SPC-XVX

General comments from Photosynthetic:

• While I could like the general idea — a creepy mummified fetus thing that could take orders in exchange for some unsettling or outright horrifying price — this one reads too much like a D&D magic item. It's too useful, and the containment procedures seem almost built around that fact. Seriously — this thing is an indestructible, inhuman, implacable, supernatural servant capable of walking through walls etc., and they're just locking it up and telling people they're not allowed to use it? I don't buy it.
• Always avoid grab-bag powers. If there isn't a good reason for it to have each and every one of its abilities, it shouldn't have them.
• You've got some really good photos here, but I think you've used too many of them: the article is getting cluttered. I would cut it back to that first picture, of the inactive one, plus the "alleged photograph of active SCP-XVX" at the very bottom. Those two are the most effective by far. Brr, creepy. O_o
• You imply repeatedly — saying it can "die", calling it an "organism" — that this thing is alive, but don't really follow up on it or treat it as a living threat. It's a bit confusing.

Inactive SCP-XVX-1 during the purchase from Mr. █████

Item #: SCP-XVX

Object Class: Safe

Special Containment Procedures: When not in use, instances of SCP-XVX are to be contained in airtight containers packed with silica gel and stored inside a locked safe. Access to this safe requires Level 2 security clearance or higher, plus written approval from Level 3 personnel. Use of SCP-XVX is strictly limited to research purposes, as it poses significant danger to users. Any misuse is grounds for severe reprimands and possible reassignment.

SCP-XVX is not to be exposed to direct sunlight under any circumstances. Personnel must handle any instance of SCP-XVX with utmost care when it is removed from its container. Only D-class personnel may handle SCP-XVX directly during testing. Any command made during the experiment, verbal or otherwise, is to be strictly monitored.¹

Description: In its 'inactive' stage, an instance of SCP-XVX appears as a mummified fetus-like object² measuring 20 to 25 cm long. It is inanimate, and therefore harmless, when inactive. It is rather fragile in this state: exposure to direct sunlight causes it visible damage. While SCP-XVX instances can recover from damage over time, exposure to sunlight for extended period of time will cause them to 'die'.³

"Dead" SPC-XVX-2

An instance of SCP-XVX must be immersed in water for an hour for it to enter ‘active’ state. When active, SCP-XVX's size increases by 300% and it becomes fully autonomous. It also displays problem-solving capability indicative of high cognitive function. SCP-XVX will form a ‘bond’ with the first person it sees upon emerging from the water and will obey any command the person issues.

An active SCP-XVX displays a wide variety of abilities, which it uses to carry out the bonded person's orders. These include, but are not limited to, phasing through solid objects, invisibility, short-range teleportation, size manipulation, shape-shifting, and wall-walking.⁴ As instances of SCP-XVX do not exhibit any kind of direct offensive ability, they are more suited for tasks that require stealth, such as theft or sabotage.⁵

When SCP-XVX successfully fulfills an order from a bonded human, it will ask for a prize. Subject will usually ask for [REDACTED] or [REDACTED]. It is known that SCP-XVX can cause [DATA EXPUNGED].⁶ Once it receives the requested item, the subject will return to its inactive state.

Although it possesses only the speed and strength of a 3-year old human child, an activated SCP-XVX is indestructible. Active SCP-XVX have shown the ability to reattach or regrow broken body parts. The only way to disable an active instance of SCP-XVX is to expose it to a strong heat source, which will dehydrate and deactivate it.

SCP-XVX-3 during purchase from Mr. █████

Addendum: [SCP-XVXa]
Currently, the SCP Foundation has three instances of SCP-XVX in containment, designated SCP-XVX-1 to SCP-XVX-3. As of ██/██/████, only SCP-XVX-1 and SCP-XVX-3 remain in Foundation custody. It is thought that many instances of SCP-XVX remain unaccounted for, as they are relatively easy to produce. The procedure to do so involves [DATA EXPUNGED].⁷

Alleged photograph of 'active' SCP-XVX prior to containment

Footnotes

1. Shouldn't there be some measures to be taken to contain it when it's activated for testing? The Foundation would at least order those testing it not to give it any dangerous commands, or specify that testing must be carried out in such-and-such a type of reinforced safe room, or whatever.

2. Why not just say "fetus"?

3. What does that mean, exactly? The photo gives me some idea, but really it doesn't make sense to say that something dies if it was never actually alive. You might say instead that extended sun exposure "will cause them to deteriorate such that they become permanently inactive".

4. Okay, this is a problem. A grab-bag of random powers is a surefire way to write a bad SCP. Why on earth can it do all those random things? What's the point of that?

5. Er, I think being potentially able to shapeshift into a toothy ten-foot monster counts as "offensive ability"…

6. There's not nearly enough detail here. You need to give us something, or it's not scary at all. The point of expungement is to suggest something awful without giving it all away, but you do need to suggest something.

7. Again, not enough detail to be scary.