Running out of time

Part 19 - Explanation

- What do you mean the entire universe? - Myung-Ok asked her curiously. - Like, a perfect copy of our previous world?

- Yes, but without this one machine trying to destroy all of us.

- But what are we supposed to do on a completely empty planet?

- Empty? Do you seriously think I would make the entire universe only for ourselves?

- You said it was too late for the rest of that world...

- I was lying. Before I brought you here, I took every single person out of that hell and immediately replaced them with clones. Those clones didn't have any feelings, they didn't have a soul, they were like... Zombies or machines, programmed to pretend they were real people, in order to make the machine think everything was normal.

- And what about us? We stepped through a portal, shouldn't it follow us in that case?

- I thought about it too. I sent you to a temporary dimension and from there, I instantly pulled you out of that dying universe to bring you here. I left unconscious copies of our entire group, to prevent it from finding out the truth.

We were all speechless, because everything we have just heard, sounded sophisticated and complicated, but despite that, Olivia was able to fully complete it.

- Did you bring animals too, or only humans?

- Of course I brought them here. To be frank, this room was made only to prevent you guys from finding out too early.

Having said those words, she raised her hand and made the walls disappear, allowing us to see our world once again. We found ourselves in the same park, where I met them for the first time, but because it was night time, there were no people around. After few seconds, we decided to sit on a bench and try to fully comprehend everything we experienced.

- So, this entire world is exactly like the original one?

- With all living beings, architecture and flora.

- And you managed to do all of that in just few weeks?!

- I probably could have done it faster, if I didn't have to calculate everything beforehand.

We tried to say something, but neither of us was able to find words adequate to this situation. Everything was back to normal, the entire world survived thanks to Olivia, who did all of that in secret. However, we still wanted to know, why she couldn't tell us anything, and why did she hide it away from us. After all, together we would gladly help her with everything as much as we could, and society wouldn't have to be afraid of dying. We asked her this question, and after a brief silence she finally gave us the answer.

- I couldn't tell you, because if I did, Scarlet King would find out and prevent me from re-creating this world.

- Then how can we be sure he won't destroy this one, after his machine got destroyed?

- Didn't you read that note? It wasn't his machine, but his friend's. And he won't come to us, as I have already made sure he won't be able to enter our world.

- So, it is already over? Everything will be back to normal?

- No, Cain. Nothing will be the same anymore. SCP-001 'The world has gone beautiful' activated itself in the previous world, and affected every living being in there. Normally, it wouldn't matter for a longer period of time, as everyone would be dead already, but because I brought everyone to a safe place, this effect will last forever.

- Forever? And on everyone?

- On everyone. And tell me Cain, do you remember what the report said about its effects on people?

- During an SCP-001 event, the global populace will become aware of the fate of the Earth, and of its inevitability. They will also experience heavily decreased levels of violence. - Cain quoted from his memory.

- Excellent. As you said, this effect works on global population. Do you remember, how you felt the first time we experienced it?

Cain stayed silent for a moment, before saying with a quiet voice:

- I felt remorse greater than ever, and I felt something happening within my soul.

- And Abel, what about you?

- I... I felt the exact same thing. I felt like something within me has changed, like my eyes finally saw what they were supposed to see in the first place.

- I agree with Abel. - Myung-Ok responded after Abel stopped talking. - I don't know why, I don't know how, but when this scenario happened in the first place, I felt bad for all the things I did as my revenge on humanity.

- Iris, did you feel the same thing?

- I did. I felt how a huge part of my anger suddenly disappeared. I was still mad at the Foundation for imprisoning me, but not as much as I used to.

- Good answered everyone. - Olivia said while slowly standing up. - But now, answer my two, final questions. Number one, do you think it also affected other SCPs like 106 or 682?

- It probably did. - Iris said immediately without hesitation. But why did you ask this question?

- Because I was curious to see your opinion, and I can already say, it worked on them too. What's more, it worked on every living being in this world, which means, that there will be less crimes across the entire planet, and this effect is most likely going to pass to another generations. And my second question. Do you know what that means?

We tried to find an answer to this question, but neither of us was able to think about anything, until Abel finally said with uncertainty in his voice:

- The entire world is going to be a better place from now on?

- Exactly. From now on, there will be no pointless wars between countries. There will be less violence and bullying. From now on, the entire humanity will start caring about this planet and people, who live in there.

Having said it, she opened a portal to the same room where we woke up after leaving that dying universe.

- It is getting late, so let's go to sleep, and start a new life when we wake up.