Test Drive Meme III

[eternitymods]

A. RETRIEVAL Dreams fade slowly, and awareness returns in increments. The hum of machinery, the smell of recycled air, the murmurs of others waking up around you. The interior of the ship has been outfitted with cots for those Biggs and Wedge retrieve from the Dream Width. Outside of the makeshift infirmary, windows set into the walls of the worn lounge area offer a view of space. It’s time to meet your fellow new arrivals who have been brought together on Biggs and Wedge’s airship. The other newly-awakened people have no idea how they came to be here, but now's a good time as ever to introduce yourself to the others on the airship and glean what information you can. B. CURTI CENTER The researchers at the Curti Center are not quite so unprepared as last time, but it is still obvious that they are struggling to understand the sudden influx of interdimensional travelers from the Dream Width. "Please step into the lobby for a quick survey. Perhaps there is some common thread we haven't discovered yet..." The staff will do their best to help the off-worlders settle in. They answer the questions they can, write down all proffered information they can about the arrivals' homeworlds, provide maps and pamphlets about Vaikuntha and the destinations within it, and even guide the arrivals to a neighborhood where housing has been provided for you. Yes, due to the strange influx of arrivals, you’ll be expected to share, but the Curti staff are doing the best they can, considering they are still housing the previous arrivals here on the island. Experiences like these bring people together. Perhaps you are the only one here from your world, but at least you are not alone in this experience. Others are right beside you, learning the same information, planning trips to visit the same new cities, checking out these Job things, and settling in to their new (temporary) homes. C. UP IN THE SKY There’s a whole new world to explore. It’s almost enough to distract from the fact that there’s one place you can’t go- home. You are on an Airship, the main mode of transportation between the major cities of Vaikuntha. While the majority are owned by airlines, perhaps you hitched a ride with a friend that has their own. You can go anywhere in a matter of hours — One can only hope you don’t have motion sickness. D. GUILDS Proud representatives of the Guild are lined up, ready to demonstrate their skills for the new initiates. Make sure to stay behind the designated line, this might get dangerous. So you want a new Job? You'll have to first travel to the Guilds, sign the papers, go through the orientation and introductory lectures, and get basic training. Afterwards, you can freely chat and practice with your fellow members, celebrating your new powers, and checking out your new wardrobe. E. LET'S BE ADVENTURERS Separated from all of your material possessions, connections, and everything you know, and really, what you’re left with is time. Better try to make the most of it. Enough expository banter. It's explorin' time. Maybe instead of spending every day in your room, you'd rather spend it living it up in the city of Lavode, or betting on Chocobo Races in Sparks Goldsaucia. Or maybe you'd rather go and explore the caves and ruins near Arito. With Airships and Chocobos at your disposal, you can go nearly anywhere! F. SIDEQUESTS Maybe you’re telling yourself, ‘I didn’t sign up for this.’ But wait, you did. At least it pays. It all started when you checked the Quest Board.  All you wanted was a few gil to spend, and here you are in the wild, hunting for a Malboro Vine. Or maybe you are in some ancient and decrepit ruins looking for an artifact. Or you could be asked to be janitor for a week. Consider yourself lucky though, at least you don't have to do that alone. G. GET A JOB (THE OTHER KIND) You’ve got a Job, but Claire keeps sighing and muttering about layabout space-people not earning their keep, so it might be time to seek out Employment as well. There are plenty of opportunities to earn some gil in Vaikuntha, no matter where you choose to settle down. Your iMog slate includes listing for employment opportunities. Hopefully you can find something you can live with so that you can start saving up for an airship or the security payment for your permanent housing. H. MOGNET *Ding!* You’ve got Mog-Mail! Thankfully, you can instantaneously chat with your friends around the world thanks to you iMog Slate. And unlike old-fashioned Moogle Letters, you can even send messages to everyone in a blink of an eye! However, despite the change in technology, the old tradition of Mognet Strikes have never gone away. Nobody knows any more whether the Moogles have legitimate reasons to go on strike or if they are just lazy. But today, Mognet is down, and to get information you have no choice but going to the public boards or risk message corruption and mishandling. I. RANDOM ENCOUNTER The ground trembles, and out of nowhere, something hostile appears! Is that battle music playing? You were minding your own business walking around, and suddenly monsters attacked you! Time to put to use the skills you've learned with your Jobs! Will you try to fight on your own or seek help? And remember, you die in random battle, you die FOR REAL. There’s no shame from running from enemies that are a higher level than you! J. SUMMER SUN [insert Sheryl Crow track here] Vaikuntha offers opportunities for many summer activities. Only some of the beaches hold the risk of being attacked by aquatic monsters, the others are a perfect destination for a day trip on a sunny day. Take a hike up the mountains and relax in some hot springs at the top. Go camping in the woods just not on Friday the 13th. Enjoy a refreshing sea salt ice cream bar. Just because you’re here, it doesn’t mean you’re not entitled to a vacation. K. WILD CARD Feeling inspired to create your own prompt? The power is yours!

Comments

[balancingedge]

[Oh. Oh Hunk. You precious summer child. It's almost like his healing injuries are raw again, with how he keeps going on and on and on. Yet he doesn't stop him. Not until-]

Hunk.

[It's a warning. Don't do this. Please don't do this. He knows science is your thing, man, but no. He knows what happened to Shiro. Their leader and friend. He didn't just see or hear, he felt it. He remembers the feeling of Shiro's hands over his as he learned how to do that teleport skill.]

...I know where he is. Where he went. It wasn't here.

[chefbayardee]

You know-

[ There's a flash of recognition in Hunk's eyes, a spark as his entire perception of his world catches on fire. He's entertained the idea that he went somewhere that wasn't Vaikuntha, of course, but there weren't many good options. He just ignored them all, because Shiro said to treat it like a vacation, and bad things don't happen during a vacation. ]

Keith, I... [ He hesitates. The way Keith said his name, this... it isn't good. His friend is in pain. Hunk wants to know, he does, but not if it's gonna hurt his friend who is so often unstoppable.

So he pulls Keith into a particularly strong hug instead. Perks of them having their arms on each other's shoulders. ]

It's okay. You don't have to tell me. [ There's the sound of a sniffle. He's crying again. ] You said we're all okay, that we all get through whatever happens.

[ And then he chokes out a raspy little laugh. If he knew what happened, couldn't he stop it when he got back to his own time? But being the Yellow Paladin means supporting and protecting his team, and that's more important right now. Because it all still works out in the end. ] That's what's important, right?

[balancingedge]

Yeah.

[It doesn't hurt nearly as much now, but... knowing what Shiro has to look forward to if he goes back. That's what hurts.]

I- oof, Hunk-! [Little too tight there, buddy. Keith winces as he's pulled into a strong hug. They've mostly healed his injuries, but that doesn't mean it's still not slightly sore-

He pats the big guy's back as he wraps his arms around him, slowly. More trying to reassure Hunk than himself.]

Who are you and what have you done with the nosiest Paladin I've ever met? [Another tease.] Well, aside from maybe Allura.

[She has her Moments, but... Hunk's better known for getting up in everyone's personal space.]

We do. Roughed up a battered, but we get through and will rebuild. [He pauses.] ...You picked up Magitek Knight, right?

[There's a reason he's asking this, but he wants to be sure first.]

[chefbayardee]

[ Hunk's shoulders slump a bit at the barb. He's not nosy, just curious! ] Look, you told me what I needed to know: we're all fine. Now I know it all works out, no matter what happens! [ And he puffs his chest out mid-hug, the pride obvious. At least until Keith can feel Hunk staring at him. Kind of like trying to see if he's more Galra now. ] But if you wanna tell me what happens then go for it.

[ Hunk releases the hug, and gives Keith a bit of a pleading look. Let him change the future, Keith. Tell him the things he won't be able to handle knowing. What's the worst that could happen? But then he leaves the topic behind for now and pulls out his gunblade, clicks and clacks of machinery echoing as it forms into something a bit closer to a gungreatsword. ]

Magitek Knight is pretty cool and fires a lot of magic lasers. I'm... [ He blushes a bit, realizing who he's talking to. ] I'm actually pretty good with a sword now! [ Hunk knows he's not space ninja tier, but... the progress is awesome and he's proud of it. ]

[balancingedge]

[Sorry, what was that? You're breaking up there. All he got was "He's" and "nosy". He also feels that stare and he's already kind of half-glaring as if he's trying to judge if Hunk is trying to see if...] Are you trying to see if my skin is purple again?

[Yep. Same Keith. He lets go when Hunk does, still squinting at him for a second. Don't worry, he'll say a few key things. Maybe not where others can hear, though. The magic lasers though makes him raise both eyebrows. Sounds right up his alley, right up to the greatsword despite it also being a gun.]

Really? Wouldn't mind seeing that. [Or sparring, once he picks up his asterisks. He already has a couple in mind for now.] It's good, though. Shiro might need a new arm if he ever catches up.

[Or if it activates again. Sorry, what was that? Explaining why? Nope, just going to try and get on the same page as Hunk first.] From what he said, it sounds like you're not that far behind? Not sure how much time passed after we last spoke, though. He mentioned something about allying with Lotor? [It sounds both like a question and something he disapproves of. For good reason.] Do you remember the Kral Zera?

[chefbayardee]

No! [ Hunk's dismissal of the purple-skin question is hair-trigger, almost reflexive. Look it's not his fault all the Galra they know have purple (or purple-ish) skin! Maybe he can shapeshift like Allura! Aliens are weird, stop judging him, Keith.

But then Hunk starts to take a few practice swings into the air with the gunblade, pulling a Lance and, well, showing off. Who better to get pointers from? ] Yeah, I'm learning how to fight hand-to-hand and with a knife, too. It's... kind of cool.

[ But then he gets to Lotor. There's an audible noise as Hunk's gloved hands tighten around the grip of the blade. The practice swings get a bit more weight behind them. Bit of a sore spot for Hunk, too. ]

Yup. Gave Shiro an earful about how he ignored his team in the future and ran off with Lotor so he could become the Galra Emperor. [ And he sighs as he swings the sword one last time before sheathing it again. It'll be easier to bake some cookies later. ]

We went to Oriande, Allura learned the secrets of Altean alchemy, and... the rest of us almost died. The ship's power got knocked out and we almost ran out of air, and... [ His sentence stops, and he just looks down at the floor. It was scary. Scarier than he can put into words. And he knows Keith will worry if he says it. ]

[balancingedge]

[He raises an eyebrow, like he's not entirely sure that he is or not. Well, his skin's still the same color it's always been. But he is at least a bit more sure of himself and where he stands. He relaxes a little bit, completely unaware of what his eyes do when under extreme distress. Hopefully, Hunk will never get to see that. Ever.

Keith backs up a couple steps to give Hunk space to practice.]

Careful. That blade is larger than what I'm used to, but it's obvious you're putting more energy into your swings than necessary. [It's heavy and packs a punch, which also means that it's less likely to handle well without careful consideration of the strikes. Far easier to lose control of.] You're also leaving yourself open with each swing by trying to look flashy. [Coming from the guy who tried to throw in fancy kicks the last time Hunk saw him in hand-to-hand.] Need to keep an eye on how you hold it, and your stance.

[He'll offer some actual pointers once they land and he can at least tap him with the blunt of a sword if he leaves himself open again. There's also a flash of amusement in his grey-violet eyes at the fact he's learning how to fight with a knife, too. Yeah. He could help with that.

Though he pauses and frowns, crossing his arms. That... doesn't sound like Shiro at all. He would never ignore his team like that, ever. Yet he remembers how much "Shiro" questioned his leadership skills when he returned, too. If only he knew sooner or returned beforehand. Yet he didn't, and there was no way he could have. Not with the mission at hand.]

What matters is you're all okay. You made it. [Hopefully his own words will help him, as Keith closes some of the distance and stands beside him again.] I remember Allura mentioning alchemy a couple times. Didn't exactly have much time to catch up with you guys when I came back. The news and passengers I arrived with were more pressing.

[He crosses his arms.]

Kolivan sent me on a mission to a base Ranveig occupied before he disappeared to extract a fellow Blade. Turns out, she was my mother. She'd been following the new strain of quintessence, too. [He pauses there, waiting for it. come on, he knows your curiosity streak.]

WE'RE DOING THIS. SPOILERS AND SUFFERING.

[chefbayardee]

[ As all of the advice comes out of Keith, he just starts nodding. Hunk will remember this, in a good way. Yeah, he's gotta conserve his energy, but that even extends to showy training swings! But as the conversation shifts, Hunk notices that Keith repeated his words. What matters is you're all okay.

What happens to them all? ]

Your mom?! So that means you're only half-Galra then, and not like... a teeny, tiny bit. [ Hunk's eyes have lit up. It's great that Keith got to find out more about where he came from. And if his mom was a Blade? She was probably pretty awesome. ] On a scale from Coran to Shiro, how cool is she? And that quintessence had to be helpful to the Coalition and the Galra Empire, right? Since we're working together with Lotor and all.

[ And they're standing side by side, but Hunk just kinda leeeeans in a bit. He needs to hear all the juicy details. ]

SPOILER BOMB, GO

[balancingedge]

[Oh my god he was talking about how you managed to live through the event you were mentioning, Hunk! He has no idea what Oriande even is aside from the implied place Allura went to learn Altean alchemy.

He also raises an eyebrow at the scale options.]

Well, considering Krolia was part of the scouting party that found Blue before she was stranded on Earth because her craft took a hit while she shot down the other...? [Please tell him that's an appropriate response.] And no, it's not. In fact, it's part of the reason I came back instead of reporting to the Blades. [His gaze hardens as he stares out the window.] Romelle will tell her own story, but Lotor was behind the quintessence and can't be trusted.

PAKOW, MY LEG

[chefbayardee]

[ Hunk looks ready to jump in with some quip or another about Krolia, his mouth half-open with words half-formed, but then his body stiffens at the mention of Lotor. There's a moment, if that, for Hunk to process, and then he begins to speak. Measured. Tense. ]

Of course we can't trust Lotor. [ If words could kill, those would. He wants to say he knew it, but he'd be lying. He thought they could trust Lotor. They all could. And they were wrong. ] So what's up with the quintessence? If he's behind it, then why'd he need to get into Oriande to get more? Why not just use this new quintessence to help the Galra Empire?

[ A twisting feeling in his gut tells him the answer won't be good. Hunk remembers how they get their quintessence, what'd make this any different? But he's the team's support. Their mechanic. His gaze falls towards Keith, towards that scar, and he finds his resolve. ]

Tell me everything. [ They'll go back, one day. Back to their own worlds, their own times. And he'll use everything he can learn to fix this, to fix everything. That's what a mechanic does. ]

THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE DON'T HAVE THE OTHER LEG ISN'T IT

[balancingedge]

[He catches that stiffening, how tense he is. Keith can't blame him for it at all. He was, too. Is now with the idea of Lotor potentially arriving here, regardless of when it will be for him. Yet despite it, he remains calm. Patient, despite the anger just bubbling under the surface.]

Romelle would tell it better. It's her story, but keep in mind that things work out. We make it out alive.

[Hunk needs to remember that. He can't stress it enough. Especially with how feral he heard his voice become in the quintessence field. 'Let's destroy that guy!' still rings so loudly in his head. Right. Start at the beginning.]

Krolia and I were following the trail of the new quintessence strain through the Quantum Abyss. We were stranded, but we managed to reach the other side by riding on these space creatures that kind of looked like whales? [Anyway.] It was there we found a Galra installation. But when we checked it out, we discovered an entire Altean colony. One that had thrived there since Altea was destroyed. Romelle was the one we discovered first. She'd lost her entire family to what Lotor was doing and needed answers. We found them and the source of the quintessence on a moon nearby.

[... He looks to Hunk, trying to gauge his reaction.] We found countless Alteans in pods, their quintessence being harvested from them. Lotor had tricked them into thinking he was moving them to a second colony when the reality was far worse, and covered up any signs of foul play.

We went directly to you, but I arrived too late. Allura and Lotor were already in the quintessence field when Romelle and I told you guys.

THE FUTURE IS MADE OF BEAR TRAPS, LET'S GO

[chefbayardee]

[ Keith mentions Romelle again, and there's a flicker of interest on Hunk's face as his hands move to the railing. Romelle is an Altean that, from the sounds of it, has one heck of a story to tell. A whole colony of Alteans, even! Hunk's interested, decidedly engaged, even optimistic, because then Altean culture and the species as a whole can be preserved and- ]

No- Wha- [ Hunk may be seeing the world in slow motion, but his body's doing the opposite. His knees shake for a moment as he lets out a shallow gasp, but luckily his hands grip tight onto that railing, giving him a measure of stability as his senses return. ]

L-Lotor harvested them?! [ It's taking everything he has to keep his tone level, to keep himself from raving at max volume. They don't need the attention. Tears are welling up in his eyes, but it's different. He isn't just hurting, he's seeing red. ] Like... like livestock.

Keith. [ His thoughts start racing- if this is what Lotor's doing to the Alteans, what's he doing to other races? What could he be doing to another Balmera? It's been so long and if Krolia found the Blue Lion, what are chances he's doing the same thing to Earth?! ] You said we're okay, but...

Do we ki... [ He starts to plead to his friend, and the tears start to fall again. Hunk won't say it. He can't, even though Lotor's a disgusting monster. Even though he deserves worse. ] Do we stop him?!

CASUALLY TOSSES GIANT BUG MEAT AT THE TRAPS

[balancingedge]

[He saw this coming. It's the same look he got when Romelle explained her past to the entire team. It's the same look he had himself when he heard what had happened. It went against everything they stood for as Paladins.]

He's no longer a threat. [He can't say he's dead. They couldn't confirm it and with all that's happened and will happen for Hunk. Keith lowers his voice, placing a hand on his friend's shoulder. He needs the reassurance.] Hunk, he can't hurt another innocent person. He won't.

[There's a sadness in his eyes behind the firm certainty. Mostly for those he saw hooked up to those machines, and who knows how many other Alteans and other races. For those who didn't know. Yet, he wants to tell him the good news. That they'll be going home after all this time. But, in their current situation... it's unnecessarily cruel.]

SNAP SNAP SNAP

[chefbayardee]

Good. [ The response is quick and sharp, and slowly Hunk's hands start to release that poor guardrail, as if all that fire, all that rage was released with a single word. ] I'm glad, just...

[ He sighs, and those tears start to fall. He should take care not to get too dehydrated. ] He's Zarkon's son. The apple didn't fall far from the monstrous, horrible tree. We could've- we shouldn't have even given him a chance.

[ Hunk's only saying that because hindsight's 20/20. Because he wants to feel like they could've known, they could've done something. But- ] What should I do? When I get back to my time. How should I stop him? [ He's expecting Keith to say to go all Blade of Marmora on him. Sneak attack. And he wouldn't object. ] I... If I can stop it, I need you to tell me. Please.

[ Even though he doesn't know if that's possible, if he'll even end up at the same moment he was gone, if whatever he does wouldn't just make things worse. But he has to try, right? ]

TEARS SOME OF THE MEAT FROM A PASSING TRAP AND KEEPS YEETING IT

[balancingedge]

[He understands what Hunk's trying to do. He'd want to go back in time and get back to them faster if it were possible. Maybe stop both near deaths for the entire team. Yet when he thinks on it, only one thing comes to mind.]

Keep him out of the quintessence field. It turned him into even more of a monster. It almost turned us into monsters. Allura managed to snap us out of it, though.

[But it was too late for Lotor. He'd already been lost to its power. Corrupted him just like his father.]

Allura won't believe it without proof. She tried protecting him until Romelle spoke up.

SNAPSNAPSNAPSNAPSNAPSNAPSNAPSNAPSNAPSNAP

[chefbayardee]

[ He does a bit of a double take at all this. They go out into the quintessence field unprotected? Isn't that what Zarkon did? Thank goodness Allura helps them out- it probably involves some of her crazy magic stuff. ]

What did Romelle say? What was her proof? [ And his eyes close for a moment. He's thinking hard. ] Is there anything we can say to catch him off-guard? Do we need Romelle to be there, or do we just have to know what to say to shut him down? Or do we just have to stall him until you show up?

[ Wheels are a-turnin'. Give him more to work with and he'll build the machine of Lotor's destruction all on his own, Keith. ]

SNAPSNAPSNAPSNAPSNAPSNAPSNAPSNAPSNAPSNAPSNAPSN-

[balancingedge]

Her presence was enough to cause Lotor to sweat a little. [For however much he ever panics.] He couldn't refute her claims, either.

[He sees the gears turning in Hunk's head. He knows even if he does get back and change things, it likely won't change the outcome much. After all, Shiro...

...

For a second there, he could almost feel the heat on his cheek again.]

Stall him as long as you can.

OH MAN THIS THREAD

[chefbayardee]

Got it. [ Stall tactics. His best friend is Lance. He knows how to keep people occupied, or at least get them paying attention to him instead whatever trouble Lance gets into. He's hard to ignore, after all. ]

So... I could start trying to talk to him about Coalition-Galra relations, [ Important. Obviously something he'd be interested in since they took back a big chunk of the universe. ] Balmera rehabilitation plans, [ There are more out there, probably in worse shape than Shay's. And the crystals are renewable energy, which would be right up Lotor's alley. ] and... definitely fine Galra dining. [ He'd have to plug Vrepit Sal's, of course. But he also knows he's not exactly close with Lotor. ]

What about Allura? How can I keep her busy? [ If they can keep her away from her work on quintessence, wouldn't Lotor have a harder time getting into the field? ] Just until Romelle shows up.

I'm dying and this is gr8

[balancingedge]

[He nods at all three ideas. Keith believes in Hunk and his stall tactics. His panic attacks did the job splendidly the few times those actually happened in tense situations, and that's when his head isn't in the right mindset. He's also a fast learner, so there's that at his disposal too. So long as he doesn't overthink it or make it obvious.

The important thing is they could work. Allura, though. She'll be the tricky one.]

Could always try to convince her to step back and take breaks so she doesn't exhaust herself, but that won't work for long. [They know her too well to know it would.] Maybe ask her to look into ways to prevent overexposure to quintessence. Though that could both be bad and good.

[Good, because it could distract her from working on the Sincline ships long enough and find a way to modify Voltron if it's needed. Also remind her of what caused Zarkon and Honerva to slowly corrupt. Bad, because it could give Lotor an immunity or resistance to the quintessence field and, well. Prolong everything and leave them at a greater disadvantage.]

they're gonna get up to some Shit in game aren't they

[chefbayardee]

[ He's on a wavelength with Keith. Shiro would be so proud of them! Keith's ideas are good, of course, he's always good at improvising during a fight, but... but he's not used to fixing things like Hunk is. Or in this case, breaking them. ]

Lance! [ Lance is such a good monkey wrench to Allura sometimes! ] I just gotta get him to hang out with her, give her the ol' razzle dazzle, and keep her from concentrating on her work. [ His pestering only got worse after Hunk told him she was interested way back when. So... worth a shot. ]

That or I can just... stop her progress? Maybe their data can get corrupted or something. [ See also: punch a computer. Pour food goo on the notes. And so on. ]

They really, really are. I'm gonna need a steady supply of popcorn and wine.

[balancingedge]

[He really, really isn't. He's always been best at battle, even moreso now with his time training with his mother. He tried leaving the math to Pidge and fixing things to her and Hunk. Lance... Well, he trusted him to have his back and rile him up at times but other than that, Hunk has A Point.]

Think that could work? [Because she could easily just shut that down, too. But data corruption could work too. Was he going to ask Pidge to help, or-

... He squints at him.] You're gonna punch the computer aren't you.

same. Keith gets to learn about Fun and Mischief. and Gourmands.

[chefbayardee]

Keith, if punching a computer makes it work, punching it harder makes it not work. And the Galra and Alteans are highly advanced, so everything is a computer. [ He nods sagely. He's been learning about punches, Keith. Trust him. He's a punchy scientist now. ]

So tell me if this works. When Lotor's out doing Galra Emperor stuff, Lance distracts Allura with a fantastic dance number, and I punch the computers with their data! [ A beat. ] Or I stumble and spill food goo, whichever. Then they have to start all over, and I cry a lot and apologize and that should be enough time for you and your mom and Romelle to show up.

[ He starts grinning. ] Then, we stop Lotor and nothing goes wrong and they get a new Galra Emperor who doesn't keep Alteans as livestock [ His hands clench into fists again. Reflexive. ] and then it's all okay! The good guys win!

Yep. And Hunk gets more tips on how to handle swords and knives. :')

[balancingedge]

Somehow I think Pidge would argue about the first part. [It works for him all the time but shhh. Though he does stop and listen. It seems like a decent enough of a plan, at least. It will work in the long run. There's just one problem.]

Sounds good, except one problem: the new Galra Emperor will likely be ruthless and continue Zarkon's conquests of the known universe. [He'd been there at the Kral Zera. He saw the people who were lined up to test their mettle to see who would be take the throne.] The biggest contender aside from Lotor was Sendak, and he'll have the witch behind him. The Marmora will likely try to eliminate all of them again, but they'll be keeping a closer eye on the proceedings after last time.

Hunk fully confident in his bladework is scary.

[chefbayardee]

Then we just stop Sendak. [ The grin turns into a smirk. ] We've done it once, twice if we count the Kral Zera. We can do it again! [ Optimism! ]

Besides, the Empire had trouble the first time they lost an Emperor. If it happens again then wouldn't they all, y'know, freak out? [ He doesn't want to say there'd be a ton of infighting again, but. Well. He shouldn't have to. ] We'd have to run damage control on the different factions of the Empire trying to hurt people like last time, but we'd still have Voltron.

[ And then he loses steam a bit. He's not a wartime tactician or anything like that. Hunk's better with recipes and wrenches, so... ] I dunno, do you think this could work? Do you have any cool Marmora space ninja opinions?

But imagine it being even scarier.. :3

[balancingedge]

Most of my intel on what he's been up to lately is probably weeks old for me. [Besides, most of it was from Kolivan and whatever the other Blades shared. His mission priority was the new type of quintessence.] But you're right, there would be trouble. And countless could be in trouble while they try to sort themselves out.

[So many factions fighting to fill the power void. He senses a headache coming on again.] We still do now. [Except there's a little problem with that: no way to recharge the Lions, and he hasn't mentioned that yet.] It will all depend on how they respond, and our status after. It's a lot of moving parts we're dealing with. One false move and we might have an even bigger disaster on our hands.

[Like the fight with Zarkon...]