Last week a fierce debate took place in the Hall of Opinion as chaired by Morta Bord. John Strawmann was a proponent of using Censorship more liberally, believing any muse who includes dangerous or otherwise unwelcome themes in a Vignette should be swiftly Censored. Their opponent, Adam Hominem, argued against this and instead in favour of a three strike system.

The debate went on for many hours, during which they ironed out every detail of a compromise system. Initially watched by a packed debate hall, the audience trickled out as the debate dragged on into the night, eventually leaving Morta Bord as the only witness to the conclusion at lunch time the next day. Many riveting debates scheduled to occur had to be rearranged, including the hotly anticipated “Is breakfast really worth it?”

The following day both Adam and John were Censored by popular opinion.

—An extract from an article published in Interesting Times

You’re not quite sure why, but you always seem destined to be passed over for promotion in every organisation that you get involved in. Despite all that you have done for Spindle, for Dream…first the Academy, and now the Dream Vanguard… You suppose it’s probably a good thing that you weren’t too important in the Academy, but that’s not the point. You wanted the choice.

No matter, no matter. Private Morta Bord is a title that you’re going to be proud of, no matter what anyone tells you.

The missions aren’t much fun though, you have to admit. Cyrus and Dave at the top, ordering everyone around… taking all of the glory… and then there’s Brink and Lorem with their fancy rank V Cards… No, nope. You aren’t going to do this. It’s not your place to compare. You’re just there to get on with the job.

…

* * *

Yet another recon mission. Something weird is going on in Far Dream, but you can’t put your finger on it. Yeah, there was that stand-off with Firi a while back… but wasn’t that dealt with? They don’t tell you privates nothin’. Hey ho – got to get on with the job!

Wonder why they’re so keen on this mountain anyway – aren’t there loads of them in Far Dream? Seems to be someone who lives inside it though, and seems like they don’t want anything to do with outsiders like us. Shouldn’t we just leave them alone. No, no, you’re pretty sure they’re giving you the right orders. Must be some reason Dave and Cyrus are so hooked.

* * *

Whoever lives there is some kind of psychopath. Who has a lake of sharks just out in Far Dream, with a hidden trapdoor for it and everything? What kind of monster actually thinks that’s funny, or clever? It took you days to get fully dry after getting trapped in there. Your uniform was ruined, too, so you got a dressing down. It’s so unfair being at the bottom.

They’ll probably send you out again soon – it’s nearly dawn. Better get ready.

It's been a while since you've even seen another Muse at this point, but even without the usual creature comforts, it's relaxing to be out in Far Dream, seeing things not seen before. You've found two new Vignettes just this week, so obscure they were all frozen up from lack of Juice.

You're travelling through the streets of a ruined city, broken skyscrapers surrounding you. It would have been noticed if that many Muses had ever actually lived here, and besides, it looks far older than Jo, so it must just be Far Dream's set dressing, a different sort of wilderness, pretty in its own way.

You nearly trip over a wheel attached to a porthole in the ground. Gleeful, you clear away the debris so it can open, and jump into the new Vignette.