Patchwork Universe

liason · Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2004 3:06 pm Post subject: A Question of Substance

The Philosophy Hub was puzzled. For a long time it inspected the partial salvage mob arrayed in front of it. Still it reached no conclusions.

Normally, any team which returned in a state unfit for its role would be reprocessed. Technically the order had already been issued to do exactly that to these recent arrivals. The trouble was that nobody could pick them up.

"So what exactly happened ?" the Philosophy Hub asked with a hint of irritation.

We were salvaging plants, animals and bricks. Then we sensed imminent integrity failure. Then all aspects reached full performance again. It was only when we resumed salvage that we noticed we were unable to interact with anything except each other.

"You are now surplus to requirements. Since we cannot dispose of you, it is required that you wait in a neat row in one of the storage bins."

Aww, that's going to be dreadfully dull !

"Consider it your punishment for becoming incorporeal !"

liason · Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2004 11:35 am Post subject:

Attendant wandered up to the storage bin.

"Afternoon salvagers. Gosh, so it's true, you're all phantomwise. How exciting."

No it isn't. It's really dull.

"Why ?"

We have to stay in this storage bin.

"No you don't."

Yes we do.

"What I mean is: you don't. You can just... well... leave. Straight through the wall. And if anyone tries to stop you then what are they going to do."

That's... that's... quite a good point actually.

So, in a neat column, the ghost salvagers filed out of the storage bin and headed off to do whatever they wanted to.