Disclaimer: I don't own Voltron, Star Trek, or anything else that belongs to Paramount or WEP. What I do own are the crew of the Berlin (except Mordock and Scotty) the fighter, Thunderwing, and the story itself.
Star Tron: EscalationsChapter 15: The Fight During the Flight
Jonathan Andrews looked across the starship's infirmary, watching nurses and orderlies rushing around as they cared for the injuries of the ship's crew and his own people. He'd been surprised how many prisoners of Tango Seven had been released. In addition to the science team, many of the surviving guards had been turned over to the Alliance.
His attention was diverted from his searching by the approach of a man wearing a different type of uniform than the medical staff that were dashing about. This man was tall, wearing a mostly white uniform, with a red mantle across his shoulders and red stripes on his gloves and boots. His long, dark hair hung limp behind his head. Even before he spoke, Andrews knew who he was. The emblem the man wore on his chest told the scientist everything he needed to know.
The Voltron Force commander walked up to Andrews. "I'm Commander Keith of the Voltron Force. You're Dr. Andrews?"
"I am. And I understand we have you to thank for our rescue, Commander," Andrews replied, offering his hand.
"I can't take all the credit, Doctor," Keith replied, shaking the scientist's hand. "How are you feeling?"
Andrews considered a moment before answering, glancing at some of the wounded around him. "Well enough, I suppose. I understand one of yours was injured as well?"
Keith was momentarily taken aback. The reminder of Allura's condition affected him more than he'd have thought. "Yeah, that's right," he muttered back. He forced back the surge of emotion. The guilt, the sense of failure. There'd be time to deal with that later. Reasserting himself, he asked, "Dr. Andrews, do you know how Zarkon found out about your research on the ionized minerals?"
"It could have been any number of ways. He may have broken our codes, he may have been informed by someone else who knew… For all I know, it could have just been dumb luck on his part." He hung his head. "I just wish to God that I could've done something to stop it."
"So you know about the weapon Zarkon developed."
"Which one?"
Keith did a mental double-take. Which one? he wondered. After a moment, he recollected his thoughts. "You mean there were more than the lazon missiles?"
Andrews nodded. "Yes, there are." Andrews went on to explain how his people were tortured until they agreed to show Zarkon's men how to decrypt the lab's records and apply the discoveries to their weapons. He'd been astonished how quickly Zarkon's people worked once the data became available. The first examples of the missile were ready for testing in a matter of days. And after the missiles were in the testing stage, the Doom scientists had begun work on enhanced energy weapons and power systems. "Our chance discovery of ionized topaz ended up opening the door to a whole new league of weapons. Unfortunately, Zarkon is the first to capitalize on them."
Keith nodded, and stepped aside as a nurse approached to administer some medication. "Excuse us, Commander, but I have to see to the doctor now," she said.
"We'll continue our conversation later, Commander," Andrews said as the nurse began waving a tricorder over him. Keith nodded, and walked on around sickbay.
The Berlin's sickbay was a circular chamber. Dr. Saladin's office was in the middle, and was enclosed with windows around most of the circumference. The entryway had several chairs, and doubled as a waiting area. Two triage bays encircled Saladin's office, with six beds each. Opposite the main door, on the other side of the office, was a door that led to the operating theater, containment chambers, ICU, and dispensary. Medical labs and the morgue could be accessed from the main corridor or from doors in the left and right triage areas, respectively.
Keith looked through the doorway to the other side of the triage area. Allura lay asleep on a biobed, surrounded by other members of Tango Seven's crew and those of the Berlin. The doctors had examined her and declared her to have a mild concussion and some cracked ribs, which had already been healed. However, they did not awaken her, insisting that it was best if she were left to recover consciousness on her own.
He walked up beside her, brushing by a nurse who was attending another patient. He looked down at her deceptively peaceful face, which now displayed none of the bruising he'd been told she'd suffered in her Lion. If he didn't know better, he'd say she was sleeping as she would normally after a long, hard day. He glanced up at the monitor above her bed, which softly beeped and hummed, showing all her vital signs stable.
Keith felt a tap on his shoulder and turned to see Dr. Saladin behind him. "Yes, doctor?"
Saladin smiled, trying to brighten the situation a little. "She will be fine, Commander," he said. "The Princess will awaken in her own time." He moved to Allura's side and brushed back the shimmering thermal blanket, pulling her hand from beneath it and checking her pulse. The doctor could just as easily have read it from the display above her head, but seemed insistent on personally gauging the Princess' pulse and breathing, then scanning her head and torso with a tricorder.
Nodding, Saladin turned back to Keith. "Just fine, Commander. She just needs rest." He stepped closer to Keith. "I understand how you feel, but I'm afraid I have to ask you to leave. There just isn't enough room for you to wait here with her now."
Keith scanned the busy sickbay, and understood the doctor's concern. Even so, every fiber of his being told him not to leave. But again, his soldier's instincts kicked in. Follow orders. Keith nodded, glancing back down at Allura, and walked away.
Moving into the entryway, Keith paused a moment and took out his communicator, calling Lance. His second-in-command was aboard Voltron with Pidge and Hunk, running the robot while he and Allura were away aboard the Berlin. The starship and the robot warrior were currently making for Arus at low hyperlight speeds, restricted both by Voltron's waning power and the starship's condition.
Lance answered a second later. "Any word yet, Keith?"
"No, she's still sleeping," Keith replied. "What's your status?"
"Same as it was when you left," said Lance. "We're about two kilometers from the ship, parallel course."
Keith nodded. "Okay, I'm coming back."
"What, you don't trust me?"
Keith knew his second was trying to encourage him to stay, to be there when the Princess woke up. But there was nothing he could do, and just sitting around would drive him nuts. He had to do something, anything, to keep his mind off of Allura.
He smiled wryly, acknowledging Lance's veiled attempt at humor. "Like I ever did?" he replied. "I'll be over in a couple minutes. Keith out."
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Captain Driscoll walked out of engineering with Commander Gredar beside him. The two officers had been conferring with Scotty about the ship's condition, which, surprisingly, was not as bad as one might think, considering the hull breach and the sword sticking out of the saucer. Actually, that was about the worst of it.
Stepping aboard a turbolift, Driscoll said, "Sickbay." As the lift started to move, Gredar rasped, "The Princess?" He never turned to look at the Captain when he spoke, instead continuing to face the door. Of course, given his inflexible physique, Driscoll took no offense.
Driscoll nodded. "Yeah. I thought I'd check on her." He paused a moment before looking up at the tall reptilian being. "You did pretty good back there. I'm impressed at how well you were able to fight the ship. Keep it up, and you'll have a command of your own in no time."
"It was my duty, sir." Gredar replied, not understanding why Driscoll would bother saying anything about the battle. Of course he had done well. He was a trained officer. The fact that he and the ship were both still there attested to his competence.
"Dammit, Gredar, can't you lighten up a little for once?" Driscoll said in exasperation. "I thought you might like to know that I see you're doing good. Most people appreciate a little feedback now and then."
"Your approval is obvious, sir," Gredar hissed.
"Computer, hold," Driscoll ordered. The lift halted, and Driscoll turned to face the Gorn. "What the hell is that supposed to mean, Godzilla? 'My approval is obvious'?"
"If you did not approve of how I handled the ship, you would not leave me in command," Gredar replied, his slow way of speaking drawing out the sentence for ten seconds.
Driscoll nodded. "Yeah, that's true. But that ain't what I was getting at. Computer, resume." The lift started up again. "If I didn't approve of how you handled the ship, you wouldn't be here, that's for sure. The point I was trying to make was that you showed that you can competently handle the ship in a combat situation, with little or no help from me. I don't have to tell you that that's one of the biggest challenges any captain has to face."
"No, sir."
The turbolift stopped on the deck where sickbay was located, and the doors opened. "We'll talk later, Commander. I'm not done with this conversation."
"Very well, sir." Gredar rasped as Driscoll walked into the corridor. The door closed and Gredar ordered the lift to take him to the bridge.
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Driscoll strode through the doors of sickbay and into the waiting area. He looked around, and saw none of the Alliance people, although a few of his own crewmen were laid out on the biobeds. He turned into one of the triage bays, and made his rounds, talking to the men and women there, offering words of encouragement and thanks for another job well done.
Coming around through the other side, he saw a few Alliance people he hadn't noticed from the doorway. He paused to talk to one who was awake, before moving on to his destination. The second bed from the end of the row.
Dr. Saladin stood by Allura's side, checking her vitals and filling a hypospray.
"How is she, Sheik?" Driscoll asked.
"Ask her yourself," he replied, stepping aside. Adam looked down, and saw Allura looking back at him. Saladin administered the drugs in the hypospray, and returned to his office.
The Captain sat on the empty bed next to the Princess. "How ya feelin', Ally?"
Allura smiled weakly. "I've been better."
Driscoll smiled back. "You gave us a helluva scare, there. You didn't look so hot when Pidge found you."
"Sorry, but a robeast will do that to you."
Adam let out a short chuckle. "Yeah, that they will. You know, we're all gonna be in hot water when we get back to Arus."
"Why?"
"Well, Dr. Saladin called Dr. Gorma to get your medical records, and he had to clear it through Coran, and by now I'm sure Nanny knows, so…"
Allura groaned. She knew exactly where Adam was going with the idea. Whenever Allura came back from a mission with the slightest scratch, it was a week before they heard the end of it. And with Allura returning to Arus in a biobed aboard the Berlin, it'd be more like a solid month this time. "Oh, well. I suppose it had to happen sooner or later."
"Maybe." Driscoll replied.
"Where's everyone else?" the Princess asked.
"On Voltron. We beamed you over here, and Keith came after you once we were underway. He's back on Black Lion now."
Allura nodded. "I see." Keith came after her? Maybe… No, that was just like Keith to be the concerned, responsible commander. He'd have come to check on any of the others, if they were in the same situation.
Allura and Adam looked at each other for a moment, neither quite knowing what to say. Finally, Allura said, "Adam, can I ask you something?"
"Yeah, sure."
"Why is it you seem to know so much about us? Even when you first arrived, you seemed to know all about us, when we knew nothing about you."
Adam shook his head. "Ally, you wouldn't believe me if I told you."
"Try me," Allura replied with a smile.
Adam debated a moment whether to tell her or not. Would she think he was crazy? Or maybe that he was just lying? Or might she even believe him? He didn't know. "Are you sure you want to know?"
"Yes."
"Well, have you ever heard of television?"
"That's the forerunner of the viewing nets, right?"
"Yeah, I guess so," Driscoll replied, not entirely familiar with what a "viewing net" was. But that was a question for another time. "Well, there was a show on there, called 'Voltron.' Where I'm from, this is all a figment of someone's imagination. I've seen the whole story. I could tell you when the Alliance will defeat Zarkon, how Voltron fits into it, every major battle. Everything." He paused. "At least, I used to be able to."
That brief revelation sent Allura's mind reeling. This boy beside her held the key to the defeat of Zarkon and Lotor. The end of the war was within his reach. All he had to do was tell them what to do and when. But then, he could have done that already. Why had he let this go on even this long? Why had he let all those people be killed and injured since he arrived, if he could have stopped it? What was that about he used to be able to?
"What do you mean, 'used to be able to'?"
Adam waited a minute before answering, while he collected his thoughts. "What do you know about physics?"
"A little."
"Have you ever heard of the principle of sum over histories?"
"Yes, but I don't know much about it."
"Well, basically, what it says is that there are many possibilities for things to happen, from how a particle crosses a room to the creation of a universe. Now, whatever you believe as the source of creation from your own understanding or belief, this source, according to sum over histories, made not one, but every possible universe. Within these universes, there are alternate timelines. Different ways things happen to get to the same end. Different dimensions. Okay?"
Allura nodded. "I think so." In truth, she was not all that clear, but she could get the details again later. She just wanted to hear what he had to say.
"Basically, everything that can happen, does. In one universe, I'm sitting here, talking to you. In another, I never opened the wormhole, Earth is gone, and the Dominion is surging through the Federation. In yet another, you're at the castle with your parents, having tea, because Zarkon lost at Zohar, not Alfor."
"And this Voltron program?"
"To you, it's reality. To me, it's a cartoon. But it exists in this dimension, because it is possible for it to exist within the laws of physics. And the way I perceive it, as part of it, is different. I see you as flesh and blood, not an illustration. If things were different, I might be the cartoon to you."
Allura shook her head. "Wait, you're losing me. Get back to where you said you know what was going to happen. You mean, you could tell us what Zarkon's going to do next?"
"I used to."
"Why not now?"
"Because there was never any Berlin in the T.V. show. No Thunderwing, no Starfleet, no me. By entering this dimension, the Berlin caused a new timeline to come into being. Things are totally different now. Some things may still happen, but I don't know what. Like, according to what I know, none of the battles since I arrived should have happened. And several that should have happened haven't. We shouldn't have Lotor locked up in the Castle. And like I said, I shouldn't even be here."
"So you can't tell us anything?"
"No. This is a whole new ball game. Even if I were to leave now and never return, the damage is done. What I know, except on the most basic level, no longer exists in this timeline."
Allura lay back, contemplating what he had just said. In another dimension, everything she knew as reality was somebody's dream? Was there a place where her dreams were real? And by coming to this dimension, and all the good that had happened from it, Adam and his crew had also prohibited their own prediction of events they should have known everything about? It was overwhelming. Finally, she looked up at him. "And that's your power? You can travel between these dimensions and timelines, whenever you want?"
Driscoll nodded. "Yeah. Gift and curse all at once. I'm the uncertainty principle incarnate."
"The what?"
"More physics, Ally. I'll explain another time."
Allura nodded. That's the last thing she needed now was another physics lesson. But then, one question came to her lips. "Will we stop Zarkon?"
Adam regarded her for a long moment. He didn't know how to answer. He couldn't be sure. But then, as he thought about his answer, he knew. He knew somehow, with a mysterious certainty. "Yeah, we'll win."
Allura smiled and looked over at Dr. Saladin, who was approaching the pair. "Excuse me, Captain, but the Princess needs her rest."
"Sure, Sheik." Driscoll rose and stood by Allura's side. He smiled and said, "Doctor's orders, Ally. I'll see you later." He reached down and took her hand.
Allura smiled, squeezing his hand in hers. "All right. Let me know when we get to Arus."
"As you wish, Your Highness," Adam replied with a bow. He nodded to the doctor and walked out of sickbay.
As he headed to the turbolift, he mentally berated himself. Yeah, smooth one, Driscoll. "Duh, yeah, Allura, you don't exist. This is all a cartoon." Whatever happened to a get well card and some flowers? What do you give her? Physics lessons and shattered dreams. Idiot. Well, at least you should know to back the hell off. Alternate timeline or no, she's meant to be with Keith. Disengage while you can.
As the turbolift doors opened, Driscoll was surprised to find himself face-to-face with Keith himself. The Voltron Force Commander stopped a moment and asked, "She's awake?"
"Yeah, the Sheik's with her now."
"You talk to her?"
"Yeah, I stopped by," Driscoll added, almost defensively.
Keith nodded. "Listen, can we talk a minute?"
"Yeah, sure." The officers stepped back into the turbolift and the doors closed. Driscoll ordered the car to hold position and looked at Keith. "Whassup?"
"Look, I suppose that this is my fault for not telling you earlier, but the guys and I have a rule. Because of who Allura is, and who we are, we made an agreement not to let ourselves get romantically involved with her in any way. We're pilots, and we can't have those kind of feelings clouding our judgment in battle. And as her guardian knights, it wouldn't be appropriate." He spoke the last few words with a particular emphasis.
The argument Keith made was sensible enough. But the look in his eyes conveyed an underlying meaning. Driscoll had seen it before, in battle. There was a threat in his hard gaze. Keith was doing more than filling Driscoll in. He was warning the Captain off.
Driscoll's anger flared, and his own gaze narrowed. He could understand Keith's reasoning, but he'd be damned if he'd allow himself to be cowed like that, especially on his own ship! "That's very noble of you Keith, and it's a very logical idea. But I have a better one. Let Allura decide. If she happens to like one of us, what's the harm? It's her life, and she should be able to do what she wants."
"Adam," Keith said with a firmer tone. He knew that Driscoll saw the underlying meaning of his words. Now he had to make them stick. "I'm not kidding. If you or I were to become involved with Allura…"
"What? She might have someone to stand by her? Someone she can talk to? I mean, God forbid we should treat her as anything but a little china doll in a glass case. She's human too, with as much free will and ambition as any of us. Let her live her own life, Keith. Coran and Nanny sure as hell don't, and you're not much better. Every one of you is so busy telling her what she's gotta do, nobody stops to ask what she wants to do."
That stung. Keith had always done all he could, or thought was appropriate, to help Allura. He helped her learn to fly Blue. He helped keep Nanny and Coran off of her back so she could fly. He'd made it his personal responsibility to see that she came through every mission safely. And now to hear this kid accusing him of stifling her… It put him on a slow burn. What right did Driscoll have to question his dedication and loyalty to Allura?
And he found her utterly amazing. Besides her beauty and charm, she was brilliant and fearless, and a natural pilot. Kind and compassionate, but fiercely defensive of her people and loyal to her comrades in battle. Such a combination was hard to find in anyone.
"Well someone has to. In case you haven't noticed, she doesn't always remember that she's a princess, and that she has a lot of responsibilities. If we let her, she'd take on Doom single-handed, and she just doesn't have that luxury. You have your ship and crew, I have the team, but that's nothing compared to what she has to take care of. Any one of us is expendable, but I have to keep reminding her that she's not." As soon as the words left his mouth, Keith regretted saying them. It was the wrong argument to make.
"Keith, in case you haven't noticed, she's very lonely. She's got next to nobody to talk to. I mean really talk to. The guys are too scared of having Nanny or Coran on their backs if they get caught with her. And you won't, because you don't think it's proper. And there are some things she just doesn't want to confide in Nanny or Coran."
"Like what?" Keith asked.
Driscoll snorted. "Yeah, like I'm gonna tell you," he rebuffed. The two commanders stared at each other, both knowing that the other wouldn't back down. "Keith, I said I'd follow your orders in battle, and I will. But other than that..." he paused. "You tell the others how to live all you want, but don't think for one minute that you have that power over me. Open doors."
The turbolift doors opened, and Keith stepped out, continuing to challenge Driscoll with his eyes until the doors closed again.
Driscoll slumped back against the wall of the lift. "Bridge," he mumbled, and the lift started to move. What had just happened? Did he just declare war on Keith? No, not war, at least, not completely. What was he thinking? This was a friend he was talking about. A colleague. A fellow pilot.
Yeah, one who had just tried to tell him he had no business talking to Allura.
But then, wasn't that what was supposed to happen? Allura and Keith get together, fall in love, the whole shebang? That's what happens.
No, that's what happens in the other timeline. Here and now, things were different. Hadn't he told Allura that he didn't know what would happen, and that everything he knew no longer applied? He was never in the timeline he knew about, so maybe…
He stood up and straightened his uniform. To hell with it. This was a whole new deal, and it was just the first hand. If Allura chose Keith after all, then that's what happened. He'd step aside and let it be. But until then, he had no intention of backing off just because Keith said so. It was for Allura and Allura alone to decide what she wanted, and neither fate, nor timelines, nor Keith Mendoza would change that.
Disengage while you can? Screw that.
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Keith walked into sickbay, and looked at Allura, lying in bed. Dr. Saladin was just stepping away from her, and he saw Keith walk in. He came over to the Voltron Force leader. "I am sorry, Commander," he said, "but I have just given her a sedative to help her sleep. She cannot see anyone now."
Keith harrumphed. Convenient. As soon as Adam leaves…
Keith stopped himself. No, it wasn't like that. It was just chance. The doctor didn't care who wanted to see Allura. He only cared about what Allura needed to help her get well. It was his own tough luck. Just like always.
He nodded to the doctor, and asked to be informed if she woke up again. Saladin agreed, and Keith stepped back into the hall. Heading for the transporter room, he thought back on what had just happened. He knew that he and Adam both felt the same way about Allura. He also knew that there was a new dynamic in the team structure. He wouldn't let it affect his own performance, but he couldn't be sure about Adam. Would the Captain still work with them, or would his grudge make him a wild card? He couldn't allow that to happen. The situation with Allura aside, he had to know for sure whether or not he could still count on Adam.