The transformation of Mr. Sleep
The Nexus did not have sunlight, not like a regular world, but in the nearly abandoned village on its outskirts, there was a sense of day and evening. Mr. Sleep did not need to sleep, but his leader did, so when she picked a home to rest in for the night, he and his companions followed her inside.
First, she made the Doctor sleep in one of the beds. She picked another one for herself. Mr. Sleep and the other Strangers were left to stand guard in the hall.
Mr. Sleep liked his leader. Not just because she had the strongest mind, but because she was his height. He didn't complain much about it (his species was far beyond the concerns of physical form), but it was a little annoying to have to look up to everyone else. His companions often let him carry out particularly violent acts as a form of compensation.
At some point during the night, there was a sound from one of the other bedrooms. Mr. Sleep went to investigate. He didn't come back, but his companions weren't worried. They would know if something had happened to him.
The next morning, a young boy woke up and rubbed his eyes. The first thing he noticed was that he wasn't in his bedroom at home. The next thing he noticed was that he was wearing some weird leather outfit. He looked like a comic book villain.
There was a brief flash of memory -- hospitals and painful shots and his mother crying by his bedside -- and then it was gone.
He hopped out of his bed and went to the window. He was just starting to feel scared, but then he took a look at the view. A herd of triceratops were being herded down the street by a cowboy on horseback. The building across the street was a giant castle. A giant robot finished its morning stretches, transformed into a fighter jet, and flew overhead.
It was awesome. The boy ran out of his room to find some stairs, unable to contain his excitement.
First, she made the Doctor sleep in one of the beds. She picked another one for herself. Mr. Sleep and the other Strangers were left to stand guard in the hall.
Mr. Sleep liked his leader. Not just because she had the strongest mind, but because she was his height. He didn't complain much about it (his species was far beyond the concerns of physical form), but it was a little annoying to have to look up to everyone else. His companions often let him carry out particularly violent acts as a form of compensation.
At some point during the night, there was a sound from one of the other bedrooms. Mr. Sleep went to investigate. He didn't come back, but his companions weren't worried. They would know if something had happened to him.
The next morning, a young boy woke up and rubbed his eyes. The first thing he noticed was that he wasn't in his bedroom at home. The next thing he noticed was that he was wearing some weird leather outfit. He looked like a comic book villain.
There was a brief flash of memory -- hospitals and painful shots and his mother crying by his bedside -- and then it was gone.
He hopped out of his bed and went to the window. He was just starting to feel scared, but then he took a look at the view. A herd of triceratops were being herded down the street by a cowboy on horseback. The building across the street was a giant castle. A giant robot finished its morning stretches, transformed into a fighter jet, and flew overhead.
It was awesome. The boy ran out of his room to find some stairs, unable to contain his excitement.