Later that evening:
The day had been perfect; a day of fun, romance, and adventure. The day ended with the love birds watching the sunset before they retired to the room they had been sharing since they had rebuilt the treehouse after the incident with the giant spider.
"Cindy, I want to thank you again for everything you've done for me. It….it really means a lot to me." He spoke nervously.
"Jimmy."; She sounded so sleepy and it made her seem so fragile despite how strong he knew she was; "Jimmy, your more than welcome. I had a really great time today. I'm sure I'll be ready to create a new mate for Archimedes tomorrow morning if your machine is ready." she yawned, snuggled closer to him, and kissed him on the cheek as she finished speaking. "You're the best Jimmy." His cheek felt hot from her lips and his head felt woozy from the endorphin rush he always felt each time they kissed. He had to wait a moment for the feeling to pass before he could think straight. It made him feel foolish; he was a man of science after all; yet he was reduced to a blathering idiot over this girl. He had given up fighting his feelings for her months earlier; at least she felt the same way about him.
The night air was chilly and the heat of her body next to his felt exhilarating. He kissed her forehead and savored the scent that came off of her skin before he replied. "The dream injector 3000 is primed and ready to go as soon as you're ready." He waited for a response before concluding that she had fallen to sleep. He whispered "I love you Cindy." Kissed her one last time on her forehead, used the arm that was around her to pull her closer, and drifted off to sleep.
Archimedes peered in through the window of the treehouse. It was dark in the room save for the light of a small candle that stood on the bamboo night stand next to the bed. The dragon could make out Cindy's features in the low light; she seemed so peaceful and serene. The dragon wondered what new dreams passed through her creative mind. He longed for a mate and knew that she would make good on her promise to create one in her imagination that Jimmy could bring to life.
He took one last glance at the sleeping couple as they lay in each other's arms and felt the longing for someone that he could cuddle with, in like fashion. He paused a moment to carefully blowout the candle that had burned till the wax had dripped and bubbled until it was almost no more. He inhaled gently savoring the acrid smell of the smoke that came off of the newly extinguished candle, and imagined that it was his mate's breath.
In the lab the next day:
Cindy lay quietly on the lab table as Jimmy attached the green hose that would connect her to the dream injector 3000. It had that familiar smell of plastic that dissipated once the gas began to flow through it. Her head felt fuzzy as she breathed deeply as Jimmy instructed. In a moment she would be out cold and she strained to see Jimmy one last time despite how blurred her vision was getting. She could make out the shape of his whippy doo hairstyle before she was out.
Jimmy monitored her on the control monitor. Her eye lids fluttered gently as her eyes moved rapidly back and forth indicating she had entered the REM phase of her sleep cycle. This was what he was waiting for. He activated a few switches that sent gentle electrical pulses into the sensors that he carefully placed on her forehead. It helped to keep her focused within the dream so and brought her into a lucid state. He spoke into the microphone and his voice crossed the ethereal elk that separated the dream world from the real world.
"Cindy can you hear me?" he asked It took a moment before he got a response.
"Yes, Yes I can hear you but you sound far away. Where am I?" she inquired.
"Your dreaming; don't you remember?" his voice had a hint of scientific curiosity to it.
"Yes I remember now. I feel like my head is underwater. It's hard to focus but I feel like its clearing now. What am I supposed to be doing again?" she asked
"Creating a mate for Archimedes; whatever you imagine will become material within the confines of your mind. Try making something simple and then work up" He said calmly.
She imagined standing in a grassy meadow. The sun shone down through the fluffy cloud filled sky. She gazed around herself and could see deer feeding on the edges of the meadow. She held her breath for a moment as she caught sight of a doe peering at her from between its mother's legs as they slowly crossed the open field. She gazed down at herself and it all seemed so real right down to her hands; the little lines and creases and her finger nails painted in puppy pink nail polish.
She imagined holding a delicious red apple; seeing that they were her favorite; and bit into it. The taste was exquisite and satisfying. The juice ran down her chin forcing her to wipe it off with the back of her left wrist.
"It's working Jimmy. I think I'm ready to try." She said confidently.
"Ok Cindy. Just take your time and work slowly." he replied.
She closed her eyes and imagined the golden dragon she had been thinking of the last week or so. She felt the air move and could hear the rustle of leathery wings. The air filled with a sulfurous smell as smoke billowed out of the newly created dragon.
A soft feminine yet powerful voice spoke "Hello Cindy."
Cindy opened her eyes and was greeted by two massive eyes, which sparkled like emeralds, staring back at her. Her voice caught in her throat for a moment as she took in the full magnificence of her creation. It was one thing to imagine a creature of such breathtaking beauty; it was another to see it firsthand.
"Cat got your tongue?" The dragon asked jokingly.
"Huh um oh no, of course not." Cindy spurted out before finding her composure. "It's just that your more breath taking they I thought was possible.
"Thank you. I think you're quite beautiful yourself." Cindy blushed upon hearing this but Val continued speaking unphazed. "Now allow me to introduce myself." Said the golden dragon as it reared up onto its hind legs and bowed gracefully. "I am Valerie Lee. But I suppose you already knew that. Anyhow feel free to call me Val."
Cindy hesitated a moment, still caught up in the moment. "Ok Val. So what happens now?" she asked.
Val responded "That is up to you."
Cindy spoke to Jimmy "Well Neutron, what do we do now?"
"Hold on one second Cindy. I'm going to open a doorway for Val to enter our world. Don't use the door yourself though. I'm going to have to wake you up the normal way."
"Ok Jimmy ready when you are." She replied.
A glowing gateway appeared right out of thin air. It was massive doorway large enough to allow a full sized dragon to pass through. Val glanced back at Cindy and said "See you on the flip side Cindy." Nodded once and headed through the gate. Moments later Cindy felt strange but she knew this was to be expected, it was simply part of the waking process. She started to disappear and the dream world around her started to become fuzzy. She tried to focus on something in her surroundings to help with the sick feeling she was experiencing. She stared at the gate Val had gone through and watched as it slowly shrank. She didn't know why but it stopped closing and seemed to remain open. She would ask Jimmy about it when she woke. She figured it might be important.
To be continued…..