Item#: SAP-100, Swarms of Nymphs Innumerable
DANGER Level: BLACK
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| Supplemental depiction of SAP-100's exotic biological structure. Note that the left portion of the model represents the biological component unable to be perceived from baseline reality. |
Description: SAP-100 refers to a classification of entities typically misidentified as low-level reality warpers. Such beings have been deified by various metaversal1 communities aware of their existence. Often, SAP-100 instances are described in mythology or neo-mythology as originating in the "deep metaverse", meaning that they transcend metaversal laws and boundaries2.
Despite their vaguely humanoid physical form, SAP-100 instances are classified as Nest due to their substantial population. The species appears to have spread across the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies, with roughly 1 specimen being present for every 3000 yellow stars3. It is unknown how many instances may exist across other universes.
SAP-100 possess internal skeletons similar to those of humans, however, inspection of the skull yields no nasal cavity. The area typically occupied by eyes (in human skeletons) are instead replaced with blunt, cone-like protrusions from the skull. These serve as muscle attachment points for 2 prehensile appendages extending forward from the face, each measuring approximately 4 feet in length and 2 inches in diameter. The mouth and jawbone are slightly larger compared to those of humans; additionally, multiple rows of needle-like teeth are present. Individuals are commonly 6 to 8 feet tall, with a uniform skin color of white caused by a special pigment that emits a faint pale glow. The bodily layout is generally similar to that of humans, however, both male and female instances lack genitalia. Due to this, it is unknown how SAP-100 reproduce. From the back of the shoulders to around 1 foot above the tailbone, instances possess a large area of extruded muscle. This acts as the base from which 8 large tentacles extend. The first 2 tentacles are short, draped on the shoulders and resting on the front of the body. The next 4 hang down the sides of the body, being connected to each other and the first pair by a contractile membrane, often giving the illusion that the specimen is wearing a cloak that drags on the ground. The last 2 tentacles are the longest. While they are still connected to the others, they extend past the membrane and trail behind the specimen. The membrane, while able to be retracted into the body, is also capable of expanding. This creates a large surface area, allowing for proficient gliding and (when combined with PSI abilities) powered flight. The fingers of SAP-100 end in hardened, opaque claws. A line of smooth flesh lines the inside of the curve. This may be extended, forming a small pseudopod at the end of each finger.
In addition to their physical prowess and high intelligence, SAP-100 individuals possess an anomalous component in each of their muscle cells, referred to as the cosmoplast organelle. This essentially acts as a small portal to a "pocket universe", in which more of the cell may be housed. Essentially, this allows SAP-100 to manipulate their size and volume by transferring cytoplasm4 into or out of the microscopic portal. This "shifting" of biological mass from the pocket universe into the universe the entity is currently occupying will appear to the local observer that the SAP-100 specimen suddenly gains mass and becomes much larger in size. This may also occur unevenly in areas of the body, "growing" only some parts and changing the size ratio of the organism's appendages. Likewise, the body or its parts may "shrink" whenever cytoplasm is moved from the larger universe into the pocket universe. These actions have been termed transuniversal bio-inflation and transuniversal bio-deflation, respectively. It should also be noted that each cell does not possess its own pocket universe, rather, the pocket universe contains all the cells with cosmoplasts, or at least the sections of them that are "retracted" into the pocket universe. These cells are most likely connected in the pocket universe as well, forming a multicellular ingot of muscle tissue that is only able to be altered by the flow of cellular mass into or out of the cosmoplasts5.
From this mass of flesh housed in the pocket universe extends an appendage that can only be partially perceived by the observer in the local universe. The majority of this appendage cannot be measured in length due to its extra-universal nature and the fact that its constituent cells lack cosmoplasts. At the end of the tentacle-like limb is a presumably bulb-like organ. This organ contains an ellipsoid, disc-like conglomeration of special PSI-capable cells. These cells are capable of bioluminescence6 in various colors, but also contain comsoplasts. While this disc and the humanoid component of the body appear physically separated to the observable body located in the local universe, they both have cosmoplasts, allowing them to be still be directly connected in the pocket universe. This disc, referred to as the halo, is capable not only of extremely potent PSI abilities (specifically telepathy and true psychokinesis) and glowing in a variety of hues and strengths, but can also emit anomalously powerful bioluminescence in the form of electromagnetic (EM) radiation. This primarily includes the emission of infrared (thermal) radiation in concentrations high enough to start fires and turn sand into glass. The halo has, in some specimens, been observed harvesting electrical energy, absorbing electrical arcs from thunderstorms or out of powerplants. It is unknown whether this is due to the scarcity of Repository-encountered individuals, or if only particularly powerful instances possess this ability.
Aftermath Protocols: In the event that an SAP-100 specimen makes contact with any of the world's militaries and hostilities arise, the Repository is to enact Operation Golden Crown. During this procedure, all human knowledge is to be evacuated to [REDACTED] and as many human consciousnesses as possible are to be copied onto PSI-capable biological storage units. The bio-computers containing the remnants of humanity who were successfully harvested, whether in full or in part, are then to be loaded onto spaceships and ejected from Earth to [REDACTED]. Because spaceships possessing the necessary speed and advancement have not been invented as of 1967, the Respository is to constantly salvage, research, and reverse-engineer any extraterrestrial spacecraft for this specific purpose. Such materials will be kept at Site-14. A portion of these craft are to be created in the event that humanity must flee its planet, while others are to be kept in facilities until science advances to a point where more can be understood about their internal systems.
Discovery: SAP-100 presumably predate humanity, and if extraterrestrial sources are to be trusted, many other civilizations in our galaxy. Evidence of their existence may be found in thousands of legends across many world cultures; many of these display inconsistent descriptions, most likely due to people from different regions interpreting their variable size in different ways.
Addendum 1: An excerpt from a lecture by Dr. Fredrick (circa 1976) regarding the metaverse:
Most people like to imagine parallel universes as some sort of alternate timeline. Yes, historical events change inside another "copy" universe, but universes can still interact with each other. Just as one would visit another planet, so too could one visit another universe. But what about meeting their alternate self? If history is rewritten when you enter a new universe, how can another version of you exist? How is this defined?
The concept of the metaverse was first proposed (by modern civilization) in the 1820s. Grant's metaversal laws are as follows:
- Each universe, if derived from a populated universe, must contain an equivalent to every individual present.
- These counterparts, known as doppelgangers, must be possess a similar psychological, physical, or otherwise notable commonality with their original.
- An individual must possess some means of interacting with their immediate doppelgangers.
The third law refers to the universes which contain the "closest" copy of the individual. This does not necessarily mean the most similar variants of that individual, instead, metaversal proximity is based upon which universe gave rise to which. The "progenitor" universe from which the new universe was copied is always considered nearby the instance being studied. So too are any "offspring" universes, being copies of a copy. Note that this is only true in a metaversal context; this refers to the similarity of any metaversal offshoots that define the existence of doppelgangers or derived versions of an individual. This then raises the question: is there a common ancestral universe from which all universes originate?
The answer is not necessarily. The metaverse is not necessarily bound by the same temporal laws that operate within parallel universes, thus, a "grandfather" universe could actually be the progeny of its own "grandson" universe. Note that these relations can become increasingly complex due to the paracausal nature of such an example.
Many people also think that walls between universes are like a chain-link fence. You can "break" into another universe, or you can "talk" to a person residing in a different universe, typically through PSI abilities. If this were the case, then the metaverse would be akin to a string that passes through the fence and binds different doppelgangers together. But this is a flawed model, because not all species exist within the metaverse. A being that resides in the "deep" metaverse has no doppelgangers at all, and is not limited by Grant's Three Laws of the Metaverse. These species are actually extra-metaversal, meaning that they are not copies of an individual. One way to imagine this that each universe is an island. The metaverse is like a web of bridges, allowing the travel of variants as new islands are created and bridged. A being not bound by metaversal laws would not belong to any given island and would be completely unique. If doppelgangers each have their own island, connected by bridges, extra-metaversal entities are creatures lurking in the waters below.
Addendum 2: It is hypothesized that SAP-100 evolved from "crawlspace" dwelling entities that colonized universes originally devoid of any life. These ancestral species would have presumably used a primitive substance to open portals into new universes. Using a fleshy, bulb-like limb (similar to the lure of a deep-sea anglerfish), they would emit light and flash colors to coax unsuspecting prey items into drawing near. Then, using a dexterous hand-like appendage, they would quickly capture the prey item and consume it, channeling the nutrients through the substance-based portals and back to the main body. Over time, the species became increasingly intelligent, learning complex behavior until sophonce7 was reached. The portal-generating liquid was encapsulated into small subcellular packages, leading to the evolution of the comsoplast. The complex limb for catching prey had, at this point in time, adapted into a humanoid structure in form and function8. The lure flattened into a disk, and the species became less aggressive, but still retained some traits indicating a past predatory lifestyle, such as sharp teeth, clawed hands, and strangling tentacles. These creatures became the entities now known as SAP-100.
