Foreword: Following the discovery of the cavern in the district of ███████, TX, subdivision Z9-17 of MTF Zeta-9 ("Mole Rats") consisting of 8 operatives and 3 central operatives was sent to investigate. Radio contact between the operatives and Dr. H█████ C██████ at Site-66 was established.

Dr. C██████: Have we established contact?

CO-Z9-17-1: We can hear you, C██████. We're more worried about what the connection will be like inside.

Dr. C██████: The connection might dampen, but it should remain mostly stable and clear if all goes well. Is Z9-17 ready to proceed?

CO-Z9-17-1: Yes. All supplies have been accounted for, all members are physically and mentally prepared… we should be ready by now.

Dr. C██████: Very well. Proceed.

(Z9-17 walks down the trail leading to the cavern. The opening to the cavern is found after 9 minutes.)

CO-Z9-17-1: We're here.

Dr. C██████: Is there anything notable about the exterior?

CO-Z9-17-3: They've got a wooden sign, it looks like. It's all in gibberish, letters are painted over other letters, the color of the paint is inconsistent… it's a mess. There doesn't seem to be a door, so hopefully we'll all be able to enter.

Dr. C██████: Noted. Thank you, Tapeworm.

(Z9-17 proceeds into the cavern. Audible crashing is heard over the radio.)

CO-Z9-17-2: Oh, shit!

Dr. C██████: What happened? Are you alright?

CO-Z9-17-1: We're fine. We all made it in, but the part of the cave's ceiling collapsed, over the entrance. Perhaps it functions somewhat like the other areas affected by 3571, but we all were able to enter. That doesn't usually happen, does it?

Dr. C██████: No. Usually only one can enter. Do you see anything of note?

CO-Z9-17-1: Hold on, we're booting up the night-vision goggles.

(12 seconds pass.)

CO-Z9-17-1: They're on. There's papers taped all over the walls of the cavern.

Dr. C██████: Rules?

CO-Z9-17-1: I guess so. They're in gibberish just like the sign.

Dr. C██████: Anything else?

CO-Z9-17-1: No.

Dr. C██████: Proceed.

(Z9-17 continues for 4 minutes before stopping.)

CO-Z9-17-3: We've got a problem, C██████. There's a giant gap, must be at least a football field's length. I can see that there is more to the cavern beyond the gap, but I have no clue-

(Audible squirming is heard over the radio. Various operatives react with disgust and panic.)

CO-Z9-17-2: There's worms everywhere! There's just *inaudible* damn, what are they *inaudible*

Dr. C██████: Calm down, Hookworm! What are the worms doing?

(The squirming becomes gradually dies down after 47 seconds. CO-Z9-17-2 is heard breathing heavily.)

CO-Z9-17-1: We're fine, C██████. Some of us are just a little bit shook. The worms formed a wide cord across the gap, like a bridge. I think we can cross it, but I don't know how stable it's going to be. We're going to send O-Z9-17-7 to see if it's stable.

(2 minutes pass.)

CO-Z9-17-1: He made it. We're moving across.

(An additional 2 minutes passes.)

CO-Z9-17-1: That wasn't so bad, was it Hookworm?

CO-Z9-17-2: Speak for yourself, fucker.

CO-Z9-17-1: C██████, why did you assign the guy who's scared of worms to be one of the central operatives in this expedition?

Dr. C██████: We were not informed, Flatworm. Remain on task. We don't need this kind of drama during this kind of mission.

CO-Z9-17-1: Sorry. I was just wondering.



CO-Z9-17-3: We found another open room, doc.

CO-Z9-17-2: It's a fucking mess in here.

Dr. C██████: Describe the room, please.

CO-Z9-17-2 There's a lot of clutter. Mostly scrap metal, cardboard, stone… it looks like it might have been part of one of the obstacle courses, but I'm not sure.

CO-Z9-17-1: That would make sense. The sign was painted over possibly hundreds of times and the cave wall near the entrance had hundreds of rule papers. So what if this course was destroyed and rebuilt by 3571 over and over?

CO-Z9-17-3: Could be, although that would go against previously observed behavior in SCP-3571, wouldn't it?

Dr. C██████: We'll try to determine that later. For now, we're trying to determine where SCP-3571 came from. Proceed.

CO-Z9-17-2: How are we supposed to? There's so much shit in the way. We're stuck.

CO-Z9-17-1: I think we can climb over. It might take some time, but if we go over that pile, we might be able to get past this mess.

CO-Z9-17-3: It's worth a shot.

(Z9-17 proceeds over the pile. A choking sound is heard in the distance.)

CO-Z9-17-2: What is that?

CO-Z9-17-1: It's not any of us.

(The choking becomes closer and more audible.)

CO-Z9-17-3: It's coming up behind us. Move.

CO-Z9-17-2: What the fuck are those things?

Dr. C██████: Remain calm and describe the entities.

(The choking becomes more audible.)

CO-Z9-17-3: They're moving too fast!

Dr. C██████: Respond, Z9-17!

CO-Z9-17-1: Open fire!

(Gunshots, loud screams, and several other noises are heard for about 7 minutes. During this time, Dr. C██████ repeatedly attempts to get a response from any of the central operatives of Z9-17, to no avail.)

(Gunfire continues. Several snapping and tearing noises are heard.)

CO-Z9-17-1: Retreat!

(Gunfire dies down, and clattering is heard over the radio.)

Dr. C██████: Come in, Z9-17! Is anybody there?

CO-Z9-17-2: I'm here. We split up, a few of us made it over the pile. At least four operatives are down, but I think Flatworm and Tapeworm are alright.

Dr. C██████: I'm unable to establish radio contact with them. Where are you now, Hookworm?

CO-Z9-17-2: I'm down another path. There's nobody around, and I don't hear the others. Thank fucking god I got away from those things.

Dr. C██████: What are "those things"? Could you describe the entities for me?

CO-Z9-17-2: They looked like people. Dead people. There were worms popping in and out of holes burrowed in their flesh, half of them didn't have any skin, and a few were just completely fucked up beyond all recognition. They had too many eyes, or they had several extra pairs of long arms, at least one looked like a big worm made out of somebody's body… bullets didn't kill them, probably because the worms didn't die.

Dr. C██████: Hold on, Hookworm. I've reestablished connection with Tapeworm. Come in, Tapeworm.

CO-Z9-17-3: I'm here, C██████.

Dr. C██████: Where are you now?

CO-Z9-17-3: I'm at a dead end. Flatworm's down, and the rest of the operatives scattered. I'm going to have to backtrack.

Dr. C██████: Is Flatworm injured, or dead?

CO-Z9-17-3: Dead. Worms are already inside of him. I'm not going to stick around and see what's going to happen to him.

Dr. C██████: Hookworm, see if you can reach Tapeworm. You two should probably find a way to find each other.

CO-Z9-17-2: I can hear Tapeworm. Tapeworm, I went down the central path after the heap. If you can find your way back, I'll be waiting for you.

CO-Z9-17-3: Alright. I think that I'll be able to catch up with you.

CO-Z9-17-2: I'll wait for you to find the path before I go further down.

(Silence over the radios for about 4 minutes.)

CO-Z9-17-3: My arm is hurting. I'm going to stop to look at it.

CO-Z9-17-2: Do that later, I don't have all day! Another one of those damn things could be around any corner!

CO-Z9-17-3: Then go down the path yourself.

CO-Z9-17-2: Fine. I just hope that we'll be able to get the fuck out of here.

(Silence for 2 minutes.)

CO-Z9-17-2: There's another opening up ahead.

Dr. C██████: Proceed.

CO-Z9-17-2: Doc, I don't think I-

CO-Z9-17-3: (breathing heavily) There's worms in my arm.

CO-Z9-17-2: What?

CO-Z9-17-3: There's just so many, they must have gotten in through the open wound, oh god, what do I do?

CO-Z9-17-2: How? How would they have gotten in? You had your suit on, right?

Dr. C██████: Tapeworm, do you have any equipment to remove them?

CO-Z9-17-3: I could amputate the arm, but I don't know if they're already in the rest of my body, I don't know what to do, I just don't know…

Dr. C██████: Remain calm, Tapeworm. Try to amputate it. It won't change anything if they're already in the rest of the body, but if they're only in the arm, it could stop the spread.

CO-Z9-17-2: He's right, it's worth a shot. What other option is there?

(Several minutes of silence.)

Dr. C██████: Tapeworm, are you there?

(No response.)

Dr. C██████: Hookworm?

CO-Z9-17-2: I'm here.

Dr. C██████: Tapeworm isn't responding. Are you still outside of the opening?

CO-Z9-17-2: Yeah. Proceed?

Dr. C██████: Proceed.

CO-Z9-17-2: There's something big in here. It's big and it's moving.

Dr. C██████: Are you able to identify it?

CO-Z9-17-2: Is that a heart? It looks like like a huge heart, it's made of worms. It's beating. Every time it beats, more and more smaller worms come out. I can see holes in the walls, and there's huge pink things holding up the cave by the looks of it.

(1 minute of silence. CO-Z9-17-2 screams loudly.)

Dr. C██████: What is it?

CO-Z9-17-2: Worms are filling the room! They're piling on higher, they're up to my waist!

Dr. C██████: Are you able to leave?

CO-Z9-17-2: They're too high up. They're pushing me towards the damn thing. It's no use. I'm finished.

(Radio feed to CO-Z9-17-2 cuts off. 15 minutes pass.)

Dr. C██████: (Away from the receiver) Nobody's responding. Hookworm's radio died and Tapeworm won't come in. Close the feed.

CO-Z9-17-3: Isn't it wonderful?

Dr. C██████: Tapeworm? Why haven't you been responding?

CO-Z9-17-3: Shh. Quiet, he's building the world for you, C██████. Listen. Listen.

Dr. C██████: You're not making any sense. Are you injured?

CO-Z9-17-3: He does it for you. All of you. It's great, it's wonderful, the things here that do so much for us. He holds up the things we walk, and yet you all still reject it with your decadent bodies. He does what he must, and he must bring us back.

(Radio feed cuts off.)

Dr. C██████: Hello, hello? Come in, Tapeworm!

(No response.)

Dr. C██████: Close the feed.