Chapter 10 - Best Laid Plans and Blackout. I don't own Voltron Legendary Defender just taking the characters out for a spin. The only character I own is my OC Maya.

This is it the final chapter of The Protector. Thanks again to Puff the Ninja for letting me bounce off ideas. And thank you to everyone who's read and reviewed. They made my day. Thanks, sdkop 21, Megane-chan, and Puff the Ninja.

The completed Teludav sat on the top of a platform with the lions hovering around waiting for the word to launch into space. The Castle of Lions sat nearby dwarfed by the giant wormhole maker.

Kolivan and Antok joined Princess Allura as Maya stood behind her keeping an eye on the two Galra. Even though they said they were allies, Maya knew that sometimes you couldn't trust a person by what they said. She knew first hand that actions spoke louder.

Princess Allura turned to face the new leader of the Olkari. "Thank you, Ryner, for all you and the Okari have done to assist us."

Maya paid scant attention to these functions, she wanted to get on with this and take out Zarkon once and for all. She sighed and whispered softly to herself, "Patience Yields Focus."

She heard Shiro's chuckle in her helmet com, "You too, huh?"

She rolled her eyes and muttered, "Yes."

"Settle down, we'll be in space in due time."

She heard Coran over the cheers from the gathered Olkari, "Princess, it's time."

Maya sat at Shiro's station as the all the Voltron lions' jaws locked onto the Teludav structure. She clasped her hands together as worst-case scenarios came to mind. Her chest tightened. What's wrong with me? She asked herself.

Shiro's face appeared on the screen. "Princess, we are go for launch."

Maya listened to everything that was going on. How could the two Galra be so calm at this moment, she wondered. The castle rose into the sky as the lions followed carrying the Teludav into space.

Shiro stood beneath the holographic images of the Black Lion and the Teludav as he outlined the final plan. "I'll use the Black Lion to lure Zarkon's fleet to our current location and make sure he's within the teludav's area of effect. Keeping the Teludav hidden behind the space-fold until the last possible second is essential."

As the talk continued, Maya found herself losing focus. She didn't know what she would call it, but at that moment she didn't see Shiro standing there where she knew he was. She blinked several times, and he was back where he belonged. Dizziness hit her. She blinked again, and the dizziness passed.

Maya glanced around again. Was this the best plan? How could she know? She wasn't military. She took a deep breath, but her fingers began to tingle, as her mouth went dry. How can they be so calm, she wondered?

Shiro frowned towards Slav, "That's a risk we'll have to take. Once Zarkon's ship is in position, Kolivan and Antok will coordinate with Thace. Together, they'll take out Zarkon's system and upload the virus."

Pidge grinned with that wicked gleam in her eyes. "And he'll be a sitting du-flax."

Everyone stared at the green paladin.

"What? A du-flax is an Altean creature with a beak and webbed feet."

Coran suddenly leaped past Shiro. "We'll wormhole Zarkon five hundred million light years away, and he'll be in the Yggiz Galaxy before he knows what hit him!"

Maya slapped a hand to her face as Pidge leaned over to her, "my sentiments exactly."

Shiro turned to Kolivan, "What about Thace?"

"He should be getting into position now. We received his last communication three quintants ago. We should hear from him soon."

Shiro's gaze was alert as his jaw set in determination. "Let's do it."

Maya stepped forward. He was so much like her own father she couldn't let him just go without a quick word. "Stay safe," she said quietly.

He nodded as he winked at her. He stepped up on the platform and then it lowered and disappeared from view. It returned empty.

The interior of the Black Lion flashed on the screen. "Zarkon took the bait," Shiro said. "He's got my location. Is everybody in position."

"We've not heard from Thace. He was supposed to contact us two vargas ago," Kolivan replied.

Antok added, "He could have been captured."

Kolivan finished, "Or killed. We need to abort the mission immediately."

Allura glared at them, "Abort? No! We cannot back away now."

Antock turned to her, "The Blade of Marmora does not take chances. It's how we've survived for so long."

Maya placed her head in her hands. The animosity was palpable coming from both of the Blades, and Allura was nerve-wracking. Actually, this whole mission was nerve-wracking, and she grit her teeth as they continued sniping at each other. She drew in a deep breath, but there was no way to keep calm during this. "Enough!" she yelled. "This bickering is getting us nowhere. You are adults, act like it!"

She sighed as she sat down at Shiro's station and then slid down in the seat trying to keep the black paladin's eyes off of her.

Keith rose from his seat, "I'll do it."

Allura turned, "What?"

"I'll sneak onto Zarkon's ship. I'm Galra, so I'll be able to interact with their technology. Pidge, you can rig up one of those pods with a cloaking device, right?" Keith asked.

"Well, yeah."

Kolivan turned to the red paladin, "Going onto Zarkon's ship is a suicide mission. I would never command someone so inexperienced to go on a mission so dangerous."

Keith's blue-gray eyes glared back at the Blade of Marmora leader. "No one is commanding me. I'm doing it."

Allura glared at Keith.

But the final say as to what the paladins would do came down to Shiro, "Pidge, get that pod ready. Keith… let me know when you're on your way. I'll give you cover."

Maya knew Shiro didn't want to risk Keith, but even she saw it was the only way. She glanced at the Princess but turned her eyes away. Would Allura ever trust Keith again? She asked herself.

Maya couldn't take her eyes away from the screen. Galra fighters and battlecruisers were trying to trap the Black Lion as Shiro cleared a path for the pod Keith piloted. The trail of explosions led straight to the enemy's command ship.

Allura spoke up for the first time since Keith left the castle. "The plan is working. Keith is on board."

Lance reported, "The Castle of Lions defenses are up and ready to go."

"Starting gravity generator now. Commencing cloak," Slav said.

Maya felt the tension coming from Keith as he traversed through Zarkon's ship. She rubbed at the back of her neck as Kolivan gave him instructions over the com system.

"Okay. You've made it to the lower communications deck. Head left down that corridor."

Antok took over, "Based on the schematics from Thace there should be a large door up ahead. This is the central hub for the Galra fleet."

Keith replied, "I see it."

Maya was torn between her concern for both Keith and Shiro. Both of their emotions were tearing at her. She closed her eyes trying to focus. She leaned forward, "Viho, help us," she whispered softly. A soft touch on her shoulder eased the tension in her body allowing her to focus on what was going on around her.

Shiro's voice came over the com. "I'm two minutes out. Is everybody ready?"

"No, Keith hasn't made it to the hub yet. We need more time."

"How much more time?"

Maya's breath whooshed in and out as she struggled to maintain a semblance of calm. She wanted to get up and pace, but that would alert everyone on the bridge to her state of mind. She glanced around and noticed the other paladins were gone. When did they leave? She thought.

She rubbed at her temple, she heard Keith's voice come over the com. "Kolivan, I'm in, now what?"

"Now you need to reset the system using the codes Thace obtained. It'll be down for a dobash. That's when we'll upload the virus."

Keith replied, "It doesn't seem to be working."

"Try it again."

Maya clenched her hands into fists. She wanted to do something not sit here like a fifth wheel. Chulatt appeared by her foot and squeaked. The mouse climbed up her armored leg to sit in her lap.

She stroked Chulatt's head with a gloved finger as she spoke, "I feel so useless. The Paladins, the Blades, Allura, Coran, and even Slav are all doing something important, and here I sit."

Chulatt squeaked again.

"Are you trying to give me a…" she stopped for a minute. "What is it a pep talk?"

The smallest mouse nodded.

"I don't know what you're trying to tell me but thank you."

Maya had to focus again on what was happening. Her own self-doubt was causing her mind to wander. She heard Lance, "This is getting hairy. How are you doing Keith?"

"The Galra switched the codes. We're trying a workaround."

Lance replied, "We? Who's we?"

"Thace. I found him. I'll explain later."

Shiro's voice came over, "Copy that."

Slav came over the com system. "The gravity generator won't maintain power much longer. If it goes down, we're going to be uncloaked in open space."

Maya stood up. The plan seemed like it was falling apart, as she held Chulatt in her palm.

Alarms blared, "I hate it when I'm right," Slav said. "The gravity generator just lost power! Now there's no reality where we all get out alive!"

Maya licked her lips and realized her palms were sweaty inside her gloves.

Coran talked faster than usual, "Princess, the Teludav is completely exposed."

"We can't wait any longer I'm powering the Teludav now!"

Maya saw the blip on the holographic screen at Coran's station. "The Red Lion just left the castle!"

"The system is down uploading the virus," Kolivan said as his clawed fingers raced over the screen.

Coran's fingers pressed the buttons igniting the engines of the castle that pushed the Teludav as it moved to engulf Zarkon's command ship.

Maya holding Chulatt in the palm of her hand glanced down at the smallest of the space mice, "It's working." She knelt and placed the mouse back down on the deck. "Go find the others and stay with them. You don't need to be in the middle of this."

Chulatt squeaked as he scampered away.

As the last of Zarkon's ship went through the formed wormhole, Princess Allura collapsed to the deck.

Coran yelled, "Everyone, hang on! Here we go!"

The Castle of Lions and the Voltron Lions raced into the wormhole. As they came out on the other side, Coran was at the princess's side.

Shiro's face appeared on the screen, "Coran, how's Allura?"

Coran pressed a finger to feel for her pulse. "Weak but okay."

"You take care of her. We've got it from here."

Maya watched the lions form Voltron and begin to attack the command ship. She couldn't deny that it was a beautiful sight watching Zarkon's ship being slowly dismantled system by system as they struck with the giant sword.

Allura woke in Coran's arms and looked up at the viewscreen. "We've done it," her voice was weak as she spoke. "This is the end of Zarkon's reign."

"Yes, Princess."

Maya gasped as a big dark ball of energy appeared behind Voltron.

Kolivan said, "Oh, no."

As a beam of dark energy blasted toward Voltron Allura screamed, "NO!"

It struck the defender of the universe and bluish energy dispersed from the mechanical warrior.

Coran began calling out as worry tinged his voice, "Paladins! Can you hear me?"

Maya dropped to her knees on the deck, "No," she whispered.

Coran glared accusingly at Kolivan, "I thought the virus shut down all of Zarkon's power!"

Allura replied weakly, "That blast was not from the weapons systems. It was magic."

Kolivan thought about her words for a minute and then nodded to himself. "It must have been the Komar. Zarkon has been trying to develop a device to extract the quintessence from planets. It appears he's succeeded."

Coran's voice trembled, "If it destroys planets, what did it do the paladins?"

Allura clutched at her chest, "Paladins! Shiro! Can you hear me?"

Maya closed her eyes and concentrated on the two paladins she had a link with. She felt both of them and released the breath that she held. They were alive. She opened her eyes, and her mouth dropped open to say something when Shiro's voice came over the com, "Yes, Princess. We're alive."

Coran gasped in relief, "Oh, thank the ancients!"

Allura asked, "Is Voltron operational?"

Keith replied, "I can't move my lion."

"You've been hit with some kind of witchcraft that draws the quintessence out of you," Coran said as he helped Allura stand. "You need to get out of there! Another blast like that and you may not survive!"

Movement on the command ship drew their attention as a hatch opened. A giant mech as big as Voltron emerged with what looked like wings on the back of it and a face that resembled Zarkon.

"Voltron's still not responding," Shiro said.

Allura planted her feet and lifted her chin. She exuded calm, "We must buy them more time. Get us in closer. Divert all power to our weapons system."

Coran jerked as he turned to face her. "What? Princess, we'll be defenseless."

Maya grit her teeth. Why was Coran so difficult all of a sudden? Couldn't he see that if they didn't do something Zarkon would take the Voltron Lions and kill the paladins? She stomped over to Coran's station. She brushed past Kolivan and Antok and pressed the required switches. "Power is diverted. Weapons are charging."

Coran seemed to regain his senses and stepped up to his position but brushed Maya out of the way, gently. He entered the course direction, and the ship moved in closer to Zarkon's position.

She spoke decisively as the castle moved ever closer to Zarkon, "Listen to me. You are true paladins now. Connect with your lions, reach out to each other! Fight! This cannot end now!" She paused for a moment and then yelled, "Fire!"

A beam of bright white energy raced away from the ship striking Zarkon and pushing his mech back until it crashed into his command ship. He managed to pivot his wings until the beam fired back at the castle.

Allura screamed as the ship took a direct hit. The beam stopped as the castle drifted.

Coran opened his eyes as he regained consciousness. He blinked and the memory of what happened flooded into his mind as he realized he was floating around the bridge along with everyone else. He kicked off the bulkhead to reach his princess and reached out to grab her as the momentum knocked him into the opposing wall. "Are you all right, Princess?"

Maya heard his voice, she groaned as she blinked her eyes open. She was now thankful that she wore her armor. She glanced around and found the mice floating. She collected them together and then moved over to Kolivan and Antok as they both began to rouse.

She listened to Coran as he gave the damage report which didn't bode well for the ship. What was worse their communications were down, and they couldn't contact the paladins.

Allura turned to Coran as Slav made his appearance on the bridge. "You and Slav do what you can to get the castle functioning again. Kolivan can you get Maya and me to the Komar?"

"It will be dangerous, but I know a way."

Maya used her jetpack to maneuver to Allura's side. "You and Antok come with Maya and me. We're going to attack the witch directly if we hope to stop that thing. Coran the bridge is yours."

Four personal transport craft shot out of the castle. They flew through space and debris and were not noticed by Zarkon or Voltron who had regained power and was attacking the Galran Emperor with a renewed vigor.

Kolivan flipped a switch and jumped off his transport that shot up and impacted with one of the druids floating platforms. He leaped up distracting the druid as Allura attacked from behind with her staff knocking the hooded and masked druid from the floating platform.

Antok and Maya joined them as the woman in purple robes yelled, "Attack!" Maya closed her eyes as the image of the lab came into her mind along with Haggar's cackling laughter. She forced it away as she crouched and pulled her chakram from off her belt.

Two druids on floating platforms flew at them, Maya threw the chakram, and it impacted with one of the masks slicing it in two as it returned to her hand.

Antok split off from the group taking on one druid by himself, but he couldn't get a chance to kill it because the enemy would disappear in a puff of smoke and reappear in another spot.

Maya held her chakram as she watched Allura and Kolivan team up on one of the druids. They could be killed, and distraction was the key. Shiro's words came back to her as she took a breath, 'Patience yields focus.'

Allura distracted, and with a well-placed sword throw, Kolivan struck it in the chest. It dissolved into a pile of robes.

Antok was struck by a beam of energy from Haggar allowing his opponent to get behind him. A ball of black energy at the druid's fingertips and then a beam of electricity shot through Antok coming out of his chest.

Maya screamed, "NO!"

While Kolivan yelled, "Antok," who dropped to the ground taking one last breath, he died.

Antok's killer came at Maya as a third came out of nowhere. She sensed him and threw her chakram. It struck home where the neck should be and dropped the druid in its tracks. Kolivan, knocked her out of the way as the enemy who killed Antok tried to blast the Zenoxian with a blast of energy.

"Go, help Allura, I'll take care of this one," he said from behind his mask.

Maya nodded to him grateful for the assist. She joined Allura on the platform where Haggar stood.

Maya's upper lip curled back, and her eyes stared at the witch with such intense hatred. This was her chance to finally end this woman before she used the Komar to destroy worlds at her leisure. She threw the chakram distracting Haggar enough for Allura to charge.

The witch avoided the attacks as two balls of energy sprouted from the witch's hand. She threw the balls at Allura and Maya.

Allura dodged the attack but Maya froze for a tick, and the energy struck her. She grunted with both pain and fury. Fury at herself for letting Haggar get in her mind for a minuscule moment.

Allura struck the witch with her staff knocking the woman off her feet and sliding across the platform's surface. The witch turned, and gasps came from both Allura and Maya as the shocked words came out of Allura's mouth, "You're Altean?"

Haggar growled as she rose quickly thrusting out her hand as purple and black energy flowed out at Allura.

Maya didn't blink, this was her job. She jumped in front of the bolt taking the full blast force before it could strike Allura. She crumpled in front of the princess.

Haggar shot another blast of energy. This time striking Allura.

The Altean princess grunted as she absorbed the energy.

Haggar glared at her, "Impossible!" She blasted more dark energy at Allura who blocked the beam as she walked forward toward the witch. The backlash caused Haggar to drop to one knee.

Allura glowed with a purple haze as she stood over Haggar. "You will never destroy another innocent world!" she yelled as she crouched and slammed her hands into the platform and energy flowed and crackled all around her. Beams of energy flared out and struck at the inside structure of the command ship. A beam hit by the druid who looked away as Kolivan struck him with his blade killing him.

The energy grew until it exploded and Haggar disappeared right before the blast. Allura ran to Maya who groaned. Allura helped her to get to her feet.

Kolivan appeared on one of the platforms, "Come on!"

The Princess and the Zenoxian jumped to the platform. "When we get back to the Castle, you need to rest." Maya nodded.

As the Castle of Lions picked them up, Kolivan supported her when Maya suddenly writhed in agony. It was like a million volts of electricity flowed through her body ripping a scream from her throat. She knew, Shiro was in trouble and was there was nothing she could do.

"What's wrong with her?" Kolivan asked as Allura glanced at the Zenoxian.

Maya's body went limp as all the pain ceased. "Shiro," she whispered as the lions returned to the castle, but the red and green lions towed the black lion back onboard the ship.

Allura opened a wormhole, and the castle jumped through it before the Galra fighters reached them.

Keith led the race to the black lion. The doors to the cockpit opened only to find it empty with the black bayard stuck in the weapon slot of the lion.

Lance whispered, "He's gone," as they stood around the pilot's seat.

No one spoke. Maya stumbled in and collapsed to her knees. She slumped over to one side as her mind struggled to grasp the enormity of the situation. With Shiro gone how could they form Voltron and who would lead the paladins?

Maya reached out, and her fingers brushed up against a booted foot. Coran turned around. "Maya?"

Allura knelt, "She's injured from protecting me from Haggar. How she managed to make it here on her own, I don't know."

Hunk bent over and picked her up wincing at the scorch marks on her armor. "How did this happen?"

Allura explained as she joined the paladins and Coran on the walk to the infirmary. As Hunk placed the Zenoxian on the examination table, Coran picked up the medical scanner and turned it on. As it hummed his face screwed up in several different expressions. He looked up from the readings, "She's showing severe signs of exhaustion, shock, and some residual traces of dark energy."

Kolivan stepped into the doorway. "She held her own."

Allura nodded, "Rest, and this time I'll make it an order," she smiled down at Maya taking the sting out of her words. She stepped away from the table and motioned for Coran to join her. "Coran, her actions today have spoken loudly. I would like her to receive the Star of the Gentle Spark."

"Princess, are you sure?"

"Yes."

Lance looked around the room, "Uh… What is this Star of the Gentle Spark?"

Coran twirled his mustache and tugged on it at the same time, "It's Altea's highest non-military award for someone who did an act of bravery in the face of adversity."

Pidge grinned at the others. "Well if staring down the witch who tortured you for two deca-phoebs and stole your ability to mature and then getting blasted by dark energy isn't bravery I don't know what is."

Kolivan's eyebrow rose. "She's the one who nearly drove Haggar mad around the time of Shiro's escape?"

"What do you mean by mad?" Hunk asked.

"After her escape Haggar had patrols searching the cosmos for her. Seems no one even thought that somehow, she managed to join with you. But I came to report, I received a message Lotor has been called in to take over for Zarkon."

"Who's Lotor?" Lance asked.

"Zarkon's son."