Do You Really Want To?

After patrolling Sublevel -4 for a while, Luo Shu realized the Chaos Insurgency's attack had fizzled.

Their plan had crumbled—thanks to him.

The extra hour he'd bought Epsilon-11 meant Chaos's lone strike team barely managed to release SCP-327 before retreating.

Cain, noting the lack of threats, turned to Luo Shu. "This floor's secure. I'll assist upstairs—you finish sweeping here."

Luo Shu agreed. Solitude suited his agenda.

With Site-17's cameras down, he could operate freely.

The Encounter

Five minutes into his solo sweep, a containment door slid open.

Luo Shu tensed, the Anomaly Catalog ready—

—only to freeze at the sight of a petite blonde woman leaning against the doorframe.

At 155 cm, she was compact yet curvaceous, her glare sharper than a scalpel.

Another female anomaly drawn to me? Luo Shu mused. First SCP-231-7's "candy," then SCP-166's… interest.

But this woman's expression screamed "I'd rather stab you."

"You're cozy with Cain," she spat.

Luo Shu's mind raced. Hostility toward Cain?

"And you are…?" he ventured.

"Cut the crap. Answer the question."

Her temper, blonde hair, and stature clicked: SCP-105 ("Iris").

Able's rumored lover.

If Cain was Able's murderer, Iris's hatred made sense.

"Cain and I are just coworkers," Luo Shu said carefully. "First meeting today."

Iris's face fell. She moved to shut the door—

"Wait!"

Luo Shu activated Persuasion (last charge).

Iris paused, scowling. "What?"

"You're Iris, right? Why not… take a walk?"

She stared. "In this algae-stinking hellhole? Give me one reason."

Luo Shu glanced around.

No moonlight. No fresh air. Just damp concrete and fish stench.

Romance? Suicide. Able would skewer him.

Logic? Nonexistent.

So he bulldozed ahead:

"I think you want to come out."

"No, I don't."

"Yes, you do."

The cognitive dissonance hit. Iris wavered.

"Do I…?"