Chapter 29 – The Shattered Galra Empire

I don't own Voltron Legendary Defender. I'm taking the characters out for a spin.


The door to the bridge slid open, revealing the Paladins, Adam, Thace, and Coran, who faced Lotor and Allura.

Lance leaned over toward Pidge. "Look, it's Prince Lotor, hanging out on the bridge."

Pidge stared at the pair. "I guess this is a thing that's happening."

Adam folded his arms across his chest as he glared at Lotor. "I hate this idea."

Coran shrugged his shoulders. "I suppose we'll have to get used to it like I had to get used to my Zarbloovian intestinal eel."

Shiro walked past Coran and Hunk. "What's going on, Lotor?"

The Galra gazed back at them. "The death of my father has created a power vacuum within the Galra Empire. The most formidable Galra leaders will gather for what is called the Kral Zera sometime in the next two days to decide who will take the throne. We must be there."

Adam glared at him. "We? What do you mean by we? You created this problem when you killed Zarkon!"

Lance nodded as he crossed his arms over his chest. "Yeah, and now you want us to fly you into the middle of a meeting with all of the most powerful Galra leaders?"

Allura turned to Zarkon's son. "Lotor, we appreciate all you've sacrificed, but this sounds far too dangerous."

Adam shook his head. "No, not dangerous, Allura. It sounds suicidal."

Shiro focused solely on Lotor. "We've been in more dangerous situations with much less to gain. Putting Lotor on the Galra throne is what we've been discussing."

Pidge gazed at the Black Paladin. "Yeah, but no one told us that would mean flying into a war zone."

Allura turned her gaze on Shiro. "We can't plan an operation this important so quickly."

Shiro replied. "We don't have a choice."

Lance turned toward Shiro. "I'm with Allura. We need time to think this over."

Shiro craned his head over toward the Red Paladin. "Lance, this isn't your call." He turned his head back to the Princess. "Allura, the Coalition wouldn't be where it is right now without Lotor. We need to listen to him."

Pidge added in her own two cents. "Well, I'm with Allura, too. This is too dangerous to pull off at the last minute."

Coran nodded. "Agreed. So, it looks like it's four-to-two in the Princess's favor."

Shiro shook his head. "Look, this isn't a vote. I'm the leader of Voltron. I'm making this decision."

Adam's eyes grew at that. Why was Shiro so adamant about this. He frowned again as he thought back to his alcohol-induced dream. Was his subconscious trying to tell him something? He glanced over at Thace. Maybe Thace would know more about the effects of that Galra alcohol on the human body.

His attention was drawn back to the conversation as Allura took a half-step forward. "Like when you armed Lotor with your bayard without consulting the rest of us?"

"That's right. Making that decision resulted in the removal of Zarkon."

Allura's voice rose. "You put the entire operation in jeopardy."

Shiro's voice rose to match hers. "I put an end to Zarkon's reign. Now is the time to finish the job!"

Lance stepped forward. "Shiro, we're all on the same side here."

Shiro glared at the Red Paladin. "I told you to stay out of this!"

Adam stepped in front of Lance and stabbed his forefinger at Shiro. "You don't talk to my cousin that way!"

Lotor drew everyone's attention back to himself. "While you all waste time squabbling, sinister forces are conspiring to fill the Galra power void. If I do not return to claim the throne, there is no telling who will. And it could be someone equal or worse than Zarkon."

Shiro nodded. "Good. It's settled."

Pidge replied. "How's that settled?"

Shiro gazed at her. "Our hands are tied. The Kral Zera is happening. If we want to stop the Galra, we need to put Lotor on the throne immediately."

Adam shook his head. "In your mind, it's settled. But my vote on this is a big resounding no." He turned and strode off the bridge. Lance followed.

"Hey, Adam, wait up."

Adam stopped and turned to face his cousin. "What do you want, Lance?"

"I was just wondering where you're going in such a hurry."

Adam shook his head. "Someplace you probably wouldn't go."

Lance cocked his head.

Adam sighed. "The training deck. I feel the need to blow something up."

"I guess I should go with you to make sure you don't kill yourself."

Adam shrugged. "It's a free Castle, do whatever you want to do." He spun around and continued on his way.

Lance stared after him.


Adam dressed in his armor with his energy rifle on his shoulder, energy pistol, and knife on his belt, stood in the center of the training deck. He opened his mouth to start a training sequence when the door opened, and Lance strode in dressed in his Paladin armor.

"So, you decided to join me?"

Lance nodded and grinned. "I can't let you have all the fun."

"Did you have anything in mind?"

The Red Paladin grin grew. "Yeah, drone practice."

Adam gazed back at his cousin as he rubbed at his bearded chin. "That sounds like a good idea. The gladiators are pretty easy."

Lance gaped at Adam. "Easy?"

Adam sighed. "Well, I know they weren't easy the first time you all fought one, but that was because you had never seen one before, and you weren't sure how they worked. Right?"

"Okay, yeah, your right."

"Ready to begin drone practice?"

Lance grinned. "Let's do it."

Adam spoke to the Castle's training deck computer. "Begin drone practice."

The training room beeped as a door in the wall opened, and about thirty small metallic colored balls came flying out. Adam slid the shoulder strap off and hefted his energy rifle as Lance pulled out his bayard. Both began firing at the drones as they flew in circles around the pair.

Adam missed one twice but then hit it on the third shot, while Lance's shots struck home. When about fifteen drones were left, they began speeding up. Adam dropped his rifle and pulled out his pistol as he formed his shield. Like he'd warned Lotor's generals on the shuttle when they'd rescued Sam Holt, he was a more accurate shot with the pistol.

Lance got stung by a blast from a drone as he formed his shield. His sniper rifle wasn't cutting it when he closed his eyes and then swung out and sliced the drone in two. He stopped and gazed at the sword he held, and then proceeded to finish mopping up the drones.

Adam turned to see the sword in Lance's hand. "How did you do that?"

Lance scratched at the back of his helmet with one hand. "I'm not exactly sure."

Allura spoke from behind the cousins. "I haven't seen that for ten thousand years."

Lance stammered, "A-A-Allura?"

Allura approached and stopped alongside the Red Paladin. "It's an Altean broadsword. My father used one just like it."

Lance stared at the sword. "I have no idea how I did this."

"I think your bayard has shown you what we've all been noticing. You have greatness within."

Lance's face fell. "I don't think Shiro has noticed."

"Shiro has been quite difficult lately. I'm not sure what to do. We seem to be at odds constantly."

Lance lowered the sword. "You guys are under a lot of pressure. Having Lotor around doesn't help."

"Sometimes, it's like it was easier to fight the Galra rather than to try to work with them."

Lance gazed at her. "You both have the Coalition's best interests at heart. Don't forget that. Shiro isn't your enemy."

Allura's eyes raised to look up at the Red Paladin. "You're right. I need to stay focused on the big picture. Thank you, Lance. Speaking with you has actually made me feel better."

One of Lance's eyebrows rose as he gazed at her. "What do you mean, actually?"

They both started laughing.

Allura placed her hand on his shoulder. "Oh, and, Lance, if you're going to try to control a sword this powerful," she reached over and placed her free hand on his arm. She leaned forward and kicked at his feet, knocking him off his feet while she held his bayard. "You're going to have to work on your stance."

Adam chuckled. "Yeah, Loverboy Lance." He reached down, offering his hand to his cousin.

"Ha, ha," he glared up at Adam but reached his hand up and grabbed Adam's hand and allowed the older man to pull him back up to his feet.

Allura passed Lance his bayard.


An alarm began going off in the Castle. "Paladins," Coran's rang through the ship, "Shiro needs your help. He's fighting something in the forest that struck near the Olkari Capital."

Lance and Allura sprinted away from Adam and out the door of the training room. Adam ran off too, heading for the bridge of the Castle.


Adam met Matt and Sam as they raced onto the bridge. Thace and Coran were both working hard to try to figure out what was going on.

Matt asked, "What's going on out there?"

Coran kept his focus on the screen. "The forest appears to have come alive, and it's attacking the city."

Adam set his rifle down on the floor beside his seat as he listened to the Paladins communications through his helmet's communicator.

Pidge contacted the Olkari capital. "Ryner, what are we looking at?"

"I don't understand. That monster resembles one of our tree-mechs. It's as if the forest is being corrupted."

Shiro replied, "It must have something to do with whatever is emanating from the impact site!"

Pidge replied, "It looks like some sort of invasive plasma. Coran, have my dad and brother analyze the data I'm sending!"

"On it."

Shiro called out to the others. "Hurry up team. Let's form Voltron!" After a few ticks, Shiro said, "Let's finish it."

Hunk replied, "I can't move my leg. I mean, my Voltron leg!"

Allura grunted. "Neither can I! These vines are restricting our movements!"

Shiro called out, "Pidge, can you get free?"

"Negative. They're everywhere!"

Lance called out, "Red's stuck too!"

Allura replied, "Separate into Lions!"

Adam fought to keep his composure, but this was like something from out of a nightmare. His stomach churned as if a vine had somehow got inside him.

Shiro spoke up. "We can't! We're seized up! Trapped."

Hunk called out, "Wait. What's that sound?"

Shiro replied, "It sounds like the monster is heading the other way. And I think I know why. Ryner, is that ion cannon of yours operational?"

"No, it's still not functional. At best, it could perhaps manage one shot."

Shiro replied. "Make it count, 'cause that thing is heading right for you."

Pidge's voice came out of the Castle's speaker. "Matt! Dad! These vines."

Matt replied, "They're like a computer virus. From the data you sent, it appears the plasma substance is self-replicating organic wetware. This creates a single expanding system, giving it the ability to interface with nature the same way the Olkari do."

Pidge replied. "It's like a computer, and a virus rolled into one."

Coran slammed his fist against his control panel. "Quiznack! Now Voltron is offline."

Adam growled. "Lance. Lance, answer me!" He shook his head, "My communications are shut down too." He wanted to rip off his helmet and throw it, but he knew that would be a futile effort.

Sam threw out a suggestion. "If the plasma mass has the properties of a computer, there must be some way to hack into it and shut it down."

Matt gazed at his dad. "Conceivably. If we could figure out how to interface with it." He thought for a moment. Then his eyes lit up. "The Olkari interface."

Sam's eyes lit up. "Yes, that should work."

The pair of Holts ran off the bridge.

Adam's holographic screen flashed a warning at him. "A Galra cruiser has entered Olkarias atmosphere."

Coran stared at the main screen as it hovered over the forest and drew up Voltron covered in a cocoon of vines in a tractor beam. "This is all their doing."

Adam's pulse raced through his body. He could hear the blood rushing past his ears. He jumped up when Voltron broke free of the vines, and the Olkari ion cannon fired and struck the Galra cruiser. He dropped back down in his chair as he placed his hand on his heart. "I'm getting too old for this," he muttered to himself.

Shiro's voice came through Adam's helmet comms. "Let's finish this fight!"

Voltron managed to push the monster out of the Olkari city. But vines from the creature latched onto the metal warrior.

Shiro grunted. "Pidge, what's it doing?"

"The virus! It's trying to absorb Voltron!"

Hunk said, "I can't see anything."

Shiro asked, "Are any of the lions free?"

Pidge replied, "It's got me!"

Allura replied, "Me too! Lance!"

In response, Lance yelled a battle cry and a big explosion where the monster was at went off destroying it.


Voltron stood by the city as the paladins stood or sat on Voltron's shoulder. Adam sat next to Lance. Both watched the cleanup effort of the Olkari getting rid of the bio-hacked vines. "Hey, Shiro. What were you trying to tell me in that void thing earlier?"

"What do you mean?"

"You were shouting at me, but I couldn't hear you."

Shiro frowned. "I don't know. Things went dark there for a second. But good work today. I'm sorry I yelled at you earlier."

Lance smiled for a minute, but as soon as Shiro's eyes were back on the scene playing out before them, the Red Paladin frowned.

Adam leaned over to Lance. "Meet me later. I'm going to get Thace. We need to talk."

Lance craned his head toward Adam. "What's going on?"

Adam shook his head. "Not now. Later."

Lance blinked. "Okay."


Lotor gazed at the Voltron team as they all assembled on the bridge, continuing to discuss the Kral Zera. "I'm telling you, Branko's wanton attack was only the beginning. Without an Emperor, more and more high-ranking officials will start lashing out and consolidating their power at the Kral Zera."

Hunk held up his hand. "Uh, just gonna jump in here. What exactly is the Kral Zera? Is there food there? It sounds awful, fancy."

Adam groaned from behind Lance. Leave it to Hunk to think with his stomach again.

Lotor gazed at the Yellow Paladin. "It's the coronation ceremony for a new emperor or empress. It is held on one of the first planets we, the Galra, conquered. Planet Feyiv, a sacred land."

Shiro gazed at Lotor. "Okay, so who will be at this Kral Zera?"

Lotor started to turn toward Coran's control panel, "Allow me to show you." He stopped and gazed at Allura. "May I, Princess?"

She sighed. "Go ahead."

Lotor brought up images of several Galra officials. "Warlord Ranvieg is one of the fiercest Galra in the empire. That's why he was sent to the fringes of the universe. He will already have several factions pledging their allegiance."

Lance gazed at the screen. "Warlord, huh? I'm guessing you don't get that title by being nice."

Lotor ignored his comment. "Commander Gnov was one of Zarkon's most trusted advisors. She will be unifying his inner circle of commanders. They know what they'll be getting with her. She's not as reckless as Ranvieg but just as cruel.

"Quartermaster Janka. He is responsible for overseeing supply routes throughout the empire. Don't let his stature fool you. His power is bureaucracy, and he should not be underestimated."

Pidge spoke up. "He keeps popping up in my database. His supply chain management is incredible. He color codes."

Hunk gazed at Pidge. "So organized evil. Okay."

"And finally, Zarkon's witch Haggar."

Shiro glared at the image. "We've met."

"She the most dangerous of them all. Because she's not Galra, and therefore not eligible to rule, she probably has a puppet already. Someone she can control and manipulate. If the Galra were smart, they'd be working together against her. If Haggar's puppet takes over, then stopping Zarkon's reign will all have been for naught."

Adam's eyes narrowed as he focused onto those two words that Lotor said, 'Haggar's puppet.' Now more than ever, he needed to talk to Thace and Lance.

Shiro replied. "Then, we can't risk any of them assuming control." He turned to e face the other paladins. "We should help Lotor take command of the Galra Empire."

Allura gazed at the Black Paladin. "Shiro, we've already discussed this. It's far too risky."

Lance moved to stand next to Allura. "Yeah, why don't we let them fight amongst themselves a while before we do anything?"

Shiro gazed at the pair. "You know what we went through on Olkarion, that was one rogue commander vying for the throne. When the Galra lash out, everyone in the universe suffers."

Pidge asked, "How would we get Lotor there without stirring up a huge fight?"

Lotor turned around. "I'll be bringing Voltron."

They all gasped.

Hunk's eyes narrowed. "Yeah, because Voltron never gets in fights."

Allura gazed at the Black Paladin. "Shiro, we can't allow that to happen."

Shiro frowned. "I'm sorry to hear that." He stormed off the bridge.

Hunk asked, "Uh, what's up with Shiro?"

Adam leaned toward Lance. "Now would be a good time to go talk." He turned to Thace. "Would you join Lance and me?"

"What's up?"

"There's something we should discuss, and I want to do this privately."

Lance lowered his voice. "Meet me in the Red Lion's hangar. We can talk inside the lion, and nobody will know."

Hunk turned to gaze at the trio. "What's going on?"

Lance turned and waved at the Yellow Paladin. "This is super-secret ninja stuff."

Hunk rolled his eyes. "Fine."

Lance, Thace, and Adam walked off the bridge.

Pidge glanced up a Hunk, "What's up with them?"

Hunk shrugged. "I don't know."


Lance sat in his pilot's chair as Adam and Thace leaned against the side of the cockpit. "So, what did you want to talk about?"

"Well," Adam scratched the back of his head. He turned to Thace. "That alcohol you gave me the other day. Is it known to cause hallucinations in other species? Or hallucinogenic dreams?"

Thace frowned. "I have no idea. I mean, it's possible."

Lance gazed at Adam, "What are you getting at?"

Adam took a seat on the floor of the cockpit as he gazed at Lance. "Do you remember back when I was sick with the flu, and Takashi called me Koishiteru?"

"Yeah, you never did explain what it meant."

"As you can guess, it's a Japanese term, and it's a special way of telling a person you want to spend the rest of your life with that you love them. Have you once heard him use that word since he's been back?"

Lance frowned as he rubbed his chin. "No, I only thought he might have said it in private with you."

Adam sighed. "Not once has he said it to me. But then I got drunk, and I had a dream where I saw Shiro in, and in the dream, he called me Koishiteru, and also told me not to trust the thing that looks like him."

Lance jerked up in his seat. "Wait, wait! Just wait a minute. Are you saying Shiro isn't Shiro?"

Thace gazed at the pair. "It's possible. Although, I hadn't been on the command ship for very long before Voltron attacked to save the Princess. But I'd heard some stories about the druids doing some things that had other Galra afraid."

Adam gazed at his cousin. "I mean think about the way he's been so gung-ho about putting Lotor on the Galra throne. I don't like the idea any more than anyone else. It seems to me that it would be something the witch might do to drive a wedge into the team and make it easier to take Voltron down."

Lance frowned. "I hate that you could be right about this."

Adam nodded. "I am too. I also hated the way he hounded Keith all the time when he was here."

Lance's expression turned sad. "Yeah. I miss the mullet-head."

Adam raised an eyebrow as he gazed at his cousin as a slight smirk pulled at his lips.

Thace turned to Adam. "So, what do you suggest we do about it."

"Keep an eye on him. If he does anything that might put anyone in danger, take him down."

Lance sighed. "Okay."


Adam, Thace, and Lance returned to the bridge as Pidge's face popped up on the main screen. "Hey, Princess, do you know where Shiro is?"

"Let me check." Allura checked her holographic screen. "He isn't on the ship. His lion's gone, too. Where's Lotor?"

Thace checked his holographic screen. Lotor's not here either."

Adam gazed at Allura. Right now, he'd follow her cues. He drew his hand up into a fist. "This is all Lotor's doing," he muttered under his breath.

Allura sighed. "Let's get to the Lions."


After the lions left the Castle, Adam leaned back in his seat. Thace appeared by his shoulder. "What do we do now?"

Adam gazed up at the Galran. "We continue to keep an eye on him."

Thace placed a hand on Adam's shoulder. "I understand now what your relationship was with the Black Paladin. If I can help with finding your Shiro, I will do it."

Adam nodded. "Thank you, Thace."