[voice, ota]

[rebells]

Hello there.

This is Jay. If we haven't spoken yet, I've been with this "coven" more or less since its beginning, and I helped coordinate defense during the first Uvi raid. Feel free to ask me any questions you don't want to bother Genette or Brie with; a more informed group benefits us all, after all.

I'm talking to you all in interest of that, actually: a number of us have expressed that a comprehensive listing of everyone's abilities, particularly those granted us by Qri, would be useful to have. If you'll come talk to me about yours, either over telepathy or in person, that would be much appreciated. Genette should know about your Qri-granted power, if you don't.

I'll be in the house we're staying in for most of the day. Please do take care of yourselves, and be careful not to get shocked.

[Indeed, Jay can be found at a table near the entrance to the coven's house, with a stack of papers that read:

NAME:
CAN YOU FIGHT?:
QRI-GRANTED POWER:
OTHER POWERS:

He'll be handing them out to anyone who passes by, although what you do with yours is of course up to you.]




((a thing for you to fill out))

Comments

[spaceforged]

I'll ask next time I get the chance to talk. [He'd have to check out the old house at a later date. If that is where they're going back to.]

Whatever it is, thank you for what you've told me. If we go back there at least I'll have some idea of what I'll be dealing with. Can you tell me more about the boars?

[rebells]

It's not a problem--I did mean it when I said a more informed group benefited us all.

The boars are about this big [he motions] and rather aggressive. I believe it may have been birthing season when we left, so that may be why. They live up in the forest, a ways away from where Genette and Brie set up camp, and they're the main food source we've uncovered so far. Was that what you wanted to know?

[spaceforged]

Yes. [So they have a dangerous main food source. A camp that likely needs work. That's two things more than he expected.]

How much repair work do you think the camp needs? I think I can help move whatever materials we need as the Black Lion. ...eventually, be able to fly back and forth.

[rebells]

We have the basics -- shelter and beds, provided we don't overrun the shacks, and a source of water nearby. As of now, there isn't much else. There are certainly a number of things that could be built up or repaired to make things more comfortable for us.

[spaceforged]

We'll have to check what might have broken since the last time the team was there. ...if time is still moving there while everyone is away.

[That's actually a good question. Too bad neither of them can answer it yet.]

[rebells]

We'll certainly be busy. [This is said with a small, crooked smile.]

You're reminding me that we probably want to tell everyone to stock up on food before we leave in a couple days. We'll probably have to start living on boar eventually, but we could use some buffer time before that happens.

[spaceforged]

It would also be a good idea to stock up on any tools we won't be able to get on the island. That will make the work a little easier. [He smiles just a little himself.]

But you're right. We're going to be pretty busy.

[rebells]

. . . I do wonder what Qri thinks about putting us in this kind of situation. If she thinks about it at all.

[spaceforged]

That's a good question. We might have been chosen because we think about these things for ourselves.

[rebells]

How thoughtful of her. [With another crooked smile.]

What patterns there might be between people who are brought here, particularly those of us who've stayed . . . that's something else I'd really like to know. It might tell us something about how purposefully she can bring specific people here.

[spaceforged]

It could at least confirm if the process is precise or random. We might discover she has less control over who she brings than we're being lead to believe.

[rebells]

[Another nod; they seem to be in concert with their thoughts on these things. He returns to his notebook, running his thumb down the page.]

Do you have any other skills or powers? I'm trying to keep track of these things.

[spaceforged]

The Lion I pilot is alive...possibly merged with me. Possibly not. We shared a psychic bond. I can feel it when I reach inward but not outward like it should be.

[He's hoping that doesn't mean his universe is without the Black Lion. Maybe it's just an echo. Shiro lifts his robotic hand up and purple lines in precise angles lace up the wrist and hand. The glow suffuses the metal and wraps around into a steady glow.]

Don't touch it. My hand can become an energy weapon. That includes melting or cutting metal. The setting is dependent on my thoughts and will. Other than this, I'm a soldier.

[rebells]

[Wait, wait, wait, go back to that first part for a bit.]

Your robotic lion . . . is alive?

[spaceforged]

[He drops his hand and shuts off the energy putting it back to normal.] That's right.

I know it sounds odd. [There have been many people confused by him and his Lion shape.] It never needs to breathe or eat, but it is alive.

[rebells]

[He frowns.]

That's not something that would have been possible on my world, but that's true of a lot of things here . . . do you know how it came to be alive? [He's honestly curious.]

[spaceforged]

...from what I know I think it was the techniques of the race that built them combined with the ore used. I was asking those questions when I found myself here.

[He taps his mechanical arm.] The quintessence or life energies of the pilot have to match the Lion. They won't allow anyone they didn't choose to man them.

Hopefully, that doesn't mean the Qri would merge the entire team with their lions.

[rebells]

That makes sense, if they're intelligent.

[He is imagining something like spirit possession rather than AI, but that's his own frame of reference talking.]

Do you think Qri would bring your teammates here?

[spaceforged]

I don't think we can rule out the possibility. If her powers are in her control it would make more sense and be more energy efficient to take from the realities she has already established connections to.

[...she might even take their enemies.]

But it could also just mean certain realities have a higher connectivity. It all comes down to we have too little information to be sure of anything.

[rebells]

That's true.

[He returns to writing in his notebook, tapping the pen against the page. He's not sure what to make of the whole robotic lion psychic bond thing, but the energy weapon could be potentially useful.]

That reminds me. Did Genette tell you all about "high-" and "low-frequency" worlds?

[spaceforged]

I heard about that from someone else. ...Have you touched the Eltos bones or tried to use one?

[His mind is still on the possibility of having to serve alongside the conquerors of his own universe. He'd rather be anywhere but in close quarters with Zarkon's witch. He releases a breath.]

I tried to use one and it made the weapon aspect of my arm uncontrollable. ...it would be a good idea to warn anyone with an ability that's combat-related to be careful.

[rebells]

I have, but I didn't try out their effects on my eres. I'll have to remember that. [He was too busy trying not to get his feelings all over everyone.]

--the "hub" island is apparently a low-frequency world, so your other powers won't work there. that's why I wanted to mention it.

[spaceforged]

It makes sense. We're not supposed to rely on our old abilities. The more we have to use them the more useful to her we would be.

[It's a sound strategy. He could be wrong. But that seems unlikely.]

[rebells]

You're awfully cynical about Qri.

[He's smiling, though; he doesn't really disagree.]

[spaceforged]

[Shiro only shakes his head.]

It's hard not to be. We're in her power and limited to where she sends us. We're prisoners.