Hunk mentioned something about that when we spoke before.
[Not in much detail, but the Galra Empire is something she's heard of before. And it's because of that that Leia feels it's safe, in a way, to talk more about her galaxy, in a way she hasn't with many others.]
It sounds more and more like our galaxies have a lot more in common than just space travel.
[Leia would agree. She's not sure how the Galactic Empire compares to the Galra Empire, but she's sure they both suck about just as much. And it's that very feeling of being able to relate to Allura and her galaxy that prompts Leia to offer:]
Perhaps we should meet somewhere, to discuss this in a more appropriate way.
If you aren't opposed to visiting my home, it might be best. It's easier to have conversations like this in private.
[Not because it has much impact on how things are here, but because it's just easier to not have to worry as much about concealing emotional effects to avoid attention from the others around them.]
[So they can both get their thoughts together and know how they want to go over it all. But once she's done speaking, Leia sends directions to her house over the crystal.]
[Tomorrow it is then, and sure enough at around noon Leia will hear a brisk knock on her door and find Allura dressed in a smart but casual walking dress, smile easy and relaxed for now.]
[Leia, as per usual, is dressed in a neat, composed outfit, pants and shirt all paler colors. And even the house is neater than it typically is, thanks to Leia taking the time to hide away any of Han's junk that may have been left out. (it's a real problem, her real nemesis is all of Han's misplaced tech pieces he keeps bringing home)
She opens the door, a pleasant smile of sorts on her face, as she steps aside to allow Allura to enter.]
[Leia accepts the tea with a smile, looking the tin over briefly before she returns her focus to Allura and gestures toward the chairs in the living room.]
I can put this on for us, and if you'd like, you can have a seat. It shouldn't take long to brew.
[The decor contains several larger pieces of machinery that were brought home and unable to be moved from their place (or at least unable to be moved by Leia), a few trinkets from the other cities, and otherwise standard furniture. Nothing extravagant or decadent.
But as soon as the tea is done--making tea is something Leia can, indeed, do--Leia returns with the teapot and two cups for the both of them. Setting it down on a table, Leia herself takes a seat.]
I believe we left off on the Galra Empire.
[Might as well just jump on into it, she feels. Her tone is kind, though; understanding, because she knows the topic is doubtlessly a difficult one to discuss.]
If there were any similarities to what's been happening in my own galaxy.
[The concept was similar enough, she's aware of that. It's how deep those similarities go that she's curious about, in case there was some way to learn from each other's experiences so that both could benefit.]
My own is currently under control by the Galactic Empire. Perhaps if there's any common ground, we can find a way to retain what we've learned here to help us in our fights.
We have no contact with any civilizations beyond our galaxy.
[Too much open space to travel, even with the best hyperdrives.]
The Empire as it is now has only existed for a handful of decades, but it rose up from the Republic, which had been in place for thousands of years. There's no clear indication just how long they had been planning for this.
I see. In my world we've had access to wormhole generation for a very long time, and unfortunately the Galra Empire also have access to the technology. Emperor Zarkon started conquering galaxies ten thousand years ago, and nearly all of my universe is now under the Galra Empire's reign.
[Something she feels strongly about too, given the cold snap in the air around her and the frost starting to blossom on the surface of the chair.]
We have hyperspace technology, but nothing quite so developed as to let us travel the distance between galaxies, with no guarantee of what we'll find.
[Leia notices, and it's not something she plans on calling out. It's more than understandable, knowing how she feels about the Empire and what they've done.]
I imagine the average lifespan in your galaxy is significantly longer than the standard human lifespan?
For Alteans, it is a good bit longer than a human lifespan; we can live for quite a few centuries easily. I imagine though that Zarkon had been using stolen quintessence- life energy- to extend his beyond normal means.
As for myself... [The air around Allura grows dimmer.] The Castle of Lions is equipped with healing pods. Not only can they repair extensive injuries within reason, they can be used to keep one in cryogenic statis for a very long time. When Altea was attacked, my father put me and our advisor Coran in two of the pods and sent the castle to a planet outside our solar system. Then hid the Lions of Voltron so Zarkon couldn't obtain Voltron. When the paladins found the Blue Lion and it brought them to the castle, they woke us up... We discovered that ten thousand years had passed... and that all the planets in Altea's solar system had been destroyed.
[She listens patiently, nodding in agreement with Allura's idea that this Zarkon had been extending his life span somehow. Not that she has much experience with that, but if it's possible in Allura's galaxy, then it would make sense.
But then she mentions the planets. Leia stills, drawing her breath in as a chill settles around her. She didn't want to imagine other planets in any galaxy suffering the same fate as Alderaan, and yet here seems to be proof that as disgusting and reprehensible as it was, planetary destruction wasn't unique to her galaxy. And she doesn't feel the least bit comforted that someone else might understand that feeling.]
...All planets including Altea? [Her voice is quieter than before, and she pauses before continuing.]
Our galaxies seem to have that in common, as well.
It's not an experience I would've hoped anyone else could relate to.
[She says it with a sad sort of weak smile, because she intends it in the best of ways. She isn't sure whether it's good or not that someone else can relate to her situation, aside from any of the surviving Alderaanians back home. Not that she wished that fate on them, or wanted them to be able to relate; the fact of the matter was they did and could. As helpful as it may be to talk over things with Allura, it's not something she wished anyone could relate to.]
[Words fail her now, honestly. The atmosphere more than makes up for it, the harsh cold giving way to a more watery chill, the air around her darkening even more.]
[Leia can't blame her. There aren't really any words adequate to explain how it feels to have your planet ripped away from you like that. Billions of lives destroyed, everything she ever knew and loved gone. Nothing more than fragments floating in space.
The break from harsh cold doesn't last too long, as Leia's thoughts and emotions cause icy tendrils to grow slowly on the floor beneath her.]
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[Not in much detail, but the Galra Empire is something she's heard of before. And it's because of that that Leia feels it's safe, in a way, to talk more about her galaxy, in a way she hasn't with many others.]
It sounds more and more like our galaxies have a lot more in common than just space travel.
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Perhaps we should meet somewhere, to discuss this in a more appropriate way.
[You know. Not over telepathy.]
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[Not because it has much impact on how things are here, but because it's just easier to not have to worry as much about concealing emotional effects to avoid attention from the others around them.]
As for when, I can make time.
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[So they can both get their thoughts together and know how they want to go over it all. But once she's done speaking, Leia sends directions to her house over the crystal.]
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She opens the door, a pleasant smile of sorts on her face, as she steps aside to allow Allura to enter.]
It's nice to see you in person again.
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[She also holds out a small tin of rose tea to go with those thanks.]
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I can put this on for us, and if you'd like, you can have a seat. It shouldn't take long to brew.
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But as soon as the tea is done--making tea is something Leia can, indeed, do--Leia returns with the teapot and two cups for the both of them. Setting it down on a table, Leia herself takes a seat.]
I believe we left off on the Galra Empire.
[Might as well just jump on into it, she feels. Her tone is kind, though; understanding, because she knows the topic is doubtlessly a difficult one to discuss.]
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Allura takes the tea with a small thank you, and then her expression sobers.]
That we did. What exactly did you want to know?
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[The concept was similar enough, she's aware of that. It's how deep those similarities go that she's curious about, in case there was some way to learn from each other's experiences so that both could benefit.]
My own is currently under control by the Galactic Empire. Perhaps if there's any common ground, we can find a way to retain what we've learned here to help us in our fights.
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How long has this empire of yours been in place then. And is it just the one galaxy or multiple?
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[Too much open space to travel, even with the best hyperdrives.]
The Empire as it is now has only existed for a handful of decades, but it rose up from the Republic, which had been in place for thousands of years. There's no clear indication just how long they had been planning for this.
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[Something she feels strongly about too, given the cold snap in the air around her and the frost starting to blossom on the surface of the chair.]
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[Leia notices, and it's not something she plans on calling out. It's more than understandable, knowing how she feels about the Empire and what they've done.]
I imagine the average lifespan in your galaxy is significantly longer than the standard human lifespan?
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As for myself... [The air around Allura grows dimmer.] The Castle of Lions is equipped with healing pods. Not only can they repair extensive injuries within reason, they can be used to keep one in cryogenic statis for a very long time. When Altea was attacked, my father put me and our advisor Coran in two of the pods and sent the castle to a planet outside our solar system. Then hid the Lions of Voltron so Zarkon couldn't obtain Voltron. When the paladins found the Blue Lion and it brought them to the castle, they woke us up... We discovered that ten thousand years had passed... and that all the planets in Altea's solar system had been destroyed.
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But then she mentions the planets. Leia stills, drawing her breath in as a chill settles around her. She didn't want to imagine other planets in any galaxy suffering the same fate as Alderaan, and yet here seems to be proof that as disgusting and reprehensible as it was, planetary destruction wasn't unique to her galaxy. And she doesn't feel the least bit comforted that someone else might understand that feeling.]
...All planets including Altea? [Her voice is quieter than before, and she pauses before continuing.]
Our galaxies seem to have that in common, as well.
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[She says it with a sad sort of weak smile, because she intends it in the best of ways. She isn't sure whether it's good or not that someone else can relate to her situation, aside from any of the surviving Alderaanians back home. Not that she wished that fate on them, or wanted them to be able to relate; the fact of the matter was they did and could. As helpful as it may be to talk over things with Allura, it's not something she wished anyone could relate to.]
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[Words fail her now, honestly. The atmosphere more than makes up for it, the harsh cold giving way to a more watery chill, the air around her darkening even more.]
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The break from harsh cold doesn't last too long, as Leia's thoughts and emotions cause icy tendrils to grow slowly on the floor beneath her.]
...I had to watch as they did it.
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