The Dream Team CHATLOG

Captain Adamant@calamitycain: THE DREAM TEAM
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: It's a Thursday Night, and Mercy Hospital is boiling with activity. Such is life in a city of supers, villainous and heroic, to say nothing of the more ordinary troubles of the world plaguing >
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: Millennium City's citizens. But the PROTECTORS OF THE WORLD find themselves in a much quieter corner of this busy little world. This world is Intensive Care, for the most critical of patients. It is>
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: here that CAPTAIN ADAMANT has called his allies - notably those with psionic or mystic expertise - for a consultation, and perhaps more... The bustle of activity dies as each Protectors enters the >
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: room, to find Captain Adamant standing vigil over two sleeping souls. One is a large man, almost the size of Carter outside his suit, which is saying something. The man is of African descent, and >
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: by sight he looks to be sleeping soundly. Next to him is a much thinner man, sporting a brown beard, and pale skin. He, too, is sleeping soundly. Perhaps too soundly. These two men are Bill Hazelwood>
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: and Hank Ashely, two of the four men who attacked Advanced Sleep Incorporated in January, the incident that led to Frank Spektor's disappearance from that same building, and apparently jump started >
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: a series of events that included a sleepwalking epidemic, an upswing in nightmare attacks, and the discovery of a plot by Senator Gauthier to obtain a mystical artifact known only as the 'Dzakarian >
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: Stone.' Now those events led here, and now. Carter holds his helmet between his side and his arm, waiting patiently for his allies, as he watches the sleeping men like a hawk.
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: ((INTROS!))
Aura@Pallas001: Aura enters, taking out her ear buds. Its early Clash... she's trying to get in the mood for what could be quite the adventure. She smiles at those involved in turn and adds a gentle wave to them. >
Aura@Pallas001: > "I came just as told, Captain. I'm happy to be of service. I'm also happy to see familiar faces."
Artifist@Jarnefeldt: Artifist arrives in a flash of golden light. She adjusts her glove as she takes in her surroundings. When she sees Adamant, she gives him a curt nod. "Captain."
The Peacemaker I@Astrosimi: The Peacemaker enters, though the order of the day seems to be subtly for him. No armor. He looks around at the scene, smiling gently before taking a handkerchief and coughing lightly into it.
The Peacemaker I@Astrosimi: "Carter, Jackie... oh wow, Dusk. Nice seeing you guys."
Centurion@Prototype902: "Centurion would make his arrival soon enough, he would be seen with a custom made formal suit, blue jeans and black boots. He would seem like he were to be in for business" Captain how are you today?
Psion@gijoespouse2: Psion, in contrast to Aura and Peacemaker, has a pretty sober expression as she enters. She flicks a glance to the two men in their comatose state.  Then... she downright -scowls- as she takes in the-
Psion@gijoespouse2: almost comical look of the robot in a formal tux.
The Peacemaker I@Astrosimi: Peace is about to say hello to Psion, though the Robot in Room seems to be her focus. He turns towards him. "Hey, big guy. Got a fundraiser after this?"
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: As they enter and greet the Captain and each other, it becomes clear Carter wasn't watchcing like a hawk - more like he was -staring-. He snapped out of it, as the team filtered in, and greeted each >
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: of them with a short nod. "Good evening, thank you all for coming." Cap did a headcount.
Centurion@Prototype902: Of course, Anything you might need help with?
Artifist@Jarnefeldt: Dusk turned to look to Centurion and quickly looked him up and down. "...Did C.O.P get a downgrade?"
Centurion@Prototype902: Who is this C.O.P?
Centurion@Prototype902: But yes.. "Ahem* I am willing to help you out later on Peacemaker.
The Peacemaker I@Astrosimi: "That's a story for later, Cent... no bud, I was making a joke." The Peacemaker turns back to Fist and Psion, with a 'go easy on the rookie' kind of expression.
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: "We're ready for you." Cap says, into his commlink, before regarding the team, and waiting until he had their attention before continuing. He regards the telepaths and mystic in the room. "Each of >
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: you is here because we need a very special kind of reconaissance. As you may know, we captured the supervillain Dreamwitch a couple weeks ago. She had intelligence regarding the night terror monsters>
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: we've encountered, and how they might connect with the Sleepers' March. We need to follow up on her claims."
Aura@Pallas001: "You _are_ the Captain... Captain. We've got this," Aura adds, looking towards the others. "We've got this."
Psion@gijoespouse2: "Of course."
The Peacemaker I@Astrosimi: "Anything you need."
Artifist@Jarnefeldt: Fist nodded as she looked over to the two sleeping men.
Aura@Pallas001: "So you want us to just, what? Dig a little deeper into their heads?" Aura asked, moving to the men and then back to Adamant.
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: shakes his head. "I don't think it'll be that simple. What do you four know of - the 'Dreamzone'?"
Psion@gijoespouse2: "I have been in other's dreams before. I have dove fully into other's minds. But as for this Dreamzone... that is new."
Aura@Pallas001: "I'm a psychologist. I can tell you from A to Z on dreams and analyze them. That sounds a bit outside my experience."
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: nods slowly, before looking to Artifist and Peacemaker for their input.
The Peacemaker I@Astrosimi: "Same here. It sounds... mystical." The last word leaves his mouth with an audible distate.
Artifist@Jarnefeldt: "If memory serves, it's kind of what it says on the tin. Granted, it's been a while since I've dealt with anything related to dimensions related to Earth," Dusk said as she reached for the tome that
Artifist@Jarnefeldt: hung from her left side.
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: nods again. "By Dreamwitch's description, it -is- mystical in nature. According to her, all dreams are connected in this 'Dreamzone'. With the right abilities, you can access it like other - planes?">
Artifist@Jarnefeldt: Artifist opens up her tome and casually flips to the back of the book.
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: The Captain frowns at the word. Clearly, the world of magic and mysticism isn't his bailiwick. "Dreamwitches powers are uniquely suited to this - as are the night terrors we've been encountering. But>
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: I've been led to belive any mystic or psychic can access it."
The Peacemaker I@Astrosimi: "That's actually an interesting possibility. Do we have a roadmap, or are we winging it?"
Aura@Pallas001: "Brilliant! We do fit that bill, then," Aura states, giving a thumbs up.
Artifist@Jarnefeldt: "A roadmap of the Dreamzone? It's one of the few places I haven't been."
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: "Some of us do." He nods to Aura, then fixes his eyes on Peacemaker. "You won't be doing this completely blind but it won't be as simple as that."
Artifist@Jarnefeldt: "But if it's another dimension, it shouldn't be a problem to get to."
Centurion@Prototype902: I am new to experiencing dream like state myself. But then again i am a robot after all.
Psion@gijoespouse2: "If this is a place that all dreamers connect to, then the problem will be less about getting there and more about navigating where we need to go once reaching our destination."
The Peacemaker I@Astrosimi: Peace frowns at Centurion. "I'm not sure you can come, bud. Unless you have secrety psychic powers you haven't mentioned."
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: looks to Centurion. "I called you here to help me keep watch, Centurion. These four will be taking the plunge, and will need back up that -isn't- sleeping."
Centurion@Prototype902: I understand. I will do my best!
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: nods. "I should think you can help monitor the team's vitals while they're in the 'Dreamzone'." Then he looks to the rest of the team.
Centurion@Prototype902: Understood Captain, I will make sure they are still in tip top shape.
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: "Psion is right - navigation in the Dreamzone may be difficult. Dreamwitch describes it as non-linear, and at times, non-sensical." Carter shakes his head, clearly uncomfortable, but no less >
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: motivated to acheive their goals "It will be a matter of intuition to find what you're looking for."
The Peacemaker I@Astrosimi: "Speaking of, what *are* we looking for?"
Artifist@Jarnefeldt: "Yeah. What exactly is this 'clue' that she mentioned."
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: "You recall our discussion with Dreamwitch?" His brown eyes went from Peacemaker to Psion, then to Aura, Artifist, and Centurion as he explained, "Dreamwitch began finding - for lack of a better word>
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: 'constructed dreams' in the Dreamzones. Dreams, again, according to her, disappear when people wake up. But these persisted."
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: ((Dreamzone* (singular)))
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: "It was in exploring these dreams that the night terrors found her and began to pursue."
Aura@Pallas001: "So we are looking for hiccups, basically?"
Psion@gijoespouse2: Psion nodded, recalling the interview. "And see where it leads us." Sh elooks to the captain to confirm.
The Peacemaker I@Astrosimi: "Sounds like a proper mystery." Sebastian smirks. "I'm in."
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: curled an eyebrow under his underlay at Aura, but nodded. "You could say that... She says every dream has its own 'tone', or feeling. She says these places didn't have any, besides 'purpose' or >
Artifist@Jarnefeldt: "This works for me. Bonus if we can shut down these manufactured dreams as well. It's clear that these weren't made with the benefit of mankind in mind."
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: 'necessity'. She described industrial places, like warehouses or power plants, or office buildings, parking structures."
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: "Why do you say that?" He asks Artifist.
Artifist@Jarnefeldt: "When was the last time anyone built anything in a secluded part of this world or any other for the purpose of helping people? Especially if it's where this Dreamwitch encountered the night terrors.
Artifist@Jarnefeldt: It could very well be where they're being made."
Psion@gijoespouse2: "Manufactured or not, these dreams have a connection to an individual. We need to be cautious in how we go about this, or we risk damaging the psyche of hte person involved."
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: "It could be." He nods to Artifist. "But let's not jump to conclusions. There's motive for Dreamwitch to lie to us, but we have to be alert for surprises. Right now, anything's possible. Nothing's >
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: for certain..." Carter glances at the tiled floor for a moment then, and shifts in his armor, which had, until now, remained statue-still.
Aura@Pallas001: "I have to agree with Psion. I deal with people's mental health every day. The mind's trick. Delicate. "
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: ((Derp no* motive for))
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: nods. "We must avoid collateral damage, in that case. There's no telling exactly what you'll encounter, but-" The door to the ICU opens then, and a nurse shows in a dark skinned woman in her late >
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: thirties, with her head shorn. She wore simple square gold earings and a blue T-shirt with gray sweatpants. Carter nodded, and motioned for her to join them. "Protectors, this is Simone Hazelwood."
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: The woman's eyes flit from each of the Protectors to the next, before settling on the larger of the two sleeping men. "Hello..." She didn't look happy to be here. But wasn't about to leave either.
The Peacemaker I@Astrosimi: "Ma'am." He nods to her, undertsanding the relation.
Aura@Pallas001: Aura's posture shifted as she saw the woman. "I'm Aura. I just want to assure you... we are here to help. And we will help."
Psion@gijoespouse2: Psion nodded to the woman. "My name is Psion." She noted the glance to one of the men. "...your husband?"
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: Simone came to Bill Hazelwood's side, and looked him over for a few moments in silence. Then she nodded her head. "Yes..." Carter watched for another silent moment, before explaining, "Simone, these >
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: four will be investigating what's behind your husband." Simone looked at each of the psychics and the mystic. "Going inside his head?"
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: (("Mrs. Hazelwood*))
Psion@gijoespouse2: "With your consent, of course..."
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: Simone placed a hand at her husband's brow, and sighed, shutting her eyes. She looked -tired-, to say the least. "I can barely keep up with all this." She shook her head. "But whatever it takes.">
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: She steels her gaze and looks at the Protectors once more. "I'm tired of trying to explain all this to my babies. They need their father, and I need my husband." Cap nodded, glancing at the others. >
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: "Can you tell them anything that might help?" He asked, and Simone nodded. "He was a military man. A good man. But he was discharged, dishonorably. He fell into a bad way when that happened." She put>
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: her face in her hand for a moment. "He did time in prison. When he came back, he was different. He had cleaned up his act - but also started moving us around. Saying he had been given a mission. In >
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: his dreams."
Artifist@Jarnefeldt: "Time in prison, huh? Did he talk about his prison buddies at all? Any names mentioned?"
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: Simone shook her head again. "No - he said he kept to himself, and studied. He said he trained his body, while someone trained his mind." She opened her eyes to her husband again. "He came back and >
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: trained my son and I how to use a gun, and moved us out into the bayou. Told us bad days were coming and we had to be ready."
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: "Then he disappeared...and showed up here."
Artifist@Jarnefeldt: Artifist rubbed her chin as she looked to Simone's husband.
The Peacemaker I@Astrosimi: "A mission in his dreams. Maybe whatever is creating these false dreams is also entering into real ones?"
Psion@gijoespouse2: "Or perhaps the manufactured dreams are where the training takes place. Dreamwitch mentioned they seemed to be created with purpose..." She looked to her peers, then to the comatose men.
Aura@Pallas001: "We can guess all we want, but maybe we just need to get our answers in his head," Aura explained.
Psion@gijoespouse2: "Agreed."
Aura@Pallas001: "We want him to come back to you," Aura said, putting her hand on Simone's shoulder.
The Peacemaker I@Astrosimi: Peace coughs into his handkerchief again, looking around. "We should get started."
Artifist@Jarnefeldt: "Well, we might as well get started. Since his body's right here, it's not going to be that difficult to follow it to his astral form." She looks around to the others.
Artifist@Jarnefeldt: "I'm ready to move when you are."
Psion@gijoespouse2: Psion moves to each man. She touches their brow briefly. Whether it was something she needed to do to get the job done, or just ritual on her part, it's unclear.
Centurion@Prototype902: I will make sure your vitals is in check when you enter the Dreamzone everyone.
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: Simone nodded. "If I could help, I would. But as Bill used to say, 'this is beyond my pay grade'." Cap looked on for a moment. "You four can get started, if there are no questions."
The Peacemaker I@Astrosimi: "Questions? Plenty. But the answers are elsewhere, apparently." He shoves the handkerchief into his jacket pocket. "Artifist, you should lead the way. The rest of us can up to you."
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: "I'm not sure how to go about it, to be honest." Cap admits. "Dreamwitch can do it naturally - but whether entering Bill's dream is a matter for Artifist or a psychic, I'm not sure."
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: looks to Artifist for the mystic's input.
Artifist@Jarnefeldt: Artifist's left hand began to glow as she was preparing for her jaunt into the astral before she stops and looks to Sebastian. "Er, well astral travel isn't exactly difficult. Seperating one's self
Artifist@Jarnefeldt: their body is actually a lot easier than one would expect. I'm just not a huge fan of leaving my body laying around, so I usually just move into the Astral directly." She sighed before shrugging, her
Artifist@Jarnefeldt: hand's glow fading away. "But if you need an astral guide for this trip, I can lead the way."
Psion@gijoespouse2: "Whatever it is we are doing, we shoudl get started. Whether magic, or simply allowing me to perform a mind dive and open the way into his dream."
The Peacemaker I@Astrosimi: "Head into the Astral, actually. The rest of us can go the other route. Might leave us less vulnerable."
The Peacemaker I@Astrosimi: Peace grabs a chair, taking a seat by the unconcious man. He waits for his teammates.
Centurion@Prototype902: "Centurion would watch as the others go into a dream like state."
Artifist@Jarnefeldt: Dusk nods to Peacemaker as her hand begins to glow once again. She raises it to the air and disappears in a golden flash of light as she shifts from the material realm and moves over to the Astral.
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: ((Do your thang guys, and I will paint the picture when you're ready!))
Psion@gijoespouse2: Psion closes her eyes, reaching out with her psychic abilities. Her body is limned in a magenta hue as she does so. "Entering Mr Hazelwood's mind in 3.... 2.... 1...." ((the rest can wait until we're
Psion@gijoespouse2: gm transitioned))
Aura@Pallas001: Aura closes her eyes, sits on the ground and focuses. "Eton Mess is on me when we get back."
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: ((Alright, just to be clear, since they team has elected to choose two different forms of access, they will briefly split. Just bear with me.))
The Peacemaker I@Astrosimi: (Gotcha)
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: The three psychics dive right in, and after the intervening shift of senses and awareness from their waking surroundings, each of the 'awakens' in a dark, rusted elevator, its metal doors closed to >
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: them, for the moment. The light above flickers intermittently as it shines weakly downward. The buttons for the different floors are not numbered, but -named-. They read as follows:
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: "Mercy", "ASI", "Subway", "Bunker", and "Shopping Mall".
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: Like Dreamwitch described, despite the haze of the dream that was unmistakeable to the psychics compared to reality, the place felt real enough. It felt purpose built, but for what purpose? That >
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: remained to be seen.
Aura@Pallas001: Aura 'awakes' and looks about. "We are missing Artifist... hoo boy."
Psion@gijoespouse2: Psion opens her eyse within the interior of the rusty elevator. She scowls a bit. "Of course. Because we can't do the route the majority of the group is taking," she grouses. She looks to the labels-c
Psion@gijoespouse2: on the elevator.
Aura@Pallas001: "What's that?" Aura says, looking over her shoulder.
The Peacemaker I@Astrosimi: "My bad." Peacemaker's in his suit now, or at least his dream form. "Places, it seems like... ASI? That's where Carter's old CO was."
Psion@gijoespouse2: "That seems as good a place as any to start." She brings a hand up to push the indicated button, but looks to the others first before just pushign the thing. In case there's arguments over the matter,
Psion@gijoespouse2: of course.
The Peacemaker I@Astrosimi: Peace shrugs. "I don't have any other ideas."
Aura@Pallas001: "Just please remember - this is real. VERY real. Like 'Nightmarer On Elm Street' real... not the remake though. That thing was rubbish."
Psion@gijoespouse2: "Yes. Manufactured or not, these dreams are all real."  THen she presses the button to send them to ASI.
Aura@Pallas001: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgakmbVW_sc <- one upping you
The Peacemaker I@Astrosimi: "I find that word's got a pretty loose definition nowadays. Don't worry, I'll kep an eye out."
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: The elevator groaned and hitched before moving towards its destination. It shuddered along the way, and it may have been a cause for concern, if it didn't stop soon after. A faint DING could be heard>
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: before the dillapidated doors screeched open, revealing, at least to Psion, familiar surroundings. The Protectors were now in the main floor of Advanced Sleep Incorporated. Though it looked like >
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: it had seen better days. Dust and cobwebs gave the offices a musty feeling, and broken glass, torn wallpaper, and -bullet holes- in the dry wall gave the impresison that this place had endured a >
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: battle - maybe several - before being abandoned.

Aura@Pallas001: "I'm going to take a peek around and see if any parts of his psyche might be hiding about," Aura noted.
Psion@gijoespouse2: Psion nods.
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: ((impression* :S))
Psion@gijoespouse2: ((need to semi afk, aura and peace can drive things for a bit. vroom vroom
Aura@Pallas001: "Unfortunately I don't have all theh background most of the Protectors have on this case," Aura stated as she scanned and looked through the area.
Aura@Pallas001: "But sometimes people leave clues... traces of themselves... like footprints in snow. Can help lead you right to them."
The Peacemaker I@Astrosimi: "This is the place, alright, but obviously, it's a kind of shadow version. What's strange to me is... how does Hazelwood have a mental image of what it looks like?"
Aura@Pallas001: "Was he ever a resident?"
Psion@gijoespouse2: "He was one of the four men who attacked ASI."
Psion@gijoespouse2: ((and distraction has let up))
The Peacemaker I@Astrosimi: "How much of the facility did they cover?"
Aura@Pallas001: "If he attacked it, perhaps he did his research beforehand? A good crook knows what they are targeting."
Psion@gijoespouse2: "This... makes me think of those Matrix movies, actually...."
Aura@Pallas001: "And if he did it not of his own volition, let's say... its imprinted in his mind."
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: As Aura reaches out with her intuitions, she would feel the identity of the dream begin to come through. Wherever they are, it's a very -disiplined- construction. The details are mostly in place, >
Aura@Pallas001: "Besides, I'm gobsmacked by what people can recall in hypnotherapy sessions."
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: save for some blank pictures on the ASI-lookalike's walls, or blank clock faces. Beyond the details, and the aura of purpose-driven creation, Aura would begin to feel hints of fear and yearning.
Psion@gijoespouse2: Psion tries to reconcile -her- memories of the facility with the state the building is in now. Then she starts moving inward, toward Thomas Cates's room in the crafted dream.
The Peacemaker I@Astrosimi: "That's a good// poi-//"  Peace stops in his tracks, appearing rapidly to flicker in and out of sight.
The Peacemaker I@Astrosimi: "No, not n//w..." Peace looks at his hand. "Not //et!"
Aura@Pallas001: "There's emotional resonance linking to... Peacemaker?" Aura says, seeing his form move in and out.
Psion@gijoespouse2: Psion glances behind her. "What's happening?"
The Peacemaker I@Astrosimi: "It must be the vi//us // my powers are //utting out. I need to get to //he lab."
The Peacemaker I@Astrosimi: "Guys, I'm //orry... find //usk - stay sa//" Peace tries to assure them, but he loses his connection to the dream realm, and vanishes from the reconstructed ASI.
Aura@Pallas001: Aura's gaze falls to Psion, then to the construct of ASI. "The Captain needs us to continue," she says, sighing.
Psion@gijoespouse2: Psion frowns... then looks to Aura.  "... you're right."  She glances to their surroundings. "...the layout of the building is... almost a near perfect replica of the actual ASI facility. I'm going-c-
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: ((Rest assured, he's fine - mostly. Just had to duck out early!))
Psion@gijoespouse2: to see if Thomas Cates's and Frank Spektor's rooms are exactly the same..."
Aura@Pallas001: "I'm going to be your best back up ever, then. Lead the way... you have a better idea of what we are looking for."
Aura@Pallas001: "There's feeling in here, though... emotional connections."
Psion@gijoespouse2: "It's a hunch... but I think that if this place was used for some sort of purpose, maybe it was training. Sort of... sort of like in those Matrix movies. They created spaces to train."
Psion@gijoespouse2: "...what sort of emotional connections?"
Aura@Pallas001: "Fear. Yearning. Base emotions, I couldn;t gather nuances."
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: As the duo proceeds through the war-torn ASI, they take the stairs to the second floor, where Frank Spektor and Thomas Cates's rooms were. The windows are cracked and dusty, but through some they can>
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: see the patient rooms are still occupied - by skeletons. Directly down the hall from the stairwell exit, is room 213. Frank Spektor's room, when he was still at ASI.
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: The skeletons they see are tucked in their beds still, as if they died sleeping.
Psion@gijoespouse2: Psion frowned as she caught a glimpse of the interior rooms they passed. "...that is more than a bit unsettling."
Aura@Pallas001: "Just try to see it as another form of context," Aura says assuringly.
Psion@gijoespouse2: "What sort of context do you gather from it?" she asked. While she was a psychic, her mode of thinking definitely differed from Aura's.
Aura@Pallas001: "I don't try to view things in a literal sense, ever, in situations like this. The mind can be beautiful. It can also be bloody dark."
Aura@Pallas001: "Going in?" Aura asked, pointing to Spektors room.
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: The door to Frank Spektor's room was cracked open, like some of the other rooms. Where do the psyhics go from here?
Psion@gijoespouse2: Psion nodded, then carefully pushed the door open.
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: Inside they'd find a room very much like the others, with broken glass and dust lining the carpet. A dreamcatcher hung above the bed - and another skeleton lay underneath a dusty blanket on the bed.
Aura@Pallas001: "Any reason he'd need a protective charm?" Aura asks.

Psion@gijoespouse2: "Unclear... but given the fact the nightmare creatures attacked the facility and he was taken, I don't know that the charm actually helped..."
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: ((Cap and Jinn actually used the dreamcatcher they found in Frank' room to ward off the night terrors.))
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: ((Frank's))
Psion@gijoespouse2: Psion frowned, looking for anything of note that was actually -different- from the others.
Psion@gijoespouse2: ((Psion wasn't there when they used it though :/
Aura@Pallas001: "Well, maybe he's throwing us a bone. Or a dreamcatcher," Aura says, taking it carefully from where it rested.
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: ((Fair enough.))
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: Just then, the skeleton's jaw clacked as it -spoke-, "I am an American, fighting in the forces which guard my country and our way of life."
Aura@Pallas001: "I'm British," Aura says in response, biting her lip. "Please don't hold that against me. What is your name?"
Psion@gijoespouse2: Psion froze for a moment as the skeleton spoke.
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: The skeleton's voice is hoarse, and unnatural sounding, though it does carry a hint of a man's voice. It only continued, "I am prepared to give my life in their defense."
Aura@Pallas001: Aura's eyes caught Psion. "How did you give your life?"
Psion@gijoespouse2: Psion simply nodded, letting Aura attempt to talk to the skeleton.
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: At first, the skeleton says nothing, deathly still once again. Then it repeats itself, in its dry voice, "I am an American, fighting in the forces which guard my country and our way of life..."
Aura@Pallas001: "Mantras. All righty then," Aura said. "We won't get much more here... but I think these men might have been under the assumption what they were doing was for a greater cause."
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: The skeleton is silent again, along with the rest of the dream-ASI. Where to now, Dream Team?
Psion@gijoespouse2: Psion frowns glancing about them. She stretches out her senses, trying to feel out something to sort of guide them where to go. Anything out of place to latch on to.
Aura@Pallas001: "We really need to find Artifist," Aura says to Psion. "She could be in danger. She could have more answers than just talking skeletons."
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: The psychic's senses can't find much beyond the emotional undertones Aura sensed earlier. This place is as dead as looks. Though they are definintely in Bill Hazelwood's mind, it seems all this >
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: construction acts as almost a shield to more of the man's deeper drives and wishes. Perhaps they need to access another 'floor' of this dream to learn more?
Psion@gijoespouse2: "As good an idea as any," she murmurs. She starts heading back toward elevator. "Mapping is so much harder than simply sitting back and observing..."
Aura@Pallas001: "Things aren't linear... not always. Thoughts aren't always linear," Aura reminded Psion, walking out of the room and back to the elevator.
Aura@Pallas001: "Like we were discussing, I dont SEE a skeleton. I cant let it make me afraid. I see an object that fulfills a purpose, a stand in."
Aura@Pallas001: "Oh, you little blonde headed bird, where are you?" Aura says, trying to extend her mental abilities to search for any lingering traces of Artifist.
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: The buttons and the flickering light greet the two women again. It's buttons signify their choices: "Mercy", "ASI", "Subway", "Bunker", and "Shopping Mall".
Aura@Pallas001: "Bunker?"
Psion@gijoespouse2: "it's as good a choice as any." Psion pushes the button!
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: ((Pause for things!))
Aura@Pallas001: "Okay, okay, okay.... I'm sensing a certain magical sorceress!" Aura says out loud in the elevator.
Psion@gijoespouse2: "Is she alright?"
Aura@Pallas001: "She's on a lower level. Don't ask me which one," Aura notes. "But if I can sense her, that means yes... shes alive."
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: As the elevator moves, a falcon, of all things, slips through the doors of the elevator as if they weren't there. It flaps its wings a bit in front of the two psychics, before shrieking loudly! It>
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: does little else, but both mystics would get the impression that this golden construct was -not- of the dream they were in. It rang, somehow, of Artifist.
Psion@gijoespouse2: Psion frowns as the falcon makes a ruckus.
Psion@gijoespouse2: "I'm hoping overall that this means we're on the right track..."
Aura@Pallas001: "It was a blonde bird, you know," Aura replies. "That was very... literal."
Aura@Pallas001: "Stop at the Subway?"
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: The falcon caws at them, and then flies over to the floor buttons. It pecks the STOP button, causing the elevator to shudder. Then it pecks "Shopping Mall", causing the elevator to move again.
Psion@gijoespouse2: "...apparently we are to go to a mall."
Aura@Pallas001: Aura shrugs. "I really need more interesting powers. To the mall!"
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: Then the elevator shakes -again-, but this time more violently, as if the whole building was shaking. It stopped soonafter, as the elevator continued on its track.
Psion@gijoespouse2: Psion reached out to steady herself. "Psychic powers are interesting. Just not always int he funw ay. People don't realize just how -loudly- they think at times..."
Aura@Pallas001: "Took me years to drown those out," Aura responded.
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: The elevator doors open to the shrieking of -another- falcon, somewhere outside the women's field of view, and then gunshots that seem to silence it. Outside the elevator, the psychics find >
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: themselves looking out over the court of a derelict shopping mall, as quiet and broken as the visage of ASI had been. They smelled smoke, and saw Artifist just then, flying up into view, surrounded >
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: in golden energy. The golden falcon flies in a circle around the elevator, shrieking after Artifist. ((DREAM TEAM REUNITE))
Psion@gijoespouse2: "Oh for the love of-" Psion stretched out with her senses, to see if there was anyone else besides the Dream Team in the Mall.
Artifist@Jarnefeldt: Artifist seems focused on something as she flies off in a direction. She stops immediately when she hears the sceech and looks back to the elevator. "Hey. You guys made it after all!"
Artifist@Jarnefeldt: "Wait a second. What happened to Peace? Did he get seperated from you guys as well?"
Aura@Pallas001: "He was 'diconnected', if you will. Did you find anything down here?"
Artifist@Jarnefeldt: "There might be actual people down here. I was attacked a moment ago. Additionally, one of my familiars was shot down just recently. The others haven't come back either."
Psion@gijoespouse2: "I sense our dreamer -everywhere-. Which is understandable, as this is his dream. But I can feel his presence...there..." She gestures to the direction Artifist had just left from.
Aura@Pallas001: "I think we met one. Lovely set of manners on him," Aura stated. "Could you lead us to where you think there migt be others?"
Psion@gijoespouse2: "Or rather, what I think may be his core consciousness."
Psion@gijoespouse2: ((correction. direction artifist was heading in
Artifist@Jarnefeldt: "I was just on my way to it right now. At least, that's what I'
Artifist@Jarnefeldt: I'm assuming my familiars found. Let's go." Artifist continues on in the direction she was heading in.
Psion@gijoespouse2: Psion follows after Artifist!
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: The psychics would see more skeletons lying throughout the mall, just like those at ASI. Some had been blown to pieces, and -recently-. But they don't feel like the presence Psion describes. They are>
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: part of the dream, just as the walls and the floors are. As the team follows Artifist after her attacker, they pass more broken down storefronts, until approaching the entrance of the mall. It leads >
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: outdoors.
Psion@gijoespouse2: Psion takes in the skeletons strewn about the area, but doesn't stop. She continues on the path her team was heading. "Aura, you're the shrink. Suggestions on how we de-escalate this so we -don't- -c-
Psion@gijoespouse2: irreparably damage this man's psyche?"
Aura@Pallas001: "We have yet to take in the larger picture. And to be fair, I don't think we've mussed around too much. Yet."
Aura@Pallas001: "If he's been programmed, its a matter of deprogramming."
Aura@Pallas001: "Any way you look at it, not an easy cure,"
Artifist@Jarnefeldt: Artifist finally spoke up as she looked at the door. "You know, this dream could be connected to the manufactured one. Heck, this could even be the entrance to it. I was looking out a window and it's
Artifist@Jarnefeldt: not Millennium City out there."
Artifist@Jarnefeldt: "As for causing damage to his psyche, I think we might be in the clear so long as we don't do any lasting harm to his astral self here."
Artifist@Jarnefeldt: Fist then moved to push open the door.
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: Millennium City or not, their target is getting away. Now that Psion and Aura have locked on to him, they can sense him moving further away from them. Fear and anger both color this man. But really, >
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: how can a man escape his own dream? As Artifist opens the door, she'd be greeted by a gray-sky city, and that decaying cityscape she saw earlier. She was right. Though a few of the tall buildings in >
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: this place bore some resemblance to Millennium City's own skyline, there were many, many others. American made cars lined the street, but didn't move. They, like everything else, looked the worse for>
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: wear. The street seemed to go on forever in either direction, and so did the cars. A look up and they would see that, somehow, the mall, the hospital floor Artifist had began on, and the mock up of >
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: ASI were all in -one- building. What else might be contained in these other, innumrable, shabby structures? If the psychics honed in on Hazelwood, their awareness would be guided towards the entrance>
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: to a subway system across the street.
Aura@Pallas001: "Dreams are context," Aura reminds Psion. "He's avoiding an issue -- or person. But whomever he's running away from is just as important to the meaning."
Aura@Pallas001: Aura flies off after him.
Aura@Pallas001: (sorry, the subway)
Artifist@Jarnefeldt: Artifist falls in behind Aura.
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: ((Np!))
Psion@gijoespouse2: Psion pursued Hazelwood as well... but as she did, she attempted to connect with the man's mind.
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: ((Who's on foot, and who's flying?))
Psion@gijoespouse2: ((Psion's on foot!))
Aura@Pallas001: (flying)
Artifist@Jarnefeldt: (Also flying.)
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: ((Gotcha thanks! Posting!))
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: As the dream team makes its way across the street, Aura and Artifist in the air, and Psion on foot, they would spy their target peeking out of the stairwell that led down into the subway station. He >
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: was as big as he looked in the real world. But his dark skin was obscured in urban brown and orange camouflage. He didn't point a weapon at them - but rather a remote of some kind. But before he >
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: could press its primary control - he hesitated. The visage of Simone Hazelwood appeared next to Aura and Artifist, flying as they did, before landing in front of Bill, who relented from his attack>
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: and stared from beneath combat goggles.
Psion@gijoespouse2: Psion skipped stairs as she made her way down, but understandably, she was the last to arrive.
Artifist@Jarnefeldt: When Simone arrives, Fist drops down onto the ground. She takes a moment to study Simone, extending her mystical senses to discern if she's an astral projection or something else.
Aura@Pallas001: "We want to help you," Aura said, her form gliding downward.
Psion@gijoespouse2: Psion speaks low enough that only her teammates can hear. "I sent the mental image of his wife at his bedside, as we saw her earlier. I was hoping it would make him stop. I didn't expect... this."
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: The subway was even darker and worse for wear than the city and buildings above. The platform had several skeletons, lying in death poses, waiting for a train that never came. The team could hear the>
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: hollow echo of the tunnel beyond, but nothing else. Bill hugged the corner of the stairwell, his assault rifle aimed right at Artifist, though it didn't take a telepath to tell he was -looking- at >
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: the image of Simone. "I don't need help. Simone, what are you..." Then the man shook his head, and they could see him glare from beneath his tactical goggles, right at Psion. "Get out of my head. All>
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: of you."
Aura@Pallas001: "We are here to help you make sense of... well, all of this. You are asleep. Its time that maybe you wanted to wake up."
Psion@gijoespouse2: "Your wife is with you. She is worried about you. YOur -children- are worried about you."
Artifist@Jarnefeldt: Artifist placed her hands in her pockets. "Agreed. Your wife's worried about you and you could probably provide answers as to what's going on out in the real world."
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: 's hands were dead steady on his weapon. "I -know- they're out - did you say -with- me?" The man said, and his eyes looked again to the visage of Simone. He shook his head, and the image of her faded>
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: from view. It was his dream after all. A fact he seemed to realize.
Aura@Pallas001: "If you want to help her... if you want to help the countrymen you served alongside who are being made to do irrational things... we need you."
Psion@gijoespouse2: "Yes. In Millennium City. In Mercy General."
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: shifted behind his cover, and flexed his hands on his weapons. The telepaths could feel uncertainty brimming in him. Trepidation. The lights in the stairwell flickered. "Of her own free will?"

Psion@gijoespouse2: "Yes. She loves you. She wants her husband back..."
Psion@gijoespouse2: "YOur children want their father back..."
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: "Stop it with the sappy stuff. I know who my family is. I -know- they love me." He looks at Aura down the sights of his weapon. "What do you know about 'irrational'? I'm right where I need to be." >
Aura@Pallas001: "Under whose orders?" Aura asks, her voice calm.
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: Despite the apprehensiveness, the hestiation the telepaths would sense, his words ring true. He believes them, heart and soul.
Artifist@Jarnefeldt: "You need to be here?"
Artifist@Jarnefeldt: "In this dreamworld?"
Artifist@Jarnefeldt: "Why?"
Artifist@Jarnefeldt: "What about this dreamworld specifically?"
Psion@gijoespouse2: Psion opts to let Aura go on the track she's started.
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: "I'm not at liberty to discuss, ma'am." He regards Dusk and Jackie both. Just then one of the skeletons looks up from the dusty platform, at the team. It's jaw moves, and that same hoarse voice comes>
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: out, and the hint of a man's voice can now be identified. It sounds like Hazelwood. "I will never surrender of my own free will."
Aura@Pallas001: "Whose will are you following?" Aura asks.
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: "I'm not answering that." He reaffirms. "I don't turn on my own. I have my orders." He turns his weapon back to Artifist. "If you're going to take me down, you better do it. Otherwise, you may as >
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: well leave."
Psion@gijoespouse2: "Mr Hazelwood... what is more important? Following orders? Or protecting your loved ones? Because you -cannot- protect them in this place..."
Psion@gijoespouse2: "You -cannot- protect them while in a coma, in a hospital..."
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: Another skeleton, draped over one of the benches on the platform, chimes in, "I will never forget that I am an American, fighting for freedom, responsible for my actions, and dedicated to the >
Aura@Pallas001: "I need you to think back..." Aura states."What happened when you were in prison?"
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: principles which made my country free." Bill doesn't seem to mind, or even noticed the skeletons. "You don't get it lady - I'm not some lost soul." He practically barks at her over the muzzle of his >
Aura@Pallas001: "Your mission started when you left prison. We want to understand. What was your mission?"
Artifist@Jarnefeldt: Artifist sighs and pinches the bridge of her nose when Bill points the weapon her way. "Yes, let's point the gun at the sorceress that is physically here."
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: weapon. He then glares at Psion. "You're wrong. This is -exactly- where i can protect them most."
Psion@gijoespouse2: PSion glares -right- back... but whatever rebuttal she had, she keeps to herself for the moment, giving him a ch ance to speak to Aura.
Artifist@Jarnefeldt: "What are you protecting them from? Some sort of monster growing in the dreamzone that theatens humanity?"
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: looks at Aura, then Artifist. "If you can't see it, there's nothing I can say to explain it. That's why he handpicks us." He shakes his head, suddenly, in anger. The telepaths can tell, if it isn't >
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: obvious: he's angry at himself for having talked this long. "That's enough. You get one more warning. You can push your luck again, or you can leave me be, and tell my family..." He pauses, then >
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: continues, "...that I'll be back soon. Understand?" Despite the conflict going on under the surface, this man aims to back up his words with his weapon.
Artifist@Jarnefeldt: Artifist studies Bill for a few moments.
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: Will the Protectors leave him to his mission? Or attempt to subdue him?
Aura@Pallas001: "We've travelled a long way to help you. Your wife. Your children. Your fellow soldiers who you fought alongside in the armed forces. This isn't just about you... its something much, much larger. >
Aura@Pallas001: "No matter what happened when you left the armed forces, I know you would NEVER leave your brothers in arms in harms way."
Aura@Pallas001: "That's not what a soldier does. No one gets left behind. We NEED you."
Aura@Pallas001: Aura stands there, her arms down.
Psion@gijoespouse2: Psion simply remains in place, watching Bill. She doesn't say a word, not wanting to ruin whatever good aura's words might have done...
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: "You haven't the slightest what a soldier is about, cape." He then does exactly what he says he would - and opens fire on them, starting with Artifist! ((TURNS and CLARIFICATION INCOMING!))
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: ((Combat in the dream is going to be very close to real world combat. Bullets will hurt, and being killed, will, at best, wake the person up, though they may suffer other consequences.))
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: ((Being psychics and mystics, the team is really only limited by their imagination, but will find using their own powers will be the easiest and most effective, still. However, it IS Bill's dream, >
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: and thus he has an innate advantage. TURNS: Artifist, Psion, Aura, Bill, GM!))

Artifist@Jarnefeldt: Artifist snaps a hand up. A golden shield snaps up before the woman to stop his incoming fire. She puts a bit more effort into it than she would for a normal firearm, given their location. "Look,
Artifist@Jarnefeldt: this isn't really the time to get into the debate about soldiers versus superheroes. We're just trying to bring an end to the ongoing case and we could use your help. It's out of respect that we
Artifist@Jarnefeldt: haven't used force, but this is pushing it!"
Psion@gijoespouse2: Psion uses a push of telekinesis to launch herself upward, vaulting the distance between herself and Bill. It carried her over the line of fire, and with a twist of her body, she landed behind him.-c-
Aura@Pallas001: Aura also erects a shield.... but not around herself, but the man to contain him. A magenta bubble appears from nowhere.
Psion@gijoespouse2: ((woop no -c-
Aura@Pallas001: (whoops my bad. sorry getting a little tired and eyes arent reading lol)
Psion@gijoespouse2: ((naw, it works!
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: The last few bullets of Bill's short burst pinged agaisnt the inside of Aura's bubble, flattening and falling to the floor. Bill growls, and swiftly removes his combat knife, and stabs into the >
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: telekinetic field. Aided by his dream, which set the ground rules of this engagement, the blade penetrates and begins to slice through the force field! He throws himself against the magenta field and>
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: breaks himself free!
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: ((Artifist, Aura, Psion if she gets back, GM!))
Artifist@Jarnefeldt: "Damn it, he's going to be difficult! Aura, Psion. We're going to have to get a bit rough. If we weaken him here, I can shunt his astral form back to his body. It's his own damn stubborness keeping
Artifist@Jarnefeldt: him here!" She yells out as she raises a hand. Behind her, several rifts of golden energy open up. Golden chains spew forth and fly towards the opening in Aura's shield. They'd attempt to wrap
Artifist@Jarnefeldt: around Bill and try to confine his movements.
Aura@Pallas001: "One tiny flaw: him being back on our plane doesn't change his perception of truth necessarily," Aura interjects. She moves out of the way, instead attempting to scan his mind.
Psion@gijoespouse2: "We -cannot- strong arm him!" Psion says, further backing Aura's point. "He percieves this place to be true. -Harming- him here oculd cause lasting harm."  While Aura scans, Psion simply attempts to-c
Psion@gijoespouse2: remove the knife from his hands with telepathy, trying to rip it from his grip and bury it into the ground.
Psion@gijoespouse2: ((*in the physical world, derp. words are hard))
Psion@gijoespouse2: (...*telekinesis not telepathy.  >_<  jfc, sorry. it's late, brain is melty
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: Bill's arm is yanked along with the knife, as Artifist's chains wrap around him. He grips the knife as long as he can, before losing it to Psion's force of mind. He struggles in vain against the >
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: golden chains. They're holding - for now.
Aura@Pallas001: Aura continues to focus on him. "What is the mission exactly?"
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: ((Turns: Aura, Artifist, Psion))
Aura@Pallas001: (did my turn)
Artifist@Jarnefeldt: "Trust me, we can send him back safely. Metaphysically speaking, that's his astral body." Artifists chains move to tighten their coil on Bill. "But so long as we do this here, we could run into more
Artifist@Jarnefeldt: trouble. His dream might be linked to others and we could find ourselves fighting at a disadvantage."
Psion@gijoespouse2: "-No!-" Psion practically shouts. "I -will not- risk this man's psyche, nor will I allow -you- to do so."  She glares at Artifist for a moment, before she focuses on Bill. She throws in her will with-
Aura@Pallas001: "You aren't understanding a very key component. I'm not WORRIED about his body. I'm worries about his MIND," Aura says as the battle continues. "Him being shoved out of here  doesn't FIX the problem."
Psion@gijoespouse2: Aura's, to back the other psychic's work.
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: Bill grits his teeth and feels the painful hold of Artifist's chains. He is held tight, for now. What the Protectors do, they'll need to decide, and soon. They can't hold him like this forever.
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: ((End turns.))
Artifist@Jarnefeldt: "If we combine his astral form with his body, we can then keep him locked off from the Dreamzone and get to the bottom of this with him. Trust me when I say his psyche will be fine. You can't get to a
Artifist@Jarnefeldt: person's mind through the Dreamzone. We leave him connected here, the mastermind behind this can possibly keep a grip on him."
Psion@gijoespouse2: Psion looks to be on the verge of arguing the point. She casts a glance Aura's way.
Aura@Pallas001: "He believes in his mission. I want to know whose mission it is before we make that decision. Psion, can you help me?"
Aura@Pallas001: "I think its easier if you try it... and I can help you."
Psion@gijoespouse2: Psion nods. She fixes her gaze on Bill, before speaking. As she does, she uses her psionic abilities to help push her will. If at any point it felt like this would do irreperable harm, she'd back off-
Psion@gijoespouse2: "Who gave you your mission?" she demands.
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: ((GM Post incoming! We're almost there guys, thanks for hanging in there.))
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: Bill thrashes within his golden chains, resisting her question with all his might. With Aura's help, however, it becomes more and more difficult. Deeper and deeper the two telepath's reach goes, and >
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: harder still is the man's resistance. His will is either astounding - or he has trained for this exact scenario. "Nnnnoooo!" He screams, glaring at Psion through his goggles. "I surrender!>
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: I surrender!" He cries out, before the subway platform begins to shudder. The whole world shudders, and blurs. The last thing the team sees are Artifist's golden chains...before they all return to >
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: the waking world. Artifist herself is cast out of the dream, forced to find herself back to her phsyical form in Mercy's ICU with the others, which shouldn't take long, given that she knows where it >
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: is.
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: As the group opens its eyes, Bill Hazelwood does the same. Tears stream down his cheek. He stares ahead, and the Captain sees it first, scowling with interest. Simone sits near her husband, her head >
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: in her hands.
Artifist@Jarnefeldt: Artifist reappears in a flash of golden energy back in the ICU after she's ejected from the Bill's dream. She dusts off her jacket before she looks around.
Psion@gijoespouse2: Psion jolts as she's thrust back into the waking world. She stares about her wildly at first, before fixing her gaze on Hazelwood. While her expression is impassive, Aura would probably pick up on-c-
Psion@gijoespouse2: what the others couldn't: heavy feelings of shame and regret.
Aura@Pallas001: Aura blinks and momentarily puts her head in her hands, gathering her bearings.
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: Bill took a deep breath, which prompted Simone to suddenly look her husband's way. "Bill...?" Bill swallowed, and nodded. "It's me, sweet thing..." His eyes remained closed. Shame radiated from him >
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: as well, before he opened his eyes to look at his wife for the first time in almost a year. Simone looked like she wanted to scold him - to let him have it for everything he had put his family >
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: through. But she didn't have it in her. She lunged at the man, and embraced him. Bill weakly returned the embrace. "I'm back..." He said faintly. "Thanks to them." He said, and it didn't take a >
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: psychic to tell he wasn't entirely happy about it. About failing his mysterious mission. But - he couldn't deny it was good to be awake again, in Simone's arms. Captain Adamant inspected each of the >
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: dream team with a curious expression, before glaring at Bill Hazelwood. Suspiscion wafted off of the Captain, but he kept it penned in, and clanked out of the ICU. "Protectors, let's give them >
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: privacy."
Aura@Pallas001: Worry etches Aura's face by the sudden influx of strong emotions. "Captain? We probably should all have a bit of a chat at your headquarters. There's a lot to cover, I think."
Psion@gijoespouse2: Psion looked to the reunited couple for a moment, before looking away. "... agreed."  She heads for the door, stepping out so the Hazelwoods could ahve their reuinion.
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: ((Jaren gets one more post then I'll wrap this up!))
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: ((Jarne*))
Artifist@Jarnefeldt: Artifist looked to the loving couple for a moment. "I suppose. Though if you can find some way to inhibit dreaming, I'd do that before you let sleeping beauty take a nap."
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: The Protectors exit the ICU, and while Dusk's words don't seem to affect or even register with the overwhelmed Simone, a similarly emotional, but reserved Bill Hazelwood glares up at Artifist as they>
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: leave. The family is reunited! And the ties between the ASI incident and Dreamwitch's leads grow stronger. But what will come of the now awakened Bill Hazelwood, and what does his fate say for the >
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: other three attackers, who are still comatose? Are they held up in their own dreams, on a mission, like him? What about Thomas Cates, the seemingly innocent bystander from the ASI incident who >
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: also lies comatose only a few rooms away? The Protectors can at least take stock that they forced Bill to end his seclusion without lasting harm - at least to his psyche. His pride, and his sense of >
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: duty, to his country and his mystery commander? That may prove irreperable. Only time, and further questioning him, will tell.
Captain Adamant@calamitycain: THE END