SOC-015

The Good Bear

SOC-015 engaging in antics.
Stats
Status	Bad
Researcher	starsystemerror

SOC-015 must be kept in an unmarked metal box, in a locked room on a research site that is at least two kilometers away from any children or areas that may contain children. Stupid Object researchers who have children are not permitted to work on SOC-015. Stupid Object researchers who have a history of visual hallucinations are strongly discouraged from working on SOC-015. Stupid Object researchers who had neglectful parents or an otherwise troubled relationship with parental figures are also strongly discouraged from working on SOC-015, but we know that’s kind of a hard ask in this day and age, so just be really, really careful.

SOC-015 is a teddy bear you can put in a box and leave alone. It’s kind of creepy looking, but it’s pretty normal and we’re not sure why we were told to keep it contained. In its inactive state, SOC-015 is a large, brown teddy bear. Its face consists of haphazardly glued on pieces of felt. When in this state, it is completely inanimate and may be contained easily by putting it in a box made of an inorganic material. When SOC-015 is left in a fabric, wood, or cardboard box for any length of time, it increases chances of entering an active state, and if it is place in a cardboard moving box labeled with a room or person’s name, SOC-015 always immediately enters an active state upon being removed from the box.

In its active state, SOC-015 is a six-foot-tall humanoid figure resembling a large human in a costume. It is covered completely in brown faux fur and filled with polyester stuffing, both identical to that of its inactive state. Its face is slightly more detailed than in its inactive state, but it has only limited movement, with only the mouth being able to slightly open and close.

SOC-015 can speak, and refers to itself as “Gooby,” frequently using this name as an exclamation when it is acknowledged. SOC-015 is convinced it is a “protector” of children and claims that it brings families together. SOC-015 will latch on to what it perceives as the most vulnerable person in its vicinity, prioritizing children and parents when possible, and declare itself there to “help” its target. SOC-015 is telepathically aware of the fears and worries of its target, as well as those of the target’s immediate family, and will attempt to reunite the target and their family by any means necessary. SOC-015 can and will breach containment to do this, and previous containment breaches (see Incident Report #G-2009) have resulted in damages worth over $6.5 million USD. SOC-015’s behavior is highly unpredictable and destructive, and it will engage in "antics" akin to slapstick comedy regardless of how funny those around it find these antics.

SOC-015’s attempts to repair the relationship of its target and the target’s family will always cause abnormal expressions of emotion by those involved, including those not within the immediate sphere of SOC-015’s influence. This may include amusement at SOC-015's behavior, admiration for SOC-015's target, or exaggerated, cartoonish versions of one's own normal personality traits. SOC-015’s telepathic abilities cause all persons nearby to exhibit childish behavior and attachment to SOC-015, inducing a feeling of trust and gratefulness to “Gooby” and guilt and shame at one’s own past. If the target of SOC-015 ignores or otherwise rejects its attempts to "help," SOC-015 will become agitated and verbally abuse its target, increasing feelings of guilt until the target relents. Though SOC-015 insists it is helping its target "move forward" and "become stronger," its behavior rewards emotional regression and dependence, particularly dependence on "Gooby."

Of note is SOC-015's effect on hallucinations and delusions. If the target of SOC-015 is a person who has experienced or is currently experiencing psychotic symptoms, SOC-015 appears to "feed" on these symptoms, simultaneously "healing" and encouraging them. SOC-015 is particularly drawn to those with visual hallucinations, and it will reinforce the existence of any kind of hallucinated vision its target may report experiencing. However, when SOC-015 is in its active state, any hallucinations will be "overridden" by the visual presence of SOC-015. This will be interpreted by the target as "protecting" them, but analysis of brain activity has shown that viewing the active state of SOC-015 produces the same brain activity as "viewing" a visual hallucination.

SOC-015 was initially recovered in the supply closet of a private Christian charter school in ███████, Canada, after reports of entire classes of children experiencing pseudoseizures and collapsing during the school year's first parent-teacher conferences. SOC-015 has been questioned on where it came from, and it never gives the same answer. Previously it was assumed that the events of Incident #G-2009 was the first existence of SOC-015, but with further study, the object has been found to exist in the past in a variety of forms, only settling on the "bear" after this incident and subsequent containment. The possibility that further containment breaches could cause SOC-015 to change appearance presents an extreme hazard, especially since this fucking thing keeps trying to get out. Keep it in the box, okay? Please. We can't have a new Gooby running around out there. This thing sucks so much.

SOC-015 in an aggressive state.

Consider it Bad.