Transcription

[[Trudy and Nega-Nick (masquerading as "our" Nick) are still frozen in place from the surprise of what they saw when they inadvertently touched each other's hands at the cafeteria. Nega-Nick and his alien are trying to figure out what happened. All conversations in this strip take place in Nega-Nick's mind.]]
Nega-Nick: [thinking] What.. What happened?
Alien: I am... not quite sure... Let me think...

Alien: I may have a theory. My species controls creatures like you through touch, by sending thought patterns through your skin and into the underlying nerves.

[[Trudy has withdrawn her hand and is staring at it, wide-eyed and puzzled.]]
Alien: When we became fused, I became permanently linked to your nervous system. It is possible your hand became and extension of my abilities, and we briefly linked with her when you touched.

Nega-Nick: [scowling] Then what we saw... were her thoughts?
Alien: Hers, yours, and I believe mine, all intertwined. For an instant, the three of us shared the same consciousness.