A thorough perimeter search of the castle grounds took several hours and turned up nothing out of the ordinary. It was the early hours of the morning when Keith called the Force back in to Castle Control.

"Bomb squad has searched the lake and found no other devices," Keith explained. "They did find debris from the explosives that had detonated and took it to their lab. We should know more tomorrow. The boy apprehended has been taken to the police station to sober up, Becca said he was on some kind of drug, she won't know until the toxicology report comes back. He's going to sleep it off tonight and Paton and I are going to speak with him tomorrow. Tristan, the bomb squad cleared the area, so I want you to move Blue into the work room, Hunk is going to go over her and make sure everything's all right. After that, you can go to bed. The rest of you are dismissed now."

After moving his Lion, Tristan waited to speak with Hunk. Blue appeared to be all right, he didn't notice any obvious problems. Hunk assuaged his fears, assuring him that neither explosive device had been deep enough to actually affect Blue, but he wanted to take a quick look, just to make sure.

Yawning, Tristan bade the older man good night and shuffled through the nearly empty halls to his room. The other Force members were already behind the closed doors of their rooms, preparing to turn in for the night. He was exhausted and worried about Sky. They hadn't had a chance to speak about her call with Erik and when she had joined them in Castle Control, it was obvious she had been crying. But whatever had happened, she had been completely in control and totally professional. He couldn't help but admire her strength.

The first thing Tristan noticed when he entered his room were the curtains. Cady had complained that his room was too plain and she wanted to do something about it. He could care less. It was just a place to sleep for the next few months until they married and he would move in to her room, until they could come up with other living arrangements. Cady wanted to stay close to her family, but Tristan wanted a little more privacy. He liked the setup that Romelle and Sven had, a house of their own on the castle grounds, they were close to her family, but separated enough for some privacy.

He sank onto the edge of his bed and pulled his boots off. A glance at the clock showed he had been up for twenty one straight hours and he was exhausted. Forgoing his pajamas, Tristan stretched out on his bed, threw an arm over his eyes and hoped for a little sleep to come before he had to be up for practice.

But, of course, it wasn't to be that easy. He didn't bother to remove his arm when the knock came at his door. He considered ignoring it, but if it was Cady, she would just worry. "Yeah?"

The door slid open and Cady walked in slowly. The small lamp on his bedside table was on, sending a small shaft of light across the bed where he was sprawled out, fully clothed. "Oh, Tristan, are you okay?"

He lifted his arm and looked at her. She stood just inside his closed door, wrapped in a long, pink robe, twisting her hands nervously. "Yeah, Cady, I'm fine, just tired. How're you?"

"I'm fine," she took a hesitant step closer. "I was worried about you, is there anything I can get you?"

"No, sweetie, I'm fine. Thanks for the curtains."

"I just thought it looked so plain in here, you needed something more. I was thinking about hanging a couple of pictures, just something to decorate the walls a bit."

"Cady, I'm only going to be in here for a few more months, don't go to any trouble."

She looked around, clasping her hands behind her back, "Yeah, that's true. Just a few more months."

"Cady, is something wrong?"

"No. I just wanted to check on you."

Tristan rolled onto his side and looked at her, "Honey, I am exhausted. Either come to bed or go back to your room, whatever you do I'm going to be asleep in about thirty seconds."

Not needing any other invitation, Cady untied her robe and tossed it over the back of his desk chair. She wore a set of lavender, silk pajamas that clung seductively to her figure. "Aren't you going to change into your pajamas?" She asked, slipping into the bed beside him.

He wrapped his arm securely around her waist and pulled her flush against him, sliding his hand over the softness of silk and beneath to the even softer feel of her skin. "I'm not moving again until that alarm clock goes off."

"Sounds good to me."

"Have you talked to Sky at all tonight?"

"No, why?"

"She spoke with Erik."

Cady tried to turn in his embrace to face him, but he held her tight. "When did she do that?"

Yawning, he replied, "Earlier tonight before the alarms went off."

"Did she say anything to you?"

"No, but I could tell she had been crying."

The Princess sighed angrily, "I'll talk to her in the morning. Maybe it was a mistake inviting him to the engagement party, I mean, I know we had to, but I was hoping he wouldn't accept. I just hope Sky still comes. She has to, she's my maid of honor. Oh, I have a horrible feeling this is going to be a fiasco. What do you think, Tristan? Maybe you could talk to Erik. Oh geez, what if he brings Kendall? Tristan?"

He didn't reply and Cady felt his slow, even breathing ruffling her hair. He was asleep.

"The good news is that Blue is fine, Hunk could find nothing wrong," Keith explained at a meeting the next morning. "The report from the bomb squad says the explosive devices were rather primitive, effective, but primitive. The boy we caught outside is nineteen year old Urey Dones. He was completely high, according to the toxicology report, on asperaine benziontate, a plant derived hallucinogenic smoked usually with a pipe. It's also known as Huff, Paradise Puffs, Puff, and various other names. We believe it came from Planet X'tpol, a planet known for its plant life."

"Do we know what Dones was trying to do last night?" Declan asked.

"He didn't have much to say this morning, he was feeling pretty crappy. But last night he was rather talkative, declaring the downfall of the Voltron Force if they continued to try and come between the free people of Arus and their right to recreational activities."

"Recreational activities?" Allura gasped. "Getting high and committing crimes are not acceptable recreational activities."

Keith nodded, "Paton is working on a new strategy to combat the drug running and gangs then she is going to bring it up to the castle for us all to discuss." He looked around the table crowded with the former and current Force members. "We're open to any ideas, we don't want to take away anybody's freedoms, but the safety of everyone on the planet outweighs certain freedoms. We'll discuss it all tonight. As it stands, we are continuing the high security measures and you all need to remain…"

"Constantly vigilant!" Everyone shouted back at him.

Keith smirked at his team, "Okay, I know you're all exhausted, but I want some more practice this morning. If all goes well, you can have the afternoon off, but because we are under high security, you have to stay on the castle grounds, make sure you have your weapon and communicator on you at all times. Understand?"

"Yes, sir."

"Okay, you're dismissed."

On Pollux, Erik paced the hallway outside his father's study. He knew Sven was on the phone with Keith, finding out what had happened the night before. He hadn't slept a winklast nightout of worry for Sky and Arus. I should be there, he thought vehemently. Why aren't I? Why? Because I screwed up big time with Sky. I am such an idiot!

The door opened and he stopped in his stiff pacing. Sven smiled at him, "Everyone is fine. A trespasser vas found on castle property, he vas stoned and tried to swim into de lake, to get to Blue. He had thrown two primitive explosive devices into de water, but no one vas hurt."

Erik let out a long, slow sigh of relief.

"Dey know vhat dey are doing, son."

"I know, I just…I…I screwed up badly, Dad, and I don't know how to fix it," he admitted quietly.

"Sky?"

"Yeah."

"Ja, you did screw up. And you are de only one who can make it better."

"I don't know how."

"Come on," Sven nodded toward the front door. "Let's talk."

Erik followed his father down the hall and out the front door into the beautiful Polluxian afternoon.

"Erik, you know you are de only one who can fix it. You are going to have to be completely honest and open vith her."

"I don't know…"

Sven shook his head, "Completely. How can you even tink about sharing your life vith a voman you can't talk to? I know you're feeling embarrassed, but she von't see it dat vay. If I know Sky, she vill only vant to be vith you and help you. You pushed her avay for all de wrong reasons, you have to make it right by telling her everyting."

Erik sighed. He knew his father was right, but it was so much easier said than done.

"It also vouldn't hurt if you vere to start romancing her. Remind her vhat she means to you. You know Sky better dan anyone else, you need to give it some tought and figure out how you're going to get her back. Dis is about her, vhat can you do to make her realize how much she means to you and how much you vant her back in your life. I know you don't vant to hear dis, Erik, but dis is your fault, you have hurt her tvice now, and dis time it is going to be more difficult to vin her back. You're going to have to vork for it, but I know you're not afraid of hard vork."

Erik nodded, "I know. I just have no idea where to start."

"Only you can figure dat out. My advice can only go so far. Vhat I can tell you is dat ve love you and ve love Sky. I truly believe de two of you are meant to be together, but you vill have to grovel, beg, and romance her into giving you de chance to explain yourself."

"I'm terrified of losing her."

"Open up, tell her everyting. You have noting to be embarrassed about."

Erik smiled weakly at his father, "I'm going to do whatever it takes."

"I know."

"Even if that means moving back to Arus."

Sven nodded, "I know, ve've alvays known."

Erik threw his arms around his father in an impulsive hug, "Thanks Dad, for everything."

Sven returned the hug, feeling a little teary eyed, "I'm alvays here if you need me."

After practice, Sky didn't feel much like talking to anyone. She had been busy since talking to Erik the night before and hadn't had a chance to think about it. It hurt. Badly. Now, as she had a few quiet moments to herself, she felt her strong façade start to shift and she just made it into her room before dissolving into tears.

"Damn him," she whispered wiping her tears away with the back of her hands.

"Sky, are you in there?" Cady called through the closed door.

"Not now, Cady, please!" She called back.

Cady hesitated a moment, resting her hand on the door. She hated thinking of the pain Sky was in, but she knew better than to push her friend when she didn't want to talk.

Sky was thankful to hear the short, sharp footfalls of the Princess as she left. Red's pilot knew Cady meant well, but she just wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone.

She thought she should feel tired, it had been a late night and long morning, but she wasn't. Sky was restless. But if she left her room, she wouldmost likely have to talk to someone. Instead, she fell into the chair at her desk as Figment jumped onto her lap. She flipped on her computer and called up her email. There were three joke emails from the twins, an email from her mother reminding her that she had promised to have dinner with them on Friday, and an email from an old school friend of Cady's about her bridal shower. Sky deleted the emails from the twins, ignored her mother's, and rolled her eyes at the last one. It's at least six months until the shower, she mentally grumbled.

Just as she was about to close the program, it chimed, alerting her to another message. She knew right away, from the return address, that it was Erik. For several moments, she stared at the screen, wondering what she should do. The subject line read: This is just the beginning… and that piqued her curiosity.

"Well, it can't get any worse," she mumbled, clicking on the message.

Sky,

I know you're angry with me, you have every right to be. I am so sorry. Sorrier than I can possibly put into words, at least in an email. I hope you read this because I want you to know that this is just the beginning. I'm not really sure how I'm going to do it yet, but somehow, someway, I am going to prove to you that I love you, I need you, and I want you. We were meant to be together, Sunny, you know that too.

I screwed up. I know this was my last chance, so I want to start over, anew. I know I'm asking a lot of you, I know you can't trust me right now, but I will prove myself to you. I swear it.

This is just the beginning.


I love you.


Erik

Sky didn't know if she was going to cry, scream, or punch the computer monitor. But another part of her felt relief. She still loved him, but was afraid to believe him.

Figment yipped.

Sky looked down at her puppy who was watching her, tail wagging. Erik had given her Figment. She allowed her memory to go back to that day, waking up Christmas morning to find Erik and Figment on her bed with her. She so badly wanted to go back to that, that simple happiness they had found together. But could they? Or was it too late?

Her communicator went off and she unclipped it from her belt, "Collier."

"Meeting, conference room, ten minutes," Keith replied.

"Yes, sir," she snapped it shut and looked down at Figment. "Sorry, baby, but I can't take you for a walk right now. Let's go find Nicky and you can play with Speck."

The puppy jumped up and licked her face.

"Well, we've found that Dones does belong to one of the four gangs," Keith told his crew. "He promised to cooperate with us in return for a lighter sentence."

"What does he have to tell us?" Lance asked.

"He said he can lead us to the traffickers who are bringing the drugs onto Arus."

"I don't know," Pidge said. "I find it hard to believe that such a young man could know so much."

Keith nodded, "That may be, but we're going to investigate his claims."

"What then?" Declan asked.

Keith nodded to his wife to take over.

Allura stood from her seat at the head of the table, "I am so sorry that it has come to this. The problem with freedom is that people eventually start to take advantage of it. Not all people, but it takes a small minority to ruin it for the majority. I really hate to have to do this, but I am going to work with my cabinet and Paton and then with the senate to draft a new set of immigration and drug laws. The people who are found to be responsible will be handed over to the proper authorities concerning interplanetary drug trafficking and banned from Arus."

"What do you need us to do?" Gideon asked.

"The Force may be called in to help enforce the new laws when they are first introduced," the Queen explained. "And you all will remain on high security status until told otherwise."

"You're also on call at all times," Keith added. "I'm hoping we can have this all taken care of before the engagement ball. And you will be taking over more guarding responsibilities." He looked around the table, seeing nothing but determination on the faces of his Force. "Any other questions?"

Declan looked around at his team and then back at his father, "No, sir, just let us know what we need to do."