Alicia opened her eyes, shutting them almost immediately. She had to be dreaming. Her eyes stung. She couldn't breathe. She couldn't feel anything but crushing, frigid, oblivion.

She knew she was still asleep. How could the air around her suddenly gain suffocating viscosity? Her body began fighting for reprieve, claustrophobia setting in. It took all her strength to stop struggling. Her surroundings were due to natural electronic brain activity. She read that poem about drowning in her own guilt. Then she went to bed angry. Her superconscious was just trying to tell her something.

She redirected her focus to the logic of the situation. The distraction kept her panic down. If she stuck to the facts, she wouldn't have to worry about the burning in her lungs...

'If only I could just wake up.' They say that when you dream about someone dieing, they'll live longer. 'Wonder if it applies to dreaming your own death.' Her thoughts were so clinical. She was dieing —— Stars were illuminating her sight (through her closed eyes) —— yet she remained detached.

Her thoughts became fuzzy and disjointed. The building pain in her body began fading, as though she were feeling it over a distance. A sudden peace filled her, drowning out everything else. Consciousness faded into pure darkness... Life spilled from her like sand through her fingers.

-----+\\\\\+-----

-.--. . -. -.. --- ..-. -.-. ... .- .--. - . .-. - ... .-. . . -.--.-

See? We're finally nearing the introduction of the PotC—verse.

As always, the only entities I don't own insofar are the reference characters of the prior chappies. This one is all mine.

Netalak: What about your skits?

Oh, the characters in those aren't mine. 'Sides me, myself, and I. Netalak is his own Muse—Person.

You may be wondering what Mulder's been obsessing about with my Muse mismatch... My Star Trek Muse is a tall, busty, red—head, named Caitiri. As a tribute to her, I used her as the mother of my main character 'Pyra' in my ST fic. Netalak is another of my Muses.

Mulder: So I have to wait 'til you get around to writing another chapter of "Second Chances"?

Me: Yup. And I'd be cautious of how dejected you sound... Scully's glaring...

Scully: (-Cracking knuckles-) Mulder, can I see you in private a moment?

Mulder: (-Nervously-) Actually I'm... (-Notices Scully's rage-) Okay... (-Looks around, pleadingly-) Um... Can I get a Kevlar vest, first?...

Scully: (-Grabs Mulder by the forearm and drags him away-)

Ed: Guess not.

(-The sound of punches, slaps, and other such violence is heard from the direction the former FBI agents went-)

Spike: I wonder who's worse to get angry... "GG" or Scully. By the way, what does GG stand for?

Netalak: Gothic Guardian. Though sometimes I think it might stand for ——

Ed: Gargantuan Goat?

Netalak: (-Sniggering-) No. But good one. I was thinking more along the lines of the "Green Goblin" from Spiderman.

Spike: I like Ed's better.

Me (-Slaps Spike-)

Jack (Sparrow, of course): Tha' was undeserved.

Me: You want some, too?

Jack: (-Dirty Grin-) I would, luv, but I don' want to make Ana jealous.

Anamaria: (-Tapping foot impatiently-) What was that?

Jack: Nothing

(-Mulder and Scully return, the former beaten to within an inch of his life.-)

Ed: Hi, hi!

Mulder: (-Clothes shredded-) I really with I had that Kevlar vest.

(-The remnants of Mulder's shirt flutter to the ground-)

Faye Valentine: (-Wipes drool from her mouth-) Hi...

Scully: (-Clenches fists-) Back off, bitch.

Ed: (-Anime sweat—drop.-) Uh, oh...

Mulder: (-Pulls Scully into his arms to keep her from pulverizing someone else-) Calm down...

Scully: (-Steam rising from ears.-) Why should I?

Netalak: Don't you think she's acting a bit OoC?

Me: (-Punches Jet Black, who just walked up.-) No I don't.

(-Jet doubles over in pain-)

Netalak: Now that's in character. For you at least...

Jet: What was that for?

Me: I just felt like it.

(-Jet opens his mouth to respond-)

Me: Say anything and I'll give you more pain than you ever thought imaginable.

Netalak: I'm not saying that you're not usually violent and insane... But what's up with you today?

Me: NoYB...

Everyone Else There: !

Me: NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS...

Ed: (-Snoring-)

Netalak: I think she's trying to tell us —— in her own strange way —— that we should just end this already.

Me: FINE! The end... Better?

Scully: What about that "Read and review" thing?

Me: You just said it, so what's the problem?

Netalak: (-Huge Anime Sweat—Drop-)

Ein (The dog on Bebop): 'Til Next Time...