>Head down...and maybe have a chat about Balmer
You hop down the sloping hole to another large cavern. A strange object bobs ominously in a pool of decomposing juices, but doesn't approach. As you and your friends poke around - currently keeping a safe distance from the pool - you decide to share the brochure you found and probe them a little.
YOU:
So...uh, I found this...pamphlet thing. What's the deal with this Balmer guy, anyway?
So...uh, I found this...pamphlet thing. What's the deal with this Balmer guy, anyway?
CELIA:
Harumph. That's the deal.
Harumph. That's the deal.
MAGGIE:
Bit of a loudmouth about our inev'ble destructuation, but a decent sorta type over tea. Real shiny-like.
Bit of a loudmouth about our inev'ble destructuation, but a decent sorta type over tea. Real shiny-like.
STAPH:
Ah, the preserves. Not a bad place, if you're into existing longer.
Ah, the preserves. Not a bad place, if you're into existing longer.
YOU:
...Aren't you?....
...Aren't you?....
STAPH:
We exist to decompose. We either extinguish ourselves as we extinguish our zone, the preservators extinguish us first and repurpose it, or we agree to an existension in "retirement," decomposing a steady stream of fresh material.
We exist to decompose. We either extinguish ourselves as we extinguish our zone, the preservators extinguish us first and repurpose it, or we agree to an existension in "retirement," decomposing a steady stream of fresh material.
YOU:
...So... why don't you?
...So... why don't you?
STAPH:
Why should we? It may not be our preference to be terminated en mass by Balmer's soup, but it beats having to pick up and move just to drag out our biospan in a foreign environment.
Why should we? It may not be our preference to be terminated en mass by Balmer's soup, but it beats having to pick up and move just to drag out our biospan in a foreign environment.
YOU:
That's it? You just roll over and die?
That's it? You just roll over and die?
MAGGIE:
Everything's gotta 'ventually. May as well stay home to do it!
Everything's gotta 'ventually. May as well stay home to do it!
YOU:
But...what if there's some other way? Can't we stop him?
But...what if there's some other way? Can't we stop him?
STAPH:
We would certainly consider a fourth option, but he has as much a right to pursue his purpose as we do, and he simply happens to be better and faster at it. That's all.
Now, for all we know, this anomaly could threaten what little we have left, and he alone may have the means of neutralizing such a hazard.
More importantly, cooperation with him is your only ticket out of here.
We would certainly consider a fourth option, but he has as much a right to pursue his purpose as we do, and he simply happens to be better and faster at it. That's all.
Now, for all we know, this anomaly could threaten what little we have left, and he alone may have the means of neutralizing such a hazard.
More importantly, cooperation with him is your only ticket out of here.
CELIA:
You got that right.
You got that right.
YOU:
You're all just...so accustomed to death...
You're all just...so accustomed to death...
CELIA:
Incredible deductive skills as always, worm.
Incredible deductive skills as always, worm.
