Chapter 28 – Sam Holt
I don't own Voltron Legendary Defender. I'm taking the characters out for a spin.
Adam stepped on the bridge of the Castle of Lions. "So, the paladins are off on another mission?"
Coran turned to face him. "Yes, they are. If you don't mind continuing to monitor their communications, it helps to have someone on board who understands their foibles. Sometimes I just don't understand a thing that comes out of Lance's mouth."
Adam chuckled as he sat down in his seat and inserted the earbud microphone into his ear. He reached out to activate the communications channel but stopped. "I have a slight problem with these missions. They're making Lance lazy." He pressed the switch and sat back to listen.
Shiro's voice was the first one he heard. "That's our target, the moon of Tragoch."
Allura's voice was next. "According to our latest intelligence, that's where the Galra is building their upgraded sentries."
Shiro spoke again. "Taking out this base will the Galra won't be able to resupply their bases and ships for months."
Lance replied, "How do we know this isn't a trap."
Adam could swear he heard Shiro frown when he spoke again. "All the intel's checked out so far. Everything's exactly how we were told it'd be." An alarm started blaring. "Including preparing for those!"
Allura called out, "Pidge?"
The Green Paladin replied. "Allura, I'm sending you the signals to interfere with the drones."
"Signal acquired. Broadcasting."
Shiro spoke again. "Let's take them out before they recalibrate and report our approach. Form up on me. We're going in. We only have five minutes before the base realizes their drones aren't responding. Be careful to stay in formation and don't touch the sides." He let out a grunt.
Adam could imagine Shiro at the controls trying to keep the Black Lion from touching the sides of the vent that the Lions of Voltron was in. He frowned as Hunk said, "Don't touch the side. Don't touch the side." Followed by "Uh-oh!"
Pidge yelled, "Hunk!"
Adam slapped his hand to his face. He sighed. "Hunk."
"I think I may have nicked the side a little bit."
Allura said. "Let me through. We'd better hurry. That patch won't last for long."
Hunk yelled, "The lava's gaining on us! We can't outrun it!"
Adam's stomach knotted up as he leaned forward in his chair, and his chest grew tight.
Allura replied, "We should be directly under the base."
Shiro called out. "There's an opening up ahead. Follow me!"
Lance shouted, "Oh, no! We're trapped!"
Shiro replied, "No, we're not! There's another way out! Form Voltron! Takedown the factory machines!"
Adam sat near Lance as Shiro stood in the middle of the lounge.
Hunk, who sat on the other couch closest to Shiro, gazed around the room at everyone. "Oh, man! Going on missions is a lot easier when somebody gives you all the information you need before you get there."
Lance chuckled. "And yet, you still managed to run your lion into a wall."
Hunk looked over at Lance. "Yeah, information is one thing. Ability is something completely different."
Shiro nodded. "There's no doubt about it. We haven't encountered a single problem."
Allura gazed at Lance and Hunk. "I must admit, we took down a vital target today."
Pidge spoke up. "And we made it look pretty easy, except for the getting buried in lava part."
Adam shook his head as he crossed his arms over his chest. "Tell that to my frazzled nerves. Listening to what is going on is terrifying."
Shiro ignored Adam's comment. "It may be time to consider taking the next step."
Allura leaned forward as her eyes narrowed. "I'm still not comfortable with this. It doesn't feel right."
The door to the lounge slid open, and Thace walked in. "Pardon the intrusion Shiro, but I was looking for Adam."
Shiro gazed at the Blade. "No problem, we were mainly finished anyway."
Thace nodded and strode over to Adam. "I forgot that Kolivan had given me this." He held out a bottle filled with an amber-colored liquid. "Be careful when imbibing this. I have no idea what effects it will have on the human body."
Adam reached for the bottle. "Bless you, Thace," he said as his fingers wrapped around the neck of the bottle.
Shiro's eyebrow rose. "What is that?"
Adam gazed at him. "Something to ease my nerves and maybe help me forget some things."
Shiro gazed at the tawny-haired man. "You don't need that."
"And how the hell would you know what I need anyway? You're never around when I need you!" Adam's eyes flashed as unspoken anger rose inside him. "It's always Voltron with you anymore, or your off interrogating Lotor and getting intel for new missions." He smacked a hand to his chest. "Don't I matter to you anymore?"
"Of course, you do, but stopping Zarkon and freeing the universe takes precedence over anything else."
Adam shook his head. "Bullshit!" He stood and stormed out of the room.
Hunk glanced around at everyone. "What was that all about?"
Lance gazed down at the floor. "I think I know, but it's not my place to stop him." He turned his eyes up to Shiro's, hoping that his hero and leader would go after Adam. He sighed as he gazed back down at the floor. "I'll go look for him."
Lance walked into the dining room and found Adam sitting at the table, pouring some of the liquid into a cup. Adam set the bottle on the table as he raised the cup to his lips. He took a sip of the liquid and gasped and coughed as his eyes watered. He slammed his hand down on the table, "Now that's good, but what a kick it has to it."
Lance slid his hands into his pockets. "Are you sure you need that?"
Adam gazed up at him. "Damn straight, I do. I'm tired of being the one always left behind."
The Red Paladin shook his head. "That's not you talking, that's the alcohol."
Adam shook his head. "No, it's all me, and right now, I plan on getting drunk on my ass."
Lance sat in the chair, ass the table from his cousin. "Come on, Adam, you don't need that."
Adam stared Lance in the eyes. "You have no idea what I need, either." He took another sip and followed it by swallowing the rest of the liquid. His body warmed as the alcohol was absorbed into his bloodstream. He grabbed the bottle and poured a second drink and chugged it down.
Adam's voice began to slur as he hefted the bottle. "You want shome?"
Lance shook his head. "No, I can't. Mom would kill me if she found out I was drinking before I was twenty-one."
"I whon't tell if you don't."
Lance sighed. "Your drunk and not thinking clearly."
"Your loss, you don't know what you're missing." Adam shrugged as he poured another drink. He chugged it down. The cup slid out of his hand, and he laid his head down on the table and passed out.
Adam heard a voice by his ear. "Koishiteru," he opened his eyes, and there stood Shiro gazing down on him in full paladin armor.
"What? What did you say."
Shiro smiled at him as he rubbed his hand on Adam's cheek. "Koishiteru, I only have a few minutes. Don't trust him."
Adam blinked at him. "Don't trust who? Lotor?"
"No, Koishiteru. Don't trust the thing that looks like me." Shiro gazed at Adam as both love and sadness shown in his dark-gray eyes. "I'm sorry, my time is up."
Adam reached out as Shiro disappeared.
Lance gazed at his cousin as he began to stir but whispered, "Kashi, Wait." The teen chuckled as he remembered what Keith had said about Shiro being a walking, talking granola bar.
"I guess I should get you to bed so you can sleep it off properly. I hope you won't have a hangover in the morning."
Hunk entered the room. He gaped at Adam with his head down on the table. "How much did he drink?"
Lance shrugged. "I'd guess maybe about three shots."
"Woah, that stuff is potent."
"You said it, buddy. Will you help me get him to his room?"
Hunk nodded. "Yeah, you get one side, and I'll get the other."
Adam's eyelids opened, and he blinked, glancing up at the ceiling. Though his head was a bit fuzzy, he didn't feel worse for wear. He sat up and glanced around the room. "Huh," he asked. How did I get here? Last he remembered he was in the dining hall. "Must have been Lance who got me here."
His eyes slid over to the other side of the bed, and as usual, there was no sign that Takashi had ever come to bed. He sighed. "So, I guess this is the new normal." He grabbed his dog tags from under his shirt. He brushed his thumb against Takashi's ring. He rose from the bed and hopped in the shower, trimmed his beard, and redressed. He tugged the hem of his uniform jacket down and finally stepped out of the room.
Adam stepped onto the bridge of the Castle. Everyone stood around Allura, who was looking for something on her holographic screen. It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Pidge sat in her chair with her arms wrapped around her knees, and her cheek pressed against the top of her knees. Matt stood next to her with his hand rubbing on her back.
Adam froze. Matt was here? What have I missed?
Lance seemed to understand his cousin's confusion and quickly strode over to him and quietly filled him in on what he'd missed.
Adam nodded. "Thanks, Lance."
Adam strode over to Pidge's chair. He knelt in front of the Green Paladin. "Do you remember when Takashi was in the healing pod, and you were worried about your family?"
She nodded.
"We'll get your dad back. I promise you that."
Electronic beeping of a signal coming through caught their attention. Adam stood as Pidge raised her head.
The main screen came to life, and they were faced with a monstrous image of Zarkon. It looked like Voltron had done significant damage to him so that now the only way he could survive was in the armor. "Paladins of Voltron."
Shiro whispered, "Zarkon."
"I am making a one time offer. I have someone of value to you." He moved out of the way, and they all saw a timid looking Commander Holt in the grips of three of Lotor's Generals. He looked up."
Pidge stood up. "Dad!"
"We'll hand him over, and in exchange, you give me my son Lotor."
Adam stared at Takashi. "I'm going on this one." As Takashi opened his mouth to refute what Adam said, he raised his hand. "Commander Holt looks like he might need medical attention, and I'm the medic on this team, remember?"
"Fine, get suited up, and meet us in the pod bay."
Adam spun on his heel, but before he strode off the bridge, he fired a parting salvo. "It's about time you got your head out of your ass."
The Castle of Lions hovered over the planet where the exchange was to take place. Pidge rode shotgun next to Shiro while Adam and Matt rode in the back watching Lotor.
Once the pod touched the ground, Matt exited the pod while Adam stayed in the back with Lotor. Adam gazed at Lotor.
Lotor though in cuffs, gazed at Adam. "I haven't seen much of you."
Adam leaned back as he rested his hand on the butt end of his energy pistol. "I've been busy doing other things, not that it's any of your business."
Lotor sighed. "Fair point. But you should know that Zarkon will try to pull a double-cross on your people. Right now, he wants me so he can end me."
Adam shrugged. "I'm not bothered by that. I just want to get Commander Holt back, so his children won't have to worry about him anymore. Since it was your people who took him, his son, and Shiro." Adam leaned forward. "Your father's witch has messed with him."
"I don't know what you mean."
"You don't? What about the scar across his nose. He never had that before he left Earth for Kerberos. And let's not forget about the arm they took and replaced with a prosthetic."
Lotor shook his head. "That was all Haggar and her druids doing. I've been living in exile for the most part."
Adam's eyes narrowed as he stared at Lotor. "Let's get one thing straight. I don't trust you, and I'll never trust you." He stopped as he listened to the conversation between Pidge, Shiro, and Matt. "Looks like your father has arrived."
Matt banged on the side of the pod. Adam's helmeted head rose. "That's our cue. It sounds like Zarkon wants to see you."
Both he and Lotor walked out of the back of the pod.
Zarkon replied, "Now, where is Lotor?"
Shiro yelled. "Send us Commander Holt!"
Zarkon replied, "Release him."
Commander Holt began walking down the ramp of the Galra transport.
Shiro nodded toward Adam. Adam nudged Lotor forward. "It's your lucky day."
Lotor started walking toward Zarkon and his generals.
Shiro's voice was low. "Stay alert. If Zarkon's going to try something, now would be the time."
As Commander Holt neared them, Pidge took off running. Shiro yelled, "Pidge!" He reached out toward her, trying to stop her.
Pidge yelled, "Dad!" as she neared her father. She reached out to embrace him but went right through him. She growled as she glared at Zarkon. "No! No, we had a deal! Give me my father!"
Zarkon's expression was unreadable from under the mask. "If you want this Earthling returned alive, you will forfeit Voltron to me immediately!"
Matt held onto Pidge the best that he could as she struggled against him. "No. No! We have to get Dad!"
Matt gazed toward Adam and Shiro. "Shiro?"
Shiro replied. "Hold your positions until the time is right."
Adam placed his hand on his energy pistol. "When is the time going to be right?"
Zarkon yelled, "Bring the lions now!"
Lotor broke free from the cuffs and attacked Zarkon.
Shiro turned to the others. "We need to get Sam!" They used their jetpacks to cross the ground to the Galra transport as it began to liftoff.
Pidge, Matt, Adam, and Shiro grabbed the side of the transport. Pidge slammed her bayard into the side of the ship, using it to cut into the hull. "We can't let the shuttle dock with the cruiser!"
Shiro slammed his prosthetic hand into the side of the ship. "We need backup. Lance! We could use a little help down here."
Lance replied, "We're already on the way!"
A piece of the ship's full fell inside the ship and clattered to the deck. Shiro, Matt, Pidge, and Adam stood facing the Galra generals. Pidge yelled at them, "Hey! Let my Dad go!" She charged forward. Being the smallest, she was able to slip past Zethrid, who stood facing Matt.
Ezor jumped out of her seat to attack Shiro, who charged at her with his glowing hand.
Matt produced his staff and swung at Zethrid. She kicked out at him with her foot connecting with his chest and pushing him backward.
Pidge charged Acxa, who was flying the transport. Acxa pulled back on the controls sending loose cargo sliding backward.
Shiro moved out of the way as the loose crates knocked Ezor out of his way.
Pidge fired her bayard into the back of Acxa's seat, and she used it to propel herself into the chair knocking Acxa out of it, but the sudden shoving motion caused the controls to be shoved forward putting the ship into a nosedive.
Zero-G set in as Pidge launched herself to her dad's seat. "Hold on, Dad." She cut through his bonds.
As Sam started to float, he gazed into her eyes. "Thanks, Katie." He turned to see that the ship was heading for the surface. "The ship's gonna crash!"
Pidge launched herself toward the controls but was intercepted by Acxa.
Adam launched himself forward as Zetherid reached out to grab his ankle. He drew his free leg up and kicked down on her hand, getting her to release her hold. He used his jetpack to push himself toward the controls. He pulled the ship's nose up. He turned to Sam. "Here, take over, Matt needs help."
Sam took over, but he cocked an eyebrow at the other man. "Did the entire Garrison come looking for me?"
Adam chuckled as he launched himself at Zethrid. "Seems that way, doesn't it?" If Sam replied, Adam didn't hear it as he tackled the larger Galra.
Lance's voice came over Adam's helmet comm. "Shiro, Pidge, the sky has been cleared of all Galra. What's your status?"
Pidge yelled, "Shuttle is not clear yet!"
Matt swung his staff and got a good blow to Zethrid's face.
As soon as Adam's booted feet touched the deck when gravity returned, he pulled his energy pistol and fired it off into the air. The sound of the blast striking the ceiling caught everyone's attention. "Move," he glared at the generals as he motioned for them to get over by the exit. "Don't try me. I'm better with this than I am with my rifle." He kept the pistol trained on them. "What do you say that we take out the trash Commander."
A wicked chuckle met his ears. Sam called out to the other humans on board. "Hold on." He pulled back hard on the controls as Pidge appeared next to him. She glanced over her shoulder to make sure her friends and brother were holding on. She slammed her gloved hand down on a button. The hatch opened, and the generals went tumbling out along with some of the cargo. She closed the hatch again.
Adam took over the controls of the ship and flew it up into the atmosphere. Pidge jumped into Commander Holt's arms. "Dad! I missed you so much!"
Adam couldn't help eavesdropping, as Sam replied, "I missed you too, Katie." Matt came up and joined his sister in hugging his father.
Shiro's voice came over Adam's helmet comm. "The shuttle is clear."
The Lions appeared to escort the shuttle. Lance said, "Nice job, team."
Shiro asked, "Where are Zarkon and Lotor?"
Lance's voice replied. "I see them, but it's not looking good for Lotor."
Shiro frowned. "Distract Zarkon."
Adam gazed at Shiro. "Are you serious? You want to help Lotor?"
"Would you rather Zarkon was still around?"
They all watched as Zarkon turned and aimed something up at them, and Lotor picked up something like a long piece of metal from one of the Galra fighters that the lions took out earlier and used it to pierce it through Zarkon's body.
They gasped.
Shiro gazed at Adam. "Land, and let's pick up Lotor."
Adam blinked as he gazed at Shiro. "What? You want to pick up someone who just committed patricide?"
"Yes, Lotor may still be helpful in this war. Considering he just took out his father. Now he should be able to take over the Empire."
Adam muttered under his breath a string of Spanish expletives. He landed the shuttle, and they picked up Lotor and returned to the Castle of Lions.
He frowned as he thought about his dream. Something is going on, and he was going to find out one way or another what was happening.
