The figure you're dreaming about bows slightly. "You must be Captain--"
"Ha!" His grin spreads so wide dimples furrow deeply into his cheeks. "Cat'n's got herself busy with the ranks in the map room. I'm just Purser. Can call me Dryden if you like, s'fine." He holds up an electronic notepad. "Logistics first. First name?"
"Alula," the woman replies, humor lacing her tone. "This isn't typical, then, you being tour guide?"
"Rare enough. Might forget which things'd best be left secret if ya ask enough." He taps on the pad's screen and nods. "Looks like you got hooked up with a Dreamer just fine--"
"Wait." Alula holds up a hand. "Wait. I'm already paired with a Dreamer? Who is it? When do I meet them?"
He glances over the pad with an assessing look. "When do you...did ya read the fine print, lass?"
"Pretend I forgot."
"No one 'meets' their Dreamer. You get plugged in. What'd ya think the brain meld was for?" He gestures at his head as if indicating wires and some sort of other scientific voodoo may have been involved with the 'brain meld'.
Alula's mouth gapes open. "I thought it was just a physical. What do you mean, plugged in?"
"They sent me a Glitch." The smile slides from Dryden's face and he makes a show of checking the pad. "Huh. No complications, no reverb, no nausea." He arches his brow at Alula. "Maybe not a Glitch, still gettin' your space legs? Didn't get much time to recoup afterwards... Any rate, sounds like we get to start this tour from the beginning, so we best get moving, Recruit."
Frowning, Alula follows his casual pace down the hallway, toward the stars...and both of your futures.
Continue to box 2.
Dream self?
You pinch yourself and feel no pain. Definitely dreaming. But of what? You've never seen this place before, asleep or awake.
The room hums in a strange, soothing tone, and you find yourself moving around a technology-laden desk.
No. It's not you, though you seem to be following this person's progress. With each step, you grow more certain you know her. You're watching the exploits of someone both familiar and not, as much alter ego as imaginary friend. You don't have long to ponder why you'd dream about following her around before she steps to a massive board on the wall. Studying it for a moment, she moves to the left, to the start of an imposing, elongated hallway.
"All aboard the crazy train," she says, and you can't help but nod. It seems you're along for the ride, whether you'd like to be or not.