[ action | open ]

[tempredmental]

Who: Keith, Everyone
Broadcast: No
Action: Open, on the Marsiva
When: After the second half of calibrations starts with the glitches and other things.

=====

[Keith was exhausted. On top of calibrations in general, he was worried about what was going on with Shiro... the coma, the disappearance. Was he still in the fleet? Keith couldn't be sure. He kept checking the now empty room to see if his friend and brother had returned... but nothing.

Now, the glitches were starting again. He recognized one of the panels from the sketch in his notebook from last time. He didn't have anything with him to write on the first time, so he made a note in his book to go looking for it again the next morning in case he forgot, and then left the book in a conspicuous place. It had been enough to get his attention the next morning and read his note to himself.

Panels...

So, he could be found poking at them. Anyone with a pilot augment would see that he was scrolling through information, that there was new information, and that he was writing it down. Anyone without a pilot augment would see that he was writing things down, but not where he was getting the information.

And then there was that presence again... the strange energy he had written about last time. He wrote down what he could about that, too.

He could found poking at panels, writing and sketching in his notebook, working out at the gym, or pacing around near Shiro's empty room. Sometimes, he might be in the kitchen raiding the fridge or something.]

Comments

[samahl]

[Cyril does have a pilot augment so he realizes what Keith is doing with the panels and comes a little closer.]

That's a good idea. Anything I can do to help?

[tempredmental]

If you have anything to write on that doesn't come from the Marsiva, that's the best way to record this stuff. We won't remember it tomorrow.

[Keith showed Cyril what he had so far.]

You're a pilot, right? Or communications? I noticed that there seems to be a pattern to who sees what with these things.

[scalpelofmarmora]

[Ulaz was equally concerned, having not seen Shiro at all for the duration of this insanity. There had been no sign or word from him. Of course he had disappeared before, multiple times, but this is time... it just felt different.

And of course he found Keith pacing near his room so it was a safe bet the paladin was having the same thoughts that he was]

You are worried as well?

[tempredmental]

[Keith nodded.]

Yeah. I know it's selfish to want him to stay here. And, in some ways, I don't know. I thought this wasn't a terrible place, even with all the crazy.

If he is gone... if he did go home, I should be happy. But...

[Well, he wasn't.]

[scalpelofmarmora]

I understand the sentiment. Yes, as far as we know, it is better that he not be in the fleet, not have to deal with everything that happens.

But he has become a close friend of mine.

[So he wasn't happy either]

[tempredmental]

Yeah...

[Keith looked down. He just... had so much to say... and didn't know how to say it.]

He's important to me.

[samahl]

A pilot.

What are people from communications seeing?

[tempredmental]

From what I can tell, the same thing as pilots. But, we have some of the same functions on the ships... dealing with transporters and the like, so that might have something to do with it.

What I'd really like to know is what other augments are seeing besides us.

[samahl]

I know someone who is in security. He's big and purple, hard to miss.

[Cyril looks around them, and then focuses on Keith.] Want me to find him?

[scalpelofmarmora]

I understand. Probably more than anyone else here, he is important to you.

And you were important to him as well.

[tempredmental]

[There weren't many people in the Fleet that went by that description.]

I think I might know who.

[Ulaz was lab... and Cyril had said "he", so that ruled out his mom...]

His name wouldn't happen to be Kolivan, would it?

[samahl]

[Cyril seemed surprised at the accurate guess at first, but that changed to a smile.]

You know him? Are you... one of the Blades or did you meet him here? Or are you, uh, what did he call it? Voltron?

If you're a Blade then you have to be Keith, right?

[That's the one Kolivan said was half human.]

[tempredmental]

[Keith sighed, managing a weak smile that didn't reach his eyes.]

Thanks.

I just... I wish I knew for sure what happened to him.

[tempredmental]

[Keith let him talk until he talked himself to the right answer, and nodded.]

Technically, I'm both a part of the Blade and Team Voltron, but yeah. That's me.

[He smiled a little sheepishly.]

[samahl]

That's amazing. So you're a rebel and part of an elite team that brings hope to those who need it most?

It's a pleasure to meet you, Keith. I am Cyril of Clan Lavellan.

[tempredmental]

Kind of? Doing both was a bit much, so I kind of had to focus on one at a time. But, right now, my place is with Voltron. It's kind of up to the Lions, really, as odd as that might sound.

Nice to meet you, Cyril. What ship are you on? I'm on the Huntress.

[samahl]

I'm with the Starduck.

Kolivan mentioned the lions. What exactly are they?

[tempredmental]

[Right... one of the newly merged ships...]

The Lions are... well... they're kind of like spaceships. It was the original intent to create them that way, but, from what I've learned about them, the process of building them was kind of unusual.

They were created from a special ore and infused with a life force called quintessence to give them power. The ore reacted to the quintessence in a way that gave them almost a kind of intelligence and personality, and it's said that building them ended up being more like they were guiding the builder to the result instead of the builder making all the decisions. Hence... lion-shaped robots instead of sleek spaceships designed for flight.

When the pilots of the five lions are in complete sync with one another, they can tap into that quintessence and the Lions will react, transforming and combining together to create a much larger robot called Voltron.

Honestly, being here after having worked with Voltron so much, it's weird not being able to reach out and feel the bond with my Lion. It's weird... they're almost like in your head. There's no real words, but just... feelings, a stream of thought... another voice in your mind helping you and guiding you. You get so used to it that, when its not there, when you can't reach it, it's almost like... feeling empty.

[scalpelofmarmora]

I do as well. He has been through a lot and it would be hopeful that he can finally have some peace in his life.

Of course that is probably not something that we can get answered here.

[tempredmental]

No... it won't be.

[Keith leaned heavily against the wall next to Shiro's door.]

I guess... just come back later to check again, huh?

[samahl]

[Cyril listens, unable to fully conceptualize what Keith is saying, but he can empathize with the sense that something is missing or gone.]

I'm sorry you have to deal with that while you are here.

[scalpelofmarmora]

I will do that. I have been checking on the room for some time when I didn't see him around.

[tempredmental]

[Keith shrugged.]

It's just how things are right now. We'll figure it out.

[They always did.]

But thanks. I appreciate the thought.

[samahl]

Of course.

Kolivan has told me a lot about your groups and what you are trying to do. The least we can do is support one another while we're here.

[tempredmental]

Same here. [Keith wasn't ashamed to admit that. Shiro was his brother. Everyone in the Fleet who knew them knew that. His behavior probably tipped a few people off to the fact that something was up.] If something changes, I'll let you know.