**I do not own Voltron: Legendary Defender (duh)
On the space road again, the Atlas was on its way to its next destination. After writing up the report of the Thoh mission with Veronica, Mari contacted Ellosh and Agamate to let them know about their hopes to send the former Galra cadets to Vurelle. Ellosh was more than happy to agree with their plans, always ready to welcome new members into their cherished community. It was decided that once the kids regained their strength and the paladins had returned, they'd send them over via wormhole. For now, they hovered around Ezor, exploring the massive airship together and spending as much time as they could with their former leader before they had to go.
"I've gotta say, it's much more lively with all these kiddos running amok," Maggie said during their morning exercises. She grinned, pausing in her crunches as she watched them run laps around the training deck. They were giggling and playfully shoving each other as they tried and failed to match Ezor's speed.
Jia hummed, gracefully repositioning herself into a downward dog position. "Acxa seems to be a little happier these days as well," she noted, nodding across the room to where she was currently conversing with Veronica, Iverson, and Curtis. "She must be glad to be reunited with an old friend."
Maggie glanced at Acxa, taking in her ever frowning expression. "I don't see a difference. I think she looks more annoyed, actually."
"Hm. That would be because our dear Veronica has been following her around every chance she gets lately," Jia explained.
Maggie pouted. "What? She's into her too? No fair."
The corners of Jia's lips quirked down. "You have me, stupid."
Maggie flinched beneath her cool glare, immediately scrambling for a response. "I know. I'm just messing with ya," she nervously chuckled. "You know I love yoooouuu."
Mari leaned back on her hands. "She's just trying to learn more about her," she said, coming to their superior officer's defense. "I think it's nice that Veronica wants to be Acxa's friend. She could use more who aren't weirdos like you."
"Eh. Can't argue with that," Maggie agreed.
The sharp blaring of the ship's overhead comms interrupted their conversation and everyone on the deck stopped what they were doing.
"Crew, report to the bridge immediately," Shiro's voice ordered over the speakers before the room went quiet once more. Iverson, Curtis, Coran, and Veronica stood and hurried for the locker rooms to change out of their workout uniforms.
"Time to go to work," Jia said, casting Mari a small smile. "We'll keep an eye on Ezor and the kids."
"And we'll keep Acxa company if she needs it," Maggie added, ignoring how Jia rolled her eyes at her. "See ya later!" she called out, waving bye-bye as Mari stood and headed out to change.
Upon entering the bridge, Shiro and Scarlett were already waiting for them. The rest of the bridge crew took their stations, ready for their captain to begin the meeting.
"I've got an incoming transmission from the paladins," he announced, bringing the audio feed up onto their screens. "Go ahead, Allura."
"Atlas, we've managed to track down an Altean robeast," the princess reported, cutting right to the chase.
"You found one!" Coran gasped, unable to hide his surprise. It had been almost a week since the paladins had left on their mission. They hadn't contacted the Atlas with news of their progress until now.
"Where is it?" Shiro asked. "Did you engage the creature?"
"Unfortunately, we were too late," she confessed. "It attacked the Olkari and stole the remains of the weaponized cube."
"Is Olkarion okay?" Coran inquired next.
There was a heavy pause from the paladins. "No," Keith finally answered, hollow and regretful. "Olkarion is gone."
Coran's eyes widened, horror and remorse making their usual cheery light diminish. "No…"
"What about Ryner? And the other Olkari?" Scarlett asked, desperation creeping into her voice. "Are they alright?"
"Ryner evacuated most of the planet, but…she didn't make it," Pidge said quietly, sounding just as thin and upset as everyone felt.
Mari's heart ached as she instantly thought of JiJi. Last she'd heard, she was still living on Vurelle. But now she would never be able to return to her home planet. She would never be able to see the forests she so loved and reflect on life's troubles amongst their wise and ancient branches. She would never get to see old friends like Ryner again. None of them would.
Scarlett's hands curled into fists at her sides and her antenna glowed as she clenched her teeth in her rising anger. "An entire planet full of life and innovative tech…ruined without a care in the world," she croaked, her voice coming out a whisper. "Why does Honerva have to destroy everything she touches?"
No one had an answer for her. Shiro gently placed a consoling hand on her shoulder, and Zyron chirped sadly, nuzzling her neck and offering what little comfort he could as she grieved.
Allura took a deep and steadying breath. "The loss of Olkarion is devastating to us all…but we were able to acquire some vital information."
"We learned from Olkarion that the robeasts have been traveling via wormhole, which leave behind unique energy signatures," Keith explained. "Pidge created a program that can identify those signatures and pinpoint their exact locations."
"We're sending over the readings from Pidge's program now," Allura said, and a new star chart popped up on their main displays.
Coran squinted at the map, taking in the overwhelming flurry of highlighted dots that signified one of Honerva's creatures. "Are you telling us these are all robeasts?" he frowned in disbelief.
"We're not positive, but they could be," Pidge replied.
"There's more," Allura continued. "After studying the map, we noticed the signatures all radiate from a single epicenter: Oriande."
Another point on the map was accentuated in red and Coran stared at it, quickly piecing together what she was implying. "Wait, so Honerva could be on Oriande? But I thought only worthy Alteans could get there." His scowl deepened as he wondered, "Could she have the mark of the chosen?"
"There's a lot we don't know," Keith admitted. "We need to rendezvous to come up with a plan."
Coran's fingers flew over his controls as he assessed the Atlas' surroundings and their distance from the lions. "The Baltuf Nebula would make a good rendezvous point for both of us," he suggested, locking onto a dot on their maps.
"Okay. Send us the coordinates, Coran," Keith agreed. "See you soon."
Coran wasted no time in doing so. He input the numbers into the Atlas' navigational systems and they were on their way to reunite with the paladins.
It would take them several hours to reach the Baltuf Nebula, giving the bridge team plenty of time to proceed with their other daily duties. After completing her routine check-in with the different departments aboard the Atlas and several of her fellow coalition officers from their respective planets, Mari updated their system log books with Curtis before taking a quick break for an early lunch.
She ate her food in relative silence, her mind abuzz with a storm of worries, mostly concerning Honerva and her robeasts. If Pidge's tracking data was correct, the space witch had created an entire army of them. Who knew how many other planets they had already targeted and destroyed. Who knew which planets would be next. Voltron had had so much difficulty fighting just one, how were the paladins going to handle battling a horde of the things?
Mari absentmindedly twisted the Quintessence Ring around her finger, finding comfort in its steady glow. She sighed and shook the spiraling thoughts from her head. They had the Atlas, she reminded herself. They knew the weak spot of the robeasts. They had so many allies across the universe who would be willing to help them at the drop of a hat if they needed it, and their numbers were only growing every day. Whatever Honerva was planning, whatever monsters she threw their way, they could get through it. They would all be fine.
The eager chatter of the incoming lunch rush drew her gaze up from her cleared tray. Cadets and officers alike gradually filed into the cafeteria, filling up their plates with steaming foods and sitting down amongst friends and colleagues. With Ezor, Maggie, and Jia herding them, the young cadets from Thoh practically ran to collect their specially prepared meals before inviting themselves to sit at her table. They squeezed together to fit on the benches before digging in. Ezor granted her a small grin as she sat on the opposite end of the table, and Mari nodded to her in turn.
"This feels like we're running a summer camp," Maggie said, sitting across from her with Jia. "It's fun!"
Mari managed a brief smile. She glanced at their packed table, taking note of its missing member. "Where's Acxa?"
"We kinda lost her after morning training," Maggie admitted. She chomped down on another piece of meat and hummed. "She made a run for it the moment Veronica was gone."
"How was your bridge briefing?" Jia wondered.
"The paladins found a robeast. We might be able to find Honerva now," Mari replied. "We're on our way to meet up with them."
Ezor stiffened. "Do they know we're here?" She'd tried to sound nonchalant about it, but there was no missing the fresh dread in her eye.
"No, not yet. I didn't mention it," Mari assured her, and some of the tension left her shoulders. Ezor couldn't avoid the paladins forever, she knew – they were going to find out she was here on the Atlas today. But she could let Ezor face them on her own terms. She could let her enjoy the next few hours before she had to reveal herself as a new member of the coalition.
The cadets didn't seem to harbor Ezor's fear. Rather, their eyes lit up at the news.
"The paladins are coming back?" Penibrae asked, her voice muffled from all the half-chewed food she still had stuffed in her cheeks.
"Yep. You can meet them soon," Mari said, eliciting a round of giddy exclamations.
"I wanna see the lions!"
"I wanna meet their leader!"
"Do you think they'll autograph my face if I ask?"
Mari lifted a quizzical brow and Jia sighed. "Maggie showed them a few episodes of that new television show they made about Voltron," she elaborated.
"I'm turning them into avid fans," Maggie giggled, and Jia kicked her shin beneath the table, eliciting a flat "Ouch."
"Don't show them that," Mari scolded her. "It's full of lies."
"But it's funny!" Maggie pouted. "And these kids could use more fun in their lives."
Before they could argue with her any more, Acxa approached their table with her lunch tray. Her eyes flicked over the group, searching for a place to sit. She frowned in disappointment when she realized there were no spots left.
"Hey!" Ezor greeted her. She grinned, sheepish as she squirmed in her seat. "Sorry, I'd scoot over if I could, but my butt's already half-hanging off the edge of the bench."
"It's fine," Acxa said, cool and curt. "I will sit at an empty table."
She turned, prepared to seek out her own private spot, when Veronica called out to her from across the room.
"Acxa!" she beamed, waving her hand in the air to grab her attention. "Come join us!"
Acxa's eyes narrowed in Veronica's direction where she was sitting with the four MFE pilots. "Why is she so incessant?" she muttered. "Ever since Thoh, her advances have been constant."
"She's just being friendly," Mari gently promised. She glanced at their table and smiled. "Veronica's cool, I think you should give her a chance. It's better than sitting alone, don't you think?"
Acxa's hardened expression just barely cracked. She regarded Mari for a moment, mulling over her words. Then she let out a heavy sigh and reluctantly shuffled over to their table to sit next to Veronica. Maggie, Jia, and Ezor watched in silence as the five humans began to converse with her.
"She looks like she's going to murder someone," Maggie noted.
"She won't," Mari said. "...Hopefully."
"Was she like this with you during your academy days?" Jia asked, and Ezor shrugged.
"She was worse. Acxa's always been a tough nut to crack." She hummed, propping her elbows on the table and lacing her fingers together before resting her chin on her hands. "It took her foreeeever to get used to me and Zethrid and Narti. But who knows? Maybe things will be different now that she's around so many goodie-goodies."
Unexpectedly, the Atlas was the first to arrive at the rendezvous point. Apparently, Keith had reported in earlier that they were experiencing some technical difficulties and would be delayed in their arrival. But that had been a few hours ago, and the lions were still nowhere in sight. The Baltuf Nebula sat in front of the immobile Atlas, a brilliant display of mystical dream-like colors and shapes that did nothing to assuage the rising worries of the crew.
"Keith, any updates on your ETA?" Shiro asked, trying not to sound restless.
"We're just finishing some repairs and are about to get underway," Keith said, straightforward and brief. "We'll update our ETA when we're en route."
Then as quickly as they had come on, the comms went silent. Shiro frowned at the vagueness of such a response, but he made no indication Curtis should open the line again.
"What 'repairs' could they possibly have to make?" Scarlett huffed, not even bothering to hide her displeasure as she crossed her arms.
"Maybe they ran into a robeast along the way," Curtis shrugged. "Or some other space monster."
"But the lions hardly ever get damaged that badly or that easily," she countered. "And if they are, all the more reason to call us over so we can help with repairs."
"Keith seems sure they can handle it," Shiro said, trying his best to convince himself and the rest of the bridge team that the paladins were okay. "I'd rather they fix whatever's wrong than risk traveling while they're vulnerable. We'll just have to wait a while longer for them."
"Hooray. More waiting for hours on end," Scarlett drawled, and she plopped down on the vacant seat next to Curtis.
"Well, we might as well take advantage of the free time while we can, right?" Veronica said, trying to lighten the mood.
"Don't get too relaxed. We're still on a mission," Iverson reminded her, and she straightened.
"Of course not, sir," she agreed. Then she jumped up from her seat, her hands on her hips. "I'm going to relieve some stress at the firing range. Anyone up to joining me?"
When no one took her up on her offer, she didn't look offended in the slightest. "Okay, then. Suit yourselves. I'll be back in an hour."
Without wasting another moment, Veronica was off, disappearing through the bridge doors. Mari sighed, the worries from earlier threatening to pile up again.
"I don't know about the firing range, but I'm up for hitting the training deck," she stated finally, opting for a familiar activity to clear her head. "You in, Scarlett?"
"Nah, go ahead without me," she murmured. Her eyes were narrowed and glued to her screens, far too immersed in whatever task she had decided to busy herself with.
"Alright," Mari said, turning to leave. "I'll be back soon. Let me know when the paladins give us an update."
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