The Dream (Dasq's Challenge)

[Travis North]

"Who the in the hell are you" Travis demanded, "and where am I?!"

Travis stood naked in a pool at the base of a marble fountain which showered ice cold water over his body. When he tried to move from beneath the water cascading over him it felt as though he were restrained by some invisible force. Try as he might all he could move were his lips in a torrent of curses at the mysterious robbed figure before him.

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[Rakkel Thunderwing]

The figure merely laughed in amusement at the pathetic human being before him. It was sometime after that amusement faded and the one known as Travis North ran his voice through before the figure spoke a single word.

"Death."
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[Travis North]

Fear consumed Travis in that instant as the word trailed off his captor's tongue and suddenly the ice cold water had turned to a downpour of warm, sickly crimson blood. It made Travis want to vomit and die if he hadn't already.
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[Rakkel Thunderwing]

"Why so fearful, Travis? This is just a small portion of the blood you have spilled across the Galaxy all in the name of your glorious Empire. You should be proud."
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[Travis North]

The blood sticking to Travis' form began to burn his skin while the pool at his feet slowly rose above his waist. Not a drop had flowed over the marble boundary which left Travis to be consumed in his own drowning pool as the level of blood grew higher.

Unable to scream, he only managed to speak out in a very quiet raspy tone. "I... am... not."


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[Rakkel]

"Enough!" the figure shouted as it transformed into a more youthful and lively appearance. "My gift is wasted with your use. I will not let you torment a man who has already bared this burden in the physical world. Away with you!"

With that the fountain of blood dispersed into nothing and Travis was released. He was now clothed in his dress uniform and able to speak once more, however the horror he had just experienced remained fresh and vivid in his thoughts.

"My sincerest apologies North. My darker self often delves into the minds of the sleeping and plagues them with horrific nightmares which usually drives them insane - It's how I have fun these days. I sadly do not usually intervene as few have not broken under my dark influence and thus given me the opportunity to break from my evil shell." The figure spoke with a smile, "Allow me to properly introduce myself I am Rakkel Thunderwing, a fallen Jedi."
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[Travis North]

Travis sucked in a breath still trying to get over the fact he had made it through the Nightmare he never hoped to have. It took a moment before Travis snapped back to the hear and now within the dream state.

"So, I am not dead. Good." Travis said with relief. "Now, where am I?"

"Asleep in your bed." Rakkel replied plainly.

"A dream?"
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[Rakkel]

"A trance actually." Rakkel explained, "It's how I, rather, he is able to commune with your unconscious mind. This is happening as you begin to doze off to true sleep. However, you'll no doubt return to consciousness when you choose to depart this realm of thought. I can't imagine you'll want to go back to sleep anytime soon either. I warn you, he'll probably attempt another connection in the future to threaten you, especially now that I've intervened.

He can deny your abilities to manipulate a trance for a brief time, but at a cost of his own strength. For instance that construct which bound you, the fountain of blood, was of his design and used his power within the Dark Side of the Force. When your will did not submit to the horrors of the Dark Side he created his power ceased to be of any effect."

"The Force," Travis mused, "I thought it to be a myth and the Jedi were just adept warriors. I always wondered why the Inquisitors had such a fascination with so called Force-users, now I know. That power is not something to take lightly."

Rakkel grinned with excitement and joy as Travis made his conclusion. He then spoke with great enthusiasm, "Excellent, then you should be prepared for the task ahead of you knowing what you face. I want you to kill me, Mr. North. You present a true threat to myself and that's why I've targeted you and a number of others. You stand to ruin everything my dark side has worked towards."

"How would I defeat you, him, your dark side?" Travis asked.

Rakkel laughed, "That is something I cannot reveal, for you see - I'm not really here."

With that the echo of Rakkel vanished into a wisp swept away by shadow as the whole realm shifted into darkness leaving Travis standing alone in a column of light.
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[Travis North]

"Drek," was all Travis had to say as he closed his eyes.

Travis sat upright in his bed the moment he returned to reality, at least what he though of reality. He pinched himself to make sure even though it occurred to him that he could also feel pain in the trance. The torment of the vision had lifted from his thoughts and he was left with only questions unanswered as he sat in bed.

"Drek, indeed." he sighed while getting up to use the refresher.

Splashing some water over himself to wash away the lingering grip of fear, the cold sweat which clung to his body. He took the opportunity to glance in the mirror regarding his own face for a moment suddenly coming to a realization.

I am my own monster.

He returned to bed and went to sleep repeating the phrase 'I will destroy you' in his mind before passing out, this time uninterrupted.
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[Anton North]

Sometime during the night a note had been wedged between the door and the jamb of Travis' bedroom. It read:


Dear Brother,

See you soon.

- Anton <input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden">