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Strange electrical storms are not observable only from Earth; their effects can be felt on other worlds as well. While these are most common, and typically worse, on locations within the Milky Way galaxy, all worlds may find strange, purple, electrical storms in the great distance–or maybe close enough to their world that it seems to take up the whole sky. The storms may come and go and their presence is somewhat unpredictable, as if the initial storm sometimes results in residual anomalies. The lightning storms are mostly similar to those on Earth, however the clouds have an intense purple color and, if the storms are close enough, there is an extreme increase in static that can cause small shocks. Being in the vicinity of any of these storms may result in notable magical anomalies; characters may have difficulties teleporting to or from their worlds, may have warped, weakened, or unpredictably strong magic, may not be able to summon their weapon/summon/cosmic companion. Electronics or magical wards may malfunction, and personal items or permanent items may exhibit strange effects.

Guests will have similar issues if visiting an afflicted world. Mauvians may find that they are unable to keep to a single form and may randomly alternate between Humanoid, Mauvian, or even Senshi form. Characters may find it difficult to stay powered up. Vanguardian weapons and youma magic may randomly discharge. The storm affects all characters, regardless of faction. Civilians will often feel dizzy or lightheaded and may even pass out. The storms can cause exhaustion and some characters may pass out. It is possible to be struck by lightning if the storm is close enough; it will leave a brief winding mark that looks like a snake crawling over the damaged skin. The lightning can knock someone unconscious but it cannot kill or do permanent damage; all effects fade within a few hours.


Antares wielded her weapon of choice, a broom, against the never ending onslaught of sand. The time she spent on her homeworld typically fell into two categories; cleaning or documenting. The low and looming clouds meant that she would not be sketching any buildings, or even the city that lay below the palace complex. The dim light made it hard to clearly see the details she wanted to capture, and forget about drawing out the hieroglyphs and mosaics that were decorating the palace walls. She was slowly building up a system for lighting using equipment brought from Earth but the portable solar panels, battery banks, and lighting weren’t exactly cheap.

Sure, she could request assistance from her family but Antares balked at that idea. She didn’t want to have them spend that much money, especially if she did as many sets as she really wanted to. Instead she was saving up for them, squirreling away a little each time she got paid for her artwork. Soon she would be able to install at least one full set of everything into the room she was currently working on, it was some sort of audience hall since it was rather spacious and the decorations on the pillars alone would have been spectacular if the ever present sand hadn’t worn them down over time. The only issue was just how dark the space was, especially on dark and gray days like it currently was.

So rather than draw or paint Antares slowly worked from room to room, brushing dust, dirt, and sand from each corner and crevice. As she cleaned slowly, focusing on her work, she mentally slipped into a more zen-like state. Not really noticing much when the dim light got even dimmer. It was only when flashes of lightning lit up the hall she was currently in that she really looked up. Blinking, alreadying feeling a mild headache building from straining her eyes so much, Antares looked around. Something felt different. Oppressive and ominous.

The eternal senshi narrowed her icy blue eyes and took a few steps forward, closer to one of the arched windows that overlooked one of the myriad gardens that were spread out everywhere in this monstrous complex of stone. It was there that something drew her eye, a shadow where a shadow shouldn’t have been. Antares frowned and tried to make out any details but a clap of thunder and flash of lightning ruined any night vision she still had. By the time she had cleared the spots from her eyes the shadow was gone. As if it never was there to begin with. Could she have been imagining it? It wasn’t like there was anyone else there. She was alone in this building. Alone in this city…. Alone on this entire world. There wasn’t anyone there.

There never was. No matter how much she would have sworn she was being watched. Being followed… being stalked through the dim halls and chambers. There wasn’t anyone there. There couldn’t be.

Shaking her head, Antares turned away to resume sweeping. She still had some time left so she might as well continue to clean. The broom’s bristles slid against the stone. Once. Twice. Three- She stopped and looked behind her.

Nothing there.

Nothing to the right or the left. No one in front either. But she would have sworn that there was someone there. Someone watching her. Someone that was harboring ill intent.

It was a feeling she had spent years relying on and yet now, that sinking feeling, the cold chill down her spine and those heightened senses, were failing her because there. Was. No. One. There.

Until there was.

There on the other side of the hall was a shadowy figure. A possibility of a person. A figment of a figure.

Her heart rate spiked, her breathing grew ragged, even as she took a step forward. The broom gripped in her hand like a weapon. Ready to fight.

A spear of lightning struck the ground outside, throwing the room into stark light and blinding her at the same time, the ear splitting sound of thunder nearly rattling her bones apart, but left her ears ringing for several long seconds. She tried to croke out one of her spells if only to keep whatever was in the room with her at bay but the words wouldn’t come. They wouldn’t pass the lump of fear that had lodged in her throat.

It had only been a few heartbeats, a few seconds at most, but by the time Antares could see in the darkened hall once more the shadow was gone. Like a figment of her imagination. Or an overstimulated mind. Of course there wasn’t anyone there, she was in space, on her homeworld where no one could go without her bringing them there. “I’ve got to stop watching scary movies,” she muttered to herself, ignoring the way her voice quivered slightly.

Rather than sticking around any further, Antares decided to call it a night. It wasn’t like she was scared or anything. Of course not. After quickly tidying up, moving faster than she had in the past, the eternal senshi quickly tried to return home only to find it much, much harder to do so. As if there was something holding her back. Feeling well and truly spooked now the woman practically forced the ‘jump’. It wasn’t until she got back to the city that the fear started to wane and soon she found herself chuckling at her own ‘silliness’.

She really did need to stop watching horror movies since it was starting to make her jump at non-existent shadows. Her life was already dangerous enough, she didn’t need to go tilting at windmills.

It wasn’t until later, when she was absently fiddling with her senshi phone, that she found the database where several other senshi reported strange happenings on their homeworlds as well. Namely that vicious lightning storm. After a few minutes of consideration she quickly added to the notes left by others. Noting the storm occurred on Antares as well and that it was much harder to return to Earth then it had before… She kept the shadow to herself, especially since it was just a trick of her mind.