Keith looked over his team. Lance, Pidge, Hunk, and Sven...he knew what to expect from them, they had worked together before. Devana, however, was a wildcard. She was fresh out of the Academy. I know she graduated at the top of her class but that doesn't tell me how she'll work with the rest of us. Is she cool and calm? A hothead? I wish I knew....
Sven stole a quick glance at Devana then silently swore at himself for it. I have to stop doing this. I won't be much good to the rest of the team if I'm constantly thinking of her and yet...I can't help myself. She's beautiful...so very beautiful. He smiled to himself. I'll have to keep myself in check...if Lance finds out I'll not hear the end of it.
Devana kept a steady watch of her instruments. Getting this assignment meant everything to her. Zarkon had messed with her family and she intended to see that he paid. I swear you'll pay for what you did to my family and to all the others you've hurt Zarkon. She glanced at Keith, then Hunk...Lance, Pidge, and finally allowed her eyes to rest on Sven. When she first met them he had immediately caught her attention...and that accent!!! She melted every single time he spoke. What have you done to me Sven? How am I to deal with this? Keith's voice snapped her out of her thoughts.
"Space explorers calling Galaxy Garrison, this is Air Unit leader Keith. We're approaching Planet Arus and no problem," he spoke into the intergalactic communicator.
"Wait Keith! Look at that...." Hunk pointed to the viewscreen.
"Yeah," Keith turned his attention to his instruments, " I think the planet's being hit by an asteroid shower."
"I don't know what's going on," Hunk interjected, "It could be volcanic...maybe the planet's erupting."
Lance, Pidge, Sven, and Devana looked at each other and nodded. This was no asteroid shower....
"Something's wrong," Keith voiced the thoughts of the other four.
"Arus is under attack!" Hunk exclaimed, "Look at all those wierd attack ships..you know who that is."
"Sure do Hunk," Keith answered, "It's got to be Zarkon's evil bunch. Looks like the fiendish old space pirate has decided to take over Planet Arus. Let's go in for a closer look."
"You're in command," Hunk replied as their ship moved closer.
"Calling Galaxy Garrison...calling Galaxy Garrison. This is Air Unit Leader Keith. we're going in through Zarkon's robot attack fleet to see what we can do for our friends on Planet Arus."
Devana's heart skipped a beat, she was here...it was all starting.
"Weapons are armed and ready," she looked Keith in the eye.
"It looks pretty bad through the telescanners," Sven spoke up.
"The streets are empty," Keith observed, "It looks like all the people of Arus made it to their underground shelters."
If they weren't captured... Devana tried to shake off the terrible thought. It didn't do any good to think that way.
"Even without using the telescanners, that planet seems like it's in big trouble from up here," Lance said.
"Let's get down there as fast as we can," Sven jumped in, needing to help those people.
Devana looked from her seat next to Lance to Keith waiting for him to give an order.
"We're too late," Keith said angrily, "Zarkon's robot forces have completely destroyed the city. All we can do now is try to help the people of Arus rebuild their planet."
They flew over, surveying the damage.
"These poor people...their homes, gone," Devana whispered.
"Look out ahead!!!"
They all jolted at Keith's shout.
"It's one of Zarkon's attack ships that stayed behind to mop up," Sven said grimly.
"We've got to eject," Keith scrabbled to hit the right controls.
"And when we do Zarkon's got us," Sven informed him, not caring for the idea.
"It's better than crash-landing," Keith retorted," Let's go."
Meanwhile, back on Earth at Galaxy Garrison Keith's message had been received.
"Six space explorers tryig to cut through the enormous forces of King Zarkon...hopeless!" Marshall Graham declared while walking to an emergency meeting to discuss just that.
"Well Marshall, they tried anyway and may be captured. They're on their own now," the man walking with him stated as they walked though the door to the meeting room and took their seats.
"Our brave air unit might be taken prisoner by King Zarkon, we must send a resue unit at once," one man declared when the meeting commenced.
"Zarkon's planet is over two thousand light years away. We'd never get there in time to be of help. Their best hope is to try for an escape, " another said with praticality.
In the midst of this discussion Admiral Gravas sat quietly. His daughter was out there in real danger for the first time and he couldn't help her. The last time he had felt so useless, so frustrated was years ago when she was a small child and another that meant more than his life to him was in terrible danger from these same evil forces.
Yet a third spoke, "Don't forget Marshall that the space exploreres are throughly trained in survival and self-defense. This isn't the first time they've been in a tight spot."
Except for Devana... Admiral Gravas thought.
One stood and spoke again, "As usual Zarkon's reptilian ambassadors refuse to cooperate, denying any knowledge of an attack against the people of Arus."
"Long ago there was a legend on Planet Arus, "Marshall Graham said, "about a Castle of Lions...that held the secert of the super-robot Voltron. Voltron could save them...."
A communication went out to Planet Doom from the attack ship that had remained behind on Arus.
"Prison ship to Planet Doom headquarters...we've got a full load of captives from Planet Arus for your slave force. And an extra added prize, five space explorers. We're returning now...over."
"Attention you miserable fools!!!" Yurak bellowed, "Some new slaves will be arriving soon. You will tell them that escape is impossible and obediance is imperative....if they wish to avoid the sting of my whip." He laughed evilly. "Don't forget..." He let out a low chuckle.
On the prison ship the space explorers talked amongst themselves.
"Well, at least Devana got away," Sven said, "I hate to think what Zarkon does to women."
"She should be on her way to the Castle of Lions right now," Keith said, "We have to start planning our escape so we can join her. In the meantime, we have to be careful not to tip them off that there's one more of us, one that got away."
"We can definately count on Sven not to say anything," Lance piped up, "He wouldn't let anything hurt his lady-love."
A split second later Sven had Lance in a choke hold. Keith and Hunk went to pull them apart.
"Wow, he really has fallen for her," Pidge said, "I thought Lance was making it up."
"Listen Sven, you have to keep yourself together," Keith tried to reason with him once they managed to free Lance from his grip, "If you continue to act like this they'll know something is up and if they find out they'll tear Arus apart looking for her. We need them to think there's only five of us which means we have to act like we've never met Devana Gravas...never heard of her. Got it?"
"Yeah, I got it Keith," Sven said, his secret out to the entire team except the one he wanted to know...Devana.
On Planet Arus Devana was making her way though a forest. I wish I could find someone to give me some directions. Of course if I did find someone they might send me in the opposite direction. Heck, I would if my planet was just attacked then someone came along and asked me where the castle was.
Devana's thoughts took a shift as she remembered her teammates allowed themselves to be captured so she could get away. As it had turned out they got caught in the slave ship's tractor beam before they could eject. Their ship did have one small escape pod that they thought they could slip out unnoticed. The only problem was the pod was only big enough for one person. Sven volunteered to help her get set up in it. Devana unconciously sighed, remembering.
They had to set the controls so it wouldn't be detected...not an easy job in such a small space. They bumped into each other frequently. When they finished they both stood up, him to leave and her to take the pilot's seat. There was so little space between them, his lips were almost touching hers..just from standing there. She wanted so very much to kiss him, she could even make it look like an accident. The only thing was she wanted him to kiss her too and she wasn't sure if he was even interested so they said good-bye.
At that moment Devana shifted her focus back to the present as she came out of the forest and looked around. There was a hill in front of her and on the top of that hill was a castle. It wasn't in good shape, having been badly damaged from several attacks.
This must be it.Devana climbed up the hill to the castle. Upon reaching the top of the hill she noticed the lake in front of the castle and the bridge going across it to the main entrance. As she stepped onto the bridge she gazed up a high pedestal to the statue of a winged lion. Do you hold Voltron's secret? she half-wondered as she started across the bridge.
When she got to the castle she found the large iron doors partly open so she slipped in.
"Hello..." she called out, listened to her voice echo, "I'm an officer with the Galaxy Alliance, Lieutenant Devana Gravas."
A blonde-haired young woman stepped out from the shadows with an older man with brown hair and a moustache.
"Then our distress call was received," the man spoke.
On Planet Doom Zarkon was addressing his troops.
"Planet Arus is defeated and I, Zarkon, rule the entire universe," he declared as a cheer went up from his army, " and with the capture of the space explorers I need no longer fear the Galaxy Alliance.
"Beware," Haggar, his witch warned, "the Castle of Lions holds the secret of Voltron...just hope no one discovers it."
"Silence Haggar!" he commanded, "Voltron is no match for me. Any one of my Robeast gladiators could easily defeat him."
At that moment Haggar's cat let out a evil hiss and its eyes flashed yellow.
"Kitty is excited," Zarkon observed, his eyes flashing as the cat's did.
"He knows the captive space explorers are arriving."
"Throw the space explorers in the tower dungeon and guard them securely," Zarkon ordered. (author's note: Anyone else find the term tower dungeon a little odd?) "Bring the other new slaves directly to the arena!"
In their dungeon the five explorers sat quietly...until Kieth spoke.
"Zarkon's staging one of his famous tournaments and we're all invited to be the final contestants on the program."
"And it'll be our final appearance too, "Lance added to what Kieth said.
Hunk growled, "Ooo...just let me at 'em."
Pidge looked up at him, "I'm in no hurry."
Yurak approached Zarkon's throne and bowed, "The slaves from Planet Arus have been herded into the stadium sire, the blue robeast has never been more enraged and ready to fight. We only await your presence in the royal box to start the festivities."
Zarkon smiled, his eyes flashed yellow.
In the arena slaves trembled in fear, knowing Zarkon would soon end their lives for his own amusement.
"Let the contest begin!! Release the blue robeast," Zarkon called from his seat in the royal box.
Zarkon laughed as his robeast ended the lives of the slaves below him, "Now let the space explorers face the robeast."
Back in their cell, Hunk clenched his fist, "This is real humiliating."
"Zarkon has us marked for slavery," Lance said angrily, "and who knows what else."
"Yeah, they tattooed my arm," Pidge said, "Did they get yours too Lance?"
Hunk rolled up his right-sleave, "Zarkon will pay for this tattoo."
Keith took a few steps towards them, "This calls for brains, not brawn."
"You're right Keith," Sven agreed, "Let's put our heads together and work out an escape plan."
Pidge turned towards Sven, "I'm all for that."
"Gotta find some way out of here," Keith thought out loud.
"Look at that window up there," Hunk observed, "if we could only reach it."
"I could reach it," Pidge proceeded to proved what he said by leaping up to the window and grabbing the bars.
A vulture that was on the other side of the window threw the bones of a ribcage down into the cell before flying off.
"Ugly birds," Sven said after the bones landed at his feet.
"Now now Sven," Lance chidded him, "What would your darling Devana say if she had heard you?"
Sven glared at him. Once we're out of here I will have words with him he decided.
Pidge looked out the window, "Wow, I can look right down into the monster's feeding pit and he's eating up a storm. Let's try and sneak out while the robeast is busy eating his lunch." he pulled at the bars.
Hunk picked up the ribbones that had landed on the floor, "But before we leave I'd like to get my hands on Zarkon." he threw the bones at the wall, smashing them and putting out a candle.
"We're in a pretty tight spot but we've gotten out of worse before," Lance shrugged.
"Right," Keith agreed, "We'll really have to use our wits to get out of this trap."
"I'm thinking..."Sven stated.
"Me too," Lance added.
"When the guards come to take us to the arena," Sven clenched a fist, "we'll rush them."
"Real good Sven," Lance scoffed," ought to be good for a million laughs." Keith placed a hand on Lance's shoulder, "We could all use a laugh right now. We've got to use our heads, we can't panic...we'll find a way outta here."