Reality
Winston throws his chair against a screen, shattering the screen into small pieces as he heaves angrily as he looks at the others who were standing about.
Winston: What the fuck did I just see!
Ian: We did…
Winston: I don't even...I don't want to hear from you right now. We have to be sure he cannot get the final source code. And I expect that we won't allow such missteps to happen again!?
Nobody says anything as Winston sneers.
Winston: Ian...Mario...stay. the rest of you leave my sight.
Courtney taps Ian on the shoulder and gives him a reassuring nod as the others head on as Winston waits for the rest to be gone as he looks at Ian and then Mario.
Winston: Want to explain to me why the fuck my two best men didn't even try!?
Ian eyes Mario who gulps and nods as he clears his voice and speaks up
Mario: The truth is sir. We couldn't have stopped him. The time for that would have been when he didn't have the four chain codes to the conclave. He toyed with us. He could have simply stopped us at any time and waltzed in and took it.
Winston: So why didn't he?
Ian: Wasn't that obvious?
Winston: Obviously not!
Ian: He was gauging the power of his zealots. Learning if they would die for him, how hard they would fight for him...what they could do when pressed to their limits. He got his answer and then decided to go and just...take it.
Winston: And you two didn't bother to even fight him! Not seriously anyways. Care to explain that?
Ian: Live to fight another day.
Mario: Sometimes the best course of action is that of inaction.
Winston: Do you have any idea…
Ian: Mr Chairman...listen to me. And listen well. You cannot fight that which you know nothing about. And you sir, have no fucking idea what Xander Halstead is about. He is beyond your understanding and your comprehension. You cannot stop what you don't know!
Winston: And you can!?
Ian: Yes.
Mario: I believe Ian can yes.
Winston: Then…
Ian: I alone cannot. The help we needed was not there.
Winston: So what now?
Mario: We make the alliance…
Winston: And then?
Ian: We silence them all.
Winston nods as he grins.
Winston: I suppose that's good enough. We must ensure that no matter what, Xander Halstead does not get the final source code...at any and all cost. Am I to be understood?
Mario: Yes sir.
Winston grins.
Winston: We haven't time to waste.
Winston stands as Mario and Ian exchange glances before following in behind him.
DreamWorld-Inferno Bar
Blayde and Esmeray sit across from one another at their own table as the others are seated a longer one, Blayde swirling his drink as Esmeray taps at her bottle.
Blayde:This must be...a bit of a shock.
Esmeray: It's just good to see you again.
Blayde: You know that I'm…
Esmeray: Not really my brother? Yes. My brother is dead. And you, you are merely an Echo of him.
Blayde: Don't think horribly of Kami...she didn't even know she had created me until she would go in and still find me.
Esmeray: Why would she hide you?
Blayde: Shame, perhaps? Or maybe she just wasn't sure exactly how you would react to such a thing.
Esmeray: What's it like...knowing you're not him but being him?
Blayde: I don't know. It's strange. I feel all of this warmth and affection towards you, all of these memories I'm sure were real, but there is also a disconnect. Something that tells me that it's not exactly my own feelings you know?
Esmeray: I think I do.
The two go quiet for a moment as they drink as Tobias watches them.
Tobias(to Kami) You never told her about him?
Kami: What was I supposed to say? Hey Ray, I know I can never bring your brother back but here's an Echo I created and thinks, looks and talks just like him.
Tobias: Maybe not that but yeah that would've been better then nothing.
Kami: Maybe, but I stand by it.
Charles: Kami, we're all here.
Kami: Not all of us. Valencia…?
Lucifer: With my brother.
Tobias: Your brother?
Lucifer: No doubt going for the Paragon.
Tobias: The Paragon?
Charles: A person of great virtue who is one with the dream share.
Tobias: So a dreamer? Like me and Kami..?
Kami: No. Not simply a dreamer. Someone who has given up their physical body to hold dominion in the dream share. A tether.
Tobias: That's possible?
Charles: We believe so. The Paragon and another were said to have lived in the DreamWorld for most of their young adult lives. One chose to leave and the Paragon stayed behind. A great schism had come between them and the Paragon gave word that should the dream share ever be threatened they would fight for the side that they believed held the true virtue. Whatever that means.
Alex: And we're so sure that our side is the virtuous one?
Hazel: Why wouldn't we be…?
Charles: We've all done things we're not proud of. Things that wouldn't be viewed as virtuous…
Hazel: Well...I haven't…
Vade: A pure heart is always needed, do not feel bad for being who you are.
Hazel blushes as she plays with her hands as Alex looks at Esmeray and Blayde as Lucifer sets more drinks down, Alex turning to Tobias as he nods at Ray.
Alex: That the girl that saved your life?
Tobias: What? Oh yeah, from your D.R.C hit squad, yeah that would be her.
Alex: Not my hit squad. I'm the one who gave Hazel the information to forward to Charles who gave it to Vade.
Tobias: Or you could've just called me. You asshole.
Alex: I'm sorry I didn't. I really am.
Tobias: Don't worry about it Crowd Daddy.
Alex: I really wish you didn't call me that.
Blayde and Esmeray return to the large table as Esmeray sits by Tobias as Blayde takes up his seat next to Kami. Kami looks about before she stands and clears her throat getting their attention.
Kami: We all know what's at stake. We all know what it will take to stop it from happening. But we are not ready not yet. Years ago, when myself, Charles and another you have yet to meet decided to form this group. We knew the pieces we needed. But we didn't know exactly who they would be or what purpose they would serve. I still don't know. But we're here. Together. And that means we've got the will and resolve to do what must be done. And what must be done...is we must pull forth your Awakened powers.
Esmeray: Our what?
Blayde: People who can tap into the a.n.n...or rather the very essence of the dream share themselves can harness incredible power.
Kami: Aside from being a Dreamer and Blayde being my Echo. Are endless training and pushing to our very limits have allowed myself to obtain a power that draws differently from this world.
Alex: Different how?
Blayde: It's not power drawn from the dream, a manifestation of what you create. It's a drawing from you and what lies within, allowing you to tap into an undercurrent of raw power brought forth from your very core into actual tangible strength and ability.
Hazel: That's amazing!
Vade: But how can we manage to obtain such a power in such a short amount of time?
Lucifer: Allow me.
Everyone looks at Lucifer who smirks.
Lucifer: On the table before you is a series of drinks, a potent batch of elixirs that will draw forth any latent abilities as long as your heart and mind are aligned and true. It forgoes the time restraints or time haltering properties of say the Rim, and allows instantaneous results. Though it tastes like shit and hurts like hell for a bit. It's your choice whether to take it or not.
Tobias: I thought you couldn't get involved?
Lucifer: I can move things along. I just can't actually involve myself.
Esmeray: Fuck it. Might as well.
Esmeray grabs the three drinks and looks at her brother who doesn't move.
Esmeray: Are you not going to take it?
Blayde: I am an Echo. I do not have the ability to…
Lucifer: Again...allow me to interject.
Blayde looks at Lucifer who smirks and touches Blayde with two sharp fingers to his forehead, Blayde's eyes lighting's up as he suddenly rears his head back and screeches as black and red light shoot from his orifices as Esmeray jumps up and screams. Tobias grabs Lucifer as Kami and Vade run over to Blayde who eventually stops and falls over in a heap onto the floor.
Tobias: What did you do!?
Lucifer: I have endowed him.
Esmeray: With what!?
Blayde groans as Kami looks relieved as Blayde opens his eyes and looks about as he is helped up by Vade as Everyone looks at him a little confused and scared as Blayde looks at his hands.
Blayde: What...what is this I am feeling…?
Lucifer: The Eternal Flame. I offer it to you.
Kami: You can do that?
Lucifer: Only too the one I seem worthy enough to harness the flames of hell.
Blayde appearing his Staff and then suddenly surrounds it with blue flames as everyone backs away as the heat is intense as everyone immediately begins to sweat.
Lucifer: You are an Echo. And therefore you are not of the human world. You think like one, you feel and love and believe yourself alive. But yet you truly are not. The spirit burns for recognition but it burns to avenge the life you were born from...and to protect the ones he still has left whom he wanted to make the world a better place. A selfish man who believed himself to be right in the actions he took. That is why you are worthy.
Blayde nods at him as the others exchange glances and go and sit back down as Kami goes to Blayde and feels his face as he rubs his cheek against her hand as she smiles and kisses him.
Kami: Don't scare me like that…
Blayde: Wasn't like I was trying too.
Esmeray looks away as Tobias touches her knee and she smiles at him as everyone grabs the first drink.
Vade: What the hell. Why not.
Charles: This is awesome!
Tobias: Bottoms up.
Everyday takes the first shot down easily as Kami and Blayde watch on. Hazel gags as she fans her tongue.
Hazel: Eck.
Alex: Just wait. Let's go, number two.
The group takes the second shot. Everyone of them gagging as they all seem to be a bit off balanced as Kami comes to Lucifer.
Kami: Are you sure about this?
Lucifer shrugs.
Lucifer: The concoction works. It's really up to them.
Kami nods as she watched the group take the final shot before they all suddenly collapse against the table.
Lucifer: And now the soul, mind and heart will merge...and the hopes of your rebellion will hinge on this.
Kami nods as she realizes the gravity of the moment.
End of chapter