Disclaimer: Voltron Force, its characters, and plot devices are a licensed product of WEP Enterprises, Inc. in St. Louis. This fanfiction is merely an attempt to burn some midnight oil from the creation of their new series, Voltron Force. The show airs Thursday nights on Nicktoons, 20:30 EST.
Chapter 1: Castle Intrigue
The wind howled around the castle's eight floor infirmary wing as Larmina Kent, HRH, was making the 10PM rounds. She had come into the medic with Daniel earlier that night after his gobot rolled during a mission. She peaked in – sound asleep. His heart rate bounded up and down in a normal sinus rhythm.
Daniel's arm was lifted into traction, and his face looked –
"Please –stay until the morning," Larmina heard a tugging around the corner. It sounded like her aunt's voice, but she was reviewing state documents at this hour.
Larmina flushed against the alabaster wall to get closer. She cautiously stepped across the polished tile.
Daniel stirred for a moment and groaned. Larmina froze.
"Defending the galaxy and the people of Arus and her allies for equal rights with the Galaxy Alliance means gathering intelligence to maintain and build alliances. The people of Arus elected a body of governance, who made you The House of Arus' Stewart over Voltron. Lotor's influence may grow, and we must seek to build intelligence because of what happened with Ebb. The marginal quadrants, the ones once ruled by the Drule Kingdom, are where our networks and resources strengthen while your cousin works to get diplomacy with the current ones. "
Something her aunt did frequently while trying to think of another angle to approach, Allura shifted her stance before beginning, "Answers I don't have, but running into this situation – I suspect it's what Lotor or Wade's loyalists want. We're should face them as a team – the five rivers paradox. Pidge is still reviewing the predator robeast's schematics, while Vince does some additional weapons development."
"Allura, Wade went after a friendly nation for months just to entrap you, Coran, and Larmina. You must understand that you're not just the pilot of Blue Lion, you represent much more to people."
"Since the Galaxy Alliance placed restrictions on aerospace fleet development to combat blockades, our friendly nations need security behind a show of force. Without the Blue Lion, I worry what would have happened while the force field was erected. "
The deeper voice expanded, "Many Arusians adjusted to the embargo on us, that's why it's import for us to maintain back channel communications with what Allies we have and strategize to weaken areas of Wade's network." The voice fleetingly paused, "And Lotor isn't going to stop going after you, especially now. We have to maintain our intelligence sect to keep apprised of his moves. Haggar's body deconstructed into so much Haggarium after you were trapped on Doom – he will be looking for other sources to reconstitute himself..."
Allura's voice became muffled and hinted at sadness.
"He won't, I promise."
"With the Galaxy Alliance reinstated, we can propose a resolution to strengthen defense in strategic areas of the galaxy without having to travel across multiple quadrants." Allura sounded reluctant about her answer – this was so unlike her aunt. She was all about unity, aligning unique coalitions to solve scarce resources and promote commerce. "You going ahead of my envoy would help, but I'd –"Larmina heard some mumbling and leaned in. Contact. Larmina had bent too far and been discovered. Stupid red hair. Next time – ninja costume. She saw an eyebrow raise but not divulge her position.
"He's going to take his mother's dying words seriously, Allura, he's a madman. He'll do anything to fulfill a token of ancient lordship that will cause him to triumph over the galaxy alliance by taking you." She could see the words took Allura by surprise, not an easy feat.
"The Arusian House avoided much of this royal postulating for blood for years by marrying within the people until my mother – it's what gives us the strength to understand the plight of our people, and that's all I want."
Silence behind the beep of Daniels' heart monitor lasted for several moments. She heard the ruffling of some cloth make contact and an elongated sigh.
"Regretting what has to pass should not be avoided, especially since it gave me you. I'll keep fighting until this is behind us, and we have what we want for Arus and the Galaxy."
Grabbing a nearby book, Larmina took a seat in the infirmary near Daniel not wanting to be seen as ease dropping on the conversation. Thoroughly appearing disturbed about something that happened after she left her position, Larmina noticed Allura make a hasty exit toward the nearby castle elevators without saying a word. She stared at the manual on Maintaining Ignition Proportions in the Lions by Pidge Ridgley. Vince must have been here earlier.
"Cribbage, formed when nitroglycerin, "yawned Larmina, "metallurgies combine to create an exo-" She rested the book against her chest and let out a deep sigh.
Putting down the leather portfolio, Larmina elected not to follow her rattled aunt. Standing in front of her was Captain Keith of the Voltron Force. Larmina awkwardly startled by the presence of the Captain nearly fell out of her chair. The manual's plastic covering slid onto the floor.
"Um. Hi –" she briefly looked sideways. Hoping that he would not notice her blush, Larmina looked over to Daniel to change the conversation.
"How is Daniel?" Captain Keith asked.
"He's good – I guess. They have him on some medicine that helps him sleep. He hasn't moved his arm while he's been here, but Doctor Gorma said he would return in the morning."
"Good. Cadet, I need you to keep an eye on this while I'm gone." Narrowing his eyes, Keith took the Black Lion's key out of his Volt Comm and locked it into an infirmary setting. "I've already preprogrammed a message and discussed this with your aunt. The rest of the team won't agree, but I need someone to know where it's locked in case the others' are not able to access it."
"Sure… okay…. Why?" Larmina asked perplexed and slightly uneased. She did not like this anymore than when she overheard Allura and Coran discussing her educational goals.
"Because what I am doing complicates a mission." Captain Keith responded as he left the infirmary.
Larmina hesitated and looked to the side, slightly embarrassed she asked, "Isn't there someone else that could be sent? I mean you are the pilot of the Black Lion and team leader. That's a pretty big responsibility."
"It's easier for people to believe that I, along with Black Lion, remain on Arus, while I go see an old friend and see about this newly proposed alliance."
"You know – everyone's always talking about their responsibilities to solve things, what if solving things means developing it so that more people can do the work of a few – spread out the resources."
"Like your idea cadet, and when I return, we'll discuss establishing the second tier of an intelligence network and interagency collaboration between local law enforcement, the Degun Castle Guard, and community. I'd like to see you and the other cadets be able to learn more about the ground-level operations, as possible. It's not all about flying the Black Lion."
"Okay, geeze, I get it." Larmina rolled her eyes, regretting she had asked. She just wanted Keith to figure out that her Aunt accepted a certain level of difficulties and uncertainty in her "diplomatic" missions, but she didn't want it for him without support. Aunty Allura didn't like getting emotional most days, but she certainly seemed to be taking a different approach with Commander Keith and Larmina wanted to get to the bottom of it.
"Don't worry – I'll take Cheddar with me in case something's needed. Space mice come in handy."