File:ReplacementJournal
Memory download: Freaky dream
I bring my ship into the Massive's docking bay and unpack the evidence I brought for the Tallest. A guard meets me as I get out and escorts me to the bridge. The Tallest are floating overhead, chasing jellybeans through the air like diving birds.
I walk to the edge of their platform.
"My Tallest!" I shout up at them, saluting.
"Watch this," Purple yells, doing a triple flip to capture a white jellybean. They both dive down to meet me and float just above my eye level.
"I have the proof you asked for," I say, turning to open the case I brought. But it's huge now, taller than me and nearly the size of my ship's cockpit. "Um, can someone help me with this?" I ask.
"You, tech, get over here and help," Red barks.
A red-eyed tech runs over and takes one side of the lid. I grab the other, and together we heave it open to reveal a glittering knife carved from a jewel made of blood.
I look up and recognize the tech. "Rife!"
His eyes grow wide, and he runs. I turn to see where he's gone, but he vanishes into the crowd.
I chase after him, calling his name, but the floor distorts beneath my feet, slowing me down, making it impossible to catch up to him. I run through the halls, searching for Rife, sometimes hearing his voice, sometimes seeing him, but never cornering him.
Finally, I jerk awake.
I've lost him forever now, I know it.
File:ReplacementJournal
Entry: Now that I've been up for a little while, I can write about that one. It just hurt. I can't even express the depth of that pain . . . I thought it was gone. I thought the days of worrying about tears getting into the cracks in the keyboard were over. But obivously not.
Is it just beacuse I'm lonely? Is it just the fact that I have no one here, nothing to do, no place to go, so my mind dwells on him? Do these dreams mean something?
I wish I knew. But I can't figure it out just sitting here in front of a computer that has no helpful functions available.
I'm going back to sleep. I still don't feel good.
File: Journal
Entry: Oh, these dreams mean plenty, little emo bug. For one, they mean I'm sick of you just sitting around moping. It bores me to death. Sleep or do something entertaining, or else! For another thing, they mean I want to break you. Isn't that a bit obvious? Why else would I let -- no, make you get all emotional over something that you'll never have again? Why else would I want you to miss him, to ache for him? To show you that you were stupid for wanting him when all you need is me. To show you that you were a fool to throw me aside like you did. You refused me once, but now you're mine.
File:ReplacementJournal
Memory download: Bad dream
I bring my ship into the Massive's docking bay and unpack the evidence I brought for the Tallest. A guard meets me as I get out and escorts me to the bridge. The Tallest are building a tower of dried meat sticks, eating the ones that are too bent to work.
I walk up to their dais.
"My Tallest," I say, saluting.
They both turn to me. "Ah, Night," Red says. "Did you bring us evidence?"
"I did, Tallest," I say, picking up the case. I step up onto the platform and set it down in front of me.
Just as I start to unlatch it, a tech appears beside me.
"My Tallest?" he says.
"What is it?" says Purple.
"I was sent with the repair report from engineering." He holds out a tablet, which Purple takes. The Tallest watch the data intently as it flashes across the screen.
The tech doesn't leave; he's obviously been told to wait for a reply. I glance up at him, annoyed that he interrupted my meeting. He's looking back at me. And I know those eyes. I know what's coming next.
"Night?" His eyes widen slightly at the possibility.
"Stay away from me," I snarl.
He looks hurt. He extends his arms, pleading. "Don't you remember me?"
"I know who you are, Rife, and I said to leave me alone," I growl.
"But . . ."
"Make sure it's done by this time," Purple barks.
Rife jumps, snapping into a salute. "Yes, Tallest." He turns to go, glances nervously at me. "Please, Night, I --"
"Get going!" Red yells. Rife scurries off, back to the belly of the ship where he belongs.
As I turn around to face the Tallest, they've become looming monsters . . .
I wake up, but only long enough to realize it was a dream.