After suiting up in a full hazmat getup (courtesy of Nine-Tailed Fox), Loshu strode into SCP-116's unit like he owned the place.
(No one can tell I'm D-Class in this. Perfect.)
He barked orders at the guards: "Evacuate SCP-116. I'm inspecting the unit alone."
(No way I'm risking IQ drain without precautions.)
As the frail, burned boy was led out, he muttered:
"Sunny... sad... hello... not... person... truth..."
Loshu's ears perked up at "truth."
(Wait. That word—)
(SCP-055 also fixates on "truth.")
He crouched, ignoring the guard's warning: "Don't engage. His speech lowers cognition."
(Or hides something.)
Activating W-Class Mnestics, Loshu strained to catch more:
"Stairs... room... world... me... him... tell... author... goodbye..."
(Stairs. Room. World.)
(The forgotten Sublevel-5. SCP-055's chamber. The bigger picture.)
(This kid knows things.)
But the guards hauled SCP-116 away before he could hear more.
(Damn it.)
The Inspection Farce
The unit was flawless—Kevlar-lined, earthquake-proof, overkill for a "fragile boy."
(Why this much security?)
(Unless he's not what he seems.)
Loshu filed a bare-minimum report, then bolted for Sublevel-5.
(Time to ask 055.)
The Forgotten One
SCP-055's chamber was, as always, empty.
(Wait, no—)
(It's not empty. I just can't remember what's inside.)
Loshu gritted his teeth. "SCP-116 mentioned 'truth.' What's the connection?"
The response was garbled static, but two words cut through:
"SCP-116... knows... ████████... truth... ████████."
(Sixteen redacted words. Thanks, universe.)
But one thing was clear:
SCP-055 recognized SCP-116.
Both were tied to "truth."
Both were censored by a force beyond the Foundation.
(I need stronger abilities. To resist the antimemetic filter.)
(To hear what they're really saying.)
The Encyclopedia's Gift
Back in his quarters, the SCP Encyclopedia updated:
[Page: 17]
[SCP-116 - "The Fragile Boy"]
[Abilities: Idiot Aura]
[Note: Every story has an SCP—the protagonist. And every protagonist has plot armor: the power to turn villains into morons.]
Loshu blinked.
(...Did the Encyclopedia just call me the main character?)
(Hell yeah.)
But the real question remained:
What is SCP-116 hiding?
And why does the Foundation treat him like a walking nuke?