[Video]

[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

[aerospacecommander]

They are spirits you have wronged in another life.

[wherenobotsgone]

... Starscream, I'm being serious.

[aerospacecommander]

So am I.

I know you're not as innocent as you like to seem.

[angleofscience]

No... ah, "luck" if we're supposed to call it that, but there was a similar situation in my reality... [Jetfire pauses, shaking his helm slightly.] As much as parallels could be drawn since we have no way of knowing if these... possible individuals have been here before us.

[That there'd been people here before them, that much was obvious from the buildings scattered around that didn't carry the Firstforged's signatures or were the temples, but that it was these individuals...]

Grimlock was... temporarily deceased, but he managed to... ah, stay through some means. This, however... sparks are made of energy, and organics do produce some small bio-electric charge. It wouldn't be impossible to leave energy imprints in places with more environmental energy, especially if what's imprinted is merely a brief, contained event.

[wherenobotsgone]

You talk as if I had a deep dark secret or something.

[wherenobotsgone]

So it's a real possibility at least in some worlds... That makes it worth considering.

I do wonder why we didn't noticing anything until so recently, however.

[video]

[adamndoctor]

Ain't seen one. Hope I don't. Probably only means trouble, anyway. Ghosts aren't known for being welcomed guests.

[angleofscience]

If I have all the facts regarding Grimlock, yes, but at least one thing is clear; he survived where he ought not have.

Either way... yes, that is odd, since any such energy imprint ought to be present from when its made. [Frowning, Jetfire folds his arms over his chestplates.] Though, since we unfortunately have an unpredictable factor in the Lambda affecting things, that may complicate matters as well.

[wherenobotsgone]

The Lambda is certainly a variable, yes. There are too many uncertain factors. And I haven't managed to gather enough information to properly look for a pattern about the apparitions. Where they appear, and for how long... so far it all seems to be random.

[video]

[wherenobotsgone]

If these turn out to be actual ghosts, then... I can see how that would be a problem.

[aerospacecommander]

Well, do you?

[angleofscience]

Very random. I don't know if there's been that many appearances yet, but none of them happened before... ah... Wing and Drift, I believe came back from their excursion. They did behave as if they saw an apparition as well.

[Which meant they did at least have a seeming origin point to trace all the "ghostly" visitations to, and it'd be a matter of finding the more exact cause from there.]

And we need a more dedicated set of equipment, time and resources to study the Lambda, but since it does require the risk of close exposure by going up there.

[Jetfire grimaces at that thought, optics dimming a little. He knew perfectly well it wasn't safe; he'd felt the chaotic energies on his chassis even with the distance he'd kept while taking the readings.]

[video]

[adamndoctor]

Well, depends on what version. Some ghosts are friendly, some are just assholes. Never met one personally, so I could be far off.

Hopefully the big guys will catch on and maybe tell us what the Hell we're dealing with.

[wherenobotsgone]

... no. I really don't.

[wherenobotsgone]

We have a tentative starting point, then. That's good to know.

[He nods, and makes a mental note to write that down with the rest of his information.]

Yes, that's... probably going to be a problem.

[video]

[wherenobotsgone]

Hmm. The ones I've seen, at least, weren't around for long enough to tell either way. But it doesn't hurt to be careful.

I would really like to know, yes. The lack of information is getting frustrating.

[aerospacecommander]

That's incredibly boring.

No distant and dark past? No semi-mortally unethical doings? Come on, you're Jetfire's alternate, there has to be something.

[angleofscience]

Indeed. I believe they mentioned having brought something with them from their trip, which... I'm unsure if it's important in itself, but it is another point of data.

[Had he been on Earth long enough, he could have brought up the connection of ghosts sometimes being attached to items and not places, but alas.]

It's hard to say whether I was lucky or not the second time I went up there, though I have a feeling it will sometimes simply depend on the energy output that day... which does not make anything easier.

[Anyone who went up there would probably be in danger of being affected... or worse.]

[wherenobotsgone]

I was a Decepticon for less than an Earth day.

But that's not a secret. Or particularly dark all things considered.

[wherenobotsgone]

It's worth looking into, in any case. I'll have to go back and take another look at the network. I might have missed it among all the information.

[He has no idea either. The Autobots on the Ark preferred watching soap operas than scary movies, after all.]

It's quite frustrating, isn't it? Such a source of potential information, and we can't access it.

[angleofscience]

Indeed. I believe we don't seem to have had overly many incidents yet... what did you see?

[Jetfire hasn't seen any at all, and he's also, indeed, still hesitating to call them ghosts or anything of the sort, but given the Lambda and the Badlands... well, there's a great many things they could probably be.]

At least not safely. [He huffs slightly and shakes his helm. He's well-aware he's put himself (and Starscream) at risk when going up nearby it.]

A ship that could be remotely controlled and with similarly controlled scanning equipment would obviously be best for routine research, but besides the resources in general that it would take, I'm unsure what would be asked by the Firstforged for the ability for said ship to get past the Lambda's effect on near-orbit.

[Frustratingly enough.]

[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.

[aerospacecommander]

[......]

You only lasted a day?

[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]

I wasn't going to kill people, Starscream.