The confrontation reached an impasse. Barbie stormed out with her team in tow, slamming the door behind her.
As Luo Shu turned to leave, the Security Director stopped him.
"Wait. You've been in containment zones long enough. With SCP-006's status stable, take a few days off at Site-51. Stay clear of Area-14 until Achilles' Heel leaves—no need to provoke Barbie further."
Luo Shu welcomed the arrangement. With SCP-058 now "befriended," Area-14 held little appeal. Besides, he'd long planned to animate Area-14's mainframe housed in Security HQ. This was his chance.
Barbie's Frustration
Barbie seethed. As Omega-12-C-003, third-in-command of Achilles' Heel with Level-4 clearance, she was accustomed to deference. Yet today, the Security Director had dismissed her claims in favor of a D-class-turned-containment specialist.
Unthinkable.
Gritting her teeth, she activated her comms.
"This is Omega-12-C-003. I need advisement."
A familiar voice responded—"God" (SCP-343).
Barbie's tone turned reverent. "I've encountered 'Luo Shu' at Area-14. He's dangerous, but—"
"Ah, him." God chuckled. "A slippery one. I've suspected he's Chaos Insurgency, but his weak memetic effect clouds judgment. Only reality benders resist it."
Barbie's eyes narrowed. "Then I'll detain him. Or terminate him."
"No." God's voice hardened. "Four-tier benders fail against him. SCP-053, 096, 165, even 940—all neutralized. He's beyond you."
He didn't mention fleeing from Luo Shu twice.
Barbie hesitated, then proposed: "What if I... ascended to Tier-5?"
"Absolutely not!" God's rebuke was instant. "Tier-5 distortions rupture reality without Scranton Anchors. You'd end like 001 and 002—confined to Olympus forever."
Silence.
Barbie knew the truth: Power demands sacrifice.
Yet without God's sanction, she was shackled.