Chapter 7

Hunk is sleeping soundly. "Everybody Up!" Keith shouts to his team. He sits up and shouts. "Nooooooo."

"Only a 99 on the test? But I did all the extra credit." Pidge sleep talks apparently. "Come on, it's time to wake up." She screams in terror. "What a nightmare." Lance yawns. "What's the point? We're just floating in space. There's no day or night here."

"I have to agree with Lance. WE should sleep for 15 more doboshes." Allura suggest sleepily. Coran uses his saliva to fix his mustache. "Guys, we can't let this long journey make us soft of dull our skills. Routine will keep us sharp."

"Keith's right. Routine is what got me through being Zarkon's prisoner and being in the infinite void of the Black Lion."

"I guess that does make you an expert on killing time." Lance agrees. "Okay everyone, to your stations. Running battle simulations now." All of the paladins grumble in protest. "Can't we at least have breakfast first?" Hunk is hungry. The paladins get dressed and ready for the simulation. "I programmed a new battle simulation." Krolia hits a few buttons and the simulation appears on their dash. "I think it's going to be especially challenging."

"Why do you sound happy about that?" Hunk questions. "Like mother like son." Lance comments. "Focus." Keith commands. "Here's the scenario: You're on a planet with double gravity, dense volcanic fog, and eight blovar raptors are attacking. What do you do?"

"This is a good one." Keith tells her. "Do these raptors have eggs? I say we steal some and we make a little breakfast." Hunk screams. "A blovar raptor just melted your face off, Hunk! Now it's eight on four."

"That's fine by me. I get to eat." Allura and Lance are firing and dodging the volcano geysers. "Everyone split up to thin their numbers! If there was just some way we could.." Before he can finish, Keith gets blasted by one of the virtual raptors from the left. "What?"

"Keith, you're out."

"Okay, I think I know what to do. This place has thick volcanic fog, right?" Pidge asks. "That means the blovars must use some sort of thermal vision to see us."

"Maybe I can lure them away with my heat rays." Lance fires and the raptors head in the direction of the shot. "It's working." Lance shouts. "Nice." Pidge tells him. "let's get them while they're distracted." While they fly for the raptors, on of the volcanoes shouts up magma and kills them. "Wait, what happened?" Pidge asks. "You focused too much on the raptors and forgot about the volcano." The virtual test leaves their dashes. "That fictional planet seems harsh." Lance complains. "I programmed the simulator to be unbeatable. I wanted to see how long you'd survive."

"Well, I hope you're happy." Lance tells her sarcastically. Hunk grabs some stuff and begins to make food for everyone. "Food incoming!" He ties the blanket with the food stored in it on the wolfs neck so he can transport it to the other lions. "Aw, what a good wolf...fella...guy. Gosh, we really gotta come up with a name for this wolf." Krolia grabs a pack of food for her and one from Keith from the wolf, he goes to the next lion. "Not gonna happen." Keith tells him. "Oh, come on! I vote Kosmo."

"I like Kosmo." Allura tells them as she grabs a pack for her and the other Alteans. "Kosmo is cool." Lance comments. The wolf goes to the green lion. Pidge grabs a pack for her and one for Shiro. "Yeah, it's nice."

"We're not calling him Kosmo."

"Oh, come on Keith, we gotta call him something." Hunk complains. Lance grabs his food from the wolf. "I figure when he's ready, he'll tell me his name."

"So, Kosmo. Got it." Lance deadpans and takes a bite of his food. "No." Keith tells him. "Keith, animals can't talk."

"Oh, Hunk, this is delicious!"

"Yes, thank you, Lance. I made it by collecting fungus paste from the dung of the beetles on that last planet we stopped at to pick up supplies." Lance spits it out. "Hunk, please! I don't wanna know what it is. I just wanna eat it and pretend that it's my meemaw's home cooking."

Something comes on Pidge's screen. "A signal." She tells everyone. "How did you get a signal?" Allura questions. "I've been running a passive scan, so I wouldn't give our location away, looking for any signs of communications. And I just picked up something."

"Well, what is it?" Keith asks. "I'm patching it through now." It is a stick-com. Coran laughs at something they say but no one else knows what is going on. "What, shh Coran, what's that noise." Hunk asks. "It sounds like some interference. I'll try to tune it out."

"No, wait." Krolia tells her. "Pidge, can you amplify that signal?"

"On it."

"Oh, I wanted to know what was going to happen." Coran complains. It sounds like screeching. "Judging from the intermittent sound structure, it's just deep space interference. Most likely a radiation pulse from a nearby star." Pidge analyzes. "No, that's just what is supposed to sound like. Listen to the sounds in-between the pulses. There's a unique pattern." Krolia tells the Paladins. They listen and hear what she is talking about. "She's right." Allura comments. "Before the Blades were unified, we would use this crude way of communicating with each other. Not many Blades know this code. It must be a senior member."

"Kolivan?" Keith asked. "Possibly."

"What does it say?" Shiro asked. "It's a distress signal. Whoever is sending it is in trouble." Pidge starts pressing some buttons. "It looks like it's coming from this sector."

"Do we know anything about that section of space?" Shiro questioned. "Not without the Castle of Lions' research library core. We would be flying in blind." Coran explains. "We must go." Krolia insists. "That's a pretty severe detour from Earth." Hunk comments. "If Kolivan is there, then maybe there will be more Blades. We need all the help we can get to reach Earth." Keith adds. So they head in the direction of the signal.

They fly towards the signal for a while before Pidge speaks up. "The signal is coming from this planet. I'm detecting remnants of a civilization, but I don't see any signs of life."

"Is that a good or a bad sign?" Romelle inquires. Hunk answers, "In all my space experience, there have never been any good signs." The land and find ruins of what looks like was once a city. "I still can't tell exactly where the signal originates. I'll keep trying to triangulate its location." Pidge explains as the begin to walk around. They walk around for a while, taking in the scene. "The signs are all around us. There was a massacre here." Krolia tells the group solemnly. "Some of this damage looks like it's from magic." Allura notes. "Everyone stay alert." Shiro warns.

They continue to search for the source of the signal. The find more scratches. Krolia runs her hand across one. "These strike patterns look Marmoran."

"Keep looking. We need to find whatever Blade is broadcasting the signal." Keith commands. The wolf begins to growl. "What is it?" Keith asks and looks in the direction the wolf is looking. The wolf runs and tackles someone. Keith and the others follow. While the wolf has him pinned down, Hunk, Lance, and Keith aim their weapons at him. "Who are you? Who's broadcasting the signal?"

"It was me." The man tells Keith, seemingly frightened. "Impossible. You're no Blade of Marmora."

"I will explain all if you would put down your weapons."

"Let's see what he has to see." Krolia tells her son. They listen, and follow the strange into a building, that is set with supplies. The stranger sets a campfire. "This place is disgusting." Romelle comments. "I have called this place home for the past two deca-phoebs." The stranger tells her. "Oh, well, 'disgusting' is Altean for 'lovely'." Romelle lies. "You don't speak Altean, do you?"

"This is where the signal was coming from. Somewhere below us." Pidge interrupts. "You are clever. But I wouldn't expect less from the Paladins of Voltron."

"You recognized us?" Lance asks. "Of course, of course. Though, I am surprised to see you. All were certain you perished."

"Yeah, we just found that out. But we're back."

"And I am so grateful that you are. It's been so long since I've had... guests."

"Well, thank you for your hospitality, but who are you? What happened here?" Shiro asks. "Bloodshed happened here." Krolia spots something and starts walking towards it. "Death happened here. I am Macidus. This is my home planet. But now I am the only one left alive here." Krolia walks toward the sheets. She looks behind them to find blades from the Blade of Marmora. She gasps and turns of Macidus with her gun. "What are you doing with these?"

"I hang them in honor of their sacrifice. The died trying to protect the universe."

"How did it happen?" She asks him. "This all started when Voltron disappeared, when- when you disappeared. The power vacuum that ensued destabilized much of the universe. Galra turned on each other. Warlords and pirates became the rulers of the land."

"What happened with Haggar, the witch?" Allura interrupts. "No one knows. But her Druids continued her work, carrying out her final orders. They set out to destroy every Blade."

"After Lotor took over the throne, almost every Marmoran agent was exposed." Pidge realizes. "And that's when the slaughter began. All Blades were called away from their assignments and sent to this base. " Krolia lowered and powered off her gun. "Kolivan knew they were being hunted and he wanted to make a stand against them. He believed it was their only means of survival."

"That must be why they abandoned that base we found." Romelle comments. "Indeed. When they arrived here, my people helped them fortify their base, but the Druids found us sooner than we hoped. They arrived without warning. The Druids encircled the base and besieged it with magic. After a long battle of attrition, the base fell. Casualties on both sides were enormous. My people were the first to try to escape. They were slaughtered. I stayed behind with Kolivan. He led those of us that remained to battle the last of the Druids. But for each one we managed to take down nearly a hundred Blades would fall. In the final battle, I was buried beneath a collapsed structure. When I regained consciousness, the fight was over, and I was the lone survivor. I've been sending the signal Kolivan gave me ever since in the hopes of finding any remaining Blades." He says all of this with a sadness and heaviness. "There are still a few of us alive." Keith tells Macidus. "Good."

"I recognize every one of these Blades. I trained many of them myself. If I had only been here." She pulls out a blade. "Kolivan." Keith walks up to her. "Their service will not be forgotten." He promises. The blade Krolia is holding makes a slight light pulse. "Kolivan?" Krolia asks. "His blade, it's flickering."

"What does that mean?" Pidge asks her. "A Marmoran agent's life force is connected to their blade. I just saw it glow. He must still be alive."

"Just barely." Macidus comments. They all gasp and look at him. Macidus stands. "Your hand is looking much better." He looks to Keith. "My hand?"

"You don't remember our fight?" Suddenly Keith remembers. Keith pulls out his bayard. "You've been using that signal to draw Blades in!" Keith accuses. The rest of the paladins pull out and power up their weapons. Macidus laughs evilly. "Kolivan proved to be useful after all." He disappears and drops what looks like a bomb. Krolia shouts. It hits the ground. A ball of energy starts to blast out. The wolf zaps Keith away. Everyone else gets trapped in the energy bubble.

After he looks around, Keith rubs the wolf's head. "Where are we?" They hear a teleportation zap and hide under the bridge of the cave like room they are in. Macidus drags a blade along the rocks. He walks across the same bridge Keith and the wolf are hiding under. He stops in the middle of the bridge. A bottle rolls, and Macidus zaps in that direction. Only a few rat-like creatures come out from the area. Macidus continues to walk. Keith turns around. The area right in front of his face is stabbed with a blade. He screams. Macidus is above them. He begins to power up a spell. The wolf transports Keith behind Macidus. They run. Macidus appears in front of them. Keith turns around and Macidus is right in front of his face. Keith slices with his bayard but only hits the mask. Macidus disappears again. "There is no escape but death!" Macidus charges at Keith from the left. They fight, but Macidus once again disappears. So, Keith and the wolf run.

Allura uses the knowledge from Oriande to start getting rid of the energy bubble trapping them.

Keith comes to a fork in the tunnel. Macidus appears behind him. He runs down one of the tunnels with Macidus giving chase, teleporting and running. Keith and the wolf teleport as well. Macidus teleports to the area above Keith's right. He gets ready to stab the red Paladin. Before he can, the wolf teleports him away.

When they get to the new area, Keith takes in his surroundings. When he looks behind him, he sees Kolivan. "Kolivan. I'll get you out of here." Macidus can be heard laughing from all around, them appears in front of Keith. "Our high priestess, Haggar, has forsaken us because of your treachery. But after I kill you and the other Paladins, Haggar will allow me to return." They begin a battle of swords and teleportation. Neither staying in one place for long. Macidus zaps Keith and the wolf with some of his magic.

After much effort, Allura has absorbed the stuff trapping them into her body. "Allura, are you okay?" Pidge asks concerned. Allura is breathing heavily and has fallen to the ground. "Pidge, lock on to Keith's location."

"He's directly below us."

"Stand back." Allura punches the ground and releases the energy she absorbed. It allows them to create a hole in the floor and get to Keith and Macidus. "How?" Macidus is shocked. "I'm going to enjoy making Kolivan watch your end." Macidus taunts. He teleports behind Hunk. Hunk turns around and starts firing. Macidus disappears before Hunk can hit him. He is directly in front of Hunk and hits him with some magic. Pidge fires, but Macidus disappears before she can hit. He appears behind Lance, picks him up, and throws him at the green paladin. Allura tries to hit Macidus with her bayard, only to have him disappear, and hit her from behind with some magic as well. She screams in agony and falls to the ground.

Keith looks at him. Macidus disappears. Keith looks around to try and figure out where he is going to appear. Keith closes his eyes, feeling the energy around him. He sees where Macidus is. Keith opens his eyes and throws his blade to where he knows Macidus is. He lands the hit. Macidus implodes in a flash of white light and screams. "Good job Keith." Lance compliments. "Yeah. I thought this was gonna end with my face melted off, like in that simulator." Keith walks over and gets Kolivan down.

After carrying Kolivan back to the original area, Pidge starts checking his vitals. "He's in pretty bad shape, but it looks like he's gonna be okay." She explains to Keith and Krolia. "I... I'm sorry my code lured you here."

"There was nothing you could do." Keith assures Kolivan. "The coordinates I gave you, the Altean colony, were you able to find it?"

"I sent a team. There was nothing there. Just an empty facility. They were all gone."

"Judging from the Blades that Macidus collected, he may have delivered a critical blow to the Marmora, but he did not defeat us entirely." Krolia tells her leader. "I must find the others. The universe needs us now more than ever." Krolia thinks for a second. "I will join you. We will revive the Blade of Marmora together. We'll just need to find a ship." She promises. "The Druid has a cruiser stored not far from here. We can use it to reunite the Blades." Kolivan tells her. "That's our first bit of luck in a long time." He nods. "Rest." She stands and walks over to her son. "Keith, I... I'm sorry to have to say goodbye to you for a second time."

"It's not goodbye. It's see you later. Take this." He hands her the knife. "You can return it when we see each other again." She takes it from him and they embrace. "Thanks for everything you taught me, Mom."

"Keith." Shiro starts, "It's time to get going."

"I love you, Keith."

"I love you, too, Mom." After their goodbyes, the Paladins, Alteans, and Shiro load into the lions, and leave the planet.