Dreamlines... Realities Within, 1999.

16 January 1999: Rufus - My favorite fabric friend proves to me once again that he is my dream guardian.
7 February, 1999: Dream Stalker - Stalked on a college campus, I discover my stalker is someone I trust. I ended up writing a poem based on the dream: DreamStalker.
1 March, 1999: Evil Vignettes - Two small unpleasant dreams. One involving a friend. One involving an unseen but menacing observer.
11 April 1999: Workspace/Playspace - Dreams about shrinking workspace and about a game.
1 May 1999: : Chosen One - An odd dream of fighting monsters and cannibalism for a religious order.
12 June 1999: MAXIM MRAM - My company was being hostilely taken over by another company.
15 June 1999: The One Ring - A dream based on one of my gaming characters, Delphi, and a neverending plotline based on Tolkien's One Ring - to rule them all.
24 June 1999: Waking Nightmares - A dream based on one of my gaming characters, Talena. First, a dream with in a dream and then Talena is stalked by a psychotic security guard.
25 June 1999: GWYM - I dreamed of another journal writer. We met at a science-fiction convention in a Vampire game.
29 June 1999: A Naked You - A *weird* dream where I and another friend keep trying to have sex with each other but we keep getting interrupted.
17 July 1999: A-Hunting We Will Go - Deep in the woods, hunting an unseen monster. Sometimes, the hunter becomes the hunted.
20 July 1999: Courtesan - As both a QA Engineer and a Courtesan, I face a daily struggle to be an independant woman as well as survive those who do not understand me.
23 July 1999: The Fifth Book - Traveling through worlds, a 'chance' meeting in a book store may be more than what it seems.
6 August 1999: The Blair Witch Project, The Sequel - An awful dream-sequel to the movie, The Blair Witch Project. Only this time, it is a scientific study and I am Heather's half sister.
11 August 1999: My Therapist and Other Faceless Men - An odd dream where I am telling my therapist about an erotic dream.
22 August 1999: The Caliph's Price - Desperately trying to get home, I discover my father has been captured by an enemy. The Caliph offers to free him - for a price.
26 August 1999: Fear & Sin - Trapped in a frightening future, I am chased by men hired to capture me at all costs. In my fear, I commit a great sin.
2 September 1999: Dark Dreams - Duvessa dreams of a dark future where an old enemy has returned to take his revenge. (Yep. It's a dream within a dream.)
5 September 1999: All Aboard! - In a world gone mad, I must seek out the only important thing left in it, while dodging the sinister Darkman and his henchmen, the Invincibles as they seek to capture me.
5 October 1999: Driving - Suddenly thrust into the driver's seat, I have no choice but to bring us down safely.
11 October 1999: Johanna's Wedding - Trying to make sure Johanna's wedding goes off without a hitch, I have to deal with a friend who wants to pull a practical jokes by hiding the sacred Book.
12 October 1999: Vampire Clubhouse - Invited to the hit nightclub in the area, I discover too late that the regulars are vampires intent on either having me and my friends for dinner or to join their ranks.
19 October 1999: Menagerie - Worrying about my pet hamsters and trying to keep the lion separated from the meerkat, I just seem to have way too many animals on my hands.
22 October 1999: Love & War. - On a world that is not Earth, a world where the rebels were losing a vicious war of invasion by a more advanced neighboring planet. I was the Prophesized One who would lead my people to freedom. However, my love for the Inquisitor's son brings me both heartbreak and opportunity.
26 November 1999: Soap Opera. - I am a voice actor in a anthropomorphic soap opera that is created by a mental gestalt of the actors.
2 December 1999: The Duel - Fighting for the Green Man and the Last Unicorn, I face a friend in a duel to the death.
12 December 1999: Enemy Mine - Through various settings, I am set upon by an unknown enemy.
19 December 1999: Alternate Buffy - One of the Slayerettes, I must save Buffy from an evil wizard who is killing off all of the Buffys in all Universes. In one Universe, after I watched Buffy die at the hands of this wizard, I sacrifice myself so that I may save Buffy in the Sunnydale Universe.
24 December 1999: Me & the CTO - While at the training camp, I am captured as part of a training exercise. Using my feminine charms, I almost manage to distract the CTO who has me captured.

16 January
Rufus

I walked into a little girl's room. At first, it seemed fine. I picked up a barbie doll. When I looked up, I saw that the girl's room was tattered, old, decaying. I looked down at the doll in my hand. She looked horrible, hair half gone, one eye missing, her head turned by itself and she snarled at me. I dropped the doll and backed away, pressing myself to the wall, whispering. "I don't think I can handle bad dreams right now." I half awoke up and grabbed Rufus to me, cuddling close and thinking he would protect me. I immediately fell back asleep, back to the same dream. I was pressed up against the wall, looking around, frightened. Then, I could see Rufus come into my dream, through the wall, behind me. He was about 3 times bigger than me and hugged me close, like I was doing to him as I slept. At that instant, I felt safe and warm. The little girl's room became bright, happy and new. The barbie doll was fixed and smiling at me.

FADE.

7 February
Dream Stalker

I dreamed that I was in college again. On a campus. It wasn't a good dream. I dreamed that someone was after me and a friend. They left us notes and flowers. I don't remember what was bad about these but we were scared. Then, she and I had to ride in a school parade on horseback. During the parade, I noticed that the staddle was different. As I noticed and shifted back on the horse, warning my friend to do the same, a miniture buzzsaw blade popped out of it. I had to hold the base of it back so that it would not cut my crotch and stomach. I know my friend did the same but I didn't see her again after that.

Before that, I was a little worried/creeped out. Now I was seriously afraid. I drove to campus security for help but the one kid on duty was an idiot and didn't see what the problem was. It had become night. He told me go to the police. So, I walked there. The Police station was closed. I drove back to my dorm. There was a note there. I panicked. I ran across campus to security again. No one was there. I was frustrated and scared.

That's when I realized I'd have to walk back to my dorm room again – in the dark. It was now misty, too. Perfect slasher movie weather. I decided to brave it. When I was halfway there, I heard someone running, his feet pounding. I turned and saw this huge shape barreling towards me. He was strong, grabbed me by the shoulders, half carrying me onto the road. I struggled to look up and see who it was. Then he dropped there and a car or a van speed towards me. I had barely enough time to get out of the way. The car stopped and turn a hundred feet away. I saw the original guy and the driver outlined in the car's headlights. Then, the original guy started running towards me.

This time, I was not going to let him scare me. I was mad. I hunched my shoulder and ran towards him. I tackled him, but it didn't do the damage I though it should do. We tumbled to the ground and fought. That's when I saw that it was Casey. "Why?" I asked as we grappled.

In my mind, I saw a chalkboard. It had written on it:

"As long as you -
Have butterflies in your stomach.
Are afraid of me.
Know you are alive."

There was more written, but I don't remember what except for the last line: "It's all fun and games until someone loses a life." I remember thinking that Casey had gone over the edge again as he drew back his hand to really hit me. He said, "You don't really have fun with something until it is over. Then, you can relax and enjoy the memories of it... the butterfies... the fear..."

FADE.

1 March
Evil Vignettes

When I finally did sleep, I had nightmares. The first dream was about my friend Alan visiting me. There was something about us on the couch, reading or sleeping and suddenly, he wanted sex with me. I told him "No." He got angry at me. Very angry. Then, I knew he was masterbating. I tried to get away from him but he orgasmed and splashed his release on me, my face, my couch. I remember feeling horribly dirty and disgusted. (I know Alan would never do anything like that to me.)

Then, I dreamed that I was in a self defense class for women. Each woman was relating what happened to them and why they were here. Each horrible act was described in awful detail: rapes, attempted murder, robbery. Each woman was helpless to stop their attacker. I don't remember if I talked or not. When the class let out, I discovered that it was right next to a jail and they were bringing prisoners in. Some of the men were the women's attackers. Something happened so that one of the women said my full name. One of the prisoners heard it.... he mentally catelogued it and began to set up an awful, painful demise for me once he was out. I remember it seeming like an episode of "The Profiler" with Jack.... The dream me had no way of knowing what he was plotting... while the observer me was helpless to stop him.

FADE.

11 April
Workspace/Playspace

Sunday. There is something incredibly decadent about dozing in bed until noon. I love doing it. I always end up with the oddest set of mini-dreams. Like this morning:

... Something about all of our playspace and workspace being downsized and I was aghast that my bed was a junior single, from a California King. Then it turns out that my normal bed was put to the side. I could sleep on it but I couldn't sleep for all the snoring...

... A large group of us were playing with LEGO figures but what we did in the game would then happen to us, Real Life. I remember that I was incredibly suspicous of this couple who turned out to be hunter set, out to kill us all. Thank goodness it was a 'game' because I was the only one who questioned them and their motives...

... Several reoccurring scenes in a resturaunt where a group of us were getting together to talk. There was something about where we had come from...

Dozing dreams fade so fast, but I think I know where some of them came from. The workspace being downsized - at work we are starting to have a space problem and they've been discussing sharing cubes. The playing with the LEGO figures and the game - that came from last night's LARP. I'll talk about it more later. The resturaunt thing - also from last night. Everyone always goes out to eat after the game but I declined because I didn't want to be in a large group of people.

FADE.

1 May
Chosen One

I was "chosen one" - fighting an evil vampire and a werewolf. I had a holy stone shield with me that broke into two. Then, I was using it as two sheilds. I was paired with a lion for strength and another animal for eyes. The vampire and the werewolf thought they could get me on the retreat. I think there was a third monster there to. But, while scared, I knew I would be victorious.

Then, the scene changed to me returning to my group. I was luring a woman(?) with me. She did not know it, but she was going to be the main course that night. I, myself, was not entirely sure that I would not be part of the meal, too, but I was *so* eager to join this group of cannibals that I was willing to take the risk.

A lot of odd symbolism that I could push into a Christian sense... (And I am not Christian.) Fighting evil with two holy stone tablets - the Ten Commandments. Paired with two others; strength and unseen eyes - the Trinity. Cannibalism within the group I want to join - Transubstantiation. And finally, wanting to be accepted by this group (my family?) but the only way is to follow their practices and afraid that if I do, it will consume me whole until there is nothing left of me... of who I really am.

Then again, as Freud says, "Sometimes, a cigar is just a cigar."

And maybe this time, I just had weird dreams with no meanings.

FADE.

12 June
MAXIM MRAM

Had one of those *weird* dreams yesterday, too. It was a futuristic, ShadowRun-like world. I dreamed to my company was being hostilely taken over by another company called: MAXIM MRAM. There were people shooting and dying all over the place. I was the one main defender of my area, but in the end, we were over run.

The woman who captured my area gave everyone a choice - join MAXIM MRAM or die. I immediately instructed everyone to join. She singled me out has having prior military experience - which I admitted to. She was pleased to have me join them.

Of course, I did this only to buy time. Somehow, Jack, (one of the IT guys at S-S) figured out what I was doing and gave me three days to come around to MAXIM's side. I didn't and there was a grand chase scene through this arcology that involved a lot of running, motorcycles - which I didn't know how to ride and a few explosions.

FADE.

15 June
The One Ring

OK. I have been thinking about Diachi WAY TOO MUCH! I dreamed in character again... or maybe, it's better said, I dreamed about my character and the current (never ending) plotline.

I dreamed that we were at one of the gatherings. Everyone looked like I picture them in my mind, so it was like watching a movie. We had gotten to the point in the Ring plotline where the ring was revealed and the person who had it was going to give it to Delphi. But, as it was the ONE Ring, it was coveted by many and several people made a grab for it as it was given to Delphi. There was a tussle and Delphi ended up on her knees, curled about the ring as the others fought above her.

That was when the idea hit Delphi. She put the One Ring in her mouth and swallowed it, then dropped another one of her gold rings, crying out, "The Ring!" and scrambling after it. Of course, that set off a series of manuveres to get the ring. At the same time, Delphi mentally projected to Julian, "Get me out of here, now!" So Julian and Nigel grab Delphi out of the HUGE battle for the Ring and take off at inhuman speeds.

I'm not sure how the group got to Mount Diable but the next scene was there with Julian and Nigel fighting off icky things as Delphi climbed to the edge of the Fires of Creation, intending to throw the ring in (as she needed to). The Ring would not allow her to get it out of her tummy - promising her all sorts of power and wealth. Also, somewhere in there, the Nine Riders showed up while Nigel and Julian were fighting. Several had surrounded Delphi, intending to capture her and thus the ring.

Suddenly, Max pops up in Hoard Form (12 feet tall of pure nastiness) and starts fighting the Black Knights (9 Riders). At this point, Delphi realizes that the only way to destroy the Ring, as it will not leave her body, is to sacrifice herself. It became very dramatic in that dream-like way with Delphi mentally telling Julian good-bye and asking him to tell her Sire what happened to her.

Then, there was that neat slow motion sequence where Julian and Nigel turn to see Delphi about to leap into the Fires of Creation, knowing they can't reach her in time, yelling "NOOOOO!" and "DELPHI!!" She leaps but Max, in all his hoard-form-tentacle-ickiness, is able to throw out a tentacle and catch Delphi by the wrist. So, she's dangling over what could be called a volcano as Max is still fighting the Riders and now, the Ring is burning a hole out of Delphi's tummy to escape.

The last bit is confusing. What I remember is that the Ring burned its way out of the her tummy but she catchs it in her hand. Max is dangling her over the fires. The battle is waging on. Then, in a supreme act of will, Delphi casts the Ring into the Fires of Creation and there is a HUGE explosion. I'm not sure if Max pull her out of the way or if the explosion blew her out of the way. But the last thing I remember is Julian, Nigel, Delphi and Max (in his human guise), sprawled on the ground from the explosion looking like hell and a little befuddled.

Both Max and Julian speak just before I wake up but I don't remember what either says.

FADE.

24 June
Waking Nightmares

I dreamed that I was Talena (my college game character) - and Talena was dreaming of being lost in a land of odd animals, giant sentient mushrooms with large teeth, being chased by something horrible. She never saw it but she knew it was chasing her. She woke up in a cold sweat and couldn't get back to sleep. And overwhelming fear kept her awake.

Then, it turns out that an on campus security guard who was kinfolk(?) had started obsessing about her. He'd follow her around, subtly, making notes of where she was and with whom. Then, it turned out that he was part of a cult and was going to do some sort of sacrifice involving one of Talena's mundane friends and a bunch of kittens. Talena and her friends stopped the sacrifice, saved the girl and the kittens but, somehow, that left Talena alone and vulnerable.

The last scene before I woke up was the guy calling the police to get Talena arrested for robbery, he sabotaged her car, killed the officers when they showed up (I think to frame Talena) and then managed to smack her upside the head, tie her up and dump her in his trunk. She woke up tied up, gagged, captive in a dark small space - that suddenly started moving. And I woke up.

FADE.

25 June
GWYM

For the first time, I've dreamed of another journaler whose journal I read on a regular basis - when he updates it. I don't know why I dreamt of Horus from GWYM. Maybe because I know he LARPs, too.

The setting was a Vampire LARP (go fig) at a Con. We were both playing, not realizing who each other was, despite the fact that we seemed familiar to each other. Somehow, we ended up on the wrong end of one of the plotlines and were running for our lives with a powerful, stolen, artifact in tow. At one point, we were hiding, taking a break from some serious running, and I said something like, "Oh, this will go great in my journal." Then, it all clicked. We realize who each other was, had a good laugh and then were on the run again.

FADE.

29 June
A Naked You

Now... I wasn't going to write a journal entry today but I feel I must. If only to record the WEIRDEST freaking dream I have had to date.

I dreamed I was in a hotel with a friend (who shall remain nameless to protect the innocent and the not-so-innocent). We were joking around and hanging out. It was a house that had been converted into a hotel. The place was packed. Then, we lost power. He and I had a room upstairs on the top floor. I decided that it was time for bed. He wasn't tired. So, I asked him what he wanted to do. He said,

"It involves a naked you... and me with a flashlight."

In the dream, I laughed it off, saying something coy and curling up on the bed (incidentally, I was already naked for some odd reason). Then, he came up and kissed me. Not one of those, sweet little kisses or one of those awkward kisses. No. It was one of those... OMG!-Curl-your-toes kisses.

(You might be thinking... OK, what's so weird about this, Jenn? Well, the guy in the dream is just one of those guys you can't imagine having sex with someone, much less even kissing them. In fact, the first time he mentioned liking a girl and said something about sex, I was shocked. Now, my brain is over drive - not only is this guy interested in sex, he wants me, too? *Paradigm Shift*)

So, things get even weirder as I am *incredibly* turned on by this guy. And I'm more than willing to have sex with him but we keep getting interrupted by the other people in the house/hotel.

Then, we switch to being in a swamp, on the run from someone, I don't know who. But the whole time we are on the run, all we want to do is tear each other's clothes off. Then, we switch to a Sears store where we are 'trying out the washer and dryer' cleaning our clothes from the swamp.

*shakes head*

It was just incredibly weird for me. Especially being attracted to this guy.

FADE.

17 July
A-Hunting We Will Go

I was in this Western town. A lot of us were together for a particular reason. I believe we were hunting something. Or getting ready to hunt something. While we were in the bar, one of the biggest men there, Luke, showed me that he could shapeshift into this little tiny white bird about the size of a quarter. He told me that he was waiting for his mate and if I should see her, to please let him know.

While I was sitting next to the window, looking out over the dense forest, a little tiny white bird flew into the open window. I immediately knew this was Luke's mate and held up my hand to her. She landed on my palm. She was no bigger than a dime. "I'll get Luke." I told her. "No time. No time." She chirped at me and then began to have her eggs in my hand. I yelled for someone to get Luke and to hurry as I watched this. She laid 6 flattish, oval eggs, one on top of the other. They began to expand. Then, both the eggs and the little female bird began to shrink. I screamed for Luke. I thought something was wrong.

Luke showed up with a plate in hand. On the plate was a broken egg. "Put them on the plate." He told me. "But, the yolk...?" I asked. "It's OK. They need to feed." He said. So, I did as instructed, carefully, putting the female bird and the eggs onto the plate with raw egg. Luke smiled at me. "You done good, girl. Thanks."

I looked up to thank him but suddenly, I was outside with my group. I apparently had been looking at a compass in my hand. Rich and EricL and DJ were there. Rich was leading us and we were going to go setup camp in a cave. They were talking about how the monster was near and that it would be a tough fight. As we were walking away, I saw a wolf with brown and black fur come walking up. It looked like I could see him on the horizon but I knew he was closer. And I knew he was a Garou.

When I pointed him out to everyone, DJ said that there was another group that was hunting the monster and that 'dog' was part of the group. They had never seen the other group, save the 'dog' but knew that they liked to help us out upon occassion. Everyone was hurriedly getting their stuff, so, I waited for the wolf. He was very friendly. I sat down and petted him, scritching his ears and stuff. I noticed that he turned white and translucent in the sun. Suddenly, I knew his name was "Ghostrunner."

At that point, I knew I had to catch up to my friends. I was bunking with the females and grumbling about being on the top level with the counselor. As I was looking at the gray t-shirts they had given us for sleeping, I noticed that the counselor was asleep in her bunk already. When I went to check on her, I found her dead and knew that the monster had already been here. Then, there was a noise behind me and knew that the monster was still here and I was in DEEP shit.

As I woke, I have vague impressions of a lot of movement, a wolf howling, a struggle. All of it was happening very fast, behind me before I could turn.

FADE.

20 July
Courtesan

It was a modern day setting with both old style Victorian and modern day clothing. I was a QA Engineer and a Courtesan like Veronica from Dangerous Beauty. I looked like her, too. I belonged to a stable of Courtesans. I did it to make extra money for me and my family. There was a man there who wanted me for his own. I told him "No."

He insulted me, telling me I'd never get anywhere without his help.

I held my head high and said, "I am a QA Engineer as well."

He said, "But, what about your mother?"

I looked over to other side of the room and saw this beautiful, older woman. I knew she was my mother and this man was going to threaten her and her livilihood if I did not become his and his alone. I was furious. So very furious! I stood on a chair and rang a small bell. I began to speak to my sister courtesans, telling them what this man had just done. That he had insulted me, my profession and threatened my mother if I did not go with him.

All of the other courtesans became wildly furious with him, as well.

[I shifted in my sleep, smacking the snooze button and fell back into the same dream, at a different part.]

Like in Dangerous Beauty, the wives hated the courtesans. I and another woman were going to visit my friend, Tess. She was once a courtesan, too. Now, she was an apprentice chef to the 'greatest chef in the world.' I knew of all the hard times that she had gone through. My friend and I were turned away from all the hotels. It seemed that courtesans were not welcome in this place.

At one point, two women screamed at my friend and I, causing us to flee, with men chasing us. We ran up to a tree, climbing it to be safe. Only, my friend's gown hung too low and they were able to pull her from the tree. The two women were there. One was Asian and in her wedding gown. In desperation, I began to speak to her. "I know what it is that you desire so much. You wish you could look like me. Full, luscious breasts like milky white moons..." The Asian woman burst into tears at my words. "Fear not." I told her. "I can teach you how to keep your man from straying. I will teach you all of my womanly tricks..." She looked up at me with such hope and need that it was painful.

FADE.

23 July
The Fifth Book

I was walking along outside, next to a steep ravine made mostly of a light brownish rock. It seemed to have the constitancy of slate. I dropped a small rock down the side of it and it hit a large boulder, jostling it. Intrigued that such a small rock could jostle a much larger rock, I dropped another, causing the boulder to tumble and landslide into the ravine below. I really liked the sound of the rock tumbles echoing and I knew there was an important lesson to be learned by the landslide and the echos. Then, I shoved a small pile of rocks over the edge, watching the larger landslide into the bottom of the ravin. The sound was just so cool!

Then, I skipped along a trail through the trees and into a secret hidden door. It was an entrance back into another world, our world. Back into Bay Books, somewhere in the back part, in a hidden room. There was a little boy there would had discovered another entrance to the hidden worlds. He was afraid, but intrigue. He wanted to go into it, but didn't know if he should. I walked up to him, introduced myself and encouraged him to explore. "If you found the entrance, you were meant to explore it." Bolstered, he did.

I went inside the store, meeting up with the owner of Bay Books. (Which was now at least two levels and had a bunch maze like corridors of book shelves.) He was an older man like Merlyn and he was my mentor. In his hand, was the the fifth book of the Magical Philosophy series and another book on fantasy. He was grumbling how the Magical Philosophy did -not- belong in the Fantasy section. I didn't have that last book in the series and was very excited to see it. Then, I got distracted by talking to Greg. My mentor was forgetful and put the book I wanted back on the shelves. As it is a rare book and highly sought after, Greg and I went tearing through the place, frantic to find it. The bookstore was *packed* and I just knew someone else was going to get it. We did a LOT of looking through a LOT of books.

Finally, I saw it. A very nice looking guy had just purchased it. He was dressed in a casual nice fashion and had the coolest looking cornblond hair. I really, really wanted that book. So, I walked up to talk to him. It took me a little bit to get his attention. Like he didn't realize that I was speaking to him. When I finally did catch his eyes and he turned towards me, I said, "I saw that you bought the fifth book in the Magical Philosophy. It is the only book in the series I don't have. I was wondering if I could purchase it from you for say $15?" (It was orginially $10.)

He smiled, looking at me carefully. "Well," he said. "First... you aren't Derek Dinkleberry, are you?"

I was very confused. I looked down at my obvious female assets and than look at my hands. "Um. No...?"

"He was 16th century evil mage." The young man laughed, making me laugh. Then, I suddenly got the impression that my mentor watching us and that this meeting was suppose to happen.

FADE.

6 August
The Blair Witch Project, The Sequel

Another mysterious house was found involving the Blair Witch. Only, this time, it was a lone house that looked like the Psycho house. It was next to a large corn field. A LOT of scientific types were converging on it to investigate it. This included me, Jennifer Donahue, Heather's half-sister, whom only her mother knew about.

The house was very creepy and weird things were happening. A lot of us had cameras. Only I looked up. It was night - full moon and there was a hideous witch in white on the roof doing a ritual. I screamed and almost fainted. By the time people came to see what was wrong, the witch had vanished.

Then there came the big discovery that I Heather's half-sister. Half of the scientists were upset. Half were intrigued. They had begun to think that the Donahue family was some how linked to the Blair Witch. I was afraid to go into the house. Afraid of what I would find. But, they forced me to go in.

Once inside, I had a series of psychic flashes - basically seeing The Blair Witch Project (the movie) in about 30 seconds. Only, I didn't stop when the movie did. I continued to see how Heather and Mike died. And I was the one killing them - involving a hooked blade and gutting from stem to stern. (Or, maybe I was in the killer's POV.)

I completely freaked out, screaming that we all had to leave. That we were all dead if we didn't. That the killing had already begun again. In another part of the house, one by one, the investigators disappeared, mere feet from each other. I ran out of the house, screaming my fool head off. Something happened in the house that made the others believe me and they ran out, too.

We all ran into the cornfield. I yelled to keep in groups, but it wasn't helping. We were being picked off as we fled.

FADE.

11 August
My Therapist and Other Faceless Men

I was seeing my therapist, a man I knew but I never saw his face. As usual, he insisted that I lay down on the patients' couch. Once I was settled, he would turn from the window and sit down. He always has a pipe that smelled good, like cherrywood.

"Did you dream?" He asked.

"Yes." I responded, nervous. I was afraid to tell him this dream.

"What about?" His voice was bland, uninterested.

"It was an erotic dream." I softly said.

I heard his chair squeak a little. "Tell me." He commanded.

I closed my eyes and obeyed. I couldn't not obey. He was my therapist after all. "I was in a large classroom with stadium style seats. I was sitting towards the bottom, waiting nervously for the professor. I was wearing a catholic school girl outfit in blues and grays. I liked the outfit.

The professor called me down to his desk. 'Do you know why I kept you late?' He asked.

'Because I was late to class?' I responded, keeping my eyes lowered.

'Yes. You've been a bad girl. You must be punished now.' He said to me. He sounded happy to have to punish me. Like it pleased him. 'Face my desk, lift your skirt, drop your panties to the floor and put your hands on my desk!' He barked the orders at me. Having never been paddled before, I had no idea if this was right or not, so I obeyed, blushing furiously."

"How did you feel about this? The spanking? The punishment?" My therapist asked.

"I was afraid ... but... OK about it. I had been bad. This was what happened to bad girls."

"Where you bad on purpose?" His voice was soft now.

I was silent for a moment. "Yes." I admitted.

The chair creaked behind me again. "Alright, go on."

I closed my eyes once more. "He began to paddle me, making me count each swat with the paddle. After every five swats, he would pause and lightly run his fingers over my sensitive rear. It would make me squeak.

'You like this, don't you.' He said to me, his voice distant.

'Yes.' I whispered, ashamed.

'You -are- a bad girl.' He mused. 'You need something different.'

He stepped behind me. I heard his clothes shift. He leaned over me. 'Don't let your hands leave my desk.' He commanded in a harsh whisper. Then, he began to take me from behind. Hard and fast, grabbing at me, fingers fumbling at buttons to get inside my shirt. 'This is what bad girls get and you've been very bad.' He whispered in my ear. Suddenly, I realized that I didn't know what he looked like...."

"Jennifer, you shouldn't lie to me." My therapist interrupted me.

"What?" I was startled. I heard him come up behind me. I was afraid to look at him.

"That was not a dream, was it? It was a fantasy. A fantasy you had. I'm the professor. You want me, don't you." He sounded both eager and angry at the same time.

I shook my head. "No. I want him." I pointed to a well-toned man standing there in the doorway. He had dark skin and long flowing black hair... but I couldn't see his face. The ocean was behind him. I could see it through the wall. I was drawn to the ocean as much as I was to the man in the doorway... This was what I wanted.

FADE.

22 August
The Caliph's Price

I was visiting another country with my friend Debi. We were at a laundry mat when we discovered that something was very, very wrong. People were after us and we didn't know why. She was leading me through the streets of this city I did not know.

Debi became a pretty Arabic woman from The Karma Sutra: A Love Story. The one who taught women to be courtesans. She was leading me and two others, my brothers, I think. Trying to get us out of the city. We ended up on a very uncomfortable caravan. We traveled for a long, long time.

When we stopped, we were in another city and not the city that the Caravan Master said we were going to. I tried to talk to my friend but I couldn't get her alone. The Caravan Master was always with her. Despairing of what to do, I took a walk around this city. I recognized that we were still in India. I was not dressed as everyone else and I was noticed.

A small procession came down the street. A man in robes was on top of an elephant. Something happened to the harness and it slid off of the elephant, crashing to the ground. There was a gasp from everyone but instead of helping the man, everyone turned away and waited, as if they didn't notice.

"Help him!" I cried as I ran up to the toppled harness. No one did. So, I helped dig out the man from the fabric and wood. When I uncovered him, I offered my hand. He was only slightly injured and dazed. He took my hand, letting me help him up.

"You are not from here." He said to me.

"No. I'm on my way home."

"Why did you help me?" He seemed very interested and curious.

"Because you needed help. Were you a beggar or the Sultan himself, I would have still offered my hand."

He looked up and past me towards the caravan and nodded. "Then, please, you and yours must stay with me for a while." By this time, the man's entourage was there around us.

I looked back and saw the Caravan Master and my friend standing there. He looked very pleased. She looked pale.

I discovered on the trip over to the man's house that he was indeed the Caliph and it was considered a great honor to be allowed to stay with him. I also discovered that his wife had died recently. We stayed there a long, long time. Weeks became months. It was pleasant but I wanted to go home.

One day, the Caliph came to me and handed me a stack of letters. "These came from your father. I had them brought here." He turned and walked away before I could ask any questions. As I read the letters, I discovered my father had been captured by another Caliph and they had him in the dungeon. I don't remember why. I went to see the Caliph, asking why this had happened.

Instead, he told me that he wanted to marry me. He had wanted me from the first day we had met. I was surprised. "No, I want to go home."

"This is your home now. The servants love you. I love you. This is where you should be."

I was going to protest again, but he raised his hand. "Do not answer now. I have arranged for you to see your father. It will be dangerous but I know you. You want to see him."

I nodded.

"If you marry me, I will have your father freed. I will go to war if necessary."

Two of his best guards spirited me to the enemy Caliph's dungeon to see my father. It was an awful sight and he was being tortured. But, my father had not broken - yet.

When the guards returned me to my Caliph, he looked at me and asked, "What is your answer?"

FADE.

26 August
Fear & Sin

I was in a post apocalyptic time. I was the Singer. That was what I could do. They had found me. These feral, wild men. I didn't know what was going on. I was in their compound. They were talking about me. They were figuring out what they were going to do with me. I was outside, wandering the guard wall. I looked up and saw the other compound. It was filled with ape men like from "Planet of the Apes." They could see me, too. They wanted me. They wanted females. To breed with. And Singers. Singers were important for some reason.

The ape men sent a picture of two of us. Me and Robert, I think. We knew we had to go. I'm not sure where. Robert and I were driving fast. We were followed. It is the ape men, but now they were human. We have to rescue another girl. As we turned the corner, it became modern day and I'm with Ralph. The men caught up with us at the toy store, chasing us. They have a good time chasing us. They like it, the chase.

We found the girl. A pretty young blond. Ralph is very protective of Her. He holds her close as we run. We have lost the bad guys. So, we decide to stop for some food, at a nice restaurant. As we eat, we see that the two men chasing us are there. Somehow they've found us. We run through the restaurant. Frantic to escape. I grab a pair of scissors as protection.

As we flee outside, I'm with Robert again. We are cornered, in the dark, in the parking lot. Finally, I can't stand it anymore. I lash out with the scissors, surprising one. I capture him, the little one. I start shouting questions at him. Questions like: "Why are you after me? Why do you want me? Why am I special?"

He doesn't answer at first, but I am enraged. I drag the scissors across his chest. He yelps, surprised and is in pain. He says he has to get me. That I'm the girl in the pink dress. I realize he's referring to a picture I saw of a woman, in a pink baby-doll dress, lying on a bed. The picture doesn't show the woman's face. I can't believe it is me. The questioning goes on. "Who hired you? What is important about me?"

Finally, Robert comes back to me. I demand that we go to the car. To flee. I have a hostage now. Robert agrees. I notice the men chasing are not upset. The big guy just stands to the side and waits. Then, I look at the little one that I have as a hostage. I see that he is bleeding through his white shirt along the cuts I made with the scissors. I am horrified. I didn't mean to actually hurt him. He wasn't bleeding before. My mind just cannot understand it. It is like a blow. I cannot function.

Robert forgets the big guy and drags me to the car. I am sobbing hysterically and apologizing to the little guy. I feel so bad. I drop the scissors as we get to the car. The men decide that this is a good time to attack us. Robert fights with the big one, struggling with him as he shouts for me to run. I cannot move. The little one tackles me, pinning me to the ground. He grins maniacally as he ties my hands. I am still sobbing. He says "That's OK. That's what we get paid to do. If we get hurt, we get hurt."

Now, I am captured. I don't know what has happened to Robert. The little guy drags me to their car, shoving me to the backseat. I'm wearing that pink dress now. The one from the picture. He stops to gag me and tie my feet. Then, he takes a picture of me. He is going to take me to the ape compound. I think. Or, maybe to another compound of men. The little guy is very pleased with himself.

I know I'm in trouble. I can't stop them. I am helpless to do anything. I still feel horrible. I can't even help myself. I am still horrified at my actions - accidentally hurting the little guy. I have committed a great sin in my fear.

FADE.

2 September
Dark Dreams

An explosion rocked the ship again, slamming Yahnna into the bulkhead. She looked like she had been on the losing end of a battle. "Dev! You've got to...." The rest of her words were lost in the hiss of steam from the newly burst pipe next to her.

"I'm trying! I'm trying!" Dev cried out, wrestling with some sort of control on the bridge. He did not look any better than Yahnna did

Moving in slow motion, Yahnna fought her way onto the bridge, her blaster in hand. She moved to one of the control stations. Looking at the monitor and the people within it, her eyes widened in horror as she pushed her hair from her face. "Oh no!"

*blur of motion*

Duvessa was running with Val through the ship, easily navigating the obstacles: debris, bursting pipes and running figures. They were both wearing the same basic thing: a brownish looking jumper with knee high black boots. They were heading towards the trouble, knowing that they were the ones who had to stop it.

Suddenly, there was a crash and a strong disturbance in the Force. Val and Duvessa looked at each other, both reaching for their lightsabers at the same time. Then, there was a familiar sound as a sapphire blue lightsaber lit up the dark hallway. In response, Val and Duvessa lit their own lightsabers; crimson for Val; emerald for Duvessa, and waited, poised together to face this oncoming threat.

He moved in slow motion, dark cloak fluttering with each deliberate step. Slowly, through the darkness and the steam, he was revealed to the Jedi who awaited him. There was no mistake. It was the Marquis DeLorik. When he spoke, eyes burning a hole through Duvessa, his words hung in the air. "I have come for you."

Duvessa's heart froze as the fear threatened to overwhelmed her. Then, she heard Val's voice in her mind. "Face your fear. Quell your emotions, young one." Immediately, the fear dissipated and a sense of purpose set itself firmly in her mind as her Jedi training took over once more.

As one, Val and Duvessa advanced on DeLorik, attacking with speed and agility. DeLorik seemed to parry their blows with no effort. Back and forth the battle waged on against the Marquis. It seemed to be an even match. Then, DeLorik turned on the offensive, driving his two opponents back. Val and Duvessa fought even harder, barely holding their own...

The ship continued to shudder and explode around them.

Duvessa woke up with a start, her eyes wide as she rolled out of her bunk into a low combat crouch, not sure it what she was remembering was a dream or reality. Her heart pounded in her chest as she slowly reassured herself that it had been just a dream. Still, as she remembered it, it seemed too real to be just a dream.

"DeLorik's alive." She murmured to herself in the dark, her body tensing more at the thought. As the words were spoken, she was absolutely certain that he was alive. That he had suvived the explosion of the mining ship. He was out there. Somewhere. Waiting for them. Waiting for her.

FADE.

5 September
All Aboard!

I dreamed that I was visiting my sister and her daughter. I woke up and we were all there. Everything was OK. Then, I woke up again and the roof was on fire. I helped Casey and Greg put it out. Then, I woke up and everyone was missing, but Emmy and she really needed her diaper changed. I was aghast that my sister would leave Emmy like this. I actually managed to change the diaper pretty well. Then, I woke up and nothing was as it was supposed to be.

My family was missing, the place was a wreck and I knew that Emily had to be around here somewhere. I walked out of the house. It was dark. The town was in a panic. "Run! Run! They're going after the women." Someone cried to me. I didn't know who 'they' were.

Then, a couple of men appeared, "The Invincibles," with horrible weapons. Sharp blades. They were killing people around me but NOT me. I was trapped. They advanced. They tormented me with the thought of what they were going to do with me. Just as I though they were going to get me, another man appeared - black trench coat, white face, cruel smile, dark eyes. He stopped them. He was their boss. They were just supposed to find me. He had the Invincibles frighten me, threatening me with the weapons. He told me that I was the TARGET. That I would never be free. To remember that. Then, they walked away.

People avoided me, afraid of me and for me. I went back to the house, searching for Emmy. I found Casey and Greg dead in the attic - burned to death. I had not been there to help put out the fire. I felt horrible. But I HAD to find Emmy. She was alone out there.

I packed a small bag and walked. It was daylight now. People avoided me. Everyone knew about the Invincibles and the Darkman. Finally, after meeting someone and talking to him. A nice man (for the Mad Max era), he invited me back to his home. People were afraid but they listened to him. He said that to defeat the Darkman, we had to band together. He was the leader of this group.

There was one girl in particular who didn't like me or trust me. She avoided me, even though she was the one who was supposed to help me. It was she who was supposed to tell me that the camp was actually a train. I almost missed it when it moved. I ran fast to catch it. Then, asked my friend about it. He was surprised, he explained that the train moved every 2-3 days to help protect it from the Darkman and his people. He assigned me a seat with a nice woman that looked like Jennifer Connelly.

She promised to take care of me. I was so tired after that day of fleeing the Invincibles and then being terrorized by them and then searching for Emmy, I knocked her boots over. I had to captured them before they fell off the train. She thanked me but didn't seem happy that I had managed to return her boots to her. Still, I ended up falling asleep next to her.

When I woke up, the train was in an uproar. I immediately saw why. The Darkman was standing over me. I felt this incredible fear. Then, I heard, in my mind, a baby's cry. Emmy's cry. Suddenly, nothing was more important than finding that lost baby. I stood up to the Darkman, reacting in condescension instead of fear. I told him he must be hot in that trench coat. He made lewd comments and then threatened to put ice in my bra. I dared him to. He did. I shrugged. And bared the top of my breasts and let him be lewd. He was surprised at my actions. I was supposed to be cringing and frightened by him.

By this time, I realized the whole world could see our exchange. It was some how telepathically being shown to everyone. Something about our tension, competition(?) was very, very important. I stood and said, "Is that the best you've got?" Then, I let the bottom of my shirt out and lifted my bottom of my bar just enough for the ice to tumble like rain from me.

He sneered, pulling out two white cards. "No. That was a warm up. First, you must..." He stared hard at the card and mumbled. "Turn ice into rain." The whole car cheered. He waved his hand. "Second, one of my personal favorites... you must tell me when the Charles Dickens book, "Oliver Twist" was written. It was one of my favorites. So many people dying..."

"1870." I answered without hesistation, not knowing if I was right (It was written 1837-1839), but by the crowd in the Train cheered again. Darkman snarled, leaning close to me, "You haven't won, yet. I will have you." Then, he stalked from me. The Invincibles were disappearing through a portal. Just before Darkman went through, he turned and looked at the Jennifer Connelly girl and snarled. "You failed me." And made a fist. She yelped in fear and disappeared.

I looked down and saw a folder on the floor. I picked it up and opened it. It had 8 pockets. The #1 pocket was filled with the two cards that Darkman had held. Then, a woman was beside me. A beautiful woman dressed as a conductor. She pointed at the title of each pocket. They had a numbers (1-8) and a name. The woman spoke to me, pointing at the folder. "Follow the path laid out before you and you will find what you so desperately seek. At the end, all will be as it should. But, beware, the Darkman will seek to stop you. The fate of many is in your hands." She looked significantly at Mad max man, then disappeared.

FADE.

5 October
Driving

I dreamed that I was with Bob and Alex. We were up in the hills somewhere, next to a cliff. Not California hills with rolling treeless plains but like we were on the East Coast where there are trees and ravines everywhere. I was talking with Bob and Alex. I don't remember what I about but I think it had something to do with the military.

Suddenly, we were in Bob's big blue van. Bob was in back of me and Alex. Alex was in the passenger seat and I was in the driver's seat but I was twisted towards Alex. We realized that the van was moving and that Bob was supposed to be driving. It was his van after all.

Alex lunged forward and grabbed the wheel as I shifted in the seat with an angry "Bob!" like this was all his fault. Alex looked at me, "You're gonna have to drive us down, baby." He seemed a little worried but he put on a brave front. I nodded, determined to do this.

There was not really a road so much as a vague trail to follow down the extremely steep incline that wound its way around huge trees and next to the steep edge. The van bounced and bucked as it went down the side of the hill. There were a couple of close calls but I got us down to flat ground safe and pretty sound.

Once we were on flat ground again, Bob wanted to drive but I would not let him and Alex backed me up. By this time, we were in a jeep and driving free towards the cliff where we first started talking. I looked to my right and saw a gray and yellow bird flying, trying to keep up with us. On my left was a gray and green bird. Alex and I both swatted at them at the same time.

Once we got to the cliff again, Alex and I pulled out guns. Bob was giving orders. I'm not sure what we were shooting at...

FADE.

11 October
Johanna's Wedding

It was Johanna's wedding and quite the lavish affair. Indoors and done on a raised platform with five groomsmen and five bridesmaids. Just as we were almost ready to begin the wedding ceremony, James, one of our friends who was the Best Man, came up to Johanna and said, "We can't do this now. I'm feeling ill and Terry has nothing to eat."

Johanna nodded, listening as James explained that wedding had to be postponed. Since it seemed so logical to her, she felt that she had no choice, but to postpone her wedding. At this point, I stepped up and said, "No. The wedding will go on. Terry will be fine. If you have cold feet, you can get the hell out of here." Then, I turned and looked at the standing groomsmen. "Right." I pointed at Dave Webb (who was the real best man) and said, "You will take over. I know you've been paying attention. Get the ring and the Book." He nodded.

I then continued ordering people about, making sure it was organized. There were only minutes left before the wedding. That was when Dave told me that he could not find the Book. I looked up and saw James walking out with the Book. I immediately ran after him.

"What are you doing?" I was very calm, looking at the Book in his hands. It was black velvet with a pewter design on the front.

"Just one little practical joke. Just one." He said as he looked for a place to hide the Book.

I noticed he was now wearing a gray cloak with the hood pulled around his face. I became very angry, grabbed the front of his shirt and slammed him to the wall. "No." I hissed. "No. No jokes. Not now. This is Johanna's wedding. I will not let you ruin it! Not now. Not ever!" Then, I grabbed the Book from him and headed back up the stage. I handed it to other groomsman who was Donovan Shansey, a detective from General Hospital. "Put this on the table." The table was on the platform in front of the alter. Oddly enough, the table was to be audience and the wedding party.

Everyone got into place and the ceremony began. Johanna looked beautiful. Alex looked stunning. Everything was going well. Then, another groomsman, Kevin Jones, stepped forward. As planned, he was to read from the Book. But, on his way down to the table, he stopped, looking at where the Book should have been.

There was moment where time froze and everyone stared in horror. The Book was gone! Then, Donovan stepped forward and around the table, moving to the spot where the Book should have been. He reached under the table cloth and brought the Book out, setting it reverently on the table as everyone sighed in relief. Then, we all looked around for James with murder in our hearts, KNOWING that he was the one who would dare do something like this.

FADE.

12 October
Vampire Clubhouse

It was me, Johanna, JenB and Alex. We had been invited to an awesome party at THE hit clubhouse, located in a cabin in the woods. This was the most popular night club in the area. People always buzzed about it. I arrived with my friends, hanging out, drinking and dancing. It was a lot of fun. People laughing, generally having a good time.

Then, the club owners and regulars began to start acting strange to me. I knew something was wrong. I just could not tell what. For fun, the regulars were starting to threaten the newbies - threatening to torture them in some unimaginable way that had something to do with a tied up duck, tied next to a tied up chair with a person on top of the chair. They watched the reactions of the newbies very closely. I, frankly, was horrified and wanted to leave immediately.

As I went looking for my friends, I came across a man - a vampire, feeding on one of the newbies. I recoiled in terror and began to frantically look for my friends. The club owners and regulars were all vampires! And they had a treat, a SPECIAL treat for the newbies. It was private party. I knew I had to get me and my friends out of there. I found JenB and begged her to leave and then found Johanna, begging her too. Neither wanted to go.

Finally, I found and latched on to Alex. He had had a good time. He didn't know about the vampires or what was wrong. I begged him to take us home. He saw how I was taunted by the regulars as a 'baby' and told I would never be invited back if I did not go to the special treat. (Which was, I knew, to be eaten or turned into a vampire.) Alex figuring out that something was seriously wrong with me and agreed to take me.

JenB was supposed to come with us but she had to go back to get her shoes. When she went for them, rather than letting her leave, she was captured and seduced by the lead (female) vampire. I saw this and convinced Alex to leave right then. We were next. I was sure of it. He agreed, sensing now that there were wrong and it was not just me. As we hurried to the car, I asked what we were going to do about JenB and Johanna. Alex said they were find, could take care of themselves.

We got to the car. A little gray car. He got in . We were talking. I was trying to explain about the vampires. The car would not start. It started rolling downhill. No brakes either. Both Alex and I knew the vampires had booby trapped the car to kill us. He told me to get in anyway and bucket up. Then, he cracked his knuckles, trying to control the careening car. The car suddenly turned into a huge 4x4 brown and white truck - fully functioning. Then, I remembered arriving in that truck. Just me and Alex.

We drove to his house, another house in the woods, talking about Johanna. When we arrived, we knew she was there. She was not supposed to be. We were confused. Then, we realized the vampires must have taken her there because they thought Alex and I were dead. Suddenly, we knew it was too late for Johanna. Then, they spotted us.

Alex decided to go off road. It was safer. I saw that we were being followed by one of the vampire's minions (who turned out to be the HR hiring person at S-S, Michelle). I tried to warn Alex as we plunged down a deep, deep canyon into water. I was afraid again. How would we survive this and the vampires? Alex in a total commando mode.

We drove fast through the water and stopped near to where we bought the truck. Alex hit a button on the dash board and suddenly the back of the front seat began to fill with pesos - bullet stoppers. It filled to the top just as the first shot from Michelle rang out. We unbuckles out seatbelts and Alex yelled "Get down!" (in his "Sandy, bad dog!" voice) just as the guy sold Alex the truck and Michelle begin to exchange fire.

FADE.

19 October
Menagerie

I dreamed that I suddenly remembered my hamsters. I had two Russian Grays and one Teddybear hamster. I realized I had not fed them for weeks. Very worried, I hurried to my room to look at the cage, afraid they were dead from starvation. They weren't. They were fine. They even had fresh water. I wondered who had been taking care of my hamsters while I had been so neglectful.

I searched the house and found my brother. He was cleaning out his hamster's cage. I asked him if he had been taking care of my hamsters. He said no and that he was sick of his hamsters keeping him awake at night. I didn't like the way he was talking, so I left. As I left, I heard him mutter something about "As soon as this one dies, I'm going to drown the other one." I hurried away.

I thought about my hamsters and how they needed to have their cage cleaned in a major way. So, I went to the pet shop that was attached to the house to get wooden shavings. I found my mom there. I asked her if she had been taking care of my hamsters for me. She said yes but she was way too busy to talk. There was a parade to get ready for.

Just then, I heard a ruckus in the next room. I looked in and saw that the lion (that was actually a cougar, but my dream mind called it a lion) had escaped and was fighting with the meerkat (who was actually a ring-tailed lemur but my dream mind called it a meerkat). I yelled and the lion immediately ran back to his cage and cowered. He knew he had done something wrong. I saw that the meerkat was bleeding and immediately went to it. It clung to me as I cuddled it, telling it that everything was OK now.

I went to the lion's cage and was furious to see that someone had left it open. The lion looked at me, scared. "I can't help it. It's prey. I'm a predator." He said to me.

"It's OK. I know." I told the lion. "Just try not to do it again."

My mom came in and I told her what happened. I tried to give her the meerkat but it got really upset, wanting to stay with me since I was the one who had saved it from the lion. My mom accepted that and then was worried that 'THEY' would want her to move boxes when she had the parade to get ready for. I told her to forget the boxes and just concentrate on this parade.

When I turned around, I was outside, looking at the lion cage with Murray (the lion/cougar) in it. I was watching the 'changing of the guard' for his cage. Two guys were going off shift and two girls were coming on shift. The guys and girls stopped to flirt with each other and then the girls sat down to gab. They never even noticed that Murray's cage door was open a little.

That made me furious. I stormed up, still cuddling my meerkat and yelled at them about the cage door. They both just rolled their eyes at me. I told them they were fired. Then, I took Murray from his cage. I knew I had to get someone to watch him for me. I couldn't take care of both the lion and the meerkat at the same time. They were natural enemies.

So, Murray decides he wants to see a movie. It hasn't started yet. I'm looking around for people I know as Murray breaks free and chooses his own seat. It obviously upsets people. I see someone I know in the back row. It's MikeP and a bunch of female friends. I basically tell MikeP that he is going to watch my lion for me, who gets up on the seat next to Mike and settles in, happy as a clam. He protests that that seat is for someone else, a woman. I don't budge and neither does the lion.

As I decide to watch the movie, too, and find a seat, cuddling the meerkat to me, I listen to Mike's friends grill him about this mysterious female who is coming to the movies. I get the idea that it is another one of his conquests from the net...

FADE.

22 October
Love & War

On a world that is not Earth, a world where the rebels were losing a vicious war of invasion by a more advanced neighboring planet. I was the Prophesized One who would lead my people to freedom. It was a quiet war, at first. Quietly taking over the college I was at. They began by rounding up all of the 'subversives' for questioning. I was one of them.

The 'subversives' were anyone with unusual powers. I 'knew' things about people when I saw them. Sort of like psychometry without touch. I was taken to a room with the others. It was a classroom. One by one, we were being tested for our powers. The girl in front of me mentally told me that I had to escape. They were actually looking for me. She read it in the Inquisitor's mind. That it me he really wanted. The rest would be sent to 'the camps.'

I watched the Inquisitor. I knew he was saving me for last. He knew there was something about me. He wanted me terrified. And I was. Then, some students, saying they were my friends, slipped into the room. They said I had to escape. The professor had told them so. They would make a distraction. I agreed. The Inquisitor, and the military man with him, were too interested in me. I could taste the Inquisitor's anticipation.

There was a loud ruckus up front of the room and I quickly scrambled out the back. Then, I suddenly just 'knew' what to do. The rebels were all waiting for me to escape before escaping themselves. I knew they were locking down the campus but there was one more man we had to get. A professor. The one was told the rebels about me. He was VERY important the cause.

As we were running outside, I felt the Inquisitor's mind searching for me. I needed to clear my mind of who I was. There was only one guy near me. I grabbed him. "You have to kiss me. Think only of the kiss." He was a slender geeky guy, shy and hesitant, but he did. I cleared my mind of everything except for kissing this guy. I could feel the Inquisitor's mind hovering then leave. I broke the kiss and thanked the guy. He was a happy camper.

Then we met up with the other group. I saw that Rheyn, the man I had been slowly falling in love with, with them. But, when I saw him I was horrified. I KNEW he was with the other side. "No. Oh... No. No No!" I whispered to myself. He stopped everyone and showed them a holoprojection of the professor, captured. He told us all that this rebellion would fail and we should all just let it die before we got hurt.

I jumped up and yelled that we had to escape NOW. The people followed my words as Rheyn and I stared at each other. I was heartbroken. He was surprised and hurt. He had given up my name so I would be painlessly taken and he would get custody of me. He didn't realize that the Inquisitor had had other plans for me and I didn't have time to tell him. I turned and fled with the rebels into the frozen night.

(twitch)

Same world, several months later. There is a chance to free the professor. It is my friend's wedding at the Inquisitor's house. By now, I have discovered than Rheyn is the Inquisitor's son. It saddens me greatly as I still love him. But now, I can't think of that. I have to free the professor.

I and a few of the braver rebels sneak into the manor house. First as caterer staff, then switch to formal clothing. We are all over the reception, looking for a clue or a way to find the professor. The whole time, we are avoiding the Inquisitor and Rheyn.

I meet up with the bride, a dear friend. She and I hug tightly. "I love you like a sister and I support what you're doing. But, I love him (him being one of the invaders) and once you love one of them, you're trapped forever."

I nod. "I know." I had discovered an odd sort of genetic bonding if one of this world and one of the invaders falls in love.

She tells me that Rheyn has seen me and wants to talk to me on the balcony.

At first, I don't want to go but then, I do. I meet him out on the balcony. Rheyn looks so handsome in his uniform and unknown metals. He is at the balcony wall, resting his glass on it. There is a second glass next to him. I know it has my favorite drink in it. I stand next to him, silent for a long time as we watch the stars together.

"I know why you've come. You'll never free him without a key like this. The third floor is well guarded but with this key and this pass, you could get through easily." He shows me the key and pass and then puts them in his pants pocket.

She shakes her head. "I will not hurt you, Rheyn. I can't."

"I know." He takes out a white pill and drops it into his glass. It dissolves quickly.

"Come with me!" I beg, realizing his plan. "They'll catch you. Or, you'll be disgraced!"

"I can't. I won't betray my people. I am loyal to the cause. But, once you touch that glass, leaving your genetic code on it, it will become abundantly clear that you drugged me and stole my keys and pass." He finally looks at me, pain and desire in his eyes. "I am a loyal solider." He then drinks down his drink and looks significantly at the glass on the wall.

I reach out and pick up the glass, pressing my lips to the edge but I do not drink. I have become a rebel who cannot afford to trust. As I put the glass down, Rheyn stumbles, drug taking hold quickly. I rush to his side, helping him to the ground. "Rheyn..." I whisper, tears in my eyes.

"I love you, Alexandra Hope." He tells me.

"I love you, Rheyn Signet Bevan." I murmur and kiss him just as he passes out. I look at him for a long moment and then get his pass and keys. I am a rebel criminal and I have no time to lose...

FADE.

26 November
Soap Opera

I was a brand new voice actor for a wildly successful animated anthropomorphic soap opera. My character was basically my Starkitten persona, an anthropomorphic feline, who was starting off really shy and demur but would end up being one of the ‘vixens’ of the soap opera - assuming the test audiences liked me.

We recorded one week’s worth of the soap. The interesting thing was how the soap was created - with the actors minds. As you read your lines and imagined what your character would do, it was somehow being mentally created and then somehow recorded. Like a gestalt. One of the hardest things for the actor to do was match the ‘world view’ of all the other actors.

I was really excited. I loved doing this work, even though I had to be there at the Soap studio and work from 5am-8am and the head to my normal QA job. My role was first as a friend visiting the owner of one of the factories. He was an anthropomorphic fox. He was taking me, his wife, his kids and several others on a tour of his prized factory. One of the main bad guys was the factory Foreman, an anthropomorphic wolf, and he was using this opportunity to try and kill his boss. Somehow, I, and the boss’ kids, got separated when the Foreman created the flood.

I was waiting for the test audience’s opinion of my new character to find out if I would be working the next week. If they didn’t like me, I would drown in the flood, saving the boss’ kids and the boss’ wife would live. If they liked me, I would survive and save the boss’ kids and the boss’ wife would drown - thus, giving me an in to a long term character plot on this soap.

I woke up before they told me the test audience results.

2 December
The Duel

I was me but I had been given the quest to protect the Green Man (who was represented by a humanoid shape of interwoven branches) and the Last Unicorn from the Hunter. We were running from him, the Green man and I. We got to the Last Unicorn first and I ordered them both into the cave, making them promise not to come out for any reason. No matter what. Then, I turned and waited for the Hunter.

The Hunter turned out to be one of my friends. Actually, a mixture of my friends: James, Alex and Rob. My heart sank. I knew I could never beat him but I had to try. He had a sword and I was weaponless. He laughed at me, cruel and callous. He began to strike at me. I could do nothing but dodge.

Once, when I fell to the ground, I saw that another person had arrived to watch. A woman who seemed to be a mixture of my friends Laurel, Lisa and Johanna. She seemed incredibly sad as she threw me a sword so I would have a fighting chance.

The Hunter saw the woman and looked at her with anguish in his eyes. Then, he turned to me. No more playing around. Suddenly, this was it. We were in a duel to the death. Destiny had taken over. I fighting for the Green Man and the Last Unicorn. I don’t know what he fought for.

Somehow, in my desperation, I got a lucky strike. I slashed him across the ribs twice, punched him, causing him to spin around and then stabbed him in the back, through the heart. He felt to his knees, dropping his sword as I held mine within him. It was so sudden. I felt no elation even though I knew I had saved something precious. Tears coursed down my face as the Hunter and I both looked up to the woman who stood there impassively.

I stepped back pulling my sword from the Hunter’s body as he reached out a bloody hand towards the woman and then crumpled in a heap, dead on the ground.

FADE.

12 December
Enemy Mine

I'm in a field, looking around a bunch of beautiful houses that are spread out. These are mansion like houses - 3 and 4 story sprawling estates. In my mind, I am designing my own house and where I want it to go. They are all centered loosely around this large (1000 yard diameter) field. There is something very important about the field. I wanted my house to be close to it, but not that close.

I turn around and I have become an Amish man. I am walking by my field. As I look into my vast field, I see my enemy there. He has a torch. My field is very dry. He sets it on fire. I yell for help and run for the hose. By now, I'm a beautiful leggy brunette female. Another guy (who reminds me of Walkyr) helps me with the hoses but by the time we get there, the fire is already out. My neighbors came to help me.

I walk with my friend to my house, into my garage. It is modern day and I am wearing this long slinky black dress. I turn and I am speaking with Mike Jordan, my friend and my enemy in the garage.

"That was mean, Mike." I tell him. I seem to be good naturedly chiding him. He is my Game Master for this particular game.

"Yeah. I know. But, I wanted to make sure you were involved. Besides, if you thought that was mean, you should see what happens next…. And he's even married." Mike smiled and is gone.

My friend and my enemy are in the garage with me. We are struggling with the enemy. He seems intent on doing my friend harm. I grab his arm and he shoots a candy snake at me. It is yellow and red and make of pretend candy fruits that are sugar encrusted. Quickly, this snake goes from 6 inches to about 12 feet with a big cobra head. I run around the van from it. It's not long enough to catch me. I think it is still attached to my enemy.

I am relieved that the snake can't reach me and duck around the other side of the van. There are more people now, trying to defeat the enemy. Then, the snake comes over the top of the van and lunges at me. I barely grab the head before it bites me. It is no long candy but a real snake, yellow gold in color. It wraps around me, pulling me to the enemy.

My enemy looks at me, up and down, and smiles. "It is time to revel yourself." He says and starts pulling at my clothing. My friend is overwhelmed by the enemy's minions. I am left fighting my enemy alone as he tries to strip me of my black dress.

The last thing I remember is struggling with this enemy of mine and hearing Mike's voice say, "See, I told you he was evil."

FADE.

19 December
Alternate Buffy

I dreamed of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I was in the Sunnydale College but it looked more like of UP. I was a friend of Willow's and a Slayerette. A (male) Watcher type friend of Giles was teaching a special class about Alternate Universes.

Class where this (now female) professor was discussing a spell about how one could make a sock appear in a coffin. It was significant in some manner in determining what you were in another universe (or lifetime).

Flash to: Arabic looking apartments. I am with that universe's Buffy. I am in very rich clothing. Buffy is very happy for me for some reason and will not listen to my warnings. There is an evil wizard after her. Hunting her down through all of the dimensions to kill her. She waves it off but I am insistent. I have the powers to Look Beyond.

Just then, the evil wizard arrives. I try to fight his minions off but I am too weak. I watch the wizard kill Buffy but not before he manages to get the location in the next universe of the next Buffy he is going to kill. It is Sunnydale.

At this point, I throw myself off the edge of the balcony, taking the minions with me. Yes, this is my death - in this universe but, I have a chance to save the next Buffy. By saving that Buffy, I thwart the wizard because only the death of the Slayer gives him enough power to move to the next universe.

Flash to: Willow and I are speaking privately to the (now male) Watcher professor. He wanted to speak to us. First, he told Willow that she was the reincarnation of the great Warlock Thomas Paine. Someone that true magick users revered. She was having a hard time believing it. He told me, "Congratulations, you were Queen Nadera in an Arabic land that I'm not familiar with. I will have to research that later." Then, he and Willow go back to discussing her past/alternate life. Somehow, I can see myself as this Queen - a beautiful Arabic woman.

Flash to: I lie there, broken and dying on the ground. With my own dying life, I can move universes. When I open my eyes, I am in a strange place. Somehow, though, I know it is the Sunnydale campus and I am right outside Buffy's dorm. I must have linked into my alternate's mind in some way. I know I look strange in my flowing silk clothing but that cannot hinder me now. I must get to this Universe's Willow, Buffy or myself

I sneak into the dorm, dumbfounded by the elevators - which is a good thing because I FEEL the evil warlock enter this realm. He and his minions walk in the Dorm building. He does not see me. I run to the stairs. I'm now working on instinct alone. I must get to Buffy before he does. I cannot let my friend die again.

I make it to the right hallway but I do not know with room is Buffy's and I do not know how close the evil warlock is. He can't know about me. I will be the "Ace in the hole" for this Buffy. I stand in the stairwell, peeking out into the hallway. I keep hoping I will see her. When I see her, I will know her.

Flash to: Willow and I talking to the Professor. I suddenly look up and say, "He's here. We've got to find Buffy. She's in danger."

Willow frowns, "I sense something, too. Let's go."

We both turn towards the door, I open it and then I wake up.

24 December
Me & the CTO

I was training in a pseudo military camp. Not sure what for. It was a fun thing, I know that. All weekend long. My group and I were guarding a missile. It was casual and fun, but I was being a bit more serious than the rest of the (all male) group. I went to check on the missile and as I opened the door, I saw everyone of the other team for stuffed into that room. It startled me. I yelped in surprise, much to the amusement of the other team's CTO (Cadet Training Officer). I knew they had captured the missile from us.

The CTO and a bunch of the other team grabbed me, pulling me into the room before I could cry out for help. For some reason, it was very actually very erotic... all those guys, grabbing me and holding me tight so I couldn't move or yell for help. Then, the CTO had all the cadets leave, he was going to guard me. He would monitor if the rest of my team would notice I was gone and what they would do about it. I was his prisoner. I was captured. He seemed to take great delight in this. Mostly because I was the only female going through this training.

He bound my hands and made me lay back on the bed. I know my team noticed me gone by now and they were smart enough not to just barge in. That would set off the missile. They came through the vent - only the cadet couldn't figure out how to use the periscope. I was mortified. I was in charge of these guys and they were acting like morons.

But I decided to try to distract the CTO. Perhaps that would give my team the needed time. He had gripped me hard in the first capture, copping a feel. Most of the cadets had. I was lying on the bed next to him. He kept shifting closer, putting his hands on me, leaning to me. I started nuzzling him. He responded, caressing me. I lightly kissed the back of his neck, tongue playing with the very short hair there. Just as I thought I had him, he suddenly got up and laughed. "Good, but seduction would not have worked here either." But, I noticed that I had certainly tented his pants. I knew if I had had just 10 more seconds, he would have been mine. Looking in his eyes, I know he knew it, too.

Then, I was back home... at school. In the dorms. I don't know what happened to the rest of the exercise. I have a feeling it went well. I was in good spirits about it all - thinking about how I had almost managed to seduce the CTO. I was downstairs doing laundry, thinking and writing about my camp experience when my friend Sumiko, a beautiful Japanese woman, came in. I told her I had another erotic story to tell her. She loved to listen to them, thinking they were stories and not real. She said yes but she really wanted to tell me about a java bug I should report in the morning. I nodded, saying I should write it up... but I wasn't talking about the bug. I was talking about my camp experience. Then, I woke up.

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