[Locked to Residents]

[malnosso]

My goodness, has it really been so long since I've contacted all of you? Well, let's not be parted for so long again. I do miss our conversations, after all. You're all such terribly interesting people! But before all that, I'm going to have to ask you all to calm down first. I'm sure you all are fired up about that dreadful love business. Yes, yes, it's quite necessary, I'm afraid. I wasn't involved this time, but rest assured, the data collected will be of incredible value to those finding a way to increase the understanding of Shifts. The more we know, the less time you're here!

Now then! I do have exciting news. After all, I wouldn't prattle away about nothing, would I? Ho ho, of course not. Now then, I'm sure many of you have often wondered what becomes of people born in this world. After all, how can they return to their original world if they have none? Well the answer is: they can't! There's nowhere for them to go! Or at least, that's the problem that has stumped us all for decades! Well. That problem is no longer a concern. As some of you may recall, my last experiment of this nature was... ahem, disastrous. I do apologize for that, but I am absolutely certain it will work this time. After all, the Great One has been most generous in assisting me with my work.

Of course, I am not merely telling you all this for your own excitement. Now that I'm no longer the leader of the organization, I don't quite have the ah, resources I once had. I need volunteers to test it. Now, none of you were born in this world- save for our dear little Sophie, adorable little thing, but that doesn't matter! What I require is for pairs of people to volunteer. One person shall offer their own world as a destination. The second person shall be Shifted so that their 'anchor world' will be the same as their partners. The two will then be sent off to that world for a full day. It's not a permanent trip home, mind you. It's tricky business, that. But it shall be enough to ensure the project's success! And perhaps do a little sightseeing while you're there!

I do hope you'll be able to put behind you some of your unfortunate feelings towards me so that we might work together. This benefits more than just the many, many poor souls born to this world. There are, after all, many people within Luceti and the world outside that simply have no home to return to. Returning to be dead is dreadful business, wouldn't you say? Imagine the possibility of choosing a new life after death, in some other new and exciting world! It may very well be a reality some day! Perhaps not in our current lifetimes, but certainly within our next!

Ahem. In any case, trials shall begin next month. Please do consider it! If you remain interested, you shall be contacted then!

Comments

[Locked]

[malnosso]

I doubt you truly realize just how risky this undertaking is, but one can hope.

[Locked]

[malnosso]

[Oh, something just crashed in the background. He's always surprised to get contacted by The Great One. By live feed, no less!]

Oh- well yes, of course. Terrible dangerous. No telling what might happen if it went wrong. But I stand by the tests! Nothing has gone wrong yet. This will be it, what we've been striving for after centuries. It's the Holy Grail of Shifting. Whatever that is, anyway.

[herotypical]

J-just one world per pair? No...straight up cultural exchange?

[ oh. she didn't think she'd have to make this choice so soon. ]

[malnosso]

No no, of course not. Goodness, that would cause no end of trouble! We've sorted that bit all out, already.

[fortunefail]

How big are the risks the volunteers would take with this? Considering your lack of resources, I highly doubt you will get everything right on your first attempt.

[Getting stuck between worlds would be even worse than being stuck in Luceti.]

[malnosso]

Oh, absolutely minimal. Negligible! In fact, our dear Molly will be testing it first, just to be certain it's completely safe!

[all7seas]

Just a day? [Just one good day...]

[malnosso]

One day! I'm afraid anymore than that would be just too much. [Ahem] It's not even a full day, really. Sixteen hours and forty-three minutes. And twenty five seconds.

[crisisrain]

Not interested in your offer for volunteers. I'm concerned with your lack of mention regardin' Jonah.

[malnosso]

Aha, yes, well, I've heard he's being well taken care of. My current plight of course means I can't check in on him personally.

[fourteen]

[ ... returning to be dead.

No. This is an impossible choice. The lure is undeniable, but if she became "anchored" to some other world...

... what happens to Sora?

The pain of his loss is still present, getting better only very slowly. And now to hear this... ]

If -- I --

[ ... ]

If ... if someone is anchored to a new world ... what happens in the old one? I mean ... I guess, if they're dead anyway, it probably doesn't matter, but ... [ ... heh. ] ... what if their death served some sort of purpose? Is that ... could that be erased?

[malnosso]

Oh my, what a complicated question. I suppose I should say that the theory holds that if a person no longer serves a purpose to their original world, then there is negligible impact to move them to another. Of course, this test shall measure to see just how true that is! The only way to get your answer is to volunteer.

[thefinaljedi]

[Well, well...the enemy finally speaks?]

Would one return after this day in another world with memories intact?
And more importantly, would one leave this one for the other and retain memories?

[malnosso]

Your memories shall be completely unaltered! You need not worry about that, my boy! It's a bit of a complicated process, this test. Goodness knows even I get boggled at it. But temporary returns are nothing new, though they are quite difficult to perform. However, any changes you make in those worlds while you visit are reversed the moment you return to this one.

[silverworld]

[... This is...]

Moving children who were born here is one thing. Moving those who have died in their own world is another matter entirely. Some things are not meant to be tampered with.

That aside, was there not a theory that our continued absence from our worlds would result in some sort of damage?

[malnosso]

Oh, naturally. The theory has been revised, since then, but it more or less states the same thing. What many now believe is that is our contribution that makes our connection so important! It is why, of course, all of you return so swiftly to your own world, whereas I'm in danger of losing all my hair again!

Of course, it goes without saying that dead people contribute very little to the world.

[voice]

[simplestgift]

[Deep breaths. Deep breaths. This might be a part of the answer he's been looking for.]

I'd be willing. And I believe I know who I could go with. But I wonder...if you have the power to send us home for a day, why not for ever?

[voice]

[malnosso]

Well, it would take quite a bit of history to work all that out, but a temporary transfer was discovered quite a while back! But it is, unfortunately, only temporary. For a permanent solution, we can only help strengthen the natural draw one has with their own world. It's why your enclosure is so successful!

[chikaidestroyer]

And so progress marches on. A ... very interesting experiment this time. Much more straightforward than opening a portal in the middle of the village with instructions to step into it within a time limit. [Because that had worked so well the last time.]

[malnosso]

[Ahem.]

Yes, well, fortunately the calculations have been checked thoroughly this time!

[selphie_t]

[Selphie doesn't even care that you want to send them home. They've kept her in Luceti for almost two years. There's really only one thing on her mind presently.]

If we did decide to volunteer for this experiment, how do we know that it's not just a plot to bring more people into the village?

[Because frankly speaking, if you Malnosso jerkwads even think of her bringing her friends -- the ones who know her best. Her family, back into Luceti again, then Selphie is going to be just a tad pissed with you all.]

[malnosso]

Goodness, why in heavens would we want to do that? The less people in Luceti, the better!

[chibifalenas]

And on our world, we can get things to bring back? Or is this just a peer around say hi and come back to this place?

[malnosso]

No no, you can't bring anything back. But you can certainly say hello!

[endgames]

Some day? If you're not expecting it to be a reality yet, what makes you think it's safe to volunteer for a trial run now?

[malnosso]

Well, even if this proves successful, a permanent solution to returning everyone home is still far away! But this shall certainly ensure that everyone benefits on that day!

[hisdarkmark]

[...is that right...]

And what if you want to make it longer than a day? Is that theoretically possible?

[malnosso]

Theoretically, yes. But the longer you spend there, the greater the risk of something going wrong. No no, anymore than seventeen hours is too many!

[perplexme]

Break it down for me. What exactly is the point of this project? [He has his own thoughts, but...this is a scary prospect. Both of his best friends are dead at home, and even though Axel's gone, he's still worried about what this means for Xion.] The real point. You just said it may be a reality someday. How is that good enough to warrant this?

[malnosso]

The real point? Well, it's simple. There are people who have been in his world for lifetimes. Many who have given birth to children. These children have given birth to others as well. However, we could never simply leave them on this world. This is the means to which everyone benefits from our long and arduous research!

[i_speak_softly]

[The second person shall be Shifted so that their 'anchor world' will be the same as their partners.]

[This idea does a lot to clear the lingering fog in Don's brain. After staring at it, re-reading it, for several minutes, he finally asks:]

Is... is the Shift itself permanent? When the partner is sent home for good, will they go to the other world?

[malnosso]

Oh, goodness no. The moment you return, you would be anchored to your own world again. Goodness knows the trouble that might happen were it permanent!

[semper_cogitans]

... I-If... if my p-partner would also... v-volunteer, then... then so would I...

[His voice is, however, somewhat skeptical.]

... B-But...

P-Presumably, there are... l-limitations...

... I assume we will be... m-made aware of those...

[He is hoping for loopholes. For exploits. For a chance to let someone know that they're here, that they're trapped; a distress call.

...

A chance to let the Head Institute know that there are worlds with magic and logical application of aggression out there, and he is not insane -]

...

I w-wish for this project to... s-succeed, Sir Catherine... as, er, I have p-previously said - I am willing to cooperate with the M-Malnosso, provided we are not treated... barbarically...

...

If you can... a-adhere to something as... straightforward as ethics, then I am... only too g-glad to assist such... an endeavour.

[malnosso]

I'm glad to hear it! Naturally, I am seeking volunteers only. I hope that itself shall be enough for you!

[neverplaysfair]

... You'd truly be sending us home this time?

[ He still remembers the portal experiment, thanks. ]

[malnosso]

Yes. And you may be certain that all the fours have been dealt with! [He chuckles a bit at that.]

[thatmadbastard]

You hope to give everyone a choice.

[He sounds utterly unimpressed, voice dry.]

Very noble for a former leader of the organisation. [Then, in comes a bemused tone.] I don't quite know what to make of it.

[malnosso]

Well, you could certainly offer to volunteer!

[folklorist]

[ To give someone another chance to live... ] Would it be possible...to return to a point in time aside from the point we were taken from? Like r-returning to, to the past for a day? [ He would love to see Elise for a day and let someone meet her. Gods it would painful but he would love it, even if just for a day. ]

We can't...bring others back with us, can we? P-People that...are no longer alive in our world I mean.

[malnosso]

Oh no, not at all. You will arrive precisely the moment you left! Not a moment before or after. And goodness no, we'd never intentionally bring someone here with us! That would be unethical and wrong!

[the_brightest_sun]

[Normally Goku doesn't really bother with those messages, he listens them, normally doesn't get much of what they say and moves on. But this time he gets most of what it's said. And the cogwheels work in his head.]

You can send people away from this world to another one that wasn't the one they came from? I could go with someone I liked to their world and stay there?

[malnosso]

Visit! But oh no, not stay. You have your own world to live in!

[Filtered]

[de_bel_survivor]

...What if there's two worlds? Do the person get sent to the world they're born in or the world they're living in, prior to Luceti?

[Filtered]

[malnosso]

Oh ho, well I use the word world loosely! In fact I mean your own universe, reality, or whatever you wish to call it. Wherever you last were, that's where you'll return to.

[Private]

[breaks_destiny]

What if the two people aren't from different worlds but more like different times from the same world? There are many people from Earth here and many of them have their Earths being closely similar to each other, so much that it may just be the same world but different years. Does that still count for this experiment?

[Private]

[malnosso]

Oh, Earth, what a marvelous subject that is. There are so many different realities of Earth! But two people from different versions of it could certainly go to one or the other, yes. But it must be different realities! That part is key.

[redjacketthief]

[Lupin's paying intense interest to this entry, though he normally lurks more than speaks up. This time, though, he can't help himself.]

...Sure. What other lies are you gonna tell to give people here a little bit of hope? We all know you're only gonna crush their dreams later.

[malnosso]

Well, goodness, that's rude! We haven't even met yet!

[memoryboxes]

[This means... She could see home again...?]


If... If I go back, it would just be for a day, like you say? I have a condition that causes me to lose memories each morning, and I wouldn't want to accidentally ruin what the barrier here does for me...

But I would love to return home, if even for a day. I just don't want to endanger any of what's in my head.

[But if I come back in 24 hours...]

[malnosso]

Well, I'm afraid your condition would persist, unfortunate as it is. Fixing it with a Shift would introduce a new variable that might cause all sorts of problems!