The Atlas was busier than usual, as today was the day the five handpicked interns would be arriving. Rooms were being prepared and teams were being briefed on the latest Alien activity in the Milky Way. Security was having background checks on every single guard. Nothing was being overlooked, if you had even a speeding ticket you were removed from the premises then and there.

The former Paladins were all gathered in a conference room off to the side, where they wouldn't be disturb. Their Garrison issued uniforms were freshly pressed the colors bright and bold just as if it was the first time they had put them on.

"When I was looking over the profiles I noticed that the selected few are around our age when we found the blue lion," Pidge said, closing the file that was sitting in front of her. All these years she had kept her hair short, it was nice not having to move it out of the way all the time and even ten years later she was still rocking the look. If you're wondering yes, she still has the glasses on her face. The look just wasn't complete without it.

"I noticed that too," Lance said running a hand through his mocha colored hair, he sighed, "Brings back good memories," he says smiling sadly.

For the first time that day the room seemed to freeze as silence settled over the room. Not a single person spoke as they met one another's eyes sharing a knowing look.

It's been so long...

It had been ten years since the loveable, amazingly heroic Altean had sacrificed herself to save the entire universe. Everyone had mourned the Paladins loss, even those who didn't know her at all. The news of what she had done reached everyone's ears. They not only mourned her death but also celebrated her life and all she had accomplished to bring peace to the universe.

"I remember the first time we met, she practically ripped Lance's arm off," Hunk says chuckling his hand landing firmly on Lance's shoulder. The others chuckled softly at Hunk's comment, the corners of their mouths starting to turn upward,

"If I'm being honest I can still feel it from when she jerked my arm back," he deadpanned rolling his shoulders back.

"That was a joy to watch," Keith says smirking from across the table.

"Watch it mullet,"

"It's not really a mullet anymore..." Pidge mumbled as she ruffled through some papers, which in turn got a laugh from Shiro.

Shiro quickly composed himself suppressing a smirk as he called the former Paladins back to attention.

"Everyone knows which interns are shadowing them, correct?" Shiro asked. He and his team had been working hard for three weeks making sure that everything would go off without a hitch. If it was up to him he would have congratulated everyone already, but he knew that the first phase wouldn't be complete until The Atlas was in space. Getting a large spacecraft to launch was a lot harder than it looked.

Hunk and Pidge nod their heads looking over their files one last time before closing them and handing them to Shiro.

The three of them turn their heads to Keith and Lance. Keith closes his folder a few seconds later handing it to Shiro. Lance sits there a hand resting under his chin.

Pidge cleared her throat, causing Lance to look up to find everyone looking at him with a questioning look in their eyes.

"Sorry I was just rereading, making sure I read everything correctly," he says as he hands the folder to Shiro.

"At least your being smart when it counts, we wouldn't want you to make a fool of yourself," Pidge commented adjusting her glasses.

"No, it wasn't that," Lance replied glaring at Pidge. He stood up adjusting his uniform, "It's something about the intern that's shadowing me," He looks up, "It was just really interesting is all."

At that moment the door slid open and Sam Holt poked his head in.

"I hope I'm not interrupting anything, but the interns are here," Sam said his hand pointing back behind him.

Shiro shook his head, "You're not interrupting at all, in fact, we were just finishing."

XxX

I sigh as we arrive at the Garrison, I didn't want to be here. I just wanted to go home to live a normal life. I blew air out of my nose as I kept myself from laughing.

Normal.

My life changed from normal about ten years ago. I live with that constant reminder every day. if anything I did not want this internship aboard the Atlas. My life was destroyed the moment the Galra and Voltron arrived on Earth and if they think that they can change-

My thoughts were interrupted as my mother's hand gently strokes my cinnamon-colored hair. "You okay sweetie?" she asks her voice soft.

It was always like that warm and inviting, she was the kind of person you could tell anything to and she would listen with an understanding heart. As the years went by she seemed the same, although on the inside I could tell she was breaking. Little glimpses of her hurt were shown to me when she would become angry for no reason. I could tell it was all the stress she was under from her job to everything going on at home, and because of that I tended not to unload on her and I helped out when I could.

"Yeah I'm fine," I say giving a small smile.

"No, you're not," she says. She gives me a smile, "I can tell because you're biting your lip repeatedly."

I smiled into my lap. She knew me too well, "I just really miss him." I say meeting her tender gaze. I could feel my lip start to tremble and I bit it, but that didn't stop the tears from building up. I could feel them threating to spill over as I tried to hold myself together for her sake.

" I do too. So, So much," she whispered her hand not stopping the comforting stroke on my hair, "And I also know that you blame them for what happened, but you don't need to."

I opened my mouth to protest my hand raised to point at the building in front of us, but before I could get a word out she placed a finger over my lips.

"Kiera, this will be a good opportunity for you to get away for a little bit, maybe relax a little?" she asked looking to gain my attention again.

"What about you?"

She smiled softly cupping my cheek, "You're only eighteen, you shouldn't be worrying about me. You still have your whole life ahead of you!"

"My life ended the day the Galra invaded," I grumbled my eyes narrowing. I looked at my hands resting in my lap.

She frowned at the comment and tilted my head to look back at her. Her face was somber, and her eyes were dimmed, as she searched my eyes for a way to comfort me.

if she thought she could take away all the hurt I was feeling, the anger I was feeling, then I wasn't going to wait around. As soon as she pulled out of the lot, I'll call a taxi and go anywhere but here. I knew one thing for sure I was not getting on that ship...

"If you won't do it to take a break, do it for him."

I sighed, "Okay," No matter what she thinks or anyone else thinks. I wasn't happy about climbing aboard that ship.

As I approached I was mentally cursing myself for allowing to be so easily swayed. I'm honestly surprised she got me in the car this morning.

XxX

I was just about to enter the main conference room to greet the interns before liftoff when Pidge came running up.

"Shiro..." She said out of breath. She leaned over her hands resting on her knees as she caught her breath. "I just ran from the bridge-" she stood up- "and we just picked something up on our long distance scanners that you need to see immediately."

I nodded sensing the edge in her voice, "I'm right behind you."

Pidge led him through the halls to the bridge at a brisk pace. The interns were going to have to wait just a little bit longer. I felt so dumb thinking that everything was going to go smoothly. Something just HAD to go wrong, and in the last few minutes before liftoff too.

We arrived on the Bridge and a holographic screen was pulled up allowing everyone in the room to see it.

On the screen before us was a Galra battlecruiser sitting on the edge of the Milky Way. It was just sitting there not doing anything. Then almost instantly a wormhole appeared and it disappeared through it.

I stood there entirely shocked. That was the first time anyone had seen any Galra related ships or tech since we had defeated them the First time. So now that we are seeing a Galra battlecruiser we have no idea what their intentions are.

"Not a word about this to the interns or anyone outside this room. Is that understood?" I said jumping into my leadership role naturally.

The entire room nodded their heads understanding the importance of the issue and the need for secrecy.

"We will continue with the launch as planned if anything goes south we lead them away from Earth not towards it. The people here have suffered enough." I wasn't about to let my home planet go through another invasion and I hoped my crew felt the same.