On that note, funniest possible outcome during the Palisade finale is if Arbit comes under threat. Say it goes, then all one needs is to repair Past and you get Clem somehow failing upward Yet Again and yet again into horrifying levels of control.
Thinking abt it more, while sure it's a terrifying outcome and one all tye more possible with Art playing Clem and it being a tangible goal, I don't know if it's The Most Terrifying outcome.
Which is...what if Arbit is disabled/destroyed, and what if Crystal Palace works again, but under the control of the Mirage. Or even just comes under their control while broken, while Arbit runs. What happens to the Utopia not just with then having to navigate what Palisade being in the Mirage means, but having the engine that kept history in a cycle, and all the power than entails. What would they do, would they do anything? Would it sit, until falling into hands of someone who would? Someone either within or without.