**I do not own Voltron: Legendary Defender (duh)
With Immea dutifully escorting them to the penthouse of the mansion, Mari and Treble entered Lord Hauer's office. The entirety of the top floor was like a giant birdcage: floor-to-ceiling windows set into an intricate domed frame made up the entirety of the room's boundaries, giving them a gracious view of the night sky and the marketplace far below. They could easily spot any incoming ships, enemy or not, and the wrap-around balcony would allow any Aviserans to make a quick escape, if necessary. Several guards stood watch along the edges of the room, while sitting on a dais in the center was their lord.
Lord Hauer was just as sleazy as Mari had imagined him to be. An Aviseran with green feathers and golden eyes, he was neither tall nor muscular in any way. He wore a freshly pressed maroon suit and a monocle over his right eye, while shimmering jeweled bracelets, rings, and necklaces adorned his wrists, talon-like fingers, and neck. Lounging on a plush white sofa, he was surrounded by several scantily-clad ladies, both of the Aviseran variety and those of off-world species. They tended to his every need, holding up plates of food and drink, murmuring sweet nothings into his ears, and preening his feathers. He cooed at each of them in turn, his beak stretched into a grin as he stroked their cheeks and chins.
"My lord," Immea said, sharp enough to draw his attention away from his attendants. "I've brought your visitors."
"Ah. Finally, Me-Me," he huffed, the lust dying from his gaze as he looked at his interrupter. "Could you have moved any slower, you newbie sod?" He waved a dismissive hand at her and she moved to stand at her post by the door. His eyes slid over to Mari and Treble, raking over them scrutinizingly before he hummed. "My men downstairs said you have something that will pique my interest. What is it? Hurry up, now. Show me. I don't have all day."
Uninterested in their names, who they were, and where they'd come from, Hauer really was a rude and selfish prick who looked down on everyone. No wonder Immea had seemed so irate, considering she'd been working for this asshole for the past couple weeks or so. Mari's own blood steamed the longer she looked at him, but she said nothing as she produced the Putaverunt Crystal. All Aviseran eyes locked onto the shiny object, watching in stunned awe as the foreign object twinkled and glowed.
"Ooooh," Lord Hauer crooned. He sat up straighter, his attention fully grabbed. "And what is this pretty thing?"
"It's a Putaverunt Crystal," Treble said, her voice reverted back to that of a grown man's.
"A Putaverunt Crystal!" he repeated, a knowledgeable smirk gracing his features. "How interesting! I've heard they were once mined on Vitrum millennia ago. They were the first vessels for memories. But alas, with today's technology, they are nothing more than rare decorations. That one you have must have survived through many a hard decaphoebs."
"Got that right!" Treble exclaimed, placing a hand on her hips. "It's been sittin' in our possession for ages and we've got nothin' to do with it. Decided we might as well sell it off."
"Ahh, I see, I see. Why hold onto something if you have no use for it, yes?" Lord Hauer mused, nodding as if in complete understanding. "You've come to the right person, my little friend. I'd be more than happy to take such a rarity off your hands. What is your asking price?"
"Ten million GAC," Treble replied and the lord looked like he'd been punched in the gut. His attendants' jaws dropped and even the guards started in surprise.
"T-Ten million?" Lord Hauer stammered. "That's quite a lot for such a small crystal. How about five million?"
"That little? No way," Treble disagreed. "This is a rare and genuine item. I came here hoping to sell it to my lord cuz I heard he had a great eye for this sorta invaluable stuff. That he had great taste and would pay fair amounts to his dealers. But if that ain't true, we can always go somewhere else…"
"No! No! Now wait just a tick, little friend," he quickly stopped her. He combed a hand through his feathered head, trying to regain his composure. "Since you decided to come to me out of all the others, I see you have a strong respect for me. Yes, yes, maybe you are deserving of such a great reward. How about I give you eight million for the crystal."
He hadn't been asking them, and in an instant, the mood in the room shifted. Lord Hauer's eyes narrowed at them in challenge and the guards standing at the edge stiffened, their grips tightening on their blasters as their fingers alighted over the triggers. He wasn't open to negotiating anymore. They'd take the eight million GAC or he'd take the crystal for free once they were shot dead.
"Eight million, huh?" Treble mulled over the offer, unaware or uncaring of the alerted hunters surrounding them. "I'll take it!"
The soldiers visibly relaxed and Lord Hauer's face lit up in cheery approval. "Wonderful, my little friend!" he beamed, and he held out his claw to claim his prize.
With a heavy heart, Mari reluctantly handed over her precious gift from Arus. It's for Scarlett and Mitsubishi, she reminded herself. Their lives are way more important than this.
"Ahhh…How lovely," he drawled, holding it up to the light to admire it. "Not a one of my rivals has one of these. It's like it was made for me. This crystal will fit perfectly in my collection."
He reveled in its glimmering beauty for a moment longer, showing it off to his curious attendants, before gesturing to one of his guards. "Zanahori, take this to my vault," he instructed. "Me-Me, you go with her too. As a reward for bringing me such a beautiful item, it's about time you've learned where it is."
Mari's heart nearly skipped a beat as a magenta-feathered Aviseran stepped forward. Zanahori, her opponent from the first round of the gladiator fights, was still being employed by the lord, it seemed. He handed her the crystal just as her piercing gaze locked onto the two guests.
"And what about their payment?" she asked.
"Hm?" Lord Hauer's attention had returned to caressing the bosom of the Aviseran woman reclining closest to him. "Oh. Pay our visitors what they are due on their way out."
Zanahori bowed in understanding. Then she scowled at Mari and Treble and shooed them towards the door. "Let's go. Your money is in his vault."
Their plan to infiltrate Lord Hauer's mansion was going so well. Almost too well. But here Mari and Treble were, unsuspected and being led straight to where Scarlett and Mitsubishi were being kept. And, as an added bonus, Immea would get to search for Hauer's Galra bargaining chip and complete her mission here as well. All they had to do was disable the security system and escape, simple as that.
But it couldn't be that easy, right? It was never that easy.
The minute they stepped into the mansion's elevator and the doors fully slid shut behind them, did Zanahori whirl on them. She dropped the crystal, her talons elongated and razor sharp as she slashed at Mari's face. She dodged as much as she could in the compact space and Zanahori's nails dug into the wall, leaving behind jagged scratches in the metal.
"What are you doing?" Immea shouted, just as Zanahori launched herself at the human again. She swiped at her target and Mari ducked out of the way, whipping out her staff to block any future advances.
"Grab her, Me-Me!" Zanahori squawked. "She's the human from Vurelle!"
"What? Impossible," Immea began, already reaching for her blade, but Zanahori didn't seem to notice. Her eyes were locked on Mari and they were filled with murderous intent.
"The lord is no fool. He's known it was her from the beginning, her and that Flouwan mimicker too. He said she would come, and here she is! That staff is enough to prove it too!" she chuckled hysterically as she desperately searched for an opening to strike. "He's given me this chance to redeem myself. We will not let you beat us! I will not fall to you again — ARGH!"
The sound of a blaster shot echoed off the walls and Zanahori collapsed, writhing in agony as she hugged her leg to her chest. Blood slowly oozed from the fresh wound above her knee, the edges charred and smoking.
Treble didn't lower her charged blaster as she said much too cheerfully, "But you will to me! It's what ya get for being a big meanie."
"Me-Me! What are you doing, just standing there?" Zanahori ground out through gasps of pain. "Get them! Kill them!'
Immea stared at her. Without a word, she bent down and plucked the discarded crystal from the floor. She tossed it to Mari, who caught it and promptly returned it to her pocket. Zanahori's eyes were wild with fury at her subordinate's betrayal.
"You! I knew you weren't to be trusted!" she seethed, struggling to push herself into a sitting position. She reached for her comms on her wrist, only for Immea's gleaming luxite dagger to flash through the air, transforming into a magnificent blade as she pressed it against Zanahori's magenta neck.
"Don't even think about it," she warned, lest the Aviseran wanted her head to roll.
"Accursed Blade of Marmora," Zanahori spat. Then she grinned, slow and dark. "It doesn't matter now. All of the lord's hunters already know. They'll be waiting for you at the vault. You won't escape alive!"
"We'll see about that," Immea muttered before swiftly bringing down the hilt of her sword over her head. Zanahori's eyes rolled back and she crumpled at their feet, unconscious and no longer their problem.
"How many guys do you think will be waiting for us?" Mari asked. "Think we can take them?"
"If they're all as weak as her?" Immea said, tapping Zanahori's limp form with the tip of her boot. "Then yeah. I think we can."
"Zyron," Mari prompted, and the little robot whirred in reply. "Think you can hit those security systems now, bud?"
He chirped excitedly in confirmation, already on it. Several ticks later, Immea testingly tapped her gauntlet and her comms were met with static.
"Good. At least they won't be able to call for backup now," she said. "I say we have ten or fifteen dobashes before anyone realizes what's wrong."
"That's plenty of time," Mari decided as the blueprint of the estate manifested on her visor, showing their path to the vault.
She pressed the elevator button to take them down to their desired floor, but just as they began to descend, a massive explosion rocked the building. The cabin lurched and stuttered to a halt, throwing its occupants against the wall. The lights flickered and went out, casting the trio in unnerving darkness until the red glow of the emergency lights washed over them. Zyron squirmed out of his hiding spot, his flashlight feature activated as he hovered around the cabin checking for damage.
"What was that?" Treble asked. "A moonquake?"
"Hutt doesn't get those," Immea said. She scowled at Mari as she asked, almost accusatory, "You didn't call your big brother and Voltron for assistance, did you?"
"No!" Mari snapped, suppressing the urge to shove her. "I don't know what that was."
They waited with bated breath for another blast. When none came, Treble shrugged. "Maybe a ship just blew up," she suggested. "Or — "
Another boom from somewhere outside rocked the cabin, making it creak and wobble dangerously. Immea frowned as she braced herself against the wall. "Or maybe someone's attacking the mansion."
"A rival gang? Or the Galra?" Treble wondered.
"How should I know?" Immea tsked. "It doesn't matter anyway, we can't let them get the Galra bargaining chip in the vault!"
"Or Scarlett and Mitsubishi," Mari added.
Immea pressed her lips into a thin line. "Them too," she murmured.
Mari raised an eyebrow at her. "I take it you're fully willing to help us now?"
"I might as well do what I can since we've got the same destination," she begrudgingly relented. "But I still stand by what I said earlier. You take care of Scarlett and don't get in my way."
"Fine," Mari huffed, refusing to argue with her anymore. "Let's get out of here already."
Together, she and Immea pried open the doors, only to be greeted by the thick metal wall of the shaft, trapping them inside. Immea sighed, her gaze trailing up to the escape hatch in the ceiling. Punching the metal sheet with so much force, it got blown off its hinges, Immea hoisted herself up and out of the compartment. Mari lifted Treble up after her before climbing out herself. In the dim light of the shaft, they found the upper level's elevator doors above them, once again cracking them apart and crawling out into the hallway. The emergency lights had been activated in the halls as well, casting everything in an eerie red glow. The muffled sounds of stomping feet and gunfire could be heard far down the hall where a set of steps led up to Lord Hauer's domed office.
"Zyron, is there a stairwell going down around here?" Mari asked, careful to keep her voice low. "Hopefully away from whatever the heck is going on over there."
A new point on the map had been highlighted at the very end of the hall to their left. Thankfully, it was away from the noise of the battle, and without further delay, their small group hurried for the stairs. They crept down to the next floor, blasters held at the ready in case they were met with any of the lord's hunters. But the level was oddly quiet and empty, all personnel no doubt having been assembled to fight whatever was attacking the building. Nevertheless, it allowed them to push forward with ease as they navigated the winding halls.
At one point, they passed a glass door leading out to a balcony and they caught a glimpse of the commotion outside. Half of the marketplace was on fire and frantic Aviserans were flying up and down the length of the mansion. The landing port was engulfed in smoke and flames, their escape ship no doubt one of the many that had been blown to bits. And, worst of all, a single Galra cruiser hung in the atmosphere above, blasting the moon's surface occasionally to stir up the chaos.
Immea cursed under her breath. "Of course it's the Galra," she muttered. "I don't see any fighter ships. At least it's just one cruiser."
"But they exploded all the ships!" Treble squeaked. "How are we supposed to get outta here now?"
Mari tapped her gauntlet, activating its display screen. "Don't worry. I've got our escape ship en route," she said, typing in the correct commands. "I just hope it gets here in time."
"We can't let the Galra get to the vault first," Immea pressed. "Let's move while they're still busy fighting the hunters."
They peeled away from the destructive scene and ran down the halls, following Mari as she led them towards the dots on Zyron's map. When they came to a set of grand golden doors, she brought them to an abrupt stop.
"Zyron's scans say Scarlett and Mitsu are in here," she said, and Immea gave her a quizzical look.
"That can't be right. This is Lord Hauer's bedchamber," she said. "I've snuck in here before and looked around. There's no vault."
Mari stared at the two biorhythms on her map. None of Zyron's scans had been wrong so far. She trusted their friends were somewhere behind these doors.
"It won't hurt to check again," she said and Zyron zipped over to the locking mechanism next to the entrance. One quick hack later and the doors slowly slid open, permitting them to slip inside.
**Check out my tumblr to see some cool art: pufftheninja
