Chapter 6

Following the puzzle

Chezor tried to steady her breathing as they flew; following the map fragment Alic had been given. The pain in her leg had only worsened, a pool of blood growing around her. She had already tried to open a wormhole using her Lion, but nothing had happened. They had been flying for about half a varga in silence, each occupied with their own thoughts. Chezor gripped the joysticks tighter as pain coursed through her leg in waves, nausea creeping over her. "Chezor are you okay?" Abby suddenly called through the intercom, "your Lion is flying sort of...crooked." Chezor sighed and straitened the Lion.

"I'm fine," she said, "my leg is just hurting." They kept flying in silence, the blood eventually stopped dripping from her leg leaving her lightheaded and dizzy. But the pain only worsened the farther they flew.

After they reached the designation given to them by Alic, Celk's map became active and they followed the second part of the map. Planets and stars speed past at they flew to their unknown destination. Chezor closed her eyes, drifting into sleep, suddenly she slammed against The Yellow Lion. "Hey!" Alic shouted. "That hurt!"

"Sorry," Chezor muttered, trying to keep her eyes open, her leg pounding with pain. Abby said nothing but flew her Lion closer to Chezor, helping keep her steady.

By the time they had reached the end of Celk's map and the beginning of Abby's, Chezor could barely keep her eyes open. Her leg pounded in agony. Her eyes began to close, she was so tired, the pain in her leg pushing sleep's warm embrace closer. "Chezor!" Abby shouted. Chezor's head snapped up. "You have to stay awake." Chezor nodded.

"Right," she said, her voice laced with pain. But the farther they flew the harder it was to simply keep her eyes open. Her head span and the stars blurred in front of her. When they reached Abby's map fragment Chezor's hands slipped from her Lion's controls, her head dropped forward. She felt her Lion take control. She closed her eyes and just breathed, the pain had spread past her leg, her left side of her body pounded in agony, her nausea coming in waves. Beads of sweat dripped down her face and landed on her lap. She didn't know how much time passed, how far they had flown. But she felt her Lion land on a planet's surface. She opened her eyes and stared out the window but all she saw was a hazy fog, finally allowing unconsciousness to take over.

Abby

As soon her Lion's claws touched the planet's surface Abby stepped out. They had landed in front of a huge castle. It was a glowing white and black. Bright teal veins of energy pulsed up its sides. Four huge towers stretched upwards. "Wow," Alic whispered besides her, "It's huge!" Abby nodded. Celk, who had come out of her Lion a few ticks after Abby, stretched her arms up and groaned.

"I have never been a ship that long!" she said. "I feel so stiff!" Abby smiled.

"It'll wear off," she said. Then she turned and looked back at The Red Lion. It still sat, its mouth open and its chin resting on the planet's surface. She frowned and walked towards the Lion.

"Chezor?" she called. "You alright?" No response. Abby frowned and walked up its lowered gangplank.

"Chezor?" she called again. Then she saw her slumped over, face chalk white, a pool of purple Galra blood staining the floor around her.

"Chezor!" Abby shouted, she rushed forward and grabbed her arm, putting it over her shoulder. She heaved her out of her chair and dragged her out of the Lion. Celk gasped, running up to her.

"What happened?" she shouted. "Is she alright?"

"No," Abby grunted. "The bulled she was hit with clearly damaged her more than she was letting on. Stupid Galra and their pride!" Celk grabbed Chezor's other arm and put it around her shoulder. Alic ran out of the Red Lion carrying the gun Chezor had dropped. They walked towards the castle. Celk glanced nervously at Abby.

"Are you sure we should be walking towards that?" she asked, "It looks Altayan"

"No," Abby responded, "but Chezor needs help and the Lions brought us here." Suddenly the castle's doors were thrown open. An Altayan stood in the open door way. She had dark blue hair that faded to white, black and purple clothing, violet eyes and Altayan marking.

"Welcome Paladins of Voltron to The Castle of Lions," she said smiling, a soft Altayan accent showing through her words. "We have been waiting for you for many decapheebs"