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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 4
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Zeya could only stare at the view screen before her, somewhat feeling a little useless as the rest of the Voltron Force handled the waves of attack by the robot fighters. She was still uncomfortable being in this Lion ship, and without the AI functioning during battle, she knew that she had to do this all alone.
She then watched as four fighters escape from Yellow Lion's attack and head straight toward her. She pulled up on the controls as she dodged their attacks, but three of the fighters were able to swing around to chase after her. She pulled up on her controls to dogdge their laser fire, and used the momentum of the ship to bring her about to target the four fighters.
The sky around her exploded in fire as the ships before her exploded. She pulled up on her controls as she scanned the area and saw that no other fighters had made it pass the four lion ships. She breathed in deeply as she gripped the controls before her.
She then watched as Black Lion joined the rest of the four lions. She wondered if everything was alright, seeing that it took a while for Keith to return to the Castle. Surely he would have been alerted to the attack once it started. She felt that something was wrong.
An explosion distracted her for a moment as she looked at her view screen. A wayward robot fighter had been tossed by the Red Lion, which had torn it apart before flinging it away. She then watched as three fighters broke off, while Teri was distracted in Red Lion. She pushed forward on her controls hoping to catch the fighters before they attacked him.
Missiled fired from the White Lion, exploding the three fighters just as she hovered the Lion next to Red Lion.
Thanks, Zeya, Teri's reply came as she turned her lion to him. I didn't see them on my radar.
Zeya slowly nodded. "It seems that since our last fight, they are learning our techniques," she stated. "They flanked you while you were finishing off the first fighter."
That's something we'll have to worry about later, came Katherine's reply. Zeya, how is your lion holding up?
"As fine as it can be with someone who's never dones this before," Zeya replied. "I still dont see how this Lion is suppose to help you when you form Voltron."
We'll probably find out in due time, Katherine stated. Sorry guys for taking so long. Keith ran into some trouble at the Rebel camp. He'll give his report when we are done up here.
"Trouble?" Zeya thought to herself.
Zeya then turned to her radar as three blips filled her screen. She pulled her Lion around, and gasped when she saw three robeasts, bearing down on Katherine and Teri.
"Katherine, behind you!"
Red Lion quickly turned just as the three robeasts attacked. Zeya and Teri were able to dodge the attack, but one of the robeasts had been able to grab the Black Lion and toss it toward them.
Teri was quick to react, by positioning Red to brace the impact of Black against him. As Katherine recovered, the second robeast started its attack again, and all three dispersed before it was able to make contact with any of them.
They're forcing us to form Voltron, Katherine stated. The fighters we can handle, but these three robeasts are going to be trouble. One yes, but three?
Zeya breathed in deeply. "Katherine, just delay as long as you can," she said. "Haggar is using a different kind of magic in these three, I can sense it. We need to find out if they have weaknesses first."
Zeya, you and Teri work on taking out the fighter ships, Katherine ordered. Neive, Shane, LiAnne, and I will work on fighting these three. Nothing fancy. Strike and pull back. We have to be sure our weapons will have any effect against them.
Zeya nodded, more to herself as she joined Teri. She watched as the other Lions tried to lure the three robeasts away, so that she and Teri could take care of the robot fighters. There were only a few left, but enough to give both teammembers enough trouble if they missed or made mistakes.
She watched as Teri take out a group of fighter ships before she was able to confront another group. The three robeasts were now distracted by the four lion ships, giving them the time and the area to work on the fighter ships. Zeya was able to take out several groups, taking hints from Teri. She made sure she could understand the movements he made with his lion, so that she could understand her own.
Only a few hundered more, Teri stated. This is the most fun I've had in a long time.
Zeya half smiled to herself. As much as she wanted to admit the same, she knew that this was just another attack to test their team. To see what kind of tactics they would use.
Suddenly a beep from her console notified her that something large was heading toward her lion. She pulled on her controls just in time as a robeast came bearing down on her. She pulled her lion around to see the Blue Lion jump on the monster's back, to take a bite of the hulking robot's shoulder.
The robeast only seemed to be irritated as it grabbed for the Blue Lion and three the lion ship toward Red. Zeya was not prepared however, as the second robeast grabbed her Lion. She pulled on her controls to fight out of its grip, but the giant monster only pulled her over its head and with a powerful lunge, threw her and the lion across the sky, and as she tried to
fight for control, she let out a groan as soon as she was thrown against her control panel when her lion crashed into the forest below.
Zeya! Get up!
Zeya let out a groan as she stared up at her view screen. Two robeasts were heading toward her lion, but she felt dizzy, her vision started to blur.
Zeya!
The voice echoed, but she could not find the strength to react to the scene before her.
Zeya!
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The two soldiers laid Kaden down in the bed as Haggar then excused them. She walked into the small room, staring down at him as he breathed in deeply. In a deep sleep, she had put him into, so that he could let his body rest. She had warned him about confronting the Captain, yet he disobeyed her. She knew that he wasn't ready.
She slowly reached over to him as he slept, slowly untying the headband he always wore. He thought it was only there to keep his unruly hair at bay, but for her, it hid the most important feature on him. The golden mark that adorned his forehead was the only thing that kept him under her control. She ran her finger over the mark, uttering a small spell, and it flared red for a moment. A gasped escaped the boy's lips before he settled again, the mark returning to its faint coloring. She smiled to herself, placing the headband on the nearby stand before leaving the small room.
"He did well, Haggar."
The old witch turned as she looked at Rolsin.
"He disappointed me," she said as she walked away from him.
Rolsin smiled to himself. "Im not sure why you are, but for me, I am satsified," he said. "Continue to do this well, Haggar, and I promised to reward you well."
"You have much more to worry about, milord," Haggar stated. "My three robeasts can only keep the Voltron Force busy for so long, but they, as always will be defeated by them. Though, it will not be all a waste."
"I see that you are also testing them," Rolsin stated. "That Sixth Lion is still a mystery to us...and to you."
"Queen Marlena hid it away for a reason, and I want to know that reason," she said. She then regarded him for a moment. "Your doctors haven't been able to take care of that eye of yours?"
"Its beyond saving," he said as he turned away from her. "It serves its purpose, though."
"Purpose?"
"To kill the man who did this to me," he said. "I've opened up two more areas to use as your laboratory, study, or whatever you want to call them, seeing as this room is growing a bit small for your work. You are free to use them."
"I thank you, milord," she said.
Rolsin slowly nodded before he made his way to the door of the laboratory. "Haggar?"
"Yes, milord?"
"If he confronts the Captain again, I will have him killed," Rolsin stated. "Keep him away from Captain Hayashi."
"I understand."
Rolsin nodded before leaving the laboratory, the door sliding closed behind him. Haggar turned her gaze to the small room. The power she was hoping to extract from the boy had finally shown itself, but it was only for a short moment, and it nearly killed him. She knew that if he were to confront Captain Keith Hayashi, the boy would not have a chance against him. She would have to figure out a way to prevent the Captain from also using that same power, then use that same power to help Zarkon take over the Triasian fleet.
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Zeya.
The voice sounded distant, but as Zeya slowly opened her eyes, she realized that it was Katherine's voice yelling at her over the intercom. She let out a groan as she pushed herself off the control panel. She slowly pulled off the helmet she wore, rubbing at the area on her temple where a small bump was forming.
Zeya, can you hear me?
"I can hear you," she said as she sat back in her chair. "What happened?"
Mr. Robeast decided to play touch football with you, Katherine stated.
"Touch what?" Zeya asked.
Nevermind, can you fly?
Zeya pulled on her controls to get her lion to stand. When the lion made no movement, she tried again.
"Lion is not responding," she said. "How bad is it out there?"
We're taking a pounding, but handling these brutes as best as we can.
Zeya slowly nodded as she looked over her console.
"Kieran."
The holographic image of the Lion's AI then appeared on the view screen before her.
"Any damage to the ship?"
Minor structural damage, he stated. However, I can't seem to isolate why the lion isn't responding to control.
"Katherine?"
Yes, Zeya.
"Im going to try and get my Lion to respond," she said. "Can you guys handle things without me for a few minutes?"
Roger that, we'll try and lure them away from your position to give you more time.
Zeya turned to the image again. "Kieran, try to see where the command has been cut between my controls and the rest of the Lion," she said. "The jolt may have shakened something loose. Seeing as this is probably the first time this ship has seen any real combat, it could have been when I crashed that broke something loose."
Running diagnostics now. he replied.
Zeya thought quietly to herself. Just getting used to the power of the lion as one thing, but dealing with unknown problems was another. She was probably the first person to even use some of the weapon systems aboard this lion ship. The first to take it into combat.
The first time it probably ever saw any type of combat.
First time.
Zeya's eyes then widened as she breathed in deeply.
"Kieran!" she said excitedly.
Yes, Zeya, he replied.
"When Marlena completed the lion, did she ever have anyone fully test this ship?"
The only recorded entry of use was when this Lion was moved from the Castle of Lions to the secret cave you found us in, he stated.
"That must be it," she said to herself.
What must be it?
"Did you isolate the problem?" she asked quickly.
Making repairs now, he answered. Im rerouting the command through another system. The original wires had been cut, though minor to fix, it was what caused the immobility of the Lion.
"Wonderful," she said. "Let me know as soon as we are 100 full power."
What is it, Zeya?
"Just trust me."
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"What?"
Neive fired two missiles at the second robeast as Shane joined him. She wants us to do what?
Please, trust me, Zeya replied over their intercom. I have a hunch, and I think that whatever problems we were facing with this Lion, has to do in part that this LION was built to be an offensive weapon.
"Offensive weapon?" Katherine asked.
It makes sense, Zeya stated. Why hide this lion if it were to be like the others? Voltron was built to defend Arus against the forces that would threaten to destroy it. Which is why, Alfor made sure that each Lion was built with its own strength and weaknesses. This Lion posseses the strength and weakness of all 5 lion ships. It was supposed to be the ship that would go into combat first, then provide support to Voltron when it was needed.
So what do you want us to do? Neive asked.
Form Voltron
"If we do, we will only give the enemy the opportunity to gain as much information about our tactics," Katherine stated.
Please trust me, Katherine, Zeya replied. If anything the enemy already knows what you can do invidually, and they would have already figured out how to combat you. We must take the offensive, now.
Katherine breathed in deeply as she watched the three robeasts. She had to admit, that as invidual Lions, they wouldn't be able to take them on.
"Well then, we'll just have to give it a try," she said. "Neive, Shane, pull back. Zeya, are you good to go?"
Systems are coming online, Zeya stated. Whenever you are ready.
"Okay, here it goes," she said as she pulled back on her controls. "Ready to form Voltron!"
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Rolsin watched his view screen as the three robeasts proved to me more than the lion ships could handle. The sixth lion was unmoving, and the five others were being thrown around like rag dolls. Was this all that the meager force could do?
"Sir, they are moving into position," a soldier announced.
Rolsin only smiled to himself, as the attack was now coming close to an end. "Let them," he said. "Its about time I see their greatest defender in action."
Rolsin stood as he walked closer to the view screen, and watched as the five lion ships fly into their formation. He smiled when they executed the formation, he had studied time and again. He marveled at how such technology could have been used to build such a weapon, yet the people of this planet chose to live in a more down to earth setting.
"Finally," he said. "Now, let's just see how well you do."
"Sir, the White Lion," a soldier announced. "Its moving again."
"Have the remaining fighters target that ship," he ordered. "The robeasts will take care of Voltron."
"Yes sir!"
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Zeya pulled her lion, to stand as her systems came up again. She looked at the control panel before her, and breathed in deeply.
"Well, lets just see if this will work."
She then pushed on her controls as she brought the lion ship to run in the direction of the robeasts and her teammates. Zeya concentrated hard, as she only focused on the battle before her. Her radar signaled that a group of robot fighters were now bearing down on her position. She let out grunt as she pulled her Lion to take care of the fighter ships, as she continued to run toward the robeasts.
Suddenly, the world around her grew silent. All she could hear was her own breathing, and it was as if she were weightless. Zeya continued to push on her controls, the robeats were now near.
' Fight your inner demons, Zeya, ' a voice echoed in her mind. ' Only then, you will be able to access your full potential. '
Zeya closed her eyes as she pulled back on her controls, sending the lion launching into the air, as it jumped over the large lake that seperated her from her teammates, landing on the other side as she continued to run toward the robeast. She let out a scream, when she felt the controls jerk slightly, and suddenly, the panel before her started to change. The seat she was in, moved slightly, then pulled her into a more upright position. The arm rests enclosed around her, and she then became aware that not only was her cockpit changing, but the lion itself was too. She realized now that her lion was no longer, running on four feet, but now running on two. She breathed in deeply as she pulled on her controls again, as she neared the three Robeasts, jumping into the air before coming down upon them.
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Katherine had barely enough room to maneuver as she dodged one robeast attack before moving to avoid the second one. The third stood back as its brothers just toyed with them.
"Damn, whatever it is you have planned, Zeya, you had better do it now."
Katherine, stand back!
Katherine pulled on her controls as she brought Voltron to a halt as a dark shadow formed above them. She then quickly moved Voltron out of the way as something white landed on the robeast in front of her, the force of it , had sent the monster tumbling back into the second one.
Katherine's eyes widened as the white robot ran after the two robeasts as they began to recover.
Stop staring and move! Zeya yelled through her intercom. I dont know how long this is going to last.
"Zeya, what did...how did..."
Katherine, now! Zeya yelled.
Katherine regained her composure as she then began to follow Zeya's moves. The robot was quick, faster than anything she had seen before.
You take the one on the right, Zeya said. I'll take the one on the left. We'll take out the biggest one together.
Katherine nodded as she readied herself. Though, now that she had help, taking care of these robeasts should prove to be much more easier. She quickly formed the Spinning Laser Blades and was able to take out the robeasts arms. With, her momentum, she then brought Voltron around, grabbing the robeast in Red Lion's mouth and swung the monster until she was able to release it, as it crashed into the mountain side. She breathed in deeply, and used her blades again, to slice into the robeast just as it stood. The robeast exploded, just as she was able to turn to Zeya as she took out the second one. She watched as the white robot, deftly avoided a hit, as the robeast had thrown all of its weight into the attack. Zeya was able to use its weight, and its momentum to grab hold of the robeast by its shoulders as she pulled the robot over it, then slice into the monster with blades that formed on her robot's arms. As the robeast exploded before her, she was actually caught by surprise by the sudden appearance of the new weapons. All she did was think about some sort of weapon to fight the monster, and those had just appeared.
Zeya!
She quickly pulled her ship around and saw that Katherine was already initiating her attack against the last robeast. She followed suit as she pushed on her controls to follow after Voltron. Zeya thought quickly, as she tried to figure out the new system. She quickly tested the theory she was thinking about, having her ship form a smaller weapon that she could use. To her surprise, the exact weapon she had imagined was formed by her ship and she quickly used it, sending a volley of sharp needles toward the robeast.
Its responding to my thoughts. But how?
She didn't want to spend time figuring it out. The robeast deflected her attack, and seeing that it was the biggest of the three, she had a feeling that it would also be the strongest. It hadn't attacked much, letting the first two handle the lions as if it were studying them. Zeya then realized that they would need to work together, in order to defeat this monster.
"Katherine, hold back for a moment," Zeya instructed as she pulled along side of Voltron. "This robeast isn't what it seems. We have to see what it does."
Probably studying what we could do, Katherine stated. It was probably sent here to watch us battle the other two.
"I'll attack first," Zeya stated. "Watch what it does, once we figure out what it can do, we'll destroy it together."
Roger.
Zeya flanked the robeast, coming to attack it from its right side, and as soon as she was near, the robeast moved quickly, as it dodged her attack. She had barely time to recover when it then appeared behind her and grabbed her from the back. She quickly pulled on her controls and thought quickly, forming the blades again, and swing her arms around to slice the robeast from behind her.
The robeast released her and dodged the attack, and as she turned her ship around, the robeast appeared again, knocking her robot out of the way.
She was sent flying across the forest they were fighting over, as she brought her ship under control.
Found it! she heard Shane's cry over their intercom. The damn thing has a teleporter built in. Which is why its moving so fast.
"Where is it located?" Zeya asked.
Of all places, right in its abodmen, Shane said. If we can damage that, we can destroy it.
"Well, then, now that we know its weakness," Zeya said as she pulled back on her controls. "Let's finish this off. Katherine, this is going to probably surprise you a bit."
What?
Katherine watched as Zeya pulled her ship upright and started a full run toward her.
Zeya, what in all of Arus?
Katherine then gasped when Zeya pulled the robot into the air, and it split before her eyes.
Zeya!
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Lance could only watch the view screen before him as the battle unfolded. Not only was he surprised by the transformation of the White Lion into its current form, he couldn't believe the strength it displayed.
"Ally, what was your mother thinking?" Lance asked as he turned to the Princess.
Allura could only shake her head as she watched the battle. "She was doing the only thing she though she could do," she then said. "Build a weapon that would protect the ones she loved."
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