So, what do we think‽¿? Is Tucker's mind slowly being destroyed due to it's exposure to the Mæron, like large radiation exposure does? This could be why Tyr didn't want to say much as he knows very well what the final diagnosis will be, a slow painful death as he at the same time goes more and more insane. Or is it because his mind is now in a universe/reality it doesn't belong and it's unable to cope, breaking down as a result & this is the explanationfor the static and occasional "episodes." Either way, I get the feeling Tyr knows exactly what's happening and that's why he's having Marrow preform all the tests regardless of the fact that they all come out what they know as normal. He just doesn't want to admit his mistake basically doomed another sentient being from another universe & reality to death, forever away from its species. Which, yeah, would suck to tell someone especially when you know you're not able to stop or reverse it. Would be nice to him find a way to stop and restore Tucker's mental faculties to at least save his life if he can't get him back home. Because his home no longer exists as when you cross a black hole event horizon in theory, the universe you left instantly ends. Like as if you hit a magic fast forward button which causes the time in that universe to instantly skip to its end, meaning the universe no longer exists. So going back to somewhere that's no longer there isn't exactly possible.
Theorycrafting below:
My assumption is that the Maeron is the Star that was once the Eye. When it was condensed into the Maeron, it formed a blackhole which pulled in the nearby stars and created a new nebula, pulsar.
And while I believe Tyr is worried about exposure to the Maeron causing schizophrenia, what if that is because a carain mind was not meant for it? What if the Maeron was made by humans that eventually evolved into or dogs we sent into space eventually evolved into? The Maeron might be trying to speak to the only one capable of understanding it and is trying to draw him to it. I mean, what is a mind but electric signals. And we know the Maeron gives off electrical magnetic (given it fries electronics) AND has a neural attached to it, so it was the impulses and a "brain".
Being in the future would explain the weird static with Tucker's phone as a by product of moving forward. And what about the difference in planet numbers? I mean we can exclude Pluto, so 8 planets. If something happened to Neptune or it was no longer considered a planet, boom 7 planets in the solar system. Living on the second planet would be a terraformed Venus which might be why it was a longer day cycle. The third planet being a desert planet would mean humans accelerated desertification, most likely due to climate change.
And I agree there is no way back, because it's a lot easier to pull something forward in time than backwards (moving faster than light, time outside the bubble accelerates while those in the bubble age slower). Ultimately I agree with you on how Tucker got to where he is. I just believe it's the future and not a separate universe or part of our universe.
If it was The Eye, then what's the current eye? Wouldn't a star create heat and energy, more than gravity? I think it's a black hole or a wormhole of some sort. According to most, if not all black hole theory, going backwards isn't possible, going forward could be but there are issues there too, but they're less insurmountable. I think it's been shown that they're not in our solar system. The star is different, more to the white side I think, the surrounding systems, stars, etc are totally different, not to mention the void they're in. I'm of the idea he was transported to a different universe via an accident or an unknown ability of The Mæron, as no one seems to know where it came from or who created it. For all Tyr knows it could be a weapon and possibly the reason they're in the void as it created it.
To clarify what I mean about it being the Eye. I think the Maeron was the Star that was where the Eye is. The condensing caused a blackhole and then that blackhole became the pulsar we know as the Eye (the Marrow route has Marrow mention it is a pulsar, which is a type of nebula, ie a baby star) (the Rhoun route has a dream where the Eye is alluded to be stitched together from pieces of its brethren)
And doesn't it create heat and energy? That's what is powering the Ikarod2. Marrow said they don't know if the gravity or the energy are the main purpose or side effect of the Maeron, but it does produce energy, gravity, and electromagnetic waves (Marrow said he can't approach it) like a star does. And the line between a condensed star (to fit on a ship) and a blackhole is very thin from my understanding of physics.
Thanks for the banter! I enjoy theorycrafting!
It could be a different universe, but if enough time has passed the star map would change a lot too. Like when I said I think it's the future, I'm thinking tens of thousands of years in the future.
If it's not the future, I still think my Eye and Maeron being connected theory is sound.
I might be a little high as I write this at midnight, but I think the mæron might be some kind of teleporter prototype, but I don't think it's specifically causing Tucker's hallucinations. The final scenes from the latest update made me wonder, "What if Tucker's hallucinations aren't just a coincidence? What if his hallucinations are triggered by some kind of device?". The timing was terribly perfect to be just a coincidence, At one point, Tucker is listening to a completely unsuspecting conversation between Rhys and someone we don't know, clearly talking about capturing him and as soon as he gets to his room he get a little visit. I don't trust Tyr or Rhys.