Chapter 26: A Call After a Failed Rescue(Shiro's Clone POV)
Shiro turns his head as the bridge doors open, revealing a dejected Pidge and Matt. Accompanying them are Rolo, Nyma and Beezer. Tentatively he asks, "Everything ok?" Pidge just looks in his eyes, saddened. Matt though answers, "Our father was recently moved before we broke in. Lotor must have informed Zarkon somehow."
"Now hold on," Marinette begins, "when would he have had the time to connect with his father or the means to do so. We took everything on his person that could be used against us."
He nods, "I agree. So we can't blame Lotor for this…."
But still. Who could've known about our plan to recuse the Commander? It just doesn't make any sense…
Suddenly the screen on the bridge turns on to reveal…Zarkon?! Although he isn't all that surprised to see the Emperor again. Since they have known for some time, thanks to Lotor that Zarkon is indeed alive. It irritates him that they didn't kill him off, but there's nothing they can do about it now.
"Hello Paladins of Voltron," Zarkon begins, but Marinette interrupts him, "What the hell do you want?!"
"My, my. Seems the new Black Paladin is feisty."
"Just tell us why you're here," Marinette snaps.
"Right to the point, shall we. I have something that you want. I really should've….." Zarkon shakes his head and then smiles evilly, "The point is, if you ever want to see that human scientist ever again give me Lotor in exchange. I've already sent the coordinates, all you have to do is arrive in, let's say two hours or less before I end the scientist's existence."
The screen then flickers black.
Rage boils in Shiro. Commander Holt isn't just some scientist, he's one of the best on Earth working under the Galaxy Garrison! He's also one of Shiro's friends, along with his son and daughter! He tries to calm down though. He looks around at the other's reactions, Marinette is glaring at the screen that used to hold Zarkon's image, Lance looks like he has mixed feelings or is confused about the situation, Allura has a serene and calm look about her, Hunk looks distressed and Pidge and Matt are also glaring at the screen on the edge of tears.
"So," he begins, after successfully calming himself down(which took a few minutes), "Marinette, what do you think we should do?" The leader in him wants to take the initiative, but he lets Marinette have the first say. Since she is the leader of Voltron now, while he's just an advisor.
Anger slowly comes over him, but he mentally shakes it off. Don't be so angry with her, besides it isn't Marinette's fault she's the leader. If anything it's the Black Lion's fault. Why couldn't have Black lead them to where he was being held captive? Save all the pain of them assuming he died. If it were Keith or Adam he knows both of them would have looked for him for weeks before giving up.
Still, everytime he recollects on his memories, something seems…
"I think we should let that piece of crap rot in hell! How dare he demand that we deliver his son back to him when he probably doesn't even want him back! This could all be a set up and I for one do not like Zarkon one bit for making me think so!" Marinette yells.
"But it's my dad he has held hostage!" Pidge screams, tears falling down her cheek.
"Yeah, we can't just do nothing!" Matt replies, he's holding his cool a lot better than his sister. Shiro doesn't know what to do. On the one hand he wants to fight with everything he's got to save his friend, on the other though, something's holding him back from putting Lotor in that much danger.
He grips his hair floof(made smale courtesy of Marinette) in frustration. Why doesn't he want Lotor to go back to his father, or be endangered by doing that?
Lance pipes up, "Pidge is right…But Marinette is also right. We can't do nothing, it's her father for Pete's sake, yet we don't know if Pidge's father is a part of some larger scheme made by Zarkon. I don't know how to go about this….."
"But if we don't go in two hours Pidge's father will be, will be, will…" Hunk falters on the verge of tears. This subject clearly bothers him like the rest of us.
Allura says coldly, "Why don't we just let Zarkon have Lotor back. He's served his purpose."
"That's a cold thing to say Allura. Lotor is alive just like all of us and you want to purposefully put him in harm's way. Voltron is about saving everybody, so unless there's a way to save Lotor and Pidge's father…"
"Marinette," Allura coldy looks at her, "Zarkon only wants to deal with a traitor. What possible reason could he have to deny us Pidge's father? There's no leverage."
"But he does want the lions! What if he retracts his previous engagement and he asks for the lions instead of Lotor. Would you seriously consider putting the Lions into Zarkon's hands to save Pidge's father?!"
Allura looks down at her shoes.
"I thought not. Besides, Lotor could be a valuable ally if he gains more freedom. So I am not going to give into the demands of some hotshot Emperor thinking he can leverage us into giving a life away."
Marinette then stalks off, not bothering to see if anyone has any other comments. She disappears after the bridge doors close behind her. Shiro frowns, he wholeheartedly agrees with Marinette, yet at the same time he and Sam were close working together at Garrison. He was often the scientist who accompanied on his many voyages to space.
Not that he knows the reason though.
He looks at where Marinette left and wonders if there might be a way to do what she suggested. Save Lotor and Commander Holt. Though that seems impossible, however they have faced what looked like impossible odds before and it hasn't stopped us. So what are we going to do next?
Author's Note: I finally got a job cleaning at a motel! So yeah, me! Also after this chapter it's back to Miraculous and their whole situation. Also Voltron is a little ahead in the timeline of things since I skipped over writing some stuff so when it ends(eventually) with the last season six episode(the finale to Voltron's story in Kwamis and Lions(Team Arc) it will happen at the same time as the Season 4 finale in Miraculous(the finale of Team Miraculous in Kwamis and Lions(Team Arc). So Miraculous might have more chapters since I'm not totally done with season three(of miraculous) yet. Though it is close to being done. Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter:)