AN: Ok, I didn't finish. And none of you are surprised. There's just waaaay too much to try to cover in one chapter and within such a tight writing timeline. XD

SH

SH

SH

Colleen returned to her room to see Sam by the window sill.

She stayed by the entrance to the sitting area for an awkward amount of time. Sam's eyes were tired like he barely slept and his beard a little unkempt. She was getting strong deja vu of the first night after their reunion when she had to call over his therapist. He offered her a small, sympathetic smile.

"Colleen. I'm sorry I -"

He grunted as she hugged him tight.

"Stop disappearing," she quietly, sharply, murmured.

He closed his eyes with a sigh. "I don't do it on purpose."

She held on tighter. He put his arms around her. They stayed like that for a good while. Then his Garrison phone sounded out. He kept his other arm around her as he answered.

"Katie honey. Yes, I'm sorry I was unavailable. Iverson and I - " Pause. "I'll be right there." He looked down at the top of Colleen's bowed head. "I need to go."

"Ok." She slowly dropped her arms but took his hand instead. "Where to?"

"The server room. Katie and Allura are about to transfer Sendak's memories to Allura's imaging device."

A glint entered her eyes at the thought of getting a look of the monster attacking Earth.

"Then let's go."

They walked out to the server room with no interruptions. Katie stood by a tower of servers while Allura fiddled with something on the table.

"Dad - and mom. Are you sure-"

"I'm not going anywhere sweetheart," Colleen evenly said with a stubborn set of her shoulders.

"I wasn't trying to kick you out," Pidge put her hands up in peace, "It's just, if this works, you'll see Sendak. Well, a hologram of him but it'll be his full form. He's pretty tall and nasty."

"His eyes are rather intense," Allura murmured.

"Psh. That's an understatement."

"Katie..." Sam frowned. "You've met Sendak before?"

Allura and Pidge shared a glance and then looked down.

"Yeah dad." Pause. "Can I tell you later? We need to get this going."

"...Alright."

Pidge tapped her phone screen. "This should do it..."

The hologram device hummed and then shot out a blue light. Colleen thought she had been prepared for what she would see but the sheer height and build of the hologram threw her off. His hovering prosthetic was clawed and massive and his eyes - there were no pupils or irises she could see but in his eyes she could feel the intensity of his malice.

She took an involuntary step back. No one said anything. Sam simply stood up to put an arm around her.

"How does this work?"

"We ask him questions."

"Ok," Sam went for a test. "Who are you?"

The hologram flickered and the figure moved his mouth.

"I am Commander Sendak," the hologram rumbled out with clear pride, "soldier and loyalist of the true Galran emperor, Zarkon."

"Oh it's working," Pidge flatly said.

No one could second guess that response.

It was late.

Shiro and James were sitting right in front of the Wall. James had his knees drawn up as he blankly stared at all the names. He doubted James would be getting any sleep tonight. Some light footsteps alerted him to a newcomer but Shiro did not turn his head. He had a feeling who it was but would let them come here when they were ready.

"It's my fault James." Shiro quietly sighed. "The issue of Sendak is leftover from when I was the leader of Voltron. I can't express how sorry I am."

James kept his head straight but his eyes moved to Shirogane.

"I want to understand," he murmured.

"We want to explain," Shiro frowned, "but just talking about it -" sigh. "A lot of it you had to be there to understand. We can tell you as many details as we can, draw it all out but there's going to be a huge part of that will not be properly told."

"Which is why we're showing," came Lance's voice.

James and Shiro turned around to find Kosmo and Lance.

"What do you mean?" Shiro asked.

"Keith and I were discussing it while hunting," Lance put a hand to his chin. "And that was the best answer we came up with. Hunk and Coran are almost done adjusting the headbands as we speak."

"Oh," Shiro's eyes widened in realization. "That could work."

"What are you guys talking about?" James tiredly asked.

"Exactly," Lance pointed at James.

Shiro gave James a sympathetic expression at Lance's lack of explanation.

"The paladins have headbands for image training," Shiro explained. "It connects them through their minds but usually one has to clear their thoughts and focus on the training."

"But," Lance picked up from there, "we're going to transmit those thoughts and memories instead of letting them drift away."

"To us?" Griffin asked in disbelief.

"Yup. Though one paladin at a time."

"...You guys don't have to do that."

"We should." Lance slightly shrugged. "It's the least we can do."

Shiro clasped James' shoulder. "If you are willing."

"I am. But I'll need to discuss with the others." James pulled out his phone and did a group message. It didn't take long for responses to come back. "We're ready to start."

"Whoa. We can totally do this later. You've been through a lot."

"There really isn't time." Griffin stood up. "It's not like any of us are sleeping tonight."

"Go then." Shiro half smiled. "I'll be there later."

Griffin walked away with Lance. Kosmo stayed close to Shiro.

"Keith."

A shadowed figure stepped out into the light. Kosmo and Shiro watched as the Black Paladin walked over in nearly inaudible steps and then plopped down on the ground where James used to sit.

"You didn't go with them," Shiro observed out loud.

Keith shrugged. "We're starting with Lance and Hunk's memories."

"So you're not avoiding Griffin?"

"I'm giving him space." Keith put his hand on the wolf. Kosmo let out a low groan and put his head against Keith's leg. "Sendak's my problem Shiro."

"Keith -"

"You can't take the blame," the Black Paladin sternly said. "I won't let you."

"I was the one that released his cryopod into space."

"And I saw him at the Kral Zera but let him go."

They stared off silently.

"I need to face him Keith," Shiro quietly, firmly said. "I don't know when. And I don't know how. But I want to."

"For Adam."

"Not just him, but for all of Earth," Shiro lowly murmured. "And for myself."

"...I understand. But at that time, if anything points to you in trouble I'm stepping in." Keith's pupils slitted a little. "All gloves are off when it comes to Sendak."

"But nothing questionable. You're a fulltime paladin now. The way the victory is won matters especially when you're in the light."

"This is Voltron," Keith wry said. "Not the Blades."

"I respect what the Blades have done."

"But they fight however they need to. They're always in the dark."

"Maybe that can change."

"...Maybe."

"Hello Pilot 2."

Griffin frowned as Coran looked at him. "Uh, my name's James Griffin."

"Oh I know."

"Coran ranks by height," Hunk explained without looking away from the headset in his hands. "Though he calls us 'Number' instead of 'Pilot."

"There can't be multiple Number whatever," Coran guffawed. "That will only invite chaos."

"Grif's our leader though." Rizavi tilted her head. "Shouldn't he be Pilot 1?"

Leifsdottir looked over all of them, pitted stats and then nodded.

"If Griffin's two, it is ranked by height."

"That's ridicu-" Rizavi began to laugh.

"It's totally what it is," Lance grinned.

The MFEs blinked at that.

"How do you do that?" Nadia murmured to Ina in awe. "It's like you can read people's minds."

Leifs gave a small shrug.

"So if I'm two then -"

"Kinkade is One," Coran rambled off without looking, "Rizavi Three and Leifsdottir Four. Though with Pilot Three her hair is up so her true height may bump her to Four."

"I'll take Three."

"Ah hah!" Hunk lifted up the headband with a smile. "It's ready!"

"Ok," Lance turned to the MFEs, "we're going to start with my memories but nothing too crazy. There's a lot to take in so don't expect to know everything tonight."

"There's five headbands," Hunk stood up. "But only one will transmit the memories. The other four are set to only receive."

"Typically it's a two way street," Lance added. "But there's not really time to teach you guys to streamline your thoughts. Otherwise it's a jumbled mess in the beginning."

"But that's not really fair is it?" James murmured.

"It's ok. If you guys want to share later we can teach you. But for now, let's just do it like this."

"Here's the switch Lance," Hunk pointed to a tiny toggle on the side. "Right for one way, left for two way street. The other ones are already set."

"Ok. We should sit down for this."

The MFEs and Lance went to the couch but sat down on the floor.

"Give me a sec to clear my mind," Lance murmured. "Don't put them on yet."

"So it'll work best if only one of you asks the questions," Hunk said as Lance put on the headset. "That way Lance can focus on what to show you."

"I'll ask," James said.

"Ok. Ready when you are Lance."

The image projected in front of Lance was a beach with the waves crashing. He kept his eyes closed as he gave the thumbs up.

"You may take the headsets off at anytime," Coran said. "No side effects will occur."

"Which is a rarity with space stuff," Hunk muttered.

The MFEs looked to each other and then slipped the headsets on. Coran told them to close their eyes. Griffin took a breath in and then asked his first question. Which, in hindsight, probably could have gone later.

"Why don't your armor colors match your lions?"

Instantly, the MFEs were hit with memories.

There were quick bursts of a fight in space, electricity all around the Blue Lion's cockpit, Shiro yelling - a flutter of anxiety as they stared at an empty cockpit of the Black Lion -

A dinner with only the four paladins. Several alien races were across the table. Allura is in her dress looking pretty. Kolivan - Galran. Blade leader. A grumpy good guy - stands grimly on the other side of the table. Keith suddenly bangs the table and yells. The paladin storms off - what a temper.

It jumps to the Blue Lion's barrier as Lance pleaded.

'Come on Blue. I'm sorry. I didn't mean it.'

Coran and Hunk looked at the frowns on the MFEs faces. That wasn't a good question to begin with. By the images on Lance's silent projection they could see that it was only bringing up more questions than answers.

"How about you start at the beginning Lance?" Hunk suggested. "The night we found Shiro?"

The projection halted. The image was of himself and Pidge.

In the MFEs mind's, they heard Lance's voice from the memory.

'I'm a pilot! Oh yeah! Hasta la later Keith!'

The beginning was simpler.

But now the questions were getting specific and Sendak's answers were getting more terrifying by the second. Colleen kept her grip on Sam as she listened to it all. Pidge led the questioning. Sam and Allura chimed in as follow up questions came. They were now in a steady stream of questions. The recording on Pidge's screen stayed up throughout it all.

"If a planet refuses to give up, we annihilate it. But only one has done so." Sendak's voice lowly rumbled out, "Altea."

There was a tight pause. Allura didn't look away from Sendak's form.

"...Were you there?" she asked. It was highly personal. She couldn't help it. "Did you have a hand in Altea's destruction?"

The hologram kept his head raised in pride.

"I have been by my emperor's side since the beginning. For that loyalty, I was granted treatments of quintessence."

Allura's hand quietly bent the metal table's edge.

"Do you remember the people you've killed? Do you feel even the slightest iota of remorse for those that suffer from your actions?"

Sendak's hologram looked down at her directly.

"Do you feel remorse when you get rid of insects?"

She quickly shut off the hologram. "I'm sorry. I need a break."

She walked off before anyone could say anything.

Shiro was called away.

Keith and Kosmo stayed in front of the Wall for a long time. His thoughts were somber. Keith idly wondered how Krolia and Kolivan were doing. Were they able to save more Blades? He hoped so. They've sacrificed too much to be completely destroyed like this. Blades were cautious and meticulous. It's what kept them alive for so long. But with Voltron's disappearance- Keith sighed. They stepped in when we disappeared. Despite being hunted. Despite the odds and high percentage of failure.

They were the real heroes. They didn't deserve to be forgotten.

His phone sounded out. Kosmo flicked an ear but kept his eyes closed. Keith quietly pulled it out. It was an unknown number. He answered it. He highly doubted solicitors would be calling at a time like this.

"Kogane."

"Griffin," his brows shot up in surprise.

"We've seen Lance and Hunk's memories. Pidge and Allura are busy. So...we need yours. And Shirogane's."

"...I don't think Shiro will be ready to share."

"I somewhat understand."

Keith gripped Kosmo's fur. "Are you sure? About being in my head?"

"No," James tersely said. Then he sighed and his voice came out more evenly. "But if we're going to be fighting together we need to understand one another."

"Ok. I'll be right over."

Keith looked to Kosmo. The wolf teleported them.

Allura hadn't meant to wander over here.

She just needed to get away. Be anywhere else but in that room with that monster. Hearing Sendak talk like that made her feel small. Insignificant. He was a relic of the past and it showed in the way he displayed his full Galra lineage, in the way he spoke of Zarkon and the 'fire of purification.'

The Galra had always been militaristic. When she knew them they were proud but honorable. She used to admire the way Paladin Zarkon fought in the sparring ring with her father and the others. She could even recall asking him to teach her something.

The thought turned her stomach now.

All these thoughts in her head made her wanted to do something. Anything. So she took down a prosthetic and tucked herself away in a side room. The design was advance, even in space. A bit bulky but she realized that it was due to an armored design. This arm was meant for battle. Protection. A shield against evil.

Her hands glowed over it without having to think about it.

"You called me?" She kept her back to the doorway as Shiro entered. "I thought you were with Sam and Pidge."

"I was." Her hands stopped glowing. She could let the Earth power do the rest. "Sendak's memories were hard to hear. But it reminded me of something my father once said." She turned slowly to him. "There are those that destroy. And those that create."

Shiro's eyes widened at the arm on the table. "Is that for me?"

"Of course. How else will you fly a fighter?"

He looked away for a moment. He didn't forget that she had been there when he practically spilled out all of his insecurities while strangling the Admiral.

"Only the MFE fighters can go against the Galra."

She nodded her understanding. "There may not be a fighter for you yet but I am certain there will be one in the future. You are meant to fly, Shiro. I can feel it."

"..."

She sighed softly. "Black didn't abandon you." At his wary look she added, "I may not be her paladin but I am in tune to Voltron as a whole." She closed her eyes as she recalled what she felt the moment she pulled Shiro out of Black. "She was reluctant to let you go but she feared what her bond would do to you should you continue to be connected." She opened up her eyes. "You were in her consciousness for much longer than she thought."

Shiro closed his eyes. He couldn't recollect his entire time in the Black Lion. It was confusing when he first became aware of himself. And then where he was. He could have easily gone mad. But Black was always there. She was besides him whenever he felt like he couldn't go on like this anymore. She gave him strength but more importantly she gave him hope.

"...I think the separation hurt because my essence started melding into her."

"Yes. I can see that." Allura gave him a sad smile. "You deserved a second chance to live but she wouldn't have wanted your essence to be lost."

"So she severed our tie."

"She did what she thought was best. You had given your all to do damage to Zarkon." Allura laid a brief hand along his arm, "You saved her from his poisonous bond. So she saved you in return."

"...I hadn't thought of it like that."

"I did not think so," she ruefully smiled.

Adam suddenly came to mind.

Shiro thought of that moment so many times. He even considered why he had just sat there, letting his fiancé walk away. There was a force telling him to go to space. It was his dream, for sure, but also...something else. He furrowed his brows. Did I go to spare him? His disease had progressed faster than he had anticipated. The end wouldn't have been pretty, that he was sure. Maybe Black and I are more similar than I thought.

"All we can do is what we think is best," Shiro murmured.

"But not alone."

Shiro softly huffed. "I didn't say I wouldn't take the arm."

Allura shrugged. "You did not say you would."

He stepped up to get a better look. "Thank you."

"This is what Altean alchemy is for." She leaned against the table a little. "It would be an honor to do what I was born to do."

"I'll gladly be your guinea pig."

"...what in heavens is that?"

He couldn't help but laugh at her confused expression.

When Keith arrived, the lounging room was empty.

All except for Griffin.

On the low table was a headband for him. Keith slowly approached. Kosmo ran off somewhere probably to nudge Hunk for more rabbit jerky or stew.

"Are the others coming?"

"No," James merely said.

Keith was in front of James but he did not take the headband.

"I was a Blade for a while. Do you know what that is?"

"A rebel group of spies fighting against the Galran empire."

Keith slowly nodded. "So you know."

"What?"

"That the Blades are Galran. That I'm Galran."

"...Lance and Hunk failed to mention that."

"Don't blame them. They probably weren't sure if they should tell you."

"Why wouldn't they?"

"The Galra are attacking Earth."

"Led by Sendak. Not the Blades."

"..."

"You didn't think I'd blindly hate everyone from space did you?"

Keith crossed his arms. "You didn't give us the warmest of welcomes."

"Yeah. Well, that was me being petty." Griffin scratched the back of his neck. "I'm...sorry about that. Though I can't speak for the rest of the Garrison."

Keith scoffed at that. "It'll take a while."

"It's just...different. People have a hard time adjusting to different. You know?"

"Yeah. Sorry about your dad."

"...I don't - I can't really talk about that yet."

"I understand."

Griffin knew he did. And that made this feel a little easier.

"So are we going to share or braid hairs?"

"Never the second option."

Griffin let out a half grin but it didn't reach his eyes. Keith wordlessly sat down across from him on the floor.

"So how does this work?"

"I ask questions. You share the memory."

"...There are some memories I'm not ready to share."

James shrugged. "I'm sure Lance and Hunk withheld some too."

Keith put on the headband first. Griffin waited for his ok.

"Let me know if I need to stop," Keith warned.

That made James uneasy but it was too late to turn back.

"Start from the beginning," Griffin murmured. "When Shiro went missing."

Keith took a breath in and then released the memory.

Admiral Sanda woke up.

Her eyes were heavy with sleep. She couldn't recall the last time she had slept for so long. Slowly, the dream of a foreign field with magenta flowers drifted away from her recollection. My head feels...light. She breathed in. It felt like she hadn't breathed in months.

It felt good.

She slipped out of her bed. Went about her usual routine. She put on her uniform while looking in the mirror. She could barely see the bruising around her neck from Shirogane. Oddly enough, she wasn't as angry about that as she thought she would be. Out of habit she patted her pockets. The unclaimed dog tags clinked inside. She carried them constantly except when resting. She buttoned up her collar and then walked out.

There was work to be done.

SFH

SFH

SFH

AN: Like I said in the last chapter I might do bonus chapters later on.

I'll be honest, once I see the last season it might take me a while to finish this up. My prospective will undoubtedly change. That's why I wanted to finish before the season came out but of course it came out a lot sooner than I thought it would. XD

4/13/19 note: I'm putting the paladin/mfe memory sharings in a separate story, "Coming Home." I have James and Keith's memory sharing up so far and hope to add Pidge's soon. I don't want to stray from SFH's focus/pacing so this is the solution I came up with. XD