“I suppose so,” Gen laughed a little weakly. “There’s a tipping point I think between reducing the strain on resources and, well, not having the people around to, err. Keep the internet going.”

He rubbed the back of his head. “So, err, I realize how ridiculous this sounds to most people not just because I’ve gotten that reaction before. But because it also sounds ridiculous to me? But, uh. Long story short.”

“Everyone on my planet had turned to stone, in the reality I was taken from,” Gen told him. “Then, almost four thousand years ago, my friend finally broke out and started the slow process of unpetrifying other people.”