If it was an alternate universe, why would they care so much about if they remembered? Why would all of them be remembering that at all? They're prisoners here, they know that now, and if these were things they didn't want them to know or remember...it being because they want to keep them under control seems like the only thing that makes sense.

But why them? Why is any of this necessary? What do they want from them?

"I want to do that again," he murmurs into Greg's side. It's more than just wistful musing - he wants to find out a way. He just doesn't know how they can when they are being watched like this.