Coming to seemed to take forever to Roach, hazy scenes flickering in his memory. A table; staring at a harsh light in the ceiling; harsh yelling; intense and mind-numbing pain; several people hovering over him with garbled speech; someone saying his name.
"C'mon Gary, wake up, you're gonna be late!"
"I'm coming Ashton!"
"Gary you slowpoke wake up! Wake up!"
"Wake up!"
The sudden snap into reality was met with harrowing confusion. Roach could only blink, fuzzy shapes flitting in and out of his line of sight.
"Good to see you are with us, Gary." Roach groaned at the voice, closing his eyes as everything seemed to sway. "You do not want to miss the fun."
"Sleeping is fun, I'd rather do that." He responded groggily. His voice sounded scratchy with overuse. "Then I wouldn't hafta deal with you."
"Then I guess we can continue with Simon, since you are both now awake."
"No!" Roach snapped in alarm, trying to sit up. Instead he was stopped short, two straps over his torso and arms holding him tightly in place. His legs were also strapped tightly, and Roach could only sigh angrily in frustration. "This is some goddamn horseshit." His vision cleared enough to see Ghost in a similar situation, but propped upright and held in place with more straps than Roach was. What looked like a few stab wounds on his arms were slowly seeping blood. But what concerned him more was the vacant eyes Ghost was watching him with, similar to what had happened not too long ago. How long ago that was was Roach's guess, but it was unsettling to think how long he had been in that state now. Only when he actually paid attention did Roach notice a small IV slowly dripping a clear liquid into Ghost's arm, no doubt in his mind as to what it was.
"It seems under the effects of the compound it induces a sedative state, which I am sure you were privy to. Other effects seem to be flooding your pain receptors and causing the subject to become mute, vocalizations of pain aside. The cause for this is unknown, however. I am sure you two wouldn't mind being test subjects." Gonzalo was pacing, looking between the two. "However, the added bonus of near perfect compliance is a great boon no one was aware would occur. There is a limit, however, as arbitrary as it is. You seem to fight it enough to resist suggestion. Simon has no qualms in following through my orders, rather willing to in fact. This is both fascinating, and irksome." His face fell into annoyance.
"It's a real puzzle, innit?" Roach scoffed bitterly. He watched Ghost out of the corner of his eye, watching for any reaction. Instead, the unfocused gaze wandered around the room, glancing down at times to his arms and up to the drip bag in utter confusion before his sight wandered again, previous items of interest quickly forgotten.
"That aside, I figure there was a disparity between the two of you. We may have had touched upon that on our last meeting, but I would like your input, Gary." Gonzalo stopped his pacing, turning on his heel quickly to face Roach. Gonzalo leaned over him, his eyes roving over Roach's face. "What do you think is the cause for this."
"I dunno, like I've told you, I'm not the mad scientist here." Roach tried to shrug. He was left with an awkward wiggle as he shifted under his bonds. "These are really fuckin' tight can we loosen these some?" He nodded towards the straps. Roach was unprepared for the harsh slap across his face, bright spots lighting up in his sight.
"I asked for your opinion in a scientific endeavor. Please, do be courteous and helpful as we explore this matter together." Gonzalo straightened up, looking over his shoulder to Ghost. "I could ask Simon, but that would involve him being cognizant of his surroundings. The drip we have put him on is a lower dosage than we had originally given you, so no seizures should occur. However, we have also learned that when the body is not given at least a steady dosage or has metabolized thoroughly it gives the secondary symptom of pain. It would give me the answers I desire, asking him rather than waste my time with your petulant and snide remarks." Without much further comment, Gonzalo walked to the other side of Roach, where a table with various equipment sat. A box of latex gloves was opened, a pair removed with flourish.
"A bit for the dramatic?" Roach asked. He wanted to stall for time. Given, Ghost in this state was more unsettling to him, but the fact that he would be in intense pain in a moment gave him no qualms as to which state he prefered.
"Not for you, Gary." Gonzalo replied, approaching Ghost. One hand cupped Ghost's chin, lifting it until he made some form of eye contact. After a moment of staring from one person and unfocused blinking from the other, Gonzalo dropped his hand, reaching to remove the catheter in Ghost's arm. A few swift motions had it removed and replaced with a cotton ball and strip of tape. He stepped back, rolling the gloves off and throwing them onto the table. "Now, we wait. Meanwhile, I see the laceration I had given you seems to have healed well enough." Gonzalo leaned back over Roach. His natural reaction was to lean away from the invasion of space, but being unable to do so left him with a sense of panic.
"Sure it did. Nice and pretty for everyone to see." He managed out with a slight tremor in his voice. Roach had honestly forgotten about the scar, the feeling of it stretching gruesomely before now a strange new constant. "Honestly, I think you just made me a bit more handsome. 'Hey girl, wanna know how I got this scar?' Only that line wouldn't come from a deranged psychopath." Roach let out a small gasp before smirking. "Oh sorry, didn't mean to insult."
"You hide your fear behind a strange bravado. Why is that?" Gonzalo leaned back to give Roach some space. "Possibly bullied as a school child? Or perhaps an elder sibling? Either is a likely scenario." Gonzalo ignored the increase in labored breathing behind him, Roach trying to make a point to. He could already see Ghost returning to some semblance of sense, some of the vacancy in his eyes dissipating.
"I wanted to be a comedic." Roach deadpanned. Now he couldn't ignore the small sounds of pain coming from Ghost as he started to twitch. "Didn't work out, joined the military."
"Hm. Well, obviously. I do not find you to be quite as humorous as you believe you are. And with Simon currently in the midst of withdrawals, your comedic impact does not merit as much effort as you put in." Gonzalo stated. "Perhaps in a few minutes he will be more alert to your...antics...but for now, let us pause. We shall let Simon come from the withdrawal and continue there." Gonzalo chose then to leave the room, a panel of the wall sliding away to reveal a hallway. It closed behind him with a small click as locks engaged. Roach didn't hear it over the sound of Ghost screaming in agony. He winced as Ghost's voice cracked, throat already damaged from their last bout with Gonzalo and no doubt what had happened before Roach came to. The pain left Ghost thrashing against bonds, body tensed tightly causing his various wounds on his arms to bleed more. Roach looked away, eyes screwed tightly to try in vain to block out the noise.
It didn't help.
How's it guys? I'm havin' fun writin' again, and this chapter was going to be...long...if I didn't stop it here. So it's kinda short. But I'll upload the next chapter sooner than a month.
Probably.
Life decided to throw some great BS my way so it's been...fuuuuunnnnnnn...but it looks like something is good on the horizon.