It's all over but the crying

[ginger_firebird]

Who: Psycho Mantis and you.

Broadcast: Yes

Action: SS Bishop

When: Today

(Video – Fleetwide)

My god, it’s full of stars.

[He wandered around the ship in a bit of a daze. First came the larger ship, then the small celebration welcoming him to the second, and he is just as confused as he was when he first woke up. It’s been a long couple of days for him and he finds his way to the bridge of the ship. Stars. So many stars, He slumps in one of the many chairs nearest the window looking out onto space. There’s a cup of tea in his hand and his head turns between the feed he managed to open and the view.]

It’s a dream, isn’t it? It has to be. I remember what happened.

[He’s still dressed in his leathers, not quite trusting himself to wear the ship standards just yet. It’s so clinical. So real… He curls up more in the chair, lifting his mask a little out of the way to have a sip.]

This ship is called Bishop. Like the clergymen and the chess piece. If…anyone is out there, where is here?

(Action – Bishop)

[Still on the bridge of the ship, Mantis decides to make use of the music system to play something classical in the hopes of soothing some of his confusion. The tea doesn’t hurt either, and he sighs heavily as he tries to count the stars he can see. His malaise is such that someone could reasonably sneak up on him if they were so inclined. He is making good company with the chair he singled out.]

Comments

[ginger_firebird]

As far as anyone has ever told me, yes. [He taps his mask.] I wear this to cover my face.

[His shoulders shake a little.] If people who looked like you lived where I come from, I would know. [He pauses briefly.] That would make my "homeworld" Earth.

[pickingupgoodvibrations]

Oh! [Ever seen a rock blush? Now you have.] Forgive me, I mistook it for your face. I have not seen many other races.

I have heard of Earth! That is the homeworld of the Paladins of Voltron! [She smiles suddenly.] I am from Balmera. The Paladins freed us and healed Balmera when she was dying. Do you know them?

[ginger_firebird]

[It's fascinating and an incredible kind of distraction from his mood. He's too curious to feel quite as miserable as he was waking up on the ship.]

Well, I never knew that there were anything but humans until now, so we're both learning something. [He shakes his head at her question.] I have no idea what Voltron or the Paladins even are. They must be the helping kind if they saved your people.

[pickingupgoodvibrations]

[He isn't offended, which is a relief. Shay relaxes somewhat.]

They are! Your world must be untouched by Galra. So you are...free. [It's still a relatively new word.]

[ginger_firebird]

That is one word for it. My kind does a fairly good job of subjugating themselves over a number of petty things.

[He sighs.] Even aliens have to deal with warlords? Galra sounds like a big problem where you come from.

[pickingupgoodvibrations]

[Shay isn't really sure what that means, so she just nods slightly.]

The Galra Empire has ruled the universe for the last ten thousand years.

[ginger_firebird]

Then Earth has been either unaffected or unaware of their presence.

[Or Shay's idea of the universe is smaller than she thinks. He's not entirely sure of much at the moment.]

Many of the stars we can see from Earth are that many years away.

[pickingupgoodvibrations]

[Shay blinks, inquisitive yellow eyes watching the screen intently.] Truly? How is that possible?

[ginger_firebird]

We measure the distance between one star- [He holds up one finger.] And a different star- [He holds up another some distance away.] By how many of our Earth years it would take to travel the distance. At least, that's my understanding of how it works.

[pickingupgoodvibrations]

Oh, I see! We Balmerans do not have the technology to travel through space. At least, not without help.

[ginger_firebird]

Neither do humans, but scientists seem to find it important to have an accurate idea of how big the universe is.