Questioning the Notion

[Brian]

"I'm going to say tentatively ... yes," Relm says, frowning.  "The trick is identifying what's left after a 'reset', I'd guess.  I mean, something should be continually advancing, right?  So, if it seems that everything is being swept away, then whatever is gone was really just a trapping of whatever the Dream's true goal is."

[Rezantis]

"So are we out to bring about the advancement that it's trying to reach?"

[Brian]

"I think you're looking for a more fundamental advancement than the obvious, at least," Relm says with a shrug.  "One way or another, it's all about the Gates."

[Rezantis]

"I'm not really sure what we're looking for in that respect," Nathan notes, "but then we haven't been through a reset yet.  I'm not really sure what else to ask, to be honest.  Anything of note happening back in the Real?"

[Brian]

"Tetsuo and Mark are still safe in Japan, along with Ginrai," Relm says.  "They haven't seen anyone else approaching Fuji, and neither have I.  Of course, that's no guarantee."

[Rezantis]

"I think I'd welcome the excuse for a brawl anyway," Nathan notes cheerfully.  "What about New Delphi?  How long's it been?"

[Brian]

"About a week," Relm answers.  "Things at New Delphi are going pretty well, actually.  Tetsuo's sister is up and about, trying to make herself useful; I think Victor likes her.  Then again, everyone from the Workshop has good reason to avoid him...."  Relm trails off.

Shade clears his throat.  "I still say he's got no patience," he says levelly.  "But I think the Dream is more important than the waking world at the moment.  Fail, and you may not get to go back to New Delphi anyway."

[Rezantis]

"It was a point of curiousity," comes the mild response, "as at this point, we still don't really know enough about the underpinnings of the dream to have really serious questions."

"We have met another outsider though.  She's from Chicago, and I think quite a while ago.  Apparently a man with a bracelet came to her in a dream and asked her to help, but it sounds like she was killed by a train - and ended up here.  She said it had something to do with a girl with golden eyes wearing the moon as a pendant - we haven't had the chance to really get that clear yet, but I don't think she really understood it either way."

[Brian]

"Hmm," Relm ponders, bowing her head and staring into the depths of her pool.  The rising smoke from the incense burners around her slowly thickens, turning the image blurry and indistinct.  A progress bar appears below on gold plate in san serrif: "Searching..."

Shade cocks his head to one side and blinks.  "Mystical," he opines, as the bar finishes filling.

"Hush," Relm, replies, coming back into focus.  "I just got a new version of Photoshop.  I'll work in sparkles and a shining sun chariot thing later.  Anyway, the golden bracelet sounds like typical Brotherhood of Morpheus interpretation.  Was she killed by the train, or did she dream she was killed by the train?  I'm not clear on that.  From what Pandora gave me, she came into the dream a few decades ago, and has been on the bad side of time compression ever since.  Timewise, from her perspective, if she's who Pandora believes, she's seen about 120 years pass, subjectively.  So, if she's an ally, that's great; if you can get her out here temporarily, like you are now, we could probably find out an awful lot more about the Dream."

"That's a lot of years."

"Yeah, and maybe see what we can do to help acclimate her to the reality outside the Fire Dream," Relm agrees, frowning.

[Rezantis]

"It sounds like she was actually killed by the train.  Can she even -be- brought back if that's the case?"

[Brian]

"Kind of," Relm says hesitantly, as Shade silently raises his hand.  "I mean, I don't have much of a presence in the physical world myself....  But don't you dare get the idea of assembling some dream-harem!"

[Rezantis]

"I wouldn't dream of it," Nathan drawls out the obvious pun, "and besides, I like being able to sleep."

"I guess I'll have to break the news to her that she's actually dead some time.  That's twice now!"

[Dracos]

"Anyhow, let's save some time for the return trip and go see what's going on, eh?"

[Brian]

"Okay," Shade says, making a gesture.  With that, there's a lurching sensation, and everyone finds themselves standing on a hilltop, armed soldiers pressed in closely.  Down the hill, about forty feet away, is a man in a smart suit, attended by about twenty men who look identical to Tim.

The surrounding area is grassy, with occasional distant trees dotting the closer hillsides.  Phil suspects that this area isn't too far from where he probably met Tim initially.  Or at least, it has a very similar landscape.  "Greetings!" the man calls, waving an arm, scanning the group.  "Master Massif?"

[Rezantis]

"Obviously," Nathan says, his face conveying clear irritation.  "Let us not waste any time."