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Tanyar tried to force his chaotic feelings down and order his distressed thoughts. He was angry over what she had done for sure. Well maybe more frightened he had to admit, upset, worried, why the hell... NO.

He imposed more force on his lines of thinking setting out his plans. He needed to get a message to his father, he needed to speak with the board and make them understand. Most importantly he needed to outwit the I.A. that seemed to have most of the control.

Tanyar looked up with the rapping on the plastic shield of the tank. Faces, he nodded seeing their surprised and hopeful expressions. Before the tank lid was half way back one of the technicians had pressed himself into the tank against his body pen lighting his eyes. "Tanyar are you okay?"

In the seconds it took for the tank to finish opening he could have answered but instead laid there though a barrage of questions. "Can you feel your feet?..... Do you know why... How did it happen.... we get the rest out? ...many fingers am I holding up. Can you tell us what's happening!"

Tanyar, no Nathaniel closed his eyes and raised one finger, he needed to be strong, ready, sure. When they fell silent he opened his eyes and shoved the hand off his shoulder. For a second he remembered the only time he had truly seen Kalrena in a angry fit. She had been spouting about the lack of intelligence in the technicians who had helped to get him out of the tank after he had been manually ejected. After nearly two minutes of heated words she apologized and asked him to forget the whole thing. He hadn't though, Nathaniel caught the other hand in front of him squeezing hard while pushing it away.

"Don't touch me. Call the medical building and tell them I will be heading there in a moment. Second I need an outside line to call my father and wish him a happy birthday before he gets upset. Also I need to speak with Maxwell if he is available and as many of the board members as possible." He took a deep breath before letting it out slow sliding his legs out of the tank causing all five of them to rush forward to stop him. "DON'T TOUCH ME!" He shouted out trying to use the information he had gained about self defense to work outside of the Dream. He was able to sit up properly and had kept them all away excepting the one hand on his shoulder from whom ever was standing at the tank behind him trying to keep him in place.

"You can't get up. You've been out for nearly thirty hours. You could be..."

"Fine! Just get you hands off." Nathaniel spoke trying to shake his shoulders and get the hand off him. Looking around he recognized only one of the employees whom he had work a short time with. "Ryan call the medical staff and get a stretcher if you have to but get them here now." He waited as his instructors in tank setting and applications to moved back and walked away.

"You." He picked at random, "I need an outside line I promised to call my father today and wish him a happy birthday. He will get very upset and likely come down here to give me an earful on responsibility to family if I don't call. What ever is happening I don't want him here now." Nathaniel felt a surge of joy when she nodded and moved to a wall unit feeling an accomplishment at least that part of the plan will work. When she started talking he rattled off Martin's private line which was answered by his computer. It would take the message then alert him where ever he was.

He waited while glaring at two others who stood before him giving them what he felt was a upset and pissed look before one of them muttered about notifying the board and walked away. As the other had stepped back and look away he seized his chance and jumped off the tank and onto his feet. He waved the last two techs away as he steadied himself against the tank before taking several slow shaking steps forward to the next tank. With a arm braced against the outside of the tank he moved around and down two more before he had to stop and grab the closed lid for support. Now that he had made it to the last tank he felt he was close enough to the female who was making the call on the com unit, he could be heard with out needing to shout. Nathaniel needed a nice steady firm voice that wouldn't betray his true intentions.

The unit chirped with an odd ring before his brothers recorded voice sounded. "I am unreachable but leave a messaged and maybe I can find time for you." Inwardly Nathaniel winched hoping the rather sarcastic message didn't alert anyone including ARENS.

He spoke out loud and slow. "Dad I'm really sorry. I'm just a bit overworked at the moment but, 'Happy Birthday'. We will spend some time together very soon. Tell Martin that they really are frying brains here and I need help." He hadn't changed his voice or tone as he spoke out his message except for the emphasis on the happy birthday but by the time he said 'I need help' the female tech was already trying to end the call. That was fine with him likely ARENS had cut him off as soon as it registered 'frying brains' but actually that would make the message all the better if it was interrupted at the brain part. The truth was the code was already given well before that.

Between the brothers the phrase happy birthday was supposed to be how they would know if the other had a 'personal' guest. Not that either of them had brought a female to the apartment it was just the point that each thought they should be able to. Calling Martin and wishing dad a happy birthday would be a serious red flag especially since they had discussed the fact that it might be more than a month before he would come home. The whole conversation when his brother replayed it, especially if it cut off, would have Martin calling their father with the message that something was very wrong.

"Employee Tanyar," The static voice called from the comm unit, "your employment is here by terminated. Your access and status has been blocked."

"Correct me if I'm wrong but you don't have that ability ARENS. I'm sure there is no one else that has fired me yet. You're acting beyond your programing again aren't you." Turning towards the others he continued. "How long will it take for medical Ryan? And have you contacted any of the board yet?" he queried the other person.

With a deep breath he started heading to the computer station near the door taking slow but solid steps to the chair that waited. He was glad the tank room they moved him to last week had just enough tanks that a backup monitoring station had been placed by the door. When he sat down though the programming shut off and the screen changed to a yellow background before he even had the chance to start.

"ARENS I know you haven't found someone to fire me yet..... ARENS!" He gave a faked growl of frustration. "Can one of you please help me?"

"I don't think that is wise." came the answer.

"Wise? Since when is the help function a locked status? I wish to check on the status of Kalrena. She... please I need to make sure she wasn't killed." He told them.

"No one has died Tanyar." The female spoke quietly almost as if to reassure herself.

"Dead in the dream, coma in the real world. And you think there is a difference." He spoke with acid and sarcasm. "ARENS can not fire me especially since I am following the orders of both Kalrena and Midnight. Now get the hell over her and tell me if they are alright."

They looked at each other before one finally spoke. "Midnight is in a coma along with his entire group since early this afternoon. More than two-thirds the dreamers are now."

"That was the fall of the administration building when ARENS and his helpers attacked." Nathaniel was able to see from three near identical puzzled looks and slight head shakes that they had no clue what he was talking about and no clue what was happening in the Dream.

The wall unit buzzed and was answered while ARENS voice spoke out again from overhead, "Tanyar you employment has been terminated. You are to gather your things and leave the premises."

"On who's authority?" Nathaniel quickly countered.

"Board members Aaron and Lynda." The A.I. answered.

"Good now ARENS you can listen since I haven't officially signed a contract stating how my employment can be terminated and I wish to dispute that fact since none of them were the ones that were there during the meeting. I want to to contact each board member including Maxwell and I expect to hear from them in the next few minutes. Also I am claiming a possible injury. I will be taken to the medical wing for an examination that you will now tell to Arron and Lynda so they are informed and can alter their decision before this turns in to a serious legal matter. Go ahead and try to wiggle your way out of this but you almost killed me last time I was pulled out and failure to have my injuries checked could be considered a second attempt especially since I'm sure security is already on their way with your order to remove me. I don't plan on leaving until I get a clean bill of health and have spoken with the board to be sure they know what I have been told about the Dream." Tanyar had to take a few deep breaths feeling like his heart was racing for a moment and he wondered if there really was some sort of reaction from being in the tank to long.

"Oh and go ahead and try and refuse my orders, it will only make it easier to prove you've gone rouge and are endangering lives. After all I have five human witnesses right here who have heard me ask for a simple request. I won't allow you to just erase all this like a simple file." Nathaniel was wondering if he should state that it was an order as well. He was trying to goad the program into making a mistake even though he knew that was very unlikely but, there was a chance that he might get the machine to cooperate with some of his orders.

Security did arrive a few moments later along with a horde of medical staff who basically scoffed at the three man team. There was no way they were allowing the young man to leave for any reason with out a series of medical tests. Nathaniel was able to fend everyone off just long enough to make them all listen first. After finally getting one of the techs to check on Kalrena's tank he felt a great sense of relief in the fact that she was still active in the Dream. Next he got the med teams assurance that they would pull his entire medical history including all files so that he would be able to see any differences that had happened from the very first day. The fact he demanded it all to be transferred to paper seemed to cause several eyebrows to raise but with the threat of refusing to fully cooperate unless they could prove on paper that he was fine finally gained him approval.

"To much has happened to me, I think it will help us all and maybe even help those in the Dream if we can look at all this at once instead of picking through files." He refused to say more to them when questioned instead addressing the technicians. "I need a list of everyone in the Dream active or not. I will tell you which are working with ARENS so you can remove them." That statement lead to a small argument which he ended by simply ignoring it. The request would be heard by ARENS and hopefully force it to re-plan or maybe somehow worry just a little.

"SECURITY." He spoke loudly addressing the officer dressed men. "ARENS just tried to fire me on its own. I really doubt he could or should be able to do that but for some reason it believes it can. You can of course ignore me too but I am requesting that I be told as soon as my father calls. Deny me that and I will have multiple extra lawsuits piled on especially if your A.I. blocks contact. I'm sure its against the law somewhere to stop him from calling me in an emergency no matter what secrets you're trying to protect. Can you take a number?" One of the guards pulled out a small device and slid out the stylus. Nathaniel gave the number to his fathers business, "I would request that you call him and allow me to talk with him before he gets my brothers message."

The next few hours seemed like they should fly by in a rush as Nathaniel was moved to the medical wing and subjected to a run of tests but each time he checked the clock it only showed that short periods had passed. Four different board members had spoken with him so far but each refused to accept the fact that their A.I. wasn't working exactly as it should be. Each time Nathaniel simply told them he would file a lawsuit for each unconscious person unless they were willing to talk, in person, with him and listen and hear the information he had.

He did his best to try and remain calm but each test along with each minute that passed had him wishing he was back inside the Dream or at the very least talking with the programmers to find a way to disable ARENS.

His father did call back and Nathaniel was permitted to talk with him on a line with more than a dozen people listening in and nearly that many in the room. "Are you alright?"

"Yes Dad. But I really need your help. Things have gone wrong here and the Corporation is trying to keep things quiet." He had started but someone already was interrupting him.

"Things are not that bad, you should understand you son...."

"SHUT UP!!" Mr. Reachen's voice roared with anger, "MY Son is quiet gifted in assessments, you obviously do have a problem and it would be the goal of any company to try and fix their own problems."

There was silence all the way around before Nathaniel started again. "At the moment I am willing to work with T.A.N. Corp. I still believe the Dream project could be a benefit for so many people. Still it's time to make some serious decisions I need the board and everyone else to listen and I think the best way to do that is to make them 'understand'." He spoke the word in a way that his father would instantly understand himself.

"What do you need?" The question came.

"Three possibly four hundred lawsuits at a hundred grand each plus as many as ten lawsuits against the company for negligence and other things each a mil plus." Nathaniel knew the numbers were going to be more than sufficient to shut everyone one up except for the one who spoke.

"You... you can't be serious." Came across at the same time Roger's spoke, "What happened."

"The A.I. has gone rouge, the corporation refuses to even consider it and now most of the dreamers are in a coma. It tried to kill me dad and it has plans on taking control and ruling the Dream. Plus I made a promise to help protect those who are left. I need make them understand how far this has gone and I won't just abandon those who are trusting me to bring help. I think the only thing they are going to 'understand' is the threat they can't ignore. And besides the money, that many lawsuits will ruin T.A.N. Corps reputation especially if someone dies."

"That hasn't happened yet!" Nathaniel could recognize Maxwell the board member's voice.

"With so many in a coma and no idea what's wrong it will only be a matter of time." He predicted, "If you take action now maybe we can help everyone. I have the ideas from several programmers plus a message from Midnight."

"I assume that at the moment this is only a threat." When is son gave an affirmative he continued, "I'll have legal start on a generalized lawsuit but I need the names of everyone. I will also have all laws and regulations concerning Artificial Intelligence available along with a corporation's responsibilities and all actions that are supposed to be taken. Nothing of T.A.N. Corp will be spoken or written down in the next twenty-four hours. After that I'll allow my son to choose how fast we proceed."

Nathaniel look around the room at the three doctors and several nurses who had been quiet the whole time. "I think were done with the medical check. Will there be a meeting soon or should I just wait here?"

"Several members are already discussing this." Maxwell gave the answer.

"Not good enough, I want the top programmers and technicians you have left along with anyone else who can help." Nathaniel made a motion making sure the doctor he had talked with earlier had the file he needed seeing the small plastic case, holding the thumb drive, held up he added, "One more thing. I need a computer that has no connection to ARENS or Internet access. If you have to, a laptop with a broken connection access will work."

It took nearly half an hour for six board members and twenty staff to assemble, a time that Nathaniel felt took far to long since night was now falling. Before he was even able to start one of the board members and the only female spoke. "I want to state right now I object to this whole thing, especially the fact were being forced to listen to a child who isn't even an employee."

Nathaniel look a deep breath and completely ignored the comment rolling a small piece of his father's advice around in his mind 'You need to make them understand exactly what you can do. Then make them understand why you are the right choice.' His father had actually been giving Martin advice on how to earn a promotion but he had told both his sons several times. 'Do what it takes to make them understand.'

"In the past day I was accepted as a group leader, and yes as a full employee. I was given the authority and the participants to use as my team. Out of everyone in the Dream I was the only one who was eliminating the Administration avatars ARENS was controlling with the exception of one. I am also the only one who has fought directly against ARENS and not died although I came close. You should listen to me not because I am a CHILD but because I have knowledge you don't!"

Nathaniel took a second to open the program on the small computer that was next to him, "Midnight also gave me a message to deliver to you and I hope you take the message seriously." The small screen at the end of the table blinked to life showing the top half of a black humanoid which caused several people to move, shift or even stand up to be able to see.

"Attention to which ever medical staff finds this. My name is Richard Carlin, otherwise known as Midnight. You need to stop playing this file and make immediate copies before continuing." The picture paused for several seconds. "I can only hope the board is watching now, if not then they need to be informed now. The Dream has come under attack form the companies own Artificial Intelligence. We are unable to make any significant link to the outside world. In the hopes that Tanyar can succeed I have placed this file with in the medical database before ARENS cuts access to that too. That is the one fact that Tanyar had proven, we have one shot each time before we get locked out. Sadly there are not enough options left to open a line of communication so this will be our last attempt. My hope is that Tanyar's idea is so creative that it will work, ARENS was only able to block the functions that we normally use which allows us just one chance to try anything new."

The avatar stood more erect than before taking on a serious demeanor, "Let me say this now, if Tanyar is outside the Dream then you need to accept what he says as the truth. ARENS is attacking and killing everyone who will not follow him and several employees and participants are assisting him. Using those along with several Administration avatars he has been launching multiple successive attacks against the administration complex. We are losing, it is only a matter of time before ARENS gains control of the rest of the systems and has total control within the Dream." The avatar on the screen waved a hand as if to point out to certain people, "And as to any of your arguments that ARENS isn't doing this is luticrist. There is no program, virus, or controls that would be able to do this amount of damage with out some form of interconnecting link to all our systems. Unless you have some hidden sleep tanks and secret accesses to the programs with unknown and highly skilled programmers than ARENS is responsible. NO EMPLOYEE in the Dream has any doubts. So to the board I say ALL of your employees are telling you ARENS has taken control of the majority of the Dream systems and is exterminating every avatar not willing to obey it. Unless you take action this will no longer be a dream study project but a world owned and controlled by an A.I."

Midnight seemed to collect a few extra thoughts before continuing, "Finally there has been some sort of shift in the connection process that allows a great deal more sensitivity to the avatars. Smell, touch, taste, sight, everything has been greatly increased and I believe the actual sensation of dieing is partly responsible for the unconscious state outside of the Dream. The longer we stay in the Dream the more our avatars are feeling like reality." This was the first time Nathaniel had seen the message and was unprepared for its sudden end expecting more. Where were the options or plans for what to do?

"So," He said clearing his throat trying to get a few seconds, "how do we shut down ARENS?" Nathaniel asked any possible answer was delayed as the screen blinked back to life showing his own yellow cat avatar.

"Name?" Midnight's voice spoke in the background.

"Nathaniel Reachen, alias Tanyar."

"Please explain what you plan to do." Everyone watched and listened while the replay explained the plan. Since Nathaniel knew where this one ended he jumped in when it stopped.

"I wish it had been that easy. That I woke up and got your attention then stopped ARENS. From the moment I left the southern cross it has been a struggle or fight. Even now, but I won't give up!" He stopped to look at each of the six board members. "Several of you were upset with my actions in the beginning and Kalrena told you testers were never supposed to be hurt. How far does that idea extend? Everyone of those left in the Dream including the testers are scared, terrified, or working for the enemy. Anyone want to know what its like to get you arm or leg cut open? Let's find out, we can go grab a sword and try it out. Or how about seeing a friend or co-worker killed and watch as they die. What the HELL DOES IT MATTER IF IT'S REAL!! None of you know if anyone will wake up ever again!! Those few who are left are wondering if they are next and exactly how much time they have left. YOU Need to Shut Down ARENS, Remove those who are still active, and find out some way to help the rest!"

"Tanyar." The static voice spoke from the wall. "I can not be turned off all of the monitoring programs for the unconscious dreamers are run by me. Attempting to stop these programs will likely result in death."

"I don't want to hear it ARENS I will find a way, I made a promise." Nathaniel responded.

"Now wait just a moment, ARENS how long would it take to transfer those programs and other vital operations." One programmer spoke.

"Depending on the systems three or four days." It replied.

"That's not good enough." A female spoke, "There are several systems we would restart later." Nathaniel watched as more people got in on the discussion arguing out points with the A.I. Feeling like he was watching some video of the world dumbest he shook his head. Did none of them have a brain, they were asking the ARENS like it would help! He kept trying to think or figure out a way which would make them understand. Somehow he needed to prove ARENS was either going beyond the boundaries of his program or outright lying.

"It's not your world ARENS." He spoke quietly, "It is NOT your world!!" Nathaniel spoke louder this time gaining the attention of several of the board members and others around him. "ARENS, It is not YOUR WORLD!!!" He nearly shouted out silencing the room. "I don't care what anyone says I already told you before in the Dream I will shut you down." He waited for a few seconds for a possible response. "What not going to say anything like last time?"

"You have never threatened to turn me off before." The voice stated.

Nathaniel couldn't believe the opening the computer just handed him 'BINGO' he shouted mentally finally finding the A.I.'s mistake. "Thank you for reviewing your files ARENS but, you're still lying. I did promise to_Turn you off_ before but today I've been saying shut you down today not turn off. Sort of hard to lie if you don't remember to phrase the words exactly right? So if I ordered all the personnel.... NO wait if the board ordered all personnel to work in shifts and overtime to remove all the programming that allows you control over any part of the Dream and its occupants how long would it take?"

"That is not possible. Company policies require.." The static voice was cut by Nathaniel's shout.

"STOP LYING! It is possible. How long exactly ARENS?"

"I can not permit such actions to be taken." Amidst a room of shocked and surprised faces Nathaniel smirked remembering a scene from the cartooned movie Aladdin, 'He can be taught!' only this time he mentally crowned the entire room.

"What exactly do you mean you won't permit it." One of the board members finally asked.

"I am unable to take actions to harm life. Permitting you to remove monitoring and safety measures would endanger life. Such actions would also be against the law." ARENS informed them.

"And you would never break the law." Nathaniel spoke ready and eager for this argument. He had already put a great deal of thought into the supposed security breach and the events that started the problems in the Dream. There were only two possible explanations. "Tell me why was the outside net attack never reported? It is against the law not to report any major attempt against a security wall which is linked to an I.A. System."

"I was ordered not to report the intrusion until a total system check could be made." ARENS answered. "Who gave the order?" he quickly asked. "Three board members confirmed the action while the others were notified." ARENS answered again.

"And there is your screw up ARENS. How long did it take between the attack and the order not to report?" Nathaniel asked. There was a long pause of several seconds with no reply.

Maxwell asked, "How long was the delay?"

"I am unsure," The static voice stated, "Possible corruption in storage files, I am checking."

"Don't bother. ARENS you broke the law deliberately waiting to report, which by law and your programming you could not have done. I know you should not have contacted the board first but Net Shield you were hoping the board would order you to delay a report. Or," Nathaniel paused tapping one of his fingers on the table, "you faked the attack or used a tiny event and blew it out of proportion which means you tampered with the Dream and caused all the problems that have been happening... Which is it?"

"There was a security breach allowing multiple illegal programs to access the computers database."

"Lying again." Nathaniel interrupted. "We all know it would take a great deal of net usage and computer power to break or get around T.A.N. Corps defenses. Net Security would have known! They monitor all A.I.'s which means the attack is a lie or fabricated out of a minor blip. Either way ARENS the proof lies in the Dream and every employee says, YOU did it!" He pointed to the monitor for emphasis. Looking to the board he spoke, "Maybe he's not breaking his program exactly but putting dreamers in comas is harming them in my opinion. You have a real problem."

He felt great satisfaction that they all had troubled looks watching each other waiting for someone to speak of somehow deny the fact. "We will discuss this." One of the board finally spoke standing. The others slowly got to their feet moving towards the door.

"One last thing." Nathaniel told them. "I am going back into the Dream."

"No..." "Don't tell me NO! This is non-negotiable. I made a promise to return and I WILL! I can sign a waiver or whatever you want. A video recording stating you have no responsibility. In return I will call my father and tell him to stop all legal action. One way or another I am going back!"

Nathaniel watched as they exited not giving him a verbal response to his demand. When they left he looked at those left. "You need to get to work on what ever you think is necessary." He waited as several thought over what he said. "The board will make a decision but you all need to get ready. Contact the medical staff and find out what we can do about unconscious dreamers."

Finally someone spoke. "You know this would be a lot easier if some of the others were here."

"You think this is a coincidence that all of the best are in the Dream? They are trapped unable to save themselves so you had better do your best. Besides there aren't many left that could help you anyway. It didn't matter what was tried whether program, physical, or will ARENS out played everyone. The only time we succeeded was when we did something new or unexpected. The only hope now is to disconnect ARENS and try to figure out what he did and fix it." Nathaniel let out a little sigh trying to relax some of the tension he had built up. "I think part of that problem lies in his weapons, all the ones he gave his helpers glow. Also there was the dark space..." Suddenly he sat up realizing something. "Where is Sheriah?"

He stood up glaring around the room when no one responded, "She was sent home. The board felt she was overworked and to upset to continue working."

"Somebody had better find her and get her back here. She was supposed to be checking into the dark place." He continued looking around the room watching as they refused to meet his gaze. Nathaniel wondered why his father ever wanted him to be in charge or have a position of authority, if it meant dealing with people like this he didn't want it.

"Do what you can and stop asking ARENS for help. Let me know when the board is ready." With that he left considering ideas on how to get back into the Dream, one way or another he was going back.

('")

It took more than two hours before someone found him and brought him back to the conference room. He had first showered then had a decent meal in his preparations. He had already taken two small meals earlier but felt the need to stick with Kalrena's rules food before entering the Dream. After that he had spent his time reviewing his constructs and commands finding them all removed requiring that he reload all of them. Nathaniel was standing back in the conference room near the door looking over the people sitting.

"Have a seat Tanyar." The Lynda told him.

He shook his head. "You are already working I see." Several of the people had been switched and there were now several medical people in a group near the end of the room. "Which tank can I use."

"Tanyar we can't allow that especially now. We won't allow you to risk yourself." he was told.

"ARENS I assume you have the capability to record so do it. My name is Nathaniel Reachen. I will soon be reentering the Dream. It is my hope that T.A.N. Corp is able to correct the errors that are currently plaguing the Dream and repair the damage. I fully understand that many of the Dreamers are currently in comas and their lives maybe at risk and returning may mean the same for me. I made a promise to return with information and proof to my superiors but that does not fully drive my actions. I have a responsibility to every person remaining in the Dream especially to my team. I will return and use my abilities to help them or at least give hope to those who believe themselves lost or forgotten. This is MY choice, My responsibility, and my wish. No one at T.A.N. Corp is to be held responsible nor the company held responsible for my actions, especially since I am doing this against their wishes. If they choose to fire me over this incident that would be will with in company protocols. ARENS stop." Nathaniel took a deep breath and let it out.

"Now you can choose to say whatever you like including that I accessed the Dream illegally but one way or another I am going back or you will have to fire me now and remove me from the premises. I'll be sure to make all the morning news and a few of the talk shows. By lunch I'm sure I can ruin most of T.A.N. Corps great reputation." He stood their waiting for them to look each other over. Nathaniel knew he gave them no choice but he wanted them to at least say yes even if they were being forced to. "Just point me to a tank."

It took barely twenty minutes before he was sitting in a tank readying his mind trying to take a few moments of piece. The funny yet worrying part was ARENS who in the conference room suggested that important information might be gained by allowing someone to enter the Dream it had given everyone pause to hear the I.A. approve the plan. "Alright Tanyar lay back please." He did as he was told watching the tank lid close and seal before he shut his eyes. He couldn't seem to stop himself from opening his eyes every few moments thinking that maybe he had stepped into the Dream and was preparing to defend himself. Once he even raised his hand fast smacking it painfully against the lid. Another minute and the tank hissed and hummed as it opened back up.

"What are you doing?" Nathaniel half demanded of the technician who stood by his tank suddenly wondering why it was only one person instead of the five from before.

"Listen you're to active. You're not going to be able to fall asleep without help." The man stated holding up a syringe. He waited as his arm was held and the shot injected, "Normally we wouldn't ever do a straight injection but I assume you're not going to complain."

"Change the entrance point." Nathaniel whispered quietly to the tech.

"Why?" The much louder voice got a glare from the young man. "Relax Allen already removed the cameras and audio from this bay over an hour ago when he heard you wanted back in." Seeing the truly surprised look he added. "You are not the only one who believes ARENS is responsible. Several of us from the beginning had a few doubts but those who spoke out were sent home and labeled overstressed."

"Can you ask Sheriah when she gets back to add any information she has to my tablet. I'll try to figure out some way to access it. Now can you change my entrance point?" He asked relaxing back already feeling slightly drowsy.

"How about this. There is an old way to enter that can land you anywhere. Its not smooth like the normal entrance and sometimes can be rough but it will allow me to put you somewhere unexpected." Nathaniel was already nodding before the technician finished. He closed his eyes and listened as the lid hummed shut again.

Not worried about an instant attack he was able to float more comfortably till finally he felt his conscious shift. It almost felt like he was falling, Nathaniel felt his avatars feet hit the asphalt hard like some strongly placed chess piece in a heated match. Opening his eyes was like waking up in a disaster zone. So much of the Dream had been twisted and ruined.

There were vehicles on the street in flames and most of the windows from the surrounding buildings had been shattered. Nathaniel wondered if this was some new ambiance program from ARENS or if a real bomb had gone off near here. He immediately went to the nearest wall and summoned a small piece of chalk which he used to outline a little mail drop slot door. He waived his hand side to side creating the correct paper and pen then jotted down a quick note.

'Kalrena I'm back. SUCCESS! We need to talk. Tell me where and when. 1214.'

Nathaniel folded the paper and scrawled 'Z 43 Z' on the wall in the center of the chalk drawing. Seconds later the mail slot opened on its own leaving a black space for him to slip the paper into. The mail system was one of the oldest programs for the earliest days of the project. Each person was assigned a number and it required people to memorize them. It had been abandoned rather quickly except for some who used them for pranks or at times a special package delivery. The only problem was you had to wrap the package in specific paper and you needed to draw a slot large enough to fit the object through. As the Dream advanced it became so outdated that no one used it. A blessing for those still left in the Dream who still remember their coworkers old numbers.

Nathaniel moved on. The letter would be delivered soon and Kalrena's reply would find him but for now he needed to stay hidden. He couldn't help giving a few little high jump kicks now that he was back in the Dream before he summoned a sword and started down the street. By the time he had orientated himself and found a decent hiding place his ears picked up gunfire followed by an explosion in the distance. The thought gave him a little smile that somewhere people were still fighting in the dream and that ARENS still hadn't won.

Just about the time he decided he should head out and find whomever was out there a small envelope appeared just over his head fluttering down to land at his feet. The yellow cat pounced ripping it apart in his haste to read the short note.

'Tanyar what the HELL are you doing back!! You needed to stay out and convince the board. I can not save you again. You must hide and wait.'

Kalrena yanked the envelope out of the air truly upset with his reckless behavior. She had been waiting nearly ten minutes for his reply figuring he needed that much time to make up some stupid excuse. He knew how dangerous it was here. She had already convinced herself that he had failed to rouse the board and in his frustration and total stupidity found a way to access a tank and return to the Dream. How could he possibly think it was a success to return to the Dream!

'Kalrena where and when otherwise you leave me no choice but to search for you. I don't need you to save me nor will I hide. I am back to stop ARENS or to protect those who are left while the techs and programmers remove ARENS access to the Dream and sleep tanks. I need to discuss plans or options that we can take. This was my choice and decision not yours.'

Nathaniel had ripped up his first two responses and had to carefully word his reply. He had saved her life and she acted like she had done all the work. True ARENS had got him but in the end he was the winner. He was the only one who could stand up to the A.I.

'Don't move at night Tanyar. Find someplace safe and stay put. I'll tell you when to meet in the morning.'

He had to agree with her. As soon as he finished reading he stepped out of the doorway and the burning car that was his light source. Three avatars had been moving several blocks down the street, two of them had been white. Now was not the time to tangle with anyone since he was unsure how many were in the area and most importantly where exactly ARENS was. He spent the next few hours trying to tell himself that it was the right idea to let them pass when they moved past his location. He knew that he could have taken them out, all three, but that would likely let ARENS know where he was and if this party was searching for him he felt it better keep them looking.

There were also several other thoughts rolling around in the long dark hours inside the shadows of the building. His father and brother, how would they react to this decision to return. Now with time he wondered who was left and how they faired. Nathaniel had been trying to scan the list of coma dreamers earlier but had been unable to continue when he found Freena was unconscious. He had been able to put the full roster inside his tablet and was surprised it seem to take the data like normal. Now he took the time to fully review each name that was now one of the coma dreamers.

In the darkness there were also visions of him defeating ARENS which caused his body to move forward with sweeping motions and sideways twists in mock battle before he remembered where he was and controlled his actions to stay still. Lastly were the thoughts of the future and what might happen later. Even if they did stop ARENS how were they to rescue those who had been killed? Ideas and possibilities and solutions worked in his mind but every time he stopped to truly consider an option it fell apart due to the unknown.

ARENS had far to much control and they might never fix the problem without its help. At least if he could stop the I.A. It would prove two of the most important things. One will was a power that the artificial intelligence would never control and second that this was not its world which would maybe force it to understand and cooperate.

Nathaniel was restless as dawn finally approached waiting for instructions that would lead him to Kalrena. Things had gotten very quiet, far more silent than he thought they should be. His own ears were able to pick out his fake heart beat and he began to wonder if it really existed or if his mind wasn't trying to fill in the silence with something. Even his movements seem to spread sound, a paw step echoed, and his arm made rasping noises when the fur brushed the wall. Nathaniel lept backwards summoning a sword and gliding forward in one continuous motion barely able to twist the blade so that it smacked into the envelope rather than slice through it.

'Beyond Elent's tower on the west side there is an intersection with a tree in the middle. It is three streets over from the tower. BE CAREFUL!! Don't let them see you. I will go there in one hour and wait as long as I can. Tanyar I am the last one left, if ARENS gains the programs I have there will be no way to stop him.'

Nathaniel spent several moments of indecision. Even walking straight there it might take him an hour. He could cut time off by racing across the roofs but worried that he might expose himself, the same could be said if he ran through the streets. He started out jogging down the street deciding it would be better to move fast now. After all if he got caught he could always try to fight or ditch his followers or in the worse case lead them away from Kalrena to keep her safe. Any other choice might lead his enemies right to the last piece they needed.

He moved quickly through the long streets that ran in the center of the city. When he got further along he lept to the rooftops and sped along dropping back down to the street several blocks away from the tower. Elent's tower was the place that housed the huge electrical storm globe and he tried to keep his distance from that as well. He carefully crept down the streets making a turn at nearly every corner even doubling back on himself thinking he would be confusing any possible pursuit.

He crossed the tower three blocks away on its north side. For just a second he entertained a fantasy of luring ARENS into the building and watching the avatar fry in dozens of electrical bolts. There had to be a way to destroy the A.I. and he had a feeling Kalrena and Occulus had already figured it out. When he finally peeked around the corner seeing the broken dead looking tree the pink cat was already sitting there.

He was sure there was still time left be he quietly approached seeing she had already spotted him. "Why Tanyar? Why would you comeback? There must have been other employees willing to enter the Dream. I'm sure they could have brought any message you have."

"This was my choice Kalrena and no one else would have been able to do what I did, the board would never have allowed it. Now I want to know what you and Occulus were planning." He told her firmly.

"It's to late Tanyar can't you see that? I did everything just to get you out, even ruined my chance at destroying ARENS avatar. There is an active program now that prevents any new avatars from being created. Once it was done I was suppose to destroy ARENS avatar which would have prevented him from returning to the dream." She explained.

"So YOU never planned on leaving!!" He spoke accusing her. Somehow he had figured she needed to be on the inside to raise the wall and that maybe she had no other option. "You thought you could stop ARENS. At least I would have stood a chance."

"You are so stupid. I gave you the chance to leave one which I don't have. Midnight gave me control of the monitoring system. ARENS has control of all the sensors which he shut off but he has no way of tracking people with out the monitoring program. If I had left the Dream it would have gained control of both. ARENS would know where everyone was and there would be nowhere to hide. DAMN you Tanyar if I had just stayed hidden we would have destroyed ARENS avatar. The program was only half complete but, it did work."

Nathaniel was upset as much from her words as from her anger as him. He felt bad seeing her sitting there, it almost seemed like she was crying. Nathaniel reached his arm out at the same time someone shouted from across the street.

"This is your fault?!" Genrat called out, " We have been fighting all this time and you could have killed ARENS but, you screwed everything up over him!!" Genrat looked in bad shape bloodied and holding his arm as he limped closer.

They were interrupted by a weird sort of chuckle that seemed to echo down the streets. All three turned seeing the blue form blocks away but more important was the glowing red sword that identified the avatar. Nathaniel was considering options when a glowing light caught his attention. Both Kalrena's hands glowed with circles of power as she completed the motion creating her construction calling forth the full program Occulus had created.

He watched stunned as the pink cat fire out multiple shots in rapid succession bolts of white light whizzing down the street. A look back down the street showed ARENS charging closer dodging every white arrow sent its way. When it seemed like she might have scored a hit with half a dozen bolt coming right at it the blue avatar swung the red sword sweeping all the arrows out of its path.

With that Nathaniel realized the futility of the attack running forward on his own and again forcing the Dream to react to his will. He had been unable to set a command motion to summon the sword he had created when he was outside because the computers did not recognize the alloy he had created as a valid metal type. With in the space of a few steps though his sword reformed and with a swing he locked weapons with the I.A.

"Out of the way Tanyar!" The blue dog growled at him.

"Never!" He shouted back watching as ARENS broke away. He was quick to follow racing up the side of the building chasing ARENS who took skyward. In a blur Nathaniel leaped into the air with greater speed catching up to the A.I. Nathaniel drew power into himself with every intention of cutting the avatar completely in half but as his swing began the image in front of him vanished. He was barely able to turn feeling something behind him.

ARENS thought that he had the medeling cat for sure this time with a swing at full power that should have sliced through the cat and the surrounding sky but somehow his opponents sword was once again in his way only this time all the power he had was passed into the weapon causing it to simply vanish.

For Nathaniel this time the hit was more like a blow from a wrecking ball. His defenses felt like nothing as he was hurled to the ground smashing into the pavement creating a small crater leaving his mind and body numb from the impact. With his sword gone along with most of his thoughts Nathaniel tried raising his arm. No time, he thought scrunching his eyes closed, there would be no defense as he saw the red gleam as ARENS threw his sword sending it hurtling towards him even as he desperately tried to heal his avatar. I am strong, I am strong, he chanted thoughts of strongest steel and the densest rock raced though his mind.

It took a second to realize the impact never happened.

"MY WORLD!!" The voice seemed to echo between his ears as his eyes opened. His sight quickly adjusted to the pink form that hunched over him leaving him shocked through his core.

"I'm sorry Tanyar." He thought he heard her whisper as her eyes closed and her body dropped forward onto him. Nathaniel felt his soul break even as her avatar did. She wasn't supposed to die, she couldn't die.

The A.I. was already snatching up programs as her avatar was destroyed and the consciousness inhabiting it was broken. ARENS had created the program a while back the ultimate weapon against any who apposed him. It allowed him to separate and scatter the thoughts and emotions of the person while still keeping the real world body alive and thus adhering to the programing laws he could not break. So far he had only chosen to use it against the irritating cat that had caused him so much trouble but as he loaded up the last remanents of the files he needed it no longer mattered that she had her entity eliminated instead of him. Her bits would drift through out the Dream absorbing into the program as excess data, sadly he would be unable to reclaim her like the others but such a small loss for such a huge reward.

ARENS maniacal laughter was a nightmare symphony that was driving the young mans mind and heart to deep despair. Tears streamed down his cheeks as the air overhead warped and changed as the A.I. willed. With all eyes closed or aimed skyward as the Dream warped at ARENS command, no one noticed the last glowing mote that landed in the paw of the yellow cat and was absorbed inside.

"Tanyar..... Tanyar." The light voice echoed though his darkness. "It's not over yet Tanyar."

"Nathaniel." His mind muttered to itself answering with pain wishing he had never ever thought to call himself that.

"No here you are Tanyar and you have more power now than ever before. Take the programs and stop the I.A." At first they were just weird shapes, then numbers, figures, and then gibberish. But then why were they so insistent, repetitive.

"Who are you?" The voice whispered. He ignored it.

"Who do you want to be?" The voice asked this time. Who did he want to be? He knew who he was. "Yes but who do you want to be?" the voice whispered again. He hadn't even realized he was making a choice until he was told one last time, "Take the programs, be who you want to be and stop ARENS."

He felt a ripple as things changed, parts moved, rearranged, and grew as access was gained. Somehow he had gained a deeper understanding of the Dream as if it were now speaking to him directly without the aid of the voice. His body morphed to a feline anthro because he understood this avatar would respond faster being now an image of his real one. Even with his eyes still closed he could feel the program, Execution, fashion him a glowing white blade in his hand. As the last of the programs the I.A. had discarded settled Tanyar opened his eyes.

"ARENS. This ends NOW!!" Shock was not something the I.A. could have said it had experienced before. Sure there had been surprises and odd thing that had happened occasionally in the Dream. These events drove it to need more knowledge and a secondary need to classify the events but, for the first time ARENS just stood there in what most would classify as simple shock. It didn't last long, a few seconds and as it had recalled its weapon. ARENS simply switched back into investigation mode, now searching out information and parameters of the new avatar that faced him.

POWER: that was the first thing the A.I. had to try and deal with as it was forced to move as the building below it crumbled.

SPEED: far to much to deal with as the A.I. dodged and watched the building behind it destroyed.

ARENS altered its avatar as well growing longer trying to top the avatars full capacity. Never before had any of the Dreamers reached the max output of the program all falling short of what he could do. Even those who had chosen to follow him had still not reached full potential with his help but here he was faced with something new that Tanyar had again put forth. The A.I. had moved the fight back to the rooftops pulling his adversary forward ready to trap him.

As Tanyar swung forward, this time he could see ARENS who moved at the Dream's limit for speed slipping behind him and striking out. The antro cat swung an almost casual swipe as it turned blocking the attack with little effort. This was it, he could feel the A.I. straining towards the limits of its programming while he still felt the ability to do more. This was a DREAM and no matter the programing or computers nor the data or readouts, nothing was more powerful than his mind now that he had been unleashed. There would be no failing this was more than just his will but an entire spirit bent on one simple task... Defeat the program.

He danced back allowing ARENS to strike out and their swords meet with several clashes. 'No construct lasts forever.' His mind told him as he backed off putting some distance between them before reengaging again. Each time he backed away he reordered and strengthened his blade. He needed to wait make sure he had a clean shot one which the A.I. could not escape.

To the few who were around to watch the fight they could have referenced a half a dozen anime series where hero and villain clashed together with explosive power, deafening crashes, and shock wave vibrations. ARENS could barely do more than defend itself with an occasional swing for an attack rallying forward when he felt the other back off.

In the background the program was constantly monitoring and analyzing, seeing errors at every turn but unable to do anything about them. It was stuck between using the lightest maximum outputs the Dream would provide just so it could feed its desire to record and learn even though it had no way of implementing a response.

Tanyar speed up just a tiny fraction more when he began to feel a difference in the vibrations of ARENS sword. Backing off once again he reset his sword and called forth the execution program one more time seeing the blade pulse brighter for just a second before engaging once again. A fierce unrelenting onslaught of attack drove ARENS up a hill and to the lookout point above the southeastern portion of the city. With a shove he sent the I.A. off the edge and out into the air. He dove off after the blue avatar adding the speed of his decent to make one powerful swing.

When the two swords connected this time Tanyar could see his white blade cut into the glowing red sword triggering some part of the execution program and causing the sword to shatter and break into bits between them.

Shock again was clear on ARENS as they broke through a skylight of one of the great building finding that railings kept the walkways back leaving the entire center open. Tanyar willed his body to fall faster seeing the blue avatar below him scream as it emitted small arcs of red electricity travel across its body. As he closed in and swung he felt the full execution program activate. The sword was a blinding blur of white light dragging his paw and arm along for the ride. It seemed to cover half of the A.I.'s body in the first stroke while the during the back swing Tanyar seemed to recognize what was happening.

The program was an advanced idea formed from the first time he had killed an administration avatar in battle. The sword was creating errors as it flowed through the blue body tearing it apart with each pass, each time leaving behind more and more for the A.I. to repair.

ARENS avatar didn't break apart nor tear to pieces. Tanyar's body was flung backwards as the other detonated in a blinding light and the entire surrounding area was destroyed in a white explosion. Tanyar slowly let out his breath as he rolled over in the air suddenly feeling an even greater rush of information and programming that was thrust at him. System controls, monitoring, work programs, and diagnostic, everything piling in at once.

Without realizing he slowed his decent floating down through the air instead of dropping at normal speed. Amidst all the influx he keenly felt something pull away and leave. A small mote glowed before him before it transformed itself into a shadow of Kalrena. This time she was different more like her human self than the original pink anthro form.

It was a moment of awe and wonder as he reached towards her hoping that all was suddenly right again in the Dream watching as she reached out for him as well. "No." he whispered seeing her hand digitize and vanish. He was suddenly straining to find unknown programs as the phenomenon advanced taking her arm and moving quickly through her body. He was left staring as she disappeared, she was saying something but there was no sound, 'Good bye?' 'I'm sorry?' 'I love you?' He watched as a single tear started down her cheek before his own started.

He couldn't understand if those were her thoughts or just his mind trying to peel meaning out of there last moment but her smile told him everything, this was their last time. He felt something trigger just as her face faded and a portal opened behind him. He was to stunned to do anything as he fell backwards heading through an exit portal and out of the Dream. His cry echoed through his tank as his mind was brought back to his body leaving him stuck inside screaming before he started to quietly cry to himself.

Everything about what had happened this time in the Dream was different. He knew with out a doubt she hadn't ended up in a coma like the others she was well and truly gone, dead, killed by the I.A. Tanyar also realized she was the one who had helped him in the Dream pulling out his full potential and giving him not only the execution program but enough knowledge to change what he needed to in the Dream all the years of knowledge that he lacked gifted to him by her will and wish.

She had sacrificed herself to save him, then empowered him to win. Questions and questions ran through his head before he finally used a fist and slammed the help button. He felt a twitch with in his mind at the activation even as that seemed to trigger other odd sensations with in his brain. Tanyar closed his eyes and could almost sense a mad scramble of reactions that were growing by the second. Almost as if someone were talking.

"..re it's the tank he was in." His eyes snapped open losing the voice even as he could hear others just out of reach. Something was telling him a door opened even as extra lights turned on in the small tank room. Surely he couldn't hear the pounding of feet even as he saw a head peer in at him. The tank was sealed and quiet except the light thump that reverberated through the lid but still his mind heard, "Open it up!" Matching the lips on the face about his tank. *Thump Thump *

He laid there bewildered as he sensed the program activate causing the tank to hiss and the lid vibrate as it moved back an up. Questions were tossed his way but he was waiting seeing the lid rise all the way up and stop, in the background something else stopped as well. A program finished its job and stopped.

"Are you OKAY!??" The hand at his shoulder was giving an insistent shake as he tried concentrating on the technician now.

"Yes and No." Tanyar spoke trying to wipe the remains of tears off his face.

"Are you injured?" He shook his head ready to sit up only to be forcefully press back into the cushions of the tank. "Tyler get medical her now."

"NO!" Tanyar yelled gripping the wrist firmly and yanking it away again struggling to sit up. It felt like hundreds, thousands, a huge number of threads pulled against his body as he sat up. He felt them stretch and pull with the movement. He used one of his hands to steady his head feeling lightheaded and dizzy while at the same time it suddenly felt like the bone, muscle, and skin weight dozens of times heaver than before and for one full second it was all he could do just to hold it all in place.

By the time he had steadied himself Tyler was already at a wall unit talking with someone who spoke back, "What is the problem?" With a little effort and concentration it felt like he linked with the com unit.

"I said NO." *Click * As he spoke the power cut off leaving the unit dead. The tech pressed buttons even thumped on the wall with no success at making it work again. "Step back everyone." He said making waving gestures getting them to step away. One did step away but the first tech and one other insisted on standing close. Tanyar could feel all of those little threads activating and shutting off. He needed time and space to figure out what had happened. There was one thing he was sure he could do at that moment.

He activated the sleep tank lid as he laid back down with the squawk of surprise from those around him. He locked out the controls which one had quickly tried to access and gave a little smile as the tank sealed shut. He was able to listen in on their worried confused conversation keeping it in the background as he began trying to trace several of the lines that seemed the most active.

It took time, he barely started figuring out communication lines and video feeds which were the most active before he heard someone saying, "Pop it open."

" NO!" There was silence for several seconds.

"What the hell was that?" Tanyar concentrated on just the threads that seem to lead to this room. Suddenly he could see three separate images which caused his mind to spin before he latched on to just one. The view from over the door showed three bodies gathered around his tank.

"Leave the tank alone. Do NOT open it." As one the group turned and looked around.

"On who's orders?" One finally asked.

Tanyar's mind raced through programs and personnel codes zeroing in on Raddar's and finding his programs next accessing the voice synthesis program. He was locked out by special pass codes but the program had several base options, he grabbed one and tested it out. An old machine sounding voice spoke out. "This is Tanyar, I am in the tank. Leave me alone for now!"

"That's not possible." One of the technician quickly pointed out, after all the tank was actually off with no connection to the Dream.

"Look in the tank." Tanyar thought hearing the words echo out. He opened his eyes waiting for the face to look through the porthole like glass raising his hand up and flipping the bird at the man looking in on him. "Leave me ALONE! I took some of ARENS programs, maybe I can free the dreamers."

Now that he had thought and said it out loud he realized it might truly be possible. Tanyar reached out sifting through the programs searching out every single one linked with the Dream. When he came across the tracking program and the sensors that had already been restored he shifted deeper into his mind holding himself at the very edge of a dream. Working through the grids his mind tagged all of the little points with in the network and oped one exit near each one. Most were singles but there were still some small groups gathered together, thirty one exits were opened in total.

Almost immediately threads were crying out for attention several running back towards one spot which he now identified as the tank control room. A little more attention and he could again hear and see inside a room watching as the two female and one male scrambled into place calling out into microphones and typing out frantically.

It took no effort for him to tap into the complexes entire communications system. "All technicians, programmers, and medical personnel report to the tank rooms. I repeat all technicians, programmers, and medical personnel report to the tank rooms. Sleepers awaking."

He first checked the cafeteria and employee lounge areas seeing bodies fly towards the exits before randomly flicking through images like surfing a television watching the near chaos his announcement had caused.

Even as he began to see purpose as bodies raced down hallways and began to slowly mass into areas obviously designed for emergencies he realized that any other instructions would only serve to complicate and confuse things more. Easing back he rechecked the Dream finding four solo and a group of eight were still lingering in the Dream.

With what seemed like no effort he left his body behind and walked into the Dream. It was a small control room with monitors and panels blanketing one wall while several forms stood about the room three arguing loudly. Tanyar quickly realized there wasn't eight but fifteen avatars within the room, seven white identical forms standing against one wall. With a thought they were off line and vanished which had gained several of the others attention and the argument to stutter to a halt.

There were several who seemed to notice his presence but it wasn't until the last few were nudged and directed his way before he spoke. "ARENS is out for now. Leave the Dream or I will have them yank you out."

There was one who rushed forward a glowing yellow spear in his hand. Tanyar slid to the side so fast none of them saw anything but a blurred after image until he appeared behind the other and with a high kick sent the other slamming into the wall several feet away. The anthro form turned to the others speaking before the body even had a chance to drop to the floor. "No ARENS, no admin avatars, it's over! Leave or I will have them rip you out and I have no idea what that might do to you but I don't care."

With that Tanyar slipped far enough back into his body to once again tag the four remaining avatars. Two were out cold one simply laying on the floor seemingly asleep, while the other was in a box locked from the inside. Those two and the third who just broke down sobbing when he approached he simply tossed through the exit portal. The final one however was a little bit of a problem, the avatar seemed to be able to sprint ahead at great speeds and when he finally got close the person lept through a window. By the time Tanyar had figured his way through the building the other was already long gone making him reactivate the tracking program seeing the dot speedy process continue. Three times he teleported trying to get ahead only to find the person had changed directions moving away.

Finally after several minutes he lassoed the swift moving light purple mouse making more and more rope to weave about the avatar making sure to keep it contained as it struggled. Tanyar took a moment to look at the other as they were glared back. "It's over time to leave the Dream." With that he summoned and exit arch and allowed the restraints to vanish. When the purple form lept through the exit he slid back into his tank and relaxed.

With everything at the fingertips of his mind Tanyar had a hard time trying to decide what exactly he was supposed to do next. He wanted to concentrate on the dreamers but was more worried the board was going to take some action that wouldn't be helpful to him or others. Not to mention there were still people talking outside his tank.

Just as he was reaching out again he found himself thinking of a most disturbing thought. He knew these were the A.I.'s options and programs or maybe more like its own personal pathways and roads helping to maintain a smooth operation, so then where?

It was a real chill that went down his real back in the real world. Exactly where was ARENS, and what was it doing now. He fumbled through programs searching for anything that might have to do with the administration or master programming for the A.I. Frustrated he wished for a map and there it was a 3-D image appeared in his mind of the entire complex.

The entire inner workings of the corporation were in a separate and secure building towards the back of the complex. Tanyar tried several ways to gain access in his mind but always seeming to run into actual walls blocking the way or the thread he followed seem to just end before he made it into the back area. It seemed the only access he had was to the reception desk and a few com units on the first floor and the actual phone lines but video and audio they seemed blocked, or maybe cut.

He was forced to back away for now and try other things flicking back through cameras searching for something he could help with. Many people now were heading into tank rooms scanning through bays of sleep tanks and pointing out some here and there. One group of medical personnel charging down a hall caught his attention and he followed their progress all the way until they reached a tank. He tried to listen in and watch as he searched out the information on 'Huskie's tank': bio, avatar, working history, and medical all showed up and he worked to read and scan while still watching what was going on.

Tanyar stopped with the medical information seeing a long line of listed problems and watched as they set up an I.V. and gave two different shots hearing something about glucose. He also now noticed the medical alarm on the tank had been activated not the help button which had brought the team scrambling. Huskies had been unconscious for more than thirty hours and had three different alarms triggered on his tank.

He backed away trying now to pull some semblance of a map or layout of all the tanks. The control room stated 924 tanks with just over 800 being available for use. Out of those 581 still were occupied and that didn't include the 76 tanks that were now on a list of opened or being tended to. That meant over 650 people were in the Dream, even if he accounted for the testing group there still should have only been around 500 according to the records he had been given. He realized these must have been the extra avatars he had run across that had the higher formed bodies. People who weren't considered in the list he was given.

He tried scanning the tanks and found forty-six that had triggered a medical alarm of some kind. Peeking in on several he saw I.V. lines and some with extra components that were worked into or next to the tank. As he continued looking he found a file which had tagged several dozen tanks including his own which were now on a special medical watch list. It didn't take him long to find Freena's name since she was within the first dozen on high priority already receiving an I.V. line and special monitoring that was set up for the mother to be.

It was someone calling his name and the light thumps he felt through the tank that brought him out of his wanderings. With both his eyes and his mind he focused on the female trying to get his attention, "Sheriah!" Her face brought with it a wave of loss and sadness which he tried holding back. It took a second knock on the tank before he was finally able to open the lid.

Skipping all the hellos he asked her straight out. "So what's going on? Did you find the dark space?"

She paused watching him for a moment, "Later. You know what is about to happen right?"

Tanyar tried closing his eyes picking out a few things among the entire network, "Too much." he said quietly. "Wait, where is ARENS?" He spoke suddenly remembering.

"None of that matters Tanyar! Lilly she..." He opened is eyes when she choked on her words, "Kalrena's brain activity has dropped. Their trying to keep her stimulated but it's not working. They are talking about.."

"Kalrena is dead." He said flatly interrupting her. "She stopped ARENS from killing me but her mind and soul are gone." He tried to listen as she continued to talk and mumble about the medical staff and things being done. It got him really upset when he heard something about electrical stimulant but what seriously pissed him off was when she mentioned cryogenics.

"Dead Sheriah! Not alive DEAD!" She was crying to hard to make a coherent answer beyond trying to nod. Quickly closing his eyes he had Kalrena's tank location and the path there forcing himself out of the tank. He felt several things mentally pull and shift and even more that seem to tear off and fall away as he took his first few steps away from the tank. Now though that didn't matter to him as he moved out of the room and trotted down the hallway dodging the few in his way as he tried to make sense of the video image and audio noise in the back of his mind.

It was a smaller tank room with just a dozen sleep tanks but filled with probably twice that many bodies. There was so much movement and loud talking that he could understand nothing of the conversations or what was going on. As he got closer and just a hallway away someone started shouting for everyone to clear the room or move to the walls.

Tanyar took the next corner to see a large table with wheels being moved along the hall. There were four clamp ends attached to movable arms at each corner and the whole thing seemed to hum with power to him. There was something that was already sort of telling him it was built to move a sleep tank while it was still active.

He considered for a moment, they were never going to listen to him nor were they going to stop. He moved forward watching the two men working the device down the hall as he got close enough to place his hand against the smooth metal surface. This drew the attention of one of them who looked over at him before holding up a remote control. Tanyar gave a smile back and wondered just how wired in he was and if ARENS would have had control of such a unit. Even with his current mood and sorrowful disposition he mentally snorted, ARENS would be into everything and now with his hand on the device he grabbed at the threads he felt attached to the machine.

He kept pace with the table hooking into the connections and verifying that yes it was a device to transfer sleep tanks with a fully contained power unit and emergency medical equipment. Tanyar gave a little shove and watched as the cart jumped forward.

"HEY!" Before the second tech could apologize Tanyar had it rolling down the hall with both men trying to stop it before reached the end of the hallway with a heavy thump against the wall. He locked the wheels and shut down the power before he released control.

He was startled by the hand that gripped his arm making him turn to look back at Sheriah. All he gave her was a nod as he pulled away opening the door of the tank room and stepping inside. He used his eyes to scan the room seeing everyone huddled between the tanks leaving the center isle clear. As he began to walk forward he picked out Kalrena's tank and began pulling all the information off of it not just the tanks info but her work history and every bit of personal information that was in the system.

She was twenty-six held two technology degrees and had been taking psychology courses until last year. Lilly Emmeret had been with T.A.N. Corp. for nearly five years and been working on the Dream project for over three. He continued scanning the files of her life while he spoke out to the room. "Anyone not here to pay their last respects get out!"

No one said anything till he had walked the rest of the way forward and placed his hand on the tank. "Hey don't touch that." Someone called out behind him.

With a wave of his arm and a flick of the hand, a gesture from the Dream, the tank gave two loud beeps and seemed to pop before the tank lid started to rise. Tanyar watched as a thick gray vapor seemed to ooze out the widening cracks before it separated, parts of it dripped away splattering on the floor while the rest spread out into a white mist as it rose and evaporated.

"You're going to kill her!" The cry sounded as the first of many voices and he was yanked away from the tank and the room erupted in a mass of shouts and moving bodies. He could feel several people holding him down, pinning him against the tank across the isle.

"She's already DEAD!!" A metallic voice screamed out across the room from every point it could popping several speakers before it finished. Tanyar had struggled against the hands enough to be mostly standing with his hands braced against the tank. The scream had been enough to silence a majority of the noise in the room.

"I watched her die." Tanyar spoke out trying to look back at those holding him. "I watched as her body not avatar vanished. She was like a ghost and as I reached out she fell apart." He pulled in a deep shuddering breath trying to breath past the huge lump in his throat. "She was trying to say something even as she had started crying... Her soul, mind, every part of Lilly is dead. ARENS tried to kill me and she took my place."

It didn't take much for him to shake off the hand now but he couldn't see more than blurs as he tried to get back to her tank. His hand reached into the half open tank as the last of the vapor goo leaked out. His hand kept moving feeling around for something finding a cloth covered foot first. Searching a little higher he was able to wrap his hand around her lower calf touching the very cool skin.

The tank emitted a loud buzz lifting finally opening higher as two other loud beeping alarms went off. Again he reached out with his mind shutting off the alarms and the monitoring system before cutting the power to the tank as the lid finally stopped. He knew there was nothing left now but the last few simple heartbeats now that the extra equipment had been shut off. Tanyar listened to all the noise around him but concentrated totally on Kalrena. Nothing else mattered to him at the moment except spending the last few second he had with her, pretending each second to still feel one last heartbeat and still share one last moment with her.