Chapter 1: The Blood That Calls

Sirens rang throughout the Castle of Lions. Yellow alert! No immediate danger to the planet Arus or
its people, but in these days of war against King Zarkon and planet Doom, anything was possible. The
four male members of the Voltron Force were startled into action from where they rested in one of the
castle's many lounges. With reflexes honed by practice and custom, they raced to the control room
where Coran was waiting for them. Their final member, the Princess Allura, was with him.

Keith came in the lead and brought himself up short without pausing for breath. "Princess, Coran,
what is it?"

Coran, Allura's distinguished advisor, turned to face him as the princess continued to stare up at the
large view screen. "Keith, our sensors have locked on to an unidentified ship on a destination course
with Arus."

The view screen lit up, providing a picture of a small triangular vessel that was swiftly approaching
them. Its wings were curved upward, like a bird's wings on the downward stroke, and a long window
stretched from either side of its narrow head like a visor.

"Gee, it's so tiny," commented Hunk. "How can you believe that it could possibly poise a threat?"

"I never said that it would," replied Coran. "However, we are getting unusual energy readings from the
ship, and they don't appear to be coming from the ship's engines. Though the shuttle is small, most
ships of this nature and size are built to house at least a dozen people, including crew, but there
appears to be only one life form present. I don't want to disregard any anomalies. It's been far too
quiet around here lately."

Lance carefully examined the shuttle's shape. "Wait a minute. That shuttle design... That's it! It's a
Sparrowhawk!" He turned to his companions. "Remember? It's a light transport shuttle the Galaxy
Alliance designed for quick deliveries between ships and planets during war times. It was just out of
development when we left for Arus."

"Yes," agreed Keith with a thoughtful nod of his head. "But what is it doing all the way out here? And
by itself? The Sparrowhawks were never designed for long distance travel. Their fuel supplies burn
out far too quickly."

"Maybe it's been modified," suggested Pidge. He pointed at the screen. "Look at the thrusters. The
fire coming from them is irregular, like their energy is coming in large bursts."

Indeed the thrusters flared entirely too hot or not at all. The flames varied in intensity and frequency,
but all were far greater than the shuttle's safety regulations should have allowed for anything other than
take offs and landings.

"You're right!" exclaimed Hunk. "Do you think it may be running from something?"

"Hold on," murmured Allura, with a gesture of her hand. She turned her gaze down to regard a flash
of light from the control desk. "We seem to be getting some sort of transmission from the ship. Coran,
can you patch it through?"

"Yes, Princess," he replied. Coran seated himself at the desk and tapped out the command to bring
the communication on screen.

The giant monitor above hazed over with wild interference. For moment they saw the vague flicker of
a face, but it was gone before any features could be determined.

The speakers crackled as the audio portion of the transmission came through. The arriving voice was
coated with static, defying any means of identification. "This is the shuttle Spacerunner , requesting
permission to land on planet Arus."

"Who are you?" asked Allura.

"Please, no questions now." The voice was abrupt and on edge. "My transport has been damaged
during my journey here. I must land soon."

"We have readings that your ship's thrusters are acting unusual. Are you having engine failure?"

There was a pause on the other end. "No. Again, I must land soon. If I cannot do so with your
permission," --the voice began to carry a strong determination in it-- "I'll be landing regardless."

"Wait," said Allura. "I never said I wouldn't grant you permission. Please, there is a small strip of
barren land not far from the castle where you can land. You will not have to deviate your current
trajectory by more than point-seventy-five degrees. I'll send you the coordinates. And if you need any
help, the Voltron Force and I can be there to greet you."

Again the voice paused. "Thank you. I would like that."

                                     * * *

Allura, and the rest of the Voltron Force waited quietly beside the strip in two aircars. The bare earth
was created some months ago when a robeast had hurled one of the Voltron lions into the grassy
earth with such force the lion's impact tore away all the topsoil and exposed the stony ground beneath.
The ground had yet to recover, and quite possibly never would, but in the meantime it made a perfect
runway for an emergency landing.

The waiting people saw a spark in the distance, and Allura and Keith glanced at each other as though
together they could discern its intentions. All were silent as the spark enlarged into a shuttle, and the
shuttle glided in for a landing. Now in closer range, the five watchers could see the laser-pocked hull
and a mangled tail. The fact that the pilot had not lost control of the shuttle upon entering the
atmosphere was incredible.

Boosters fired from the shuttle's belly as it decelerated and its curved wings swiveled to slow its
forward momentum. It held its drop in altitude steady until it was low enough to the ground that when
the power cut the shuttle settled down with no more than a soft crunch of the stone beneath it.
Satisfied that nothing went wrong, Allura let out a sigh of relief.

After the dust died down, the hatch to the shuttle's cockpit opened, and a notched metal plate slid out
and down to serve as a ramp. A lithe, helmeted figure of above average height appeared in view and
started down the ramp. The pilot was completely suited up in the uniform of an Alliance pilot; not the
kind that managed the large warships, but the sort that flew the small crafts designed for one person,
for space and aerial combats. The lone figure stopped at the base of the ramp and looked to either
side at the assembled people.

Allura stepped from her aircar with a tentative wave in greeting, but her voice died in her throat.

The figure pulled the helmet off.

Hunk gaped. "Wow!"

Freed from the confines of the helmet, long raven hair tumbled down its owner's back. The young face
that greeted them was of mixed European and Asian descent, with single lids over dark brown eyes.
The pilot cradled her helmet under her arm as she again scanned the people present. An expression of
confusion and disappointment flashed briefly over her face. Finally, she cradled her helmet under one
arm and spoke to Allura. "This is Arus, right?"

The question was redundant after the conversation in the control room, but Allura caught the note of
urgency in the woman's voice.

"Yes," the princess replied.

The woman nodded curtly, though she looked at no one as she digested the information. "Then where
is Sven?"

The Voltron Force exchanged baffled glances.

The woman's voice strained from the need to know and the even pitch she forced on herself. "Sven is
part of the Voltron Force. What happened to him?"

Keith caught her gaze with a stare, and he carefully prepared his response. "Sven is no longer a
regular member of the Force. In fact, he doesn't even live here anymore. He's on the planet Pollux,
aiding the Princess Romelle and her brother, Prince Bandor."

"What! I never heard of this." The pilot shook her head, plainly distressed.

Lance watched her, realizing that there was something familiar about that saddened shake of the hair.
He stood up in his aircar, knowing his movement would catch her attention. "I've met you back on
Earth before, haven't I. Who are you?"

The woman's dark brown eyes fixated on him, recognition coming easily to her. "Lance, you don't
remember?" Her gaze swept over Keith, Hunk, and Pidge, meeting their blank faces with one of
muted bewilderment. "I don't think any of you do. Sven introduced me to you all when I first entered
the space academy."

"It can't be..." began Hunk, echoing the comprehension dawning on the former space explorers. Her
accent was gone, her raven locks much longer. Could she have even grown?

The pilot tossed her hair back over her shoulder and gave them their answer. "I am Lieutenant Lucia
Shirogane, Sven's sister."