un: aurora | text

[arora]

Hello, citizens of Etraya.

Our next mission will begin on Friday, January 23rd.

You will be visiting a planet called Mesa for two weeks. This planet has been used as a sanctuary for countless different species, set up centuries ago by a society that no longer exists. The universe has been crumbling for some time, and Echo had to make the difficult decision to let it go. However, many of the species residing on Mesa are ones that have not been replicated across other universes, and Echo would like to preserve what they can of them.

You will be placed into teams and given assignments around the planet of DNA and items to gather. I will drop all of you off outside a facility a few of my companion bots have been working to outfit for your safety. This building has lights surrounding it, and I would like for all of you to be aware how important light is on this planet. There is no visible moon, and after the sun falls, the darkness is dangerous. Do not linger in shadows. Do not venture beyond where you are able to bring light.

Please stock up with as many survival supplies as you believe you would need for these two weeks. I will be opening the portal large enough to bring mid-sized vehicles through, so you may take with you any cars, motorcycles, chocobos, and other means of transportation.

Thank you,
Aurora

Comments

voice; un: Sunday

[choirmaster]

What does Echo do with the specimens they acquire?

[arora]

Preserve their memory, in case there is a possibility of finding their species a new home when everything has settled.

text; un: cc

[bubblegumheart]

Thank you for letting us know. Are we allowed to pick our own teams? And if yes, how many people are allowed per team?

[arora]

Teams will be assigned based on your strengths and weaknesses to ensure the highest rate of success.

There will be four individuals per team.

[bubblegumheart]

That's probably fair. Thank you.

Can you tell us more about the native species?

audio; un: itspending

[rudelanguage]

...

What's a DNA.

[arora]

Most of them are large.

You would be recognize many of them as similar to the prehistoric creatures from your class studies.

[arora]

To explain it simply, it is their genetic code. Retrieving skin-cells, hair, or saliva would do for most of them.

[rudelanguage]

[................,,.]

So, it...

[.,.,.,..what's a skin cell.......]

We just...pluck scales? To bring back?

[arora]

Yes.

[rudelanguage]

Oh.

[.........]

Ok.

[............

.....

....,...]

Is this...what we'd do if your master lets our worlds break? Or is this just...one he likes.

[....]

He didn't tell you the answer to that. Did he.

[arora]

There are many cities similar to Etraya who are going on similar missions. Attempts to preserve are are being made as best as possible with the resources we have.

[rudelanguage]

...Yeah. Okay.

[that's all for now!]

[choirmaster]

Their memory!?

[He briefly wonders if Echo is a Memokeeper before deciding Aurora must be speaking metaphorically.]

Their genetic code, you mean.

[To him there is a significant difference. People of his universe preserve memories in a very literal sense.]

But where do you store it? You cannot possibly fit the entire ecosystem of a planet in one laboratory.

[arora]

Their genetic code, yes.

[ Given clarification seems necessary. ]

I cannot fit live specimens, no, but I can store the remnants of them.

[bubblegumheart]

[Oh, well now she has to try not to get too excited about the possibility of dinosaurs on this potentially very sad mission.]

I know you've said that we're just going to take samples and try to preserve things, but is there anything we can do to potentially save this world instead?

[choirmaster]

Even that... for one planet alone, it must be billions or even trillions of species.

How do you maintain so many?

voice | un: lsk

[tyrantbait]

How dangerous are we talking?

[arora]

This universe we are currently in was created by Echo. All of the space within it is Echo's to use.

[arora]

It is not able to be saved.

[choirmaster]

But...then...

[A deep sigh. He pushes forward with the one question he has hiding behind every other one.]

Why not preserve everyone's world? Assuming the universe is an infinite expanse, shouldn't that be possible? Use this universe as a backup hard drive containing data from all the others?

[The question is an earnest one. He knows a bit about cosmology where he is from, but even there, it was a society of genius-level intellects who studied the theoretical limits of the universe. Not him. ]

Echo's universe could be the seed for a new Imaginary Tree.

[arora]

This universe is not endless. It cannot hold everything.

[arora]

I do not recommend venturing out of the light under any circumstances.

[bubblegumheart]

Are we allowed to try?

[She literally has no idea how to even attempt to do so, but it's the principle of the thing.]

[choirmaster]

Can it hold enough to create a new reality if we have to?