Saber Rider and Voltron characters belong to their specified animation and branding companies. Please don't sue me. All OCs belong to me. Do not use my world or OCs without my express permission. I sincerely hope you enjoy this story.
Special thanks to DrowningBlonde for being a sounding board for this story. Without your help, I'd still be stuck creating the world. Thanks for all the support!
"Sir, it appears our guests are headed this way," Pidge states as she pulls up a visual on the large screen in the center of the lab.
The general looks up and nods, sipping his coffee as he watches them approach. "Hmm..I thought they'red be more of them," he muses. "Do you see anyone else coming after them?" he asks as he watches the three figures approaching. All chatting happily as they approach the near side of the clearing to the camp.
Pidge starts pulling images from other cameras but sees no one. "Looks like it's just them, Sir," she replies with a hint of surprise.
"Perhaps this is a test to see that we uphold our promise not to examine Sab-uh...Richard," he replies. "You should probably alert the others. We should greet them outside the gate, so that we can welcome them through as guests."
"Aye Sir," she replies as she hits the com and alerts Hunk, April, Colt, and Shinji to their guests impending arrival.
A short time later, they are all at the gate. Robin has a small group of kids not far from the entrance on a makeshift playground. She tries to not draw attention of the children to the gate, so she gets the children involved in a game of tag as the group leaves the gate to await their guests just beyond.
Shinji watches eagerly, excited at the prospect of seeing this man that was once his friend once more, but also unsure how to act as he has no memory of their past. "Is that him?" he asks as Gawain comes into view.
"No," April says amused. It's one of the guards. The other man is him," she replies as Richard and Merida come into view.
"Oh," shinji says as he stares at the man intently, looking for any sign of the person and mentor he knew. "Wow. He does look different. His hair is definitely darker than it once was. But I can see it being him."
"It is him. Or was," the general says quietly. "We must treat him as this new person, and not try to force his past on him. If you can't do that, then excuse yourselves. Are we clear?"
"Yes sir." the others reply.
They walk out to meet them and all stop and give greetings.
"How would you like to do this?" the general asks. "Would you like a grand tour then go back over places of interest?" he suggests.
The three guests look to each other then give a slight nod. "I think that is a splendid idea," Richard states. "Please, lead on, Sir."
"Very well, right this way," he says as the sentry opens the gate and they are lead through.
They head first to the housing area. Eventually they head to the computer lab and a small break area that has been set up to the side. Hunk is passing around coffee and small cakes to everyone before sitting down with the group.
"This seems to be a rather self-sufficient base," Richard says after everyone has settled. "There are some ways we can help you utilize things better, such as farming and solar power. Your panels are not sufficient, as I'm sure you've noticed. I did not however see any of this prototype weapon you mentioned. I assume you're saving it for another day?"
"It's at the far back area. Past the playground where the kids were. I thought after a snack, the children should be inside and we can go there without them stopping and asking a lot of questions," the general replies.
"Children are inquisitive by nature. I see no harm in a few questions, Sir," Merida replies lightly. "But I suppose our first visit could make it a bit overwhelming. I appreciate the consideration."
"Could you maybe try and describe these prototypes you're working on?" Richard asks hesitantly.
"Sure," April replies. "It's like a single pilot robot, only larger than a human. More like a tall building, but the pilot controls the mecha and can use it to stop an attacker or attackers. They have a variety of available weapons, or they will eventually. Right now we are still having issues with the pilot pods becoming too hot."
"Which would put the pilot in danger," Richard finishes for her.
"Precisely. But, we've not had time to focus on that, as we need to be established and able to survive before turning our focus to our actual mission."
"Robot? Mecha?" Merida asks with a look of confusion.
"Dyn mecanyddol, Love. It has a man inside that controls it."
"A dyn mecanyddol?" she affirms.
"Aye," he replies.
"How...how is that possible?" she mutters astonished.
"A lot like his arm an' leg I suppose, Tywysoges," Gawain replies quietly.
"His arm and leg are bionic?" Pidge asks perking up.
"Bi-on-ic?" Gawain repeats slowly.
"Um...Machine made?" Pidge offers as a suggestion. "Not human limbs?"
"Ah. I see. Ah...I suppose it's like that in a way," Gawain concedes.
"But it is all connected with veins, arteries, and fibre optic nerve connections," Merida goes on to explain. Glad to be able to share some knowledge. "The skin is grafted and it all functions as if it were always there. Though for most, it doesn't take. We had two other humans we tried to heal previously and let's say that it didn't go as well as it did for Rick."
"You've had others humans here?" the general asks in surprise.
"It has been some time ago," Gawain states matter-of-factly. "Though the Morair was the worst off of any of the others."
"Any clue where they were from?" Shinji asks.
Gawain shakes his head. "Nay, Lad. Not a clue as to where they was from."
"We were both considerably younger," Merida adds. "I was just beginning to understand that I would become a priestess, and Gawain...he was busy being a teenage boy," she adds wryly. "But our Offeiriades was unable to save either of the two humans. I do remember one had been in some sort of vessel, but it had all but broken apart on impact."
No one says anything for quite some time. Finally Hunk, unable to bear the silence stands up and clears away food and dishes. "I think the kids have gone in," he says quietly.
Several heads turn to him and the general stands up. "Let's go and show you the weapons we have," he says as the others all rise and April leads the way across the compound, towards the lower end of a small cluster of rocks and hills.
Taking her badge, she inserts it into a box and a beeping sound is heard before a door slides open. "We used the inset of this hill to shield this bunker," she explains as they step into a room much like the computer lab, but much taller and wider. They come to a railing and down below, they see three metallic men, easily ten times the size of a man. "These are our mechas," April states. "We hope to never have need of them, but eventually, they will have the most updated weapons we can come up with. Currently one has a blade as a primary weapon. One has a short range blaster, and the other a proton type laser cannon. We have a long ways to go before they can be used."
Gawain stares at the machines before him eyeing them with a mix of curiosity awe, and dread. "If you humans are makin' stuff as this, then there must be some bad things afoot. Those creatures remind me of the stories told t'me as a wee lad of metal monsters that came and destroyed everything."
"Not all such things serve to destroy," Pidge says quietly. "Some are designed to protect."
Gawain gives a silent nod, "Aye, so it has been claimed."
Richard stands in silence, his hands gripping the railing tightly as he stares at the three machines below, his breaths slow and shallow.
"Rick?" Merida whispers in concern, placing her hand over one of his.
He tears his gaze from below and looks to her, his face pale. "Sorry, Love," he whispers. "I'm alright. Those things...they are similar to some of the things that attacked in the fight that brought me here."
She gives his hand a squeeze of support and a small nod, "Do we need to go?"
He shakes his head. "Nay, I'll be alright. It's just it brought some pieces back to the front of my mind. I can handle it. If I know to expect it."
"Are you alright?" the general asks coming up to the couple when he sees them whispering and Richard's discomfort.
"A bit of a memory flash, Sir. Nothing more," Richard replies quietly, forcing his voice to remain casual. "They can be a bit overwhelming and vivid. I was unprepared and it hit harder than I expected."
"Does this happen often?" he asks obviously concerned, causing the others to turn their attention to their conversation.
"Nay. They are becoming more and more rare. Now it seems that when one does occur, it is rather vivid and not usually pleasant."
"Perhaps we should call it a day, Morair, Tywysoges?" Gawain suggests. "We could return another time to do further inspection of these metal beasts."
Richard gives a short nod. "Aye, I think that would be for the best, Gawain. It is closer to sunset and I think I need time to absorb this."
"Would you rather remain here tonight?" the general asks. "We can put you up in the barracks."
"I think I would prefer to sleep in my own bed, but thank you for the offer," Richard replies as they turn to make their way out of the hangar.
"Understood," General Eagle replies. "I've not been in my own bed for nearly a year now. I can understand finding comfort in a familiar setting. I cannot imagine how this has been for you."
"Thank you," Richard replies sincerely glad to be back in open air once more.
The group walks to the gate and Colt steps out ahead of them, then turns to wait. "I'd like t'walk a bit with ya if I may?"
Gawain looks to his rulers, who both nod. "Alright," he says a bit begrudgingly.
"Thank you for your hospitality today," Merida says as they turn and start their trek back home.
"So ya are havin' flashes of mem'ry now?" Colt asks as they approach the clearing.
Richard stops and turns to him. "Aye. Brief glimpses. And as I said before, none have been pleasant. I could handle a few good memories returning."
"I'm sure. I can't imagine how I'd be in your place," Colt replies. "I gotta say though. Until ya saw those machines, you looked really good. Now you look a bit haunted. But I am glad they had t'sense t'getcha outta o'there. I don't think stayin' the night woulda done ya no good."
"You think they would have broken the truce?" Gawain asks guardedly.
"No. But I think he needs solace and comfort that we can't give. Get some rest. I hope we meet again soon," he says and briefly touches Richard's shoulder closest to him in a show of support.
Gawain tenses, but doesn't stop the motion when he sees the glance given to the man.
"Thank you, Colt, was it?" Richard asks.
"Yes," he replies with a smile. "And I'm just as stubborn as one."
Richard smiles in return. "Somehow I feel you speak true. We shall be in touch. Good day," he replies and Colt walks them to the far side of the clearing and watches them vanish into the shadows before heading back to camp.