Author's Note - 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 120 : "The Blacksmith's Heart – Part 2"

"….us," Dixie said softly. She struggled against the robot trying to overpower her. "Ken, I think you may be right."

"Enlighten me," Ken said and he was shoved backwards to the ground.

"It's us, Hunter," she said. "They're us!"

"Physical representations of the human pilots of Voltron?" Ken asked.

"What does it mean," Jenny asked, "and how do we stop them?"

"Like this," Dixie replied with a grin. She grabbed the arm and used the robot's momentum to flip it over her to the ground.

"We have to fight them?" Wolo asked.

"Not just fight," Dixie said, cracking her knuckles, "never give up!" She landed several punches on another of the robots, knocking it back.

"If this is gonna be a brawl," Rocky said, cracking his knuckles, "count me in!" He charged, tackling another robot into the wall. The others began fighting back against the robots hand to hand.

"The longer we fight, the weaker they become!" Ken said. "Keep it up! We've got this!" Ken pushed against it and turned to kick it, sending it to the ground. Soon the robots were in a heap of scrap in the middle of the floor.

"Gotta admit," Dixie said, trying to catch her breath, "that was fun."

"Question I have is, what's next?" Jenny said. "Better be on our guard."

"How much worse can it get?" Ken asked. The others turned and shot him a look.

"Shut up, Hunter," Dixie replied, and they continued through the door at the other end of the room.

"Dammit, Chris, snap out of it!" Jeff said. Christiane slowly stepped away from the module, then turned to face Jeff. "Well?"

"We can't let Voltron die," she replied. "Dr. Loring put so much into this…not just metal and circuits, but a belief in something greater than ourselves."

"I don't plan on giving up," he replied. "But what can we do?" He turned to look at the entrance again, and the Krelshi standing guard. "I can't sit on my hands much longer. Five more minutes, and I am going to give the order to blast our way in….through the Krelshi if we must." One of the Krelshi let out another roar. "I bet he doesn't approve."

"More of the same," she replied. "How we….how I am not worthy, and they will do everything in their power to protect the secrets within." She looked Jeff in the eye. "They're wrong, Jeff."

"Huh?" he asked, a quizzical look on his face.

"They're wrong," she reiterated. "Voltron is not an imposter. Our belief and faith in the Defender is what makes him what he is." She turned to Cliff and Krik. "You both believe it too, don't you?"

"I've never doubted the power of Voltron. Not once," Cliff replied.

"If it wasn't for Voltron," Krik said, "Mira would still be in the iron grip of the Drule Supremacy. If there is anyone among us that believes in Voltron, it is me."

"I believe too," Cinda said stepping forward.

"Never doubted it for a second," Marvin and Hutch said, joining her.

"The team combines just like Voltron," Modoch said. "I believe in my team just as much as I believe in Voltron."

"We've been through thick and thin together," Shannon said, stepping forward. "Voltron has never let the people of the Near Universe down."

"I believe too," Mai said softly, stepping forward. "This team has become my family, and the very feeling of family ties us together as our vehicles become one." Eddie and Chet looked at one another, then joined the others as well.

"We believe too, dude," Chet said.

"Yeah, bro," Eddie replied. "Voltron's like our bro, bro."

"Dude!" Chet shouted. "Us and Voltron have a kinda bromance?"

"Exactly, bro!" he replied, slapping Chet five. Jeff lokked at the team, then back at Christiane, who nodded to him.

"I believe in you all, and Voltron," he said. "We're not giving up on our teammates, and we're not giving up on Voltron." He turned to Chief Callan, flanked by several of the Lion Riders. "I'm sorry, Chief Callan. We have no choice but to fight our way in. Krelshi or not, we need to save our teammates."

"I do not think that is wise, Commander," Callan said. Jeff looked him in the eye.

"Maybe not," Jeff replied, "but it's the right thing to do." He turned back towards the team and held up his voltcom. "Sparks, put the Defender on red alert. Bring up heat shields and arm forward arrays. I want you to bring the Defender down here to blast open this cave…and be prepared for a fight."

"Aye, sir," Sparks replied. The com ended, and Jeff lowered his arm.

"You want us in the air too, Jeff?" Cliff asked.

"Not yet," Jeff replied. "Once the Defender blasts the cave open, we may need to go in after the team. I was thinking you, me and Krik."

"I'm ok with that," Krik replied.

"Me too, Jeff," Cliff replied. The sky became dark as the Defender came down into position. Christiane looked up at the great ship, then back at the Krelshi.

"What is this place?" Jenny asked. Ken walked up to a schematic on the wall and traced the lines with his finger.

"If I didn't know any better," he replied, "I'd say these drawings were schematics….for Voltron."

"Voltron?" Jenny asked. Ken nodded.

"Over here," he continued, "a drawing of five planets. I recognize that one as Earth…there's Ariel….Nebb…..Balto….and that one is Arus."

"Makes sense," Jenny replied. "Voltron was originally found on Arus." Ken looked around and saw six platforms sticking out of the ground. On closer inspection, the indentations were similar to a human hand. "Maybe this is another test?"

"Everything here has tried to kill us," Dixie said. "You really want to trust it?"

"We gotta do somethin'," Rocky said, "or Voltron's toast!"

"What do you think, Hunter?" Jenny said, turning to look him dead in the eye. He walked up to one of the pillars and placed his hand on it. Jenny did the same….followed by Wolo and Rocky. Dixie hesitated a moment, looked at Ken, then walked up to the nearby platform and placed her hand on it. On contact, a metal shield went around their hands, holding them to the platform. The room began to shake.

"Dammit, Hunter!" she shouted.

Jeff raised his voltcom to his lips.

"Sparks," he said, "on my mark, fire." The teams looked on in suspense, the Krelshi poised and ready. "FIRE!" The Defender opened fire, barely missing the Krelshi in front of it, and destroying the boulders blocking the cave entrance. The Krelshi went to go after the Defender. "Open fire!" The team pulled blasters and began to fire on the Krelshi, but then the ground began to shake.

"Jeff!" Cliff shouted. "Something's happening!" One of the Krelshi let out a roar, and two of the five flew back to and into the cave. Christiane's eyes narrowed.

"Keep them off the Defender!" Jeff ordered. "Sea Team, get to the Aqua Fighter!"

It's not what the Krelshi believe….it's what you believe.

Christiane heard the words echo in her mind, then took off running towards the cave.

"Chris!" Jeff shouted. "Where are you going? Stop!" The Krelshi broke off their attack in pursuit. She tapped her voltcom, her metallic uniform covering her body as she ran, disappearing into the cave.

To be continued….