Chapter 17 – Ripples (Part 1)
The Aurora Sanctum erupted into chaos as the emergency buzzer reverberated throughout the area.
Murrue and Mwu arrived, their hair still dishevelled from the rush, greeted by an atmosphere of urgency in the Command Center. "What's the situation?" Murrue asked, her tone sharp with concern.
As they watched the monitor closely, the scene unfolded before them. Athrun, visibly perplexed, faced a mysterious figure bearing a striking resemblance to Nicol.
"What's happening?" Mwu inquired, his voice tinged with worry.
Mirialla replied, "We're not entirely sure, but one of our scientists detected a problem with the Dreamscape."
Shinn's unruly black hair danced with him, panic evident in his crimson eyes. "It seems like your presence in the Dreamscape has caused some disturbances."
"What do you mean, Shinn?" Mwu pressed for further explanation.
Shinn tapped away at some keys and displayed information on the monitor. "Initially, we couldn't locate Chief Representative Cagalli. The monitors couldn't track her whereabouts. But upon studying the data last night, we discovered that these challenges, fears, or guilt—whatever you may call them—were triggered by your presence," he elucidated.
"Our presence? Fears? Guilt?" Murrue echoed, her brow furrowing in confusion. "But the scientists cleared us for entry into the Dreamscape and assured us there would be no consequences."
"It appears they overlooked some crucial details," Dearka chimed in, his brown complexion contrasting with his blond hair. "This may explain why the rescue team sent to aid Athrun and Cagalli cannot recall their mission."
"The Dreamscape has evolved from Cagalli's subconscious. It's no longer just a dream; it's becoming a manifestation of all her memories, especially the painful ones," Shinn elaborated.
"Continue," Murrue commanded, her voice steady despite the unsettling revelations.
"Last night, Shinn, Dearka, and I stayed behind after speaking with Kira and the rest. We asked them about their confusion upon returning to the real world," Mirialla began.
Captain Murrue felt a sense of pride at the initiative and wisdom displayed by these young soldiers.
"Their memories were replaced by the Dreamscape. It recreated alternate versions of themselves while still retaining their true essence," Shinn continued.
"We were aware of that. We were monitoring them," Murrue interjected, her mind already racing with questions.
"But they don't," Mirialla replied. "That's why they couldn't help Cagalli and Athrun wake up. Instead of attempting to extricate them from the dream world, they were absorbed and reintegrated into the dreamscape."
"It's as if the Dreamscape had a mind of its own, like a double-edged sword. Protective of its owners—Cagalli and Athrun—but also harbouring their deepest secrets, ready to strike against people tagged as its enemies," Dearka added.
"Dangerous?" Murrue asked.
Shinn nodded in agreement, "It's as though the Dreamscape itself was aware of our intention to awaken Cagalli and Athrun. It's as if it intentionally provided them with pleasant dreams to entice them to stay, to make them believe it's reality," Shinn concluded.
"So, how did our conscious presence affect everything?" Mwu questioned.
"The Dreamscape identified you as outsiders, akin to how white blood cells mark viruses and bacteria as foreign objects, and thus generated a response. In this case, it tapped into their secrets, fears, or guilt," Shinn explained.
"I don't quite follow," Mwu mused, rubbing his chin in contemplation. "If the Dreamscape uncovered their fears, wouldn't that increase the likelihood of waking them up?"
"Exactly. It's rather perplexing. We dispatched individuals to try and rouse them, yet these individuals forgot their mission. Now, our intrusion has caused disturbances, creating these ripples and heightening the chances of awakening them," Mwu replied, trying to make sense of the Dreamscape.
"Unless something transpired in the Dreamscape that eludes our awareness. I found it peculiar how Cagalli suddenly vanished from our monitors when her fears began to materialize. It's as if someone is attempting to conceal this information, as if another hand is at play," Shinn remarked thoughtfully.
Kira, Lacus, Yzak, Shio, Meyrin, and Meer entered the room. Murrue acknowledged their entrance and gestured for them to join the discussion.
Kira's demeanor betrayed his burden and worry about failing their mission, especially in saving his sister. Lacus, who always kept a watchful eye on Kira, consoled him by holding his hand, gently drawing him back from his reverie. The others in the room began to listen as Shinn led the conversation.
"So, we still don't have answers to our theory?" Murrue inquired.
Shinn, Mirialla, and Dearka shook their heads.
"What theory?" Kira asked, his brow furrowing with curiosity.
"The one where everyone sent into the Dreamscape has completely forgotten their mission," Mwu replied.
Shinn surveyed the group before focusing his gaze on Kira. "I believe somewhere in Cagalli's mind, she remembers several people as significant figures. That's why the Dreamscape has assigned them roles, such as Kira and Lacus as her best friends. It might also explain why she felt an instant connection to Athrun and was drawn to him from the outset of their meeting. Part of her subconscious recognizes him."
"But actually, if you think about it, it is quite ironic. The Dreamscape recognized Lacus and I, but it did not recognise Athrun?" Kira replied. He was worried about this when he saw that Cagalli's monitor was not displaying Athrun. How is that even possible? It's saying as if Cagalli did not even meet Athrun. That was too far from reality. Something is definitely amiss with the Dreamscape project. He wanted to understand the situation better, from Cagalli's perspective, so he volunteered to enter his sister's Dreamscape after Athrun, thinking that he could find the answers.
"Yes, we wanted to understand how Cagalli's mind assigned these roles," Mwu pondered.
The group lapsed into a pensive silence.
"Well, considering this, the appearance of the Haumea stone was quite notable. It materialized before Athrun, almost as if it were drawn to him. It's as if the stone is seeking him out. A portion of Cagalli's mind may associate Haumea with Athrun; it's a powerful sentiment," Kira reflected, his voice low yet audible. He had been monitoring Cagalli and Athrun's dreamscape before entering it himself and was taken aback the first time the Haumea stone appeared. He saw it as a guiding light, a north star, directing Cagalli and Athrun towards each other. That's the second reason he volunteered to enter the dreamscape—to facilitate their reunion. He clenched his fist, grappling with feelings of inadequacy. Was he too feeble to counter the influence of Cagalli's mind, or even Athrun's? Why, like the others who entered, did he forget their mission? He had believed himself stronger than that.
"That appears to be the case. Even Cagalli discovered the ring," Lacus added, nodding in agreement as she squeezed Kira's hand reassuringly.
"The stone and the ring held great significance for Cagalli and Athrun. Their appearance in the Dreamscape suggests they symbolize something profound or hold a special place in their hearts. The Dreamscape seems to cling to them as if they were cherished dreams from which one would be reluctant to awaken," Kira explained.
The rest gazed at Kira. Of course, he would understand the significance of those objects.
"Any other information?" Murrue inquired.
"Yes, this," Dearka responded, clicking some keys to display a monitor showing Athrun engaged in conversation with another figure.
"Nicol? But he's... he's..." Yzak struggled to find the words, his voice trailing off in shock.
"Dead. Nicol is dead," Dearka stated firmly, his expression grave.
Murrue exchanged a concerned glance with Mwu. "This raises more questions than answers. How can Nicol be here, conversing with Athrun in the Dreamscape? I thought this was Cagalli's dreamscape."
Shinn furrowed his brow, her fingers flying across the keyboard as she displayed data on the monitor.
Yzak spoke up next, "There's something unusual about this interaction. It feels too real, too distinct. This is getting out of hand. I thought we were entering Cagalli's dreamscape. How does she know about Nicol?"
"Not only that, the details are too specific, too vivid. It's as if—"
"Athrun was the one actually dreaming," Dearka interjected.
Mwu pondered for a moment before responding, "Or, it could also mean that Cagalli's mind is projecting Nicol into the dreamscape with such clarity and coherence that it suggests a deeper connection between Cagalli and Athrun. It's as if they are linked and disconnected at the same time."
The group fell into a contemplative silence, each lost in their thoughts as they grappled with the implications of this revelation. The appearance of Nicol in the dreamscape added another layer of complexity to the question, raising doubts about the true nature of Cagalli's subconscious. The idea that an unknown entity is heavily involved now seems to be a very plausible theory.
"We need to proceed with caution," Murrue said finally, breaking the silence. "Whatever is happening in the Dreamscape, it's clear that we're dealing with forces beyond our understanding."
The entire ripple phenomenon has illustrated two things. First, the dynamics between Cagalli and Athrun were not as clear as they thought, especially with the appearance of Nicol. Now, it's quite unclear who the main dreamer is—Cagalli or Athrun. Second, while Kira's mission to wake them up failed, their entrance somehow succeeded in stirring something within the dreamscape, though not necessarily in a positive way.
Mwu nodded in agreement. "Agreed. We can't afford to underestimate the significance of Nicol's presence. It could be a key to unlocking the mysteries of the Dreamscape and finding a way to bring Athrun and Cagalli back to reality."
Then Murrue turned to Kira and the others. "Now that all of us are present in the room, it's time to discuss the results of your mission."
All of them nodded and seated themselves around a large table, surrounded by numerous monitors displaying the dreamscape. Cagalli's monitors projected a blank screen, indicating that her location still could not be pinpointed. They also observed Athrun's monitors, which displayed his perspective, showing how he fondly recalled his encounters with Cagalli.
Murrue and Mwu furrowed their brows in concern as they reviewed the reports and discussed the complexities of the Dreamscape.
"This dreamscape is unlike anything we've encountered before," Murrue remarked, her voice uneasy. "Its unpredictable nature poses a significant challenge. No number of calculations and projections can dictate the course it will take."
"Our priority is to locate Athrun and Cagalli and ensure their safety," Mwu cautioned, his expression serious.
Then, referring to the group, Murrue asked, "The question that's been bothering me is this: is there really no one among you who remembered their actual missions when they were sent in there?" Murrue asked.
All of them nodded in agreement, with the data confirming their observations. Murrue acknowledged this with a nod directed at Shinn.
Shinn, who had been leaning against the wall, tapped his iPad. Then, the monitors around them changed to display the data, particularly focusing on the moment they entered the Dreamscape. He uttered, "Before you entered the Dreamscape, what we already knew was that Cagalli was projecting a different life when she was connected to the Dreamscape. It confirmed our initial theory that she lost consciousness before being connected to it. Furthermore, the Dreamscape technology was still in its beta phase, so it was a big risk to connect her to it."
"Not to mention the pressure from Orb to try their superior technology to save their chief representative," Mwu added, recalling the heated debate over whether to proceed with the Dreamscape project. In the end, the faction that pushed the resolution to connect Cagalli to the Dreamscape won. It was the most viable solution then. At that time, they didn't have any choice. Cagalli succumbed to a tranquil sleep, leaving all her responsibilities to Secretary Toyah.
"Then, Athrun agreed to be connected to the Dreamscape with the idea of finding her and bringing her back by waking her up," Shinn replied. "But we know what happened. The moment he entered the Dreamscape, he was given another identity. This is where I think the Dreamscape developed configurations of its own, based on the subconscious wishes of Cagalli."
Kira thought carefully. "Is she trying to start all over again?"
Shinn replied, "Looking back now, I think that is the case. We were wrong to assume that we could control your mind when you are plugged into the Dreamscape. Actually, it was a brief success for Kira." Shinn manipulated the iPad and displayed Kira's initial entry.
"But two minutes into the Dreamscape, you forgot why you were sent there, and again, the dreamscape wove you into the story it was creating. All of you were integrated in a way that was both near and distant to Cagalli," Shinn explained.
"We were wondering if it seemed that the dreamscape had created two worlds, one for Cagalli and one for Athrun. And as we saw how the dreamscape gave these new identities to all the people entering it for the first time, we became worried about what might actually happen..."
Yzak finally spoke up, "Yes, I remember we were supposed to support Athrun, but it didn't happen that way, at least not in the way we expected."
"That's true. Kira and Lacus gravitated towards Cagalli's dreamscape, while you, Shino, Meyrin, and Meer gravitated towards Athrun..."
"Then why didn't you disconnect us the moment all of this was taking place?" But as Yzak said those words, he understood what they meant. They were trying to see how far they could go.
Murrue nodded at Yzak's realization, "Every minute that you are in the Dreamscape provides new data, so we could not disconnect it..."
"You cannot imagine our reactions when we finally saw the two worlds reintegrating. It was like a story unfolding before us. Cagalli plans to visit Abisko and then your group wish to go sightseeing. It seemed random at first, but we think that the dreamscape is trying to reconnect these two... but now, it will depend on how the people inside them will react."
This time, Murrue gestured towards Mirialla and Dearka.
"I was tasked to monitor Cagalli's dreamscape, while Dearka was to monitor Athrun's. Shinn acted as the overall leader, reviewing all the data... We were finally happy during the first meeting of Athrun and Cagalli at the hostel. Imagine the mood in the room as we saw them meet for the first time," said Mirialla, her tone filled with excitement. It was like a movie scene unfolding before them, and Athrun and Cagalli were the main protagonists.
"It was Shinn who noticed that at that moment, their dreamscape became one," Dearka replied in a warm tone.
"How did you know?" Lacus asked, directing her question to Shinn.
"It was relatively easy. The central monitor displayed their interactions when they were together, then it went blank, and Mirialla and Dearka's monitors came alive," Shinn explained.
"So what about us?" Shiho asked for the first time.
"That's the thing. When you were not interacting with either Cagalli or Athrun, you were just out of the camera. We couldn't locate you," Murrue explained.
"So, we deduced that the Dreamscape is actually relying on Cagalli and Athrun's wishes. We assumed that it was Cagalli who was driving the dreamscape, given that she was the one who was first connected to the server," Mwu explained.
"So we decided that maybe it was time to wake you up," Mwu added.
"And this is where Mwu and I entered the dreamscape. We met Athrun and Cagalli inside. It was a different feeling, finally talking to them in the flesh, but we had to distance ourselves," Murrue explained. "And we disconnected you from the server since all of the data collected is enough to make solid conclusions.
At those words, Kira and Lacus exchanged a knowing glance. They had meticulously reviewed the recordings from their time in the dreamscape, searching for any clues or anomalies. Yet, to their bewilderment, there was no trace of the intimate moment they had shared.
"So that's the case," Lacus whispered to Kira.
Kira nodded solemnly, feeling a little embarrassed about the intimate moment with Lacus. He was grateful that such a moment was not captured by the computers.
"So, do you mean to say that when we are not interacting with Cagalli or Athrun, we just disappear from the computers?" Meyrin asked.
"Yes, that's true... As if you were never there. So, we need to ask, at what point in your stay do you remember?" Murrue directed the question to all of them.
"I remember that we formed a search party to look for them when Kira and Lacus went to the hotel to look for them," Yzak replied.
"Yes, we split into three groups. I went with Yzak, Kira was with Lacus, and Meer and Meyrin went together... and then we were covered in the dark void, after which we suddenly found ourselves in the dreamscape chamber," Shiho affirmed. The others nodded in agreement.
"Okay, how about the others... do you remember anything else?" Then, Murrue addressed Meer and Meyrin. Her voice carried a note of frustration as she spoke to the two women. "As mentioned, we can see you when you interact with Cagalli and Athrun. For Meyrin and Meer, I have a question," she asked in a calm tone.
The two women looked nervously at each other as if expecting this question. "Based on your interaction with Athrun, it seemed like you kept pursuing him romantically," she stated, her gaze piercing as she awaited their response. "Before you were given the mission, it's clear that they are together, and yet you continue to press forward despite knowing the dangers. Explain yourselves," Captain Murrue commanded. #
A/N: RxR! 29.04.2024