Welcome to Gaia! ::

It did not take long for someone to approach the barrier; she could not recognize them, but she recognized the alien who emerged and she stepped up to meet him with light steps, affection bright on her face. "Caedus." She breathed his name with joy, and started to reach out to him but caught herself, seeing his own restraint. Perhaps the touching was an alien thing, not just a Caedus thing?

"I wanted to give you some time to breathe, I figured after last night you needed it." As he relaxed, she stepped up, reaching out to take his hand. And, closing her eyes, she opened the gates to her homeworld, pressing that gift of energy that flowed from her homeworld into him, hoping to ease some of those circles under his eyes. "You're exhausted, your highness." when she opened her eyes again they were dancing with mischief, though hopefully he had recognized her playful tone.

"Quieter is good. Let Lyndin take his time- I am not here to ply him with questions this morning, this is a social call. I brought presents. Things to help acclimate your people to Earth, and a warmer welcome than last night for those who didn't come beyond the barrier."

She pointed over to the vehicle. "It's full of things for your people. Mostly food. Not.... well. The bagels will be good, and the coffee. A bagel and a cup of coffee are breakfasts, you remember, maybe. And.... it's morning." her hands gestured nervously. "I also brought some books- a couple for you specifically- and some reading material, and a way to play some Earth music, and about a dozen phones. Earth communication devices. I have a number programmed into them that I can receive as Jada; so if you need me you don't have to wait, someone can call me. And- well. Um. I brought money? Your people can go to the store and shop, buy some apparel to help blend in, or... whatever."

Leaning in, she made to try and bump her shoulder against him. "Because I want to help. I haven't made up my mind on the plan, but... a friend of yours is a friend I will try and make. And your people came to help. So this is the least I can do..."

Caedus held on to her hands and Scylla did not pull away from him, squeezing his hands tight. "I have missed you, Caedus. Thursday evenings have been a lot lonelier without having you to talk to." her small hands squeezed his gently, carefully, never too hard, always leaving him room to pull away, trying to be thoughtful of his former skittishness.

"I hope others will do the same as me." she inhaled, and couldn't stop the sigh. "I see where their fears come from. And I share some of their nerves. It feels like a slippery slope, and you are the only bridge between us. The questions of the morality of it, the power behind it, the anxieties over how it could go wrong, and maybe just... fear. This is technology and power we're not familiar with."

She smiled at him as his lips twitched. "But we can make friends. We have time to do so - and it is time that will be worth taking."

Sidling closer Scylla shook her head. "Unload later. Hug now, before Lyndin comes out and catches us. He's got all those muscles, too; he can help with the unloading."

Scylla couldn't stop her giggle as Caedus acknowledged that Lyndin was a bit more... muscley... that he himself was. Slipping into his arms, her own glowing limbs slipped around his waist, and she tucked her head into his torso as he stooped to tuck his chin around her shoulder. His squeeze was gleefully reciprocated, the Senshi of the Kraken living up to her name as well as she could with tiny human arms.

He smelled considerably better this time than he had after a couple years living in the woods, even if he'd managed to keep any odor down pretty well in the past.

"I know you are genuine, Caedus. And-" one narrow finger pressed into his side, "I know you're talking poorly about my dearest Caedus-friend, and I will not have it. He is quite clever, he just happened to take an unexpected 1000-year sabbatical from his alien education. I think you're probably being too hard on yourself, which if I remember correctly seems to be pretty par-for-the-course for you."

If her words were muffled by the fact she was burrowing herself into him, at least he was close enough to have heard her. She'd raised her voice a bit, too.

"I look forward to getting to meet more of your people, and getting to know your friend better. I wish I'd learned a few more words so I could try and speak to them in your own language, but I suppose now you have enough of your own people, and don't need me to help remind you of home. Which- before, you wouldn't come visit Scylla with me. Would you be willing to, now? Or is that something that should wait? Would you want to bring some friends?"

A small pause.

"No one likes the Negaverse. Except, I guess, the Negaverse."

He drew back, and Scylla untangled her arms to let him, and as he peered her over again, Scylla gave him a cheeky grin and did a little spin to assure him she was safe, sound, and still glowing. "We'll have to set a date then," she told him cheerfully; "I can go back to my homeworld in a few more days, I was just there yesterday so I'm a little tired for trying to travel. If you wish to bring some friends, I could probably handle a few others. Maybe three others max? I haven't tried to bring more than one or two other people with me."

She should probably check that out.

"But I have to say Lyndin is probably right." with a laugh, Scylla went and snuck one more hug. "You've probably got a lot more trouble to get into and need watching."

But speak his name and the alien himself would appear. The Commodore was massive, almost two feet taller than Scylla herself, and he seemed to have muscles on muscle on muscle. Like- this alien could give any human she had ever seen a run for his money. Silvery hair like Caedus, with almost lilac skin. So was the silvery hair a racial trait? Or, like humans, was silver hair just their version of brunette?

"Probably for the best you don't hold it." Scylla reached out to take the alien's hand in a friendly grip, squeezing gently. "I've known Caedus nowhere near as long as you and I can tell you've probably got your hands full." she didn't bother to hide her laugh. "Thank you for bringing the... Vanguard? All this way to aid us. I look forward to getting to know you, Lyndin, and the others as well."

She gestured to the large vehicle behind her. "I brought some gifts to help you and your people settle in with some things. Local funds, to make purchases if needed, some food, some common forms of earth entertainment, and phones to contact people." She'd said it for Caedus, but she'd say it again for the Commodore. "This morning's visit is for pleasure, not business, unless you're prepared for it and want to use me as a test run. But before that we might want to get the coffee and bagels in to your people before it all gets cold."

Beaming at Caedus, she reiterated, "I made the cookies and brownies myself. If you pull off all the burned bits they should taste just fine." A bit small, maybe on the dry side, and... well. Hopefully she hadn't mixed up the salt and the sugar. But fine.

"I'll walk with you," Scylla said cheerfully, "at least up to the barrier. No worries about not being able to invite me in for a tour right now, I know how chaotic it can be to move houses here on earth, I can only imagine the mess going on as you get set up." she beamed up at the alien, her head tilting back- and back- and oh, boy, he was a tall one. "If it makes you feel any better, the only person who might declare war if I got hurt is Caedus. My sister is also a senshi, and she would rather get paid off with a potted plant than a fight."

Giulia did like plants.

"I want to explain what things are as they get unpacked so you know for later," she explained, and opened the door- and got tackled in the face by a creature that had definitely not been in the vehicle when she had gotten out of it, her body falling backwards under the weight of the former wisp. The leathery otter-badger creature chirped in her face with large, flesh-shredding teeth, making a distinct noise of glee at her startled screech, and darted across the ground on wicked, over-sized feet- dripping brownie hunks and bits of coffee behind it as it danced cheerfully across the grass. Muffling a curse, Scylla gestured to it. "Caedus, that's the wisp that was on our video call. It's not a wisp anymore. And it wasn't invited to this visit."

And yet it had, somehow, come anyways. Last time she had seen it had been on her homeworld, and she had watched it swim off into the distance. and yet here it was. In her car. Eating brownies and coffee.

She hauled the bags of bagels out first, checking to make sure the bags weren't damaged; the seven surviving gallons of coffee were piled next between the three of them. She explained the foods had different flavors, pointing to cards inside the bags that explained them. The coffee had small 'shot-glass' sized cups to go with it, just in case- she hadn't known how many of the aliens there were in total, after all. And, after the bagels and coffee were delivered, the cookies came out, and the sad, smashed remains of otter-badger-wisp-devoured brownies.

There was clear pride taken in the heavy bags of books and image-laden magazines she plopped his way, and the iPad and small speakers were quickly and carefully explained on how to access the music she had loaded it with- in case Caedus had forgotten. She opened up one of the 12 burner phones, showing them both how to dial her own burner phone in case it was needed, and how to add more contact numbers. And passed them the debit gift cards and cash, explaining it could be passed out to any aliens who needed to mingle, and help pay for any necessities the humans didn't think of. They probably knew how money worked, but she quickly explained the denominations, since the last time they had probably seen human cash was a while ago. "It would be easier to use these cards," she said frankly, "You can just swipe and go, your vanguard doesn't have to worry about the counting or the change or anything. But if you have a need for the cash, it's here, and any senshi can help explain it."

And once everything was beyond the barrier, and hopefully the food had been descended upon by hoardes of curious aliens, it was time for business.

"Let me start by recapping everything you said last night as I understood it," Scylla began once they were more settled (she had grabbed a picnic blanket from the car as well, and three sturdy, reinforced camping chairs) "Just in case I am starting this on the wrong foot."

As they settled in, Scylla gathered her thoughts for a moment. Composed herself as if she were going into a business meeting. "This is me piecing together bits and pieces of many, many nights thinking over our conversations, my glynd," she told Caedus, "but my mind isn't as good as yours, so forgive me if I misremember something." Her smile to Lyndin was quick. Professional.

"Over a thousand Earth years ago- your own calendar was ten months of fifty days, give or take? Your homeworld was overrun by someone who basically devoured it, like Chaos did to our homeworlds; it was when Caedus was young, if I understood what you told me correctly." Scylla tilted her head to him. "You lost your King and Queen, built your new, synthetic world called Velencya, and years later came to Earth for... something. You were betrayed by Beryl, lost a number of warriors, and Caedus, who was, apparently, the last surviving royal-" she rolled her eyes over to him, "-and who was somehow separated from the rest of the group and trapped away. Meanwhile, the rest of you went home, hid, took on leadership roles, and did good technology. Fast forward; we help Caedus get home, you all have awesome-tech, and you all come up with a plan to help save earth from Beryl, Metallia, and Chaos in general."

Introduction over, she took a breath. "This plan is to borrow energy from willing volunteers using your Source Stones. Source Stones are a stronger version of the Crystals that Caedus used to get home, which we senshi helped power. These source stones are not simply larger chunks of those crystals- all the Source stones have an inhibitor which was lacking from the larger chunks of what was provided in the past: No one will be drained until there is nothing left, as you had described. The energy taken from the humans, senshi, and Vanguard will be used to help power a connection to a potentially magical comet, which is debris from a dead world you called Archideus." she stumbled a bit over the pronunciation, but continued on. "This connection will allow you to harvest energy and other resources from the core of this debris in order to power a weapon that is capable of breaking through the Rift and aiming straight for Metallia. Basically fire a ton of energy straight into the Rift and crumble it, as you put it, Caedus." she took a breath.

"Your goals are to help earth, possibly find your own homeworld's senshi among us, and possibly become long-term allies. Look for answers as to what about Earth is different since the Surrounding-" Her own breath shuddered- "Is already in enough shambles that we, here, now, are all that's left?" she couldn't keep the quiver of emotion and strain from her voice, but pushed it aside. Away. She didn't have time for it. "You are certain the weapon can only be used by one of your own people. I assume you are equally certain that none of your people could be turned to the cause of Chaos and made to work against purposes?" she looked between the two. "If I've understood correctly, I'll begin to lay out my questions, concerns, and suggestions."

The otter-badger-wisp came running up to Lyndin with a stick. Dropped it in his lap. Looked expectant.

The otter stared at Lyndin. Stared at the stick. Lifted a clawed foot and tapped at Lyndin's leg. "Try throwing the stick," Scylla suggested gently. "It's a form of play between humans and animals."

But there was more to be had, and the senshi of the Kraken leaned back, allowing comfortable silence to fill the air as she shifted around thoughts, questions, priorities, and information. "Intergalactic slavers," the maliens would hear her mutter, "And it's only Tuesday."But after a silence the woman shifted again, straightening in her camping seat and giving them both a no-nonsense, but not unfriendly, look. And then the questions began.

"The Source Stones have been proven safe for use. Can they be used at all by one of the Negaverse agents or the Dark Mirror senshi, should they somehow get their hands on them? These agents can drain from humans and I am certain inanimate sources- if a Source Stone is lost, how can we protect against them being mis-used and that technology turned against us by people more familiar with how energy draining works than we senshi?

You are certain this connection cannot be turned against the senshi because only your own people can use this technology. And you both are the only ones with the authority to manage the existing weapon. However, what mechanisms do you have to prevent corruption in your own people? Your commanders know the workings, and I presume they are here; your researchers likely did not come with the vanguard so that is one less concern, I acknowledge.Yet Chaos has taken our own against their will, and violated them, turning them into their own. It isn’t simply something a strong will can overcome.

You indicated that Archideus was destroyed long ago. That could be said for all of our homeworlds. Scylla was seemingly dead, until I awakened. Your original world you say is dead now as well. What makes this one different? With as many senshi awakening on Earth as you can see, can you suggest a good way to try and confirm that there is no senshi in the cauldron or already awake who could be harmed by this? The only one I know who might have an answer is Cosmos, and she’s… well… a busy cosmic entity. I will not sacrifice a lifeless rock that could be a homeworld any more than I would sacrifice my own world for power."

She played with her bracelet, then held it out silently for then to see the Ashen Lilac Rainbow Crystal stored within. “Long ago Caedus refused aid from Camelot and Castor’s crystals, and I understand a little more now of why. But what about something like this?

The Negaverse, and the Dark Mirror, all use energy to power themselves, and make themselves stronger. Speaking directly to Metallia- firing a laser of energy into the Rift would essentially simply be feeding her army, wouldn’t it? Cybele spoke on it yesterday- they WANT an influx of energy, just like this. This sounds like we would only be giving them a glut of raw energy and power, making them stronger and more deadly to fight. That’s something we can’t afford- there are no stories of senshi in other places in the world. And clearly not in the universe. We’re barely standing our ground here; if they grow stronger, we may lose what we have. We’ve had visions of the Negaverse winning once before, long ago. Every senshi, dragged forward and executed. Corrupted, starseeds crushed, whatever it took. They will leave no survivors. If your senshi is reborn and simply not awakened, this could backfire, and cause more harm. Is your synthetic world in a state to take in human refugees, should things go poorly?

Which brings me to my next question. If your weapon didn’t work as I fear it could, and it was able to actually did finish Metallia, severing her ties to the agents, what would happen to them? You said, and I quote, ‘In one single action, we might be able to destroy all of her ties to them. It would mean no more fighting. And, it would mean they are saved.’ By saved do you mean they would be killed, or would this energy simply serve to cut them adrift from Chaos? Do you have any hypothesis on this? Some of them are innocents, who didn’t choose their place in that army. They were taken. Some of them are part youma, twisted by her power. Some are fully monster. I have heard it is reversible, with the proper tools and effort, but I am not sure we have them at hand to help with such a large-scale endeavor. But if we could, is there a way we could use your power to perhaps… amplify a Royal senshi’s powers, to try and cure those who would be?

As for what makes Earth different… I think I need to know more about what YOU have observed about Earth’s existing forms of protection. I’ve been concerned on that front myself for some things. We’ve come in contact with an alien merchant who warned us, recently, about some things; if there’s more to this and I’m ‘barking up the wrong tree’, as we call it on Earth, then your unguided observations could save me some time."

After a moment she added, "I can repeat or add more detail to any questions you need repeated."

She had more, but this was already a lot.