AN: AU technically starts near the end of season seven but future chapters will be sort of a stand alone from the series. Will update as ideas come.
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Once the Lions fell from the sky there was a mad rush to get to them.
Two MFEs were sent to the ocean while the other two went to the forest and desert. The Black and Yellow Lions landed near other personnel so medical vehicles were dispatched immediately.
As soon as the Atlas came back online they went to the skies to take out the Galra fighters close to the base. The size of the Atlas' robot form was much heavier than a lion but its arm canon was definitely enough to wipe out an entire fleet of battleship cruisers, let alone fighters. Shiro kept his hands on the panel despite the throbbing of his ribs. Instinctually he understood that he was the one that awoke the Castle's crystal aka the brain of the Atlas but he still needed the others to help maneuver it.
It was far too large for just one person.
"Veronica, call out the fighter locations as they come. Coran, adjust the Atlas' position to match."
"Yes captain!"
"Leifsdottir to Atlas. The Green Lion has been located."
"Rizavi here. I found the Red Lion." There was a half groan. "It's so freaking hot."
"The desert is hot. Duly noted," Shiro distractedly murmured as he looked at the locations of the other two MFEs. They were still moving towards the ocean. "Land rovers, report."
"The Black Lion just opened its mouth. Retrieving its paladin."
"Likewise with the Yellow Lion."
"Good. Don't worry about getting the Lions. They'll follow their paladins when they come back online."
"Copy."
"Yes sir."
"Captain, we need the arm canon!"
"Iverson, fire on my count. Three." Sweat formed along Shiro's brow as he focused his energy into the panel. He could hear the crystal hum behind him. "Two, one!"
They all braced as the blazing yellow beam shot out.
"Incredible," Sam breathed from his line.
"Griffin to Atlas. The Blue Lion's signal's getting weaker."
Shiro looked at the screen tracking the paladins and MFEs. He frowned as Allura's blue tracker flickered. There was no way the ocean's current was strong enough to be interfering with the Lion. However...
"Veronica, pull up a map of that area's ocean floor."
Veronica quickly tapped open another holo-screen. It felt so strange to not be touching an actual glass screen. The Atlas was capable of more than they could ever imagine. Her eyes widened at what she saw before putting it up on the big screen for Shiro to see.
"Quiznak," Coran muttered.
"Griffin." Shiro frowned at the screen. "The Blue Lion's falling down a deep trench."
"I don't know if the MFE planes can go underwater."
"Stay above the Blue Lion. I'll get back to you shortly." Shiro switched comm links. "Sam, can the MFEs do deep sea diving?"
"We hadn't thought to test that."
"They're secure to go into deep space."
"Yes...but space and water pressure are different Shiro."
"I need you to run the numbers. The Blue Lion has limited air supply and the further down it falls the more pressure will be placed on the planes."
"Ok. Just give me ten ticks."
Shiro would have smiled at the alien time usage if it wasn't so dire. "Coran, open a line to the Blue Lion."
There was nothing. Not even static.
"Are her earrings the same frequency?"
"They're similar but they were linked to the Castle." Coran turned to look up at Shiro. "Though the old Castle is technically powering this ship. Let me see if I can reconfigure it."
"Shiro," Sam called out, "the MFE fighters' exteriors would remain intact but their thrusters would only work in a shallow depth." He sighed. "I'm sorry. I never thought that they'd be used underwa-"
"Don't Sam. You did more than enough."
"Shiro," Coran voiced out without completely hiding the concern. "There's only static."
Shiro closed his eyes. They didn't have time for this. I refuse to believe this is all we can do.
"How many fighters are out here?"
Veronica calculated the remaining field. "Most of the cruisers have pulled out but there are still groups of fighters flying around."
"Victory or death," Shiro muttered.
"What was that sir?"
"Nothing. Griffin, Leifsdottir, Rizavi. I need you to hustle to the Atlas. Kinkade, fall back to the coastal base. See if there's anything that will let you go underwater. Time is not on our side."
"Copy sir."
"10-4."
"Veronica, we need to hit them hard until the MFEs arrive. Get me the largest group of fighters."
"Sir, the northeast sector."
"Coran."
"On it Captain."
"Iverson." Shiro powered up the Atlas again. "Fire!"
"Direct hit! Stragglers are headed westbound."
"Keep going Iverson!"
The yellow beam shot out again. In the middle of focusing his energy, Shiro felt a pull. The beam sputtered out as Shiro's focus was drawn inward. Ever since Allura pulled his soul into her own body he could feel her essence when it was heightened in emotion. But he hadn't felt it from so far away before.
This time her energy felt weak.
"Captain -!"
The Atlas tilted as a fighter crashed into it. He grunted as he tightly gripped the edge of the panel with his new right arm. He deeply frowned. He couldn't control when he felt her but he did know...He couldn't be steering the Atlas in this state.
The crystal thrummed behind him.
"Atlas crew, we're shifting back!"
Gears groaned and plates shifted. The transformation took very little time. Shiro sighed to himself as the strain was taking its toll. He was going to change the Atlas' form anyways.
"Captain, I've found a small sub." Kinkade voiced out calmly. "I've downloaded the basic manual. There's an autopilot option that I can enable once I've entered the Blue Lion's coordinates."
"That's great. Sam, can you help Kinkade with that?"
"Of course Shiro."
"Coran," Shiro let go of the panel, "take the bridge."
"Captain?"
Shiro already walked away. Once out of the control room he put a hand to his forehead. He took a long breath in and then out. Allura. He hadn't tried to purposefully reach out to her. But now he needed to. Her spirit needs bolstering. She needed the reassurance that they were looking for her.
There was the Astral Plane. Maybe I - no.
He couldn't go into the Astral Plane without the bond of a Lion. And the comms aren't working. He fisted both hands. The Blades were being hunted. The Voltron Coalition was mostly gone. He technically lost Adam before Kerberos but it was now permanent.
While Allura and him...
They used to be close before the whole clone mess - and the small matter of dying. It was something he had been acutely aware of but not in a position to fix. There were more pressing matters like needing to find a way out of deep space. Then they needed a way to sneak onto Earth. And save it. They had moments here and there but judging by his inability to reach out to her it obviously hadn't been enough.
He hit the wall in frustration as his head bowed down.
His eyes widened as a familiar energy pulsed inside of him. He closed his eyes as he clung onto that connection. Hold on. We're looking for you. He frowned to himself as the energy started to slip away. It needed to be stronger. Something worth hanging on for. He felt his chest tighten as he allowed a barrier to slip down, just this once.
I can't lose you too.
He kept pushing that sentiment towards her energy with as much feeling as he dared to. His mind and heart weren't as fragile as before but it was still a risk for him to reveal so much and during a time like this. He didn't know how long he stood there with his forehead and fisted hands against the wall.
Her essence branched along his emotional barrier.
He kept it down. Let her peer inside. When he felt a flicker of her essence grow he didn't care what anyone thought he was doing out here. He felt his eyes sting as her energy grew warm. Her tentative happiness spread throughout his body.
"Captain."
His barrier went up instinctively, cutting off the connection.
"Veronica. What is it?"
"Kinkade found Allura."
He faintly smiled. "That's good to hear."
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"Captain Shirogane."
Shiro looked away from the orange screen Sam was drawing his attention to. The Atlas' robot form was still very much unexplored and unknown, something that both excited and vexed Sam Holt. As the co-designer of the IGF Atlas he wasn't comfortable with them sailing out into open space without knowing what arsenals and abilities were available.
As the former pilot of the Black Lion, the challenge the Atlas posed made Shiro feel alive. Once again he had purpose. A calling. The Atlas allowed him to protect those unable to help themselves. Some had asked him about whether he was considering retiring. The question made him laugh inside.
He wouldn't know what he'd do with himself if he wasn't piloting.
"What is it officer?"
The teen kept his stance. "The Blue Paladin has requested your presence, sir."
That got his attention. "Thank you. I'll be there shortly."
The officer gave a salute and then walked off the bridge. The other paladins were still bedridden but had awoken from their unconscious states half a week ago. The princess was the only one remaining. Altean brain activity was similar to humans but different enough to leave the doctors puzzled as to what was wrong. Though being blasted by a self destructing mech then almost drowning was bound to have several unknown consequences.
"Allura's awake." Sam gave his shoulder a squeeze. "That's fantastic news."
"Yes it is." Shiro pulled out his orange Garrison phone. "Coran was supposed to alert m-" his phone pinged. Shiro shook his head as the older Altean took a blurry selfie with Allura on the bed. "And there it is." He softly chuckled as another photo was sent. Allura was clearly drained but it didn't stop her from glaring at Coran. "Mind if we take a break?"
"By all means. The Atlas isn't going anywhere."
Shiro came to Allura in full uniform complete with his Garrison beret.
Her eyes traced the badges and medals along his broad shoulders and chest. She wasn't all that familiar with Earth's military but even she, an outsider, could acknowledge the impressive sight he made.
"Coran tells me you're the Atlas' captain."
He took his hat off as he closed her door behind him. She watched as some silver locks came loose from the rest of the slicked back hairstyle. He stood by her bedside with a small smile.
"Unless you want to be. After all, we came to get you a new castle."
"A castle requires a monarch." She lightly touched her bare forehead before folding her hands on top of the blanket. "I am a Paladin. In any case," she smiled at him, "I could not think of anyone more suited to be its captain."
"You don't need a crown to be royalty."
"I do not. It's in my veins." She primly tilted her chin. "At the moment the universe needs the Blue Paladin more. I can wait a little longer for my castle."
"The Atlas isn't your style."
"...It is rather large. And gray."
He felt a grin on his face. "With absolutely no sparkling."
"You're fortunate you are teasing the paladin and not the princess," she pouted.
He crossed his arms. "You can't punish me."
"I cannot." She turned her head towards the window. "You might like the attention."
Now they were getting to the heart of the matter. He lifted a leg up to rest along his knee. He put his folded hands on top as he looked her over. Her hair was definitely brushed. He could tell by the way it shined in the light that she took care in doing so. Her face was washed too.
He'd be lying if he said he didn't check his appearance before coming over.
"I remember what I felt." She turned her head back to him. "From you. Through our soul bond."
"Ah."
She nearly rolled her eyes. "Is that truly all you have to say?"
"Yes."
"Takashi Shirogane," her eyes narrowed dangerously, "if you think I'll accept one word answers from you after all we've been throu-"
He uncrossed his legs to lean over her. Her words halted as he placed a quick kiss on her cheek. She rapidly blinked at the suddenness. He stood up and slipped his beret back on.
"Once you're better I'll take you out." He paused at the door as a thought occurred. "But that shouldn't prevent us from having dinner. Does tomorrow sound good?"
"Dinner-Tomorrow? I suppos-" her eyes narrowed as she regained her composure. "Tonight."
"Six?"
"Eight."
He slowly nodded his head. "Seven it is."
Her cheeks flared red as he left but not solely out of annoyance. She leaned back on her pillow, feeling lighter than air. Then she narrowed her eyes as a thought occurred.
I don't have anything to wear.
She was going to have to remedy that.
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AN: Ok...so there are season seven ideas floating in my head that don't fit in my other stories due to tone and/or genre and/or they're Shallura ideas. XD Hopeless romantic, I know. Don't get me started. But I've labelled it as an AU so that covers it right? :3
I'm still trying to wrap my head around how the Atlas works. It's HUGE. As badass as Shiro is, I don't think he can pilot that by himself, like health wise. Plus, it would be pretty moot to have that whole control room if Shiro's the only person doing something. No 'I' in team.
I make no promises on chapter lengths. Some might be shorter. Some might be longer. This one is semi long to set up the story. :)