A week or so later, I was amidst another dream. However this time, my lucidity came on gradually. I can only describe it as one would slowly lower themselves into water, so too did my mind gather it’s edge.
I was walking from room to room, down a richly carpeted, albeit darkly adorned hallway. Small closets of rooms lined the hall on both sides. Inside each of them were computers without screens, yet each was occupied with a gleefully screaming patron. A strange device stood on a tripod of legs to extend a square device with a face guard meant to cup a users face as they sat up and into it. Inside this device I expected to see small screens akin to an Oculus VR headset. Yet where one would expect screens, there were two blunted protrusions that aimed themselves at a users eyes, yet were short enough so as not to actually touch them.
The excited cries of those computer users echoed up and down the hall. Their calls and conversations belied a great cooperative game. I instantly wanted in.
“How do I play? I can’t see a screen.”
As if summoned by my question, an employee of the establishment was by my side to help me get acquainted with my booth. “Its not difficult, you just have to go through the configuration and attunement process first. Then you can do whatever you want.”
There was a cool confidence to the employee’s voice that left me without question. I was so absorbed in trying out the new tech that I didn’t at that time recognise a familiarity as well. I plopped down into the seat and pulled my face up to this new device. A swirling nebula of color flew across my vision akin to an aurora Borealis paired with ruptured sunspots of energy. It was over as quickly as it started, like a warm splash of water over the face. In the next blink I found myself in a lab with several other people working on various projects. No one paid the other much attention as they diligently plugged away at various projects. My assistant’s voice spoke in my ear.
“This is a basic training program designed to help you adjust to the device while configuring your settings.”
As he spoke, I walked over to a fridge to retrieve some samples stored there. Afterwards I promptly went to a microscope station and started loading test subjects and made my adjustments. A wide grin peeled across my face at this immersion. “I wanna play Battlefield!”
“Hmm. You’re not ready for that, yet.”
Recognition blinked on in my head. The employee, his voice, it was that of my guide of light. My excitement sobered as my attention shifted.
“How is this possible? There are no screens!”
I felt Light’s amusement as he said, “How much information do your eyes gather to then send along their fibrous lines to be interpreted by your brain? Yours is a network not much different than any other.”
Suddenly I saw a series of quicksilver images. It came on like a beam of light flying through nebulae, through comet’s tails and past planets drifting through an endless ocean of dark space. All of that, at the mere implication of Light’s network, at what I had just used could evolve into.
“What is this tech?”
I felt Light’s smile before he answered. “It is something you will make.”
“But, how?” I stammered, “I don’t know the first thing about any of this!”
“You will, in time.”
“Okay, but why me?” My gaze fell to the floor as I searched for a logical answer. Light seemed to take a steadied breath, anticipating my forthcoming answer. I found it in earnest and said, “Because THEY (meaning people) won’t trust it otherwise”. Light nodded slowly as a solemn resignation flowed between us, confirming my question and answer. Excitement grabbed at my voice again as I asked, “When?”
Light answered, “In time, soon.”
With that answer, my dream ended. Wakefulness grabbed me upright once more, as questions of my sanity niggled at the corners of my mind. Then the author in me went to work. All of that and then some, well before four AM. So you see, I’m quite mad. Either mad as a hatter or mad as a genius. Only the trial of time will tell.
