The guardian let out a long, slow sigh.
"The message you received, the 'amends,' is only one of your options. In truth, you have three. But... they are all, in their own way, impossible."
She met his gaze, her kind eyes now filled with something akin to pity.
"The easiest one, the one I can offer you personally, is for you to save yourself. I am bound by Concordat law, but my nature as a former human gives me... flexibility. I can sever your tie to this planet, to this Quarantine. I can elevate you, Adrian, to the heartland of the galaxy. You would be safe. You would be free."
She paused, letting the offer hang in the air. "Unfortunately, I cannot do the same for the others. My power is not limitless, and such an act takes all I have. They... they would have to share the grim fate of this world."
