[Evening Day 6] Incoming from ???

[navi_no]

[Wherever you are, whatever you are doing, the jewel on your bangle suddenly, inexplicably crackles to life.

You all know the voices (colours, for Lucus) - you heard at least one prior to arrival on the Noanga.

While glitching crackle drowns out most of the message, you manage to make out the following:]

Invited.

A --- next few days--- go--- engage. Repeat do---.

[Lucas will note the message is laced with pain and distress, as if sending this harmed the senders somehow.]

Comments

???

[navi_no]

Communication attempts with ??? here, please.

Network Text, OTA

[burstingstars]

Life experience tells me this will end badly, regardless of what it is. Anyone feel the same?

Text

[kosmonautilus]

[The emotions laced into the message concern him a lot more than the actual content. No one should be hurting from talking! Perhaps these are beings not yet ready for what tech they found? It happens sometimes. He can't just leave that unanswered, even if the gem itself is a very neutral green.

The reply will be in text for a rare difference. Minimal data transferred, not even a picture attached. Via the bangle too, meaning he painstakingly crafted a very simple, clear question on his slate and then copied down the translated human words it spit out. This takes forever and he hates how it will lack all his usual emotional nuances, but he doesn't want to cause further harm.]

"Need help?"

Text

[failgoyle]

Not taking that bet.

Whatever happens, it's going to be terrible.

[burstingstars]

We could always pretend to ignore it.

[navi_no]

[Unfortunately, there are no words in the reply -or if there are they are lost to static-, only distress with a tint of worry to it.]

[kosmonautilus]

[Hm. That is not quite enough to get him to take any further action, but it will be filed away for the future, somewhere in his vast subconscious.]

[bestbrotherever]

Indeed. It will likely find us before too long.

Video

[bestbrotherever]

[Loki's been repeating the message several times. His frown has deepened at every repetition.]

I believe there is a "not" that was lost in the static. This is a warning to us to stay away, not a call for help. Now, whether we will listen...

Video

[managerbehindthrone]

If it is but a danger to us, I will teach it the error of crossing us.

[Esme's mouth twists into a nasty grin.]

[failgoyle]

I mean I'm assuming everything here is going to be bad news eventually, I'm doing the same thing whether or not I ignore it.

[And that thing is panicking as appropriate.]

[bestbrotherever]

[Loki rolls his eyes.]

I would personally recommend avoiding the source of the message, but if you wish to seek it out and attempt to teach the hazard a lesson...

[burstingstars]

That's a bit of a bleak outlook to life, isn't it?

[Day is a hopeless optimist, believing that even his broken home could become good, if given the right help.]

[burstingstars]

And here I'd hoped to avoid fighting again...

[bestbrotherever]

Fighting is inevitable. But it would have been nice if we could have waited a little longer. Had more time to learn about and trust each other, before we had to fight to protect each other.

[burstingstars]

It could be, if people would stop hurting each other.

[Sorry Loki, the kid is a pacifist with optimism that even Republic didn't manage to beat out of him yet.]

Last time someone asked me to trust them went badly.

[June, not the Gas station crew. They'd never demanded, but explained and respected his choices.]

Video

[kosmonautilus]

[He has, as always, feelings on the matter.]

What if wrong? What if friends?

[bestbrotherever]

If they are friends, then we should consider honoring their wishes and avoiding the danger they warned us of.

[kosmonautilus]

Don't know if friends! Not talking enough! Maybe just danger to them, not us.

[bestbrotherever]

If the danger was just to them, they would not have bothered to send a warning. The message would have been a call for assistance.

[bestbrotherever]

There will always be dangers that must be fought. Even if all the monsters are not in fact monsters and can be reasoned with, the universe is full of risk without any malice or will behind it.

I know that feeling. Though I am more often the one others regret trusting.

[managerbehindthrone]

Oh, I plan to avoid going anywhere. In all likelihood, this is but a trap. A poor one at that by those that brought us here.

Should they come to us, on the other hand... Well. I can't be blamed for the carnage that follows. After all, I'm but defending my living place.

[So says the Decepticon.]

[kosmonautilus]

Maybe don't know we heard. Maybe talking to others-like-them. How can we know all their words are right?

[burstingstars]

No, I don't believe that. The world can be good, it just needs the right chances to become so.

You're not making a good case for yourself there, cousin. Though at least you're honest.

[No worries, it'd take a lot more for Day to stop giving that initial trust.]

[bestbrotherever]

Good does not mean safe. Indeed, those who I once thought my people would consider a world without danger to not be good.

Given my reputation, I find it advantageous to be upfront that trusting me comes with risks.