KathDMD - The hoverbike...wait till you read this!

Author's Note - Without my muse, I am nothing.

Theme Music : "The Heart Wants What It Wants" by Selena Gomez

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 113 : "The Undiscovered Country"

Kelly walked into the hangar, looking to check up on Hotaru's progress.

"Professor," she said, "how are the upgrades coming?"

"A lot smoother with the blueprints," she replied. "When I was working on it prior to this, it was like trying to figure out a complex jigsaw puzzle. Now that I see what his original designs were, I can understand the systems a lot better."

"Sometimes all we need is a map," Kelly commented. "That's one thing that ties the navigator and systems analyst together….having the right map."

"Indeed," Hotaru replied. "Except this one looks like it was drawn by a fifth grader." They both laughed.

"So," Kelly said, "I couldn't help but hear the tension between you and Tetsuya."

"Yeah," she said nervously. "Like I said, the three of us used to be good friends. Tetsuya was always more of the player type though….someone I could never see myself becoming serious with. Don't get me wrong, Daisaku was the typical 'man', but once we got to know each other better, I got to see another side of him. That's something Tetsuya never understood. In fact, up till the days before he left, he never really gave any indication that he was serious at all about me, or any girl for that matter."

"Sounds like a Lance," Kelly snarked.

"Who?" Hotaru asked.

"Lance McClain," she replied. "He used to pilot the Red Lion. We went to the Academy together. He was eventually tied down by the right woman, but before that, he was quite a troublemaker."

"Guessing there's a lot of them in this universe," Hotaru commented as she ripped the console open and began rewiring it.

"I guess so," Kelly laughed.

"So this is it?" Tetsua asked as he, Taye and Aidan approached the hoverbike.

"Yep," Taye replied. "She's my pride and joy."

"She's a piece of snart," Aidan snarked.

"Dude!" Taye snapped back.

"Easy there, Sergeant," Aidan said, his hands in the air in front of him. "I just call it like I see it."

"Wait just a second," Tetsuya said. He approached the bike and looked around it. Moments later, he looked up at Taye. "Hmph. This used to be mine."

"What?" Taye asked in confusion.

"Where did ya get it?" he asked.

"Saw it on the side of the road with a 'For Sale' sign on it," Taye replied. "Some young woman in her twenties was selling it. Said she bought it for her boyfriend, but he took off, so she was selling it."

"Molly Pierson," Tetsuya muttered. "Blit hated this bike so much. Kept saying it got in the middle of our relationship. Phht."

"Yeah, really," Taye said. Aidan rolled his eyes to contain his internal laughter.

"It was running when I had it," Tetsuya said.

"When I bought it, some parts were missing," Taye replied. "Some of it looked like it was beaten repeatedly with a baseball bat."

"Sounds like something that blit would do," he replied. Aidan'd com started to beep. He hit the button.

"What's up?" Aidan asked.

"I need you and Taye back at the base immediately," Kelly said. "I'll explain when you get here. And tell Taye to stop messing with that damn bike!" The com ended.

"Taye," Aidan said, "your wife needs us back at the base."

"Oh, alright," he replied, putting down the wrench he was about to use.

"And she said to stop messing with that piece of snart," Aidan laughed.

"That's no way to talk about the Commander of the Voltron Force!" Taye shot back.

"Not me, the bike!" Aidan snapped. Taye sighed, throwing down the wrench, and stormed off, Aidan following him.

General Dari stormed into Twyla's office, having just returned from Earth.

"So," Twyla said, not even turning to look at her, "how was your flight?"

"Those ungrateful humans working for Lord Kanji wouldn't listen to a word I said!" she griped. "We could have had Commander Dalloway shot out of the sky a hundred times over, but Voltron isn't high on their to do list!"

"The more you insert yourself into the affairs of Lord kanji," Twyla said, "the better your chances of being incinerated. Believe me, you got off easy."

"How DARE you!" Dari shouted. Twyla spun around in her chair and stood up, staring Dari down.

"Must I remind you of my rank, General?" she snapped. "Must I remind you who's in charge of this operation, and what our sole mission and purpose is here in the Middle Universe? And most of all, must I remind you the punishment for verbally reprimanding a senior officer?" Dari huffed, but said nothing. "And even after all that, I'm still willing to allow you to pilot the clone of the Black mecha into battle."

"When are you launching it?" she asked.

"Immediately," Twyla grinned. "Or as soon as you are able to get down there. You want your revenge, and to rectify the missed opportunity you had to destroy the Voltron Force commander? Here's your chance."

"It will be my pleasure," she replied with all seriousness. She turned and left the office. Lieutenant Centa stepped out of the shadows.

"Commander," she asked, "would it be possible for me to pilot one of the mechas as well? It would seem I'm far more reliable and capable."

"No, Lieutenant," Twyla replied. "I have much more important plans for you. You are more valuable to me. While I hope these mechas destroy Voltron once and for all, even if they fail, it will bring me more pleasure than you can possibly imagine to see General Dari and her infamous tunnel vision get taken out by the Voltron Force….just like her father."

"Yes, Commander," Centa replied with a salute. Twyla grinned from ear to ear, going over Dari's fate in her mind.

Taye and Aidan ran into the Control Room, and Morgan and David spun around in their chairs.

"What's wrong?" Aidan asked.

"Twyla's launched another attack," Morgan replied.

"Already?" Aidan asked.

"It's worse," Morgan said. She turned on the main viewscreen, and his eyes widened. They all watched as three robots, identical to theirs, were downtown smashing buildings and causing chaos.

"That….can't be…" Taye said.

"I need you all to get out there right away to stop them before they drag Voltron's name through the mud," Kelly said, walking into the room. "I've already received calls from the mayor and the governor. That was a discussion I didn't want to have."

"What about Beta?" Aidan asked.

"It's finished," Kelly replied. "All three are ready for launch."

"Then let's go see what we're up against," Aidan replied. He motioned for the others to join him. Lisa followed Taye, and they all ran through their respective doors to their ships.

"Keep destroying the city!" Dari shouted. "Not only will it teach these worthless Terrans a lesson, but it will draw out the Voltron Force and their smug commander!" The Alpha clone swung and shattered a nearby skyscraper. The people ran frantically through the streets, dodging falling debris, and heading for the shelters. Then all at once, it turned around, and Alpha came down from the sky brandishing the Alpha Sword. Darin blocked it with the clone's forearm, then formed a sword of her own.

"So," Aidan shouted over his com, "are we still suffering from an acute case of Voltron envy?"

"Shut up and fight!" she snapped back, pushing Alpha away. Beta and gamma landed near their counterparts.

"We have to lead them away from the city," Lisa said. "They've caused too much destruction already!"

"I've got this," David said. He tapped a few buttons, and Beta formed an electrified chain. He launched it at the clone, wrapping around it. Beta quickly took off, the clone in tow.

"Not gonna be that easy," Taye said with a frown.

"We'll improvise," Lisa said. She pulled up her weapons console. "Take us up into the air." Taye pulled the controls, and Gamma took off into the air. Lisa hit some buttons, connecting her Voltcom, and Gamma formed a bow and arrow. Gamma fired several bots at the clone, hitting it dead on. It turned around and fired missiles at gamma.

"We got its attention," Taye said.

"Now let's lead it away!" Lisa demanded. Gamma took off, and the clone took off after them.

"Looks like your clones aren't too bright," Aidan snarked.

"They're smart enough to finish off a group of snarky cadets!" Dari snapped back. Their swords clanked as they continued to fight. "You have no idea how satisfying it will be to watch your bloody corpse burn in the wreck of your precious Voltron!"

"Not as satisfying as the sound of you shutting your damn mouth!" he shouted back. Alpha leaped backwards and swung. Dari tried to block, but both swords were knocked from their hands, landing a hundred yards away. They both scrambled for them, but Dari turned and tackled Aidan to the ground. He pulled hard on the controls, and rolled, bringing Alpha to its feet to meet the clone.

"I've been waiting a long time to finish you off!" she shouted.

"That's what all my ex-girlfriends said," he snarked.

"AAAARGH!" she screamed as the clone ran at Alpha. Aidan tried to brace for the impact, but the clone collided hard, and swung with a hard right, followed by a left, sending Alpha staggering backwards.

"Anyone ever tell you you need anger management?" he asked. She came at him again, and Alpha took off into the air.

"Come back here and fight, you coward!" she screeched as the clone took off after him.

"And here's where you get off," David said as Beta released the chain, sending the clone crashing to the ground. Beta landed nearby, Gamma following with its clone not far behind.

"At least we got them away from the city," Morgan said.

"But now we have to deal with them," Taye said, gripping the controls tightly. As they said this, Aidan swooped in and landed nearby.

"Dalloway," David shouted. "Where'd you leave the General?"

"Don't ask," Aidan replied as the Alpha clone swooped in.

"Now you get to see true genius!" Dari shouted. The clones took off into the air.

"What are they doing?" Lisa asked.

"They're combining," Morgan said, studying the scanners closely. "This can't be good."

"Are you saying they have their own Voltron?" Aidan asked.

"They can't," Morgan said in disbelief. "Voltron….I can't explain it."

"Let's not worry about explanations," Aidan said. "They want Voltron, let's give 'em Voltron!"

"Rah, frickin' rah," Taye jeered. They took off into the air.

"Activate interlocks!" Aidan shouted. "Dynotherms connected! Infracells up! Megathrusters are go!"

"Let's go Voltron Force!" they shouted. The energy fireld surrounded them as the gladiators broke apart to reconfigure.

"Denjin Dimension!" Aidan shouted. "Form feet and legs! Form arms and torso! And I'll form the head!" Voltron curled up, then arched backwards as the energy field exploded, its eyes lighting up with power. Voltron landed on the ground in front of the clone.

"Bloody thing looks just like us," David remarked.

"But does it move like us?" Aidan snarked. They ran at one another and locked up.

"Anything you can do I can do better," Dari snarked.

"So what, now we're a musical?" Aidan snapped back. It then fired an eye beam at Voltron, sending him reeling backwards.

"I think that shot did damage to the neck servos," Morgan shouted.

"Then let's try not to let it happen again," Aidan shouted. "Better yet, let's up the ante. Form Blazing Sword!" Voltron raised its arm, and the symbols for Alpha, Beta and Gamma appeared, the energy beam forming the Blazing Sword. "Off with its head!" Aidan pushed forward, and Voltron ran at the clone. The clone formed a sword of its own, and blocked them as they swung at its neck.

"Your swings are as weak as your puns, Commander!" she shouted.

"That your OCD talking again?" Aidan quipped. The clone swung twice, forcing Voltron to stagger backwards, then swung a third time, nicking Voltron's waist, cutting through the metal.

"We've taken damage!" Taye shouted.

"How bad?" Aidan asked.

"I'm compensating for systems loss in that area," Morgan shouted. "She's outfighting us with that sword."

"I've spent decades mastering sword fighting," she shouted. "There's no one alive, Terran or Drule, that can defeat me!"

"Then we shouldn't be sword fighting," Morgan said.

"What do you mean?" Aidan asked.

"David, connect yourself to the weapons console," she said.

"For what?" he asked.

"Time to test out those upgrades," she said with a smirk. He did as she asked. "Aidan, direct all power to Beta." Voltron stabbed the sword into the ground, then reached downward.

"Draw!" David shouted, and a pistol appeared it its hand.

"Manual aim?" Morgan asked, batting her eyes.

"I love you," he said with a grin.

"No!" Dari shouted. "How is this possible?" The clone took off into the air. Voltron took aim and fired several shots with deadly precision, cutting out the boosters and sending the clone plummeting to the ground. As the clone got up and turned around, David took aim and fired once more. The charged blast slammed into the clone, blowing a hole right through it.

"Now we finish it!" Aidan shouted. Voltron pulled the Blazing Sword from the ground and ran full speed. Dari pulled the controls, but they were dead. She closed her eyes.

"I accept my fate, father," she whispered. Voltron swung side to side, slicing the robeast in half. The pieces fell and began to explode.

"Hopefully that will be the end of Twyla's attacks for now," Aidan said. "Dari was crazy….but she didn't have to die." As they separated and took off, a figure raced up to the wreckage. They climbed into the head piece, which was still intact. When they opened it up, they found Dari laying in the seat, a small stream of blood coming from her mouth. He checked her pulse, and found it faint. He pulled her out of the seat and carried her away from the wreckage.

Aidan and the team come into the Control room, and come face to face with Kelly.

"Voltron sustained a bit of damage," Aidan said, "but I'm still requesting permission to go help Len."

"Granted," Kelly replied, "but I'm going with you."

"Who's going to watch over the base while you're gone?" he asked. "Hotaru by herself?"

"Not exactly," Kelly replied. Tetsuya walked into the room.

"The woman is in critical condition," he said, "but stabilized for the moment."

"What woman?" Aidan asked.

"General Dari," he replied. "Pulled her from the wreck. Amazed she's still alive. Ironically, everything we learned from doing an autopsy on her father gave the med staff more information on Derinja physiology. They may very well save her life."

"You rescued her?" Aidan asked.

"You told me she doesn't understand human kindness," he said. "Hopefully mercy and care will help with that. Voltron is a defender of all….something it took me a while to learn myself." Aidan turned back to Kelly.

"We go then?" he asked.

"Yes," she replied. "Just let me….."

"There's an incoming transmission," Morgan said, running to the console. "It's weird….it's on all channels and frequencies. I'll try to put it up." As she honed in on the most stable channel, the most unexpected message played.

"Greetings, members of the Galaxy Alliance," Wade said. "Or should I say…future slaves of the New Drule Empire!"