Title: Net Dreams Author: Spookyteacher E-mail address: spkyteach@aol.com Rating: PG-13 Category: V, H Summary: A short story about my favorite Lone Gunman, Frohike.... And, yes, there is a dream in here.(After all, this is for the dream fanfic challenge.) Disclaimer: Chris Carter, Ten Thirteen Productions, and Tom Braidwood, et al: I'm just borrowing them guys. I promise I'll return them in almost new condition after playing with them. Besides, I'm a teacher... i.e. no money...!!! Notes: This was a story I'd been playing with for a while. The fanfic challenge, Ranatra Fuschra, at House of Fanfic convinced me to dust it off, dress it up, and send it out for it's big night on the town. It was a beautiful, starry, full moon-filled, sultry night... Frohike tiptoed out of the Gunmen's living quarters into the kitchen, trying very hard not to make a sound. It was a kitchen of sorts as it only housed a microwave, refrigerator, coffee maker, and blender (for the margaritas they had during the Friday night anarchist's chat). He grabbed milk from the refrigerator, chocolate ice cream from the freezer, chocolate sauce and chips from a cabinet. Pulling out the blender, he set about fixing himself a triple chocolate milkshake. As he tossed in the chocolate chips and set the blender to whip, he broke into a happy whistle. After blending the concoction for a minute, he poured it into a tall glass and took a gulp of the delectable shake. "Perfect!" he whispered. Carrying the shake in one hand, he walked into the office and over to a computer terminal. As he sat, he took another sip and then set it down to the side of the keyboard. He signed onto the net and waited while hearing the familiar whne of the modem. He took several more sips of the shake and flexed his fingers in preparation for the impending activity. Once online, he began his familiar late-night ritual: the Microsoft Hearts Network. He typed in his name, Fox, and clicked to find other players. Soon, his screen lit up as Sparky, Debbie, and Hustler joined the game. "Hello," he whispered to the monitor as he recognized Sparky and Debbie. He played the first game and promptly lost. "Crap!" he complained to himself. Just as the cards were dealt for the second hand, a message appeared on his screen: "Hiya, Fox." He stared at the message and noted the screen name of the message sender was "GothE." He frowned and answered, "Buzz off you teenage freak." And returned his attention to the game. He won one hand before he was interrupted again. "How do you know if I'm a teenager? Or a freak?" It taunted Frohike from the screen. "Go play with someone your own age, dumbo." Frohike did not have the time to waste on this jerk; he'd ended up with the queen of spades in this hand. "You sure you want me to go? We had a lot of fun once." Frohike narrowed his eyes, trying to discern GothE's meaning. "When?" "A while ago. As I remember, you play good, FroMan." "What?" he yelled at the computer. He quickly glanced towards the living quarters. 'Don't you dare wake up you paranoid geeks!' he thought of his two friends and co-workers. He turned back to the computer when neither Byers nor Langly came out. Now he was really shocked. This person knew his name. No one knew his name. He quickly signed off from his hearts game before replying to GothE. "How do you know my name?" "That's for me to know and you to find out." "Where'd you get it?" Silence. "How do you know me?" "Let's play twenty questions." Frohike frowned and groaned aloud. Realizing he had no choice but to play the game, he typed, "So, male or female?" "Does it matter?" "YES!" The cursor just pulsed for several seconds, heightening his impatience. "Female, please be female," he coerced the computer screen. Finally, an answer appeared. "Female." A huge smile broke out on his face. "Okay... what do we do know...," he hesitated before typing the last part, but impulsively decided to do it, "... you sexy girl?" "Ooooo.. I love it when you talk dirty!" "What? That wasn't dirty...want me to talk dirty?" "Oh...yeah!" Frohike rubbed his gloved hands together before typing. He had an incredulous expression on his face, still not quite believing this was happening. "Soil...worms...clay...dust..." "Ha ha...don't spoil the mood, big guy..." "The mood? No, I do not want to do that. Definitely don't want to do that!" "Well...start talking and maybe...if you get lucky..." "What?" "It'll rain covert computer surveillance equipment..." "I like that...now YOU'RE talking dirty!! Hey...what are you wearing?" He immediately hated himself for asking. This was not one of those calls. He was losing control. However, GothE doesn't seem tomind. "Oh, Frohike man, you KNOW I'm not wearing ANYTHING! What are you wearing?" Frohike took a long drag on the milkshake...what do I say now? His mind frantically tried to regain control... "What are you drinking? I heard that long slurp." His jaw dropped. 'How the hell did she HEAR that?," he thought. "You heard me drink the milkshake?" "Oh...I love milkshakes! It's been so long since I've had one. It's been so long since I've had a LOT of things..." "But how did you HEAR that?" "You're killing the mood, FroMan." He sat up straighter and took a beep breath. "Okay," he mumbled aloud as he typed, "What kind of milkshake is your favorite?" "It used to be strawberry, but I think I'd like a ...Frohike-flavored one right now..." Frohike swallowed.... this was unbelievable. Who was this? Could he get her real name? She was so playful; maybe he'd coax it out of her... "What can I call you? GothE is so formal...and you know my name." "We'll get to that...GothE will do for now...BTW, you NEVER told me what you were wearing." Frohike looked down at his pajamas and vest, leather fingerless gloves, and slipper socks. "Well...I'm wearing.......... a red Speedo." "Are you really?! Sounds...kinky..." 'Yes!' he thought as he pumped his arm back. "Frohike, would you do something for me?" "What?" He would go to the ends of the earth and back for her at this point! "Are you sure? It's a biggie!" "I'm all yours!" "I hope so...." Frohike grinned widely. Then continued the banter, "Okay, shoot...what is it?" "I want you to touch the screen." 'That's it,' he thought. "Please, I really want you to touch the screen." Frohike was confused, but could deny her nothing. He stroked the monitor. "Oh, wonderful hands! Now, put some mood music in the CD drive." He searched frantically, but all he could come up with was the "Star Wars" soundtrack. He was desperate so he used it. "Now, I thought we'd... wait... is that 'Star Wars'?" "Uh...yeah, is that a problem?" "A little...I'm not a fan of pseudoscience...Anyway...use both hands to touch the computer." He did as asked. "Ohhhhh, my! You're heating up my circuits..." 'Her circuits,' he thought, 'MY circuits are way past heating up!!!' He took one hand away from the monitor so he could type. "Please... PLEASE... tell me your name. I can't go on like this... it's killing me!!!" "You really want to know?!!" Oh...sooooo bad.... "PLEASE! PLEASE!!! Tell me...I want to call you by name!" "What's a name? It's not important..." "YES...IT IS! I need to know your name. Do I know you? You seem kinda familiar..." "Very good...yes I do know you ...and vice versa..." "THEN WHO?!!!!!" "I don't think you can handle it..." "What?! Yes I can...you have to tell me!!" "Well, since you asked nicely and even begged.... I'll give you a hint..." 'Great," he thought, 'my mind is not working right now...too many hormones screaming to be heard (and utilized)....' "Are you ready..." "As I'll ever be.... shoot!" "I'll give you a hint..." 'NO more games...PLEEZE!!!!!' his mind begged. "Do I have to use my tongue?" 'What?!!!' he thought....then...'OH MY GOD!!!!!' His fingers flew over the keys. "ESTHER?!!!!" "Helloooo, brain donor...wanna play some more?" He couldn't believe this. He moved his fingers to type, but couldnt. He hears a distant voice calling his name. "Frohike!" "Esther, is that you?" "Frohike!" "Are you talking to me? How can you talk to me? Are you in my computer" Byers and Langly stood next to Frohike as sleeping form is draped overthe computer. "FROHIKE!" Byers yelled, trying again to rouse him. "Esther?" Frohike called back sleepily. "Melvin, wake up!" Frohike stirred. He knew that voice. He opened his eyes and soon realized he was lying on the computer keyboard. "Come on, man, you're drooling on the keys," Langly chided. Frohike pushed back from the keyboard and sat up on the stool. He really didn;t want to wake up, but he knew he had to. It was that or have Langly and Byers yell at him. "Esther?" Byers asked. "Were you dreaming about Esther Nairn again?" Langly finished. Frohike nodded, still trying to wake up. "Geez, that chick's long gone. I don't know why you keep doing this," Langly admonished mildly. "Gotta get over her." Frohike nodded again as he stared at the computer screen. "You've got key indentations on your face," Byers informed him. "I'm heading back to bed," Langly announced. "You coming?" Frohike nodded once again, still looking at the computer. "Fine." Langly turned and headed back to the living quarters. Byers noticed Frohike wasn't moving. "Come on," he called as he turned to leave. "We've got alot to do tomorrow to get the paper out on time." Frohike didn't move, his eyes glued to the screen. Byers took two steps and realized Frohike still hadn't moved. "What's so interesting on that monitor?" He asked impatiently and followed Frohike's gaze to the screen. His eyes widened in disbelief as he read it. On the computer monitor, words flashed on and off: "Catch ya later, brain donor" ***************************************************************** Feedback is welcome at: spkyteach@aol.com Hope you enjoyed it!!! And sweet dreams!!!!!!