Status Quo
Chapter Four: The Final Mission
by Kyence
Disclaimer: All Voltron characters are property of World Events Productions.
‘’ denote character thoughts.
"Ohmygoshmohmygoshohmygosh..."
Two guards assigned to this area turned their heads in the direction of the noise. They gave each other a mutual raise of the eyebrow. They had been a staple of the castle's occupants since the Dhmk rebellion raised concerns of terrorist attacks on Arus, especially the royal court. Their presence suggested a threat was imminent, but the relieving truth was no one's worst fears had even remotely happened. Surely any attempt made now would at least be quieter.
The spritely green blur of Pidge shot through the halls of the Castle of Lions, rambling an incoherent string. The guards either wisely stepped aside, or merely stood where they were with an expression of wonder and slight amusement. After many weeks' worth of simply patrolling the same friendly corridor over and over, seeing a hyperactive boy charging by was at least something original.
"Ohmygoshohmygosh..."
"Is that even English, Pidge? Or did you raid Nanny's caramel candies again?"
Pidge slowed into a stroll. He pivoted with a quick turn and a scrunched nose to express his answer of "no." Lance leaned smugly on the smooth metal wall, a crooked smile suggesting how he enjoyed his own wit.
"I can't believe you don't even know!"
"Know what?" Lance asked nonchalantly.
Pidge sighed. "We actually have a mission!!"
Lance's eyes brightened at the promise of adventure.
"Really? Seriously?" His eyes lost their gleam. "It's not to pick apples again, is it? Because if it is..."
Pidge whistled. "Easy there..." He closed one eye as he turned his face so that Lance couldn't see his lips move. "Does the name Xiron Gyldenhjerte ring a bell?"
"Xiron...Gyldenhjerte..." Lance was silent. He groaned inwardly. "Awww, you don't expect me to fall for that do you? That the richest recluse in the known Universe asked us for a mission?! Besides, what's so great about the hermit anyway?"
Pidge assumed a defensive stance. "The Gyldenhjertes are the founders of Seer Technologies! Without them, we wouldn't have a Galaxy Garrison, or any comforts reminiscent of Earth's pre-collapse days..."
Lance frowned as he held up a hand. "I didn't ask for an economics lesson. If I wanted to learn today, I would be helping Allura study philosophy."
Pidge winked. "She doesn't need your help when Keith's in there with her, heh heh heh." His face actually blushed a little at knowing the relationship between the beautiful princess and the handsome captain was begging to be more than professional.
Lance pulled Pidge into a headlock and proceeded to grind his knuckles into the struggling load's hair. "Well, guess who needs Keith's help now?" he laughed.
"Ahhh!!! Hey! I just brushed that!! If Nanny sees it messy, she's gonna make me brush it again! She actually made me count a hundred strokes this morning! C'mon, have a heart!" Pidge moaned.
Lance smirked. Pidge was definitely the intellectual, but still had enough child nuances someone of his age deserved to have for a couple of more years. Catastrophic events like Planet Balto's destruction had yet to exact their full toll on the innocent spirit of the young pilot. He was surprised at how Pidge seemed to carry on day to day without becoming bitter. Perhaps it was knowing that the world's population had been safely evacuated, perhaps it was knowing that his brother was still alive, and perhaps it was only the two of them, orphaned and adopted, without any further blood ties to grieve over that perpetuated the boy's bright outlook. Conversely, Lance could not recall how long his own childhood lasted, but he did remember the day it ended, the hour, the minute Zarkon's ships cut through his village. He lost everyone and everything he had ever cherished, leaving him to comprehend the atrocities alone.
"Uh, Lance!" Pidge wheezed. Lance looked down to find his tightening his forearm against his friend's windpipe. He immediately released him.
"Ooops, sorry there, little guy," Lance apologized with a regretful curl of his lip and shrug of his shoulders.
"No hard feelings, 'kay?"
Pidge brushed himself off. "Didn't hurt. Now, if you'll excuse me, I am going to tell Keith and Allura to come...to...the..."
He saw Keith and Allura quickly apporaching them.
"Hey there guys!" Keith greeted them. "Didn't Coran tell you that we have an important mission from Xiron Gyldenhjerte? Hunk's already in the control room. Let's go, team!" he spoke with enthusiasm.
As the couple hurried past Pidge and Lance with a wave from Allura, Lance winced as he looked down at Pidge. The young pilot had his arms folded across his chest as he tapped his right foot on the metal floor. He was glancing upward in a patronizing manner.
"Okay okay, I believe you...now..." Lance quickly glanced away. Then he tapped Pidge lightly on the shoulder.
"Gotcha last, sucker." Lance zoomed past Keith and Allura.
"Someone's desperate for some action," Allura giggled.
The small accelerating body of Pidge ran right between them. Keith and Allura fell back away from each other to avoid a collision. Keith was able to keep standing, but Allura's dress was not as obliging.
Allura closed her eyes expecting the cold floor to greet her rump, but four seconds went past without it. She opened her right eye. Keith was smiling at her, his left arm cradling her back.
"Almost fell there, Princess."
His cheeks were blazing red. Allura's face felt warm; she knew she must look the same way. She averted her gaze, but allowed Keith to help her up. He cleared his throat as he turned his head away. He rubbed his left cheek, and then squeezed his neck, his eyes closed. Allura could not help but find him devilishly handsome.
She tore her eyes from her secret Adonis and walked gracefully and carefully to the control room. Hunk waved at her with a bright smile while Coran's chiseled face nodded at her. She nodded and smiled in return.
"And here I was afraid that my Yellow Lion would never have a chance to get the sand out of her gears," Hunk said boisterously.
She agreed wholeheartedly, and noticed the quiet and sulking Lance and Pidge. She surmised that Coran scolded them on creating a dubious first impression for the noble face on the view screen.
"You are Princess Allura, I presume?" the low, chivalrous voice asked to accompany the screen's visage.
"Yes, Mr. Gyldenhjerte, I am Princess Allura of Arus." She curtsied skillfully in her flowing gown that seemed to melt into the floor with ease as she lowered herself.
"Please, Your Majesty, Xiron will do." His words were delicately pronounced, enunciated with tender care, as though each were the finest and most precious of commodities. His calm tone contrasted with the notion of a recluse. His hair was a dirty blond, appearing to just pass his shoulders, wild in its growth, looking barely tended to, with several areas growing in different directions. His skin tone was surprisingly bronzed, like a person who braved the elements in the summer season, not one who dwelled in a dark home. His eyes were a burgundy shade, a color Allura had never seen on a human face before. She wondered if they were natural or were contact lenses, as Pidge had once explained to her.
"As your puzzled expression suggests, you must be wondering as to my commissioning of your Voltron Force..."
She bit her lip for a moment. 'Thank Venus for Nanny's absence! I would have been lectured at how such a look was unbecoming to one of my stature.'
Keith put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. She looked up at him. 'Thank Venus for his.'
"We have essentially been grounded since the fall of the Dhm Empire," Coran stated in his rough, authoritative manner. "While the Alliance has kept us briefed on the ongoing uprisings on that planet, we have not been needed as of yet."
Xiron sighed with relief. "Then my hope in you is not misplaced. The frequency I have contacted you on is encrypted and secure. What I am about to tell you is extremely classified information. If what I ask of you is found out by anyone other than yourselves, I will hold you responsible. Shall I continue, or do you need time to check your security?"
"I can assure you that there will be no information breach," Allura spoke with conviction. "We will help you in any way that we can."
Xiron nodded. "Very well. If you do not know already, I am the president of Seer Technologies. Its headquarters is on Planet Earth in the Milky Way Galaxy, but has many factories and branches throughout the Universe. One can imagine the intense transactions and financial undertakings my corporation requires. In the past, I sought help from many accountants, computer programs, and banks...and they all lost or embezzled my money. That was before I decided to centralize it all into one person, someone I could trust. That person became the CFO of Seer. Saoche...
"Saoche has been kidnapped, being held at ransom for 60 percent of my corporation's stocks. I fear that if word gets out, my employees and shareholders will be thrown into a state of panic. I compel you...please recover Saoche for me..."
"Whaddya say, team?" Keith asked everyone.
"You can count on us!" Hunk exclaimed. "I'll give those 'nappers a one-two..." He showcased his skill with two faux jabs.
"Yeah! Xiron, you called on the Voltron Force! Victory is our specialty," Lance cheered with a grin.
"V for Victory!" Pidge said as he held up his right hand with a V made from his spread fingers.
"We will recover Saoche for you, safe and sound, I promise," Allura confided.
Xiron smiled. "I am eternally in your debt. I am sending an encrypted copy of the ransom message. It has the signal of the transaction. I am sure it was tampered with, but it is all I can provide you with."
Pidge cracked his knuckles. "Piece o' cake. That's all we'll need, sir."
"There's just one thing," Keith suddenly mentioned. "What does Saoche look like? How will we know if we have an impostor or not?"
Xiron smiled impishly. "You have never seen anyone quite like Saoche. The temperament is something to witness as well. Saoche is inimitable. I will contact you periodically for any updates on the mission."
The view screen darkened as the communication ended.
"Better get started, little guy," Hunk pat Pidge's head.
"Watch my silicon dust..."
Lance pouted. The hairs on the back of his neck seemed very sensitive. That usually meant something about the situation bothered him. Or that he was so desperate for some action that his body was entering overdrive at the mere thought.
'Wonder if this Sa Oash is even male or female,' Lance thought to himself. He giggled as he mused, 'I hope it's a girl. Nothin' like a sugar-mama.'
"Uh, Lance are you okay? " Keith addressed his best friend who was acting eerily like a schoolgirl. The giddy expression was a little disturbing to him.
Lance quickly regained his composure. "Sure, Keith. Just a happy litle vent; the last thing you want is an overzealous Lance at the controls now," he advised as he shook his index finger in the manner of a schoolmarm.
Keith couldn't help but smile now. Honestly, he wanted to react in the same manner. However, he was the captain, and had to maintain a strong, calm exterior, even if he himself was hooting and hopping around inside. Although they were still stationed on Arus to ensure that nothing threatening emerged from the rioting on their former enemy's world, it was inevitable that Galaxy Garrison would decommission them somewhere else. Standard protocol for this type of situation was four months. After four months, lower level cadets would be sent in and they would be shipped somewhere in need of them. The third month was ending two weeks from now. This would be their last assignment with Voltron. What better way to conclude this chapter in their lives than doing what Voltron did best: rescuing someone incapable of helping himself or herself, saving them from evil.
His thoughts turned to Allura. He knew he cared for her more than he ever showed, but it was for good reason. She is a royal princess; he is a captain. Although they experienced many things together, side by side, as teammates, those days were over. She had to take her rightful place as ruler of Arus, and would have to marry someone who complemented her position. He could not.
'Too bad this isn't a fairy tale,' he thought sadly. 'Usually the hero from humble backgrounds marries the fair princess and rules with her and loves her forever and ever.'
It angered him, though his stance would never have alluded to it.
'When it comes down to it, society etiquette doesn't give a damn about valor and bravery and love. Only coming from good stock matters. You are either blueblood or blue collar...and I am obviously the latter. Only if I become a noble will I ever be able to court Allura in a way that's honorable, and provide for her in a way she deserves. And to do that, I have to rule land, and there's only three ways to do that...be given land, discover land, or take someone else's land. In this cramped galaxy, I would have to do the unthinkable or be at the receiving end of some Majesty's charity. It will never happen. If only my heart would listen to my mind. Besides, I don't know if Allura feels about ME the same way. Sometimes, I think I see something in her eyes, but she is so innocent. Strong-willed, but a pure heart. I may be mistaking her kind nature for something that isn't there, but what I WANT to be there.'
He regarded the busy fingers of Pidge dancing on the distant console, tapping away.
Hunk spoke to Keith, "I'm gonna do some diagnostics on the Lions."
'Good, something to get my mind off this topic.'
"I'll come with ya," he replied.
Hunk walked next to Keith. He saw the solid poker expression and knew that the emotions beneath that facade were raging. It was obvious that Keith loved Allura; even Pidge could see it. He knew it for a long time, and had many conversations with his little friend to convince him otherwise from blurting out the declaration in front of the two starstruck loves.
'It's a shame,' he thought to himself. 'They are perfect for each other.'
The lack of exchange between the two pilots was becoming disconcerting for him. He decided to try talking to Keith.
'Something light and off-of-subject would probably be best.'
They walked past the foyer's guards, at first silent. As they passed by, a smile could be seen growing on the captain's face until some laughter spilled from it as the strong pilot of the Yellow Lion and his commanding officer. Once they had passed by, and the echoes of their conversation dimmed, the guards looked at each other and nodded.
At least it was something out of the ordinary.
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