| A Good Dream Gets Even Better |
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A Good Dream Gets Even Better or Pantheistic Multiperson Solipsism Disclaimer This fan fic was inspired by a debate on tpdis about John's last name that happened over five years ago. Due to my naivety at the time, I have never had this story archived and felt that it was time to resurrect it and move it forward into the present day. All the characters used in this story are real. One of them might even be you! Apologies if you wouldn't say the things I've written or react the way I've depicted, there's no offence intended. I feel that I know many of you so much better now than I did back then. ;-D The extract quoted is from 'The Number Of The Beast' by Robert A. Heinlein published by Hodder & Stoughton ISBN 0-450-04675-3. 'Oh You Pretty Things' is copyright David Bowie. It is taken from the album Hunky Dorey. The Tomorrow People was created by Roger Price and Thames Television. The characters of Elena and Paul are copyright to Big Finish Productions. All original story ideas remain copyright of Jackie Clark Feb 2003. Thanks to Emma and Kristin
for Beta reading this at short notice. All real people appear with permission.
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Is this all a dream? I cannot answer that either, but time will tell… I am reminded of a quote by a famous quantum physicist. "The world is not only queerer than we imagine it is queerer than we can imagine!" It all began when I first got on line. I trawled through various fantastic web sites, amazed that other people remembered the Tomorrow People as much as me. Then I came across an on-line discussion group called tpdis. It was run by the friendliest and I must add, most intelligent, bunch of people I had ever met. Settling into the routine of checking my mail from work each morning I eagerly awaited the arrival of my first home computer and the chance to take part in one of the fascinating debates. Strange how my first mail to that group was about a dream. It was an odd topic to use as an introduction but how could any of us know that it was the start of some very bizarre happenings. 'The Dream', as I call it, began as a flight of fancy. Where it's taking me I have no idea, but there's one thing for certain. The dream keeps getting better and better! Date
Sent: Tues, 5 May 1998 Hello every one. I'm new to the group and thought I would introduce myself and tell you how much I like the Tomorrow People. My name is Jackie but most people call me Jack. I've been a fan of the show since I was eleven and am really pleased to find other TP fans out there in the cyber-verse. I had a really strange dream today. John came to my room and was trying to speak to me telepathically. I just couldn't understand what he was trying to say. Do you think I need a psychiatrist? Regards
Date
Sent: Wed, 6 May 1998 Hello
every one Am I
breaking out? Date
Sent: Wed, 6 May 1998 >I had a really strange dream today. John came to my room and was trying to speak to >me telepathically. I just couldn't understand what he was trying to say. Welcome to the list. You're
not alone I had the same dream. But I doubt you're breaking out. Shaun Date
Sent: Thur, 7 May 1998 >You're
not alone I had the same dream. Guess What? I had the same dream too. It's probably just a coincidence. Do you think we should investigate further? Beth And so we held a survey of all the listees and, as you have already guessed, many of them had had a similar dream. The scientist in me wanted to dismiss this as mass hysteria but somehow things didn't feel quite right. I was sure there was something going on. Mass breakout was one possibility that the rational me quickly rejected. But somehow the nagging feeling that everything was about to change kept creeping back into my mind. After a few months these
feelings faded into the background and I almost forgot about 'The Dream'.
Hi All Does anyone remember be telling you about my TP dreams a year ago? Guess what? They're back and this time Elizabeth and Stephen were there too! Stephen was holding a copy of Cult TV Mag. I caught a glimpse of the date but not the content. This is weird! Jackie Date Sent: Tues, 12 May 1999 >This time Elizabeth and Stephen were there too. Stephen was holding a copy of Cult >TV Mag. I caught a glimpse of the date but not the content. I saw what was inside the mag. There's to be some sort of sci-fi convention held in England on May 10th 2003. We were all standing together in a photograph with the TP's. Could it be a premonition? Beth. As I walked into the room they were all there. Wendy, Beth, Warren, Emma, Matty, Rachel, Mike, Viv, Kristin and many many more… The last verse of 'Oh you Pretty Things' was playing over the loud speakers as I weaved my way between the tables and took up the microphone. Looking back across the room I was amazed that so many people had made such an effort to be here tonight and hoped, almost prayed, that they would have a great time. 'Gotta make way for the Homo-Superior' I hummed to myself as the door opened to reveal the celebrity guests waiting for their entrance cue… By the year 2003 I had completely forgotten about the dream. I had so many things on my mind about the dinner that I couldn't think of anything else. Had I called the DJ to request Nick's favorite song? Would the cake look like I had planned? How could I get a dozen helium balloons to the hotel in the back of one car with three passengers? And that was not all… Would all the guests arrive on time? Would they get on with one another once put in the same room? Would PVC and Nick have us in stitches like on the DVD commentaries or would they end up insulting anyone with their comments? Would Warren buy me that drink he's always promising ;-) Many things had changed over the years, names had changed, and occupations had changed too. I can hardly believe it when I recall that the younger group members were now at university. And through all these changes one thing remained constant. We all still loved the Tomorrow People as a show. Whether it was New Series, Old Series or CD's, somehow these stories meant something to everyone in the room. "Welcome to the Tomorrow People 30th Anniversary Dinner" I said smiling. "It's great to meet you all at last. We are here tonight to celebrate 30 years of our favorite TV show so please give a warm welcome to our guests for tonight…" The audience stood and started to applause, everyone straining to get a glimpse of their favorite personality as they entered the room. In the background the TP theme was ringing out, filling the air with a real buzz of excitement. My head began to swim. 'I shouldn't have had that second glass of champagne' I thought. 'Just hold it together Jackie… a few more minutes and you can sit down and relax!' In the next instant the room exploded into a scene of utter chaos… The patio doors behind me ruptured into a million shards of lethal glass as they were hit by the particle beam. The table was upturned by another blast of the weapon, it's carefully arranged place settings instantly shattered, throwing crockery and decorations high into the air. People screamed and dived for cover behind or beneath their own tables… My beautifully decorated room was in utter disarray! Frozen to the spot I looked tentatively over my shoulder just as another blast from the laser weapon spat past my ear. "Get down!" Shouted Stephen from beside me. "W…What…?" Grabbing me by the sleeve he pulled me behind the DJ's console. "Stay here out of the way while we deal with this." Without warning John appeared beside him… yes you heard me… he appeared out of thin air…. Jaunted I should say… but at the time I was too shocked by events to take in what I was actually seeing. "Is she ok?" Asked John. "She'll be fine once we get her back to the lab." "We better deal with them first." Finding that I could speak my brain formed the only sensible question it could think of. "Who are they?" "Sorsons." Hissed John. "And from the look of it they've had this raiding party planned for some time." He must have seen the look of utter horror on my face and smiled warmly. "It's ok Jackie. We came prepared." Opening his jacket he revealed a stun gun nestling in its holster. "You stay here until the coast is clear." With an understanding nod they both touched their belts and vanished. Across the room I could see Timus, his arms stretched upwards to form a protective telekinetic shield saving Viv and Leah, crouched close by, from the worst of the Sorson onslaught. Beyond him were Elena, Kevin and Paul busily healing the wounds of many injured people and ushering them away to safety. Looking across at the figures crouched behind the nearest table I made eye contact with Wendy. She gave an understanding nod as if to say 'yes I saw it too' and I was relieved… I almost jumped out of my skin as Elizabeth appeared beside me. "Put this on." She urged handing me a jaunting belt. "We've got to get you out of here." Taking the belt my hands were shaking as I tried to fasten it around my waist. "Look out Jackie " Came a hysterical shout instantly recognizable as Carol. "Jackie nooooo…." Then it hit me. A shearing pain in my left shoulder as the Sorson laser ripped through my flesh. Screaming in agony I collapsed onto the floor and passed out. I was the last one to wake. I opened my eyes to find the others smiling down at me. "Yes." Said Wendy. "We're in the lab. Although I've no idea how we got here. And it's not just those who came to the dinner. Shaun's over there talking with Kathryn, and Beth thinks that's Mike." She pointed across at a couple deep in conversation. The man was tall and slim and both he and the woman had startling red hair. "Do you know who the woman is?" "Kristy." I mumbled absentmindedly then realized that this was a friend I hadn't chatted with in a long time "Hey it's Kristy!" I surveyed the crowd of people squashed into the room in more detail. "You mean the entire list is here?" "Welcome tpdis," said TIM. "Please don't be alarmed at me bringing you here like this. It was essential that the Tomorrow People speak to you." My head began to spin and I'm sure that I went a deathly shade of white, but this was not the only shock in store for us. Slowly they all emerged. Led by John, they approached from the direction of the workshop. Behind him were Elizabeth then Carol, Stephen, Tyso, Mike, Hsui Tai, Andrew, Megabyte, Kevin, Ami, Elena and Paul. John's authoritative voice rang in my ears. "Welcome to the Lab, I know that each and every one of you has spent a lifetime dreaming of this moment." "What's going on?" Asked Shaun. "What happened at the dinner?" "Yeah!" Added Warren. "Last thing I remember you were having a stun gun shoot out with those…" his words tailed off as John held up his hand. "All will be revealed in good time… Let's just say that we anticipated the Sorson threat and eliminated it." Now it was TIM's turn to speak. "What John is telling you is correct. The Galactic Federation's intelligence network learned of this threat five years ago. Their investigations revealed that the Sorsons had planned this raid on the TP dinner for some time. They allowed the Sorsons to believe that their plan would work." "You mean they used us as bait?" Said Wendy indignantly. "It was the only way…" Replied Stephen apologetically. "We knew that they had spies everywhere in this quadrant of the Galaxy. "The dinner was the ideal opportunity for them to come out of hiding and for us to round them up once and for all!" He stepped forward and looked me in the eye. "I'm sorry Jackie. After you put so much effort into the event. We had to play along with the idea that it was just a fan convention… That way the Sorsons would take the bait and expose themselves." "Stephen's right. We're sorry to risk your lives this way but we had no choice. The Sorson threat to the Earth had to be eradicated." Added Elizabeth. Now it was Viv who found her voice. Jumping down from the bio-bed she took two steps forward. "So you're telling me that everything I just witnessed was for real? That there really are Tomorrow People?" Elizabeth giggled as she led Viv over to the couch. "Give John a chance and he'll explain everything. You know you've been waiting for this moment for years." "What I have to say is very important." Began John. His words seemed to reverberate around my head, echoy voices as if they came from far away. 'Wow!' I thought. 'They're using telepathy… this is what real telepathy feels like.' Stephen smiled at me and my heart skipped a beat. Holding his finger to his lips I felt, rather than heard, his plea for silence and stopped thinking… at least I thought I stopped. John began again. "We are the Tomorrow People created by Roger Price and shown on your television stations world wide. Except that your world is not our own. We are in another dimension from you and our existence relies entirely on your knowledge of us. Every time a fan of a TV show thinks of their favorite characters it strengthens our universe. Back in the 70's we were much stronger than today. Children all over Britain played TP games and avidly watched their TV's each week. When the show was cancelled we began to fade away, luckily the 90's version rekindled the imaginations of the world's kids. More recently each of you have included us in your fan fiction, e-mails and web pages and the DVD releases have made people worldwide remember us again. It was this that gave us the strength to cross over into your dimension and make contact with you. To put it succinctly we owe you our very existence." "But we not only make you exist we make the Sorsons exist as well." Stated Shaun in a soft Australian drawl. "Exactly. And we're very sorry that we had to drag you into our mess." Elizabeth stepped forward. "TIM brought you here today to demonstrate that we do exist, and for us to stress the importance that you keep our memory alive. As long as there are people out in your world thinking of us we will continue to be here." She smiled at each of us in turn. This was a smile that I had known all my life, Elizabeth's warm-hearted personality shone through and we all relaxed. "Tell us more…" Urged Beth. Someone I didn't recognize pushed his way to the front of the gathering. "Hi, I'm John Merullo. Can you tell us all about the Federation and the Trig?" "I want to know what it feels like to have special powers?" Added Warren "I wish people would stop calling them that!" Snapped Beth, digging Warren in the ribs good-naturedly. "In good time." Smiled John. "All in good time…" After many hours of questioning it was time for us to leave. We reluctantly stepped onto the Jaunting pad and waved our good byes. "Can I ask one last thing?" Said Beth stepping forward to
address John. "Go ahead." "What is your last name?" "Exactly what you want it to be." He replied and with this the lab faded out of view as we jaunted. Finding myself back at the hotel I ran from my room and knocked insistently on Carolyn's door. Throwing it open she stepped through and we hugged excitedly. "I can't believe it" I exclaimed jumping up and down like an excited schoolgirl. "They're real… I always knew they were for real." "I'm stunned. I don't know what to say." "What you both need is a stiff drink." Said a voice from down the hall. "Meet you in the bar in five minutes." "Thanks Warren. I knew I'd get you to buy me that drink eventually." Swinging around I ran back into my room. "There's something I want to get first. Cya there." When we arrived in the bar I was shocked to find normality had returned. There was no sign of the damage caused by the battle and the hotel staff seemed oblivious to the happenings in their restaurant only hours before. Once we had all assembled conversation began to buzz around the group about the possible use of psycho-hypnosis to wipe their memories and the Federation's use of us as bait for the Sorsons. It was in the early hours of the morning that the topic of conversation eventually came round to the revelation that the TP's really did exist in a parallel dimension from us. "There is an explanation for all of this you know." I suggested tentatively. "What?" Asked an extremely tired Kathryn. "I keep expecting to wake up any minute to find myself still on the flight from Australia." Taking a deep breath I looked at each of the assembled group in turn. "It's a bit fanciful, but it could just explain all this. It's not my idea. I read it in a book by Robert Heinlein a long time ago. He called it pantheistic multiperson solipsism." "Well go ahead, I've been trying to figure it out all evening and any explanation is better than none at all." Shaun responded. Reaching into my bag I retrieved a novel. I turned to the pages that I had carefully marked and started to read. 'I'd like to try an experiment,' Hilda went on. 'Write down the twenty
stories you have enjoyed most. Or groups of related stories - the OZ
books would count as one, so would the Edgar Rice Burroughs Mars series,
and so would the four voyages of Gulliver's Travels. Make them stories
you reread for pleasure when you were too tired to tackle a new book.' I looked around the group again. "What Heinlein was trying to say was that we create these other dimensions or worlds by the power of our own minds. I know this is only a work of fiction but perhaps he knew something we don't." "And perhaps Roger Price knew it as well…" Commented Wendy as I began to read again. 'Sharpie, you have just invented pantheistic multiperson solipsism.
I didn't think that it was mathematically possible.' Placing the book down on the table I looked up at the group. We sat in silence at first them the conversation took off in all sorts of directions at once. Was this the answer to the age-old philosophical debate about the nature of reality? Had we all been party to some mass delusion? Had we all broken out for real? It was nearly daylight when we decided to retire to our respective rooms to think on the issues. As my head touched the pillow I looked across at my sister sleeping in the next bed… where had she been all evening? I wondered… but she wasn't a TP fan…. Perhaps, for her, the 'Land of Heart's Desire' was another TV show that she visited only in her dreams? Date Sent: Mon, February 3rd 2003 Hello everyone I had a really strange dream today. We were all at the anniversary dinner when we were attacked by the Sorsons but the TP's saved our lives and took us back to the lab. Do you think I need a Psychiatrist? Jackie
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