"Well," the man said, standing in the doorway to the hall. "How are they doing?"

The doctor smiled and stood, looking up from their clipboard and walking toward the man.

"They seem to be responding quite well."

"I know that already," the man said harshly. "What I asked is how are they doing?"
The doctor sighed.

"Well, so far, everything is going well," they explained. "The treatments seem to be responding properly, which is good."

They flipped the page of their clipboard, reading over more notes.

"Jones was very easily convinced and didn't put up much of a fight to any of the tests." They read from the page. "Tork was an issue originally but complied when he was told this would help his friends. And Dolenz was quite the resister. That caused for there to be a few minor complications with his tests but don't worry sir, the…issue sorted itself out and all seems to be going well."

"And Nesmith?"

The doctor froze.

"I…haven't started him on anything yet," they admitted.

"You haven't? Why not?" The man scoffed.

"Sir, please, I—!"

"It's what you're paid to do. So tell me, why?" He asked, crossing his arms over his chest. The doctor frowned and stiffened, carefully preparing what they were about to say.

"He's far too stressed," they said quietly. "There's no way we can do the tests with him like this."

"What do you mean, he's too stressed?"

"I mean that the only way we could possibly start any of the tests on him is if we put him under to do so. And you and I both know we can't do that."

"Then give him something to help him calm down."

"I did," the doctor said sternly. "Even with our sedatives, his body is still too stressed to do anything."

The man groaned.

"Well, then prepare him for electric shock therapy," he ordered. "That should calm him down a little."

The doctor frowned but didn't argue.

"Right away, sir," they said under their breath as they made their way back down the hall.

Mike woke up to the sound of a click. He opened his eyes, his vision blurry as he looked around. There was someone standing above him.

"Good morning, Mr. Nesmith," a familiar voice said, taking the brace off of his forehead. "How are you feeling?"

Was it already morning? Mike wondered to himself as he attempted to sit up but he was entirely strapped down.

"Don't try and move," the voice explained. "It'll only hurt more if you try and move with the braces."

What would? He wanted to ask, but couldn't. He could feel it when two electrodes were placed on his temples. He tried to move and see what was happening, but the fatigue and braces holding him down, made it impossible to do so.

"What're you doing?" Mike tried to ask but his voice didn't seem to work. It only came out as a slight groan.

"Just relax," the familiar voice said. "This will only take a minute or two. And this should help you calm down, at least a little bit."

"Go," a voice said and an electric shock was sent through his entire body. He began shaking as the sharp pain surged through him.

"Again," the voice ordered and Mike could feel more shocks go through his body as he began seizing again. After a moment or so, it all stopped and there was a new voice beside his ear.

"Mr. Nesmith, can you hear me?"

Mike tried to move his head toward the voice, but he couldn't move. He couldn't bring himself to say anything.

"Mr. Nesmith?"

"He's not responding…"

"Do it again."

Another wave of shocks and Mike let out a cry at the pain.

"Mr. Nesmith, can you hear me?" The voice asked again, more harshly than the first time.

"Hmm-hmm…?" Mike whimpered, not finding the voice to speak.

"Are you nervous?"

Mike frowned slightly, why should he be nervous? What was there to be nervous about?

"Hmm n-no…" he whispered.

"Okay, good. Now."

A needle was placed in the side of his neck and Mike let out a slight whimper as a new strange feeling went through his body.

"You need to relax," the familiar said, and Mike could feel as someone began loosening and adjusting the braces slightly. "We're changing the braces to hopefully make it a little more comfortable."

The braces around his wrists were now removed as a new one was placed over his neck. A new needle was pushed into his arm by his elbow and made him feel dizzy, his vision blurring.

"Just relax," the voice said. "I promise you won't feel a thing."

Slowly, Mike drifted off to sleep as the tests were finally able to begin.