The security droids surrounding Lotor's mansion recognized Acxa's ship and allowed her to land safely. The mansion was built far away from everything but was still heavily fortified. Lotor had never left anything up to chance. The droids led her to Lotor's training room where he was in the middle of running through a flight simulation.

Lotor was a master pilot but sometimes his training went too far. He was facing five enemies at the same time and even with all his skills he couldn't bring them down. The enemy leader was the worst of them all. Impossibly strong and resilient without sacrificing any speed. If the empire had a fleet of ships like that, no one could stand against them.

None of the other ships were as impressive as the leader but still threats in their own right.

The ship sticking closest to the leader was the fastest Acxa had ever seen and it danced circles around Lotor. The bulkiest of the ships hit like an asteroid and didn't notice or care about damage. The smallest ship had weapons that could have been magic and its abilities were constantly blindsiding Lotor. The last ship didn't stand out like the others and seemed to be designed for support and covering for the other more specialized ships. A job it did very well.

After a lengthy dogfight Lotor was able to shoot the support ship down and the training ended.

Acxa waited for Lotor to step out of the training room before she started clapping. She hadn't told him about her arrival but Lotor didn't seem surprised. Few things ever surprised him.

"Impressive." Acxa said.

"Not impressive enough. I won in a way I didn't plan." Lotor said.

Unlike his father, who was a titan, Lotor was merely a giant. He towered over Acxa but was slender and light on his feet. He was more beautiful than handsome and had long, thick white hair. Despite the demanding training program, he didn't smell of sweat and his heartbeat was relaxed.

Lotor escorted her to the living room where he poured them drinks.

"What do I owe this unexpected pleasure for?" Lotor said.

"Emperor Zarkon has summoned you. He demands your presence." Acxa said.

Lotor smiled. He had the smile of a man who knew something you didn't. A smile like that left everyone on their toes and looking over their shoulders.

"Does he now? I suppose I'll head over there immediately. Once you find me." Lotor said.

Acxa looked at him uneasily.

"I could almost swear you're planning something."

Lotor just smiled and finished his drink.

"I need your opinion on something." Lotor said.

One of the screens turned on and Acxa saw…

"… is that…?"

"Yes. Yes, it is." Lotor confirmed.

She'd heard the stories of Voltron. The most powerful weapon in the universe and the greatest threat to their empire. The stories didn't do it justice. On the shot footage Voltron destroyed a fleet of ships on its own. All on its own. How could you fight something like that?

"Terrifying, isn't it? No wonder the emperor doesn't want anyone to see this." Lotor said.

"That's… one word for it. The emperor… he's been sending our people… to fight that?"

"He's obsessed. No sacrifice is too great if he can have Voltron." Lotor said.

Victory or death. Those were the words every Galra soldier lived by. She knew a day might come when her life would be spent for the good of the empire. Sometimes she had spent the lives of those serving under her but… spending a life was one thing. Needlessly wasting them was quite another.

In the next video Voltron had been split into… five. The ship looked like large cat beasts. Even now no ship could match them. She watched as her enemy faced one of Haggar's abominations. She studied their skills and abilities. It was a treasonous thought but… she was rooting for them. She had never trusted the mages. At least Voltron's pilots were facing their enemy head on.

"Which do you think is the weak link?" Lotor asked.

"I don't think there is one." Acxa said.

"Good answer. If you had to fight one of these Lions, which would you go for?"

Acxa watched the Lions. She pondered her answer like her life depended on it. Knowing Lotor it might have.

"The Blue Lion."

"Why?"

"It's… used for support more than anything. It covers up the others' weaknesses. Fell the Blue Lion and you cripple all of them." Acxa said.

Lotor smiled.

"Yes. It would be like cutting off their feet." Lotor said and poured himself another drink: "Inform my father that you didn't find me. I must have left on one of my expeditions and you're in hot pursuit."

Lotor sipped his drink and studied the screen.

"He must be desperate to call for me. Wouldn't it be a pity if this was the end of him?"

Keith stood uneasily in the corner and studied the other partygoers almost scornfully. The Castle of Lions was filled with races and creeds from all over the universe. People they'd helped or who'd heard stories of their deeds. How could they hold a party when there was so much left to do?

Most of their guests had swarmed around Shiro who was looking as relaxed in a party as he did at the helm of Voltron. Was there anything he couldn't do? He wondered how many lifelong friendships Shiro would have after one night.

"Keith! My man! Why are you hiding here?" Lance yelled.

Lance walked up to him and stuck a drink in his hand. Keith accepted the drink reluctantly.

"I don't really like parties."

"How do you know? You've never been to one." Lance said and took a sip from his drink: "You're the one who complained we haven't done enough to gather allies."

"It just seems… disrespectful somehow. We should be helping people. Not partying."

"Not all of us can be dark and brooding all the time." Lance said and looked around: "Besides, we're gathering intel and creating alliances. You should see the number of fence sitters who are already offering Shiro their daughters. Guess no one told them about Adam."

"They broke up." Keith said.

Lance spilled his drink.

"What?"

"Shiro and Adam broke up. Just before Shiro was… taken." Keith said.

"Oh." Lance said looking uncomfortable. He finished his drink: "Anyway… one of our guests told us about a secret Quintessence factory. That's probably our next target."

"Quintessence?"

"Yeah. Never heard of it either. Coran called it an energy source."

Keith nodded when he noticed Shay among their guests. Despite being a full head taller than most of them and built like a… Keith tried to think of a word aside from a brick wall… She was built like a… fighter but looked small and lost. She had an unmistakably warm, pleasant aura. It was easy to guess why she and Hunk had hit it off so well. Lance waved at her.

"Shay! You came!"

Shay looked relieved when she spotted them.

"How could I say no to the saviors of our home?" Shay said and bowed her head: "I also wanted to thank all of you for everything you did."

"It was Allura who saved Balmera." Keith said.

"She couldn't have done it without you."

"Or you." Lance said and raised his glass: "You did us a solid one back then. Hunk has been gushing about you non-stop ever since."

Keith had never seen a walking, talking rock blush.

"He has?" Shay said and looked around: "I… haven't seen him."

"He's in the kitchen putting the finishing touches on the desserts. Balmera didn't really have those so he had to get creative." Lance said.

Shay's gaze dropped on her feet. She smiled.

"That's a lot of trouble. For one guest."

"Hunk has always been a thoughtful guy." Lance said.

"Yeah. He's even friends with Lance." Keith said.

"That he is. He should be done in time for the dance." Lance said.

"Dance?" Shay asked.

"You've never…?"

"The Galra… denied us many things." Shay said.

Lance downed his drink in one go and Keith followed suit. It was stronger than he'd expected. Being a slave left a little time for fun. Or anything else besides surviving.

"You should ask him for a dance. Knowing Hunk, he won't be able to muster the courage to do it himself." Lance said.

"I don't know how." Shay said.

"Easy enough to fix." Lance said and put down his glass before doing a curtsy for Keith: "May I have this dance, my good sir?"

Maybe it was the drink or just wanting to help Shay out, but Keith took Lance's hand. After a short tug of war, he was able to take the lead. The garrison had had mandatory dance lessons for formal occasions and Keith still remembered the steps. Shay was scandalized… and excited.

"Do you always… stand so close to each other… while dancing?" Shay whispered.

"The closer the better." Lance said and smiled: "If you're feeling bold, see how low you can slide your hand."

"If that hand touches my butt, you'll lose it." Keith said.

"I was actually giving permission to you, but whatever." Lance said.

People had taken notice of their quick lesson to Shay and Coran jumped the gun on the music. Traditional Altean tune filled the hall and their guests started taking it to the dance floor. Shay noticed Hunk getting out of the kitchen… and her nerves gave out. Lance ordered her a drink and Shay drowned it like a champion before heading towards Hunk.

"That was nice of you." Keith said.

"What can I say? I'm a nice guy. Besides, what kind of a friend would I be, if I didn't act as wingman?"

"Keith. Lance."

Allura had dressed like a princess for the evening and stars seemed to have been woven into her blue dress. Lance did a small bow.

"Princess. You look even lovelier than usual. Did you come to ask me for a dance?"

Allura smiled.

"Maybe some other time." Allura said and offered her hand to Keith: "Could you do me the honors?"

Keith looked at her surprised and glanced at Lance who stared despondently into his empty glass.

"Yes."

Allura dragged him to the dancefloor and unlike him, Allura seemed to be at home there.

"I didn't think you could dance." Allura said.

"Learning it was mandatory in the military."

"Is it normal back on Earth for two men to dance together?" Allura said and then smiled apologetically at his expression: "No offense meant. I just know that it gets people… uncomfortable on… less advanced planets."

"No offense taken, and I wish it only made people uncomfortable. It makes many people angry and scared."

Allura nodded.

"What a sad way to live one's life. Ruled by anger and fear."

"Yeah but it's not that bad anymore. In some places anyway." Keith said.

"I see." Allura said and looked around: "I wanted to apologize and… thank you. For what happened at the dinner."

"I… I was out of line too. You lost so much and I…" Keith said.

Allura shook her head.

"I have too many responsibilities to let my emotions get the better of me. Thank you. It is not easy to point out when… a friend is making a mistake."

Keith smiled… and then noticed Hunk dancing with Shay. Both were clumsy and awkward and took too much space. Neither of them would have wanted to be anywhere else. The sight of him made him smile.

What Lance was up to was less heartwarming.

Somehow, he'd made it to the dancefloor with three partners. Two aliens who both looked faintly human and one over ambitious Arusian. All three of them were giggling like children while Lance led the dance. Keith tried not think why the sight of it made him so angry. Allura smiled when she noticed the look on his face.

"He has his good points too."

"Like what?" Keith asked.

"I'm sure you know better than I do."


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