Technology had simplified things substantially since the early days of space travel, but some traditions had to be observed, especially when VIPs insisted on flying their own ships, Keith mused cynically as he watched the frantic last-minute launch preparations.
Technicians scurried across the shuttle-docking bay, running crucial last minute checks on the shuttle's propulsion and guidance system. On the bridge, the Explorer command crew calculated and re-calculated the final course trajectory.
Keith helped Allura into her seat and fastened her seatbelt for her before taking his own seat and running through his own pre-launch preparations.
Coran had assigned him the prototype of the latest generation of Arussian fighters as his personal ship. It was an amazing piece of machinery. It looked peaceful, but its sleekness was deceptive. It had more speed and more power than any ship he had ever flown — except of course, for the Lions.
He watched the readouts flash across monitor screens with a critical eye. He opened a communications link to the bridge, "Calculations for orbital fluctuations received and acknowledged."
Robert Newley's voice came through the comm-link. "Altaire, this is the bridge. Please confirm launch status."
"Bridge, this is Altaire. All systems are go."
"Alright then Altaire. It's been a pleasure flying with you. Your escort is on its way already. They'll meet up with you as soon as you launch."
"Thanks, Bridge. We'll see you in a while." Keith thumbed his yoke and eased the Altaire out of the docking bay into the familiar blackness of space.
A formation of fourteen ships met them as soon as they left the docking bay. One ship proceeded to dock with the Explorer, but the other ships spun around and surrounded them.
A heavily accented voice rang out through the ship's communication system. "Vehicle Team Escort reporting as ordered, Your Highness!"
Keith shook his head in response and triggered the group channel on his console. Fourteen young faces appeared on small insets on his monitor. "It's still just Keith, Cliff. Allura's the only one who answers to Your Highness."
Allura laughed lightly. "Keith hasn't gotten used to the court formality yet," she explained, shooting her husband a teasing glance. "But if you need to call his attention, he also responds to slave-driver too."
The sound of laughter and a few sympathetic groans filled the comm-channel. The Vehicle Team remembered only too well the hell Keith had put them through during the days at the Academy and at Voltron Training Camp organized for the members of both Forces.
Keith glanced at his flashing readouts on his monitor. "We'll be entering Terran atmosphere in about 5 seconds, guys, so we're going to lose communications for a few minutes. Allura and I are going to sign off until then."
He switched off the comm-channel. "This fighter isn't as heavily shielded as our lions. We'll have to shunt power to the shield systems."
Allura nodded and began to tap out commands on her control panel. "Okay. I'm diverting power from the weapons system to the shield systems. Shield strength is at 150%. Is that enough?"
Keith looked up from the reports he was studying. "According to Pidge's calculations it should be. But try to increase the percentage to at least 175 just to make sure."
"Okay." Allura's hands danced over her controls once again, even as her thoughts roamed freely. "By the way, I always meant to ask you this. Where are we staying?"
"In the condominium I inherited from my grandparents," Keith replied, making some adjustments of his own to the re-entry trajectory. "The security measures there are first class."
Catching the distressed look Allura shot him, he continued smoothly, "But more importantly. I it's got a great view of the city and we can do some sightseeing while we're there."
"You almost had me there," Allura chuckled wryly. "But you can't blame me. Choosing a place because of its security is something you would do." She flipped a few switches and glanced down at her control panel again. "Keith — Shield power at 185%."
After entering Terra's atmosphere, they separated from their escorts just before reaching Garrison City. City regulations prohibited military vehicles from flying over heavily populated areas.
The Vehicle Team banked their ships and streaked off towards their temporary base at the Galactic Academy, while the Altaire continued towards the tall building where Keith's condominium was.
"Plaza, this is Altaire. Authorization code is Kappa Alpha Beta 8061973. We're going to be landing."
"Acknowledged, Altaire. Please provide us with your secondary access codes."
Keith tapped out a set of commands on the handheld computer he held, explaining to Allura, "You have to compute the secondary access codes every time you land based on a special algorithm." He opened the communication channel again. "Plaza, secondary access code is Gamma Sigma Epsilon 7258105. You can commence with the retina scan now too."
"Acknowledged, Captain Blackwell. Welcome back to Earth."
"Thank you, Plaza, it's good to be back." Keith replied as he gently set the Altaire down on the roof deck-landing pad. He taxied the ship over to a huge elevator and waited as the elevator brought them to an indoor hanger.
The condominium that Keith mentioned so casually was actually a huge suite in a plush residential complex famous for the privacy, exclusivity and luxury it offered its occupants. Allura had been amazed to find out that Keith's neighbors included several high ranking diplomats and the anchorman of Coran's favorite news show,
He whirled her in, and by the time she had freshened up, he was waiting impatiently so that they could go out again. "Come on, Princess. Today may be the only day that we have for ourselves, so let's make the most of it."
He ushered her into the private elevator that took them to the opulent lobby with its sparkling crystal chandeliers and Persian carpets and whisked her out again into the busy street where they were greeted by the almost violent noise of traffic.
Allura was dazzled. She tried to look everywhere at once. Her head spun as she took in the glittering offerings displayed in shop after shop, and the towering buildings that speared up everywhere and turned the streets into canyons.
"There are so many people!" Allura commented breathlessly, watching the people rush away on their own business, taking great pains not to meet each other's eyes. She watched a woman dash by, with her legs flashing under a short shimmering silk skirt that barely met her thighs.
She tried not to stare as a man in baggy clothing sauntered by. She marveled at the look of supreme confidence on his face. It was quite a feat for someone whose clothes were at least five sizes too big and whose hair was dyed in seven different colors.
Allura glanced at Keith with wide eyes.
"Terrans believe in self-expression," he explained with a small chuckle as he inclined his head almost imperceptibly to the right. "Besides, if you thought that was strange, take a look at that woman."
Allura couldn't help it. She gawked. It seemed like every square inch of the woman's body was covered with tattoos, a fact that was revealed in great detail by her skimpy attire.
"Don't forget to notice that she's wearing five earrings in each ear, a nose ring, a belly button ring, and a tongue stud." Keith said in a low undertone. "And I'm willing to bet that she has more piercings in places we can't see."
"Where?" Allura asked innocently before her eyes grew even wider. "Really?"
Keith grinned at her, charmed by her honest reactions.
"And Nanny thinks that most of my clothes are indecent enough already... I wonder what she'd think if I came back from our vacation wearing something like that. I have a few extra earrings in my closet and—"
"Don't you dare!" Keith laughed, horrified at the thought. "If Nanny sees you with a few extra holes in your ear, she's probably going to make sure that I have a few extra holes in my head."
Allura's eyes sparkled in reply and she began to move forward. There was so much to see and so little time to see it in. She began to weave in and out of the crowds of people, stopping every so often to take in the sights.
Keith impulsively reached out and captured Allura's hand with his own before she could go too far. Allura turned to him, surprise written in her eyes, as her gaze flickered to their joined hands.
"Just making sure you don't go too far, Princess" Keith teased gently, to cover his own surprise at his impulsive action. "We're not on Arus now. If we get separated, you may never find your way home."
Allura shook her head and smiled, but did not pull her hand away. "I doubt it, Keith, I may not have anything else, but I have a communicator with me," she retorted drolly, "and I'm pretty sure that you have one too."
His grin was the only answer she needed and it set the tone of the day. Laughing and teasing, they walked around for hours, indulging in the simple luxury of being anonymous in a crowd. It was something that neither of them had felt in a very long time.
By tacit agreement, they chose not to wear the masks that they usually wore and donned a new set, that of Keith and Allura — a pair of newlyweds, on their honeymoon in Garrison City. It was a very promising beginning.