[audio]

[maskormods]

[The news spreads quickly: a former prison guard at the federal holding facility in Heropa (did he quit or was he fired?) secretly recorded portions of a visit between Melon Husk and Beff Jezos — which itself was somewhat irregular, but rumor is that money talks. The audio recording was sold to tabloid publication GMZ and quickly spread online.

It begins as follows, cutting into what is apparently a visit already in progress:

[Melon Husk sounds like a man caught halfway through an escalating panic. There's no video, but you can almost hear him dragging his hands through his hair.] Do you realise what you've done? Not just to me, Beff— the company. Yours and mine. We'll be destroyed! They'll be coming for me too— god, they probably think I was part of this—

Relax. [In contrast, Beff Jezos sounds remarkably calm for a sitting in a jail cell— one even his undoubtedly expensive lawyers haven't been able to get him out of.] It's not going to matter soon, anyway. All that power being thrown around worked, I know it did. We just have to wait for the results, and then...well, I'll be just fine.

What do you mean, worked? Did you see the state of the Center when you and your imPorts were done with it? They're going to hit the Foundation with everything they've got. I'm going to be right there with you the second they find anything they can pin on me and make stick. Do you know how much they'll love that? Melon Husk being dragged out of his— [There's a distinctive groan, a realization dawning on the miserable billionaire.] Jesus, Beff, what happens when they ask for them back and I can't— do you realise how many favours I had to call in for access to even the smallest sample? We were going to change the world with those nanites, remember? We were going to make everything better...

That's what I allowed you to believe, sure. [There's a quiet shuffling sound, as if Beff is getting more comfortable in his seat.] But the nanite technology was never about that. It was for...stability. And improving some of my creations. Not my problem if you had too many stars in your eyes to take a closer look at things.

[There's a startled pause.] What are you saying, Beff? That was all you? All of it?

I'm saying it was me. But it wasn't the Beff Jezos you know. Haven't been for a while now...almost a year, I think. Not since that little dimensional meltdown.

[A more awkward pause this time. Melon clearly doesn't want to accept what he's hearing.] This is where you tell me you're working on your insanity defense. That doesn't happen to people like us, Beff, you know it doesn't.

You live in a country where superpowered beings and giant fucking robots regularly pop in from other worlds and you think it's crazy? [Beff scoffs.] Look, I read all the news stories. I know that some corporation made a power grab on a massive scale and ripped holes in the world. I fell through one of them. There I was, running my company, minding my own business when suddenly things...shattered, and I was here. Living the life another version of me built. Which you'd think would make it easy for me to keep running with it, but you know the saying. There's no place like home.

You're not him. [Melon sounds pretty miserable in a much less panicked way, to begin with, though as the truth sinks in...] You replaced him. And all this was to get you home? You could have told me, Beff. I would have helped you. We could have done it some other way—

This way worked best for me. [If anything, Beff sounds bored now that the truth has come out.] It wasn't personal. Thanks for letting me use your prototype factory, though.

[Another pause. Notably, Melon doesn't tell Beff he's welcome.] What happens now? You said it worked. What worked?

You'll find out soon, I think. Everyone will. [There's a pause, but not long enough for Melon to respond.] Guard! We're done here.

[There's a brief sound of shuffling and movement before the recording cuts off.]