It was all a dream. He could perceive their patterns rushing forward, shapes constantly reforming as they moved. Folded wings of jade. Interlocking angular spirals. Glimmering battlements. Gushingly exuberant fountains. He could perceive what they were trying to escape from. That singular mechanical shriek, raising thunderous echoes as it tore its way through the lattice. A large echo caught up with one of the fleeing patterns and he watched it shatter and dissipate. Now it was his turn. His outer form, reminiscent of a leaping mountain goat, rolled up to protect itself, but his ticking, revolving core welcomed the pulse as it hit, responding with a beacon of unblinking red light.
Where am I now? I'm floating... ...!Arnold threw his eyes wide open. Float is something that dead people do! He grabbed his chest, and yes, he still had a body.
Not dead, of course. Just a little blood and an uncomplicated fracture that healed splendidly. Nothing worse than that time I fell off the east face of the Kaiserspitze. But why am I floating? ...wait, I can feel it. It's the Vril streams that are twirling around me and lifting me up. The instructor showed us and we all giggled. I didn't expect it to happen on its own, though. Let's see...He removed his blanket, focused and made the streams bunch up at shoulder height. Slowly, he rose upright, letting the bunched streams slide downward until they formed a swirling platform under his feet.
Alright! That was easy. I really do sense the streams more clearly now. Time to go! Arnold floats off his bed, out of the room and toward the dining hall. Healing always made him hungry.
"Good morning, everyone! Any news?"