KathDMD - I see you have found my little secret...the identity of our mystery guest. So you know the significance of the ring. There's a reason Malva is hearing those voices...and you will see more dreams come to life.

cubbieBlueMako - I really do like KA chemistry. It can't all be fluff, but I don't want them falling into background characters. They have more growing to do!

amblewat - Always good to hear from new readers! This story has grown out of my Voltron Legacy series, and I'm glad you're enjoying it :)

Author's Note - The Predator robeast is on its way...but that's not Haggars biggest surprise? Stay tuned!

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 109 : "Infected"

Malva walked into the lab and looked up as dozens of workers and scientists diligently pieced together the armor on the robeast before her. She smiled at the thought that she would personally be involved in this project…one that would destroy Voltron once and for all, and send her people forward into a new age of conquest. She walked up to it and placed her hand on the cold metal, her long, slender fingers resting against it. She closed her eyes and took in the sensation it gave her.

"Power," she whispered to herself. "I can feel the dark energy inside it….linked to my own." She opened her eyes and looked up at its face. "Collossus. The ending of the age of Voltron. If Haggar's plan works, the essence will be torn from the mighty robot and rejoined with her own. She will have what she wants…and I'll have what I want." She looked down at the ring on her finger. She winced slightly. "I keep hearing voices. Something telling me to stop. But I can't. Not when I'm this close." She let go of the beast. She looked up at one of the workers. "Increase your pace! Haggar wants this beast finished as soon as possible!"

"Yes," the worker replied, seeming to work faster.

"That boy that escaped with the Emissary," she said to herself, "something in me is stirring memories. I want to remember my past…but I'm afraid if I do….I just need to stop. It's not important who he is. But the secrets in this ring…if I didn't feel it calling to me, I wouldn't give it a second thought." She winced again as images filled her mind…images of Earth….ruled by the Drule Empire. "Could it be the future?" She shook her head. "I have to keep my head clear. Once this project is finished, I will single handedly take down Voltron, and lead my people to victory." She turned and walked out of the lab.

"Hey there, John," Pidge said. "Did you sleep well?"

"Honestly," he replied, "I had a strange dream."

"What kind of dream?" Pidge asked.

"A very vivid one," he replied. "I think it may have something to do with my past."

"I was able to run a background check," Pidge said. "While the Garrison's files are mostly locked down at the moment, I was still able to access the intel I had from the Den, back from when Wade was running things. The bad news is that there has been no record of you being to Earth, and no record of your DNA on file with the Alliance, or the Confederacy. Are you certain you have been to Earth before?"

"I'm almost positive," he replied. "I was there….with a young Drule girl…."

"No idea who she is?" Pidge asked.

"No," he replied. "I wish I did. For some reason, I feel like her and I….were in love."

"I wish there was more I could tell you," Pidge said.

"Maybe I'll have more dreams," he replied. "Deep down, I have to remember." Keith entered the Control Room.

"How is everything going?" Keith asked.

"So so," Pidge replied. "We haven't made much progress trying to figure out John's past. As for Haggar, it's a question of when she'll launch the Predator Robeast again."

"Daniel said that Vince might be able to do something?" Keith asked.

"Vince has always possessed this natural ability to fight haggarium," Pidge replied. "I'm thinking if he can supercharge Voltron, it might be enough to block the robeast's attacks, and allow him to finish it off….this time for good."

"I hope you're right," Keith said.

Vince stumbled through the dimly lit hallways in the castle's catacombs. Shortly after, he arrived at the tomb of the late King Alfor. He carefully walked up to the sarcophagus, and stared at it reverently.

"I still have no idea why I am how I am," he said. "Up until now, I have been taking my powers for granted, never questioning where they come from, or why I have them." He paused a moment, and was comforted only with silence. "You told me that you couldn't tell me what I need to know, but that you would show me the path I had to walk. The problem is I don't see it. How can I hope to stop the Predator Robeast if I can't even understand where that power comes from?" He turned around and sat on the step, resting his chin on his hands.

"Because deep down, you know you can," Alfor said, materializing beside him.

"Maybe I do," Vince said, "but that doesn't convince me on the surface. I've always thought of things in the light of science and technology. But the mystical throws all logic out the window."

"That is the nature of the mystical," Alfor replied. "You aren't meant to fully understand why, but instead have blind faith. It is that faith that sometimes drives a man to do the impossible." He looked over at Vince. "When I first learned the true nature of Voltron from my father, I couldn't quite grasp the magic behind the science. The Defender was, is, and always will be a living, breathing entity. But that alone isn't enough to keep it going. It needs sustenance. It needs power. Not the kind of power that runs the mightiest machines, or the kind of power that rules galaxies, but the power that exists in the human spirit. This is the reason for the pilots' bond with the lions."

"But I don't understand how I fit into all this," Vince said. "Are you saying the power I wield is the essence of the human spirit?"

"I'm saying everyone has power within them," Alfor replied. "You happen to possess the ability to use it in ways most people cannot." He let out a sigh. "You remind me of my dearest friend, Kovinx. Her ability to understand Voltron…to feel what it felt…was an amazing gift. When we were young, she used to ask me so many questions about the world around her. Over time, she came to learn so much more than she was. In time, my young friend, you will too." He walked across the room. "Voltron has always been more than a machine. The Lion Knights of Arus were but the tools to bring him to life. The Old Ones…powerful beings in their own right…meant for the creations of the worlds to fight and war. But Voltron rebelled against them. He triumphed as the greatest warrior. And when Lord Kanji himself threatened to destroy him with the might of how own words, my father, along with Kovinx, drove him and the Old Ones away."

"You say I'm like Kovinx?" Vince asked. Alfor laughed.

"Like her, you have a thirst for knowledge," he replied. "Continue learning, my young friend." He pointed to the wall, and words etched in the stone began to glow. "The path I told you about still lies ahead of you. Seek out the unknown. You may not be able to counter the power Witch Haggar will throw at Voltron, but you will find a way to channel the power within the spirit to stop her monstrosity once and for all." His image vanished, and the words etched on the wall reflected in Vince's eyes….Hope.

Allura rifled through her paperwork in her office and heard a knock on the door.

"Come in," she said. The door slid open, and Keith walked in. She looked up and smiled. "Hey, Keith. Did you receive any further news about the Predator?"

"Nothing yet," he replied, leaning on her desk.

"And about the boy?' she asked.

"No progress there either," Keith replied. "He says he remembers being from earth, but Pidge can't seem to find any record of him."

"I hope we find a way to help him," she replied. "He doesn't seem like he works for the Supremacy, but after all of the spies Zarkon has tried to send in to infiltrate the castle…."

"I doubt that's the case," Keith replied. She looked up at him, staring into his eyes with sincerity.

"You?" she asked with a smirk. "Mr. OCD when it comes to Castle Security?"

"I'm not sure what to make of it," Keith said, "but based on Daniel's account, and what I've seen of the boy, I don't see that he poses a threat. In fact, he may be able to help figure out what to do about the robeast…that is, if we can restore his memory."

"Speaking of the robeast," she said, "with no further information, what are our options?"

"I'm waiting for Vince," Keith replied. "Right now, he's our only shot at overcoming the negative effects of haggarium."

"Where is he?" she asked.

"I could have sworn I saw him heading for the catacombs," Keith replied. Allura scratched her chin in thought.

Daniel paced back and forth in the Control room. Marina, Hunk, and Larmina stood nearby, anxiously awaiting the results from Pidge's latest scan.

"Your pacing is making me nervous," Larmina said to Daniel.

"I can't help it," he replied. "As much as I'm itching to get into action, I'm still not sure what we're gonna do to combat the predator."

"Have you seen Vince?" she asked.

"Not since breakfast," Daniel replied. "He didn't say much…and he's not sharing much either."

"So much for that telepathic link," she snarked.

"I thought I saw him headed for the catacombs," Marina said.

"What would he be doing there, and alone?" Larmina asked.

"Looking for advice," Hunk replied. The others looked at him funny. "What?" Vince came into the Control Room.

"Vince!" Daniel exclaimed. "What's going on? Where were you?"

"Getting a little advice," he replied.

"See?" Hunk said. "Told ya."

"I'm still not one hundred percent sure we can do this," Vince replied, "but I'm ready to try."

"And not a moment too soon," Pidge said. "The robeast coffins just came on the scanners, and are entering Arusian airspace as we speak.

"Then let's not waste another second," Daniel said. "To the lions!"

"Where's John?" Larmina asked.

"He went back to his room to rest," Daniel shouted. "We'll worry about that later." They took off into the chutes.

His eyes fluttered. John saw a young Drule woman standing at an observation window, staring out into the darkness of space. As he came closer, approaching her from behind, he looked into the window at her reflection, and noticed several tears trickling down her face.

"It's ok," he said. "I'm right here." She sighed nervously.

"Tell me how we first met," she said softly.

"What?" he asked, half laughing. "You already know that."

"Of course," she said, her mind racing. "I just want to hear you say it. I like to think about it in my mind."

"Back at the flight academy," he said. She looked back out the window, still staring at his reflection as he spoke. He stood behind her. "You had been wandering the halls aimlessly looking for your notes. I remember how cruel the kids were to you…calling you 'spoiled' just because you are Commander Loken's daughter." He wrapped his arms around her lovingly, locking his arms, caressing her. She was taken aback, naturally, but she suddenly felt herself leaning into his embrace…feeling safe. "They put your notes up in the rafters. Jez and I climbed up there and got them down for you. Since then…I never could stop thinking about you." He held her tighter, and she closed her eyes.

"Thank you," she said softly. He let out a small and sweet laugh.

"For what?" he asked.

"For no reason at all," she replied. "For just…being here." She watched as a smile came across his face in the reflection, and she smiled back. He slowly turned her around, and they kissed. It was slow and sweet…and as she slowly became lost in it, behind them, Ariel got closer and closer….

His eyes opened.