The T.V. show Hogan's Heroes belongs to Bing Crosby Productions. No ownership of the Hogan's Heroes characters is implied or inferred, and no infringement is intended.

Chapter Nine

Relinquished

"When I heard we had you to thank for the Fuhrer placing Colonel Hogan back under Luftwaffe jurisdiction…" Burkhalter smiled, "…more specifically under my authority, I thought you would enjoy seeing this," Burkhalter announced to Biedenbender. "We have been granted permission to observe as they evaluate Colonel Hogan's responses to a series of tests as long as we do not interfere."

Biedenbender nodded, "I understand." Rank does have its privileges, and I'm quickly learning the benefits of being a General.

Burkhalter continued, "They'll begin with the studies for behavior modification using drugs to alter perception. The drug dosages will be increased with each round. The beta tests subjects they used to establish the dosage limits for the alpha test group were not able to control their thoughts after the fourth round of mescaline and became susceptible to suggestions, paranoia or irreversible psychosis. Even though some test subjects seemed to know that they were hallucinating, they couldn't stop the hallucinations."

"They knew they were hallucinating?" Biedenbender asked.

Burkhalter nodded, "Some did. But after the sixth dose I'm told most of them had lost contact with reality all together."

"How does this enable us to brainwash them?" Biedenbender asked. Does it cause amnesia and if so does their memory ever come back?

"I have no idea. I am not a scientist," Burkhalter answered, as if that said it all. "But I'm told these studies have been going on for several years. Programming of an individual is most successful when started at an early age. The challenge now is to obtain the same results on an adult whose ideals are already established."

Biedenbender changed his focus as a confused and apprehensive Colonel Hogan was wheeled into the room. Before Hogan realized what was happening he was surrounded by several orderlies and lifted from the gurney onto an examining table, strapped down and his hospital gown removed. Burkhalter and Biedenbender watched as Hogan was exposed and baseline blood pressure, pulse, and respirations were obtained.

"Everybody seems to know their jobs," Biedenbender remarked as he watched the scurry of activity taking place with very little chatter.

Shortly, a German voice echoed out, "All clear?" All heads were nodding. "Then we are ready to begin."

"What are you going to do to me?" Hogan demanded.

Biedenbender waited to see what kind of answer would be given, but no one acknowledged the question. He continued watching as Hogan scanned the room, undoubtedly trying to calm himself and make sense of his surroundings. Instead, he appeared to become more confused, and his rate of breathing increased, as he was approached by one of the scientists carrying a syringe.

"Gentlemen, a preliminary dose of three hundred milligrams. The time is exactly seven thirty-four a.m."

"The man still struggles to get away," Biedenbender commented under his breath.

"I can't say that I blame him," Burkhalter answered. "But then, I know what they have in store for him."

The restraints only allowed Hogan to writhe and offer minimal interference with the needle coming in contact with his skin. But even minimal interference would not be allowed. An orderly immediately stepped up to assist by pushing down on Hogan's still tender abdomen to quiet his struggling, which initiated a small outcry. Hogan froze in an attempt to lessen the pain, the drug was administered, and his rigid body went limp as the medicine entered him. Realizing he had lost this battle, he panted and tried to slow his excited breathing.

"Does the drug act that quickly? Biedenbender asked, surprised at the sudden cessation of resistance exhibited by their victim.

"I doubt it. I think Colonel Hogan has just realized there is nothing he can do." Burkhalter nodded, before smiling approvingly and adding, "A sensible decision."

Biedenbender echoed his understanding, "All hope has been abandoned. Good!"

Hogan's body soon began to twitch involuntarily, eliciting great interest from the scientists, who were closely observing, taking notes, and monitoring their subject's vital signs at ten-minute intervals. Both Generals watched as the scientists swarmed about their subject like bees around a hive.

It doesn't look like he has given up completely," Burkhalter whispered, as an orderly placed his hands on either side of Hogan's head to steady it while a light was shone into his eyes, one at a time and examined by one of the scientists.

The man performing the exam turned to have a short discussion with another lab coat wearing scientist. Shortly after this, Hogan's left arm and leg were unstrapped and he was rolled onto his side, where his body temperature was taken and recorded. The two Generals watched as Hogan closed his eyes in submission, before again being forced back into the restraints..

"They're very thorough!" Biedenbender commented with satisfaction.

"Naturally!" Burkhalter turned slightly to look at the new General. "You seem to be taking great pleasure in that fact," Burkhalter remarked.

Biedenbender's eyes had drifted back to the activity in front of him. "He has caused me considerable discomfort and humiliation in the past. It's fitting that he should be getting some in return."

Burkhalter smiled and nodded, before also turning back to study how their prisoner was coping. I wonder if his eyes are closed because of the medicine or because he is shutting out some of the reality of his situation.

Pulse and respirations continued to be taken as the constant vigil progressed. Finally Hogan began to sweat profusely and his breathing quickened causing one of the scientists to approach and take a closer look. This seemed to be one of the turning points that were being watched for.

"Die Zeit ist acht zweiundvierzig," someone called out noting the time.

Biedenbender looked on with interest as Hogan paled and began to gag. This brought the white lab coats to the table to release Hogan's arm and leg and roll him to his side once again, allowing him to expel his stomach contents into a waiting bucket.

Watching you like this I have mixed feelings about maintaining my anonymity. Part of me wants you to know that I have the upper hand and am somewhat responsible for your current predicament. However, I can't take full credit. I could not have done it without your help. If you had answered our questions you wouldn't be lying there now. It was your dogged determination to keep your mouth shut in the face of considerable force that placed you among the specimens in the alpha group for this testing. And the longer you hold out the more alpha you become, and the more necessary it will be to break you, in order to prove our process will work on anyone. I wonder…once they brainwash you, will there be any mind left to retrain? The only way you can win, Colonel Hogan, is to submit. Give in early and you may only lose half your mind.

Hogan clung to the side of the exam table retching.

Biedenbender leaned toward Burkhalter and commented, "Mescaline seems to take over the entire body, not just the mind." Biedenbender rubbed his chin, fascinated with the scene unfolding before him. "I wonder if there is any permanent damage from the seizure activity."

Burkhalter's eyebrows arched as he, too, began to consider the possible side effects.

Gradually the gut-wrenching sickness that had overcome Hogan lessened and he slumped onto his back, exhausted as the cuffs were replaced on his wrist and ankle and the straps were once again pulled tight against his jerking body.

General Burkhalter studied Hogan, taking notice that, even though Hogan was clearly not in control of his body, there was still determination and…a trace of contempt in those eyes. Burkhalter filed all of this information away to be used later, after all of the tests had been run and he would have to decide what to do with the American Colonel.

Hogan quickly turned his head toward the man that had approached to take his blood pressure again, and looked at him as if he had never seen him before. The young American Colonel grinned and then blinking his eyes hard frowned and muttered, "I knew it was too good to be true."

A man with a clipboard stepped closer, "Was sagte er?"

"Er sagte, dass es zu gut war, um wahr zu sein", one of the nurses assigned to Hogan's care answered.

Burkhalter listened as the nurse approached and asked their alpha, "Yes, Colonel Hogan? What is too good to be true?"

Hogan stared at the woman's face, mesmerized, but did not answer.

The lead scientist stepped up and pulled the nurse to the side before speaking, "Sprechen Sie mit ihm, Ursula. Fragen Sie, was er sieht und hort, und was er fuhlt."

The nurse nodded and turned back to their test subject. "Herr Doctor wants to know what you are seeing, Colonel Hogan. What do you feel?"

Silence.

"Can he not talk?" Biedenbender whispered.

"He looks…awed." Burkhalter answered. "Like he is seeing something amazing. The hallucinations must be starting."

Biedenbender watched with renewed interest.

The nurse was still trying to get a response, when Hogan breathlessly muttered, "What are you doing to me?"

"He is at least aware that things are not as they should be. Interesting." Biedenbender watched in amazement as Hogan strained his head to see around him. He was obviously seeing more than anyone else in the room, but still he remained mute about what he was seeing.

The scientists in the room recognized this as another turning point and after a brief conference Hogan was unstrapped and allowed up. He was handed a pair of shorts that captivated his attention for several minutes. Finally Hogan rubbed his eyes and clumsily pulled the shorts on still apparently enthralled by their appearance. He changed his focus only when the nurse again beckoned to him. He walked to her without taking his eyes from her and joined her in a nonsensical conversation.

Biedenbender was taking it all in. The interaction of Hogan and the nurse, the interests of the scientists recording their information, and the intensity with which General Burkhalter seemed to be watching Hogan until suddenly his attention, too, zeroed in on the American flyer as he heard the name Goldilocks come from Hogan's gibberish.

"Goldilocks muss sein Flugzeug sein," one of the observers guessed.

"Ja," Biedenbender affirmed, before he realized he had spoken out.

The man who had asked the question looked at Biedenbender and nodded, before looking back at his clipboard and making a note.

After a while Hogan began to appear more lucid, at which time he was led back to the table, strapped down, and the process begun all over again, but this time with a larger dosage administered and with more violent outcomes.

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"Absolutely fascinating!" Biedenbender proclaimed at the end of the second round of Mescaline. An exhausted Hogan was wheeled from the room.

The scientist who was in charge of today's studies approached the two visiting Generals. "I trust you are finding this interesting. I've noticed your quiet conversations. We will take a break for lunch, while Dr. Weinzaphel pumps some nourishment into our alpha. He is using a lot of energy. We want him to be strong enough to continue for several more hours. Will you be returning for this afternoon's study?"

Burkhalter nodded, "I will, unfortunately General Biedenbender must return to Berlin."

"We have been honored, Herr General. There will be several more days of testing performed when we finish with this challenge. Please feel free to come back anytime."

Without further comment the white lab coat spun around and returned to the other scientists to compare notes.

"Come," Burkhalter nodded with a satisfied smirk on his face. "We will go into town and get some nourishment ourselves before you must head back to Berlin. It's been a long morning and it will do us good to get away and relax."

Biedenbender nodded in agreement. "Ja I would enjoy that, and you can tell me about the prisoner of war camps that you oversee. I've heard some interesting stories."

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