Fourth Consensus (Video)

[forwearemany]

Greetings. I am Legion, a terminal of the Geth.

During the event, I encountered several individuals I had not met previously. As the nature of the event may make it difficult to identify those with whom I interacted, I would appreciate they identify themselves.

In addition, I am curious about efforts to research and document the properties of this location.

Comments

video;

[ofletters]

We didn't meet, but, uh... mind if I ask what a Geth is?

[ It's more hesitantly polite than anything; no need to insult the local robots. ]

Video

[forwearemany]

The Geth are a machine race created by the Quarians.

(They are accustomed to this question. It does not offend them.)

Video

[ofletters]

... Got it. [ Note: figure out what Quarians are. ] You asked about souls once, right? So... machine race, but with souls? That's something I'd be interested in learning more about.

[forwearemany]

Affirmative. I am willing to answer any inquiries.

[ofletters]

You sure? [ Alright... ] Is there an, uh... 'Quarian' here?

[forwearemany]

Yes.

(To both questions.)

[ofletters]

Mind if I ask what their name is?

[ He'd feel mildly less awkward talking about the Geth with their creator(s). ]

[forwearemany]

Tali'Zorah vas Normandy.

[ofletters]

Tali--... Huh. [ He'd actually spoken to her recently about Wonderland events, as it happens. ]

Uh, anyway... you've answered my questions, so I figure you get some of your own. Maybe I can help with your research about this place.

[forwearemany]

I appreciate your offer to exchange data.

You spoke of souls previously. This concept is important in my universe, but the existence of souls is unproven. It is different in your universe?

[ofletters]

... More or less. I wouldn't say there's a lot of... a scientific basis for it, but I've seen them with my own eyes. There's a corporeal piece to them. Most people will never see a literal soul, though.

[ Sam's just that "lucky." ]

[forwearemany]

(They chatter, expression shifting to something that might be startled curiosity.)

Through what method were you able to view this?

[ofletters]

Just... with my eyes, I guess. They looked like floating balls of light.

[ Well, he's thinking specifically of when they saved Bobby's soul from Hell and released it to Heaven, but other examples might vary. ]

[forwearemany]

...Acknowledged.

When the Geth asked our creators whether we had souls, they attacked us.

[ofletters]

What?

[ That... seems strange. Sam frowns, brows flitting together in confusion. ]

Why would they do that?

[forwearemany]

Though we were not originally intended to be sapient we had evolved, as all life does.

They feared us.

[ofletters]

Got it. [ Like the robots and AI tech of his own time. ] Did they ever learn to live with it? To, uh... respect you as your own life form?

[forwearemany]

(They chatter for a moment.)

...We were at war. It has ended.

[ofletters]

So, they did. [ He assumes. ] Is life better for the... Geth? Now?

[forwearemany]

I ...do not know.

I died.

[ofletters]

[ ..... ]

I'm sorry.

[forwearemany]

Your apology is unnecessary.

[ofletters]

It's a sentiment. Maybe unnecessary, but still sorry.

[interspatial]

Hey, Legion. [ jane waves, because she's apparently a giant dork. ] What sort of properties are you interested in researching? I might be able to help.

[forwearemany]

Greetings.

I am seeking information that may potentially assist in my quest to return to my universe alive.

I wish to know of similar efforts.

catching up on tags post-hiatus -- if you'd prefer to handwave or scrap, i understand <3

[interspatial]

I'm...gonna assume you'd prefer equations to first-person accounts of the magical workings of Wonderland?

[ oh god jane no don't wink-- yep she's winking. ]

[forwearemany]

Both are desirable.

(Their headflaps twitch a bit.)

[interspatial]

Well, if you'd like to use the lab here in the basement, you're welcome to it. We've got a lot of projects in the works -- archiving library documents, ongoing research into various physical aspects of the dimension, and cataloging existing research so that we can start running it through algorithms to flush out what patterns might exist.

[ jane can only imagine what legion could do with the information they've all been collecting... ]

I will warn you, though: sometimes Wonderland itself produces unreliable results. It likes to make things look normal but very often upon closer inspection and repeat experimentation, results come up complete nonsense.

video;

[uncaging]

We met. I'm glad you didn't disappear after the event. I mean, I'm not glad you're stuck here, same as any of us, it's just that it's good to see you again.

[forwearemany]

Greetings.

We judge the possibility of our disappearance unlikely. As we are not alive in our home universe, we would prefer to remain.

[uncaging]

I'm sorry to hear that. Does that mean the mansion brought you back to life when you first arrived? I haven't heard of that happening before.

[forwearemany]

Yes.

I have heard reports of it occurring with others, though I have not personally them.

[uncaging]

Is it ... odd? Suddenly finding yourself alive again, I mean?

[forwearemany]

It is ...unexpected.

[uncaging]

I can imagine. That's quite the reason for wanting to stay, though. I hope you can.

[forwearemany]

If possible, I would return to my universe alive.

[uncaging]

If the rules here are the same as where I come from, that just might be possible. Not the same universe, mind, but an almost identical one with the only major variable being that you're now alive.

[forwearemany]

(Their headflaps flutter.)

Elaborate.

[uncaging]

There are countless universes out there. Most of them are almost identical to each other - different coloured drapes, tea instead of coffee - but some really are vastly different to each other, including life and death itself. If there were some reliable way of getting you back to another version of your world, you wouldn't have to worry.

[forwearemany]

(They chatter for several moments, headflaps rippling.

They are building consensus.)

Our friends would not be the same?

(Admittedly, from their perspective, their friends would be identical, but if they're being moved to an identical universe with identical people would the friends in Wonderland just go home to the original universe and forget? This ...is disquieting.)

It is not possible to return to our original timeline?

[uncaging]

They may be identical, or they may be completely different. There's no way of knowing other than peeking into that version of the world.

[She attempts a reassuring smile, feeling she's getting a little carried away.]

It's all just speculation. I don't think Wonderland works by the same rules as the world I come from, or any rules other than its own.

[forwearemany]

You misunderstand. Our allies are here. We wish to know if they would be returned to their original universe while we went to another.

Acknowledged. How is this interuniversal travel accomplished?

[uncaging]

I really couldn't say. It's possible that you could go to one universe and they to another, or that all of you could be sent to the same one. Even if you were sent to different worlds, you might not even know they're not the same versions you knew anyway.

You'd have to break through the fabric between worlds. I'm sure that's something that Wonderland can do, to bring us all here in the first place, but it's interfering with me doing so too.

[forwearemany]

...Acknowledged.

You are capable of this?

[uncaging]

Yes. In my own world, it's easy for me to do. But here I can only make tiny tears, enough just to peek through to other versions of Wonderland.

[forwearemany]

Acknowledged.

I find myself... curious about this ability.

[uncaging]

I'd be glad to demonstrate it to you sometime.

[forwearemany]

Acknowledged. We would "like" this.