"Well, thank you..." The woman looks down at the papers in her hand, "Sally, for taking the time to fill out the questionnaire. I know it seemed like a lot of questions, and some were quite personal, but we need to be thorough. Feel free to help yourself to a pastry and coffee. Some one will contact you within a couple of days, to let you know if you've been selected for the study group."
"So, someone will let me know even if I'm
not
selected?"
"Yes of course. And again, thank you." Sally eyed up the coffee but decided against it. She couldn't hardly sleep as it was, the caffeine would just make it worse.
Twenty one year old Sally has trouble sleeping and keeping a boyfriend.
"Yes, she is an excellent candidate. Twenty one, intelligent and intervened. Her psych profile matches very closely to what we're looking for. What else can you tell me about her?"
"Sally is currently single. As far as I've been able to determine, the last boyfriend cheated on her two months ago, she haven't to spoken to him since. Many associates, but only one whom I would call an actual friend, but they don't appear to be real close. Her social media online presence is minimal. Currently works for a publishing house, mostly from home. She has a sister who lives on the other side of the country, the only living family I could find. She jogs regularly but rarely goes to the gym. She indicated on the questionnaire that she does work out at home but not often enough."
"Physical stats?"
"Caucasian. Five two, one hundred six pounds. BP is one thirty over eighty. Dark blonde hair, hazel eyes. "
"Sounds good. What do you think Sandra?"
"I want her. She has a pretty face and a nice figure."
"Okay then, call her."
"Very good Doctor, I'll notify her this afternoon. When would you like to bring her in?"
" What stage is our current... Girl in?"
"Just starting stage two."
"Perfect. Get this Sally in here as soon as possible."
"Very well. And the other applicants?"
"Hmm, add the closest three matches to the database, and put any suitable into our standard public study group. For now I want to concentrate on these two. And stop all advertising. Do we have any more interviews scheduled?"
"One more, in two days."
"Okay, Put the three best from that batch into the database as well."
Doctor Henderson and Sally walk down a long white hallway. There are a few doors with small nameplates, all of them closed. Doctor Henderson is tall, even in her flats, just under six foot. Her open lab coat shows a hints of a lean figure under a her black and grey pant suit. Light brown hair coiled up on top of her head and half lens reading glasses perch on her petite nose. She is not gorgeous, but she is not homely either.
"Again thank you for coming in on such short notice Sally. If your sure this is not interrupting anything?"
"No it's fine. It was going to be another boring weekend anyway, what with the weather and all."
"Indeed, all this rain. I am surprised that you are willing to come in a Friday. You understand joining this is study means you will be here for a minimum three days?"
"Yea, says a lot about my social life huh."
"No judging here Sally. Look at me, I'm working all weekend." And the woman looks at the clip board in her hands, "How do you find your room? I know it is a little sparse, we're working on that. Any toiletries you need, just ask."
"It's fine."
"Ah, here we are, if you'll just step in..."
The room is warm and dimly lit, the walls covered with a beige grass weave wallpaper. Medical devices on a rolling cart sit beside a comfortable looking recliner in the center of the room. A window and an open door on the far wall show it is filled with computer equipment, while another door is currently closed.
"Now before we start, the bathroom is through there. This may take two to four hours."
"I'm fine." Sally lays back and sees a large TV screen above her. The doctor begins hooking her up to the equipment on the cart.
"This is just standard medical recording equipment. We will monitor your vitals to see how you respond during this audio test. And don't worry if you fall asleep, it does happen and will make no difference on the results. Okay? All set so lets get started." Doctor Henderson crosses to and enters the computer room, closing the door behind her. "Okay Sally, we'll start with a little white noise at first than slowly introduce others sounds as we go. We'll see what you respond to."
"Okay." Light static filled the room quietly which slowly dropped in volume until Sally could barely hear it, then bird songs and the sound of a brook. The TV above her flickered on with a video of what she was hearing. Slowly the bird song and brook faded to the sound of a breeze and crickets. The TV above her faded to black, then instead of a nature scene, it started showing images of what Sally could only think of as modern art. Some were interesting and some just wasn't. The images changed again, becoming subtly moving geometric art. It was very well done. Sally kept watching the display, the sounds forgotten as she relaxed into the recliner.
In the booth Doctor Henderson watched the read outs and Sally. Her heart rate has slowed as she became more and more relaxed. On one panel, a green button lights up and starts a slow pulse. The Doc smiles and presses it.
"Starting phase one, now."
The image on the TV begins to morph and slowly spiral towards the center. Like a kaleidoscope slowly running down a drain. Sally can't take her eyes off it and she is beginning to feel a little sleepy. Suddenly something flashes across the screen, but it was too quick for Sally to register what it was. She can hear a voice under the white noise but it is too faint to hear what is being said. She strains to listen but it is just too faint. Another flash on the TV screen again too quick for her brain to decode what she had just seen. The kaleidoscope image has changed to pinks and whites as it slowly spirals into the center. Sally feels herself drifting away but she can't stop watching the TV. She lays there staring dreamily, without thought or care.
In the booth, a second green button lights up and the Doctor presses it with a smile. Sally is responding well.
The kaleidoscope spirals a little faster and more images flash on the screen. The voices become a little more distinct under the white noise and Sally can almost hear them clearly. She catches words like happy and relax and peace and open. The flashing images on the screen stay just a fraction of a second longer, Sally registers a few as she slips deeper into a hypnotic state. A woman's face, looking blank yet happy. A woman's hand held out as another takes it.
A third green button lights up and blinks. The Doctor is surprised and pleased, Sally is slipping under much faster than anticipated. She presses the button and she can feel her nipples starting to harden, knowing what comes next.
The kaleidoscope turns translucent and the flashing images slow. The female voices almost sound like they are whispering in Sally's ears. Words like relax, obey, trust. The images, overlaid on the spiral, are of women on their knees looking up, or models posing in lingerie or close ups of breasts and lips and legs in stockings. Every fourth image is a word much like the voices. Sally sinks deeper and her brain is bombarded with suggestive voices and provocative erotica.