OPERATION MINDCRIME.- The album begins with the protagonist, Nicky, lying in a hospital bed. He lies in a nearly catatonic state, unable to remember anything but snippets from his past. Suddenly, Nicky has a violent flashback in which his memories come flooding back in a torrent ("I Remember Now", "Anarchy-X"). He remembers how, as a heroin addict and would-be political radical frustrated with contemporary society, he was manipulated into joining a supposed secret organization dedicated to revolution ("Revolution Calling"). At the head of this organization is a political and religious demagogue known only as Dr. X, who, manipulating Nicky through a combination of his heroin addiction and brainwashing techniques (à la The Manchurian Candidate), uses Nicky as an assassin. Whenever Dr. X uses the word "mindcrime" Nicky becomes his docile puppet, a state which Dr. X uses to command Nicky to undertake any murder that the Doctor wishes ("Operation: Mindcrime", "Speak"). Through one of Dr. X's probable associates, a corrupt priest named Father William, Nicky is offered the services of a prostitute-turned-nun named Sister Mary. Details are vague whether these services are sexual or simply emotional ("Spreading the Disease"), though the lyrics for "Suite Sister Mary" seem to indicate that is the first time they engage in sex ("Your precious cross is gone. It made me wait so long for what you gave to everyone"). However, through his friendship and growing affection toward Sister Mary, Nicky begins to question the nature of what he is doing ("The Mission"). Dr. X notices this and, seeing a potential threat in Mary, orders Nicky to kill both her and the priest. Nicky goes to Mary's church and kills the priest, but after confronting Mary fails to comply with the command to murder her ("Suite Sister Mary"). He and Mary decided to leave the organization together, and Nicky goes to Dr. X to tell him that they are out. Dr. X, however, reminds Nicky that he is an addict, and that he is the only one who can provide his daily fix ("The Needle Lies"). Nicky leaves conflicted and returns to Mary, only to find her dead ("Electric Requiem"). He cannot cope with the loss, as well as the possibility that he himself may have killed her and not known it, and begins to succumb to insanity ("Breaking the Silence", "I Don't Believe in Love"). The police, arriving on the scene, arrest him for Mary's murder and the murders he committed for Dr. X ("Waiting for 22"). Because he is in a near-catatonic state, he is put into a hospital, where he starts to remember… ("My Empty Room", "Eyes of a Stranger").
OPERATION MINDCRIME II.- The story picks up 18 years after the events of Operation: Mindcrime, on the day that Nicky is released from prison. During his incarceration, Nicky has been unable to let go of his hatred for Dr. X; who has since become rich and powerful, and is preoccupied with thoughts of revenge. He still harbors resentment against what he views as a totally corrupt government. The training (or brainwashing) he received from Dr. X still has a strong hold over Nicky, but he is still conflicted. While he still feels the need to carry out his revolutionary mission, his thoughts drift to Mary.
Nicky wastes no time in landing in trouble with the law once again, and at his trial his pleas for mercy and leniency are lost on a judge and jury still remembering his past crimes. This only deepens his disdain for the government, the legal system and Dr. X, whom he blames for all of his problems. After Nicky escapes and finds himself yet again on the run from the law, his own need for revenge coupled by a vision of the ghost of Mary turns his thoughts toward killing Dr. X.
As the final confrontation with Dr. X gets closer, Nicky starts to have doubts. He questions himself and wonders if it isn't really his own fault that his life is as bad as it is. Nicky does finally track down Dr. X, crashing his motorcycle into X's limo and dragging a disoriented Dr. X to the church where Mary died, where Nicky finally shoots and kills him. (This section in particular is vague on the album, as it is suggested, but not explicitly stated in the lyrics or played out in the songs that Nicky kills Dr. X. The live performance of Operation: Mindcrime II; however, removes any ambiguity over what happened between them). He gets no satisfaction from killing Dr. X, but rather feels just as empty as ever. The ghost of Mary appears, and appears to take pity on Nicky over the fact that revenge has not brought him any peace.
The ghost of Mary appears again and angrily exhorts Nicky to kill himself. It is unclear, however, if it is actually her or just Nicky imagining her. He starts to think that he is insane and contemplates suicide. Rustling through his belongings, he first picks up a gun, then a noose before finding the very thing that drove him to Dr. X in the first place: heroin. Nicky prepares and injects a lethal dose and dies. As the album ends, Nicky's spirit is reunited with Mary's, and together they reflect that the only times they were happy was in the moments that they were together.
(Note: The story of Operation: Mindcrime II is expanded on with video and actors during Queensrÿche's live performance of the album, which helps to clarify some sections of the plot).
OPERATION MINDCRIME II.- The story picks up 18 years after the events of Operation: Mindcrime, on the day that Nicky is released from prison. During his incarceration, Nicky has been unable to let go of his hatred for Dr. X; who has since become rich and powerful, and is preoccupied with thoughts of revenge. He still harbors resentment against what he views as a totally corrupt government. The training (or brainwashing) he received from Dr. X still has a strong hold over Nicky, but he is still conflicted. While he still feels the need to carry out his revolutionary mission, his thoughts drift to Mary.
Nicky wastes no time in landing in trouble with the law once again, and at his trial his pleas for mercy and leniency are lost on a judge and jury still remembering his past crimes. This only deepens his disdain for the government, the legal system and Dr. X, whom he blames for all of his problems. After Nicky escapes and finds himself yet again on the run from the law, his own need for revenge coupled by a vision of the ghost of Mary turns his thoughts toward killing Dr. X.
As the final confrontation with Dr. X gets closer, Nicky starts to have doubts. He questions himself and wonders if it isn't really his own fault that his life is as bad as it is. Nicky does finally track down Dr. X, crashing his motorcycle into X's limo and dragging a disoriented Dr. X to the church where Mary died, where Nicky finally shoots and kills him. (This section in particular is vague on the album, as it is suggested, but not explicitly stated in the lyrics or played out in the songs that Nicky kills Dr. X. The live performance of Operation: Mindcrime II; however, removes any ambiguity over what happened between them). He gets no satisfaction from killing Dr. X, but rather feels just as empty as ever. The ghost of Mary appears, and appears to take pity on Nicky over the fact that revenge has not brought him any peace.
The ghost of Mary appears again and angrily exhorts Nicky to kill himself. It is unclear, however, if it is actually her or just Nicky imagining her. He starts to think that he is insane and contemplates suicide. Rustling through his belongings, he first picks up a gun, then a noose before finding the very thing that drove him to Dr. X in the first place: heroin. Nicky prepares and injects a lethal dose and dies. As the album ends, Nicky's spirit is reunited with Mary's, and together they reflect that the only times they were happy was in the moments that they were together.
(Note: The story of Operation: Mindcrime II is expanded on with video and actors during Queensrÿche's live performance of the album, which helps to clarify some sections of the plot).
fuente: www.wikipedia.org
