[3] During the remainder of 1992, Lepper worked to complete his computer science degree at the University of Colorado at Boulder, leaving Smith to record the majority of the band's second cassette, Dichotomy.

With Smith's assistance, Schrechengost built a custom digital drum kit that became a central fixture of early Fiction 8 live shows.

"[5] That year, Smith issued the first release as Fiction 8, the cassette EP In The Dark, without contributions from Lepper but with production credits by Dave DeVoe of Denver band New Ben Franklins.

[14] After Dissonance, Smith and DeVoe were joined by Steven Hart of Denver band Monastery and work began on new material.

The CD was released by European label Matrix Cube (a subsidiary of Trinity Records, which later became Trisol Music Group) and was mastered at John Sellekaers' Metarc studio in Brussels.

[17] The search for new representation led to a deal with the newly-formed American label, Nilaihah Records, who released the album at the end of 2000.

[23] The relationship with Cryonica led to engagements in England including an appearance at Cryofest 2003 in London and an invitation to play the Morecambe goth festival.

The switch away from label support also saw a marked decrease in live shows in deference to the band spending more time on songwriting and recording.

For instance, the recording session for Dark Star Disarray yielded 25 songs which was winnowed down to the 10 track CD release.

[31] By this time the band's lineup changed again with the return of DeVoe and the addition of composer and sound designer Heather Valey (née Sowards).