KathDMD - Hopefully this will answer a few of the questions you posed. I know we talked about the storyline a bit, but there are still plenty of surprises left to discover!
Susan - If you read some of the past seasons of Voltron Legacy, there were plenty of times the teams came together to defeat a common foe. There will be times like that in the future...you just need to stay tuned!
Author's Note - What power does Kanjii have over Dariana and the other Drules? Let's find out!
Without my muse, I am nothing.
Theme Music : None
Disclaimer - Voltron and all associated characters are the property of WEP. Space Marshall Lenora Hawkins and associated characters are the property of KathDMD. Admiral Lysette Fabrere and associated characters are the property of selena devargo.
Episode 502 : "The Unlikely Ally and the Hidden Enemy"
The Panthers landed in the hangar upon returning from their mission. As Ryan and his team exited the cockpits, a scurrying noise could be heard within Dylan's ship.
"What are you going to report to the Commander?" Dylan asked.
"Exactly what we saw," Ryan replied, exasperated. "We tracked the ship as far as we could before it disappeared. It was on course for Titan, but that's all we know. Maybe he'll have us check it out, but for now, the Space Marshall has ordered us grounded and debriefed, especially after the incident with the Voltron Force."
"What were they doing out there anyway?" Amy asked.
"It looks like they were fighting a robeast," Dylan said.
"It doesn't matter," Ryan snapped. "Keep yourselves focused. I'll keep you alerted in case we are being sent out. Dismissed." The others saluted, and all exited the hangar. Inside Dylan's ship, the scurrying became louder. Moments later, the tiny head of a space mouse peeked over the top of the pilot's seat. Tick let out a squeak before leaping to the control panel. He turned around, and his tail morphed, connecting to one of the access ports. Its eyes glossed over as information from the ship's computer began to transfer through the connection, clicking and ticking noises accompanying it. Once completed, his tail disconnected from the port, and after making a few satisfied squeaking noises, scurried out of the ship and began to run through the hangar as fast as his little legs could carry him, heading for parts unknown.
"What….is happening?" Dariana said softly as she opened her eyes. She found herself in a room with a glowing orb in the middle. She walked towards it, mesmerized, but when she went to touch it, she was stopped.
"I wouldn't do that," a voice said. She turned and saw a Drule woman, half of her face concealed in darkness, wearing a red cape with gold trim, similar to the one she had seen Haggar wear in her visions of the days before Voltron. "In two hundred years, I haven't seen anything like it. But even after all this time, I still recognize it." Dariana turned to her.
"You," she said. "I don't understand…"
"It's a matrix, young one," she replied. "Voltron's matrix. It's what breathes life into the Defender. It's where everything he does comes from."
"Why are we here?" Dariana asked. Kovinx laughed.
"I'm here because this is where I am," she replied. "Dr. Loring created the nexus crystals through an artificial process. I was the 'main ingredient', for lack of a better term. That is why your ships, much like the others that form the mighty Defender, are able to do what they do. It is how and why they live and breathe."
"But that doesn't explain why I am here," Dariana said.
"That, dear child, is the problem," Kovinx replied. "It goes back to the power of this sphere….this matrix. I tried to show you the visions I had of the past, and of Lord Kanji. I know you did not take those warnings lightly, and realized the danger…but even I did not expect the extent of Kanji's power."
"What has he done?" she asked
"He has taken control of the minds of every living Drule in the universe," Kovinx replied. "It is only a matter of time before even your allies betray the Alliance, and not of their own accord. But even worse…your own blood courses with his power. You are a living vessel, as the rest. When you awake, you will be his slave." Dariana gasped.
"No," Dariana said.
"I can only do my best to hold you back through your bond to Voltron," Kovinx said. "I only hope your friends can discover the truth, and find a way to not only warn the Alliance, but to break Lord Kanji's control over you before it's too late."
"Too late?" she asked. Kovinx nodded.
"Once Kanji is able to dominate the mind completely," Kovinx said with a sigh, then looked into Dariana's eyes, "their will and soul shall no longer exist."
JC and Seth walked into the hangar where their ships were being looked at. Upon approaching, Tangor and Zandee climbed down from one of the scaffoldings and approached them.
"Any luck finding out what happened to the systems?" JC asked.
"Nothing," Zandee replied. "We've run test after test after test, and can't find out why the power is drained, or why they won't recharge."
"What exactly recharges them?" Seth asked. "Does it have anything to do with the elements, kinda like the Lions?"
"From the schematics Chip left us," Tangor replied, "that's exactly what powers the ships. But nothing we do seems to kick start the systems. It's as if something from the inside has cut off access. I can't explain it."
"We had just finished off Soltorn," JC said, "and all at once, we were hit with a force I can't explain. All the systems went dead, Soltorn was gone, and there we were, floating in space. She was infected with Haggarium. Is it possible that had an effect on the systems?"
"Chip's the expert on that stuff," Zandee said. "Unfortunately, we haven't seen him since he left for Balto. He may not show it, but Pidge's death really hit him hard."
"Really hard," Tangor agreed.
"We're going to keep investigating," Zandee continued, "but if it does have anything to do with haggarium, we won't know until Chip gets back to take a look." JC nodded.
"Thanks, guys," JC said as he and Seth turned to walk away.
"What are we going to do if the Drule's attack?" Seth asked. "If Captain Stebbins is correct, Kala may be setting up a base on Titan."
"They still have the Legacy and the Bogart," JC said, "as well as the panthers. Until we can figure out what's going on with our ships, we need to do our own investigation from here." Seth nodded in agreement. As they walked away, something scurried across the floor and leaped at Seth. He didn't feel it, but it climbed up his back and carefully clung to his uniform as they left the hangar.
Commander Kala's command ship slowly lands on the surface of Titan. As the engines come to a halt, tension on the bridge rises.
"I sense you have something prepared," she said without turning her head. Wade stood up from the chair he was sitting in.
"The climate on Titan varies," he said. "Earth has tried many times to colonize this moon, and failed miserably. There are remnants of established bases, ancient artillery….enough materials to easily construct something in a few short days."
"And the Void Generator?" she asked.
"I configured the portal to collapse in on itself," he said. If I time it correctly, the Void Generator, and its surroundings, will be transported to the surface of Titan, providing the necessary cover we need to stay hidden while continuing our work."
"And what about the Voltron Force?" she asked. "Kanji may control the girl, but what of the others?"
"Without their ships they are useless," he replied. "And even if they manage to somehow power those infernal jets, they will not be able to form Voltron. And all the more reason to strike now while we have the upper hand."
"A robeast?" she asked.
"Nothing fancy," he replied. "While I believe Voltron could dispatch of it easily….he is no longer part of the equation. And if it's able to destroy Galaxy Garrison and that infernal lieutenant in the process…..I consider it a win."
"You realize your hatred of that woman is a liability," Kala scolded. He turned her around, fire in his eyes as his blood boiled.
"The end of that woman has been and always will be my number one priority, Kala," he growled through his teeth. "Make…..no….mistake."
The nurse came into the room and began to clean up, changing sheets on the nearby beds, and checking on the patients. But only one remained….Dariana. She watched her sleep for a moment.
"Poor thing," she said softly. "I hope whatever you're dreaming about, it's good." She fluffed her pillow, picked up her remaining things and left. The monitor gauging her heart rate slowly began to speed up. As the beeping doubled in speed, her skin began to burn up with heat, and all at once her head moved ever so slightly, and her eyes opened, releasing the madness within.
