Monday, 6:30 AM—Kinda rainy
Had the weird dream AGAIN last night. Same as before-I was wandering around in some sort of night-time desert, but the sand was sort of silver and the sky was empty of anything—no stars or clouds or moon. I wasn't exactly afraid, but I was feeling cautious. Something keeps calling me here, and that's always kind of a reason to be cautious. I've been involved in too many bizarre schemes not to feel that sense of self-preservation kick in, even in a dream I guess.
Anyway I heard the call again while I was wandering around, and when I looked up I saw a sort of dim little glow. Like Navi, that fairy thing that hangs around Link in the game Zelda. But this one doesn't have wings, just a sort of glow and it's young. I'm not sure how I can tell because it doesn't exactly talk, but I always get the impression it is very little and scared. I always end up trying to soothe it and it responds to me, glowing a little brighter when I reach out to it. Poor little thing.
When I woke up I realized I'd hardly slept, so I thought I'd at least write it down before heading out to work. Rain—just what a meteorologist loves to report on, especially to a city well-known for it, right? I hope nobody commits any crimes tonight because if this storm gets any stronger I'm going to be on-call for it. Here's hoping Seattle is quiet.
-oo00oo-
Once she'd made it through the building foyer, Sydney Todd checked her phone and breathed a sigh of relief; no messages no sign that it was going to be anything other than a quiet rainy night. She rode the elevator up to the seventh floor and let herself into her apartment, setting her umbrella down before flicking on the light.
Then she yelped.
Someone was sitting in her grandmother's fancy armchair, clearly waiting for her. Instinctively Sydney shifted her stance, readying herself to act if necessary. She didn't want to do anything unless she had to; the deposit on this place had been substantial and she did want it back if she ever moved. Nevertheless, unannounced visitors were usually trouble.
"Whoa, okay, who are you?" she asked, eyeing the man who was looking back at her with grave amusement as he steepled his fingers.
"Stephen Vincent Strange, Miss Todd. We need to talk."
"Wait, who? The magician from New York?" Sydney blinked. She'd heard of Doctor Strange, certainly. Her teammates had connections to almost all the heroes throughout the United States albeit tentative for the most part. At least they kept informed on them thanks to Jack's media-oriented career and fanboy tendencies.
Strange looked slightly pained. "Sorcerer, actually. Magicians create illusions with no true basis in magic."
She stared at him for a moment, taking in the elegant beard, streaks of white at his temples and deep-set eyes. He wore a grey three-piece suit, though, and Sydney noticed he even had a jaunty pocket square.
"Sorcerer," she amended. "I thought you had a cape, and more . . ." she waved a hand at him vaguely, "more bling."
He looked even more pained. "This is an informal visit and I thought it best not to overwhelm you."
"Considerate," she murmured. "I hope you won't take it personally if I ask for some ID?"
Sighing, Strange waved his hand and a black leather wallet popped into existence a foot from her face, the flap of it lifting to reveal a driver's license. Despite herself, she grinned.
"Oh that's good," Sydney nodded. "And I see even you don't take a good DMV photo."
"There are some aspects of life not even magic can overcome," he replied a little testily even though one corner of his mouth went up fractionally.
"Fair enough," Sydney agreed, watching as the wallet disappeared a moment later. "So why are you here? I mean I don't even know you, and my team is pretty much small potatoes compared to . . . well everyone, really. Not that we don't do our share, but . . ." She realized she was running on and closed her mouth quickly, trying like hell not to feel intimidated.
"First, I would like a demonstration of your powers," he rumbled. "I'm fairly sure I have the correct Sydney Todd but verification would help."
She sighed. "Which one? Because if I make it rain in here it's going to soak the carpet, and the wind blast will take out a window for sure."
"The spectral shift," Strange told her, his voice soft.
Sydney blushed. "Ah, I need to go get into costume for that," she apologized. "Otherwise I when I shift back, I'm sort of . . . underdressed."
He sighed and nodded. "I shall wait here."
She hurried into the bedroom and grabbed the suit from behind the door, slipping into it as quickly as she could, feeling nervous and irritated at the same time. Fortunately it was clean. Sydney stepped out, took a breath, and shifted.
This part was fun, she thought. The first time she'd ever phased into the first dimension it had freaked her out, but now it was as easy to do as walking. Being able to pass through solid matter had been extremely useful at times. Doctor Buttermiller had designed the suit's fabric with the tiniest of static charges—just enough to keep her clothed through any shift including a return to solidity.
Strange watched her transparent form walk towards him and cocked his head. "Can you go deeper?"
She nodded, her throat tight. "Yeah, but there are . . . there are things out there that are dangerous."
He nodded back. "Here be dragons," Strange intoned. "Not just the physical sort either. Good. At least you're aware of the perils that come with moving between universes and yes, apparently I do have the correct Sydney Todd. Come and sit, please."
Sydney shifted back and did, lightly settling on the sofa across the coffee table from her visitor. Outside lightning flashed, glowing through her curtains, followed by the rumble of thunder. Rain. It always made her more powerful, and she flexed her fingers in response. "Okay, so what is this all about, Doctor?"
For the first time he looked distinctly uncomfortable, pursing his mouth as he looked at her. "It's about the future, Miss Todd. And about a child in a dying dimension. A being of great potential who is destined to save this planet."
Sydney took a breath. "Okay, good. Now I'd like more specifics, please."
He leaned forward quickly, holding her gaze. "Miss Todd, have you had an unusual dream lately and repeatedly? A dream of a barren astral plane and a small lost light?"
She felt a shiver rush over her skin. "Yes."
"And in that dream did you find yourself drawn to it, wanting to give it succor?"
There was no point in lying. "Yes."
Strange sighed. "I thought as much. I have had the same dream several nights running. As you're aware, dreams are more than the average person realizes. Dreams can be a conduit for communication, particularly the sort that cannot be achieved in consciousness."
She frowned. "So something is trying to reach out to both of us to . . . help it? Bring it to another dimension?"
"Yes," Strange murmured, looking away. "That's part of it. You and I are among a very few on this planet who can move through dimensions, can deal with the shift of our corporal bodies in different planes for extended periods of time."
"So it's a rescue mission," Sydney persisted, aware that the man opposite her was suddenly tense. "Right?"
"In a manner of speaking," Strange reluctantly admitted. "I have looked in the Orb of Agamotto to find out more about this entity who is reaching out to us and in our particular universe he or she will be one of Earth's most powerful guardians, protecting the planet long after you and I are gone."
"So we are going to be the ones to bring this guardian to our dimension?" It sounded like a hell of a mission, and Sydney bit her lip. "I don't know . . . I'm pretty much a third-stringer, Doctor Strange, nowhere near as powerful as you are or any of the other supers out there, really."
"Call me Stephen," he told her quietly. "And there are several reasons why your . . . participation is necessary. You are adept at inter-dimensional phasing; you have experience fighting evil and you are . . . a woman within child-bearing age."
Sydney froze as the implication hit her full-force. "What? I'm NOT having an inter-dimensional baby!"
Strange dropped his head into his hands. "I knew this wouldn't go over well. I knew it."
"Oh you're damned right it isn't!" Sydney blurted in outrage. "Look, I'd be more than happy to help rescue whoever this, this, spirit is, but I'm not giving birth to do it! There are limits to heroism you know, and this is one of them!"
"I understand your reluctance," Strange began, but Sydney leaned over the coffee table to glare at him.
"No, I don't think you do," she snapped. "It's one thing to be able to pass through things, but to use that power to harbor one inside of me borders on the worst sort of coercion. Why should I be an incubator for this creature? Because you say so?"
"Because our child is going to save the world," Strange shot back dryly. "And although you may not believe it, I scoured the planet for another candidate! However, the entity has already made a bond with you as well as me and that-"
"-OUR child? You're not implying . . . oh God you are, aren't you? Because you're inter-dimensional too, you're . . . oh geez," Sydney shot up, pacing away from the living room, her fists clenched. "Ohh, was NOT prepared for that. Yeah I think you can say this isn't going well!"
S/T/O/P echoed in her head and Sydney found herself frozen in place.
Strange rose up from the armchair and came over to her, his eyes locked on hers. "I understand all of this is overwhelming, I do. And for the record I did what I could to try and shift this burden to someone else but all my efforts in that direction have failed mostly because shifters are predominantly male in our particular reality. Fathering an inter-dimensional child with a stranger isn't exactly a quest I'm prepared for myself so I understand a percentage of your reluctance."
He waved a hand and Sydney found herself free again; she shot him a glare.
"I apologize, but I did need you to hear me out. If you refuse—and you do have every right to do so—I will understand."
Neither of them said anything for a few tense minutes.
She felt her jaw work a bit, and blinked. "If I—we—don't, then what happens? You can see into the future, right?"
"I don't know what will happen," he told her quietly. "There are always permutations and possibilities, Miss Todd, but there only seems to be one outcome I can view. All the others are dark to me."
She shivered again. "Is there a . . . time limit?"
"Again, I'm not sure, but in every dream I've had of the entity I have sensed greater and greater urgency. And fear."
Sydney nodded.
"Together we would be creating a physical form for this soul," he murmured. "A body for a spirit who already exists in another plane, and because he or she would be there at the point of conception, it would be its natural body, be both itself and a part of both of us. A huge responsibility since once here it would be . . . well, a baby."
"A baby. And I'd be raising it?"
"We would or I would," Strange told her. "I'm prepared to take the infant back with me to the Sanctum Sanctorum and care for it there."
She shot him a skeptical look. "You."
"I."
"Have you ever changed a diaper?" Sydney scoffed, watching Strange flinch a little.
"Not as such, but I've dealt with far worse things wrapped in cloth. And I am not only capable of learning how, but also of hiring help."
"Brother," Sydney sighed. "There are so many things wrong with that scenario. Look, it's been a bit overwhelming and I'm coming off a long day as it is . . . Stephen. Just, let me get some rest and consider everything you've told me, all right? I'm not going to make a decision about this tonight."
He dipped his head in acknowledgement. "I agree, it is a lot to take in all at once and I apologize for delivering it this way but I do feel an urgency in regard to this . . . issue. You have my number on your phone now; I can be reached at any hour. Rest well, Miss Todd; I hope to speak to you again."
He turned and three steps away disappeared into a pale vortex that closed up behind him. Sydney watched him go and when Strange had disappeared she slipped into her kitchen, desperately looking for a beer.
The Journal of Stephen Strange
Waning quarter moon
Have just returned from Miss Todd's abode in Seattle after delivering the particulars regarding the entity on the astral plane. She took the news far better than I thought she would in fact, and I hold hope that she may yet decide in favor of the venture. Not, I hasten to add out of any esteem towards me, but because it is for the benefit of the entity and the planet.
She seems a very sensible woman and from what I have learned of her, that has been her hallmark with her associates and their service to Seattle. A young hero team, but dedicated, and destined for greater deeds I am sure. Whether she decides to share this undertaking with them will be up to her but I sense a degree of discretion within her makeup.
Given what may come to pass, I decidedly appreciate that. While it's possible my bachelorhood may be approaching an end, I am still by no means comfortable with the idea of impregnating a stranger. True she is comely, and I have no doubt that our mutual physical attraction will help facilitate matters, but there are obstacles nonetheless.
I have no idea if she currently has a significant other, although I suspect not. Miss Todd is also much younger than I am, a fact that both amuses and depresses me. Beyond this child, we may have nothing in common, and that might well make for a very bleak eighteen years as we raise our offspring.
