> Dan in Plureality 3

“You were correct, Dr. Hannah. The subject was psychologically unstable years before he started toying with the occult.” 

Dr. Hannah stares at Daniel intently, invisible to him behind the mirror. “The whole thing reads like a description of shamanic initiation. The initiate gets sick and they enter the Underworld where spirits torment them. With the aid of helpful spirits the initiate heals themselves and returns to the world having learned magical lore. That's a very simplified version, but it maps.” 

Dr. James arches an eyebrow. “Are you suggesting that the subject was just acting out a story?” 

“In a sense. Maybe. Except that according to our files, Daniel didn't learn about shamanism and the initiation myth until reading about it when he was 24 years old.

*


I feel a little silly. Arrogant. Nervous. I'm trying to relax, like Ms. Amita said. I can't help wondering what They are thinking. 

I remember that night when I came home from work – I had a great job working for a role-playing game company – and my girlfriend at the time had prepared a pathworking ritual for me in our apartment. Within her circle, surrounded by talismans, guided into and through trance by her words, I journeyed to the Celtic Land of the Dead and amongst the misty and shadowed tombs I summoned my greatest fear... and it was doubt. Doubt that any of these things that had happened to me for all these years were real. A vision doubting the reality of visions.

*


“Why don't you tell us what it's like when you are fixing?”

*


I'm at my childhood backyard picnic table with Detectives Kay Howard and Frank Pembleton from 'Homicide: Life on the Street'. They're showing me a sheet of paper with hieroglyph-style drawings on it, figures on the shore of an ocean, the word 'GODDESS'. As we talk I realize that I'm in a dream and I ask Frank, needing to know if he's only a figment, if he can see me. Really see me. 

He nods and taps his forehead. 

Weeks later I'm dreaming of a cottage, quaint and pastoral. The interior is lit with candles and I'm swimming in shadows with a woman, making love with her, our forms intermingling, we're moving like quanta into and around each other. I'm in the kitchen alone and I call out and an older woman, matronly and smiling, appears. I see a word: 'KAY'. 

When I wake up I reach over to the cardboard box beside my bed, unthinking, and grab the book on Celtic magic. Flipping, unthinking, to the dictionary of gods and goddesses, a section I haven't read yet. 
  
Kele-de, spelled phonetically, KAY-lay-DAY, an ancient goddess of sex and mystery. I've never heard of her. 

Years later, I'm sitting in the garage on my great-uncle's farm – I've just moved here to help take care of him – smoking with my father's cousin, who I've only recently met. He's recounting his practice of Tibetan chanting, looking at the statues of the gods lining the temple walls. I take a chance, enough humour in my voice to cloak my desire, and say:
“Wait until the day that they look back.” 

And he says, deeply and gleefully, “They have.”

***

I, Robot Fighter

Aqua stood at the top of the platform looking in the direction that her companions had walked away. She had volunteered to stay behind and keep an eye on their backs, and to make sure that the train was safe as well.

Seconds turned to minutes. Minutes turned to agonizing minutes. But, like the good dragon she was she would wait until she heard word from her friends. She was leaning up against a pillar, clenching her fist while waiting for any word.

She tilted her head to listen when she heard the faint sound of marching; she turned to the direction it was coming from. And she spotted row after row after row of sentry bots marching towards her. She cracked a smile and clenched her fist.

"Showtime," she whispered, and she strolled out to greet them.

Twofeathers' Impromptu Meeting

Twofeathers was knocked for a loop, sending her crashing through a wall and she skittered across the floor. The little imp took a hit and she was feeling no pain whatsoever. It took her a few seconds to shake off the dizzying effects.

When she opened her eyes to see, standing over her with a concerned look on his face, a man in a white robe and a tall hat, looking very surprised indeed. The man's men stood around him to see a little demonic beast picking herself up. All of them looking very much shocked by what they saw.

"We could use some help here, Two!" Dexter's voice could be heard from the other side of the hall. It sounded like all hell had broken loose.

"Don't worry," she said to the fellow in the tall hat, "I'm turning Catholic."

And then she took flight and back out through the wall that she came through.

You Want Fries With That?

Darius sat in the booth of the restaurant; he was sipping on a cola and occasionally chomping down on some fries. He had been in an heated argument earlier and was now cooling down. The bible sat on the table in plain sight. His attention was focused on the building across the street.

"Say, Dare," Goner stated as he slid into the booth and reached over and took a fry. "It's been a long while, bro."

"Goner," Darius replied with a smile; he hadn't seen his friend in a long time. "What's happening?"

"Oh, nothing much at the moment, just enjoying my downtime. Figured you'd be here," Goner answered as his hands went across the table and he took another fry. He glanced across the street to see the church standing. "Ever the sentinel, eh?"

"It's my territory and must be protected," Darius said; he tapped the bible with his forefinger. Goner cracked a smile. "You never know what evil will happen if you let your guard down."

"Don't I know all about that," Goner replied; his eyes caught a movement up the steps. A heavily robed figure going up to the doors. "Darius." He swung his head to motion out the window.

Darius caught the motion and glanced out the window. He swore underneath his breath. He reached inside his front pocket and took out a five dollar bill and placed it on the table, he grabbed his bible and slid out the booth.

"No rest for the wicked," Goner muttered as he slid out of the seat and on the way he grabbed another fry.