The Citizens of Ariel

DREAM #1: 9/21 at 3:03 AM
No matter what you're doing in your dreams (or reality), you'll get the distinct feeling that you're being watched. When you look around, you'll notice one thing--one person--that's distinctly out of place. This ghostly young woman in a simple white dress is just staring at you. She's ringed with glowing white orbs, too. Some of you might be able to recognize her: Pasi Ahokas. She disappears almost as soon as she's noticed.

For an hour after you wake up, you will feel like you've forgotten something meaningful.

DREAM #2: 9/22 at 4:04 AM
Pasi is watching you again. This time, instead of disappearing, she points in your direction--she's pointing behind you. When you turn around, you'll discover a different beautiful woman with colorful ribbons on her hair sitting on a disembodied white bench. In her arms she's cradling a trembling baby bird, covered only in golden down feathers; it's actually the size of a chicken. At this point, you lose control of your body: you're walking forward and then you're handing over a bowl of freshly cut orange slices. She thanks you for helping out.

"Do you think he's going to make it?" you ask.

She shakes her head, looking up at you. "It would take a miracle," she tells you.

"I'm sorry," you say quietly. "I was just following orders. You know that, right?"

"I know," she says.

For an hour after you wake up, you will have strong feelings of guilt.

DREAM #3: 9/23 at 5:05 AM
Pasi is watching you again. Almost immediately, you lose control of your body: you blink once, twice, and suddenly you're standing in the middle of what looks like a high-tech command center. You're glaring at the man standing across the room from you. It's difficult to make out his features, even though you're intimately familiar with them.

"What the fuck are you planning to do?" he asks you.

"Give me the continuum keys," you say.

"Once we've started," he says, clearly running low on patience, "we can't just reverse this process on a whim. It's a little late for that."

"Give me the continuum keys," you repeat.

He laughs disbelievingly, shaking his head. "You really think they're going to let you do whatever you want?"

"They lied to us," you say, nearly spitting the words. "They lied to us about everything. I don't see a reason to listen to them anymore."

"But you have certain promises to keep, don't you?"

For an hour after you wake up, you will have the strong desire to find the continuum keys and use them to do something important. Unfortunately, you have no idea where they are or even what they look like. The desire will fade, but not entirely disappear.

DREAM #4: 9/23 at 10:10 PM
Pasi is watching you again. As before, you aren't in control your body--but you're actively trying to talk to her. She seems saddened by something.

"I know this goes against every protocol and guideline out there," you say.

"They will never forgive you, Ariel," Pasi says.

"Yeah, you don't need to tell me that."

"He won't forgive you either," Pasi adds, a bit curious.

"Listen, I'm just trying to do the right thing." You look down at your empty, glove-covered palm. "And to do the right thing, I need to know where he's hiding the continuum keys. That's where you come in. You're the only resonator I could think to ask."

Pasi sighs. After a moment, she delicately plucks one of the glowing white orbs from its place near her shoulder. She considers its shape, then gently blows it in your direction. The Geas orb meets with your chest and disappears. A glowing circle appears in the palm of your hand, visible through the glove. Even though this is a dream--it's just a dream, right?--it comes with a very real and powerful compulsion effect.

You wake up instantly. The glowing circle is still on your hand, accompanied by an overwhelming demand: Go deeper. You won't even think twice about abandoning what you're doing to descend through The Refuge, using the freight elevators and then the emergency stairwells. Eventually, you'll reach the lowest and least protected level in your search for the continuum keys. And you are not alone.