Chapter 4 – Jouret IV Part 3

I don't own Star Trek the Next Generation or Voltron Legendary Defender. Just taking the characters out for a spin.

As Shiro kept an eye on Hunk and Pidge, who took readings of the crater where the missing colony once stood two figures materialized. The newcomers were Commander Riker and the Chief Engineer Geordi La Forge. He recognized the look on Riker's face.

Riker turned and nodded to Shiro, but the Black Paladin knew in that instant that Shelby had overstepped her bounds even as she greeted Riker with genial comments. Shiro returned the nod as he warily edged over to Pidge and Hunk. "Stay by me."

Pidge glanced up at Shiro, "What's going on."

"I believe Shelby is in for a tongue lashing."

"Huh?" Hunk asked. "I don't think she did anything wrong."

"That's where your wrong, Hunk," Shiro replied as he smiled gently at the Yellow Paladin. "Commander Riker outranks Lieutenant Commander Shelby. She used her authority to beam us down an hour earlier than Riker wanted to."

Pidge looked up again as an 'O' formed on Hunk's lips. "I don't want to be in her shoes right now," Pidge replied.

"Yeah," Hunk replied. "Remember how Iverson went off on us when Lance wrecked the simulator right before Shiro returned to Earth and we found the Blue Lion."

"How can I forget," Pidge replied. "I don't know who he was madder at. Lance or you for throwing up in the gearbox."

Shiro couldn't help but chuckle at the image. He kept his eyes on Riker and Shelby as they exchanged words.

Pidge glanced up from her holographic computer screen which emanated from her wrist gauntlet. "Shiro, if I'm reading this right," she brought up an image from the Enterprise's first report of their first meeting with the Borg, "yes I am. There's the trace of magnetic resonance." She paused as she sucked in a breath. She didn't know why but she blinked several times as her fingers twitched. "This is what Shelby was looking for. It's the Borg."

Hunk shivered at her words. "Really?" He glanced around quickly. "Do you think they're coming back? Are they gonna want to assimilate us?"

"It's okay Hunk," Shiro placed his gloved human hand on Hunk's shoulder. "I doubt the Borg are returning here."

"Are you sure?" the large teen asked as he gazed at his leader.

Shiro nodded as Riker and Shelby rejoined the group.

Pidge and Hunk followed Geordi La Forge to the Engineering section of the Enterprise. Hunk looked again at the man. "Uh, what is that thing over your eyes?" he asked as he couldn't help himself.

"My visor?"

"Yeah," the Yellow Paladin replied.

Geordi smiled, "I suppose you've never seen anything like this." He raised a hand to touch the visor. "It allows me to see. I was born blind."

"I'm sorry," Hunk replied as he muttered an 'Ow' and rubbed his side from Pidge's sharp elbow.

"Ignore Hunk, at times he's too curious for his own good," the Green Paladin said as she leveled a glare at her teammate.

Geordi stopped and turned to face them, "No, actually it was a valid question and one that I've been asked many times. At first, it was annoying, but I've got used to it." He turned as he faced a pair of doors. "This is my domain," he said as the doors slid open and the pair stood facing the Engineering section.

Pidge and Hunk turned to each other and grinned. To say they looked like a couple of kids in a candy shop was probably a good thing. Pidge was the first to gain use of her voice. "I've never seen anything like this."

Geordi beamed with pride. "You can go over to that panel and get information about the Enterprise and her defenses from there."

Pidge turned her head up to stare at the chief engineer as her hands made their way to her hips. Her eyes narrowed as she glared, "Why do men always want to refer to something mechanical as she? I think I'm offended."

"But Pidge," Hunk stared at her, "Your Lion is a girl."

"Yeah, but the Yellow and Black Lion's aren't. I've never heard either you or Shiro refer to your Lions as she."

Hunk let out a nervous laugh. "No, they're not." He could do nothing else but shrug his shoulders.

Geordi coughed into his hand. "Uh, I'll be over there if you need anything," he said as he left the pair of Paladins to their work. He let out an amused snort as the pair continued their conversation.

Keith found it weird, but he felt a kinship to the Klingon Worf. Not because of his being an alien but because he was a warrior. The Red Paladin stepped up to the Chief of Security. "Worf? Can I ask you a question?"

"Certainly."

Keith glanced around, "How did you get into this Starfleet instead of staying with your people?"

Worf sighed, "That is a long story, but I will make it short since I believe the time is of the essence. For a time the Klingon's and Romulans were at peace. My father moved my mother and myself to a colony on Khitomer. The Romulans attacked which is where I lost my parents. I was found by a Starfleet officer he took me in, and he and his wife raised me along with their son."

Keith leaned against the wall, "I can understand that. Shiro is like a brother to me. I never knew my mom, and my dad died when I was younger. Shiro was the only one who took an interest in me." He pushed himself off the wall when Worf's communicator beeped.

Worf tapped it. "Worf."

"Mr. Worf," Picard's voice came over. "Round up the Paladins and Princess Allura and bring them to the conference room."

"Affirmative, Captain."

Keith took that moment to gaze at the Klingon, "Do you do everything he says?"

"He is my commanding officer."

Keith nodded as a slight grin lit his face, "Even if you don't like the orders?"

"Yes."

The Paladins arranged themselves around Princess Allura and Coran who were seated at the table facing Captain Picard. The captain gazed at them. "I've called this meeting because Admiral Hansen has requested your presence here." He pressed a button on the table, and the Admiral appeared on the screen.

Worf stood near the captain with Data standing behind him. Riker, Doctor Crusher, Shelby and La Forge were all seated at the table as Admiral Hansen spoke. "At 1900 hours yesterday, the USS Lalo departed Zeta Alpha II on a freight run to Sentinel Minor IV. At 2200 hours and 12 minutes a distress signal was received at Starbase 157. The Lalo reported contact with an alien vessel described as," he paused to confirm their fears, "cube-shaped. The distress signal ended abruptly, and she has not been heard from since."

Picard quietly asked, "Mr. Data, how long would it take to get there at warp nine?"

"One hour, seventeen minutes, sir."

"Make it so."

"We're coming with every available starship to assist, Captain but the closest help is six days away."

"We'll try and keep them occupied until you arrive."

Admiral Hansen smiled, "I know you will." His smile disappeared quickly. "Hansen out."

Allura gazed at Picard. "We need to go back to the Castle of Lions."

Picard nodded, "Will you be coming with us."

The Princess nodded, "Yes, we can't let you face this alone. From everything, I understand they are a formidable foe. Possibly more dangerous than Zarkon."