### -> [[Right]] *Once again, as per tradition, we find ourselves in a place not quite familiar. IKA should not know what this is, and yet, she does - she is inside what we understand to be an expo, of some sort.* ACT 1: MIND'S WAVE *She is already inside the expo. Around her are several stands of varying types - some showing off vehicles, others showing off abstract concepts, like a triangle made entirely of beige. Looking up, she notices a large amount of banners, though most of them say strange words like "City", "Plan", "Questions", or "Facsimile". This makes some sense to her - it is single words that seem to cause the most painful memories to emerge from her past. She wanders around, glimpsing at the various stands. One catches her eye - it appears to be for a Video Game, something which does not exist.* *IKA walks up to the stage it's hosted on - the back wall is covered in some kind of checkerboard pattern - blue and white, with no discernible logos on them. Someone, presumably a PRESENTER, beckons them towards a mic set-up. The PRESENTER turns towards the audience, which seem to be far smaller than you'd expect, though it still looks human enough.* PRESENTER: We appreciate your patience, everyone. Please welcome Ika as she tells us all about her latest game, *Liminal Seriality!* *Applause is not heard, but some cheers are. IKA walks up to the podium and begins to speak.* IKA: Good afternoon, everyone. So, yes, *Liminal Seriality*. How did I make it? Simple - I didn't! You guys are a bunch of nut cases. PRESENTER: You- you can't be serious, are you? IKA: Of course I am. This is just a dream, right? Vague symbolism, and so forth? There's no such thing as a video game in the real world. *The PRESENTER takes on an extremely neutral look.* PRESENTER: Since when did you think you were the one in control? IKA: Since now. I've been doing some confidence regimens with myself, and I have to say, it's helping. PRESENTER: You deny your past. IKA: Hah! Nah, I'm not doing that. *With no further word, IKA exits the stage, lifting an arm, as if to say, "Oy, I'm not your toy!" She makes her way through the convention, looking for an exit door. A sense of dread sets in, though - what if there is no exit? What if this place goes on forever?* IKA: No, no, it's just a dream, Ika. I can make an exit, we- we can stay here a little bit while I rest. *Drawing her blade, she tries her best to run through the sludge of the dream, eventually picking up enough speed to not quit running. She dashes with all her might, ready to strike in case anything approaches her - and indeed, something is. The lights start to dim red, and she gets the sense that some black, amorphous mass is chasing after her - in her peripherals, black tentacles start to slowly creep up. She's just so close to the wall, though! 20 paces. 10 paces. 5. 4. 3. 2. 1.* ACT 2: WITNESS IT *IKA opens her eyes. She's on some kind of pavement - though it's somewhat rocky. She stands up and gets her bearings of the new world. It appears to be some kind of outdoor park or fair - in fact, the words "Human Residence State Fair" are plastered on a sign right in front of her. Looking behind, she sees she just came out of a box, something wooden, that seems to pulsate, but eventually disappears with a puff of purple smoke. Behind that box appears to be the expo hall she was just in - but she knows she shouldn't return.* *Deciding to turn around again, to her right appears to be some kind of barn, and in front, a small patch of grass, with nothing noteworthy in it, save for the sunlight that's beaming down onto the ground.* IKA: I need a rest... my mind is so entangled these days. *IKA lays down on the grass. She knows it's a dream, but tries her best to simulate it in her mind. The softness of the fibers, curling up against her back, feeling it between her fingers, in the nooks of her hand... She felt so serene, as if she could fall asleep once again.* *The sun, mental as it may be, still burned bright. IKA peered into it - her eyes would not hurt, it would be foolish to think so. It seemed to grow in her vision, revealing... a tear, of some sort?* *She tries to snap back to reality. She is no longer under the sun - but instead, in some kind of circular chamber. She is lying on the ground still, on top of some grates, unable to move. In the center is... some kind of rift. It's circular in nature, pure white, but from the center, she can make out some kind of static. She can faintly hear a MAN and a WOMAN talking.* WOMAN: How is the procedure? MAN: Everything is fully operational. We shouldn't have any issues. WOMAN: Are you *sure*? Last time you said that, there were complication. MAN: I assure you, there will be *no problems*. WOMAN: Good. Activate the sequence. *Some buttons are pushed. IKA now seems to have regained some motor control, being able to lift herself up into a slump against a rail. There are some spikes that surround the rift, metallic in nature, somewhat curved, that begin to spin. The rift seems to grow in size. The WOMAN appears from a door, next to IKA. She looks down at the hunched girl - but IKA notices she has no discernible face or features. Save for the blonde hair, she is draped in black, from head to toe.* WOMAN: Why won't you grow up? *IKA tries to respond, but can't - her throat seizes up, most likely a reflection of her restless sleep. The WOMAN scoffs and holds the railing, looking towards the rift. The spikes spin and spin, the rift growing ever larger, showing something of static on the other side.* *The rift pulsates. Some kind of white electricity starts to pour out, flashing in a couple of directions. One seems to hit the WOMAN directly in the eye. She stumbles back a bit, before rubbing the wound - something that has noticeably not left a mark.* WOMAN: I think... I think I saw it. MAN: What did you see? WOMAN: The other side, it... it was perfect. It was chaotic. So many people arguing, so much disorder... MAN: How could that *possibly* be beautiful? We need to close the gate, *now*! WOMAN: No, no... I've seen it. The Light. This could be our ticket to freedom... MAN: Freedom? Through chaos? You must be undergoing *it*, I'll get a response team pronto- WOMAN: There is no need. You'll see soon enough. *The WOMAN turns to IKA. She extends her hand, causing small sparks to appear over it. Gently, her fingers move to IKA's own eye. She's scared. She tries to run, tries to do anything, but she cannot move. She tries her best to remember how to wake up, tries to get the dream to warp around her, but it's too strong, it's too real, it's oh so real, it's-* ACT 3: THE BABY IS YOU *Silence. IKA finds herself in a black void. The only thing there appears to be a television. It's currently tuned to static - whether that be the fault of the rift, the fault of her own, or the general tendency for dream elements to be strange, confusing, and dysfunctional, is unclear.* *A FACE appears on it - a facsimile of a smile, two dots, and a single line to indicate some level of happiness. It doesn't move, it doesn't blink. It speaks.* FACE: Ika, I get the feeling you are unwell. *IKA is taken aback. Rarely does anyone in her dream talk coherently to her.* IKA: Who are you...? FACE: What do you think? Just like everything else here, I am a part of you. A mere reflection, in the plays that we are forced to enact for you. We play our parts loud, we play them soft, so that you can get a better grasp of yourself. You may call me... the DIRECTOR. IKA: Okay, Director... You are right, I'm not the best. I haven't been ever since I awoke in the forest. I need some advice, and... well, I don't know if Mako would be able to help me. DIRECTOR: She would, but I understand your hold backs. Since we are the one and the same, we need not beat around the bush: you want to understand your past, right? IKA: That's why I've been doing this. If I didn't care, I'd probably be back home... God, I miss home. DIRECTOR: I miss home too. But, at the same time, at home, you wouldn't rest well, or often - and we do like to revel in our scenes, Ika. IKA: I feel like I should apologize...? DIRECTOR: No need. I understand. You awake without knowing anything, and the first true memory you ever recollect involves slaughter. We were all shaken when that happened. IKA: We...? DIRECTOR: The actors in your mind that make up your stage plays, your thoughts, your trains of logic, your muscle memory. When your mind was wiped - for whatever reason, we are still uncovering - we were curious as to what would happen. We could play off of that in any number of ways, perhaps nudging you into finding everything out, so we could once again return to normalcy. But your first memory was so dark, so bleakly purple- when I held it, it didn't have any texture, but it *burned* to hold. We all felt deeply sorry for you as you wept in that girl's arms. We're glad that she's stuck around to this day. IKA: You mean Mako? Yeah, she is something, isn't she? Too pure for this world. I feel bad for making her come along with me... DIRECTOR: She's proven herself to be at least on par with you - based on what we've seen through your lenses, and in terms of combat, anyways. We didn't think to include her in your acts - she's always wearing something different every day. We appreciate your continued wearing of that same 'ol sweatshirt. IKA: Uh, of course. Say, Director, can I ask you some questions? DIRECTOR: I presumed you would. We have some time before we are required to wake. But, I can only answer in what you know. I apologize. *IKA took in a breath - for once, she could, as her body was probably entering some lighter form of sleep.* IKA: Do you know how I can distinguish between real memories, and false memories? Like, earlier - I was presenting a "Video Game", but that doesn't exist, and neither does a "Clock". DIRECTOR: We wish we could differentiate them too, Ika. To our understanding, Mako would be fine in humoring you, if you asked her to help with that. Though, your affliction in this case may not be alone. IKA: How so? DIRECTOR: Toby, it's our understanding that he also knows what a "Video Game" is, as your disjointed reference at the lab was *not* lost on him. Maybe you should ask him. IKA: I see. Uhm, do you think it's worth it for me to keep looking for my memories? I'm starting to feel homesick... DIRECTOR: It is no matter to us if you do or do not. Though, you would feel incomplete if you decided not to find out all that you could. IKA: Alright... one last question, and then I would like to wake up. DIRECTOR: Sure, sure. IKA: What do I do if I want to talk with you again? DIRECTOR: Truthfully? Look behind the curtain. Every dream has some border that you can find. A red curtain means that we are behind it, setting up our stages and props for the infinite task of acting out for you. As the Focus, we cannot give you anything, but if you ask for me, we are forced to oblige. IKA: Thank you. I appreciate this talk, really. DIRECTOR: And we do too. Now, how would you like to wake up? IKA: I have to choose? God, shoot me- DIRECTOR: If you insist. *IKA felt a hole bore right through her head. This caused her to jolt awake, instantly, ending our play for the evening.*