Coran summoned all of them to the Castle's bridge. Thanks to having to wake up Lance, Keith was among the last to make it there. When he got to bridge, Kolivan was standing with Shiro and Allura while the rest were sitting. Keith nodded at his mother before sitting down with the others. Once everyone was seated, Shiro cleared his throat.
"Well, everyone. This is it. The big one. In two days, we will spring an attack on Zarkon's fortress… and take him out."
Shock ran through his fellow Paladins and Lance grabbed his hand like clinging to him was the only thing stopping him from being washed away.
Pidge raised her hand.
"How do we know where it is?"
"We've always known where it is." Kolivan said: "We've had entire family lines working as spies and some of them have made it even to the heart of the empire. This is the first time we've had enough firepower to launch a proper attack."
"Once the attack begins, they will start sabotaging the fortress from the inside." Allura said.
"But don't we still need more time to plan this out?" Pidge said.
"Time is the one thing we don't have. Our resources are limited. Zarkon's are not. Also… he has been building a weapon. Infused with magic and… his Bayard." Kolivan said.
Shiro was an even-keeled man on whose face anger and joy looked much the same but Keith still noticed the way his eyes narrowed at the mention of the Black Bayard.
"Do we at least know what the fortress is capable of?" Pidge asked.
"Not fully. Every soldier has his own station in it and limited contact with other stations to avoid security leaks." Kolivan said.
"And the fortress is protected by Haggar's magic, making it impossible to spy on from a distance." Allura said.
"Which makes this the best chance we will get. We'll have to make it count." Shiro said and looked at everyone in the room. His eyes lingered the longest on Lance: "We can see the finish line. Just one more push, guys."
"The trip there will take two days. Try to tie up whatever loose ends you have in the meantime." Allura said.
Krolia walked among the Lions even though her mind was always on the Blue one. Two days. If she could just form a bond with it… two days would be enough time get a hang of it. Barely but she could do it if she had to.
But all the Lions were silent.
Someone might have thought they were asleep, but you could never trust the sleep of such a great beast. Sometimes closed eyes were nothing more than a trap.
Much to her surprise she found out that she wasn't alone in the hangar and saw the princess's advisor wandering among the Lions as well. When he arrived at the Red one, old pain twisted his face.
"Last minute check-ups?" Krolia said.
Coran twirled his mustache.
"No. Just… wondering if I'd feel the spark."
"Do you?"
"No." Coran sighed: "I'm guessing you have the same problem."
Krolia looked at the Lions. Almost scornfully.
"I don't like the idea of children having to fight our wars."
"And yet they always do." Coran said sadly and touched the Red Lion: "I am sorry for that. We all left you to clean up our mess."
The sadness and pain in Coran's voice… she knew both all too well.
"Did you have someone… who had to fight your war?"
Coran was quiet for a long time.
"I… had a son. A braggart… always talking to hide his fear… and working so hard to… make up for his failings. To be honest… he was more of a poet than a soldier but… I thought there were no more wars to fight so… I allowed it." Coran said and closed his eyes: "He died… with my wife when Altea…"
He couldn't finish the thought and Krolia put her hand on his shoulder. Despite being past middle-aged, Coran was still fit under his uniform.
"I am sorry."
"Thank you, Krolia." Coran said and looked at the Red Lion: "I still wish… I could go out there. Not just for my wife and son but… Zarkon as well. For the man he was."
Coran gave her a sad smile.
"You deserve some closure for you husband as well."
"Keith will put an end to this." Krolia said and then asked: "What will you do when this is over?"
"Altea is… gone… and its not coming back. There are only two of us left I will see to it that… our people and their ideals will be remembered."
Shiro stood in Allura's quarters and stared out into space. He could almost see the new frontiers in the darkness. Frontiers to be discovered… or perhaps to be made contact with. To be studied. The people there to be befriended.
"You sure this will work?" Allura said.
"Sure, enough to try it. What about you?" Shiro said.
Allura crossed her fingers. In the passing days she had aged years. Her cheeks had grown hollow and the make-up couldn't quite hide the shadows around her eyes. Did she get any sleep these days? In the military academy Shiro had been taught to compartmentalize his feeling when it came to tough decisions. He wasn't looking forward to opening that Pandora's Box when this was all over.
"My father's hesitation… cost us my home. He… my father was a good man but… I won't repeat his mistakes." Allura said.
"What Zarkon did… it wasn't your father's fault."
"No… but he still created the technology that the monster has been terrorizing the universe with. It is my duty to stop him." Allura said.
"And what are you going to do when we have stopped him?"
Allura looked so very tired.
"I will take the Lions and hide them. They are too powerful for anything else. If they were ever to fall in the wrong hands… no one could stop them."
"And after that?"
"I… don't know." Allura admitted.
"You could… come to Earth." Shiro said.
"Earth?"
"I know its not Altea but… it could be your home. Coran's too. We could learn so much from you and… I'm sure Pidge would appreciate help in her lab."
Allura fell quiet and then smiled.
"I'll keep that in mind. Thank you, Shiro."
"You don't have to thank me for anything." Shiro said and smiled: "Hunk has prepared a meal if you are…"
"I am sorry but… I am not hungry. Could you apologize to Hunk for me?"
"He'll understand. Try to get some rest, princess." Shiro said.
When Shiro left the princess's quarters, he found Kolivan waiting for him in the hallway.
"You wanted to have a rematch before we face Zarkon?" Shiro said.
"You have beaten me once. Never again." Kolivan said motioned him to get closer: "Walk with me."
Shiro did and despite being… unofficially the most powerful man in the universe, he still felt nervous like he was in the presence of a commanding officer.
"I can't say that I approve of your… cavalier attitude towards rank and file." Kolivan said.
"The Paladins have to be connected. We need deeper bonds than soldier and officer."
"Never underestimate the bonds of soldiers who have seen combat together." Kolivan said.
"If they were soldiers, it would be different but they're not. They are children pulled in way over their heads." Shiro said.
"And yet you have made them an effective unit." Kolivan said and stopped to look at him: "I need you to promise me something."
"Depends on what it is."
"The Red and Blue Paladin… they have to survive this battle. If the universe sees them together… one of our own taking down Zarkon and in love with an outsider… that will give my people a future." Kolivan said.
Shiro looked at Kolivan and at that moment he saw the person behind the mask of a leader. A man with hopes and dreams, fears and anxieties. At that moment… Shiro saw a glimpse of himself and Allura in Kolivan.
"You have my word as a man. I will do everything to make sure they survive." Shiro said.
Kolivan bowed his head.
"You're no man, Black Paladin. You're a Galra who happened to be born on Earth. It will be an honor to fight with you." Kolivan said and offered his hand.
They shook hands.
Hunk had outdone himself with the feast full of their favorite dishes from every planet they had visited but the meal was still a silent affair. Usually Lance and Hunk would have elevated the mood with their banter but now even they were feeling the pressure of their situation.
Keith stared at his food but could only nibble it.
Shiro sat at the end of the table filled with the Paladins and took a sip of his drink.
"So? What is everyone planning to do after this is over?" Shiro asked.
Pidge adjusted her glasses.
"I'll go through all the records the Galra have on their prisoners. I don't care if it takes years. I will find my father and brother."
Hunk poked at his food with his fork.
"I… uh… someone has to tell the Balmerans that they don't have to worry about Zarkon anymore… and since know them the best… well… I want to do it."
Lance grinned.
"And I'm sure that's the only reason you're going. When you see Shay, do me a solid one and kick her brother in the balls for me."
"Could we please finish this war before starting another one?" Pidge said.
Keith smiled and felt some of his appetite return. He looked at Shiro.
"What about you? Going back to Earth?"
"For a while. I have to establish communication with Earth and the Blades… as well as the rest of the universe. After that… well… someone has to explore the universe." Shiro said and drank: "And you?"
Keith's stomach squirmed when he glanced at Lance who was looking at him expectantly.
"My… mother… she invited me to… go with the Blades… I've… decided to go with her."
Lance's eyes narrowed while Shiro smiled.
"I see. I hope you don't mind me dropping by for a visit every once in a while."
When the dinner was finally over, Keith headed towards his room with Lance. When he tried to take his hand, Lance pointedly dodged him.
"Lance?"
Lance pushed forward.
"You know…" Lance said without looking at him: "I can't help but wonder if we're a bit too optimistic. I mean… just because Zarkon is gone doesn't mean the empire is going anywhere."
Keith brushed his hair with his talons.
"That's the problem with dictatorships. They tend to fall apart without their leaders. I'd imagine the empire will crumble into a dozen petty kingdoms without Zarkon."
"Zarkon has a son. An heir."
"I guess he'll be the first one in the chopping block. The last thing a usurper needs is a legitimate heir running around." Keith said.
"And those are the people you'll be fighting… instead of coming home?"
Keith stopped… and for the first time after leaving dinner, Lance looked at him.
"Lance… I… have a whole other side to myself. A different world I could belong to."
Lance took his hand.
"Keith… what makes you think you'll be anymore at home there? You grew up on Earth. The Galra… you know nothing of their culture or customs." Lance said before smirking: "You'll still be the same antisocial jerk."
"Thanks." Keith said dryly.
"And I'm not just talking out of my ass. My parents are Cuban but… I grew up in America. How at home do you think I'd be in Cuba?"
"I still want to get to know my mother." Keith said.
"I…" Lance said but was at loss for words: "I guess… that's fair."
Keith pulled his hand closer.
"You could come with me."
Lance's eyes widened.
"With you?"
"Yeah. Someone has to teach the Galra about Earth… and Earth about the Galra. We could be ambassadors for Earth and… you wouldn't have to fight. Your family would know it was worth sending you into the academy."
Lance smiled.
"The two of us together making a difference in the universe? And here I thought there was no romance in you."
