The looming shadow that bumps in the night
PART III
Summary:
You arrive at Almoral's mansion after receiving an invitation for a Halloween party he is hosting. While you go to visit, another Halloween party is simultaneously being hosted by the famed Count Anastasius. In the meantime, the DPF moves along with their own missions as a peculiar forecast casts a shadow on the dream world…
NOTE: This event takes place on October 31, 2024.
[Meanwhile, chiefs Kamaria and Daiki are holding a private meeting in the Section. At this meeting, Nate and M3-0W are also present.]
DAIKI: Thank you both for coming. I know this was short notice, but it is rather important.
M3-0W: Always a pleasure chief!
NATE: I kind of had other plans, but duty calls!
KAMARIA: We have called you both here for separate missions, but with the same idea in mind.
DAIKI: As you both are aware, the dream world has been clear from anomalies since early April. Francis has been completely off the radar and seemingly inactive since then.
KAMARIA: In August, we launched a secret mission to place transmitters in the wilderness of the dream world in hopes of catching potential signals out there that could stem from Francis.
M3-0W: How has that mission come along?
DAIKI: We’ve actually picked up continuous signals from the transmitter that is located in the Nina Crater. The signals are a mix of faint and steady, but they do appear abnormal.
NATE: Wow! We’re finally getting somewhere!
KAMARIA: We want to go out there and physically extract and analyze this data from that particular transmitter and boost its signal at the same time. If we can get there and boost it, we may get a better signal for whatever is causing this.
NATE: Oh! Well, I’m going to assume this is where we come in?
DAIKI: Yes and no. This particular task will be handed to agent M3-0W. This decision was made between chief Kamaria and me.
M3-0W: Oh, I see! So I am going to be going out and get that data myself?
KAMARIA: Precisely so. As a robot, you should be able to handle the technology and software to tweak the transmitter. You also have great memory and should be able to navigate through the wilderness without a problem.
NATE: Wow! Lucky you, M3-0W! I’d probably get lost out there, hehe…
DAIKI: Then it is settled. We will be handing you instructions and communicating with you remotely as you complete this task.
KAMARIA: We left these instructions in your employee locker. You should be able to find them there. If you have any other questions, please let us know.
M3-0W: I will not let you guys down!
[M3-0W then walks out of the dimension leaving Nate with chiefs Kamaria and Daiki]
NATE: So… I’m still a bit confused as to why I’m here… If it isn’t to accompany M3-0W, then…what’s going on?
DAIKI: Chief Kamaria and I have been discussing your next moves. As you know, you were previously a detective in the DIA, but Director Ferekides moved you along to the IAA…
KAMARIA: And now you have been working as a spy and analyzing various intelligence files and materials that our field intelligence officers have gathered from various places of various peoples.
NATE: Yeah and it’s been quite the paperwork, hehe…
KAMARIA: The chief and I have decided that you will be moving on to your next big assignment. One we think you’re ready for…
NATE: What is it? Oh…this is making me nervous…
DAIKI: We have decided that you will be taking a special mission…into the real world.
NATE: Waaaaaa?! Real world? You mean, THE real world? What?! That’s crazy! Why?!
KAMARIA: We need to gather intelligence that may concern Francis…
NATE: But I’ve never been to the real world! I don’t even know if I’ll be able to handle it…
DAIKI: That’s not quite true.
NATE: Huh?
DAIKI: Do you recall the mission from last March in which we ventured into the Box dimension? We had to bring home three individuals to their world of Wonderland.
NATE: Oh yeah! We had to travel through other worlds before we got to theirs though.
KAMARIA: And one of those worlds…
DAIKI: In our travels through other worlds, we accidentally stumbled into the real world.
NATE: Waaaaaa?! You mean, I’ve already been to the real world?!?!
KAMARIA: Since you have long been investigating the strange anomalies of the dream world, met Francis, and have already been to the real world, we decided you will be the one to get this task.
DAIKI: We would have gotten M3-0W to do it as well, but she will be more helpful in the transmitter task. You on the other hand will be helpful in this one.
KAMARIA: If Epsilon had still been in the IAA, he would’ve been chosen, but alas, you are our best candidate.
DAIKI: Your paperwork and authorization have all been done and approved by the Council. You will actually be doing it today…
NATE: On Halloween? But-
KAMARIA: Not to worry. This task shouldn’t take you all day. Besides, the instructions are simple. You will be venturing to the real world looking for simple clues and intelligence that could be linked to Francis.
DAIKI: We believe that our accidental stumble into the real world was interference by Francis’ mishap with the collision of worlds back in March. We were not supposed to reach the real world, but alas…
KAMARIA: Perhaps this real world stumble was caused by Francis unintentionally, but it could have also left clues. We’ll need you to covertly collect intel and bring it back to us in time.
DAIKI: We will be providing you a special watch to keep track of time. You will only have about an hour to complete this task. Also, you’ll be cut off from the dream world when you get there.
NATE: That sounds so scary! Are you sure I’ll be able to handle this? What if something bad happens?
KAMARIA: Not to worry. This particular area we’re sending you to is actually safe for undercover agents we have sent there in the past. Quite literally nothing happens there, but perhaps you can get something out of it.
DAIKI: It’s a place that’s been on our radar for a while now, but we haven’t gotten much from it. However, with our real world stumble this past March, we may find something new.
NATE: Well… that’s reassuring and everything… But… where exactly are you guys sending me?