I am afraid, but not for myself.
In wording my question, I have come to terms with some of it, but in general I still feel it is better to explain and ask than to not.
My personal reference for understanding is Magic the Gathering, not Touhou, but translationally the same ideas apply - especially regarding Kamigawa, but that's for another time.[lol]
Within that framework, I am now afraid that the Tic-Tac may well be representative of Skinwalker drone ships, or in this frame, Phyrexians. Ascension/Ignition is a choice, and sadly there are those who would prey on any unable to choose.
Given the choice at ignition of leaving to explore or staying to help protect and guide those that chose on whatever level to stay…I expected to want to fuck off. Instead I found within the implications a deep fear and yearning to stay and help the 'cleanup', so to speak. So I started reviewing my references, which compounded on themselves a bit more for good measure, and felt a cry for help I was compelled to echo.
I will stay and help in any way I can, although I admittedly will try to make it as silly as possible. Rustle their digital jimmies a bit. What about y'all?