A Sad Case.

[Cybermancer]

“Who else is in here with you?” Dr. Boggs asked Clara.

“All my friends and family,” she replied earnestly.

Before he could object that they were alive and well on the ‘outside’, I pulled him to the side, “These are probably parts of her psyche. She’s right. They need saving.”

He let out a long suffering sigh but bowed to the necessary, “Very well, lead us to your friends.”

With Clara as our guide, it didn’t take long to find the first group. In the middle of the hellish landscape there was a small oasis of normalcy. It appeared to be a playground. A number of other young children, mostly girls, were up on the various equipment. But instead of playing, they were trying to climb out of reach of more of the demonic creatures we had already encountered.

As we approached and were still too far away to do anything, one of the girls slipped from the monkey bars and fell to the ground. Before she was done yelling out in pain, twelve of the horrid little nightmare demons were on her. Bits of clothes and flesh flew out in all directions from the macabre melee. Then the twelve dispersed. Where the little girl had fallen, a thirteenth little demon now lay. Slowly it stood and joined the others in calling for the blood of the remaining children.

“Jenny!” Clara cried out and suddenly we were in the midst of the oasis.

Immediately we set to the grim work of dispatching the demons. Despite the knowledge that the creatures were figments of the mind… possibly or even likely Clara’s, our determination to save the rest of her mind was resolute.

As before, we stood victorious over our foes. Looking out from our oasis, it seemed to grow a bit. “Looks like you were right, old chap.” Dr. Boggs slapped me on the back. “We better get on to the next group.”

Soon we were transported to a park scene where her family was. Her father, larger than life, was holding off the swarm but it was obvious that it was only a matter of time before he was overwhelmed as little Jenny had been.

With sword and sorcery we fell upon the unholy brood. And they were scattered as dust before an angry wind.

Still, it seemed that whatever power was invading Clara’s mind wanted this oasis to fall. For even as the tormentors fell, there were screams from the young girls siblings. More of the evil host were approaching.

Summoning more of his power, Dr. Boggs unleashed beams of light from his hands that burned down entire rows of the force arrayed against us. For my part, I unloaded with the energy cannon I had kept slung until this moment.

When they grew close, Dr. Boggs began to once more ensnare our foes with carpets of blue energy. Once more, I switched to my swords and cut down the enemy.

After another wave of demons fell to our combined onslaught, I turned to Dr. Boggs to ask, "Are you giggling?"

"No," he replied with an almost straight face. "Of course not."

I let it slide. There was no denying a certain thrill at seeing our enemies fall before us so easily.

With the battle over for now, young Clara was doing the most spectacular thing. Somehow she was drawing the playground scene to this park scene and weaving them together. Two little oasis’ became a tiny haven in the madness.

“There’s more.” She said as she started out into the waste once again.

Shrugging, we two heroes followed our brave little guide.

[Slayer]

That Clara sounds like one tough little girl to have lasted this long with that going on inside her mind.

[Cybermancer]

I suspect that she is some kind of psychic child prodigy. Perhaps both the reason she was targetted and why she was able to hold out as long as she has.

[Slayer]

That makes a lot of sense. It still takes quite a bit of mental fortitude to hold your mind together under that kind of assault, so this kid must be very powerful. I hope that your tale ends well for her, I will be following it with interest.

[Cybermancer]

Power and resilency are not always the same things. She is indeed potent within her own mind.

There is still much to do so I do not have the time to write out all the events in one sitting. The whole story will come out piecemeal over the next week or so.

[Slayer]

Then I await the next post.

[Cybermancer]

Yeah...

I hope that your tale ends well for her, I will be following it with interest.

You already said as much.

[Cybermancer]

One by one, we found the shattered fragments of Clara’s mind and drew them together again. And as we went, more and more powerful foes faces us. Always there were former dream fragments turned demon but we were finding them led by other creatures. Some parasitical monsters that fed upon dreams and others native to the astral plane.

Between brute force and ingenuity, we over came them all.

With every victory, Clara seemed a little less dirty. A little less bruised. The flowers she carried filled the air around us with their sweet fragrance.

Our march across her dreams was in time to a beat that seemed to thunder around us. It pulsed with growing strength, growing louder as more color returned to Clara’s once more ruddy red cheeks.

At one point in our journey across the crimson landscape we came across a stone archway.

“Do you know what this is?” Dr. Boggs asked Clara, hoping for some revelation.

“No sir.” She looked up at the obsidian portal with fear and trembling.

I was running scans on it. “It’s a portal.” My eyes drifted up to look at the monolith. “Beyond that passage are the nightmares of others.”

“Right then,” Dr. Boggs squared his shoulders confidently. “We best set to destroying it then.”

The air shimmered before us. Then it coalesced into a solid being. I saw a massive giant of a man with curved goat horns and furry goat legs. Beneath his crooked smile was what the kids call a ‘douche beard’. Sinister eyes glowered down at us beneath too much forehead. I’d seen his kind before.

“IT’S THE BOOGEYMAN!” Clara than began screaming, no longer of use to us.

“Grandfather…” Dr. Boggs was quickly being ensnared by it’s powers as well.

“It’s not your grandfather!” I shouted while grabbing him by the shoulders and shaking. It helped that I placed myself between him and it, blocking his view for a moment.

He blinked his eyes, snapping out of it. “Of course.” He reached into a jacket pocket and pulled out a scroll we had programmed into his avatar for just this anticipated eventuality. “Time to use this, then.”

It was an anti-matter sphere scroll. One of the most powerful damage type spells you’ll find anywhere, anytime. My God-father calls it a ‘win button’.

As the expert mage he is, Dr. Boggs unleashed what should have been the death of our opponent.

We heard the merry chortling before the dust cleared. The demon looked down at us. “Is that the best you’ve got?”

Dr. Boggs turned to face me. “No, really. WORST. TRIP. EVER.”

[Slayer]

WTF!!!!! I wasn't sure until I read the "Douche beard" part, but we seem to have the same acquaintances Cyber. You just described the "Specialist" they were going to be using on Techno, the creature I have been tracking and trying to put down for months.

[Grace]

"That's the man officer! I know it is! They have superficially similar features that can be described in two sentances!"

I hope I never have to deal with you in a police lineup, boyo.

[Slayer]

Nem, you don't have to worry, much like you I have an aversion to talking to the police.

Your right it may not be the exact same creature, but the description is so close they may be of the same race of demon, and if they are I hope they are not that tough in the real world.

[Grace]

I'm just messing with you, Slayer.

I'm sure you read all about his sort of demon somewhere.

[Slayer]

Cute Nem, real cute.

[Cybermancer]

Slayer, I do not consider my advesaries to be my acquaintances. You shouldn't either. It sets a bad precedent.

In any case, I believe I was relating what happened next.

It was war all over again.

The legions of hell were on the march. Only they were no longer consigned to the depths of Hades. Choreographed marionettes trampled the world beneath their jackboots.

This was not the world I first encountered them in. It was not your world. It is mine.

Around me, heroes rose to meet the challenge.

And fell.

Friends and family all had individual fates, each more gruesome than the last. All of it in vain.

“This is what is coming, hero.”

The demon’s voice was like a snake in my ear, hissing it’s venom.

We were in a dream, fighting a nightmare but this was neither. It wasn’t prophecy either. It was illusion. But even knowing that, I was convinced of it’s sickening certainty.

“You’re going to fail.” Again came the whispers.

“No,” I defied. “I am not.”

Inverted crucifixes began to rise up around me, born up by infernal hordes. “So arrogant and proud are you, little man. But you are still just a little man. What can you do against all the powers of Hades?”

“All the powers of Hades?” I scoffed, “it is the nature of your kind to turn in and against itself. For all your power you do more than any could to keep you in check.”

Hung upside down, former champions I admired and mentors I learned from began to moan. “No longer, little fool. Strong leadership has taken root in the pits. We are united in purpose. Intelligent design guides our chaos now.”

Doubt began to enter my mind. I had seen for myself the hordes being lined up into regiments. “Yours is not the only evil.”

His laugh was… not human. “So you rely on the forces of hell to save you from our infernal powers? You are a man of irony, little fool.”

Piles of bodies were tossed together on the streets. Many of the poor unfortunates continued to writhe and scream as the stacks were set ablaze. Though it was a starless night, the eerie embers offered their defiled glow to see by.

“To rely on evil is folly.” Then I began to realize something, “and you share that mistake. You can’t rely on your fellow beings. Your underlings plot for your position. Your superiors do not trust you. And this leadership you’ve placed so much faith in? Will they share power with you? Will they keep their promises?”

The laugh did not falter, “there is truth in that but it matters not. By the time that chaos returns, when we again turn on one another, the sun shall be stricken from your skies. There shall be no dreams but for nightmares!”

“How dull. How sad for you.” It was an effort of will to appear unaffected by the atrocities around me. “How will you ply your art when you are no longer needed? To whom will you peddle your wares? What hells will you torment peoples dreams with if their lives are already worse?”

Still the creature was unfazed. “You are a clever little fool but your words are meaningless and you know that. There is always another world. There are always more dreams to taint, more nightmares to create.”

“Are you done yet?” My eyes roamed over the landscape. “There is nothing new here. These are images from your home imposed upon my own. I have seen it all before and this illusion holds no horror for me that I have not already faced.”

“So it’s true then,” he whispered in a low tone. “I will be well rewarded for destroying you.”

Finally I found what I had been looking for. The beat that we had marched through Clara’s mind to.

The sound of her heart.

Faint over the illusions he had laid over it but not drowned out entirely. I could beat his phantasms.

[Cybermancer]

Clara’s heart was beating at 120 beats a minute. This was not a coincidence. I had taken pains to help ensure that it was kept steady at that rate.

Thump, thump.

One second.

Thump, thump.

Two seconds.

Time was no longer a relative factor.

Thump, thump.

Three seconds.

It was an absolute.

Thump, thump.

Four seconds.

Around me the scene slowed down to a mere crawl. As I had suspected, the demon had been altering my perception of time. He was probably doing the same to Dr. Boggs and Clara as well. It would allow him to divide up his attention between us. He could take his time in meting out his deception and react with what would appear lightning reflexes.

Thump, thump.

Five seconds.

Now the advantage was mine. Now I had a point of reference not related to his illusion.

The visual images, even stalled as they were, still presented a problem. They effectively camouflaged the location of Dr. Boggs and Clara within the dream. And since these illusions originated from outside Clara’s mind, I couldn’t use any prepared programs to alter them to something more advantageous to myself.

I wasn’t without tricks, however. The beating provided a link to the real world. I closed my eyes and concentrated on matching my heartbeats to Clara’s. I wanted to have an independent reference. A reality from within that I could use on the outside.

Moving quickly before the demon noticed that I was no longer in synch with his illusion, I removed my helmet and gutted out the mike and speakers. I rewired them to work with the sensor pad I had with me. Then I held the mike over my chest (of course I had to remove the armor plate there), set to the highest sensitivity.

Thump, thump!

Dream sound raced from me. Where it encountered resistance, it returned to me and was picked up by my speaker and sensor. Where there was nothing, it kept going. Because it was sound from within the dream, it reacted to material that was also ‘real’ within the dream.

It ignored the illusions.

The landscape became something I could measure. Beside me were two people sized objects, one half the size of the other. Before me was an object that was about half again the size of a person. And beyond that was another object, large and imposing.

I had never moved. And apparently, neither had anyone else.

“What…?” The demon was starting to realize that something was amiss.

With the sort of inspiration that is born of desperation, I turned the speaker to maximum volume and pointed at the demon.

THUMP! THUMP!

[Doctor Boggs]

"At least it can't get any worse."

Even if we have the common sense not to actually say it, we've all thought it at one point or another. Let's face it, there we were in some version of hell facing some 'thing' that just brushed off the biggest and nastiest spell I could even imagine throwing at it.

So of course it got worse, that's just how it goes I guess.

"Admit it boy, you always knew it would end this way."

I heard that hauntingly familiar voice behind me and there I was alone in the room with him. That big old temple of pretentiousness I'd tried damned hard to forget right there in excruciating detail. The black and white marble of the chessboard patterned floor, man sized pieces carved in the appearance of historical figures lining either wall. I hadn't even started turning yet and was staring at the ornate double doors to the room. Cybermancer and Clara were nowhere to be seen.

"Not even going to face me boy? That ashamed of yourself are you?"

It's the most condescending voice I've ever heard and even the memory of it gives me the urge to hit something in the face. So I turned around and across the board from me was my not so dearly departed Grandfather, big as life, standing before the Throne Munificent in all his gaudy regalia. Thankfully Cybermancer had smacked some sense into me before he up and vanished.

"He's dead and gone so drop the bullpucky!" I like to think I did a fair job of not sounding intimdated. Throwing up a defensive spell in the form of a mystical orb around myself was just being sensible, yep.

"I did truck with forces beyond the mere before you took your first breath. In your heart of hearts you've known this day would come, it would have been better had you simply challenged me openly as did your father before you."

"Being immolated just didn't appeal to me, sorry." There was more than a cold shiver up my spine at the thought of what he was saying being even remotely possible. Even though he was just standing there talking I could feel an invisible assault pressing on my defenses and I struggled to maintain them. He didn't look the least bit strained, which was typical of the old goat.

"You knew the ways of the order as well as your father did boy, defeat me in an open challenge and ascend to mastery of the temple. Fail and die. Betray the temple and face my wrath which has been long in coming. For your efforts I shall be merciful though, drop your paltry shield and I'll grant you a swift death."

He was still standing there casually damn him, full of crap as usual. He was strong as hell but what a jackass. Not that it mattered really at the rate things were going, I'd run out of mojo pretty soon and I already knew I couldn't hurt him with an attack. So yeah, it didn't look good.

It almost seemed he realized what was going through my head because he managed to look even more smug than usual and looked like he was about to say something but he suddenly turned with this confused expression. "What...?" That's all he managed to blurt out before things got LOUD!

I can't describe it much beyond a shock of sound then one hell of a ringing in my ears, somehow only dropping me to my knees instead of flat on my back. But the 'Temple' was gone and 'Grandfather' was a beast with a douche beard again, likewise staggered and glaring angrily at Cybermancer. Whatever Cyber had done must have been focused on the creature to affect it so bad and burst that bloody illusion it had wrapped us up in. None of us had even moved which explained Clara still being glued to my side and protected within my energy shield the whole time without me even knowing, sorta explained why the thing wanted in so bad.

Most of Cyber's armor was laying on the ground around him and he had a little contraption in his hands pointed at the beastie causing all these problems. Before any of us could do much but breathe a sigh of relief the thing shrieked with rage he snapped off a handy rock spire and impaled Cyber with it. I just stood there stunned as the demon just pinned him down like and insect and glared at him as his body went limp. Then the freakiest thing happened which is saying something, Cyber's body went all pixellated and flashed out of existence.

So there I stood with Clara, turning her gently away as I focused my will reinforcing the shield and faced the creature. It stood up still in a rage and faced me snarling, "your strength fails you wizard. There is only one way this battle of wills can end, give me the girl and I may allow you to leave!"

One hand resting gently on top of Clara's head as the other slipped into my hip pocket I sucked up my courage, much easier now I wasn't dealing with that damn illusion. Plus hey, life gets easier as you run out of options, of which I had three. So I couldn't quite force myself to grin but I stalled for a moment of time.

"Well now that might be so, but you ain't considering all the options."

I don't think it could believe I was being serious, "pathetic creature, you can surrender the girl or die. Those are your only options."

I feigned disappointment, "now now, that's only the two obvious choices. I mean here we are in Clara's dreamworld, she is the one maintaining this place however unwillingly. Which means there's another option since I just found something you forgot about."

If you've never seen anyone snort with contempt, well I don't really recommend it, it's nasty. "Hah, another scroll perhaps? Have you learned nothing? Go on then, reveal your mighty weapon before I crush you like a bug."

Clara was crying something fierce by this point and I gotta tell ya I felt pretty darned awful about what was happening. Still I showed the thing what I was holding and it laughed. "Ridiculous, you think that tiny blade will harm me?"

Turning away from him I started to crouch down and get the grisly task I had been desperate to avoid over with, "who says it's for you?" He realized what I was up to and I could feel the heat as he blasted my shield in desperation, he really wanted to stop me severing Clara's link to this dream world. And really, it don't take but a moment to pluck a little girls eyes out.

[Hannah]

It was an anti-matter sphere scroll. One of the most powerful damage type spells you’ll find anywhere, anytime. My God-father calls it a ‘win button’.

As the expert mage he is, Dr. Boggs unleashed what should have been the death of our opponent.

We heard the merry chortling before the dust cleared. The demon looked down at us. “Is that the best you’ve got?”

I remember my nightmare blocking the abilities of the others when they tried to rescue me from the fake compound he had created in my dreams. I wonder if something similar is at work here?

[Cybermancer]

I won't discount that theory Hannah although I will say that I suspect othewise.

The demon seemed to be a master of illusions capable of entering dreams, rather than a true master of dreams. Using illusions, there are many ways that he could have caused Dr. Boggs to miss him with the program. Anything from misreading the text to targetting an image of the fiend that wasn't actually there.

I know, functionally the same as directly manipulating the dream space itself.

[Hannah]

I dunno, manipulating illusion and manipulating dreams are pretty similar in concept to my mind.

[Cybermancer]

I dunno, manipulating illusion and manipulating dreams are pretty similar in concept to my mind.

While both are indeed manipulations of perception, it is a matter of substance.

Dreams can become reality.

Illusions never can.

[Slayer]

Ummm, I hope I misread this. Boggs you didn't really gouge out that little girl's eyes for a second time did you?

[Doctor Boggs]

It was that or leave her there, unless ya think killing her woulda been kinder. Look, it all worked out in the end.

[Slayer]

I suppose it did, but it must have been quite traumatic for her to go through that again by someone she trusted.

[Cybermancer]

It would seem that I have been negligent in relating the last of the details of this situation.

My apologies. I sometimes forget when I am.

Anyway, after I was removed from the dream, I awoke in the real world. Naturally my Avatar program had completely crashed and would require a complete reinstall. With the limited memory resources available, that was sure to take some time.

Also we were currently under attack.

It wasn't a full scale assault or supernatural minions. Just a single sniper trying to get a decent shot. Hoping that Dr. Boggs, could handle things in my absence and knowing that it would take hours to get back in any case, I joined in the defense of my resort suite.

We never did see our assailant(s?) but we did drive them off.

At about that time, Dr. Boggs reappeared and with Clara's eyes in his hands. Due to the nature of dreams, the eyes were still quite fresh. With a little cooperation between Dr. Boggs and myself, we were able to perform a small medical miracle.

Clara woke up to see her parents this morning.

[Doctor Boggs]

I suppose it did, but it must have been quite traumatic for her to go through that again by someone she trusted.

Fortunately it was over pretty quick, but yeah, traumatic just about covers it.

[Slayer]

Well I am glad to hear that she can see again. Good job both of you.

[Hannah]

Ya know, Wie can see in dreams, so maybe something similar could help her.

[Cybermancer]

Ya know, Wie can see in dreams, so maybe something similar could help her.

Hannah,

Any possible treatment for Miss Solstice would first require a detailed examination. Before even that could begin however, an important question would have to be asked that can only be answered by Miss Solstice herself. Does she need my help?

Because there are many people who do need my help and I must budget my time accordingly.

That having been said, if Miss Solstice should decide to seek my assistance, I will provide it.

P.S. If the best treatment option is determined to be that Miss Solstice's dream is entered and the eyes of her dreamself are removed to be restored to her flesh and blood body, the possibility of her being 'blind' in other ways must be considered. Frankly, I would rather pursue other avenues of treatment first.

[Grace]

Speaking of eyeless children...

There is allegedly an infra red time lapse photo of an eyeless boy taken at 112 Ocean Ave. The Amityville Horror house. The photo was taken by Gene Campbell and first shown on the Merv Griffin Show.

[Cybermancer]

Alls well that ends well.

Except that this isn't over. Not by far.

That dream portal where we faced off against the demon, beyond it was the dreams of many others. Some are no doubt children such as Clara. Many others will be in stages between adolecence to adulthood. The biggest limiting factor is likely the amount of time they can be maintained in a coma state.

Somehow this demon has linked their dreams to create a realm for itself. A realm where it is all but invincible. Clara's mind was under siege and assault when Dr. Boggs and I intervened. She would not have held out much longer, I think and it will be many years before her mind is fully restored.

This means the other minds already secured by this demon will be firmly in it's control. In those minds, he will be firmly entrenched and his position will be fortified. While it is certain that it is the victims eyes that provide a physical link that allows their dreams to be controlled, I cannot be sure if in all cases they will still be in the dream versions of the victims or in the demons possession.

Given the state of medical reporting in many nations around the world, it is quite impossible to predict how many minds have been ensnared by this beast. Even in cases that are known to be suspect as with the daughter of the Hourglass Foundation Director's daughter, there are complications. The Foundations Director refuses any 'unconventional' treatment and rejects any possibility of a supernatural connection. It is an attitude that the Foundation fosters with the families of all that they assist.

In the end I am left with the impression that we set back the monsters plans, but we did not stop them.