video;

[juniberries]

[The face that appears on camera is young and stern looking, with her white hair pulled back in a bun and a...mouse sitting comfortably on her shoulder.

It's obvious that she's stressed, but is trying to remain composed as she addresses the network.]

This is Princess Allura of the planet Altea. And...I hate to admit that I am at a loss as to how to proceed with formalities, considering I have been unceremoniously brought into this dimension in the midst of an intergalactic battle with Emperor Zarkon himself.

It is imperative that I return; I cannot remain here a moment longer. The Galra Empire remains a threat, and we are so close to finally ending their reign.

[She shuts her eyes, letting out a sigh. Not of resignation, but...well, she's tired and worried, that much is certain.]

If there is anyone on this network channel who can help, anyone at all, I would appreciate hearing from you immediately. The people I have spoken to directly tell me there is no way to return, and they refuse to disclose any other information.

Comments

[1/2] Video

[lasersounds]

Allura?!

Oh quiznak--That means almost everyone is here and I can shove it in that jerks face...and...

[And this is so not the time Lance, so not the time. Reign it in, buddy.]

[lasersounds]

This isn't going to be what you want to hear, but there really isn't a way back. Not that we've been able to find anyway.

But you aren't alone, Princess. Hunk, Pidge and I are here...some of the others have been as well. We'll figure it out and...get back home.

[Wow doesn't that sound familar? Ouch.]

[juniberries]

Lance?

[hah hah guess who looks just as shocked to see him. and confused. and...just...a whole amalgamation of emotions, honestly. there is a bit of relief as well, considering...]

Hunk and Pidge are here as well? And what of the others? What happened with Voltron? The Castle-ship had lost communication with you following the blast.

video;

[matataku]

I'm sorry to hear about your situation, your Highness.

[His voice is calm, almost a whisper, as he speaks. After all, she seemed more than stressed. There's no need to really exacerbate that further.]

It's not much consolation, but you will return to the exact moment that you left. In other words, time has 'frozen' while you are here.


The people you met with aren't exactly lying, but they're not being entirely helpful either. I'm afraid there's no way home just yet. Otherwise...

Well, we wouldn't be here.

video;

[juniberries]

[The concept of time stopping is a unique phenomena for her. Which is saying a lot because she had been stuck in a time loop, but that experience was...different.

She's quiet for a tick, obviously still trying to keep it all together.]

But you had just mentioned that I will return at the exact moment I left. Which implies there is a way back, and that there are those here who have returned.

Unless that is all pure speculation.

video;

[matataku]

[His eyes close, contemplative. A little because he's had experience with people of his world returning when he's had to stay, and because of people he's lived with all but disappearing.]

It's a two-way door, you're not wrong in your speculation.

It's just selective on when it opens, who it opens for, and if they even realize they're pulled through it.


In other words...the world itself decides who comes and who leaves.

video;

[23wishes]

Along with everything else that's been said, try to enjoy it while you're here. Maybe... think of it like a vacation.

[Aerith's smile is a bit put on, but hey, she's trying.]

And, for what it's worth, I can confirm that time freezes while you're here. I was sent back home a few months ago and everything was right where I left it.

video;

[juniberries]

You will forgive me in saying that I cannot think of this as a vacation. At least, not at this moment.

[She frowns. She's not exactly taken from a place where smiling feels appropriate. But when this stranger mentions having returned home...]

And...how did you return home?

[23wishes]

I understand. It takes some time.

[That's... actually a good question. No one ever seemed to give her a good enough answer to satisfy her.]

When things like that happen, people say the porter "glitched". [Fingerquotes.] No one's found a way to trigger it yet, and people have been working on this for years.

Video

[pidgewidgeon]

Allura! You're here! Oh quiznak it's good to see you.

Apparently no one's found a way home permanently, and people have been trying for years, or so I'm told. But, if we do find a way, time is apparently standing still at home. So we won't have missed anything. Not that that really makes any sense, but I'm just going with it until I either experience it or we find whatever machine controls this whole imPort thing and I can tinker with it. [ And she's rambling.

And then a thought occurs to her. ]

Have any of the others contacted you? Hunk and Lance are here too.

Video

[juniberries]

Pidge! [the mouse on her shoulder perks up at the sound of Pidge, and as if on cue, the other three bound up onto both of Allura's shoulders to say hello too.] I am so glad to see you are all right.

I will admit it is difficult to wrap my head around just how time is at a standstill back in our universe while we are here, but...if there is anyone who can solve such a problem, I believe it can be you, Pidge.

[You're the smart one, after all. She pauses.]

I have heard from Lance. He told me that you and Hunk are here but...do you know if Shiro and Keith are here? And what of your Lion?

Video

[pidgewidgeon]

[ Pidge gives a little wave to the mice: Hi guys! ]

I haven't been here long, and we had... incidents that started up not long after I arrived. I haven't even been able to start looking into whatever brought us here. Let alone figure it out.

[ And excuse her while she has a slight geek moment. ] I bet the technology behind this is amazing. It would have to just beautiful to pull something like this off.

[ And she's done. For now. ]

Lance, Hunk, and I have our lions! Although, they are a little different. If Keith or Shiro are here, they haven't made themselves known. [ As Pidge speaks she turns the phone around so the camera shows the miniature Green, and Pidge's voice is heard: ]

Say 'hi' to Allura!

[devoutish]

Is that what they're telling people now?

There's no way to return home of your own volition, but leaving is certainly possible. Happens all the time.

[juniberries]

That is what I was told when I questioned them further.

And I have been made aware that returning home is seemingly at random, or at the very least, unexplained. It is...well, it is not reassuring.

[devoutish]

No.

Use the porters often.

video;

[hunksmash]

Hey, Allura!

What everybody's saying is right, as far as I can tell. I've been here since, like... September? And nobody's seemed to notice it. Also, all three of you have also been here before, but nobody can remember it, so... Yeah. Wiped clear. Clean slate.

video;

[juniberries]

Hunk! Lance and Pidge told me you were here as well, I am so--

[AND.

SHE STOPS SHORT. expression faltering a bit.]

...what do you mean I have been here before?

video;

[oceanthief]

They can't disclose any more information because I'm pretty sure they don't actually know how the Porter works.

[a beat as she considers the possibility that she may be socially required to be reassuring (maybe??), and then:]

You're not missing anything by being here in the meantime.

[thanks, Lapis. very detailed and soothing.]

video;

[juniberries]

Surely if they would simply allow others to look, a fix may lie with those they've accidentally brought in. I doubt any of the technology used here is on par with Altean technology, but I do know a few humans who know how to solve such errors in a pinch.

[well, at least the initial shock of this has worn out by the time Lapis contacts her. now she just seems...well, still agitated, but more or less trying to figure things out.]

I still cannot feel as though I'm not missing anything by being here.

video

[foreshadower]

[ Man, that is one stodgy looking fellow on the camera. ]

You must certainly have a story to tell! [ No, really. He has a quill in hand. He might have been writing already. ]

I'm afraid we can't send you back, or else there would be nobody here to greet you, I'm afraid. You're rather...stuck.

video

[juniberries]

[i mean there are likely some people she knows who consider her stodgy at times, but--]

It is a story that would take too long to tell.

[she's squinting a bit at that quill in his hand. the (now four) mice on her shoulders, however, seem intrigued.]

And just how many others here are...stuck?

text; unregistered number

[nastygram]

Hello, New Network User. Your Network Post has been flagged for use of key words as identified by this filter.

This automated message is to inform you that Your Title does not mean dick and you should start Using Only Your First Name , and , No one is coming to your rescue.

If you believe your Network Post has been flagged in error: please submit complaint for due consideration.
Please respond with: any additional/important questions for due consideration.

Have a nice day.

[juniberries]

[SORRY SHE'S

KIND OF JUST GOING TO LOOK AT THIS MESSAGE. glare at it for a few ticks. and then not respond to it. mainly because it either is an automated message and responding to it is useless, or it's just someone being facetious and she's ~~better than that.]

[ Video ]

[ghoulking]

We sadly don't control the Porter. Neither does the government. The Porter is controlled by a rouge AI and it's what decides if we leave or not.

[ Video ]

[juniberries]

[A rogue AI...something in her look falters for a bit. let's just say she had an experience with a rogue AI and it was not...

well it didn't have a pleasant conclusion.]

I see. And destroying the AI will likely leave us with no means of returning home.