A Dreamer's World

Per our discussion on raising the awareness on the potential danger of Dreamers at Legalcorp, please see the transcript below:

BR: The first thing that I remember is walking through the halls of a dungeon. I am certain it was a dungeon. The halls were dark, but there was a bit of light coming in through vertical shafts. The light wasn’t direct, but it was enough to make out the mildew that clung to the walls and the cells that lay to either side.

JL: This is the first thing you remember? You don’t recall how you got there?

BR: No. I was just there. I remember, at the time, I didn’t question it. It just made sense that I was there.

JL: I see. Well, what happened next?

BR: I remember walking down the hallway. As I said, to either side lay regularly spaced cells. Most of these were occupied, but some weren’t. None of the cells had doors. The occupants appeared to be free to leave, but instead they sat there, staring at the walls. A few of them looked up at me as I walked by, but most of them just continued to stare at the walls, as if they were totally engrossed by their contents.

JL: And this didn’t strike you as odd?

BR: It certainly did. I was dimly aware of the fact that the king of the castle had tricked these people into submitting to imprisonment. He promised them safety and security, all they had to do was sit in these dungeon cells all day. Most were happy to do so. I was longer so content. I was ready to escape.

JL: And not one of them tried to stop you?

BR: Of course not. They didn’t know what I was going to do. Sure, some of them must have thought it strange, but I assume that most just thought I was headed out for some fresh air – or perhaps the break room.

One person did try to ask me what I was doing. I found out afterwards that it was Michael from accounting. He had I are fairly good friends. I recall stopping in the hall and looking at him. I must have said something about how I was done. I guess he thought I was just heading home early. It must be just as hard for the Awake to identify a Dreamer as it is for a Dreamer to distinguish between real and the dream worlds.

At any rate, he didn’t think anything of it and I continued down the hallway, towards the exit.

JL: And that is when your boss confronted you?

BR: Yes, though I knew him then as the evil King. He stepped in my way and put his hand up.

“Just where do you think you are going Brandon?”

“Out.” Was my reply.

“I am afraid I can’t let you do that. The TPS reports need to be finished today, you know.”

JL: Interesting…and the phrase “TPS reports” didn’t bring you back?

BR: Obviously not. I knew I had been caught, and that he wasn’t going to let me go. It was now or never, as they say. I looked down and found that my hand held a dagger –

JL: The letter opener?

BR: So it seems. I was surprised at how easily I was able to take the King by surprise. One would suppose that a King would have been a mighty warrior at one time. Years of rule had apparently made him soft and slow. The dagger found its home on the first thrust. He stumbled back away from me, surprise in his eyes. I suppose he had never imagined one of his subjects standing up to him in such a manner. He stumbled into a cell. This was followed by a woman’s scream. The inhabitant of the cell – presumably the screamer – ran out and looked me over.

“Brandon, what the fuck!”

This didn’t seem an appropriate response for a newly freed subject, and was the beginning of my Waking.

JL: But you were not yet fully Awake?

BR: Not yet. Next, the several of the prisoners poked their heads out of their cells.

The first woman yelled again.

“He fucking stabbed Bob! Call an ambulance!”

The name “Bob” really shocked me. Not really a regal name, if you follow me. Together with the mention of an ambulance, I was really well on my way back to Awake. By the time my co-workers tackled me, I knew where I was, and that I had just stabbed my boss. But of course, by then it was too late.

JL: It surely was. But that is in the past. Thank you for the recounting. I have just a few more questions for you. First, do you feel that you were properly trained by your employer on the dangers of napping at work?

BR: Oh yes, we were put through a half-day training seminar that covered workplace injuries, ergonomics, and Dreaming.

JL: And was an adequate supply of caffeine supplied to all employees?

BR: Yes. That is…usually.

JL: Usually?

BR: Look, I don’t want to get anyone in trouble –

JL: You stabbed your boss, Brandon, someone is already in trouble.

BR: Point taken. But it was really a simple mistake. I had pointed out that we were low on diet coke and Sheryl – the ordering lady – forgot to order it in time. There was regular coke –

JL: But you are of the Church of the Fallen Messiah? And your religious freedoms are protected.

BR: I didn’t want to break my vows and, well, I don’t know.

JL: You did nothing wrong, provided that we find there was no diet soda and someone can validate your story of notifying purchasing –

Recording ends. Partial transcript of interview of subject #43b2r5l (Brandon Repste) by agent #973 (Jannelle Lamb) for case #RD-9634. Suggest that this transcript be used in the training of future employees at Legalcorp. If you have any questions or concerns, please do contact my assistant, Janelle.

Best,

Charles Drent

Director, HR Department