Dream Station TDM

[dreamstationmods]

You dozed off. Or passed out. Or perhaps you were experiencing a more... permanent 'sleep'. Whatever the case, your eyes were shut and now they're not as you awaken sitting on a train. Around you, others in similar situations. At your feet sits luggage. It has a name tag on it with your name. Inside are some of your clothes and small personal belongings.

Out the window you see that the train is rolling into a sration. Cherry blossoms line the track leading up to it. A beautiful, scenic town lay beyond those gates.

Welcome to Dream Station.



Home Sweet Home:

As the train rumbles into the station and stops you step out onto a platform. A perfectly normal looking station, all things considered. There are people waiting. Guides here to help the latest batch of residents. People who live in this world. Either due to being born here or having been brought here sometime before and agreeing to help newcomers.

The guides explain to you the situation you are in. You otherworlders are common here in the city of Dream. Your guide reassures you that it's fine. They have accommodation for newcomers. And you are brought to the Sleep Tight Apartments. While outside it looks a little small, it's actually quite expansive inside. Must be magic of some kind.

Your apartment will be a one bedroom with a kitchen, living area and bathroom. But don't worry. There will be ways to expand later.

For now you are given a cellphone with an app installed on it for the local social media, Sleepr. As well as a Nightmare Tracker that will alert you when Nightmares crop up. And finally a little banking app where you will find you already have an account that has a decent amount of money for you to spend for the month. Don't worry about rent or bills. That's all covered in return for you helping with those Nightmares.

If you refuse to help... well. Best find your own accommodation and a job, friend. They can't help anyone unwilling to help in return.

There's a lot of new faces so maybe you should get to know your neighbors or get a walk around your new neighborhood.


This Is A Beach Episode:

The Dream Beach is open for business! Come lay out a towel and get some sun. Or go splash in the waves! Seashells are a plenty and there are designated fishing spots. Just don't swim too far out.

Hungry? Thirsty? The boardwalk has plenty of delicious options from icecream to fries to ice cold lemonade.

For those seeking something fun to do, there are paddle and pedal boats available for rent. And some diving to see the beautiful coral reefs. As well as a boat that will take you on a little trip out to an island resort!


The Resort:

I mean, you're basically all on vacation from your regular lives already in the wonderful world of Dream! That said, who doesn't love to spend a little time with their feet up in a nice resort?

Come out and stay in an ocean front room with complimentary continental breakfast and free room service. There are lots of little souvenir shops to check out, run by some bipedal frogs? They don't accept money here. But they'll glady trade their wares for any seashells collected on the beach. Lots of fun tropical themed goodies and swim gear galore!

For the adventurous sort, there is plenty to explore including a forest with hiking trails and a supposedly haunted cave. Legend says some tourists got lost in there and never came back out. They were looking for a treasure apparently. But... maybe don't follow their example and get lost in there?


The Nightmare Fuel:

So remember you were told about Nightmares? Seems they're cropping up throughout the city. Some are taking the form of shadowy crabs about four feet tall that are stealing from people and carrying them off in their little crabby claws. Give them a beat down or just trick them into dropping their stolen goods.

Others look like reverse mermaids. Fishy heads atop human legs. These ones are causing problems for the local restaurants and shops by slipping on in and stinking up the place. You can fight them if you want, but they'll be just as easily dispersed by herding them to the beach where they will return to the waters. They don't seem very threatening, just confused.

However while those two aren't very dangerous, there are some very aggressive bipedal seacreatures with the heads of crocodiles and some very sharp claws that have taken to lurking around the island out in the woods. These ones won't leave peacefully. You'll have to fight them or run away from them. Watch out they don't catch you. Those teeth and claws aren't just for show!

Comments

[iamnotgod]

There were a handful of people going in or out of the apartments while Cal looked, but they looked overall content to let the newcomers adjust (apart from waving hello, which Webmind returned happily) at their own pace.

To BD, Webmind switched briefly to binary transmission himself, sending BD reassurance and commiseration both.

I am not from a world where things considered 'supernatural' are often real; this, at least, does not seem inclined to bring us any harm.

Which counted for quite a lot, as far as he was concerned.

[jedi_scrapper]

Cal smiled and waved when he was aware of people but once he started letting echoes draw him, they pulled his attention.

BD's whistled reply was almost defensive. He was confused, not scared, thank you. Not that much scared him. He had a bad habit of rushing in because something looked interesting without considering whether or not it might also be dangerous.

Cal came back when he could pull himself away from echoes, deciding he had as much real information as he was going to get here. By this point he was visibly drained. "It all seems just. Normal." He raked his fingers through his hair and then knelt down besides BD to give him a pat and allow him to climb back up. "Some stress over those Nightmares seems to be the worst of it."

[iamnotgod]

Webmind sent an earnest apology, suitably chagrined. Truly, size was uncorrelated with demeanor!

"I would say it's surprising, but this city does appear quite well-established."

So it could have a 'normal', in other words.

"Any indication of what these Nightmares can look like?"

From his research on the Network, the Nightmare District was not close to the Sleep Tight apartments.

[jedi_scrapper]

BD gave a much softer trill in reply to Webmind. Apology accepted and not even needed.

Cal shook his head, standing again. "No, sorry. I didn't see the Nightmares themselves, just someone's stress after handling some."

[iamnotgod]

Webmind nodded, considering the options ahead of them now.

"Should we try to ascertain their danger levels first? Or continue with setting up our own rooms here?"

That is, divert from or continue their original plan.

[jedi_scrapper]

"Since we're already here, may as well get our rooms set up. That way if we have to recover or if I have to fix anything afterwards there will already be a space setup."

[iamnotgod]

"Shall we try to get rooms next to each other, or is that a particular priority for you?"

While Webmind would like having people he knew as neighbors, he could also take the long view and see that the people here wouldn't be strangers to him for long.

[jedi_scrapper]

Cal didn't even get a chance to reply, BD beat him to it. You didn't need to speak binary to understand half this little droid's beeps. And this one? Very clearly meant yes, nearby was required.

Cal chuckled. "I guess BD has decided."

Mini-timeskip through them checking in/ascertaining toiletries?

[iamnotgod]

Webmind laughed as well; not a tinny sound, but a carefully-smoothed, natural-enough sounding deep chuckle of his own.

"Then let us go see what needs to be done to make it happen."

[jedi_scrapper]

It didn't take long to check in and head up to the designated room. Cal paused in the doorway, staring at the space for a long moment. That all of this was his kind of... overwhelmed him. He'd never had a bunk space nearly this large before.

He set his bags down in a corner to deal with later and wandered from the living area into the bedroom. There was plenty of space for a proper workbench in here, even! Look. He'd been sleeping on a bunk in the Mantis engine room the past couple years. (Just ignore that there were free rooms, it may have been habit as much as anything else, honestly.)

He didn't linger, overlong, since their new friend was probably waiting for them. "C'mon BD."

The small droid came back with a whistle, climbing up his back, even as Cal walked. He had to remind himself to close the door behind him, not used to that either. He glanced along the hallway to see if Webmind was still there, if he didn't spot him he'd go back outside to wait, taking a seat under one of the trees.

[iamnotgod]

For Webmind, the experience was familiarly unfamiliar - after four months being mostly on a train, having a place that was his, and one so large...

It was like being introduced to the non-digital world all over again.

Finding a reasonable spot for all his luggage took comparatively little time at all; he'd meet up with his new companions on the way out.

"Time to see what more there is to Dream, then?"

It had already been a long day, true - longer for Webmind than Cal, though perhaps not BD - but there was still so much out there to explore!

[jedi_scrapper]

"Yeah. If you're up for it, I'd like to check out the Nightmare District first. Hard to get a feel without seeing the worst of it." And seeing ways he could help might lessen the blow of being stuck where he couldn't help back home.

BD gave an enthusiastic trill. "Yeah, I know you're up to it, BD, but not everyone runs on curiosity and recklessness."

A far too innocent questioning beep followed that statement.

Shall they run into some crabs on the way? Or one of the other critters from their prompt?

[iamnotgod]

"I've got no qualms with such a plan," he said - though that didn't mean he didn't have questions anyway.

"I can't say I run on curiosity, not that I'm sure those I've known would agree..."

I'm game

[jedi_scrapper]

Cal laughed. "Good. One's enough. I'm not sure if every BD unit is adventurous as BD-1, but if they're even half that level then they live up to their role as exploration droids."

He paused and slowed his pace as they approached an area with a certain type of busyness. It wasn't hustle and bustle alone. Something was wrong, though not deadly wrong, and they would need to get closer to see just what.

Woo! \o/

[iamnotgod]

Webmind, for his part, did his best to look unassuming.

When you were very, very good at looking, sometimes that power was best aided by not drawing attention to it.

... Not that such would be too relevant immediately, because a four-foot-tall crab creature running across their path, with several others following, all holding what looked to be torn pieces of jewelry, definitely made it clear something was wrong.

The angry yelling, indistinct for the moment but growing increasingly less so, was also a clue.

"Looks like we didn't have to wait long. Recommendations?"

He had grown used to this frame, but it hadn't been built for exceeding agility.

[jedi_scrapper]

"Well I can restrain them with the Force if you want to try and get whatever they drop, I don't want to try and break something worse by Pulling it away from their claws."

Or BD could rush in and zap the nearest one in the claw with his little torch, shocking the creature into dropping the jewelry. That was also a thing that could happen Cal Pulled that into his hands instantly.

"BD! If they grab you, I'm not saving you!" The little droid wasn't listening and he sighed, but Pushed one away from BD right before it grabbed him.

"He doesn't make planning easy," Cal half grumbled, half laughed. None of them seemed to actually be attacking anyone, so he didn't pull his saber. All bets were off if that changed though.

[iamnotgod]

Well, that would work; while not as maneuverable as BD, Webmind reasoned he could work as a distraction.

Having a maintenance kit in his luggage may have improved his odds, though.

Nodding at Cal, he starting running - aiming to go around where the crabs had been coming from and come at them from the other side.

This also meant that any dropped jewels, he could just pick up.

[jedi_scrapper]

Cal took a breath, taking note of the Force around him, around his new friend and BD, and around the crabs. He clasped both hands together and released, slowing the world around him, focusing hard and allowing the the effect to flow around Webmind and BD rather than sweeping over them.

"Hurry, I can't keep them long!"

BD zapped another crab and Cal Pulled in the item, but kept most of his focus on keeping the crabs slowed. The one BD had zapped already showed signs of breaking loose from the stasis. Once they started breaking free it would be chaos again. Which would be. Soon.

[iamnotgod]

It took Webmind in turn several moments to realize just what Cal had done... but, he had to approve, because time and speed were of the essence!

"I hear you!"

As Cal and BD worked together, Webmind worked his way from behind, swiping the stolen goods back from the crabs. Coming in from a direction in which they already weren't looking, Cal would have fewer items to worry about Pulling.

The angry yelling from not-so-far-away died down, as the offended (burglarized) onlooker approached the scene with increasing bafflement.

[jedi_scrapper]

When Cal's hold fell, it fell with a snap that he felt more than heard. There were still a couple crabs left with belongings, but BD and Webmind should be okay managing those. He just planned to make sure the crabs continued scurrying off without grabbing anything else (including, but not limited to BD).

He did put himself into the path of the few who still had things. He might not be able to use the Force for something like that again just now, but he could still slow them down!

[iamnotgod]

Webmind was not used to making himself a trip hazard, but he rather suspected he weighed more than these four-foot-tall nightmares did, which was enough to work with for the moment.

One crab in particular, trying to grab for the much smaller droid as a consolation prize, got two robotic hands to the carapace and a firm "No.", before the haggard-looking victim from earlier finally caught up to them and seized the last of their belongings back themselves.

The person looked remarkably like an badger, if somewhat larger than those found on Earth. But the ferocity with which they dealt with the crab - now that the Nightmares no longer had the advantage of surprise - was all badger, or as much as Webmind was familiar with the species overall.

"We may need a place to detain these creatures," Webmind concluded, before the badger (who hadn't offered their name as of yet) could jump to the rest of the dazed and surprised Nightmares in turn.

"Assuming they do not simply disappear once they have been thwarted."

He did recall such a thing happening with monster crabs, on a certain voidtrecker mission - his first true mission as part of that team, in fact.

[jedi_scrapper]

Cal returned the belongings he had gotten to the person who'd caught up with them before focusing back on the crabs. "I don't know how we can practically capture all of them. Perhaps we could just follow and make sure they don't steal anything else until it seems like we might be where they came from?" Cal wasn't actually sure what the right idea would be here, and wasn't committed to that idea if Webmind had any plans to detain the creatures.

BD returned to Cal now that the crabs no longer had anything to zap away. He gave a cheerful beep to Webmind that was a mix of a 'thank you' and an 'I had it.'

[iamnotgod]

The Nightmares seemed somewhat surly, but they appeared to know they'd been outfought, and not keen to try their luck again so quickly.

"That does have the side benefit of showing us what other kinds of Nightmares we can expect, if they happen to congregate in the same space instead of choosing to self-segregate by type."

To BD, at almost the same time, he transmitted: It is better not to have to launch a rescue mission; we are not in THAT much of a hurry for data.

It was strategically better to stick together for the time being.

[jedi_scrapper]

Cal nodded. "And if they stick to themselves we can at least see where to expect these to come from. So either way they work, following seems useful." He just kept an eye on them, not interfering unless one or two decided to split off from the group.

BD's reply was nothing more than a rude sound, more joking than actually offended or intending offense. And Cal could only shake his head while following the crabs, the smell of the ocean increasing as they approached, but also the smell of various foods, which made Cal's stomach growl. Yeah... he might have to take a break once the crabs were handled to try some of these.

Once they entered the boardwalk, Cal went to high alert. There was a lot more happening here which meant more temptation for the crabs. He gave a quick Tug on one's claw when it seemed to be reaching into a vendor's booth. The crab snapped the claw his direction in irritation, but fell back in line. Which was, well, something.

[iamnotgod]

Now that they were retreating from the Nightmare District, they ended up drawing more than a few glances from bystanders.

Webmind did his best to walk behind them, parrying any twitchy claws when crabs tried to reach sideways.

"We are almost there," he noted redundantly, which seemed to make the crabs move faster. At least they wanted this to be over?