Arus, The Castle of Lions...
For Coran and R'issa it had been a whirlwind romance. After the night of Coran's story of Lida's death, they had decided to marry quickly-simply because they wanted to be together as man and wife proper and not sneak around - and because Baile kept ragging them about it!
If Nanny had heard about Coran's 'indiscretion', she didn't say. Thank Goodness!But she had been giving them funny looks-not a good sign.
They were married in a simple ceremony at the Castle chapel. The witnesses were Nanny, Baile, Hunk and Pidge, who had to throw rice at them as they left. Baile of course, had to throw in some wedding night jokes much to the chargrin of Coran. Within a few days, Coran and R'issa had settled into his suite of rooms and they began to do the daunting task of searching through Alfor's papers and computer data files for anything that would help Arus defend itself against Zarkon.
Coran and R'issa were sitting together in Alfor's old study looking for something.-anything.. Coran thought that Alfor had to have had something in case Voltron was ever destroyed. He knew his friend had so many projects that he didn't even know about. Alfor had been so rushed the last year of his life, trying to prepare everything. Coran knew Alfor wouldn't just have them rely on Voltron alone.
Coran said aloud, "We depended too much on Voltron-five lions and five humans.
"R'issa looked up from the datadisc she was perusing. "What did you say, Cory?"
He smiled at her ruefully, "I was just thinking aloud, R'issa."
..she always looks so beautiful to me..he thought...especially-no don't think about that Coran-we'll never get done!
Suddenly, R'issa said, "Cory, look at this." Coran went over to her side and R'issa handed him the datapad. On the screen was a plan for a planetary shield based on the Alfor's Code. It would surround Arus with a defense shield that could not be broken by any hacker codes or spies. Long ago, Arus had a plantary shield, but it was destroyed by Zarkon's forces by sabotage. It was never replaced partly because of Voltron and because Arus had been devestated by Zarkon's attack.
Coran looked at the plans Alfor had stored on the datadisc.
He said, "Amazing! According to this, Alfor had the shield perimeters set up all over the planet, but he never had the chance to program the binary language of Alfor's Code into the shield computer system before he was killed. You know, R'issa, Alfor was a brilliant man-it was almost uncanny how he could figure things out. He and his father designed this castle you know-building the structure inside the old one. Alfor's Code was his idea too-although I was the one who named it. He was too modest." he chuckled.
R'issa smiled and quipped, "And I suppose you are?" Coran smiled and said, "Why yes.I am very modest."
R'issa smiled saucily,"Well, in some things, in others..."
Coran actually blushed! "R'issa..." he said.
R'issa smiled and said, "You know I'm kidding..."
Coran said, "Hhhmm....well, I guess I'll forgive you this time, R'issa.Anyway, back to this shield, I think we can rig it up. I mean Alfor's Code is already in the communications systems, it shouldn't be too hard to place it in the computer system. Once it's in, it should work."
R'issa nodded, "I know who would be perfect for the job, Cory,"
He looked at her and said, "Who?"
R'issa stretched a little in her chair and said, "Hunk and Pidge! she exclaimed. Hunk, the mechanicals, Pidge, the computer systems."
Coran thought that she was right, the two young men could do that.They were opposites in personalities and skills, but together, they made an excellent team.
Aloud he said, "Do you think they'll do it?"
R'issa smiled broadly. "Are you kidding? He and Hunk are both antsy to do something, Cory. They're tired of sitting around. They still have their nightmares, but I can't hold them back physically anymore. They want to start living again. They want to fly again. I think they're ready."
"Well, I'll talk to them about it right away.
R'issa got up and said, "Good, it will give them something to do besides raid the kitchen. Nanny's about to have a fit."
Coran smiled,"Well, at least some things haven't changed! Now if we can get Allura to come home..." he frowned.
R'issa saw how worried he was. "Cory, I'm sure she will be all right. You've told me this Lotor loves her. If he loves her as much as you say, he'll protect her."
Coran ran his hand though his hair. "I'm not worried about him-it's Zarkon I'm worried about. He'll find them eventually. They can't keep hiding. Lotor might challenge his father, but he might lose, and then Allura.." he shuddered at the thought. R'issa said quietly, "Hopefully, Keith will come up with something."
Coran looked at her wearily, "Yes, I'm sure he will. I just hope he will not be too late."