KathDMD - Yeah, Kelly was giving her own sound advice last chapter. But considering what they just faced, who could blame her? Justine is probably along for the ride for longer than you think, and Cliff should be overjoyed at that. The actual force though...this argument has a purpose. Dariana is set on the Alliance going head to head with Kanji, while the others still believe that "Kanji" may not exist, and that their next target is Kala. It won't severely damage the team, but there is a reason for it. And the news of Keith's lineage...it's still murky. I'm pausing a bit longer on an open discussion until I hear more of Marina's backstory from selena devargo.
Author's Note - It was a long time coming, and difficult to get writing done, but here it is. Enjoy!
Without my muse, I am nothing.
Theme Music : "Sick Like Me" by In This Moment
Disclaimer - Voltron and all associated characters are the property of WEP. Space Marshall Lenora Hawkins and associated characters are the property of KathDMD. Admiral Lysette Fabrere and associated characters are the property of selena devargo.
Episode 94 : "Rebirth"
Debris flew past them as the explosion rang through the room. Dhaz and his ally shielded their faces with their arms as the explosion died down. As they uncovered, and the smoke cleared, they saw a form laying in the rubble, holding their right arm up with their left, which held a high-powered shotgun in it.
"I can't believe it," the Drule said.
"Sky Marshall?" Dhaz asked. "Are you alright?"
"No thanks to you," he replied, "and the blasted Voltron Force!" He tired to carefully get to his feet. Dhaz noticed his arm was limp."
"Sky Marshall," he said, "your arm…."
"Nevermind that now," he replied with a sneer. "We need to get the generator going again."
"What for?" Dhaz asked.
"Do I really need to hear a subordinate question my authority?" he replied, staring down Dhaz. Dhaz gulped.
"No….no, Sir," he replied.
"The generator is still operational," he replied. "That means two things. First, it means we can continue to shield the wreckage from the nearby Alliance forces both here on the moon and on Earth"
"And the other?" the other Drule asked.
"To power the multi-phase inverter," Wade replied. "I didn't spend nearly a decade in the Academy without learning how to build things. If the Xyan technology works as it should, this wreckage will serve as more than a scrap heap to us." The two helped Wade up, and he limped to the controls, keying in codes. Within moments, an oval purple ball of light appeared. "After you, gentlemen." And I use the term loosely. Dhaz shrugged, then pushed the other Drule into it, and he vanished. Dhaz put his hand in carefully, then something inside pulled him in, and he too vanished. Wade limped to the light and slowly walked though it, finally vanishing himself.
Len shuffled through paperwork on her holodesk, and looked at some of it. Then the door opened, and Commander Stormclaw stepped in.
"You wanted to see me, Space marshall?" he asked.
"Yes, Mike," she replied. "Have a seat." He sat down in the holo-seat in front of the desk.
"Has Maria returned with the twins yet?" he asked.
"No, not yet," she replied. "I got to talk to them and Maria last night. They should be returning in a few days, now that the danger is over. I miss them like you wouldn't believe."
"I understand," Mike said.
"Mike," she said, "I still want you to serve on the new Council as a representative. You will not be representing Earth, but the body of the Galaxy Garrison."
"But what about yourself and the Vice Marshall?" he asked.
"We'll still be there," she assured him. "But the actual council representative will be yourself. I had considered Admiral Fabrere for the position, but your years of experience would be better suited for this task. The Admiral will instead assist you with leadership over Project Defender. As Chief of Security at Galaxy Garrison, it seems only natural to have the Defender of the Universe under her direction."
"Understood, Space Marshall," he replied.
"The other planets are going to be more complicated," she said. "With just about everyone on the old council throwing in the towel, the other planets in the alliance are having a time trying to come up with an official to more accurately represent them in this New Council. Our first concern is Hydra. We have refugees spilling into the surrounding worlds, most trying to settle on Mira. But with the population swelling there, it's imperative that we find a better long term solution to this."
"I assume that's why you were planning on sending the Defender back out to Yolon as soon as repairs are made to Voltron," he replied. "If Delta Five can be settled and colonized, we may very well be better prepared to defend that area of the universe."
"Indeed," she said. "In the meantime, I want you to get in contact with those planets in the Near Universe and…." An alarm on the UltraWave sounded. She hit a button on the holo-console. "What's going on?"
"Space Marshall," a man in GA military garb shouted over the UltraWave, "the Supremacy has launched an attack against a civilian settlement! There isn't much of a defense force here, and we need help!"
"Where is the signal coming from?" Len asked. "Colonel, where is the attack?"
"Dradin," he replied. Her eyes widened as she placed a hand over her mouth. Mike ran from the room, sprinting for the elevator.
"Admiral Fabrere," he shouted. "Contact the Voltron Force! Mobilize immediately! I want the Bogart airborne and on its way to Dradin as well." The elevator doors closed behind him.
Seth walked up to the door to the bedroom and knocked on the doorframe, peering into the open doorway at Dariana who was staring out the balcony window.
"You understand, don't you?" she asked, still staring out the window.
"I understand that you know what you're talking about," he replied. "I've never once doubted anything you've told me. If you believe Lord Kanji is out there, and that he's the greater threat, then I believe you."
"I wish the others could see that," she said.
"They will, in time," he said. "You have to remember that we're a part of something bigger. Unfortunately, that means we have to follow orders….not blindly, but still follow them. Honestly, until we see or hear from this guy, we have no way to go after him. I think if we continue our current path, we might stumble on the proof we need to find and go after this Kanji guy once and for all."
"I know," Dariana replied. "You're right. And I don't want to fight with the team over this." She turned towards him. "You're all my family. I need to protect you."
"We need to protect each other," he said. She ran to him and wrapped her arms around him.
"I can always could on you to say the right things," she said. He held her back tightly, comforting her. A moment later, his voltcom began to flash. They let go, and he hit a button on it.
"Derringer here," he said.
"Sergeant," Lysette said over the com, "I need you and the team to the Control Room immediately. We have an emergency, and need to launch!"
"We're on our way, Admiral," he replied. "Derringer out." The com went dead. "I don't know what's going on, but we better move." Dariana grabbed her voltcom, and Tick scurried over and leaped for her forearm, connecting himself to it. They ran from the room to the living area.
"What's wrong?" JC asked, standing up."
"Admiral Fabrere needs us to the Control Room, now," he replied. The team grabbed their stuff and ran from the apartment.
Kala stared intently at the viewscreen as she watched dozens of robot fighters buzz the area, firing on buildings and blowing up vehicles. Several hotels were in flames, and the command ship loomed ominously overhead.
"Commander," one of the officers said, "the selected targets have been hit. Most of the people have fled to the underground areas of the city. What are your orders?" She turned to him with a smile.
"We flush out the rats," she replied. "We received intelligence that the children of the Space Marshall are on this planet. I want them and their caretaker found and captured."
"Alive?" he asked.
"Yes," she replied. "It'll be the one thing to lure the Space Marshall from Earth. Then I will have the revenge Marshall Wade so desperately sought."
"Yes, Commander," he said with a salute.
"Also," she said, "you need to track down a smuggler by the name of Manset. He has been running a resort here in Lower Dradin City. Find him and eliminate him. His payments are overdue."
"At once, Commander," he said, and left the bridge.
"He will return," she said softly. "I can feel it…the bond is still there. The madness will continue."
The team ran into the Control Room. They lined up in front of Admiral Fabrere and saljuted.
"No time for formalities," she snapped. "I need you to hustle! Dradin is under attack by a small Drule fleet."
"Isn't the Lion Force closer to Dradin?" Tails asked.
"Yes," Lysette replied, "but they cannot respond at this time. Plus we have more at stake on the planet than you realize. I need you to head there and fight off the Drule forces. Once that is done, await further orders."
"Yes, Admiral," JC replied with a salute. The five ran for the chutes and dove in. They landed in the cockpits. "Insert keys!" They placed the keys into their voltcoms, and they lit up with power. The engines roared, and the jets took off from the hangar, streaking up into the sky, forming streams of smoke to match the ship colors as they shot off into space.