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 Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2023 3:23 pm
Vaylin was sitting in her apartment recording information for her experiments onto her laptop. Her apartment was a mess of jury-rigged combinations of human and Velencyan technology, piles of text books, and empty vegetarian take-out containers. She looked over her notes and decided she needed some more soil samples for her experiments. She was currently studying the geological composition of the Earth, she was curious about how it was so flourishing when at least to her knowledge no Sailor Earth existed. She thought it might contain some clue to how to save her homeworld without the need for King Caedus' starseed.
She looked at the clock and noted it was pretty late at night she figured she'd be safe to forgo her glamor and conserve a bit of the energy she collected. She put on her Vanguard uniform and grabbed her dagger just in case she ran into any problems. She left her apartment through a window jumping down to the alleyway below her. She made her way towards a nearby park.
Once she reached the park she found a patch of loose dirt that she figured would work well. She got down and her knees and collected a bit of the soil in a test tube. "That should do it" She said in a chipper voice as she stood up.
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Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2023 8:58 pm
Lyndin was a practical person, a realistic person, so he didn’t believe that his meeting with Vaylin was pure coincidence. Destiny City was large, but it was only a matter of time before he’d run into the Vanguardians who were there with him. Although, he hadn’t seen her in so long that he couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief when he saw her. He had not forgotten their last interaction. Lyndin had been working on a project for nearly the last twenty hours straight, and he was taking a break to get a bit of fresh air. He wasn’t going to stay up for much longer; he was trying to be more responsible. He’d promised to have a good meal, and go to bed before it got too late. He meant to keep that promise. Lyndin was not wearing a disguise; even if he had been, the ComTech he was wearing would have made him easily identifiable. He saw Vaylin before she saw him, so he stood still and waited for her to approach a bit more before he greeted, “Vaylin. I’m glad to see you.”
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Posted: Mon Apr 03, 2023 4:23 pm
Vaylin nearly jumped out of her skin when she noticed the presence of another person and her hand instinctively shot to her dagger. However then she saw who it was who had spoken to her, she had not expected to see a member of the Vanguard tonight let alone the Commodore himself. She removed her hand from her weapon, even after everything that happened she didn't want to fight anyone from the Vanguard and besides she knew gap of power and skill between herself and a living legend like Lyndin. Even if she tried to fight him she doubted she could lay a scratch on the man.
"Commodore Lyndin sir, its been a long time. You look like you're doing well." She said shuffling her feet awkwardly. She remembered the last moments of the battle on that hill before she was teleported to the moon, just how injured he had been from the combined assaults of several members of Order. She didn't like seeing him like that but also hated what he had attempted to do. It made her stomach twist in knots just thinking about it.
"So what brings you out here tonight?" She asked unsure of what to say to the leader who she had once raised a blade against.
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Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2023 9:12 pm
“Well enough,” he confirmed. He continued to shorten the distance between them, but he approached slowly enough that it seemed obvious he had no intention of harm. “You look like you’re doing all right, too.” It was a relief. Even with their history, he wouldn’t wish ill of any Velencian. “I was looking for a bit of fresh air. I’ve been busy,” he shrugged. “I have a lot of projects going. Researching some batteries right now.” It didn’t sound particularly impressive on its own, but Lyndin had a habit of downplaying his projects and simplifying them to save time. “What about you?” he asked, and though she probably could have inferred that he wasn’t just asking about what she was doing out tonight, he added, “What have you been up to?”
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Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2023 10:37 pm
"That's good." She said letting out a soft sigh of relief. She didn't back away as he closed the distance between the two of them but she did feel bit uncomfortable at how dwarfed by his powerful build she was. "Yeah I've been doing well." She confirmed. Although she had many sleepless nights researching and experimenting she still tried to take good care of herself making sure to eat regularly and exercise often.
"Oh?" She said her interest piqued at the mention of research for batteries. "Large scale or small scale batteries?" She asked curious about the nature. "I actually found an interesting artifact that provides energy." She removed her dagger pointing the blade towards the ground to show the bell she had tied to the end of the weapon. "This bell allows my source stone to naturally replenish its energy." She explained excitedly.
When he asked her about her own activities her eyes sparkled. "Oh I've been doing a lot of research, I've studied some of the magical phenomena that occurs on this planet and others." She talked about the world between worlds with its strange creatures and energy, about the blighted monstrosity that had appeared before a Princess had awoken to her true power and stopped it, about the wonder that had been dying from a corrupted tree but was stopped. She loved discussing her research and had a tendency to babble at the mouth when she was talking about these things. "I'm currently studying the natural make up of this planet. It's a world that has survived without its Senshi as far as I'm aware so it must have something special about it plus its where so many Senshi and Knights ended up being reborn." She explained, she wasn't far enough into her research to have a hypothesis explaining it but she hoped it could proved useful, she wanted to get other samples from other worlds with senshi and knights.
When she realized she was rambling she reined it in. "Sorry" She said a little embraced to be talking so much as she looked over at the Commodore. A sad look came over her eyes as she remembered the reality of the situation at hand. "Sir, I...I don't know if I should ask this but are you still trying to...I mean...do you still intend to take King Caedus' starseed for the sake of Velenia?"
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Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2023 10:15 am
Vaylin covered a wide subject matter in a short period of time, but Lyndin never interrupted her nor gave any indication that he wanted her to stop talking. He also didn’t rush to answer her, but that was only because he was weighing her words as he determined what was the most important subject to tackle first. He seemed interested when she spoke of her projects, and a small smile appeared on his face as he observed her enthusiasm. It faded somewhat when she mentioned Caedus, though, and a heavy sigh fell from his lips. “For the sake of Velenia, I would do anything. Unfortunately, we don’t have many options. I am desperate. If I found him, I would take his starseed and return it to the Cauldron. It isn’t out of maliciousness, only desperation. You weren’t there when we spoke of it, but…” He tried to read her expression, but she didn’t seem to indicate that she knew what he was referring to. She must not know their plight. “Velencya is failing. With things as they are now, we don’t have much time left. The Core isn’t conducting energy like it used to, we’re losing more than we’re making. It’s only a matter of time before it fails completely. So I apologize for the secrecy of everything prior to this mission. I couldn’t let it fail.” And yet, they had not succeeded, either. “But it seems like we’re here for the long run. The others are looking into their own projects. I know some of them grapple with the morality of finding Caedus. I don’t blame them, or you. You’re all young.” They didn’t know true desperation. He hoped they never would. “There are other options. Everyone is trying to find a way to save Velencya. Or restore Velenia. Your independent research suggests to me that you were a good choice to bring. I hope your research will find the answers we need to save our people. I don’t want to bring them here. Earth is cruel. A last resort. But the war here makes it difficult, and I doubt we’d fit in. I don’t want to ask everyone to hide who they are for the sake of our survival.” It wasn’t an ideal situation in any case. He’d much rather save Velencya–much rather restore Velenia. He wanted to give them a real world to live on.
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Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2023 8:35 pm
"I know it's not out of maliciousness sir, You wouldn't do this if you didn't think you have to, but what if you're wrong? What if you took his starseed but it didn't fix anything. It took most of the senshi here on Earth a thousand years to be reborn what if Sailor Velenia is the same? We'd loose Caedus and still not have saved our world." She tried to argue. She wished more than anything she could dissuade the Commodore from his path. She wanted everything back to normal for Caedus to feel safe, for everyone to be back together. Perhaps that was selfish of her, to put the sake of one king before her people, Lyndin had surely explore other options so if he could not find another answer what made her think she could succeed where even he failed. But she felt she had to at least try, Caedus was kind, he was a good man and a good king in her eyes, he had suffered enough already and she did not want to see him sacrificed for the greater good.
Lyndin's words hit her like a bomb shell, "We're losing more energy than we're making?" She asked in a trepidatious voice her hand gripping the Velenian pendant around her neck like it was a lifeline. She bit her lip in concern, she knew Velencya was failing, Lyndin had said as much during the battle but she didn't realize it was that bad. She had thought the energy production was simply decreasing but if it was producing a net negative then how long before the energy was completely gone? It was very concerning. She needed to increase her research pace, she was glad to hear others where looking into their own projects to save their world. Even if she could find nothing she hoped one of them would at least succeed.
She smiled a little at his compliment. "Thank you sir. I can't agree with your plan and I can't aid you in your efforts but I swear I will continue to do everything in my power, whatever that is worth, to protect our people and I won't stop until a way to save our world has been found, until you and Caedus can reconcile." She meant the promise, she might only be a young cadet but she intended to devote her all to this. She might never find a solution but she would never stop trying at least.
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Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2023 10:52 pm
He flashed a brief, half-hearted smile. It was a nice dream, certainly, but emotions had little place in the realm of practicality. Realistically, Caedus’ starseed being returned to the Cauldron to be healed was the only thing he could think even had a remote possibility of healing it. There were limitations to the damage a starseed could take and recover from, and Caedus’ starseed had already taken more than he’d ever seen. Of course the research on how to come back from that would be limited. But, he knew the connection of a Senshi to their world, and it wasn’t a sacrifice he’d make lightly, but if it meant saving Velenia and giving Caedus a chance to heal and recover for his next life… “I appreciate your enthusiasm. I would like nothing more than to be proven wrong, here. If there is another way to save Caedus, and Velenia, I’m willing to try it. But I’ve run out of options. So it’s up to you, then, and the rest of the Vanguard here. I think Earth has opportunities that we didn’t have back on Velencya. So, maybe there is a way to do something. To buy more time. To heal his starseed, or rejuvenate Velencya, or restore Velenia without him. I have to focus on the only options I have. But if you won’t help me recover Caedus, the least I can do is give you the tools you need to explore other options.” Did he like that there were members of the Vanguard that had given up formality and didn’t trust him? Of course not. But, he hadn’t brought them just to have a team of loyal subordinates. He brought them to help him save Velencya. “I need to know something though, Vaylin. Are you doing everything you can to try and help our people?” He hadn’t seen her in a while, he hadn’t gotten check ins. He trusted her, though. “...And, if I could give you more power to pursue your research, could you promise to check in with me and give me updates on that and your well-being?”
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Posted: Tue May 02, 2023 4:32 pm
Vaylin nodded her head sadly she was glad Lyndin hadn't completely given up on the possibility that there could be an alternative way but it hurt her heart to hear him say he felt he had run out of options. But her eyes shot open when he mentioned the "tools" she needed, was he suggesting what she thought.
"Of course sir!" She answered without hesitation. Even if she didn't agree with the Vanguard's leadership on this particular issue and she felt she couldn't follow it's direction she believe whole heartily in its mission of protecting and advancing their people.
"I...I can" She agreed to his terms. "Just please don't ask me to assist you in finding King Caedus or aiding the Negaverse. I'm, sorry sir but my conscious won't allow me to follow those orders. And someday when Velencya is safe by whatever means, I'll willing take whatever punishment is due for that insubordination." She promised.
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Posted: Sun May 14, 2023 12:41 am
If Lyndin thought punishment was warranted, he didn’t say it. Truthfully, if they could save Velencya, he wasn’t even sure that he cared about such things. It was a luxury to worry about the afters. There was no point in dreaming if they couldn’t guarantee a future to work off of. Earth wouldn’t be good for Velencya. In the long run, it would have just been another blow to their culture. They could survive on Earth, but this planet wouldn’t last forever. Not with how the humans treated it. Not with the war. If the Chaos here didn’t destroy it, the Chaos from the dark stretches of the universe was just as liable to. "Our loyalty is to ourselves," he reminded, albeit gently. "The Negaverse is a sickness on this world, but their resources have given me what I need for my research." He wasn't glad to work with them, it was just the tactful decision. They had more resources and stability than the Senshi or Knights on this world. "I am doing what I can to lessen their strain on this world. Don't worry about them. Just be safe. They are dangerous. I don't want any harm to befall you." He would do what he could to protect her, but his reach only extended so far--especially when she was keeping to herself. " If you find Caedus," he sighed, heavily. There was more there than he could say, so he just shook his head. "Do what you can to find some other way to save Velencya. I need everyone working on this, in whatever way they think they can. We need to make sure there is a Velencya first." He would do everything in his power to secure that, even if it was at Caedus' expense. "But if you're going to be working on that project, you will need more power. Come here, let's see what we can do for you." He extended his hands to her--a ritual that would have been more grand if it had taken place on Velencya, but it was just the two of them here, and Velencya's blessing.
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Posted: Mon May 15, 2023 1:26 pm
Vaylin breathed a sigh of relief at the Commodore's words. It took a great weight off of her mind that Lyndin was aware of the evil of the Negaverse, even if she still thought his decision to work with them to use them was not the right one. Even beyond her conscientious objects to the alliance she did not see what they offered the Vanguard. She supposed they did know how to remove starseed which she suspected was the main motivation for Lyndin choosing them but from her observations their experience outside of that was limited in terms of what would be useful in saving Velencya. They seemed to locked to this singular planet unlike the Knights and Senshi and they did not seem have any experience with restoring dead worlds unlike the forces of Order. But the young Cadet kept those thoughts to herself as long as Lyndin didn't expect her to aid them she would not judge the decisions of the rest of the Vanguard when she did not know all the details.
She tensed a little as he mentioned Caedus but as he sighed and dropped the issue her shoulders relaxed. "Yes sir I promise I won't rest until Velencya is safe. I'll explore any possibilities I can think of." She said earnestly. She thought back to her parents, to her friends who still lived on Velencya, they were all at risk if a solution couldn't be found. She couldn't bring herself to except saving them meant damning Caedus but she would try anything short of that to save their planet.
She stood up a bit straighter as he beckoned her forward. She walked over to him prepared for the ritual. "Thank you sir, I swear I'll put this power to good use in the service of our planet and our people." The Space Cauldron I think we can bring this to a close in the next couple of posts
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Posted: Tue May 23, 2023 3:27 pm
Lyndin believed her. It was more than just that he had to. She’d proven herself so far–she’d survived on her own. She was making progress and advancing her research. He accepted her hands in his own and drew in a calming breath. He hadn’t been worried, but he was proud. The actual promotion took nothing out of him; he was a conduit for Velencya’s powers, and its energy flowed through him and into her. His eyes glowed, and he wore a reassuring, confident smile. Energy was heavy in the air, like a gentle embrace. The buckle on her belt and the brooch she wore flickered, and another triangle lit up. The process was refreshing, like a second wind. When it finished, Lyndin’s eyes returned to normal, but the buzz lingered in the air. She had so much more that she could tap into now–and Velencya was glad to share that power with her. “Congratulations, Corporal. Thank you for everything you’ve done. I look forward to hearing how your research is going. And how you are doing. Don’t be a stranger, please.”
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