[Video] 001

[spaceforged]

[There's a click as the video turns on and the faint recording light reflects on the visor of a helmet beside a calm looking man. He pushes it out of the way with his metal right hand and nods to the screen.] Hello, I've heard I've been here before. Sorry to anyone who knew me, I came back without those memories. I don't foresee them coming back. To those who have never seen me before, I'm Shiro. A pleasure to meet you, despite the circumstances behind it.

[He leans back in his seat and it makes the scar across the bridge of his nose stand out. His hair is cut short except for a shock of white in the front. He glances to the side briefly and back into at the viewers. He's clearly used to speaking for an audience.] But that's not why I turned this on. ...I have a few questions and hopefully, someone has an answer.

First, I'd like to know what we've found out so far about these rocks coming from space. Do we even know where they're coming from? I've seen a few types and have an idea what they do but comparing experiences and confirming it would be better than going on an assumption.

[The man pauses here, and says a little less formally. His voice a little quieter.]

And I'd like to ask how often people from the same universe arrive here from different points in time. Do we ever gain the time that we're missing? I'd just like to know what to expect. Thank you.

Comments

[VIDEO]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

I've been working on examining these meteorites. I think I've got a comprehensive idea of what's going on, but they're a little tricky to handle.

[The video blips on to a well-muscled, blue-haired man who's half looking at the screen, and half looking at another monitor offscreen.]

As for the timeline issue, it happens more often than I care to admit. Time's all wonky here. Case in point, I left for a week and a half and lived out six months of my life before returning.

[Video]

[spaceforged]

[He glances away from the screen briefly, giving himself a moment to let that sink in.] So, there's a possibility I'll randomly leave for a bit and come back from a point in time closer to theirs.

[Shiro exhales slowly.] ...Thank you for telling me.

[That's that. Shiro reaches for a note pad and a pen, flipping it open to a fresh page.] I did notice they're tricky. I ran into one that was killing the plantlife near where it landed.

Re: [Video]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Yeah, that's definitely something that makes them tricky to handle. I'm assuming it's because they emit a pretty low level amount of radiation. Enough to only really affect us but not enough to make us sick or for it to be fatal.

[Darin glances over, a bit surprised. Oh! Hey, someone else who takes notes like him! For as long as he's been here, he's never once met someone who was that thorough.]

There's different colors, different types, and they all seem to have different affects on the populace at large. I'm trying to narrow down the spectrum of radiation. See if maybe I can whip up a tracker.

If you want, I can send you a file on the known types and their effects.

[Video]

[lonered]

[So Keith has a few ideas of where that last question comes from, so that's where he'll begin.]

It's definitely strange, the multiple points in time thing.

[The unspoken question here is whether or not Shiro is okay with that. Keith is still of the mind that he'll tell the other Paladin as much or as little as he wants to know.]

Good questions about the space rocks though. You run into any of them yet?

[Video]

[spaceforged]

One, the crash site was...it looks like it was absorbing or killing the foliage around it. Black didn't know what to make of it either.

[He can't help but give Keith a brief look that's part worry, part thoughtfulness. He lets out a breath.]

It is strange but, I meant what I said to you before. ...I just want to know what to expect with this world and how it handles time.

[Video]

[lonered]

[A nod of agreement.] I didn't get any useful readings off the one I found either. That one didn't seem to be bothering the plants though... at least not yet.

[They've both seen enough in their travels to recognize potential trouble when they see it, haven't they? That's what Keith has this pegged as.

He hesitates for just a moment before nodding again.]

Fair enough. Seems like it could be important to know. With the way this place sucks in people from other universes to begin with.. I don't know. I don't like it.

[Space time rifts are bad news. That's what he's learned.]

[Video]

[irwins]

[Shaun appears on camera with a friendly wave.] Welcome to the super hero comic book version of Earth.

[But greetings aside, he actually looks thoughtful.] The colors seem to be the difference, and different colors cause different crap. Red can alter your personality. White kills plants. Green saps the powers the nanites give us. And uh... some other color gives native animals creepy powers.

[That's as far as he's gotten through personal experience and chatting with folks directly.

A frown and he adds,] The different time thing happens pretty regularly, I think. No real pattern though. [Shaun is actually a huge fan of the different time thing, and wants it to never correct itself in his and his sister's case.]

[Video]

[spaceforged]

...one would think there would be a pattern to time distortions. [He says, after a moment of listening. His voice stays neutral. So far, all he has gotten is it could happen at any time. Not reassuring but not terrible either. It's livable. He sets his hands down on the table just out of the view of the screen and lets that worry go. For now.

Shiro offers the Shaun a small smile.]

That confirms what I've been told. Thank you.

...the other colored meteorite, What sort of powers do the native animals get?

[Video]

[irwins]

I mean maybe there's some rhyme or reason to it that no one's picked up on yet. Patterns can be hidden. And who knows, maybe there's some math-y science-y brain-y type who's running the statistical model as we speak. But it sure as hell seems like it's at the Porter's whim.

[A shake of his head at the thanks.] Hey don't mention it. But just so you know, weird shit happens here regularly. Earlier in the summer it was weird sick cryptids showing up all around. Then a couple weeks back? Giant evil looking space station replaced the moon. Now it's magic space rocks.

[It's a weird place.] But uh... one of the horses got... stretchy? I don't know. Creepy as hell. Another one sprouted wings I think. Fair disclosure: heard those both second hand. Same with what I heard about the green stuff. Red I experienced myself. I do not recommend it.

Video;

[codeoracle]

[Excuse the fast-talking gremlin, that is currently munching on snacks and not really giving the camera her full attention.] Not the first to come back without memories. Welcome.

...The rocks definitely have different properties. The ones I've seen are not good, so don't touch them if you can help it. If you have samples, I want to study them.

And the time thing? Normal. Good luck with that one. If you get the time you're missing you normally leave and come back. It's called "porting out."

We really need a better welcome packet. Anything else?

Video;

[spaceforged]

[He blinks, raising one eyebrow then letting it fall. That is the distinctive ramble of a scientist.] So far I've heard about a few different colors and types. I only personally encountered the white variety.

[He pauses.] If we find a way to take samples safely, I'll do that for you.

[Porting out.] And yes, I heard from someone else we can't go far from Earth. Do you know why?

vid

[h2no]

Ah, you're gonna be ruminatin' on that timeline stuff forever. I've had experience with multiple timelines within my own timeline, an' I know a few others have too. It's-- [he grimaces, shakes his head.] I don't believe we do gain the time, no. It all stops back home and resumes when you go back. People from your own general universe showin' up... that's a gamble.

[archie shrugs, tiredly. it's not a great answer, but it's his own understanding.]

As for the crystals... space is all we know. There are a variety of species here, none as of yet who have identified them. All I can say is stay away from 'em. [a beat.] Or... pick them up with your metal hand? Maybe non-organic material isn't affected by it? Fuck if I know!

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[spaceforged]

So this is like a hub between the timelines of our realities? [That seems like the best way to put it. He crosses his arms across his chest and visibly thinks that over.] ...Thank you. That's what I've heard so far and it's good to have it further confirmed. That's livable.

[He can't change it. So, now he can truly just let that be a worry for restless nights. He nods once.]

I think you're right. I did attempt to move and my, [He pauses.] robotic companion didn't have any side effects. Still, that could just be one variety. No way to know just yet.

video

[continuousgroaning]

[Tina sends over a picture of a blue crystal.]

I've seen these ones the most, and they had no effect on me but gave my horse superpowers. He could stretch and change size at will. That wasn't fun, but the effect only lasted an hour or so.

video

[spaceforged]

Thank you for sharing this. Is your horse okay now? ...and do you know if it affects the native people in any way?

[He sends back a picture of a white crystal.]

It didn't affect me or my companion. But it was killing plant life.

[VIDEO]

[patchricide]

It's good to have you with us again, Shiro. If you do have any questions to help catch you up, I can gladly answer... or perhaps Pidge, since she has a better baseline for what's normal on Earth. Or your version of Earth, that is.

The timelines are... complicated, since it does seem that the timeline here is completely disconnected from the timelines of everyone's realities. I myself was here previously, returned with no memories and behind the timeline of others, then was ported out to regain some of the lost time... but not all of it.

[She pauses awkwardly at this point, and then clears her throat. Like she said, it's complicated!]

... anyway! About the rocks!

As you may have gathered, everyone's investigation is focused less on where they came from, and more on the damage being caused by them. I'm working with a team called Aegis that could use more samples to study, to help track and contain the rest... though given that the entire imPort community is looking into them, maybe a shared collection would be better.

[VIDEO]

[spaceforged]

[He listens patiently. He can always count on Allura to tell him what he needs to know or offer it. His shoulders slowly relax and he gives her a small reassuring smile.] Yeah, timelines are complicated. I'll worry about it when it happens.

[On to business. The rocks. It's way less of a headache.]

I think a shared collection would be better. If we're all already focused on this, it would cover a lot of ground all at once. Do you know if any of these rocks affect the lions? Just in case.

video

[ct_7567]

The rocks are part of a recent phenomena. Things have started to appear here where they don't belong. My money's on it being from different worlds - different galaxies, to be precise.

[ Universes, some would say, but that's not necessarily in Rex's vocabulary. ]

As for the discrepancies between times of entry, you'll find that they're disparate enough to be separated by hundreds of years, if not more. By that point, it's a question of how much time you're considering.

video

[spaceforged]

Possibly months to a few years in this case. [Possibly far more complex than that. 'The actual you', the words stick in the back of his head.] I've been told there's no pattern to the discrepancies or when we're 'ported out'.

And what you're saying about the rocks...if that's true is there some sort of tearing between our universes and this one?

[godkaru]

I'm not sure about the rest, but f or your last question. My best friend had been here for a year before I showed up.

[spaceforged]

Yes, that seems the case for my own team too.

But, I was specifically asking about where we come from our reality's timelines. A fair number of people have explained that there's no pattern and the variances can be pretty severe between people. I'm guessing whatever causes this is unstable. A lack of consistent results is worrying.

[helpdesk_hero]

I don't know how often it is, but the three people I've seen from my own world, none of them were from the same point as me. Two from ahead of time, one from behind, but she's been here so long.

And apparently I was here before too, so I guess if you figure out if you get the other memories, I'd appreciate if you told me.

[spaceforged]

I'll be sure to send you a message if that happens. So far I haven't felt any sort of recognition.

[It's unsettling. He keeps that thought to himself and nods.]

Everyone has told me there's no pattern or reasoning to who gets ported out or who get 'updated' or matches up in general. I'm going to look a little further into it, if I can.

Video

[pidgewidgeon]

[ Pidge looks a bit rough when she answers Shiro; someone has obviously been working in their lab nonstop for a few days. Her hair is standing on end, the result of a few days with no shower and constantly running her fingers through it, she has deep bags under her eyes, and she's visibly twitching from either the lack of sleep or caffeine. Or both. ]

What rocks?

Video

[spaceforged]

[He takes in her appearance and crosses his arms over his chest.]

The meteorites with the odd side effects. What have you been working on?