Chapter 9: Playing God

"Once the basic vital functions are back in place, the next phase begins; different compounds are introduced to the system to stimulate the brain. It's like restarting a computer, the limbic, the cerebellum, and the cerebrum. Once all the compounds have been used, the body's reactions are tested with electrical stimuli."

"When can I ..see him?" Cassie asked no, she pleaded; the last image she had of William was him, lying cold as stone on that table in the morgue. She wanted to chase that away; she wanted to see her lover's cocky smile again. To feel safe and sound wrapped in those arms encompassed in that scent of smoke and cologne. She'd never again scold Will for doing anything weird ever again. She'd forgive him for when he got drunk and broke the coffee table when he fell over it.  Even the time he mooned the landlady.

All of his pranks seemed so trivial now. She'd tell him she loved him more. She just wanted that chance.

Liz looked up at the clock; if things were going well, they should know soon. She didn't want to promise the girl too much, though. "I can't say for sure, Cassie; I'm sorry. "

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"beginning compound push B, C, and D." Randal gave Luke a nod once he was finished. This was the part he was dreading. It was always so jarring with each subject when they got to this stage. He never quite got over the knee-jerk reaction to pin his back to the wall.

Luke felt the same, even though his usual position was on the other side of the glass.

He prided himself in maintaining his composer, but now, his fingers lingered over the lever that would send high-volume Volts of electricity into his brother's body. His palms were sweating, his mouth tasted metallic, his knees were quaking, and all he wanted was to run. It may not have been brave, but it was the Truth anyway.

Luke closed his eyes, " Applying electric current now," And flipped the switch.

Luke wasn't alone; Randall stared at the floor with interest, and Travis and Ed were all glued to their respective monitoring screens. There were only two pairs of eyes trained on the tank, one for science, the other for hope.

The dull humming sound and the fluid splash from the tank was the only sound to accompany William's body's shock response. The man's back arched, and the chains suspending him in the oxygenated bath jingled at the wild contractions of his limbs.

Eva watched; she had to; she looked away only a fraction of a second to the man who stood beside her. Conrad's face was unreadable; he wore no fear in those brilliant blue eyes. That was one thing that Eva loved about him, even if the soldier's talking could get annoying; when it came to it, Conrad was the bravest, most muscular man she knew.

When the second wave of a current hit, did they get the response they were hoping for?

Luke's eyes snapped open at the distorted sound of a scream, his ice blue eyes locked on the tank, and the flurry of bubbles escaping William's mouth. Randal reached over, slamming the lever into the off position.

" S- Subject is responding...R-Reanimation ...complete.." The brunette stuttered.

Luke rushed to the Plexi enclosure placing his palms flush against the side and staring at his brother. Once the current stopped, his muscles had gone limp, with all but a few residual cramps, but he was alive .. William was active...

"Place the subject in Observation Two." Eva's voice came over the intercom.

Luke was too ready to get his brother out of there and at least more comfortable. He knew it would be a while before the man was conscious, and they would be able to determine If and how much of William's mind had been salvaged. The younger knew from the animal trials what could happen, but he didn't want to consider that a possibility.

Inside the lab, Conrad all smiled. " Hey babe, I'm gonna go tell Cassie the good news !" he beamed

Eva Wanted to tell him not to because it may still be too early to celebrate, but she knew if the tables were turned and something had happened to her goofy boyfriend, she would want to know. So she let the blonde military male march out of the lab with a spring in his step.

"How are readouts for subjects' brain waves?" She questioned her three assistant team members.

"There seem to be multiple activity locations, Ms. Eva, much more than with other subjects." One commented, looking over Travis' shoulder at the readouts.

The woman's dark eyes narrowed slightly at the screen before looking at the 2nd observation room. Something didn't feel right; the hair on the back of her neck rose as she watched the two speaking men tend to their family mem members glanced back at the screen; it was good to see that William was alive. Still, the synapse in his brain firing off like lightning in a bottle all over his cerebrum gave the woman an ill feeling. It was too much and didn't show signs of tapering off into normal brain function.

Eva leaned forward, hitting the intercom, trying to speak calmly though her mind was shouting.

" Restrain the subject and leave the room Now. "

Luke turned his head, looking oddly at the glass pane that separated the lab from the observation rooms.

Randal, however, didn't hesitate to strap the subject down, "Do as she says, Luke," The brunette said

The younger man begrudgingly did so; he hoped Eva was being over-cautious.

Conrad busted into his apartment, booming his sister's name. "Cassie !"

"Shhh! You! Felicia is sleeping!"...Liz hissed, coming out of the kitchen with Cassie following her closely

Conrad drew back some with an apologetic look before shoving his hands in his pocket. Giving the blonde the appearance of a little boy being scolded; however, this was short-lived before he darted out, grabbing his sister in a bone-crushing hug.

"Cassie, I have good news for you !" The words made Cassie's heart sing.

"Is he ..." She said softly, pulling back and looking at her twin. Conrad's blue eyes smiled in response, Cassie grinned, and tears trekked from his visibly tired blue eyes. "Oh, Con. Is it true..?"

"Yeah. I promised you, didn't I." He said, holding his sister's face gently. "I never go back on my promises. "

Liz teared up a bit at the display. Finally, she sobbed happily and flung her arms around both young men.

Behind them, a perplexed Felicia sat up, rubbing her eyes. "What's going on?"