Voltrex - You don't need hints anymore. The wait is over, and you'll find it was worth it! Think this is good? Wait for Season 2...
KathDMD - As promised, here it is. I just want you to know, YOU made this happen. You push me to be a better writer. You're the real muse. I hope I made you proud, because a lot went into this episode. The wait is finally over.
Author's Note - THE most anticipated season finale ever! Well, maybe. Nothing but excitement and suspense! Finally, everyone gets to see the puzzle pieces...well most of them...come together. But I leave everyone with a question. We all know the light can conquer the darkness. But can love really conquer all?
"Acceptance is the key to be...to be truly free...Would you do the same for me?"
Theme Music : Unconditionally, by Katy Perry
Disclaimer - Voltron and all associated characters are the property of WEP. A small segment of story was pulled directly from "The Sincerest Form of Flattery", owned by WEP. Space Marshall Lenora Hawkins is the property of KathDMD.
Episode 26 : Black Squared
Voltron set down on the surface of Quantus near the base, along with the robeast they had fought. Robot troops as well as Drule soldiers surrounded it, blasters at the ready.
"Are we really going to surrender?" Tails asked.
"It doesn't look like we have much of a choice," Roxy replied. "When we leave the ships, I want you guys to stay behind me. Don't try anything. We'll size up the situation, then deal with it. I just need you to trust me." Tails heard the words, then something in her clicked. She reached over to a box not connected to any of the consoles. She pressed the only button on it, and connected it to the console. Only then did the pilots finally exit the ships and make their way slowly to the awaiting crowd of soldiers. JC was last to exit. Upon doing so, he walked behind them, putting a blaster into Seth's back.
"Easy, buddy," Seth whispered. "You don't want to do this."
"Like I didn't want to quit leading this team?" JC replied. "No one can tell me what I want and what I don't want. Now move!" They all walked towards the hangar, then stopped short of it in front of Lotor himself.
"Well," Lotor said, "if it isn't the force of Voltron cadets that rescued the Space Marshall, and have been trying to make a mockery of my empire. Not so mighty now, are you?" He looked closely at Roxy. "You…you look Arusian. You actually remind me of…her…" He cupped her chin in his hand as he looked at her strangely. She reacted by swatting his hand away. He reacted by backhanding her so hard she fell to the ground. "Ungreatful wretch!" He turned to his guards. "Secure them in the prison. Take their ships into the hangar. I want them dismantled, but first, I would like Witch Haggar to examine them."
"What should we do about this one?" the guard asked, referring to JC.
"Once the others are secured, escort him to see Maahox," Lotor replied. "I have a feeling he might find him useful." They escorted them away, and Lotor turned and walked back into the base.
"Commander Stormclaw," Lenora said, walking with the commander towards the shipyard, "do you have a status report on the Quantus mission?"
"The last transmission we received from the Voltron Force was that they had found the object was a mechanical robeast," he replied, "and that they were engaging it. After that, nothing." Chip caught up with them.
"Space Marshall," he said, "I want you to know that Cadet McGovern and I were working on a sophisticated long-range homing signal prior to this mission. Less than an hour ago, the distress beacon was activated. Ma'am, I have reason to believe the cadets are in trouble." She began to walk faster. The Commander and Tech Sergeant kept pace.
"Space Marshall," Stormclaw said, "did you hear? The Force may have been captured or killed. What are your orders?" She stopped and turned to Stormclaw, and pulled back her sleeve.
"The Drules are stepping up their game," she replied, "and so will we." She hit a button on her weapons cache. "Aki!" Some rustling noises could be heard over the com.
"Len?" Jeff replied. "What's going on?"
"Assemble your teams," she said. "Tech Sergeant Stoker is already here. Meet up at the main bay of the Alliance shipyard. We'll explain more once you arrive. Hawkins out." She pressed a button, turning off the com. "Stormclaw, send a message to Arus. Have their force head for Quantus, and let them know the attack plans have been moved up. We're gonna need all the firepower we can get."
"Yes, ma'am," he replied. "But how is the support fleet alone going to take on the might of the Supremacy?" They entered the shipyard's main bay, and Stomclaw gaped at the sight. Commander Hawkins met them at the entrance.
"Gentelmen," Lenora said, "allow me to introduce you to the Flagship of the Galaxy Alliance, the Stellar Ship Defender."
"It's incedible!" Stormclaw said. "How in the…"
"It's been in construction for a long time," Commander Hawkins replied. "Mike, this thing is not only twice as fast and maneuverable as the Explorer was, it has twice the firepower! While it is still built to accommodate exploratory missions, it was built with the Drule threat in mind! You should have seen my face when Lenora gave me the grand tour of it!"
"And it's complete?" Stormclaw asked.
"Down to the last detail," Jon replied. "The Voltron units have already been loaded aboard, and new solar fusion reactors installed to charge the ships at twice the rate they used to! I feel like a kid in a candy store!"
"Ahem," Lenora said, looking into her husband's eyes. "Remember your part of the bargain."
"Of course," he said with a smile. "You don't think I would forget, did you?"
"Mmm hmm," she replied with a smirk. "As soon as the Vehicle Team arrives, prepare the Defender and the support fleet for launch. And Commander Hawkins…" She turned around to look at him again. "I'll see you on the bridge." She walked down the steps leading to the main bay, boarding the ship.
The door locked behind them after Seth was pushed into the cell. He got up and quickly went over to Dariana.
"Are you alright?" he asked her, looking at her closely.
"I'm fine, Seth," she replied. "But Roxy…" They went over to her, and she sat in the corner against the wall, her knees bent and pushed up against her chest, her head down on them. When she lifted her head to look at them, not only did they notice she was crying, a bruise had formed on her right cheek.
"That son of a…." Seth said.
"I'm so sorry, Roxy," Dariana replied.
"Dari," she said through her tears. "I'm so sorry I got all of you into this."
"It's not your fault," Seth replied. "This is all JC's fault! I trusted him! And look what he's done! Look what Lotor did to you!"
"Seth," Tails said, staring down at a small box she pulled out of her pocket, "he may not be totally responsible for his actions."
"What could you possibly mean?" Seth asked.
"See this?" Tails said, holding up the box. "This is one of the tracking devices Chip and I created to hunt down those parasites on Earth. We thought we had hunted them all down with the drones and destroyed them. But according to the device's chronometer, it's been going off since we left Earth. That means one of those parasites not only survived, but managed to find and attach to a host, and hitched a ride all the way here."
"Hitched a ride?" Seth asked. "You mean it's attached to Voltron?"
"Worse," Dariana replied solemnly. "If what she's saying is correct….the parasite is attached to JC."
"Wait," Roxy said, fighting to get to her feet, "didn't you say these things eventually take over the host body, killing the host?"
"Yes," Tails said.
"Is it possible to save him?" Roxy asked.
"Well…" Tails replied.
"Dammit McGovern!" Roxy shouted. "Think!"
"It's possible," she replied. "We may only have a few hours left though."
"Then we need to find a way out of here," Roxy said, determined.
"That's the easy part," Dariana replied. They all turned to see Tick scurrying across the floor and into their cell through the bars. He leaped up onto the bench and then onto Dariana's arm. He looked up at her and let out a few loud ticks. "It's how to get Voltron and escape Quantus that's the tricky part."
"Leave that to me," Roxy replied. "I got us into this mess. I'm sure as flack gonna get us out of it." Roxy looked through the bars around the hallway. "I don't see any guards. But there might be some around the corner. I don't see them leaving us to our own devices."
"Tick," Dariana said softly, "How many guards did you see?" Tick let out two very loud ticks. "Two."
"What about our voltcoms?" Roxy asked.
"In a lab not far from here," Dariana replied. "Tick can lead us there."
"Follow the robotic rat," Roxy said softly. "Alright. Get this door unlocked, and I'll do the rest." Dariana let Tick scurry down her arm and leaped to the floor. It ran full force at the door and leaped up at the lock. In one smooth movement, it changed shape to form a key which entered the lock, and turned, opening the door. Dariana walked over and pulled the key out, holding it her hand smiling. Tick transformed back, and she patted him on the head. "Good job, Tick."
"Now get back," Roxy said quietly. "Guards! Escape!" Sure enough, two guards came running around the corner. They began to fiddle with the door, and Roxy kicked it hard, knocking down the guards. She ran out of the cell. As they got up, she spun around and kicked one in the face, knocking him out. The second grabbed her from behind. She elbowed him and flipped him over her. When he tried to get up, he was hit over the head. He staggered and fell over, leaving Tails standing there with a metal bar in her hands.
"Where the heck you get that?" Roxy asked.
"Took apart the bench in our cell," Tails replied. Roxy looked at her funny. "I got bored!"
"Come on," Roxy said. "Let's get to that lab and get our voltcoms." The four of them made their way down the hall and around the corner.
The teams of the Voltron Vehicle Force were in the lounge of the Defender, taking in the sights as it travelled with the support fleet on course for Quantus.
"Isn't it amazing?" Ginger said. "I haven't even seen the entire ship yet, but everything I've seen is nothing short of incredible! Even Hardware is excited!" Hardware stopped and looked at Ginger, seemingly enamored. He beeped a few times then continued on his way.
"Let's hope the food's a little better," Jeff laughed.
"I heard that!" Sammy yelled from behind the counter. He lifted a heavy crate onto the counter. "The supply company gave us enough fresh food to last weeks!" He tapped on the company logo, which clearly read 'Dairugger XV'. "But it's still being cooked by the same chef!" Jeff groaned. Just then, Lenora entered the lounge. Instinctively, the Air Team, who had been gazing out the window, turned and saluted.
"Len," Jeff said. "What brings you down here?"
"Wish I could say it was to enjoy the sights, like you guys are," she replied. "I actually came down here to give you an unofficial briefing on the mission."
"I heard the other Voltron Force may have been captured by Supremacy forces," Jeff replied. "Is that gonna complicate things?"
"Aki," she said, "I know Truvall. She's a sharp kid. She got me out of that compound. She can handle herself. We need to be ready when those cadets do get out. And I have a feeling this battle is gonna be tougher than anything we've ever faced."
"I'm sure we can handle it," Jeff replied. "We've been through the worst. And Voltron has stood the test of time."
"Even so," she replied, "we've been developing some 'extras' for you and your teams to use in battle."
"Don't leave me hangin', Len," he said. "What is it?"
"Have the teams meet briefly outside the launch area prior to arrival," she replied. "At that time, you'll be fitted with your new equipment." She gave a small salute to the Voltron Captain, then left the lounge.
"What do ya suppose she has in mind?" Jeff asked the team.
Roxy and the team managed to make it down the hallway, following Tick as he scurried on his way. He stopped short of an entrance to what looked like a laboratory.
"OK," Roxy said, "this is it. We get in, get the voltcoms and get out. Then all we need to do is find JC and get outta here." They walked in carefully, and spotted their voltcoms hung on the wall. But as they went to get them, a voice stopped them in their tracks.
"Out for a stroll, are we?" Maahox said as they turned to face him.
"Split up!" Roxy shouted. Maahox pulled a lever, and laser fire was everywhere. Tails booked for the Voltcoms. Seth and Roxy kept trying to dodge the laser fire to get to Maahox. Dariana ducked around the corner. Serveral shots barely missed Tails as she managed to get the voltcoms.
"Hold still, you little lab rats!" Maahox shouted. Tails snapped the voltcom on her arm, and threw an ax In Maahox's direction. It hit the console, and the laser fire stopped. "Well…this is unfortunate." He took off running. Roxy and Seth put on their Voltcoms as Tails handed Dariana hers.
"After him!" Roxy shouted. As they ran, a forcefiled appeared, blocking their path.
"You're not going anywhere!" Haggar shouted, cackling. They turned to face her. "Your escape plan has failed! Now you will divulge the secrets of Voltron and all of its magic to me!" She pointed her staff at the team, and they fell to their knees in pain, surrounded by a field of magic. Dariana held her head.
"Dariana," Kovinx said, her voice ringing in Dariana's mind, "you don't yet possess the knowledge or the strength to wield the power you have. Please, allow me to guide you! She must be stopped!"
"I'm scared," Dariana replied. "I don't want to lose myself….I don't want to die!"
"I won't let that happen," Kovinx replied. "My blood runs in your veins. And so does hers. You have the power. Let me save you!"
"Will it always be this way?" Dariana asked.
"Dariana," she replied, "when you realize the strength you have, and are able to wield it on your own…no, it won't be this way. It will be many times better."
Dariana's eyes turned pure white, and a burst of energy caused the field to explode and backlash into Haggar, knocking her over.
"Go find Black!" she shouted. "Go find your team leader! I'll take care of this and meet you in the hangar!" Roxy looked at her confused, then turned and grabbed Tails and ran. Seth followed.
"You!" Haggar said standing back up.
"You call yourself lamia?" Dariana said. "Yet you abuse the power you were given to defend them?"
"Power is NOTHING unless you know how to wield it!" Haggar shouted as she launched a blast of flame at Dariana. Dariana held out her hand, and a white light enveloped the flame and swallowed it, exploding in front of her. She didn't even flinch.
"I learned from the best," she said. Cova, Haggar's cat, let out a screech and ran at Dariana. Out of nowhere, Tick scurried past her and tackled the cat, and the two fought viciously. "Magic of old, envelop in cold!" A blast of ice erupted from her hands, aimed at Haggar, but Haggar pulled her cloak over her, shielding her from the blast.
"Your power is no match for the Old Ones!" Haggar shouted. Dariana outstretched her arms apart, then pulled them together. Haggar glided backwards with odd gracefulness as two large machines on either side of the room flew at her and crashed into one another.
"Give it up, mother!" she shouted. "You can't cheat fate! Your good side won't let you live because your evil self won't let you die!" She dove out of the way as Haggar launched another fireball at her. When she turned to fight back, Haggar and her cat were gone, and Tick scurried back to Dariana and climbed onto her arm. He ticked several times, irregularly. "Keep my soul safe, my little friend." She smiled, then suddenly Dariana felt weak. As she recovered, she blinked a few times…her eyes turned back to the yellow they always were. Tick attached himself to her voltcom. She looked up and saw the exit was clear. Determined, she ran for it, heading for the hangar.
Roxy, Seth and Tails ran through the hangar and found the ships. Somehow they had been separated.
"Get to the ships and see if you can power them up," Roxy ordered. "Tails, see if you can contact Galaxy Garrison. I'm gonna go back and find Dariana."
"You're not going anywhere," JC said, stepping into the hangar, blocking her path.
"Get to the ships!" she shouted. "That's an order!" Tails and Seth ran for the ships.
"What good your orders do," he said laughing. "You really think you're gonna escape?" Roxy stared intensely at him, anger building up inside.
"I'm not just gonna escape," she said. "I'm taking your sorry butt back with us. By free will or by force." She cracked her knuckles, and her hands ignited with red glowing power from her voltcom.
"Then by all means, Truvall," he whispered, "force me." She ran at him, and he pulled his katanas. He swung, and she used her wrists to block every swing. "What's wrong, Aroxia? Can't keep it up?"
"That's what SHE said," Tails muttered as she climbed into the cockpit of Jet Green.
"I did it before," Roxy said, "and I'll so it again!" After a few more swings, they pushed hard, and staggered backwards, their weapons vanishing.
"Then show me what you learned besides being a snart-nosed brat!" he shouted. They ran at one another and began exchanging blows. Every punch one would throw, the other would counter. She spun tried to kick him. He caught her foot. She pushed off and flipped backwards with the grace of a gymnast. She came back at him with a roundkick, which he ducked. He went to backhand her, and she ducked it. Swinging back, their arms locked.
"Dammit, Grend, snap out of it!" she yelled.
"Snap out of what?" he said, still locked with her in a test of strength. "I've never felt better! Especially now that you realized you'll always be…"
"Because I care about you, you dumb son of a blit!" she yelled in his face.
"No you don't!" he said, starting to struggle against her. She looked in his eyes and thought she saw something. "All you…care about….is yourself. All you….love is…" She stopped pushing against him, and instead relaxed. He fell into her, and she kissed him. At first it was awkward as they pressed into on another, then he relaxed, and out of nowhere, it became fierce and passionate. Their hands fell to each other's sides as they began wildly roaming. JC hear a popping noise in his ear, and he suddenly felt better than he ever felt in his life. It wasn't until moments later he realized it wasn't a dream…he was kissing Roxy. As the kiss broke, he looked into her eyes.
"You have no idea how much I love you," he said, half dazed.
"Yes," she replied with a smile. "Yes I do." Suddenly, a blaster shot hit JC in the side, and he slumped. Roxy held him. "No!" She turned to see Lotor coming closer. He looked at her and sneered.
"Weak!" he yelled. "You're all so weak! You may have escaped the dungeons, but you'll never escape me!" He pointed the blaster at Roxy's head and fired. In a split second, a katana appeared in JC hand, and he raised it to block the shot. He fought to his feet and brandished it.
"I won't let you hurt her!" JC shouted.
"Touching words, cadet," Lotor laughed. "But they will be your last!"
"JC, don't!" Roxy shouted. Lotor pulled out his light sword and swung, and JC's katana met it swing for swing.
"I saw what you did to her!" he shouted, swinging harder, the second katana coming out, causing Lotor to step up his game. "I know what your empire did to her! I'll make you pay, if it's the last thing I do!" They locked up.
"Touching words from a foolish cadet!" he yelled, pushing JC away. He went in for a strike, but a huge blast hit between them. "No!" Lotor shouted, as he turned and ran. JC was about to give chase, but Roxy stopped him.
"JC," she said, "we need to get to the ships." Dariana ran out of the hangar, heading for yellow. JC looked over, saw that the team was accounted for, looked at her, and nodded.
"Aroxia," he said, "there's so much I need to say…"
"Don't," she said. "Just do what you do best." She smiled at him, and he smiled back. They both ran to the ships and climbed in. Roxy turned on her com. "Dammit, Tails, what took you so long?"
"I was watching the fight, and wanted to see who'd win!" Tails replied with a cheesy grin. Roxy sighed.
"Let's get into the air," Roxy said. "That is, if it's ok with you, Cadet Grend?"
"Let's roll, team!" he replied. The jets fired, and all five took off into the air to meet the support fleet, along with the Defender, which had already begun engaging the enemy Drule fleet.
"Maahox!" Lotor screamed, entering the lab. "How could you let them escape? And now the Alliance forces are here pummeling our ships!" Maahox walked into the lab behind him.
"Patience, my lord," he replied. "Haggar and I still have a little surprise for the Alliance and the Voltron Force. Not even Voltron can withstand the strength of the robeasts we have in store!" He pulled a lever, and led by the robeast Voltron fought earlier, fifteen lion-shaped robeasts launched and followed it into battle. "Sky Marshal Wade designed and programmed them personally. With my skill in engineering this colossal chaos, and the help of Haggar's dark energy, these beasts will crush the life out of the Alliance!" They laughed as the robeasts began to engage the Alliance ships, damaging and destroying them one by one.
The three teams of the Voltron Force met with Commander and Space Marshall Hawkins at the launch area.
"Len," Jeff said, "What's the big surprise?"
"This," she replied. She opened the crate, and pulled out what looked to be a voltcom. "It's been a long time coming. Based on the design of my weapons cache, and what we've learned from Project Defender, these things will not only aid you in combat, but allow you better control over the vehicles, and give a power boost to Voltron."
"How did you come up with this?" Jeff asked.
"You can thank Tech Sergeant Stoker for that," she said. Jeff turned to look at Chip.
"You knew about this the whole time and didn't tell your commanding officer?" Jeff asked him. Chip merely looked at him and shrugged. Lenora looked at them and nodded.
"Voltron Force, launch!" Lenora said. They ran into the launch pads and sat down, allowing the platform to raise and send them to their designated vehicles. One by one the ships of the Vehicle Team powered up and launched from their individual bays, ready to engage the enemy in battle.
"Jeff, look down there!" Ginger shouted. The lion robeasts launched and began taking out more of the Alliance drone ships.
"We need to stop those robeasts!" Jeff shouted.
"We won't have enough firepower, even with the sub-units!" Krik said. "We have to form Voltron!"
"Then let's power up and see what these new upgrades can do!" Jeff shouted. "All units, form Voltron!" He pushed the lever to his left all the way forward. The vehicles flew into formation, and a red energy field enveloped them as the formation sequence began. "Form feet and legs! Form arms and torso! And I'll form the head!" Jeff's ship locks in place, and the bay doors open to reveal Voltron's face, his eyes lighting up with power. Ginger's ship flies downward and locks into place, and Voltron powers up, ready for action.
"Let's get in there and even the odds!" Jeff shouted, and Voltron flew in and punched one of them, and kicked another. "Eye Beam!" Voltron fired his eye beam at one, but it had almost no effect.
"Our lasers have no effect on them!" Cliff shouted.
"Then we'll have to use brute force!" Jeff shouted. "Form…"
"Jeff, look out!" Ginger shouted. Votron turned, and one of the lions grabbed his arm.
"It's got me!" Chip shouted. More came, and one grabbed his other arm, and two more grabbed his feet and dragged him down to the surface of Quantus.
"They got us!" Hutch shouted.
"They're pulling us down!" Marvin shouted back. Voltron crashed with a thud, and an energy surge hit the ships. Voltron arched in pain.
"It's some sort of feedback!" Chip shouted. "The energy readings are off the charts!"
"Chip!" Jeff shouted. "What kinda boost will these voltcoms give us?"
"I'm not sure, Jeff," Chip said through the pain. "It was integrated into Dr. Loring's designs. Even the Space Marshall isn't sure what will happen!"
"Time to find out," Jeff said as he connected his voltcom up to his console. "Cliff, Krik, link up! Let's see what happens!"
"Status!" Roxy shouted.
"From what I can tell," Tails replied, "There are fifteen lion robeasts, and that gigantic super robeast we fought before."
"Grend," Roxy said, "do you remember anything about this?"
"If it wasn't for the super-robeast, I'd say take out the lions individually," JC replied. "But it's there. And if we can take out its core, we may have a chance of destroying it. Then we can focus on the others."
"Ready to form Voltron," Roxy shouted. "Everyone in formation. Grend, you take lead on this one."
"You sure?" JC asked.
"That's an order," she replied.
"Activate interlocks!" JC shouted, jerking his yokes and turning them ninety degrees, engaging the interlock system. "Dynotherms connected! Infracells up! Megathrusters are go!"
"Let's go Voltron Force!" The ships sped into the distance, then switched to diamond formation as the energy field took hold.
"Form feet and legs!" JC shouted. "Form arms and torso! And I'll form the head!" Voltron arched back as the energy field exploded, his eyes glowing with power. The super robeast was closing in on Vehicle Voltron, but out of nowhere, the cadets tackled it out of the way, pulling it to the ground. Both robots rolled to their feet, and at the ready.
"Time for round two!" Roxy shouted.
"Remember," Tails replied, "he has double-plated armor!"
"Then let's apply some brute force!" JC shouted. "Tails, give us some cutting power!"
"Slice and dice, coming up!" she shouted. "Form blazing axes!" Voltron reached behing him and pulled two green throwing axes.
"Avoid the laser, and move in fast!" JC replied. Voltron ran in, dodging the robests eye cannon blasts, and launched one ax swing the gouged into its chest. The robeast grabbed it, and pulled it out. "Swing for the neck!" Voltron swung around and gouged the robeast's neck, the ax becoming lodged. The robeast backhanded Voltron, then let loose a blast from its eye cannon that sent Voltron flying backwards.
"Its power levels," Tails said, "I can only describe what I'm seeing as…."
"Darkness," Dariana replied. "Kovinx said the Great Evil was no one person, and no one entity, but the darkness within ourselves."
"That robeast contains the darkness," JC said. "We need to fight it with the light." JC connected his voltcom the his weapons console. "Tails, I need you to make the necessary calculations. I'm gonna need a positive charge to directly counter that negative energy."
"To do that," Dariana said, "you'll need to tap into the nexus. It's a force no one on Nebb understands yet."
"You do realize this could cause us to self-destruct, right?" Tails replied.
"McGovern," Roxy shouted, "make the calculations. Dariana, if Grend is doing what i think he's doing, I'm gonna need your help."
"First thing's first," JC said, "we need to take out that eye cannon."
"I got this!" Seth shouted. "Form Aquatic Bow!" Voltron rached out, and a wave of water swirled around and turned to ice, forming the bow. Instantly he fired three shots, two of which pierced the neck, and one through the eye cannon.
"We can't get close, so this is our only shot!" JC shouted. "Form Blazing Sword!" Voltron reached to his hip and pulled the beam of energy that became the sword. He stanned it into the ground.
"Form Blazing Chargers!" Dariana shouted, as the spiked handles formed in Voltron's hands.
"Energy pulse set to detonate in ten seconds!" Tails shouted. Voltron granned the sword, and leaning back, threw it with all his might at the beast, the charger attached to it. It pierced the armor and chest of the robeast, and clean through. "Five...four...SNART!" Tails hit the button, and a blast of energy flowed through the charger and jolted the robeast, causing it to spasm. At once, Voltron yanked hard, and the sword returned. JC tightened his grip on the controls and pulled hard. Voltron leaped into the air and came down hard. The robeast raised it's spike arm to defend, but the Blazing Sword cut right through it, and through the robeast itself, cutting it in half. Voltron turned, and it exploded violently.
"Let 'em have it!" Jeff shouted. A burst of energy electrofied the hull, and the lions holding Voltron released their grip. Jeff steadied the controls and brought Voltron to his feet. "Now where were we?" He narrowed his eyes. "Form Spinning Laser Blades!" Voltron reached to his shoulders and grabbed the spinning laser blades. He threw them with force, and while they damaged a few of the lions, it did not destroy them.
"Crush them!" Lotor shouted from the hangar. "Show them your true power!" Suddenly, the lion robeasts backed off the fleet.
"They're backing off?" Jeff asked. "What gives?"
"I'm not liking the looks of this!" Krik said.
"Chip," Zandee said, "remember the talk we had about Wade the other day?"
"What about it?" Chip asked.
"I asked you what would happen if he had created an entire set of lions," Zandee said. Tangor's mouth dropped as they watched three teams of five lions suddenly move into formation. Two lions from each group forming the legs, two forming the arms, and one forming the torso and body. When they came together, a dark and sinister energy emitted from them. JC and the others landed next to Vehicle Voltron. They looked on as the three newly combined robots started them down.
"Hey Jeff!" JC shouted. "Two against three. Think the odds are a little uneven?"
"Cadet Grend," Jeff replied. "You in charge again?"
"Shut up and do what you're told!" Roxy blasted.
"She sure told you!" Cliff said to Jeff, laughing.
"Let's even the odds!" Jeff shouted. "Form Blazing Sword!" Vehicle Voltron combined the spinning laser blaces above his head, pulling downward, and forming the sword. "Alright team, we've dealt with these odds before. We'll do it again!" Both Voltrons charged in. Vehicle voltron swung at one, then backwards to block the other. JC took their Voltron against the third one, locking swords.
"Tails, Seth, see any weak points?" JC asked.
"It seems like a carbon copy of Lion Voltron!" Tails replied. "Except for the dark energy!"
"It's the nexus," Dariana said. "The poor souls crying out! That's what Haggar was doing! The souls are trapped in the nexus crystals!" She felt her head spinning, and she found herself not in the head of Kovinx, but in the mind of someone close to her.
"Keep the robeast firing all its weapons at one target!" Haggar shouted. "The joint of the right leg! That is the Blue Lion controlled by the princess! That's Voltron's weakest point! Where most of his fusion energy power is stored!"
"How do you know?" Lotor asked.
"Believe me, Prince Lotor," Haggar replied, "I have ways of learning all the secrets of the universe...dark mysterious ways which can aid you when you are king!"
Dariana snapped out of her trance, more determined than ever.
"JC!" she shouted. "Aim all weapon systems at the joint of the right leg!"
"Eye Beam!" JC shouted. The eye beam focused on the right leg, and the robeast backed off, seemingly weakened.
"It's working!" Seth shouted. Voltron tried to take a swing at it, but the robeast favored the leg, and would not let them get close, or get another shot.
"I think it's on to us, guys," Roxy said.
"Jeff!" JC shouted. "Keep the robeasts on their toes! Focus fire on the joint of the right leg!"
"Haggar helped create these abominations," Dariana said. "But in trying to fashion an imitaion for Voltron, she inadvertantly gave them a weakness!"
"We can finish this, but we need more help!" JC shouted.
"Did someone say help?" Daniel shouted, opening fire on the robeast.
"It's the lions!" Roxy shouted.
"You sure you're ok with this, Danny boy?" lance asked.
"I got this, Lance," he replied. "Like i told Keith, I won't make the same mistake twice."
"Then by all means, crankypants protoge," Lance said with extra snark. Daniel shrugged it off.
"Activate interlocks!" he shouted. "Dynotherms connected! Infracells up! Megathrusters are go!"
"Let's go Voltron Force!" They all shouted. The lions flew in formation, and as the energy field formed, they began to transform and connect.
"Form feet and legs!" Daniel shouted. "Form arms and body!" Daniel pulled a large overhead handle. "And I'll form the head!" Voltron's lions roared fiercely as the energy built up within him. He then landed next to Vehicle Voltron with a thud.
"Form Blazing Sword!" Daniel shouted. Voltron clanked its fists together, and pulled apart, forming the Blazing Sword. The three Voltrons fought hand to hand fiercely with the imitations.
"Keep focus!" JC shouted. "If there's an opening, take it! We can't let them win!" Daniel connected his voltcom to the console. He blocked a sword swing, but extended claws from Green and swiped at the robot's right leg joint. Vince felt the power swell within him, and the robot became weaker.
"It's time to show them what a real monster I can be!" Lotor shouted. "I waited a long time to crush Voltron myself! And that is what I'll do!" Lotor climbed aboard a small ship and took off. The three robot back up. "Gladiators of Doom! Combine your might!" The three robots flew into the air, and they each split at the torso. "Form feet and legs!" The legs of two of them joined together, the third set of legs forming thighs. "Form arms and body!" The torsos stacked one on top of the other, combining their arms as well as their power. "And I'll form the head!" Lotor's ship landed atop the robot's head, forming a helmet of sorts...a place to command his ultimate revenge.
"That thing is huge," Roxy said.
"That's what SHE said," Tails replied.
"That IS what she said," JC retorted.
"Question is, what do we do about it?" Seth asked.
"It's your move, JC," Dariana said quietly. "Do we live in the darkness, or pave the way for the light?"
"I haven't let my team down yet, Dar," JC said. "Jeff, keep focusing on the right leg. Daniel, Take your team to the rear and see if you can get him off balance. I'm gonna see if we can take out the head." Voltron brandished his sword, and it sparkled with the reflection of the distant sun.
"JC!" Tails shouted. "Lotor just fired on the flagship!"
"Truvall, you got this?" He shouted as Voltron took off.
"Oh you know it!" Roxy shouted, hitting the console. "Draw Magma Pistols!" The guns formed in Voltron's hands, and with deadly aim and precision, hit the missles and exploded them far from its target.
"Gonna have to do better than that, Lotor, if you want to stop the galaxy Alliance!" JC shouted.
"Form Blazing Axes!" Tails shouted as the axes formed. Voltron threw them, and unlike most times, Tails' aim was accurate. Both pierced the head, and nearly took out Lotor. But he wasn't about to give up. He ripped the axes out and thres one back at Voltron, which nearly severed Green from the rest of him. The other he threw at Vahicle Voltron, which had stabbed his right leg joint with the Solar Combat spear. The ax lodged in Voltron's shoulder.
"Pooky Bear!" Tails shouted.
"Fall back!" JC shouted to the others. "It's time to finish this!" JC opened the com. "Cadet Grend to the flagship."
"Commander Hawkins aboard the Defender," Hawkins replied. "What do you need, Grend?"
"Just some cover fire, sir," JC replied. The Defender opened fire on the gigantic beast.
"I'll crush them just like I did before!" Lotor shouted. "Form Blazing Scimetar!" Sure enough, he formed a Scimetar that oozed with the same dark energy. He swung it at the Lion and Vehicle Voltron in a near miss. "Stand still so I can chop you down to size!"
"Get into position, teams!" JC shouted. They hovered above, Lion Voltron in front, back a ways, and Vehicle Voltron on the ground behind the beast, off to the side. "And...NOW!" As Lotor Went to swing at the Defender, the three Voltrons streaked at the beast. Vehicle Voltron leaped up, cutting upwards through the right leg and out the side. Lion Voltron flew in, stabbing the beast, and cutting up through the shoulder. JC and his team came down the other side, slicing from the other shouder through the side. The three Voltrons landed together, as the gigantic beast fell apart, exploding in a heap. The small shuttle took off, smoke billowing from the back end. The three Voltrons held their swords up in victory.
"We did it!" Roxy shouted.
"Is everyone alright?" Tails asked nervously.
"I'm alright, Snuggle Muffin," Chip replied. She beamed.
"Snuggle Muffin?" Jeff said, trying to hold in his laughter.
"They're never gonna let him live it down," Seth asked with a grin on his face.
Space Marshall Hawkins stood at the podium overlooking the crowds of people that were there to attend this special commencement ceremony. She cleared her throat, and the crowd became quiet.
"As you know, over the past few months, the Alliance has experienced change," she said. "Some good, and some not so great. But one thing that has changed for the better is the fact that we have become an even bigger alliance. A stronger alliance. Not by the ability to destroy our enemies, but by our loyalties...our friendships...our hearts. It's that feeling that brings light to every dark corner of the universe, and brings us all the everlasting peace we all yearn for." She took a deep breath. "It is with great honor that I present to you the following class of Academy cadets who have not only earned their ranks, but have shown great courage in the face of pure evil." She looked off stage to her right. "Tech Sergeant Dariana Kovinx." The people clapped as the shy little Drule cadet came out on the stange and walked up to Lenora. She handed her a diploma, and shook her hand, As she did, her cadet outfit morphed into a full black and yellow suit, complete with the rank insignia on her chest. She saluted the Space Marshall, who in turn slauted back. Dariana walked off to her left and stood behind her.
"Systems Analyst, Sergeant Seth Derringer," she said. The crowd clapped as Seth came out waving to the crowd. He walked up to Lenora, and she handed him his diploma. She shook his hand, and his cadet uniform changed to blue and black, his new rank in view. He walked over to dariana and stood next to her. She smiled and looked up at him.
"Tech Sergeant, Sheri McGovern," Lenora said. Tails bounced onto the stage, skipping across it to the Space Marshall. She beamed, and Lenora smirked as she handed Tails her diploma. She shook her hand, and her uniform turned green and black, her rank insignia emblazoned on the front. Tails winked and skipped over to Seth and Dariana.
"Lieutenant Jonathan Carter Grend," Lenora announced. JC walked slowly out onto the stage. He walked up to her and looked her in the eye. The chocolate-brown eyes stared back and him as she handed him the diploma. As she grabbed his hand, she whispered to him. "You have the same fire in your eye as Aki, and the same heart as Kogane. I know you'll do great things, Lieutennant." As she shook his hand, his armor changed to two shades of black. He smiled, then walked over to the rest of the team.
"And now," Lenora said, "it is with great honor and esteemed privelage to introduce to you, Force Leader, Lieutennant Aroxia Truvall." Roxy came out on stage, looking as proud as she could ever be. She walked up to Lenora, and saluted her. Lenore returned the salute, and handed her the diploma. Seh grabbed her hand, and Roxy's uniform changed to red and black, her new insignia as Force leader appeared on the front. She looked down, and though she tried to smile, something inside her didn't feel right. "Comgradulations, cadet. You earned this." Roxy walked over to JC and the others and smiled a fake smile. The crowd clapped, celebrating the biggest victory of this Voltron Force...overcoming the odds and graduating from the Academy.
JC walked out the front of the Academy doors. Roxy had left a message to meet her in the park near the courtyard. It was late at night, and the moon was full. Perplexed, he continued walking until he saw her. As she turned, his breath was taken away. He always felt it...every time she looked at him. But now he was so much more aware of it...so much that his eyes instantly gave it away. He walked towards her, almost breaking out into a run. As he got close, she held out her hand and stopped him though.
"Stop," she said softly, which was unusual for Roxy. "Grend...JC...there's something I have to say."
"You don't have to say a word," he replied smiling. "I'm not afraid anymore. I love you Aroxia Truvall. I've loved you from the moment I laid eyes on you. I'm not afraid to say it, and I'm not afraid to show it. You brought me back from the brink. I'm just this lonely boy from Kansas. But you make me feel like so much more! I want you, Roxy...all of you." She began to cry.
"You don't understand, JC," she replied. "You don't understand at all."
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"I'm leaving," she replied. He looked at her, silent for a moment, not comprehending exactly what she was saying.
"What?" he asked. "What do you mean, you're leaving?"
"I'm going back to Arus," she replied. "I need to go home."
"Then I'll go with you," he replied.
"No!" she said louder, crying more now. "You have to stay here and lead this team!"
"You're the Force Leader, Roxy!" he shouted. "You need to be here! We need you! I need you!"
"That's just it, JC," she said, sobbing. She wiped the tears, and JC could still see the bruise left from when Lotor struck her in the face. "You can't need me. I won't let you."
"Why?" he asked. She took Red's key from her voltcom and placed it in JC's hand and closed it. Tears continued to flow down her cheeks as she struggled to look him in the eyes like the good little soldier she made herself out to be. He continued to stare back, determined to know the truth.
"Please, Roxy," he asked, "why?" She turned and walked away. But before she got much further, she turned to him and looked at his face one last time.
"Because," she replied, "I can't be loved." She ran away. JC stood there as it started to rain...just like the day she rescued him from himself.