opnet [OpNet] Okay, I'd think I was in a really corny horror movie...

[Elizabeth Rayne]

...or I would if this wasn't deadly serious.

Has anyone ever come across a nova who refers to herself as "Dream Witch"?

At least I think she's a nova. She on the other hand seems to believe that she's dead. I'm not joking.

Let me explain. I was retained two weeks ago to find out who was behind a series of attacks on various important business people (both baseline and nova) in the UK. They'd been trying to keep it quiet but it went really big last week when the nova financial wiz David Maine was killed while he was asleep in his LOndon home. I'm sure you caught the reports. He wasn't even on the list of potential targets but it was definately the same M.O. even though he was the first fatality but not the last.

Two days ago a baseline businesswoman called Mary Haldane was killed in York. Again while she was sleeping. (See what I mean about the corny horror movie.) This time I was actually in the building and picked up a Quantum Signature even though I was unable to prevent the murder.

I spent yesterday trying to track down the source of said signature and failed notably. At least until I went to sleep and she found me. I still don't know how she got past my shields without alerting me but the first I knew of her presense was when she appeared and introduced herself as the "Dream Witch" and not to interfere with her revenge on the people who had trapped her here as a ghost instead of letting her pass on when she died. She also left me with a little proof this wasn't just a dream. There's a hand shaped burn on my left forearm and it's painful and is healing very slowly compared to my usual healing rates.

Has anyone come across this person before? And how do the hell do I persuade her that she isn't dead?

I'm more than a little creeped out right now.

Beth

[Jager]

I know this is a 'no, duh', but find the tie between the victims.

Okay, she appears to be a mentalist who homes in a certain bands of REM sleep. She could be using some telemitry power to move 'physically' to the target, using a form of parasitic domination to literally get inside her victims. I have seen someone who combined that with an extreme form of personal molecular control. The effects were horrific, to say the least.

Was the wound inflicted from the inside-out, Elizabeth?

I havent' heard of anyone matching that description, but I will put out feelers.

Being trapped with a dispersed molecular state might make an already mentally unbalanced person believe that they were 'dead'. Dr. Holland is very familiar with the phenomena and might have some insights.

Be careful and good hunting.

[Guest]

Liz --

I've been out of the loop for awhile, so I asked around, and I just might have the answer to your questions.

Unfortunately, I can't give them to you.

If this woman is who I think she might be -- and I'll confess that I'm not certain -- you can rest assured that she is most assuredly a nova (and a telepath of surpassing skill) and that, though she probably thinks she is, she is not dead. I can't go into the details of the matter for purposes of the protection of my associates, but I can assure you that this 'Dream Witch' is scared, hurt, alone and -- more than likely -- utterly fucking mad.

Anyway, I know you probably expected this from me, but let it drop. You won't prevent the killings, I promise you. And if she is who I think she is, there's only three more to go. Don't think they don't have it coming.

If for nothing else than your own safety, I'd avise you not to confront this woman. She's more dangerous than a great many people here. I think that slowly-healing mark on your arm is proof enough of that. Leave her alone.

-- Avenger

[Elizabeth Rayne]

Jaeger: I have been able to find a blatently obvious link between Maine and Haldane. Two infact.

• They were cousins... and there's a certain amount of evidence that they were more than just kissing cousins.
• He was advising her on how to stop her small Elite Agency being taken over by DeVries.

It's the rest of the victims. The ones who survived for whatever reason. For example as well as visiting me she attacked Jenna Wilkins last night.

Jenna's a baseline private paraphysician with no apparent connection to either victim or even to Novas except on her client list. Yes I did cross reference her lists for connections with Maine or Haldane. Nothing. The only connection she has with the others is that she runs her own business and it deals with Novas.

The odd thing is that she seems to have survived almost totally uninjured. She's definately a baseline. The only unusual thing about her is that she is a long time Lucid Dreamer.

My current theories are that either Dream Witch's powers must have a psychosomatic element which renders even baseline lucid dreamers relatively safe. Or she attacked Jenna by mistake and withdrew when she realised. Both seem equally possible.

So far she's shown no ability to control her victims bodies but she does seem to get inside them.

As to the wound it looks external but I can't be sure.

Avenger: You might know who it is but you can't say? Okay, I can see how that could be.

However she didn't seem insane. Deluded, yes, but not insane. She seems to be trying to avoid attacking anyone who's not "involved". I'd say she'd been badly traumatised at some point so if these people did something to her it must be bad.

Beth

[ 06-30-2002: Message edited by: Elizabeth Rayne ]

[David 'Dr. Troll' Smith]

Quote:

Originally posted by Avenger 01:
And if she is who I think she is, there's only three more to go. Don't think they don't have it coming.

So... what happens after she is done with those three?

[Prof. Sydney 'Photon' Holland]

Elizabeth,

While I can't really offer you much advice on catching this woman, I may have some hints on protecting other victims:

Ever heard of a Psychic Static generator? It emits large, random amounts of Alpha and Beta waves in the room, which make it quite difficult for most telepathic attempts to succeed. Even better, I've been told that Utopia has a few models of this kind of technology, so it may be reasonably easy to pick one up.

Also, If she is, as Jager believes, a nova who's capabilities have caused to become somewhat deluded, I'd be very careful. It's possible that this delusion has become a core aspect of her personality. As much as it would be nice to bring her "back to reality" as it were, you may simply have to incapacitate her in some fashion (and how I couldn't tell you without some additional information on how her capabilities are manifesting).

However, you have one advantage - Since you are a telepath, you may be able to take her on the one place she's vulnerable - her mind.

Keep us informed. I'd be interested to see how this works out.

[Jager]

Did Dr. Wilkins give Ms. Haldane a gyneocological exam recently? For that matter, was Mr. Maine sterile?

I think you know were I'm going with this. I hope I'm wrong.

As for motivations, I think you may be dealing with a Grief-Revenge scenario. Stopping her is going to be tough, because she will seem and act rationally on most occasions.

[Elizabeth Rayne]

Originally posted by Jager:

Did Dr. Wilkins give Ms. Haldane a gyneocological exam recently? For that matter, was Mr. Maine sterile?

I think you know were I'm going with this. I hope I'm wrong.

hmmmm....

no she didn't but I see where your going with this.

I'm well aware of the claims about Utopia's sterilization program. David Maine was one of those rare novas who had never been to a Utopia Facility or used any of their drugs so if the rumours are true and nova sterility isn't a biological oddity with only occassional exceptions he may have been fertile.

And no one will let me look at Haldane's autopsy report... but then I'm just a Private Detective and have no real official remit in this case so it's not that suspicious. However it means I have no real way of knowing if Haldane was pregnant. I hope not...

As for motivations, I think you may be dealing with a Grief-Revenge scenario. Stopping her is going to be tough, because she will seem and act rationally on most occasions.

There's something I'm missing here. I wish I could get rid of the feeling that I know who she is. I know I'd never seen her before or come across that signature but there's a feeling of familarity that won't stop haunting me.

Beth

[Guest]

Liz --

"If rumors are true"...? Please, quit kidding yourself.

Anyway, I think I might be able to confirm who this woman is. If it will set your mind at ease to know, I might be able to divulge the information, if she is who I think she is. But I'll provide you with no means to stop her, nor will I permit you to make any attempt on her. Like I said, you need to let this go. It's going to happen whethere you like it or not.

Anyway, if you remember, give me a physical. What'd she look like? That might be able to confirm it.

-- Avenger

[Elizabeth Rayne]

Liz --

"If rumors are true"...? Please, quit kidding yourself.

It depends which rumours. The drug one's only one. I've heard it's in the water, encoded in the Zushima Microbe, put through the air conditioning at Rashoud Facilities, in the food. Hell last week a friend swore black's white that she had proof the Directive was behind it and they were framing Utopia. One things for certain... they aren't all true.

Anyway, I think I might be able to confirm who this woman is. If it will set your mind at ease to know, I might be able to divulge the information, if she is who I think she is. But I'll provide you with no means to stop her, nor will I permit you to make any attempt on her. Like I said, you need to let this go. It's going to happen whethere you like it or not.

I'm trying Professor Holland's suggestion though I'm dubious about it working. I understand that you can't help me stop her but I do have an obligation to find out what's going on at least.

Anyway, if you remember, give me a physical. What'd she look like? That might be able to confirm it.

Now there's a problem. I could tell you what I saw but everyone whose dreams she's invaded has seen her differently. To me she was a tall, red hair woman with vivid green eyes. Jenna described her as a beclawed and befanged movie style vampire with red eyes and black hair. In another victim's dream she started out as a short blonde and went werewolf on him. Left him with a 'nice' set of claw marks across his stomach and this guys an elite who walks through gunfire unhurt.

Beth

[Jager]

Off subject and setting the record straight; did I even mention Utopia in any of this? I listen to conspiracy theories, I don't subscribe to them (or many of them, anyway).

Okay, back to the case: Your facing a telepath and what seems to be a damn good one. 'She' influences their perceptions by drawing on their own psyches to perfect her appearance in their minds. If her attacks are psychosematic in nature, it would give credence to the 'Lucid Dreamer' defense. Unfortunately, that greatly increases her ability to get at her victims.

Avenger, did it occur to you that killing these people won't end the affair? Others will come looking for someone who can do this. If you can get to her, shut her down. If she is a terat, Elizabeth needs to know right now. If she isn't, it is probably best that you stay out of the way.

[Elizabeth Rayne]

Originally posted by Jager:

Off subject and setting the record straight; did I even mention Utopia in any of this? I listen to conspiracy theories, I don't subscribe to them (or many of them, anyway).

If I misinterpreted what you were saying I'm sorry. I'm much the same with conspiracy theories and I couldn't think of any other reason you'd ask the question.

However I am having to look at the whole Sterility issue. I just discovered that Jenna's been holding out on me. It appears Dr Wilkins is studying nova sterility and had submitted a paper about it.

Okay, back to the case: Your facing a telepath and what seems to be a damn good one. 'She' influences their perceptions by drawing on their own psyches to perfect her appearance in their minds. If her attacks are psychosematic in nature, it would give credence to the 'Lucid Dreamer' defense. Unfortunately, that greatly increases her ability to get at her victims.

Tell me about it... though Professor Holland's suggestion appears to be working. There weren't any Dream Witch attacks last night. However it appears that she isn't working alone. Someone took a pot shot at Jenna last night. I'm guessing it wasn't a nova because they were a really lousy shot. That or they missed deliberately and there's no evidence for that.

Avenger, did it occur to you that killing these people won't end the affair? Others will come looking for someone who can do this. If you can get to her, shut her down. If she is a terat, Elizabeth needs to know right now. If she isn't, it is probably best that you stay out of the way.

I don't think she's a terat. She'd have to understand that she was a nova for that wouldn't she?

Beth

[Jager]

...at one time she might have understood that she was a nova.

What did they shoot at...exactly? Where did the projectile go? Have you located it?

She might be a bad shot, or she may be 'forcing' someone else to do her shooting for her. Neither option is pleasent.

What was the jist of the 'sterility' paper?

[Elizabeth Rayne]

Quote:

Originally posted by Jager:
...at one time she might have understood that she was a nova.

well I guess that's possible...

What did they shoot at...exactly? Where did the projectile go? Have you located it?
She might be a bad shot, or she may be 'forcing' someone else to do her shooting for her. Neither option is pleasent.

Well they shot at Jenna in a Manchester Shopping Centre... erm Mall to you Americans. I was following her at the time and picked up a stray thought from the shooter. He was definately aiming for her. However he completely missed her and hit three bystanders and a nearby marble pillar. The police recovered the bullets. Since it was apparently a case of a crazy baseline shooting at baselines and no one erupted it hasn't exactly made big headlines except locally.

What was the jist of the 'sterility' paper?

I don't know. The paper appears to have vanished off the face of the earth, her computer's been wiped by a virus and she is refusing to talk about it. I think she hopes that if it is anything to do with the paper then not talking about it will get them to leave her alone.

Beth

[Elizabeth Rayne]

I thought I'd update you on what's happening with this little problem.

1. The Psychic Statice Generators appear to be working as I said but I've become aware that she is definately trying to push her way past them.

2. Jenna still won't tell me what was in the paper but I know she's confused as to why anyone would want to kill her over it. So I'm guessing that it didn't back up any conspiracy theory. At least not that she knew.

3. Thanks to her sister I finally managed to get hold of Mary Haldane's autopsy report and medical records. To answer the question Jager implied. She wasn't pregnant but there was evidence that she had a recent spontaneous miscarriage that isn't mentioned in her medical notes. Apparently her uterus showed signs of severe internal damage but it was well on the way to healing and there was no sign of infection. The scarring would have rendered her inferile however. The pathologist reckoned it would have happened about 3 months ago at which time she was officially on holiday in the South of France.

I'm not sure what all this means as yet. I feel like I'm doing a jigsaw and am missing several key pieces.

Beth

[ 07-07-2002: Message edited by: Elizabeth Rayne ]

[Jager]

Elizabeth, I've been living with the feeling that someone has been watching me all morning. I am afraid I can't be of more help to you for some time to come.

Best of luck with the case. Gotta run.

[Elizabeth Rayne]

Quote:

Originally posted by Jager:
Elizabeth, I've been living with the feeling that someone has been watching me all morning. I am afraid I can't be of more help to you for some time to come.

Best of luck with the case. Gotta run.

And good luck to you in avoiding your pursuers. I really hope they don't come after me I could do without having more than two bunches of crazies after me... well possibly after me.

Yes, two. One's whoever's behind Dream Witch and I don't think it's the Teragen. Though it could be... and hell after what I just found out I wouldn't blame the Teragen for being pissed off about this. The second...

Well after I posted this afternoon I finally got fed up of being led around by the nose and told the group that hired me that if there was something that they were hiding they should tell me. They severed my contract instead. Quite a nice fee but one of them let a thought leak so loudly I didn't have to read him to know they were upto something unethical. He had Jenna's missing paper.

I must say that Jenna didn't know this. She like Mr Maine was not part of the group that hired me. She appears to have been targetted because they were using her research behind her back. When I showed her Haldane's autopsy report she was able to make some educated guesses which I have literally just confirmed. Unfortunately I suspect my former employers know that I know I don't know what they'll do.

Anyway, I can't tell you exactly what I found out but I've got help from a cyberkinetic friend both to get the information and to send it directly to both Utopia and the Directive. Not to mention the appropriate British authorities.

Not that I trust either of those two groups fully but I'm sure they won't put up with this.

Oh and forget about corny horror movies this case just went... well did you ever watch that 1990s SciFi program the X-Files?

Never mind novas what baselines are capable of scares me.

Beth

[Guest]

Thing of it is, if this is who I think it might be, things like 'Teragen' and 'Utopia' don't mean shit to her, anymore. This gal is true-blue Terat, but in her world, all that exists for her is her personal agenda of whatever-the-fuck.

Last warning. Seriously. Let it go. I don't want to see you hurt.

-- Avenger

[Elizabeth Rayne]

Quote:

Originally posted by Avenger 01:
Thing of it is, if this is who I think it might be, things like 'Teragen' and 'Utopia' don't mean shit to her, anymore. This gal is true-blue Terat, but in her world, all that exists for her is her personal agenda of whatever-the-fuck.

Last warning. Seriously. Let it go. I don't want to see you hurt.

-- Avenger

Right now Dream Witch is the least of the worries. I don't know if she is who she think she is or if these people did anything to her. It doesn't really matter. She has plenty of reason to be pissed at them. I'm pissed at them. If they did something to her I can guess what it was now and I'd probably be homicidal as well in the circumstances.

What they were doing defies belief!
I wish I could tell you more.

Anyway, I'd better sign off now. I've got to move the one uninvolved person again. My former employers are definately after her.
Though she claims that Dream Witch actually apologised to her last night for thinking she was involved.

Since that means DW has found a way to bypass those Psychic Static Genarators my former employers may be in for a nasty shock.
A prospect I can bear with considerable fortitude. Though I'd rather see Justice done than Vengeance.

Beth