Director Moreno and Dr. Magovney observed Dr. Herrick during the interview. At Director Moreno's discretion, Dr. Herrick may bypass Standard 1.2.9 Interview Protocol with SCP-18097 until further notice.
July 26th, 2019; 11:08: Dr. Herrick entered Room 65-B to undergo a psychological evaluation prior to the interview with SCP-18097.
July 26th, 2019; 11:24: Dr. Herrick was approved to enter SCP-18097's containment chamber.
INTERVIEW LOG SCP-18097-004
Date: July 26th, 2019
Interviewer: Dr. Herrick
Interviewee: SCP-18097
Notes: Dr. Herrick entered the containment chamber with an unopened bottled water and a chilidog.
[BEGIN LOG]
Dr. Herrick: Good morning, SCP-18097, or, uh, Sonic. [Dr. Herrick looks at a watch on his wrist] Oh, uh, it's a little late to be saying 'good morning' now, isn't it?
SCP-18097: You're asking the wrong guy.
Q: Oh? Why's that?
A: [SCP-18097 gestures to his cell]
Q: Oh! Right, heh. My bad.
At this point in the interview, Dr. Herrick reached over and presented the bottled water and chilidog to SCP-18097. SCP-18097 showed minor hesitation when reaching out to take the offered amenities. SCP-18097 proceeded to eat while Dr. Herrick continued the interview.
Q: Hm. This first question is pretty, uh, not good. I'll skip that one and come back to it.
At this point in the interview, Dr. Herrick placed his clipboard on his lap and placed his hands over it.
Q: Sonic? How are you feeling?
A: I'm stuck in a cell, I'm naked, and I'm being forced to answer questions. What do you think?
Q: I'm sorry, did you say you're naked? Do you wear clothes normally?
At this point in the interview, Dr. Herrick removed his hands from the clipboard on his lap and proceeded to flip the pages to find a specific paragraph.
Q: When we brought you were, you were only wearing… gloves and shoes.
A: Yeah, and you took them.
Q: Are your gloves and shoes important to you?
A: I don't know, is your weird face mask important to you?
Q: You mean my glasses?
A: Yeah, your glasses. No. I know what glasses are. I'm talking about the air filter you have on your face.
At this point in the interview, Dr. Herrick remained silent as he removed his face mask and let it hang from his neck.
Q: I can breathe without it. It's just a precaution. Do you need your gloves and shoes?
A: Yeah. Can I have them back?
Q: We haven't noticed anything abnormal with your health. Obviously, we don't know too much about your physiology, but we can make educated guesses. So far, we're sure you aren't unwell. Are they vital to your survival?
A: You wanna sit in a cell without your clothes? Because that's what I'm doing.
Q: … Right. You won't die without them, but it… makes you want to die from embarrassment?
A: Sure. Whatever. Can I have them back?
Q: Not – not yet. [Pause] How's your chilidog?
A: [SCP-18097 shrugs]
Q: [Pause] Okay.
At this point in the interview, Dr. Herrick takes the clipboard back into his hands and begins reading from it.
Q: Sonic? I'm going to ask you some questions, but first, I want to play a little game with you.
A: Fine. [laughs] I'll play along.
Q: Okay then. I'm going to say a word and you're going to tell me the first thing that comes to mind. Don't think too much about it. Just the first thing. You can't be wrong in whatever answer you give me.
A: [laughs] I'm already wrong to you. Everything about me is wrong, apparently.
Q: Come again?
A: That's why I'm here, isn't it? Because I'm different?
Q: Sonic, that's – that's not – yes, you're different. That is why you're here. Yes.
A: Yep. And after this game, your plan is to go back to your boss or whoever you answer to and try to explain how I can possibly exist.
Q: Where are you going with this?
A: Where do you think? You and I both know this is only going to end with you trying to slice me into pieces.
Q: What? Is – is that what you think is going to happen to you? Do you – do you think we're going to kill you?
A: You'll try.
At this point in the interview, Dr. Herrick placed the clipboard onto the ground next to him and made direct and purposeful eye contact with SCP-18097.
Q: No, no. No, that – [Dr. Herrick sighs] That isn't going to happen. We don't – we don't do that here. We aren't planning to hurt you.
A: Lie.
Q: Have we done anything to hurt you so far?
A: You ever been shocked?
Q: No, but, uh, that collar is not to hurt you, Sonic. That's to protect our staff. We – the reason we're asking you these questions is because we don't know enough about you yet. We… uh, we're not sure if the world is ready to handle something like you. Something with your… your speed and power.
A: … I know that. But you guys are still forcing me to sit in a box and do nothing. That sucks, you know?
Q: Yes. Yes, I do know. And I'm s – It's what we need to do. For right now. But please, please know that we aren't planning to hurt you. Is – is there – what can I do to ease your fear?
A: … Besides letting me out of here? Nothing. [Pause] You are what you are.
Q: And… and what is that?
A: I don't need to tell you.
Q: … Alright then.
At this point in the interview, SCP-18097 turned away from Dr. Herrick and leaned against the wall again. Dr. Herrick picked the clipboard up from the floor and began flipping through it silently. They remained in silence for approximately 10 to 15 seconds.
Q: Alright. I'm going to say a word and you're going to tell me the first thing that appears in your head.
A: …
Q: Earth.
A: Humans.
Q: Humanity.
A: Weird.
Q: Nature.
A: Beautiful.
Q: City.
A: Loud.
Q: Fast.
A: Me.
Q: … Strong.
A: Fast.
Q: Happy.
A: Run.
Q: Sad.
A: … Alone.
At this point in the interview, Dr. Herrick looked up from the clipboard.
Q: Home.
A: Friend.
Q: Friend.
A: Free.
Q: Freedom.
A: Away.
Q: Here.
A: You.
Q: … Dr. Herrick.
A: Cold.
Q: Dr. Magoveny.
A: Colder.
At this point in the interview, Dr. Herrick looked at the clipboard again.
Q: Violence.
A: Hard.
Q: Peace.
A: Okay.
Q: Fun.
A: Travel.
Q: Boring.
A: Here. You. This whole place. This interview. This game.
Q: L –
A: And bottled water.
Q: … Light.
A: Sun.
Q: Dark.
A: Quiet.
Q: Brave.
A: Heart.
Q: Fear.
A: … River.
Q: River.
A: Water.
Q: Water.
A: Drown.
Q: Drown.
A: No.
Q: Hedgehog.
A: Me.
Q: Name.
A: Sonic.
Q: … Alright. I think – That should be good. We can do the rest at another time.
A: We're done?
Q: For now. What would you like next time?
A: A chilidog and soda.
Q: Okay, a chilidog and soda. Sonic? Thank you for cooperating with me this time.
A: Whatever. The sooner I get out of here.
[END LOG]
July 26th, 2019; 11:38: Dr. Herrick entered Room 65-B to undergo a psychological evaluation after the interview with SCP-18097.
July 26th, 2019; 11:51: Dr. Herrick passed the psychological evaluation and was deemed fit to continue interviews with SCP-18097.
SCP-18007's conversation with Dr. Herrick and his answers to Dr. Herrick's questions may indicate SCP-18097 has a high level of distrust towards the SCP Foundation, its staff, and its procedures. A fear of water (Hydrophobia) was also noted during the interview. SCP-18097 shows personality traits such as an elevated sense of self, a strong perception of the world and its rules, and a sharp playfulness that appears frequently during conversation.
Due to the success of this interview, Director Moreno has granted Dr. Herrick permission to continue bypassing the Standard 1.2.9 Interview Protocol. Director Moreno may revoke this permission at any point.