KathDMD - I love writing these guys, you know that! And I take alot of care with Aidan, because he truly is your own creation. I just bring him to life. By the way, I think the ragtag comment was taken from Lord Kanji himself, who's gonna be tying all four stories together! By the way, you haven't seen the last of that hoverbike. Next to kelly, it's turning out to be his most prized posession!
Author's Note - The Fab Five are back in action! Here is the conclusion to the premier that proves that the Gladiator Force is a force to be reckoned with, and Drule and Derinja should beware when Captain Dalloway makes the call to form Voltron! Rah frickin' rah! (TM)
Theme Music : "Thunderstruck" by AC/DC
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 2 : "Thunderstruck"
Aidan watched as the robeast went to stab Alpha, but at the last moment, Alpha reached up and grabbed the sword, holding it back.
"I told you, I got this!" Lisa shouted, fighting the controls to hold off the beast's advances.
"We gotta get out there," Aidan demanded. "Taye, I'm riding with you. We need to get to her NOW!" They turned to run.
"Dalloway!" Kelly shouted. The two turned to look quickly and Kelly threw something at Aidan. He caught it and looked at it. "Your voltcoms." She threw one to Taye. "You'll need it." Aidan wrapped it around his forearm, and it locked into place. It powered on, and a suit of black armor surrounded him. He looked over to see Taye in red. He nodded to Kelly, and the two took off through the bay doors to Jet Gamma.
"How much longer till we're back up?" David asked.
"How about now?" Morgan replied.
"I could kiss you!" he replied, pulling hard on the controls, forcing Beta to its feet.
"Sweet talk later," Morgan replied. "We got a robeast to stop." Beta ran at the robeast and humped on its back, grabbing it from behind and holding on for dear life.
"How about this," Lisa said, hitting a button. Alpha's eye laser fired, and the robeast reeled back, falling to the ground with Beta.
"What are you doing?" the officer said. "Strop the Black Mecha! Don't let it get away!" The remaining ships opened fire, and Lisa tried to block as much of it as she could.
"Flack!" she shouted as Alpha staggered backwards. "Rackens, they're targeting me! I don't know why! Shielding is down to thirty percent! If they come back for another round, they're gonna start breaking through the plating!"
"We're trying!" Morgan shouted as they wrestled with the robeast, trying to keep it pinned. "This robeast is tough!"
"I got you in my sights!" one of the robots in a fighter said. He flew right at Alpha's head, full speed. "For the Empire!" It suddenly blew up just as it got close. Lisa turned Alpha to get a look, and saw Gamma approaching, bow drawn.
"Dammit, Lisa!" Aidan jokingly snapped. "What did I tell you about touching my stuff?"
"I'm not purposely trying to break your robot, Dalloway!" Lisa snapped back. "These things are targeting me for some reason!"
"I'll try to make my way back up to you once we form Voltron," he replied. He leaned over to Taye. "You gonna be alright solo?"
"I'll manage," he laughed.
"Alright, Lis," Aidan said, "if they are targeting Alpha, we're gonna have to work fast, and the first step is making you a moving target."
"Got ya," she replied. Alpha took off into the air, and the ships began to follow. The robeast elbowed Beta and took off as well.
"What did you do to tick these guys off?" Taye asked. "Are they after you, or Alpha?" Aidan's eyes widened.
"They're after me," he said. "Lis, lead them off the coast. I have a plan."
"A plan?" Taye asked.
"Yep," he replied. "I don't think the robot fighters are capable of going underwater. The mechas definitely can though…."
"I see where you're going," Taye said.
"I'll explain everything once we've stopped this robeast and driven back the Derinja," Aidan said.
"I'm over the water, Aidan," Lisa said.
"Then dive!" Aidan shouted.
"Going down," she said, pushing the controls forward. Alpha crashed through the surface with a splash, and the robot fighters pulled up, nearly crashing into the water themselves.
"Sir!" one of the soldiers said, "the Black Mecha dove into the ocean! We can't follow it with the fighters!"
"Then send the robeast!" the officer commanded.
"Yes, sir," he replied. "Robeast unit, pursue the Black mecha into the water! Destroy at all costs per General Dari's orders!" The robeast dove into the water.
"Rackens, follow our lead!" Aidan shouted, and Beta and Gamma crashed through the surface as well. "Lisa, I need you to pull the lever on your right, and key in the sequence to begin formation."
"Understood," Lisa said, doing just as he said.
"All units, ready to form Voltron!" he shouted. "Marine Dimension!"
"Rah, frickin' rah!" Morgan shouted. The mechas pulled out of the dive, and while still underwater, broke apart into components and reconfiguring.
"Form feet and legs" Aidan shouted. "Form arms and torso!"
"And we'll form the head!" Taye shouted as Voltron's eyes lit up, and he arched backwards, charging up with power.
"Now we're a combined target," Aidan said.
"Then how about a little 'target practice'?" David suggested.
"Sounds like a plan," Aidan replied. "Do it."
"Firing torpedo missiles," David shouted. Slots on Voltron's torso opened up, and torpedoes flew from it. David watched the screen closely, then raised his right arm, and the voltcom displayed a radar graph of the area. He guided the torpedoes on their path, which exploded in front of the beast, sending it reeling backwards.
"Let's take it to the bottom!" Aidan ordered. Taye pulled the controls, and Voltron flew towards the beast and tackled it, dragging it all the way to the ocean floor.
"Good thing Hotaru had a chance to reinforce Alpha's hull," Lisa said.
"Integrity of the other mechas is still in question," Morgan replied. "Just wanted to make you aware of that."
"Now's not the time to talk crushes, Feld," Aidan shouted. "We need to finish this thing."
"Djinn Dimension is out of the question," Morgan said. "Not at this depth."
"Then we need to improvise," Aidan said. "Rackens, aim for the rock formation above! Benton, get ready to move!" David set sights on the overhang and fired missiles at it. They exploded, and the overhang crumbled and fell down. "Now!" Taye pulled hard, and Voltron backflipped out of the way, the robeast getting hammered and buried under the rock, its head and one arm still out.
"Here we go!" Taye shouted. Voltron reached behind him, and pulled a bow and arrow. He took aim.
"Fire!" Aidan shouted. The bolt flew like lightning through the water and through the head of the beast. The arm fell limp, then seconds later, the beast exploded.
The command ship above and the robot fighters intently watched the surface, and saw a whoosh of bubbles, then a blast of water jet from the surface.
"The robeast has won," the officer said, seeming satisfied. But the look on his face changed with Voltron blasted out fo the water and fired several arrows at the robot fighters. "This connot be!"
"Shall I order a retreat?" one of the soldiers asked. The officer clenched his fists.
"Denjin Dimension!" Aidan yelled. Voltron reconfigured, curled into a ball, then ached back with power.
"Now I'll form the head!" Lisa shouted.
"Form Blazing Sword!" Aidan shouted. Voltron reached into the air and pulled down as the symbol for Alpha, Beta, and Gamma appeared in the air, the energy forming the sword. Voltron swung quickly, destroying three robot fighters, then flew right at the command ship.
"Get us out of here!" the officer shouted. The ship turned and headed back into the sky. Voltron barely grazed the ship as it picked up speed, the main engine exploding. "Activate the backups! I want full power!" He let out an exasperated sigh. "General Dari is not going to be happy." The ship vanished from sight, and the robot fighters scattered and took off as well. Voltron hovered in the air, sword at the ready.
"They got away," Morgan said.
"Brilliant observation, love," David replied.
"Shut up, Rackens," Morgan snarked.
"At least we got the robeast," Aidan replied. "Let's head back to the base so the Professor can get to work on those upgrades." Voltron took off towards the base, breaking apart in a flash of light.
"So, what were you able to find out?" Aidan asked.
"Hotaru ran some scans on the surface of Luna," Kelly replied. "Either the Derinja have nothing to do with the increased mass, or they're doing a good job at staying hidden."
"I'm not comfortable with them possibly being this close to Terra," Aidan said. "You saw how they were targeting Alpha. General Dari hates my guts."
"What did you say to them?" Kelly asked.
"Before you came here permanently," Aidan replied, "we defeated a robeast the Derinja sent. This time, the General was piloting it, and was nearly killed in the explosion. We were able to rescue him, and tried to save him, but in the end, he died. We actually came to an understanding with him, but that message was never passed back to the Derinja. Now his daughter blames us for his death." A woman walked in with cup of coffee and handed it to Kelly. Kelly nodded at her, and as she left, her eyes went unseen by either of them, glowing a robotic red.
"Lemme guess,' Kelly replied, "you played goodwill ambassador and wowed her with your snark?" He looked at her out of the corner of his eye as he turned away.
"Maybe," he replied. She let out a groan. "Point is, she's like a ticking time bomb. But I know if we can convince her that her father actually wanted peace, maybe we can stop the fighting once and for all."
"Yeah," she replied. "But until then, we better be quick about making these upgrades. If they're gonna target Alpha, and Voltron, then we want to show them we're not some outdated piece of…."
"Finely…tuned…machinery!" Aidan scowled. "Don't insult my 'bot." He walked out of the Control Room, and Kelly just shook her head.
General Dari reached back and put her fist through the monitor. She screamed in anger. Twyla walked past her, and she turned and sneered.
"Another failure!" she shouted. "What do I need to do to stop the Voltron Force once and for all?"
"You need to have patience," Twyla laughed.
"I'm reconsidering the option of mutiny, Commander," Dari sneered.
"The base is quickly being constructed," Twyla said, "and completely hidden from their sensors. I also managed to secure a few operatives to infiltrate their base."
"You look like you have more good news," Dari replied. "I'm almost tempted not to kill you." Twyla pulled out a small flash drive and dangled it in front of her. "And what is that?"
"This," Twyla said, "is the key to destroying Voltron."