[Voice]

[thenightmarebegins]

A chance to return...

[A pause, along with the sound of water rushing behind him. Vincent has been coming to the Battle Dome ever since that announcement to go to the simulation of the place he wants to truly return to.]

I cannot help but still wonder what price will be paid for such a chance... and whether it's worth the potential risk.

[Not to himself, of course, but to the people and worlds involved.]

I suppose only time will tell for certain.

Comments

[thenightmarebegins]

Do you believe we have any chance at truly affecting the future when we're there?

[Especially since it's only about a day's time... Though, he of all people is well aware how everything can be changed in an instant.]

[iratus]

It would depend entirely on the resources at your disposal. There is little to be gained by those hailing from primitive worlds.

[thenightmarebegins]

It also depends on what exactly one hopes to accomplish.

[He has his goal of sitting himself in the cave and staying there... or he could actually go off and see whether everything is well now among the others. Again, torn between past and present.]

[iratus]

I would seek escape from this prison. What else would there be?

[thenightmarebegins]

Many in this place have considered escape. What makes you believe you'll succeed?

[True, this is the first they're going home, if that can be trusted... but he can't see how they'd surpass the Malnosso's capabilities to stop from being brought back here.]

[iratus]

Because I have the resources and [A pause as he thinks of the right word:] alliances necessary to traverse different galaxies and realities. The window of time is a narrow one, but it is not improbable some means could be managed to thwart their hold over me.

[thenightmarebegins]

[He's grown so cynical about people thinking they can make some difference in here, but... this is the first they'll have left. It almost seems plausible.]

Could this influence extend to the rest of the village, as well?

[iratus]

It would be a waste not to return to this place afterward, once sufficiently prepared. [Shifting sounds very useful. And he'd have a whole village of test subjects.]

[thenightmarebegins]

Prepared for what, exactly?

[iratus]

I believe it is best left unsaid, on an open network like this. However, I do not expect out captors would choose to send me back. So unfortunately this is all idle discussion.

[thenightmarebegins]

[Hm...] Very well.

The choice to return is apparently ours... but I wouldn't doubt they'd be capable of altering that if they wished.

[iratus]

From what I have learned so far, I see no reason to take them at their word.

[thenightmarebegins]

A wise decision. Nothing is ever entirely as it seems with them.

[iratus]

Indeed. I find it surprising that anyone has chosen to trust them so far.

[thenightmarebegins]

Captivity often takes its toll on even the strongest minds.

[Though he knows of some at least who are still remaining wary and distrustful, as they should.]

[iratus]

And how has it affected you?

[thenightmarebegins]

It hasn't... but I have my reasons for that.

[Change and Vincent don't tend to go too well together.]

[iratus]

I see.

[thenightmarebegins]

Remaining wary and keeping a distance have their benefits.