Duel of Dreams
Duell der Traeume
Plot Summary
The story unfolds across two interwoven realities: "White," a hopeful future where humanity cooperates with alien races, and "Black," a dystopian Second Reich of Humanity ruled by Max von Valdec. The narrative centers on a "Duel of Dreams" between David terGorden and Max von Valdec, orchestrated by the Realschalter, a device from the Pre-Universe of the Ancients, to determine which reality will prevail.
In the "Black" reality, Prout, a Kaiser Guardist, eliminates a Mushni on Tonteran, inadvertently triggering a spatiotemporal distortion. A man in an old-fashioned spacesuit emerges, speaking of the "Paracletic Madonna." This man is brought to Valdec, who recognizes him as David terGorden. A confrontation occurs, resulting in Valdec being implanted with a Konnex-Crystal and transported to a desolate world. He encounters a dying man who directs him to an oasis where the Paracletic Madonna is said to be.
In the "White" reality, Lavily and Junita, Seed Masters aboard an Organ-Sailer, encounter a similar figure, also speaking of the Paracletic Madonna, after a Cosmic Spore attaches to their ship. This man is also Max von Valdec. David terGorden arrives to investigate, and upon seeing Valdec, he is also implanted with a Konnex-Crystal. Both Valdec and terGorden are transported to different alien worlds.
The two realities continue to diverge. In "Black," Valdec attempts to retrieve the Paracletic Madonna from a highly radioactive world, Cubus II, but fails and abandons her to an approaching energy storm. He plans an exodus of the "best" humans to another galaxy. However, he then experiences a complete dissolution of his reality, ending in utter nothingness where he is confronted by Llewellyn 709. In "White," David terGorden journeys to Valneron to save the Paracletic Madonna from a PSI Kollapsare. He succeeds in having her retrieved, sacrificing himself in the process. However, this sacrifice triggers the victory of the "White" reality, negating the "Black" reality.
Key Events
- 01 Prout eliminates a Mushni on Tonteran, creating a spatiotemporal distortion.
- 02 A man in an old spacesuit appears on Tonteran, speaking of the Paracletic Madonna.
- 03 Max von Valdec in the "Black" reality is implanted with a Konnex-Crystal by David terGorden.
- 04 Lavily and Junita find Max von Valdec in the "White" reality on a Cosmic Spore.
- 05 David terGorden in the "White" reality is implanted with a Konnex-Crystal by Max von Valdec.
- 06 Max von Valdec in the "Black" reality fails to retrieve the Paracletic Madonna from Cubus II.
- 07 Max von Valdec plans an exodus of humans to another galaxy.
- 08 David terGorden in the "White" reality travels to Valneron to save the Paracletic Madonna.
- 09 David terGorden sacrifices himself to save the Paracletic Madonna.
- 10 The "White" reality prevails, and the "Black" reality is negated.
Characters
David terGorden — Driver, former Terranaut leader, and bearer of the power of the Ancients. He is the protagonist in the "White" reality and an antagonist in the "Black" reality. He is involved in a "Duel of Dreams" with Max von Valdec.
Max von Valdec — Dictator of Earth and archenemy of the Terranauts. He is the antagonist in the "Black" reality and a mysterious figure in the "White" reality. He is involved in a "Duel of Dreams" with David terGorden.
Llewellyn 709 — Super-Driver and Strap-man, friend of David terGorden. He appears in both realities, but is more prominent in the "White" reality.
Prout — A Kaiser Guardist in the "Black" reality who discovers the spatiotemporal distortion on Tonteran.
Rovenna — A Queen of the Kaiser Guards in the "Black" reality who investigates the spatiotemporal distortion on Tonteran.
Lavily — A Seed Master in the "White" reality who discovers Max von Valdec on a Cosmic Spore.
Trosten — The navigator of the Organ-Sailer in the "White" reality.
Yazmin — Reichscosmoral and Mistress of the Kaiser Guards in the "Black" reality.
Frost — Reich Security Commissioner and loyal servant of Max von Valdec in the "Black" reality.
Locations
Tonteran — A planet where a spatiotemporal distortion occurs in the "Black" reality.
Space II — An alternate dimension used for Kaiser Force space travel and accessed by Seed Masters.
Organ-Sailer — A biologically bred spacecraft used by Seed Masters in the "White" reality.
Sarym — A planet and headquarters of the Seed Mastery in the "White" reality.
Cubus II — A radioactive world where Max von Valdec attempts to retrieve the Paracletic Madonna in the "Black" reality.
Valneron — A planet threatened by a PSI Kollapsare in the "White" reality.
Ships & Vehicles
Organ-Sailer — A biologically bred spacecraft used by Seed Masters in the "White" reality.
Plant Ferry — A small, hybrid organism used for interplanetary travel in the "White" reality.
Ringo — A Kaiser Force ship used for retrieval in the "Black" reality.
Technology & Concepts
Realschalter — A device from the Pre-Universe of the Ancients that switches realities on and off.
Konnex-Crystal — Memory slag from the Pre-Universe that connects individuals to alternate realities.
Paracletic Madonna — An entity whose subpsionic vibrations are essential for life in the Milky Way.
PSI Kollapsare — A zone of mutated plant life and distorted subpsionic vibrations.
Triadic Monochord — An artificial spatiotemporal distortion.
Kaiser Force lightning — A powerful weapon used by the Second Reich of Humanity.
Zarkophin Shield — A shield that eliminates the problems of Kaiser Force space travel.
Space-Time Stroboscope — A device that automatically transfers Cosmic Spores into the Milky Way.
Themes & Notes
This booklet explores themes of sacrifice, the duality of good and evil, and the importance of hope in the face of despair. The narrative style alternates between a hopeful, cooperative future and a bleak, authoritarian one, highlighting the consequences of different choices. The tone is often dark and suspenseful, with moments of both heroism and tragic loss.
Connections
Continues from: Likely follows previous booklets detailing the rise of the Second Reich and the search for the Paracletic Madonna.
Leads into: The resolution of the "Duel of Dreams" and the fate of the Milky Way.
Related booklets: Booklets dealing with the Second Reich of Humanity, the Terranauts, the Paracletic Madonna, and the Entities.