voidtreckerexpress

It's a mystery, all right. Is there anything in your history that might give you even a clue as to why that is?

And as for what you can do? Use every ounce of your determination to either fend off the illusion or question its reality. I don't know if that will work, but it might.

[Takato shakes his head.]

I can't think of anything. There were a few strange things that happened, I guess. But before I met Guilmon, I was just a regular kid.

But how do you know whether something is real or an illusion?

[ Curufin is in the Dining Carriage with his cleaning equipment. He wields a mop and a bucket with great energy, and somehow manages to pay attention to Takato at the same time. ]

What happened that was strange? Was that only after you met Guilmon?

As for reality versus illusion, it's not that easy to tell. But some things will give you clues. Are you in a situation in which it's extremely unlikely that the illusion can be real? For example, on the mission I was up on Tier One, where it was all labs and other modern scenery, I knew it couldn't be real when I opened a door and suddenly there was a room in my castle back in Middle-earth.

There are other clues. Does the image flicker like our illusions did on the mission? Reality usually doesn't behave that way. Also, there is your deep-down feeling about the illusion. You indicated when we were talking before that your illusions seemed so real that you really couldn't doubt it. But go one level down in your heart and ask yourself if your heart really thinks the image is real. The heart knows.

"I guess it started after I found his egg? I had a really weird dream that night. It was like.... I dreamed about Ruki before I met her? And I'm still not sure whether I was actually there or not."

He thinks about that.

"But in the Digital World there could be all kinds of places that were real, but didn't make much sense. Like a library under the ocean." He shakes his head. "And I didn't see any flickering."

"So Guilmon had something to do with your life becoming. . . not ordinary. . . and visions coming into your life?"

He considers. "I don't know much about the Digital World, since that's really not my thing. But I guess it could create places that seemed "real"? Still, a library under the ocean sounds kind of illogical, even if it looks real. I resort to using logic when trying to decide if something is real or not."

Hmmm.

"But if you didn't see any flickering, then maybe the power that makes your visions seem real is making sure you don't see anything that might make you doubt the vision. But what about the judgement of the heart? Surely your heart really knows if something is real or not?

"Before I met Guilmon, there really wasn't anything special about me," Takato explains earnestly. "Well, actually the first thing that happened was when I found the blue card and my card reader changed into my first D-Arc. I found out later that it was the digignomes. Mr.Mizuno said that that happened because they were trying to communicate with me."

He frowns. "But if a place can be illogical and still be real, how do you use logic to decide what's real?"

He tries very hard to understand what Curufin was saying. "...My heart? I guess? But... what it told me before was that things that other people didn't think were real, were real."

Curufin listens. "What's a D-Arc? And who are the digignomes?"

And back to how to tell what is real: "Well, it's true that some real places are illogical. But when a place violates the laws of logic in a really blantent fashion, then I'd question whether it was real. For example, on the mission, I found myself on a ship out on the ocean. I'm sure it was suoposed to be the ship I sailed across the sea to get to Middle-earth, but the illusion-maker made a mistake, creating a ship that looked like one from the middle ages of Earth. It had enourmous sails and the deck was high off the water and the rudder was controlled by a wheel. The Telerin Elven ship I actually took was like a Viking ship, very low to the water and the sails were not huge and the rudder was controlled by a handle at the rear of the ship -- no metal mechanism on a belowdeck level to carry the steersman's command to the rudder. This was a complete violation of logic, not to mention history, so I knew I was inside an illusion."

He nods, though he wonders if his situation with respect to reality is radically different than Takato's. "Then maybe neither of those methods will work for you. But what did your heart tell you before? What was it that other people didn't think wwere real, but it was in fact real? -- at least, according to your heart."

Takato turns away and rummages in his pocket for a moment, then holds out his hand. In it was a white palm sized device with a softly glowing screen set in the center. The screen was surrounded by a gold ring marked with strange angular writing.

"This is my D-Arc. It connects me and Guilmon." Takato had been told once that they were meant to connect like pairs of humans and digimon, like Noah's ark, to reach the next stage of human evolution. But the whole thing had mostly gone over his head. "The digignomes are... They're like digimon? But not? Digimon were created by humans but the digignomes evolved by themselves."

He thinks a moment. "But they're really nice! They don't talk in the same ways humans or digimon do, so they try to communicate by granting wishes."

Takato glances down with an upset frown. "That digimon were real. Every bit as real as humans, even if what they are made of is different. Some of the adults back home... they said that digimon were just programs. But after meeting Guilmon and the others I knew that couldn't be right."

"Oh, I see. So you and Guilmon have a means to communicate in case you are separated? And the digignomes are natural to your world."

He smiles. "They must be very nice, if they communicate with you by granting wishes. Did you have any wishes that they granted?"

He tilts his head in puzzlement and curiosity. "I don't know much about computer programs, but Guilmon doesn't seem to me to be one. He seems to be an independent intelligence, even if he's bound to you in some way."

And that surprises a laugh out of Takato.

"Not that kind of communication. Well, not really. There were times when it was like we were in a dream in our minds together, I guess. But the main thing it does is let us share our strength with each other. When Guilmon needs more strength I can give him mine."

He nods. "Guilmon. He was... It was like he was a dream that became real. I drew a picture of him, and then the digignomes created him. But Mr. Mizuno said that maybe Guilmon dreamed himself, and I was just the one who drew him. Or maybe Guilmon was the one who dreamed me first." He trails off. "I still don't really understand all of it. But I think its enough that he is my friend."

"Oh, I see! I do understand that idea of dreaming in your minds together. Elves can do that, and I have. But I like that part of it, that you two can share your strength wih each other."

He nods. "Guilmon as a dream that became real. That's even better. If he dreamed himself into existence, or if he dreamed you first? -- what a mysterious reality! But that is wonderful, that either way, you are friends and will come to each other's aid when needed."

"Really? I didn't know that happened to anyone else!" This was actually the first time that Takato had mentioned it to anyone, because he'd never been able to figure out how to explain it.

He laughs a little awkwardly. "Mr. Mizuno said a lot of things that I didn't really understand. And then after that there was a lot of other things to worry about, so I never got a chance to ask anything more."

"It does. When I and my brothers were growing up, it was not unusual for us to share dreams. We shared our thoughts, too, without speaking aloud."

He smiles. "This Mr. Mizuno must have been a good mentor to you, if he understood anything so mysterious as people or beings dreaming each other into existance. If you could ask him something now, what would you ask?"

"Really? Do you think I could learn to do that with Guilmon?"

Takato hesitates a little. "I don't know if he was really a mentor? He just... He knew more about the Digital World than anyone. But I really only talked to him that one time."

He'd joined the monster makers after, but with everything going on there hadn't been time after that.

"I guess... I would ask if he knew what the red and blue cards would do."

The blue card, with the algorithm that brought humans and digimon together. And the red card, that had given them the ability to evolve in the real world. With effects that Takato was only now beginning to understand.

"I'd be willing to bet that you could. You can probably figure it out yourself, how to share dreams and thoughts with Guilmon. But if the two of you want some lessons, I'd be willing to teach."

He smiles. "Good thing, though, to have someone who knows so much, even if you only talked to Mr. Mizuno once."

He knows nothing about the cards. "What do the red and blue cards look like? And do you have experience with them?"

"Can we! I want to try! And I'm not really sure where to start."

Takato thinks a moment. "I can't show you the red cards, because that was a gift from the sovereigns." But for the rest...

He pulls out a card from his deck without looking at it. The exact card didn't matter. Holding it up in front of his face he closes his eyes and concentrates a moment, thinking about his connection to Guilmon. The card shimmers, and suddenly shifts into a blue card.

"This one... when I use it, we become closer together. Guilmon can evolve to MegaloGrowmon. I can send him more of my strength, and when he gets hurt I can feel it too."

"When do you want to try this? I'm free right now, or we could arrange it for later. I think the place to start is with sharing dreams, because that part of our brains is intimately tied to both our thoughts and emotions, and those are necessary in order to share thoughts while awake. You don't absolutely have to be asleep to share dreams, just in a relaxed and imaginative state."

Curufin looks carefully at the red card. "Wow! It turned into a blue card. It sounds like these cards are related to your connection with Guilmon. If using the card can help you send him strength and help you feel what he feels, then maybe there is some way to use them to help you two share dreams and thoughts."

"Well... maybe tonight if dreams would be easiest? I'm not very sleepy right now."

Takato wasn't really sure what he meant by dreaming while they were awake.

"You think so? I guess I could try."

"Tonight would work for me. What if you and Guilmon and I meet in the Garden Carriage? Bring a blanket to fold and place on a bench, just for the sake of comfort. I'll bring an extra, in case Guilmon needs one too."

It was true that it wasn't necessary to be asleep in order to share dreams. It was only necessary to be relaxed and in a deeply receptive state, in which the imagination was fully activated. Curufin could help them relax into such a state.

"We can do that!" Takato pauses. "...Thanks, Curufin."

"You're very welcome, Takato! I'll see you there tonight, say, after dinner."

"Mmm! We'll be there!"

"I'll be looking forward to it."

I can't say that I have much experience with them, short of recently, but...

I think it may help to have someone you trust, nearby. And to remember you trust them.

I do have that! Guilmon was right beside me the whole time, and until the last one he could pull me out of it. He said he could smell they were wrong.

"I'm not really sure. With me, I think there may have been a wifi signal that got into my central processing unit because... What I saw wasn't something anyone knew about. But I didn't think that could happen to humans."

"I have a prototype helmet but.... It is.... Very rudimentary."

Edited 2021-05-29 14:59 (UTC)

And that was something else Takato hadn't thought about. He panics a little.

"Do you think it was because I became data a while ago?"

She tilts her head in confusion at that, "Eeeeeeh!?"

"Do you mean you downloaded your mind into a digital system, or some form of singularity technology actually turned you into a program?!"

"Its a little hard to explain? When I went into the Digital World I became data. When I went back to the human world I became human again. But there was something really strong we had to fight, and we weren't strong enough. And then the sovereigns sent a gift that made us into data in the human world."

And Takato hadn't realized until he arrived here at the train that he'd never actually changed back after that.

"Are you STILL data? Because there may be some danger to being data over physical in a physical realm."

She clasps her hands together, "If you want, I may be able to do some analysis. Data sanitation wasn't my strong suit, but I did enough to keep uncle running back home!"

"Probably? I mean, I can still evolve with Guilmon. And I can only do that when I'm data." He frowns with worry. "Danger? What kind of danger? What about Guilmon?"

"Jark Matter did a lot of things with corrupting AI data and turning them into monsters. Though, Don Armage is gone and they dissolved. BUT! I have seen it happen. Just... Not a lot."

"Come to think of it he did that to living creatures too so basing it off of that may be a bad idea. Do you still interact with the real world as normal? Like eating and... Other things biologicals do?"

Don't say go to the bathroom, don't say go to the bathroom, that's rude Raptor. You aren't that kind of an android.

Takato now has something entirely new to worry about.

"Data can be corrupted? Living data? How?" He might have been panicking just a little. His only experience so far with corrupted data had been Megidramon and the D-Reaper.... and he was still trying not to think about those too much.

"Ah... I didn't even notice that I was different after the fight? And Guilmon and the other digimon who realized seemed to be fine eating human food?"

"Viruses usually. But calm down! I mean, it would take a specialist with hundreds of years of training to do something like that."

Usually Raptor, still, there are all kinds of crazy magical things in the universe that also upset the natural order of things.

"I mean, it isn't something I'd really worry about. What are the odds of us fighting someone who is capable of taking a whole galaxy over's right hand men?"

Takato was a little prone to worrying. "But... Guilmon is a virus type! Does that mean it could happen to him?"

"I've never heard of a virus infecting a virus. I mean I guess it is theoretically possible, but I'm not a software specialist so I can't say."

She shrugs, "I'm really sorry about that, it was a bit outside of my duties."

He calms down a little at the reassurance.

"Do you know if there's any way we could find out?" The boy sighs. "Sorry. I just... I guess I never thought that that could be something I should worry about."

And he couldn't lose Guilmon again. He just couldn't.

"Maybe a doctor that knows computers? Or a high end software type that has experience with biology? I don't have the right kyutama here to check myself."

"Thanks." Takato sighs. "I really hope someone on the train will know."

"I'm sure there is. From what I've been told the train picks people it needs, so why would it pick someone if it can't medically look after them?"

"I guess? But what if it picks people without really understanding what we need? The digignomes were like that. They wanted to communicate with humans but they didn't really understand."

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Do we want to thread this out?

You decide! I'm good either way.

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