Two days later, there was still no sign of Lotor. The 'Explorer' landed in the lake at the edge of the Castle.
Commander Hawkins, Jeff, Cliff, and Crick met with Keith and Coran in the Command center. Keith paced the room, uncharacteristically nervous.
"So, in your opinion, we can take this Hazar at his word?" Keith asked, running his hand through his dark hair.
Jeff nodded. "Rumor has it that Hazar is trying to stop this whole Druhle war. There is nothing concrete mind you, just heresy. If there's one thing Hazar is though, it's honorable. If he said to trust him, you can." Jeff told him.
Commander Hawkins and the others agreed. "What are you plans Keith?" The Commander asked.
Keith looked up at them. "We know Lotor will attack with Robeasts. Luckily for us, he's very predictable. He will also try and blow Voltron out of the sky with robot ships. He might try a frontal attack on the Castle. He probably doesn't know about his father, or the fact that he had been exiled from the Druhle Empire. Hopefully we can get this done with minimal bloodshed."
Coran spoke for the first time. "I am concerned that the Princess will be flying Blue Lion. With the second Voltron Force here, it seems unnecessary to put her at risk."
Keith shook his head. "I know that Coran, but believe me, she is safer up there with us. With both Teams and the 'Explorer', Lotor won't catch her that easily. Besides, I made her promise to stay put unless she is absolutely needed."
Coran sighed in relief. "Very well. However, Captain I must remind you to keep yourself safe. We do not want to go through another memorial service."
"Don't worry there Coran, we're here this time to keep him out of trouble." Jeff grinned as Keith rolled his eyes.
"Then I will leave you gentlemen to your preparations. I will most likely not see you again until this is all over. Godspeed." Coran turned and left the room.
"I am headed back to the ship. Pidge and Chip are testing the new long-range sensors they built. We should be able to pick something up." Commander Hawkins told them. "I don't have to tell you to keep on your toes." He headed back to the 'Explorer',
"Well Keith old chap. Looks like the nose healed up nicely." Cliff grinned.
"Yes, good thing too. Princesses are suckers for a pretty face." Jeff added.
"You're all soooo funny. Seriously, I'm glad you're here. Something is going to end here, one way or another. Even Lance is edgy." Keith told them.
"Lance? Nervous! We are in trouble!" Crick said worriedly. Lance's premonitions were well known at the Academy. Everyone knew better to ignore them.
"Let's go find the girls. Lisa, Ginger and Cinda were visiting with Allura. I want to get there before they tell her too much!" Keith laughed.
"As long as they don't compare bedroom prowess, I think we'll be all right!" Jeff joked.
Keith glared at him. "They wouldn't."
Cliff grinned at his friend's discomfiture. "They most certainly would!"
Muttering, Keith hurried out of the Control room, with his friends laughing and following close behind him.
The alarms woke Keith and Allura out of a sound sleep. Instantly alert, Keith activated his communicator. "Montgomery here. What's going on?"
"Sir! Ships are attacking a village west of here. Sensors confirm they are Druhle fighters!" A soldier told him.
And so it begins. "Alert the 'Explorer'. This is not a drill. We'll be there in a few minutes. Montgomery out." Keith turned to Allura. She was already dressed. "Are you ready for this?" He asked her, as he pulled a shirt over his head.
"As ready as I'll ever be. Let's go." She grabbed his hand and they ran to the Control room. They caught up with the rest of the Team on the way.
"What's going on Coran?" Keith asked.
Coran punched a few buttons on the control panel. The viewscreen came to life, showing a large Robeast attacking a small town. Coran pushed another button, and the screen showed yet another Robeast. "I suggest you and the others get out there. The Space Force hasn't been able to stop them."
"Right. You heard him Team! Let's go!" Lance, Pidge, and Hunk rushed towards the tunnels leading to their Lions. Keith grabbed Allura's hand. "Wait." He led her away from Coran and spoke quietly. "You know how I feel about this."
She looked up at him. "Yes, I do. But you also know how I feel." She took his hand. "Keith, if there were only one Robeast, it would be different. But there are two of them. Vehicle Voltron can't handle both, and the Lions would be no match for them! You need me and Blue Lion!"
Keith sighed. "You're right, but Allura, out there I am still your Captain. You will obey orders or I'll ground you. Is that understood?" He told her forcefully.
Allura nodded. "Yes Captain. Let's go save my planet!" They ran to their tunnels, and shortly all five Lions were in the air. The Vehicle Force was right behind them.
"Pidge! Patch a communications link through. I want to be able to talk to Jeff and the others." Keith said.
"I'm on it Cap. There, you're all set!" Pidge told him.
"Thanks Pidge. Jeff! We'll take the Robeast closest to us, can you and your Team handle the other one?"
"No problem Keith. Leave it to us! You heard him Team!" Jeff said. They hurried off in the direction of the Robeast.
"All right, let's show Lotor he can't push us around. Form Voltron!" Keith told his Team. They quickly formed the giant robot and advanced towards the Robeast.
"Man that's an ugly sucker!" Lance commented once they got closer. The Robeast was dark green in color, had four arms, and a tail.
"Yeah Lance! He looks just like you!" Pidge laughed.
"Especially the four arms!" Agreed Allura.
"Don't forget the tail!" Added Hunk.
"Hey!" Lance said indignantly.
"All right Team, we have work to do." Keith told them, sternly.
"Killjoy…" Lance muttered.
"I heard that."
"You were meant to."
They got closer to the Robeast. "Fire Spinning Laser Blades!" Keith ordered. They flung the blades at the creature. It roared in pain, then advanced towards them.
"Looks like we made it mad Skipper." Hunk commented.
"I can see that. Fire Missiles!" They fired missiles at the beast. It fell back a few steps, then launched an attack of its own. The Robeast grabbed Voltron about the middle and sent shockwaves of electricity through him. The Team yelled in unison. "Back off! Get away from this thing!" Keith shouted. Voltron managed to break free. "Is everyone all right?"
"I'm OK Keith." Pidge told him.
"Me too." Hunk added.
"A bit toasted around the edges, but I'm still here." Lance replied.
"Allura?" Keith called. "What about you?"
"I'm fine Keith, but there seems to be something wrong with my Lion." She pushed a few buttons. "I have no visuals."
"Pidge…"
"Already checking Captain." Pidge's hands flew across the board. "Looks like that charge fried the circuits. Everything else seems to be working though."
"Can you fix it?" Keith asked.
"Not right now. Especially with Mr. Gruesome out there waiting for us." Pidge told him.
Keith scowled. "Allura, we'll guide you. Just do as I say, and you'll be fine. Lance, fire another round at that thing. Let's distract him and finish him off."
"Aye-aye Cap. Missiles away!" Lance fired at the creature. It roared in pain, and backed away from the Team.
"Keith!" Coran's voice sounded frantic over the com-link.
"What is it Coran?" Keith asked.
"The Castle is under attack by Lotor's ground troops! We need help!"
Damn. "On our way. Jeff! Can you hear me?" Keith called.
"Loud and clear. We heard. Go. We're almost done here." Jeff told him.
"Thanks Jeff. Get ready to separate!" Keith punched the buttons to disassemble Voltron. "Hunk, you and Pidge try and stop those robot ships. If you manage to hit any robots on the ground, that's fine too." Keith told them.
"On our way Skipper!" Hunk replied. The Yellow and Green Lions sped off towards the Castle.
"Lance! Get on one side of Blue. I'll take the other and we'll land her together."
The Red and Black Lions sandwiched Blue between them, and landed on the ground. Allura opened the hatch. "Allura. Head to Lance's Lion. He'll take you somewhere safe." Keith told her over the intercom.
Allura's eyes narrowed, but she ran to the Red Lion. Once inside, she called Keith. "I am going to the Castle. You can't do this alone." She informed him.
Keith shook his head. "No way Princess. It's too much of a risk. Lotor is just waiting to get his hands on you. Discussion over." Keith closed the channel.
Inside Red Lion, Allura fumed. "He's just trying to keep you safe." Lance ventured. She glared at him. "Then again, you can take care of yourself." He turned back to the controls. He followed Keith's Lion to the Castle. "He'll kill us both you know." Lance told Allura.
"He can try." Allura replied then gasped. Lance looked up at the viewscreen and scowled. The Castle came into view. Smoke was pouring out from the windows on the west side. Robot fighters were firing on the Space Force.
Keith's Black Lion darted in and out of the laser fire. He fired missiles of his own, blasting a group of robot ships. "Coran! Coran, can you hear me! Dammit! Lance! Looks like they jammed the communications system. I'm going in!"
"Right behind you Captain!" Lance replied.
Keith flew his Lion around the back of the Castle. The building was surrounded by enemy troops. "Got any ideas genius?" He asked Lance.
"Hmmm….Well, ramming worked for us once before!"
"I had a feeling you were going to say that…Allura! What part of the Castle is likely to have the least amount of people?"
"Our quarters. There should be no one there. Plus, if Lotor is snooping around, we just might get him." Allura told him.
"I don't like having you in this mess." Keith told her.
"You have no choice. It would take too long for Lance to take me some where safe. You'd be too exposed without back up." She smiled at Keith's frown. "Besides, I believe I'll be much safer with the two of you keeping an eye on me."
Keith narrowed his eyes. "Montgomery out." He cut the connection.
Lance grinned at the Princess. "Nice. Very nice, I couldn't have done it better myself."
"Well, I had a good teacher." Allura smiled back at him. "Let's go save my planet."
The two Lions raced towards the back of the Castle. "On my count. One… two…three!" Keith took a deep breath, and crashed his Black Lion through the Castle wall. The impact rolled Keith's ship across the floor. Lance's Lion came down more controlled, through the hole Keith had made. Keith got to his feet, and exited the Lion, shaking his head to clear it. He hurried over to Lance and Allura. "You all right?" He asked them.
Lance nodded. "You took the worst of it Cap."
Allura wiped a stray trickle of blood off Keith's cheek. "Are you all right?"
"I'm fine. Let's get going." Keith took the lead, and they started off down the corridor, their guns at the ready. "Keep your eyes open. They could be anywhere." The Castle shook.
"Sounds like Pidge and Hunk are keeping them at bay." Lance said.
"Let's hope so!" Allura said fervently.
They rounded a corner, and Keith stopped in front of the door to his and Allura's room. He punched in the security code, and the three of them slipped inside. "Lance, move that picture." Keith pointed across the room. Lance hurried over. Behind the picture was a sophisticated communications link.
"How did that get here!" Allura asked, surprised.
"You didn't think Cliff and I were in here painting all the time? It's a secure link, Shadow technology. Lotor shouldn't be able to jam it. See if you can reach Coran in the Command Room." Keith ordered.
"Aye-Aye Cap. Coran, can you hear us?" Lance called.
"Lance! Where are you?" Coran's voice sounded tinny, but clear.
"In the Castle. How are things on your end?"
"We have them holding on the other side of the door. They cannot break in at the moment. Where is the Princess?"
"I'm here Coran." Allura answered. "We'll be there as soon as we can!"
"Coran, how many are there?" Keith asked.
"I'm not sure. Three ships of soldiers have landed. The Space Force managed to take most of them down. We have seen no sign of Lotor." Coran answered.
"Hang tight Coran, we're on our way. Montgomery out." Keith cut the connection.
"Any other surprises in here I should know about?" Allura stated angrily.
"Just one." Keith went over and opened the bottom drawer to his bureau. He pulled out the clothes and threw them on the floor. Then he drew a false bottom out of the drawer. Keith tossed Lance a Shadow Corps gun. "Be careful. There's no safety." Keith told him. "Allura, take my blaster." He handed her his gun, watched as she fastened it to her waist, then turned back to the drawer. He took out another gun for himself, then added some grenades to his belt. "Let's go."
They started off down the deserted corridor, Keith in the lead, with Lance bringing up the rear. The Castle shook again, as explosions rocked it from outside. They continued running, then turned a corner and stopped in shock.
Parts of the ceiling and walls lay strewn across their path. "Looks like this is a dead end." Lance said.
Keith shook his head. "We can fit through that space." He replied, pointing up. They hurried over.
"Might work." Lance hoisted himself up over one of the broken beams. "No problem." He held his hand out to Allura. She grasped it and he pulled her up. Keith started to climb, when laser fire erupted all around them. Lance gave Allura a push through the wreckage to the other side. "Keith! C'mon!"
Keith was firing back at the enemy. "No Lance! Get her to safety. I'm going to herd these guys to the Gym. There's only one door. I should be able to finish them off there."
"Keith…don't do anything stupid." Lance told him.
Keith shook his head. "I learned my lesson last time." He ducked as a shot came too close. "Now go! Meet me there as soon as you can!" Keith took off after the robot soldiers.
Lance scowled and joined Allura. "Where's Keith?" She asked.
Lance took her hand and they ran towards the Control Room. "Buying us time."