And for a family, I guess that makes me some kind of space uncle?

[somekindofspaceuncle]

 

[Thread continuations. To avoid unnecessary captchas. And for new threads, too. Feel free to hit up with anything if we already threaded. Or even if we didn't, I'll reply if I've seen you around./ ]

Comments

[somekindofspaceuncle]

[He opens his mouth to say something, then closes it. Visibly distressed.]

I don't know, I can't judge the situation, I just don't know enough, I-

[He seems anxious. As if thinking back to something else, wondering about similarities or differences.]

I--

][yes, if one looks, Hiroki definitely seems ready to work himself into some kind of anxiety.]

[beyondthenorms]

Shiro?

[Concern for him is instant. She's quick to notice him stressing out. It's out of instinct and the right thing to do to touch Shiro's shoulder with a calming hand. True, she doesn't know nearly enough about Bast, but she knows Tasha well enough to not want to put anybody in danger.

Mari doesn't know what thoughts are going in Shiro's mind exactly, but she believes she can attempt to guide him to reason, and understanding on who Tasha is... Her tone is leveled and calm.]

None of us know enough to really put a stop to the creeps yet. So, for now, I believe in my friend, when it comes to the one that's different. It's all I can go on.

Tasha Johnson is someone who built herself a stable career, and a very good reputation as a nurse for the past four years. She's very good with people. Very caring, optimistic, and puts her all into her full time job.

When off work, she takes care of eight cats at home, including a few strays...

With all this in mind, and having known her for almost that long, I can't imagine her as someone who'd willingly put anyone in danger.

[Please calm down. Mari has her own anxiety issues, and it wouldn't at all be good if he'd start to freak out, or go into a panic attack. That might cause her to freak out.]

[somekindofspaceuncle]

[nod] Believing in your friends is a good thing. And I hope-- I hope all goes well.

[beyondthenorms]

[A sigh in a bit of relief. She's very glad she was able to help calm him.]

Yeah. I hope to find my Earth--which won't be easy. There's a lot of them, and I got them all listed in this world travel device I have.

[Maybe she should summarize how she got that.]

I met someone nice, not long after... that first time I experienced world displacement. [She pauses, and recollects her thoughts to evade from having to say anything about that really bad panic attack she had.]

After talking with him, and finding out that his world had wraith enemies--but weaker. That did things like, uh, draining batteries and making people feel bad.

Peter Burrows, this kind and sympathetic goblin I first met, felt bad for me. He gave me the world traveling device he carried. Before he had to go, he showed me a bit on how to use it.

[She'll pull it out of her pants pocket, and show him. The gadget looks basically like a cell phone--both size and shape. However, the lit up home screen has not only a photo-realistic background of stars in space, but also a list of names in the center. World names. At the top is a tab that reads as "Galaxies".]

This has some search functions, and you can bookmark certain names and information of worlds on a separate list that is shorter from this really long list here.

[somekindofspaceuncle]

That many alternate realities, huh? I get it. I probably wouldn't really understand if not for the witch.

Draining batteries? Huh.

I see.

[beyondthenorms]

[As Shiro mentions the alien witch again, Mari pauses. She's not sure if she wants to know, for she had just calmed down her friend. From what happened earlier, she's understood very well that he has his own anxiety to deal with.]

Alternate reality related stuff often confuses the heck out of me, but I still took notes on what I remembered some newer other-worlder friends have said. Two of them are way more experienced with world traveling than I'd ever be...

[She nods about what he said on the kind goblin's world's Wraiths.] I don't think I'll be going to Peter's world, even though they are much weaker--from what he described.

[Looking back over her device, she navigates on the touch screen to show him a significantly shorter list of world names.] There's two on this list I've already been to, more than once. I'm not entirely sure if I've gone back in time, to way before Cloud, Tifa, Reno, and some of their friends showed up in my world, but... it seems that way. Or, this could be just an alternate Seventh Gaia.

[There's just not enough about that for her to know and be sure on.]

[somekindofspaceuncle]

I- I'm not sure I can help.

[beyondthenorms]

I doubt you could help me with the most complicated stuff, in what I'm going through. [She never believed he could in the first place. It's just always gonna be a pain in the ass, huh...]

[Mari becomes quiet for another minute, her expression a mixture of seriousness and concern as she has to think. There's a lot she's been concerned about. Make Shiro one more additional concern to the lengthy list.

She thought back to fact that he said he's navigating this ship they're in to somewhere in space. Just how many planets has he been to? She had to wonder just how experienced he was with matters that concerned worlds outside of his own.

I could share the plan Reno and I first came up with. Her mind then shifted to another thought in the next split second; on keeping in touch with Shiro as another part to this. There's determination in her brown eyes.

If I can bookmark locations on worlds on the device--would I be able to bookmark his ship?

Hold on. One thing at a time, she tells herself, and then looks to her friend.]

You've probably been to a lot of places in space, right Shiro? There's something you could try to do. Not just for me, but for everyone else in all worlds. Because when it comes to the Mind Wraith creeps, nowhere is safe from them.

[somekindofspaceuncle]

[The young man looks at Mari. He seems intense, ready for action. Certainly focused. In some ways, he seems more steady than just a moment ago.]

What can I do? Tell me. And it's fine if it's dangerous - you see, I haven't told you much yet, but I'm a soldier.
What can I do to help?

[beyondthenorms]

[She's serious, and determined on what needs to be said and done about these nasty, sadistic, and unpredictable enemies. As soon as Shiro asks what he could do to help, she knows to go right into the plan her (unexpected) ally and friend had first agreed with each other on.

He's a soldier too? That makes sense, in a way. And it's common for soldiers to get PTSD- She stops her almost automatic train of thought right there.]

I don't know if you would be able to fight them. No one knows what their weaknesses are--at least not yet.

[She keeps calm as she continues.]

That's what some other friends and I are hoping to find... There's a guy I helped and friended when returning him to his world.

I know he's doing his part to research for anything that has been documented about them.

If you could help on that too, I'd really appreciate it.

[somekindofspaceuncle]

[nod] I'd like to help. Just tell me how.

Ah, have you ever heard of Voltron?

[He's not just a soldier anymore. He's also a Voltron Paladin. But he's not sure if he's heard of Voltron and if not, he can tell her.]

[beyondthenorms]

I can write down a list of some things the Wraiths are capable of. If you come across anything exact or similar from my list in a book, computer records, or whatever--you keep the info safe. Hold onto that for me.

Also, look for anything about what could be their weaknesses.

[She has a tote bag, with a spiral notebook and pen inside. She places the world traveling device down on a nearby counter before reaching into her bag. As Shiro mentions about a Voltron, she has to mull it over a moment. Even though some of her memories tend to get fuzzy or blacked out, she's certain she hasn't heard of this.]

I haven't heard of a Voltron at all. And I think this is my first time being in your universe.

[Mari wonders why he's asking her about this. Wait... Didn't he say something about a black lion, a while back?]

I remember you mentioning about a black lion earlier. Is that what you mean?

[somekindofspaceuncle]

[Find their weaknesses. Gotcha. He and other Paladins definitely can, he's sure-]

[Voltron. How to put it shortly what Voltron is, without unnecessary confusion-?]

Partly. The Black Lion is the head of Voltron. Uhm- ages ago, there was a show called Transformers. I think I watched some old discs as a child, once. I don't really remember it, but I've just remembered it now. Have you ever watched Transformers? It's completely fictional, but-

The Voltron lions are a little like 'Transformers', in a way. And Voltron is</> as real as you and me. Voltron can fight those wraighths, I'm certain.

[Almost certain.]

[beyondthenorms]

[Just as she flips to a blank lined page in the back of her notebook, she listens to Shiro's description about Voltron. That old cartoon exists in this universe too?

She's a bit surprised as she fumbles for the blue inked pen in her bag. A flurry of past and more present memories begin to surface... She knows she must take her time in replying, and explaining a little.

Cheetor. Rattrap. Dinobot... Where did they--]

I honestly remember very little of the 80's Transformers toon. There were these two kids I used to babysit for. They liked it.

[Mari pauses a beat as she looks to him. Her current smile looks somewhat sad as it becomes a bit hard for her to speak.]

This may be shocking to you. Probably hard to believe, but... I first discovered in my past that Transformers actually exist. Well, the few who were very briefly in my world--they were descendants of Autobots, and Decepticons.

Maximals, and Predacons. Their alternate forms were different animals, rather than vehicles.

[She understands that Shiro believes this Voltron could help defeat the very worst of her enemies. She heard him say so, crystal clearly. However, her eyes lower as her mind lingers on those memories of the two Maximals and formerly bad Predacon. Petting, and talking to Cheetor in his cheetah form. Talking with Dinobot. And there was that time Rattrap had brought a certain young mutant girl to her family's house...

There are emotions of sadness and worry showing.

Would Voltron really defeat those creeps? They caused Cheetor, Rattrap, and Dinobot to disappear so damn fast-

Mari's not aware of how firmly she's gripping onto her pen.]

[somekindofspaceuncle]

Mari.

I can't say--

[He shakes his head. Let's take this slow.]

Well, I should be more shocked about Transformers, but I believe you. So, please, believe me as well.

[beyondthenorms]

[Mari wipes away a tear from her cheek.]

I do believe you.

But I wouldn't be sure at all if any power from Voltron would be...able to counter the power they have.

[She holds her pen over the blank page of the notebook, pressing herself to focus on what she said she would do, so Shiro would know what information to look for.]

One of the most difficult and scary things I know about those damn creeps is... No one knows how to predict whatever it is they're planning. Or what they're doing.

[She writes this down as the first thing on the list she'll give to Shiro.]

[somekindofspaceuncle]

[A bit forcefully] Please, give us Paladins of Voltron a chance. We often fight monsters. Trust us.

[Small, shy smile] You can trust my friends to do what's right. We will help you. Just tell us more, if that's alright.

[Frown] I will find out- no, we can find out what they're planning. They can't be worse than the Galra Empire.

[beyondthenorms]

[If she didn't trust Shiro, then she wouldn't have stayed around him this long. She wouldn't have started writing a list of her experiences, along with some of her friends' experiences against the damn creeps.

Mari briefly pauses in the middle of writing down the next very important thing to know about the Wraiths. She frowns in hearing Shiro mention his enemies. No, she won't be assuming anything about these Galra aliens. But could they be as bad as the nasty, evil parasite slug aliens in her friend Jake's universe?

She honestly doesn't want to know. It's best not to think further. There are plenty enough problems and worries she has.]

If the Galra are the big bads in this universe, then we better hope they and the wraiths don't ever form an alliance.

'Cause... [She looks away from the lined notebook page to Shiro.] The wraiths can take whoever they want, whenever they want, and put them someplace else. Without warning. That's basically how the first several other-worlder friends I met had appeared at my Earth.

One moment, you're where you know you should be. Then...

[Mari pauses, and glances down at where she had stopped writing.] I'm well aware by now that the wraiths had worldly displaced me; from my Earth to another world... I lucked out. A huge relief that was. The place I call sanctuary, and safe base--it's not bad. It's a lot safer than certain other worlds I know of. I found this out, sometime after the panicking had gone away.

[Gotta stay focused. She'll write down about the wraiths being able to snatch whoever, and whenever. She'll further write that it's sudden. So sudden, and nothing anyone could expect, or predict.]

[somekindofspaceuncle]

The Wraiths can open wormholes at will?

Mm, I hope they don't join forces. It doesn't seem too feasible, though, from what we know so far.

You're-- something worse would've happened if you stayed home?

['Shiro' is not sure he understands.]

[beyondthenorms]

[Mari pauses again, and forgets the next thing on the list she was going to write.

Shit... What he mentions is really scary to think about. She wouldn't doubt those creeps could do that. They could do just about anything, as far as she knows. Mari frowns, and thinks about that a moment too long.]

I-I'm not sure about wormholes in space, but I wouldn't put it past them to be able to do that. Portals within worlds, I know they can do that.

Opening holes in the ground, or just having anybody appear. They've done that too...

[As for the staying at home bit, she softly sighs before explaining--as simply and straight-forwardly as she can.]

I haven't been at home at all for the past three months. I was taken away from my Earth world. I wouldn't be sure on how. It happened so fast... I was at my home world, and then I suddenly wasn't, within the next moment.

[She'll only give the minimal need to know details, when it comes to that very first world displacement experience.]

The place I've been staying at most recently--it's not at any Earth, but there are Earth-like things that exist on the different floors. Like, a food court. A floor for support group meetups. One for apartments. One for an infirmary...

It's an enormous multiverse building. Anyone from any world could arrive there, but not at all the same way I have.

Basically, in concept, one of my other friends had once described it as a mall, a motel, and a community center all in one. So, it's not terrible. Definitely manageable, but...

[She's feeling nervous and uneasy as she adds;] I don't know why I was put there. It's good I haven't...had to worry about anybody who tried to kill me in the past. Or those that only scared me, and caused me a lot of stress.

[Definitely wouldn't want to cross paths with any of those baddies again. She'd be very hesitant to specify on who any of those bad people are.]

[somekindofspaceuncle]

[He listens, focused, careful to remember everything Mari says for later.]

Can I tell my friends about your situation?

Some of the cool geeky stuff they share in common, awww

[beyondthenorms]

[Shiro might not have to keep all what she says in his head.

Upon hearing him ask, she nods without hesitation. The tiniest smile shows.]

Of course. Your friends must be good people, to rely on you as the leader of team... Voltron, right?

[She briefly pauses, as bits of memories surface, in recalling what he said about the black lion bot of his.]

I'm being reminded of a show I remember much more than the original Transformers 'toon. With the different bots combining into one... Have you heard of Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers? The bots the Rangers piloted were different dinosaur ones.

[Her brows furrow a little as she corrects herself.] No, wait. The yellow one was a saber-toothed tiger, and the Black Ranger had the black mastodon robot. Yeah.

[She snickers in amusement over herself a moment.] Anyway, I just remembered about it.

[A good idea comes to mind. Mari flips to the back of the paper she started writing her list on.]

I could write notes about the description of the Multiverse Complex building I just told you about, to help explain to your team.

yay

[somekindofspaceuncle]

'Shiro' stares for a moment, then laughs. Positively giggles.

"Oh, I think I watched some shows like these, though not exactly! And yes, now that I think of it, Voltron Lions are a little like that, arent' they? Now I'm curious as to whether Power Rangers also serve the Princess."

He smiles softly. Shiro adores the Altean Princess. Come to think of it, he adores all his team members. So that's only natural. He always knew it, but lately he seems to know it a bit differently. Of course, most of all, he adores Keith, who's like a younger brother.

"Speaking of whom, you must meet Princess Allura someday."

"You'd write things down? I mean, if it's not a problem - I'm sure you're busy and all, having so many things happening in your life."

So many things, too many for a normal person, normal civilian like you, and not some kind of soldier, he almost adds, but doesn't add, not wanting to offend her accidentally.

[beyondthenorms]

[Mari smiles, and snickers as she listens to him. It seems she had also activated his inner nostalgia. And this started to lead into an inkling of another thought. Didn't Jake's Earth also have those same shows? She knows theirs have the same video game consoles...

At the mention of a princess he knew, she didn't doubt his words about her.]

I'm sure she'd be someone great to know, along with the rest of your team...

[She pauses to briefly think more about the Power Rangers show. Mighty Morphin' was the first and original series, before the slightly different ones aired. And she never saw those.]

No, there wasn't a princess. I know there was this holograph of a dude in a tall tube named--Zordon? Gordon? I can't remember his name, exactly, but he was like the commander of the team's secret base, on their Earth.

[She grinned.] There was also his robot assistant; Alpha Five.

[Mari remembers a bit further, and does the voice impression of what that robot said whenever he was distressed.] Ai-yi, yi-yi-yiiiii! In each episode I've seen, whenever danger comes, that always came from Alpha.

[Right, yeah. Back to the important task at hand. Easily, she assures her new friend.]

This part won't take long, unlike the rest of the list on I know about the mind wraith creeps... It's a lot to remember, and what I'll give you should help you help me, along with the rest of the multiverse.

[She breathes out a sigh, knowing how busy it's become in her waaaay beyond average life.

At this point, she doubts she'll ever be able to live a stable, completely ordinary life ever again.]

I know there's a lot I have to do. But it's also important to make sure everyone who chooses to look into anything about the wraiths knows what to look for.

[After she takes a bit of time to write out the basic and easy to understand description of what the Multiverse Complex is, she writes a note in parenthesis not for just Shiro, but for all of his friends on his team to know in advance.

(This world is as safe and stable as can be, apart from the really odd door portal anomalies that happen sometimes. I'm constantly wary and cautious about that. I have friends looking out for me, and I even have the best support group, who helps me cope through the really stressful and frustrating times. Sometimes, those in the scheduled sessions give me some helpful advice. This group is for anyone who deals with unwanted fates and destinies.

You won't need to worry much about me being over there, Team Voltron. I picked out my own apartment, and I don't need to pay rent. I have this special debit card that's unlimited. Those cards are for anyone who visits Multiverse Complex frequently. I even use it for purchasing most of my meals, and for any shopping I'd need to do. I'm also good friends with some of the security people who help maintain peace, and help keep the entire place clean.)]