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[wherenobotsgone]

[Skyfire has in fact been paying attention to the network, even though he's been mostly quiet about it. There is a lot going on that he doesn't feel ready to talk about. He's kept himself informed about the Law Committee, but doesn't quite consider himself qualified to give a useful opinion just yet. The deaths and disappearances... he would feel like he was intruding on those who knew the missing mechs better than him.

But there is something he simply must ask about.]

So, these... I hesitate to call them "ghosts", but it seems to be the most practical term for them.

Are there any theories on what they are? From the reactions on the network, I can tell they are unusual - and I hadn't seen any of them until a little while ago, myself. I have to admit I'm curious.

I'm afraid I don't have enough information to come up with any theories of my own so far. I've only managed to catch a few quick glimpses. But perhaps someone else has had more luck?

Comments

[wherenobotsgone]

I have only caught a few glimpses here and there. They seemed not to notice me - or anyone else, for that matter - and their voices were distant, but they weren't doing anything out of the ordinary. At first.

Then I saw one of them go through a closed door.

[And, yes, he notices just how ridiculous that sounds. He can't hold back a grimace, and the other part of the conversation doesn't help.]

As much as I hate to say it... it probably isn't worth the risk. At least for now. Perhaps in time we might be in better circumstances, but... hmm. It doesn't seem wise at the moment.

[angleofscience]

Well, it would be somewhat difficult to argue that something is off, obviously... [But he would prefer non-supernatural explanations. But if he has to he will consider and accept them.]

I suppose they could be something like impressions from other realities the Lambda has drawn through... But that is honestly a rather needlessly complicated explanation.

[And complicated usually isn't correct. After a moment, he allows a static sigh through.]

And it probably isn't, no. [Which he does know, but...] But it is somewhat frustrating to now be capable of doing something and it technically not being safe enough.

[There's a certain level of grim acceptance in his words, though. If it's necessary, he'll still go.]

[wherenobotsgone]

To be quite honest, I can't find any explanation that isn't needlessly complicated. At least not with what we know so far.

[And he doesn't like it. He's not particularly fond of any of the options he can think of.]

... I can imagine. It must be even worse than not being able to.

[angleofscience]

Well... [With another sigh, Jetfire folds his arms over his chestplates.] I have had to concede that sometimes the answer might be "supernatural" and it's the simplest there is.

As of yet, however, there's no reason to assume ghosts, no matter what it seems like... And strictly, if it's simply an impression of a former living entity's energy left behind, I wouldn't necessarily call that supernatural.

[Since it'd have a very natural explanation, then, some form of existence after death or not.]

... More or less though, I have gone up... twice now.

[wherenobotsgone]

[He nods.]

I agree. Chances are that there is a perfectly reasonable explanation for this, even if it is along the lines of energy residue from former entities. It's not simple, perhaps, but... it's at least believable.

[Because that is completely different from ghosts, of course.]

Mmm... It must have been dangerous.

[angleofscience]

[Completely and entirely different, most assuredly!]

Especially since we have more than cybertronians that have been in evidence, if we should believe the few other incidents as well. And either way, sparks cannot survive outside of a frame for that long.

[Sooner or later he's going to have to eat those words, given Starscream is present. With a slight nod, Jetfire allows a brief moment of guilt. He still thought it was necessary, but he had endangered himself, if nothing else, and the second time, Starscream.]

Undoubtedly, though so far there's been no proof of adverse effects... besides the teleporting accident that happened when the modifications didn't work correctly.

[A shrug.]

Not to say it still isn't, and wasn't dangerous, because with that much energy and a connection through different realities, the strain on the space-time of this reality close to Lambda would certainly be dangerous.

Sometimes those a risks that need to be taken, however.

[wherenobotsgone]

I suppose all we can do for now is try to get more information. From what we have so far, it's hard to come up with conclusive theories.

[And then he nods. He certainly understood the feeling.]

That's true. And you did come back with useful results, after all.

[angleofscience]

Precisely... and hopefully our lack of information or definitive answers won't be an issue later.

[That's the only thing he's honestly worrying about right now, as otherwise, whatever is going on has been... harmless, so far. Then Jetfire grimaces.]

Ah... Luckily, yes. Otherwise I am unsure if I'd have survived the complaints after if they turned out to be of no use.

[He's only slightly joking. Starscream was probably not very impressed with the initiative when he brought back the fruit for the humans and other organics present.]

[wherenobotsgone]

I hope so, yes.

[But that other part is distracting.]

You... mean that, don't you.

[angleofscience]

More or less. [He sighs, a bit long-suffering and then shakes his helm.]

Deactivation may not have happened, but considering Starscream thought it an acceptable course of action to lock me in when I told him about the modifications before they'd happened...

[He waves his hand.]

[wherenobotsgone]

[He's fighting the urge to facepalm my now.]

... of course he would do something like that.

[angleofscience]

[It's okay to facepalm, Skyfire. It's perfectly understandable.]

Indeed. I'm getting slightly tired of being shot in the face with the null ray. [He'd roll his optics if he could, though the glow flickers around a little.] It seems being together hasn't exactly stemmed that tendency of his.

[Then he shakes his helm.]

Either way, hopefully we'll get some answers to this soon.

[wherenobotsgone]

One would think that kind of attitude had to change, but... [But it's Starscream, pretty much.]

Certainly. I think we shouldn't get our hopes up, though.

[angleofscience]

Given that it didn't start out that way, it could, but it'd probably take longer than this.

[Tiringly enough.]

No, probably not. [He sighs a little.] That does seem to be the current theme.

[wherenobotsgone]

Long standing habits, right? And I'm sure this place doesn't help to make anyone feel less nervous.

[The lack of answers doesn't help in that respect, either.]

I suppose we'll have better luck looking for information ourselves.

[angleofscience]

Indeed. Especially as this is... close enough to the normal situation at home while still being... off enough.

[Not at all. The frown on Jetfire's faceplates settles a bit more.]

I would like to examine the place Wing and Drift ended up taking the datapad from, as that seems to have started the current... ah, events, but it's questionable how safe and possible that would be.

[wherenobotsgone]

Hmm. Just the 'right' balance.

[That kind of thing gets frustrating very easily.]

I have to agree about that. It doesn't seem like it'd be worth the risk, at least for now.

[angleofscience]

As tiring as that may be, yes. [Shaking his helm, Jetfire's lips thin a little.] Unfortunately not, and going after might reveal nothing at all, but when this get settled, might you be interested..?

... We'd have to take care not to disturb anything if we did end up going, no matter when, of course.

[wherenobotsgone]

[Part of him knows that this isn't a very good idea.

... but.]

I certainly would be interested, yes. If both of us go together, it shouldn't be too dangerous...

[angleofscience]

[It probably isn't, no, but the possibility of finding anything... well.]

And since we know what happened the first time, we could take precautions.

[wherenobotsgone]

It's worth considering, at least. We can decide once we see how things play out.

[angleofscience]

That seems for the best, for now. [Chuckling, Jetfire shrugs.] I'll see you later at the lab?

[wherenobotsgone]

Of course. I'll see you soon.