KathDMD - It seems the muse is only half back. Bit I digress. Everything is coming to a head. Get ready for Wade to make his move, but by the end of the season...Kanji is the one to watch...

animebookchic - It's never good news when Wade enacts a strategy.

Author's Note - Time to creep up on the season finale! Enjoy!

Without my muse, I am nothing.

Theme Music : "Invincible" by Kelly Clarkson

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 102 : "Deadly Force – Part VII"

Roxy and Tails raced from their own rooms and burst in the door in time to see Dariana flail over the side of the bed and land on the floor. They ran to her, and her screaming calmed down as she began to regain consciousness.

"Dari!" Roxy shouted. "What's wrong?" Dariana pulled the comforter from her head, Tails franically helping he get untwisted.

"I had another dream," she replied.

"We kinda figured that one out," Tails said.

"Young Kovinx was standing with her papa, looking at a large tower," Dariana continued. "It looked like a monument…but he said it was an 'Old One', standing dormant after being defeated by Voltron. It stood alone as a structure, no arms or legs, divided in sections. Though it stood there perfectly silent, with no indication it was ever alive, I could feel a dark energy emanating from it." She looked over at Roxy. "He said the Old Ones were gone, and their remains dormant. Kovinx seems to think otherwise."

"Why do you think that?" Roxy asked.

"Because they talked about her mother," Dariana continued.

"Haggar?" Roxy asked. Dariana nodded.

"Kovinx made a comment that she felt life energy," Dariana continued. "Her papa said that the only part of Haggar alive was the part of her soul that lived within Voltron. That everything else was dead. We all know that wasn't true."

"The remaining part of her soul became a twisted, wretched menace," Roxy continued. "Nothing but a wandering soul filled with anger, hatred, and revenge. The half of her that couldn't exist with Voltron."

"The half of her that was rejected by Voltron," Dariana quickly replied. "Kovinx feels there is a constant balance in the universe, and I'm thinking it's possible that Haggar, like the Old Ones, was the antithesis of Voltron….as if their energies were of pure haggarium themselves."

"But what does all this mean in the grand scheme of things?" Tails asked, confused. "Even if our battle is with this Lord Kanji guy, what does this dream have to do with it?"

"I'm guessing we'll find out soon enough," Roxy replied with a clenched fist. "Come on, let's get Grend and Derringer and go find the Lieutenant Commander." Dariana and Tails nodded, and she and Tails left as Dariana began to change into her uniform.

Ryan walked into the office, giving the man behind the desk a quick salute.

"Ryan," Commander Steele said as he turned his chair around to face him, "I've just received some disturbing intel."

"What is it?" Ryan asked, relaxing slightly from his attentive posture.

"After the attempted assassination of the Space Marshall's nanny and her children," he continued, "the Alliance Military has been on a hunt for Commander Kala and her squadron of rogue Drule sympathizers. In the process, we've discovered that the Drules were after more than just the children."

"What was it?" Ryan asked.

"A large quantity of Lazon," Steele replied. "A huge shipment that was being transported right under everyone's noses without being detected."

"How?" Ryan asked.

"Manset," he replied angrily. "He claims the supply was used to power machinery in Dradin's industrial district, the byproducts being used to create…" He scoffed. "…bingo chips."

"How much are we talking about?" Ryan asked.

"Enough to blow up half the damn planet I'd wager," Steele replied. "I want you and your squadron to return to Dradin and make sure that shipment is being used properly….and that it doesn't fall into Drule hands."

"We'll leave at once, Sir," Ryan replied with a salute. "Cadet Bellings should be ready to go as well."

"Glad to hear he's doing better," Steele commented. "Dismissed." Ryan turned and left the office.

The team walked into the Control Room and saw Chip making some adjustments on a control panel.

"POOKY BEAR!" Tails screamed as she ran and gave him a big hug. He gulped as his glasses nearly fell off his face in the embrace.

"it's….great…to see you too," he eeked out before she finally released him, a cheesy grin beaming on her face.

"Lieutenant Commander," Roxy began to say.

"Call me Chip," he replied. "I've never been one for formalities."

"Chip," Roxy asked, "we've been trying to piece together where the Drules are going to strike next, and we were thinking, isn't it a bit odd that a whole fleet came at Dradin the way it did?"

"You're not the only one to think that," Chip replied.

"I take it you know a bit more about it?" JC asked.

"Through the grapevine," Chip replied. "Plus I….kinda keep tabs on security. I try to keep the Admiral and her crew on their toes."

"Well, what's going on?" JC asked.

"Turns out Dradin is housing a large shipment of lazon," he replied. "Shipped it there right under the Alliance's noses thanks to…"

"Manset," Roxy finished. "I figured as much. Dariana and I had a hunch there was more going on with the Dradin incident than just an assassination attempt."

"If the Drules know about that shipment," Chip said, "then they will most likely strike again. There's nearly no defenses on the planet. I don't even think the major cities are policed. There would be nothing to stop them."

"Except us," Roxy said, turning to run for her chute.

"Hold on a second, Miss Truvall," Chip said.

"I thought we were dropping the formalities," Roxy snarked.

"Admiral Fabrere is already on her way there to discuss the matter with Manset personally," he replied. "You're all needed here."

"I'm sure you and the Commander can hold down things here,' Roxy said.

"That's just it," Chip replied. "The Commander is going to Mira to work on finding their representative for the High Council. And I have to make a trip to Balto."

"Why?" Tails asked, giving him the puppy dog eyes.

"Sherri," he said softly, "I got a notice form Arus. My brother….he died in a shuttlecraft explosion." She gasped, and the others were shocked. "I have to take care of things back home. You'll need to report to the Vice Marshall. I wish I could help you guys out….but I can't. Tangor and Zandee will be here to work on any last minute fixes on the ships." He looked Tails in the eye. "I'll be back soon, alright?" She nodded in agreement. He gently kissed her, then left the Control Room.

"Now what?" Seth asked. "We finally get a lead, and we can't do anything about it."

"Who says?" Roxy said, looking at JC with a smirk.

"You know if we get caught," JC said, "I'm telling the Space Marshall you forced the rest of us at blaster point." She furrowed her brow.

"Deal," she agreed. The five raced to the chutes, sliding down them into the cockpits. They locked into place in their ships and placed their keys.

"Locked on, keys in, let's fly!" JC shouted. The jets' engines roared to life, and the five took off through the open hangar doors, shooting off into the sky and up through the atmosphere.

"Set a course for Earth," Wade said. "Once we're in range of the Solar System, engage the generator." Kala approached him.

"We're returning to that wretched place so soon?' she asked. "What about the lazon?"

"Dradin was just a diversion, Kala," he replied. She nodded in agreement. "Who do you think orchestrated the transport of lazon to Dradin?" She looked at him silently, and nodded again. "Don't worry, we will be returning to Dradin….after all, we have a wedding to attend." She took a breath, still slightly unsure of his intentions. He turned back towards the view screen. "All of this has been a part of my plan….a plan which the Voltron Force won't soon forget."

To be continued….