The Cryon IV Incident, Episode 7: Rescue Plan
By Papa Palpatine 2008
Notice: don't own…please no sue…
Okay, we're back…
"So Coran, got any idea yet why the Princess took off in the Blue Lion last night?" Keith asked. The Voltron Force Commander sat on the couch in Castle Control, holding a cold bottle of water to the right side of his face, trying to sooth the painful, ugly purplish bruise on his cheek. Nearby, Nanny was bandaging Pidge's forehead.
"Best I can tell," Coran said. "She was in here yesterday evening when a transmission came in from Galaxy Garrison. Reports came in of space pirates attacking merchant vessels along a nearby trade route. The princess told them she would take care of it personally."
"Allura ran off to take on some space pirates? By herself?" Hunk said astonished.
"It's worse than that, I fear." Coran shook his head. "According to the Alliance database, only one group of pirates operates in that sector, they've driven off virtually everyone else…"
"The Krelvan." Keith said. Coran nodded grimly.
"Oh shit…" Lance exclaimed.
"Watch your mouth young man!" Nanny groused. Pidge winced and yelped as she pulled the bandage around his cranium a little too tight. "There's a lady present!"
"I'm afraid Lance is right to swear so strongly in this instance," Coran raised a hand to her. "If the princess really did have a run in with the Krelvan, this is worse than any of us would have dared imagine."
"The Krelvan must have shot Allura down over Cryon IV." Pidge spoke up. "If her communication systems were damaged in the attack, it would explain why we can't get a hold of her."
"It hardly seems like coincidence that Zarkon chose this moment to attack Arus with the princess and Blue Lion stranded on Cryon IV and all." Lance said. "But how the hell did he know?"
"When is Zarkon not on the lookout for opportunities like this?" Keith said.
"Good point."
"The real question is how are we supposed to go get her?" Hunk said. "You know the instant we all leave for Cryon IV, King Fishface is gonna try some more funny business."
Pidge protested, "Well we can't just leave her there to freeze to death..."
"No one said we would, Pidge." Keith replied. "But Hunk's right, we'll need to approach this situation intelligently or else Zarkon will see an opportunity to wreck even more havoc on Arus during our absence."
"Man, this sucks." Lance said shaking his head.
"Well, how long do you figure it'll take Zarkon's forces to regroup for another attack?" Pidge asked. "Maybe…"
Keith shook his head. "No way to know for sure. For all we know, he's already got a second wave ready and standing by for orders."
"And if we go out to after Allura, that'll be their green light to launch the next invasion." Hunk pounded his fist against the nearby wall. "Damnit, this is killing me."
"It's killing all of us, Hunk." Pidge said with a sad, hopeless expression.
"Damn those Krelvan!" Hunk growled. "If I could just get my hands on one of those oversized lobsters, I'd love to introduce the bastard to the business end of a shrimp fork!"
"Cool it, Hunk." Pidge chided him. "You're not helping matters."
"What about Prince Bandor and Sven?" Lance said. "Couldn't we contact them for help?"
"I imagine that's also out of the question." Keith sighed. "As much as I'm sure they'd love to help us, Planet Pollux has been in bad shape ever since Merla betrayed us and ordered her forces to attack. Sven, Romelle, and Bandor probably still have their hands full cleaning up the mess they left behind."
Lance nodded grimly. "Yeah, I guess you're right there."
"Oh, my poor baby girl!" Nanny blubbered. Her countenance suddenly became cold and angry. "Can't you lads do something to save her?! You call yourselves heroes!"
"Nanny, calm down." Coran rebuked her. "Keith and the others will do everything in their power to save Allura, but they need plan."
A plan? Keith thought. We need a miracle is more like it.
"What about this," Lance said snapping his fingers. "Who says we all have to go to Cryon IV? Couldn't three lions stay on Arus just in case and the fourth go after Allura?"
Keith raised an eyebrow and nodded. "It's risky but it might actually work, good thinking Lance. But which one of us will be going?"
"That's easy: me." Hunk said. "Yellow Lion can easily carry Blue Lion home on its back."
"Okay, Hunk." Keith said. "It's your show."
"Just be careful, big guy." Lance added.
"Hey, no problem." Hunk grinned. "I'll find her and we'll be home in plenty of time for supper tonight."
Cossack paced the floor on the bridge, shaking his head and swearing under his breath. He wasn't looking forward to the ass-chewing that awaited him upon return to Planet Doom. Zarkon's gonna be really, really pissed this time, he thought. Conquering Arus was supposed to be a piece of cake this time with Princess Pinky and Lotor stuck freezing their asses off on Cryon IV. I am so dead.
Haggar just sat there in her chair, petting her cat. Cossack couldn't believe how nonchalant the old witch could be about matters like this. Sure, she and the boss had been an item at one time, but that had to be ancient history. How did she do it? How did she manage to remain in Zarkon's good graces no matter how many times her monsters failed to defeat Voltron? What was it she did to redeem herself in his eyes? Whatever it was, it surely couldn't save her bacon this time…
To Be Continued…
Note: Yes, it's a short episode this time around, but I'll try to make it up to you all next time. Stay tuned….