Chapter ā 20 Time to Launch
I don't own Voltron Legendary Defender. I'm taking the characters out for a spin. This takes place during Best Laid Plans and Blackout.
The lions locked their jaws onto the Teludav. Shiro's face appeared on the main screen. "Princess, we are go for launch."
Allura's screens appeared around her as the waist-high pillars sprang from the floor. "Charging the main turbine." The Castle launched into the Olkari sky with the Lions of Voltron following carrying the Teludav.
Shiro stood on the central platform where Allura usually stood. "All right, guys, listen up. 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. We can count on you, right, Slav?"
"I'll be fine. I'm not sure about the gravity generator, though."
Hunk blinked at Slav. "What? What was that last thing?"
Slav rubbed what would pass as a chin on other humanoid species. "Hiding a ship is one thing, but I've never had to build a gravity generator for something this large before. I know it'll work, but I'm not sure for how long."
Shiro nodded to Slav. "Well, that's a risk we're going to have to take. Once Zarkon's ship is in position, Kolivan and Antok will coordinate with Thace. Together they'll take down Zarkon's security system and upload the virus."
Pidge crossed her arms over her body as she smirked. "And then, he'll be a sitting du-flax." Her smug expression faded as everyone stared at her. "What? A du-flax is an Altean creature with a beak and webbed feet."
Coran shoved past Shiro. "We'll wormhole Zarkon five hundred million light-years away, and he'll be in the Yggiz Galaxy before he knows what's hit him!"
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 grew focused. "Let's do it."
Adam held Shiro's helmet. Though he tried, he couldn't hide the worry he felt. "Takashi, come back to me."
Shiro smiled as he took the helmet from Adam and slid it over his head. "I will."
Shiro's face appeared on the main screen of the Castle from the cockpit of the Black Lion. "Zarkon took the bait. He's got my position. Is everybody ready?"
Kolivan gazed at the screen. "We've not yet heard from Thace. He was supposed to contact us two vargas ago."
Antok, who was usually silent, spoke. "He could've been captured."
Kolivan's head bobbed quickly in agreement before he added. "Or killed. We need to abort the mission immediately."
Allura glared at Kolivan. "Abort? No! We cannot back away now."
Antok's face was unreadable behind his mask as he turned toward her. "The Blade of Marmora does not take chances. It's how we've survived for so long."
Allura turned her icy gaze on the second in command of the Blades. "It's held you back. Your caution is the reason Zarkon's still in power."
Kolivan turned to face Allura. "We would rather wait than jeopardize everything. Besides, it's too late to get someone else inside Zarkon's ship."
Keith rose from his seat. "I'll do it."
Allura blinked as she gazed at him. "What?"
Adam smiled. Maybe she was finally seeing what everyone else saw in the Red Paladin.
Keith turned his gaze to Kolivan. "I'll sneak onto Zarkon's ship. I'm Galra, so I'll be able to interact with their technology." He turned his gaze to the Green Paladin. "Pidge, you can rig up one of those pods with a cloaking device, right?"
"Well, yeah."
Kolivan stared at 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."
Listening to Kolivan speak, Adam's stomach twisted painfully as his chest grew tighter. He rubbed at the back of his neck, trying to relieve the building stress. He felt useless right now sitting here.
Keith's tone was firm as he gazed at both Kolivan and Allura. "No one's commanding me. I'm doing it."
Shiro listened to what Keith had to say. He took a breath and blew it out slowly. "Pidge get that pod ready. Keith," he paused as he closed his eyelids. He opened them again. "Let me know when you're on your way. I'll give you cover."
Adam leaned forward in his chair. He couldn't stop his mind focusing on the words 'suicide mission.' He found it hard to breathe as his mind played over everything that could go wrong. He couldn't stop himself as he turned around and gazed at Lance. His nerves screamed as his hand trembled.
He rose to his feet and noticed that Allura was missing from the bridge. He needed to talk to Keith, but what would he say. He'd figure that out once he got to the pod bay.
Adam strode down to the pod bay when he heard Allura's voice addressing the Green Paladin inside. "Pidge, may I have a moment with Keith, please?"
He slipped into the large room unseen. He hated spying, but he had to know what was going on with Allura. If she were going to go after Keith again for being part Galra, he would put a stop to that, and he was also afraid that Pidge would punch the young Altean woman.
"Sure thing. Have all the moments you like."
Adam crouched behind a pod as Pidge walked out, and the door slid shut behind her.
Keith gazed at Allura. "Is there something I can help you with?"
As Allura started to speak, she was hesitant at first. "I-I just wanted to say-the Galra, they've done terrible things, destroyed entire civilizations. They took my family. But in time, I've grown to consider you, Adam, and the paladins my family. So, when I learned you were Galra, I-I didn't know what to think. I wanted to hate you."
Keith gazed down at the deck. "Allura-it'sā"
Whatever else he was going to say was lost when Allura cut him off. "But it's not you. It's me. My anger has blinded me for too long." She rushed forward and threw herself against his body. "I'm so sorry I misjudged you. You've proven, it's not what's in your blood. It's who you are that counts. Please come back to us."
"I will."
Part of the tightness eased in Adam's chest. But it didn't reduce the fear that something was going to go wrong.
Adam returned to the bridge and took his seat. Everyone else continued to focus on the plan.
Allura stood between the pillars while her holographic screens circled her spoke. "The plan is working. Keith is on board Zarkon's ship, and he and his fleet are on the way."
Lance spoke up for the first time. "The Castles defenses are up and ready to go."
Slav's voice came from engineering. "Starting gravity generator now. Commencing cloak."
Kolivan tracked Keith's progress. "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."
Shiro continued to fight the Galra fleet by himself while leading them closer to the cloaked Teludav. "I'm two minutes out. Is everything ready?"
Kolivan's expression remained unreadable. "No, Keith hasn't made it to the hub yet. We need more time."
Shiro grunted as he fought to hold the Black Lion steady amid an explosion. "How much more?"
At the same time, Slav's voice came from the engine room as panic colored the alien's voice. "I hope not much because my gravity generator is not going to run forever!"
Shiro replied as he grunted again. "I don't know how much longer I can hold Zarkon's fleet in this position by myself!"
Adam didn't realize that the other paladins had left the bridge when Pidge's voice came over the speaker. "You won't have to!"
Adam imagined the relief that was probably on Shiro's face as he spoke. "Good timing. Okay, we've got Zarkon's ship right where it needs to be."
Keith's voice came over the speaker. "Kolivan, I'm in. Now what?"
"Now you need to reset the system using the codes that Thace obtained. It'll be down for a dobash. That's when we'll upload the virus."
A frown creased Adam's face as rapid beeping came over the speaker, followed by Keith. "It's doesn't seem to be working."
Adam gazed at Kolivan. How could the guy appear so unphased by what was going on? Had Zarkon's minions figured out what Thace was up to and changed the codes he'd stolen?
Kolivan replied to Keith. "Try it again."
Only silence came over the speaker from Keith's helmet comm.
Slav's voice came from engineering. "Uh, everyone, the gravity generator won't maintain power much longer. If it goes down, we're going to be uncloaked in open space."
Shiro replied from the Black Lion. "Do all you can. We need to hold out a little longer."
Adam stared at the screen intently. But when Slav's voice came from the speaker again, it caused him to jump. "The gravity generator lost power! Now there's no reality where we get out alive!"
Coran stood near Allura. "Princess, the Teludav is completely exposed!"
Allura turned her gaze to the former royal advisor before turning it back toward the screen. "We cannot wait any longer. I'm powering the Teludav now."
Kolivan spoke up from Coran's station. "The system is down, uploading the virus now."
When the virus upload was finished, Coran took his place at the front of the bridge as the giant wormhole opened. He set the course for the Castle to fly through the wormhole. "Hurry, Paladins! We must make it in before the wormhole closes!"
Shiro's image came up on the screen. "Coran, how's Allura?"
"She's weak, but okay."
"You take care of her. We've got it from here."
Keith's face replaced Shiro's. "Once we're out of the wormhole, I'm sending Thace over in Red's speeder. He's going to need medical attention."
Adam stood from his seat on the bridge. "How bad?"
"He's pretty bad. I can't explain what happened on Zarkon's ship right now. I'm not even sure I understand everything that happened, but we had some help."
Kolivan and Antok gazed at each other.
Adam nodded. "I'll be waiting." He turned and raced off the bridge.
Knowing how tall the Galra could be, Adam brought a hover stretcher with him. The Red Lion's speeder entered the pod bay and landed. Its passenger was slumped over in the seat as the canopy slid back.
Adam raced over to the side as Thace stirred from within. "I need to get you down to the infirmary. I'm Adam, by the way."
Thace focused his glowing yellow eyes on Adam. "Keith told me you were the team's medic. So I guess that means I'm in good hands."
"Yeah, now let us get you out of here."
Thace stood but groaned from the pain and stepped out of the speeder. Adam was at his side in an instant as he put an arm around the Galra's waist. "Here, lean on me if you have to."
Thace shook his head as he gazed down at the human. "I appreciate the offer, but I think I can make it under my power."
Adam shook his head. "Then we'll compromise. Lay down on the stretcher. I can get you to the infirmary quicker that way."
Adam stepped into the infirmary and led the stretcher over to the wall. He pressed the button, opening one of the beds inside. "Okay, Thace. Do you think you can sit on the bed for me? I need to get a scan of your injuries besides the obvious."
Thace nodded and pulled himself up. The pain in the upper right quadrant of his chest tore a groan from between his lips as he brought his hand up to the wound.
Adam gazed at the wound. "I've seen another wound just like that. The witch inflicted it on Takashi or the Black Paladin before you dropped the shield so we could escape Zarkon."
Thace nodded. "It's from a druid's dark magic. They are usually dangerous. I will need to speak with Kolivan and Princess Allura when there's time." He stood and managed to make it over to the bed.
Adam ran the medical scanner over Thace. He frowned at the readings. "I have to wait until this battle is finished to put you in a healing pod, but I can give you something for the pain, though."
"I understand."
Adam moved over to the cabinet and pulled out the Altean air injector and placed a small vial of a pain reliever at the end of it. He walked back to Thace's side and pressed the vial against the Galra's arm.
Thace nodded, and his eyelids closed as his hand dropped away from the wound.
Adam squeezed the Galra's free hand. "Rest, you deserve it after what you've been through."
He looked at the scanner again to make sure he'd read the readings correctly. He walked over to the sink and gripped the edges to hold himself up as his stomach twisted again. Adam fought to keep from throwing up. Thace's organs showed evidence of torture.
He needed to go back up to the bridge, but he also didn't want to leave Thace alone either. Finally, he could use Pidge's backup plan for a case like this. He raised his head. "Rover, I need you in the infirmary to monitor a patient." He silently thanked Pidge again, who'd programmed the drone to respond to him in a case like this.
As Adam stepped onto the bridge, he saw Coran kneeling still holding onto Allura while she recovered from the exertion of opening such a large wormhole. He started moving forward, his eyes glued to the main screen. Voltron was heading for the command ships bridge. He made it to his station when a dark black circle appeared underneath the giant mechanical warrior.
Adam froze, where he stood as he heard Kolivan say, "Oh, no." His mind whirled. What was Oh, no? He couldn't tear his eyes away from the screen as a beam of sick purplish-black energy leaped up from the circle under Voltron and hit the mech. The screams from the paladins clawed at his brain.
Adam's chest hurt as he forced his voice to work and push past the painful lump in his throat. "Takashi! Lance!" he managed to scream out. His knees gave out from under him and smacked painfully into the deck.
Adam couldn't bring himself to turn around, but he heard the fear in Coran's voice. "Paladins! Can you hear me?" Static was the only thing they received as Voltron floated lifeless in space. As the Altean spoke again, this time, Adam heard a hint of an accusation along with a bit of anger. "I thought the virus shut down all of Zarkon's power!"
Adam was able to tear his eyes away from the screen as Allura spoke. She sounded so tired and exhausted. "That blast was not from the ship's weapons. It was magic."
Kolivan was ever the stoic leader, but Adam detected a slight, very slight tremor to his voice. "It must have been the Komar. Zarkon has been trying to develop a device to extract the quintessence from planets. It appears he succeeded."
Adam shook his head. "No!" he whispered as his mind screamed. It couldn't end here, not now.
Coran asked, "If it destroys planets, what did it do to the paladins?"
Allura rose to her feet. "Paladins! Shiro, can you hear me?" Static was the only reply for a couple of dobashes."
"Yes, Princess. We're alive." Adam gasped as he heard the voice he so desperately wanted to hear.
Coran sighed in relief. "Oh, thank the ancients!"
Allura asked, "Is Voltron operational?"
Hunk replied, "It's not working."
Keith grunted. "I can't move my lion."
Coran explained what happened to them. "You've been hit with some kind of witchcraft that draws the quintessence out of you. You need to get out of there! Another blast like that, and you may not survive!"
A hatch opened on the command ship as Adam got his feet under him and rose to his full height. A giant mech emerged from the command ship.
Allura stared at it. "You must get moving. Remember your training. Remember all the battles you've been through."
Shiro grunted. "Voltron's still not responding." Shiro groaned. "That mech, it's Zarkon."
Allura gazed at Coran. "We must buy them more time. Get us in closer. Divert all power to our weapons system."
Coran turned to face her. "What? Princess, we'll be defenseless!"
"It's the only way."
As Zarkon's mech launched, Coran put the Castle into motion. Adam focused on the Princess. Allura's voice was fiercer than he'd ever heard before. "Listen to me. You are true paladins now. Connect with your lions, reach out to each other! Fight! This cannot end now!"
The primary weapon began charging as the Castle got within range. Allura yelled, "Fire!" A bright beam of pure white energy flowed from the ship, striking Zarkon's mech and pushing it back, causing it to crash into the command ship. However, Zarkon moved the protecting wings into place, reflecting the beam striking the Castle of Lions.
Adam groaned as he woke to find himself floating on the bridge. He craned his head around as Coran flew past him to Allura's aid. "Are you all right, Princess?"
Allura's eyelids opened. "I'm fine. How badly is the Castle damaged?"
The Altean kicked off the wall reaching his station. "Our power levels are decimated. Communications aren't working. We can't reach the paladins. I'm afraid we can't fight anymore."
Allura gripped the pylons. "We cannot give up."
The doors to the bridge opened behind them as Slav forced them open. "D-Did, we win yet?"
Allura turned to Coran. "You and Slav do what you can to get the Castle functioning again. Kolivan, can you get me to the Komar?"
Kolivan nodded. "It will be dangerous, but I know a way."
"I'm coming with you!"
Allura turned her gaze to Adam. "Don't you need to tend to Thace?"
"Rover's keeping an eye on Thace for me. Takashi and the other paladins are out there, risking their lives for us. And if your planning on taking the fight to Zarkon's witch, I have to be there too. I owe her a beat down for everything she's done," he growled as his eyes flashed in bridled rage.
"I forgot how fierce you humans could be. Okay." Allura turned to Kolivan, "Change of plans, Adam is coming with us."
Allura, Adam, and two Galra launched the personal transports to leave the Castle. They threaded their way through floating wreckage toward the command ship's bridge.
Kolivan jumped off his transport and flipped a switch on it, sending it flying smack into one of the floating platforms the druids used. He used his momentum to leap up and land on another floating platform. The distraction was enough that it stopped their next Komar attack.
Allura dropped down behind the druid that Kolivan faced. She used a staff to attack the druid from behind and knocked him from the platform.
Antok and Adam joined Allura and Kolivan as the witch in purple robes yelled, "Attack!" Adam slid his energy rifle from his shoulder.
Two druids on floating platforms flew at them. Adam dropped to one knee and fired the rifle. The energy beams from his weapon impacted one of the masks on the druids face dropping it where it stood with a smoldering hole in the head.
Antok split off from the group taking on one of the druids by himself, but every time he tried to get in a hit that should kill the enemy, the druid disappeared in a puff of smoke and reappeared in another spot on the platform.
Adam cradled his rifle in his hands as he watched Allura and Kolivan team up on one of the druids. They could be killed. He knew that. But it was becoming evident that to kill them. Distraction was the key. Takashi's words came back to him as he took a breath. 'Patience yields focus.'
Allura distracted, and with a well-placed sword throw, Kolivan struck the druid in the chest. It dropped, but the body was gone leaving behind Kolivan's sword and a pile of robes.
Antok was struck by a beam of energy from Haggar, allowing the druid he was fighting to get behind him. A ball of dark energy flew from the druid's fingertips, striking the Blade of Marmora member in the back, and the electricity shot out of his chest.
Adam screamed, "No!"
Kolivan yelled, "Antok."
The Galra dropped to the ground taking one last pained breath.
Antok's killer charged Adam as a second druid appeared out of nowhere. Adam rolled and fired his rifle, blasting the newer druid dropping him. Kolivan pushed the Garrison officer out of the way as Antok's killer threw a blast of dark energy at the human.
Kolivan nodded toward Allura. "Go, help the Princess. This one is mine."
Adam nodded. He activated his jetpack and flew up to join Allura on the central platform where Haggar stood.
His upper lip curled back as his eyes glowed with hatred. This was his chance to end the witch who'd hurt Takashi. He fired his rifle at Haggar as Allura charged the witch.
Haggar avoided the attacks as two balls of energy sprouted from her hands. She threw them at Adam and Allura.
Allura swung her staff like a bat and knocked the energy away, but Adam was a little slow in moving out of the way. It struck him with a glancing blow, but he had to admit it still hurt like hell as he winced and sucked in a breath.
Allura struck with Haggar, with the staff knocking the woman off her feet and sent her sliding across the platform's surface. The witch's hood slid back from her head as she turned her face to the Princess. Allura gasped. "You're Altean?"
Haggar growled as she rose quickly, thrusting out her hand as purplish-black energy shot toward Allura.
Adam ran forward to block the energy, but something happened that stopped him in his tracks. Allura brought her arms up in front of her, and she absorbed the energy.
Haggar glared. "Impossible!" She blasted more of the dark energy at Allura, who blocked the energy and stepped forward, pushing it back toward Haggar. The energy backlash brought the witch to her knees.
Allura glowed a pinkish-purple as she took steps to bring her to face Haggar. "You will never destroy another innocent world!" Allura crouched and placed her hands on the platform as energy surged from her hands. Beams of energy flared out all around her, turning into lashing tentacles that struck around destroying the mechanism that absorbed energy from planets. One beam of energy struck the druid Kolivan was fighting. It disappeared in a flash of energy. The power around Allura grew until it exploded, and Haggar disappeared.
Debris rained down around them. Allura and Adam gazed at each other, neither being able to explain what happened.
Kolivan appeared on one of the floating platforms. "Come on!"
Allura and Adam jumped over to it.
Adam was now able to focus on the battle raging outside the command ship when he heard Shiro cry out in pain. "Takashi!"
The Castle of Lions appeared picking the Galra, Altean, and human up. Then it picked up the lions as power returned to Zarkon's ship.
Allura created a wormhole, and the Castle moved away to safety.
Keith led the way to the main hangar with Adam, the other paladins, and Alteans behind him. They entered the Black Lion, which lay sprawled on the floor of its hangar. The door to the cockpit opened. Keith's voice cracked as he spoke. "He's gone."
"No!" Adam whispered. "This can't happen again." He took a step toward the seat, but his knees gave out from underneath him as he dropped to the plating of the cockpit.
Lance knelt next to Adam and wrapped an arm around his shoulders. "Lo Siento, Adam," he whispered to his cousin.
Keith knelt on the other side of Adam. "I promise right now that I'll find him, Adam. Shiro's out there somewhere, and I'm going to find him."
Pidge wiped at her nose while Hunk rubbed at his eyes. Allura and Coran were both silent.
Adam tore his gaze away from the empty seat as he turned it to Coran. "Thace needs to go into a healing pod. His medical scan revealed evidence of torture."
Allura gasped. "His people tortured him?"
Coran placed a hand on her shoulder as he frowned but didn't say a word.
Adam sighed. "Guys, I'd like to be left alone for a while."
Lance gazed over at Keith before he turned it back to Adam. "Are you sure?"
Adam nodded. "Please."
Keith nodded. "Okay, but if you need anything, don't hesitate to ask." He fought to hold his emotions in check. The lump in his throat seemed to be growing as his eyes watered.
The Paladins and two Alteans left the cockpit. Adam rose to his feet and walked over to the seat before allowing himself to sit down in it. What should I be feeling? How should I think?
He pulled his helmet off and set it down in his lap. "Takashi," he whispered. "You were supposed to come back to me."
The temperature in the cockpit seemed to change. He reached up to touch his cheek as his eyes widened. It was just like Takashi's. He looked over in the direction of the touch. Nothing was there. A breath tickled his ear. "Adam, I'm sorry."
