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⚠️ Content Warnings ⤴
Info
Content Warning: Mentions of suicide. Encouragement of suicide.
Thank you to Sariastuff, who gave me a lot of critique back when I first joined the wiki in 2023. Fun fact, this was going to be my 2nd page for the wiki, but I pushed it off for a long time haha.
Also Spectre48, special thanks to your for letting me yap in your ear about this and for sharing potential ways this works with other pages on the wikidot. Some of the background information may never appear, but it'll be there in our hearts. Also thanks for having such an emotionally unstable twink that I can shake like a soda can and lob him like a grenade to cause tension in the page. <3
- Contagion Hazard.
- Reality Hazard.
- Cessation of Existence.
This place, if it is one, is the M.E.G.'s folly.
Bases, Outposts and Communities
Due to the nature of this level, there are no bases, outposts, or communities that can be interacted with safely. Do not attempt to contact wanderers who have been inside this level.
Entrances And Exits
The doors are the only way to enter this place. Do not unlock them. Do not open them.
If you find a door, contact the M.E.G. hotline.
Known Locations of Doors
- Level 2
- Level 4
- Level 11
- Level 38
- Level 51
- Level 99
- Level 117
- Level 162
- Level 196
- Level 337
- Level 444
- Level 574
- Level 640
- Level 789
- Level 995
Description
The human mind interprets the place beyond the doors as a multicolored fractal1 tumor. This tumor grows beyond the doors, absorbing whatever it touches into itself. As the M.E.G. can best understand it, the place beyond the door is a virus that affects what we view as reality, now designated as "The Virus."
An image of the Virus sent through instant messaging. The photographer has been lost.
There is no way to inoculate against the Virus. It tears at the very being of what makes humans able to interact with the world around them. All matter that touches this Virus changes, further spreading the tumor across the Backrooms.
Infected matter bends reality and collapses the environment. The previously normal matter becomes contagious on contact. Total infection seemingly depends on size and complexity of the infected surroundings, though there is no known consistent means to measure how long it will take for matter from the Virus to fully replace normal matter. Generally, humans succumb within the hour.
Any level that has evidence of this tumor should be considered lost.
The door containing the Virus is the only thing resistant to the Virus's effect. As a result, keeping the door shut is the only effective means to contain the spread of the Virus. It is not known how the door completely contains the Virus — nor does it matter so long as the door is intact and locked at all times.
Whatever happens to one door happens to all the doors. Signs affixed to one door will appear on all doors. While one door to the Virus is locked, all subsequent doors are locked. If one door to the Virus is open, all doors are open.
If a door to the Virus is open, it will bleed into another level and turn it into the Virus. When that happens, all inhabitants become part of the Virus.
If anything comes into contact with the Virus, follow the quarantine procedures below.
Quarantine Procedure
If you see a glowing fractal overtaking a level, object or creature, it is already too late for you. As long as you have your mind, follow these steps as quickly as possible to help contain the Virus:
- Terminate or incapacitate nearby, non-sentient moving creatures to the best of your ability.
- Report the infection to available M.E.G. officials. If this is not possible, search for other contactable authority figures or communication devices and proceed from there.
- If you are in a group, ensure that everybody understands the situation. Do not attempt to noclip. In the case where a level is unstable and risks unwilling noclipping, self-terminate. If companions are uncooperative in such a scenario, it is ethical to terminate them.
- Make peace with your end to the best of your ability.
Discovery and Containment
The Virus was discovered on the original Level 202 when a wanderer reported a new door that was free-standing and locked.
Almost immediately after, more reports of other similar free-standing doors were reported on the original Level 15, 61, 108, and 1563. M.E.G. researchers attempted to open the door, but no known method of lockpicking opened the door.
Eventually, the research team came into possession of a Level Key made of an unknown material, though it was similar to Abyssal Ooze in composition. Through a combination of harmonic resonance and pseudo-magnetism, it was determined that this key connected to the Virus's door.
What happened next is the biggest tragedy in the M.E.G.'s history.
When the researchers unlocked one door, they unknowingly unlocked all doors. This sealed their fate and the fates of untold numbers of entities and wanderers as they opened the door on Level 20 and consequently, every door that led to the Virus.
As level after level succumbed to the infection, more and more doors spread across the Backrooms. Some levels succumbed faster than others, and some levels seemed more resistant than others4.
It is possible that the entirety of the Backrooms would have succumbed had M.E.G. operative Erik Corbel not sacrificed himself to re-lock the door from inside the Virus.
The M.E.G. later affixed a warning sign to the Virus's door to keep wanderers out. Not soon after, a multi-group summit was called to ensure all known doors had a 24-hour post to prevent them from opening again.
The Summit Agreement
Held in the Hub as a neutral zone, this meeting was called by M.E.G. Operative Erik Corbel and gathered representatives from many human groups as well as sentient non-human ones. While not all groups were capable of sending representatives, the summit made good-faith efforts to disseminate the below transcript and following agreement.
Groups and entities of note were:
- Arthur Mellon, representing the Backrooms Nonaligned Trade Group
- The Master Administrator, along with Marshal Sentinel Eniki and Marshal Sentinel Nabu, representing The Eternal Repository
- Highmarshall Arcadia, representing The Eyes of Argos and Argos
- Sin Hunter Minos, representing The Eyes of Argos and Argos
- Father Bluebird, representing the Followers of Jerry
- Doctor G. McGilligan, representing the Interdimensional Museum of Backrooms History
- Archivist Gani, representing The Kalag Institute
- Atalanta, representing the The Lost and English branch of the Speednoclippers
- Leo Castellos, representing The Lost
- Chief Kozioł, representing the Unbound Explorers Coalition
- Mary "Ghost Rider" Fields, representing the Reeve Clan
- Dr. Roke Atdauna, representing Slam City
- Melody Parker, representing Camp Amber
- Various archivists, representing the General Public Database
- Nyx, representing the Ariane Circle
- The Gentleman, representing himself and Level 5
- The Red Knight, representing himself
- The Hermit, representing himself
- Herne the Huntmaster, representing The Wild Hunt and The Grove
- Tom Von Haderach, representing Lady Blanche and the Cygnus Order
- Spec, representing himself and "other free agents who deserve a part of whatever the fuck is going on"
The Summit Transcript
Hostility simmers in the quasi-circle created by the representatives. Every slight shift of a limb, every uncomfortable clearing of the throat, has every representative looking at the doors of the Hub or clenching the weapons they brought.
Erik Corbel enters from a level door, causing the group to flinch collectively, his hand held in a relaxed wave.
Erik: Glad to see y'all didn't kill each other before I got here.
Some representatives laugh nervously. Others are silent.
Sin Hunter Minos: It would be foolish of anyone to break the truce before the Eyes of Argos.
Erik claps a hand on the Sin Hunter's shoulder.
Erik: Thanks. Ol' Jeanie boy owes me a whiskey, so come over to my place and I'll pour you a glass for keeping the peace.
After a pause, Sin Hunter Minos dips their head toward Erik. Gani gives Corbel a hard and wary stare.
Gani: You should be dead, Corbel.
Erik: -waves his hand dismissively- You and I both know death can't stop me.
Gani: But even you have limits. How are you here?
Erik : Oh, just called in some favors. You know how it is.
Gani continues to stare at Erik. Arthur Mellon rolls his eyes and steps forward.
Arthur: So, the M.E.G. sent their poster boy to gather us to join. Thought you meggies would be ashamed to show your faces after what you did.
Erik: -laughs good-naturedly and puts his hands in his pockets- That's where you're wrong, Arthur. There was a mistake. So, we fixed it. Now, the kiddos back on Level 1 are taking it pretty hard, which is why I'm here, but don't you think we're not gonna make sure that door stays shut, ya hear?
Erik's eyes sweep the circle, locking eyes with everyone there. His relaxed demeanor hardens.
Erik: And that's why I called y'all here. The M.E.G. need your help.
Chief Kozioł: And why would any of us help?
Spec: -mostly muttered- Of course you'd say that.
Chief Kozioł: What was that, boy?
Spec: -straightens up and stares down Chief Kozioł- I said of course the selfish asswipes who create bioweapons for fun can't see the bigger picture. You fart in a room thinking it's perfume and don't understand why no one wants to stand next to the guy who smells like shit.
Spec makes a obscene gesture toward Chief Kozioł, whose hand then goes to the Organigun on his hip. The Red Knight moves his hand to his sword. Sin Hunter Minos begins to manifest chains around his hand. Herne grips his spear and bares his teeth. The other representatives tense, hands going to their weapons, others taking steps out of the circle toward the exits.
Erik: Hey. Hey. Hey!
Hands up, Erik steps between Chief Kozioł and Spec, and gives Spec a withering glare. He turns his attention to Chief Kozioł, and slowly puts his hand over Chief Kozioł's.
Erik: -softly- Easy now, Chief. Do you really want to make enemies of those three over there? -jerks his head toward The Red Knight, the Eyes of Argos, and the Huntmaster-
Chief Kozioł's eyes flick between Erik and the three. There is a moment where he searches Erik's face for signs of deception. But slowly, he removes his hand from his gun. Erik gives him a nod, and begins to slowly walk within the circle.
Erik: Now, Kozioł had a fair question there. Why would any of you help? Not everyone here is fond of us meggies, and some of y'all hate each other so much, you're willing to go to war against each other! So why should I call you for help, or expect y'all to show up at all?
He makes one rotation around the circle.
Erik: And yet… here y'all are, some even without invitations. -he stops in front of Spec- Now why don't you suppose that is, Spec?
Spec shifts uncomfortably as all the attention is suddenly focused on him. He clears his throat, and crosses his arms.
Spec: Any idiot can see that the Virus affects us all. -holds up his pointer finger- All it would take is one moronic nutjob to open the door and we all get fucked in the ass again.
Most of the human representatives chuckle nervously. Others nod in agreement. Erik chuckles and nods his head at Spec and continues to walk the circle.
Erik: Bit more coarse than I'd have put it, but he's right. Whatever is behind that door, we can't stop. I did it once—
The Master Administrator: So what's stopping you from doing it again? -jerks their head toward Gani- We know you're immortal, and one who can survive the conversion. Why can't we leave this… -gestures noncommittally with their hand- summit and have you deal with the problem?
Erik winces and turns to face the Master Administrator, rubbing the back of his head.
Erik: Now, that's a little hard to explain. But let's just say, those favors didn't come easy. They were a once-in-a-lifetime ask, and well, while I was able to shut the door, that wasn't me per se. -taps the side of his head- I gotta focus on keeping me who shut the door behind a door of my own. Doing it again tilts the scales outta our favor, if you catch my drift.
The Master Administrator tilts their head in consideration before nodding.
Erik: Alrighty then, any of the rest of y'all have questions? … No? Good. Now, where was I?
Tom Von Haderach : You were being Nick Fury to our Avengers.
Spec: I understood that reference.
Melody Parker rolls her eyes and mutters something under her breath. Tom and Spec share a quiet low-five as Erik sighs, walking the circle again.
Erik: To make sure that the door never opens again, we can't rely on just one person, one group, to keep it closed. -waving his hand dismissively- Any machinations any of us have don't mean diddly squat if there ain't a Backrooms to machinate in. It affects all of us, so we all should have a hand in safeguarding it. Now I'll leave that up to y'all how that should look for each of ya. But know the M.E.G.'ll do our part by having a guard near the doors in our territory.
He pauses, looking toward Chief Kozioł and Arthur Mellon with his hands in his pockets.
Erik: And 'course, there's the understandin' that weaponizing it would be… unwise, considering most of us will probably hunt down anyone trying to open the door. Outta self-preservation of course.
He smiles and pulls a piece of paper, a pen, and an ink pad from his pockets.
Erik: Now anyone who disagrees with these terms is welcome to leave. Those who are inclined to ensure our somewhat mutual survival, come sell your soul away.