fifteen ✤ voice

[lingeringhope]

I am sure you have seen the ships, as have we. It is time for a decision. Thanks to your efforts and knowledge, we have options - they are few, but I think any of them could succeed. But each has unknowns and possible dangers. Please take all of these into consideration before you make your decision.

First, we could use the Door to send the Null away to another facet of this wide multiverse. This would keep us safe, and allow us to stay here, in our home, in order to rebuild and restore our people. However, while we have more control of the Door, we only have so much. We can't choose where to send the Null, so they could end up anywhere, including in a universe that one of you is from. Also, while we would try our very best, it would be difficult to ensure that each and every Null scattered across the worlds is caught in this. It is possible we may miss some.

Second, we could use the Door to transport ourselves to another universe. Like the first option, we cannot be sure where we would end up. We would be safe from the Null, but possibly find other dangers. In addition, only those of us gods currently in the city would survive - there would be no option to resurrect our fallen comrades or hosts. With the hosts you have restored to me and our own essences, we could rebuild, but it would take a very long time.

One additional note for the first two options: after carrying out either one, we would need to shut the Door down permanently. To leave it working would be to invite the Null to find a way through it to us. We would send you all home first, of course, but you would never be able to return here or leave the worlds that you return to.

Finally, we could use your skills to infect the Null with a sort of virus. I will admit that my unfamiliarity with technology makes the details of this difficult to understand, but the essence of it is that a group of you would return to the communications relay found on the previous world and use it to broadcast a program that would alter the Null themselves. There are two options here, as well: use it to shut the Null down and therefore kill them, or use it to alter them and imbue them with emotions so they would no longer need or wish to destroy us.

These last two options are the most dangerous for you, and I would ask for volunteers to carry this out if it is chosen. It would allow us to stay here and rebuild our species, and it would potentially allow the Null to survive, though of course that may also be a danger someday. It would also allow us to maintain the Door, which would give you the option to come and go as you pleased. However, the ethics of destroying or permanently altering another species must be considered. Do we have the right to do this against their will? Do we have the right to commit genocide?

Please take your time to consider these options. I believe we can hold out long enough for an educated decision, rather than one made foolishly and in haste. And thank you, all of you, for everything that you have done. None of these options would have been possible if not for your hard work and ingenuity. You have accomplished incredible things and given us a chance when we had none.

Poll #22106

This poll is closed.
Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 31

View Respondents

What shall we do?

View Answers

Use the Door to remove the Null
2 (6.5%)

Use the Door to move ourselves
2 (6.5%)

Upload a program to alter the Null
9 (29.0%)

Upload a program to destroy the Null
18 (58.1%)

Comments

[glacius]

The amount of people proposing a genocide here is... staggering. [But altogether not surprising, he supposes sadly. Good to know that a number of people here are hardly better than the drones waging war against them.] I will defend what I have built here but I will not assist in any attempts to carry out such a detestable plan.

Rather, I opt to move and shut the Door down; separation over slaughter, though it does not look like my vote will matter much. With that bitterly acknowledged, what I am more curious about is your claim that you wish to "rebuild" your species... and if the Door is left intact, what guarantee do we have that you will not continue to pluck others and keep on tormenting us all? Surely this revitalization you speak of will require energy.

[lingeringhope]

It is disappointing to see. Our species has nearly been destroyed, I do not wish that upon anyone else.

We will have no need of you if the Null are not a threat. Some of our hosts have been returned to us, and they are far more efficient at providing us with power - there are few of them now, but I can bring back more, once it is safe to do so. We will have as much time as needed once the threat of our destruction is gone, and creatures who are far better at supporting us.

[glacius]

It is interesting that you would take that stance. [And Glacius' tone isn't judging or doubting; it's more that he finds it refreshing to know that even a powerful being subject to such a fate would not immediately leap at the chance for revenge.]

These "hosts" aid you willingly, correct? And you believe that the rest of your people will follow suit with that?

[lingeringhope]

It is who I am.

And yes, they do. We have always had a symbiotic relationship. As for your other question - they are far, far better at fulfilling our needs than any of you could ever hope to be. It is, to be quite honest, laughable to think that we would choose you over them.

[glacius]

That is... comforting. [He thinks, anyways. To be honest there is a lot about this situation that he finds hard to grasp, so he decides he should take this chance to learn given there is no hope of swaying the populace out of genocide at this point.]

So how does that work, exactly? Do you have to torture them in the ways that you have done to us in order to receive energy, or are they... different somehow? I cannot imagine a race willingly subjecting themselves to what your kind has done to us, so there must be something here that I am not understanding.

[lingeringhope]

They are not like you. They can choose to feel whatever emotion they wish, as strongly as they wish. We do not need to draw anything out of them, because they can simply decide to provide us with the energy we need. In return, we provide them with homes and sustenance and safety - or we did, before the Null attacked us.

[glacius]

I see. That is very interesting. [And very different from what he's seen of most people here, himself included, who tend to try and wall off their emotions... and none of who belong to a species that can force a genuine one even if they wanted to. It has to be elicited by to something, so the thought of a species that can "create" emotions is strange indeed.]

Well, it sounds as though you have established a true symbiotic relationship then. I am relieved... for everyone's sake. I hope whatever happens for at the end of this conflict allows those remaining peaceful coexistence.

[He's still sour about the genocide, but he recognizes the futility in arguing it. It's just one more reason to escape this city and its people, he supposes.]

[lingeringhope]

As do I. At this point, it is all I hope for - that, and our victory, of course.