Chapter Nine
Balto
Chip's Apartment
Chip could feel it in the back of his mind. Something was wrong and it was coming from Pidge. He had just gotten home and was preparing something to eat when his secure tablet chirped. Strange, he thought. The only time it chirped is when he was getting secure information from GG about the refit and or the Vehicle Force. But he usually got it while he was working. So something must be really wrong and he suspected the incoming message was from Pidge.
Before he answered the call, he saw a message that told him to go secure at the highest level. Luckily for him, he had set up his place to shield it from all forms of snooping eavesdropping and lord only knew what and it was impenetrable. The Stoker twins knew how to keep secrets big time. Once he was secure, he answered the call. Pidge appeared on the screen and the look on his face told him something bad had happened on Arus.
"Pidge, what's wrong," he asked.
"Hi Chip, we have a major situation here …" He then went on to explain the events that have occurred that day on Arus. The color from Chip's face drained. He thought back to when Lotor and Maahox had come to Balto seeking information about Voltron and the population had been exposed to Haggarium. If it wasn't for his brother and the rest of the Lion Team, it could have been a lot worse. Fortunately 99% of the population had recovered from their brief exposure but the one percent that hadn't recovered had been infected and so Chip knew about the effects of the infection. The Balton Medical establishment was still working on a cure for those infected since one member of the Voltron Force had been infected already. Chip knew about Sven's infection and the fact that he was now missing. Pidge had told him. But to hear that a cadet candidate for the Lion Force had been infected was troubling. The medical specialists needed to find a cure for this and fast. He listened intently as Pidge described the attack on Keith and Larmina and it made him sick. He hated the Drule Empire and Zarkon for introducing this dangerous substance. But the big question that was still out there was where did it come from. Too bad Zarkon and Lotor were now dead the same with Maahox because they all could have needed some answers right about now or yesterday for that matter.
"We're two lion pilots down. Can you come to Arus and help us out? We can set up an area here so you can finish the project for the Explorer."
Chip didn't have to think about it. The chance to fly one of their lions excited him even if it was temporary. Imagine the jealous looks he would get from the fourteen other people on his team when they find out. Oh and Jeff would kill me. "Uh, yeah, give me a day and I can get out of here."
"Listen Arus is on communications blackout. So its top secret for now. We'll worry about GG later. Go to Pollux and we'll pick you up there."
"Okay, is there anything else I need to know?"
"Yeah, I'm sending you the secure communications protocols. You, along with Pollux and the Arusian Diplomatic Corps off-world are the only once to have them right now. You're name has been added so if you have any issues, contact the Arusian embassy and they'll help you."
Chip checked his tablet and saw the file arrive and quickly scanned it. "I got it."
"Good, I'll see you on Pollux then."
Chip quickly cut the feed and started packing. As he was packing he set his tablet to scan for transports off Balto that would get him to Pollux departing within the next 24 hours. He was hoping that things didn't go from bad to worse in that time as he gathered everything he was going to need including the project for the Explorer. Within hours he had locked up his apartment and left not telling anyone where he was going and disappeared.
TBC ...