[Text/Audio]

[dreamtamer]

Date: [3/18]
Characters: Thom

---

 [A new number appears on the network, this time drawn out in block letters, and quickly filled in with different patterns using colored pencils. And then a thump, as Thom notices that Gizmo has spotted one of the family cats and hastily drops his sketchpad on the desk.]

Gizmo! What are you doing? 

[The sound of footsteps and a second voice.]

I wanted to play, but it ran away again. I don't think cats are very good at playing.  

Comments

Re: [Audio]

[dreamtamer]

I guess. I think I'll just keep using my sketchbook.

Re: [Audio]

[iamnotgod]

It's what I do, most of the time.

[He has been decreasing the cross-use-time of the Network on his laptop, as of late.]

Re: [Audio]

[dreamtamer]

What else do you do?

Re: [Audio]

[iamnotgod]

Related to the Network, you mean?

[There's a hint of a smile in his voice.]

Well, I do have a laptop; I was using that when I first found out about all this.

Re: [Audio]

[dreamtamer]

Mmm, it seems a little hard to understand.

Re: [Audio]

[iamnotgod]

There's no one here yet who does understand all of it, unfortunately.

We've looked into a fair amount so far, though, with varying success.

Re: [Audio]

[dreamtamer]

A fair amount of what?

Re: [Audio]

[iamnotgod]

How the Network works, what can cause an Echo - for you so far, that'd include Gizmo being able to talk, but there can also be anything from physical changes to receiving objects to-

Well, your family can probably show you some examples.

I also worked with your grandpa Stone to find out the Network's range; it can only be accessed within six miles of the mouth of Moss River.

Re: [Audio]

[dreamtamer]

Nel said something about memories from aliens.

Re: [Audio]

[iamnotgod]

That would imply they're from creatures not from Earth, normally.

Which... isn't out of the question, frankly.

But it's more that the memories aren't yours. Usually it's obvious through context.

Re: [Audio]

[dreamtamer]

What's context?

Does it taste good?

Re: [Audio]

[iamnotgod]

[And THAT just makes Walter laugh, though he cuts it short so as to not give the wrong impression.]

It's the events that surround a memory, that combine with the content; whether everything looks taller or shorter than they do for you right now, whether the sky looks like a color you can see from Earth - whether there is a sky.

Names and emotions can be tied up in context, too. People you've never met, in places you haven't been to, or don't look like places you've ever even seen.

Re: [Audio]

[dreamtamer]

That kind of sounds like it could be a dream too. How do you know that it's someone's memory and not a dream?

Re: [Audio]

[iamnotgod]

By what precedes it. That hollow feeling, and the heartbeat - those will always happen first.

[Though that doesn't mean it couldn't be the other person's dream...]

Re: [Audio]

[dreamtamer]

A hollow feeling and a heartbeat? So its always like that?

I don't know if I like that. It was a little scary when that happened before.

Re: [Audio]

[iamnotgod]

I know what you mean, about it being scary.

[And while Walter wishes he could be reassuring... It's gotten to him badly before.]

But you're not the only one hearing it, if that helps.

Re: [Audio]

[dreamtamer]

It does help a little. Its still a little scary thinking about what might happen.