I've Got the Strangest Feeling This Isn't Our First Time Around

13

"Mm, yes." Snoozemore says in the conference room. "The reports indicate no one Alexis knew was with her."

"And the kid?" Luigi pushes.

"Alexis didn't have kids or younger siblings." Pauline confirms.

"No, that's not it." Luigi shakes his head. "This wasn't a familial connection. Protective, sure. But not familial. This kid was in trouble, and Alexis was determined to help him by any means necessary."

"So it was just bad luck she got petrified shortly after?" Mario asks.

"I just want it on the record that when you saw Alexis being forced to take silver stars, your vitals went crazy again." Pauline states.

"I can see why." Luigi nods. "Whatever's in those drugs, they..." he trails off, then noticing Mario's worried look, finishes, "Felt like everyone was being sucked away into a black hole, leaving me alone in the dark."

Luigi turns to Snoozemore, "Now let me dreamwalk through Molly's memories."

"Mm, no. Not until we wake up Alexis and put a stop to the distribution of silver stars." Snoozemore says.

"What else am I supposed to do?" Luigi demands. "The drugs ruined what memories were left, and these two are as unhelpful as ever." He gestures to Mario and Pauline.

"Hey, I resent that!" Mario protests.

"Fine, I'll go back into Alexis' dreams." Luigi offers. "I'll stay inside as long as necessary, see if it's easier the second time around."

"Which you can't do while we're on the rebound." Mario says, prompting Luigi to turns and look right at him.

"The rebound. The time needed before we can dreamwalk again, so the sample's brain trapped in its petrified body doesn't stroke out from having us reinserted. Come over for dinner, I'll tell you all about it."

"He's not kidding." Pauline jokes. "Stuff him silly, you can't shut him up."

Mario shoots her a 'really?' look right as Luigi demands, "Then how long is the rebound?"

"Anywhere between 7 to 15 hours." Mario says. "Depends on the sample."

"Then why can't I dreamwalk Molly's dreams while that's happening?"

"Because the Ultibed can only do one sample at a time." Pauline explains. "There's no time to switch them out."

"Mm, yes." Snoozemore confirms. "Nothing you can do now except wait. Then you can dreamwalk through Alexis' memories once more, and then we can discuss you doing the same for Molly."

As he leaves, Luigi turns to Mario and Pauline. "You two alright if I get out of here? That was...intense."

"Course." Mario agrees. "Want an escort while you're at it?"

Luigi pauses for a second, then says, "Sure! What a gentleman."

Mario pumps a fist, then says, "Pauline, see if there's something we can't do on our end to separate the memories from the effects of the drugs."

"Oh, by the way." Luigi says up as he and Mario walk towards the pipe. "Before we go to my apartment, I have a small errand to run."

Mario smiles, then says, "Sure."

"I'm gonna kill you." Mario seethes when he sees where Luigi has taken him to.

"What? Didn't I tell you we were going to the building the rave was in in Shroom City?" Luigi plays dumb, but neither of them are buying it.