A Mansion Groans X

Eventually, the disorganised group of hair, arms, limbs, and bandages burst through the door into Tombert Tomstein’s lab down in the Basement. Tomstein had already sat the dummy on one chair, with a metal dish with wires coming from it secured onto its head with thick silver masking tape. The wires led to a machine with a large dome on top, which sat atop a table between the dummy’s chair, and an empty chair that was intended for Thomasina. A large lever protruded from the back of the machine.

“Qvickly!” Tomstein fizzed. “Zhe chair… zhe chair!” He hovered behind it, holding another dish with wires, ready to place it on Thomasina’s head.

The throng sat Thomasina into the chair, with Tummy once again using his bandage charming abilities to bind her to the chair.

Fingers and Tomette moved to the right side of Thomasina. The Honourable Tom and Tombie moved to the left of the dummy. They all watched as Tomstein struggled placing the dish onto Thomasina’s head due to her perm.

Tomelangelo was the first to speak, from his vantage point on front of Thomasina.  “It isn’t going to go on.” He declared, using his thumb to try to work out different angles.

“Nonsense!” Tomstein huffed. “It vill. It vill. Zhere is only one sing for it. Fingers, you vill have to hold zhe dish in place for vhen I flick zhe svitch.”

Fingers clenched both his hands.

“And what exactly will flicking the switch do?” The Honourable Tom asked.

“It vill remove zhe essence of Tom Tootee from Thomasina’s mind and transfer her into zhe mind of zhe dummy.”

“Transfer her into the dummy?” The Honourable Tom questioned further. “Surely you mean him?”

“Eh?” Tomstein seemed flustered. “Him… her… vhat is zhe difference? Ve vill give life to zhe dummy.”

Thomasina’s eyes opened wider.

Fingers reluctantly climbed up to Thomasina’s head and held onto both the dish and her perm. The others gathered around as Tomstein pulled the lever down,  which had a defined clockwork clicking as he did so.

“Not long now…” Tomstein cackled as a spark of electricity appeared inside the dome and began to travel along the wires.