Come morning, exactly 7 am, Rocky awakens to 173 wrapped around him.
He jerks. "What are you doing?!"
173 rises the end of her chain to "look" at him. "Because your aura was weak. If anything happens to you, worst case die, I could die too! You need to be more careful!!" She shrinks back to the size of a neckless, in his hands.
"I.. I am sorry. I was just testing my limit to see if I could push it... I almost ended up trapped in phase 3." Rocky sighs unhappily.
"You can.. put me back on.. if you want to.." 173 seems to say shyly.
Rocky chuckles. "Really? The 'Queen' is being shy?!"
173 growls, flaying about angrily. "Don't make fun of me!! I.. just thought maybe you wouldn't want me around for SCP-035's meeting."
Rocky shakes his head, looking at her with his blue eyes. "No. I will need you there. If things get out of control, I need you to restrain 035 or possibly me."
173 happily wraps around his neck, then sighs. "Just.. try not to get hurt."
"I am beginning to think you worry more about me than yourself." Rocky again chuckles.
173 remains silent.
Rocky exits his room and steps slowly towards Jennifer's door. He knocks. "Jennifer?"
On the other side, Jennifer steps slowly towards the door, reaching out to open it, but stops saying nothing.
"I am sorry.. I truly hoped you would not have to witness any more terrible futures. I do want you to know, whenever this happens, I will be back. I will return and one day I will give you an answer." Rocky says walking away.
Jennifer sits on the floor, against the door, silently sobbing.
Rocky makes his way to the interview room 15D, located on the third floor. He groans as he is met by D-213 and Doctor Therman.
D-213 is a Latin male, 5' 4" does not talk, knowing his task would be the end of him.
"Well, Mr. *****, you asked for this, so let's get it over with." Doctor Therman frowns.
Rocky shrugs and enters the first interview room, followed by the others. Inside the secondary room sits a glass case with SCP-035 inside smiling.
"I hate to ask this, but 05 wants you to attempt putting the mask on first." Doctor Therman says unhappily.
Rocky's neckless shakes once, almost unnoticeable, in protest.
"And, given his abilities, should he extract information about facility layouts, what then?" Rocky asks.
"Exactly why I am unhappy about this request. Protocol, for a request like this, calls for termination. However, there is no known way to terminate you. Therefore, proof that you are immune to 035 is required before the interview will be 'fully approved'." Doctor Therman points to the mask then turning on a video camera. "I know how manipulative 035 can be, so watch your back."
Rocky shrugs with a confident smile. "If that was all.." He opens the secondary door and marches up to the case, opening it and placing the mask on his face with no hesitation.
The door slams shut and locks.
The mask's smile quickly turns to a frown.
"See?" Rocky asks.
"Can you remove the mask?!" Doctor Therman urges from a microphone.
Rocky removes the mask and places it gently on the table. "No sweat."
Doctor Therman gives a relieved sigh. "Okay, D-213, you may enter."
The Latin man humbly walks up to the door, as it unlocks, and enters. The door shuts and locks behind him.
Rocky looks unhappily at the solum man. "You sure about doing this? I will let you walk out right now if....
"Save it, cabron. I am a murder, plain and simple. This is better than some of the ways to die around here." D-213 answers, reaching for the mask.
The mask again smiles, as the man places it on his face.
The man stretches. "OH! How nice to have a body again. I should thank you, but I am more curious, at the moment, about you."
Rocky motions to one of two chairs set at the table. "Tic for tac it is then. However, I reserve the right not to answer some classified questions."
The mask sits and props his head on his hands. "Likewise. How do we decide who goes first then?"
Rocky sits. "Arm wrestling, rock paper scissors, the flip of a coin, any of these will do."
The mask laughs shaking his head. "I will be the proper gentleman and give you the first question then. Seeing as you have no clipboard, I imagine they will be off the cuff."
Rocky smiles. "Do you feel loneliness?"
The mask looks puzzled at him. "Such a considerate question! Honestly, I did not expect a human to actually consider my feelings!"
"Complimenting me will not benefit you." Rocky says continuing to smile.
The mask chuckles. "I expected as much since you put me on.." He leans forward. "I felt that barrier between me and your face. Your.. aura perhaps?"
Doctor Therman perks up. "SCP-035, answer the question."
Rocky glares at the mask. "Well?"
035 leans back again. "Yes, I feel loneliness. My existence, present and past, have been side by side with humanity. I have been to parties, grand balls! The small-time I shared with humans has always been.. enjoyable." The mask says. "Do you feel trapped?"
Rocky chuckles. "Very enlightening question. No, I chose to be here."
"Why?! Who would CHOOSE to be locked away?!" The mask asks, shocked.
Doctor Therman begins taking notes.
"To ensure continued interaction." Rocky replies. "You would be surprised by the amount of SCPs that chose to be here."
"Simple twits is what they are." The mask groans and looks around. "That has not been the case, as of late, for me. They closed me off, stopped all interactions, and even shued personnel away from me!" He snarls.
"Acting out did not assist the situation either." Rocky rebuts.
The mask shrugs. "It is not my fault that the more lonely I get the more my aura affects my surroundings." He then glares at Rocky with an evil smile.
Rocky thinks for a moment. "AH! I see. You are not referring to yourself, but rather now to me, attempting to cause a rift between researcher and subject."
"When you put me on, it is true I could not take hold, but I could tell there are two consciousnesses." The mask chuckles.
"Three, actually. By the way, that was two questions you have asked. This time I get two questions." Rocky rebuts.
"Are you some kind of smartass?!" 035 shouts.
Rocky sighs. "Relax or this will get nasty quick."
The mask relaxes, crossing his arms. "Never the less, I received my answer."
Rocky leans back. "What is your opinion on opera?"
The mask seems thoroughly confused. "Now a question about my taste in the musical arts?! What is your angle?"
Rocky remains silent, staring at the ceiling.
The mask sighs. "I very much enjoy it."
Rocky then leans forward. "How well do you think our friend outside could sing?"
"Mr. *****, I am not comfortable being a topic of discussion!" Doctor Therman exclaims.
The mask thinks for a moment. "She does have a very decent tone. I dare say she would be a 9 out of 10."
Rocky turns and smiles at Doctor Therman. "Best compliment you will ever get around here, Doc!"
Doctor Therman groans.
The mask leans forward. "That was two, my turn. How much longer can you control that aura of yours?"
"I take it you are referring back to the emotional stimuli. Since we know your 'aura' is telepathically based, it is safe to assume that holds true for you. However, my aura is not affected by my emotions." Rocky answers.
The mask shakes his head. "I mean, what are the true limitations?"
"There are none." Rocky says waving his hand. "My turn..."
"No no no!" The mask interrupts, standing up. "There is a limit, I have met others such as you, in my travels! There were many different factors to their.. abilities."
Rocky glares at him. "Sit back down before you find out the hard way."
Doctor Therman begins to speak into the microphone, but then the door opens behind her. She turns around quickly to see Cain entering.
"How is it going?!" Cain asks friendly.
"Jesus, Cain, you scared the hell out of me!" Doctor Therman exclaims.
Cain smiles with a chuckle. "Odd pairing of words." He then looks into the interview room. "Did he already try 035 on?"
Doctor Therman nods. "No effect."
Suddenly there is a crash, inside the interview room, as 035 throws the table aside.
Doctor Therman turns around again to see 035 wrapped in a chain, restrained to the chair. "What happened?!"
"He attempted to attack me. I had to restrain him." Rocky answers.
"Where did you get a chain?" Doctor Therman asks.
Cain steps forward. "We can explain that later. For now, let him do what he has to."
The mask struggles against the chains. "Damn stupid ape!"
Rocky slowly stands, his eyes turning grey. "If you wish to be uncooperative, I can rip you from your host and bury you."
"Mr. *****, let's not be hasty!" Doctor Therman urges.
Rocky raises his hand, leaning forward to 035. "I suggest you cooperate, I was the one that requested this interview. I will terminate it just as quickly and see to it you never have anyone to talk to ever again."
"You really need to CHILL. Perhaps a giant bag of ice would do the trick!" The mask laughs but quickly becomes silent for a few minutes before continuing. "You wouldn't actually do that to a poor, lonely SCP.. would you?"
"Count on it." Rocky growls.
Cain leans over to the microphone. "If you would like, friend, a simple touch from my hand might destroy him completely."
Rocky uprights himself. "Tempting, but I think he understands that the 05 council is on their last nerve. They would not have approved my request unless they thought I would be a viable solution to 035's behavior."
"What now?" The mask sighs.
"Now.. you answer any and all questions without delay. One wrong move and I terminate this inquiry completely, with no hope of a second." Rocky answers gruffly.
The mask nods, as the chain returns to Rocky's neck.
"What do you hope to gain from escaping?" Rocky asks.
"Entertainment." The mask answers.
"Elaborate." Rocky commands.
"It is so very dull being locked in a cell without any music, art, people, etc. I wanted out." The mask replies.
"Would you behave if a variety of music was played?" Rocky asks, with a gentle smile.
The mask smile, nodding his head wildly. "YES! That would be most acceptable!"
"Opera, classical, perhaps a few new modern tracks that you can accept or deny?" Rocky suggests.
"Yes yes! Oh heaven above, YES!" The mask answers excitedly.
"Understand, there will be a little time before my request, on your behalf, is approved. However, I can promise I will have the request expedited. Furthermore, you will have to stop causing trouble for the foundation." Rocky says.
The mask cocks his head. "I understand and accept! If I might ask, why do you care so much?"
"Because, despite anything, I was born an SCP. I embraced that I might be the single best person to resolve differences between humans and SCPs." Rocky smiles.
"Very noble goal." The mask says, slowly standing and outstretching his hand. "I wish you the best of luck."
Rocky takes his hand. "Likewise, I hope we can talk again soon."
"I will be looking forward to it." The mask smiles, wider and gentler than ever before.
Rocky starts towards the door, as it unlocks. "Perhaps I can get you an answer before your host decays."
The mask chuckles. "You put me in such a good mood, I imagine the process will be quite prolonged."
Rocky nods and walks through the door, coming face to face with Doctor Therman that quickly turns off the camera and slamming the door shut behind him.
"What the hell is up with that chain?!" She demands, coming within inches of his face.
Rocky grins. "If I said it was part of my anomalous ability, would you believe me?"
"Not.. one.. bit." Doctor Therman growls, pointing to the door. "Back to your room. I will be there shortly."
Rocky groans as he and Cain head out the door.
"I feel like my mom is sending me to my room.." Rocky comments.
Cain smiles sadly. "That must be nice."
"Are we in trouble?" 173 whispers.
"Probably." Rocky sighs.
Back in the interview room, Doctor Therman leaves. A shadowy figure appears flipping the camera back on and speaks into the microphone. "Now, SCP-035, you are going to answer my questions." The male voice, deep and commanding, orders.
"Ah! Mr. #, I have been expecting you. What can I do for you?" 035 asks.
"Tell me what you discovered about that man." Mr. # demands