Lost in Headspace, Scene 1

Arthur is in his assigned cubicle filling out Form 1J/3B once again. Only another 20 forms to go until your mandated gossip break by the nutrient cooler.

It's a hard job deciding who get's put on Starvation Status, or SS as you privately think of it, but necessary for the smooth functioning, any, the survival of the entire generation ship. It's not your fault the Pilot's Guild got lost and now one must make the hard decisions about who lives or dies. And, the colonists did sign wavers allowing their bodies to be used, after death, as the Administrator's Guild needed...for the Good of Colony!

And after all, the sleeping state they are in, it's like death in any case? What was that line from the story you heard in the fresher the other night? 'To sleep, perchance to dream?' And everyone knows dreaming is just death.

And that's nineteen forms down, but time to take your break. As Middle Manager Bot 2.01 has made it clear that all mandated breaks must be taken in a timely manner. One doesn't want to be sacked by being put in a real sack, now does one?

Arthur was never ready for this level of bureaucracy, especially when lives are on the line. Life and death decisions are something he didn't think he could handle. And he can't. But part of him can. Dorian is used to paperwork, bureaucracy, and making the hard calls, so Arthur lets that part of him surface more to do the 'driving' in sorting out the survival of the ship. It's still not easy, but there's more resolve to soldier through.

He blinks and straightens up from the work as break time comes up. Stretching his arms over head, he pushes his wheeled chair back from the desk and gets up, allowing his fused mind to come back into more balance again now that there is a brief respite from the names and lives. Isn't there something that can be done other than resign himself to filling out forms? He forgets that he can do a great many things, and heads to the mandated break area for gossip and nutrients.

All the usual crowd are there: Luggage Carrier 7.77 of the Gambling Guild, GriffSentBot 1.76, Windracer Olympia, Mr End of World from the Guild of Accountants, and, of course, as always, Ser Galen Mora of the Guild of Mental Probity.

All are clustered around the nutrient cooler, getting their sippers ready. Looks like the Nutrient Specialists have been by to add a fresh head to the cooler. Should be prime aminos today then!

All you have to do is pick up the tube and draw on it. It's really like just slurping down some chocolate milkshake. That is...what? Chocolate what-shake? Is that some sort of Wrong Thought?

And what an attractive voice, "Wake up! Wake up!" in your head.

Arthur is lulled into the dream as he waits in line, preparing for his amino portions and the gossip that comes after. He is as colorless as this dystopia, wearing a plain suit instead of his eccentric and colorful getup. He's suddenly mildly alarmed at a Wrong Thought and what ser Galen Mora will say. Is it demerits, or is he about to be the next supplier of aminos in the cooler?

Those Wrong Thoughts and worries are forgotten at the strange voice in his head. He blinks a few times as his mind tries to interpret what it must do.

The fresh head seems from an insectoid. It's a bit larger than a human head. As, there, it's floating around a bit. Ah, it's a Se'ecra head! Oh, good, they taste prime when they're fresh. A bit dodgy when nearly used. Get bits of chitin in the nutrient then, but, fresh, wow, your prioception rates should go prime plus!

Pity about 'Seeker After Medical Wisdom', but well, sera'a should've jsut stayed on the station where you left...sera'a?...What sort of Wrong Thought is that? You've never been on a CCR space station...Have you?

Arthur feels a little bit of pity, but at least he's certain he wasn't the one who signed that form. If anything, sera'a would've been valuable in helping them through the long voyage, once they made it through to the other side. All he can do now is make the most of 'Seeker After Medical Wisdom's' sacrifice.

He steps up to his turn at the cooler, when his brow furrows. How does he know about the CCR space station? Why didn't Seeker stay? His starts to look around for the voic ein his head that told him to wake up.

"You are Professor Arthur Aevus! Snap out of...Sranz! They're closing in! Hold on! Back soon!" says the Voice in your head. Or perhaps one shouldn't name a Wrong Thought. Or, well, should one?

Ser Galen Mora of the Guild of Mental Probity turns his three eyed gaze on you. "Clear mind, Prof Bot 3.1? No return of Wrong Thoughts since the last Reboot?"

Professor Arthur Aevus? That name sounds familiar. Arthur startles a little as Ser Galen Mora turns to him. "Yes, Ser Mora. Clear mind," he insists even though doubt has crept in. Who is this Professor Arthur Aevus, and what guild is he in? And what is there to wake up from? His eyes are open.

Ser Galen Mora of the Guild of Mental Probity squints his third eye at you. "Hmm, I will schedule an Assessment and Cleansing for you, Prof Bot 3.1. The details will be on your Plan of Action when you return to your cubicle." He smiles widely, revealing his shark=like teeth. "I am certain it is nothing, but Wrong Thought must be stamped out early. There will be little pain."

He then turns to Luggage Carrier 7.77 of the Gambling Guild. "I heard," he says in a conspiratorial voice, "that the Kissing Face of the Bay, you know the one, is interlocking thoughts with Thundercloud of the Knife. What that portend for the peace."

Arthur swallows hard at the scheduled assessment. "Ah. Thank you, Ser. Galen Mora." He looks down at himself as he turns away to gossip, inspecting his hands for signs of robotics. The names mentioned aren't familiar to his sleeping mind, or his waking one. Especially with their veiled nature. Is this really a dream? Maybe he can wake up before the painful cleansing.

Oh, now that's what comes of Wrong Thoughts! What a terrible headache! Right in the medulla!

Fortunately, one can get through the mandated nutrient and gossip, but, it's hard to pass on your mandated gossip. Fortunately, you have a spicy bit about 'Seeker After Medical Wisdom'. About the Great Enemy no less. He can be frozen! You, well, not remember, but somehow you know this.

Ser Galen Mora of the Guild of Mental Probity seems quite pleased by this tidbit. "Good work, Prof Bot 3.1! Remember Mind Clear and Ready!"

And, of course, there are no signs of robotics on your meat hands. It's all in your head like always.

Arthur nods slowly at the tidbit as he nurses his headache. Who is the Great Enemy if not starvation right now? "Thank you, Ser Mora. I will." He hesitates and asks, "Is what you said about Kissing Face of the Bay and Thundercloud of the Knife true? But I thought..." he trails off. Maybe Ser Mora will fill in the blanks.

"Well, it's hard to say, Prof Bot 3.1. The thoughts seems to indicate it, but one always gets strange thought through when one processes gossip from new colonists," states Ser Galen Mora of the Guild of Mental Probity. "But, as the Great Administratrix Unit states, 'Gossip is good for the bottom line. So, better false than none, correct?" He smiles toothily. "Be sure to check your Plan of Action!" He then rolls off on his wheeled legs.

Arthur nods weakly. "I will, Ser Mora." He heads back to his cubicle, picking a piece of chitin that got caught between his teeth..

The rest of your work period goes by as it should, slow and steady like the ticking of an atomic clock. You note, between ticks, that you are scheduled in your Plan of Action for an Assessment and Cleansing at the Guild of Mental Probity right in the middle of your usual squash session with *ERROR - NAME DELETED. CONTACT ADMINISTRATRIX Y/N?*

Arthur freezes for a moment with the sudden error. It takes a few moments and he selects N.

"I thought you'd never do that," says the Voice inside your head. "Let me see if I can locate you again. It keeps moving you." There is a note of worry in the deep, rich, and resonant voice. Also an odd accent you, for some reason, associate with winter and social safety nets.

Arthur looks around again. "What keeps moving me?" he asks, trying to see the voice, or something amiss in reality.

There is a silence from your mind then the Voice says, "How deep are you, Professor? What hooks does it have in you?" The worry seems to intensify. "Let's start at the beginning. Do you remember the distress signal from the star cruise liner

"No...hooks. I'm just in my cubicle doing paperwork," Arthur says, mystified by this voice. The voice doesn't make any sense. "Distress signal? What star cruise liner?"

The Voice gets cut off as over your phone comes the message, "Prof Bot 3.1 report immediately to Guild of Mental Probity! Failure to comply will result in sacking. Acknowledge!" The short declarative are in a voice tinged with a German accent.

A German what now?

An image flashes across your mind's eye. 'This Star Cruise Liner Seekers of Joy. We are under attack by a swarm of...bzzt...krackle...Send the Armada! It's like the AI Fleet, but alone.' 'Shields are down! They're boar..' End transmission.

"Acknowledge, Prof Bot 3.1! Countermeasures preparing!" states the voice over your phone. Over your PDA.

The image in the mind's eye was of Se'ecra designed star ship and the person speaks was a Se'lag. One of the member races of the CCR. And the race responsible for the common language of the CCR given the Se'ecra speak with sign language and scent.

Arthur finds his thoughts muddled. "Acknowledged. No need for countermeasures."

A faint whirring sound that you were barely aware of fades away. "Countermeasures on hold! Report to GMP at once!" snaps the voice over the phone.

To be replaces a moment later by the much nicer, but worried sounding, voice, "OK. Got you tracked down. I think you're on a luggage conveyor. Only think that makes sense," says the Voice. "Do you remember going onto the 'Seeker of Joy'? Even though I told you not to? To wait for once?"

Arthur purses his lips as he feels scolded by someone he doesn't even know. "I don't even remember or know who you are. I just remember some sort of distress signal. I have to report to the Guild of Mental Probity for assessment and cleansing..." he states, though he finds himself not moving yet.

"It was being actively swarmed by a horde of spaceworthy robots! We saw them..." the Voice trails off. "Never mind. You are Professor Arthur Aevus. And you will WAKE UP or I'll be forced to come there! And then I'd have to explain it to the other Lords, so...WAKE UP!"

Arthur falls deeper into whatever dream or controlled state he is in. "Boarding a swarmed space liner? That sounds incredibly irresponsible and dangerous. I would never," he says with some offense and concern. "I don't know who this Arthur Aevus is. I'm Prof Bot 3.1."

"You are Professor Arthur Aevus! You travel through Time and Space like a do-gooding remittance man! You are of those who suppress free thought! WAKE UP!" says the Voice again then says, "Be right back! Have to shake these hunter-seekers. It would be so nice to just let loose. The Ban is, bah." The Voice fades out.

That doesn't sound right at all. Arthur can't seem to shake the new reality written in his mind. "I'm quite sure you're mistaken," he says after the voice fades out, not getting an answer as the owner flees hunter-seekers. He looks over his cubicle as he dwells on the statements of this Professor Arthur Aevus, then finally lets out a brief, scoffing laugh. "Traveler of Time in addition to space? As if there were such a thing. This Professor sounds like a madman," he says as he straightens out his papers. Time to head to the Guild of Mental Probity, he thinks as his expression falls some. All of this is a sure sign of Wrong Thought. Especially that Professor Aevus. Such a rebel would probably be labeled an enemy of the Guild of Mental Probity and society itself. He shakes his head, and walks out of his cubicle while straightening his tie. He must be presentable for his appointment.

A standing mirror in a gilt frame suddenly pops into being in front of you. You can see the pale skin of your face and shaved head, the thin look to your body, the wires attached to your arms, legs, and chest. And the biologic mass attached to the back of your head. And the skin suit that all these things are attached to. All normal.

Well, except for the mirror appearing out of nowhere. Or the fact that your reflection is now changing to a rosy cheeked version of yourself dressed in the most outlandish clothing. No skin suit at all, just a coat and pants and a rainbow scarf?

"You are Professor Arthur Aevus! This is the real you! WAKE UP!" the Voice says, but it sounds more distant than before.

The mirror shatters and fades away.

Arthur staggers back from the mirror and the visions it reveals. "No...no, that can't be! These are Wrong Thoughts! I need to be rebooted!" he says in panic and fear. He looks around frantically after the mirror shatters. Holding his head, he walks away from his cubicle quickly to report for his assessment.

You very faintly hear the Voice speaking, but to someone else, and somehow overhear their convsersation.

"It is forbidden under the Ban, Dreamer. You may not interfere," says a gently reproving woman's voice, In its own way, the woman's voice is as beautiful as the Voice, but more commanding.

"It trespasses in my domain, Valris. And it harms those under my hand," states the Voice.

"The Professor as they calls themselves is /not/ under your hand, Dreamer. They walk their own path. You know this," says 'Valris'.

All this time you are making your way towards the Guild of Mental Probity. You glide smoothly along.

Wait, glide?

Glide. That strange dissonance makes Arthur look down at what he expects to be feet.

And instead, you see that you are semi-recumbent on gravatic luggage carrier as it glides along. The remote control light is on you note in a detached dreamy way. And why is there a needle in your arm? Maybe you should follow the tube it's attached to up to, where does it go?

"It still trespasses in my domain, Valris. And it is within space that our people occupy. What if it comes for a Jerin next?" says the Dreamer in a contesting tone.

"If it does, we shall decide what to do then, Dreamer. As leader of the Conclave, you are forbidden from direct action," Valris sates. "Am I clean, young man?"

Arthur's brow furrows as he semi-wakes, hearing the voices and not fully understanding their context. His eyes drift down to the needle hazily, then follow along the tubing.

The tube leads up a floating interrogation droid of Varanyi manufacture. Another tube leads down from it pumping a black fluid to some soft mass that your head rests on.

"As you command, Lady of Starlight," says the Voice. It sounds upset.

Valris sighs, "I know they are the last of your mortal companions from your childhood. But the Ban must stand," says Valris in saddened tone. "It will be best when the last of them is gone. You will not longer be torn between worlds."

The light is dim around you as you move along a well appointed hallway. You see a viewpoint through an open hatchway and see an array of stars beyond.

Arthur starts to feel himself wake a bit more at last from the nightmare that had him gripped so tightly. He recognizes the Varanyi interrogation droid. Things are starting to make some more sense. His eyes drift to the open hatchway and remembers traveling amongst the stars. Wherever he is now from that space liner, he won't remain if he can help it. And he certainly won't be leaving Dialydd without at least one mortal companion. His eyes look back up to the interrogation droid. It'd be a shame if some faulty wiring were to fry the droid.

The interrogation droid shudders and pauses in its movement which causes the luggage lifter to pause as well. While it seems damaged, it's not out of commission either. But you know, intuitively, you'll act before it.

A few sparks fly from the droid before it powers down with a few internal popping sounds. Arthur hopes that will stop it pumping whatever it is into his veins and the device on his head.

And almost immediately, Arthur mind does start to clear...which is when he realizes several things. One, he is still aboard the 'Seeker After Joy' as he sees a ship skinsuit with that name around a vacuum desiccated corpse beyond the hatchway door. Two, it is a airlock room after all and the corpse is chained to the wall. Three, that his mind is clearing rapidly. Four, that there is a swarm on heads held in the arms of insectoid/squid-like robots flying around the ship outside the airlock's viewport. And last, he's completely naked save for his watch and a belt.

Next: Lost in Headspace, Scene 2