[Text]

[lightsoflife]

Some thoughts.

This network was created just over a year ago, at the beginning of April 2013. Nobody knows how, or why, or by whom if there is a whom. People have noted echoes (or pulses, if you prefer that term) previous to that date, however, so it's possible that the echoes are tied into the nature of the network but not the cause or effect.

The logic behind it all is still unclear, however. Does everyone who receives an echo receive access to this network as well, or only a subset? Why are members of this network detectable in some way, by dogs or by chemicals? Why are we perceived to be a threat?

And I'm somewhat hesitant to go this far, but could there be some purpose to it all? The thought seems absurd, but at the same time I have doubts on whether it's all random. But assuming there is a purpose: what is it? Is the network's purpose and/or that of the echoes we receive to facilitate the achievement of that one, and if so what would happen if that purpose were to be fulfilled?

This is all speculative, of course. I'd be surprised if anyone had answers.

Comments

text;

[clawkind]

people suddenly becoming different without warning is always threatening, no matter what the 'different' part is
especially if someone can see it
but maybe thats being a little too literal

theres probably a purpose to everything though
reincarnations big theme is always fate and destiny and purpose so itd be a huuuge no-no for them to pull that without something to back it up

text;

[lightsoflife]

For who to pull? Even if you believe that all of this is reincarnation, that still leaves a great deal open to question.

text;

[clawkind]

for whoevers running this i guess
i was thinking about it more from a storytelling perspective
theres a lot of different ways to go through with stuff like this so its kind of up to interpretation

text;

[lightsoflife]

I'm not sure there is anyone running this, but I'd say it's as likely as not.

text;

[clawkind]

its a pretty big coincidence if there wasnt any planning going into it
dont you think?

text;

[lightsoflife]

If you don't believe in a god that created this world, our entire existence is unlikely. Yet here we are, aren't we?

[ghostly_heiress]

So far it seems the incident credited to the aliens have all produced an echo in people at least once. Moreover, whatever these other lives are, they do not follow the same logic as our world does.

The fact that the aliens are the one CONSISTENT cause of echoes would say that there is a causation, whether it be deliberate or a side affect.

With the fact all these other lives cannot be 'present' in this world, I think that it may be the aliens aren't either. It may be a resonating affect, it may be something more dire.

As for the network, that is a lot harder to make a guess at.

[lightsoflife]

Hm, that's an interesting theory. Then what does it mean for us, I wonder, if these other selves aren't of this world? It must connect somehow.

It could also explain how we're detectable in some way. If there's some element to us that isn't natural and is shared by the aliens somehow, they might know to look for that in order to find us.

Written

[ghostly_heiress]

[The response is delayed. She is THEORIZING.]

It's very possible. It certainly comes up in science fiction often enough. When people cross over into other dimensions, they has a sort of energy that comes with them. If you know what to look for and the technology they have, it wouldn't be hard to find ways to track it.

Perhaps that is what is happening with the Network? If we were to assume everyone who echoes has a number, it may be that it invokes a sort of shared consciousness. If outsiders cannot perceive use of the network, it may be the physical remains are not there at all, and merely what we perceive to understand what we're doing.

Though that idea does fall apart if the aliens also have this energy sticking to them. Unless it's the fact they're their full selves? Since we still have things filtering through, it may give us more of a connection to whatever the Network is.

[nowi_wins]

If people got echoes before the network was created, did they get the numbers then too?
Or did they just get echoes and the numbers popped up later?

[lightsoflife]

I hesitate to directly apply principles of science fiction, but in this case it could make sense.

Some other food for thought: the pink substance that was added to the water supply last year reacted to members of this network and nobody else. I myself drank it without incident at first, but having witnessed the effects I believe it would have caused me to react if I'd come in contact with it after my first echo. So the status of having echoes and access to this network seems to be directly tied to whether or not this otherworldly quality is detected - if the theory is true.

Unfortunately, testing any of that would be difficult. Nothing at the lab was able to determine just what that pink substance was made of, although I believe it was connected to some stone that was found underneath the Tuning Towers.

[lightsoflife]

That's a good question. I heard about echoes predating the network from somebody else, but they didn't mention anything about the numbers.

[ghostly_heiress]

Science fiction should never be underestimated. There is a great deal of technology in today's world inspired by it, and sometimes the science they use is actually rather sound, if only in theory.

There does seem to be some sort of, for lack of a better word, psychic element to how things can react, since it seems to be a mental state that can either be protection or a hindrance. Such as there does seem to be something that will make people turn docile and while those around me are affected, I have been fine. Others have noticed the occurrence as well.

[There is a pause here.]

A substance that can turn to liquid or stone. There is not a lot of matter in the world that can change it's forms, let alone so drastically. We've also seen it move with the giant snake.

I wonder if you studied other substances from other worlds, if perhaps you could find out more. Have a wider basis, especially if the substance is versatile as well.

text;

[occasus]

I'm pretty sure it's not random.
How else would there be people who know other people from their reincarnations or alternative universes or whatever?

[Text]

[professorwolf]

I believe there is a purpose, but just what that purpose is I cannot say, either. Something or someone had to have set up this network, however they did it, which means there had to be some reason behind it, even if it was just to see what we would do. But I tend to think it's more than that. It seems a lot of trouble to go to, and just when things like aliens and giant stone snakes are appearing, as well.

The perceived threat is really more simple than that, though. We are different, and many of us have powers that non-network people do not. That is likely to frighten a lot of people.

[part_time_overlord]

Whether or not it's true, I'd bet the alien THOUGHT our purpose is to stop it.

audio;

[elegantsoldier]

I am sure there must be a purpose. As to what that purpose may be, it's still a mystery to me as well.

That doesn't mean we can't look for answers ourselves.

text;

[clawkind]

i dont remember the part about aliens getting mad at us for existing the last time i looked up evolution
reactions from other parties are important in determining if something was n accident or not too!

[nowi_wins]

I only just started getting echoes recently.
But the numbers showed up with the first one.
I guess the numbers couldn't have started before the network though.
Because then what would they go to?

[lightsoflife]

Are you referring to the effects of the buzzing some time back, with regards to the docility? That is something else to consider, yes.

I'd very much like to study this more, to be honest. The unfortunate part is that getting things to study isn't so easy.

text;

[lightsoflife]

Hm, that's true. Or that means it's not entirely random, since it doesn't be seem to be true for everyone. Not yet, in any case.

[Text]

[lightsoflife]

Are we a greater threat than aliens? The ones that showed up recently seem fine, but there was that rogue one.

I wonder just what it is that convinced the police that we were more dangerous than an unknown species could be. Perhaps that's related to any purpose all of this has, as well.

[lightsoflife]

That could very well be true. Just what was it like, do you know?

[Text]

[lightsoflife]

That's part of why I'm putting these questions out there. All of knowledge is building on what others have shared, isn't it?

text;

[lightsoflife]

Hm...come to think of it, they did refer to some metaphor about gardeners and rose bushes a while back. Perhaps if there is somebody behind all this, the aliens are more related than we think.