V. 1. Bee's dream

Bee-Y enters the Cerebral Cross Correlation labs. He switches on the light, keeping an eye out for dangerous experiments run amok during the power outage. On the surface, everything seems fine... untill he opens the fridge.

Oh my FC, that stinks... I think the brains are past their plug-by date... I don't think we can use these...

He uickly tips the brains down the garbage disposal, where some wag has written "Hot Fun vats" above the chute in crayon.

I hope the Infrareds like their brain food... now lets get to work.

He opens a cupboard, bringing out a console covered in chrome with antennae extending out in every direction. He sits at a desk, and takes great care in turning the antennae towards him in a shell configuration. He opens a drawer, and pulls out a "Little Brainiac's First Creche Helmet" and fiddles with the switches and dials. He puts on the helmet, and pulls down the visor.

Okay, here goes...

He reaches out to the console, takes a deep breath, and flicks the switch.

------------------------

"Ow, the pain... my eyes... ow..."

Bee-Y opens his eyes, looking upon a white landscape.

Oh smeg. I'm in a Ultraviolet area. I am so dead right now.

He looks for cover to hide behind. Bright white expanses of emptiness stretch out in every direction.

Crap. Better start walking.

He walks off in a random direction. And walks. And walks. Walking walking walking for what seems to be an eternity. He sits down after a while, tired.

There must be something somewhere, even Alpha Complex isn't this big. Where the smeg am I? I remember using the Mem...

"oh hey. Clones. Excuse me! Hey, over here..."

He runs over to two Infrared clones wearing suits and trenchcoats. He hears one say something about energy and people, then holds up a copper-top battery. The other clone freaks out, mumbling and waving incoherently, then disappears. The other disappears as well.

Well, that was helpful. I wish I knew where I was. Oh well, might as well get myself zapped and recloned in PLN sector.

He looks around, takes a deep breath and spits on the white ground. He closes his eyes up tight and waits for the lasers.

Hello Bee. I've been waiting for you.

Bee opens one eye. He looks around.

Behind you.

Bee turns around, slowly. He stares at a 7 foot tall Infrared clad only in an over-sized dressing robe, hiding the face. He holds in his chill pallid hand a simple and un-customised Traitor Scythe.

"Er. Hello."

Do you know where you are?

"In deep trouble? Wait, you're a vatworker. You can show me the way out."

The Infrared shakes his head.

No, I cannot. You are in the realms of your mind and dreams. You are not part of the real world. Anything you see here is completely within the bounds of your own mind, including the exit. I do not work in vats.

"What? What do mean? That I'm in a self-realising world where the very essences of my personality are constructing ways to test and release me from the shackles of my constricted Computer-trained mind?"

Er, yes.

"Oh. Well, you should have just said. I knew the machine did something like that. I wish the creator had left a manual or something before being brainscrubbed for misusing his medication. I never knew you could smell colours..."

Excuse me, could we please get back to business? The Radiation Whiteface will be along to lock this conversation otherwise.

"Radiation Whiteface? Eh? What have you been sniffing? Anyway, you're an Infrared. You have to do what I say."

The Infrared waves a hand in the air, showing a Yellow clone slumped at a desk hanging by the face. Many curved wires flow up from a dusty chrome device on the desk to form a shell to bury themselves at the clone's head held in the focal point. They dig in a little deeper. Another clone enters the room, and prods the twitching Yellow.

"Owowoww... okay okay. I get the point. The normal rules don't apply here, right? Then why are these other clones here as well? I thought this was my mind. Why is Tombking here?"

Bee points at an Orange muttering to himself rolling gambling devices, exclaim something and promptly trip over a petbot landing in a confession booth. The Infrared shrugs.

Well, you know how it is. There isn't much room these days. Cutbacks, you know. This dreammode backs onto LSD sector, you should see some of the stuff we have to deal with over there. Anyway, have a look over there. These are the Ultraviolets.

Bee looks at a new scene: some junior creche clones dressed all in white. Around them normal clones talk and interact, seemingly oblivious to the munchkin UVs. One junior clone steals the words of one clone's conversation and puts them in a different place, while another locks up the speech bubbles preventing further conversation. One hairy junior with a large nose runs around with a fuzzy toy looking for more toys.

"This is probably treason just being here watching. So this is what they do all day? It doesn't seem all bad... maybe I have the wrong ideas..."

Perhaps we should have a look at a different scene.

The scene changes to a creche-room, where two young clones are playing in the sandbox. They chatter on while making sand-sectors.

"Hey, is that me? I was never that cute, my rugged good looks always stood out... hey, is that Lucy-CAN? Lucy! Over here!"

They cannot hear you. Pay attention, there may be a quiz later.

Lucy scootches over to Bee, who is making a little R&D lab with sticks and plastic chips. She shyly whispers in Bee's ear, and puts her hand in his. Bee blushes.

"What the... eww. What was I thinking?"

A teachbot speeds over. It towers over the two juniors, waving a claw in a scolding manner. It slaps the two hands apart and carries Lucy off. Bee cries. The little R&D lab falls apart.

"Oh come on, be a clone! Only mutants cry! What was wrong with me? "

The Infrared looks at Bee pityingly.

You never saw Lucy-CAN again. And that isn't all, either...

Another memory: A young Bee presses a button on a vendobot dispensing a drink called Dream3, only for his hand to be slapped away by a higher clearance clone. "Not for you! No Dream for you!"

"Geez. I never got to do anything fun."

A slightly older Bee in Complexography class pointing at the Outside of the Dome, having his hand slapped away; Bee with a screwdriver working on a bot brain to think for itself, having his hand slapped away; Bee reaching for an Old Reckoning info tape, having his hand slapped away; Bee trying to secretly lift a pen with the power of his mind, having his hand slapped away... Bee sitting very quietly by himself in an empty room, hand being slapped away...

"My hand is a traitor? Figures. So why are just these memories being replayed? I did lots of other stuff too. It's not like I wanted them to stop me from doing all that slapping..."

Bee looks up. Some huge UVs float overhead are playing with bits of string connected to people and things, making them dance. A cracked Friend Computer screen with the Big Eye looks on.

"Huh. Nope, still don't get it."

The Infrared sighs and shakes his head. He raises his hand behind an unattentive Bee.

"UVs? The Computer? Maybe if they came down here they might understand what they're doing. You know I'm already trying to-"

--------------------

Neko enters into the lab and immediatly takes a step back.

"Whew! That smells like rotten brains. Good thing we still have Tombking's in the non-energy reliant brain jar, filled with a fluid to keep it fresh, outside a fridge."

Hey, whats that? It looks like Bee... whats he doing?

Neko goes over and prods him.

"Something up Bee? Yer not responding!"

He lightly slaps Bee on the hand to get his attention.

Bee jerks away, making the wires jiggle as they slide out. He stands up with a scream wielding in crowbar angrily.

"RARGH! I'LL SMASH YOU GOOD YOU... Oh... NekoAbyss. It's you."

He looks at the crowbar in his hand, and slowly puts it away. He straightens his shirt and wipes the little blood spots from his face.

"Please excuse me. Sometimes I get caught up with experimentation I forget where I am. Have we finished the clean-up and fuse inspections?"

Neko cowers a little.

"Yah, its just me, just me. We're still working on clean up, and I don't know about inspections. Oh, a YELLOW disappeared in our labs... again. He was looking for his plushie in the miniaturization machine and he disappeared."



Some days later.... Zat enters R&D main lab after the Tony incident. She is new to this sector. That part of the story is not yet here, although some of it may be included in the "The Tony" section.

Random-R sprints into the r&D main lab, comes to a complete stop with difficulty, then stands with hands on knees trying desperately to catch breath. He holds right hand over head palm facing forward.

"............a second.............I'll...hack...be.............ok

He places his hand back on knee, "................eh.......ah..." He stands more or less upright...looks up at ceiling, "ahhhh....haaaaaaaa...yeah...ahhhh...haaaa...oh boy..." then begins to get some semblance of his surroundings, "My name is ... ohhh....hoooo... Random-R-BSV...huh..huh... I'm from Power Services...huff...puff...I was told by ... huh... Aratos, that we needed to...huh...carry some heavy piece of R&D equipment back...to .... Power Services. I'm here to volunteer my services towards that endeavor. I'll just stand over here... out of the way... until the rest of the help arrives."

Random-R slumps against wall, breathing a little easier. Zat-R, having taken the way a little easier, and being slightly fitter than Random, enters a moment later.

"Im here to help."

They wait for about an hour, when Doublethink-O walks in.

"Ah, I'm here to pick up some equipment. Aratos sent me to pick up some gear for him. Anyone know where it is?"

"No... we are here to help carry whatever equipment that, uh," she taps a finger for a moment, "Aratos, you say? Well, whatever he has sent us to pick up... I think its Aratos - Power Services clone? sleepy? - which means we are probebly here for the same reason, sir."

"Okay, we are ready to take the gear. As the highest-ranking person, I'll carry the most sensitive, valuable items."

Random looks around doubtfully.

"I was led to believe that the equipment to be carried would be extremely heavy. Are you sure three clones are enough for the task? Maybe we should wait for Aratos-O to arrive."

He goes back to slumping against the wall, and Zat-R-NIK yawns.

"In the meantime, sir, do you mind if I rest a bit? Todaycycle has been rather long for me." She looks at the ORANGE qustioningly, but isn't answered because another clone, Bill turns up.

"Ah, good! You must be the help Aratos went to get. Just got the one piece here. *pats the lid of the vat he's standing next to* Just needs about 4 clones to lift it. This aught to clean that mess right up... Though I'll warn you... if you have any protective gear, like goggles or gloves or such, I'd suggest wearing it, just in case. I've got a lid on the vat, but you never know what could happen...
"At any rate, we should probably wait for Aratos to get back, since he's the one in charge of your little cleaning project, so just relax a moment until he gets back.... though... don't touch anything... for your own good and mine.."

Random looks slightly disturbed.

"Uhh... sir, do you have any protective equipment that I could borrow, or requisition? You see... I'm a new clone in this sector and have'nt yet had the opportunity to acquire any equipment beyond the basic issue..."

"Borrow? Oh you wouldn't want to do a thing like that! You shoulda heard what happened to the last clone I heard of that borrowed something. Both the borrower and the lender ended up getting temporarily demoted to INFRARED, and set on foodvat duty for undermining the CompConomy! *shutter* Poor schleps. Besides, I'm afraid I don't have anything to spare, anyway."

"Do you think I might have time to go to PLC to try to requisition some protective equipment?"

"Well..... Aratos isn't back yet, so... maybe, if you hurry... Good luck finding anything useful. It's been a little bare lately..."

Random smiles. "I'll be back as soon as possible."

Doublethink also leaves to get some equipment.

"errr... Me too. Being burnt horribly once in the daycycle is quite enough for me... Although then again, I don't know where to get it, and I guess somebody had better stay here."

She sits down and closes one eye.

and this way saves energy... I hope I can go to sleep soon.

Dourden walks up to the door, stops and looks in, then continues to walk into R&D.

"Hmm this is nice, Ah citizen anything suspicious happened here?"

Commie: Of course it hasn't, That bloody Green has you chasing wild Docbots
Dourden : Yea i got that idea too,
C : then why are you doing it, insted of running riot around the complex?
C : Dunno, but its fun
D : Fine

Dourden patrols around R&D. After a time Bee wanders in, looking around. He looks at the napalmed floor being vacuumed by bots, the scorch marks on the walls and glass still embedded in a forgotten desklamp.

"Work sweet work."

He sits down at his desk, and pushes some debris off. He looks through the drawers and finds nothing but empty sealed algae chip packets, with small holes in them.

"Darn R4T bots. I should have a word with Neko about that. Hmm. I wonder where everyone is? I don't hear any experimentation going on. Oh, hello. Are you a new bot? ... Ow. That wasn't very nice."

"Ah, I see you've met Rinsai!" Says Bill, "He's Greymist-V's pet project... seems that he, um... hits clones for... various reasons."
"As for where everyone is... Beats me, Greymist left a while ago, and I've been the only R&D'er here in R&D since then, except that Neko popped in just a minute before you got here, then left again immediately.
"I'm actually getting ready to take this experimental substance over to Power Services to help clean up some mess or other... Aratos-O's request. Greymist-V's OKed it, by the way. I'm just waiting for Aratos-O to get back with help to move the vat... I thought we had some, but now they seem to BE LEAVING!!!" That last is shouted toward the door where Doublethink just left, "Oh well, at least Zat-R-NIK is still here... though I wonder what's taking Random-R so long... it shouldn't take this long to run to the PLC Mall and back..."

"Damn. A report on what I missed would be nice." Says Bee, "I'm sure the napalm smell is stronger than last time I was here. But if you're busy, it can't be helped.
"I guess I should check my experiments while I'm here. Oh, and where do we keep the bot schematics?"

"Well, I'm still waiting for Aratos to get back, so I guess I can give a quick rundown of what I know..."

He takes a deep breath.

"WhenIcamebacktoworktodaycycletherewasa
bigaltercationgoingonthathadjustburstout
oftheCCClabthathadseveralVIOLETcitizens
involvedspecificly... MikeVGreymistVand
Allandaros-Vapparentlysomecommies... had
attackedwhileGreymistVwasdoingsomema
intenanceonMikeVTheextranapalmsmellcomes,
fromwhenAllandarosVfiredanapalmconeslugin
totheCCClabMeanwhileMikeVhadknockedover
theboxofR4Ttestbo... tsandsentthem
scatteringalloverthe... placethoughmost
ofthemgotdestroyedinthenapalmblastThenI
leftandfoundaplasticstatueofEvilcommie
RandbroughtitbackhereGreymistVtoldmetome
ltitdownbutthemeltingvat'sheatingsystem
isbustedbutitsprobablyjustaswellsinceit
apparentlyWASEvilcommieR... sinceheran
backoutoftheroomItookthestatuetowhileI
waslookingforanalternatemeansofmelting
thestatueandthenAratoscameinaskingfor
cleaningequip... mentforabigmessinPower
ServicesbutallIcouldfindwasthisvathere
sonowAratosisoutscrounginguphelptomoveit.
"And I think that's about it..."

"Sooo... you don't know where the bot schematics are?"

" Um... no, not really.... must be above my clearance or something... either that, or just no one ever bothered to tell me..."

"Ok. I guess I'll have to look for myself." Bee-G turns to the bot, "stop hitting me, dammit!"

He wanders over to the Cerebral Cross Correllation lab, checking out random experiments as he goes past. He enters and stops dead.

"Good grief! What the nine inch goombas happened in here? This was my favourite lab..."

He looks through the rubble and searches for bits of tech to put into other labs. He finds a charred, but still fairly solid wall cupboard underneath a piece of ceiling*

Hmm...

He opens the cupboard, and takes out the contents. He fits Tab A into Slot B, and Power Cord C into Power Outlet D with a short shower of sparks. He feels for his eyebrows, and lays it on the floor.

Hmm. Prod prod? I wonder how this thing works.

He whacks it upside the case.

"I know this thing does do something... hmm..." something is happening. Hey, sharp shiny probey things...

"OW OW ARGH! medic...."

Bill, hears him from the other room and heads over to the open door, where he is Joined, after a time, by Dourden.

"Citizen do you mind if i ask you some questions as part of the 'Clean up Alpha Complex' operation? Please note non compliance could lead to Questions being asked about your loyalty to Friend Computer."

***couter conciences; there was a big counter concience fad, so just bear with it, or skip it***

Commie: Well he aint goin to deny you now Comrade
Dourden : Dont EVER call me Comrade, YOU are the Commie not me
C : then why are you doing it, insted of running riot around the complex?
C : Fine bozo, Suit yourself,

Dourden pulls out his PDC and opens the CompuWord program

"Ready Citizen?"

Bill turns away from the door to the CCC lab with a strange lo... well you get the idea.

***His evil counterconcience***

"Why certainly, Officer! Anything to help the Complex! By the way, were you aware that there appears to be a GREEN citizen in trouble in this room over here? Perhaps we should help him before you proceed with the questions..."

"Oh my Computer a green citizen in trouble what seems to be the problem?"

C: Like you really care
D: Good point
C: just ignore it
D: Na cant do that

"So who started this Bill-Y"

"Oh, you mean what happened to the room, well you see..." The 'good' concience takes over again. here we go again... thinks his evil side.

Bil takes a deep breath

"WhenIcamebacktoworktodaycycletherewasabigaltercation
goingonthathadjustburstoutoftheCCClabthat
hadseveralVIOLETcitizensinvolvedspecificly...
Mike-VGreymist-VandAllandaros-Vapparentlysome
commieshadattacked... whileGreymist-Vwasdoing
somemaintenanceonMike-VTheextranapalmsmellcomes...
fromwhenAllandaros-Vfiredanapalmconeslugintothe
CCClabhereMeanwhileMike-... Vhadknockedovertheboxof
R4Ttestbotsandsentthemscatteringallovertheplace
thoughmostofthemgotdestroyedinthenapalmblast.
"And that's how it happened..."

The pair, and there counterconciences, look in the door.

"This is IntSec Sargent Dourden-O can i help?"

From one of the ventilation grids a trickle of smoke starts twirling downwards. It's slightly blueish in color, near the grid with a vague hint of violet and very cold too.

-----------

A white expanse fills the sight of anyone looking upon it. Direction is impossible to fathom right now with no landmarks or bearings of any kind.

Crap. I'm back again.

Bee sighs, and trudges off in a random direction.

I wonder where that Infrared is. I hope he's as helpful this time, I could be here for ages.

<- (Fast forward for those unaccustomed to dreamscape monologues.) ->

We're all living in a Yellow submarine... huhh... Yellow submarine... yeah! Yellow submariiiine... what nice chaps. I hope those Blue Meanies don't get them...

Bee sees a grey building on the horizon with a black figure standing in front. The doors in front stand about twenty metres high, with a brass knocker on each.

Aha...

He marches up, and addresses the black-clad gentleman. He seems to be rather tall, approximately eight feet tall and built like a brick washroom.

Excuse me sir, but I'm looking for the Dreamscape. Capital D reem-scaype... Am I right in assuming it's behind these doors?

Yes.

Ah, capital. Good day to you.

The Infrared sticks out a beefy hand stopping Bee from passing.

Are you on the list?

Excuse me?

Are you on the list?

What list? I'm here for a multi-dimensional mental revelation. There is no list!

Yes, there is a list.

The Infrared produces a clipboard from nowhere.

You've been here before, right?

Well, yes, is that a problem?



I'm sorry, but your revelations of your soul and karmic spirit have been exhausted for the time being. Come back next week.

What the smeg? There's a limit?

Of course. Otherwise people would just live here 24/7, and that's bad. All sorts of things could happen.

But I'm Bee! Bee-G-CAN-2! I rescued this machine from possible ruin! It could have been left to rust!



Look, do you think we're only ghosts in the machine? We tap into all sorts of multi-dimensional crap from here. There are half a dozen multiple personalities he have to keep tabs on, plus dreams, psychoses and those freakin' Mystics never stop mucking around with those mushrooms. You are way down the list.

Dammit. So what do I do now?



Go back. You won't remember anything except that you can't try this for a little while, so no damage done.

What do you mean? I remember the last time. There was this tall guy, and little kids... and Lucy...

Did you remember it in your real life?

Well of course... er... hang on...



Exactly. You won't remember anything from your time here ever, except for the lessons we teach. You may or may not absorb them. It is up to you.

Of course I'll remember! I'll remember your face for a bloody start!

Bee tries to push past. The Infrared sighs and pushes him back easily with one hand. The floor seems to creep up over Bee's feet, with little green "N"'s all over it. Bee tries to unstick his feet, but the N's seem to have him stuck fast. The Infrared takes the opportunity to knock Bee out with a swift slap.