Flashback
"Takashi Shirogane!"
Shiro winced and turned at the angry voice of Leah, he turned to see her walking down the sidewalk in his direction.
"That's our cue to disappear." Sakura said, grabbing Keith's arm. "Come on Keith!" She zipped off, Keith never had the chance to respond as she pulled him with her.
"You're going to Kerberos and didn't tell me!" Leah demanded as she came up to stand in front of him.
"Leah." He started.
"What about us?" She cut him off with tears. "What about me?"
"This mission is important to me, you know that." He reached for her hand. "So are you."
She pulls her hand away and folds her arms. "But you." She trails off she as she's looking at his right arm.
Shiro looks at his arm, then sighs. "I'm fine." He looks back at her. "Leah, please understand."
Tears slid down her cheeks as she turns around so her back is to him. "What if something goes wrong?"
"Nothing's gonna happen." Shiro promised. "Leah, if you're that worried, then maybe."-
"Maybe what?" She cuts him off.
Shiro ran his hands through his hair. "Maybe we should get married now."
His comment had Leah turning back around to face him with shock. "What?"
He nods. "Yeah. Let's do it! Let's grab Keith and Commander Holt and do it."
"What about Sakura?" She asked with still shock.
"Sakura is already angry with me, she can't stop arguing with me about Kerberos." Shiro said. "She won't let it go."
"When do you want to tell her?" Leah asked. "I mean, I can't keep it a secret forever, you know she has her ways of getting people to talk."
"That's why she's great at interigations." He grins. "She's really good with the 'bad cop' routine." He folds his arms. "After Kerberos. That's the original wedding date." He decided. "We'll move it to now, and after I return from Kerberos, we'll tell her." He takes Leah's hand and holds it with both his hands as he holds it close to his chest.
End Of Flashback
Shiro laid on a medical bed inside the operating room. Sam and a few doctors are doing the procedure. Sam had told the rest of Team Voltron they had to remove the still remaining part of Shiro's Galra arm to be replaced with his new Altean arm. Shiro was beaming with excitement, he was now wearing a white tank top with matching white pants.
The Paladins, Leah, Romelle, and Coran stood behind the huge window as they watched the procedure. Sakura chewed on a lock of her long hair, as they all watched with anxiety.
Shiro's eyes opened and began to look around disoriented. Sam leaned over him.
"How are you feeling, Shiro?" Sam asked from the intercom, the team could hear Shiro take a deep breath before answering.
"Good. I'm good."
Both Sakura and Leah let out breaths of air in relief.
"I'm happy to tell you we've successfully attached your new prosthetic arm." Sam informed happily. "We just need to power it on and make any final adjustments." He nodded to a doctor to continue with the final steps. "We've outfitted it with the most powerful energy source Earth has to offer. It's the closest we could get to mimicking a Balmera crystal's energy. It should generate enough power to operate most of it. The remaining power will be drawn from your body's own electromagnetic field. He's crashing! We have to shut it down! Sam, we need to remove the power source."
Shiro's new arm is now attached to his shoulder blade, the fingers began to wiggle, twirled, made a fist and finally opened it's palm. He let out a gasp as he got used to using his new arm. Closing his eyes briefly, Shiro opened and closed the hand, giving a smile when the new Altean prosthetic arm compiled. Suddenly he let out a loud agonizing scream of pain.
"He's crashing!" Sam cried. "We have to shut it down!"
Sakura bolted towards the operating room door. Running into the room and up to her brother's side. Putting her hands on his shoulder, a soft glow came out from under her hands, but something zapped her in the process and she tumbled backwards to the floor, Sam caught her before her head could hit the wall. One of the doctors tried to steady the Altean arm, but it threw him towards the wall. Allura suddenly rushed into the room, grabbing the arm and pinning it to the floor with all her strength.
"Sam, we need to remove the power source!" She called to him. Keith and Leah quickly knelt down on either side of Sakura as she sat on the floor. Sam rushed over and opened a small hatch on the forearm revealing a chip, he pulled it out and Allura placed the small Altean crystal from her tiara inside the hatch. The arm hummed to life as it still struggled against her until the beeping became quiet. Shiro's heart monitor started to run normally and Shiro's body fell limp to the med bed.
After awhile, Shiro weakly opened his eyes. "What - what happened? I feel strange." He tested his new arm and brought it up to eye level. "I feel great." He smiled.
Leah quickly hurried to Shiro's side as the other Paladins rushed in. "You gave us all scares." She told him as she placed her hand on the side of his face.
"Scares nothing! I think I had a heart attack!" Lance replied.
"I feel great." Shiro smiled at each of his team. "It's great to have both arms back." He grunted when both Leah and Sakura hugged him tightly from either side, but he smiled.
XxXxXx
After the procedure, Sam had ordered for Shiro to get some rest. So Shiro is now back in his quarters.
Leah is sitting on the bed, watching him as he laid on his back and looked up at the ceiling.
"Are you ok?" She finally asked, he turned his head to look at her.
"Yes." He smiles, then reaches for her hand and gently pulls her down, she falls on top of him, but snuggles into him.
"Why do you keep scaring me?" She asks quietly.
"I don't mean too." He answered, then frowns when she pulls away. "Lea?"
Leah moves over to a wall as she wraps her arms around her, from the bed Shiro could tell that her shoulders are shaking which means she's crying.
"Leah." He gets off the bed and moves over to stand behind her. "I'm back." He whispers as he wraps his arms around her from behind. "I'm sorry I disappeared on you."
She turned in her arms and locked her arms around his neck. "You have a lot to make up for. Did you at least tell Sakura that we married before you left?"
He shook his head. "No. She's still pretty sore at me. But I will tell her."
"Why is?"- She trailed off. "Nevermind." She pulled his head down, kissing him gently.
"You wanna help me rest?" He teased with smile.
XxXxXx
After a few more hours, just before the briefing, Commander Iverson pulled Pidge aside. "I realized that I haven't apologized for the way I acted after the Kerberos mission. You and your mother deserved better then what we had done." He apologized.
Pidge smiled a little. "It wasn't your fault Commander. You were just following orders."
"I know I can't make up for what I've done."
Pidge nodded. "It's ok Commander. Really, you helping now is more then enough."
Iverson nodded. "Then let us start the briefing."
The two headed into the conference room. Sakura fell onto the chair that she sat in before. Pidge and Allura stood at the end of the table ready for the meeting.
"We've learned so much from Sendak's memories." Pidge began. "We discovered his methods for taking over planets like Earth."
"Sendak constructs armaments at key strategic points around planets." Allura added. "This gives him the ability to control enormous swaths of territory. He uses the armaments as deterrents to prevent any uprisings and to control the conquered population."
"Based on data from Commander Holt's micro-satellites, cross-referenced with resistance intel, we've ascertained that Sendak built six massive structures on Earth." Veronica added, the orange screen lit up pin pointing the locations of the structures. "We never knew what they were being used for until now."
"They're the weapons?" Hunk asked. "So, what's stopping us from blowing them up?"
"We simply don't have enough firepower to do the job." The President leaned leaned forward, his elbows on the table and his fingers laced. "And even if we did, there's a good chance those facilities contain civilians. We can't just go in blind."
"You're right sir." Keith said. "That's why we should infiltrate a base and gather intelligence first."
"The nearest base is 52 klicks south of our position." Veronica informed.
"What's the terrain like?" Keith asked.
Veronica typed on her pad, bringing up the facility. "The region around what we'll call Base One is a complex urban environment. Our route will take us through highly patrolled areas. It'll be hard to keep proper surveillance of our surroundings due to all the structural damage."
"Then I suggest we form two teams." Shiro said, adding to the map on the main screen with his own pad. "A ground unit that will attempt to infiltrate Base One and get eyes on whatever's inside, and a sniper team that observes from a higher position, covering the ground unit and providing some visibility."
"Use communications sparingly." Veronica said. "Stay on the move. Keep an eye on the timing patterns of the patrol drones."
"Who are the two teams?" Sakura asked.
"Pidge, Keith, Allura, and Griffin, you're the ground unit." Veronica assigned. "Hunk, Kinkade, Lance, Sakura and I will be sniper support."
Keith stands from his chair. "Let's do it."
XxXxXx
The sniper support sat in a Jeep with Veronica driving, Lance sitting in the passenger seat. Sakura sat between Hunk and Kinkade, she was happy that she didn't have to be on the same team as Griffin. It was quiet and almost too quiet inside the Jeep, until Lance broke it.
"You know, a map would've been just fine. You didn't need to come along on this mission."
"What are you talking about?" His sister took a quick glance at him. "I've been going on these missions for months now. No one knows the terrain better than me."
"Yeah, I just don't like to see you put yourself in danger." Lance admits.
"First of all, that's very sweet, but knock it off. You're an idiot if you think I'm not going to defend our home." Veronica replied.
Sakura laid her head on Hunk's shoulder.
"You ok?" He asks gently.
"Just a little queasy." She answered, putting a hand on her stomach.
He gently patted her knee. "You'll be ok." He tried to reassure.
XxXxXx
"Where here!" Lance exclaimed as the Garrison Jeep pulled up to an abandoned building. Veronica parked and she, Lance, Kinkade and Hunk jumped out. Hunk helped Sakura out, then the team hurried to get to the higher level and get into position. Entering a dark room, Veronica used her binoculars to inspect the glowing purple structure in the distance. Sakura and Lance's bayards zinged as they were summoned, and Hunk took out his data pad.
"No transmissions. Varied radiation signatures." He informed.
"Approaching target location." Keith informs over the coms.
"Copy that, ground unit." Veronica said. "We've got eyes on you."
"They're in." Lance voiced.
A roar in the from far off is heard, had Sakura closing her eyes. "Keith, you guys got incoming." She informs as she opens her eyes.
"Acknowlodged." Keith whispered.
"This is as close as we're gonna get." Keith informs after awhile. "Pidge and I are going in."
"Negative. Route's obstructed. It's too well guarded." Griffin said.
Keith ignored him. "Lance, you ready to cover us when we get inside?"
"Ready to go."
"What happened?" Veronica asked alarmed. "Keith and Pidge just disappeared."
"Cosmo is a cosmic wolf. He has a gift of teleportation." Sakura answered.
"That's amazing." Veronica smiled.
Lance kept looking through his bayard's scope. "Got you Keith. Scanning for hostiles. Sentries on the other side of the east wall."
"Lance?" Keith called.
"You're clear." Lance waited for a moment before continuing to guide them. "Alright, you guys are gonna have to take the right tunnel. But wait. There's sentries approaching from both tunnels. Hold position. Coming up to you in three, two, one."
"Are they ok?" Sakura asked with worry.
"They're good." Lance gave a nod.
"That thing pick up heat signatures?" Kinkade asked Lance.
"It actually locks on to their suits' sonar imaging and renders a 3-D map within a 20-foot perimeter." Lance explained with pride and not looking up from the scope of his bayard. "It's cool Paladin stuff."
"Got movement to the north." Kincade told Allura and Griffin as he used his own scope. "Drones closing in on your positions from the adjacent alley."
"We've been spotted!" Allura gasped.
"Hang tight." Kinkade fired at the drones, taking down three, that signaled to the other drones to their locations; the other drones began to fire and lasers began to rain down on the two.
"I think you guys made them angry." Griffin grunted.
"Put a cork in it." Sakura told him firmly.
"I've got five hostiles." Veronica informs.
Sakura readied her bayard as she stood next to Kinkade. "I'll take the three on the right." She said.
"I got the other two." Lance said. The two shot the drones. Sakura's bayard arrows flew down towards the drones, the arrow magically split in two and took down two of the drones, while Lance and Kinkade took the others.
"Thanks." Allura breathed looking up at the building and smiling.
"She's pretty." Veronica commented, leaning down to eye her brother.
Lance grunted as his cheeks turned a shake of red. "I don't know what you're talking about!"
Sakura giggled. "Don't try to hide it Lance."
Lance continued to blush.
"Lance, Sakura, Kinkade!" Allura called. "More sentries incoming!"
Lance and Kinkade sniped the sentries that are closets to Allura and Griffin.
"We've been made!" Sakura called as she summoned her bayard.
"Yeah, come on!" Hunk summoned his own bayard and the two ran to the exit and down the stairs. Heavy fires of lasers seeped through the darkness as he and Sakura engaged the enemy. "Sakura's right! Cover is definitely blown!"
"Keith, Pidge, it's time to roll!" Lance called out in warning.
"Copy that." Both said in union.
"Veronica, detonate the chaff!" Lance ordered. His sister quickly pressed a button on a device and the chaff exploded. The team ran out of the room, down the stairs and out of the building. Sentries stood with their guns down, confused.
"Rendezvous at your cruisers." Veronica said. "We only have a couple of minutes until the sentries gain vision again."
XxXxXx
Back at the Garrison, and in her room. Sakura leaned on the sink, feeling weak. Keith came up to her from behind and wrapped his arms around her, he was back in his Garrison uniform.
"You ok?" He asked, kissing her cheek.
She nods. "I'm ok."
He didn't look convinced, but he nodded. "Ok." He pulled away. "Let's get to that meeting."
XxXxX
Inside the confrence room, Pidge went right to business with a hologram of a cannon at her side on the main screen with the information that she and Keith found.
"Sendak has built Zaiforge cannons." She started. "Our intel indicates the cannons were just completed. They could launch at anytime."
"What exactly is a Zaiforge cannon?" Iverson asked.
"Planet killers." Sakura answered. "If these cannons launch and are fully charged, Sendak will be able to destroy Earth in seconds."
"So, what do we do?" Veronica asks.
"Ideally, we attack all six bases at once, allowing them no time to stage a counterattack." Keith answered. "If we had our Lions, then we'd have a fighting chance."
"Your Lions are orbiting another planet." The President said gently. "There's no way to get to them, plus there are only six Lions."
"The MFEs would need to attack the seventh cannon." Keith said.
"We'd love to, but they don't have that kind of range." Griffin replied.
"There should be enough faunatonium to boost the MFEs to the sixth base and back." Coran said.
"That's great and all, but the President has a point." Pidge said. "We can't get to our Lions."
Hunk sighed loudly and leaned back in his chair, Romelle placed a hand on his shoulder.
"We don't need to get to them." Keith reminded. "They'll come to us. We are the Paladins of Voltron, and we're connected with them." He looked at Pidge, then Sakura and lastly Shiro. "Remember when we first became the Paladins. Green, White and Black saved you three when we fought our first Robeast."
Pidge nods. "They did."
"Red has saved my life numerous times." Keith continued. "Shiro, Black saved you when you fought Zarkon. And Black saved you and me both when we were seperated from the team. And they came to us when we got lost in space."
"So we'll call the Lions to meet us here." Sakura said with a nod. "We'll need the element of surprise."
"The Lions will have to rendezvous with us at the bases." Pidge replied.
"Yeah, that will really catch the Galra off guard." Hunk said in thought. "I mean, assuming our Lions respond to our calls."
"They will." Keith said firmly. "And when they do, we'll strike and destroy all seven cannons simultaneously before they can be launched."
Sakura nods. "And when the job's done, we can form Voltron and finish off Sendak and the rest of his forces."
"My pilots can transport four of you to the Galra bases before heading out to the seventh cannon." Griffin said.
"I'll bring Lance to Base One." Veronica said. "It's the closest, so I can do it by ground."
"It's settled then." Shiro said. "While Veronica drops Lance at Base One, the MFEs will each fly a Paladin out to a base. The Paladins should reach the drop zones at exactly the same time the Lions arrive. Then the MFEs will head to the seventh base. We'll launch a coordinated attack on all six locations at once."
XxXxXx
"Shiro, I should stay with you in the Command Room." Sakura said as she turned to him.
He looked at her. "It's up to you sis. But you'll have to tell Keith what you're doing."
She nods before she goes to the hanger to find Keith walking up to a fighter jet.
"Keith!" She calls, and he stops and turns to see her jogging up to him.
"What's wrong?" He asks as she comes up to him.
"I love the plan we made, but I can't go. "
He frowns. "Why?"
"You know my Lion can't help when Voltron is formed." She told him. "So I'll be with Shiro in the Command Room." She explained, her hands wringled with worry. "Are you mad?"
He smiled. "Of course not. If you wanna stay with Shiro, then go ahead." He took a step, kissing her gently. "But don't forget to call White Lion."
She smiles. "I'll be ok." She nods. "You be safe out there." She wishes and he kisses her cheek, before he starts to climb up the fighter jet.
Sakura walks towards the Command Room.
XxXxXx
She walked into the Command Room meeting up with Shiro, Commander Holt, Commander Iverson, and the President. Sakura grabbed the headset that Shiro had picked up from the table.
"Sis!" He scalded.
"Be quiet!" She shot back as she placed the headset on. "Paladins, our window of opportunity is razor thin." She told her friends. "With the element of surprise, we'll have the advantage. Good luck."
The intercom came to life with frantic calls.
"We've been spotted!"
"Watch out!"
"Be careful!
"I know!"
"Now let's see how this faunatonium works."
The boards showed Keith, Hunk, Allura, and Pidge got to their Lions.
"Four of the five Paladins have reached their drop zones." Commander Iverson said. "Just waiting on Lance."
"Lance!" Sakura cried with worry. "Lance where are you?"
"Red Lion checking in!" Lance called and his location appeared on the board.
"Phew." Sakura put a hand on her forehead.
"It worked!"
"Ah! I'm taking heavy fire!"
"Something's wrong! These aren't normal base defenses!"
"I'm pinned down!"
"Keith, what do we do?"
"Do you have to. We can't let those cannons launch!"
"They're everywhere!"
Sakura pulled off the headset, shoved it into Shiro's chest and ran out of the room.
XxXxXx
Sakura stood outside the hanger, her eyes closed as she called for her Lion. White Lion flew down and landed gently on the ground, letting out a purr. "Hi girl." She smiled up at the Lion. "Welcome to Earth."
Sakura is wearing her Paladin uniform. "I'll be with you in a few minutes." She told her Lion, who let out a soft growl in response.
Sakura just walked around the corner, when an arm snaked around her neck and a hand clasped over her mouth to muffle her scream.
"You're going to take me up there now." Admiral Sanda hissed coldly.
Sakura struggled against Sanda, until she felt the barrel of a gun on her back.
"You will take me to Sendak now." Sanda demanded as she cocked her gun.
"What makes you think that I'll help you?" Sakura demanded, she winced when the gun was pushed harder into her back. "Ok!" She caved. "I'll do it."