Chapter 1 - The Prisoner and Blood Duel

I don't own Voltron Legendary Defender. I'm just taking the characters out for a spin around the universe. The only characters I own are Maya the shapeshifting Zenoxian, and Nimel, the freedom fighter.

Finally made it to Season 5. And I have to again say a big Thank You to Puff the Ninja.

The Castle of Lions sat on the planet of Naxzela, it's the new home for the moment as repairs were being made and mop up operations was underway to remove any remaining Galra from the planet. Maya joined the Paladins in the lounge while Nimel ran checks on the status of their prisoner Lotor.

Maya bit her bottom lip as she rubbed her hands on her pant legs. Dark blue circles had formed under her eyes. Ever since the battle for Naxzela, actually the entire quadrant, she hadn't heard a thing from her father. She couldn't stop her worry since he'd gone to radio silence.

Hunk who sat near her said, "Oh, man! Going on missions is a lot easier when somebody gives you the information you need."

Lance glanced at Hunk out of the corner of his eye, "And yet, you still managed to run your Lion into a wall." A smirk formed on the Red Paladin's face.

Pidge glanced around at the others, "Yeah, information is one thing. Ability is something completely different."

Shiro nodded, "There's no doubt about it, we haven't encountered a single problem."

Allura sighed, "I must admit, we took down a vital target today."

"And we made it look pretty easy except for the getting buried in lava part," Pidge added with a pointed glance at Hunk who fidgeted in his seat.

Shiro looked at the others, "It may be time to consider taking the next step."

Allura stared at him but couldn't stop the uncertainty of using the information that Lotor supplied. "I'm still not comfortable with this. It just doesn't feel right."

Lance rose from his seat and walked over taking a position next to Maya. "Penny for your thoughts," he said as he gazed at her.

She couldn't stop the question from slipping out as she glanced up at him, "What's a penny?"

"It's a form of money on Earth," he said. "So what's wrong?"

"I haven't heard anything from my father," she said as warmth wrapped around her middle as she looked down to find Pidge hugging her.

Hunk was next to join in the hug, followed by Lance who's voice was as soft as a caress as he spoke, "You'll see him again. You didn't just find him to lose him again."

"Thanks, guys," Maya said quietly as she closed her eyes to let their warmth flow through her. A small smile pulled at her mouth.

Everyone gathered in the library as communications were opened to different members of the coalition. However, Maya found herself standing against the wall. I shouldn't be here. She thought as she crossed her arms over her body. All these people had happier prospects than she did. Besides looking at Lotor down in the prisoner's cell gave her the creeps and didn't stop reminding her of what the Galra had done to her.

Though she had come to accept The Blade of Marmora as allies, she couldn't stop the memories of the past from moving forward in her brain. She shuddered as one of the leaders on the screen started speaking, but she wasn't in the mood to listen to anything he had to say. Maya glanced down at the floor.

With all the thoughts churning in her head she barely heard anything that was said, she still missed her father. But she looked up when Pidge tapped her on the arm, "Want to get out of here and join Matt and me for a while? We could use your help on a few projects. I know Hunk has been teaching you some Engineering stuff."

"Sure," Maya said as she followed Pidge out of the library.

Maya stood with Pidge and Matt as Nyma spoke. "Thank you for helping us get the fleet back in order. They were pretty banged up after the invasion."

"No problem," Pidge said. "Maya helped out," and then she went on about the upgrades they had added to the ships.

Maya guessed it was probably a good thing that she wore her armor. At that moment, Rolo stepped out of his ship, "Pidge, you got a message incoming."

Maya followed the others inside the ship as Rolo brought up the main screen. Shiro and Allura faces appeared on the screen.

Pidge smiled at the screen, "Hey guys."

The tone of Shiro's voice alerted Maya to something being off as he said, "Pidge."

The Green Paladin stared at them, "Is something wrong?"

Shiro said gently, "We have a lead on Commander Holt. Your father."

"Our father?" Pidge asked hopefully but almost unbelievingly.

Shiro added, "Lotor gave us information about his whereabouts."

Maya placed a hand on Pidge's shoulder offering comfort as the Green Paladin had done earlier.

"Where is he?" Pidge asked.

Allura approached the subject tenderly and spoke softly as if to a small child, "Because your father was considered a valuable scientific asset, he was moved to a remote prison with others like him. They're being forced to work for the Galra."

Shiro added, "According to Lotor he's still at the prison, but he could be transferred at any moment. As soon as the teledav is repaired, we can all head over there."

Matt and Pidge exchanged looks, and Matt ran out first. Pidge said over her shoulder as she took off after her brother, "Send us the coordinates."

Allura called out trying to stop the pair of siblings, "Pidge, Matt! If you wait for us, we'll be able to provide you with backup."

Rolo stood as he gazed at the pair of Paladins, "Hey don't worry. We'll make sure they got the backup they need."

Maya stared at Shiro and Allura, "I'm going with them. Pidge and Matt gave me my father I'm going to make sure they get their father back."

Allura smiled softly, "Bring them back safe. Good luck."

Maya nodded and hurried after Nyma, Rolo, and Beezer.

As Pidge piloted the Green Lion, Maya's heart broke at Pidge's comments. "What if something's happened to him, Matt? What if –?"

Matt placed his hand on her shoulder, "We're gonna bring Dad back, I promise."

Pidge remained quiet until their destination came into sight. "Approaching the prison."

"This place is gonna have security. We're gonna go head first into that?" Rolo asked.

Pidge said confidently, "That's why we have cloaking."

The Green Lion flew through a barrier field that deactivated the cloaking field on the craft. An alarm blared inside the cockpit. "How did they detect us?" She asked of no one in particular. She ignored Rolo's obvious comment, "We hit some sort of barrier and lost cloaking!"

Beezer started buzzing and beeping. "Galra fighters on an intercept course!" Pidge yelled as the fighters fired on the Green Lion. Using the tail laser, Pidge shot the middle one and threaded the needle between the other two. "Change of plan! I'm gonna have to drop you off! Hold on!"

Pidge brought the Green Lion to a hover as the cargo hatch opened. Rolo, Nyma, Matt, Beezer, and Maya jumped out into the air going into freefall. Maya watched as the Lion sped away leading the Galra fighter on a wild ride.

As they fell through the atmosphere, the wind whipped at them and whistled by as they dropped. Matt said, "Everybody, fire jetpacks!"

Matt kept hitting his button his wrist gauntlet, but his jetpack didn't fire. "Something's wrong! My pack's not firing!"

Nyma yelled as he began tumbling in the air.

He was falling too fast for Maya to reach him. Beezer beeped as a couple of cable like arms extended and reached out and wrapped around Matt's middle pulling him back up to the robot.

They landed on the ground, and Nyma said, "You know you can let go of him now."

Matt said, "I'd rather not."

Once Matt got over his fear of nearly dying because of a malfunction. They ran to rush the sentries. As they hid behind a barrier, Rolo said, "No guards."

Matt consulted the information provided by Lotor, "Security and defense systems in this prison are completely automated. Override codes should shut everything down."

Maya stood up, and Matt reached up to yank her back down. He didn't see what both the Zenoxian and Nyma saw, "Uh, looks like everything is already shut down."

Matt said, "What's going on?" as he got to his feet.

They entered the prison and passed several sentries in different states of destruction as though someone had fought their way through earlier. They reached a central area where several prisoners were chatting.

Rolo crawled down the hall on his hands and knees. Only to be discovered by one of the prisoners who alerted the others.

One of the aliens said, "Don't hurt us!"

Nyma stepped forward, "No one's here to hurt you."

"You're not with the scary lady?"

"No, we're not," Maya said.

Matt added, "We're here to rescue you. Wait, what scary lady?"

"She told us to stay inside. If we went out, we'd be hurt."

Nyma sighed, these people were scared enough as it was. "Well, no one is here now. Come on we're leaving."

Matt scanned over the prisoners in the area below him, "Is this everyone?"

"No, there are others back in the cells."

Matt ran off to search for his missing father.

Rolo looked around. He couldn't leave these people behind. They had families who were missing them. "Everybody, hurry up and come with us."

Maya helped usher the prisoners out of their prison.

At the entrance Nyma contacted Pidge on her rebel issued communicator, "Pidge, we're ready for pick-up."

"I can't come to get you! It's still too hot! If I fly down to pick you up, I'll be leading all of these ships there. You'll be sitting ducks. We need to come up with some other way to get the scientists off the planet."

Rolo grabbed Nyma's communicator, "Pidge, what if I brought the group to you?"

Nyma glared at him, "And how are we gonna do that?"

Rolo smiled at her, "I've got an idea. Follow me." He led them to the hanger where an escape shuttle sat. Rolo, Nyma, and Maya got everyone inside.

The Zenoxian stood near the cockpit. As she heard the conversation, she rolled her eyes as the alien said, "These pods are only meant to carry five passengers. We'll be lucky to break through the atmosphere."

"Yeah, yeah, I know," Rolo replied as the engines began firing up.

Maya couldn't help but hope for the best for them, and the Holt siblings were getting their father back. She wound her way through the scientists where Nyma stood waiting for Matt. The Zenoxian glanced at the female rebel who said, "Come on, Matt. Where are you?"

The person in question came running out and climbed up into the rear of the shuttle, "Let's go."

"But where's –?" the rebel asked.

The look he turned on her was filled with pain as he shouted, "Let's go!"

The engines whined louder as Maya felt the motion as the shuttle took off from the ground. She gazed at the eldest of the Holt siblings, "Matt…" but stopped as he shook his head.

As the shuttle fought to gain altitude, Matt looked up. "Something's wrong," he said as the Galran made vehicle shuddered and strained to achieve the upper levels of the atmosphere. Right as the last engine groaned and died the Green Lion appeared and caught the craft in the cargo bay.

Maya exited the shuttlecraft with Matt, and the pair entered the cockpit of the Lion. Pidge jumped up out of her seat, "Matt! Did you find him?"

Matt's sad amber eyes stared into his sister's hopeful eyes, "I'm sorry Pidge."

"No! Dad! Dad, where are you?"

"He wasn't there," Matt said sorrowfully. "He was already gone." He reached out and grabbed her as she collapsed into his arms.

"No. No…" she cried.

Maya knelt on the other side of Pidge and wrapped her arms around the siblings. She offered them her comfort in their time of need.

"Don't give up, Pidge. We know Dad's alive. We'll find them."

"And I'll be there with both of you," Maya added.

On the bridge of the Castle of Lions Pidge sat despondently curled up with her hands wrapped around her legs and head buried into her knees in her seat. Matt stood on one side and Maya on the other side of her. They both formed not only a screen of protection for the smallest of the Paladins but also one of comfort.

An image of Zarkon appeared on the main viewing screen of the Castle of Lions. "Paladins of Voltron. I am making a one time offer. I have someone of value to you." He moved, and Sam Holt appeared surrounded by Lotor's generals.

Pidge looked up and saw him. She jumped out of her seat, "Dad!"

"I will hand him over, and in exchange, you give me my son Lotor."

The Castle of Lions orbited the planet where the exchange was to take place.

Shiro faced Pidge and Matt. He didn't have to say anything he could see the determination on the siblings' faces. Maya stepped up, "I'm going too."

Shiro shook his head, "I don't think so."

Maya's muscles tightened as she stared Shiro in the eye, "I have to go. If it weren't for Pidge and Matt, I wouldn't have found my father. I have to be there if it's nothing more than moral support."

Shiro frowned as he crossed his arms over his chest, "I still don't like this idea. You don' have enough battle experience."

Allura stepped into the middle of this weighing in her opinion, "She has a point, Shiro. She has to go along."

He only nodded in silent agreement as he inwardly growled at the Zenoxian.

Pidge sat next to Shiro as he flew the shuttle. Matt and Maya guarded Lotor, who said nothing on the trip down to the planet.

Shiro landed the pod. As the particle barrier for the cockpit lowered, he and Pidge hopped out of the front while Matt and Maya stepped out of the rear and stepped onto the barren desert wasteland. Matt looked around and asked, "Are you sure this is the place?"

The Black Paladin nodded, "This is the place."

Maya took a step away from them, "I'm going to get into position. If Zarkon does pull a fast one, I'll know." She dropped down to her hands and knees as her body glowed. Her skin changed to appear reptilian, and her body lengthened as she sprouted a tail. She grew, so her shoulder stopped at the top of Pidge's head.

Her face elongated onto a longer neck with a lizard-like head, and arms and legs sprouted feet with impressive claws. She blinked at Pidge then opened her mouth exposing an impressive array of teeth. Spines grew out of her back creating a long yet tall sail. Her lizard-like skin took on the browns, and tans of the surrounding ground.

She reminded Matt of a dinosaur from Earth called a Dimetrodon, but it was like an instant later he couldn't see her anymore. It was like the Zenoxian vanished out of existence. He mouthed, "Wow."

Pidge looked up at Shiro, "Where's Zarkon?"

The three heard a noise, and their gaze was drawn to a bright point in the distance. They watched as the shuttle flew in and passed by overhead. Maya used the dust and debris to cover her movements to a point halfway between both shuttles to keep an eye on Zarkon. She didn't trust the Galra leader, not for an instant.

As Zarkon stepped out the back of the ship, "Show me Lotor!"

Shiro yelled back, "Show us, Commander Holt, first!"

Two women moved into view with a thin, shaggy-haired human in front of them. Maya growled softly in her throat.

Pidge yelled, "Dad!" but the Black Paladin grabbed her arm stopping her from running to him.

"Now, where is Lotor?" Zarkon said.

Lotor stepped out of the back of the Altean pod as Shiro said, "Send us Commander Holt!"

Zarkon turned to the women as Maya heard him say, "Release him."

Commander Holt began walking down the ramp toward his children. Maya's hearing was exceptional in the form of the Altean Loncore as she heard Shiro's voice, "Stay alert. If Zarkon's going to try something, now would be the time."

As Lotor and Commander Holt passed each other the Zenoxian in the Loncore form sniffed the air. She smelled Lotor but nothing from the human. It was a very realistic hologram she realized. Her eyes narrowed as her muscles bunched ready to spring at the instant something happened. From her studies aboard the Castle of Lions, she learned that the Loncore was a dangerous Altean creature hunted almost to extinction because they were deadly predators. She was glad she picked this form because even though they were deadly they had speed and she knew that she could make it onboard Zarkon's shuttle in two to three dobashes.

Pidge bolted for her father. She reached out to him and passed through the hologram. She screamed at Zarkon, "No! No, we had a deal! We had a deal!" Her face twisted in anger, "Give me my father!"

Zarkon roared back," If you want this Earthling returned alive, you will forfeit Voltron to me immediately!"

Pidge struggled now against Matt who reached her, "No, No! We have to get Dad!"

Matt turned to the oldest Paladin, "Shiro?"

Shiro kept his eye on the other ship as he said, "Hold your positions until the time is right."

While Zarkon was ordering for them to bring the lions to him, Lotor produced the Black bayard breaking through his cuffs and attacked his father.

Zarkon said, "So the time has come. This ends today."

Maya silently agreed as she charged toward the Galra transport and shifted her colors to blend into the interior of the ship. As she found a place to observe, the shuttle's engines fired as the Zenoxian eyed two of the three Galra with Sam. The biggest one was the most dangerous, and she'd have to be dispatched quickly.

Maya's muscles bunched up again to charge when a large piece of metal dropped to the floor of the ship and Shiro dropped inside followed by Pidge and Matt. The former protector of Allura shifted back to herself as her hands gripped the handles of her swords.

Pidge yelled, "Hey! Let my dad go!"

Shiro activated his Galra arm as the one with the weird tail on the top of her head rushed him.

Matt was kicked by the huge Galra who grinned as she cracked her knuckles. Maya drew her swords and lashed out at the big female who proved to be more agile on her feet than she appeared to be. She crouched down as she grinned, "I'm going to enjoying crushing you two like bugs."

Matt aimed his staff at her, but she jumped back quickly. Maya swung one of her swords, but the female somehow managed to dodge again.

The oldest of the Holts got a hit on her as Pidge raced past for the cockpit.

Maya spread her feet in the classic swordsmen's stance and hit her adversary a glancing blow off her armor. She growled, this wasn't getting her anywhere, she thought as she sheathed the swords.

The ship took a nose dive as everyone went into zero-g freefall. Matt jumped on the big one and held onto her as Maya kicked off from the side of the punched the Galra in the face, but the Galra reached out and gripped her hands around the Zenoxian's throat and squeezed.

Maya glanced a blow off the woman's face. She barely heard Lance, "Shiro, Pidge the sky is clear of all Galra. What's your status?"

Pidge replied, "Shuttle is not clear yet!"

Matt got his hands back onto his staff and swung it as the former protector saw black dots in her vision from oxygen deprivation, he hit the massive Galra hard enough in her face to loosen her grip from the Zenoxian's throat. Maya drew her hands up and smacked her ears hard, as she floated away, she was hit by the Galra Pidge had been fighting and sent flying down toward Shiro.

Maya barely heard Sam yell, "hang on," as the shuttle climbed. She managed to grab onto a part of the bulkhead as she coughed and sucked in the air for her oxygen-starved lungs.

The rear hatch opened as an alarm sounded. She guessed the three Galra were now on their way to the planet's surface, which suited her to no end. The door in the rear closed and the shuttle evened out. Maya sat on the deck as Shiro stepped up next to her while Matt and Pidge hugged their father.

She couldn't wipe the stupid smile that tugged at her lips off her face as Shiro said softly. "Shuttle is clear."

She heard Lance, "Nice job, team."

"Where are Lotor and Zarkon?" Shiro asked.

"Still on the planet's surface," Allura remarked.

"We won't get a better time to take Zarkon out," Shiro said.

Would wonders never cease Maya thought as Lotor killed Zarkon as the tyrant prepared to use the black bayard against the Paladins. She shook her head as she moved to one of the seats. She coughed again. Opened her mouth to try to speak but managed to get out only a croak.

She'd live but the best thing was Matt and Pidge had their father back. That was the most important thing.