I make no claims to Voltron or any WEP characters.

Chapter Three

Melting down the alloys and growing the new nexus took about a day and a half to complete. Duvessa monitored the growing crystal with Pidge and Hunk. Once it was grown, the three worked late into the evening installing the new nexus and repairing the Veil in the Black Lion.

"Alright. That's it," Pidge declared as he and Hunk finished welding the last bit of metal that covered the Veil in Black Lion's chest. "The new nexus is installed and the Veil is patched."

Duvessa nodded from her vantage point on the catwalk in front of the Lion. "It needs to be fully flight tested to make sure everything is running smoothly. I would think that we should run Black through his paces and then later, once all the glitches are worked out, we try to form Voltron."

Pidge nodded. "You want to do the honors?" he asked, looking over at her.

She laughed softly and shook her head. She looked up at the cockpit of the Black Lion. "Tempting, but no. Black isn't my Lion anymore," she stated, looking back to him and Hunk.

"Well, someone should go with Keith on the test flight," Pidge hinted with a sly grin.

Duvessa arched an eyebrow at the younger pilot. "Are you volunteering?" Duvessa asked, her hands landing on her hips.

Pidge chuckled and shook his head. "Well, I could, however, I think you should. I can be here at Castle Control monitoring," Pidge stated. "Doing what adjustments I can and taking notes."

Duvessa stared at the young Green Lion pilot. "Why are you insisting that I go?" she asked softly.

"Well, Keith was staring pretty hard at you and Pidge earlier," Hunk answered, putting his welding tools back into their appointed drawers. "Has been almost the entire time we've been working out here. The other day Lance walked up to him, said something and he stalked off to the Control Room. Something tells me they're not too happy with each other at the moment."

"That's nothing new, Hunk," Pidge muttered, shooting his friend a bored look.

"Why would he stare at me? Does he think I'm some sort of security threat?" Duvessa asked, looking between the two men before her. "I'm here to help with Voltron, not destroy him."

"Well, things have been pretty tense between him and Lance since he returned from getting Black Lion back from Sky Marshal Wade's secret base," Pidge stated. "I think it had something to do with Princess Allura and the fact that Lance is now the same rank as Keith. But, since you've been brought out of cryostasis, he's been acting differently. More different than usual."

Duvessa shook her head, a confused look on her face. "I really don't understand what you're trying to get at, Pidge. I'm smart, but I'm still a few hundred years behind, remember?"

"What my little buddy is trying to say, Vessa, is that Keith had a thing for Allura, but it seems that Lance has taken that away from him," Hunk injected, putting the last of his equipment away. He turned and smiled at Duvessa. "It seems that some former Black Lion pilot has captured the current Black Lion pilot's interest. Whether that is a good thing or not has yet to be seen."

Duvessa stared at Hunk, her jaw hanging open in slight surprise. This was the first time someone mentioned that Keith might be interested in her and she wasn't quite sure what to think about it. "I thought he didn't even like me that much," she whispered.

"Hunk actually summed that up pretty well," Pidge stated with a grin.

"And that is why you want me to go out on the test flight with him?" she asked looking between the two men before her.

"It wouldn't hurt to see if we're right, now would it?" Hunk asked, a big grin on his face.

"Yes, it would," Duvessa stated. She shook her head. "I should go back into stasis once this flight is finished. I'm not here to… Look, I'm here to fix Voltron and that's it. I do my job and I go back into stasis. Simple."

Hunk and Pidge looked at each other and shrugged. "Ok. Well, we should let Keith know and get that flight test started."

The three left the hangar and went in search of Keith, finding him in the lounge, reading a book.

"Hey, Keith. The repairs are done," Hunk stated, flopping down onto the sofa. "Vessa says a flight test should be done."

Keith looked up at Duvessa as she stopped before him and then to Hunk. "Vessa?" he asked, arching an eyebrow. "Is that anyway to address a princess?"

"I told them they could call me that," Duvessa stated, looking down at the current commander of the Voltron Force. "Working in close proximity with them and the fact that I'm really no longer a contender for the throne, I decided to allow the informal use of my proper name."

Keith turned his eyes to her, his keen gaze noting the color of the uniform she wore. She wears it well, too. "Planning on taking my place?" he asked.

Duvessa straightened her shoulders. "No. Just keeping with my original loyalties within the Force. Once Black Lion, always Black Lion. And Allura gave me a choice of colors, but I couldn't not take the black uniform considering who I am." She frowned. "Or was."

Keith got to his feet and looked down at Duvessa. He crossed his arms over his chest.

Allura was right, she thought. She lowered her voice to just above a whisper. "Besides, as a princess, as you rather blatantly pointed out, I think I can wear what I want, don't you?" she asked, narrowing her eyes at him.

Keith closed his eyes and turned his head to one side. Her words seemed to slap him in the face, but she was right. "Touché. My apologies," he stated. He looked to Pidge, who had sat down with Hunk. He dropped his hands to his sides. "So, when do you want to do this test flight?"

Pidge shrugged and looked up at him from a small computer device he had in his hands. "Whenever you're ready, Keith. I'll be monitoring from Castle Control. Vessa is going to go with you as a hands on tech should anything go wrong."

Keith looked back to Duvessa and nodded. "Well, let's get this started, then, since we still have daylight."

Pidge stood and led the way into the Control Room.

Keith looked at Duvessa before she followed Pidge out of the room. He shook his head and followed.

Once in the Control Room, Duvessa turned to look at Pidge. "I think for the first couple of flights we should remain within the atmosphere, test the air pressure and heat endurance of Hunk's work."

Pidge smiled. "I haven't seen a weld of his fail yet, but I fully agree," Pidge stated with a nod.

Keith cleared his throat. "And I'm not here," he muttered softly, crossing his arms over his chest.

Duvessa blushed and looked over at Keith, worry in her expression. "Unless you disagree?" she asked.

Keith shook his head a small smile appearing on his lips, liking the way she blushed. He hadn't liked her issuing her idea without consulting him first and she had realized her mistake, rectifying it quickly. He decided to let it slide. "No, it's a good idea. Safety first." He looked at Pidge. "So, are we ready?"

Pidge nodded. "Have a safe flight," he stated with a grin and he moved to the computer.

Keith looked at Duvessa. "Let's go," he stated and walked to his launch station.

They were soon in the cockpit, Duvessa slid into the co-pilot's seat directly behind the pilot's seat. She sighed and looked up at him as he walked past her. "Commander, I must apologize. I…"

"Don't," he stated, looking down at her before he took his place at the controls. He put his hands on the controls and the Lion purred as it started up. "It has to be hard. Waking up, feeling like yesterday you were flying Black and today you're barely remembered."

Duvessa's fingers paused in their dance over the controls before her. He had summed up how she felt perfectly. "Yes," she agreed. "And I have to admit, there are times when you and the Red Lion pilot seem to look at me as if I am the enemy."

"Lance is protective," Keith admitted, checking his gauges. "He's still worried that you are some trick of Lotor's sent to trick us. It has happened before. He has snuck some of his operatives into the Castle. Some were escaped slaves, others…well, one posed as Coran's son, another was a prince who rescued Allura when she lost control of Blue Lion."

Duvessa was quiet for a few moments. "I see," she murmured. She went back to her instruments. "And you?"

Keith shook his head. "My brain says to be careful, but my instincts say you are who you say you are."

Duvessa nodded, a blush forming on her cheeks. "Thank you."

"You're welcome. Now, are we ready to launch?" he asked, glancing back at her, noting her pink stained cheeks.

Duvessa touched a couple more things and nodded. "Pidge, are you set?" she asked.

"Absolutely, Vessa. You and Keith are clear for takeoff."

She looked at Keith and nodded. "Whenever you're ready, Commander," she murmured.

Keith faced forward. "It's Keith," he stated and launched. "I thought I told you that before."

Duvessa smiled, her blush darkening. "You did, but I wasn't sure if I still had your permission to use it considering."

Keith chuckled as he carefully did a standard flight test on the Lion. "You're not an enemy, Duvessa. You're a part of Allura's family."

Duvessa nodded. "Thank you," she murmured. "That actually makes me feel better."

Keith did some rolls. "What would make you feel even better?" he asked, just to keep the beautiful woman behind him talking.

Duvessa shook her head, her eyes on the console before her. "Getting this job done and done right," she answered.

Keith laughed, a rare thing. "It will take time for myself and Lance to fully trust you as Allura, Pidge and Hunk already have. We've been fooled before and we don't want it to happen again."

"I understand completely, Keith," Duvessa stated. "I'm sure if our roles were reversed, I'd feel the same."

"I heard you needed a heat test of Hunk's welds," came Lance's voice over the communications device as Red Lion appeared in the sky before them. "I'd be happy to oblige, Keith."

Keith shook his head at his friend's antics. "Just wanted to fly, huh, Lance?"

"Well, I figured if you were stretching Black's legs, Red could use a good stretch, too," Lance answered. "Besides, who is going to help you out if something does fail?"

Duvessa frowned and peeked around Keith's shoulder. "I take it I'm just for decoration?" she asked, her tone dark.

Lance blinked in surprise, obviously not knowing that she had been in the cockpit with Keith.

Keith chuckled. "Well, it would be one way to test the heat resistance, Duvessa," he stated. "Red is…"

"I know," Duvessa answered, her fingers flying over her console. "While Red and I don't always see eye to eye, she is a good fighter."

Lance blinked and looked around his cockpit. "Red just purred. Happily, I might add."

"She told me thank you for the compliment," Duvessa told him. "He'd better be taking good care of you, Red," Duvessa stated. "If not, tell me. I'll kick him in the head."

Lance rolled his eyes. "Great, now Red's laughing at me," Lance muttered.

"No, she's laughing with me," Duvessa answered, a smile on her lips. "So, about helping with the heat test?"

"Yeah, yeah," Lance stated. He put Red Lion into hover mode and stretched his arms over his head. "What do you need, Keith?"

"Duvessa?" Keith asked, glancing back at her.

"Lion torch," Duvessa answered. "Start at about twenty-five percent," she answered. "We'll go up from there."

Keith looked back out the viewport and grinned. "So, just sit here and let Lance melt our face off? That should make you happy, Lance."

Lance laughed. "That's what it sounds like to me, Keith," Lance stated. "And it doesn't make me all that happy. You're not fighting back."

Duvessa shook her head. "Black, can we remind them who is the alpha?"

Black purred and suddenly Red dodged out of the way as Black had shot a rocket at the other Lion.

"Hey! What the…" Lance cried.

"I didn't touch anything, Lance," Keith assured him. He looked back at Duvessa. "What did you do?"

"Me? Nothing. Black was just reminding Red that he is alpha, despite what Red's pilot seems to think," she answered, glaring out the viewport.

Lance frowned, his eyes narrowed, a dark look on his face. "I don't think I like you," he murmured.

Duvessa nodded. "At the moment, I have to agree with your sentiment," she answered. "You've had a bit of an attitude with me since I awoke from cryostasis. I would have liked to have been able to clear that up as I just can't stand it when someone gives me attitude that seems to be unwarranted," she stated.

Lance opened his mouth to speak, but Duvessa cut him off.

"I already know about the past issues with Lotor sneaking people into the Castle in an effort to undermine the security and safety of the Castle. Keith was kind enough to tell me that tale," she stated. She stood and leaned slightly over the back of Keith's seat. "I am willing to prove my loyalty, if that means so much to you, Lance, but I really would like to get Black Lion back into proper working order since that is why I was brought out of stasis to begin with." She stared long and hard at the man on the communications panel. "So, if we can get this over with, I can get back to my icy bed and out of your precious life."

Lance frowned and noted the scowl on Keith's face. He was going to get an earful when they landed, he could see it coming. He sighed. "Right. Sorry," he muttered. "When you're ready," he stated and disappeared from the monitor as Keith closed the communications link.

Once Lance was off the screen, Keith grinned up at her. "You handled that well, Duvessa."

Duvessa sat down and nodded. "Thank you," she stated. She tapped open the communications link to Red Lion again. "Begin," she ordered.

The two Lions finished the required tests with Duvessa fixing what she could from the cockpit and Pidge taking notes on what would need to be worked on once they landed.

Lance followed Keith back to the hangar, parking Red in her spot. He climbed out of the Lion, gently touching the side of her jaw as he did. He walked to the railing and turned, waiting for Keith and Duvessa to emerge. He scowled once the two were standing on the catwalk in front of the Black Lion. "Now she's in one of our uniforms and it just happens to be black?" he asked, waving towards her. "Even the cadet's aren't wearing colored uniforms yet."

Duvessa frowned, her eyes narrowing, but she kept her mouth shut.

"Lance," Allura called as she had come into the hangar as the two Lions had landed. She walked over. "That's enough. She doesn't have to explain herself to you," she stated, coming to a stop beside him, her arms crossed over her chest.

"I think she does," Lance stated, still scowling at Duvessa and crossed his arms over his chest.

"Lance, drop it. She's here to fix the Lions that is it," Keith growled, stepping slightly in front of Duvessa.

"You barely know her and you're standing up for her?" Lance scoffed. "Thought you were the protective one. You know, security protocols and such? Hell, she even has a brand new Voltcom. Why don't we just turn over the keys to her and Lotor right now?"

Duvessa had heard enough. In two strides, she stepped past Keith and was in front of Lance. She balled up her fist and punched him, hard.

Lance fell to the floor, his hand going for the left side of his face. He glared up at her, anger and shock in his eyes.

Duvessa stood over him, glaring down into his shocked brown eyes. "My loyalties are to Arus and Voltron. They always have been and always will be," she snarled. She pointed at him. "And the next time you question me, remember this: I was the Black Crown Princess, rightful heir to the throne. Why on Arus would I even think to want to hand the keys of Voltron and this planet over to our enemies?" she spat. She spun on her heel and looked at Allura, carefully schooling her expression to hide the depth of her anger. "My apologies, Allura, but I have work to do." She nodded to Keith. "Commander," she stated and walked past them both to go over to the Control Room door where Pidge was standing, a shocked, but amused look on his face.

Allura and Keith watched her go before turning back to Lance.

"She's got a good right hook," Lance muttered, still rubbing his jaw as he sat up.

"Does that prove her loyalty, Lance?" Keith inquired with a grin as he looked down at Lance.

Lance glared up at him. He nodded towards Allura. "It proves Allura's family has a strong stubborn streak, that's for sure," he answered.

Allura laughed and shook her head. "Lance, Duvessa isn't a threat."

"Yeah, you said that when Haggar dressed up like your aunt Orla, remember?" Lance grumbled.

"Does she feel evil to you like Haggar did?" Allura asked as Lance got to his feet.

Lance shook his head. "Well, no…"

"Besides, how could she have gotten into the middle of the Control Room, freezing cold and soaking wet? Much less coming up through the floor like she did?" Keith asked. He looked at Lance and frowned. "Don't get me wrong, I think it is alright to be cautious, but I feel that she is who and what she says she is. Do you honestly think the Lions would respond to her the way they do if she wasn't who she says she is?"

Lance frowned, knowing that Keith was right. He had felt the Lions respond to her the first time he, Keith and Allura had brought her into the hangar. He looked towards the door of the Control Room. "I wonder how good of a pilot she is."

Allura smiled and dropped a friendly hand onto Lance's forearm. "Call a truce, please?"

Lance frowned, but nodded at her.

"Good. Let's go see what all Pidge and Duvessa have to say about the test," Keith ordered and the three walked out of the hangar to find Pidge and Duvessa studying the test results.

Several hours and many repairs later, Pidge yawned. He looked over to Hunk, who had fallen asleep leaning against Yellow Lion's jaw. He looked over at Duvessa, who was studying a readout in front of her. "Tired?" he asked.

Duvessa looked over at him and shook her head. "No. When you've been asleep for five hundred years, you don't sleep very well once you're out of stasis for awhile," she answered. She shook her head. "Although, I should be tired. It's been a long day," she confessed. She shook her head. "So much has changed," she whispered.

Pidge grinned and walked over to her. "Well, I think we should call it a night. Hunk's out cold and I'm about to fall asleep on my feet."

Duvessa nodded. "I understand," she stated. She turned and started shutting off the equipment.

Pidge turned and saved his own work. "So, how was the flight?"

Duvessa laughed softly and shook her head. "You monitored the whole thing, Pidge."

"Not what I was meaning," Pidge laughed. He turned and looked back at her. "I meant, since it has been so long, and you weren't behind the controls…"

Duvessa nodded, a thoughtful look on her face. She shrugged. "Well, it was weird not being at the controls, but the flight felt the same as it did the last time I flew Black," she answered.

Pidge nodded at what she said thoughtfully. "So, we might just be on the right track to fixing it."

Duvessa looked over at him and smiled. "I would like to think so, yes," she answered. She turned and looked at the Lions sitting in the dim light of the hangar. She sighed and leaned back against the console. "It is good to see them sitting together like this. They've always been beautiful to look at."

Pidge smiled and walked over to Hunk, shaking his shoulder. "Hey, Big Guy. We're done for the night. Go to bed."

Hunk yawned, stretched and nodded. "All right, Little Buddy." He smiled over at Duvessa. "Night, Vessa."

Duvessa smiled back at him. "Good night, Hunk. I'll see you in the morning."

Hunk nodded and walked out of the hangar.

Duvessa sighed and turned towards the Control Room. "Good night, Pidge."

Pidge followed her. "Good night, Vessa," he echoed.