Chapter 24: Testing, Testing, Testing, 1…2…3(Part 1)(Marinette's POV)

Her and Lance stand in front of the glass holding cell Lotor is in. Her teammates have decided along with her that they should try the information out. So now they just need to ask Lotor.

"Back again so soon? I would have expected the others to join us this time. Pity."

"We're just here to get some information from you. We have decided as a team to let you give us information and in exchange you will receive shelter. The others however do not feel comfortable allowing you to roam free amongst the ship so for the time being you will be kept in this cell. Any questions," Marinette asks.

"None, and I understand the others….distrust in me. But I promise you won't regret putting your trust in me. So what info do you want?"

"Some key Galra bases so we can destroy their supply chains or whatever support they still have after gaining Naxzela. Then we'll see if we can trust you."

"Fair enough Black Paladin. It so happens that I know of a base that is one of the central stations in the Galra universe. However it does contain a defense mechanism of lava if any intruders are present that will flood all the vents in the base. So my advice is to act swiftly and take it all down."

Marinette raises an eyebrow, "You're okay with the fact that this is going to involve killing the Galra, even though you have said you want their future to have peace in it?"

Lotor sighs, "We are not at peace yet while my father and his witch are on the throne. And we can't change their minds to let this war have a peaceful end instead of dragging out the violence. Thus I'm aware I'm going to have to be fine with some soldiers fighting on the wrong side getting hurt or killed. Don't you risk your allies' lives every time you go to battle with them? Isn't that the same thing as what you're implying I think is ok. The fact is it is not okay, and it will never be okay for me. My people might think I'm a traitor but I would never willingly hurt them because of that. In this war both sides are acting in defense, Voltron in defense of their freedom and the Galra in the defense of their wrong traditions."

Lance shares a look with her, and reading his eyes and body language she can tell he's thinking the same thing. Can they trust his words? Marinette's instincts tell her yes, they can trust him. But most of her teammates, Lance and Allura especially, don't trust this guy.

And Marinette has never met a time where her instincts were wrong…

So what could the harm be, really?

And it's not like Lotor can contact the Galra anyway to organize a trap since he is being held prisoner.

"Alright we trust you. Now just give some information about some more bases and if your info on all of them is correct, my colleagues and I might consider you being more of an ally instead of a consultant."

Lance looks at her, bewildered, and he opens his mouth but Marinette interrupts, "He has no reason to lie to us if what he has said is true. Besides, I think those are fair enough conditions and he gets his protection too."

Lotor's POV

Lotor stares at the Black Paladin, mystified. He did not think he was going to get out of prisoner status, no matter how much he tried, yet here was the Black Paladin having said that if his information held true, he would be more than just a consultant prisoner, but an ally.

An ally. That's what he thought he and Voltron were going to be right at the start. He didn't expect trust issues and he certainly thought they'd welcome a traitor with open arms. Unless they had some trust issues in the past, which is far, anyone will do anything to keep out of war. Like the planet….Nope not going there. Not going to bring back memories that are unpleasant. Nuh uh! No way.

Because if he does, then he might break down, and that's not something he wants to have happen around the Paladins of Voltron.

So instead he says, "Sure. I can give the coordinates to a few more important Galra bases."

So he tells them and adds defense details so they can be prepared while the Black Paladin brings out a notepad and a pen. He also tells the coordinates for the one with the lava defense mechanism. Once the Black Paladin is finished writing she hands the notepad to the Red Paladin.

"Take this to Pidge and have her and the others get ready. We have some Galra bases to fight."

The Red Paladin hesitates but goes out of the room anyway on the narrow passage to his cell that also serves as the exit.

The Black Paladin turns to him, "I hope that this risky alliance will grow into a more trustworthy one. I already put my trust in you, so do not make me regret it."

Lotor nods and then the Black Paladin leaves the room. Off to a great start already. But why is the Black Paladin putting so much faith in him? It doesn't seem right, yet there she was, a few moments ago, saying 'I already put my trust in you'. It feels very wrong, especially with the way his father doesn't trust him even though he's his father's son, then again him and Haggar withheld a lot of trust and often thought he was a traitor.

So odd is definitely the way to put it. Since he is not normally used to being given trust right away. Normally he has to earn it through some grand gesture(like beating a person who thought he wasn't fit to rule the Galra Empire and instead of killing him when he was in defeat he made a show to demonstrate that his reign would be better and different. You know, just a random example).

Which means the Black Paladin is definitely different from her colleagues. Is it because she is more innocent, no that can't be it. She must have been with this war since the beginning along with the other paladins. It had started on some rock planet the Galra were exacting on for the Yellow Lion and then went to a planet named Arus.

So yeah, he can't see her joining the fight later(which is funny because she did but through magical means, but Lotor doesn't know that). So then, why? Why put so much trust in him?

Lance's POV

Lance looks out the bridge's windows while sitting on his seat. An endless sea of stars rolls past. Why is Marinette trusting that Lotor so much? Sure he could be a valuable asset but we just let him roam free after his information is correct? Is Lotor trying to gain favour and then end up stabbing us in the back?

He doesn't know. All he knows is he doesn't like it. Especially not after he miraculously showed up while we were in crisis on Naxzela. It just seems to be planned. But then again he's not the smart one in the team, so what does he know? All he knows is his gut instinct is telling him to keep Lotor at a distance.

Just then Marinette decides to walk in. Lance blushes as Marinette walks over to Pidge confidently. "How long before we reach one of Lotor's bases?"

"Not that long. One is surprisingly close." Pidge says.

"Good, it's time to see if we can fully put our trust in Lotor as an ally."

Lance nods, but it seems that comment is mostly directed towards everyone else. Since Marinette seems to have already put her trust in him. Because she had offered him that if his information proved correct that Lotor wouldn't be a prisoner consultant but rather an active ally. He hopes for Marinette's sake that everything turns out fine and that not anything devastating happens. Like in that alternate dimension. He's not sure Marinette has completely gotten over that, but it seems like it.

Or maybe she's gotten better at looking calm and in control, when in her mind she's probably freaking out. He shakes his head, it's not time to think about Marinette's well being, they have a mission they need to partake in that could prove or disprove Lotor's likeliness at becoming an ally.