Day 4 - Obedience

A/N: A darker/alternate version of Edna's attempts to 'reprogram' Citizen Brown. Set during Episode IV: Double Visions.

The metallic table beneath him was sticky with his own blood, which had seemed to pour from endless orifices all over his body. Tattered remains of his white overcoat and grey trousers were strewn across the table as they had sliced him open, leaving him in a bloody undershirt and boxers.

He could feel the wounds that the restraints had been engraving into his wrists as he'd struggled against them, with the slightest twitch or movement sent a ring of fire circling around the remains of his battered skin. Doesn't help my skin isn't young and full of keratin anymore…

Although he couldn't be completely certain due to his impaired mental state, he had been kept in a restrained supine position for at least three days. He was beyond desperate to flex his neck, but he'd been tied down so tightly that the smallest of wiggles was impossible.

What had he seen in Edna all those years ago?

It certainly hadn't involved restraints, violent beatings and brainwashing monitors. Maybe this is some sort of fetish? It has to be, right?

Part of him couldn't believe he'd been suckered into her schemes. The alarm bells and red flags should have been obvious when she originally told him how she wanted to maintain justice in Hill Valley. Did I seriously think she meant being a lawyer? God, I was such a stupid young man.

How could I have been so blind?! I should've realised she was a psychopath the moment she wanted me to build a mind mapping machine!

"I'm so sorry about all this, my darling," Edna's sickly voice floated behind him. She slowly approached his restrained form, gazing down with the expression he'd come to dub her 'forced concern' face. "But this is all necessary to restore you to normal!"

Doc didn't have the strength to reason with her. All he could do was stare at the monochrome ceiling and blink despondently.

"Once we've broken you down again," Edna continued, "then we can use you as another test subject for the Citizen Plus program."

She must've noticed his eyes widening in alarm, for Edna let out a cackle. "Don't fret, my dear! Look at how well the Citizen Plus treatment went for Mr Tannen. I have no doubts it will work splendidly for you too. I also intend to use that McFly boy before your round of treatment as well, just to ensure there are no…'issues' with the medication."

A knot of worry was rapidly growing in Doc's stomach. Although he had never been a religious man, he'd spent the last three days silently praying that Martin had been able to evade Edna's clutches. If he has been captured, there's definitely no hope for my escape.

Edna clasped her arthritic fingers tightly around the wounds on Doc's blood-stained hand, her smile growing larger as she watched her husband groan weakly with pain. "I know, I know Emmett. But this is all for your own good. If you would just stop resisting this treatment, it would all be over faster!"

The doors behind him were suddenly forced open, the metallic doors clanging loudly against some stray medical equipment. "I don't think your 'patient' is appreciating the bedside manner, Edna."

Martin! Doc had no energy to physically react to the arrival of his saviour. If anything, he felt his body growing weaker.

"And can I ask how you are going to treat my husband any better than I could, Mr McFly?" Edna spoke indignantly, her gaze turning towards Marty.

"'Cause I'm not psycho enough to cut open the guy who literally gave up his entire future just to help you become supreme ruler of Hill Valley!" Marty snapped in disgust. The tips of his hair were just visible to Doc in his peripheral vision. "How can you possibly think this is okay? T-this isn't brainwashing, this is outright torture!"

"I will admit this may appear excessive," Edna released her grip on Doc's hand, seemingly blasé about the copious amount of blood now covering her own skin, "but I would not be doing it if I didn't deem it to be necessary for my husband's treatment! He requires immediate and targeted treatments-"

"I've heard enough of this shit. You really are a nutcase," A loud crack rang out through the treatment room, with a strangled cry coming from Edna. Doc was fuming that he couldn't see what was going on, but continued to feel elated as Marty snapped at his wife. "Also, you should really re-educate your guards about leaving their batons unattended. Definitely a work safety hazard."

"Y-you…disrespectful…hooligan!" Edna choked out. "I t-think…you've…broken-"

"Your ribs? God, I hope I did! It'll stop you from getting the rest of your creeps in here."

Marty's face finally appeared in Doc's line of vision, the young man giving him a look that he would've described as frightened. His darted all over the place as he looked at Doc's injuries. "Oh, Doc, I'm so sorry…" He whispered. "I wish I'd gotten in sooner, b-but the guards a-and I needed Jennifer…"

Doc drew upon every last ounce of energy left in his battered frame to force his mouth into a tiny smile. I know you did your best, Martin.

The teenager seemed to have correctly interpreted his gesture, visibly relaxing. "Alright Doc, we're bustin' you outta here!" Marty slammed his feet on the breaks to release them before he began pushing the table forward, grunting as he struggled to make it accelerate. "Geez, this is heavier than I expected…"

Doc could only sigh with relief as they passed through a second set of double doors. Perhaps, with Martin's help, he'd finally have a future after all.