16. Ominous Rumbles
NiGHTS was bored. This was not a good thing, either in NiGHTS' own view or in that of anyone familiar with the first-level Nightmaren, because it tended to lead to trouble. In Reala's opinion there had been more than enough of that already. The red-and-black Nightmaren was glaring into one of his own secrets, something his 'dear' sibling would never believe that he had - a pale red 'crystal' ball that Wizeman had no knowledge of. Made of an equivalent substance to the dream chips, only from Nightmare rather than Nightopia, it was Reala's window into both the real world and the dream worlds and essential to his true tasks, since it showed him the whole truth instead of the slanted version depicted in the sphere officially assigned by his master. Little does NiGHTS know that I'm not quite so loyal to Master Wizeman as our master believes. I'm true to our purpose, in spite of our master's wanting to bend that purpose to suit his own goals. It was a dangerous game Reala played, skating along a knife edge between obedience and disobedience, with the ever-present risk of discovery and dissolution. What Wizeman had created, Wizeman could also destroy, and there were worse things even than Cerberus in the dungeons of Nightmare. With a sigh, Reala continued to watch NiGHTS' slightly red-tinted form in the dream globe, hoping he wouldn't have to intervene again.
NiGHTS had, when first located, been playing that obnoxious non-flute again, perched as usual on a stump surrounded by Nightopians. This time, another group of blobby little beasts was mixed in, mostly a blue color. Reala had been faintly amused to see that they did not all play well with others; several were shoving 'Pians around and being shoved back. Either the squabbling had annoyed NiGHTS, or the NiGHTS had gotten tired of playing music, because the Nightmaren had abruptly leapt off the stump and taken to the air. It was then that Reala had gotten his first real surprise in this world, because NiGHTS now left an island that was not surrounded by water but floating in midair. Reala had had to scramble a bit to verify that; his understanding had been that islands in the real world did not fly, despite such things being commonplace in dreams. Relocating NiGHTS, he discovered the fool had flown straight into trouble, as a Seeing Hand swept along the coast by a large city. NiGHTS, perched on the peak of a tall building, seemed to be trying to push through the wall rather than moving behind the tower out of sight. The fool has forgotten that we're in the real world, Reala thought irritably. Grimacing, he sent a very cautious tendril of power through the globe, forming it into a roughly NiGHTS-shaped imp, then ordered it to dash away on a tangent. The Seeing Hand spotted the motion and struck hard at the fleeing shape. Reala barely managed to sever the link before the imp was crushed against a wall. Fortunately the force of the blow was such that Wizeman's own power signature would cover Reala's completely. I hope. If Wizeman ever finds out I assisted NiGHTS in evading him . . . . Reala knew what would happen very well. There had originally been more than two first-level Nightmarens, and the termination of those who had been less clever at escaping than NiGHTS or less cunning at deception than Reala – well, even Nightmares could have nightmares. And just in case Wizeman found his own imagination lacking, he had the whole realm of human (and dokan) nightmares to inspire him. Reala called himself sharply to attention and switched from his own globe to his official one. Such intervention would never be missed in this dream globe, linked as it was to Wizeman's own powers, but not using it for too long would draw attention and unwanted questions.
NiGHTS had been much relieved to see the Seeing Hand sweep suddenly away, and returned to idly looping around the city. Somewhere among the centuries of dreams and dreamers, NiGHTS had heard that people never look up (or rarely, at least) and it appeared to be true. As long as the jester's shadow didn't cross directly overhead, no one looked up to see the brightly colored shape flying above them. Even if it did, most adults continued briskly and boringly along their way. Children often did look up, but frequently were dragged on by the adults they were with if they tried to point NiGHTS out. "That's why I never bother with grownups," muttered NiGHTS. "They're so mind-numbingly focused. Huh. Reala's pretty focused too, either doing what 'Master' says or else trying to stop me having fun." Even in the real world, NiGHTS wasn't going to risk speaking Wizeman's name, especially with the Seeing Hands scouring the countryside. Cityside. Whatever-side. Not that NiGHTS was afraid, but speaking the name could draw Wizeman's attention, and NiGHTS didn't feel like having a showdown at the moment. "I'm supposed to have the showdown with my dreamer close at hand, so he can come to my assistance. Or think he is. I wonder where that Tails has gotten to?"
Locating a dreamer was simple, although getting to the dreamer now involved actual travel rather than merely deciding to be there. NiGHTS considered sulking about the distance, but since there was no one to inflict the sulk on, opted to consider it an adventure instead, and darted off. Along the way, the Nightmaren noticed the random chains of golden rings that scattered around the landscape, and found it moderately amusing to scoop up as many as possible in a row. Soon he jester's outfit was accessorized by two armsful of golden rings worn like bracelets. The energy they contained was similar to that of the dream chips, but rather more pleasant. As Reala had told Tails, dream chips couldn't harm first-level Nightmarens, but all Nightmares creatures found them disgusting. Only NiGHTS refusal to do anything in common with Reala prevented the purple jester from avoiding them completely. Still, NiGHTS tried to minimize contact unless merged with a dreamer. Most Nightmarens 'fed' on the red dream chips of Nightmare, but unfortunately those were nearly all under Wizeman's control. The only other source of usable energy NiGHTS had located was the Ideya of the dreamers, which was one reason the Nightmaren bothered with them. If Reala got the Ideya, than NiGHTS would have no choice but to try to steal Nightmaren chips. Far simpler, and safer, to face down the low level Nighmarens than their master, and to drink of the energy that overflowed from the Ideya. The dreamers themselves couldn't use it, at least in Nightopia, so why shouldn't NiGHTS?
NiGHTS's current dreamer was going in circles in a maze of canyons bedecked with water wheels, near a large and elegant city. The flying cars cruising through the city were a bit of a shock, and one nearly collided with the Nightmaren, who wasn't used to having to look out for such things. NiGHTS reached the Splash Canyon in time to see Tails come shooting out of a cave behind a waterfall in a high arc, and looked on with interest as a rainbow colored forcefield beamed out from behind the waterfall giving the cub a safe and fast path down to the ground ahead of the people who emerged from the cave on a lower arc. Every one of them was standing on a small, brightly colored board-like object, and apparently steering it by shifting their weight. Immediately NiGHTS decided to try it; it looked like fun. The fox cub was climbing onto a platform with the winner of the race and a very large human. Clearly he wouldn't be going anywhere for a while. So, NiGHTS focused and reached for power to shape the idea of a board into being, and the gold rings responded at once, melting and pooling into the desired object. The Nightmaren turned the sleek, shiny board over and over, admiring its graceful shape and bright pink and purple trimmed edges. Dropping it lightly in midair (NiGHTS saw no reason why this board shouldn't float thirty feet above the ground, so it did), the Nightmaren stepped up.
Reala snorted and sat back from his globe. Typical NiGHTS, off playing around. Still, I suppose that's preferable to my dear sibling competing for my position. Not to mention that it draws Wizeman's attention away from me, leaving me better able to do what I need to. But what do I do now?
Goal number one: get us all returned to Nightopia and Nightmare. At the moment, I see no way to do this without the Dreamcaster being recharged, which means we will need these 'Chaos Emeralds' the dokan spoke of. So, subset of Goal One, monitor this Sonic the Hedgehog and prepare to retrieve the Emeralds myself if need be. Subset number two, keep track of NiGHTS, to be returned to Nightopia by force if necessary. Reala wasn't at all adverse to the thought of forcibly dragging NiGHTS back into the dream realm. In fact, he considered the possibility with a decided surge of pleasure. The third level Nightmarens will be recalled by the Dreamcaster; its power is beyond their ability to resist. The second-levels . . . I believe they will also be recalled. I must remember to check if any have actually come through. Which leaves subset number three: getting Master Wizeman back across the border. That task promised to be difficult at best, and possibly deadly. Reala was fairly certain that the draining of the Dreamcaster had been done by Wizeman, though he didn't know how. He only hoped that his master had been secretive out of caution rather than out of suspicion.
Which brings us to Goal Two: DO NOT LET MASTER WIZEMAN LEARN THAT I WAS WORKING AGAINST HIM IN THIS. He will, I think, be inclined to blame NiGHTS and the dreamer; I must do what I can to bolster that belief. Reala flinched as the gold mask he wore began to heat against his skin, and cleared his mind instantly.
"Yes, Master Wizeman?" he said. "Your servant receives your summons."
Reala, why have you not caught NiGHTS yet? That rebellious pest is trying to undo my plans before they are completed. They cannot be stopped, but it is an annoyance I do not need. Wizeman's voice may have been conveyed by the mask, but the words seemed to vibrate their way out of the walls and furniture like an earthquake shakes the ground. See to it that NiGHTS is contained, and this time, I do not want to hear that you have failed me. AGAIN.
Reala's skin couldn't pale, since it was dead white to begin with, but the memory of the punishment for his last failure made it try. Just in case his minion had forgotten the price of failing, Wizeman had sent the full memory along with his words. However, the fact that Wizeman believed NiGHTS to be working against him was good; with an enemy in his sights, he would be less likely to look around him. "As you order, Master. I have seen NiGHTS flying around the area where his dreamer is, but he is distracted as well by this new world. Perhaps – I mean, I can trap him this time without his dreamer nearby for him to Dualize with, or if necessary I can trap the dreamer as well with materials from his own world. United, they can escape snares of either material because they are both, but separately they should be held by the stuff of their own worlds." Reala's fingertips fidgeted on the gold frame of the mask as he babbled on. Wizeman shouldn't be able to read his thoughts through it, but relying on that fact was a potential mistake the Nightmaren did not intend to make. So, words; intricate, polysyllabic, grandiloquent if necessary, sounding as if they were in full accord and agreement while obscuring thoughts that might run counter to statements.
See that you do it CORRECTLY this time. Or you WILL regret it, and I will have to waste energy generating a new assistant. Wizeman's attention swung away.
It was not the first time that Reala had heard that particular threat, but it was no less worrying for that. Wizeman had thus far decided the effort in 'properly' punishing his minion was less than that involved in creating and training a new one, but there was always the chance that he might decide that THIS time he'd be better off disposing of Reala completely. And that could not be allowed to happen.