Change of plans
by jalpari
The team tries a different interrogation approach with the terrorist. The rescue operation has now turned into a mission to flush out the terrorists and unearth their secrets.
A/N:
This fanfic picks up from where the "Voltron: Legendary Defender" Netflix series ended.
Doing my best to keep the chapters short but with enough content to make the story move forward with each one. It is a conscious decision on my part to take my time in bringing out the overall story arc and slowly build up to the 'cross over'. Hope you're having as much fun reading it as I am writing it!
"What the HELL happened?" Pidge demanded as she stormed into the infirmary where Keith and Shiro were tending to their wounds.
The four prisoners they had managed to rescue were conscious, but barely. Luten and Krolia stood against a wall, their faces contorted into deep frowns.
"They were ready for us", Keith groaned.
"How!"
"Somehow, they knew of the attack on Naxzela", Shiro muttered.
"How is that possible? We wiped all the guards' memories. There was no other comm system or any advanced tech there for that matter."
"The rebels could have visited Naxzela after you guys left", Krolia replied.
"I knew something like this would happen", Keith gritted his teeth, "we waited too long. We should have attacked earlier. We could have still caught them by surprise."
"So what's the status now?" Pidge sighed.
"All we know is any rebels that were there...escaped", Shiro replied.
"Terrorists", Pidge muttered through gritted teeth, "...they are terrorists."
"And only four prisoners survived", Keith whispered.
A silence descended on them. Looks of guilt, sorrow, and regret passed over everyone's faces.
"Wait", Keith looked up, "where are the…"
"They were in the control room on Olkarion when it happened", Pidge's voice trembled. "They saw everything."
Back on Olkarion, Shiro ordered Luten and Tara to take the rescued people to the guest quarters. As they made their way to Ryner's quarters, Pidge spoke.
"So...let's see...we have rescued 10 people. We know there are terrorists out there who know we know about them now. We have only one in captivity and he still hasn't said anything."
"Sounds about right", Keith muttered.
"What do we do now?"
"We need to get these people home. I'll talk to Ryner so we can begin contacting their planet representatives. Then…", Shiro's voice trailed off.
"Then we go after them", Pidge completed his sentence.
"Yes", Shiro sighed.
""You two don't have to do this", Keith stood in front of them, "I called you here for a rescue mission. We have done that. You've already been sucked into more than what you bargained for."
"Are you trying to take all the glory?" Pidge punched him grinning.
"We're staying Keith", Shiro placed a hand on his shoulder, "we're a team."
"I have alerted the Galaxy Alliance. We'll get them home", Ryner leaned forward. "Any progress with the terrorist creature?"
"Nothing", Keith muttered in frustration. "He hasn't said a word."
"Alright", Shiro began, "Keith and I will begin putting together a team."
"Pakim...Tara…", Keith addressed his Blades, "You guys are going to head back with our craft and join the relief efforts. We'll need a bigger craft anyway. "
"I have that covered", Ryner stood up with a grin. "Come along, Pidge. You're going to want to see this."
She led them to an enormous facility. On one side of the hangar, a large, sleek, and shiny spacecraft stood in full glory.
"Woah...what the…", Pidge gasped.
"It's the latest craft designed by the Olkari."
"Yeah", Shiro found his voice, "...this should do."
"Uhuh...yep", Keith nodded in disbelief.
"OH MY GOD", Pidge squealed in delight and ran into the craft.
Inside, Pidge bounced around gawking, cooing, and talking at a dizzying speed.
"You've engineered your energy source into cubes that can power this craft much more efficiently!"
"Look at this! Seamless integration of technology of every kind! I can play any kind of game here! My robots can interface with the ship!"
"Most of the controls are neural interfaces!"
"You've modified the teludav structure at a molecular level. Now we can wormhole way faster than the Castleship!"
"This whole ship is designed like the forest you guys built...everything is connected!
"Yes, don't ever forget that", Ryner looked deep into her eyes, "everything is connected."
"Can I have a word with you?" Ryner pulled Shiro aside as the others explored their new craft.
"Of course", Shiro followed her further away from the team.
"I think Noor should visit the creature."
"Noor?" Shiro looked astonished. "But she's...still in trauma."
"I understand, but we don't have much time. He may say something useful if he sees her."
"But Queen Ry..."
"I'm not saying we'll force her or send her in there alone, Shiro. I am suggesting that you talk to her and request her to do this."
Shiro and Pidge waited patiently. Noor hadn't responded yet. They knew it was a lot to ask of her so soon after her rescue and so soon after she witnessed the death of her fellow humans. None of the other earth prisoners had survived.
"Noor", Pidge began, "you can say no. It's alri..."
"I'll do it."
They looked at the girl and then at each other in surprise.
"You'll do it?"
"Yes", Noor nodded at Pidge.
"You understand that you will be in the same room as him right?" Shiro clarified.
"But you won't be alone", Pidge added hastily.
"Yes. I want to be in the same room as him. And if that's what it will take to get answers...any answers, I'll do it."
"Alright, then", Shiro stood up. "Come with us."
"I still don't think she should be here", Keith whispered to Shiro.
"Look, all our attempts to threaten him, cut a deal with him, access his memories...everything has failed. It's worth a shot."
"Does she know I'm the one going in with her?"
"Uhhh….", Pidge and Shiro bit their lips.
"Great", Keith groaned.
Pidge opened the door and Shiro nodded at Noor as she entered the room. She was scared. He could see her shallow breaths even as she tried to stay steady and maintained a neutral face.
"There's nothing to be afraid of, Noor. Keith will be there with you."
Noor's eyes widened in alarm as she looked at Pidge in confusion.
"Shiro's tried interrogating him several times but to no avail", Pidge offered. "Keith was the one that found him... and you. Maybe he'll have a better chance. And he's scarier."
"Not helping, Pidge", Keith grunted.
"No, it's fine", Noor muttered and lowered her eyes.
Keith noticed her fists clench ever so slightly as she walked towards the door. He couldn't read her expression but decided to trust Shiro's judgement and followed her in. As soon as they entered, the terrorist looked up and for the first time, his face lost its stoic composure.
"You're...you...you survived."
"Survived what?" Keith stood beside her and looked at the creature menacingly.
"This is...this is fantastic."
"What did you do to me", Noor's voice trembled as she stepped closer with a pleading look in her eyes.
"Finally! It works..."
"Answer her question", Keith lunged at him and caught him by the collar.
The only reply he got was a satisfied laugh.
"What's your name? Who are you guys? What do you want?" Keith grew angrier with every word.
"They'll come for her...they'll find her", was all he said before returning to a stoic look. "And they will finish what we started."
"She'll be safer with us", Keith finally broke the silence.
He sat across from Shiro and Pidge. They had been trying to come to a decision about what to do with the terrorist and figure out what his sinister words meant.
"We can leave him with the Coalition. They can inform us if they get anything else out of him", he continued.
"We can leave Noor under their protection too", Shiro countered.
"He said they are going to come for her", Keith argued. "If she is on Olkarion, they will attack this planet. It would put fewer people at risk if she just came with us."
"This way, if we find them, it may help us understand what they did to her and undo it, if necessary", Pidge added. "And she could be helpful in our search."
"But she doesn't remember anything", Shiro shook his head.
"They're looking for her. They might just find us before we find them. Plus I have a feeling that with time, her memory will return", Pidge went on.
"Even so, she is not trained for such missions."
"If I remember correctly", Pidge smirked, "neither were we when we were forced to join Voltron."
"Please, Shiro", Keith implored.
Shiro frowned and held Keith's gaze. But seeing the sincerity and determination in his eyes, he conceded.
"Noor, it's Shiro...may I come in?"
"Yes", he heard a feeble voice from inside. She was still shaken up from the interrogation.
Shiro sat by her legs and took in a deep breath, "The team thinks it would be best if you come with us instead of staying on Olkarion or returning to Earth. What do you think of that?"
Noor looked at Shiro and then outside the window.
"Shiro...do you have anyone...on Earth? Someone who loves you...someone you can go home to?"
"Yes, my husband."
"And if something were to happen to him...would you want to find out...what happened...who did it?"
"Yes", Shiro replied softly.
"I have no family on Earth. My parents died during the Galran attack. The only person I could call family...died in that explosion."
"Noor...I'm sorry…"
She turned to look at him, her eyes shining with the tears she was holding back.
"I don't want to go back to Earth", she stated matter of factly.
Her fingers traced the scars on her skin and then moved up to the wounds on her neck. She shut her eyes and her eyebrows furrowed together. She stayed silent for several seconds.
"I want to find out what they did to me", she spoke eventually, "I need to know why this happened."
Her deep brown eyes held a whirlwind of emotions in them. He nodded slowly and left the room, hoping he was making the right decision.
"Alright team", Shiro stood at the head of the table. "We don't have much time so let's make this a quick introduction." He glanced at Keith.
"Keith is the second in command on this mission. He is, as most of you know, the former Red Paladin and a Blade."
"Pidge, is our comm…", he caught the frown on Pidge's face, "I mean our overall resident tech genius", he sighed and then grinned at the satisfied girl, "and former Green Paladin."
"Luten, has been a Captain at the Garrison for several years now. He is a valuable asset for our ground operations."
He turned to the two new faces, "They have been on the last two missions at the rebel bases."
"Terrorist", Pidge corrected him.
"Yes, sorry. Terrorist bases. And this...", he turned to the team and gestured to the woman sitting to his right, "is Bani. She is an Olkari and knows this craft better than any of us. And she is also going to be useful as a medic."
"Wow", Pidge gasped. "You guys can do everything, huh?"
Bani blushed at the comment.
"And this...", Shiro glanced at the woman on his other side, "...is Noor. She was...kidnapped by the terrorists and so far is our only potential source. We know that they are after her and that might help in our search."
Noor kept her eyes focussed on the wall across from her.
"Is that all?" Luten looked around. "I thought there were going to be eight of us."
"Well", Keith began, "this is our seventh member..."
Luten gasped as a giant form began to materialize beside Keith.
"Everyone…", Keith grinned, "this is Kosmo. Our Tele Pup."
"What's that?" Bani looked at the dog, intrigued.
"He can teleport at will", Keith smiled and petted the dog.
From the corner of his eye, he saw Noor. Her gaze had finally moved from the wall and was now fixed on Kosmo. He was taken aback when Kosmo teleported to Noor and nuzzled against her arm. Noor looked surprised as well but didn't flinch. She stared at the dog, who had leaned in closer, and slowly massaged his neck. Her expression didn't thaw but her shoulders relaxed ever so slightly.
"That still only makes 7 of us though", Bani realized.
"That's right", Shiro grinned.
"We're going to get the 8th member next", Pidge gleamed with joy.
"And what is his role?" Bani asked.
"He's going to be our cook."