Dreamlines... Realities Within, 2002.

09 January 2002: Afternoon Classes - I keep forgetting which classes I have in the afternoon.
19 January 2002: The Accident - After witnessing a horrible accident, I call 911 and end up in the Twilight Zone.
25 February 2002: There Be Dragons - As a shape shifting dragon, I must help my dragon mentor hide many important magical and scientific artifacts from the enemy. Along the way, I am confronted by the enemy's apprentice and 'saved' by a human mortal who fancies himself to be my savior.
11 March 2002: Life is the Dance - As a choreographer, I am having a heck of a time getting my piece together. But, a last minute inspiration makes everything fall into place.
16 March 2002: CAST Real Life - At a LARP I'm just role playing in, things become frighteningly real and deadly. I am hunted as my character and I am just as freaked out by my allies as I am my enemies.
13 April 2002: Magic Has Returned - Magic has returned to the world because the aliens were invading. Johanna and I, both with our own powers, flee, seeking safer havens.
3 May 2002: Weird Wedding - Two friends are getting remarried under their 'real' names while I am to narrate. Suddenly, the wedding party is attacked, then transported into another place. I find the way home for me but I discover I'm not ready for the story to be over.
16 May 2002: The Vampire Hand - I, and four others, track a horrible monster to its lair and kill it. Though, it isn't as easy as it first seems.
1 June 2002: Dream Couplet - A couple of short dreams. The first involves a historical book on the first LARPers run by an old friend of mine. The second one involves me failing my Tuesday and Thursday classes (again) and what I plan to do about it the next semester.
19 June 2002: Savage Ocean - A couple of disturbing ocean dreams. Both dreams involved the ocean flooding the coasts. In the first dream, while rising water is calm, the rest of the world is not and I am reunited with my family. In the second dream, everyone thinks the Big Flood is all over but I know better and preparing for it. This time, when the ocean floods, it is much more savage about it... but it still leaves room for hope.
15 Aug 2002: Action! - During just another evening on the job as vampire hunters, one of Casey's people proves why he hasn't be promoted yet, why another should be demoted and why I am Casey's Second in the troupe.
4 Sep 2002: Double Whammy - A super creepy, creepy dream about a power outage and furniture that suddenly comes to life and tries to eat me and my sister after lulling us to sleep.
9 Sep 2002: X-Rated - Warning: This is one really twisted BDSM sex dream. Those offended by such should skip reading this dream. I think part of it is based on the movie Secretary preview I saw recently. Basically, I really want to get a job and I don't mind the, ah, unusual attitudes and events that come with it.
8 Oct 2002: Psyche Ward - During a party at a Sci-fi convention, one of my friends goes a little nuts and I have to stop them. Then, after hearing why, I am forced to admit my best friend into a psyche ward.
16 Oct 2002: Do Over - In a direct response to some recent drama that caused a good evening to end on a sour note, my mind decided to give me a much more pleasant movie-like ending to my evening.
26 Oct 2002: The Faire - While at a faire, I and a couple others learn the value of working together and why not to make snarky comments at a GM. A troll battle ensues where we lose horribly and need to be rescued by our companions. Many cameos by various friends.
18 Nov 2002: Sacrifice - In an amazing dream where I feel like the female person in the story core dumped her entire adult life into my head, I learn the depth of the sacrifice she is willing to make to ensure her people's freedom from the slavers who plague them. This is a story just itching to be told.
3 Dec 2002: Visitation - In this dream, we are visited by Yony's cousin Nadav and I'm concerned for the little boy. Then, my home and kitchen are invaded by my Shakespeare troupe much to my disgruntlement.
4 Dec 2002: Casey & Andy - I've dreamt of interacting with comics before but this is the first time I've dreamt of being -in- a comic. Probably because I know the comic author and the people he writes about. In the dream, I fall for the evil villain, Lord Milligan.
14 Dec 2002: Invasion - My invasion and rebellion dream has returned. This time, the attack started with make shift mass drivers and ended with an Equilibrium-like world of no emotionals and drug controlled masses. However, very quickly I understand that there is a rebellion and they want my help.

9 January 2002
Afternoon Classes

For the last couple of days, I have been having a recurring theme in my dreams. I really remember the dream but I do remember one point. For some reason, whether the dream has to do with me being in school or not, I am constantly being confronted by the need to remember which two classes I have on Tuesday and Thursday.

I don't know why this is. I only know that the two classes are on Tuesday and Thursday, in the afternoon - 1pm and 3pm. I have the feeling that they are classes like Theology and English. Something non-technical, but somehow important. I always have the feeling that while I don't care about it... I'm also afraid of failing it. So, I rack my brain, trying to remember what classes I am supposed to be taking when. I'm not sure what this means. Maybe that I'm forgetting something on Thursdays?

19 January 2002
The Accident

I was sitting next to the driver. There were three of us in the car. We were driving down a winding road that was beautifully lined with sparse autumn trees. The sun was shining and I was talking to my new friends. I'm not sure who they were but they were being kind, giving me a ride somewhere.

We were driving behind an old redwood colored station wagon. Suddenly, as if they were playing a game, the car started to weave, swerving left and right. It got more and more erratic until it went out of control. Finally, it hit the right side, against the mountain too hard and rebounded right off of the road. It tumbled down the left embankment, right onto the freeway. It continued to roll across all lanes until it stopped in the last lane. The freeway was a mess.

My friend started digging for her phone in her purse. I took it from her and told her to drive. I would call the police. As she pulled over, I got in touch with emergency services and began to tell them what happened. I walked a little away from the car to get a better vantage point to tell the lady what I was seeing. I kept waiting for her to ask me if an ambulance was needed - because it definitely was.

However, the farther I got from the car, the less the operator and I could hear each other. I didn't notice it at first until I was shouting into the phone. Finally, I realized it and headed back to the car. I answered the last of the operator's questions and hung up the phone.

Somehow, while I was on the phone, the world had changed. It was nighttime and I was at the scene of some other but equally horrible accident. I knew I had witnessed it. Someone came to talked to me about the accident, but while I was talking to him, another person came up behind me, put his arm around my waist and walked away with me. He was holding me very close as if we were well acquainted. Only, I had no idea who he was.

He whispered to me in an urgent tone about how there was something horribly wrong but that no one would let him or his team into town. They had to know what happened and as a stranger I was his best bet. I just had to get pictures for him. I looked up at him, utterly confused, as he thrust a camera into my hand. "There is something wrong with that town. We have to know what it is." He was so earnest, I could almost believe he wasn't as insane as he sounded.

FADE

25 February 2002
There Be Dragons

I dreamt that I was shape shifting dragon in an advanced world that seemed to be a strange amalgamation of steam punk science and Lord of the Rings magic. I had been working with my mentor, a dragon whose human form reminded me of Gandalf. We had been quickly, almost frantically, working to move the magical and scientific artifacts from his lair to some place safe. He was afraid of an enemy dragon who could warp one's mind into doing his bidding and it seemed that my mentor was next.

This enemy dragon had a female apprentice dragon who was as cold as she was beautiful. For some reason, I was not afraid of my mind being warped. It had something to do with my bloodline. So, I ended up moving my mentor's things from the hiding place that we both knew of, to a place that only I knew of. When my mentor and I met up again, we decided to destroy his old lair - just in case we forgot something. While flying there we were confronted by the enemy's apprentice. I urged my mentor on to destroy his lair as I stopped to deal with the apprentice.

In human form, she was a tall, blond, Amazon looking woman whose hair and makeup was worthy of the most extravagant of beauty pageants. We confronted one another. She demanded the artifacts. I refused. The magic began to fly. But, I noticed her magic was more to delay than to hurt. That's when I realized that I needed to go help my mentor. He was in danger. Divide and conquer.

I quickly regained my dragon form and began to fly over the bay, making a quick turn over the harbor. I was surprised to see so many fighting dirigibles and other flying machines overhead. It looked like they were going to war. But, I had no time to stop and investigate. Nor did I have time to truly enjoy winging through the sky or skimming the water. I had to get to the lair. I saw as I approached, my mentor desperately trying to destroy his lair while the enemy dragon attacked him.

So intent was I on reaching my mentor to aid him, I missed the arrival of the apprentice until she was almost on top of me. Once again, back into human form, we confronted one another. However, before the magic could start to fly, a human acquaintance of mine, who looked like Brendan Frazier with sandy blond hair, sped up in a speed boat, grabbed me and tossed me over his shoulder, declaring that he would save me. I was so startled, I could do little more than watch his human companions try to delay the now very pissed off apprentice.

I wiggled out of his grasp and stared at him in disbelief, not knowing if I should slap him or kiss him for his interruption. However, the look on his face was so forthright and earnest that all I could do was point him in the direction of my mentor's lair and tell him that we had to get there now.

FADE

11 March 2002
Life is the Dance

I dreamt that was part of a talent show. This show was very important. A lot of things hung on how this talent show went. I was the choreographer for my group. We were doing a dance to "Sidhe Who Must Be Obeyed" by Cecilia Eng. Over and over the song kept playing in my head

I am Queen of Night and Moonlight. Queen of the Fair Folk, the People of Peace.
I am the Queen of the wild midnight ride. Queen of the Dance and Queen of the Feast.
Drink to the Ride. Drink to the Dance. Mortals beware, hide from our glance.
Drink to the night. Drink to the dawn. Drink the feast til Sundays be gone.

I am Queen of Night and Moonlight. Queen of the Fair Folk, the People of Peace.
I am the Queen of the wild midnight ride. Queen of the Dance and Queen of the Feast.
Ride the wild hunt. Ride like the wind. Mortals beware, hide with your kin.
Ride through the night. Ride through the dawn. Ride to the hills and then ride Beyond.

I am Queen of Night and Moonlight. Queen of the Fair Folk, the People of Peace.
I am the Queen of the wild midnight ride. Queen of the Dance and Queen of the Feast.
Dance by the stars. Dance by the moon. Mortals beware, hide in your rooms.
Dance through the night. Dance til the dawn. Life is the Dance. So, dance on and on.

I am Queen of Night and Moonlight. Queen of the Fair Folk, the People of Peace.
I am the Queen of the wild midnight ride. Queen of the Dance and Queen of the Feast.

I had a wonderful dance but it just wasn't coming together. Nothing I tried would work. Finally, I realized that I had three couples and what I could do was have the female of each couple sing a verse and have them lead the dance during their verse, taking the star spot and in the last refrain, all three females would sing and dance the lead role to end the piece.

Once I decided that, we did our number from the beginning and it was beautiful! I wish I could see this done when I was awake.

16 March 2002
CAST Real Life

We were at a club, doing a special CAST LARP game. We were to spend the evening both hanging out at the dance club and playing the game, though... no one who was not in the game could know that we were playing. I was in one of the back rooms as my Ventrue, Anabeth. Anabeth had just recently been promoted to Seneschal and since Bone, the Prince, wasn't around, she was presiding over the court.

Somewhere during the night, half of the people playing became their characters. I was not one of them. I was still just me, just pretending to be a vampire in a game. We got word that the Sabbat were coming to attack and that I was the main target since I was the Seneschal. People were getting really upset over this and I'll admit, I wasn't happy but I couldn't figure out why people were freaking out like they were.

Then, the Sabbat arrived. The real Sabbat. Really tearing through people in the club, looking for me and the other courtiers. I was frightened and confused. This was just a game! It wasn't real. But, the whole time I was thinking that, I was running, too, because these guys were freaks and killing everyone they got their hands on.

I ended up in another back room. One with no other exits and only one entrance. I watched the door, backing up, knowing that this was it. This game, that had gotten out of control, was going to kill me. But, just before the Sabbat entered the room, Chris, who had become his Nosferatu character, Atticus and was in Obfuscation... grabbed me from behind, putting his hand over my mouth so I wouldn't scream. He whispered that it was him and that he was going to get me out of this. It was his duty as I was the Seneschal.

As he had me Shrouded in Obfuscation, when the Sabbat broken into the room, they couldn't see us. Atticus held me perfectly still as they tore the room up around us, but never touching us. While I was really glad that he saved me, I was completely freaked out that he was able to Obfuscate us in the first place.

It was one of those wake-up-with-your-heart-pounding type of dreams.

13 April 2002
Magic Has Returned

I was there when the aliens came to invade. It was Johanna and I and others. The aliens came, professing peace, but stuff was oozing from their ship that was acidic. It was melting things and people all around. This was really bad. I decided to leave. I was too nervous of these aliens and their acidic ooze. Johanna came with me.

We had to run to my room. I had money. We would need money to escape here. As we hurried to my room, I noticed that the forest to my right was growing exponentially. There were these lush trees and bushes just sprouting as we ran. The forest kept pace with me. As if I was clearing the way.

When we got to my room. I found my wallet easy enough but, I could not find my keys. No keys. No car. We needed to leave fast. I walked outside to tell Johanna the bad news. But, she was there with a pegasus. She didn't know how, but now, she could call them to her and they would obey her.

I mounted the pegasus much easier than I thought I would. We rode the pegasus away. Me in front and Johanna behind me holding on. There was a third person with us. A dark haired female. I don't know who. I don't know how she stayed with us or why. She seemed useless.

Then, suddenly, as we were escaping, we got trapped in a building that was a cross between an airport and a popcorn factory. The pegasus couldn't fly in here. So, we galloped through the large hallways, ducking under doorways. I remember the feel of holding onto the pegasus. His hide was soft and downy like a cross of fur and feathers.

We finally found the way out, eluding all of the guys with guns and walked out a double set of doors into a campus quad. Everyone stared at us, Johanna and I on the pegasus. (We lost the third person but I don't know when.) Johanna and I were both really amused. She and I switched places. She had an idea of where to go and needed to direct the pegagus.

We flew a long way, looking for safety. We landed in a glade to give the pegasus a rest. We started walking towards a built up pool/pond of crystal blue water. Things were so bright for me. I didn't know why. I stumbled, falling to my knees, eyes closed. Johanna grabbed my arm and suddenly, I could see through her eyes. It wasn't bright for her at all.

I explained to her that I could see through her eyes. Neat! She wanted to see through mine. So, she closed her eyes and I peeked at the water. It was still very bright. I realized then, I could see magic and that was what the brightness was.

Then, as I was watching the pool, I saw a pod of dolphins coming towards us. They were bright, too. Instinctively, I knew they were shapeshifters. We backed away, afraid. There were a lot of them. Then, the leader, an extremely handsome man, came out of the water, shifting as he came and asked if we needed help. He gestured to me.

Looking down, we saw that I was bleeding. We didn't realize that I had been hurt. In fact, I had no idea when it happened. I was confused. I asked, as the dolphin people came to us. "What's happening? I don't understand. Why can Johanna call pegasi at her whim? Why to I see magic and know the magical beings around us?"

The leader looked at us with a gentle smile. "It is simple. Magic has returned to the world because it was needed again." He gestured to the sky and we saw more of the alien ships overhead.

FADE.

3 May 2002
Weird Wedding

I was to narrate at the Breechens' wedding. Apparently, their real names were not the names that we all knew them by and now, they wanted to be married under their real names and it their 'traditional' manner which included someone narrating the wedding.

I remember looking at the wedding script and wondering at Chris and Jenny-Lynn's "real" names. JL was really "Lilliana Bauh" and Chris was really "Caterueuda." For the life of me, I could not say Chris' name and complained to him... "Can't I just call you Chris?"

"Sure, but that really isn't my name you know." He looked at me with an unreadable expression.

I sighed and continued to coach myself on how to say his 'real' name. As I was looking at the script, I was aghast to see that there were six bridesmaids and six groomsmen for this five minute wedding that I had to narrator for. I remember looking up and seeing a gaggle of giggling bridesmaids in sea foam green chiffon bridesmaid dresses.

Then, we began the practice for the wedding. However, all of the spectators in front of me stood up to watch, ensuring that I could not see anything that was going on. This pissed me off as it forced me to find a better vantage point to narrate the wedding from.

Just as got to a new spot to watch the proceedings from, the wedding party was attacked by little undead monsters from the Shadowlands. (Seems that my L5R game from the night before leaked into the dream.) Immediately, I went into fight mode. I am a very pacifistic Void mage with a great reverence for life. However, these things were the undead and an abomination to all I believe. Thus, the pacifism took a back seat as I fought these things.

As we fought, it became clear that, somehow, the entire wedding party, guests and spectators had been fully transported into the L5R world now. I was not sure how to get us back. After we finished killing the dead things, an old man came to talk to us about how we had been accidentally swept into this Realm and that there was a way back. All we had to do was get on the train that traveled the Realms. (Shades of All Aboard.)

After setting up camp, I got the urge to wander. As I looked around, I hear a train whistle. Then, I saw a series of train car pass by, each one more modern than the last. I knew this was the train I needed to get on to go home. As the train stopped in front of me, I saw a modern day train car with my name on it. I looked and I saw train cars for only three other members of the wedding party. For some reason, some people were to be left behind to die.

I walked to my car, seeing my mom puttering around in it. I paused and I very clearly remember thinking, "If I get on this train, the story will end for me. I'm not ready for that. This is where stories come from, making great sacrifices or... just doing something stupid. Inside that train car is peace, normality and a mundane life. If I go, someone will die because I was not here, in the story, to help them."

I stepped back, calling out to my mom to tell her good-bye. She did not seem to hear. The train gave a warning whistle. I stepped back again. The train started up and moved away from me fast enough to cause a small whirlwind of leaves around me. When my vision cleared, I was back in camp and things were attacking again. I pulled out my tanto and stabbed a hideous little monster before it could bite JL/Lilliana.

As I helped pick her up from the ground to shield her from the onslaught of little monsters, I thought. "Now, the story can continue as it was suppose to."

FADE.

16 May 2002
The Vampire Hand

There were five of us, hunting the dreaded Vampire Hand. The only other person that I knew beyond me was MikeB. Of course, we were going during the day. That was when it was weakest. Stealthily, we snuck into its lair and, there, as bold and arrogant as you please, lay the Vampire Hand on its resting place; a wooden altar.

Yes, although it was nothing more than a severed hand, it was still very deadly. We stood, huddled, whispering about what to do with kill it. "Well, if it is a vampire, we ought to stake it." I stated. The rest nodded in agreement and motioned me forward. Slowly, I crept up on it in a low combat crouch, then strung into action! With a single nimble move, I leapt forward and staked the Vampire Hand to the altar through the palm. The hand spasmodically twitched and was still.

I turned back to my companions. "Hmmm. That wasn't so hard. Let's open some curtains and finish it off with sunlight." However, I noticed that no one was looking at me, much less listening. With great trepidation, I turned back around to see the Hand watching me. The row of eyes that had opened at the base of the fingers regarded me with a baleful glare.

I only had time to mutter "Oh, shit." Before the Hand leapt into the air and flew at me, attacking me with the stake it was still impaled on. The room exploded into action as I and my companions began to fight the monster in earnest. It was fast and vicious; striking, swooping and attacking. I saw the reason I had not hurt it when I staked it. I had staked it through the mouth.

Then, I knew it was time to call on the big guns. I reached to the Void and conjured a ball of flame, encasing the Vampire Hand within it. Fire kills just about everything I can think of. There was a terrible soundless scream and the ball of flame condensed itself into a small ember. It was hard to see but I kept track of it, knowing if I did not, it would escape.

Finally, the flames went out, leaving behind where once a staked hand had been, two large mosquitoes. One was biting the other. The second one was impaled on a sliver of wood. Mike walked up to the hovering pair and gave the biting mosquito a hard thumping flick. It exploded in a tiny shower of red mist, thus, killing the Vampire prince. I swatted the impaled mosquito to the concrete and turned it into a red smear under my boot.

As I looked up at my bruised and battered companions, I saw the grins of elation spreading. We had done it! The Vampire Hand was no more! We all felt incredibly pleased with our accomplishment.

FADE.

1 June 2002
Dream Couplet

The dreams I had this morning were actually pretty mundane in nature. But it was the content within them that is weirding me out right. For ages, I've wondered what happened to my old high school friend.

I talking with Johanna about a new book about the history of LARPers. The 'earliest LARP Troupe' had been tracked down to Waynesboro, PA. Having lived there from ages 14 to 16, I wanted to look at the book. Once I did, I was startled to learn that this first LARP group had been - and was continuing to be - run by my high school best friend, Brenda Kreager.

The book was done in classic history book format with many black and white photographs. As looked through them, I identified many of my old high school acquaintances. Even Bret Michaels, my one big crush. It seemed that the LARP they played, and were still playing, was one that involved Cowboys & Indians. From what I gathered, it was a LARP of how the settlers, captured by Indians, survived in the Indian culture.

I wanted to know if there was a way to get in touch with my old friend, searching through the book. Johanna took it from me, saying she had seen it. Flipping to the right page, she pointed at an email address - LJ chap @ livejournal.com. I remember being very pleased and immediately wanting to go look up that livejournal.

FADE.

Yes. I did try to look up "LJ Chap" as a livejournal. No, it doesn't exist. I remember that the email address seemed to refer to a chapbook which is what the history book was supposed to be, even though it looked nothing like one. For some reason, this dream is sticking with me.

Note: One friend decided it meant that either I was going to be contacted by an old friend or that I was longing for that time period in the dream. Not two hours later, a friend of mine who had dropped off the face of the earth about eight months ago contacted me out of the blue.

***

I'm back to dreaming about failing my Tuesday and Thursday classes... even though I haven't been in college in almost a decade.

This time, the semester was just about over and I knew I was failing my Tuesday/Thursday classes. Both of them. I didn't seem overly concerned about it but I did seem a little resigned as I imagined my transcript with the two F's on it.

As I sat in the back of the covertered 18-wheeler filled with tables and couches and advertised itself as -the- best 'new schoolbus' because each table had its own toliet, I ignored everyone around me. I had decided that the next semester I was going to take ONLY those two Tues/Thursday classes... and maybe one other... and that way I would be sure to remember them, finally attend them and finally pass them. I would schedule them all on the same days - Tuesday and Thursday - and go to each one of them, one after another. That way, I would finally be able to get on with the business of moving forward towards my degree.

FADE.

Reviewing this dream, I just want to slap my dream self and ask her what the hell she's thinking. If I can't remember to go to my Tuesday/Thursday classes, why on earth would I want to reschedule them for Tuesday and Thursday again? If I've determined to take only those two classes, why am I thinking about the third? For that matter, why the flux can I not remember what classes I have on Tuesday and Thursday or where they are in the first place? Why is this a recurring dream theme for me? This is really starting to bug me.

19 June 2002
Savage Ocean

I had two disturbing dreams this morning about the ocean flooding dry land. The east coast in particular. Or, maybe it was both coasts. The word 'tsunami' kept coming into my mind.

The first dream, I remember I was visiting my mom. I think we were on the west coast. The world was a twitter over the way the ocean was acting. It was growing and swelling but the polar caps were not melting. My mom's apartment was close enough to the beach to see it from her top story apartment but it was still a decent distance away.

When the flooding started, everyone just watched it in fascination. When it did not stop, people began to panic. There was a lot of running and screaming. I was very calm throughout it all. I was in my car, watching, for a while. Then, I moved my car up to the highest parking spot I could get in Mom's apartment complex, about half way up. It was still outside, though.

I watched the ocean, listening to the radio. It somberly announced that the US was in a state of readiness... then a state of emergency then, finally, under marital law and all normal Constitutional Rights were hereby suspended due to the coming disaster. The ocean turned from a clear blue to an ominous gray during the 30 minutes or so of the broadcast that started at readiness and ended in martial law.

As the waves started lapping at the forest at the base of the hill the apartment complex was on, I got nervous and started looking for people. I found my mom and my sister. Then, my brother's ring, keys and finally him. He seemed my age but very young. I'm guessing my father had passed on already because mom was living in her apartment all by herself.

We all gathered up in her apartment, watching the flooding ocean. There were no real waves, just ebbing and rising water. I knew we would be stranded since the water was rising up the hill fast. I wondered if we were high enough. I gathered with my family, talking quietly to them, noting that my car was now under water. We were all amazingly calm and accepting of the ocean's presence.

The flooding leveled off about two apartments below my mom's apartment. So, we were warm, dry and safe. I couldn't help but wonder about everyone else.

I woke up at this point and started thinking about what I would do if I heard about an impending tsunami. Would I give up and take poison so I would not have to experience drowning? No. I figured as soon as I heard about it, I would pack a bag and start driving inland. Just go.

When I drifted off to sleep again, I was in the same apartment with my mom, sister, Andy and Casey. The ocean flooding had receded a lot but there was tons of damage. A lot of people thought it was all over but I knew better. I urged our house to stock up on water and food, which we did.

I was right, too. As we returned home and I glanced out the window, I was terrified at what I had seen. The ocean was roiling and agitated. This time, as it began to flood, great waves reaching hundreds of feet in the air came crashing down on to the forest, then receded to begin to built again. I watched only until the second low hanging but far reaching wave crashed to the base of the hill. Then, I hurried inside.

For some reason, I was in charge... so, I had everyone closing and sealing doors and windows but left the sky light open to compensate for the changing air pressure. I also made the hard decision that if we were to survive, we could take on no more refugees. It was time to block the doors.

When I went out to do so, there was a man there, calmly drinking water and asking for more. I was suddenly angry at him for his lacksidasical attitude. I yelled at him for his uncaring and unprepared nature. He just went on drinking the water. I asked if he knew how precious fresh water was and how it had to be saved. He shrugged and smiled sardonically. "I guess I won't ask you then. Besides, I already have a source."

Figuring this guy was going to be nothing but trouble, I called for Casey to help me bar the doors. We had to turn a couple people away. That was hard for me to do... but I had my family to protect. I glanced out the window one more time and was both hopeful and terrified again. The waves were still coming, crashing down over the forest but the water line did not look like it was rising. So, there was hope and that was all that mattered now.

FADE.

15 August 2002
Action!

There were a small group of us walking. Me, Casey, Jason and Marcelles from BB3 and a couple others. We were a group of vampire hunters. We walked with a casual confidence that this was an every day occurance. Casey was clearly the leader. I was his second. Jason was to make the kill tonight because it was his promotion test. His kill would be evaluated on efficiency, style and speed.

When we arrived, we began setting cameras and such as if it were a movie shoot. Apparently, while we did this all the time, we still had to maintain a sense of normality. The sun went down and the vampire came out. Jason went to work but this was an older vampire and stronger than expected. As the fight began, the dream went into LARP mode.

Casey was grumbling at Jason's style. As I turned to speak to Casey, mentioning that this vampire was a wee bit strongerhat anticipated and maybe I ought to help, I saw Marcellas make a stabbing motion with an unseen spear, saw the vampire make his dodge roll whiile Jason did not ... thus stabbing Jason in the side. I continued to talk to Casey while the "GM" figured out what had happened.

Then, it was my turn. I turned, asking this GM, "Does it look like Marcellas just stabbed Jason?" The faceless man nodded, telling me "Yes, and there's an enraged elder vampire charging you with a silver blade." In slow motion, I watched the vampire charge, his blade held towards my throat. I glanced between the GM and the vampire, saying... "Then, this is what I'm doing." In slow motion, I easily caught the vampire's wrist, shoved the blade aside and staked him. The vampire imploded.

"Feh!" spat Casey.

"What? Was I supposed to let him attack me? It looks like your boy..." I gestured to Jason, bleeding on the ground. "... isn't getting promoted tonight."

"I know. I also know of someone who is going to be demoted!" Casey growled as he glared at Marcellas before stalking away.

"Whoops." Marcelles muttered, sheepishly holding the wooden spear behind him.

I sighed and walked away as the cameras were broken down and someone helped Jason to his feet.

FADE.

4 September 2002
Double Whammy

Something had happened to cause all of the power to go out in the residential areas of the city. It was hard, not having power for days. I decided to go spend my time with my sister. It was even harder for her for some reason. I don't know why. She didn't have her family in this dream. The drive there was very long and arduous. It was like commute traffic for hours.

My sister and I were sitting in the living room, speaking to one another. Most likely about the power outage. Our talking slows and we both start to drift asleep.

*flash to dream within a dream* I'm watching Buffy. Buffy is talking to Willow but, in the same seat that Willow is sitting in, I keep seeing flashes of Dawn holding a pillow and screaming in fear. Sometimes she is superimposed over Willow. Sometimes she is behind Willow craning her head to be seen over Willow's shoulder. Neither Buffy nor Willow react to the flashes of screaming Dawn. Throughout Buffy and Willow's conversation, Willow is sinking into the chair. Slowly, both Buffy and Willow realize something is wrong and Buffy wrestles her own way out of her seat and pulls Willow from the chair. Willow looks at the chair that is now flattening and squeaks, "The comfy chair was trying to eat me! Really eat me-eat me!"

*flash back to my conversation with Shannon* Both Shannon and I seem to have had the same dream. We both struggle to wake up from it but we are aware that the furniture that is now alive with thousands of little tiny eyes and mouths (that I don't see, thankfully) are exuding some sort of sleeping/calming effect over their prey to keep it docile while it consumes its' prey alive.

Shannon and I get free. We go do stuff. I don't remember what.

I am in bed. I am exhausted and thinking about this new threat of living furniture and how its' power of sleep is like an X-Files show. In particular, the one about the sedating mushrooms and how Scully was able to pull herself out of the mushrooms' effect of hallucinogenic sleep. As I am drifting off to sleep, thinking of the scene where Scully shoots Skinner in the head in her hallucination to make herself finally and truly wake up, I suddenly have the most horrifying realization: Beds are furniture, too.

I struggle out of the bed that has been slowly consume me, forcing myself to wake up fully. I rush to my sister's room where she is slowly sinking into her bed and drag her from the bed, begging her to wake up. Incongruously, I notice she is holding a lit candelabra that is neither dripping wax nor sparking an errant flame. As I work to wake her up, the thought that power outage and the consuming furniture are somehow linked comes it mind. What a double whammy. Make it so people can't do anything but sit, read or sleep, then have them consumed by their own furniture.

FADE.

9 September 2002
X-Rated

Warning: This is one really twisted BDSM sex dream. Those offended by such should skip reading this dream. I think part of it is based on the movie Secretary preview I saw recently.

I had moved to Portland and I was applying for a secretary job. I was desperate for it. I was afraid that if I didn't get this job, I would have to return 'home.' I has been given a tip that this boss was both really grumpy and really into BDSM, so I thought if I showed that I knew what BDSM was and was into it myself, I might have a better chance of getting the job. Kind of an in.

I dressed in a pretty white button up blouse and a slim black skirt. Under the blouse, I had added some white leatherish contraption that bound me in some way. What I would do would allow my shirt cuff to rise some to reveal the leather cuff underneath. That should be enough to clue him in. At least, I hoped so.

There was a silent flipping of scene snapshots of me waiting in the lobby, eyeing the competition, feeling smug about my chances then being called in to meet the boss and have an interview with him. Upon meeting him, I was surprised at how much he looked like my friend Erik. We spoke about normal job interview stuff, then the boss wanted to show me around.

As we walked around, I got the feeling that he was checking me out. He had see the leather. We went downstairs into an area that looked suspiciously like a large basement warehouse where men, dressed in gorilla suits, were jumping up and down on what looked to be construction equipment and supplies but they weren't damaging anything. I remember I made a lame 'monkying around' joke and got told that I would have to be 'punnished' for that.

While we were talking, one of the men came over and removed his mask. He spoke to the boss for a little bit while obviously giving me the eye. I was starting to feel like fresh meat when I felt a presence behind me and realized that another worker had snuck up behind me just before he grabbed me and started grinding himself to me from behind. I was calmly trying to pry his hands off my chest and groin when the boss told me, "Take a memo. We need the following supplies...." He started listing them off while consulting with the first man.

"Yes, sir." I answered, still trying to get free of the man who had a hold of me. I wasn't frightened or even annoyed. I was just intent on getting free long enough to take the memo.

The worker decided to change his tact, put his hand over my mouth, picked me up by the waist and pulled me, struggling, into a side hall. While I was trying to explain to his man, who had lost his mask and looked somewhat like a friend of mine without his glasses, that I was trying to work, he pushed me up against a metal pole and clicked my wrists into metal shackles welded to the pole. At that point, I realized that I might want to get my new boss' attention but when I opened my mouth to yell for him, my captor stuck a gag in my mouth and bound it to the pole, immobilizing my head.

I continued to struggle as he run his ungloved hands over my body. My struggle was more out of the need to attend to my boss rather than not liking what was happening - which was just the opposite. I was getting quite excited at this strange turn of events. I made a token noise of protest as he ripped open my shirt and tried to scold him for popping my buttons but I was a wee bit distracted as he unhooked my front hook bra and began to kiss me. His hands moved lower and began to push my skirt up to my waist.

Apparently, I was ready for this, too, as I was wearing both crotch-less panties and garters. My captor promptly stole my panties from me, secreting them away somewhere. Then, he removed a convenient codpiece part to his gorilla costume, revealing his excitement to me in all its unfurled glory. I believe all that came out, mumbled around my gag, as I gazed at him was "Oh, my." My captor proceeded to noisily take great pleasure in me, holding me up and making me wrap my legs about his furry waist.

While this was loudly going on, it seems my boss finally noticed I wasn't at his side anymore and had come looking for me. Upon finding us, he grumped. "Dammit. What have I said about -not- raping the secretary on her first day?" He scolded my captor who had untangled himself from me and was backing up, looking like a sheepish school boy who had been caught peeking in the girls locker room. The boss came over and ungagged me. The first words out of my mouth were, "So, I got the job?" He nodded and looked me over in my rather revealed and disheveled state. He smiled a half smile, the first one I had seen, and told the other man, "Bring her to my office." then walked off.

I thought my captor was going to start in on me again. He paused, seeming to consider it as he continued looking me over and running his hands all over my body before unhooking my wrist shackles from the pole which freed me but left me bound at the wrist. He tossed me over his shoulder, smacked me on the bare butt and took me to my new boss' office.

Once there, I was set down and my captor was told, "She needs to take some... dictation... you and the boys can have her later if she's willing." My former captor was still rather boldly excited and watched me as I tried to smooth my hair and neaten my appearance. As he left, my boss beckoned me to his side of the desk. He put a piece of paper and a pen on the desk. "Take notes but don't move from the way I position you." He commanded. I obeyed, blushing as he pulled open my shirt again, decided he liked the way the white satin push up bra looked and bent me over the desk, allowing me to rest my elbows on it as I tried to write.

"Rules... no panties, ever." He took out a knife and spilt my skirt each side to top of my thigh. "Short skirts only. It'll be easier on your clothing bill." He lifted my skirt to the waist and ran his hands over my rear. "I'll need a list of limits for me and a list for the boys on my desk by tomorrow morning." Giving my rear a few warming smacks, causing me to gasp as I tried to write, he added, "The garters are a nice touch. Keep them."

I heard him shifting behind me, the sound of a zipper and the rustle of clothing. I felt one of his hands grip my hip and the other one entangle itself into my hair. He took a long time to slowly slide himself into me, controlling my body with his firm hold. "Now... do you have any questions?" he asked as he began to take me from behind in earnest.

FADE.

8 October 2002
Psyche Ward

What an unhappy disturbing dream. I was at a sci-fi convention and I had rented the top suite. I was having a huge party in the ballroom part of the suite. At the same time, I was also worrying about my foster kittens but that was superfluous compared to the issues I was dealing with at the party.

Sometime during in the party, Shauna went a little nuts and started hurting people with magic. She was torturing them. I was torn between trying to stop her and trying to kick out the rest of the party crashers before they got hurt. I ended up kicking all of those people I didn't know out of the suite first. Then, I went down to deal with Shauna.

She was completely calm. Completely devoid of emotion and completely nuts. I challenged her, telling her she had to stop or I was going to forced to stop her. It was something I didn't want to do. Truthfully, I didn't know how to stop her. I thought about shooting her but my friend, Ben Liblet, was beside me and whispered something in my ear. It was a spell. I didn't know I was magical. I tried it anyway. I started to glow. I felt quiet proud of myself. Until Yony looked at me and quietly mentioned, "Um... All you're doing is shielding and healing yourself. Do you mean to say [some word that I can't pronounce, much less spell]? That is the word to use to attack."

Embarrassed, I switched the word in my chant and the affect was immediate. (In the dream, the chant meant something like "Pain, pain, pain is what I wield. Pain, pain, pain. You must yield.") Shauna reacted in pain and tried to do something to me. It didn't work. Soon, she was curled up in a ball crying. I was crying to. I didn't want to hurt her.

Finally, I stopped and Shauna relaxed. I sat down next to her and we began to talk about what she had done and why. By the end of it, I was completely horrified with what had been going through Johanna's head. (Yes, Shauna had morphed into my best friend, Johanna at this point and it was completely natural, as if it had been Johanna all along.) I finally told her, "You need help. Serious help." Johanna agreed.

RobertB came over and offered to go with us. We decided to voluntarily admit Johanna into the local military psyche ward. As we walked, I was having trouble with my cell phone. (Go fig. For some reason, I was trying to use it while it was in a bag of popcorn.) I finally got through to the right person but I couldn't hear her. It was very frustrating. The whole time, Johanna walked docilely with us, deep in thought.

Finally, I had to hang up and use Robert's cell phone. We were in a very crowded bar, walking through it, having some trouble until I started explaining on the phone what we needed and why we wanted to voluntarily admit Johanna into the psyche ward. Even as I reassured the lady on the phone that Johanna was calm and in control and all was well, everyone around us gave us a wide berth. Johanna just looked up and gave everyone an amused smile which seemed to creep them out all the more.

We arrived at the psyche ward and admitted Johanna. I was still feeling very guilty for having hurt her and for having to admit her. She looked very small and delicate as the orderlies escorted her away. The last I saw of her was her looking over her shoulder at me with a neutral expression on her face.

FADE.

16 October 2002
Do Over

[I know this dream is in direct response to some drama that happened Tuesday night after a good night out with friends and coming home to some unpleasantness in email. I think my mind decided to give me a much more pleasant movie-like, sitcom ending to the evening.]

I had just pulled into my parking spot. As I got out of my car, I started moving in beautiful slow motion with the song that had been on the radio as my soundtrack. It was "Vampires" by the Pet Shop Boys. (I recently discovered, and now adore, this old song.) As I walked in slow motion to the beat of the song, I was juggling the books I was carrying and fumbling for my keys.

I rounded the bend in the sidewalk to my apartment, looked up and saw Nick standing there, leaning against my front door. We smiled at each other. I was surprised. I thought he had gone home from the gathering. As I walked up to him, I shifted back into realtime. He looked at me and simply said, "I wasn't ready to say good night." I smiled as I reached out to cup his jaw in my hand for a moment then let us into my apartment.

As I put my stuff down, he asked suddenly, "Do you need to check your email or stuff? I don't mean to barge in. I can wait." He seemed fairly anxious.

I shook my head and smiled. "No. It can wait. There's nothing online that can't wait until tomorrow." I poured us a couple glasses of raspberry mead. We sat together on the couch and began to talk.

The dream then shifted from first person to third person observer. The scene was set as the observer looking through my porch door into the livingroom. I could see Nick and myself talking, laughing and sipping the mead. The soundtrack song came back and there was a deep sense of child-like satisfaction.

FADE.

26 October 2002
The Faire

I and a bunch of my Fremont friends were at something that was a across between a Ren Faire and a weekend long Live Action game like StonesHold. All of us were in little 'adventuring bands.' In mine was Laurel and Rich that I remembered. There were many more. Ten of us in all. We were in an open tent, planning a raid on something when I noticed another group sneaking up on us. I warned everyone and we began our escape.

The dream would flip between "Live Action" and "Combat Rounds" and "OOC" mode so we would make our plans, they would make their plans, then everything would happen as if it wasn't a game in my dream.

So, while we were doing a series of complex hand gestures and grasping arms, signifying the escape of our party through the roof, the other party was surrounding the tent with arms clasped, signifying an ambush. We had three people left, including me when their bard called in the traditional greeting.

Being Elea and the bard of the group, I had to stall them. So, I went to the door to talk to her. I think it was Ari from the UA group. I recognized her. We began an intricate greeting ritual, designed, on one side, to stall and on the other side, to let the second group in. We kept it up for a while until I was the only one left in the tent.

I glanced up as I was running out of things to stall with, and saw a hand waiting to grab me. Ari finished her round of the ritual and I realized that I didn't have a come back and I'd have to let them in. I bowed to her as the winner and said, "You know, they really should leave these things to the women. As a combined party, we'd never lose. Ah, well." I reached up and grabbed the waiting hand as I called, "Be ye friend, enter freely." I was whisked up to the top of the tent and the second group ambushed an empty tent.

On top of the tent was just Laurel. She told me that the others had gone on to gather forces and that the two of us were to meet them there in a bit. Below us, the other party split up. The men went one way and the two women, Ari and another, stayed. I leaned over the top of the tent and started talking to them. The four of us were laughing and having a good time. We decided, the next Faire, we were going to challenge the rule about allowing only two women per party and try to make an all female party.

While they helped Laurel down from the tent top, a Faire GM came by and told us to freeze. He questioned us on why the females of the two different groups were together and helping one another. He got a couple of snarky comments back about good will and the females being more interesting to talk to. At that, he gave us an evil GM smile. "Perfect. This is exactly the hook I was looking for. Now... while you are helping your new friends down from the roof top... you hear an unsettling sound."

[Back into "this is real" mode.] Elea (me) lowered Sigrid (Laurel) to Keth (Ari) and the other woman's hands. Suddenly, there was an unnerving growling sound. Elea, having the high ground, sought out the source of it. It was a troll! One of the biggest ugliest trolls any of them had ever seen. The battle was short and bloody.

Elea pelted it with magic while the others charged with swords. One swing of the club and both Sigrid and the other woman were down. Ari backed up towards the tent while Elea continued to pelted it with magic, enraging it. "We've got to get out of here!" Elea cried to Keth. "Run! I'll get down on my own." But, Keth would not leave her new companion. Nor did she have a chance to. The club swung again, knocking her and the tent over. Down Elea tumbled. She was out of magic. She drew her sword and moved to protect Keth. She was quick, slashing the troll, but not quick enough. He backhanded her into the rumble of the tent...

[Back into "OOC" mode.] The GM grinned as he positioned Laurel and the other woman's bodies in the street. We pulled down the tent, then stuck Ari and I on top of the mess. The GM looked at the set scene, then considered... "The troll is hungry... and you two are the closet together. Guess what..." Ari and I groaned. We were going to be the bait for this quest. Not only that, we got the 'pleasure' of being dragged part of the way so that the others who came looking for us would have tracks to follow...

With the scene set, Laurel and the other girl lounged in the street, waiting to be discovered. At this point, I seem to have become some sort of assistant GM. My job was to describe the scene. The group that tried to capture the Fremont group was back first. They were startled at what they found. The scene was described as they hurried to their party member's form. A couple checked on Laurel as well.

While that was happening, the Fremont group returned, let by Rich. The scene was described to them, too. The two parties growled at one another for a second before retreating to the appropriate fallen companion. Then, as the assistant GM. I let the two women slowly awaken so they could baited the groups with Keth and Elea's disappearance and the likelihood that the troll had them.

To add chaos to the mixture, a third group arrived. This party was completely filled with UA people - Yony, Robert, Hans, Cynthia, Will and Ian. There were others, too. The full scene of destruction, fallen party members, etc... was described to them. Robert stepped forward and picked up Elea's sword, covered in blackish icor. "This is Je...er... Elea's sword! I'd recognize it anywhere." They looked at one another. [I suddenly 'remembered' something about Romeo and Juliet thing going on between the characters...]

"She and Keth... were taken by the troll..." Laurel said weakly as she was supported by Rich. She pointed to the drag marks. "I think... it was hungry." She added.

With that, all three parties erupted in shouts, commands and half-baked plans to go rescue the two party members. I was relived by the GM and told where to go to wait while it looked like these three parties worked in concert to come save us. I remember pouting the whole while because Ari and I would miss out on all the fun until I reached the troll cave and Ari handed me a bottle of mead. "If we can't play, we might as well drink!" I laughed and agreed.

FADE.

18 November 2002
Sacrifice

I had the strangest dream last night. One that is really sticking with me. I woke up feeling like someone had downloaded their entire adult life into my head. It has me itching to write their story.

I remember the opening scene. It was of a young woman in a mountain tunnel fleeing a raid from a neighboring tribe. I got the impression that all of her people lived in this mountain and were very low tech but intelligent with a complex belief system. The scene was just of her running like a gazelle, being pursued.

Then, I was bombarded with a series of images and concepts - Her captured by the rival tribe. Her sold to merchants who turned out to be from off world. Her sold as a feral pleasure slave to offworlders. Her realizing that her world was the usual hunting grounds for slavers and that they would never stop. Her escaping and joining a slave rebellion. Her meeting a man from her tribe. Them in a desparate battle to free their people from this slaver threat. The realization that it could not be done.

Finally, I was shifted back into 'real time'. She and the man were deep within their native mountain of their home world. Both were bruised and bloodied. Their offworlder clothing in rags. He wrapped a dirty braided rope around his wrist and hers, binding them together in their people's custom of marriage. "I love you. From this world into the next."

She clasped his hand in hers, squeezing it and repeated. "From this world until the next." She touched buttons on the large device next to her. "Our people will never be slaves ever again." The timer began counting down from ten. The two of them began to kiss tenderly. For an instant, they were silhouetted by a blinding pure white light then, they were vaporized in the nuclear explosion that decimated the entire mountain range and could be seen from space.

That is where the dream faded away... with the image of these two people kissing who thought it better to kill their entire race rather than have them subjected to the horrors of the slavers. Too many questions come to mind. Why not attack the HQ of the slavers? Why did they feel it necessary to kill their people to save them? Was it part of their religious belief system? I really want to explore and write this story up. But, it leaves me feeling very sad because the end story is not a happy one. It is one of great sacrifice and sorrow.

3 December 2002
Visitation

A large group of us were rehearsing for one of the plays in the park. Shakespeare. When we were done, four of us went back to my apartment to talk: Laurel, Yony, Robert and I. There was a bit about Robert needing milk so he could take his medicine. I was able to get him the milk easily. There was something important about the act of doing so. I don't know what.

We talked a while, then I got sleepy. I showed everyone to the door but, as these things go, we got stuck in the Event Horizon, still talking. I was really tired. So, I invited everyone to stay and chat while I slept. We all trooped back to my bedroom. I curled up in bed. Yony sat beside me. Robert and Laurel on the couch. I fell asleep while they talked around me.

When I woke up, I was startled to find Yony still sitting next to me. He was still dressed and had to explain to me that I had invited them to stay. I couldn't remember that I had. However, I was more mystified by the fact that I had fallen asleep while my friends talked around me than by the fact I had invited them to stay.

It was twilight. Only Yony and I were awake. While we were talking, a ghostly image of a little boy came running into the room. He waved at Yony. I was shocked but Yony didn't see him. When the boy ran off, I gave chase. I grabbed his shirt as he ran through the front door. The shirt came off him. I opened the door and looked. The little boy came back in and I handed him his shirt. Then, I picked him up and sat down with him. The little boy was in black and white while everything else in the dream was in color. He was very young. One or two at the most. I recognized him, though. I didn't know from where. I started asking him about himself and to find out if he was lost and if I could help. I was concerned for this little boy.

James came out of the back with Laurel, wanting to know what the ruckus was. When I explained, James questioned the boy who refused to speak to him. So, James pretended to call the police and pretended to speak Spanish to them about the little boy because he wouldn't tell James why he was here. I waved James off and gently spoke to the boy. He spoke to me in Spanish (Hebrew?), telling me that he knew Yony would be here and he just wanted to say hello to his uncle. That's when I realized he was Nadav, Yony's cousin from Israel. Holding the boy, I called out to Yony to come see his cousin. Yony came out from the back, was very surprised and embraced the ghostly boy who was fast loosing his solidity. The two talked for a short time. After the boy had disappeared, Yony told me that had been very sweet of me to allow Nadav in to visit with him. I was pleased I could be the conduit between the two.

I turned around and it was morning, Robert walked in, wearing a nice black tuxedo. He needed milk for his morning medicine. I was in chicken mode, running around like crazy, trying to get breakfast ready for the whole troop but there were "issues" with the sink. I was distracted as I kept trying to get milk for Robert. I got into the pantry and found the milk. I kept having to tell people to avoid the sink since we were all dressed up for the play.

Autumn walked in as Robert asked for milk again. There was an urgency about his need to take his medicine on time. Autumn told him he could have water instead and walked to the sink before I could stop her, turning it on. Water sprayed everywhere - though - not on any of us. I gave Robert the milk, apologizing because it was condensed milk and not normal milk. It was all I had. Robert assured me that would be fine, showing me how he could crush his pill into a forkful of the condensed milk and make a show of enjoying the taste. I watched him to see if he was faking but he wasn't. That relieved me.

I turned back to the kitchen that was now full of people - Me, Robert, Yony, James, Laurel, Autumn, Tony and a couple of people I didn't know. Everywhere I went, trying to make breakfast, people got in my way. Autumn went back to the sink, determined to 'deal with it' and proceeded to spray the area again. (Though, again, none of it got on us or our costumes.)

I finally lost it and yelled for everyone to get out of the kitchen. I would bring breakfast to the living room. As everyone left, Yony paused and asked if I needed help. I did not. I just needed everyone out of my kitchen for a short while so I could gather my thoughts and myself together. As he left, I looked up and saw Nadav in the window. "Don't forget to tell Yony I visited, please." He asked of me. I nodded and went back to cleaning things up.

FADE

4 December 2002
Casey & Andy

Panel 1: Jenn (with purple hair!) facing Casey and Andy as Jenn hands them a box.
Jenn: My Lord Milligan wants me to give this to you. I wouldn't open it. It's booby-trapped.
Andy (reaching for the box): Again? That's the third one this week!
Casey: Wait. 'Your Lord Milligan'? Jenn? You've gone over to the other side?

Panel 2: Jenn, Casey, Andy and Mary
Jenn (with red satin hearts): Oh, yes! Lord Milligan is wonderful. You should see what that man can do with his horns!
Casey (covering his mouth): Ugh!
Andy (covering his ears): Augh!!
Mary (walking in and seeing the guys reactions)

Panel 3: Jenn, Casey, Andy and Mary
Mary: You're in love with Lord Milligan?
Jenn (more red hearts): He's so dashing in all that black clothing!
The guys flee, looking ill.

Panel 4: Jenn and Mary
Mary: You can't be serious.
Jenn: Of course not. I'm a secret agent working undercover. I've insinuated myself into Lord Milligan's life and his bed. When the time comes, I'll thwart his evil plans and break his heart You know, the usual deal.

Panel 5: Jenn and Mary
Mary and Jenn stare at one another in silence.

Panel 6: Jenn and Mary
Mary: So, the sex is that good, huh?
Jenn (more red hearts): Oh, my god! Yes! The things that man can do with those horns!

FADE

14 December 2002
Invasion

My invasion and rebellion dream has returned. This time, the invasion started by the aliens their attack by causing cars and trucks to shoot into the sky and fall to the earth like mass drivers. I was out with my sister when all of this started. Quickly, I had us in doorways so that the strength of the frame would protect us from the falling debris.

While we were cowering, I turned and saw my mom. She sitting with people I didn't know and was taking a hit from a hookah. I ran to her. I tried hard to get her to safety. She was buzzed. She did not want to move. I ended up with her head in my lap. I was begging her to come find safety with me. She started telling me about the invasion. That she knew all that was going on. I roused her, demanding an explanation. She was very tearful. The government thought they were doing the right thing. It was to stop the warring. I was confused. How would an invasion stop the warring?

My mom got incensed. She realized that the government had been wrong to allow this. She roused herself and swore she would get me the thing that was needed to defeat the aliens. She made me and my sister stay as she went to the government facility. We stayed on the college campus. I keep trying to instruct people to avoid the falling debris. Eric (Jack Tillman) was there. He was espousing how this invasion was exactly what we needed. I thought he was crazy. I was going argue with him but several Winnebago's crashed around us and there was a huge explosion. I looked up and saw that the government facility had exploded. I knew my mother was dead.

This kicked me out of my passive apathy. I grasp my sister's hand and we ran to the underground parking lot where my car was. It was still there. We ran by Shaft and called after us. "When you make it to the point you can help the Rebellion, you call me. You know how, girl!" I agreed as we drove away.

I don't know where we drove to but we seem to have returned to the college campus, which was now a training center for the new regime. Most people were dressed the same. No one showed emotions. [I think I'm anticipating Equilibrium too much.] My sister and I snuck into one building and immediately ran into Talia Winters. She pulled us to the side. "You haven't been indoctrinated, yet. Good. You can help us. First, show no emotion. Second..." She implanted two small metal circles into the back of each of our hands. "... These will make everyone think you have just been indoctrinated and drugged. Everyone has a place here. Find yours and report back to me."

She left us then. So, my sister and I quietly, emotionlessly walked around. There were many billboards about how emotions were destructive and, thus, illegal. Others talked about joining the new regime. "Secure your proper place in society. Serve the Regime!" I did not know what to do or how to survive this. I didn't know where my friends were. My mother was dead and my sister... she was almost an automaton already in her grief and shock.

Then, I heard a voice I recognized. Alex Baker. I walked in that direction. To my surprise, it was Alex, acting as a religious evangelist for the new Regime! He was doing his theatrical best to cheer on the invasion and the taking of the emotion controlling drugs. I knelt in the back of the gathered crowd to listen. I saw Johanna up there as an "acolyte" and "morale liaison" for the Church of the State. I could not tell if she was actually drugged or faking it. Watching Alex, I suddenly understood he was not under any drug control. Nor was actually serious about what he espoused. He was very subtly making fun of it. But these dull eyed indoctrinated mundanes could not see that. They believed every word.

Alex asked a quiet question about our world before the Regime came. I wanted him to know I was there. The crowd was silent. I whimpered softly, "It hurts..." Alex raised his head. There was a look of recognition before he masked it with compassion. He walked through the crowd to me. "Ah... so newly indoctrinated..." Then, he winked privately and mouthed the words "Good one" at me and raised his voice. "What was bad about the invasion...?"

"All of the deaths."

"There are always deaths. What about before the invasion? What was this world like?"

"It was falling apart."

"They always are." He crouched before me. "They always are filled with petty disputes and greedy, stupid leaders." He stood, turning to the crowd. "Leaders who would have you all work for them, give the clothing off your backs. Lie to you about their true motivations. This was no invasion... It was a rescue!! This is why emotions are bad! This is why you must serve the Regime!" He turned back to me. I looked up at him and he gave me a subtle 'hug me' gesture. I threw myself at him as one converted, half sobbing and hugged him with all my might. He hugged me gently and bent his mouth to my ear. "We really need to talk." He whispered.

Straightening, Alex told me loudly, "Come, lost one. I will make sure your place is found. You are no longer alone." I noticed Johanna's seemingly dulled eyes brighten with interest as she watched me follow Alex back to his grassy knoll pulpit. I knelt behind him during the rest of his sermon. Once it was done, he ordered me to follow him. We walked through a very large building that seemed to be filled with bright eyed Regime supporter.

I was led to a sitting area. Eric was there with several others. They all looked at me as if looking at a lowly slave or something disgusting. Alex sat down. He was about to motion for me to sit with him when Eric stated firmly. "I was looking for you, Alex. I need to speak to you.... alone." He looked at me as he said that last word. I kept my eyes dull as I bowed to both of them, waiting for orders.

Alex smiled at me. "Go get me something to drink, Jennifer. You know what I like." As I turned and walked away, wondering where I was going to get this drink, I heard him say, "Jennifer is an old friend of mine, newly indoctrinated."

"I know who she is."

"I think I'm going to make her my... personal assistant." Alex continued unperturbed.

"Really..." Eric sneered. "I guess that means you won't have need of your wife as a ... personal assistant... anymore and I can assign her elsewhere..."

I walked out of hearing distance before I heard the answer. All I knew at this point was that Alex was part of the Rebellion and Eric was part of the Regime. I do my damnest to make sure I helped Alex and the Rebellion throw off these new shackles - no matter what I needed to do it.

FADE

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