Greetings and hello, find us alive listeners. It's me, Anna, writer and director, and your DIY merch store vendor. We have a new store with free downloads of designs you can use to make your own merch. Check out Hodgepodge Flea Market on Etsy, where we will be posting more free stencils, printables, and patterns every quarter. I will be making a lot of original art for this store that is not going to be available anywhere else. so make sure you check it out, Hodgepodge Flea Market on Etsy. We also have some new patrons to thank. A big huge thanks to The Expe, Dragon Dono, Carol Nguyen Vo,

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That's patreon.com slash hodgepodge audio. Thank you so much and enjoy the episode. What the hell, Harley? I hope those of you who managed to miss the commotion of last night slept well. Please tune in to our intranet audio portal for an important announcement. I repeat, please tune into the internet audio portal for a very important announcement that I do not want to have to relay. I just wanted to know. Thank you.

Okay. And an especially good morning to those of you who managed to tune in this fast. We'll wait a few minutes for the rest of the staff to arrive. Harley, what the hell? Good morning, Lancaster. It's 5 a.m. If you can find the patience within yourself to listen to my broadcast like everyone else, information will be revealed to you.

Sure. Alright. Ooh. Likewise, the rest of you can stop sending me angry messages. sending me angry messages, I have been awake all night, so you're please if we're tired, and it's too early, it mean nothing to me. In other news, at roughly 3 a.m., Officer Radiger escaped the void, and made it to the outside. What? Through her escape, we have made a most exciting discovery. We have found tentative allies in the outpost employees, our former co-workers. Dr. Sanders, formerly a member of our esteemed

research department, did not comply with O-1's termination order. And instead, and Officer Radiger home with several vending machine snacks and a directive to tell the rest of us that we have not lost all sympathy from the outside. Not from her and not from the others outside Nevada. I know what you're thinking. But Dr. Harley. That's you, by the way. That's how you sound. Couldn't it be a trap?

Couldn't they be attempting to lure us out in order to establish a more efficient means of killing us all? Of course. But fear not, my fellow void denizens. Our means of exchanging goods requires only one of us to leave at any given time. Love, you'll need to monitor dump truck more closely. Not a problem. Easy, my perfect boy. And keep your peace on you.

Nobody who isn't carrying a weapon is allowed to touch him, you included. On the chance this is a trap, we're not sending anyone out there unarmed. Then we could send highway out with us. He could protect us. He probably ate whatever dash two. Who's got made from the missing plants. I thought about it, but I think it's too risky. He's a little too hard to control.

So then, if it's a trap, we're fucked no matter what? Not necessarily. We know it might be a trap, and they know that we know it might be a trap. The maximum we could lose is one person. That's... Too many, I know, let me finish. We only send one person out with the dump truck machine.

Harley? Yes. You think of a better title for the dump trick machine. I don't know. I think the dump truck machine is a good name. It's too long. Sand machine. Not specific enough.

Dash one machine? Also too long. Anyway, we send one person out. They establish the machine on the outside. We test it to see if we can control it remotely from inside. If we can, that means we can reliably move dump truck and one person in and out at will. And if not? If not, we use a schedule.

We come up with times, deliveries at the same time every day. We send someone out. If they don't come back, we assume the worst. If they tamper with the device, we assume the worst. If anything bad happens out there... We assume the worst. I don't want to lose someone else. Neither do I.

That's why we're only sending security personnel. With guns. They're prepared, and they know what they might be in for. Where do I sign up? Well, I'm sure Haldi would appreciate your enthusiasm. You're one of the two people that can control dump truck and highway. We need you in here. And Dumptruck won't take you out anymore anyway.

Do you suppose he knows it's dangerous? He knows everything. More likely he can read Love's Emotions or something. 6320 does exhibit a level of hive mind behavior. It wouldn't be out of the question. Do you want to leave? Because Radiger definitely did. Maybe.

I don't know. Good morning, former Foundation Site 107. I am pleased to announce to you that our first exchange of goods with the outside has gone off without a hitch. After approximately three hours of coaxing our Star-Dash-2 Dumbtruck, Agent Vargas successfully made it to the outside with our expertly crafted dump truck machine in tow. Dumb truck did return early, so Vargas was required to use Nidurious-1 to get back in with the new supplies. But fortunately for all of us, it seems that such injuries heal upon transit into the void. Minor scarring does seem to be a side effect, however. But the more important thing is that we

now have 50 pounds of beans and 50 pounds of rice to add to our pantry. More trials will continue to press the limits of what we can and cannot transport into the void, and more importantly, where such things will reappear when the reset occurs. Eh, which should be in a couple weeks' time. How's progress on getting him to go faster? Slow My son is perfect, but he's bad at following directions. Hmm, put a pin in that. I have something to show you. You seem weirdly peppy.

I'm reveling in our success. Isn't it a little early for that, with the earthquakes still happening on the outside and everything? One thing at a time. I don't know. I kind of feel like the earthquakes are the biggest thing, because that's why everyone's trying to kill us, and, you know, the world is getting destroyed.

Check this out. Is that an EpiPen? No. It looks like one. It's not an EpiPen. It kind of seems like a basic type of medicine. It's not a damn EpiPen. Watch.

Over the past few days, when we're not bringing in food or survival stuff, we've been bringing in supplies to build this. Oh. It's a light up EpiPen. We can't call it that. Okay, it's trademarked. What is it then? You see this? It looks like the nib of a pen.

It's a laser stencil. It burns a dash too into your skin that's only three millimeters in length. I thought we couldn't get them down that small. The shape has to have a level of precision that you can't replicate with particles or liquids under a certain size. After a point, even the edges of the sand grains start to distort the silhouette, and you lose the replication. Even drawings aren't that exact. But we can print one with a computer. Yeah, we can do whatever we want with lasers.

So it works? Yeah. Kind of. Oh, so it doesn't? Well, it does. Then what's the problem? Oh! Yeah, you probably shouldn't use that on a real person!

Yeah, it's kind of at straight-to-bone power levels right now. Did you feel that? Barely. I didn't think dash ones that small could even make a tremor. Yeah, I guess they can. Uh, what's that look for? I'm just thinking She's dead

They're both dead I've killed them They're not dead Where is she gone? I heard them drag her out Where did they Sit down Okay

All right Yes I'm calm I'm good I'm calm What was she saying Before she was dragged down She was warning us

No before that I'm just trying to get in contact Talking about the earthquakes So nothing we didn't already know It's not like she was disclosing the disseminating major secrets over the airwaves for the entire world to hear. Except the kill order. Yeah, except that...

Harley, they're not going to kill her for that. At worst, they're just going to wipe her memory. I don't want to be wiped out of her memory. Better than her being terminated. And what about Noah? They both talked a lot about how he likes to cause trouble. What if he's been... Harley, you're spiraling.

So are you. What? I'm perfectly calm. That doesn't mean you're not spiraling. Look at you. You've been sitting around doing nothing since we got here. Not true. I've been taking appointments.

scheduling appointments. Chapel told me you've hardly seen anyone. I went through it all too. Okay? I just need, I just need time. What about after the shift? You jumped right on all your morale stuff. Where's the morale now?

You've turned into a completely different person since we came back. I don't, I don't think we deserve it. Deserve what? Morale, I guess. I don't know. It's, it's, I think we missed our chance. we had so, so much momentum during the escape. It felt like we had the, it felt like the whole world had our backs.

And then we got out and, and... Nothing changed. Nothing changed. I mean, I guess I'm the idiot for thinking it was ever going to. We can change it. One step at a time. No, Harley, we can't. It's just a lie that we're telling ourselves so we don't feel bad that none of us,

that we didn't make a move when we had the chance. We wasted our opportunity to make it. kind of difference. We can make another opportunity. How? The foundation wants us dead. You don't think there are going to be repercussions for that after when we fix all this? If we fix all this?

What's your plan then? Sit on your hands being miserable because you deserve it? Maybe. Jesus. Klein was right. I'm not wallowing. No, that's what? No.

She said you had to leave because the foundation wouldn't change fast enough for you. Yeah? She was right then. I... I couldn't get myself to leave either. You could after this. The serpent's hand would happily take on someone like you. What's the problem with them?

I just... They're a little cut off, don't you think? They're not out of touch, if that's what you're... I don't mean out of touch. I mean, they don't talk to jailers, foundation staffers. Oh. Maybe if we all go... I see what you mean.

Don't sit in here and wallow, okay? I'm not... I'm not wallowing. I don't know what that means. For once, just do the kind of thing you would tell any of us to do. I don't know what to tell any of you to do anymore. I don't know either then. Find a way to atone for your supposed sins and move on. I don't think I can do anything to atone for all the people we sent into the void before all this.

Well, saving the rest of the world be enough? Maybe. Sure. Good, because we're going to be very busy for the foreseeable future. Site 107 and welcome back. Fantastic news from research. The dump truck machine, name pending, has been relocated to the outside. Our allies in the outpost have hidden it inside a storage crate in the blasted out cavern

that used to be the main containment chamber. We are currently trusting Dr. Sanders to prevent any hostile personnel from finding it or seeing any of our people on their ways out or in. A second dump truck machine title pending is on the way, but until then, our agent's most reliable return method has been self-injury. This is, of course, not ideal, but research and engineering have been developing an additional device for this purpose. In the meantime, agents medical would like to remind you that if you absolutely cannot use dump truck to get back inside, to please mark yourself as shallowly as possible to avoid the possibility of nerve damage. The rest of us who will not be traversing the bounds of reality

can look forward to new shipments of food and other supplies soon but be patient. The deliveries will be small. Good evening, Site 107. This is your evening edition of Things We Have Restocked with Dr. Harley. Tonight's topic? Clothing. I do hope you can all forgive the speed at which these deliveries take place. Our allies only have a small window of time to use the Mineshaft elevator. and moving large quantities at once is difficult. Tonight, we will have one large garbage bag of scrubs for the medical department.

Tomorrow, we will be trying for T-shirts. A few other important announcements, Site 107. If you see red duct tape on any object or container, please do not remove it. Containment and records are carefully tracking the volume of everything we bring in from the outside. The reset by our calculations will occur in just over two weeks. Research hypothesizes that new us, items will reappear in BH9 where they came in, so we are looking to ensure that we don't exceed the containment chambers available space.

Additionally, depending on what happens to us when the cycle turns over, we will need all hands on deck cleaning out BH9 and putting everything away. Let's all be thankful that all the random items we vandalized on the outside didn't come into the building with us, or our jobs would be several degrees of magnitude harder. Just think of it like digging out BC2, only without. the screaming coworkers. Good evening, Site 107. I would like to start off tonight's episode with an announcement from Dr. Chapel and the rest of psychology. Most of the rest of psychology.

This Friday, we will be throwing one large birthday party for everyone in the site to celebrate everyone's birthdays that we missed while trapped. Gifts are not required, naturally. But I'm sure your friends and coworkers would still appreciate a handwritten card or two, even if it disappears when we reset. If you would like to volunteer to help craft decorations, there is a sign-up sheet posted on the bulletin board in BH9.

Thank you to Dr. Chapel for pulling this together. You know what I would love, Site 107? A pair of socks. The ones I came in with have the makings of a hole in the big toe. But now, it's open considerably, allowing my bare toe to experience the inside of my shoe, which frankly I do not care for at all. If anyone has a pair of socks to spare, I would love one. I know that security is not taking requests for what we may bring in,

but I am simply speaking my mind. I'm not making a request. I'm only saying that I would be greatly appreciative of some kind so good bring me a new pair of socks, maybe a bottle of bourbon, if it isn't too much trouble. No. Please. I'm not letting you out there, Harley. You're too important.

And you have no fighting experience. Radiger's out there right now and she doesn't have any. She's only been out like three times. She's not even getting a delivery. She's just testing the second dump truck machine. I was in the military. Didn't you get shot like five minutes after being deployed? I have the spirit.

You're not going to be able to reach her from their equipment anyway. It's worth a try. So your plan is what? Sneak into the tent after dark and broadcast a site 64 and Overwatch command that Dr. Harley is still alive. and chilling outside the anomaly, ready to be shot full of holes and incinerate. I don't need to talk.

I just want to listen and see if she's there. It's too much of a risk. We don't even send people up the elevator. I need to know that she's okay. We'll see if one of the Allies can check, but don't hold your breath. Fine. Hey, you were supposed to wait for the dump truck machine

to bring you back. Emergency. Talk. Big earthquake on the Wasatch Front. What do we have on the Wasatch Front? Site 553 for insectoid containment. Multi-breach. Everyone in the outpost is being moved out to help.

How big of an earthquake? 7.2. Jesus Christ. The outpost will be empty tomorrow. It's an earthquake, not a vacation day. Try not to look too stoked about it. I'll make an announcement. Attention site 107.

Please report to the AB floor in 15 minutes for an important briefing. I repeat, please report to the AB floor in 15 minutes. A 7.2? That's what she said. What are we supposed to do? You are supposed to keep everybody sane, which I would note you have not. you have not been doing very actively.

I've just, I've had a lot... I'm Castor, I'm not trying to bite your head off or anything, but everybody is looking for answers on what to do, and the answer is always what you can. You're not research, you're not containment, your psychology. The fucking world is ending. Yeah, and we need scientists and engineers with clear heads. I feel like I need to do something more.

You already have something important to contribute. Focus on that. In order to volunteer for exterior duty, you must pass security's firearm safety and marksmanship screening. This should be doable for most of you as firearm instruction is standard in the basic training of nearly all foundation staff positions. Trigger discipline I am less worried about, but I know for a fact that some of you could not hit the broadside of a barn with a 22. Nevertheless, your enthusiasm is welcome. Starting tomorrow, we will be sending people out one at a time, as frequently as dump truck. will let us. The first party will verify that the outpost is indeed empty, as Sanders claimed it would be.

Subsequent supply runs will be focusing on bringing in electronic devices and associated tools. The completion of the laser pen should, hypothetically, allow us to return to the building from anywhere on the outside, without the need for self-injury. Our previous directive of secrecy is to be disregarded. We are stripping what's left of the building and the outside for parts. under the radar is no longer a priority so long as the structure is temporarily vacated. Our priority is to contribute whatever we can to the cessation of 6320 spread on the outside. Please do not mind the small tremors as research and engineering work on the device.

Although the tremors resulting from the creation of such small-1 instances may be small, they will be numerous. Be advised that we have everything under control. Have fun, don't die. bring back something good. Hey, can I ask a question? Shoot. What happened if the whole site got covered in them? Dash ones, I mean.

Nothing good. Come on. But it happened when we were on the outside. When we came back in, everything was covered in them. But the building was still, you know, it didn't look that bad. Dash ones carryover between resets, love. We don't know what it might have looked like at the end of last cycle. The dash twos were fine. The dash twos aren't human.

They don't even breathe as far as we know. Dump truck barely has a heat signature at all. I'm just asking questions, okay? I was just curious about what would happen. You wanted my help, right? I'm not a scientist. What kind of help am I supposed to give you? I was just asking what would happen

if there was no more space left. Like, does it always have to make dash ones? And what happens if it runs out of space? I don't know. It would have to go somewhere else. for more surface area. Harley, when did Cordell say the earthquakes started? The earthquakes, when did they start?

When did Cordell say? One was like a week or so before we made contact. And when did we finish inoculating everyone? When did we finish immunizing people to becoming threes? Thanks, Harley. Over and out. Oh my God, it is us, isn't it? Yep. I could kiss you right on the mouth right now.

I have this nut. Follow me. We have tests to run. What do you need me for? I need someone who doesn't overthink things. What? Stop calling me, stupid. I mean, you were stopping work on the laser pen?

Temporarily. It's basically finished anyway. We just have to test it from the outside and see how much we need to scale back the burn power. Testing your theory is going to cause an awful lot of tremors. Better tremors in here than catastrophic earthquakes out there. What's the plan? We can't just keep making dash ones.

Even small tremors are eventually going to damage our equipment. Medical has to recalibrate stuff every time there's a big one. Plus, we're eventually going to run out of sand. We don't need sand. We've been making dozens of tiny dash ones as we've been testing the laser pen. When? I haven't felt anything. They're small tremors. You haven't been close enough. So what do you need me to do?

Someone needs to get in touch with the outside. Two-way contact so we can tell if the quakes have stopped. We can read the local measurements that the outpost takes, but we need to know if they've stopped everywhere. In a minute. We just need to be sure that site 01 didn't keep anyone behind to watch the town. The outpost seems empty, but we should still be wary of traps. Because it's kind of an emergency.

Lead with that. What's going on? Lancaster stole the pen thing. He stole it? Yeah. One who saw him. Here. He took the laser pen into the anomaly. What does that mean he went into the anomaly?

From the outside. He went outside and touched the road. What? Shit. Come on. On our way. God damn it, Lancaster. He's not in here.

How fast can dump truck get us out? Us? If anyone is going out there, it isn't... I can't rush him. He'll get stressed. Like hell, I'm staying in here. How many people can he take out at once? She's got four feet.

Maybe if we had two dump... The fuck was he thinking. We'll get him out. There is no getting him out. We've never recovered anything from in there. There's no oxygen. From our best estimates, it's a vacuum. And that's assuming that the raw interior of 6320,

isn't something worse. She must have had a plan. How do you know that? He's been losing his mind since we got here. He wouldn't leave us that way. Link! Lancaster! It works.

Oh my God. The laser pit. It works. We already knew it worked, asshole. Is that a dead body? It's one of the D-Class. But all of ours who died were at different sites. One of our first ones, from testing before the shift.

one of the people we sent in to explore the rift. We can get them out. We can get all of them out. We can bury them properly. Jesus Christ, Lancaster. You can finally do something right. Episode 68 was written and produced by Anna McGuire. The voice of Harley is Logan Laidlaw. The voice of Klein is Tosh Ritter.

The voice of Lancaster is Jackson McMurray. The voice of Agent Love is Tabu Bardol. The voice of Radiger is Anna McGuire. Original music by Jackson McMurray. like our show and want to support us, sign up for our newsletter at hodgepodgeadio.com. This podcast, along with all content relating to the SCP Foundation, is released under a Creative Commons share-a-like 3.0 license. Thank you for listening.