A Sad Case.

[Slayer]

I am wondering if maybe I can help in some way Cyber. I have many connections through which I could try and find more victims of this creature.I can make some private inquiries on your behalf if you want.

[Doctor Boggs]

Well I don't know about Cyber, but I say go for it. That things a nasty, nasty piece of work.

[Grace]

Slayer,

Perhaps you could find some way to lure it to the real world? Maybe it'll be weaker here. All you have to do is find some tempting bait.

[Slayer]

Sigh.....

Well at least I won't have to be the bait.

[Grace]

Sigh.....

Well at least I won't have to be the bait.

Hmmm. No, you probably wouldn't do.

In a completely unrelated topic, how's your little sister?

[Slayer]

She's fine thanks for......

OH NO WAY IN HELL!!!!!!

[Cessiel]

No.
Not in Hell.
The point is to draw it out of Hell.

[Slayer]

I think you missed the emphatic point I was trying to put across.

My sister will never be used as live bait for a demon, EVER.

[Cessiel]

It had to pluck out Clara's eyes in our world.

That is when it is vulnerable.

[Slayer]

Are you deaf or just stupid?

My sister = not bait.

Get it?

[Cessiel]

My apologies, Slayer.

I confused you for someone who actually wanted to put a stop to the Sandman. Not just talk about it.

I shall save my advice for those who can use it.

For those who will use it.

[Slayer]

I am willing to listen to advise that does not involve using my own flesh and blood to lure a demon into a trap.

See what you started Nemesis?

[Cessiel]

Nemesis understands what it means to be effective.

And what it takes.

[Doctor Boggs]

I am, for lack of a better word, disgusted. Follow the plentiful clues we already have? Nah, why bother, we'll just hang another li'l girl out as bait. Worst case scenario we can just chase into her dreamworld and HACK HER EYES OUTTA HER HEAD to save her. Now I'll go back to my whiskey and all night movie marathons while you kids have your fun.

Honestly!

[Cybermancer]

Hmmm.

While I am completely opposed to the idea of using anyone for bait, this does bring several things to mind.

First of all, Slayer. Are you so completely certain now that you've tied up all loose ends from your trip to Japan? If this demon is the same as you say that was involved in Technocrats interrogation, then there are connections it can follow back to you through him.

As the demon I dealt with was conversent in dreams combined with the fact that you, Brutal, Technocrat and Dr. Boggs all had nightmares shortly after that excursion makes one wonder. But even I would not have made that connection if it were not for a common thread in all this.

Cessiel.

He suggests reading E.T.A. Hoffman in the thread where you all recount your nightmares.

In this thread, he names the demon, Sandman.

E.T.A. Hoffman wrote der Sandman. I've read it. The similarities to that tale didn't escape my notice which is why I chose to refer to the little girl I was helping as Clara.

It may not be the demon from that story. Then again, there may be clues to be found there.

In any case Slayer, I would suggest that you find some way to protect your little sister and fast. You may not wish to use her as bait but that does not mean she is not already at risk.

[Robyn]

I've also read der Sandman.

I always felt sorry for Olympia. She was nothing more than an object, even with those to whom she was quite real. Good for nothing more than listening to self-indulgent tripe.

Perhaps a lack of sentience was a blessing for that particular construct.

Still, she shouldn't have had her eyes plucked out. That was just mean.

[Slayer]

Cyber, I have spent the day making arrangements to see to her safety. I can only pray that they are enough to keep her safe, she is still recovering from what happened to her in Japan. I will post more on that once I have enough free time to devote to it.

Doc, I wish to thank you for being a voice of reason. Your point hit the nail on the head as the old saying goes. I would like to possibly get together with you and Cyber in order to discuss the next move to be made against Sandman if that is at all possible for the two of you.

[Doctor Boggs]

Doc, I wish to thank you for being a voice of reason. Your point hit the nail on the head as the old saying goes. I would like to possibly get together with you and Cyber in order to discuss the next move to be made against Sandman if that is at all possible for the two of you.

Just sorta dragging myself out of bed.... ish here but I appreciate the sentiment Slayer. I completely agree about your little sister, keep her as safe as you possibly can, there's always another option. Which I'd be happy to meet with you and explore, sure. Just let me get it together a bit and we'll set something up, course we'll have to confer with Cyber.

[Cybermancer]

Of course I am available to assist in further plans against this 'Sandman' and his various activities.

[Hannah]

I know the next post in this thread will probably be Dad letting you know he grounded me until I'm old enough to retire and that you should forget what I've just written, but perhaps the bait should be someone a little more prepared for these sorts of things than Slayer's sister.

Someone who's had to come face to face with supernatural nasties before.

Someone who's had to fight a creature in her dreams before.

Someone who can fight fire with fire as it were.

Just saying.

[Cybermancer]

As I've already stated, I am opposed to any plan that requires human bait.

That does seem to be what you're suggesting in this case.

Before you decide to run off and try something anyway, please allow me to discuss it with you in depth so as to convince that this is not the best plan of action.

There are some details that are best not discussed publicly.

By the way, Clara wanted me to pass on her thanks for the flowers.

[Hannah]

Well don't think I'd be trying this without the appropriate back up. Team efforts are the way to go.

Also, I wouldn't consider myself the bait as much as the trap.

And tell Clara she's welcome.

[Grace]

Hannah,

I know I may have originated this suggestion but it's a bad idea. I was talking before I was thinking. Slayer isn't going to want to risk his sister anymore than I'd want to risk you.

Cybermancer,

If you encourage this in anyway, I will shoot you in the face.

Just saying.

[Hannah]

Okay, then someone have a better plan? I'm not particularly keen in having to fight it out with this thing, but if I can hold it off long enough for a bunch of the rest of us to rush it from behind, I think it's a working idea.

[Doctor Boggs]

A better plan? Well how bout we do some research to track down a few more of it's coma ridden power sources then look into some kinda means to counter the effect?

I won't mention the MANY avenues of research we can follow in the case or steps that might be taken once we've found them since it'd blow the whole deal. But we had this discussion already, I hazily recall going ballistic about the half baked leap without looking kinda thinking that brought it up.

I don't say this to be a cranky old jackass, I for one approve of yer whole selfless wanting to help thing, but if you try it then you AND others will suffer horrible consequences. So can we please try some other things first?

[Hannah]

I'm not saying that the lure idea is the way to go. I'm just suggesting I make a should make for a better lure if we do.

[Cybermancer]

I beleive at this stage the best plan is to gather more information and then formulate strategies.

It would also be wise, I believe, to start looking at our collective resources and prepare various contingencies.

For example, how many people have experience in navigating in dreams? It would be useful for those who are knowledgeable and experienced in such matters to share those assets with others who may not possess them. We know some of what our foe can do. We can start training to deal with him.

[Hannah]

Well Shadow, Wie and myself have all been successful in this regard. Most of the rest of us who've been didn't get there on our own, though there has been some success in fighting it out in their own dreams or other's dreams when they got there by folks as diverse as my dad, Nemesis and the Russians. So I guess this shows that anybody can be turned into someone who can be successful in dreams, rather than dedicated specialists.

There are others who aren't around anymore who have done more.

[Cybermancer]

Since the test that Dr. Boggs and I engaged in proved successful, I can be assured of being able to send people into the dreams of others. I would prefer that anyone who went had some training both from discussion and simulation before sending them into an actual engagement.

It would greatly increase the chances of success for all those involved. And there would be no danger from the training portion, of course.

[Doctor Boggs]

Ah heck, school? Never do quite seem to escape it... does sound like a good idea though. I for one wouldn't mind a little more experience with the subject, might have a better chance of spotting Mr Sandman if ever comes calling again.

Better sign us up a teacher type there Cyber.