I scoff, the last word to describe Dream would be fragile. Sam frowns at me. “I’m serious.”
I lean across the table taking his coffee-warmed hands in my own. “Tell me how.”
Sam smiles at me, he has bags under his eyes. “He’s not. You. Well.” He looks up and away, that look he has when he’s solving a complex circuit or explaining something new to Althea. “He was a dog. Not an actual dog, he worked in Las Nevadas with Me and Quackity.”
I pull away. He grabs my hands holding me in place. “Not. Me. Not our Quackity. I don’t know how but he’s from this SMP but wrong. Twisted, he was a- a- tool to them. He’s barely a person. They hurt him and he’s scared.”
“Let go of me.” I can’t breathe, this is Sam. My Sam, the man I love, my husband speaking kindly about Dream. He lets go, I hold my hands close to my chest, I can feel my heart pounding. “Let me visit him.”
“I don’t-”
“Have you made progress with him?”
“I don’t see how that’s relevant.”
“He’s Dream. I can-” I swallow, I need to see him. “I can talk to him.”
“You’re too emotional.”
“Next week then, give me time to- to- to think. Let me- He’s Just- Sam-” I take in a breath, quick inhale slow exhale. I let the words arrange in my throat, Sam waits for me. “Give me a week, tell me about him. I’ll be more composed. I can help you, Please let me help you.”
Sam is quiet. He looks at his comms. He looks at the coffee in his hands. He looks at the clock. He doesn’t look at me. “Fine. One hour. One week from today, we’ll have to get Puffy to babysit Althea.”
“Thank you.”
I stand on the platform staring at the lava, behind me is the warden, any sign of my husband is gone. He’s cold, calculating each movement.
“You have one hour. Not a second more.”
I nod. Of course, that’s the deal. I know the rules. The lava drops and the platform starts to move. The elder guardian curses me, I flinch at the noise. Inside the cell I see him. He’s sitting in the middle of the cell staring. His knees are pulled to his chest like a child. His hair is shorter, Sam must have buzzed that mess off. He looks small like this. I step off the platform and his eyes dart up to look at me. He doesn’t move, not even when the blocks are retracted and I step into the cell proper. It’s less decorated than when I stayed here. Bookshelves, bed, plants, and fish tank gone. I don’t think he knows what he’s missing.
“Hello Dream.” I sneer at him, he watches me. He’s different from the last time I saw him, his eyes aren’t as empty, they have a sadness to them. I don’t feel sorry for him. “You think your little ruse is going to work? Oh I’m Dream and I’m soooo sad and soo hurt I’m just so pathetic. Fuck off I’m not buying it. You’re Dream get up and be honest with me, I know all your tricks.” He just stares. It’s infuriating. It’s so infuriating I walk right up to him. “Get.” I shove him backwards. “Up.”
He falls backwards awkward limbs splaying out onto the ground. He’s so thin.
“Sorry.” That’s all he says. His voice is rusty, broken. It doesn’t sound like Dream.
“Don’t- Don’t do that shit. Sound like that. I know you. Do you- Do you even know who I am?”
He shakes his head no, I guess I’m not worthy of words.
“I’m YOU. I am the best version of you, I put in the work. I got help! I’m- I’m fixed for god’s sake! You’re still evil! I saw it in your eyes. You don’t even recognize the person you could have become.”
“Dream?”
“Not anymore.”
He looks down, avoiding eye contact. “Oh”
“Now tell the truth, I know everything you are.”
He shakes his head, stubborn just like I used to be. It’s maddening, how did Sam ever put up with me? I guess it’s time to use the big guns. “He knows everything. I told him everything so any stupid little secrets you think you’re keeping safe with this act- Just give up. I know you. I know how you think, how you feel, have fucking stupid you are. Now. Tell. The. Truth.”
“I am.” he whispers it, I only hear it because I had gotten in his face.
“Prove it.”
He looks up at me finally, tears swimming in his eyes. He nods and scoots from underneath me standing up. Shakily he undresses, his body is littered with scars. One stands out above the others, an ornamental Q with a creeper face inside it branded over his back. I reach out to touch it, he flinches.
“I worked for Sir- S- Sam. He made me right. A good dog. I was a good dog. I am a good dog.” His hands reach for his neck scratching at it. “I don’t know how I left him. Play dead, I did it.” He shows his wrist, the scar from the gash we had discovered.
“You did that to yourself?”
He nods. “I’m a good dog.”
“Stop that- stop saying that. You’re not a fucking dog.” He stares blankly. No wonder Sam hasn’t made any progress. “Look. Just. Tell me everything.” He nods and begins to speak.
I listened as he spilled everything that happened to him. Well not everything- some he can’t remember, some is too bad to be real, some he can only recount with a shiver and a gag. As he speaks my mind wanders, what if my Sam had been like his? What if he hated me as much as his did? He was almost done, getting close to his last time with his Sam when the lava drops.
“Time to leave,”
“Wait-”
“We had a deal.”
“Okay,-” I turn to the pitiful thing. “Just trust Sam, this one is good. When he tells you something, listen, it won’t make sense at first but he’s good.” He nods, puppy-dog eyes watching me leave. I stand and walk onto the platform crossing the great molden abyss below. Sam gestures to me to leave, I spare a glance as the lava descends. “He’ll be easier now.”
“I can handle the prisoner.” His face is cold, unbecoming of emotions; just like a good warden should. I nod and walk towards the exit. I didn’t lie to Dream, we have to trust him.
Casca has a gut feeling that Griffith is behind Guts staying after Nori’s sudden pregnancy. She's upset. She's developing feelings for Guts and is kinda questioning her place in Griffith's world, so seeing such a drastic action from Griffith to keep Guts is pretty earth-shattering.
She feels anger towards Nori at first because Griffith assigns her his caretaker due to being a woman, but then pity after seeing him break down over being pregnant. Casca actually grows closer to Nori throughout the time. They eventually reconcile their issues.
Casca is mad at Griffith, even considering leaving, but she stays to help Nori due to pity and her love for Guts. And admittedly, some love for Griffith. Something she's not sure how to feel about.
Dream helping Ardent realize that that his “simple life” wasn’t actually simple and he’s practically just a doll Sam controls and plays with. That he’s not truly respected, that he wasn’t actually “fixed” and he didn’t “work to be better” he handed himself to Sam to mold however he wanted. Ardent not wanting the same to happen to Dream and realizing that Sam is treating him like a dog, just like the other Sam did, and maybe his Sam isn’t actually a “Good Sam”.
The unattended fire crackled, slowly dying out. Next to it Sam slept Althea tucked neatly into his arms. If Ardent were there he might have taken a picture. Instead he was walking the trail with Dream.
"How do you know?"
"I don't-"
"Exactly."
"Just listen to me. Please."
Ardent crossed his arms watching the moon follow their slow trek through the branches overhead. "Fine."
"I thought Sir- S- Sam. Cared about me also. I thought I was lucky! Here I was still alive after giving up the only thing that should have kept me alive. And I was out of the prison. It's the same thing."
Ardent glared at the other man. "No it's not. This is different. Just- Just because your Sam was a crazy person doesn't mean they all are."
"What about-"
"The chip? This is the third time you've mentioned it, I'm telling Sam."
"NO!" His voice is desperate, he freezes in place eyes darting around. "Please Ardent. What- what if I prove it?"
Ardent is silent waiting for the other man to finish digging his grave.
"Disagree with him. Dig your heels in. Be insubordinate. Watch how long it takes him to pull out his communicator. Even if it's something small. Just. Just try it."
"And if you're wrong?"
"I'll never mention it again."
The trail fell silent, the only sound the crunch of gravel under their feet as they headed back. Dream too nervous to talk, Ardent mulling over the proposal. The campsite is within view when he finally talks.
Prisoner status: Alive, remains in the corner of the cell unless otherwise prompted.
Known commands
Sit
Kill
Play dead
Stay
Roll over
Chase
Come
Heel
Off
Place
Fight
Patrol
Run
Wait
Eat
Notes: Today I will shave his head. It will make the surgery easier in the long run. He does not touch his food unless told to eat. I fished 8 potatoes out of the water. He has not eaten since arriving at the prison. When I instructed him that he is to eat what I give him when he gives him it he understood. Longer commands are not lost on him.
Log 2.19.2
Prisoner status: Sick, he ate all of the potatoes too quickly.
Notes: He still follows commands when visibly sick.
Plan: I will be working to retrain Eat to avoid this in the future. Giving him the food should be enough without needing to also issue a command. I will only administer medicine to him in person, all other feedings will be done without me in the room. If I enter and the food is not eaten or in the process of being eaten he will lose it and receive a proportional punishment.
Log 2.19.3
Prisoner status: unconscious, he had to be instructed to sleep again.
Notes: Sleeps very lightly.
Log 2.20
Prisoner status: Alive.
History: He has been better about talking today. He was working for Las Nevadas at the time of his death. He does not know how he ended up here. He has killed at least 30 people and injured countless more. All under command he claims. I am moving up the operation to install the chip. These commands need to be reworked as soon as possible.
Log 2.20.1
Prisoner status: Untethered.
Notes: I gave him two opposite commands. I assume he has been trained to handle complex situations like that. I told him to stand and then sit. He followed each in such quick succession it was not incorrect. Still I punished him, he is not to follow commands like a dog anymore. I worry that he will take this to mean he is not to listen at all. I will have to work on his obedience once the chip is installed. Until then I will work on correcting any followed commands.
Log 2.20.2
Prisoner status: Distressed.
Note: did not eat the potato that was dispensed
Log 2.20.3
Prisoner status: Hyper-responsive.
Test results
Electroencephalography-1.pptr
CT-1.pptr
MEG-1.pptr
MRI-1.pptr
Conclusions: Markedly different from Ardent. Will need less frontal lobe and more Parietal lobe stimulation. The Amygdala, Hippocampus, CN VIII,CN V, and CN X are all notable.
Notes: A MW potion was given to him. Will see tomorrow if it has any adverse effects.
LINK TO AO3 OF THE FIC
(REST BELOW THE CUT)
Log 2.21
Prisoner status: Sick, lingering potion effects
Plan: Today I will teach him that he is to relax when he is unwell, this will assist in his healing after the surgery. I will give him a command to lay down and not get up until he is no longer ill. He will receive a punishment for each command he does follow and a reward for each he does not follow after that.
Notes: He does not remember yesterday's tests however the false memories are concerning. Will find ways to ameliorate this if it becomes a recurring issue.
Log 2.21.1
Prisoner status: Unconscious, result of punishments
Notes: Commands are proving more difficult than immediately thought to get him to disengage. Will have to adjust plans. No healing potions needed. One regen potion used.
Log 2.21.2
Prisoner status: Alive
Test results
Reflex-test.pptr
Physical-results.pptr
Com-eye-exam.pptr
Conclusions: poor physical condition but well enough to handle a surgery
Log 2.22
Prisoner status: Alive
Notes: Talkative today. Did not eat the food dispensed.
Questions asked:
What will my job be?
Am I in trouble?
Will I go back to work soon?
Why?
Notes: Last question was met with swift punishment. The prisoner should not question the warden. I am tired of being gentle. I will schedule the surgery for 1 week from now. He is a murderer and has learned nothing. I don't know what this other Sam thought he was doing but it was foolish and irresponsible. He doesn’t know what this Dream is thinking and could have lost control at any moment. I’ll admit the training is impressive and does seem to go quite deep however it’s not enough. A Dream with a weapon. Stupid.
Log 2.22.1
Prisoner status: Unconscious from punishment
Notes: I did not account for his lack of food during the punishment. I’ll have to move the surgery back by 3 days.
Log 2.23
Prisoner status: Alive
Roadmap
Day 10: First sign of “Illness”
Day 9: Medicine in food
Day 8: ML Potion
Day 7: Rest training
Day 6: ML potion
Day 5: Rest training
Day 4: Medicine in food
Day 3: ML potion, Medicine in food
Day 2: ML potion, fasting
Day 1: Date of surgery
Notes: Today will be used exclusively to assess his physical and mental state before the surgery
Log 2.23.1
Prisoner status: Alive. He has been exceptionally well behaved today
Notes: Mental state in abhorrent. Once the chip is in I won’t have to worry about that. Physical state is acceptable. I suspect the other Sam kept him in just good enough of a state to work but just torn down enough that he could overpower him. I can’t deny his work is thorough. But mine is better. He got cocky and left gaps. I will work to close them.
Log 2.24
Prisoner status: Ill, the food I gave him yesterday is taking effect.
Notes: He is struggling to walk straight, stay focused, and be awake. He also reports nausea and general achy pain. I will lower the dose for the next nine days to make sure it does not interfere with the surgery.
Log 2.24.1
Prisoner status: Sleeping, the first continuous time without my command.
Chip notes: I will be using a modified version V2.1.2 adjusted to fit his anatomy. It is 90% done I just have to finish building the final 3 sensors. I’ve gone over the code several times. It’s solid.
Log 2.25
Prisoner status: Anxious.
Notes: I lowered the dose but he’s still finding it hard to keep down food. He expressed worry about being punished. He does not know that I won’t punish him for the next 9 days. I reassured him it’s okay to be sick.
Log 2.26
Prisoner status: Alive, distressed
Notes: He will not remember today so I am using it to do more mentally straining tasks.
History: He was trained in pandora and was used to guard the prison for a time. Ironic. The four round scars on his neck are from a shock collar he had. He was owned by Sam but answered to him and Quackity. Why would I involve Quackity? He's irresponsible.
Log 2.27
Prisoner status: Resting.
Notes: Today is rest training. It is going better but not well. He responds to every command but then goes back to laying down. I can only lightly punish him for misbehaving. I worry he’s not going to understand if the punishment isn’t strong enough.
Log 2.28
Prisoner status: Distressed and Sick
Known commands:
Sit
Kill
Play dead
Stay
Roll over
Chase
Come
Heel
Off
Place
Fight
Patrol
Run
Wait
Eat
Bark
Quiet
Statue
Watch
Drop
Spread
Paw
Smile
Get Dressed
Sleep
Speak
Log 2.28.1
Prisoner status: Sleeping.
Note: Had to be given medicine to help sleep despite the fatigue.
Log 2.29
Prisoner status: Resting badly.
Notes: Still struggling on getting him to understand what it means to rest when sick. I may have to deal with this inelegantly.
Log 2.30
Prisoner status: sick
Notes: Today I will put the finishing touches on the chip.
Log 2.30.1
Prisoner status: Quiet
Notes: It’s done. It’s late and I’ve been working all day. Ardent will miss me but this is more important. I have been watching him, he’s reacting perfectly to the situation. Now I will know how this new Dream feels. The server will be safe again once he’s fixed. I feel proud, I feel accomplished. This is not the place to be sharing these feelings, this is strictly a work log. I did miss having a large project.
Chip DDV2I1
I learned a lot from the other, this one shouldn’t have any problems.
Log 2.31
Prisoner status: Scared and sick
Notes: The ML potion continues to give him disturbing false memories. He has backtracked a bit. I cannot get him to talk without a command. I can tell he’s sick from the shaking and the weakness. If this continues I will have to use drastic measures.
Log 2.31.1
Prisoner status: Injured
Incident report: At approximately 14:36:27 the prisoner experienced a hallucination that led him to call for the warden. I was pouring a cup of coffee at that exact moment and did not hear him until the incident happened. After getting no response he began to slam his hands against the ground. At that point I was back and was able to get him to stop. Luckily it was quick enough that the broken bones were healed with a potion and only bruising remains.
Log 2.32
Prisoner status: Resting peacefully
Notes: His stress level was getting too high. I used a command to force him to rest. The cell has been quiet and on the cameras he hasn’t moved from his spot. I regret using the command but I cannot risk anything messing this up.
Log 2.32.1
Prisoner status: Awake
Note: I ran a few minimally invasive tests to corroborate my previous exams. He is able to handle electricity well, possibly from the use of the shock collar. He is able to handle pain well, understandable considering the condition he was found in. He is able to not move when needed. The other Sam at least made him a good patient.
Log 2.32.2
Prisoner status: Alive, Sitting in the corner of the cell.
Note: I did a quick physical, everything is in working order. It’s time tomorrow. It’s actually happening. I have experience this one should be even better.
Log 2.32.3
Prisoner status: Asleep
Notes: It’s late. He is finally asleep. I have to set up the OR for tomorrow. That's all that is left. The bits I have to cut out in 11 months time will be all that’s left of Dream on this server.
Log 2.33
Prisoner status: Prepped for surgery.
Notes: Finally, today is the day. I’ve been working on him for the last month. There has been some progress but I expect it to become exponentially more once the chip is installed.
Log 2.33.1
The surgery took 10 hours. I am exhausted. I’m glad it’s done.
I've left hints but the way that Dream died was the syndicate stormed las Nevadas. They burned it to the ground. Sam and him escaped to underground tunnels but Techno caught them. Sam told him first to Run. Techno caught up. He told him to kill. Techno was a better fighter. Sam told him to play dead. Techno doesn't have the revive book.
I think it'd be fun if in Dream realizing things about what's happening he comes to see that Techno is a friend. He just needs to find a way to contact him...
"I don't understand? Did you just say that I don't understand?" He scoffs hands running through his hair over his neck. "Don't say that shit, you think I don't miss it? You think I enjoy how fucking complicated everything is now? I had a life. Sure it wasn't good but it was mine. I fought for it. I earned it. I understand! HE understand! We understand you more than anyone else and you're so fucking wrapped up in your little pity party you can't see that. If I could snap my fingers and go back there are days I would do it without hesitation. But I can't. So grow the fuck up and learn that you're not alone. You aren't special. I'm not special. He's not special. We all got handed a shit sandwich and gobbled it down."
