Haggar noticed that the Voltron robots were losing the battle. "I must do something." Haggar thought to herself. She immediately came upon an answer. "They need energy." Haggar put herself into a trance as Zelia shot energy bolts at Haggar, point blank. Haggar absorbed the energy and then cast it outward in a massive explosion. A blast of energy expanded outward and then redirected itself toward the Voltron robots. Both Voltrons felt the rush of energy that suddenly charged them. The blast killed Zelia and Haggar remained laying unconscious on the ground.
"What is going on here!" Keith asked as he saw all the scanners and readings go off the scale. "Voltron is recharging." Pidge reported. "The source isn't defined."
"I don't care as long as we can get out of this predicament!" Hunk replied. LV quickly squirmed out from under the weight of the two robeasts as the explosion distracted them. LV quickly surveyed the situation and saw VV laying on the ground in an odd and "broken" position.
"Oh no!" Allura gasped as she saw VV and the area in which the robeast exploded. "I don't think anyone could have survived that!"
"Look the energy cloud is floating towards them." Pidge noted as he saw the gleaming cloud.

"Look LV is back up again" Cinda cheered as she saw LV looking at them. Then Cinda noticed the lights on her console start to flash and then VV hummed back to life. VV had been recharged by Haggar's energy, however, VV still needed time for repairs. VV immediately started working on the software end of the problem but what he knew, he would not be able to fix the interlocks. The robeast that had been watching over VV was now getting back up again. It was then that VV noticed that he still had one more chance.
"Commander." VV said. "I am going to activate the Alpha Partition."
"You are what?" Hawkins replied questioningly. "Have you ever used the alpha partition before?"
"I think so." VV replied having some recognition of the software he was about to load. "This may sound funny but I think Haggar is helping us again." VV said having some ability to know what Haggar was up to.
"I am swapping sub-partitions… now." VV said. Immediately after VV said "now" the robot began to shake a bit. All the instruments and scanners went offline and the boot block and master cylinder began to make a higher pitched humming sound.

SWAP SUB-PLATFORM: LOAD CONTROLLER #1 - LOAD CONTROLLER #0
ADJUSTING SYSTEM PARAMETERS FOR EMERGENCY REPAIR PROTOCOLS AND ADAPTOR UTILITIES
INITIALIZE REPAIR SEQUENCE...

The cloud hovering over VV began to disappear as VV absorbed the energy. The Communications system came to life again and showed a very concerned looking Keith and the other LVF team with expressions of amazement.
"I don't believe what I am seeing!" Lance said as he saw physically damaged sections of VV morph back into repair. Soon VV was standing up without any falling parts looking as good as new.

The robeast attacked VV but failed when VV connected a punch to the robeast's abdomen. VV reformed the spinning laser blades and cast them forward. Both laser blades collided with each other about 1000ft. ahead of him and doubled into four laser blades. All four hit the robeast's head and chest with precision. The robeast exploded and the laser blades came back to VV and were caught.
"I have enough energy to activate one the adapters." VV informed.
"I'm re-routing command functions to you VV…" Hawkins replied
There was a pause as VV thought about what he was doing.
"Well… what are you waiting for?" Hawkins shouted. "Anything that can help us defeat these robeasts would be good!"
"Okay then." VV surmised. "How about this one?"
"AERODYNAMIC ADAPTOR… INITIALIZE!" VV shouted.
Taking all four spinning laser blades VV clashed them together over his head. A bright light illuminated the sky as VV went through the motion of forming the blazing sword.
However, the result, when the light dimmed, ended up in the formation of two swords slightly longer and much thinner. The light from the two swords grew brighter and then moved to different parts of the robot. The lighted areas on the arms, legs and torso formed into armor, while the lighted areas in the back, opposite of the Falcon VT fighter formed into large plane wings. VV's robotic form was streamlined and altered into a more aerodynamic form from the armor that covered him. When the light disappeared, a new Aero Vehicle Voltron was standing in its place.
Chip read the diagnostic data with growing wonder.
"Commander, 16 CPU blocks are online!" Chip reported. "Clock speed reaches into terrahertz range, lazon and fusion reactors are online, the whole robot morphed into a new form!"
Unprepared the VF suddenly noticed that VV had leaped into the air ready for action, he hovered for a few moments and then swooped down upon one of the three remaining super-robeasts and slashed it into four pieces in less than 5 seconds. The robeast stood there for a while wondering what just happened when it exploded.
"Did I do that?" VV asked himself.
"Wow…" Hawkins said also trying to catch up on what just happened.
Then VV turned to the other two robeasts. "Next?" VV said with some anticipation.
The two remaining robeasts looked at each other and then flew away.
"I'm going after them…" VV said to LV as he combined the swords back into one. "You go and protect the castle, the fleet of fighter ships has flown off in that direction."
LV just stood there for a moment, wondering how VV could tell LV what to do. "Right." LV said as he shook off a temporary feeling of anger and left for the castle.
VV extended his wings downward to the airplane position and took off near the speed of sound.
Back at the castle, the weapons were trying to get rid of the swarm of attack ships that buzzed by its turrets. As LV quickly approached it, he could see the cascade of laser fire on the castle. LV stealthily creeped up upon the smaller attack ships and simply bit them with the lion jawed hands. However, once they were aware of Lion Voltron's presence they quickly started to fly around the robot like little gnats. Soon LV was swatting the little annoying ships from in front of his face.
"Coran, is everything okay down there?" Keith queried.
After several minutes of crackling the Coran was heard, barely. "Castle communications took the most damage, but we're okay."
"That's a relief." Allura replied.
"Were not finished yet." Keith interrupted, "The armada is still attacking."
And with that, the VF and LV went to work on the armada battleships. Getting a few little attack drones along the way. LV inserted his sword into the center section of the ship and slowly brought it down through the hull like he was performing surgery.

Yurak knew that when the main ship was being attacked it was time to evacuate. Yurak left the ship in one of the escape pods. Yurak floated the pod down to an area surrounded by boulders. That was when he saw Zelia dead on the ground. Yurak walked over to her, kicked her to make sure she was dead, and then smiled an evil grin. "Her army is mine now." Yurak thought to himself. "But I won't need them." Yurak looked down upon the flaming ship as it exploded in the air. Lion Voltron was picking off the remaining doom fighters one by one almost like target practice. Yurak waited patiently until the fighters were destroyed and there was nothing left in the air except the Lion Voltron.
"LV to VV." Lion Voltron began his communication to Vehicle Voltron. "Castle perimeter secured… Are you in need of assistance?"

Vehicle Voltron received the communication just as he was about to slam the super robeast into the ground with a "wind sheer" attack.

"No, LV." VV answered back. "I have one under control… the other one escaped and is heading in your direction!"

"So we're not done yet?" Lance said with some mock disappointment.

"Keep your eyes peeled, team." Keith warned. LV stood in readiness using all his sensors to detect any enemies.

Vehicle Voltron was still battling his robeast and was keeping also keeping his sensors peeled for the return of the second one. Unfortunately, this made as a temporary distraction and caused VV to end up misjudging an attack. The robeast quickly gained an advantage as VV jumped in front of and not behind the robeast. The robeast lets loose with a hail of laser fire knocking VV to the ground. VV's sword was knocked out of his hand and away from him.

"You're loosing it VV!" Hawkins said condescendingly.

"I'm sorry!" VV replied irritably, then getting whacked over the head by the robeast's arm.

"Don't be sorry! CONCENTRATE!" Hawkins shouted. "I don't like being thrown around like this!"

The robeast tries to knock VV on his head again but VV counters with a punch to the stomach causing the robeast to collapse on top of him. Both of them land in a heap on the ground.

"Oh, great." VV grumbled as he struggled to get out from under the robeast.

VV threw the robeast off of him and proceeded to get up. The robeast started to get up as well.

"First one up gets to pulverize the other!" VV quipped, now standing up.

"And were the first ones up!" Cliff added.

"So now it is time for some robeast bashing!" Lisa continued.

"Let's give this robeast the main entrée!" Rocky shouted.

"Right!" VV replied winding his arm back.

"One a knuckle sandwich a coming up!" VV replied using his best Sammy imitation. VV clobbered the robeast across the face with a right cross as it got up. The robeast struggled a bit as VV grabbed his sword and tossed it from hand to hand. VV then separated the swords again and started flipping them around like a samurai.

"Come on!" VV shouted. But the robeast was weakening…

"What's going on?" Hutch started to wonder as the robeast looked like it was loosing power.

"Power drain?" Chip said as he looked at his scanners. "But where is it going to?"

"What about the other robeast?" Krik asked in concern. "If it is powering down, then that must mean that their source has been cut off."

"But the EM field is still high." VV reported.

"I don't like this." Hawkins muttered.

"Our thoughts exactly." Cliff replied. "Robeasts don't just give up."

"VV?" LV's voice crackled over the communicator. "Are you reading a high EM field?"

"About a 14, LV." VV responded.

"It's jumped to 19 over here!" LV answered. "We found the robeast, it's been deactivated."

"Same over here…" VV reported but was interrupted.

"The robeast!" Ginger shouted. "It's disappearing!"

VV looked to see the robeast slowly decompose into light particles.

"This is getting weird." VV replied. "I'm on my way over there LV."

Only static came through the other end.

"LV?" VV said adjusting his communication settings.

"EM pulses detected around the castle area." Chip reported. "Some reaching over 24 in intensity."

"The pulses are knocking out all communications with the castle and Lion Voltron." Krik reported.

Keith began to notice a vibrating noise throughout the Black Lion.

"What's that?" Keith shouted just as the consoles and screens in the five lions began to flicker and spark. Lion Voltron began to double over in pain.

"Voltron!" Allura shouted noticing the robot groan as he began to kneel down on the ground nearly falling over.

Vehicle Voltron approached Lion Voltron to attempt to see what the problem was but was forced back by a semi invisible force. That semi-invisible force seemed to cause LV great pain as it quickly swept over him like a front.

"THAT… NOISE!" was all LV could shout. Inside the cockpits of all five lions sensors were exploding with the input overload.

"EM pulses are increasing to around 45." Chip began to read out. But they are happening at a repetitive rate.

"Doppler scanners are going crazy!" VV shouted looking around for the source of the problem but not hearing anything. Commander Hawkins and the rest of the VVForce got a glimpse of the scan. There were several large "walls" of something heading toward them.

"Those are sound blasts." Chip replied.

Every time a wall of sound swept over LV, the robot seemed to writhe in pain.

"Why aren't we affected?" Lisa asked.

"It could be the adaptor." Chip surmised quickly. "It must have been made for sonic and aerodynamic environments."

"So what do we do now?" Hutch asked.

"We create a dead wave." Chip replied smartly.

"I've got a fix on the frequency and amplitude…" VV said, "but the volume is variant." This was supplemented with a visual graphing of the waves and all of the numerical elements to them.

"We don't have much time, your power is running low." Krik warned VV.

"We have to keep it above 45 MV or else the adaptor shuts down." VV added.

"And then we will be susceptible to the noise." Cliff continued.

"Keep it at the maximum volume." Chip surmised. "That should have give the wave no effect even if it is quieter."

"That won't help LV much." VV answered back. "I'll try to keep the sound at bay."

VV started counteracting the sound that seemed to be coming from nowhere. Soon, Lion Voltron began to get up slowly.

"LV, that sound is vibrating the power crystals that are inside you." That may explain the overload." Pidge reported.

"Where did the sound go?" Lance asked curiously.

"It's still here, but there is one counteracting it." VV began through communicators.

"Can you get a pinpoint on the origin of that awful din?" LV muttered shaking his head.

"No, my scanners are full of noise." VV reported. "I need you to do that. I have to use my sensors to keep up the dead wave."

"All right then, LV! Start scanning the area." Keith commanded.

"Try South-South-East, that's where the walls of sound are coming from… and hurry. My energy resources are low." VV informed the Lion Voltron force in an urgent tone.

"I got it!" Voltron reported. "I am getting a fix on what the object is…" LV's visual scanner picked up something big within that section of scanning area. The visual was beginning to clear up.

"I don't believe it!" Hunk replied, "Another robeast?"

"Another robeast with long pointy ears?" Lance added.

"Another robeast with the name of Yurak." Voltron concluded.

"Yurak?" The LV force gasped. "Then who did we fight in the first battles?" Hunk asked absent-mindedly.

"Those were just a group of robeasts… ghost robeasts I should say." Voltron reiterated. "I think we found the person in charge of them."

"That's right Voltron!" Yurak spoke up and the sound started to return and fade as it began. VV noticed the decrease in the volume of the sound output and adjusted the counter wave output accordingly. It was then that VV had a sensor free to figure out who was making the noise.

"And I see you have brought a friend." Yurak mocked in a beastly-robotic growl typical of all talking robeasts. "Welcome Vehicle Voltron! I have not had the pleasure of kicking your butt clear across the universe."

"I don't think you will ever have the opportunity to do that Yurak." VV responded quickly.

"We shall see, for when I am done with the lionbot, You will be next." Yurak threatened with a sidelong and menacing glance.

"That is WHEN you're done with me." LV spoke up. "I think VV will end up sitting this one out." At this time VV was really considering that thought. After all, his power reserves were now at 15 and decreasing rapidly the longer he kept the adaptor system online. After that he would need to go back to the explorer to recharge…

"Uh, Oh…" VV muttered only the Vehicle Voltron Force.

"Uh, Oh?" Cliff asked, "What do you mean, Uh, Oh?"

"I just realized, I can't recharge." VV replied. "You can't rechar… Oh, No!" Chip said in somber enlightenment. "The Explorer is destroyed; VV needs it to recharge himself."

"Recharge? Why does VV need a recharge?" Rocky asked.

"Because the lazon cells are much like a rechargeable battery." Chip informed. "The lazon provides enough power to keep Voltron's adaptor running."

"What about the nuclear cells?" Hawkins inquired.

"Not enough power to recharge the lazon." Chip replied. "Krik, what is the power output now?"

"Output is at 120 MV." Krik reported. "It is still stable, but I estimate that VV will lose adaptor power in 15 minutes."

"That doesn't give us much time." Lisa said in a worried tone.

VV went to work on contacting the castle.

"You read my mind VV." Hawkins said noticing the communication begin to take place. Allura was on the other end.

"Princess, I am losing power quickly. Is there a way I can recharge from the castle?" VV inquired.

All this time the battle between LV and Yurak had begun. Yurak made the first move by attempting to pounce upon the waiting LV. LV simply moved out of the way and Yurak fell to the ground and clumsily rolled into a nearby forest. Immediately LV drew his blazing sword and began the attempt to slice Yurak into many pieces. Unfortunately, Yurak moved and LV sliced nothing more that ground and trees. Yurak was just close enough to get a pot shot in and kicked LV in the lower legs causing the robot to tumble over. LV and Yurak quickly sprang at each other as soon as they got up again.

VV was receiving news that didn't help the situation. Coran had appeared in the communicator and was displaying the power outputs of the castle. VV would have to shut the adaptor off in order to recharge or risk blowing out all the castle systems before even getting any energy from it. If LV and VV failed to defeat Yurak, the castle is the only refuge for those on Arus and it could escape.

"So that's it, we have to keep the adaptor online as long as we possibly can to divert the sound coming from Yurak." Wolo reported.

"But we can't keep that up very much longer, we have only 12 minutes left." Marvin replied.

"Yeah, why do we have to do all the lame work while LV gets to save the day!" Hutch shouted angrily.

"We all have a part to play in the infinite structure of the universe." Zandee replied almost sounding like Krik of which was soon recognized.

"Isn't there a way that we can cut off Yurak's ability to make this noise at the source?" Ginger inquired in a half-cheerful chirp.

"Where is that sound coming from anyway?" Tangor added.

Yurak had grown tired of all the stumbling around and in a flash of light he produced a sword. LV had retrieved his sword and both of them were soon clashing them together. Yurak took the offensive when he found the opportunity and LV maintained his defense. Yurak began another offensive strike and LV took that opportunity to take a swing at Yurak. LV connected and sent Yurak falling down. In a quick movement LV slashed at Yurak horizontally across his abdomen. But nothing happened, the sword went through Yurak as if he weren't there. Yurak had disappeared. LV suddenly became confused and Yurak, in his black cloud form grabbed LV's sword and yanked it out of his hand (or claw), breaking it into two pieces. LV was not completely weaponless but the weapons wouldn't work against a cloud.

"Commander!" Krik suddenly yelled. "The power output is becoming unstable!"

With a glance Hawkins noticed the meters start to move up and down uncontrollably.

"Power output?" Hawkins inquired.

"About 100 MV, plus or minus 10." Krik reported.

"Get a fix on the direct source of the noise." Hawkins commanded. VV quickly obeyed and searched an all available sensors for the physical source of the sound. It was extremely difficult trying to pinpoint it, but one point of origin had been found through the overloaded sensors which exploded after the definitive information had been received. The noise started to creep into the cockpits of the Vehicle Voltron ships as power levels decreased.

"We have about 8 minutes commander." Krik reported.

"VV we need a long distance weapon" Hawkins stated the obvious.

"I can't get a fix on that point of origin now!" VV reported. The Vehicle Voltron Force looked up and saw the black cloud quickly descend onto LV.

The closer the cloud got the louder the noise began to rattle LV's sensors. The noise soon hindered LV's ability to locate anything, or move. Yurak projected an energy field onto LV and began to destroy the robot.

"Voltron, We have to get out of this!" Keith yelled. But Voltron did not respond.

VV moved quickly and sent two spinning laser blades careening wildly toward the black cloud. The usage of those weapons draining the ability for VV to maintain the power adaptor causing an explosion of cables and hardware inside the robot. VV fell to the ground unable to see, unable to hear, unable to know what is happening and unable to move until the nuclear power cell could recharge the main system, which was still operative, thankfully. The adaptor system was out of commission with the last of the lazon fuel used up.

LV was writhing in pain as the energy field began burning its way though the robots protective covering. Yurak began to laugh maniacally until it sounded like he was screaming. Then LV found out Yurak was screaming. LV soon noticed a large silver disc-like object cut the tips of Yurak's ears off. This suddenly caused Yurak to scream and the black cloud to fade, as soon as the cloud faded another disc lodged itself into Yurak's side. The energy field dissipated and LV was clear from danger.

"Hey, those are Vehicle Voltron's spinning laser blades!" Lance quickly noticed as the disc that cut Yurak's ears careened in a 270 degree turn and lodged itself into Yurak's spinal column.

"This is our chance team!" Keith shouted. "Form solar combat spear!"

LV obeyed quickly noting the awful noise had now dissipated with the energy field. LV quickly formed the spear and in one graceful move threw it like a javelin into Yurak's chest. In a few moments Yurak collapsed to the ground with the spear lodged in his chest. LV approached him closely.

"You may have won this one lionbot… But I will return…" That was all Yurak said before the dark cloud rose from his body. Yurak began to laugh maniacally as the remnants of Yurak's robeast form began to spark and glow.

"Let's get out of here!" Pidge yelled. LV was already a thought ahead of him as the robot began to turn and run. About 5 steps away and the robeast that used to be Yurak exploded in a destructive blast of fire. LV was thrown about 200 ft from the site of the explosion. Nothing was left except the fragments of LV's spear and VV's spinning laser blades.

An hour later the Voltron force awakened from the minor concussion blast. Keith began to fiddle with the controls.

"Pidge, Hunk, Lance, Princess? Are you okay?" Keith asked with much concern. His replies were a couple of groans from Hunk, an expletive from Lance, and a couple of ouches from Pidge and Allura each.

"How is Voltron?" Allura asked first. "I think he'll live." Keith responded as he checked the diagnostics that were automatically displayed in front of him.

"I need to collect my weapons and I think VV would appreciate his weapons back." LV said in an oddly tinny voice. "I think I need a check up on the voice hardware too."

"Where is VV?" Lance asked, "I haven't seen him since he threw the laser blades."

"He's over there, face down, by that clump of trees." LV reported, "It doesn't look good from this distance."

"I'm seeing some waving hands in the cockpit windows, I am assuming the VVF is okay." Allura reported with a sigh of comfort.

LV got up slowly and made a wobbly approach to VV.

"Easy LV!" Lance protested. "I don't like to be shaken or stirred."

"It looks better than I originally thought, unless there is internal damage." LV guessed. "VV seems to be in power save mode."

"We can try to get more power for him by returning his energy weapons." Pidge said in an educated guess.

"I think I will separate for this task." LV replied. "It may help me save energy as well."

LV began to separate into the five lions. And putting his system into the Black Lion (set as default obviously). When separation was complete each lion began to collect the left over weapons or pieces of weapons strewn amongst the battlefield. Blue and Yellow lions went to pick up the two spinning laser blades and bring them back to VV. The Green and Red lions went to pick up the two pieces of the broken Blazing Sword and Black Lion went to pick up and store the solar combat spear that delivered the final blow to Yurak… supposedly. The Blue and Yellow lions retrieved the laser blades and placed them on top of VV's back. The blades were re-absorbed by the robot and soon VV's systems were reactivated.

Commander Hawkins watched the work go on until VV's systems came back into operation. The communicator crackled to life as Princess Allura illuminated the screen.

"Commander are you and your crew okay?" Allura said with concern.

"I have yet to hear from the rest, but I seem to be okay, your highness." Hawkins replied.

"A-okay here Commander!" Chip reported.
"Ditto!" Hutch replied.
"I'm hungry, when we gonna eat?" Rocky replied.
Everyone else groaned at Rocky's response.
"What?" Rocky asked somewhat offended.

"Everything seems to be okay here Keith." Allura reported.

"Good, let's all get back to the castle for some rest."

"And repairs!" VV interrupted. "I can't see or hear a thing except through the communications."

"Well, well, well. The mighty Defender of the Near Universe Awakens!" LV quipped. "Have a nice rest while I defeated the robeast?"

"Bite me, lion breath." VV replied annoyingly.

"I think you should watch what you say… I am in lion mode you know." LV replied quickly.

"Robots please!" Allura interrupted before the scene got nasty. "Let's not go taking all the credit yet. Yurak is still out there."

"I think the command shuttle may need some help getting back." VV reported.

"That's okay VV." Ginger chirped. "We'll split up and the commander can ride on my wing."

"Can I ride on your wing too Ginger?" Hutch asked with another motive to his words.

"Get bitten, Hutch." Ginger snapped.

"Awww, I just can't win can I?" Hutch asked.

"VV, I think we better get back to the castle, now!" Hawkins muttered.

"Good idea." VV agreed and quickly separated into the 15 parts.

"The land and sea teams proceeded by ground and the air team by air, alongside the lions." After returning the Voltron forces converged into the control room for a debriefing. In attendance were the two holographic forms of Voltron. One person was missing.

"Hey, where's Jeff?" Rocky asked looking at everyone but no one seemed to know.

"That is odd." Lisa added, "You would think he would be here."

The first person to speak was Nanny. She sounded a little nervous but she managed to report what news she had of Jeff. It seemed that Jeff's conditions have worsened. He suddenly became weak and had to be rushed back into the infirmary. It may have been because of the concussion he suffered in the accident. Jeff is stable but sedated. X-rays and tests have yet to return from the lab.

A look of concern began to reflect off of the faces in the group.

The next to speak was Commander Hawkins. He updated the group on repair projects for both Voltrons and reported that the Explorer was no longer space worthy. The reports were on their way to the Garrison.

But in addition he had the Voltron Force Evaluation to add in…

"It has been a while since I was put in command of the Voltron Force. It has also been a while since I was able to operate one of the 15 vehicles, and even that was only a simulation."

Hawkins paused…

"Now I know what it is really like to fight a robeast in real life. And it has only increased the amount of respect I hold for all of you. You have put your life on the line many times, and in any one of those times one of you may not return… but you do return. That is all I ask. That is what makes a successful mission. I commend you all. I can safely say, that Jeff will receive a good report card from you."

Hawkins stepped down amongst a few cheers from the group.

Princess Allura stepped up to address the group next.

"I thank you all for being here. It always makes me happy to see all of us together again. Much like a family…

"In case you're forgetting… Chip and I are family!" Pidge interrupted cheerily

"That's right!" Allura replied, "How could I forget." The group laughs a little until the speech continues.

"But the best thing is that we now have two more added." Allura said looking at both Voltron holograms. "I guess we could say that this is your birthday?"

"I don't know when my last activation time was… So I really can't say." LV reported. "How about you VV?" VV just shrugged his shoulders.

"Oh come on VV, you got to remember your birthday." LV insisted. Something about the way LV said that line made VV feel a little uncomfortable.

"I don't… I must have lost it in transfer…" VV stopped his sentence short. "What made me say that?" VV thought to himself. LV began to see the growing concern on VV's face and decided to change the subject.

"Why Princess, are we going to have a party?" LV asked in contrived giddiness.

"I was thinking about it." Allura replied with a laugh. "Stop reading my mind!"

"A party?" Rocky shouted. "I can't wait."

"You can't wait for what? The buffet table?" Ginger replied with quick wit.

The group began to laugh but Hunk stepped in.

"But, you gotta stay around the buffet table! Nanny here makes such great food!" Hunk pointed to Nanny.

"Yes, you speak a lot about my great food, but there won't be much for them to sample if you two stick around!" Nanny retorted. The whole group was nearly sent rolling on the floor laughing. Nanny looked at them both and walked away with her nose in the air in a "humph."

Krik was the only one not laughing as much as the others. "My apologies for… how you say… busting your bubbles, but I cannot see celebrating anything while we still have Jeff in the infirmary."

"The way I see it, I don't think Jeff plans on staying in the infirmary long, when he wakes up." Rocky replied.

"But he is right. It wouldn't feel right without him." Lisa added.

Commander Hawkins stepped up again. "I know everyone needs some rest, so I suggest we put off any celebration plans until tomorrow." Hawkins said looking at the Princess. "Agreed?"

"I agree." Allura concluded. "Maybe Jeff will be better by then."

"Okay then. All of you get some well deserved R&R." Hawkins said. "Report back here in about 24 hours. Good job everyone!" Cheers followed the small pep talk type ending of the briefing.

VV immediately headed for the infirmary trying to slip out of sight of LV. But LV caught up to him.

"You know even though we argue a bit, you have to admit we make a great team." LV started.

"You have no argument here." VV replied quietly.

"Why are you so quiet all of a sudden?" LV prodded.

"I don't know LV. I think it was just the fact that one of the pilots in me was injured. VV replied.

"You feel you failed him didn't you?" LV asked.

"Yes." VV answered as he reached the infirmary room door. "But how am I supposed to know…"

"It's okay VV." LV replied trying to calm VV. "You couldn't have, you weren't fully operational."

"But still…" VV started.

"The sense of duty and trust from others feels distant." LV finished for him. "That will pass, eventually. Stop beating yourself up."

"How do you know?" VV asked.

"Oh, I know. I've been through the same thing, maybe even worse." LV replied quietly when they entered the infirmary and saw Jeff asleep in the bed. Dr. Gorma was sitting next to the bed making final notes.

Dr. Gorma stood up to greet the two holographic robots as they entered. "Well, well. Look who's here." The doctor shook VV's hand and tried the same with LV. LV held his hand up and noted an advisory not to put a hand in a lion's mouth.

Dr. Gorma seemed to interview the two robots on how their lives started, and how it felt to be sentient. The robots didn't seem to have answers for most of the doctors questions. They continued to talk when Jeff began to stir. Jeff opened his eyes to see VV sitting near the doctor and LV and lazily stretched out a hand.
VV took it.

"Did you defeat him?" Jeff asked hoarsely.
VV didn't know how to answer the question. Until LV answered it for him.
"Yes, he got the robeast good… with my help of course." LV answered.
"Good, tell Hawkins I want those reports on the team by tomorrow." Jeff said with a small chuckle and then fell back to sleep.

"I think it's time we let Jeff rest." Dr. Gorma suggested. Both robots agreed and they quietly exited the infirmary. When the infirmary room door was shut Dr. Gorma mentioned that VV seemed to look like someone he used to know. But quickly dismissed that.

"I would like to know more about how robots can interact sentiently in society." Dr. Gorma asked. "May I monitor you two for a few days so that I can do research? It may help if problems arise."

"Do you have a problem with that LV?" VV asked.
"I don't know. You guys go ahead, I need to talk to Allura for a few moments." LV replied.
"Okay, but this may help us research robotic personality traits and etc, so don't take too long." VV replied. Dr Gorma looked at VV awkwardly.

"Okay, no problem." LV replied as they parted ways. Dr. Gorma just began to mention how much a colleague of his was interested in artificial intelligence machines when LV stopped and turned around.

"Hey Doc!" LV shouted… LV noticed both Dr. Gorma and VV turn to face him.

END

VOLTRON: DEFENDER OF THE UNIVERSE and the title GALAXY GARRISON are the property of World Events Productions (copyright 1984,1997-2000 All rights reserved.) and Toei Animation. If any information is wrong or missing please let me know and I will correct the problem as soon as I can. More details in Acknoledgements section.