Issue 1 Downtime

Miranda had crashed on Sam and Nailah's couch as a sleep-over of sorts. She was bundled up in a blanket and had been sleeping peacefully up until a few moments ago. Then her mind had started racing and she started emitting a sense of dread.

Sam got up from bed, stepping out into the living room, a bit of concern written on her face.

Miranda seemed to be dreaming, but whatever she was dreaming was starting to terrify her. Sam would feel different feelings being cast around like fear and anger and even a bit of hopelessness. She'd occasionally get flashes of ghost sounds involving rhythmic beeping.

Sam hesitates for a moment, then gently makes mental contact.

The dream engulfs her in its visuals or complete lack thereof. The sounds are strange and echoing. She was hearing the beeping of what sounded like hospital equipment and she could feel arm restraints and something around her neck.

"You know I can't contact her mind properly while she's got that collar on."

"I know. I know. Give me a moment to get my dampener on and I'll take the collar off. You're certain you can restrain her?"

A very blurry figure removed the weight from her neck and suddenly she could see. It was like being in a dark room and having the light turned on. The blurry figure was the source of the second voice. The first voice sounded as if it were coming over an intercom.

"Once I'm through with her, she'll be lucky if she remembers which way is up."

"We need her functional, Hive. Don't make me remind you again."

"Whatever you say, Doc."

Then there was a searing mental pain as something slammed into her... no wait, Miranda's mind.

There's a sense of indignation from her as she weathers this. This is the person who hurt her daughter. She's torn between the notion of letting this pass so that Miranda can heal or focusing on her daughter's recollection of this telepath.

The scene gains a picture-in-picture. The smaller mental image shows the metaphorical war going on in Miranda's head. The creatures are already swarming over the outer edges of the city. The Huntress is everywhere, but she's not enough by herself and the buildings are being wrecked either by the weight of the assault or randomly exploding. Sam can see the beginnings of the nest being dug by some of the creatures.

In the 'real world' visual of the dream, Miranda's hands are clenched tight. "She's fighting me, Doc."

"Can you work with her sedated?"

"I can. But it'll be slower." The voice sounded strained.

Sam is frustrated, unable to quite home in on who did this.

Still, she has a codename at the least.

The dream went black as the sedative apparently cut the 'memory' short. Then the dream started up all over again with Miranda being strapped to the table and the process repeating.

Sam frowns in the physical world, and tries to pull together more comforting imagery to help calm Miranda down.

The comforting imagery gradually supplants the nightmare. Miranda's mind reacts a little and her mind starts to wander. Sam can sense her avatar in the Astral, a little groggy, but whole. Mum?

"Aye," she sends to Miranda as her avatar coalesces nearby.

"You were having a nightmare."

A nightmare? Miranda's avatar most closely resembles the Seer, but has elements from all three of the individuals Sam has met before.

The avatar shuddered. It's gone now?

Her avatar nods.

"I tried to focus you on something a bit more comforting, so you could rest."

Thank you. The avatar looked down at herself, Though now that I'm like this, I may start wandering again. I ran into Professor Sackville the last time I did that.

Mom said that was the case. I try to be careful. And I have this. She reached onto her back and pulled a bow from nothing.

I... The avatar yawned. Maybe I won't go wandering.

"No harm in staying in," her avatar says with a smile.

Miranda's avatar gave Sam's a kiss on the cheek. Good night, Mum.

Miranda's avatar vanished as her consciousness returned to her body.