"Do you consent to the removal of this memory?"

Oh God, I want to, but....

I shook my head. "No!"

It was a trick question. The government was guilty of using it to hide their indiscretions. Scandals was more like it. I love the spin they put on things.

NOT!!

I knew the doctor here. She was following the script she had to because of, you know, regulations. I couldn't blame most of the kids going through this for taking the option. The mental anguish of my discovery wasn't easy to live with.

"Are you sure? I can ensure you never suffer another flashback."

"Yes!"

Question two of the prescribed patter answered.

"I will not be able to offer this service again. With that in mind, do you want to change your answer?"

Again, temptation quivered through my brain. The images flashed through my memory making me moan, tears leaking from my eyes. The electrodes pulsed on my head, a giddy reminder of relief I was denying myself.

"No! My answer is still the same."

"Release him." The doctor's terse order brought the removal of the wiring harness attached like a poisonous spider's web glued onto my scalp.

My hands were uncuffed and my ankles followed. The pain of memory removal brought thrashing and convulsions. Brains were damaged. I've seen the consequences. The often vegetative state resulted in legal murder.

No thanks.

"Leave quickly."

I didn't need to be reminded. The chase was on.