Enact a rule entitled “The Universes”—

There exist two parallel Universes, respectively code-named “Alpha” and “Prime”. These Universes have a common past, having branched off the same single Universe, and started off as separate from each other but identical. The forces of chaos cause them to diverge, but very slowly at first, when they are still considered to be functionally identical.

In this rule, enact a subrule entitled “Portal”—

The two Universes are currently separate and considered to be functionally identical.

When Scientists in the two Universes find a way to establish contact between them, a Portal is created, joining the two Universes together and allowing passage from one Universe to the other.

In the same rule, create a subrule entitled “Divergence”—

When a Portal is created between the two Universes, their divergence begins to accelerate, and the following take effect:

* Two versions exist of the second Section of the Ruleset, which are initially identical except for their titles; the first is entitled “Dynastic Rules [Alpha]” (and may be referred to as the “Alpha Ruleset”) and the second is entitled “Dynastic Rules [Prime]” (and may be referred to as the “Prime Ruleset”). The Alpha Ruleset applies only to the Alpha Universe and to those Scientists who are located in it, and the Prime Ruleset applies only to the Prime Universe and to those Scientists who are located in it.
* Each Scientist now controls two versions of themselves: one in the Alpha Universe and one in the Prime Universe. They may refer to each by using “Alpha” or “Prime” after their name; the undifferentiated name refers to the Scientist controlling them. This duplication has effect only for Dynastic Rules and for the Special Case rule “The Traitor”.
* Each Dynastic Proposal must include the tag “[Alpha]” or the tag “[Prime]” in its title and may amend only the Alpha Ruleset or only the Prime Ruleset respectively. A Dynastic Proposal is illegal if it is made without any of the aforementioned tags, or with both tags.
* The only Scientists allowed to submit or vote on a Dynastic Proposal for the Ruleset of a Universe are those who control a version of themselves located in that Universe. If a Proposal to amend a Dynastic Ruleset is Pending and no version of the submitting Scientist is present in that Ruleset’s corresponding Universe, any Scientist with a right to vote on that Proposal may note this fact in a comment under that Proposal, and this will be considered equivalent to a vote to Self-kill that Proposal.