"We can hit the mall later. I mean, if you've been through the big arrival spiel, you know they're giving you a place to live and a way to buy basic needs," Bart said. "At least for a little while. Even a technopath I know couldn't trace the funds, though."

Which is partly why he doesn't trust the Alliance despite signing on. "As for the answers to your question, no, it's not necessarily permanent, but there's no way to actually get a ticket home that anyone has found. Not sure if natives vanish, though it wouldn't surprise me that if that's the case, they're keeping it quiet. Folks have enough things to get riled up about.

"And that is definitely a big question. Good luck getting a straight answer about anything having to do with the Confluences and the promises they've made to get everyone home. I am doing my best to play a low-tier guy with useful skills, but too flighty for anything serious. Like one of my Scouts. Actually, sometimes I sent one to the Alliance stuff just so I can put off being bored until I absorb the memories.

"And there's some elements of the unaligned that have organized, just not to the same level or with government involvement. This place is one of the perks of Guild membership. Although it's not meant to be just me here."