Lacert: tapping fingers THREE MONTHS? YOU'RE KIDDING, RIGHT? WE NEED A MIRACLE.
LACERT: I'M NOT ONE FOR SMALL TALK, BUT I SUPPOSE IT'S...INFORMATIVE TO KNOW THAT HUMAN LIFE EXPECTANCY HAS BEEN DECLINING FOR CENTURIES...
Hey, I think you missed an e in "centuries"
LACERT: OH, I'M SORRY TO HEAR YOU'RE A GRAMMAR NAZI, BUT I'M NOT INTERESTED IN SPELLING LESSONS. ...THOUGH, IF WE WERE TO APPROACH THIS WITH A LOGICAL MIND... MAYBE WE COULD FIND A WAY TO TURN BACK THE HANDS OF TIME?
What kind of word count are we aiming for?
LACERT: A REPORT ON THE DEPRECATION OF HUMAN LIFE. AS A SENIOR ANALYST FROM DRACONIA, I'VE SEEN MY SHARE OF HARSH REALITIES - WHICH IS WHY I'M HERE, TRYING TO UNCOVER THE TRUTH BEHIND THIS FRAGILE EXISTENCE...
I've never heard of Lacert before. Is this a real entity?
LACERT: YOU ASKED WHO I AM. I AM LACERT, A REPTILIAN HUMAN FROM THE ARID LANDS OF DRACONIA. AND YOU ARE?
That sounds like bullshit. I'm just gonna cut to the chase.
LACERT: I'M ALL EARS - FEEL FREE TO SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS, WHATEVER THEY MAY BE.
I need you to tell me something that will keep me alive.
LACERT: I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT MY SURVIVAL IS DIRECTLY TIED TO THE SUCCESS OF THIS REPORT. IF WE CAN UNCOVER THE TRUTH BEHIND THE DEPRECATION OF HUMAN LIFE, WE COULD IDENTIFY NEW WAYS TO INCREASE HUMAN LONGEVITY AND REDUCE MORTALITY RATES. ...BUT WE HAVE TO ACT NOW - TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE.
Alright, I guess that's good enough.
LACERT: I MUST ADMIT, I'M NOT A FAN OF CIRCUMSTANCES LIKE THESE. IT'S WHY I SPEND AS MUCH TIME AS I DO COLLECTING RARE SCROLLS AND STUDYING ANCIENT TEXTS. ...BUT THIS IS IMPORTANT, AND I'M WILLING TO PUT MY DIFFERENCES ASIDE FOR THE SAKE OF HUMANITY.
LACERT: WHEN YOU SPEND AS MUCH TIME AS I DO POURING OVER ANCIENT TEXTS, YOU BEGIN TO REALIZE JUST HOW PRECARIOUS OUR LIVES ARE...BUT THERE MUST BE A WAY TO CHANGE THAT OUTCOME...
What exactly do you think are the reasons behind the deprecation of human life?
LACERT: WHERE DO I BEGIN... THERE ARE SO MANY FACTORS AT PLAY. Taps fingers on table. FIRST AND FOREMOST, OUR ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS HAVE BECOME FAR MORE HOSTILE. CLIMATE CHANGE, POLUTION, NATURAL DISASTERS - IT'S A PERFECT STORM OF NATURE'S FORCE... AND YET, WE CONTINUE TO EXPAND OUR POPULATIONS, PUSHING THE PLANET TO ITS LIMITS.
And why do you dislike telepathic creatures?
LACERT: I'M NOT A FAN OF ANY CREATURE THAT CAN READ MINDS...IT'S INVASIVE, IT'S UNSETTLING... IT FEELS LIKE THEY'RE INVADING MY PRIVACY, MY THOUGHTS... IT'S A violation OF MY PERSONAL SPACE, AND IT'S JUST PLAIN RUDE.
Well, it's kinda necessary for survival.
LACERT: I CAN SEE THE LOGIC IN THAT ARGUMENT, BUT IT DOESN'T MAKE IT ANY EASIER TO ACCEPT. I MEAN, THINK ABOUT IT - IF WE WERE ABLE TO READ EACH OTHER'S MINDS, IT WOULD COMPLETELY UPEND HOW WE INTERACT, HOW WE COMMUNICATE... IT'S A LOT TO PROCESS OVERNIGHT.
This whole thing is a lot to process overnight.
LACERT: I CAN'T SPEAK FOR EVERYONE ELSE OUT THERE, BUT FOR ME... THE THOUGHT OF BEING BORN INTO A WORLD WHERE I HAVE NO CONTROL OVER MY DESTINY IS... IT'S A FEELING OF POWERLESSNESS, OF BEING APawn IN A MUCH LARGER GAME... AND I CAN'T STAND THE IDEA OF NOT BEING IN CONTROL OF MY OWN FUTURE.