lovecastle89 - Indeed, as KathDMD pointed out, the Gladiator Force is a band of merry misfits. But they work together so well! Now we get to see more of the Jet Force, and finally get more information on the dreated watch. I'm hoping splitting the teams will allow me to change scenes less, as this episode has simply two stories going on...the base episode plot, and the watch arc.
KathDMD -I miss my muse. She seems to be a stranger lately. And I don't have the next episode written yet, and had weeks to do so. :( It was great to see Aidan wanting to try to have a kid with Lisa, and I am slowly working the dynamic between David and Morgan, thought I am carefully watching "In The End" to guide my next action with them. I'm glad you approve of the little bit of character building I did with Taye. I do want to have more scenes sporting not only the dynamic between Taye and kelly, but the team cohesion between taye and Lisa. It's fun to write. Now sit back and relax as Jon tries to get some answers for Len in this explosive episode!
selena devargo - I need to get you working on Deception again! I hope this charpter will give you the inspiration you need to do just that! I'm not much of an editor with nothing to edit ya know. And I need to try and kick myself into the next episode, because it's taking forever to write. You know I've been going through alot recently, and it's been tough. I'm just glad to have your support, along with kathDMD and the rest of the DWC.
Author's Note - Runnng full speed into this story arc! This week, JC and he gang get to check out that vacated underwater Drule base, and Jon tries to track down more information about Lenora's father's killer!
Theme Music : "Ghost" by HALSEY
Disclaimer - Voltron and all associated characters are the property of WEP. Space Marshall Lenora Hawkins and associated characters are the property of KathDMD. Lieutenant Lysette Fabrere and associated characters are the property of selena devargo.
Episode 70 : "Searching"
Lenora snapped out of her trance when the com sounded.
"Yes?" she answered.
"The Voltron Force is ready to mobilize on the underwater base," Mike replied. "I wanted to contact you before they launch."
"You don't need my permission, Commander," she said.
"I know," he replied, "but I felt you should give the go ahead, being back from maternity leave and all. Oh, and we received our first transmission from the Defender. Unfortunately, they are running into issues with the Drules as well."
"I figured as much," she replied. "If they find it too much, we will commission a support fleet to accompany them. But honestly, we had the Defender built for battle. They should be able to handle things."
"Of course, " Mike said. "I will let you know if there are any developments once the Voltron Force reached the underwater base. Stormclaw out." The com went silent. She let out a sigh. Moments later, Jon walked in.
"Alright," he said, "this is what I was able to find out so far. Bhed has been working for the Garrison since before the Explorer was commissioned. When I tried to find records of him prior to him being hired, we found none. Lieutenant Commander Stoker was able to identify that the central computer was briefly hacked into when a solar flare disrupted our refractors. This gave them a split second to insert false records into our database. Bhed may not have been the only spy, but he is one we know about."
"That's a start," she replied, "but what connections does he have with the man who murdered my father?"
"I'm hoping investigating Bhed's past will lead us to that," he replied. "I want to bring in Lieutenant Fabrere on this, but I know you have been in heated debate over the Council's decision whether or not to trust her, let alone promote her."
"Half of the council should be grateful they even have jobs after what Wade did to them during the occupation," she said angrily. She let out an exasperated sigh. "I don't know. I'm not crazy about the fact that Lotor is claiming immunity through his marriage to the lieutenant, or that he actually petitioned the council for political asylum from Korronith. It's boggles my mind, Jon. I keep thinking to myself of how Matthius would handle this…"
"You need to think of how Lenora Stensson would handle it," he replied. "You're not Graham, mon ange. You can't be him. You have to be you. And you have always tried to look for the good in anyone."
"I'll try to get you Fabrere," she replied. "But I don't want you overtaxing yourself on this. I can't let the Council believe I'm chasing some personal vendetta. I just….I just want to know."
"I told you," he replied, gently touching her cheek, "I'll do my best. I promise." She smiled, and he smiled back. "Now, you finish up what you need to do here and head back to the Triplex. Maria said she needed the rest of this evening off, so we need to get the twins fed, changed, and ready for bed." He went to leave, but gave her one last smile before closing the door. She then continued to work.
"Alright team, let's power up and get going," JC said as they powered on their ships and blasted out of the hangar. "Ready the ships for underwater conversion." As the jets plummeted towards the sea, the thrusters cut out and modified for underwater propulsion. With a splash, the ships headed deeper and deeper into the bay, heading for the coordinates of the base.
"What details did Kovinx give Commander Stormclaw of that place?" Seth asked.
"From what we can tell," JC replied, "the base was constructed in a hurry. But they were given full liberty to conduct their missions, so they were still able to use tough materials. He said the base should be empty, and operating on minimal power. As much as I want to trust your father, Dari, I don't trust the Supremacy to allow this base to fall into enemy hands."
"It is understandable," Dariana said. "The soldiers fighting for the Supremacy are bound by a sense of honor and glory. They make it a point to not take defeat lightly."
"Well, we don't give up either," Roxy replied. "We'll find out if there is anything down there and stop it." The ships moved closer to the base, and as they approached what looked like a docking bay, the door to it opened automatically.
"You think we're being expected?" Seth asked. The team remained silent as they moved into the dock, and shortly after powering down, the water in the bay was pumped out, allowing them to leave the ships.
"Keep your helmets on, guys," JC said. "Oxygen levels seem normal, but if we're walking into a trap, I want us prepared." They walked into one of the halls and followed the corridor to a nearby elevator.
"I am reading minimal power," Tails said. "That goes along with what Kovinx said about the current base operations." She looked around. "Lights are relatively dim too. Are the elevators working?" The doors slid open.
"Must be," Seth replied as they all stepped in. The doors closed, and the elevator rose to the top level, letting them into the main corridor for that floor.
"According to the schematics the Commander showed us," JC said, "the control room should be through that door. As they walked down the hallway, the hum of machinery in the base became quieter, and an eerie feeling befell them all.
"It seems too quiet," Roxy said.
"It could be the sound proofing," Dariana said. "To prevent non-essential personnel from overhearing vital information, important rooms and corridors were lined to muffle or eliminate sound." They entered the control room, voltcoms at the ready, but they lowered them upon seeing the room was empty.
"Roxy, Tails, check the consoles," JC said. "See if you can find out anything about the base. Any personnel, any logs, anything that might give us a clue as to the operational status of the base." Roxy and Tails sat down and began looking through records. Dariana walked around the room, inspecting panels and consoles on the wall.
"What do you make of it, Dar?" Seth asked.
"My father did have a hand in designing this place," she replied. "Without him, the power structure was difficult to maintain. It reminds me of the power levels aboard the robeast he attacked the Defender with. It's as if this station was made in much the same way." She looked down at her Voltcom, and Tick came to life, scurrying up to her shoulder. "Tick, see what you are able to figure out from the power structure." Tick gave a few complying clicking noises and a squeak, and it leaped from her shoulder, squeezing through a crack in the paneling.
"The last entry in the logs show that the base had entered this low power mode as the missiles were fired upon the garrison," Roxy said. "Kovinx took a battalion of men to storm the Garrison. After that, there is an entry from a First Officer Xen about the escape pods."
"Systems show that the pods never launched," Tails said. "From what I can tell…..snart."
"What?" JC asked. "What's wrong?" She slowly got up and turned around with her hands up. When JC and the others did as well, they raised their hands as dozens of Drule soldiers stormed into the control room, holding them all at blaster-point.
A lone fractal landed near a relatively large modern home outside of New Orleans, Louisianna. As the fractal powered down, the main doors opened, and Vice Marshall Hawkins made his way out, walking towards the house. He knocked on the door, and was greeted by a butler.
"May I help you?" the butler asked.
"I'm here to see Lieutenant Fabrere," he replied. "I was told she would be here."
"You must be Vice Marshall Hawkins," the butler replied. "Indeed, Miss Fabrere has been expecting you." He led Jon into the house and down a hallway to a study of sorts. Upon entering, he saw Lysette sorting things on one of the bookshelves.
"Lieutenant," he said. "I have an urgent matter I need to discuss with you."
"Word travels fast, Commander," she replied. "I heard you needed my help on the Bhed case."
"There's more to it than that, Miss Fabrere," he said. "Bhed is dead."
"Wish I could say I was sorry to hear," she replied nonchalantly.
"We think he may have been involved with or had a lead on another murder that happened a few decades ago," he said. She gave him a quizzical look.
"I don't understand," she replied. "I mean, I can't make a dead man talk. Well, there was that one time…"
"Miss Fabrere!" Jon interrupted. "The victim was the Space Marshall's father." Lysette's demeanor changed. She looked at him with a bit more sincerity.
"What do you need from me?" she asked.
"I need to find out more about Bhed's past," he replied. "I know you can't interrogate the man, but I know damn well your skills go far beyond the interrogation room. I know you've been studying for the case against Bhed, so your research must have turned up something. We're not sure whether we're dealing with another possible Drule spy, or something far worse."
"I think I can shed a bit more light on the subject, Vice Marshall," a voice came from the chair behind the nearby desk. It spun around, and Jon looked into the yellow eyes of someone he never expected to see.
"I knew if we sat and waited long enough, the Alliance would come to investigate this base," their captain said. "You may have captured General Kovinx, but we always have a back up plan. Now you will be our hostages….and our ticket off of this wretched planet."
"If you want off this planet," JC said, "we'd be more than happy to let you leave."
"Phht," the captain replied. "You bore me with your lies and trickery. You think I'm some kind of fool? Your fleet would shoot us down the moment we left the water! No, we will do this our way. You will come with us. This way they will not dare fire on us."
"The battle above is over," Roxy said. "General Kovinx was taken, and has been working with us to dismantle this base."
"Kovinx was an imbecile!" the captain shouted. "Haggar and Twyla, as well as the rest of the High Council treat him like a god. But he is neither a god nor a soldier! He's a failure, and went down like a failure!" Dariana felt her blood boil at the words. She felt something inside her she rarely felt….rage. "And it appears that you have failed….just like he did." Dariana swung her arms around and sent a bolt of ice that hit the captain square on. The others scattered as the Drules opened fire. Seth formed his crossbow and fired on the soldiers, and Roxy's blasters formed and fired as well.
"You take the left, I'll go right," JC said to Tails. She nodded as a pair of axes formed in her hands. JC extended his right arm out, and a katana similar to Voltron's Blazing Sword appeared. They took off running, dodging the shots fired, and began attacking the soldiers hand to hand. Tails was able to take out three or four with a few quick swings, then launched one of the axes at a fifth, downing him. JC Swung expertly, severing the tips of the blasters, then kicking the soldiers down. The captain came at him, pulling a sword of his own. They began fighting as the battle raged on. Dariana turned and launched a charger at the captain, wrapping around the sword and pulled it away from him. As the others forced the soldiers to retreat, JC hit the captain with a round kick, Dariana grabbing him by the neck and pinning him against the wall.
"Go on!" the captain spit, blood running down from his temple. "Finish me Alliance scum!" She ripped off her helmet with the other hand and looked him in the eye. Her eyes were not yellow, but pure white…and angry.
"My father is and always has been a great man!" she shouted at him. "You don't speak out of hatred though….I can smell the fear in you!"
"Dari?" Seth said. She actually snarled…but then relaxed a bit.
"But I'm not like you," she said. "The Drule people have outgrown the veil of conquest your leaders tried to pull over our eyes. We live as a peaceful nation, together in harmony with the Alliance. No war. No destruction." She looked him in the eye. "I'm going to give you one chance, and one chance only. I want you to leave. Take what few men you have left, get into your escape pods, and leave. Tell your leaders what happened here today."
"They would kill me just as they would you!" he shouted back.
"This is your only chance," she replied. "The only mercy you will receive." She slowly lowered him, and he ran from the room, the rest of the soldiers following him. JC turned to her.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
"I'm fine," she replied, breathing heavily. Her eyes were back to normal. "We need to follow through on my promise….by following our orders." JC nodded.
"Tails!" JC shouted. "Get back to those controls and see if there's a self destruct sequence."
"You got it boss!" she replied. She ran to the console and began feverishly keying things into it. Within minutes, she turned with that trademark cheesy grin of hers. "Evil base go BOOM!"
"You heard her, guys," JC shouted. "Back to the ships! Let's get out of here before this thing blows!" Dariana put her helmet back on, and they ran down the halls, then rode the elevator back to the docking bay. They climbed into their ships, powered them on, and went to leave.
"The bay doors won't open!" Tails announced. Red fired and blasted the doors open. Water rushed in and filled the bay.
"You were saying?" Roxy asked with a smirk. The ships left the base and flew away and up towards the surface.
"Any sign of the escape pods?" JC asked.
"I don't see anything on RadialTrac," Tails replied. "I can't tell." They came out of the water, turned and hovered, waiting for the explosion. But instead, something else came out of the water….something BIG.
"Snart," Tails said in shock.
"No," Dariana said softly. "This can't be…."
"Lotor Sincline," Jon said, staring the former Drule leader down. "I'm surprised."
"As you should be," Lotor replied. "It took a lot for Lysette to get me here. I'm no fan of earth, but I admit, it is growing on me."
"Are you saying you know something about this case?" Jon asked. Lotor smirked.
"I know a lot of things that happened during my father's reign," Lotor replied. "I remember an odd request from a member of the council. They wanted an artifact of great value that they had traced to Earth. It was said to contain some mystic power. I have never been one to care much about magic, but the way the council was swooning over the return of this object made it all the more intriguing. When I tried to find out more information myself, the only thing I learned was of a legend of a man that challenged the Old Ones. While he was capable of ultimate destruction, the Old Ones were able to contain his power, and locked it away within the very fabric of time itself." He stood up and walked over to the nearby window, and looked outside. "Some say it's a myth. Others believe time itself gets its power from this force. But there are some that believe the story was metaphorical." He turned to look at Jon. "Bhed was supposed to be their contact on Earth. Locate the artifact and obtain it at all costs. They tried to leave as little trace as possible, as at the time, the Empire was still scaling up in its war against the Arusians."
"What happened to the artifact?" Jon asked.
"Unknown," Lotor replied. "From hearsay, stories I was told while I was on my many conquests, the spy returned empty-handed. Apparently there was an incident, and in the commotion, he managed to grab everything but the artifact." He paused for a moment. "Normally I would dismiss this story, but hearing the last name of the young Space Marshall brought up a very important piece of evidence."
"Are you saying the artifact was in his possession?" Jon asked.
"Not certain," Lotor replied. "But one thing is for sure. The spy or spies involved learned the location. And if he did have that artifact, to them, his life was forfeit." He paused again. "I wish I knew who the spy was, or even if the Space Marshall's father was killed over the artifact. I only know that if the artifact still exists, and the Supremacy or anyone else desiring it knows where it is, then the one who holds it is in grave danger." Jon thought back to everything Lenora had told him about what happened back then….and it all came down to the one thing that held her memory of that night. He nodded to Lotor and abruptly left. Lysette turned to Lotor with an inquisitive look.
"What happened?" she asked.
"I'm not sure," he replied, "but it seems the Space Marshall may very well be in possession of an object that could potentially destroy the entire universe."
"Flack!" Roxy shouted as the base turned beast took a swing at them
"We will crush you like the insects that you are!" a voice shouted over the airwaves as the beast continued to flail violently and fire weapons at them.
"All units, ready to form Voltron," JC shouted. "Activate interlocks! Dynotherms connected! Infracells up! Megathrusters are go!"
"Let's go Voltron Force!" they shouted. The ships flew into the sky, then split into star 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, it's eyes lighting up with power.
"That thing is still ten times our size," Roxy said.
"We've beaten bigger ones," JC replied. "Let's start by disarming this thing! Form Spinning Laser Blade!" Voltron reached into the air and formed a half circle with each arm, the blade forming. Voltron wound up and flung it at the beast.
"Draw magma Pistols!" Roxy shouted, the guns forming in Voltron's hands. They took off at the beast, narrowly avoiding a heavy laser blast. As the blade whooshed around the base, slicing through cannon after cannon, Voltron took aim and fired, taking out cannons on the opposide time. They met on the other side, Voltron catching the blade. It soon vanished.
"This is our last chance!" The captain yelled. "For the glory and honor of the Supremacy! Long Live the Empire!" The beast flew away from Voltron."
"Where's it going?" Roxy asked.
"It's headed for Galaxy Garrison!" Tails shouted.
"Form Blazing Sword!" JC shouted. Voltron reached to his hip and pulled a beam of energy that formed the Blazing Sword.
"JC," Roxy said, "according to the schematics Kovinx provided, there are four energy cores. If we can hit them, we might be able to disable it."
"Then let's do this!" Seth shouted. He punched the controls, and Voltron rocketed off in the direction of the beast. Voltron heald out its sword.
"Brace for impact!" JC shouted. The sword and Voltron pierced the exterior, smashing its way through the hull. He smashed through the first core, then sliced the second as he exited the back of the beast.
"Generators two and four have failed!" one of the soldiers shouted.
"Maintain your course!" the captain said. "Maximum speed!" Voltron turned and slashed through, cutting through the remaining cores and coming out on the other side.
"It's maintaining its course and momentum!" Tails shouted.
"Form Blazing Chargers!" Dariana shouted. The spiked handles formed in Voltron's hands. Voltron launched it at the beast, wrapping around it once. Voltron pulled with all its might, and the beast veered from its course, heading up and out into space. The charger detatched, and moments later, they watched as the ship finally self destructed, the explosion seen from far below.
"I gave them a chance," she said. "I tried to show mercy."
"Sometimes people don't want to be helped," JC replied. "Sometimes they want to forge their own path….even if it's the wrong one. But if the path of evil crosses the path of good, you'll always know that one thing will be at those crossroads stopping evil in its tracks. And that's Voltron….Defender of the Universe."
"Lord Kanjii," Haggar said as she bowed in front of the supreme leader. "I have news to bring you."
"Tell me that you were able to dispose of those wretched lions on Arus," he replied.
"No," she said, "but I do have even better news."
"Speak then," he said.
"You know as well as I do about Komori Syn," she said. He leaned forward, suddenly interested.
"I have had visions of Syn for as long as I can remember," he replied. "But not since I was younger have I had these visions. Tell me what you know of Syn."
"Only that its destructive force is more powerful than a thousand supernovas," she cackled. "The Empire had come close to finding it once before, but failed to locate Komori's artifact."
"Ah yes," he replied. "Did they even know what they were looking for, or even what it really was?"
"Indeed," she said. "The stories told of the power being contained by time itself. Indeed, the containment device used was cleverly disguised as a simple watch….a timekeeper."
"Komori himself was physically torn apart in the process," Kanjii said. "His power….his 'syn'….stripped from him. It was said that the one who holds it and uses it could be powerful enough to destroy whole galaxies." He looked her dead in the eye. "Are you saying you have located Syn's artifact?"
"The artifact never left Earth," she replied. "It's last known owner was killed when one of our spies tried to retrieve it. A poor common man….his death was inconsequential and meaningless. But the watch was never found. As I said, the spy came back empty handed. But now, the spirits from beyond tell me that Komori's spirit is restless, and that his power is growing. If we can find the artifact…."
"The power of Syn will be mine," Kanjii replied with an evil grin. For the first time in eons, he was brimming with joy.
A seemingly ordinary man lay silent upon a stone altar. The rushing wind and total darkness surrounded him. The voices echoing around the universe converge.
"It is only the beginning," it said. "Chaos will continue to spread across the universe, and my power shall unleash a terror the likes of which has never been seen. The Old Ones will pay for their folly…and the mistakes of the past….will be rectified."
His eyes opened.