Plasmatropolis (Un-cursed) [OLD]

Inner Phantoms

Ingressus stood up, looking around him. He sighed. It was another one of his lucid dreams, where he was standing in a strange void, surrounded by both everything and nothing. A ghostly replica of Achillean stood some distance ahead of him, but however fast he ran, he could never reach him. He was always just standing a few arm lengths too far. That same dream that ran through his head every night annoyed and saddened him greatly. This time, he resisted the urge to run over to the phantom, and he held his ground as best he could. He stared at the apparition, and it stared back. A white noise suddenly filled his head, and he clamped his hands over his ears as he woke up, panting.

Achillean stared down at him worriedly, "Gress, you were tossing about like there was something about to kill you-"

He noticed that there was less tubing attached to his neck, and he found this a lot more bearable.

"I'm fine, how long have you been waiting there?"

"About five minutes. You didn't start moving until a minute ago, I was about to go get a nurse when you woke up."

Ingressus waved his hand vaguely, "Oh, it was just a dream. It happens sometimes."

He was not convinced, "Come on, you can tell me if you ever have a problem."

The Voltaris shook his head, trying his best to dispel the other Ardoni's curiosity, though he knew it would be next to useless.

"Fine..." He pouted at the Nestoris, causing him to smirk, then explained his dream to him, "I was in this weird half-empty-half-full space, and you were in front of me, just out of my reach. I've had this dream before, but this time, I didn't try running to you. We stared at each other for a moment, then there was a buzzing noise and I woke up."

Achillean frowned, then told him, "It was just a dream, I would never be like that. I'm your best friend, Ingressus."

"But you are like that... Sort of, anyway." He refused to elaborate.

They stood still for a moment before Ingressus told Achillean of his recovery.

"I can get up now, if I wanted."

"You can?"

He slid off the edge of the bed, careful not to accidentally tangle any of the remaining tubes, and managed to stand. The vertigo inducing pose caused his head to spin momentarily before he regained his balance. He gave Achillean a smile.

"See? I'm fine!"

The Nestoris smiled back, "I'm so glad you are-"

He hugged him, careful to avoid disturbing the tubes in his neck.

"I've missed you so much."

"And I you."

They stood like that for a while longer, before breaking apart, Achillean looking up at Ingressus' smile. He frowned, a little sad.

"Gress, I won't be able to visit you for a while, I'm going to help Black Plasma to try and recruit some allies. I think that as soon as we have enough warriors, we're going to directly fight against William and his forces."

"That's okay, whatever you do, stay alive!"

A silence held its cold hand over the unit, as the mood soured slightly. Achillean looked up at him sadly, "I can't promise anything, but I hope that I do come back."

"Please do, I wouldn't be able to bear it if you didn't."

"You ought to be stronger than that!"

Ingressus began tearing up, "But I'm not, Achi... I'm weak."

"Don't say that..." He gave the Voltaris a half smile, "Maybe I'll win, maybe I'll lose."