The only difference is I came from the 1990s. I lived during a time when public health was enforced. We treated the infection, but we didn’t address the psychology or the trauma caused by the illness or the quarantines. After all this time, I think I’ve realized this part far too late.

I didn’t even know what a medical trauma was until the COVID lockdowns were announced and when that happened it felt like my entire world collapsing all over again. At 33, I suddenly relived experiences I thought were long gone, it doesn’t just disappear.

Memories I thought I buried.

I know what you meant, but meningitis is not a fun childhood illness. Without proper mental health support, I can’t imagine how much harder those kids’ lives will be as they get older.

I have a better idea we can finally put that AMs hatred monologue from that Harlan Ellison novel to good use just swap out 'humans' for 'Trump.'

It wasn't much of a beach episode, but the scene where Jax hallucinates was really messed up.

So it raises a harder question. Would Caine have preferred it if everything had stayed inside the simulation, where they could exist longer together, even if it was artificial?

That’s the problem with simulations and servers. We don’t know how long they last before they’re shut down, forgotten, or replaced. Nothing is truly permanent.

far away from the corrupt corporation that created and owned him, but time would keep moving. Humans age. Humans die. Everyone Caine knew in the Digital Circus would eventually be gone.

then escape would make everything worse for the people in charge. A conscious survivor is a liability. Getting out wouldn’t mean freedom. It would mean tighter containment, more coercion, and fewer chances the next time.

This isn’t a legal experiment where participants signed NDAs and could be dismissed quietly. If the operation required abducting people and performing unethical experiments,

If anything, they would try even harder a second time to force them back into the digital space. Why would they just let anyone go?

I mean what kind evil corporation goes to the trouble of snatching bodies to perform these illegal procedures and makes an exit? Real evil people wouldn’t get all sentimental about giving their captives a chance to just walk away.

Why is an escape route advertised at all?

An exit only makes sense if cruelty was the point. Not control. Not research. Just the people in charge satisfying themselves by watching hope build and then collapse.

there is no reason to waste effort teasing freedom when the goal is long term containment. People who run systems like that tend to be cold, not theatrical.

If it were me, I would have removed the exit entirely instead of letting them believe escape was possible. If you are a captive subjected to unethical experimentation,

Part of me believes maybe Jax isn't a good person...