The Old Mine

30: Endgame Revealed

                        Cal fell asleep so Recke just started cleaning. "You're cleaning again," Dad sighed "And security has stepped up around the base, what happened."

                        "Cal fell asleep... unconscious type of sleep, I feel like I am going to snap..." Recke started to hyperventilate.

                         "Calm your breathing," Dad stepped up "She looks like she is resting comfortably now. Do you know why it happened?"

                         "Tech that was in the bishops wing caused it... she was stuck in a dream, I can only tell you what she was screaming I believe she was alone at the base." He took some calming breaths "As in everyone vanished."

                         "What was different about the base?" Recke looked at him confused "If the people were gone then someone is trying to tell her the problem isn't a person, she took care of that... now she needs to look at the base. The problem will look different in the dream than it does in reality." Recke nodded and pointed to the living room "Don't exhaust yourself cleaning... start dinner instead." Dad chuckled and headed into the living room. "Cal," he tapped her feet "Wake up, let's talk." He sat down on the edge of the couch.

                        "Daddy," She whimpered "You were all gone..."

                         "Simmer down," he took hold of her hands and led her through some breathing techniques "First thing we need to do is help you feel safe again."

                         "I'm doing it again, focusing on the wrong thing." Cal felt horrible, like she had failed him.

                          "Nonsense." He smiled "You focus on what scares you, so you know how to attack it." Cal relaxed "Don't feel bad about that, it is one of your strengths."

                          "So what do I do now, to know what the dream was talking about. What do I do now?"

                         "Now, close your eyes and remember the dream. You need to pay attention to the facts, don't let it scare you." He wiped the tears that were streaming down her face "You are safe now." He nodded gently and she closed her eyes to think though the dream.

                         "The energy in the building was calm but urgent... just outside was danger, it felt like the danger couldn't get in no matter what it tried."

                         "Good," He directed her breathing again "See the dream was giving you good news. You are safe. What is different about the building, about the base."

                         "It looks cleaner, the floor is whiter... everything is brighter."

                         "Okay so first we evaluate what is in the tiles and the structure that makes it look not quite as bright... Perhaps it is just trying to tell us that there is something in it that is dangerous."

                         "The danger was gone when it was bright and clean," Cal sat up and took a deep breath "There were a few spots that felt different, the type of different where you can't pinpoint what is different by looking at it, but you know something has changed."

                         "Okay, deep breaths" He kissed her head "I will let you and Recke make a map for us to work with I am going to go gather some people up to scan the base, starting with the floors." He headed into the kitchen "Relax, whatever they needed her to look for is important, but we'll find it." Recke nodded "Take care of dinner, I may be late." He headed out to the base.