Ok, this is the last chapter for a bit until I get that pesky motherboard. Enjoy!
I make no claims to Voltron or any WEP characters.
Pidge returned from his investigation of the satellites, a scowl on his face. He angrily tossed something down on the console before Lance. "They stole Baltan tech," he snarled. "And they're using it against us."
Lance looked at the small devices, tiny probes, then up at his angry teammate. "Can you find a way to keep us from being vulnerable?"
Pidge frowned. "I can try, but this tech is supposed to be used only by allies of Balto, not Doom. It will take me awhile, but I should be able to."
"So, it's a good chance that Blue Boy and his goons are on the planet, hmm?" Lance asked darkly.
"They are. Their signals are all around Altuna. I'm guessing they were surprised by the typhoon," Pidge stated. "They're stationary on the ground."
"Shit. That doesn't mean they're not out in the storm looking for Keith and Duvessa though," Lance murmured after a quick glance towards Allura, hoping she wasn't overhearing this conversation.
"Lotor hasn't attacked us since we rescued you and Duvessa, although we've come up against a few minor Drule attacks in other sectors," Pidge murmured thoughtfully. He crossed one arm across his chest, propping the elbow of the other on it and placed his hand on his chin. "He thought it was Allura down there for the celebration."
"And got one hell of a surprise seeing Vessa and Keith," Lance muttered. "I haven't been able to pinpoint their Voltcoms. The storm is interfering, but it was able to pick up their Fractal, which is sitting in a dense forest."
"Riding out the storm or shot down?" Pidge asked, worry in his emerald eyes.
Lance shook his head. "Couldn't see much more than just the Fractal hiding amongst the trees."
"Taking the Lions out in that would pretty much be suicide. If all those ships are on the ground riding it out, it's nasty," Pidge stated.
Lance chuckled. "Is that a technical term?"
Pidge glared at Lance. "You know what I meant." He sighed and dropped his arms to his sides again. "I don't like them being down there and us up here unable to help."
"Preaching to the choir, Pidge," Lance stated. "As soon as it eases up some, I'm going to head down and see if I can find them."
"It would go faster if we all went," Pidge stated.
"Well, I didn't want to step on toes…"
"Like Allura would leave them down there. We'll all go, you know that."
"Yeah, but how the hell do I tell her…"
"Tell me what?" Allura asked as she walked over. "Hi, Pidge. What is it, Lance?"
Lance and Pidge looked at each other briefly, then Lance filled her in on what was going on.
"We don't know for sure that is what is even happening, though," Allura stated, shaking her head. "But, the Drules are a threat to the people, so we do need to go down and investigate."
"Allura, it's too much of a coincidence for it not to be what is happening," Lance stated. "I mean the odds that they were just in the neighborhood and wanted to pick up a few slaves is remote…"
"3,720 to one, to be exact," Pidge quoted.
Lance blinked and looked at him. "You're joking, right? You just made that up?"
Pidge looked at him with innocent eyes.
Lance shook his head. "Whatever. I mean, Lotor has tried to crash that celebration before," he stated, turning his attention back to his wife.
"Yes, I distinctly remember that," Allura answered, a frown marring her features. "So, we're stuck here, our hands tied, unable to do anything."
"For the moment, yes," Pidge answered.
"As soon as that storm lets up I want the Lions in the air looking for them," Allura stated.
"You'll get no arguments from us, sweetheart," Lance assured her.
Keith paused under a huge, dense pine tree and wiped the water from his face with his free hand. He looked to his companion beside him. She was soaked like he was, but she was keeping up, wrong shoes and all.
Duvessa shivered and rubbed her hands up her arms. "I'm not sure they're following. They'd have to be crazier than we are to be out in this," she whispered.
"We are talking about Drules, Duvessa," Keith answered. "Think you can make it a bit further? There's a cliff with a known cave in it about seven miles from here."
She nodded. "Yes," she answered.
A laser blasted the tree behind them.
Duvessa and Keith both ducked, their Voltcom weapons instantly in their hands. Keith had his swords parallel to the ground, his hands at his side, as Duvessa held her rapier pointed behind her, her pistol before her, searching the dark trees for the one who'd fired on them.
"What are you shooting at, fool?" came a voice from the dark.
"I thought I saw someone," came and answer.
"Well, next time, make sure you actually see something," the first voice snarled.
Keith looked at her and nodded. They carefully stood and made their way towards the voices. There was a small group of Drules.
"Why are we even out in this mess? There is no way those fools from the Force would be out in this storm."
"Which makes us the fools for being in it," another voice agreed.
"We should just go back to our ships and wait it out like they probably are. We'll find them as soon as the storm lets up."
Duvessa smiled, darkly. "Or you could just leave Arus completely," she stated.
The group of Drules spun in shock, raising their weapons as Keith jumped down from a branch he'd climbed, his swords out. He spun once, taking out four of the group.
Duvessa fired on the last two of the group and they fell without a sound or a shot fired. She looked at him and smiled, her weapons vanishing. "Show off."
Keith blinked as his swords vanished. "I am not."
She giggled. "Come on, you promised me a cave."
He smiled and shook his head. Taking her hand, they headed off in the direction Keith indicated. "This way, Princess."
"Right behind you, Commander," she answered.
Sylvan stalked through the forest. He'd first come upon Keith and Duvessa's empty Fractal. He'd seen some footprints that the torrential rains hadn't completely wiped out and went off in the direction they indicated. Later, he came upon the carnage of six dead Drules. He bent and touched one of the bodies, noting it was still fairly warm, but was quickly cooling. "Not too far behind them then," he whispered. He closed his eyes, feeling the Haggarium racing through his blood. He grinned feeling it. Then he moved off into the forest, still pursuing Keith and Duvessa.
Duvessa's dress caught on a log she was climbing over and she fell, landing on another log.
"You all right?" Keith asked, moving towards her, helping her up.
"Yes, I'm all right," she answered and sighed. "Sorry. My dress got caught and…"
A scream ripped through the dark and a figure ran towards them.
Keith spun, his swords appearing in his hands as the figure flew at him. He blocked and he and his attacker fell to the ground.
Duvessa growled and carefully got up, trying to unhook her dress. "Bloody thing," she snarled when it wouldn't release from the log. She called up her pistol with the bayonet on the end and cut her dress where it had gotten caught, then climbed off the log and towards the fight. She ran over and kicked Keith's attacker in the ribs, she felt a satisfying crack under her foot as she did.
"Bitch!" Sylvan roared, coming off the ground and Keith and got back to his feet, facing her.
Duvessa held her ground. "And here I'd thought you'd just give up and run away like Lotor," she taunted.
"Well, as you can tell, I'm not him," Sylvan sneered. He coughed and winced. "You broke a rib."
"Good," Duvessa stated with a smile. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Keith getting back to his feet. "Hopefully by the time I'm done, you'll have more than just a broken rib."
Sylvan snarled and charged her, a knife in his hand.
Duvessa waited until the last moment, sidestepped, ducked, and grabbed his knife arm, bringing it down as she brought her knee up to meet it, breaking his arm.
Sylvan screamed and Duvessa let go, letting him fall to the ground.
Keith moved towards the downed Sylvan, got behind him, grabbed the back of his neck and his jaw and twisted his head around until the bones in his neck snapped. He dropped Sylvan, lifeless onto the ground, his eyes on the man at his feet, making sure he didn't move again.
Duvessa's eyes went wide. "Keith…"
He shook his head as his eyes moved to her. "Sorry, but it is either us or them. I'd rather it be them." He took her hand and pulled her along behind him in the direction they'd been heading.
Duvessa followed him, silently. She knew he was right. They were out to kill them, that much was obvious. There was only one way to survive. Kill and hide. She didn't like it, but she knew it was what had to be done.
They walked for an hour before Keith finally slowed and stopped. He turned to face her. "You all right?"
She nodded. "Yes."
"You're quiet," he stated.
"Thought it was for the best in case there were any more behind us," Duvessa answered.
He nodded. "All right. We're almost there I think. About another mile or two," he stated, then started off into the gathering darkness.
Duvessa shook her head, then followed him. "Are you all right? He had a knife. Did he injure you?"
Keith stopped and spun to face her. "You knew he was armed and infected with Haggarium. You should have left it to me."
Duvessa blinked, astonished. "Keith, I can fight. I'm not a damsel in distress."
He looked away. "You could have been hurt. I – Allura would have been upset if you'd been hurt."
"No, say it. What you were going to say? Not about Allura, because while it might be true, it isn't why you're upset," Duvessa stated, her hands on her hips.
He looked at her, pain and anger in his eyes. "I can't. It wouldn't be fair to you."
She stared at him, realization dawning and it seemed to stagger her for a moment. She bowed her head, shook it. "Fine. Then let's move. I'd like to get out of this rain," she stated, her voice clipped.
He nodded back, and they moved on without another word until they found the cave. "I think it is something the nearby village used during the Zarkonian Wars," Keith stated. "It's not much, but it will get us out of the storm and can be defended."
Duvessa nodded as she followed him inside. "Good enough for me," she muttered. She found a rock, sat down and pulled her dress shoes off her feet with a soft whimper.
Keith stood by the entrance, watching the storm. "We can rest here for a little while, but not long. If there are more Drules out there and they find the others…"
Duvessa sighed and nodded. "I know. We will need to keep moving."
"Well, rest while you can. I'll keep watch," he stated.
Duvessa nodded and pulled out an emergency blanket out of the pack she carried, putting it around herself. She pulled her knees to her chest, laid her head on her knees and tried to sleep.
