When FORCES Collide
a Star Wars and Voltron crossover fan fiction
by: Joycelyn Solo

Author's note: This is a crossover story betweeen Voltron and Star Wars, written because I just had to get it out of my system. I've received three positive reviews for this story - which is three more reviews than I expected at all - and I am quite pleased. This takes place during the middle of the Star Wars: Episode I and the first season of the original Voltron.
Disclaimer: Star Wars and Voltron, as well as their characters and technology, belong to Lucasfilm, Ltd., and World Events Productions, Ltd., respectively. I mean no copyright infringement, this story is for entertainment purposes only.

Author's note2:I'm slowly finding time and inspiration to revisit some of the stories I've left hanging and, for reasons no on can probably fathom, this one called to me for some work. I don't think I've got that many people who even bothered reading it but I hope you both enjoy this installment.

Chapter Six

"And here are your quarters, Your Highness," Lance announced with a flourish as he bowed at the waist and indicated the suite of rooms Allura had ordered ready for the Queen of Naboo.

As the door opened, Queen Amidala surveyed the room. "Where are my handmaidens quartered?" she asked, noting the absense of additional sleeping space aside from the large bed in the center of the room.

"The handmaidens will be right next door, Your Highness," Lance answered, watching the Queen closely.

"I would prefer to have my maids with me." The Queen turned to Lance, matching his gaze.

"I'm sure that can be arranged, if you're certain-"

"I am." The young woman turned from Lance, stepping into the room with the handmaidens in tow.

Lance frowned. The Queen's request was unusual; none of their previous royal guests had insisted on sleeping with their servants. Though the request was strange, it didn't necessarily confirm Lance's nagging suspicion that the monarch and her ladies-in-waiting were hiding something. Keith was expecting a report and he'd been less than successful in gaining any further insight into what was really going on with the Nubian women.

"We will rest, now, Lieutenant," the Queen said, her tone indicating that she would like Lance to make himself scarce - and quickly.

"Sure, no problem. The castle maids have already brought in your luggage, Your Highness, and I'll see that your handmaidens' belongings are moved in here."

The Queen nodded, dismissing him.

The rest of the castle's strange visitors had been assigned rooms along the same length of hallway, but they were currently being given a tour of the castle. Lance supposed it wasn't too unusual that the Queen and her ladies-in-waiting had declined the invitation. Given their situation, the Queen likely needed time to compose herself.

"I'm sorry, your Highness," Eirtaé said, her head bowed as she entered the room prepared for the Queen.

Padmé couldn't fault Eirtaé's exclamation; she herself had been close to shouting much worse as the young scientist had spoken. Every moment spent on this strange world - in this strange galaxy - was more time Naboo spent under the Trade Federation's occupation.

More time for her people to suffer at the hands of Nute Gunray.

The Queen regarded the handmaiden, her face soft with understanding. "There is nothing to forgive, Eirtaé." She turned to the rest of young women. "This is a difficult situation for all of us. The Jedi obviously trust these people, but we must remain on our guard."

"We are not the only ones being cautious," Rabé offered. "The dark haired captain does not seem pleased with our presence here."

"The young pilot seems pleased enough with your presence, Rabé," Eirtaé countered, smiling.

Rabé, her face no longer hidden beneath her hood, blushed furioiusly. "I don't know what you mean -"

Ignoring the weight of the headdress and her current role, the woman with the powdered face smiled widely at her fellow Nubian. "We all saw it, Rabé. You're face is brighter than your robe."

"Her face isn't that red," Padmé said, her gaze assessing the younger maiden's. "I have to admit it's a nice shade, though."

"Oh look," Rabé walked to the side of the room where the trunks containing the Queen's wardrobe had been placed. "I better hang these dresses up before they wrinkle."

"Subtle, but ineffective, Rabé." Still smiling, Padmé joined the handmaiden as she opened the largest trunk. "You know we're going to tease you until you admit it."

As Padmé lifted one of the heavy gowns out of the trunk, Eirtaé moved foward to help. "You don't have to do that."

Padmé smiled. "I'm a handmaiden, too, remember? Besides, this will give me something to do - other than tease Rabé."

"Okay!" Rabé said, grabbing the gown from Padmé's hands. "I'll admit that Pidge is rather cute, but this isn't the time to think about that kind of thing."

Padmé traded a look with the woman in the headdress, her thoughts returning to the plight of their people.

"You are right, of course, Rabé," the Queen said. "Our people are in grave danger and we mustn't forget that. But we can't forget that life goes on around us, as well."

Keith, coming from yet another argument with Allura, stopped short as he saw Lance leaning against the wall opposite the quarters assigned to the Queen's entourage.

"There's something strange going on," Lance said, narrowing his eyes.

Keith lowered his voice to match his friend's. "Stranger than you lurking outside the guest quarters assigned to a bunch of young women?"

Lance ignored Keith's comment and ushered him down the corridor. "For one thing, the Queen insisted on sharing her room with her handmaidens. Do you know of any royalty who would share a room with three servants when they had the option for their own, much nicer, space?"

"Allura would."

"Only because Nanny would insist on it," Lance countered. "Besides, Allura's different from other royals."

"Maybe the Queen is different, too."

"I can guarantee that." Lance looked thoughtfully down the corridor.

"Okay, Lance," the Voltron captain asked, "What's going on?"

Lance turned his focus back to Keith. "I'm not sure yet, but something's up with the Queen and her handmaidens. They're not who they appear to be."

"A threat?" Keith tensed, his hand reaching for the absent sidearm Allura made him leave in his own room.

"I don't think so. Just...not completely truthful. I've got a hunch, but I don't want to share it just yet."

Forcing himself to relax, Keith nodded. "As soon as you've got something, you'll let me know. In the meantime, I'm going to join Hunk and Pidge for the rest of the tour."

As Keith went in search of the pilots of the green and yellow lions and their guests, he thought about his argument with the Princess.

Of course, an argument would assume that he'd been allowed to defend himself against the list of accusations the Princess had thrown at him. She'd very quietly pulled him aside after the briefing and then quickly launched into a lecture about how he needed to stop assuming the worst of everyone.

If she'd let him get a word in edge-wise, he would have pointed out that, as far as recent history demonstrated, she really needed to stop assuming the best of everyone. He couldn't remember a single surprise visitor to Arus who had turned out to be who they claimed or posed no threat to the safety of the planet or its inhabitants.

Their current guests were so far proving to be more surprising than usual — arriving from another galaxy if Pidge's theory was to be believed. Not to mention that , if Lance's instincts were correct — and they'd yet to be wrong - they were definitely hiding something.

And people with something to hide usually meant trouble.

Didn't the Princess realize that?

Of course, when the Voltron captain finally found what was left of the tour group in the dining hall, even he had to admit it was difficult to imagine a threat coming from something so strange and, he admitted, goofy as the peculiar Jar-Jar character who — that? — was currently trying to clean the bottom of a portable pudding containiner with an impossibly long tongue.

"Hey, Hunk," Keith greeted, taking a seat between Anakin and Obi-Wan. "I should have known a tour with you in charge would include a detour through the kitchens."

"Very funny, Keith," Hunk said, a smile on his face since he couldn't deny the accusation. "Mr. Olié, Captain Panaka and their men stayed in the hangar with Pidge to assess the repairs to their ship so I brought Anakin, Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan and Jar-Jar up here for an afternoon snack."

"We're having pudding," Anakin said, a large smile on his face as he licked his spoon with delight. "Butter…What was it again, Mr. Hunk?"

"Butterscotch, kid. And it's just Hunk; none of this 'mister' stuff, remember?" Hunk shared a smile with the boy and turned to the Voltron captain. "Can you believe he's never had pudding, Keith?"

"Anakin has gone without much in his young life," Qui-Gon said quietly, his eyes soft as he regarded the former slave seated beside him. "But even in my travels I have never encountered this particular treat."

Hunk looked aghast. "An entire galaxy without pudding?"

"I'm sure there are other differences, Hunk," Keith pointed out. "I'd be curious to find out more of where you come from."

"And I would like to know more about where we are," Obi-Wan said. "I've been to many worlds and have never encountered one such as this. Your ships, for instance. They are magnificent machines and yet…I sensed something more than simple machinery."

"They appear to be immersed in the Force," Qui-Gon offered. "But Hunk here has never heard of it."

"I told them the Lions were magic, Keith." Hunk shrugged. "I've never heard of this Force business."

"Me neither, Hunk. What is it?" Keith asked.

"It's an energy field created by all living things." Obi-Wan explained, "It surrounds us and penetrates us. It binds the galaxy together. The Force is what gives a Jedi his power."

Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan took turns explaining more about the Force and their role as Jedi, to the best of their ability, to their hosts. As they did so, the restless nights Anakin had spent on Coruscant slowly caught up to him, just as the fullness of his belly and the soothing tones of the adults comforted him. Without meaning to, because he was still so curious himself about the Jedi, his eyelids became heavier and heavier until he eventually leaned into the Jedi Master's side and drifted to sleep.

Feeling the weight of his young charge against him, Qui-Gon paused and looked down at the young boy who had experienced so much in such a short time.

"I am afraid our young friend has finally reached his limit," he said quietly.

"I'll take him to his room," Hunk offered, scooping the slight figure easily into his arms.

Keith watched as Hunk carried the sleeping boy out of the kitchen. "I imagine you'll want to rest, too. It's not everyday you cross universes."