“So just what exactly is this secret project the Eleexx are working on?”

Elder Brother regarded me for a moment. “What do you know of the Brotherhood?” he asked, testing me. “Why do we exist?”

“You’re an underground organization that somehow manages to resist the telepathic compulsion of the Tu’udh’hizh’ak masters,” I explained. Mind you, that was a guess, one I hadn’t yet confirmed, but I felt confident enough about it to go with my instincts.

To his credit, the Chell leader didn’t flinch. Considering the world he lived in, I wasn’t surprised. “And our purpose?” he prompted.

“You mean other than finding the Precursor homeworld?” I riposted. He simply made a gesture with one of his hands, showing I should continue. “In that case, I imagine freeing your brothers and ending the Masters’ tyranny rates pretty high on your list,” I chanced. That one was obvious; if they’d forced your entire species to serve a race of alien overlords against their will, what would you want?

Elder Brother gave me a curt nod. “You are correct,” he confirmed. “There is no greater goal within our assembly than to free our people from their mind wizardry, and that is why we desire the data regarding the Eleexx project.”

Raven and I shared a look. She’d agreed to stay out of the parlay, relying on my expertise, but it had been a hard-won fight. I could tell she was just as curious about this secret program of theirs as I was, but if it was valuable enough for the Chell to steal it for themselves, part of me wanted to make damn sure they never got their hands on it.

… You’re confused. I can see it in your eyes. I get it. After all, if I’d gone to all this trouble to enlist the Brotherhood for the Alliance, why wouldn’t I want to aid them in any way I could? What helps them helps us, right?

Not necessarily.

Even the closest of allies had vastly different agendas, and that went double when the only thing you shared was a common enemy. There’s lots of reasons groups turn on one another, and not all of them are compatible. I understood the Brotherhood’s motives, in fact, I even agreed with most of them. But their priority was to free their people, just as mine was to help save humanity. If circumstances forced them to choose between saving their own and saving others, I knew which way they’d jump.

Only who knew what the Eleexx were working on? The Brotherhood, obviously, and hopefully me soon, leaving me with a decision to make. Did I give it to them, or did I keep it for my clan? Keeping it meant losing the Brotherhood as allies, yet giving it up could cripple us in some unknown way.

I needed more information.

“What’s the project?” I asked. “I can’t steal it if I don’t know what to look for.”

There was a long pause as Elder Brother debated what to tell me. I could see it on his face… with his whiskers, to be precise. Alien facial expressions differ vastly from humans, and while their hamster-like visage showed little expression, Chell whiskers more than made up for it. He hated the idea of telling me, but he also realized I was right. I had to know if I was going to complete their mission.

“The Eleexx are experimenting with a medicinal substance that shows great promise,” he explained. “If perfected, it could sever the telepathic link that forces our brethren to do the Master’s bidding, now and forever.” He peered at me closely. “I am certain you grasp why this is so important to us.”

I gave out a low whistle. Boy, did I ever. The Chell were at every level of the Tu’udh’hizh’ak Empire; they were the protectors and guardians, the servants, the workers, the pilots, and engineers. Without them, there was no Empire, at least until the Masters found another race to mind fuck. Until then, it would take a third of the Troika off the table, giving the Alliance the chance we so desperately needed. This was a good thing, right?

Right?

… Trust me, it’s never that simple.

“If the Eleexx are already working on a cure, why do you need me?” I asked. “It sounds like they’re already trying to free your people.”

A low growl rumbled from his chest. “And do you believe the insectoids do this for altruistic reasons?” he demanded. “Surely you are not that naïve.”

He was right, of course. They had an ulterior motive. The Troika always did. “What’s their angle?” I asked.

“Simple enough,” he shrugged. “Once they free us from the Masters and assist us in our vengeance, once the last of the Tu’udh’hizh’ak are dead, they foresee wooing us to their banner by playing upon our gratitude. With their ranks swelled, they will then turn on the final Troika member, the Aggaaddub. How long do you suppose they will last, in that scenario?”

… shit.

Damn it, he was right. Sure, on paper it looked great; wipe out the telepaths and the species that attacked Freya in one fell swoop. That would be a hell of a blow to the Troika, one that could take years for them to recover from. Except that the reason our fledgling Alliance had survived at all was because the Troika spent as much time spying and fighting amongst themselves as they did on anyone else. The three races deeply distrusted one another, only banding together out of a need for control and self-preservation. If the Eleexx defeated the other two that went away, leaving them free to focus all their attention on us.

Not good. Not good at all.

“I see your point,” I conceded.

“It is not only that,” he added. “We have had more than our fill of overlords. Why would we merely exchange one for another? The Eleexx have no more love for my kind than the Tu’udh’hizh’ak… less, perhaps. They see us as a means to an end, nothing more. They would use us as their shock troops, expendable warriors to be used and then discarded when no longer needed. Why should we ever trust them?”

“I wouldn’t,” I agreed.

“And you,” he sneered, “you are no different. You hope to enlist us in your war, to attack the Troika from within, crippling them so your warships may defeat them more easily. Am I wrong?”

His black eyes glared, challenging me, daring me to lie my way out of it. “No, you’re not wrong,” I admitted, “but this is not just ‘Our war’. It’s your war too, one you’re already fighting. We have a common enemy, so why not work together?”

“While we may share a common enemy, as you say, our goals are quite different. You wish to remake the Perseus Arm into something more egalitarian, whereas we want nothing more than to be left alone.” He looked away, lost in some dark memory. “After five thousand years of servitude, I believe we have earned it.”

I mean, what the hell do you say to that? “If that is truly how you feel,” I ventured, “then why bother speaking to us at all? If you have no interest in an alliance, what incentive is there for me to perform this task?” If they weren’t going to play ball, then the first chance I got I’d disappear back into the aether, and he knew it. Killing me would be the smart move, yet it was obvious he wanted my help. I’m certainly no altruist, no more than he was himself. So what’s in it for me, not to mention humanity?

“Because while we have no interest in a formal alliance, you are correct in that we share a mutual foe,” he begrudged. “There may be times where we can aid one another, short of an official compact.” he turned his gaze to me once more. “Complete this mission, and we will be in your debt.”

Huh. “I’ll need to examine your offer carefully,” I told him. “Give me some time to think it over.”

“As you wish,” he nodded, blanking the screen.

Raven wasted no time sharing her feelings. “You can’t seriously be considering this?” she asked me point-blank. “We don’t owe them a thing.”

I went to the bar and retrieved a bulb, sipping thoughtfully. “He was right about one thing,” I said, “we are at war. You rarely get to pick your allies in wartime, and the Brotherhood could still be valuable. Half a loaf is better than none.”

“How do you know they won’t betray us to their Masters for an advantage?” she asked rather forcefully. “You started this investigation because they were murdering our people, remember? How can you even think about trusting them?”

“I haven’t forgotten,” I said coolly, “and consider all the Chell we’ve killed during this conflict, far more than they have of ours.”

“Because they were trying to kill us,” she hissed.

“They have no choice,” I snarled. “The Masters turned them into their puppets, and they have absolutely no say in the matter. I watched it happen to a friend, and she had absolutely no idea someone had tampered with her brain. It was only sheer luck that let us break their hold on her.” I shook my head, more determined than ever. “The Troika is a plague, but the Masters are by far the most insidious. They have to be stopped, by any means necessary. And if that means cutting a deal with the Brotherhood, no matter how untrustworthy they are, then so be it.”

“You’re a fool, Al,” she spat, “a damned fool. I just hope you don’t find out the hard way.”

“Maybe I am,” I admitted. “It wouldn’t be the first time.”

Raven stood there glaring at me and then sighed. “I can’t talk you out of this, can I?”

“No,” I said quietly.

She walked over, took a seat beside me, and shrugged. “Then I guess I’d better help you. Lord knows you’re gonna need it.”

I rolled my eyes. “I’ve been doing this a long time, Raven,” I told her. “I have things completely under control…”

… Talk about an unfortunate choice of words.

One minute we’re sitting talking in the penthouse suite of the Tycho Ritz-Carlton, circa 2137, and the next?

We both landed on the hard ground with a thud, coughing in the dust as the sound of a bugle and thundering hooves grabbed our attention. “What the hell?” I said in disbelief, as I stared at what looked to be…

… okay, there’s no easy way to say this, so I’m just going to say it. At a Union Army cavalry charge, circa 1865. As I dragged Raven off to the side and out of harm’s way, a quick look around confirmed my suspicions.

“Where the hell are we?” she shouted, taking a moment to stare at her period dress, complete with petticoats and bustle, before gaping at my costume. A feathered, wide-brimmed hat with one side pinned up topped a deep blue uniform, with a curved saber and pistol belted at my side.

I winced as realization hit me. “... Gettysburg.”

“Gettysburg? What do you mean, Gettysburg?” Raven said in confusion, shaking her head like she was trying to clear her thoughts.

“I mean Gettysburg, the biggest battle of the American Civil War,” I said, exasperated. “I recognize the terrain. I’ve run this scenario a few times.”

“Why are we here?” she continued. “I didn’t ask to come here. Take us back. Now.” She folded her arms across her chest, impatiently waiting.

“Of course,” I agreed, bobbing my head. I wasn’t sure what had brought us here in the first place, some sort of glitch in the system, perhaps. I’d have to look into that. I sent a mental command to take us back to the hotel… only to freeze with sudden apprehension when nothing happened.

“Well?” Raven demanded.

“I’m trying,” I said frantically as I made another attempt. It fizzled out just as quickly as the first.

This wasn’t supposed to happen. I mean never. I’d never had issues controlling my domain before. Well… I mean… other than that whole thing with Raven and not being able to get rid of her, but that doesn’t count.

Does it?

This is not happening, this is not happening, I said desperately to myself, even as I tried once again to bring us back. There was a pause, and then a strange stutter-step as something yanked us away from the Pennsylvania countryside, landing moments later on a hard wooden deck. Glaring down at us was a bearded man in his middle years, with a piece of polished wood replacing one of his legs.

“How did you board the Pequod?” he demanded.

“Jesus, not this guy,” I groaned, willing us back to the hotel once more. Ahab shouted for his first mate as we disappeared, this time landing on soft grass.

“Still not the hotel,” Raven yelled at me, but I’d already figured that much myself, especially considering her costume. Gone was the jet-black hair, now replaced with flowing golden locks. It looked weird on her, to be honest, but the blue frock and white pinafore were even more disturbing.

“Oh no,” I whispered, dreading the confirmation of what I was certain was about to appear. Right on time… ironic, considering... a giant white rabbit materialized before us, staring at his pocket watch. “Oh dear, I’m late!” he exclaimed, before bounding off into the woods.

We both stared at him as he vanished before slowly turning to face one another. “Alice in Wonderland?” Raven said shrilly. “Are you crazy?”

A question I was asking myself as well. Gripping her hand tightly, I tried one last time to take us back. I closed my eyes and pictured the desolate moonscape, the one-sixth gravity, the thick carpeting and the imposing viewscreen. I could see it in my mind, just as I recalled, so with a deep breath and crossed fingers, I willed us both back there…

… and just like that, we were back where we’d started. I breathed a deep sigh of relief and made a beeline for the bar. Raven looked down at her clothes, ensuring we hadn’t landed off course again, before pointing a shaking finger in my direction.

“You… you’ve lost it,” she said, her voice raspy with emotion. “I don’t know what the hell is wrong with you, but fix it, goddamn it!” She stormed off to the bedroom, the door sliding shut behind her.

I guzzled down the first bulb and grabbed another as I made my way to the couch on rubbery legs. What I was going to say is I’d never heard of something like this happening before… but that would be a lie. I have. It’s rare, but not unheard of. I just never imagined it happening to me.

We call it Morpheus Syndrome, after the Greek god of dreams. I’ve mentioned before just how seductive the digital world can be when you can have anything you want just by imagining it. But there’s a danger that goes with it, one we rarely discuss. It’s the unspoken fear of slowly losing one’s tether to reality, of slipping away into the dreamworld forever. Some might even call it seductive, forgetting your problems and surrounding yourself with whatever makes you happy for the rest of your life.

But there’s a catch. Those dreams you’re surrounded by? They don’t stay happy. Eventually, they become nightmares, nightmares you can’t control.

Nightmares that follow wherever you run, forever.

And losing control of your domain was the first symptom.