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A Change in the Winds
Arus
arus-dot-geo-at-yahoo-dot-com

Voltron and its characters are owned by World Event's Productions.
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Chapter 8
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----- Planet Arus ------

Neive studied the pages before him, as the computer continued to parse the phrases he had instructed it to look for. Shane was busy next to him, compiling what he couldn't understand.

"You know, this new lion is supposed to be some kind of armoring, for Voltron?" Shane asked. "I still can't figure out how it'll work."

"That's where you and Teri can work with Hunk and Pidge to figure out," Neive stated.

Shane then came up to him as he laid down a few papers of translated diagrams.

"Look here," Shane stated. "According to this, it was the first lion ship they built, but was not able to test due to problems with it's A.I. Queen Marlena was the only one working on it as the rest of the engineers were working to create the other 5 lions, this time with a simpler A.I. and without the need for three people to run each lion."

"Could it be the proto-type that she referred to in her earlier diaries?" Neive asked as he leaned forward.

"No, its not," Shane stated. "She doesn't refer to it specifically, but she did make mention of something that she had found and learning from that, she was able to create a prototype, offer it to the engineers, and had the authority from Alfor to start creating a defense system, unrivaled by any in the galaxy."

"Found?" Neive asked. "What is it that she found that would make her devote all this energy into developing a defense system like Voltron?"

Shane shrugged. "If we can find whatever this object she wrote about," Shane started, "maybe we can find out that reason. In the mean-time, we do have to figure out where this sixth lion was stashed, and why it was."

Neive nodded as he breathed in deeply. His gaze then traveled to the metal armlet he wore and he touched it.

"We've found the last heir to Arus' royalty," Neive stated. "And maybe a new ally."

Shane looked to Neive, wondering what he meant by that comment.

"Keep your friends close; keep your enemies closer," Shane stated as he went back to his diagrams.

Neive turned to him but dismissed his comment. His hand then went to his side to touch the bandages that covered his stab wound, given to him when Zeya attacked him. "Keep them very close."

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----- Planet Vallis ------

Anala slowly closed the curtain in the small infirmary room. It was now long past sunset, the palace was now quiet, save for some of the maintenance workers and servants who went about their late night duties. She left it parted a little, to let whatever moonlight to filter in. A small lamp lit up the room in its corner, but kept it dark enough so that she would not bother the sleeping form in the bed.

She breathed in deeply as she walked back toward the bed and took a seat in the nearby chair.

Lotor had come around earlier that day, but was still delusional. Doctor Eleis had to administer another sedative to see that he got the rest he needed. She took one of his hands into her own as she held it close to her. She closed her eyes as she brought his hand to her lips and softly kissed it.

"I have to tell them," she whispered. She slowly opened her eyes and looked over his sleeping form. "I know that there will be difficulties, but they must know. They must know in order to find away to defeat those that now threaten all of us."

She let out a soft sigh as she leaned to rest her arms on the edge of the bed. She closed her eyes, pondering what she could do to find out what was going on.

"Anala?"

Her name was barely said above a whisper. She slowly opened her eyes to meet the gaze of his. Tears edged at her eyes as she leaned over to him.

"You're alright?" she asked.

Lotor swallowed hard as he looked around the room he was in. Anala slowly stood up as she stopped him from sitting up.

"No," she stated. "You have two broken ribs. We've already mended them, but you must rest."

"Where's Zeya?" he asked.

"We don't know," she stated. "Lotor, what happened?"

He closed his eyes at that moment as whatever horrors he had experienced seemed to reflect in his expression.

"They came in undetected," he stated. "Even Haggar didn't have to time to react."

"Who?"

"My father was tracking them--," he then turned to her. "Where is my father?"

Anala could only shake her head. "Lotor, Planet Doom.." She started. She averted her gaze at that moment. "Planet Doom is no longer present in this system."

Surprise filled his expression as he tried to sit up again. Anala was quick to hold him at bay as she seated herself on the edge of the bed.

"What do you mean?"

"Whatever force attacked Planet Doom, it somehow was able to destroy it too," she said. "Reports from the Emerald Quadrant confirm this."

"That's impossible."

Anala could only shake her head. "The people who attacked you," she started. "Were they called Triasians?"

Lotor slowly nodded. "We had been following their progress for the last 10 months," he stated. "They've been mainly targeting outlying Drule planets, and nearing the Emerald System."

Anala slowly nodded. "And Planet Doom was one of the last few that they could target?"

Lotor slowly nodded then gasped when he moved a little. Anala immediately reacted to his pain.

"They are a strong force," he said. "We were bombarded by over 50,000 of their troops."

"What happened to you?"

"I was in the process of escorting a garrison of my father's personal guards to an awaiting ship when a trio of armored soldiers appeared," he said. "This one, in red. It seems that he was the one leading the attack."

"What did he look like?"

Lotor shrugged. "They wore complete full armor," he said. "To protect my father, I confronted the soldier in red. I quickly realized that I was no match for him."

"No match?" Anala asked. She knew of Lotor's prowess in the arena's on Doom. And the confrontations with her brother, she knew that they were evenly matched as skills go. If Lotor couldn't best one of their soldiers in man to man combat, what would that mean for the rest of the soldiers of the attacking forces?

"He possessed and unusual skill in fighting," he stated. "Strength, intellect. I could see it in the moves he executed. He nearly killed me, weren't for Haggar intervening."

"What is in that message capsule you gave me?" she asked.

"Its filled with the reports we received over the last few months," he stated as he met her gaze. "Reports that can help in determining in how to defeat them."

Anala slowly nodded. "If they are able to destroy and entire planet, we are going to need all the information we can get," she stated. "You must rest. I will speak with Xue on this and present this to both Lemille and Sendrre."

As Anala was about to stand, she felt him grab for her hand.

"You will have to let the Voltron Force know," he stated as he looked up at her. "Their next target will be Arus."

Anala could only nod. Then she turned back toward him, before leaning over and kissing him. "Please rest," she whispered as she pulled away. "You have already lost your home planet. I have several matters to deal with so that you can remain here on Vallis."

"You know they will try everything in their power to take me," he stated.

"They will have to kill me to do so," she stated. "Get some rest."

Anala slowly pulled away from him as she then turned to leave the small infirmary. Lotor could only stare after her as the door slowly closed behind her.

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----- Planet Arus ------

Zeya slowly opened her eyes, as a bright blur filled her vision. She closed her eyes again as she furrowed her brows, then shook her head. She opened them again to then see a small lamp over her.

She slowly sat up, clutching at the blanket that covered her. She looked around as her vision slowly adjusted to the light, and soon, the blurriness cleared.

"Princess Zeya?"

She looked quickly to her left and saw a man with a graying beard approach her. She shifted herself as he approached her.

"Where am I?" she asked.

"You're in the infirmary wing in the Castle of Lions," the man said as he pulled out a pen-light from his front pocket.

She didn't pull away as he shined the light into her eyes.

"That head injury put you out for a couple of days," he stated as he then felt her wrist for her pulse. "Honestly, I haven't had a Drule patient in a while, so we didn't know how normal it was. Though, according to what we have on record, your vitals are strong and normal. I stitched up that gash that was above your right eye, so that should heal. There will be a slight scar, but if you take care, it will fade over time."

"How did I end up here?" she asked. "I don't..."

"The Voltron Force brought you in after they rescued you and Commander Neive from under Blue Lion," he stated.

"Neive?" she asked. "That man?"

The man nodded. "He was adamant to make sure you were taken cared of, princess," he stated. "If it weren't for his duties, Im sure he would have been here to watch over you."

"I must leave," Zeya stated as she threw off the blanket. The man reacted as she swung her legs over the edge of the bed, but hadn't realized that she had no clothes on.

"Princess, I do not recommend that you do anything strenuous," he stated as he quickly grabbed for a robe.

When he turned, he saw that she had taken the blanket with her and was leaning against the doorframe that lead into the main hallway.

"Princess!" he yelled as he followed her out into the hallway and she made her way down.

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Neive slowly walked down the hallways of the Castle as he made his way to the infirmary wing. He had just delivered his reports to Keith on their findings over the diaries, but still not able to locate the elusive sixth lion.

"Neive!"

Neive turned as Shane joined him, carrying with him a small piece of paper.

"Look at this," Shane stated as they continued walking down the hall.

Neive looked over the paper, written in Arusian. "This is not Queen Marlena's handwriting," he immediately stated.

"I saw that too," he stated. "It was in one of the final diaries, behind the jacket cover. So I don't think it was written as part of the diary, but put there by someone else."

Neive read over the quickly written words. His expression then turned to one of regret. "It was written by King Alfor," he stated. "Just stating that they were to demonstrate the Lion ships on their inaugural flight."

Shane seemed a little disappointed at the revelation. "I thought it would lead us to the lion," he stated.

Neive could only smile. "Don't worry, we'll find where its located," Neive stated.

As they rounded a corner, Neive let out a gasp as he walked right into someone else. Whoever it was fell against the wall and slid down to the cold floor as a white sheet blanket went flying.

"Commander!"

Neive looked down the hallway and saw Dr. Gorma approaching them, carrying a robe with him. Neive then looked down to see that it was Princess Zeya, who was now clutching the blanket against herself.

"Zeya?"

Dr. Gorma quickly approached them both as he kneeled and brought the robe to cover her.

"Princess, please you must return to the infirmary," Dr. Gorma stated.

Zeya looked around and her gaze then fell onto the Neive who was kneeled next to the doctor. She slowly reached out to him.

"You," she stated.

"Princess Zeya, we have to get you back to the infirmary," Dr. Gorma stated.

"No, wait, doctor," Neive stated. "Zeya, do you remember what happened?"

Though as if she just woke out of a dream, her expression changed as she looked at him.

"You!" she nearly yelled. She frantically looked around as she pulled the blanket tighter around her. "Where am I? What am I doing here?"

Neive slowly reached to her but she quickly slapped his hands away.

"You are in the Castle of Lions, princess Zeya," Shane came to say. "You have been in a coma for two days."

Zeya looked at the young boy then turned to the young man before her. "How did I end up here?"

"We were trapped under Blue Lion, when you attacked me near the ruins of Mythrias," he stated. "You were looking for something that I too was looking for."

Zeya closed her eyes as she tried to remember. It all came back to her, remembering hitting her head when the Lion attacked. She then recalled feeling a sense of dread as if a part of her conscience was suddenly ripped from her.

"Where's my father?" she asked. "Where's Lotor?"

Neive could only turn to Shane, but then turned back to her. "Planet Doom is no longer, princess," he calmly stated. "We haven't heard from either your brother or your father on their whereabouts."

Surprise came over the young princess as she breathed in deeply. "Triasians."

"Excuse me?"

"That's what my father was expecting," she said as she turned to him. "Triasians."

"What are Triasians?"

"I have to find my brother," she said. She started to push herself up from the ground but could not find the strength.

"First lets get you something decent to wear, princess," Doctor Gorma stated as he reached to her and slowly helped her to feet. He pulled the robe tighter around her and tied the belts together. "Let me run some tests, and when you have your strength, we can help you to locate your brother."

Zeya could only nod as she was led by the doctor down the hallway they had come from. She turned her head to look over her shoulder as her gaze came to rest on the young man she had been trapped with.

"Want me to find out about these, triasians?" Shane asked.

He looked up at Neive who was staring down the hallway as Gorma led the young princess back to the infirmary.

"Neive?"

Neive turned to him.

"Want me to find out about these Triasians?" he asked.

"Yeah, do that," he stated. "And report to Keith on your findings."

"What are you gonna do?"

"Im going to find Kit," he stated. "Contact me when you have found an answer."

"I will," Shane stated.

He slowly shook his head as he watched his teammate walk down the hallway leading to the residence wing.

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----- The Elyts, Emerald Quadrant ------

Siaras watched as her father paced before her.

"I do not like what Rolsin is asking you to do," he said as he came to stand before her.

"He is our commander," she stated simply. "We have to follow his orders."

"It was his orders that caused you and your sisters to get into trouble."

"It was my bad decision that got them killed," she stated.

Gorin could only shake his head. He then walked up to her, placing his arms around her. "I don't want to lose you, but if you fail this time, he plans to have you killed."

Siaras could only nod. "Then I will have to my best."

Gorin could only hold her tighter in his arms as he took her into a hug.

"No, you will not be subjected to his tyranny."

Siaras quickly pulled away.

"You speak of treason," she said surprised.

"No, I speak the truth," he stated. "Listen, you will go to Arus as ordered. You will then signal for help."

"If I call for help, Rolsin will see it as a sign of failure.."

"If the resistance is going to have any leeway in stopping Rolsin and his brothers, in the name of Triasus, we will have to stop them cold."

"What do you want me to do?"

"Land on Arus, do what you need to do," Gorin stated. "Find out about this Voltron Force. Then when you are ready, signal Rolsin. I will accompany him and his brothers, and I will send a distress signal to The Voltron Force. They will come to investigate, and at that time, we can see to making sure, Rolsin will not be able to return to the Elyts."

"What about the others in his command?"

"There is enough of us on this ship to take care of whatever forces to stop them," he stated. "And Im sure we can rally whatever forces we've captured so far to work with us."

Siaras slowly nodded. Gorin then placed a small item in the palm of her hand and folded her fingers over it.

"Should you be captures by the Voltron Force for any reason, please give them this."

She slowly opened her hand and saw that it was a small message disc. "What is it?"

"It's the schematics to a machine that was lost to us many years ago," he stated. "It's the only thing that will help them defeat whatever force Rolsin sends against them."

Siara nodded as she closed her hand and nodded. "I will signal for you in 2 Arusian days," she stated. "Prepare whatever you need by then."

"I will," he stated. He hugged her again before releasing her. "Go, before Rolsin wonders why you haven't left on your mission."

She could only agree before turning to head toward the fighter bays. Gorin swallowed hard as he stared after her.

He knew he was taking a gamble by defying Rolsin and his brothers. But he knew deep down that if there was no way to stop Rolsin and tyrannical conquering of the systems, no one, would be able to stop them.