"So... what do we do when we get there? Like 'pow, pow, pow!' and free the prisoners?" Lance asked as they approached the Balmera.
Nova raised a brow.
"What was that?" Keith asked.
"Laser guns." Lance stated.
Nova laughed. "Seriously, Lance. Your sound effects need work."
He met her gaze and stuck his tongue out cheekily.
"Lance I think you mean... 'bam, bam, bam." Hunk demonstrated.
"No, that just sounds like fireworks." Keith stated.
Nova leaned against one of the chairs, amused by the paladins' antics.
"Technically they're like 'pa-choo... pa-choo!" Pidge butt in.
"Okay, enough with the bad sound effects." Shiro stepped up. "Besides it's more like 'blam, blam, blam.'"
Nova rolled her eyes and stood straight. "Alright, paladins, focus!" She clapped her hands together.
"Besides we can't just shoot at the Galra." Hunk stated.
"Yeah, you don't want to harm the Balmera any more. It's already in pain." Nova added. "The Balmera is a living thing, and from what I can detect... it's not doing so good. Damn the Galra for showing so much disrespect towards it." She stared at the 'planet.'
"You're right. Stealing it's crystals, it's very life force..." Coran said sadly.
"Without returning the favour." Nova clenched her fists.
"Okay, so we can't go into the tunnels all guns blazing." Shiro stated. "Plan B..." He looked to Nova for ideas.
"We need to figure out how to draw out the Galra. Up to the surface."
"I know! If we take out all the mining stuff I'm sure they'll come out to try and stop us."
"You're a genius, Hunk!" Nova grinned. "Then we make them pay for what they did." She punched her palm.
"But how will we know how many are left down in the tunnels?" Keith asked.
"We can track the Galra and the Balmerans using Bio-thermal Life Indicator Technology." Nova stated.
Allura summoned a hologram of the gadget.
"Oh, BLIP tech!" Pidge exclaimed excitedly, looking at the hologram.
Allura and Nova shared a confused look.
"Its an acronym."
Nova sighed. "One of you will need to fly around the Balmera and drop these sensors into the shafts on each side."
"Then we will be able to see where the Galra and the Balmerans are." Allura concluded.
"There are already sensors built into your suits."
"I can do that, I've just modified the Green Lion with the invisible maze's cloaking ability."
Nova stared at her. "You're amazing! We are so lucky to have you." She grinned. "You should be able to get around unnoticed!"
Pidge blushed a little. She really looked up to Nova and a compliment like that made her feel warm inside.
"Nova, look at this." Coran called.
Nova looked around at the image that Coran pulled up. "Their main power generator?"
"Taking that down will severely weaken their defences." Coran added.
"Coran and I will stay in the cloud cover and give tactical support. The Castle's defences are still weakened from Sendak's crystal, so we won't be much help to you." Allura looked to Nova. "I'm guessing I can't stop you going with them."
"You're learning."
"Nova's like the sixth paladin at this stage. I doubt there will be a mission when she isn't in the middle of it with us." Lance stated, patting Nova's head.
"I'll take out the power generator." Shiro stated. "Keith, Lance, Hunk, you take out these mining rigs around the area."
"Yeah! Okay, lets go and kick some alien butt!"
Nova giggled at Hunk's enthusiasm.
"Nova!" Allura called to where her cousin was stood next to Shiro, getting ready to enter the Black Lion.
Nova looked to her.
"Nothing... too reckless." She stated.
Nova smirked. "So... a little reckless is okay?"
Allura chuckled. "Just come back safely."
Nova saluted.
Everyone sat in their representative Lions as the Castle descended into the planets atmosphere.
"You think the Balmerans will have a parade for us after we freed everybody?" Lance asked.
"It's not about the glory, Lance." Nova replied.
"Yeah, it's about freeing prisoners from Zarkon." Keith injected.
"I know, but still..." He cut off as his Lion launched itself into action.
"Right guys get your head in the game!" Shiro called.
"Remember, the Balmera is a living creature. Make sure you pinpoint only the Galra installations and not it's surface." Nova reminded them.
Everyone split up to their assigned areas.
"Okay... how am I supposed to take this out?" Shiro breathed, looking at the gigantic power generator.
"My memory is choppy from being asleep for ten thousand years, but I do remember each of the Lions having a blade in their mouths." Nova stated, standing to look over his shoulder. She looked around the dashboard. "There!" She pointed.
"Okay, let's do this." Shiro swiftly took out the generator. "Thanks Nova."
She smiled widely. "Glad to be useful."
"Sensors in position." Pidge announced.
Nova exhaled and connected with the Castle. Closing her eyes she saw the map of the underground. "Got it."
Shiro flew to rejoin the group.
"Hey, guys! I have fire power!" Keith exclaimed after taking down a mining rig by melting it.
"I want that!" Lance whined.
Nova giggled.
"Guys!"
They all looked to see a gigantic metallic building crashing down.
"We can't let this thing hurt the Balmera." Hunk shouted, getting his lion underneath the building and trying to hold it up.
"Oh, no." Nova gasped.
"Hey, I think my Lion knows what to do!" Lance exclaimed.
The Blue Lion shot an icy beam at the building and froze it into place.
"Nice!" Nova cheered.
"Good job team!" Shiro smiled.
Nova looked down to the ground. "Something is not right."
"Princess is right."
Nova gave a grumble.
"Where are all the troops? They're not coming out." Keith continued.
"Yeah, I remember a lot of Galra guys down in the mines."
Nova closed her eyes, looking at the map. "Guys! I've located a hanger full of Galra fighters below the surface!" She blinked a few times.
"Yes, we see it too, Nova! Someone has to take them out before they can launch." Allura added through the intercoms.
"They're luring us down but we have no choice." Shiro sighed. "Keith, Lance, you hit the hanger." He looked to Nova.
She gave a nod. "I'll go with you two." She headed down to her fighter.
"Hunk, head to the prison to rescue Shay and the other Balmerans. Pidge and I will track down the Galra soldiers."
"Yes, sir!"
Nova launched her fighter and followed the Red and Blue Lions.
"No offence, Nova, but your fighter is tiny for missions like this one." Lance chuckled.
She bit her lip. "One thing you gotta learn, Lance. It's not about the ship, it's about the pilot."
"Princess is right."
"Stop that!" Nova snapped.
"What?"
"Stop calling me Princess."
"I'm only showing you respect, Princess." Keith smirked.
She huffed. "Stupid Mullet."
Lance burst out laughing.
"It's not like you call me by my actual name either, Princess."
"That's true, Nova." Lance remarked. "Why don't you give me a nickname?"
"Because I like you."
"Ooooh burn!" Lance grinned.
Keith felt his face burn a little. So... it's only me she has a problem with? Why does it hurt? I thought... we were okay after Sendak's attack...
"Anyway... why do you insist on calling me Princess when there's hundreds of insulting nicknames you can call me?"
Keith paused. "Because..."
"Probably because its the one that gets the best response from you." Lance said. "If he called you clutz or weirdo... I don't think he'd get much of a comeback."
Keith gritted his teeth.
"I'm right, aren't I?"
Nova stared ahead. "We're almost there." She stated.
The boys knew that the matter had been dropped.
Lance felt warmed by the fact that Nova actually liked him. Although he did feel a prang of sympathy for Keith.
They landed, Nova landed her fighter beside the Red Lion so that the particle barrier would cover it too.
They all snuck in and made their way to the hanger.
They looked out and saw hundreds of Galra fighters.
Nova frowned. "Seen that?" She hissed. "The entire hanger is only guarded by a few sentries."
"Lets go then!" Keith summoned his bayard.
Nova caught him by the arm. "Wait!"
"Yeah, cool your jets! Remember that stuff about the Balmera being a sensitive animal?" Lance added.
Keith zoned out, feeling the warmth through his suit coming from Nova's arms wrapped around his. "Oh..." He cleared his throat. "Right."
Nova let go of him. "So we can't just blow things up like a pyromaniac."
"She's right."
"Oh, and you've got a better idea?" Keith snapped at him.
"I do! We sneak into the control room and shut down the bay doors. It'll trap the ships inside."
"That...!" Keith thought for a moment. "Actually is a better idea."
Nova stared at the blue paladin. "Y'know, you are smarter than I ever give you credit for."
Lance blushed.
"C'mon then!" Nova went ahead.
They both followed her across the walkway.
They got to the control room undetected.
"That was far too easy." Nova breathed.
Lance went over to the panel. "No... nope... wait." He pressed a few buttons. "Ugh... I don't know what I'm doing here. It's all Galra gibberish."
Keith and Nova walked up to it.
"Let me see." Keith looked over Nova's shoulder at it.
Nova used her eye to scan it. She noticed a hand pad. "Damn... its a handprint scanner."
Keith bit his lip and placed his hand onto it.
It scanned and accepted.
Nova's eyes widened a little. How?! She looked to him.
He caught her confused stare. "What's wrong?"
"How did you..?" She blinked.
He shrugged. "I just put my hand on it."
"But...Never mind..." She looked away.
Keith frowned. "Princess... what-?" He was cut off when Allura's voice came through the intercoms.
"Paladins, do you hear me?! It looks like the troops are heading towards the centre!"
"They must be heading to the core where Shay is." Hunk replied.
"They're definitely trying to lead us into an ambush." Nova muttered.
"But we have no choice if we wanna save Shay." Shiro added. "Lance, Keith, Nova. Get to the core, I think we need all hands on deck if we wanna stand a chance."
"On it." Nova summoned her staff and smashed the control panel before sending an electrical surge through it. "That'll do it."
"You're scary, you know that right?" Lance stated as they ran. He turned around as the door shut and shot at the hand scanner.
"Yeah... I'm glad that you're on our side, Princess."
She looked to Keith, meeting his gaze for a nano second, before returning her attention to where they were going. How was he able to use Galra tech?!
What did I do wrong?! Keith sighed.
They got down to the tunnels.
"Hey guys, be careful. The Balmera is very unstable."
Nova felt her heart clench, hearing the Balmera's pain. "We have to be quick." She breathed.
They rounded a corner and were met by Galra troops.
Keith grabbed Nova's arm and pulled her with him into cover.
"All this firing is hurting the Balmera even more..." Nova's voice cracked a little.
Keith still had his arm around her shoulders, he could feel her shake. He looked to Lance. "We have to think of something quick!" He instinctively held her tighter, as if he could give her some unsaid reassurance.
Lance nodded. "But we can't shoot back, it'll only make it worse."
Nova moved away from Keith's touch and pressed her hand against the wall. It glowed underneath it. "Don't worry..." She said to it.
Keith looked to her. "Princess?" He noticed her natural eye had glazed over, tears threatening to fall.
She blinked and met his gaze. "It's angry and scared."
"Don't worry, we'll figure something out." He replied.
"I've got an idea." Lance called over.
They both looked at him expectantly
Lance made a bunch of hand gestures.
Nova looked to Keith for an explanation.
He shrugged, before looking around and spotting a rope ladder leading upwards. He looked to Lance and gave a thumbs up, before looking to Nova, gesturing her to follow him.
She nodded.
When they got to the top they looked down to see Lance causing a distraction. They made eye contact and nodded.
Keith summoned his bayard and jumped down.
Nova followed, staff at the ready.
They worked together to take down the sentries.
Once they were all taken out the two looked at each other.
Nova looked to Keith and gave a satisfied grin.
He responded with one of his own.
"Us three make an okay team, right?" Lance put an arm over each of them.
Nova giggled. "Guess you're right, c'mon." She lead the way down the tunnel.
They entered where the core was and seen the other paladins and Shay stood there, the door slammed shut behind them.
"Damn... not an ambush." Nova growled.
"More like a trap." Hunk voiced.
"Everyone just keep your guard up!" Nova ordered.
"The Galra. They had knowledge that you'll return to the Balmera." Shay said.
Nova frowned. "How?"
"I know not." Shay looked to the floor. "They set this trap for you, I was the bait."
"Who could've known that we would return to save Shay?"
"Rolo..." Nova felt the electrical pulses flow from her staff throughout her body as her temper rose. "That scumbag!"
Hunk nodded in agreement. "Only other people who know about it. He must've told Zarkon."
"We have to figure out a way out of here." Shiro stated.
"Wait, we have a giant Castle-ship up there." Lance said. "Allura... can you come and get us?!"
"How do you expect her to do that genius?" Keith deadpanned.
"I dunno, like teleporters or something."
Nova sighed, sitting on a ledge to think.
"We're pretty pre-occupied at the moment!" Allura called through the intercoms. "We're completely surrounded by Galra fighters. We're taking heavy fire."
"Hang in there, we'll be with you soon!" She hated feeling helpless. Come on, Nova! Think! She looked around.
"Maybe my people can help us?" Shay suggested.
Nova stood up and walked up to her. "How?"
Shay walked up to the weird object that must be the Balmera's heart, and pressed her hand against it. "This is how we communicate. The Balmera senses our vibrations and sends messages to others."
Nova stared at her. "That's amazing!"
Keith stepped up. "So, do you think your people can hear your... hand... from all the way here?"
Shay nodded. "The Balmera will deliver the message."
Nova sat down again, trying to keep her cool.
Lance sat down beside her. "We will get to Allura." He stated.
She nodded, placing her palm on the floor of the tunnel and listened to the Balmera. Don't worry... the pain will stop soon... I promise you.
"Paladins! The Lions are in danger! You must get to them as soon as possible!"
"Working on it!" Nova replied.
"A battle ship has just locked onto us! I dunno if we could take a hit from its ion canon!" Allura added.
"Hold on!" Nova replied. She looked at Shay. "How well do you think the Balmera would take a little electric shock?" She asked.
Shay frowned. "I honestly don't know... but my people will be here soon."
Nova summoned her staff. "Too slow!" Just as she was about to send a surge of electricity through the door, it blew out, knocking her back into Lance.
Lance caught her. "Gotcha!"
She gave a grateful smile.
Half a dozen Balmerans were behind it.
"Rax!" Shay sighed.
"Hurry! We know a way out through the tunnels." Shay's brother stated.
"Allura, stand by! We're on our way up!" Shiro called.
"Paladins! Hurry up, they're gonna take the Lions!" Allura shouted as everyone made their way to them.
Nova, Lance and Keith got to the Blue and Red Lions just in time to catch them being transported up.
Nova noticed her fighter was still within the Red Lion's shield. She swallowed, pressing a button on her helmet. "Fire lasers at four, six and eleven o'clock!" She commanded.
The Fighter booted up and shot lasers at the fighters that were pulling the Lions up.
"Nice one!" Lance patted her shoulder.
"Quickly!" Nova ushered as she rushed to her fighter.
"Team! Did everyone get their Lions in time?" Shiro asked.
Everyone flew out of the tunnels.
"We're good!" Nova stated. She looked up towards the Castle-ship. "We need to assist Allura now!" She called, shooting over towards it.
"You heard her, c'mon! Shiro ordered.
