Voltrex - Now you don't have to wait any longer, as Episode 19 is here! Only 7 more until the end of Season 1. Hope this episode begins to clear up a few of the things you were asking me on the Voltron Official Forums.

Author's Note - My muse is dead. This was still an enjoyable episode to write. Roxy is definitely feeling the heat in this one, but you'll find that this episode truly revolves around Dariana. Even she wanders what's happening to her.

Theme Music : Taking Over Me, by Evanescence

Disclaimer - Voltron and all associated characters are the property of WEP. Space Marshall Lenora Hawkins is the property of KathDMD.

Episode 19 : The Price of Failure

Dariana walked up to the counter and held out her arm. Tick detached from the voltcom and staggered around. It slumped over, and made several soft ticking noises.

"Is he alright?" Tails asked.

"No," she said softly. "Look at this." She lifted one of his ears, and saw a small mechanical fly attached to it. "It's burrowed in. I don't know what it is, and I can't see a way to pull it out."

"Can't you just pluck it out with a pair of tweezers?" Tails asked.

"No," Dariana replied. "Mechanically, its system is tapped into Tick's internal power matrix. If I force it out, it could kill him."

"But he's a robot," Tails said with a weird frown.

"He's more than that to me," Dariana replied. "I thought since you have more experience with system analysis, you might be able to figure out how it is linked to the matrix, and find a way for us to remove it."

"I'll try my best," Tails replied. "Though power systems are more of Chips specialty. Mind if I take Tick with me to see him?"

"If you think he can help," Dariana replied. "Please, whatever you do, don't cut his system power, and please don't let anyone harm him."

"Relax, Lil' D," Tails replied. "We'll get him fixed up in a jiffy!" She grinned and carefully picked Tick up and walked out of the dorm room. Dariana sighed.

"General Cossack," Kala shouted, "have you deployed your fleet along the trade routes between Eptus and the Near Galaxy?"

"Yes, Commander," Cossack replied. "They have been instructed to open fire on all vessels except lazon transports. Those we have instructed them to board and commandeer the vessel and bring it back to Quantus."

"Excellent," she replied. "The added lazon will help with the manufacturing of our new armada fleet of vessels. Soon, the entire Galaxy Alliance will yield to the Drule Supremacy." She thought for a moment. "This would be the perfect time to strike Earth without fail. I want you to take the robeast provided by Haggar and send it to Earth. Maahox thinks his little pests alone can cause havoc. Let's see what happens then the Voltron Force is confronted by a real challenge!"

"Voltron Force, launch!" Roxy shouted as the jets soared out of the hangar. They flew in perfect formation. "Standard training exercises. Follow my mark. Excecute 'Scatter 1', then regroup, turn and return to wing formation."

"Got it," everyone replied. The jets flew in wing formation, then suddenly broke apart, flying separately in arc, then turning around several thousand feet later and pulling back into wing formation.

"Good job, team," she replied. "Now I want to try a little something different. I've been working on a speed formation. I fed the instructions into your navigational consoles. Long as we follow it to the letter, we should be ok."

"Truvall," JC said, "I'm not second guessing your orders, but I want to suggest…"

"Can't hear you, Grend," she replied, "just do it." JC sighed.

"Alright," he replied, defeatedly. The ships flew as fast as they could and shifted from wing to a scattered formation, pulling quickly into a diamond. The ships began to join, but in a split second, Dariana blacked out. Yellow lost power and began to fall.

"Roxy!" JC shouted. "Dariana!"

"SNART!" she shouted. "Disengage immediately and get down there!" The jets disengaged from their formation and flew towards Yellow, which was spiraling out of control. Roxy pushed the pedal forward and went into a vertical dive, passing everyone. She managed to pass Yellow, skirt under it, and assist with landing it safely. The others landed nearby quickly and ran to Jet Yellow. They opened the cockpit, and Dariana lay unconscious, a stream of blood running down her nose.

"Dariana!" Seth shouted. "Please wake up! Say something!"

Dariana opened her eyes, and it felt like she was floating. All of a sudden, she felt shaking. When her eyes came into focus, she was in the cockpit of a ship…but she was not herself.

"Kovinx," a voice called over the com, "adjust your attitude control! You got us flying in circles!" She instinctively adjusted a few dials and the rumbling stopped. She looked through the viewscreen and saw she was indeed tens of thousands of feet above the ground.

"Geez, Kovinx," another voice shouted, "snap out of your daze already! We need to be ready if the Empire sends another of their war machines!"

"Um, yeah," she replied, not sure who or what she was. It wasn't until she looked over at the side glass, and saw she was the little girl, now in her early twenties. She touched her face as she noticed how much she looked like Haggar from her dreams, but then ran her fingers across her lips, which were black as night. Suddenly, she lost control of herself as the girl smiled, and her eyes turned pure white.

"I was born ready," she said with a smirk. She pulled the yokes, and they flew in different directions, performing several quick maneuvers before landing. Dariana looked out, and saw the Castle of Lions, restored to its former glory. Still not in control, she climbed out of the seat and walked around, climbing down a ladder, then walking out an exit….a lion's mouth. She managed to turn her head and look up…noticing it was not an ordinary ship she was piloting, but Voltron!

"Nice moves there Kovinx," said a young pilot approaching her. "I wasn't sure I could make those adjustments as quickly as you, but looks like we synch up just fine. Then again, I'm not 'lamia'."

"Knock it off, you two," the commander said, walking up to him. Dariana recognized the uniform of Arus' Black Knight. "It was a good practice, but we shouldn't be careless. The prophecy said the Great Evil would come. Our spirits must be strong."

"Of course, your majesty," the pilot replied. "I am glad Kovinx and I make a great team. I mean, Trevor and Ansel did well too."

"Kovinx," he said, "may I have a word with you?" The king pulled her aside. Dariana fought hard for control, anxious to ask whoever this was what was going on. "Your father would be proud of you, Kovinx. You have overcome the trials, and have become an exceptional young woman, and a talented pilot. I know the others are concerned because you are a lamia. But they don't understand the way we do."

"Of course not, your majesty," she replied. "But…" Dariana fought with all her might, and the girl's eyes faded from white to yellow for a split second. "What is the Great Evil? What are we doing?" He looked her in the eye. Something inside Dariana knew that the King knew more than the girl thought….that he somehow saw Dariana's soul inside her.

"The course of destiny must never be changed, and must never waver," he said. "The past, the present, and the future are one with the prophecy. You…lamia…you shall see them all. The Great Evil comes from within, and we must all learn to fight it. It's important that you remember this….Kovinx." Dariana fell weak as the girl was in control again. Her eyes turned pure white.

"I'm sorry, sire," she replied, "I'm not sure what came over me."

"It's alright," he replied with a smile. "Let us eat and rest. The spirits will warn us of the danger, and when it comes, we know we are ready." A little boy ran up to them.

"Father!" he shouted. "Wow….is that Voltron? He kinda reminds me of a lion protecting its pride."

"Indeed, Prince Alfor," the king replied. "Indeed it does."

Seth sat next to Dariana's bed in the infirmary, gently stroking her hair. He looked down at her and breathed deeply.

"I wonder if you even know," he said softly, kissing her forehead gently. Outside the room, JC, Roxy and Tails are sitting in a waiting area.

"I still don't think we should have been pulling a maneuver like that on the fly," JC said angrily. "Without proper preparation…"

"The Drules are not going to give us time to prepare in the middle of a battle," Roxy snapped back. "You should know this by now."

"Don't you even feel the slightest bit upset about what happened to her?" JC said, his face contorting.

"Of course I do!" Roxy shouted. "No one could have predicted she would go into one of her blackouts. I'm upset she was hurt, but that's not my fault."

"Don't you take responsibility for anything?" JC asked. "Every member of this team trusts you with their life!"

"I know that!" she snapped back. "It's not easy! You of all people should know that!"

"Of course," he replied. "And I couldn't deal with that. I thought I had made the right decision when recommending you to Space Marshall Hawkins…"

"Wait," she retorted, "You what?"

"I said I recommended you to become Force Leader," he replied.

"I don't flacking need your stupid recommendation, Grend!" she screeched. "Not only are you telling me it's my fault Dariana had a blackout, now you are saying I didn't make it into this position on my own merits?"

"I didn't say that at all!" JC shouted back. "I said you make a great leader, but as a leader, you need to learn to step up and take responsibility when you make a mistake!"

"Get flacking bent, Grend!" She screamed and stormed off, slamming the door behind her.

"She made a mistake," Tails said. "She doesn't need to be reminded, JC."

"I just don't understand her," he replied, slumping down in a seat. Tails sighed and sat down as well.

Lenora was rustling through paperwork on her desk when she heard a knock.

"Enter," she said. Roxy came in and sat down in the seat in front of her desk. Lenora looked at her quizzically. Is there something I can help you with, Cadet Truvall?"

"Permission to speak freely, ma'am," she said.

"Permission granted," Lenora replied.

"I want to know what disciplinary action to expect for today's accident," she replied. "I take full responsibility. I don't want to give up, Space Marshall, but I know I made a terrible error in judgment. And I'm sorry."

"I know you are," Lenora said. "And while there will be consequences for your actions, I do not think it will warrant your removal from the Force, or as Force Leader." She stood up and walked over to the window and looked out over the Garrison. "Each and every one of us puts our replutations and our very lives on the line each day we show up for work." She turned back to Roxy. "Cadet Kovinx knows this, Cadet Grend knows this, and I know you know it too."

"But ma'am," she replied, "it's still my responsibility to ensure the safety of my team."

"You and Grend are so much alike, you know that?" Lenora said.

"I beg your pardon?" Roxy replied.

"Both of you are loyal," she said, "both of you are honest, trustworthy, respectable, and above all else, selfless. But you're both so damned stubborn!"

"Stubborn?" Roxy said, a slight tone of defiance in her voice. Lenora nodded.

"Take a moment and listen to yourself, Cadet," she said. "There are plenty of ways to accomplish a goal. Is your way the only way? Is your way the right way?"

"What does it matter," Roxy replied. "The only reason I'm Force Leader is because Grend recommended me."

"Where did you hear that?" Lenora asked, frowning.

"Grend," she replied. "He didn't say it, but he did mention he recommended me. I don't want to make it in the Alliance military on the backs of everyone else. I fight hard for what I have."

"I understand more than you know," Lenora replied. "When I was first appointed to this position, a lot of people talked. Thought maybe I 'slept my way to the top'. Being one of the youngest officers to obtain this rank, it hasn't been easy. I worked hard, and no matter what the chatter was in the rumor mill, I knew the truth. When Marshall Graham came to me and said he wanted to recommend me to be his replacement when he retired, while part of me felt worried what people would think, the reality in my mind was that I had earned it. That is the reality, Cadet Truvall. I looked at your records. On Arus they referred to you as 'The Rocket', stating you would plow through anyone in your way. You were mean, vicious, and out for blood. But I see someone who wanted it more than the rest. I see that in you, Cadet. And I'll be damned if I let your stubbornness get in the way of your potential."

"You know I'll always do my best, Space Marshall," she said. "I don't want to let my team down again."

"Then listen to them," Lenora replied, "then do the right thing." Roxy smiled, standing up.

"Thank you," she said, turning to leave. Before she left, however, she turned back around for a moment. "You really think I have potential?"

"You came here and did what was right," she replied. "And if you look hard enough, you'll understand that Cadet Grend did too." Roxy turned and left, letting out a huge sigh.

Seth had been by Dariana's side for hours. He still sat with her, staring at her, wishing she would just open her eyes. The doctor came in, followed by JC and Tails.

"What's the news, Doc?" Seth asked, hoping for good news.

"No bones are broken," he replied. "No organs damaged. Even her brain is functioning normally, and is even generating the most eccentric activity I have ever seen, even in a Drule mind. Also, I was checking her over earlier, and slid her eyelid open for a moment to see if the pupils would dilate….but there were none. No iris, no pupil. Her eyes were both solid white."

"The dreams," Tails said. "She must be having one of those dreams! Strange, she hasn't screamed at all."

"It would explain the blackout," Seth replied, "but why is she still not awake?"

"Maybe we just have to wait and find out," Tails replied. "She'll wake up, I know it."

"She's physically in perfect condition," the doctor said. "Maybe better than peak physical condition. It's actually incredible." He grabbed her chart and left the room.

"I guess all she needs is time," Seth said, once again stroking her soft, dark grey hair. All of a sudden, the alarms sounded.

"Snart, not now!" JC shouted. He tapped his com. "What's going on?"

"An unidentified object passed through the Outer Perimeter and crashed thirty miles west of the city," Stormclaw said. "RadialTrac identified it as a robeast shell. I need everyone to launch immediately."

"We're on our way, Commander," JC replied, turning off the com. "Come on guys, we need to get going."

"What about Dar?" Tails asked. "We can't go without her! We can't form Voltron without her either!"

"We can't let that robeast tear up the Garrison," JC replied. "We have to try." Tails nodded. Seth seemed like he didn't want to leave her side. He stroked her face one last time, then turned to JC.

"Let's go," Seth said. JC nodded.

"I'll try to contact Truvall on the way," JC replied. "We need her."

JC, Seth and tails ran into the control room. They leaped into the chutes, their uniforms changing as they slid into the cockpit.

"Insert keys!" JC shouted. They placed their keys into their voltcoms. The jets fired up and took off from the hangar.

"Have you been able to get ahold of Truvall?" Seth asked.

"No," JC replied. "I honestly hope he pride isn't keeping her from answering my hails. Stubborn or not, we need her." As they approached the crash site, they looked on as the beast stood up. It had three eyes, and when it screeched, dozens of razor sharp teeth were beared. But the sound coming from it was so powerful, the ships were rocked.

"The frequency is off the charts!" Tails said. "Let's hope he doesn't hit the brown note." The jets split up and flew around either side of the monster, firing shots at it.

"I'm gonna try and get it off its feet!" Seth said. He flew off and turned quickly. He pulled his weapons console, and a crossbow appeared on top of the ship, firing icy bolts at the monster's feet. Ice pools formed, and it slipped and fell as it tried to fire on Jet Blue."

"Aim for the eyes!" JC shouted. They fired missiles and lasers at the eyes, and the monster tried to deflect it, all the while trying to get to its feet. "Keep it on its back!"

"The Voltron Force is making a mockery of the robeast!" Kala shouted furiously. "Haggar assured us it would be a challenge to the Voltron Force!"

"Patience, Commander," Maahox replied, grinning from ear to ear. "It seems Witch Haggar is more intuitive than I could imagine. Powerful indeed. Let us find out what happens when power meets chaos."

"We got this thing beat, guys!" JC shouted.

"It's almost laughable!" Seth said.

"Phht," Tails said, "That's what SHE said."

"NO!" Seth said. "That is NOT what she said!"

"Ok ok ok," Tails said, rolling her eyes. Then suddenly, a swarm of bugs seemed to rocket past them. "What the…." The swarm flew to the robeast's head, and started to get closer and closer, as if becoming more solid.

"What's happening?" Seth asked.

"I dunno," JC replied, "but it can't be good." The swarm solidified, and when it spun around, it opened up, forming a single mechanical eye. It shot backwards at the robeast, drilling itself into its third eye. The robeast cried out in pain as the eye slid into the socket, spinning in it, the pupil dilating as it gained control.

Roxy heard the alarms, not sure what to expect. She knew though that if she was going to do anything, she was going to check on Dariana before doing it. She walked into the room, and Dariana still laid there, still unconscious. She approached her and sat at her side.

"I'm no good with sentiment," she said, glancing at her every few seconds. "I'm no good with feelings, and even worse with sorries. But I owe you this much. You are an important part of this team. We all are. I made a mistake…and I'm sorry. I just hope you can forgive me Dari." Dariana started to move. "Dari? Are you alright?" She moved slowly, seeming weak at first, then all of a sudden, her eyes opened wide, completely white, without pupils.

"Dammit Vega, quit your whining and snap out of it!" she said suddenly. She ripped out wired, tubes and cables attached to her. "The evil is here…I can feel it! We have to get to the lions!" She ran out of the room. Roxy looked on, stunned for a moment, then took off running after her.

"Dammit Kovinx," she yelled, "slow the flack down!" She continued running. "What does she mean, 'Get to the lions'?"

Dariana grabbed her voltcom from the charger and snapped it on her arm. Still dressed in a hospital gown, she dove into the chute, pressing a button that caused her uniform to appear. She landed in the cockpit and placed her key. Roxy caught up and dove into Red to do the same.

"Kovinx!" Roxy shouted. "What is wrong with you?"

"We have to hurry!" she shouted, engaging her engines. The evil is all around us! We have to call the Defender!" They took off in the direction of the robeast.

The robeast managed to get to its feet. It surged with a new power. Seth tried to fly in close for a shot, and got swatted away. The Jet crashed, but was able to get back into the air.

"That thing is super fast!" Seth said.

"Keep your distance, team," JC shouted. "I'm not sure what's going on, but we want to make ourselves a tougher target. At least 'till we know what we're dealing with."

"I wish I could give you more info," Tails said. "All I know is the energy signal from it is off the charts. I can see a drain on our energy as we get close, but the signature is not the same as haggarium."

"And without Voltron," Seth said, "I don't know how we're going to beat this thing." Suddenly, Seth saw several pairs of missiles pass closely by him, and hit the beast, stunning it slightly. Jet Yellow did a loop and fired another round, which barely phased the beast.

"Sorry I'm late, guys," Dariana said, though not in her usual quiet tone. "Let's take this beast down!"

"I'm here guys," Roxy shouted, flying in at top speed. "Standard formation….ready to form Voltron. Activate interlocks! Dynotherms connected!" The robeast charged at them and forced them out of formation. "What the flack?"

"It's way too fast!" Seth said. "It's not letting us into formation!"

"Then we'll just need to be faster," Dariana replied. "Formation Sequence Beta!"

"What are you talking about?" Roxy asked.

"Dammit Vega," Dariana replied, "we've been over this maneuver a million times! Wing, scatter, diamond linkup. Just do it!"

"Dari," Roxy shouted, "The last time we did this maneuver, you blacked out!"

"We don't have time to argue!" she replied.

"Alright team, start in Wing formation, then scatter, just like yesterday," Roxy said. I'm ready." The robeast came at them as they set in wing formation. When he split them up, they scattered, then quickly turned to regroup in diamond formation. The ships came together in an explosive connection, and Voltron arched back with power and his eyes lit up.

"Holy snart!" Tails shouted, "It worked!"

"Form, Spinning Laser Blade!" Roxy shouted. Votrol raised his arms and moved them in a semicircle, forming the blade. He launched it at the robeast, but it was able to easily dodge it going and coming back.

"We so totally missed," Tails replied.

"He's too fast for our weapons too," JC said.

"I'm up for suggestions," Roxy said. Dariana pulled her console.

"It'll take some concentration," she replied, "but we can do this. Trevor, get ready to ice that eye with your bow!" Seth knew she was talking to him, but confused why she called him that.

"I'm ready," he replied.

"Form Blazing Chargers!" Dariana shouted as the spiked handles appeared in Voltron's hands. Voltron launched the chargers several times, but kept missing. "Come on you little snart….hold the flack still…." Her eyes glowed, and the charger hit its mark. It stuck right in the eye, and Voltron yanked hard, pulling it out of the beast. "Now!"

"Form Aquatic Bow!" Seth shouted. A bow of pure ice formed, and Voltron rapidly fired icy arrows at it, encasing it in ice. It fell to the ground.

"The robeast power levels are back to normal!" Tails shouted.

"Form Blazing Sword" Roxy shouted. Voltron reached to his hip and pulled the energy beam that became the sword. Voltron ran at what was left of the robeast and swung twice, slicing through the beast. It then exploded.

"We have to destroy that eye!" JC said. "I say we throw it into the sun!"

"Do it," Roxy commanded. Voltron grabbed the frozen eye and launched into the air, flying towards the sun. They got as close as the heat shield would let them, and lqaunched it into the sun. It seemed to burn up, and nothing was left.

"Good work, team," Roxy said as Voltron turned to head back to Earth.

The entire team sat at a table eating lunch. Dariana walked up to the table with her lunch and sat down. Set looked at her eyes, and indeed, they were back to their usual yellow selves. Seth looked over at her.

"Dar," he said, "Are you feeling any better?"

"I'm still weak," she replied softly, "but I'm ok. I'm sorry if I caused any trouble."

"I'm the one that needs to be sorry," Roxy said. "I shouldn't have made you do that maneuver without discussing it first. Space Marshall Hawkins is still trying to come up with a suitable punishment for me."

"You did what you need to do to be a good leader, Roxy," she replied. "I don't blame you for my blackout."

"You sure pulled off those fancy maneuvers when it counted!" Tails said. "How'd you do it?"

"I don't remember any of it," she replied. "It's like I wasn't in control." Suddenly, a server came to their table.

"Cadet Truvall?" he asked.

"That's me," Roxy said.

"I was ordered to replace your meal with this," he replied. "Space Marshall Hawkins' orders.

"What the flack is it?" Roxy asked, lifting the lid and smelling it. She took one bite and nearly puked.

"Ice Cream with vegi-sauce," he replied. "I was told to make sure you eat every last bite, and that you won't be able to leave the hangar with Red until you do." Roxy groaned and took another bite, holding her nose. She grimaced terribly.

"You guys will help me eat this, right?" she asked.

"Look, you said to stay away, so…" JC said.

"I really need to see what Chip is up to," Tails said.

"I have toilet cleaning duty," Seth said.

"Dari?" Roxy asked.

"I promised Commander stormclaw I would do the perimeter scan," she replied. I'm sorry." They all left, and the server watched as Roxy continued to eat the disgusting mess, all the while feeling like she was gonna be sick.