Later that day, Rocky and Cain meet Drake at the gym, while Sasha revisits 166 with Jennifer and Iris.
Inside 166's room, the ladies talk about various topics before the usual silent observer, 166, speaks up.
"Is.. my father a good man?" She asks.
Jennifer, Iris, and Sasha look at each other with worried expressions.
"Perhaps you should answer this one, Iris. You are out and about more than we are." Jennifer comments.
Iris takes a deep breath before answering. "As a doctor, of the SCP Foundation, he is considered an excellent individual.. As a former member of the GOC, he was a highly respected and decorated officer.. From personal experience, he is an oddball but does not seem to mean any harm."
166 looks at Sasha. "I understand you and my father are romanticly involved. What is your opinion?"
Sasha smiles. "I still have a lot I have to learn about your father, but I very much up to the challenge."
166 looks at the letter. "Would.. any of you care to read this letter from him?"
Iris and Jennifer instantly look at Sasha.
Sasha shrugs. "I suppose I could."
166 hands the letter to Sasha, and as she reads her expression becomes increasingly serious. She then hands the letter back to 166.
"What do you think?" 166 asks.
Sasha tries hard to smile. " Epon, that is an interesting name. I think.. your father and I are going to need to have a little talk."
166 smile. "That is what I expected. Please do not be too mean to him for assuming you would agree to be my stepmother."
Sasha shakes her head. "That I have no problem with. There is just some.. overwhelming information in that letter that I wish to discuss with him."
Iris chuckles. "See, an oddball but really does not mean any harm."
Later that night, Rocky and Sasha meet in his room. Sasha seems notably distressed.
"What is wrong with you?" Rocky asks.
"Isn't it true Dr. Clef negates anomalous abilities?!" Sasha asks.
"I wouldn't say 'negate' so much as he seems to bypass it or it simply does not affect him." Rocky answers. "Why?"
"He must know then that he could see Epon at any time without being enthralled by her charm!! So then why hasn't he?!! Is he really just some dead beat dad?!!" Sasha asks angrily.
"Whoa! From the records, the SCP Foundation has been sending him out to the field a lot, perhaps that is simply not his call to make!" Rocky answers.
Sasha ignores this and continues to complain. "What worse, Epon's mother..."
Rocky moves swiftly and covers Sasha's mouth, looking her in the eye. "I already inferred that from the file, but don't say it out loud. I think you should speak to him about all this and be honest with your feelings. He obviously likes you, and it is not like you couldn't kick his ass if you felt like it." Rocky slowly takes his hand away.
Sasha looks down. "Perhaps you are right. I am probably overreacting. He is probably just worried that he still wouldn't be a good father to Epon."
Rocky chuckles. "He is very protective regardless. My first entrance into her room no doubt had to be approved by him, personally, and I am sure a termination squad was standing by if I had become enthralled."
Sasha looks puzzled. "A termination squad?!"
Rocky nods. "He was the one who wrote the containment and handling procedures for 166. And I quote, 'ANY man who becomes enthralled by SCP-166's anomalous ability is to be terminated to prevent any form of sexual assault or impregnation of the subject.'" Rocky chuckles. "If it had been me, I would have added that you will all be terminated if the subject is ever impregnated."
Sasha smiles. "I was right in saying you two are alike."
Rocky walks to his door. "Just so you know, I bear no ill will towards Dr. Clef in any way. I also wish you both the very best, in all matters." He opens the door to see Doctor Therman glaring into his eyes.
"Were you going to leave without saying goodbye to me?" Doctor Therman asks.
Rocky smiles. "I was actually on my way to say goodbye, for the time being, to both you and Jennifer."
"Good, I will expect a lengthy interview when you return, for your file.. that is." Doctor Therman says before turning and heading down the hall.
Sasha pokes out from behind Rocky. "That is a funny way of saying be careful!"
Rocky shrugs. "Maybe she prefers to remain professional." He says, heading in the opposite direction down the hall.
Once morning arrives, the four load into a helicopter and take off towards a ship anchored in the Gulf of Mexico. During the trip, Cain remains silent as Dr. Clef and Rocky talk.
"Have you always been interested in an officer career?" Dr. Clef asks.
Rocky nods. "My father used to work for the GOP before he retired."
"Really?! What was his name? I might have known him." Dr. Clef asks.
"Staff Sergent William W***." Rocky replies.
Dr. Clef thinks for a moment. "I know I have heard that name, but I can not place a face.."
"It is okay. Whenever I asked him about his time with the GOP he would always get very silent and distant." Rocky replies sadly.
"Yeah.. the GOP does that to a lot of us, making us feel disconnected from reality.. family.. friends. It is a wonder I am as sain as I am!" Dr. Clef chuckles lightly.
Rocky glances over at Cain. "You okay over there, buddy?"
Cain slowly nods. "I am not a fan of flying."
"Considering you have been wandering around by foot, I am not surprised." Dr. Clef comments.
Sasha lightly hums in the corner, only stopping for a moment. "Scaredy cat. If you fell out you wouldn't die."
"I would still feel the pain though!" Cain snaps back quickly.
Six hours later, they land on the helipad of a large GOP battleship. The Captain welcomes them, showing familiarity with Dr. Clef, and shows them their cabins.
Later that night, Rocky walks out on the bow of the ship, eyeing the endless horizon.
"Am I doing the right thing? Walking the correct path?" Rocky mutters to himself.
"Isn't the better question, are you being true to yourself?" Dr. Clef asks as he walks up.
Rocky chuckles. "Good ears."
"When you constantly have to be aware of the next gunshot, your ears become very sharp." Dr. Clef leans on a nearby railing. "So.. Sasha and I just had a talk.. it seems she is distressed by my lack of information to her and lie to my daughter."
Rocky remains silent.
"When you saw her, you didn't have any attraction to her?" Dr. Clef asks, placing his hand behind his back.
Rocky smiles. "As I told her, she was just another normal woman to me."
Dr. Clef retracts his hand, slowing it to be empty. "So your anomalous ability makes you immune to her's.. Can I trust you to protect her if I am not around?"
Rocky nods. "Sasha and I both would be there for her. Likewise, you can rest assured that my heart is already taken."
"How are you with a gun?" Dr. Clef presses.
"Accurate enough to consistently hit my target." Rocky replies.
"Glad to hear it, there is no telling what manner of monstrosities that cult has in their back pockets..."
"Or on a leach." Rocky adds.
"Exactly! One can be just as bad as the other. God forbid we run into some 682 case and have to nuke the place." Dr. Clef says with a stern nod.
"Do we have nukes on stand by?" Rocky asks.
Dr. Clef pulls out his phone and checks the time. "Around 800 hours tomorrow, a blackbird will be taking off from Dobbins Air Force Base and proceed at high altitudes until it reaches Ireland. At which time it will meet up with its third refueling plane so he can remain on standby." He glances at Rocky. "If I say we are leaving the area, we run like hell is on our heels. Understood?"
Rocky nods. "Do.. you want to talk about the other issue further."
"All due respect, I don't really know you that well. But I will tell you Dr. Bright has promised me access, by his own hands, to my daughter once we are sure this threat is terminated." Dr. Clef says with a wave, as he walks off.
"I was right then.. The Foundation was keeping him from seeing her." Rocky thinks to himself.
Twenty-four hours later under the shadow of night, the team lands on the shore of Ireland and begins making their way towards a cave identified as the cult's ritual sight. Nearing the cave from the west, the team takes cover as a small group of cultists enter from the east. Once the cultists have ceased entering the cave, Dr. Clef motions for Rocky to take point, followed by himself, Sasha, and then Cain bringing up the rear. Once entering, they walk forward for five hundred feet until they hear ritualistic chanting and a voice speaking over the chanting.
"My loyal subjects! Today we summon the Scarlet King's army! With this army we will track down the whereabouts of our beloved King and free him!" Lucifer exclaims.
Dr. Clef peeks around the corner and then ducks back. "Lucifer.. why did it have to be Lucifer.."
"Is that bad?" Sasha asks.
"Not if we act quickly. Lucifer is able to enthrall other SCPs, whose hearts have hatred in them, to do his bidding." Dr. Clef looks at Cain. "You may very well be our best hope, see if you can get his attention and lead him outside."
Sasha glances at Rocky and then moves closer. "Think you could keep Phase 3 under wraps long enough to take him out?"
Rocky's eyes blink and become grey. "I am neutral."
"Sasha, can you terminate the cultists?" Dr. Clef asks.
Sasha smiles. "They might have time to blink. Is that okay?"
Dr. Clef smiles. "As usual, clean and effective."
He starts to turn to Rocky, but the ground begins shaking. Dr. Clef peeks back out to see Lucifer stepping down a fiery staircase before the ground closes again.
He whips back around. "Okay, Lucifer has left the building. Rocky, protect the five victims, Sasha, terminate the cultists, Cain and I will watch for further threats. GO!"
They rush the cultists, and in a split second Sasha whips a long small chain across the alter room, beheading the cultists. Rocky rushes to the alter and checks the woman and children for pulses.
"They are alive and well." Rocky calls back.
"Begin extraction. We will cover you." Dr. Clef orders.
Rocky covers the woman and children in his aura and carries them out of the cave. Once outside the woman awakens and begins screaming.
"Hey! HEY! We are here to save you!" Rocky exclaims.
Dr. Clef turns to see the four children's eyes open, each with a different element infused in place of their eyes. "Rocky! They are SCPs!"
The woman's screams grow louder as the children are absorbed into her arms and legs respectively. Her right arm becomes fire, left arm earth, right leg wind, and her left leg water. Likewise, her hair begins to shine with a brilliant light.
Rocky begins to shrink his aura around the entity. "Poor timing. I imagine you need air to breathe, and your arm is certainly using up a lot of oxygen." He says as he continues to walk to the boat, past the others.
"Is there any chance she will get out of that barrier of yours?" Dr. Clef asks.
"Not a chance in hell." Rocky replies with a calm face.
Dr. Clef looks leans over to Cain and Sasha. "Is this a different person than I was talking to earlier?"
Sasha nods. "That is Rocky's Phase 2 of his anomalous ability. He is actually pretty chill."
"Is that the same one that protects him when he is unconscious or asleep?" Dr. Clef asks.
Sasha nods. "The very same."
The woman begins to lose consciousness as the children emerge from her limbs and also fall unconscious.
Dr. Clef and the others catch up to Rocky, at the boat.
"How long can you hold her?" Dr. Clef asks.
"Wasn't the point to terminate all threats?" Rocky asks in rebuttal.
Dr. Clef looks at the children. "I.. well.."
"Four hours." Rocky says monotoned. "Although keeping them separated may be a better alternative to me smothering them."
"We have emergency containment cells on the battleship. We can put them in there and let a containment team handle them once we get back to the states." Dr. Clef says.
Elsewhere on a fiery throne, Lucifer chuckles. "Poor, ignorant mortals. Lead the proprietor of your doom home." Horns begin to grow from his head, his hair turns black, and he turns red as he rises. "SO I CAN BURN YOUR CORPSES MYSELF!!!" He says in a booming demonic voice.