Itvasme meets Darken's eyes.
"The advantages, according to what you're aiming for, are obvious. But… Shaping Thought… and Creating a New Reality, which rewards Positive-Sum-Game thinking…
"Is this possible?! And… even if we believe something… Even if we want to believe it is True… doesn't actually make it so…"
"Is this Belief actually supported… by Reality?"
Darken smiled.
"If you're asking whether Reality itself is inherently a Zero-Sum Game or not… I think the answer is… It depends."
"A competition - for example, a football match - naturally rewards competitive behaviours within the rules."
"But there is no reason why People can't work together to achieve something great - as a matter of fact, to date, most amazing things happened not from one person with a Thought going solo, but from a group of people, a whole, largely united in Thought, and working together towards a worthy goal!"
"That's true…"
"Look." Itvasme felt herself wanting to believe this masked guy - part of her, she acknowledged, wanted to agree, but at the same time, she was still a Grand Dark Rizzard. She needed more information. Details. Practical stuff, not just fluff.
"It sounds great - of course, a World that's safer, with more potential and benefits, better for everyone. Let's even say, *hypothetically…*, that I agree. But how are you gonna do this? I need something more… solid. 🫢"
At this, Darken gently brushes her hair, and Itvasme subconsciously feels a tingle of *something* - excitement, hope?! An electricity, in the air…
Because it seems that Darken has indeed prepared… He not only had the vision, but he also dared…
And all, simply because… he cared.
___
*Care.* This was the primary feeling that Darken exuded, and that Itvasme perceived from her [Sense], even as she felt… included…!
It wasn't driven by ambition, desire for power, or lust. He simply, it seemed, just… genuinely had empathized and thought deeply about the matters concerning People and the Planet.
"All right. I'll lay it out on the table. Some facts, not just a kind of dream or fable…"
"In order for the majority of People - at least, as we currently are - to Unite… there must be something for which we fight."
At this, Darken inputs some commands, and suddenly, a surreal holographic of the World - Planet Earth slowly rotating - appears in the centre of the room.
"Earth is, but one planet in the Universe. With an increasing population, and dwindling natural resources, of course, if we only look at this scale, People would naturally want to look out for their own interests due to this perspective."
"But."
And at this, Darken adroitly adjusts the scale, zooming out so that Earth becomes a smaller and smaller speck against the whole backdrop of a vastly larger Universe.
"Although a football competition is a Zero-Sum-Game in the big picture, the players on each Team are actually in a Positive-Sum Reality. They support each other, and work together towards a common goal."
"…!!!" Itvasme was beginning to see where Darken was heading.
"That's right. It's a matter of perspective. Even *if* Reality might be Zero-Sum-Game when viewed in a particular way, in terms of practical real-world results, there is no reason why we cannot create a Reality, of United Thought, where Mankind is working together towards a worthy goal - we just need the right Framework…
"Which is…?" Itvasme's heart beat a little faster, even as Darken continued to share his master…plan.
"-Aliens. 🫢"
Darken said, as if that were the most natural thing in the world.