"This time it's different."  she said to Michael.  Michael looked around himself- he was in a different place.  It took him a moment to realize where he was.  Dabiri's temple.  The woman- the same from his dream before- sighs and continues speaking.  "The Goddess has tired of it, I'm afraid.  She intends to stop Stinnett at any cost- even if it should be this universe."  She looked up into Michael's eyes.  "You're this world's hero.  That sword you carry is the one your predecessor recovered.  It carried over, in part to my efforts."  She laughed hollowly, without humor.  "It seems that I did not carry over as well as I had hoped."
    "Wait-" Michael said, startled by the sound of his own voice.  She looked up at him patiently.  "What do you mean?"  A realization had occurred to him.  He was not the hero of his last dream.  He was himself- Michael Morhaime was speaking with Dabiri's goddess.  Except he knew her name.
    The woman smiled.  "I mean, that you must help us all."
    "I know you..." Michael said.  A sense of urgency began to manifest itself in his mind.  He had to be fast because something was about to happen.
    "Yes, you do." She laughed lightly.  "I'm Dabiri's goddess.  A distinction I never cared for, but it appears that I'm stuck with it."
    "No... I know your name.  You're...."

    Michael opened his eyes.  The name was on his lips, but was gone a moment later.  He looked around the campsite where they had stayed that night.  The clerics had created a transport from the wood they had gathered from the forest to carry the goddess on.  She was still there, looking serene.  Michael continued to stare... she was the woman from his dream, of that he was certain.  Finally, he tore his glance from her to watch the rest of the area.  Dabiri was sleeping on the ground, his figure illuminated by the low light of the dying fire.  Arthur, Rose, and Cary were arranged about the fire, sleeping peacefully.  He had just enough time to realize that Eve wasn't there when she appeared from the darkness to his side.  Michael nearly jumped a foot.
    "Oh!  Sir Morhaime.  I didn't mean to frighten you." Eve said, moving over near the fire while attempting not to step on any of the other clerics.  She glanced back at where Michael was.  "I was going to have to wake you in a few minutes... it's almost time for your watch."
    Michael stood up, his legs aching in protest.  "Don't worry about it.  Go ahead and get some sleep, I'll take my watch a bit early.  How long until we break camp?"
    "A few hours."  Eve moved about, trying to find a spot to sleep.  The clearing they had found was small, and finally she decided to try sitting against a tree.
    "Eve- can I ask you a question?"  Michael said.  The dreams were beginning to worry him.  After all, this was the second one in three days.
    Eve, after looking confused for a moment, nodded.
    "I've been...well.. having dreams lately.  About... her."  Michael gestured toward the goddess.  "I didn't want to mention it to Dabiri because I was sure he'd interpret it as meaning something.  You know, like she was communicating with me or something."
    Eve smiled a bit.  "Yes, that's something that Father Dabiri would say.  I wouldn't worry.  The goddess has a very strong effect on people.  We all dream about her."  Michael seemed visibly relieved.  "Of course-" Eve continued  "Dabiri says that's because she's communicating with us."  With an amused smile, Eve went to sleep.
    Michael, slightly annoyed with the answer, stood at the edge of the camp and faced the darkness.

    Stinnett is dreaming.  He is slightly unnerved by this, but as his current host body requires sleep, he has no choice.  He didn't require sleep when he had a body.  He never had.  But he is weaker now, and in anther's body.  So he sleeps, and he dreams.
     Andrew dreams along with him.
    Stinnett sees a place- a stronghold, far underground, and long forgotten.  A people had lived there.  These people were like Stinnett in spirit, though not in power.  This is not to say that they were powerless, just that they had less power than Stinnett.  Deformed and horrendous, these creatures had subjugated the humans above with fear, occasionally setting one of their kind loose to spread terror.  Long had these beings lived, and their power had increased with their age.
    Stinnett sees all of this, and cherishes these beings.  If only he could have met them.  Andrew sees all of this, and shrinks back in horror.
    The creatures had grown overconfident, however.  They believed themselves secure.  They did not realize that there were more humans on the earth than those they had subjugated.  These humans had long known about the creatures, but dared not attack.  Now, however, they grew bold.  They were not as powerful as the creatures, but they were much more numerous.  On one day, a leader of the humans had emerged.  This leader was gifted with magic, and had been aware of the creature menace for a long time.  He too wanted them destroyed, and had been preparing for such an occurrence.  A second stronghold had been constructed underground.  One that was the exact opposite of that of the creatures'.  This leader asked for humans that wished to fight the creatures.  Many came with him into the stronghold.
    In a short series of gruesome images, Stinnett (and Andrew) saw the results of this.  Wars between human and creatures became frequent, and gruesome.  Casualties were high on both sides.  Finally, the humans stormed the stronghold of the creatures, slaying all but one of them.  This one had fled, wisely it seems, while the others fought to the death.
    The humans had destroyed the creatures, or so they thought.  Satisfied, they abandoned both strongholds.  The war quickly faded into legend.
    Stinnett sees himself inside the stronghold as it is today.  It is lit by a large sphere high above, the stalactites throwing enormous shadows on the walls of the cavern.  Little of the light seems to reach the stronghold, which is a grey and dreary place.  A noise attracts his attention.  Something slides out of a slowly collapsing building.  At first, Andrew's mind is too overcome with terror for Stinnett to concentrate and recognize it.  When he does, he smiles to himself.  The last remaining creature lives.  The creature looks vaguely to have been created in the image of a scorpion or a spider.  Twelve hairy legs protrude from its sides and uncountable eyes stare out above what Stinnett supposes is its mouth.  Stinnett smiles- it is things like this which almost make him sorry to destroy universes.  Perhaps he can carry these creatures over into the next universe.  That would be pleasant.  He might not destroy that one.  Andrew is still not over his terror, convinced that this thing is going to eat him.  Suprisingly, at least to Andrew, the creature speaks.
    "Stinnett."  It says.  Stinnett decides not to worry about how or why the creature knows his name, but merely to listen.
    "Stinnett, I have been waiting for the right time.  You no doubt wonder how I know of you.  We all knew of you, and it was our hope that you would contact us.  You are our God, Stinnett!  Now there is only me.  I do not blame you for not helping us, however.  We were long ago, and you did not know who we were then.  Now you do.  I share your dream.  I wish to see all of humanity- no, all life!- destroyed.  But I am old, and I will soon die.  I can do nothing to cause the end except help you, Stinnett.  And so I shall.  I wish to give you this...."
    Stinnett's view suddenly changes- he is inside what appears to be a temple.  There is an altar in the center, upon which are three stones, colored red, green, and blue.  The creature is behind Stinnett, which he does not mind, but it terrifies Andrew.  The creature continues to speak.
    "The three spheres... none knew of their existance.  There was not a human that would enter this temple after they conquered our stronghold.  They all knew that the building was one of intense evil..." the creature seems pleased to be thought of like that.  "They never discovered the spheres.  They are an immense power, Stinnett.  One that would help you bring your cataclysm.  One that would end them all.  Come for them, and they are yours."
    The creature leaves and the dream dissapates.
    Andrews sits bolt upright in bed, nearly screaming.
    Stinnett begins to plan.

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