Celestia sank into her chair inside White Lion as the console lit up. Piper stood next to her as White Lion flew through the air.
"Where are we going?" Piper asked, watching through the windshield as White Lion flew.
"I thought it was obvious." Celestia said with a smile as she flew towards the Atlas. "I'm taking you to Shiro."
Piper beamed as the Atlas got closer.
White Lion roared as the hanger for the lion opened.
James, and a few doctors watched from a safe place as White Lion lowered down and landed gently. The big cat crouched down to the floor and opened it's jaw, a ramp then lowered.
Celestia and Piper worked together as they carried Admiral Sanda down the ramp, once off the ramp, the two lowered Sanda to the floor.
"Piper!" James beamed, his sister turned to him and quickly hugged him. Once the hug broke, he turned to Celestia. "Thank you."
Celestia nods. "Your welcome. Take her to Shiro." She turns and runs back to her Lion, running up the ramp. Once she disappeared inside her lion, the ramp disappeared and the giant cat stood up before taking off.
Piper turns to her brother. "Where's Edith?" She asks with worry.
"Madison and Mrs. Holt are watching her until we can return to Earth."
Piper nods. "Where's the bridge?"
XxXxXxXx
"We need to take Sendak out now!" Shiro said, his face hard. Behind him the doors slid open to reveal Piper walking in.
"Shiro."
He spun around with a shocked look. "Piper!" He gasped as she ran up to him and jumped into his arms. "Thank God!" He kissed her cheek before he pulled away.
"Are you ok, doctor?" Iverson asked, watching the scene.
"Yes." She nods. "Thanks to the Paladins."
"Shiro, we can't get through the cruiser blockade Sendak created." Coran informed.
Shiro turned around to face the front. "We need a new plan! Sam, what is someone were to infiltrate Sendak's ship and gain access to the crystal?" He asked. "Could the cannons be disrupted?"
"Infiltrate Sendak's ship?" Sam asked with shock.
"You want to go inside that monster's ship?" An equally shocked Piper, asked.
"Would it work?" Shiro asked.
"Shiro." Piper took his human wrist with her hands.
"It could work." Sam answered. "But you'd need a communication device to link the Atlas, so we can hack their systems."
"Then that's what we'll do." Shiro said with a nod. "I'm going in!" He turned to lock eyes with the woman he loves.
"Come back to me." She whispered, her voice broken.
He gently cups the side of her face. "I promise I will." He kissed her forehead before he turned. "Coran, the ship is yours. Pipes, stay in the bridge." He turns and races out of the bridge.
Piper closed her eyes and took a some deep breaths. "Coran, we need to get the Atlas to the impact site. We gotta be prepared for every outcome."
"Right." Coran nods, setting the course.
Keith groaned. "Atlas, what's happening?"
"Keith! Hold on a little longer. We have a plan." Piper answered.
"Whatever it is, we're running out of time!" Keith told her.
Shiro's voice came through the coms. "Atlas, I've arrived at Sendak's command ship."
The Atlas then shook and rocked from the combined beams of the Zaiforge cannons. "We've interrupted the beams!" Veronica informed. "But we need more power!"
"Shiro, whatever your gonna do." Coran started. "Can you do it now?"
Minutes past, then Shiro's voice came through the coms again. "Sam, I've made it to the crystal. Activating communication transponder."
"Ok, Shiro. I have to warn you." Sam began to warn. "This might be a little strange. I'm about to use your brain as a computer node."
Piper made a face.
"Well, it wouldn't be the first time." Shiro answered with a sigh.
Sam hacked into the crystal, and after a few moments his voice is heard. "I've lost the connection. Shiro? Shiro! Are you there?"
"One of the cannons is down!" Iverson called from the weapon console.
"That bought us time." Veronica said. "But we can't withstand the blast from the other cannons much longer. The shield is failing. Twenty five percent and dropping!"
"What'd we do!?" Piper asked as she clutched the rail of the command area.
"I'm diveting power from the infinate mass crystal." Sam replied.
"Lance!" Veronica cried. The Atlas started shuddering from the impact of the beams. "The Lions have defeated all the cannons!"
"Atlas, this is Griffin. MFE's have successfully neutralized the final target." James' voice came through the coms.
"Great! Now return to the Atlas!" Piper ordered.
"Copy that."
"The only remaining hostile is Sendak's ship." Veronica informed. "It's free falling towards Earth's surface. It hit termial velocity."
Tears slid down Piper's cheeks. "Keith! Shiro's still inside that ship!" She choked out.
"What!?" There's a long pause. "Damn!" Keith cursed. "Don't worry Piper, I'll find him."
The Lions guided the ship past the city.
Piper lowers herself to the floor as she closes her eyes against her tears.
"Atlas, I have Shiro!" Keith's voice informs, and Piper opens her teary eyes at his voice. "Sendak is no longer a threat. Hunk is now bringing Shiro to the Atlas."
Piper jumped up and raced out of the bridge, she never had a tour of the Atlas, but she remembered where to go when meeting with the Lions.
"Piper!"
She slid to a stop and turned to see Romelle running up to her. "Edith is very scared, she really wants you."
Piper turns to look towards the hangers, but turns back to the Altean. "Ok." Piper nods, and allows Romelle to lead her through halls. "Isn't my brother with her?" She asks.
"He's busy helping the Paladins."
As the girls turn a corner, they didn't see Shiro run down the hall towards the bridge.
