Voltron: Next Generation: The Beginning

Part 4: The Return

Roxanne Garett

Entry log #2; April 17, 2068

Dad said I should keep a journal. Now that what's happeninng, well, is happening, I realize how important recording what's going on from my perspective really is. Someone could very easily twist casually said things. So I guess I'll write, so the truth is always present. These events happened a while ago, but I remember most of it. Here's the truth.

About two weeks ago, April 4th...

"Uh, Dad? Is the fish supposed to be... hopping... like this?" I asked the chef, unsure of myself. Dad smiled at me as he added spice to the fish that was, as I had said, hopping around in the skillet.

"Yes, it means it's cooking! It hasn't come back from the dead, no no, that's just the way this kind of fish reacts to the heat. If we add some Jooba grass, it'll give the flavor the perfect boost! I'll let you do the honors." He handed the small container to me. I expertly tapped the spice onto the fish, just like he taught me. When I finished, Dad squeezed a bit of lemon on top and moved the cooked fish to a plate, where it finally stopped hopping. To finish it off, we routinely drizzled on the secret family sauce and stood back to admire our work, which smelled amazing.

"I'll go get Mom and Peter," I offered, taking off my apron and washing my hands while Dad started setting the table.

We live amongst the other stars of Dad's cooking show The Universe's Best, where he comes together with some of the best chefs from around the galaxy to make a stunning dish. Me and Peter (my brother) frequently helped offset, making coffee for the crew and watching. We even got to sit in the director's chair a lot! Although, that's probably only because it's Mom's...

The show airs from its ship, which is frequently docked on the Balmara Mom grew up on. The quintessence it offers is essential for Balmarans, so when we're not on set, we're spending time on the planet-like animal. Me and Peter are half breeds, so, like Mom, we harness quintessence from the Balmara.

I guess I should tell you what we look like; half breeds can be confusing, but we do just look like a cross of Balmera and Human. Our skin is soft except for the prominent Balmeran features. I have human hair, but Peter has none. It's kinda funny; I look more like Dad and he takes after Mom. And our eyes, where humans' would be blue or brown, our's are yellow. By the way, no, we don't have tails. That's just roughly how we look. I'll have to add a picture file sometime.

Anyway, the story I'm trying to tell! It gets more exciting than fish, trust me.

As we came to the table to eat, Dad's tabloid sounded. He looked at us apologetically, then got up to answer it. He put the small tablet up to his ear and answered cheerfully. He wasn't smiling for long. I watched his knuckles tighten and his mouth draw taut.

"Okay," I heard him say quietly. "Are you sure? That's... Crazy... Is Pidge okay?" Another pause. "Ah. Let me know as soon as you have more information. Okay. I'll see what I can do. Bye, Shiro." I looked back to my plate as he strode back to the table, so he wouldn't know I'd heard.

"What was that about?" Mom asked, concerned. Dad shook his head.

"Not now." Classic code for 'I'll tell you later, when the kids aren't around.'

"Let's dig in." His usual cue to start eating didn't have any heart in it. I wondered what that call was about. Is Aunt Pidge okay? What's going on? I looked over at Peter and, like always, we silently agreed to eavesdrop later that evening.

After dinner, I headed back to my room. Peter came to get me in his pajamas. We headed down the hallway and pressed our ears against our parent's door.

"What's the news, Hunk?" Mom's sweet voice vibrated through the door.

"The Galra are attacking for some reason, which makes no sense. But that's not what's got everybody's attention. Fighting Galran soldiers have confirmed to victims that they're serving Haggar. I thought she was gone, we all did. But she just attacked Olcarion! And Pidge lives there, and nobody's heard from her or Matt yet."

"That is perplexing. Does anybody have any theories of what happened yet?"

"Nothing that they've told me. I'm just scared. Voltron left, Allura's not here to help. It's been over five hours and still no sign of the Skrewts."

"They'll be fine, Hunk. They're the toughest people we know. Pidge will pull through, even if she has to drag everyone else along with her. All will be well. Try to get some rest." A pause, followed by a sigh.

"You always know what's best to say. I don't know how you do it, but I love it. I love you, Shay," We heard their Mom giggle and the sheets rustle (oop), so we quickly left, Peter's face disgusted. When we got to my room, we stepped inside and closed the door.

"How could Haggar be back? Do you think it's the same Haggar we know? Could it possibly be the same Galra civilization we work with?" Peter sat on my bed and squeezed his hard fingers. I sat on the bed and traced my foot. Our nervous ticks.

"You think Aunt Pidge and Uncle Hunter are okay?" I was scared to ask

"They have to be! A Holt and a former Paladin of Voltron? They'll be fine, with the people they've got." The wavers in Peter's voice betrayed his confident words.

"I guess there's nothing we can really do about it..." I kept tracing my foot with the pad of my thumb when I heard something. Something like... A growl...

"Did you hear that?" I was listening intently, my thumb paused on my heel.

"Hear what?" The sound returned, though more like a purr than a growl now. "Roxy, are you okay?" I shook the sound from my head and turned to Peter.

"Yeah, I'm fine. We should get to bed." I walked with him across the hall to his little room.

"Goodnight, Peter."

"'Night, Roxanne." When he closed the door, I went back to my room and turned off the lights (except my lamp. It's my favorite light and says lumos and nox on the switch). I shut off all the thoughts in my mind, searching my thoughts for the source of the sound. Peter hadn't heard it, so it had to be in my head somewhere. With my mind clear, I saw something that made my jaw drop. I'd only ever seen pictures, but this vision was clear and more detailed than any picture I've seen. Was that even possible? I don't know, but the vision was clear. The black lion.

"Voltron is returning..." I whispered to the darkness.