Chapter 19

A/N: Alright, this chapter might be a little longer than the others because as we can all surmise, this is the space mall, and who would dare leave out any details of that wonderful adventure?

Once again, I only own this story and my OCs

/commlinks/

"Bold is intercoms"

Telepathy/flashbacks

Now that all those notes are covered, onto one of the best S2 episodes!

"Ok look," Shiro stated calmly as they gathered on the Castle's bridge, "so we now know for certain that Zarkon's tracking us through the Black Lion. We have to find some way to stop him."

"How are we going to do that?" Pidge inquired.

"We've never had this situation before," Allura recollected. "Two Paladins battling for the same Lion."

Jaz raised an eyebrow, "So do they need to fight to the death or something?"

"Well, unless we want Zarkon taking control of Voltron every time we get close," Shiro replied, "I'll need to forge a new bond wih my lion. One that's stronger than his."

"Well while you're working on that, the rest of us need to find some new teludav lenses," Coran remarked, "otherwise we won't be able to travel via wormhole."

"Is that something we have to mail order?" Hunk questioned.

"Does anyone even make those anymore?" Keith voiced.

"I doubt it," Yorak remarked.

"I don't know," Allura answered, biting her lip. "Only a handful of Alteans could work the teludav ten-thousand years ago; they may not exist anymore."

"I don't think they do."

Coran pulled on his mustache perking up, "I think I know where we could get some…" Leaving them with little explanation, he walked over to the monitor pulling up some images of Coran and Alfor in a market of some sort and two four-armed species, one of which the Paladins easily recognized as the Eliksni.

"Coran," Allura chased, "surely you're not thinking of going to one of those filthy swap moons! The last time you went those space pirates nearly took you for everything you had!"

"Space pirates?"

"The Unilu and Elkisni were traders and pirates," Coran explained motioning to the smaller quadri-limbed group. "that roam the universe trading in black market goods: unmvy spice, bytor water, little bottles of infinity vapor."

"…Darvah never told us that," Shiro said.

Jaz shrugged, "His clan has kept to peaceful trading and mercenary work after Queen Mara made a treaty with Variks and the head of his House, as well as conquered the House of Wolves which was then assimilated into the Eliskni clans in the Reef."

"So wait…the Eliskni really came from outside our system?" Pidge breathed, her eyes wide in awe as the Awoken woman nodded.

"The Elkisni were even more successful than the Unilu, they roamed the universe for Lord knows how many eons as they became adept as pirateering mercinaries who traded in weapons they invented from technology they stole." Coran continued, "Of course, you had to bargain; no one could bargain like the Eliksni or Unilu."

"Tell us about it," Jaz, Keith, and Shiro groaned remembering whenever they'd do trade in the Reef or heaven-fobid play Monopoly with Darvah.

"Last time, I ended up giving away three-quarters of my shipment of lango for a used pogo oscillator."

Allura laughed with Coran lightly at the memory. "Father was not pleased."

"Well while Coran's picking up these lenses I can take you out for something shiny," Lance smiled scooching up to Allura with a smile.

"This isn't shopping!" Coran expaimed popping up between them. "You're not wondering around saying: 'Oh! What a lovely pink hat! This is so becoming!' No! I cannot let Allura get anywhere near those filthy, lowballing, pirate hoodlums!"

"But I'd love something sparkly," Allura pleaded making puppy-dog eyes.

"Look, you're the only one who can operate the Castle," Coran stated and Allura deflated, "you need to be resting after all you've been through. That goes for you too Jaz!"

"Draaf."

"Now, let's ready a pod for our mission," Coran said walking towards the door. "We need to get in, find the scaultrite lenses, and get out!"

"Shotgun!" Lance called rushing forwards with Hunk chasing after.

"What?! No! You have to be in the pod bay to call shotgun!"

"Since when?!"

"Since forever! That's shotgun etiquette! I wrote the book."

Shiro snorted lightly and shook their head at the two boys' antics watching the teens all leave. "While they're doing that, I'm going to go down to the hangar, strengthen my bond with the Black Lion."

"So what are we supposed to do? Sit around and worry all day?" Allura huffed crossing her arms angrily.

"…We could set up pranks to make them think the Castle's possessed again?" Jaz offered and the Princess started to contemplate as the mice hopped onto her shoulder squeaking.

At their suggestion, Allura lit up. "Dinner? And a show!?"

"That works too."

-.-

Walking into Black's hangar, Shiro sighed, looking up at the towering dark lion. "You and I have some work to do," he said patting his nose. Walking inside, he sat down in the pilot's chair, taking a deep breath focusing on his bond, frowning when he wasn't getting any response. "Work with me. what do I have to do to strengthen our bond?"

The was a loud growl and Black moved under his own accord, making Shiro gasp in shock, grasping the controls tightly.

"Whoa! Hey!" he called, his eyes widening as he saw the lion turn towards the exit. "What are you doing?"

They shot out of the hangar, and Shiro was pushed back in his seat, trying and failing to control where Black was going.

"Stop! Stop!" he pleaded pulling on the controls trying to get some sort of control, "I said stop! Turn around! That's an order!"

Black ignored him as they flew out into space.

-.-

"Hello? Back passengers? Can you hear me?" Coran asked as Keith sprawled out over his seat in the pod, letting pidge and Hunk sit on the other one as Lance sat with Coran up in the front.

"It's sooo comfy up here!" Lance drawled with a mocking edge in his voice, "Extra leg room, heated seats, oh man! You guys are really missing out."

"Stupid Lance. Stupid shotgun," Hunk grumbled under his breath.

"Now, these swap moons are dangerous environments, so stay on your toes. No communication devices or weapons of any kind," Coran informed and Keith bit back a snort, like he'd go anywhere unarmed. "Also I brought along some disguises."

Keith raised an eyebrow sharing a look with Hunk and Pidge.

-.-

Boring elevator music droned over the quiet mall that they now stood in, Keith angrily corssing his arms as he stood in a dark blue-gray set of his Guardian armor since it passed for one of Coran's disguises and would be better for protection than anything in the duffel would've been. Around him, the others stood in similar ratty clothing that would've passed for pirates, not for shoppers; now they only stood out more than what they would've just coming in wearing their regular clothes.

"Uh, Coran?" Pidge voiced, "This swap meet looks an awful lot like a regular mall."

"It does seem to be a little cleaner than what I remember," he remarked. "Still be vigilant. These pirates are cut-throat wheeler-dealers, so keep your hands on your coin satchels."

"Uh, mine are empty," Hunk informed.

"Good."

Keith sighed, "Let's just get this over with."

"Yes right! Everyone split up, search the area for teludav lenses. We'll meet by the giant ticking clock in one varga. Don't be late, and try to blend in," Coran ordered walking away.

As the others began discarding their ratty disguises, Keith's helmet evaporated and he started walking towards a different section of the mall. His armor was clean so it should pass, besides, people might be more willing to give a Guardian information rather than a random stranger.

-.-

Digging into his food, the security guard looked up as the monitor beeped, zooming in on a small group standing around a trashcan and tossing clothes in. "Huh? Space pirates!" he exclaimed dropping his food as his hands slammed on the console. "Disguising yourselves as harmless shoppers eh? Well it won't work!"

Going to his locker, he pulled out his communicator and badge, strapping them on before looking at the poster in reverence.

"Don't worry Emperor Zarkon, I know you can't be here to protect the mall, but your faithful number two is on the case! Hope these priates are ready to meet Varkon!"

-.-

"Come on!" Shiro groaned as Black continued flying into the vast unknown. The lion hadn't responded to him since they left the Castle, leading Shiro towards wherever Black was intent on showing him.

"Look! I don't know where you're headed! But you need to start listening to me right now!" he exclaimed and to his surprise, and relief, Black slowed down. "That's better."

"Where are we?" Looking out the window, he gazed around warily; when did they get in an asteroid field? The great lion dove under a massive piece of debris and Shiro stared at the humongous celestial body the debris seemed to be originating from. "Why did you bring me here? What are you trying to tell me?"

Black rumbled and Shiro felt a presence brush the back of his mind, not unsimilar to the way it felt when they first did the flying exercise with the blindfolds.

"So you want me to see through your eyes?"

A purr rumbled through Black in confirmation, and Shiro closed his eyes to see what Black was showing him.

A planet teeming with life flashed before he stood beside Zarkon and Alfor.

Opening his eyes, Shiro looked up now recognizing the debris as the once-living planet. "…Was this your home? This was Zarkon's home planet?" he asked quietly feeling his stomach drop. Just what happened to it?

Taking a deep breath, Shiro closed his eyes again. "Show me more."

A blue comet flew down towards the planet, making impact in a field. He could see Alfor and Zarkon standing at the edge of a crater gazing a glowing blue and black meteor in the center.

Alfor stood with another Altean working on the lions.

"King Alfor built you from that commet, and you fought beside him…"

Alfor stood talking with a younger version of the emperor.

"With Zarkon."

Yellow eyes turned towards him flashing to a dark violet.

Opening his eyes with a gasp, dread built in Shiro's gut as he got the feeling that Zarkon saw him.

-.-

Hunk stood on a conveyer belt looking at the stores as it slowly moved along. "Ok, if I were a ten-thousand-year-old wormhole lens where would I be?"

Seeing an alien couple speed past he started jogging to keep up with them. "Hello? Excuse me—wow you guys are really booking it here—would you happen to know where I could find some leses for my ship around here?"

The couple sped up.

"Is there a one-hour lens place around here or something? Anything? Nothing?" he trailed off as the continued to speed along, leaving him in the dust. "You know what, I'll catch up with you guys later!"

Resting his hands on his knees, Hunk took deep breaths, holy cow those two little alines could run fast. The scent of food hit his nose and Hunk popped up, eyes widening in awe: the food court. "Oh! This. Is. Beautiful!" he said getting off the belt and walking in finding some free sample trays. "Wonder if the lenses could be under these?" Popping one of the green blobs in his mouth he chewed nodding at the flavor. "Rubbery."

Going to another tray that held what resemebled tacos, he picked one up and bit into it. "Oh! Sweet and salty!"

He went over to a tray of drinks and took one, not expecting to almost get a brain freeze as his mouth simultaneously lit on fire. "So cold! But spicy!" Wonder if there was milk around here somewhere?

After finally getting the burn in his mouth to die, Hunk went over to a tray of unimpressive-looking greyish violet blobs. Maybe they tasted better than they looked? Eating one he frowned, nope, just as bad as it looked. "Eh, what else is there?"

"Five-hundred GAC."

"Huh? Five-hundred—excuse me?" he questioned looking at the large Galra.

"Sustenance provided by Vrepit Sal, that's me. Five-hundred GAC is now owed," he replied.

"Oh…I thought this was a free sample situation," he said tapping his index fingers together nervously. Maybe this guy would cut him some slack.

"Free?" the Galra scoffed.

Quiznak.

"Of charge," he explained, "You know, gratis?"

Vrepit Sal frowned.

"Look buddy, I don't have any money," he confessed. "So…"

Before Hunk knew it he was cuffed to the bar under the sink as he was given a rag to wash dishes. Working off his debt, ok, he could do that, that wasn't so bad. There was someone else doing it too. "How long you been here?" he asked looking at the older person.

"Sal put me here when I was just a little girl."

"…Oh no."

-.-

Keith walked down a hall glancing at the stores every now and then, surely there had to be a ship repair shop around here somewhere? It would be the best place to most likely locate these lenses, or at least some of the materials needed to make them.

"Let me show you the wonderful workings of the Galsu X-90 Extreme Blade System," a voice said, and Keith trailed to a stop. A weapons vendor? Maybe he could get some new ammo, or an appraisal on his knife. Looking at the shop he frowned, it seemed to be mostly cookware.

"It slices, it dices, it kills, slaughters, and skins, and constantly stays razor sharp," the vendor continued twirling the blades expertly.

Maybe he was a weapons vendor? A frying pan could count as a weapon given the right situation, he'd seen Cayde-6 use one on Lord Shaxx in a Crucible before.

"Look at it cut through this bloato fruit," the vendor said pulling out a green fruit.

"I don't think he's a weapons vendor."

"No, he's not," Keith grumbled, crossing his arms.

Tossing the fruit up in the air, he sliced it a few times as it came down, before catching it and setting on the counter where the fruit fell into thin organized slices. "Paper thin. How much would you pay for this knife?"

"But wait, there's more!"

"There's always more! You can't just sell a product without there always being more!" Yorak groaned and Keith snorted as they remembered Earth's infuriating sales commercials.

The Unilu picked up a rock. "How many times have you had to fight off a giant rock monster and go straight to a picnic? All the time right?" he asked before slicing the rock with the blades. "The Galsu can cut through rocks and still cut bloato fruit," he tossed another in the air and sliced it up again, "paper thin. Now how much would you pay? Seriously how much? I have a lot of these to unload."

"I just have a question," Keith said and the Unilu scowled, crossing two of his arms.

"Fine, what'cha got?" he said.

Keith pulled out his knife, holding it out. "You ever come across something like this?" he asked setting it down on the counter.

Seeing the knife, the Unilu put on a monocle and carefully inspected the blade. "Whoa, this craftmanship's incredible! And is this a Luxite blade? The planet they mined that from hasn't existed in decapheobs. Where'd you get this?" he asked looking more eager than what Keith liked.

"It was a gift," Keith stated.

"Ok, that's vague, tell you what I'll give you a thousand GAC for it?"

"It's not for sale."

"Two thousand."

"No thanks. Give it back."

"Ok, how about you beat it before security gets here, I know it's stolen."

"It's not stolen!"

"Then tell me where you got it?"

"That's Guardian business, classified," Keith stated watching as the Unilu finally seemed to register what he was wearing with wide eyes.

"You—You're a…"

He didn't bother to hide the growl creeping into his tone, "Give me back my knife."

Slowly holding out the blade with a shaking hand, Keith swiped it back before turning on his heel and walking away, failing to notice the Unilu press a button.

-.-

Varkon sat on his hoverbike, playing with the controls. Someday he'd be able to use this to chase after pirates and make Emperor Zarkon proud. An alert sounded with the shop name listed, finally some excitement!

"Trouble at the Slice Capades?" he questioned looking at the warning, it wasn't a theft, and he didn't recognize the green symbol flashing on his monitor. Turning on the camera, he froze seeing the form wearing regal armor storming away.

First pirates, now a Guardian, this day was getting better and better! Looking at the Guardian, he balked…where were his guards? Guardians in the empire were always supposed to have guards, it was Emperor Zarkon's orders.

"Don't worry sir! Varkon's coming!" he exclaimed turning on his speeder and driving through the halls.

-.-

Jaz and Allura sat side by side with wide smiles as they watched the mice jump onto a tiny tightrope, rolling across it in a little wheel. The three rolled back, stopping and separating on the rope in various poses before jumping down onto the large belly of their friend below, where they all posed at the bottom.

"Absolutely stunning!"

"That was so cute!"

"Once we defeat Zarkon, I'm taking you on the road!" Allura grinned.

"Oh! I can get a showing in the Awoken Royal Court!"

"Wonderful! What's it like?"

"Well…"

-.-

Glancing nervously between the bathrooms, Katie whimpered at the pain in her gut as if her bladder was about to burst. The problem: figuring out which bathroom was for which gender? That was even if aliens went by typical gender rules. Blue typically represented male, but she could be wrong in this section of the galaxy. The same could be said for the pink symbol, which gave no shape for her to discern the gender.

Hearing the flush of a toilet she perked up, maybe who or whatever came out of the bathroom could tell her which was which!

Her answer came in a tall slug-like blob-thing with three bellies slithering past her out of the pink bathroom.

She sighed in defeat, "I'll just hold it."

Turning away from the bathrooms, she walked over to rejoin Lance who was standing in front of what appeared to be a store based on Earth. "Lance come on! We have to be back at the ticking clock in a half-hour!" she called jogging over.

"But Pidge wait, look at all this crazy Earth stuff this alien's selling!" Lance said wearing a big grin.

She furrowed her eyebrows, this is the exact opposite of what they were supposed to be doing. "We're supposed to be looking for the teladuv lenses and you're in the one store we know for a fact won't," seeing something out of the corner her eye, she stopped, eyes widening; it couldn't be…here! "Oh. My. Gosh! Is that Killbot Phantasm One? The First Journey to the Depths of the Demonsphere?!" She picked it up, these were so hard to find on Earth! What were the odds she'd find it in space?! Looking at the box above it she nearly squealed, hugging the white box to her chest. "Oh! Mercury Gameflux Two! With the original power glove that gives infinite lives if you touch the index finger to the pinky—WE HAVE TO HAVE THIS! How much is it?!"

"Twelve-hundred GAC," the grey alien replied.

"Is that a lot?" she asked looking at Lance, please, please let him have the money!

"Compared to what we have now, which is zero, yes, it's a lot."

She set down the box, no way was she leaving this mall without that game. Not even Jaz or Shiro would be able to stop her! "We're going to find some money!" she declared grabbing Lance's arm. "Don't sell that!"

She didn't hear the reply over Lance's whining.

-.-

Spotting a directory, Coran slunk over. "Uh…can I help you?" the Unilu girl questioned.

"Yes," he stated adjusting his collar, "I'm looking for the other market."

"Huh?"

Seems he needed to be a little clearer, she did look young, she might be new to the trade. "Some might call it the black market," he emphasized.

"Uh…I don't think I know that, maybe check there," she said pointing at the map.

Coran chuckled, she really was a newbie. "I don't think it's on the map, it might be more off-book," he smiled, lifting his eyepatch with a wink before letting it fall back again.

"What?"

"Hm," maybe she was cleverer than he gave her credit for, pulling out some money, he slid it towards her, "maybe this'll shake your memory?"

"Again, what?"

Ah, she was really good, maybe no a newbie after all. "Ah the old Unilu shakedown, eh?" Coran laughed quietly, "Fine." Pulling out more money, he handed it to her. "Starting to get a fuzzy recollection yet?"

She took the money, looking confused. "Who is this? Is this you?"

"No! that's King Groggery the Infirm!" he exclaimed snatching his money back. "I'll find it myself!"

-.-

Wiping some sweat off his forehead, Hunk grimaced, for a guy whose food didn't taste that great, he sure had a lot of business. The pile of dishes seemed like it would never end. "I gotta escape somehow," he muttered before glancing to his sponge, "…Maybe I could scrub through my cuffs?"

The blasted horn sounded making him jump again as Sal called out the order, "FOURTY-THREE!" He tossed the pile of, Hunk wasn't sure what it was but it didn't look edible onto an unfortunate blue alien's tray. "Sustinence unit complete, ingest."

A small explosion sounded, and the robot went down.

"Aw, not again!" Sal groaned, "Now who'll be my sustinence preparer?"

Hunk's eyes widened and he sent a prayer of thanks, now he could show these people real food!

"I've got this Sal," he said. "Uncuff me."

The Galra snorted, "You?"

"Trust me. I'm an enthusiastic gourmand with an incredible palate; also your robot's dead on the floor."

Vrepit Sal shrugged, "That last part's true." Walking around, he removed the cuff attaching him to the sink…and put it on the robot's arm.

Well, if push came to shove, Hunk could run while dragging the robot.

"Alright, work."

A small robot that reminded him of Beezer printed out an order, "Ok, now watch this—I can't read this," he grumbled looking at the mess of gibberish before him. He tossed it aside. "Whatever, I'll just improvise!"

Doing what he did best, Hunk was certain he created a masterpiece as he set it in front of Sal. "Do you smell how the tanginess of tuber masture really brings out the charred flavoring from the palmagoren fillet?" he asked sprinkling some of the last spices over the dish.

Sal reached to pull the horn.

"No! we won't be using that," Hunk chided wacking his hand away. "Let's just say: Number forty-four! You're order's up!" A demure alien girl meekly stepped forwards taking the plate. "Enjoy your meal!"

Watching carefully as she took the first bite, he smiled as he saw the look on her face. She loved it, seems his experimenting back in the Castle finally payed off.

"What did you do to her face?" Sal questioned looking confused. "It's cracking!"

Ok, so Galra really didn't know much about food or smiling or smiling while enjoying food. Noted. "She's smiling," he explained, "she's enjoying her food."

Sal handed him another order.

Hunk stretched his arms, this was gonna be fun. "Ok, let's provide some sustenance!"

-.-

It had taken some time, but Shiro finally calmed down after the last vision. He couldn't feel the strange chill from when Zarkon had looked at him anymore.

Taking another calming breath, he closed his eyes again, "Show me more."

Black flew in the middle of a battle field, beautiful blue wings extending from the parts constructing the shield on his back.

"Those wings…you have powers I haven't unlocked," he murmured in wonder.

Before his eyes, he watched the lion seemingly dissolve into a violet streak in the battle before materializing behind the enemy fleet, turning and firing from behind and hitting the engines.

"Incredible!"

Black turned and suddenly he could see Zarkon. "I've got you now Paladin!" he snarled.

A blast fired at him and Shiro screamed, landing on the ground. He could make out his reflection in the ground below him, letting him see the vast expanse of the night sky above. Above him, there was a violet sun seemingly trapped in a solar eclipse.

"You are a fool to face me here," a horrifyingly familiar voice said.

Looking up, Shiro's lungs froze, Zarkon was standing not even five meters away from him, Black sitting between them like a judge.

"When you die in this realm your body dies as well," Zarkon continued almost looking amused, as if he thought Shiro would barely even give a fight worth noting, "and I will take control of Voltron."

That made him growl, he may've been dying due to his…condition, but he would not let his family be led by that monster.

Zarkon lunched at him and Shiro lifted his arms to block, biting back a grunt as he was slammed back before another force hit him in the side and he went flying. Flipping in the air like he and Jaz used to do in the arena when larger oppoenets would toss them, he landed on his knees, sling back before racing towards the Emperor.

He just had to think of this like a gladiator match.

Activating his arm, he slammed it into Zarkon, pushing him back with a yell. Swinging his leg, he watched Zarkon duck back and swing his own arm, using his Galra one to block it. dropping down he attempted to get the legs as Zarkon stepped back as Shiro jumped back up. He blocked the Galra arm from his face, before Shiro landed again, punching forwards with his human hand.

And Zarkon was gone in a blink of an eye.

Pain erupted in his back as he was hit and slammed face-first into the ground, flying through the air trying to regain his bearings. Another burst of pain and Shiro was on the ground again blinking up at the sky full of stars.

Getting to his feet, Shiro activated his arm again and charged swinging at Zarkon's chest, ducking when Zarkon swept at him. jumping up again he attampeting to kick the emperor, only to growl as he was blocked again.

"You could never take my place as the head of Voltron," Zarkon sneered catching his fist and squeezing.

Shiro screamed as bones cracked, and an armored leg slammed into his gut, sending him skipping across the unforgiving ground again. Rolling to his knees, he looked up at Zarkon with all the rage he could muster.

"You can never pilot the Black Lion after everything you've done! You can never lead Voltron again," he replied. "You're no Paladin."

Zarkon's face turned much darker as Shiro said that.

Lunging forwards, Shiro managed to duck as Zarkon's fist swung for him. Juming up to punch him, he was unable to dodge the kick to his gut thant sent him flying. Using his Galra hand to catch himself, he slid on the ground and got back to his feet and braced himself as he watched the Galra Emperor speed toards him.

"You have no idea how to command a weapon like this!"

Shiro grit his teeth, seems Zarkon forgot all the important things about being a Paladin. "No one commands the Black Lion," he said, rolling out of the way as Zarkon punched the ground where he'd been standing. Springing back to his feet, Shiro ran at Zarkon, swinging his arm as the Emperor dodged again with supernatural speed.

But he was starting to get an idea of his strategy. Jumping up into the air, he flipped and swung his arm down as Zarkon marterialzed beneath him.

He missed as the ex-Paladin disappeared again.

"YOU DARE LECTURE ME?!" Zarkon hollered as his claws pinned Shiro to the ground and a hand wrapped around his throat, slowly cutting off his air supply as he was lifted above Zarkon's head. "Do you think the Black Lion would allow such a weak, feeble, dying creature to pilot it? Only the powerful can command it."

Shiro pried at the fingers wrapping around his neck, trying to loosen them, "You've forgotten whats most important between a lion and its Paladin. It's not about power, its about earning each other's trust."

Zarkon scoffed, tightening his grip. "Trust has nothing to do with it. The lion is mine. Forever."

Shiro screamed as claws broke his skin. The vice encircling hs neck began clamping down and he couldn't draw in air, he could only see the burning violet of Zarkon's eyes as he gleefully watched Shiro struggle.

On the edges of his consciousness, Shiro heard a loud roar and the sound of something landing nearby.

Then it went white.

Shiro opened his eyes and found himself sitting in Black's cockpit. "Did…did you just save me?" he asked hesitantly, smiling as he felt a rumble in response. "Thanks. Let's go home."

Blank purred again and Shiro watched as the images of the asteroid field faded to reveal the hangar.

"We never left."

-.-

"I'll find you Guardian!" Varkon proclaimed scooting through the mall on his small hoverbike. Oh, imagine how proud Emperor Zarkon would be if he found the unprotected Guardian, surely he'd be promoted—maybe he'd even be assigned to the Guardian's personal escort squadron!

Driving down the hall, he hit the brakes bacing up and staring at the formation of a large crowd. "What's going on?" he muttered narrowing his eyes. That Guardian better not be in there, non-Galrans weren't allowed to get near them without the escorts.

Turing his bike, he stated driving through. "Official business! Excuse me! This is a fire hazard! I'm in the middle of a hot pursuit!" he called driving to the front.

"I SAID OVER MEDIUM! OVER MEDIUM! YOU RUBE!" someone hollered and Varkon grimaced, they better have not made the Guardian mad. "DOES THIS LOOK OVER MEDIUM TO YOU?!"

"No chef!"

"Then let's get it right!" the figure at the front said tossing a plate aside. "If it ain't perfect it ain't coming out of this kitchen people! Sauce me!"

Varkon could see a bottle of sauce fly in the air dramatically.

"Now you're getting it!" he said and the figure turned around to reveal one of the pirates from earlier holding a plate as the crowd cheered. "Bon appetite!"

"I got you now pirate!" Varkon said driving in front of the pirate. "Where are your friends?!"

Hunk jumped seeing the mall cop, dropping the plate. "Don't forget what I taught you! Those are the fundamentals of cooking!" Hunk called running forwards, jumping off the counter and using the mall security's face as a stepstool to escape.

-.-

"I think this tenner's the last one," Pidge whimpered picking up the last coin in the fountain. "How much do we got?"

"Eleven-hundred and ninety-six GAC," Lance replied picking up another coin.

She grit her teeth, they were so close, infuriatingly close. They just needed one more coin. "We're so close!" she hissed stopping as she saw someone approaching the fountain. It was an alien kid, one who just so happened to have a coin. "Lance!"

Seeing where she was pointing, he grinned. "On it!" he said going to a Naruto run before diving under the water as the kid threw the coin. Jumping into the air, Lance caught it like a dolphin—somehow—and they climbed out racing back towards the shop. "Thanks!"

So apparently wishing fountains were a universal thing; who knew?

-.-

Keith washed his hands before walking out of the bathroom. So far he'd had no luck on the stupid lenses, but he'd had five lost kids come to him wanting help finding their parents. Stranger danger and street smarts did not either apply in space or Guardians were just the exception to this rule.

Stepping out, he found himself face-to-face with Hunk. "Keith!" the Yellow Paladin exclaimed grabbing his shoulders. "He's right behind me!"

That was vague. "Who?"

There was the sound of beeping and Keith looked to see a hoverbike with an overweight Galra backing up. "You!"

Keith's stomach dropped. "He knows, doesn't he," Yorak groaned.

"Run!" Keith exclaimed grabbing Hunk's arm and they began sprinting from the raving security guard. "Where's Lance and Pidge?!"

"Um…this way!" Hunk said sprinting a little faster, leading him through the mall.

Turning down a hall, they spotten them walking out of a store holding a bag and…

"Is that a cow?"

They could focus on that issue later, Keith decided. "Time to get moving guys!" Hunk called.

"Security's on our tail!" Keith added.

"There's the rest of the crew!"

Lance and Pidge audibly yelped and there was a crash behind them. "Everyone up on Kaltinecker!" Lance said and Keith pulled back, jumping behind Pidge onto the cow standing on the hoverboard.

"Did you buy a cow?" Hunk questioned.

"It was free with purchase!" Pidge said as Keith helped pull the Yellow Paladin up.

"Who gives away free cows?"

Driving the board over the railing they drifted down to the second floor as they watched the mall cop go down the stairs on his bike.

"How is it we go to a mall and get stuck in this situation?! Can we have one normal day?"

Yorak really should've realized by now that as Paladins of Voltron, they would never get a normal day by any standards, not even Guardian. And Guardian standards, were very, very low.

-.-

"Wait a tick, this looks familiar," Coran said looking at an older shop. "Oh lookie-lookie! An original Unilu swap shop!"

"Good eye friend," the shopkeeper said coming out from behind the counter. "This shop's been in my family since before the empre began. Can I interest you in a butcher barrel? Or perhaps a set of window breakers?" He moved a cloth covered object out of his way and Coran nearly cheered when he saw the cloth fall off. Teladuv lenses.

"I don't have any idea what these pieces of junk are," he remarked appearing to examine the blue disks.

"Ah, I see you have your eye on these antique glass table toppers here," the Unilu said tapping them.

"Well, they're pretty ugly, but I have a curio cabinet for griotesqueries," he said lifting his eyepatch. "How much do you want?"

"How much have you got?"

"I have a handful of pocket lint."

"I'll take your firstborn child!"

"I might be willing to throw in a used hankerchief."

"I could accept your left foot!"

"I'd be willing to sing you a song!"

"You become my butler for one year!"

"Two Altean crown bills!"

"Five Valuvium ingots!"

"Would you accept an IOU?"

"Of course, I'll just need some collateral. Maybe ten Valuvium ingots!"

"How about this?!" Coran said tossing up one of the flying cubes he got from Olkarion, "One Olkari flying cube."

"You've got a deal!"

Putting the lenses in his pack, Coran walked out to see the Paladins flying down on…some sort of bovine creature?

"There he is!" Number Six exclaimed.

"We gotta go Coran!" Number Five called.

Running towards them, he grabbed the Red Paladin's hand, yelping as he was yanked off his feet by the surprisingly strong young man. Apparently humans were a lot stronger than they looked, Coran needed to make a note of that. "I got the Scaultrite lenses!"

"Scaultrite?! Hold on a tick!" the vendor called.

"No! No take-backs!" Coran called.

"GET BACK HERE!" the security guard called chasing after.

Driving through the exit, the cop stopped cursing, "Doggone it! Don't let me catch you pirates in my juristdiction again!"

"Oh so you can't follow us outside, huh?" Lance taunted standing up, only to yelp as his head collided with a sign. He was knocked off the cow and landed in a heap on the ground.

"That's one for Varkon."

"I'll get him," Keith huffed.

-.-

"We got the lenses!" Coran exclaimed running onto the bridge.

Jaz and Allura got up from where they were letting the mice do their hair and make-up. "Excellent! Now we can get the teludav up and running," Allura said.

"How was the swap meet?" Jaz asked as Keith put his jacket back on.

"Strange. Where's Shiro?"

"He was supposed to be working with Black, but I haven't seen or heard anything," she shrugged.

Hearing the door open, they all turned to see the Black Paladin walk in. "What did you do? Take a nap?" Allura questioned.

"Not exactly," Shiro smiled before he looked at their new guest. "Is that…a cow?"

"Yep! Her name is Kaltinecker!" Lance grinned.

"Seriously, what happened at that swap meet?" Jaz asked.

"So, did you find a way to bond with your lion?" Keith asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes," Shiro answered. "And we need to get moving. We're headed for the Blade of Marmora's headquarters."

"I'll plot a course!" Coran said.

"I'll make dinner!" Hunk sighed.

"While you're doing that, I'm gonna hook up the video game Lance and I bought!" Pidge cheered as they pulled out the cords.

"Yeah! Let's get this baby set up!" Lance cheered as they pulled the wires out of the box.

"Where can we…? How do…?" they trailed off as the realization hit them.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"