dream_station | Dream Station TDM

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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

iamnotgod

One of the things Webmind had expected to as a follow-up was a remark about knowing other droids - but what Cal questions brings up an entirely different track.

"There were some cases, where people who had the same name, the same demeanor and, when they talked about them, the same histories - but in ways that were mutually exclusive, not indicative of being siblings. People also arrived from what they claimed as the same world, only for the worlds themselves not to show any disturbance caused by our collective disappearance from them."

From:

jedi_scrapper

"I have never heard of anything like that before." Cal said, still processing it, trying to believe it. He was a Jedi, one thing he needed to be was open minded. And yet... He had trouble with this one. But. He could accept the answer even without believing. He might not really be able to do that until he saw something similar with his own eyes, honestly.

BD made a series of beeps ending on a questioning note, shaking Cal out of his confusion to some degree. "He wants to know if SXT or any others were also droids."

From:

iamnotgod

"I can't imagine there being a large variety of situations in which it's a common feature," he replied.

Literally could not picture it, in his case. Some things were too large even for a former resident of the World Wide Web.

Webmind nodded in response to BD even before Cal could clarify, but allowed the jedi to speak first.

"Orisa and SXT-246 were both droids, yes, each from different worlds," he confirmed.

From:

jedi_scrapper

BD gave a happy set of beeping, and an inquiry as to what kinds of droids they were.

Cal meanwhile had gone quiet, thoughtful, still overwhelmed by the idea of other versions of people. Were they notably different from each other? How? How was it even possible.

Cloning wasn't multiple versions of someone. He'd known a lot of clones, and at least before they'd betrayed the Jedi, they'd each been very different from each other. After? He... really couldn't tell the difference from one Storm Trooper to the next. Had they been betrayed too? Betrayed from the moment they were made. That was a horrifying thought and one he didn't want to get into. And yet, here he was.

From:

iamnotgod

For the first time since getting off the train, Webmind demonstrates that his screen can show pictures: first of Orisa, then of SXT-246 (the best description is in the Appearance section; there are no 1-1 icons in her case, alas).

Cal, however, seemed lost in thought; Webmind let him parse whatever it was for the moment - if it was something important, interrupting could be not just rude, but unhelpful! His response to BD was slightly quieter as a result.

"This one is Orisa - I do not know if there were others exactly like her, but she knew her own creator so I presume she was not part of some impersonal mass creation. And SXT-246 was not factory-standard, either, judging by the feathers attached to her."

From:

jedi_scrapper

BD gave a happy whistle. Both were new to him and he was excited to see other unique droids. He'd been part of a very limited run, so there weren't a lot of BD units in the galaxy. He bounced from foot to foot, and his excitement brought Cal back to the moment.

He pushed back the hair that the wind had gotten in his face and smiled. "Huh, guess I don't need to translate BD for you, sorry if I do. It's gotten to be a habit."

From:

iamnotgod

"I must admit, I have grown well-used to the use of English as well, though binary and similar languages are still at the top of my repertoire," Webmind replied, offering BD another pat.

"Though on the Voidtrecker, the distinctions did not much matter; we were all given technology through which we could be understood, so long as we kept it on... and the Voidtrecker Express itself upheld the conventions for us."

He lifted up the 'wrist' upon which an odd watch-looking thing with a digital screen rested.

"Granted, this place most likely uses a different set of means to accomplish the same thing."

It seemed quite reasonable conjecture to him.

From:

jedi_scrapper

"Well, I have no idea what sort of language 'English' is and understand you just fine, so there must be something. I can kind of understand intent through the Force if I don't know a language, but it's not easy."

With a trill BD hopped down, using his small thrusters to slow his descent to the ground and once on ground he scampered forward, getting a scan of the building they were approaching.

From:

iamnotgod

"Now that I can imagine," Webmind said; it had been quite long ago since absorbing languages had been his utmost concern...

But that meant, by most other peoples' standards of time, months - rather than years.

Webmind upped his pace, just a little, to keep in line with BD, letting his screen flicker back to his normal expression. It was oddly difficult to tell, say, how many floors there were, but the entryway was perfectly discernible.

As was the sign nearby, which he read aloud: "Sleep Tight Apartments."

Given how this place had been so far, it was hard to read any level of ominousness into the name.

"Cal, do there look to be any more spots for 'echoes' here?"

Edited Date: 2023-06-18 12:01 pm (UTC)

From:

jedi_scrapper

Cal nodded. "Several." He went to the first in a flowerbed. Memories there were simple, hope that the flowers would thrive, accidentally knocking over the watering can. He smiled and shook his head, moving onto the next. This one held the first hint of a Nightmare. Or rather the confusion after one, but it had been resolved. He tried another, not talking in-between. Most of these were... mundane, whether they were good or bad they were the sort that could happen anywhere. That there weren't any of dread or oppression though? That was a good sign.

BD, however, filled the silence with a series of beeps and whistles. He was both intensely curious and very confused about these apartments.

From:

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.

From:

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."

From:

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.

From:

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."

From:

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.

From:

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."

From:

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.

From:

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."

From:

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."

From:

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.

From:

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!

From:

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.

From:

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..."

From:

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.

From:

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.