DreamWorld
Kami and Blayde watch as Valencia stands near the speeder as the two look about the area for any signs as Kami checks her phone.
Kami: It's within this area. But I'm not getting anything...you?
Blayde: Nothing so far. What are we planning to do for her?
Blayde nods at Valencia as Kami shrugs.
Kami: I'm working on that.
Blayde: You can't be serious…
Kami: Yes, wow surprise I lied to the devil, we don't have time to be playing babysitter.
Blayde: Or we can help her.
Kami: What will that do?
Blayde: Perhaps show us what we're here for. Lucifer isn't stupid. He might've known you were lying.
Kami: Sigh...dammit your right.
Kami nods as he looks at the area.
Kami: Son of a bitch...he did.
Blayde: Thought you would remember.
Kami: This was where…
Kami closes her eyes.
Kami: Valencia…
Valencia: Yes?
Kami: Come here.
Valencia hurries over as Blayde stands off to the side as Kami faces her.
Kami: This...is an area within the dream share called the Rim. It's a pocket of blank space where time itself isn't considered part of the fabric of the dream. Only the strongest of wills and minds can stand to be in this void.
Valencia: What void? All I see is sand and…
Kami: It is the recess of all collective consciousness. The shore…
She points as Valencia can see the waves cresting softly against the shoreline.
Kami: Holds the collective knowledge and thoughts of anyone whose ever entered the A.N.N.
Valencia: Oh…
Kami: Here we will be able to train you. It could be years. Months even. Time will allow us all it can afford to get you where you wish to be. But it will be hard. It will hurt.
Valencia: I am ready.
Kami: Let us hope so. Blayde, honey. Will you create us lodging. We will need it.
Blayde: On it.
Kami: Now…
Kami materializes her sword as Valencia looks at her a bit taken aback.
Kami: Let's show you how to do that yourself.
Valencia nods as she looks determined as Kami thinks to herself
Kami: (thinking) Please..let this be the right thing to do.
Elsewhere
Lucifer and Michael look at one another as Michael takes a drink.
Michael: You sent them to the Rim did you not, disguised as something else to mask your intention of deceit?
Lucifer: I would've given her the coordinates of I knew she wasn't lying. Kt was the only way to ensure she would see to the Echos training.
Michael: Why so hung up on that Echoes training?
Lucifer: I like her. She's sweet and kind.
Michael: Ahh. The perversion of one's innocence. Pushing her to her darker side.
Lucifer: One she'll need to overcome the perils ahead.
Michael: Maybe, maybe not.
Lucifer: It is entirely up to her. She chooses what will become of her now.
Michael: You have been here...residing in this space for decades now. And I can say I've never seen this version of you.
Lucifer: You act as if all I ever was was some evil deity. That may be how I've been represented through literature and holy teachings but I was the most loyal and beautiful angel once...the shield of God, you his sword.
Michael: What are you driving at, brother?
Lucifer: I was punished...cast out and betrayed for simply sticking to my devotion to father. Yet you claim I'm evil…
Michael: I claim nothing. Only that your misguided attempt to seize heaven from father was cataclysmic to us all.
Lucifer: I did not want war. I simply did what I had to to ensure my survival.
Michael: By turning brother and sister against one another…
Lucifer: I simply gave them the choice father wouldn't allow for us but would for them. How is that bad?
Michael: That was not our purpose.
Lucifer: Then you have your answer for why I feel such melancholy.
Michael: Ah. I understand.
Lucifer: I wish I believed you, brother. I really do.
Michael looks away as Lucifer takes a deep breath and finishes his glasses.
Reality
Vade sets the neural link down as he has it hooked up to his phone, Vade checking the computer before he adds a series of code chains.
Vade: Alright, should be able to get into the dream share the D.R.C had locked.
Charles: You're the man.
Vade: Your defense's still good?
Charles: I haven't lost my touch.
Vade: Inside to think the same thing till I had my ass handed to me earlier.
Charles: Ash?
Vade: If only.
Charles: Eesh. Mario, that had to sting.
Vade: He was the brightest student. It's no surprise.
Charles: Tobias. Ray. We're ready.
Tobias comes over as Charles puts the neural band on as Vade and Esmeray set their links up as Tobias nods at them.
Tobias: Let's do this.
Charles: We're going into the memory share. It's not like a normal dream share. We're seeing things from the past. We cannot change their outcomes nor can we interact. Observers is all we can be.
Esmeray: I'm ready.
Charles: I hope so.
Charles turns the A.N.N. on and closed his eyes as he is soon out, Vade and Esmeray taking seats as they are soon out as Tobias closes his eyes and rubs his thumb against his palm and takes in deep breaths as his breath shallows and he seems to frozen in time before he appears outside of A.N.N. hub, Esmeray looking about frantically as Vade and Charles stand off to the side.
DreamWorld-Memory
Vade: Tobias. Over here.
Tobias comes over to them as he seems confused.
Tobias: Valencia…?
Vade: Who?
Esmeray: His Echo. I haven't seen her.
Charles: How is Val? I meant to ask you earlier?
Esmeray: Not now. I'm sure she's fine. Perhaps she can't be in this memory?
Charles: It's possible. I'm not sure exactly about the nature in which Echo's fit. Try not to worry Tobias.
Tobias nods as Charles looks at Esmeray.
Charles: This...night. I know what comes of it. You will see what you will see and will forever be burdened by it. Are you sure this is what you want?
Esmeray: I have to know.
Charles: Alright.
Charles nods and grabs his phone as he presses play.
End of chapter