KathDMD - Kelly and Hotaru do work well together. And Lisa will try to track Tetsuya down eventually. As for Aidan and Dari...READ ON!
Author's Note - It seems this series is the least favoriteamongst my writings. With a nearly OC cast and a difficult storyline, I guess it's difficult for most people to
grasp. This may be the last season forthe Gladiator Force. Pity, cause I do attimes enjoy writing them.
Theme Music : None
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 106 : "Close Encounter"
The two ran at one another, and they locked up in a struggle. They were close enough that Aidan could make out General Dari through the viewing panels on the mechas. He tried to direct the robeast to the right as he did several minutes earlier, but she planned for this contingency. The robeast took a step forward to brace for the pull, then knocked Alpha off balance. Alpha rolled back to its feet.
"I tried to tell you before, and I'm telling you again," Aidan shouted. "I didn't kill your father!"
"You pathetic humans are all the same!" she shouted back. "Your race creates and promotes atrocities, then wipes themselves clean of blame! I'm sorry, Commander, but the blood on your hands isn't going to wash away as easily as you think!" Alpha ran at the robeast and swung with a right. The robeast blocked, countered with a left, then another right sending Alpha staggering backwards.
"The real atrocity is the Drule Supremacy trying to assert itself through force instead of peace!" he shouted. "You think the Alliance WANTED to destroy Deram? After years of aggression, we had no choice!"
"Nothing like a man trying to make himself into a martyr by talking about peace while piloting a sixteen megaton war machine!" she snarked as she lunged at him again. This time he dodged the attack, but she spun around, and landed a spin kick sending Alpha to the ground again.
"I told you before," he said, "we tried to talk to your leaders. We tried to reason with them. The only one that would listen was your father, and he died!"
"By your hands!" she snapped.
"By your own hands!" Aidan snapped back, coming back with a spinning swing, clocking the robeast, then landing two more hits. "His own people placed him in that war machine, just as Twyla has placed you in this one I'd wager!"
"I make my own decisions, Terran scum!" she shouted, fighting back. Alpha stepped back and held out his hand, the Alpha Sword forming in it.
"I told you I'm going to stop you!" Aidan shouted, Alpha brandishing the sword. "I'm trying to give you every opportunity to walk away, General! The opportunity to live and be a representative of your people instead of an instrument of war!"
"Save your treachery and lies!" she shouted. "Save the words to write your own epitaph!" The robeast pulled a sword as Alpha came at her and they clanked together. They swung repeatedly, blocking shot for shot, sparks coming off the electrified Alpha Sword.
"At least my epitaph won't read, 'Here lies the lamest snartbag Commander Twyla could throw at Terra.'," he snarked as he swung again. They stood in a test of strength, pushing hard against the swords. She grit her teeth at the words, her own rage continuing to build.
"These things seem endless," Lisa said, looking intently at the scanner.
"We've got to keep as many of them from reaching the base as possible," Taye replied. "You're weapon has the greater range. Let's see what it can do." Lisa nodded, and keyed commands into the weapons console. Gamma reached out, and a wave of water materialized into a bow.
"Aiming," Lisa said, "and fire!" Gamma shot three icy bolts at the oncoming ships, destroying them instantly.
"Not bad," Taye said. "You might give Rackens a run for his money."
"I heard that!" David replied over the com.
"Oh my goodness, speak of the devil," Taye snarked. "Hey Rackens, how about you and that lovely wife of yours put those shooting skills to good use."
"Well, if we're turning this into a contest," David said, setting up the blaster arrays on the base.
"Manual targeting?" Morgan asked with a smirk.
"All the way, love," David replied with a wink. He pulled the trigger, and the blasters opened fire, taking out several more ships easily. Gamma flew by several more, turned and fired several more bolts, destroying them.
"Who's keeping score?" Taye asked.
"How about once we down that command ship," Morgan snarked, "winner takes all?"
"That sounds like a plan," Taye replied. The bow vanished, and Taye hit the console. Gamma held out its left hand, and a staff formed in it. Gamma took off over the command ship and smacked one of the smaller ships with the staff, sending it crashing into the command ship.
"What was that?" Twyla asked.
"The Red Mecha is crashing our own fighters into our ship," the officer said.
"We've already lost half our fleet," she said. "It's time for a tactical retreat. If Dari hasn't finished the job, then she'll meet her end. Order the withdrawal!"
"We got 'em on the run!" Taye shouted as the ships turned and took off, heading away from the base. "Should we pursue?"
"Negative," Kelly replied over the com. "I need you to meet up with Aidan and back him up."
"You got it, babe," Taye replied. "I'll be home in time for dinner."
"Just promise me you'll forget about that hoverbike for one night," Kelly said in a frustrated tone. Taye ended the com.
"Tells me to get a hobby, then gripes that I spend too much time on my hobby," he griped to himself as Gamma took off to find Alpha.
Alpha and the robeast continued to trade swings, swords clanking together.
"You continue to make jokes while my father's own spirit lies in torment!" she shouted. "You know nothing of honor and dignity!"
"What's honor to someone blinder than a bat and more drunk than a Viking?" Aidan snarked. The robeast pushed off, both of them staggering backwards. He watched in his view screen as she got up from her seat and stood on a panel, the seat sliding out of view.
"Then fight a true champion of the Derinja!" she shouted. "And taste vengeance!" She moved quickly, the robeast mimicking her movements and running at Alpha. Aidan brought the sword in front of him, bracing for the impact. She swung, and he blocked it, but the swings came faster and faster, and Alpha was forced backwards.
"The mechas aren't designed to respond as quickly as this," he said to himself, gritting his teeth, and trying to keep up. "I have to find a way to stop her, or at least slow it down." He looked down and saw some of the systems reaching critical. "I got it! I'll create an overcharge! I just hope the systems can handle it." He swung a few more times, finally locking up with her once last time.
"Face it, Commander," she shouted through gritted teeth, "you're outmatched! Surrender now and I will make your death less painful than you made my father's!"
"I told you, you wanna-be psychopath, I didn't kill your father!" Aidan shouted. He pushed the lever forward forcefully, and Alpha headbutted the robeast, at the same time he discharged the systems, causing a backlash between the two. The swords vanished, and both robots fell to the ground. Aidan looked at the systems. "Gonna be a few minutes before we're back online. I better make sure that robeast is out for the count." He keyed in the restart commands, then exited the cockpit. He tapped his Voltcom, and his uniform armored up. He walked carefully towards the robeast, lying there motionless and smoldering. Then out of nowhere, General Dari leaped from the robot and came at Aidan with a sword. He leaped out of the way as she came down, striking the ground. She held the sword with two hands, but let go with her left as she spun to the right, swinging.
"Looks like you have a problem holding your tongue, Commander," she shouted, brandishing the sword and staring at him intently. "Allow me to cut it out for you!" She ran at him, and his voltcom formed a replica of Voltron's Senbai Plasma Sword. The swords met and clashed together, sparks flying from them each time they connected.
"I think my tongue works just fine," Aidan replied as he continued to fight her. "I think my wife would agree."
"Arrogant lor'thok!" she screeched as she swung hard, causing him to stagger backwards.
"Hey!" Aidan shouted. "Leave my lor….whatever out of this!" As they continued to fight, a shot was fired nearby. They continued to fight, but glanced to see Gamma approaching.
"I see this is no longer a fair fight," she said, backflipping away from him. "Next time you won't be so lucky." She hit a button on her wrist, and the shuttle detached from the robeast and flew towards her. He leaped into the air and landed on top of it, climbing into the cockpit. Aidan went to give chase, but it flew off into the distance, and a sound behind him made him turn to look.
"Beautiful," he said to himself as the robeast began to power back up and get to its feet. He took off running for Alpha. The robeast went to stomp him, but Gamma landed next to it and grabbed it.
"Hold him!" Lisa ordered. "We have to let Aidan get back to Alpha!"
"I'm trying!" Taye shouted, struggling with the controls. It broke free just as Aidan climbed inside Alpha. Gamma pulled its staff and began striking the robeast. The robeast turned and pulled its sword again, blocking the staff's swings.
"Looks like we're back in business," Aidan said as he strapped himself in, and his voltcom glowed, bringing Alpha back to life. It got up, and as he did, he noticed a blip on his RadialTrak.
"Incoming Rackens!" Aidan shouted.
"Saving your butt as usual," Morgan snarked. Gamma dodged to the left, then stabbed the beast with the staff.
"Let's Voltron and finish this!" Aidan shouted.
"Sounds good to me," Taye replied, Gamma taking off into the air after Alpha and Beta. The mechas broke apart into components, and began to reconfigure as the energy field took hold.
"Denjin Dimension!" Aidan shouted. "Form feet and legs! Form arms and torso! And I'll form the head!" Voltron curled up, then arched backwards, powering up as the energy field dissipated. Voltron landed in front of the beast. The beast looked up at Voltron and ran towards it. "Let's take him out!" Voltron reacted, catching the beast and redirecting its momentum, , flipping it over, and sending it to the ground.
"Form Blazing Sword!" Aidan shouted. The symbol for Alpha, Beta and Gamma appeared in the energy beam, solidifying to form the sword. Voltron leaped into the air, and just as the robeast stood back up, Voltron sliced clean through it. It fell apart in two pieces, then exploded.
"What happened that you were out on the ground, Aidan?" Lisa asked.
"Long story," he replied.
General Dari marched into Commander Twyla's office, visibly flustered.
"Ah, you're alive," Twyla said, looking up at her.
"As are you," Dari sneered. "Your attack plan failed, I wager?"
"As did yours?" Twyla snapped back.
"I didn't have much faith in your robeast," Dari said, "regardless of the piloting capabilities. My faith is in your mockup of the Voltron Mechas."
"I feel like we will both be pleased with their performance," Twyla said. "In fact, after hearing about the fight you put up against the Voltron Force personally, I think it would be an excellent idea for me to request you to personally pilot the replica of the Black Mecha."
"Request?" Dari asked, slamming her hands on the desk and liking into Twyla's eyes with shear madness. "I DEMAND it!"
"So what did happen out there?" Lisa asked.
"General Dari piloted the robeast herself," Aidan replied. "Woman's got a one track mind."
"Don't they all?" David laughed. Morgan elbowed him hard.
"Seriously though," Aidan continued, "she really believes we killed her father."
"You know that's not true," Kelly replied. "I have reports, and I have recorded statements from our discussions with the late General. Heck, his body was buried in the Garrison's Terran Military Cemetary!"
"She doesn't believe it," Aidan said. "So the question now is, what do we do about it?"