"We have to find a way to minimalize our presence," Lance said, days later when he'd met up with the others, "and by minimalize, I mean erase it."
"The negotiations fall through?"
"Like a brick in a pond," Lance sighed, "nothing I said could convince them to come. If we leave this place a mess, then Lotor will blast the planet."
"That would've been great to know before we messed everything up."
Lance shrugged, "Who knew stubbornness was such a pain in the neck?"
The sarcasm wasn't missed and the others nodded. Lance hadn't told them all of his conversations with Braum. He still considered himself human even though he knew better than most that he really wasn't anymore. Still, Braum made it a point every once in a while to highlight that fact almost daily.
"I've got an idea," Dot said suddenly, "if…that's ok…"
"Spill," they chorused.
"What if we, Voltron, Was intentionally found on this planet and we messed everything us even more ourselves? Get the Ship and as many humans as possible away, and pretend that we came here for old times sake?"
"…"
"…that's a beautiful idea."
"The only problem is how to you get away and how would that stop lotor from blowing the planet up?"
Dot thought for a moment, "From what I know of the emperor, he can be pretty single minded. So if we make it clear that they caught us without our being prepared, then he'll focus on us, not the planet. Especially if we make it clear that we didn't find anything here."
"Like father like son," Lance muttered.
"We just have to watch out for the generals and his champion."
"Yeah, Hunk muttered darkly, "wouldn't want another run in with that thing."
"Hunk-"
"so how are we splitting up?" Lance asked, changing the topic.
()
Jrida was running out of money. She had traveled as far as her money could take her and, truthfully, it hadn't been that far. She hadn't even made it to the border yet.
Not that she wanted to go to the border, but that she wanted to see the vast, wild, and untamed space past the empires control. It had sounded like a neat thing to do. Maybe it would even give her some perspective.
Now that she had quit her job and really had no means of finding another one, what were her options?
She was out of money, the fuel in her small ship she was borrowing would not be enough to make it back home.
She laughed to herself and chose to land on a nearby planet that looked completely devoid of life. In fact, a large dust storm was raging and didn't seem like it would clear any time soon.
Flying low she searched for a spot to sit while she thought through all her options. Finding a tight grove of petrified trees, she maneuvered herself to what she thought was the center and touched down.
Surprisingly, the wind and dust didn't reach this far into the wood. So she opened the hatch of her craft and stepped out.
A good walk was what she needed, to clear her head.
What she, again, hadn't planned on, was walking smack into a large green lion
()
Three days to launch. Families had already boarded Atlas, the ship that they had discovered. The one Sam had built before everything went wrong and everyone had died.
Hunk, Pidge, and the kids were going to fly everyone to Olkarion and lay low there while Voltron, Lance, and Barka were going to distract who ever came to the earth in a few weeks.
"But we don't wanna leave!" Libby cried when she and Amnur realized that they would be separated from Barka. Barka didn't like the arrangement even less than they did, but though if he humored Lance this one time, then everything would work out in the future and they could be left alone.
"It will be just this once," Barka promised, "And Hunk promised to take my place and look after you. So you all better be good, got me?"
()
"Is everyone on board that wants to leave?" Lance asked Braum, "did those from North Asia make it?"
"They did and are settling into their quarters on the Atlas as we speak."
"Good, they were the furthest away."
"Launch on schedule for tomorrow."
Lance laughed, Braum scowled.
"If anyone told me I'd be going over logistics and launch dates with an Iverson knock off, I'd've call them the dirtiest liar!"
"If anyone told me I'd be talking to a human-not human, I would have slapped them and told them to get a life."
"Alright, what is your problem?" Lance asked dropping the papers he was holding onto Braums desk, "you seem to have an issue with me. But you seem fine with Dot and Ko, so its not racism."
"I'm not the one with the problem, I know I'm human."
Lance blushed and leaned forward, trying to be threatening, "You sayin' I aint?"
"I'm saying that you are in denial and I have a hard time respecting those that can't even admit what they are, let alone who they are."
"I am human."
"Try again."
"Look, like I said, space-"
"The others didn't change like you."
"I was raised human, I am human."
"A dog can be raised as a cat, but its still a dog."
"I lived on earth as a human!"
"And now you are on Earth as something else, what is it?"
Lance couldn't say it, "I am still part human…"
"And the other part?"
"…" Lance couldn't get the word out. One word: 'Altean', and he couldn't say it. Instead he said, "the human part is all that matters."
Braum sighed and shook his head.
()
"OK, so we're going to make a few pit stops and confuse anyone following AFTER we blast through the guards at the empires border," Hunk summarized, "And everyone is ok with this?"
"So long as the last stop is Olkarion, yup."
The trio sat on the bridge of the Atlas. They were talking about their plans and a little about nothing in between.
"Launch in two hours."
"I'm so nervous!"
"Hunk, you're always nervous."
Pidge gave Lance a hug, "stay safe and get those lions."
"Of course," Lance grinned, "we just need to find a green paladin, that is, if your are absolutely sure you're not it."
She shook her head, "I've tried connecting to the green lion since we got back to Earth, but its not answering."
"You remember where you hid it?"
"Yes, Lance, I remember, and its hidden well. We'll find a paladin before getting it. It will be safer that way."
"What makes you so certain that Barka will be chosen as Blacks paladin?" Hunk asked.
"my gut?" Lance shrugged, "I just get good vibes from the guy, that's all. And there's no harm in trying."
"Well, now there is, because if you're attracting the empires attention, then he'll have to bond with black or else Lotor will nab it."
Lance scowled, "it will work."
()
Lance watched the Atlas launch next to the current paladins.
It was going to be a long few weeks.
()
"So, we used our holograms to cover the worst of the damage," Paxix reported, "it should cover until we get into our fight."
"We wait outside the system until the galra show up, and then we show up after they do," Dot said, eyes closed, "make sure our com lines are open while Lance laments about there being no one left, and thennnn…"
"They we get into a fight, kick their butts and leave fast," Lance said, "lamenting wont be hard because I'm sure they'll brag about it."
"I'll wear my mask," Paxix added, "that way they wont suspect I'm human."
"My job is to hide in the back and not be seen," Barka nodded.
()
Keith hurt.
A lot.
He lay in a cell, that he knew wasn't Galran, but for how much he hurt, he couldn't think who it could be. He couldn't even remember how he got here! Once second he was fighting with Honerva with his team, and next he knew he was in this cell.
As far as he knew he had never left it. Food and water was brought in, but he could barely get to it.
Losing track of time he simply languished. Somehow, he would stop hurting and breathing would be easier, then he could focus on escaping.
()
The fight was a long one, and worked like a charm.
Lance, so melodramatic, and the galra captain, so gullible. With everyone doing their jobs, they were able to lead the enemy away from the earth.
What they didn't plan on was the galra being very good at staying on their tails.
"What do we do?"
"Head straight for the Black lion!" Lance called, "Barka, you're up."
()
"Ko," Lance called from the back of the lion, "Drop us in front of the cave and go join the others."
The asteroid was moving quickly and Ko was speeding to keep up with it. Maneuvering around to find a landing.
Digging his claws into the hard rock, Barka and Lance dropped out, the solar wind was pushing them away from the cave they wanted to enter.
"Pidge really sucks," Lance muttered. He knew she wouldn't make finding the black lion easy for the enemy, but now it was just as difficult for them!
When they finally made it to the cave it was a relief.
"We have to hurry," Lance said, "the other's won't make it long without ol' blackie."
But Barka only moved slowly as he picked his way over the stalagmites. Lance quickly disappeared into the back of the long cave and Barka slowed down even more.
Was this wise?
Not only was this highly improbable, but he didn't even have permission! What was his master going to say? Would she understand? Is he understanding now? What was this going to do? How was he going to do his job if he also had this as a priority?
Voltron could NOT be a priority.
Lance called to him, breaking into his thoughts. Picking up the pace he came face to face with a lion much larger than the other three.
It didn't move.
"Stand here," Lance dragged Barka over to stand right in front. When nothing happened Lance scowled.
"Maybe if you went inside-"
"I don't want to do this anymore," Barka stepped back, "Its not-"
The Black lion opened his mouth, but didn't sit up. It was inviting him in to try.
Barka took another step backward, but was stopped by Lance who gave him a light shove forward.
"Please," Lance was begging, "please, just try it?"
Barka was weak to the word 'please'. And he caved, like always. He took small steps and finally made it inside. He took his time finding the cockpit, but he finally found the chair.
The chair.
He sat and shifted uncomfortably. The chair was a good fit, but he could feel the pressure and responsibility as an actual weight.
He didn't want it.
He wanted nothing to do with it.
But before he could stand back up, and run away, the lion lit up and moved.
"nooooo," Barka fell back down.
What had he done?
()
Pidge watched as a green dot moved from the planet where she knew she'd put the green lion. It flew haphazardly and she smiled at the thought of some child finding it.
"Hunk! Contact Lance! Tell him that someone found the green lion!"
()
Lance flew with Barka, helping him open his mind to his lion as they fought off the galra that would not be shaken.
"Lance!"
"hunk, what's up?"
"Someone found the green lion, they're headed for the 56D quadrant."
"Why there?"
"I don't know! I'm still trying to figure out this map. Allura and Coran were the only ones to use it…and you, but it freaks out whenever I touch it still!"
"Calm down big guy," Lance winced as they got hit, "Learn to bank, Barka!"
"We're on our way to you," Pidge took over the com, "we dropped everyone off already on Olkarion, so we can be your back up."
"No, stay there. We-"
"Don't tell me what to do Lance!"
"Yes ma'am."