Interviewer: Dr. Statovich
Interviewed: Dr. Cardinal
Foreword: The following interview is a recollection of Dr. Cardinal's experience during Incident 028-A.
[BEGIN LOG]
Dr. Cardinal: Why the hell am I here?
Dr. Stratovich: We are here to discuss the events of Incident 028-A, Dr. Cardinal.
Dr. Cardinal: Again? Look, I already gave Don my testimony. If you have any questions, ask him.
Dr. Stratovich: I'm sure that you're aware that the testimony you gave was not what the Foundation wanted.
Dr. Cardinal: Well, it's what they're getting. Now, if you have any questions that are not related to SCP-028, I will happily give an answer. If you don't, then I'll just show myself out.
(Dr. Cardinal gets out of his chair, and makes his way to the door.)
Dr. Stratovich: We want to help you, Dr. Cardinal. It's obvious that whatever happened with SCP-028 has had a long lasting effect on you. We want to help, but in order to help, we need to understand what happened.
(Dr. Cardinal stops at the door. After letting out a sigh, he returns to the table with Dr. Stratovich.)
(Dr. Cardinal reaches into his coat pocket, and pulls out a pack of cigarettes.)
Dr. Cardinal: Do you mind?
Dr. Stratovich: Not at all.
(Dr. Stratovich pulls out his lighter and lights Dr. Cardinal's cigarette.)
Dr. Cardinal: You got a name, kid?
Dr. Stratovich: My name is Dr. Stra—
Dr. Cardinal: I meant your first name.
Dr. Stratovich: …Vlad.
Dr. Cardinal: You been working here a long time, Vlad?
Dr. Stratovich: Not too long. I've only been here for three years.
Dr. Cardinal: Ever worked on any Euclids or Keters?
Dr. Stratovich: I worked at 106's containment cell for a few months, and…about two weeks with 2117.
Dr. Cardinal: Then you understand that you see some fucked up shit on the job, yeah?
Dr. Stratovich: (chuckles) Even that's an understatement.
Dr. Cardinal: Let me tell you…(puffs on cigarette) in my 17 years of working, I've seen men turn to machines, divers get swallowed by a giant sea snake, hell, I've even seen a baby get eaten alive by an amphibian dog. We've all seen our fair share of fucked up shit. But last week…
(Dr. Cardinal takes a moment to breathe.)
Dr. Stratovich: We are here for you, Dr. Cardinal. If you need a break, please tell us.
Dr. Cardinal: No, I'm fine…I just need to take it slow.
Dr. Stratovich: Take your time, doctor.
Dr. Cardinal: (puffs on cigarette) You know, it was weird at first. When I first got exposed, everything just came at once like BAM! I didn't realize what I had seen until a minute after. Fuck…
(Dr. Cardinal, lowers his head, and whispers to himself.)
Come on, Jim. Just get it out.
(He puffs on his cigarette, then continues the story.)
The first thing I saw was a dark basement, hadn't been cleaned in years. All that was lighting it was a single swinging bulb. Come to think of it, the room didn't look too different from an old interrogation room from those old detective flicks.
Couldn't feel anything, but I knew it was cold. It was silent, and I mean dead silent. I could hear rats squeaking all across the floor. The room had an odd peacefulness to it, a dark, chilling peacefulness. Then I start hearing this weird noise, some kind of scream. I thought it was a rat at first, but I'd never heard a rat scream for help before…I hear someone unlock a door, then a bright beam of light comes from the stairs. It's hard to see, but I can make out the figure. It was a large man, and I mean large. I thought he was Fernand the first time I saw him. But nope, just a large man. He was carrying a cleaver in one hand, and a boy in the other. The boy couldn't have been older than…oh, I'd say 12.
Poor kid was screaming his head off, flailing his arms in all directions. The man cuffed the boy to the rotting wall next to me, and walked to the middle of the room. He turned on a light, and revealed this large, concrete table. It had straps on all four corners, and its surface was stained in blood. The man turned around, and grabbed a tray with all sorts of sharp tools on it, scissors, scalpels, you get the point.
The man walked, uh…walked over to the…fuck
Dr. Stratovich: Take it slowly, Dr. Cardinal.
Dr. Cardinal: (deep breath) …The man walked over to the boy and uncuffed him. The boy tried to run away, but the man's grip was too strong. He brought him over to the table, and put the boy's arms and legs in the straps. Then, he…he, uh…
(Dr. Cardinal's hands begin to shake uncontrollably as he puffs on his cigarette.)
Dr. Cardinal: No, no. Can't do it. I'm sorry. I—I need a break.
(Dr. Cardinal makes his way to the door. Dr. Stratovich follows.)
Dr. Stratovich: Dr. Cardinal, if there is anything I can do to help—
(Dr. Stratovich places his hand on Dr. Cardinal's shoulder. Dr. Cardinal immediately shakes off the hand, and snaps at Dr. Stratovich.)
Dr. Cardinal: Don't fucking touch me!
(Dr. Cardinal is visibly teary-eyed. He walks to his office, and slams the door.)
[END LOG]