::text::

[pidge_out]

[Dealing with people face to face is hard, even if Pidge were to do it via communicator. She doesn’t know anyone here, and she’s hesitant to even be addressing the entirety of the Moira’s crew all at once like this. So she opts for the easier mode of communication: text. It’s like talking to the internet that way, and… Well, to be perfectly frank, that’s easier for her to handle.]

Hello, Moira crew. [Behind the screen she winces. Even she can tell that sounds awkward. But she presses on.] I’m new to this ship, but not new to space travel - trust me - but I am trying to gather some more information than what was given to me. Hoping someone onboard can help me out.

First: If the word “Voltron” means anything to you, contact me.

Second: If you know anyone with the last name “Holt”, contact me ASAP.

[There’s another hesitant moment before the typing resumes.] I can help out with any tech stuff in exchange for any useful information you’ve got. I’m good at it, and I’ve worked with alien tech before. The stuff here is new to me, but they gave me a job that works with it pretty closely, so I’m pretty sure I can figure it out soon enough. So: you help me, I help you. Fair, right?

Right. Cool. Let me know.

Comments

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Oh, they gave him a new body. See, in our world, heaven and hell aren't just like...spiritual concepts. They're actual dimensions. They exist parallel to my world. Dromas grew powerful enough to break out on his own.

[Darin is being kind of vague because he doesn't want to call attention to the fact that he probably has very similar powers.]

[pidge_out]

so if someone's "powerful enough" they can just never die? [That.. sounds kind of terrifying, actually.] what makes someone powerful? can they learn magic or something in the hell dimension?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Nooooot exactly. Hoo boy...um...

[Oh boy, let's see how he can dance his way around this.]

Okay, so...normally once you die, that's it. Right? You go to heaven or hell and you either live with the Celestials for eternity or you're put under the boot of the Archfiends. I mean, this is what I'm assuming because, well, I've never died.

But the Archfiends...well, they took a special interest in Dromas, so they...decided to train him. To fulfill a prophecy.

[Darin rolls his hand at the wrist here as he attempts to dodge that he's part of that same prophecy, which is why his family was attacked in the first place.]

Soooooo...yeah, long story short, Dromas is bad at following rules and broke out on his own. The end.

[pidge_out]

[Now that's definitely a few things to absorb. Pidge isn't exactly sure how to even begin piecing together the way this guy's world must work, so... She won't even try. The parallel dimensions thing kind of makes a little bit of sense, and it's enough to work with for the time being. As for everything else... Well, it isn't exactly her business, anyway.]

and to sum it up even more, he's a major jackass and framed you for murder. yikes.

but now the Ingress pulled you here and that's that, huh?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

That's definitely not that. I need to find a way back home before Dromas decides to fulfill the prophecy on his own and wipes out humanity.

But yeah, total jackass.

[pidge_out]

[Huh. Interesting.]

well, I guess it's definitely a good thing that I plan on figuring the Ingress out and get it working again

[forgeabettertomorrow]

You think you can? I mean, I'd be more than happy to give you a hand. I am a Master Blacksmith, after all.

[pidge_out]

I'm gonna try. and thanks, but I think I can handle it myself. I'll let you know if I need some help

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Well, I mean...I'm an engineer assigned to the Ingress so.

I should probably be there to help.

[/SAD TROMBONE]

[pidge_out]

seriously? you're assigned directly to the Ingress? as maintenance?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Yeah! I guess they saw my ability as a blacksmith and decided that working there would be a good fit.

I've only caused one fire so far!

[pidge_out]

[And there's that pause again.] I'm pretty sure the idea is to not cause any fires at all.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

...Pobody's Nerfect?

[pidge_out]

you totally remind me of someone I know

[forgeabettertomorrow]

I bet he's awesome.

[pidge_out]

he definitely thinks he is

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Well, either way, I'm honestly trying my best to learn.

I don't like being at such a disadvantage, so I've been studying non-stop in my down time.

[pidge_out]

is there a library or something here that you can study at?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

I mean, I'm sure there has to be. This place is bigger than the capital.

Hell, the castle could probably fit in the cargo hold.

[pidge_out]

you don't know? then how do you study?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Well, I have the training manual. But after that first fire, I pulled out all of the salveable parts. I completely gutted the console, then laid everything out.

As I took everything apart, I took notes on how they were connected, what went where, and how they came apart. After everything was broken down into its most basic parts, I sketched every piece, took notes, compared the pieces to my training manual, documented what each piece did, then slowly put it back together. When the parts were too damaged, I either fixed them or made new ones out of the scrap.

I mean, the best way to learn how something works is to know about every single component, right?

[pidge_out]

[... Okay, so that's pretty impressive. Especially for a Lance 2.0. Pidge will certainly give the guy points for that.]

know every component and how they interact with the others.

you've probably got a pretty comprehensive set of notes on the machinery here. is it cool if I get a look for myself?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[Hey, even Lances are good at something.]

Damn straight. I'd be more than happy to share. We're all in this together, right?

[pidge_out]

yeah, I guess we pretty much are

[There's a moment of hesitation, and then the video feed switches on. Pidge offers a small half-smile, reaching up to adjust a pair of glasses.]

I'm Pidge.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Darin Altway.

Pleasure t'meet ya.

And if you haven't already, give Shiro a call. He's looking for ya.