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This fanfic does not follow the continuity of Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs. In my version of the story Commander Eagle dies during the final attack, along with April's mother. In my story Keith from Voltron is Keith Edward Eagle Jr. April's big brother.
Both shows are owned in the US by WEP, World Events Productions.
by Zorina Skye
Theme song: Saber Rider.......... Saber Rider......... (Drums) Can you feel the thunder inside? Saber Rider......... Make the lightning crack as you ride! Saber Rider! (Guitar solo) (Voice over) "What new challenges do the Star Sheriffs face when they are sent to Arus? Will April be able to face her brother, will Lotor once again attempt to destroy Arus in order to capture Princess Allura? With the Out Riders resurface and attack planet Arus? Find out in today's exciting adventure of Saber Ride and the Star Sheriffs. (Guitar riff) Your destiny will lead you, To where your people need you, No danger may astound you, You have your friends around you now, Now. Now! NOW! Saber Rider, and the Sheriffs! (Whip crack) Saber Rider...... and the Star Sheriffs, OF THE SKY! Saber Ri-i-der!!!! (*whip crack*) (echo:)Voltron Defender of the universe........ Keith sat quietly in the rec room staring at a bright orangish star which marked the sun which surrounded his home, planet Earth. Even though Arus was his home now, he missed his family who resided on the planets surface, not the planet itself. Keith thought about his little sister and wondered what she'd look like after five years, that's how long they'd really been gone all though it didn't feel like it. April was the star in everyone's eyes, even his. His little sister was smarter than Pidge by several hundred points on the aptitude testing, but be cause of her age at the time, even after completing the Explorer Program with them, she didn't qualify for the mission. Next to Lance, she was his best friend. "Keith, what ya doing in here?" Pidge asked, then he saw the expression. "You know she's okay, if not Galaxy Garrison would have aloud a message through." Keith looked at the youngest member of the team. Pidge was just a year older than his sister and as a friend, and a father figure to the boy, he couldn't help but realize how much he'd grown. He turned back to the window. "Pidge, she's out there somewhere, so are my parents and I haven't seen them in years. Infact none of us have seen our families in five years, and no communications have been made in almost two. Transmissions have stopped coming, we don't know what's going on on the other side of the Great Belt, and right now we don't have a single form of communication which can get through that barrier. Somethings wrong that we're just not aware of, I can feel it, it's been too quiet." Keith was normally right and Pidge didn't know what to say. " I wish there was a way that we could see are families, even if just for a little while." "Keith we all miss our families, but we all knew the consequences of accepting our mission, yeah we all have our regrets but the decision we made six and a half years ago when we started training was informed, we knew what this would take, we knew how long, we knew where and we knew we may never see our homes again. Our families were forced to accept our decisions then and to go back now would only make things harder for them, and if there is a war on the other side of the universe so be it, the Vehicle Force will take care of it and we'll be called on only as a last resort, you know that Keith, we all do." "Pidge, who are you trying to convince, you or me?" "Miss Eagle, they will hear you now." Said a women softly, April walked into the chamber and caught her breath. On the ceiling was a map of the known universe and it was color-coded to show which ships had been through and when. As she walked in they immediately compared her to the images that had been captured of her, she was a legend in her own life time, they all felt honored to have met the creator of both Ramrod vehicles and the daughter of not only a colleague but a friend. The rumors had been right, she didn't look healthy, her eyes appeared to have slightly sunk into her skull, and she was thin. "Gentlemen." She spoke with authority and strength, some of the traits she'd inherited from her father. "I would like to take this time to thank you for the support I have received from both Calvary Command and Galaxy Garisson since the loss of my parents, but I am not here for your pity, I am hear to ask you to help my family and I to close a chapter of pain in our lives. "You see, I firmly believe that you know where my brother is, and that you can tell me where he is, I need to be with him now, he needs to know about the tragedy our family has faced and needs his family to help him get through trying times. "Our parents may be forever gone, my brother does not need to hear of their deaths on accident. Apart we are alone, but together, we may be able to get through this, together we will no longer be alone, thank you." She didn't realize she was crying until she exited and returned to the waiting area. About twenty minutes later the women returned with an envelope addressed to her. Dear Miss Eagle; Again we would like to commend you for your outstanding work as a Star Sheriff and we would also like to extend to you are deepest condolences and prayers for you and your family. Both your father and your mother were not only our colleagues but our friends. At this time Galaxy Garison does not feel that communications between Calvery Command or galaxy Garison to your brothers location will get through. However it is the opinion of the panel that you and your team are needed in his location to aid him and his team in their battle for freedom. Therefore it is the decision of the panel that Ramrod and it's crew will not be shelved as originally planned, but will be reassigned, permanently to Planet Arus in the Azure Quadrant. April, your brother is the captain of the Voltron Force, you should be very proud of him, as he will be of you. The message was signed by each member of the panel. She sat there, the letter in her lap, held open by her left hand, while her right hand covered her mouth. Tears of joy flooded down her face and spilled onto the dress she had worn, it took several minutes of sitting in disbelief before she was able to grasp the consequences of this meeting. Her brother was on Arus. Her brother was captain of the Voltron Force, her brother was alive. She didn't walk away from Galaxy Garisson, she ran as fast as her legs could carry her, not only excited that she would see her brother again, but excited because her team no longer had to be trisected and sent to different parts of the universe in order to insure that if something happened to one of them, that no one else would be lost. She ran all the way back to the house where they'd been placed until further notice and burst in. "Saber Rider! Fire Ball! Colt!" No one answered. "Boys?" She asked, walking into the kitchen to find a letter on the table. 'April, they came sooner than we expected, since you weren't here to say good-bye I, with the guards provided will be taking Fire Ball and Colt to their launch sites. I thought they gave us two weeks notice before removing any of us? -Saber' She fumed and immediately went to the phone. "April Eagle, they just passed down an assignment for my crew and I sending us to Arus and I got back to our Quarters it seems that half of my team was just escorted off the base for their relocation." "Hold please." "But lady I don't know when they left!" "Hold please." She waited and waited. "April, Williamson. I've just dispatched several men to the launch sites, ships within a five thousand kilometer radius have been recalled and others have been put on holding." "Thank you." "I suggest you pack whatever you and your team needs, I'm clearing air space for your team to launch in three hours. They've put Ramrod in a carrier, no one will know it ever left the planet. It'll give you an edge over the enemy." "Thank you sir." "Goodluck." "David from control will be contacting you with mission specs. Oh and April, there has been a slight change of plan." "Sir?" "April, we'll be sending Casey with you, she'll be taking your place as pilot of Ramrod once arrive on Arus. It seems that you have been chosen to take the place of the current pilot of the Blue Lion. You do remember your training, do you not?" "Yes, sir I do, but why now after all this time?" "Castle Control has put in several times for a new pilot and this is the first time we've had anyone going that way, and you were the obvious choice having had already completed the explorer program." "Has Casey been notified?" "No, infact she should be getting the call about now from Commander Hawkes." "Thank you sir." April hung up and packed her belongings as quickly as she could before heading out. She didn't have time to wait for the boys, she had too much to do for the pre-launch. She quickly scribbled on the back of the note Saber left her that she'd meet them at the launch site and reminded them they needed to be there as fast as they could. Keith was sitting in the control room on watch when a message from Galaxy Garrison, the first to come through in nearly a year, began to download into their computer, uncoded it, unencrypted it, and translated it so that the transmission was readable before terminating the signal, allowing now unwanted ears to hear the message. "Castle Control, this is Galaxy Garrison, we're pleased to report that we have found young other pilot and that the pilot will be arriving shortly. With the pilot comes the crew of the Ramrod Equalizer. With this message is a short caption on the Ramrod Freedom Fighter Force which has just been disbanded from Calvary Command here at Galaxy Garison. "As you can see Ramrod is much like Voltron, it's a solid Mecha which was used to defeat the Out Riders and designed by it's pilot. The qualifications of the members of the Ramrod crew include five years of experience in battle against the Out Riders. "Ramrod is able to 'hide' from enemy sensors and often appears only as a cargo vessel until it goes through Challenge Phase initiation. "Concluding this transmission, your new pilot is the best that either organization can offer and will be a wonderful addition to your team." Keith stared at the screen, it would break Allura's heart when she heard that Coran had gone behind her back and replaced her. He just wished Coran had discussed the whole thing with him and the rest of his team. It would be difficult to gain the respect and trust of a new pilot that they already had for Allura. As if on cue Coran walked into the control room ready to take over for Keith. "Coran, I can't believe you went behind her back like that, she deserved to know, we all did, not only are they sending a replacement pilot but a total new unit to help, are you keeping something else from us Coran?" "Keith, you of all people know that it had to be done. We can't continue to risk her life like that on such a regular basis, her job is to rule her people, and even though I know she would die for them, it is up to us to make sure things never go that far." Keith walked away quietly. "Commander, I trust nothing will be said about this matter until I review the message and have interviewed the new pilot." "Of course Coran, an order is an order, no matter who it hurts." "Keith, it's for the best, we all know that, and as to receiving another unit, that was no where part of my request, but often we can use whatever aid which we can get, it will allow for fewer close calls." Keith nodded before he walked out. Angry as he was he forced himself to remain calm and collected. He knew that this would mean a blind hand to hand with everyone, just to test out those who were about to arrive. That would mean full uniform and solid helmet to prevent any recognition, the only ones who would be a give away would be Hunk and Princess. He began to wonder why after all this time, Galaxy Garrison would break radio silence. He figured it would take them about a week to get to Arus, they day he arrived he planned on having his team waiting in the gym for one on one with the new arrivals. A week had never seemed so long in her life, but finally they had landed infront of the Castle and after post handleing procedures had been completed the five of them, in full battle armor, slung a duffel over their shoulder and walked toward the main entrance of the castle where they were meet by a group of guards and the man who called himself Coran. "I know you must be exhausted from you journey but the Captain insists you join them for blind one on one." "Sir, I know that we are interrupting your way of life, but I must see my brother. right..." "Miss, I know you will need time to get used to the way things work here but we make it a habit of not speaking against our orders." "April, it's been so long, a few minutes won't change things." April turned away from them and Saber placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I'm not ready for this yet. I just want to see my brother, that's all. That's the only reason I came here." Saber nodded and the others began to follow the soldiers who were escorting them. "Coran, my name is Saber Rider, I'm their captain. My pilot has just lost both her parents and only came here tell her brother gently. As anyone reacts to such a loss, she has become sickly, only because of the stress of having to not only bury her parents but friends and colleagues, I recommend that she is given the time she needs to heal before being forced back into this kind of life even though Galaxy Garrison has sent her to be your new pilot." The old man swallowed hard, she was now where his Princess was less than five years ago, he knew first hand the destruction it did to ones soul. "This kind of work will force her to go on and become strong again, we make no exceptions. "Captain I do have a question for you, who is she, who were her parents, and who is expected to receive such devastating news." "Her name is April Alexandra Eagle, she is the greatest scientific mind of her generation. Her mother was Brigadier General Krista Eagle and her father Commander Keith Edward Eagle Senior. They passed only a month ago." Coran felt for the Captain of the Voltron Force, he remembered the stories that they told him about the young Eagle who had become a legend. Now that he knew that she was a Star Sheriff of the legendary Ramrod, he realized that Keith had made the wrong decision in how to welcome this new team. "Thank you captain, please join your team." "Coran, she may look weak and innocent, but I'd watch out if I were you, she's lethal, and if anyone one she cares about gets hurt for any reason, if I were you I'd stay out of the way." Saber joined them. They had set their duffels against the wall and he almost could feel April's despair as he entered the gym, it was a blind one on one, everyone was covered from head to toe. One of the smaller members of the other force immediately protested to their use of full armor. April stood back from both groups and fought the urge to cry, these people were standing in her way, stopping her from seeing her brother, she got into the correct mind set and say them only as Out Riders. After taking a deep breath she stepped forward. "Who's first." Saber and his team formed a semi-circle with the Voltron Force. April closed her eyes and pointed blindly picking out the larger male. She bowed to him and stepped back into a fighters stance and began a fluid, l well practiced kata. She waited for him to make the first move. Eventually he settled in to his own kata and through a rapid series of punches followed by a round house, each deflected. He sent one kick through her defenses and scored directly on her abs. Saber herd her gasp, he knew they were expecting her to go down, instead she took a deep breath and attacked. After scoring twice the large man tackled her and pinned her down, she couldn't find her leverage, and the Voltron Force cheered. April concentrated, she would not allow this Out Rider to take her! With a scream she flattened her heels and jerked her lower body up, catching him by surprise and freeing one of her hands. She immediately went for a pressure point in his hand and he jerked backwards into a fetal position, howling in pain. She bowed, and went to his side and gently pressed into his elbow and the pain subsided. "This is pointless." She announced, Saber smiled and Colt chuckled. "You treat us as though we are your enemy and we are your friends. I came here in search of my brother, not to fight you. That is not my way. When your captain has come down from his ego trip, then we will discuss matters pertaining both our teams..." Saber noticed the change in her posture as her voice started to waver, he could hear her sobs boiling within her throat. "And our families." She snuffed lightly clearing her nostrils before fetching her duffel. "Until then I have work to do." She walked out followed by her team. Upon seeing a guard she removed her helmet, "We would like to be shown to our quarters please." The guard was silent and lead the way. He spoke once when he reached the residential hall. "You have the four sets on this side starting with 215 and ending at 221, it's your decision which set each of you choose. The one which would be joining the Voltron Force has set 302." "I can find my own way." She told the man, she needed to be alone. "What did she mean by families? Maybe she knows one us from somewhere." Hunk said. "Yeah, she felt familiar, maybe we do know her." Pidge added. "She seemed to be upset, Princess, maybe you should talk to her." Keith suggested while he kept commenting to himself that she sounded like his mother. Allura nodded and left. She would speak to their captain before talking to the girl. He would be a good source of information, he may be able to tell them why she was so angry. They were still rummaging around in the hall, choosing rooms, for the first time they had their helmets off and Allura recognized all of them accept the girl. "Your the Star Sheriffs, Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs." She said out loud. "Yes, ma'am we are." Saber spoke, and you are?" She removed her helmet, "I'm Princess Allura." She said, her voice warm and friendly, "Welcome to Arus." "Thank you princess, if you'll excuse us.." "Captain, may I have a word with you, it concerns the girl who fought with Hunk today." "Of course Princess." Saber welcomed her into his immaculent quarters after throwing his duffel in a corner. "The girl, as you mentioned is April, she created Ramrod and has recently lost both her parents. The only reason she ever brought up coming to Arus in the first place was that when she met with Galaxy Garrison following her parents deaths, the told her he was here, so naturally, realizing we were no longer needed on the new frontier, they reassigned us to Arus so she could be with her brother. "She's your new pilot." "New... pilot?" "Yes, Castle Control had put in several requests for a new pilot, and Garrison naturally chose her considering she went through the Explorer Program." Saber immediately wished he could take back what, the princess went pale. "We hadn't expected a new pilot so soon that's all," she said swallowing her anger. "Now tell me who is her brother." "Keith Edward Eagle Junior, I've never met him but April absolutely idolizes her brother." Allura choked on air. "Princess, she needs some time, I wouldn't be surprised if she left her things in her quarters and retrieved Nova before going on a ride. She's been under a lot of pressure lately." "I know her brother, I will speak to him, and tell him that he needs to speak with her, but I won't tell him who she is or why she's here, that's up to her." "Thank you Princess, if you'll excuse me, I'd like to get out of my armor." Allura stood and left. After she made it to the rec room she found the other staring out the window looking at a girl, an a mechanical horse as she flew through the sky. "Keith, she's the new pilot." Allura said gently. "Saber Rider, her former captain, believes that you should speak with her at your earliest convenience, I suggest you do so as soon as she returns from her ride. "Lance, I need to speak with you privately with Coran." Lance nodded, they all hated formality and often mocked it because it was entertaining. He followed her strait to the Control Room where Coran sat, his face grim, the girl was on the screen. "Coran, we shouldn't watch her, she needs some privacy." Without a moments hesitation he turned of the monitor. "I think we were to hard on them today." "Who were they?" Lance asked. "They are Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs, the girl that made Hunk collapse in pain was April Eagle." "Keith's little sister did that?" "That's not all lance." Coran commented. "I already know, I spoke with Saber Rider he wasn't aware that I didn't know, but I do now." "Princess, what are you talking about?" Lance asked. "April is her replacement." "April, Allura's replacement, after all this time the sprite made her way to Arus after all." He sounded proud and Allura smiled. "Lance she came here because she had to go through a hearing at Galaxy garrison in order to see Keith." Allura said softly. "I know you were her friend, you all were but I have to tell you before Keith finds out, their parents are dead." "No... you've got to be wrong." Lance said softly, his heart breaking. April was like a little sister to all of them, they had always promised to be there for her, and they weren't when she needed them the most. "I'm sorry Lance." She said softly. Coran swallowed back the lump in his throat, they had all become a family and this was hitting them hard, like when they lost Balto. "She has quite an impressive record as you already know. She built Ramrod and lead the attack on the Out Riders. Her and her team were the soul Freedom Force of the New Frontier. Now that they aren't needed there, they've been stationed here." Lance nodded, atleast she would be with her family now. April cried freely now that she was away from the castle. She needed this time to herself, personal time was rare for her. After landing Nova She stripped off her battle armor leaving her in her standard red unitard, with bare feet. She left Nova with her armor and walked toward the water fall before her. It was so peaceful here, she felt lucky she was able to find such a place where she could be alone with her thoughts her first time out. She sat on the ground near the waters edge and cried into her folded arms. She sobbed freely, she had never really been able to mourn her friends and family, finally she was alone, had nothing to do, finally she could grieve. Lotor had been at the top of the canyon above the falls, planning his next attack when he was intruded upon buy a pair of robots, one a horse the other humanoid. He was shocked when he say the robot free itself of its shell. He gasped when he saw what was beneath, a girl. He slowly made his way down to her and came up behind her, she never noticed he was there, instead he could hear her sobs, what could have happened to someone so beautiful to make her hurt enough to flee civilization to be alone? She felt a presence after she caught her breath and started to calm herself. "Who are you?" She asked without looking up. Her voice was sweet and he forgot all about his troubles with Merla and Allura. He sat beside her, "My name is Lotor. Yours?" He asked, his gruff voice sounding soft and possessing a gentle tone which he never thought possible. "My name is April." She said softly. He was close to her, she looked up and immediately meet his felliniod eyes. He looked into her's, unable to break their gaze, he say gray pools of pain and reached out to brush away a tear which had just began to fall down her face. She closed her eyes at the contact. He was handsome, and he was trying to comfort her. "Why are you crying?" He asked softly. "I was a Star Sheriff, I fought for the freedom of the people on the new frontier against the Out Riders. In the final battle I lost my parents and so many friends. I came here to see my brother, after being here almost half a day I have yet to find him, he probably doesn't even know I'm here. "I shouldn't have come, who needs war and death, and battles against a heartless enemy when you can have a desk job and fill out paper work.... who needs to be a pilot after years of training? Why does it have to be me? Why can't the cycle just end!" She sobbed. Lotor pulled her into his arms. he'd never seen someone se effected by war before. Maybe she was freely expressing the pain the people of this world felt. It this why Allura had hated him so? She was so small, and she weighed next to nothing in his arms. He'd never before allowed himself to be effected like this before, he'd always been calm and never allowed anything in. Yet there he was, holding this girl who seemed to be broken with pain. She had been gone for hours and Saber had begun to worry. The Princess had resorted to passing. "We'll just have to go look for her, maybe she got lost." Colt said breaking the silence. "Your right Cowboy, lets saddle up." Fireball said heading toward Ramrod followed by Colt, Casey and Saber. Each saddled up. Colt and Fireball took out their Turbo Charges, Saber on Steed, and Casey navigated Ramrod. Inside the castle, two lions launched, the red and blue to aid in their search. They didn't know how long they had been there, just holding each other, but the sun had long since set. He kissed her forehead and she blushed, and shivered against the cool Arusian air. It was late and realization set in. "Oh my god, they're probably gonna send out a search party! I didn't realize." She said waking from her daze. Lotor didn't want to let her go, instead he tightened his grip on her. He couldn't identify the emotions which ran through his heart and soul. "I don't want to leave either, but I wasn't supposed to go out in the first place. I'm sorry." She kissed briefly, touching her lips to his before standing and stretching. He walked her up the hill to where her armor sat and watched as she placed herself in it's confines. Without placing her helmet she once again returned to his side.
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