Unhinged

Myriad Reality

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The corruption?

@Etcetera

You've heard of it already? Concern is spreading quickly... Anyways, yes. It essentially kicked us out of a research facility we had established in what is now known as the Dead Stretch, quite a ways south of here. Among other important things, the final pieces and bits of research were lost there, as no one was capable of returning from the mainland there safely.

Myriad Reality

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What if we travelled through time by some sort of light-related shenanigans to the end of this universe, escape through the dissolving edges of reality, and travelled back through time to our starting point outside of this universe?

@Mammalia

*Looks at you, seemingly not understanding*

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So you're letting us go?

@Etcetera

It's more complicated than that. There is a single place here on To Proto Vima where we have dedicated loads of time, space, resources and effort into developing the perfect means of stealthy portal opening to nearly wherever we choose. It is almost in its completed stage, but certain issues left us unable to complete it.

Myriad Reality

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You can't use us as ransoms.

@Etcetera

I don't plan to. Quite the opposite, actually. See, I don't want anyone coming here to look for you. Not letting you return, no matter how we do it, would inevitably leave them to follow your trail here. And the intentions for our policies are, as you may have already guessed, meant to prevent that from happening.

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*Shrugs* I'm a victim of the whims of my creator. His whims were not complete enough for me to be anything but absurdist humour, utter aplomb in all situations, and unwavering morality. I have no idea if I've developed at all past any of those basic characteristics.

@Mammalia

Sounds to me like you have just from the way you've been speaking to me.

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Can we not simply fly to the edge of the universe and un-travel?

@Mammalia

In the end, all that does is extend the trail others would follow. It doesn't prevent the trail from being created in the first place.

Myriad Reality

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Unfortunately, I'm a bit too superficial for me to have yet established a deep relationship with anybody. There's not much "meat" to me, you see.

@Mammalia

You strike me as the kind who doesn't give himself credit where it perhaps may be due.

Myriad Reality

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You can say that again.

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I would. Yes, we do.

@Etcetera

So, I'd be willing to bet that they'd do anything to find you and bring you home once they know something is amiss. Is this also true?

Myriad Reality

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I wouldn't go that far.

@Mammalia

Surely there are some. You came with people who seem to care enough for your well being.

Myriad Reality

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What now?

@Etcetera

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That is slightly unexpected but not entirely unwelcome.

@Mammalia

Let me explain. I've encountered similar enough situations before. You are from off world. You have people out there who care for you, yes?

Myriad Reality

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Clear as I.

@Mammalia

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To an extent, I suppose, but if you liken the scenario to incredibly serious trespassing, doing so unintentionally is forgiven, or at least not considered criminal in most non-corrupt legal systems.

@Etcetera

Then as long as you understand point one, let me iterate point two. I understand several reasons why we cannot punish you, period. So you will not be. At least, not in Dester Cor.

Myriad Reality

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That, er, isn't exactly the parallel I was trying to make.

@Etcetera

I know the parallel. Point is, no matter the circumstances, such a thing usually carries immense weight. Far more than any punishment for a crime our race has ever implemented. Whether it was done accidentally, or "for the greater good", or any combination of things, Is this point clear?

Myriad Reality

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Not in the slightest.

@Mammalia

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That's been made more and more apparent the longer we've been here. But if you compare that crime to first degree murder, the worst we did was the equivalent of manslaughter.

@Etcetera

It's worse! We take the endangerment of our people very seriously. Even accidentally, it is far worse than murder.