38
"We've eased her back into a more restful state so we can begin the programming," said Sanders.
"Programming?"
He looked up at Geoff. "I meant the inducement stage so we can seed her dreams."
Geoff continued to glare at the other man but said nothing.
"Heart rate slowing, respiration slowing." The scientist told him, "She's still going to get some of the negative sensations we're feeding him. Okay, she's receptive. Enter the dragon."
A corner of Geoff's mouth lifted at that one. He was allowed to experience the sounds and images himself this time, and wore headphones so he'd know what they were feeding into his daughter's brain. High-quality images of Alex's face came into view and then faded out again. Soft colors and fireworks-like explosions emerging from darkness swirled and moved like kaleidoscopes. Soft music in certain pitches was played and the entire display was very lulling, very hypnotic. Geoff saw footage of Alex shooting and running and flashing his badge, heard his distinctive deep, gravelly voice with its Brooklyn bite. He smiled to himself as he thought yeah, he's still alive somewhere. He and Amanda, loose in the galaxy. He recalled when he'd first seen the guy in Montana after Amanda had abandoned him after an alien encounter in Canada. The guy liked to wear an open trench coat with a pinch-front fedora, making one think he was in the wrong era. He thought of his rugged features—the dark blue eyes that always seemed so mistrustful, his high, strong cheekbones, the broken nose, and the squared-off jaw with a cleft in his chin. Alex was a big guy, although Geoff topped him by three inches. He had broad shoulders and a powerful build like he had a background in weightlifting.
"Geoff?"
"Huhm?"
Sanders chuckled and reached for the left earphone. "Thought we lost you."
"What?" he pulled the headphones off.
"I was talking to you and I said your name three times before you even blinked."
"Whoa," said McKenna, pushing the headphones away.
"Works well, doesn't it? Did you know how susceptible you are to hypnotic suggestion?"
"Uh, no….."
Dr. German chuckled from his other side. "You want to sign a contract that allows us to Quasar you in the event that you're ever permanently incapacitated?"
McKenna was embarrassed and said nothing.
Sanders repeated, "He should be part of her dreams now. As to what role he'll play, well, that we cannot control."
Geoff sighed and patiently waited to see what would happen next.
"Heart rate and respiration increasing in subject number two," Dr. German mentioned.