"What do you mean, 'Awakening Protocol'?" Luo Shu tightened his grip.
IR1901 squirmed. "I don't know the details! I'm just a Gamma-level agent! They only told me to act!"
He gulped, then added:
"When SCP-096's breach alert sounded, I contacted my superiors. They ordered me to initiate the Protocol early."
Luo Shu's eyes narrowed. "'Early'? So this was premeditated?"
IR1901 didn't deny it. "Yes. The Protocol was designed for you—to 'awaken' you to the truth."
"What truth?"
"How would I know? That's your role!" IR1901 whined. "But I do know this: SCP-2000 has been activated before. No one remembers when or why."
"SCP-055 would know," Luo Shu guessed.
IR1901 nodded. "It's been here since Site-19's founding. Maybe it wasn't contained—maybe it's hiding from something."
"Like the 'God'?"
"The 'God'? No idea." IR1901 shrugged. "I'm clueless about off-site anomalies."
Luo Shu released him. "Explain the Protocol. Now."
IR1901 rubbed his throat. "Look, you're my natural counter. I'm terrified of you."
No kidding. The "Anomalous Nemesis" milestone already listed IR1901.
"Get to the point."
"Fine. The Protocol started after we confirmed your identity. Chaos knew you'd never trust us outright—not with our... reputation."
Understatement. Luo Shu resisted the urge to roll his eyes.
"We had to show you the Foundation's true nature first. Hence, an XK-class scenario—to 'wake you up.'"
So the zombie apocalypse was my fault?
Luo Shu's jaw clenched.
IR1901 prattled on: "This world has too many Keters. Triggering doomsday is easy. But why doesn't Chaos do it more often?"
"Because SCP-2000 would just reset everything?" Luo Shu sneered.
"Exactly!"
"Or maybe you're all just scared to die?"
IR1901 went still. "Is death really that scary?"
The question hung in the air.
In his old world? Yes.
But here?
Bearded Jack had died—twice. Yet he'd returned, unafraid, unremembering.
Was death just a temporary glitch in this reality?
Luo Shu flipped open the Encyclopedia, scanning its pages.
One conclusion crystallized:
I'm not SCP-2000's creation.
No machine could've made this.
My origins… are the real truth.