Marshall struggled against his bonds, his eyes unfocused.
Penelope watched him from across the room. "How much do you understand right now?"
He did not answer, mostly as he was gagged, but Penelope was almost certain that he thought that the wall was more threatening than her at the moment.

It was a fascinating feeling. Watching a man's mind dissolve into nothing... it gave her a sense of power. Of course, they'd have to speed up the process by concentrating the doses, but it seemed to be going swimmingly at the moment.
"I suggest you drink some water when you're lucid." Penelope commented. "You don't seem to like the IV."

His eyes shifted into focus, and he stopped struggling for a minute, just staring at her unblinkingly.
She smiled. "Oh, you're up. Excellent. Don't worry, you'll probably just go through another round of pain and confusion before it's over."
She removed the gag, then asked, "What do you remember?"
"Who... where is Fionna?" He breathed.
"Mm... long-term memory is being buried first, I see... so, who do you work for?"

He frowned for a minute, staring at the floor. "Something about the union?"
"I assume that was a wisecrack." Penelope tapped her heeled foot on the floor. "Very well, Abadeer. Take your time with the fever and the pain. Your little blonde friend might wait for you."
He blinked at her. "Aba... deer...? No, just... who is Fionna? Where is Fionna? You're not Fionna, she smells like vanilla and strawberries and reminds me of sunshine."

Penelope blinked at him in surprise. "Well, Operation Connecticut was much more effective than I could have thought."
His eyes began to grow unfocused again, and she replaced the gag. "As soon as you're physically able to walk, you can see Fionna again. There's that for you, at least."

~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~

When Fionna walked in nearly a week after Marshall's disappearance, Brendan was gone.
She stared at the man in front of her, uncomprehending.
He stared back blankly, then asked in a voice devoid of emotion. "You are Fionna Mertons...?"

She nodded, snapping out of it. "Hey, I thought you got transferred to Connecticut? What was that about?"
He jerked his head up and down in an imitation of a nod. "Yes. I was in... Connecticut. Yes."
She narrowed her eyes. "Uh huh... where in Connecticut?"
He blinked at her. "I do not understand the question. I was simply in Connecticut. I have returned due to continued good behavior."

Fionna watched him thoughtfully for a minute, before nodding. "Alright. Hey, do you know a guy named Brendan Melahone?"
"No. That name is not familiar." Marshall replied robotically. "Cease your inquiries immediately."
Fionna stared at him for a minute. "Do you even remember who I am?"

"You are Fionna Mertons. I have already relayed this information." He frowned slightly. "Is there a problem with your memory?"
"Clearly there's a problem with yours!" Fionna shot back. "I just... Penelope did this to you, right?"
"Ms. Rosser has nothing to do with my memory." Marshall replied, blinking rapidly while frowning slightly.

"Are you sure about that?" Fionna asked. "It seems to me like... hey, wait. If she did this to you, are you working for her?"
"We are both working for her." Marshall said firmly, leaving his arms hanging at his sides. "Stop pressing the issue immediately."
"You don't even talk like Marshall anymore!" Fionna argued.

He hesitated, before shaking his head. "I am Marshall, so therefore, I talk like Marshall. You can't... stop it! I am Marshall, I am Marshall!"
Fionna blinked in surprise at him, before moving forward and touching his arm. "Hey... I can help you, okay?"
"No! Ms. Rosser said I can't let you help me... I can't... you... why are you so important?" He demanded.

She searched his face, before shrugging. "I don't know why I'm so important to you. But I do want to help you."
He stared at her, and the door swung open. Penelope marched in, and Marshall immediately stiffened and returned to his robotic self.

"How was your trip, Marshall?" She asked carefully, examining his face.
His eyes became completely blank, and in a hollow voice, he replied, "It was an interesting learning experience."
Penelope smiled. "Return to work, if you please. Ms. Mertons, if I may see you in my office...?"
Fionna glanced at Marshall, who stared back blankly.

She silently followed Penelope to her office, then sat down in front of her.
Penelope took her place behind the desk, then began. "I assume you've noticed the difference in Mr. Abadeer's behavior?"
Fionna nodded.
Penelope's eyes glittered as she leaned in. "It would be best for you not to question him, or his behavior."

Fionna frowned. "What happened to him?"
"He suffered a traumatic accident in our Connecticut office. He was returned here to be monitored. His mental state is very fragile right now, so don't antagonize him."
"He looks like he's in pretty good shape for a traumatic accident." Fionna replied suspiciously.
Penelope raised an eyebrow. "Indeed? I was unaware that trauma had to be physical."

Fionna squirmed in her seat. "That's not what I meant... for his personality to completely disappear, he wouldn't... he would have amnesia, right? After he fell, or something?"
"While Mr. Abadeer does have amnesia, you'll find that physically, he should be fine, except for a virus he appears to have picked up from our Connecticut offices. Rest assured, it should not bother you."

Fionna watched Penelope through narrowed eyes for minute, but Penelope did nothing but shuffle some papers on her desk.
Penelope looked up suddenly, eyes narrowed. "I don't recall hiring you to hang about in my office."
Fionna's hand moved to her waist, and Penelope noticed the spot to be where a gun holster or perhaps a sheath would be. "I swear, if I find out that you're behind this..."

"As opposed to?" Penelope replied. "And what would you do to me, exactly? I have bodyguards, Ms. Mertons. Not even a trained agent such as yourself could handle them."
"So you know."
"Mm-hmm. Get back out there before I fire you and Mr. Abadeer has another crisis."