A
‘Captain Scarlet’ story for Halloween
by
Talia Gray
The Room of Sleep. Such a peaceful name, don’t you think? They named it this when they designed it. Such an innovation – thirty minutes of
electronically-induced deep sleep under a Sleep Enhancer – the perfect
restorative. A ‘quick fix’ to allow field agents and
pilots to be refreshed and ready for action.
It was hailed as a revolution in the scientific world. All factors carefully controlled. Safe. And so it was. In the beginning. And then I
discovered it. Purely by chance, I
hasten to add. Oh, there was no malicious intent on my
part. An accidental discovery. But what a discovery.
I exist in what you
might term a ‘non-corporeal’ form.
I derive my sustenance from neural thought patterns. Emotions are my main source
of energy. By tapping into your subconscious, I can
feed from your memories, your imagination, your dreams... It had always been
so difficult in the past, trying to find an individual in the best state of
sleep for me. The dreams never held; they wavered and
with it the flow of energy from them.
Suitable for a snack – to keep me going through the lean times – but
never enough to truly energise me. But now... To tell the truth,
I shouldn’t even be here. I
hitchhiked on a returning deep space mission – drawn to the neural energy
patterns emanating from the cryo-tubes.
They kept me sustained for a while, until Earth-fall.
Then the crew’s awakening ... and
my hunger set in.
Now I have found you.
I thank your scientists
for the Room of Sleep. Profoundly. From the bottom of my heart – if I had
one, that is. But you know what I
mean. They have no idea of my existence, no
understanding that there could exist a being such as me. It makes things so much easier. Within the artificially-induced sleep
state, there should be no dreaming.
Merely deep sleep. At least that is
the idea. In theory. In practice, I have managed to tap into
the brain’s brainwave activity,
subtly, drawing from it the thread of dreams.
The techs don’t bother to monitor sleep patterns anymore. After all, the Sleep Enhancer has been running without fault
since its inception. Besides,
whenever routine checks are run, I am careful to restrict my ‘activities’. No ‘gremlins’ – oh, how I love that term
– are ever discovered. Everything
runs as normal. No-one realises
they have been dreaming.
Well, almost no-one. Everyone is happy.
Well, almost everyone. I know all the
Spectrum personnel who have been through here.
I have lived in their memories, coaxed their dreams from them.
I cannot determine absolutely the pattern of their dreaming; that is
denied me. The human brain throws
up barriers across which I cannot cross – I am not strong enough. Now, the brain that is not fully
human... ah... Well, that is a
different matter entirely.
But as for all of you,
lying in your state of innocence, deep within your sleep as I watch you dream,
tapping into your neural energy. I know you all.
Blue.
Such loyalty, ruthlessness and determination – I would feel quite
inspired, had I the ability to feel any degree of emotion myself. Yet, also, such tenderness. I am privy to your secrets – your
undisclosed feelings for Symphony are shared with me. Yet, fear not. I
will not divulge your passion to anyone.
And Symphony, do you
realise just how much Blue reciprocates those emotions you have for him?
Oh yes, I think you do... at least you hope he does. Your dreams speak to me. They are quite delightful, I can assure
you. A touch of sweetness for my
‘palate’. Oh Rhapsody,
Rhapsody. Living one’s hopes within a dream world. Afraid to divulge that little bit too
much for fear of rejection. Fear
not. Remember, I can see into his dreams and you are reflected there
with such affection. You are safe
within his secret love for you.
Dream on, happily.
And as for
you...
Oh,
you are my pinnacle, the main source of my strength.
There are chinks in
your armour. Did you know that? Your countless deaths and subsequent retrometabolisations
have taken their toll on you, my friend.
Left cracks in your mental defences.
Your thoughts, your dreams,
leak out of them like water through shaking fingers. ‘The human brain throws up barriers across
which I cannot cross’. So true,
and unfortunate, for me. But you...
ah, now... not
fully human any more. I can run my ‘fingers’ across your
synapses, drawing out of them dreams at my command.
Your dreams are mine to control and I delight in what you can give me.
Such agony; such anguish! So alone in your suffering. Everyone you hold dear, so fragile. Such depth of emotion locked within. And I have the key to release the
floodgates. Do you realise how much
I am indebted to you? Come, let me feast
on those emotions. Let me help you dream. I reach out into your mind...
There.
See her lying in your arms.
The pallor of her face contrasting so starkly with the scarlet blood on her
chest. Her eyelids fluttering as
she weakens. Yes, feel the
pain, the knowledge that she is dying and that you are powerless to prevent it. The fragility of her mortality cuts
through you like a knife. Oh, the energy I
draw from you. It warms me so. I must have more.
I coax your thoughts. The dream
shifts... Your gun, still hot
in your hand. Yes, you shot her. An accident. As
simple as that. Mistook her for the
agent you were tailing. Such
anguish! You whisper her name, implore her... ‘Rhapsody...
Dianne... I’m sorry... dear God, no... hold on, my love... I’m so sorry...’ Her eyes open for a
last time and she looks deep into your soul... a mute smile touching the corners
of her pale lips. Unspoken words pass between you. She loves you and now you have lost her.
Forever.
Can you feel the
pain, Scarlet? Dwell on it, focus on yourself. Yes... it floods out of you – into me;
the guilt, the self-loathing, the utter despair.
Oh, this is so good! I feel
so strong. Energised.
You stir in your sleep. Your head trembles beneath the canopy of
the Sleep Enhancer. A crease
touching your brow, eyelids flickering as the silent sob catches in your throat. But there is no-one to notice. Not now.
There is no routine check today.
I am safe and can give full rein to my talent. Your body is so forgiving as the adrenalin surges through it.
You will not reveal your dreaming to others.
It reflects weakness. Emphasises the fact that,
no, you are not fully human. That hurts you, doesn’t it? Instead, you will bear it stoically. Just an unpleasant side-effect of the
Mysterons’ previous control over you.
Sated, I will let you rest now.
Until our next meeting. Until your
next dreaming. The energy you give me is so
powerful. More than I could have dared hope for. I shall soon be strong enough to control
the dreams of the others. To break
down their defences. Did you know
that? What feasting there will be! Such dreaming!
And I will owe it all
to you. I hear you whisper
‘but who are you?’
I smile and reply ‘Your worst nightmare.’
I am the Dream Reaper.
AUTHOR’S NOTES:
Dedicated to my dear friend Brindlewhite for her invaluable support
- thank you
My warmest thanks also go to Chris for beta-reading this story and
for her kind words of encouragement.
Talia Gray (a.k.a. RhapsodyAngel8)
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