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The Pride of Arus
Arus
arus-dot-geo-at-yahoo-dot-com
Voltron and its characters are owned by World Event's Productions.
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Chapter 3
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The evening mist rolled in, slowly. Kaden sat atop a small structure as he looked into the sky above him. The stars started to shine through the dusk colored sky, Arus' far moon, threatening to reveal itself as it began its rise into the sky. He slowly stepped down from the overturned cart he sat on, avoiding to step on the body that laid near it. He looked around as part of the mist cleared for a moment. The camp was now dark, but the shadows of the soldiers laid before him numbered in the hundreds.
He had been patient till that morning, and struck at first light. First a small group who were out gathering more wood for their structures or to serve as fuel. He did not care. They were caught by surprise by his attack, and didn't have anytime to call for help.
He moved silently from building to building, the soldiers had no time to react. After he had dispatched one building, the commotion had already alerted the rest of the encampment and he was forced to take his fight to the middle of the camp. This only made him smile as the soldiers surrounded him. Nearly 40 strong, they were of no match for him.
As he walked through the camp, he came upon a soldier who's outstretched hand was clutching something shiny. He slowy kneeled as he ufurled the hand that held it and pulled the small shiny locket from his hand. He opened it, to see that of a three young children, smiling back. He breathed in deeply as he then searched the soldier over. He found what he needed and placed the locket into the small bag he wore. He opened the device he found on the soldier and turned it on. A steady beep came from the small unit.
He walked back toward the cart he had been sitting on and placed the small device on it. He then looked toward the sky again, hoping this would lure another set of prey to his little trap.
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Lance yawned as he entered the Control Room and relieved the young soldier who was on duty. He sat down in the chair and quicky ran through his normal routine for that morning report. He collected the data from the castle's scanners and the defense sattelites, so he could have them ready for Keith and Allura for that days meeting.
He then noticed that one of the scanners had picked up a faint signal. A steady one, he quickly downloaded the data and had it displayed on the view screen before him. A few anomalies that could be passed off as the movement of a large herd of animals, as was normal. However, this signal seemed to be too mechanical.
He had the computer isolate the signal and prepare a report on it. He then realized that a coded message was hidden in the signal. He quickly signaled for Allura and Keith to come to the Control Room. The teammates ran into the Control, followed by Gorin and Anala.
"What is it Lance?"
"Im not sure, but I was hoping you could look this over."
Lance handed Allura the report and she quickly looked it over. "It's coming from the Triaisan encampment," she stated. "This is the security code we gave them."
Gorin walked up to her and read over the report. "Its saying that a new set of rebels had just joined them," he said. "And they have some information pertaining to Rolsin's new plan." He was silent for a moment then turned to Anala. "And about your son."
"What?" Anala asked.
"Then we have to meet with them," Allura said. "If they have any news concerning Rolsin, we need to find out what that is."
Gorin nodded in agreement. "I should go," he said. "If it is alright, I would like Captain Keith and Anala to join me."
"I dont see that as a problem," Keith stated. "Lance can keep an eye on things here. Allura, you will have to keep an eye on the teams to make sure we get all our tasks done. We dont want to be caught off guard."
Allura nodded. "Modifications to the White lion should be done already," Allura said. "All we need is to have Zeya train to handle it on her own."
Keith nodded. "Have Neive watch over her training," he said. "Hunk and Pidge can work with her on combat training."
"I'll be sure that once Hunk clears that all repairs have been made, they go ahead and start the training," Lance said. "May I suggest that you take your Lion and Gorin and Anala take a small fighter. In case we need you back as soon as possible?"
Keith nodded. "That would be wise," he said. "Gorin, I will meet you just outside the Castle perimeter."
Gorin nodded. "This way, your highness."
Anala followed Gorin out of the Control Room as Lance lifted the control panel for Keith to take the chute to his lion.
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Kaden slowly stretched as he stood from the cart he was sitting on. The morning mist was slowly clearing. They would have gotten his signal by now, and of course heading here. He smiled to himself as he looked at the armoring device he wore on his right arm. It was supposed to be new, according to Rolsin, and he wanted him to test it out in battle. How he didn't enjoy it, but knew that he was not going up against normal soldiers. He brushed his hair from his eyes as he looked up into the sky above. He could feel them nearing. A Lion ship and a small fighter. He then pressed the small button on the device and fought back the pain he felt as it started to cover his body. He then marveled at how light the armor was compared to the one that the normal soldiers wore. He then smiled when he heard a noise come from the right side of the camp and slowly let the helmet form over him.
They're here.
He made no intention to move from where he was. He was going to confront them, not hide. And as the mist cleared, he turned to meet the surprised reaction of three inviduals, and sudden anger filled him when he noticed the younger man, who stood next to a woman. How he wished Haggar would have let him fight that man.
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As Gorin lead the way to the encampment, something deep down in him felt that something was odd. Why weren't there any of the Elite forces patrolling. They would be out at least as far as they were, to protect the encampment.
He continued his way, and as they neared the clearing, he could not help but feel that something was out of place.
"What is it?" Anala asked as she joined him.
"I smell death," he said.
"What?"
"Something is wrong," he said. "Your highness, its best that you stay behind me. I dont think we are alone here."
Anala turned to Keith who came to join them. As they entered the clearing, Anala looked around the seemingly empty camp.
"Something is not right," Gorin said. "Visha, was supposed to greet us. It was his signal."
They slowly came around a small building, Anala let out a gasp, when she saw the carnage before her. Bodies laid everywhere, soldiers who were supposed there to help them, now dead.
She then heard Gorin grunt as he slowly pulled out his weapon. She followed his gaze to see a dark figure standing in the distance.
"Damnit," the older man swore under his breath. "We fell into a trap."
"Who is he?"
Gorin shook his head. "I dont know," he said. "But he wears the new armor Rolsin had been developing. Don't move."
"What can we do?" Keith asked as he joined Gorin at his side.
"When we walked into this clearing, our fates have already been sealed," he said. "He is not going to let us leave alive."
Keith stared at the dark figure, who made no movement. "How is it possible that one man was able to kill all these men?"
"Only the Elite force are capable of doing this," he said. "And Im not even able to go up against an Elite."
"Elites?"
Gorin nodded. "Captain, I sugges that you try to escape with Anala as soon as possible," he said. "I'll distract him."
"No, you'll be killed."
"It would be better if he kills only one of us than all three of us," he said. "On my signal, you take her back."
"Gorin, no," Anala stated.
"It can't be helped, your highness," he said. Gorin slowly hunched forward. "Now!"
The older man rushed toward the dark figure. Anala screamed as Keith grabber her by her hand and started back toward the forest. However, their efforts were thwarted when the man in the dark armor was able to dodge the attack by Gorin, and suddenly appeared before Keith and Anala. Keith had barely anytime to react as the man grabbed Anala from him and kicked him across the clearing.
Gorin recovered for a moment and watched as the man in the armor held Anala in front of him.
Anala gasped as she fought against his hold on her. He had grabbed her by her neck, and lifted her from the ground she was standing on. As he squeezed, she struggled against his hold.
Gorin walked over to where Keith was getting up from the kick he received. They both looked across the clearing to see the man holding Anala. Keith was about to stand but a sharp pain from his left side caused him to fall back to his knees.
"Damnit," he swore.
"We can't fight him like this," Gorin said. He then pulled out the armoring device he carried and attached it to Keith's right arm. "You have to use this."
Keith looked down at the device. "What is it?"
"Anala gave that to me to look over," he said. "Its a modified version of an older Armoring Unit, but converted to help Vallusians. Seems that your grandfather had three of them made."
Keith met his gaze as Gorin helped him to his feet.
"I wouldn't do that, Captain."
The two looked over to where the man held Anala, as he stared at him. "If you do anything of the sort, I will kill her," he said.
Tears came to Anala's eyes as he squeezed harder. He then brought her down and shoved her against the side of the building they were standing against, continuing to place a choke hold on her. She let out a groan as her head hit hard against the wooden frame.
Her eyes then widened when the armor he wore slowly retracted away, to form a metal spike over his right arm. He pointed the spike to Anala as he stared across the clearing at the two men.
"Unless you want to see her die, you will do nothing to save her," he said.
Anala grabbed at the hand that held her in place as he slowly turned to her. She suddenly felt her strength leave her as she stared into his golden gaze. The same eyes, that Reece had.
He smiled as he leaned into her, feeling her tense as her struggling came to a stop. Anala then let out a scream as he plunged the spike into her.
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Lance stared at the view screen before him, seeing the thousands of Triasian robot fighters fill the sky. He had already sent the Beta Team into action, taking the Voltron Lion into battle, however without Black Lion, they wouldn't be able to form Voltron.
It wasn't until he saw the three robest monsters emerge that he realized that their situation only just got worst. He then turned to Zeya as she watched the screen before her.
"Zeya, you have to join them," Lance stated. "Until Keith gets back, you have to help fend them off."
Zeya slowly nodded. She hoped that the traning she did receive was enough. They still hadn't explored the full power of the White Lion ship, and now she was going to experience her first real combat. She had to trust herself to do so.
Lance approacher her, handing her the three keys. "Take it easy, keep a distance, and just serve as backup for now," he stated. "You do not have to be on the front lines. Let Neive command the team, and you follow through. Katherine will be with me if you have any questions, okay?"
Zeya nodded. "I'll do my best."
Lance nodded and opened the chute that would lead her to the sixth lion. With a deep breath, Zeya took the chute down to the awaiting Lion ship.
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Keith fought back his urge to run toward the young man as he held Anala in his reach. Gorin held him back when the man pulled the spike from her and stabbed her again with it. Anala screamed out again.
"Who...who are you?" she asked weakly as she stared at him.
The boy only smiled as he twisted the spike as he pushed it deeper into her.
"Someone you should never toy with," he said.
Anala then gasped when she felt a sudden jerk, and the boy who stood before her was sent flying back, the spike he held broken in two, as the end that he stabbed her with was still embedded in her.
The boy stood as the dust cleared, and he stared at the individual who now stood before Anala. He breathed in deeply as he activated his armor again.
"You."
Lotor stood in a defensive stance before Anala. Anala let out a groan as she fell to her knees, and Lotor turned to catch her.
The boy then started his attack, anger filling him as he targeted the Doom Prince. Another spike formed on the boy's armor, and just as he was about to strike, something blocked him.
The boy eyed the man who came between him. Keith stood before Lotor as he blocked the strike with his left arm, the spike turning into a sharp blade as the boy pushed down on him. Keith let out a groan as he felt the the blade cut through his own armor, and watched as his blood started to spill.
"Get her out of here," Keith yelled. "He's only after her."
Lotor nodded as he lifted Anala into his arms, carefully pulling the spike from her. She gasped as she collapsed against him.
The boy watched as Lotor disappeared into the forest with the young woman. His distraction however, provided the opportunity that Keith needed as he pulled back and delivered a punch to the young boy.
Gorin watched as man in the dark armor flew across the clearing. There was no way the old armor would be able to stand up against the one he was wearing, and if Keith didn't finish the battle soon, no amount of protection would save him.
Keith breathed in deeply as he watched as the young boy stand again. His golden stare seemed to bore deep into him. Who the hell was he? He didn't seem to be Triasian, otherwise where is the support? He was all by himself.
Keith had barely any time to react as the boy charged him with such speed, the only thing he could do was bring up up his arms to protect himself. He let out a groan as the boy hit him hard, which sent him into the building behind him.
"Do not fight me," the boy said as he stared at him. "If you fight me, I will be forced to kill you. I did not come here to confront you."
Keith coughed as he fell to his knees, breathing heavily. He knew he wouldn't be able to last another hit like that, but the boy had to be stopped. If he didn't give Lotor enough time to take Anala back to the Castle, he could easily follow them. He then slowly got to his feet as he could feel his anger course through him. He was tired, and he knew that the only person who could stop the boy was him.
He pushed himself off the ground as he rushed toward the boy. In reaction, the boy readied himself as the charging Captain neared him.
Keith could feel the power he had felt before on the mesa fill him as put all of his effort into the attack.
' KEITH STOP! '
Gorin shielded himself as an explosion of power filled the clearing when he saw the Captain make contact with the boy. As the dust settled, he slowly stood as he saw the two men still standing, however he was caught by surprise at the site before him.
Slowly the armor that Keith wore, started to form around his wings as he slowly got to his feet. As he looked across the clearing, he watched as the young boy struggled to get to his feet, as his own armor did the same over his own wings.
"Vallusian?"
Keith then cried out in pain as he clutched at his chest, finding it difficult to breathe. A similar scream by the boy caused him to look at him as he fell to his knees. What was happening here? Who was this boy?
Gorin looked up into the sky above to see two Triasian fighters fly above them. He quickly got to his feet and ran over to the Captain as he pulled him to his feet.
"We have to go, we'll be surrounded by Triasian soldiers soon."
The boy watched as the older man took the Captain into his arms and then head toward the forest. He fell to his knees as he gasped for air, letting his armor retract before falling to the earth below him. Why had he been stopped? What force had prevented him from killing that man?
As his eyes grew heavy, he watched as Haggar came to stand before him. He then felt himself being lifted and was soon settled into a ship.
"You were not ready to confront him," he heard Haggar say. "You must rest now."
Kaden felt himself grow tired, and soon sleep overtook his senses. He knew that he would have to work hard if he wanted to kill that man.
tbc
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I received an email asking about the "golden" eyes that Kaden has. Just to clarify, he doesn't have the same eyes like Lotor or Zarkon but normal "human" eyes, but his are yellow and in certain lights, it becomes golden. Hope that helps.
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