NOTES: Being that there was confusion about what happened during the ending, I decided to add a little addendum, in order to clear up what exactly happened without revealing all of my future plans (and trust me, there are a lot!). However, it's far more important for you to enjoy the story, which dubiety can often addle.

I would like to point out that I consider Chapter 7 to be the end of the story, with the Epilogue and Re being far-flung previews of things to come eventually that tie into this story in their own way. Since that might have caused a lot of bewilderment, though, I apologize. My goal was to intrigue, not befuddle, and I hope to achieve just that with this optional denouement!

"So, what do you think?"

The man sitting next to me accepts the offering from the short girl. Taking the silver-rimmed glasses into his hands, he dons them over unnatural pupils, and I notice their frame matches the peculiar color of his slicked-back hair.

How do I perceive this? I cannot say. I have no eyes to see him with.

How can I answer him that there are so many things I still cannot understand? Some concepts triggered some sort of recognition. Londo Bell. Kamen Rider. Zeon. X-Wing. Valkyrie. Yet, I do not know what these things are. It feels like I did, once upon a time...

I want to ask 'what just happened' but I don't have a mouth to speak with, either.

It's as if my unsaid question reached him. "Existence is a fickle thing," he says. "Human history could have taken oh so many different paths due to the smallest of factors. Are you familiar with the theory concerning the butterfly effect?"

I would've nodded, but I don't have a head.

I'm aware of the generalities of the concept. The most insignificant of actions or events could be the root of the most drastic of changes, or so the story goes.

"Tell me, Observer," he starts. Is he referring to me? "What is the final frontier?"

I don't understand the question.

"Our people are pioneers. To the land, to the sea, to the stars, and...to causality itself."

I'm just growing more confused. As if sensing my bafflement, he takes on the demeanor of a patient, kind teacher.

"You've only gleaned snippets of a possibility. I'm aware it's very different from the 'possibility' you come from. After all, the world you know doesn't have legendary soldiers attempting to build their own utopia, or bipedal, nuclear-equipped battle tanks."

That's true. From where I come from, such things would be considered impractical at best, insane at worst.

"You'd assume that the world you know is the only one that can be," he continues. "However, that isn't so. With an infinite number of possibilities, there has to be an infinite number of outcomes."

That makes sense. It reminds me of a thought experiment. You have typewriter that doesn't run out of ink or paper, and a monkey's hammering on the keys. If the monkey had an infinite amount of time and had no physiological necessities, it'd eventually type out any given work of literature by sheer chance; for instance, Shakespeare's Hamlet.

Of course, problems arise with the 'infinite' supposition, but it's an interesting concept nonetheless. The probability of such a thing happening might be infinitesimal, but it's not zero.

Yet, if there were to be an infinite number of retries...

"Precisely," he grins approvingly. "Whatever unlikely, fantastic scenario you're thinking of right now, it most certainly exists somewhere in another history."

It's a bit hard to wrap my metaphorical head around this.

"Naturally. Where I want to go with this is simple, though. We spoke of an endless number of situations that may lead to limitless epochs. There was sea travel, then the automobile. The airplane, and then we reached outer space. Then, next..."

...People learned how to travel between these 'possibilities' you speak of.

"Very good."

I still cannot grasp what it has to do with Venom Snake and his Diamond Dogs, or what happened with Eli, Meijin or whatever he wants to call himself.

"We could not change their past, but we could show them an image of another, similar world. Perhaps a good analogy would be between a computer and a virtual machine. They share the same characteristics, and fulfill the same functions, but the latter cannot exist without the former as its base."

So...I reject your reality, and substitute my own?

"Not so. An 'instance' could be created, but it simply wasn't the reality its inhabitants belonged to. A paradise of our own making, if you'd like to call it that."

For what purpose?

His expression is both gentle and gloom. "A little push. We wanted that man, that victim, to muster the strength he needed to rebel against what's to come. We wanted him to plant the seeds for those that will come after, who will in turn do the same. Personally, I also desired to give that man a chance to live the life he never could, even if just for a moment. Paz here feels the same way."

I'd forgotten about the woman. Paz Ortega Andrade is recognizable enough, standing besides the man but not having uttered a single thing. I suppose it wouldn't be a bad idea to ask what her role in all of this was.

"An overseer," Paz says. "It was possible for me because master shared a bit of his power with me."

Are you referring to this man? ...Come to think of it, I haven't asked for a name.

"People call me 'The Sorrow'. You and I, we're quite similar. Let's not dwell on those details now, though."

I have enough questions as is without your cryptic statements, Mr. The Sorrow.

"I suppose you do," he chuckles lightly, hands behind his back. "I will allow you a few more questions before sending you on your way."

Sending me on m-no, wait. I don't want that to count as a question. Tell me, what happened to Venom Snake?

"He set out on a journey with the second coming of the Diamond Dogs. In the process, he forged a new legend, one that may exceed that of Big Boss himself."

Sounds like a tall order.

"Life can be full of surprises, as well as unlikely developments."

Then what happened with Eli?

"He died in Shadow Moses, and came back to life fifteen years later."

How is that possible?

He shakes his head. "I don't know, either. There are histories in which people can, indeed, be resurrected, but not in ours. I'm hoping you'll find out. But it's what it is."

So the events I've witnessed...

"As has been stated, for people who are no longer chained to the mortal coil, time has little meaning. Or rather, you could say we're simply no longer prisoners of it. Our little 'Heaven' did not operate on a linear perception of time."

So I don't have the full picture yet. There's still a lot of holes to fill.

"You've only seen fragments, yes. I was hoping you'd piece it all together."

Why?

"...Time's up. Maybe next time, I'll answer that."

Oh, come on! At least tell me where we are?

"A place between dream and reality, mind and matter."

Is that your idea of a joke?

"Something like that, yes. Now ask yourself why you drew that conclusion."

I've heard those words before. Where?

"That's something you'll have to discover by yourself," he raises a glass filled with a sloshing caramel liquid.

Hold on, you just completely deflected my question!

"Farewell, my fellow Disaster. May the answers you find change everything."

Wait, Disaster? W-

"If the world is a stage, my friend, you are the audience! Now go! Bear witness to it all!"