A Scripta

"Mr. Greene. What a surprise."

"Save it, doc."  Masonry sat down on the vinyl couch across from the balding man with glasses dressed in casual street clothes, who turned his chair around from his desk.  "I need help."

"If you weren't in the FBSA I would have turned you in for violation of parole."

Masonry looked away.  The doctor sat back in his chair and crossed his arms.  "What help?"

"I'm homicidal again."

"'Still', you mean.  You didn't come back after telling me you went -there- so we couldn't start a proper course of treatment."

Masonry said, "Pharmecologically, I'm not the best candidate."

"I -was- thinking medicines which Lodestar can help in administering by avoiding healing you; but I had a different, more immediate treatment plan."

Masonry nodded for him to continue.

"ECT."

Masonry jerked his head up.  The silence was broken only by the small trickle of water by a fake waterfall on the doctor's desk.  Masonry said, "Shock therapy?  Why don't I just save the state money and wander into a crowd of Malta sappers?"

"Because they don't know where to put the electrodes."

Masonry tried not to laugh but smiled anyway.  "What about brain damage?"

"You took drugs that killed brain cells, you had a Kheldian extracted from you and you're worried about brain damage?"

Masonry cleared his throat.  "Is it successful?"

"Seventy percent are clearly better in a week.  You may suffer through initial confusion or memory loss after the procedure, but it's usually worn off in an hour or so.  They won't let you go otherwise.  I was going to suggest once daily depending on your schedule."

"I don't have a schedule," he muttered.

"Good."  He turned from him and started writing something.  "Report to the Phoenix Medical Center on Talos Island.  I'll tell them to expect you."

"Now?"

"Now.  I'm also putting you on Remeron twice daily.  So for the first week you'll be having ECT in the morning and then taking this at lunch and before bed.  Are you still sleeping with Daisuke?"

He looked down.  "No."

"You broke up?"

"I told him about my dreams."

"You kill people in your dreams - you killed him too?"

Masonry bit his lip and nodded.

The doctor nodded.  "It was only a matter of time, Nate.  I know you love him, but any small thing he might do would spark a rage."

"I know, I need to stop.  This will help?"

The doctor handed him a prescription.  "If it doesn't kill you, first."

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They wheeled the patient into the room.  Hannah looked down at the man, already in restraints.  He turned his head slowly, the muscle relaxant already working.  She pushed back his hair and smiled at him as she attached the small electrodes to either side of his head.  He tried to smile but couldn't.

"It's okay," she said, and caressed his forehead.  "Don't fight it, just relax."  Hannah's Kheldian Luminescence said, Lodestar is restrained.

They had to restrain him, too?

No, no. I mean he won't stop the procedure.

Hannah caressed his forehead again as the anethesia put him to sleep.  The nurse who would be administering the procedure nodded to her.  She checked to make sure the restraints were tight and his hands were wrapped around the solid iron bars on the bed.  Then she stepped back.  He checked some gauges, while Hanna watched the EEG monitor.  "1000 milliamps, two seconds," the nurse announced, and pressed a button.  The EEG monitor went slightly wild, then tapered off.  "Again?"

Hannah had watched the monitor.  "Three seconds."

He nodded, announced, "1000 milliamps, three seconds."  He pressed the button.  The EEG beeped once, then stopped. 

She nodded, "That should do it."

She pulled the electrodes off and touched her Kheldian.  Is he all right?

Lodestar is fine. 

She whispered, "Lodestar, let him heal on his own.  Don't help him."

He understands. 

Hannah caressed his forehead again.  "Is he married?"

The nurse chuckled.  "Not according to his chart."

She smiled.  "I'd better monitor him personally."

The nurse laughed and pulled the bed forward, aiming for the recovery room.  Luminescence said, I wouldn't if I were you.

Why?

Then began the litany of why he was there in the first place.