Voltron held an emergency meeting.
Lance and pidge created and secure line for the Blades to patch in and the same for the rebels. They all sat around a conference table and when everyone got there, they started.
Allura updated everyone on the war effort as did Kolivan and Matt said their piece. Then they got down to business as Allura explained what had recently happened and that Lotor was currently outside their ship waiting for a reply.
"Kolivan, what do you know about Lotor?" Allura asked point blank.
"He and Zarkon have never gotten along," Kolivan replied in the same manner, "I do not question his hatred for his father, but I do question his motives and loyalty. If you do end up working with him, I wish you to keep us out of any conversations you may have with him."
Allura nodded, "Of course, we understand. You will remain a secret to all those that come after this."
Kolivan nodded his appreciation.
"It wouldn't hurt to have him on our side," Matt said, "if we keep him at arms length and know he's not completely on ours, then it should be beneficial."
"Has that ever worked on earth?" Kolivan asked, actually curious to know if it ever had. All the paladins made faces.
"Mmmore or less?" Matt said, "There was the cold war fiasco and that thing with the other country…so not really…no."
"But can we afford to have him as an enemy?" Shiro spoke up for the first time, "I'm not saying to trust him completely, or that we should be rash about this. But he's been the only person to beat us and give us all a run for our money. He also knows more about Zarkon and his forces."
"We have Lance for that," Pidge argued, but Shiro raised a hand.
"Lance is in a precarious position right now. Wasn't it you that told me if the Galra found him first they could erase him from the server?"
"WHAT?!" Lances screen flickered, "WHAT?!"
Pidge winced and scowled at Shiro. She'd not said anything to Lance on purpose. Shiro, realizing his mistake mouthed his apology and looked suitably ashamed.
"THEY CAN DO THAT?!"
"Well, you have been careful, right?" Shiro asked, "I told you to."
"Well…yeah, I've been careful," Lance said, but didn't sound too sure.
"Can we discus Lotor," Kolivan asked, still not sure about this AI everyone was treating like a real person.
"We will speak to Lotor and discuss terms," Allura replied, "and then send you all messages via Lance. Lance will be our go between. If you have anything to send us, then please send it via him."
"Is this AI as safe as you claim?" Kolivan said.
"I have secrets I've not told Hunk," Lance said and hunk gasped.
Kolivan glanced from Hunks hurt expression to the empty screen, "Alright. We will see about this."
()
Lotor was welcomed on the ship, but alone and he was allowed to keep one weapon as a sign of trust on both sides.
They lead him to the same conference room they had just had their meeting in, but all the screens were gone. Lance had said he'd wanted to talk to Matt and Kolivan about the message system.
"You are the one offering surrender, so you can state your terms first," Allura said, taking her seat at the head of the table. Shiro to her right, Keith next to shiro and Hunk and pidge on her left. Coran stood behind her to her right.
Lotor took his seat at the other end of the table, facing her.
"I have everything to give, princess," he said, "I have insider knowledge, I excel at strategy, and with my help we could un seat Zarkon and win this war without many more lives lost."
He was good.
Allura was a fantastic diplomat and could sniff a suck-up a mile away. This guy hid his scent well.
"You think we'll help you ascend the throne?"
"Absolutely not," Lotor replied, "the next emperor is chosen…almost diplomatically through a controlled battle of sorts. It's a sacred ritual and must be treated as such. I would not ascend the throne unless I win, and I will support the one who does win. However, I want to make sure that there is an opening to chose a new ruler since this one isn't working out."
"He's your father," Hunk said, "you're talking about killing-"
"He's never been a father to me," Lotor said sternly, "I obeyed his orders to stay alive and now that you are here I see a better option and for once, a little hope."
Hunk still looked a little distressed and Pidge patted his arm.
"What is it about Zarkons rule that you like and what is it that you don't like?" Allura asked.
Lotor scowled, but gave it serious thought. He didn't speak for almost five minutes.
"I can't say I find much I like about his rule. On a personal level, he has a sense of order that I've admired. Where everything has a time and place and he knows exactly where and when that is, but as a ruler and a person in general, he's horrible and I can't even choose from the list of atrocities that I like the least."
"What do you hope to gain?"
"I hope to gain coexistence," Lotor said, "the Galra have pushed themselves into such a negative view that repairing that image alone is going to take multiple decafeebs. But if we can change, if we can-instead of conquers- we can become allies. I understand that it will take time, but if we don't start sometime, then it won't happen."
Allura nodded, "And you want us to support you in the Kral Zera?"
Lotors said slowly, "And how do you know that that is what its called?"
"I told them," Keith said, "I am part galra."
Lotor eyed him. He looked very much NOT galra in any way. Apparently human genetics were dominant.
"So you already have a participant?" Lotor sighed and Keith snorted.
"I'm not participating, but seeing as I have blood in the game, I'm not going to let just anyone light the fire."
Lotor and Keith looked gazes for a moment and then Lotor nodded, "Fair. I would not force anyone to back me. I will be participating with or without the aid of Voltron, I just want to work with you to defeat Zarkon. Wheather I win or not, he needs to go first."
Allura and Shiro shared a glance.
"Go back to your ship and we will discuss it some more," Shiro said, "we will let you know in a three quintants."
()
Lance finished talking with kolivan and Matt. He was a little upset that Pidge hadn't told him she'd found her brother. He was even MORE upset that she'd not told him he could be deleted from existence!
"Still," he mused reaching out to the screen that lead to Zarkons ship, "I'm so close…"
()
Over time, they formed a rather tenuous relationship with Lotor.
They all agreed they would keep it a secret, have Lotor go back to Zarkon and yet still be on their side. It was a risky move, but one they all felt needed to be done.
Keith was often in and out with the blades, but a balance was formed so Voltron never really suffered because of his absence.
Pidge, Hunk and Coran were breaking ground on the program and equipment that would download lance. So all in all, everything seemed to be working out.
Until it wasn't anymore.
()
"Shiro!" Pidge stormed onto the bridge, interrupting Shiro, Allura and Lotors discussion.
"Pidge, what's this?"
"Lance isn't answering!" She said in a tattling tone, "Its been three months already! The last time he was gone this long he was in Zarkons ship. Hunk and I need to hit up a galra base or ship to see if he's actually still there. Hunk is on the verge of a break down."
"You can use my ship," Lotor said, "But why all this fuss over an AI?"
"Ugh," Pidge rolled her eyes and stormed out of the room, followed closely by Acxa.
Acxa was the only one of Lotors generals that the team had met face to face. They knew there were more, but was often told they were busy with other things.
Lotor and the others followed as well, still discussing their previous topic.
"Zarkon is planning something," Lotor said, "I'm not sure what, but his mood has changed recently. I'll see what's going on, but I'm not sure I'll find out much."
"Do what you can," Allura said, "so long as we can stay at least half a step ahead, we have a chance."
Shiro nodded and they all boarded Lotors ship.
Pidge was already hooking her computer up and doing a search. She punched in a keys…then did it again…and again….and again…
"Pidge?"
Her face was becoming increasingly rigid and tears were started to form in her eyes.
"He's not there," She choked, "He's not there…"
()
Lotor excused himself, realizing something had happened and it wasn't his place to be there anymore.
Pidge sat in front of the screen they'd used to contact Lance, "Hunk, you stay here and see if you can't get to him here. Keith, I need you to contact Kolivan and see if he can't clear a base of ship so we can use theirs. I just did feel comfortable using Lotors for very long since he's undercover."
"Pidge," Shiro didn't know what to say. They were splitting up again and so far, that had never worked out.
"Just take the screen with us," Hunk said noticing Shiros dilemma, "So we'll stay together and hopefully find a solution. I mean, he could have pushed the wrong button and be in a different server."
Pidge immediately perked up, "knowing lance he could've done that."
"We'll still need Kolivan," Hunk said to Keith, "he could've switched to the Blades server and-"
Keith was already running out of the room.
Hunk frowned. Keith had seemed worried, but scared when they mentioned where Lance might be…what were the Blades hiding?
As they geared up to go wherever Kolivan told them to Pidge also called Matt to see if he may be in their server.
"I'll check for you," Matt said, "you showed me how to do it, remember? Just stay calm and we'll figure this out."
"I am calm," she said, and Matt laughed.
"Sure, sure, and the cow jumped over the moon," Matt smiled kindly, "we'll find out what happened."
They all sailed to a remote Blade outpost, but they refused them entry until Kolivan arrived.
"I will make you pay if you make me wait longer than I have to," Pidge threatened and Keith did his best to smooth things over.
Shiro hid a smile seeing Keith in such a situation. Usually it was Keith being the antagonist, here he was the on in the opposite position.
When Kolivan arrived, Pidge made it a point to be polite to him and not anyone else that had been in the base and refused them entry.
"Now's not the time to be petty," Keith warned in a low voice.
"Now is the perfect time to be petty," She mimicked him, "cause someone might be dead. I just got a message from Matt saying he's not in their server, and he's not in the Olkaries or anywhere else. This is the last place we haven't looked!"
Keith, used to being left behind, feared the others reactions to Lances potential death. He had already partly grieved the moment he had disappeared. Now that he was gone gone, Keith wasn't hurting as much as the others.
Shiro gripped Keiths shoulder and gave it a gentle shake, "just space, just give them some space, just like you needed."
Keith nodded reluctantly and followed Shiro after the others.
Pidge was already hooking up her computer, just like before. The other blades were trying their best to stop her and instruct her on what she should be doing and not doing, but Hunk kept them at bay.
"Enough!" Kolivan snapped, "You, Green Paladin, Look for your AI, but nothing more, understand?"
"Whatever," Pidge muttered and Shiro gave her a nudge, "I mean, sure, whatever you say."
She worked in silence for a while and the others waited. When her typing, instead of stopping, became harder and faster, their hopes raised…and then came crashing down as they heard her first sobs.
"Nothing!" She cried, slamming her fingers into the keyboard, "NOTHING!"
Hunk sat down on the floor and started to cry as well.
Both seemed to be inconsolable.
Shiros gut dropped and his ears buzzed. What was he going to tell Lance's family?