Chapter 24 – The Beginning of Voltron
I don't own Voltron Legendary Defender. I'm taking the characters out for a spin.
Pidge brought up the star map that circled everyone on the bridge of the Castle of Lions. She pressed different locations on the map. "He fought us here, his generals were here, and he stole the comet here."
Lance shook his head. "So, Lotor could be anywhere."
Shiro crossed his arms over his chest. "We'll never be able to find him unless we can figure out his plan. We're missing the big picture."
Pidge gazed at the location where they fought Lotor and his generals. "How about this question? Why was Voltron made out of the same material as that comet? What's so special about it?"
Allura lowered her head. "My father discovered another comet before I was born."
Coran gazed at her. Adam could see he was struggling to tell her the truth. He stepped up beside the Altean. "Maybe it's time to tell everyone the truth."
The former royal Advisor sighed. "Yes, it is." He turned to her. "Your father and Zarkon."
Hunk frowned. "This is back when Zarkon was the Black Lion's paladin?"
Coran turned his gaze to the Yellow Paladin. "Before that. Before Alfor built the lions."
Shiro gazed at the Altean. "I know this is painful, but if we're going to stop Lotor, it's time we heard the rest of the story."
Coran swallowed hard, and Adam put his hand on his shoulder and squeezed it. The Altean was a rock when he needed the support, so it was his turn to pay him back for his kindness and understanding.
Coran began the story. He started talking about the five leaders who banded together as a team to rid their system of enemies. He smiled as he gazed at Keith. "Alfor was reckless. Like a certain paladin, I know."
Lance jabbed Keith in the side with his elbow.
Keith glared at the Blue Paladin. "Why don't you listen for once instead of trying to play one up on me."
Coran smiled at the pair. "But I digress. The original Paladins were Zarkon from Planet Daibazaal, King Alfor of Altea, Gyrgan from Rygnlrath, Trigel of the Dalterion Belt, and Blytz from Nalquod. That night a comet crashed on Daibazaal. They could have never known that the fate of the universe would be changed forever.
"Zarkon evacuated his people from the crater. Alfor studied the comet, but he found that the comet could travel through other realities. He also brought with him Altea's top Alchemist, Honerva.
"King Alfor had the comet transported to Altea where he experimented on the ore in his lab, as Honerva continued her research of the rift on Daibazaal. But Alfor often visited as the years passed. Zarkon even married Honerva. However, as time passed, Honerva began experiments which called forth a creature from the rift. It called forth others of its kind.
"King Alfor and Honerva erected a particle barrier around the crater containing the creatures. But it wouldn't hold forever.
"Alfor took Zarkon and the others down to his lab where he introduced to them the lions he'd created. But one thing he made clear was they didn't choose the lion. The lion chose its pilot.
"The creatures broke through the particle barrier on Daibazaal. But the newly formed paladins learned that the lions could form Voltron, and they defeated the creatures.
"Zarkon and Honerva fought against the voice of reason and decided to continue working with the energy from the rift. Honerva continued her experiments.
"Despite their differences, Zarkon and Alfor, along with the other paladins, established a new era of peace and prosperity. It was an age of exploration, and Voltron became known as the Defender of the Universe, establishing the legend that would live on to this day.
"When Alfor went to visit Zarkon and Honerva, a frightening realization was revealed. He found they had discovered that quintessence could extend life. However, Honerva was changing. No longer the vibrant beauty Alfor had once known. She was turning into something almost grotesque. The exposure to that much quintessence had poisoned both Honerva and Zarkon's minds. When Zarkon began talking about living forever and ruling the universe, Alfor left. He was sickened by what came from Zarkon's mouth.
"Zarkon came to Altea. Honerva had fallen extremely ill, and Daibazaal was on the verge of destruction. He pleaded for help from Alfor and the other Paladins. He proposed they use Voltron to close the rift.
"Alfor's compassion for his old comrade blinded him to Zarkon's real plans. They made the rift big enough for Voltron to enter. Zarkon left the safety of Voltron and carried Honerva into the quintessence. The creatures of the rift returned surrounding Zarkon and Honerva. The Paladins rescued their friends and left the rift.
"Zarkon's attempt to save Honerva was in vain. They both succumbed to overexposure of quintessence. Zarkon deceived the paladins. They had unwittingly enlarged the rift, which further destabilized Daibazaal.
"King Alfor was forced to evacuate the planet. He closed the rift the only way he knew how, by destroying the Galran homeworld.
"King Alfor held a state funeral for Zarkon and Honerva in his royal hall. But what happened next, he never guessed. Zarkon rose from his deathbed.
"Zarkon had become pure evil, obsessed only with quintessence. To open a new rift between the realities, he needed Voltron. And so the war began. The Galra immediately responded to their leader and attacked. The peaceful planets of our system were not prepared. Soon they had all fallen, except for Altea. In a final attempt to keep Voltron from Zarkon's hands, the lions were sent to the far corners of the universe. Zarkon flew into a rage. He killed King Alfor then avenged the loss of Daibazaal with the destruction of Altea."
Pidge gazed at Coran, "So that's Lotor's plan. To cross into other universes and get the purest quintessence possible."
Keith nodded, "No matter what, we have to stop him."
Thace nodded, but he turned to Allura. "However, that isn't the entire story. When Zarkon called for the Galra to attack, some of us had families on those peaceful planets. Zarkon called half-breed Galra a disease and ordered those who had married outside of our races to be destroyed. Some who were captured were put into the arena for Zarkon's amusement.
"Other Galra were appalled by this barbarity. Kolivan was one of those. He began to gain like minds, especially from the half-breeds, and we formed The Blade of Marmora.
"My sister was a Blade, but she was captured by Zarkon and tortured by his witch to find out where this new resistance movement was. But my sister was strong, and she took the information to her grave no matter what that witch did to her. I was young when Kolivan appeared and handed me her blade. I swore that I wouldn't let the blades down be just as strong as she was."
He gazed at Allura. "I see that same fire that she had in you, Princess. You would have done anything to have saved your people."
Allura nodded. "I did. I tried to convince my father that we should fight, but instead, he put me to sleep inside a cryopod."
Thace knelt in front of her. "Princess Allura, I pledge myself to your cause. You have stopped Zarkon. I will remain by your side during this fight against Lotor. Let me do this for my sister."
Allura gaped at him, unable to think of anything to say because he took her off guard.
She glanced around as if silently asking for help.
Adam nodded and flashed her a thumbs up. Then he mouthed at her, 'You got this.'
She drew in a breath. "Thank you, Thace. I do this to honor your sister's sacrifice, and you have proved yourself to be a Galra who appreciates others and not just quintessence. Rise General Thace."
Lance gazed at Thace. "Good job."
Keith's gaze dropped to the deck as he frowned. "But what about Shiro?"
Allura sucked in a breath as if she'd known this question would come. "Shiro is still an invaluable member of this team. He proved that with the Teludav. So, don't worry about that. Remember, we are also getting together allies to fight the Galra, and we will need a General to lead them. I believe Thace is a good choice. While each group will have their commanders, they still need an overall leader, and Thace is my choice for that."
Hunk nodded, and Pidge smiled. "I can see that," the Green Paladin replied.
Shiro nodded. "I don't mind stepping away from the battlefield and coordinating the rebels transports. It may not mean leading Voltron anymore, but it is useful."
Coran piped up. "It certainly is, and you will be a big help. Because while Voltron is away on missions, I can keep the Castle running in tip-top shape."
Keith glanced up at the others but didn't say anything as he stomped off the bridge.
Lance gazed after him. "What's up with him?"
Adam shook his head. "I don't know, but I guess he'll eventually tell us when he's ready."
Adam sat in the lounge as Thace walked in. "Why are you here by yourself?"
"I needed some time to think about some things." Adam leaned forward and placed his elbows on his knees as he steepled his hands together in front of him. "I wonder where I fit in here. I know, at times, Lance feels like a fifth wheel or even seventh wheel, but he's more important to this effort than I am. Seeing how things have gone, I wonder if I'm needed here."
Thace took a seat next to him. "I can't speak for everyone here. You are needed. Your medical knowledge is needed."
The laugh that came from Adam held no humor behind it. "No, I have only rudimentary knowledge. The medical scanner does the diagnosis for me."
"But that's good. You at least have the mental capacity to follow it."
"I suppose your right."
Thace nodded. "I am right. And there's another reason we need you. It seems only you can keep Lance in line at times."
Adam chuckled. "He's family. He's my cousin's youngest son."
Conversation stopped as the door slid open. Keith stood there, but he seemed to debate whether he was going to step in or not, but he took the steps inside. He gazed at the human and the Galra. "What's going on?"
Thace glanced at Adam, who gave him a minimal shake of the head. So the human didn't want Keith knowing what was going on in his head. He'd keep the man's secret, for the moment. "You look troubled."
Keith let out a sigh and moved to sit down on one of the other couches on the other side of the small semi-circle. "Yeah, you could say that." He pulled his knife out from its sheath that hung on the backside of his belt. "You said I was a fellow Blade when we first met. How do I get into the Blade of Marmora?"
Adam's eyes grew as he gasped. "Keith, but what about Voltron. You are the Black Paladin."
Keith frowned. "I know, but Shiro should be the head of Voltron, not me. And if I leave something will come up and he'll have to become the Black Paladin again. Also, the team will be in better hands than mine."
Adam ran a hand through his hair. "Keith, you're still learning to be a leader."
"I think I can learn better if I also learn from the Blade of Marmora. Can you understand where I'm coming from?"
Adam nodded. "I can, but what am I supposed to tell the others?"
Keith shook his head. "Nothing, this is my decision."
Thace gazed between Keith and Adam. He frowned. "You became the Black Paladin recently. You do have the bravery and skill but not the wisdom of a leader or, for that matter, a member of the Blade."
Keith growled. "I wish people would stop telling me that! It wasn't my decision to be chosen by the Black Lion. It happened, and it still makes me unhappy. I need to find out who I am, and I would kind of like to find out who my mother was or if she's still alive, then who she is."
"Okay, I will contact Kolivan and see what he says. He may agree, but he also might not. Until we find out what Kolivan says this is our secret. Agreed?"
Adam sighed. "Agreed."
Keith nodded.
