Title: The Cure (Chapter 6)
Spoilers For: Epitaph One
Characters: Topher Brink, Adelle DeWitt
Rating: K+
Summary: Adelle has an idea on how to restore Topher to his former, perfectly sane, glory.
The trio headed up the stairs, albeit at a turtle's pace. Adelle knew she couldn't rush him, and Dr. Saunders wouldn't allow it. And so they went. Slowly. Topher stopped on each step and looked back. Then, he hopped up on the next with both feet. Both Claire and Adelle stood on either side of him at the ready, hoping that he wouldn't fall. When they finally reached the top, Topher realized where they were headed.
"I don't want to go into the bad place," He whimpered as he started to hug Adelle, "Please don't make me go."
"It's the only way we can get you back, sweetheart." She responded delicately. Topher then let go and turned to Claire.
"Can't we go back in a different room?" He sounded desperate, and she didn't know what to say.
"No." A one word answer was all she could manage to say to him. She wanted so badly to take him back to his pod, but DeWitt made a promise to him, and she wasn't in the business of breaking other people's promises for them.
Adelle once again took his hand and lead him forward. He complied, reluctantly, but he made it all the way to the imprint room. The machine was set and ready. A wipe and then an imprint of himself was in order. He knowingly looked at the chair, took a gulp and a breath, and sat down.
"You're doing well," She reassured him. Claire, who now occupied Topher's old computer chair, had nothing to do but bite her tongue.
Topher gave a small smile before Adelle turned to get some neural transmitters. She placed each small pad on his forehead in their respective positions, and two larger ones on his chest to monitor his vital signs. The machines spring to life with a series of beeps and lights, alerting Adelle that it was ready. All she needed to do now was install active architecture press the large button on the side console of the chair.
She took a gun-like device out of a drawer at Topher's desk and slid a small piece of machinery into the bottom. Turning back to her "patient", she fiddled with the device to prepare it for operation.
"This may hurt a bit." Adelle warned him as she turned his head to the right. Placing the point of the device to the back of his neck, she pulled the trigger. With a shout and another series of beeps, she knew that the active architecture was in.
Claire watched as Adelle moved about the head of the chair and pressed the button. "Topher looks so calm. That's a rarity." She thought. The chair leaned back, bright lights flashed, and Topher began to whimper. Soon the whimpers became cries of agony. Both women watched as he suffered. His back arched, his aqua eyes closed, his hands gripped the chair, and then it was done. The chair rose slowly, as it always did.
"Did I fall asleep?"
A/N: Sorry for the wait. The final chapter should be up by the end of the week. Thanks for the reviews!