Seven.
The next morning, Dream snores loudly while the sun shines on his face, from the open window. Mentally tired, it takes Dream a few minutes before the sun’s rays are able to wake him up. Dream rub his eyes, trying to remember his training from sleep.
“Everything is crystal clear in my head.” Dream thinks, “And I feel the increase of strength in the Seal. It’s like a piece of dynamite, waiting for its fuse to run out…weird.”
Dream hears muffled thuds in the distance but is too disoriented to comprehend. After taking a second, he sits up in his bed and looks at his window. He sees Vision staring through the glass, adjusting a small blue earpiece in frustration.
“Who knew one virus can cause so much damage…” Vision mumbles. “What’ll happen now?”
Vision intently listens to the person on the other side of his call while Dream ruffles his hands through his hair.
“Everything okay, Drama Queen?” Dream says with a laugh, “You look stressed.”
“Oh, you ‘re up.” Vision replies, his face still painted with terror. “It…it started…”
“What are you talking about? What started?”
“You couldn’t of possibly slept through all of that noise…I thought you were just in deep thought or something.”
“What did I sleep through?” Dream asks, shifting off of his bed.
He runs to the huge window that towers from the floor to the ceiling of the room. In the distance, Vision and Dream sees explosions covering the once beautiful view. A nearby explosion suddenly goes off, shattering the window into pieces. Dream and Vision fly back from the force, falling onto the ground. Large pieces of glass fall around them as they quickly catch their breaths. Dream pushes himself up and helps Vision back to his feet.
“Yeah…That’s what you slept through, Dream.”
“I had a long night.” Dream says, “My bad. Weren’t you on the phone?”
“Yeah. I was talking to Juelz through the Bluetooth but the explosion might of interfered with the signal.”
“Bluetooth? Isn’t that a little low-tech?”
“Mhm, and so is this.”
Vision pulls a slim black phone out of his pocket. The logo of a bitten apple is on the chrome back piece along with other symbols.
“What the hell is that?” Dream asks.
“It was called a uPhone.” Vision explains, “Very popular about two centuries ago.”
“…And it still works?”
“You see, even though this is ancient technology, it becomes extremely useful. We weren’t able to find any more of these around so we haven’t mentioned them in any of the meetings, but the Kingz use them for emergencies. The frequencies that these phones use haven’t been touched in ages, so they’re not monitored by the police. Perfect line of communication for us.”
“Makes sense.” Dream nods, “But enough of the history lesson. We have to get out of here. I have to find out who is causing the city to fall apart!”
“We both know the answer is the Black Ryders. Juelz just told me to fill you in when you wake up. That virus that Bulldozer has…got a serious upgrade. It’s eating at the city from the mainframe, making the city’s network implode.”
“The mainframe…that’s at the Rave City Plaza. Right?”
“Yeah. We have to regroup with Juelz and then handle it.”
“I’m not that sure.” Dream says, “That might take too much time. This is between the Kingz and the Black Ryders…we can’t let this go beyond those limits…”
“What can we possibly do by ourselves though? …” Vision asks. “You almost died yesterday, you can’t just rush into battle like that.”
“There’s not enough time…” Dream says, shaking his head. “Something must be done now.”
“What are you thinking? I can’t just let you go get yourself killed.”
“Last time I checked, I was second in command. I’m going to the Plaza and you’ll have to meet me there.”
Dream closes his eyes as Vision stares at him, confused. Voices start to rise in the foster home as another set of explosions ring through Rave City.
“…What the hell are you doing?! This isn’t the time to sleep, Dream!”
Dream slowly opens his eyes, looking slightly frustrated.
“Yesterday, I teleported…” Dream explains. “I don’t know how but I was able to teleport across the street.”
“Teleported? I thought you can only make clones of yourself.”
“I know, but yesterday when I got angry enough, this seal on my hand gave me new power…I was faster, stronger and I could teleport short distances…The more I use the power, the stronger it’ll become.”
Another explosion rings through the sky, sending shockwaves through the surrounding buildings. Vision and Dream catch their balance as posters and items on
the dresser, start to fall to the floor. Mr. Jones’ voice can be heard over the
earthquake, evacuating the orphans from the building.
“He doesn’t care about us, so I doubt he’ll come up here to get us out…” Vision states, “Maybe you should activate that seal…if we’re going to go stop the Black Ryders without the rest of the Kingz, we need all the power we can gather.”
“We?” Dream asks in surprise. “I know I was specific with my orders. I’m going alone. Sorry man, but I don’t think you should come…you have visions, but I
doubt that’ll help us as much as some weaponry of some sort…”
Vision stays silent for a second, offended by the truth of Dream’s statement. He closes his eyes in thought for a second but then puts his ego aside.
“Fine…” He says with a sigh. “I’ll just alert the Kingz, and get my arsenal from the hideout…I don’t have any of my weapons here. Just activate that power already…”
“I can’t just reenact it…” Dream says, a little more frustrated than before. “I
don’t know how.”
“You were pissed last time it sparked up, right? Maybe it’s that anger that activated the power.”
“It is.” Dream thinks, “I need to keep all of my training in mind.”
Dream refocuses his mind, trying relax amongst his chaotic thoughts. He fidgets impatiently, trying to figure out how to get himself angry. He lets his mind wander to little things that annoy him but nothing happens.
“Well?” Vision prods impatiently, “What did you think about? Is it working?”
“I’m thinking about Mr. Jones, how he constantly rants about how I’ll never be adopted, and how useless he thinks I am. I don’t think it’s doing much though.”
“Probably because you know better.” Vision says, “You get vacations all the time, families love you. You’re the one that rejected offers to get adopted. Think deeper.”
Right before Dream closes his eyes again, the door bursts open. Mr. Jones storms in with clenched fists, glaring at the two orphans. His eyes twitch with anger and he stomps with every step closer.
“WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU IDIOTS?!” He yells at the top of his lungs. “HOW DARE YOU BRING GANG VIOLENCE INTO THIS PRAISED INSTUITION?!”
Dream and Vision stare at Mr. Jones and then at each other.
“Just concentrate, Dream.” Vision whispers. “What we’re doing is a lot more important than him.”
“DON”T IGNORE ME!” Mr. Jones continues to rant, “YOU THINK YOU CAN JUST ATTACK WHO EVER YOU WANT?!”
“…What the hell is he talking about?” Dream wonders, getting annoyed.
“YOU’RE ALWAYS DISRESPECTFUL TO YOUR ELDERS, YOU UNGRATEFUL INGRATES! BUT INSTEAD OF LETTING MY SON BE A SHINING EXAMPLE OF EXCELLENCE, YOU ATTACK HIM IN COLD BLOOD!”
Vision just stares at him, acting as if he cannot hear a word. “YOU THINK THAT THE WORLD WILL PITY YOU
BECAUSE YOUR PARENTS ARE DEAD?! NO ONE GIVES A DAMN!”
Dream tries to concentrate on his own thoughts, blocking out Mr. Jones’
voice as much as he could.
“MATTER-IN-FACT, YOUR FATHER SHOULD HAVE LEFT YOU IN THAT DAMN FIRE JUST LIKE YOUR WHORE OF A MOTHER LEFT YOU BEFORE. YOU DIDN’T KNOW HER, BUT I KNEW ALL THE STORIES! JUST A WASTE A LIFE, A WASTE OF A TIME, A WASTE OF EFFORT!”
Dream feels something snap in his mind. Memories flash through Dream’s mind of his childhood and of the nuisances that Bulldozer and the Black Riders have been lately. He remembers the brief sight of Jelani’s rampage and how his power was forced into him too soon. Negative thoughts from his vivid imagination invade his mind without mercy. His eyes open widely and his aura materializes around him, fused with darkness. His eyes glow with a deep magenta as the seal on his hands illuminates brightly. The Cursed Seal appears below him and the wind picks up speed around him. Mr. Jones realizes the change in atmosphere and draws his energy pistol from his belt immediately.
“MAYBE IT’S BEST IF I OUT YOU BOTH. YOU’LL NEVER TERRORIZE MY SON AGAIN.”
Dream teleports across the room and plants his fist into Mr. Jones’ chest. The old man soars into a wall, screaming in pain as he feels bones crack in his arm. The energy pistol spins into the air, falling into Dream’s hands. He smiles and walks casually back to Vision, who is staring at him in awe.
“I’m ready.” Dream says in a deep dark voice, handing the energy pistol towards Vision.
“Uhh…right.” Vision replies, finding something weird about Dream’s new voice as he grabs the gun. “You get over there, while I make my way to the—”
Vision blinks as a fierce wind blows past him, flying out of the window. He looks in front of him to see that Dream is no longer standing there. He stares outside as a dark blur appears on the street. It rushes forward with a trail of magenta static in its wake.
***
Amy sits on her bed with her legs crossed Indian-style. She meditates with her eyes closed, concentrating on the muffled screams outside and around her room. Explosions occur in the distance after numerous pieces of hardware around the neighborhood malfunction at once. She glances at her chrome watch and sees a star covered with mist in the reflecting glass. She smiles, putting her fingers together in anticipation.
“The Black Ryders must be messing with the mainframe.” She thinks to herself. “Causing problems for no reason…And of course, Dream will probably try
to come to the rescue. I love you Dream, but you’re not making the best decisions
for us right now. Moni can only please you for so long, before you realize that we’re meant to be.”
An explosion shatters the windows in her room, erupting from the alarm system lock attached to the window seal. The shockwaves blow past her but she doesn’t budge. She slowly gets up, dusting shards of glass off herself as she walks towards to her closet.
“Today is symbolic. The city is falling; it refuses to watch you throw what we have away. It refuses to just sit back and watch us lose our relationship because Moni uses her behind like a magic wand, getting anything she wants from you. You may say she’s not that way, that she’s sincere and that she cares…but I can’t take that risk. I love you with all of my heart, and I won’t take the chance that Moni can hurt you. It’s only a matter of time before she does.”
She runs her fingers along the closet door handle, before swinging it open. She pushes aside her wardrobe, revealing a dimly lit staircase. Amy steps forward, walking down the staircase with confidence and determination.
“Everyone says I’m so damn smart…” Amy thinks, as her emotions build up inside. “Wonder why I haven’t been coming to class lately…heh…they don’t
know a thing…They don’t know my true potential. My research at SoulStar Industries only helped perfect my masterpiece.”
She reaches the end of the staircase and walks into a small laboratory. There is a huge metal cube that is twice her height, standing in the middle of the room. It is hooked up to many wires and contraptions scattered around the room.
“Do you know how much work this took to create, Dream? Are you beginning to realize how much I love you? Probably not. You never will. But you
will have a range. An estimate. A valid guess, at least. I did so much for this to be a
success. I mastered my teleportation skills. Pinpointing the exact point in which to teleport to, instead of settling for an approximate area. I used this to break into the nuclear plant that helps power this city. Steal bits of nuclear energy at a time, putting my life at risk. Just until I got enough to power up my creation for thirty
minutes. Don’t worry my love, I wouldn’t let myself die by the hands of something as simple as radioactive waste…”
She laughs to herself, staring at her deformed reflection in the metal cube in front of her.
“But If I’m so smart, I would’ve been with you by now…I would be able to hold you in my arms, not worry about the problems of this city. You force yourself to be the hero, though. And that’s ok…because now the time has come.”
Amy starts to laugh harder, pressing her palm on the metal cube wall. The tangerine chrome watch on her hand clicks loudly, imitating the sound of a unlocked door. The lead under her palm lights up at once, reading her handprint. A digital circle appears around her print, lifting from the wall. A grey slime travels across her fingers, spreading slowly as she holds in her excitement. The slime travels across her whole body, defining her curves with precision. It inches up her neck, seeping into her hair and covering her forehead. The wall deteriorates and melts to reveal the huge metal crimson egg behind it.
Amy walks to the egg, thrusting both her hands into the surface. In a metallic flash of light, Amy’s body disappears. The egg begins to shake, binary code
drifting up and down the outer surface. All of the wires connected to the metal cube
power up, sending volts of electricity into the egg. The metal casing shatters at once, exploding into different directions around the room. Amy stands in the center of the explosion with both of her arms outstretched and nuclear energy pulsing out of her. Crimson pieces of metal spiral around her, slamming into her body, and building itself into a protective armor. The red metal shards from the egg reflect off of her eyes as her smile grows wider. She clenches her fist into the cold metal gloves of
the armor, sending shivers down her spine. She glances at her watch and sees a countdown activates, starting from thirty minutes.
“I’m taking matter into my own hands.” Amy thinks, “It’s time to fight for the one I love the most…It’s time I fight for you. For us.”
In an explosion of energy, she soars out of the laboratory. She spirals out of
the staircase and flies through the broken window of her room. Her armor lights up, kicking into overdrive as she rips through the sky.
***
Dream sprints towards the center of the huge explosions, teleporting in short bursts. He scales blocks at a time, getting a better handle on his power. After covering ten miles in two minutes flat, he screeches to a halt. Dream looks around and realizes that he’s in the central plaza, where the main computer of the city’s mainframe lays underground. More explosions surround him as he notices two teenagers in the haze of flames. Han-su and Jet laugh hysterically, launching fire from their eyes and hands onto the central plaza. Han-su slowly turns around, as Dream’s aura irritates his senses and catches his attention.
“Yo, Jet.” Han-su says, laughing “The boss was right…”
“Dream to the rescue, eh?” Jet says, turning around in slight excitement. “Let’s just kill the pest…that’ll show the Kingz who really controls this
city.” Han-su suggests with a smile.
“Sounds like fun.” Jet replies. “But, killing him would get us in trouble, wouldn’t it?”
“Man up. Either we kill him or I kill you.”
Dream steps up to the both of them, interrupting their conversation before
Jet can respond. His memories of training flash into his mind and fuel his determination.
“I was expecting more of a challenge, but you two will do for now.” Dream shouts over the echoes of explosions behind him.
“Did someone just hit puberty? There’s a lot more bass in your voice.” Han-su responds, snickering. “You’re just like that little chick you wifed up…All talk, but no action to back it up.”
“Really??” Dream says, smiling as he glows with even more intensity. “STEP UP THEN!!”
Han-su and Jet start to walk towards Dream while dark magenta static begins to revolve around him. Jet throws a ball of fire at him but the darkness swallows it. Dream launches himself into the air, and the Cursed static flies around him. Jet rebounds off a flaming car, going after Dream. Dream kicks at jet in mid-air, but slightly misses. Jet’s eyes flare and flame fly out of them, directly into Dream’s chest. Dream’s body fades into ash and darkness as the real Dream comes from behind Jet, power-punching his back. Jet’s body collides with another flaming car, as the impact makes it explode. Electric surges run wildly around the plaza, fusing with the surrounding flames. Han-su angrily tackles Dream to the floor, as his hands and eyes fill with flame. He stays on top of Dream, rapidly punching him in the face with fire. The Cursed Seal pulses through Dream’s body, throwing Han-su’s body yards away into a flaming tower-like structure. Dream slowly gets up, wiping blood off of his lip as he feels the temperature rise. The flames’ strength increases dramatically, creating an impenetrable inferno around the plaza. Han-su’s body combusts into flames and he steps out, evilly smiling. He walks up to Dream and stops 5 yards away.
“Stop now!” Dream yells “This inferno is gonna kill everyone that’s unconscious here, AND fry the city’s mainframe!!”
“First Rule of the Black Ryder: don’t give a crap about anyone…” Han-su
replies coldly. “Finish your objective at all costs…do you think I care about the people in the plaza?! I’m glad I’m burning them to ashes.”
“Jet is one of your own, you’re just going to let him die?!”
“He’s irrelevant…” Han-su responds, laughing at the thought of saving Jet. “I only use him. He’s my minion…easily replaced.”
Dream shakes his head in silence, assuming a fighting stance. Han-su’s
body levitates into the air and the inferno’s flames close in. They gather around his body, fusing within him. He charges blindly at Dream, as Dream’s Cursed Seal sparks up below him. A blur of blue flames steps in front of Dream, stopping Han-su in his tracks. The blue flame hits Han-su’s shoulders, and kicks his body into ground. The blaze returns to a regular state, while Dream stands in awe. The blue flames evaporate, revealing Jet’s body.
“Easily replaced?!” Jet yells, infuriated and disgusted as he turns to
Dream. “Finish him…I’m going to go resign my Black Rider title with Bulldozer.”
Dream nods as pure white feathers descend from the sky. The Cursed Seal illuminates even more and Dream makes three clones around him. Han-su slowly gets up, cursing under his breath. The pure white feathers continue to fall from the sky as Dream’s mind goes blank, over flooded with the memories of his past. The first clone suddenly teleports in front of Han-su and power uppercuts him into the air. It teleports behind Dream as the second clone takes his place. He flash kicks Han-su in his sides, bringing his body up higher. The second clone teleports behind Dream.
The third clone teleports into the air, spinning rapidly in a dark cyclone. A roundhouse kick flies out of the cyclone, kicking him up and backwards. Shards of sharp knives launch out of the cyclone into Han-su’s body as the cyclone evaporates. The third clone appears behind Dream, and all three clones disintegrate into the Cursed Seal. The darkness swirls around Dream as Han-su’s body starts to fall from mid-air. Chains launch out of the seal, wrapping themselves around Han-su’s body. Dream grabs the main link of the chains and swings it in a semi circle, into another tower. The chains fade away and Dream heavily sighs. He tries to relax his power, finally at ease. He closes his eyes for a moment, realizing how close he was to being cremated alive. He stumbles away from the remaining flames before he teleports a block away. Falling to the ground, Dream smiles with satisfaction.
“I can make this happen.” Dream thinks, “I can save the city.“
Dreamweaver Saga 