Impersonator

MESSAGE FROM OPERATIVE CARTER HEISENBERG TO SUPERVISOR OLIVIA FREDERICK: Can I have approval to delete this page? It appears to be just a bunch of nonsense, copying off the Skin Stealer entry. None of the information listed here is verifiable, and all this "researcher" bullshit is made-up. There is no way to prove that the human-like "Impersonator" you see in front of you isn't just a regular human or a Skin-Stealer. In the meantime, I'll be reminding individuals to stop spreading false information on the database. I hope you'll follow up with a deletion notice shortly.

MESSAGE FROM SUPERVISOR OLIVIA FREDERICK TO OPERATIVE CARTER HEISENBERG: Hello, Heisenberg, I have received your request to delete this page and will issue a deletion notice down below. Thank you for cleaning up the database! Our mission is to ensure that every wanderer is informed with truthful information.

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Number: 129
Habitat: Various Levels

An Impersonator in the middle of shapeshifting.

Description

Impersonators, as they are commonly referred to, are highly intelligent beings able to copy the behavior and appearance of a living thing. Upon killing a human or an entity, the impersonator may choose to engrain that being's likeness into their memory by pressing its hand to the being's forehead. As a result, extreme caution is recommended when around these entities; the higher an impersonator's kill count, the more capable it becomes of disguising itself. While unable to retain the individual's memories, the impersonator adapts the creature's motor functions when shapeshifting and has been shown to be able to easily fake emotions. Initially unable to speak, the impersonators learn quickly like AI; after several months of interacting with humans while disguised, impersonators may be able to speak English fluently. While running tests on some impersonators, the Backrooms' research team has found that many of them pass the Turing Test — their behaviors are almost indistinguishable from real humans.

Knowing this, it is heavily recommended to stay away from any known impersonators. However, it is extremely difficult to know who can be trusted, as impersonator behavior is almost indistinguishable from human behavior.

Behaviors

While typically docile, most impersonators have been said to have a specific goal and will not stop at anything until that goal has been reached. This frequently results in conflict between impersonators and humans. Some impersonators, having learned different morals or behaviors depending on the humans they hung out with, may wage war against each other, believing the other impersonators to be obstacles to their goal.

Some are capable of learning empathy, dedicating their lives to protecting humans, while others are ruthless killers who encourage taking lives for the cause.

Biology

Most impersonators, even the passive ones, have refused to show their true form. However, based on researchers, it can be concluded that an attack by an impersonator in its true form leaves a distinct claw mark — three deep cuts of different lengths. The left and right cuts will be the same length, while the middle cut is shorter than the other two, but cuts down deeper than both.

Heisenberg: Hey, just what do you think you're doing? You know this "Impersonator" entry is just a load of crap, right?

???: For God's sake Heisenberg, would you shut up? This "Impersonator" entity is real and you know it. Can you stop antagonizing everyone for trying to better the database?

Heisenberg: Look, Gerald, unless you can give proof that this isn't just a Skin Stealer, I wouldn't recommend creating a page about the "Impersonators". Besides, the Behaviors, Biology, and the Dos and Don'ts need a bit more information.

Gerald: Oh really? I have documents. Eyewitness accounts. Actually, I'll throw a few of them below. Please, just read them. I assure you these Impersonators are real. I'll fix the underlying structure later. This is important.

See Documents (CONFIDENTIAL) >

INTERVIEW LOG #1: 07/23/20XX Abel: So, Mrs. Penske, what is this shapeshifter thing you speak of? It doesn't appear to be logged in our database as of yet, but we might log it if we can determine that what you saw was different from a Skin-Stealer. Penske: Oh yes… well I was doing research at one of my lab bases at [REDACTED] when a little child ended up in our facility. Looked no older than seven and had a teddy bear in hand and backpack in tow. He subsequently asked me, "Daddy is in the restroom, could you help me find him?" I felt bad for the little child, so I led him to the men's restroom, hoping he would reunite with his father. The one man inside was slightly suspicious of me; I was a woman in the men's restroom, after all. The child immediately broke from my grip and ran toward the man, hugging his leg. The man thanked me for finding his child, and I subsequently walked towards the door. I exited the restroom and waved goodbye. Af- Abel: Sorry for the interr- … That's a wholesome story, Penske, but how does it relate to the shapeshifter? Penske: Oh, I digress. I'm getting to that. See, I noticed two people exiting the men's restroom. However, they were not the father and his child. I noticed something was off, so I entered the men's restroom again; it was empty. The child's teddy bear, backpack, and clothes were in the trash can, along with the father's clothes. Abel: But you saw two people walk out… and you never saw those two while inside? Penske: Nope.

EVENT LOG #913: The Incident At Level 70 Three keepers of the simulation at Level 70 were found dead in various locations — codenames Alpha, Beta, and Delta. Usually, deaths of people would not be logged under Events, but we believe this one happened under such mysterious circumstances that it was worth mentioning here. Beta's death is unimportant, just cleanly decapitated with a machete. We see that all the time, and we'll find a replacement easily. However, Alpha and Delta's deaths are of a more suspicious nature. A radio conversation between Alpha and Delta started at approximately 07:56, 06/02/20XX, minutes before Alpha's death at 8:04 from gunshots. Voice comparison of the audio confirms that the two voices in the transmission belong to Alpha and Delta. However, this conversation would not have been possible; an autopsy of Delta's body shows the approximate time of death to be 05:12, 05/29/20XX, caused by three deep cuts to the chest. With that in mind, there is no way Delta could have communicated with Alpha, let alone shot him. We will keep you updated as more information is found.

Gerald: Well? What do you think?

Heisenberg: Hmm, they make a good case. However, I do not believe that I am convinced. Penske's situation could be explained through a hallucination; no one can correlate her story, after all. The alleged child and father cannot be found. As for Alpha's death, I doubt the other person in the conversation was Delta — probably someone with a similar voice. Delta was known to use doubles to slack off some days.

Gerald: I am aware of Delta's double. However, I still believe this is worth logging. Just in case.

Heisenberg: Fine. Go ahead.

MESSAGE FROM OPERATIVE GERALD DAVIS TO SUPERVISOR OLIVIA FREDERICK: Hello, Frederick, I have to inform you that Operative Heisenberg is acting somewhat suspicious; he appears to be completely against the idea of the "Impersonators" entry, despite me providing valid proof that these dangerous beings do in fact exist. I suspect him of being an Impersonator himself. Would you mind taking a look?

Heisenberg: Gerald, can we have a talk?

Gerald: Yes, what do you need?

…

Heisenberg: You know I'm not letting you off the hook that easily.

Gerald: What do you mean? You approved the en-

[MULTIPLE GUNSHOTS]

Heisenberg: I'm sorry Gerald. It was nice knowing you… but now it's time to impersonate you.

MESSAGE FROM OPERATIVE GERALD DAVIS TO SUPERVISOR OLIVIA FREDERICK: Sorry Frederick about the previous email; it appears I was mistaken about Heisenberg being an Impersonator. Also, could you delete the Impersonator entry? I realize now that they're just Skin-Stealers. Sorry for the inconvenience.

MESSAGE FROM SUPERVISOR OLIVIA FREDERICK TO OPERATIVE GERALD DAVIS: No worries. We all make mistakes, trusting our irrational impulses over observable facts. Just be a little more careful next time. We wouldn't want to cause any massive trust issues in the team.

MESSAGE FROM OPERATIVE GERALD DAVIS TO SUPERVISOR OLIVIA FREDERICK: Don't worry, I'll be careful. I've been there before; I accidentally accused a man of wrongdoing and was subsequently shot in the face.

MESSAGE FROM SUPERVISOR OLIVIA FREDERICK TO OPERATIVE GERALD DAVIS: Yikes. That must've hurt. At least Heisenberg didn't shoot you for accusing him of wrongdoing, am I right?

MESSAGE FROM OPERATIVE GERALD DAVIS TO SUPERVISOR OLIVIA FREDERICK: Nah, he would never do that.