Alec

"Alec!?" Max yelled as she barged into his apartment. Back in Manticore he had told her that he had spent months in the Pys ward because of what happened with his clone. If anyone would know what they had done to her, he would.

"Holy shit Max," Alec yelled back, surprised at her sudden appearance. He sat up from where he was sitting on his sofa, turning off the mindless infomercial that played on his tv. "It's like four am."

"I need your help," Max blurted out, only to be met by a questioning look from Alec. Not knowing what else to do she quickly explained her situation. How Manticore had captured her, the strange device they had used on her, the escape, and how she was current lack of freewill.

:You gotta be kidding me,: Alec laughed. Her story sounded like something Sketchy would dream up. ?So you're telling me that you have to do everything anyone asks you too?"

"Yes Alec, I'm serious. You spent more time in the Psy ward than anyone I know. You gotta know something..."

"Stand on one foot,"Alec blurted out. Still thinking this was some kind of prank he was a little surprised when Max's foot bent upwards and she began balancing on one foot.

"Alec!"

"Jump up and down."

Max's face turned red with rage as she began hoping on one foot. She was going to kill him. Alec for his part was shocked as he watched Max hop up and down.

"Ok... Ok... stop," Alec told her, his neck straining back, his eyes focusing on the ceiling as he thought back to his days in Manticore. "Seriously?" He asked again, still a little disbelieving of the situation. The stern look he received from Max told him all he needed to know.

"From what I remember and what you told me," Alec scratched his head as he put the pieces together. "I figure they were in the process of reprogramming you. That machine messes you up, fucks with your head. It makes you extremely **** to suggestion so the rest of the reprogramming goes smoothly,? he shuddered remembering his own experiences in Manticore. "For whatever reason they stopped the process before they actually got to the reprogramming part. Leaving you as you are now."

"So" How do I reverse it?"

Alec looked up at Max standing in the middle of his apartment. "Uhh, Think of it as a case of **** hypnosis, the effects should just fade on their own.?

"How long," Finally some good news, Max thought to herself.

"Couple of weeks, maybe a month.. or two." Alec winced as he finished his sentence.

"What? I can't... That's too long!"

"I figure there might be a faster way." Alec added before Max got too upset."Since it's all in your head. If you were told to do something that you absolutely did not want to too you should be able to overpower whatever Manticore had done. I mean, it has to be something you would find disgusting, something that every inch of your being would normally refuse to do, then you should be able to stop yourself from doing it. Then that would open the door in your mind and then the rest should be easy."

Max cringed at Alec's plan. But as far as she could tell there was no other way, she couldn't stay like this for a month.

"Okay.... so do it... Tell me to do something," Max said as she braced herself for Alec's order.