The Unity ain't so bad... not great either.
23 Sep 2023WyrdNexus
Straight through the Unity, and for a brief moment it was beautiful. I thought it would be humanity's path out of our violence, greed, and conflict, toward greater community, connection, and collaboration. I thought I would learn some deeper truth, or some greater meaning. I thought "The Unity" was more than just, "everything is one."What is the meaning of (life|Unity)? Might as well ask, "what is the meaning of, 'leaf?'." A leaf can hold many meanings, as in poetry and art, but has no meaning other than that you give it. The same is true of life. The same is true of the unity. It showed me the outcome of my choices, then sent me back to the first moment I touched an artifact.
So that it? Now I just do it all again? I should've sided with the Hunter instead of convincing him to join me. Maybe I'll do that this time. If all the good I've done just disappears, where's the meaning in that? Why not just see how far I can push these powers? Why not become a Pirate King?
Wait. Shit. There it is. That's what happens to all the Starborn, and why they care about nothing. Maybe there's the deeper truth in the Unity, as a path to true selflessness. If I only remember that the good I do in each universe is real, even if I never see it. Do what I can to make it a better place, every time, not for myself but for the billions in each universe I pass through. I'm gonna need some vacations for that shit. Maybe a decade on Paradiso with Sarah. Maybe play uncle for Sam and Cora and watch her grow up.
Sam and Cora. They went through too... probably. Everyone else will be fine on their own if they have a similar experience to mine. Get their own Starborn ship and armor, a pile of cash, and a short trip to the Lodge. I'll bet Barret is there right now, grinning ear-to-ear while he shares his discoveries from the future in an alternate universe. Andreja... "I'm not sure what the big deal is. I'm just me from another universe, let's move on. We have a job to do." Sarah will probably be as underwhelmed... I wonder what discovery she'll chase next?
It also leaves one giant question. If the Unity sent me back to the same moment when I first touched an artifact, when would it send everyone else? Sam and Cora. Once they knew they would be on their own, did they return instead of stepping through. Sam did. He had to in case Cora did, even knowing she probably went through. I can picture her showing up at the Lodge in Starborn armor and excitedly geeking out over all of it for hours, "I have my own super-cool ship too!!!" Sam will be back at the Lodge in the first universe, smiling at that same thought, knowing she's having the time of her life. Maybe he'll go through later. Yeah, they'll be fine.
Now, what to do first? I suppose I'll slowly collect the artifacts again, helping everyone along the way. This is gonna be a much longer road the second time around.