The Last Stand, In Character Options

[Intro]

The Second Dream

"As for us being manipulated, that's a given. We're just tools to his master, and I'm guessing he's no different. Obviously extremely powerful within his specialty, but still just a tool. I doubt his master bothered to tell him anything beyond what he needs to know to do his job, and I don't blame him. All eleven of us are compelled to serve him, so why trust us with the little details of his plans? I wouldn't if I were him. Too much risk of us ruining them out of spite if we get free of his hold on us."

Abe starts to turn and grin at the baseline human who responded to him before being brought up short by whatever it was that was holding them motionless.

"Well, of course. Hell, I try and stay unknown as much as possible, myself. But as part of that, you know -" and he raises his voice a little, "I don't invade people's dreams and demand they run my errands for me! I do appreciate the promised funds and all, but frankly I'd appreciate controlling my own fate more. Not to mention, I'm sure I could be having much more pleasant dreams right now. Hell, I'm almost ready to go find your little artifact in exchange for a good night's sleep at this point.

Abe liked the cantankerous ork routine. It didn't seem like there was any chance that this group wouldn't end up having to find the crystal sphere, so might as well be as difficult as possible - it made him feel a little better and there was a certain satisfaction in being the curmudgeon.

[cndblank]

A Table Surrounded by Chairs. The Second Dream. 08-Jul-2071


EZ watched in fascination. His mind racing.

There were some good questions being asked, but the ramifications of this were staggering.

It sounded like everyone one here was a runner.

How would you predict who would be come a runner?

Did this master tie a thread to a couple of hundred thousand newborns and those here were the ones that were most able to succeed in this... mission?

And if so it must have started in the last 40 years. Say 2030. That suggestion someone very powerful a mere 20 years after the awakening.

Glancing back at Tyrazon... Someone who can command a free spirit obviously. A really powerful one...

A dragon? One of these immortal elves? Another free spirit...

Or were our minds altered so that we just remember having this dream for every year of our lives.

[DWC]

A Table Surrounded by Chairs. The Second Dream. 08-Jul-2071

Vice ponders for a moment before answering the ork.

"It has ways of doing things. It's tool has its' way of doing things. We have ours. They don't line up, but in the long run, as long as we get compensated and it gets its' shards, does it really matter?"

[Oenone]

The Second Dream.

"Only if the crystal shards end up killing the planet when we've got them all. Or even just us for that matter."

[cndblank]

A Table Surrounded by Chairs. The Second Dream. 08-Jul-2071


EZ grinned "That is no different than any other run then."

The Second Dream.

"Only if the crystal shards end up killing the planet when we've got them all. Or even just us for that matter."

[DWC]

A Table Surrounded by Chairs. The Second Dream. 08-Jul-2071

Vice's nod of agreement is suppressed by whatever has robbed him of motion, but he answers anyway.

"That's the beauty of it. Aside from this thing's master making a bigger deal out of the stick than the carrot, it is business as usual."

[BlackHat]

A Table Surrounded by Chairs. The Second Dream. 08-Jul-2071

Malloc.I looked perplexed. "Common for employers interrupt sleep? Or expect service and not negotiation? Force themselves? Force you? Your job must unfulfill."

"I am common used to favors requested. Normal business hours. Prices set, myself. Proper protocol. Proper channels. Paramount, anonymity. So far, disinclined."

He blinked, unevenly. "No job, before, consumed two nights. I suspect, more."

He turned his attention once again to Tyrazon. "My services involve information, besides currency."

"You have my terms. Offer, reasonable. I await decision."

"Or morning."

[Glyph]

The Room in the Second Dream.

Viper follows the conversation with interest, despite her earlier resolve to sulk. It's good to know that the others are as cynical as she is about this, although discussing it in front of this entity is perhaps not too bright. It's like sassing off someone holding a gun to your head. Which she has been known to do, herself, but she always had a crazy stunt or desperation move that she could fall back on, if she had to. Here, she can't even move from her chair, and she still doesn't have enough clues about what is going on.

She perks up as one of the people (if that term could apply - why is everyone else real-looking while this other guy looks like a matrix icon?) attempts to negotiate with the entity. Be interesting to see how it responds. And if it responds lethally, well, not like she knows this other guy too well or anything. Just as well someone else spoke up - she has been having an increasingly difficult time keeping silent, and knowing how her mouth usually works (semi-independently of her brain), that's not a good thing.

[crizh]

A Table Surrounded by Chairs. The Second Dream. 08-Jul-2071

So are we agreed? We appear to have little choice but to do as Tyrazon asks and we should meet in the 'trix to discuss terms and tactics. If so perhaps we could be released from this Shade that we might get the hell on with it?!

And put what we have learned here to good use...


Whampoa Data Haven, Hong Kong, July 7th, 15:00

She went straight to the bedroom and collapsed as soon as she returned. Going to the gym with Vice had been enlightening and distracting, she had forgotten how powerful hormones could be, but such hard work. Maybe after all this dream nonsense was cleared up and she had Submerged in the Resonance at last she would get some weights into the apartment and whip this new body into shape.

But not today.

She'd been thinking about the dreams. They had been old hat for her when Echo Mirage were making the headlines. It wasn't sim-sense or Technomancy. It was magic, old magic. At least 2650 years old, she reckoned. Perhaps she should consult an expert in the field.

She jumped from the bed and strapped herself back into the medical drone. She could have this done by bed time, no problem.

[Tarantula]

A Table Surrounded by Chairs. The Second Dream. 08-Jul-2071

Brick's voice rings out with anger, "Agreed? How do I know I can trust you people? Just because the fragger who's been messing with my head since I was a kid said so? How do I know he doesn't just want me dead, and hes hired you all to do it?"

[crizh]

A Table Surrounded by Chairs. The Second Dream. 08-Jul-2071

Relax kiddo, I'm merely suggesting that we agree to consider the 'request', so that we can all wake up, because it looks like we may not if we don't.

Then we can meet somewhere more private to discuss the matter in more detail.

As to trust, I understand that we all know at least one of the people here, I trust those I already know with my life. Do you?

Can that at least be a foundation that we can build upon?

[DWC]

A Table Surrounded by Chairs. The Second Dream. 08-Jul-2071

Vice mentally settles in to see who the troll will let calm him down.

I hope no one points out that if the thing wanted him dead, it would just kill him in his sleep with preposterously powerful magic rather than have me to fly half way around the world to do it. This is going to be an interesting project.