Chapter 28
A/N: alright, I say the same thing every chapter, so once again: I just own the story. Nothing else is mine.
/comms/
Bold is intercoms
Dreams/flashbacks/telepathy
[translation to whatever language I'm using]
"What is that?" Jaz questioned as they stared the main monitor, watching the distress becon.
"I don't know, this hasn't gone off before," Pidge shrugged.
Lance turned to look at the princess, whom seemed to freeze in place. "Allura, what is it?"
"Looks like they just saw a ghost."
"Hey! I'm not that scary!" Yorak protested. "Am I?"
"Tukxpch [hardly]."
"That's just the thing," Coran voiced. "It's an old Altean distress code. One used by King Alfor's ships."
"Could it be? Are we not the last Alteans alive?" Allura whispered.
Keith and Jaz shared a knowing look. The only living Alteans they were aware of were back in their home system, far from their current location. From what they learned in history, almost all of the searches for others weren't very fruitful due to what they now knew to be the Galra hunting them down. A ship this old would've been discovered by either the Awoken, Fae, Alasian, Hevnoan, or Wuldian ships that set out searching.
Unless someone knew it would get the Princess' attention.
"Wait," Keith spoke up. "What if someone's cloning the signal to lure us into a trap?"
"This signal is from an Altean ship, and we're going to find it," Allura sneered, ignoring the Black Paladin's reasoning.
"I agree with Keith," Jaz frowned, crossing her arms. "I can't even count the number of times I've seen our patrols lured into traps with false distress signals. That fact that it's one you recognize is even more suspicious."
Allura shook her head, "I don't care. I need to see this for myself," she stated activating the wormhole. And before anyone could protest, they flew through it.
Popping out on the other side; they could see the ship, along with the bright portal the back half was sticking out from.
"That looks like a Tel-Galax exploration shuttle. One of my father's deep space vessels."
"Yay, for once it wasn't something wanting to kill us," Jaz cheered unenthusiactically.
"According to the ship's identification code, it's Commodore Trayling's ship. But I don't see any records of its destination or mission."
"What happened to it?!"
"Is it stuck in a wormhole?"
"For ten thousand years?"
"That's unlike any wormhole I've ever seen."
Pidge pulled up a scanner, "There's a massive amount of energy emanating from it, centered right where the ship is stuck."
"We have to see if anyone's aboard. They may need our help."
"Sorry to be the Debbie Downer here Princess, but if they do need help, it'll be getting them into caskets."
Allura whirled on Jaz, "They could be alive! They could be in stasis just like we were!"
Jaz leveled an even glare, not backing down. "Sorry to break this you, but I know my shipwrecks. This, it's something sudden. No one would've had time. Besides, we don't even have the front-half."
"What if we send a probe?" Pidge suggested raising her hand, jumping slightly as the two older women turned to look at her. "See if we can get some kind of idea what this thing is?"
"Do it," Keith nodded before they could start arguing again.
Firing the probe, Pidge began to look over the data she was receiving. "The energy shows no signs of radioactive decay and it's not thermal."
"It's not gravitational either," Hunk piped in, "our probe is steady on course. And the light's radiating out, not in like it would with a black hole."
"But out from where?"
"That energy signature," Coran muttered, "I know it…IT'S RADIATING QUINTESSENCE!"
At that moment, the probe made contact and was fried.
"Oh, that's weird."
"Ok, let's not go anywhere near that."
"We must," Allura pressed.
"Hold on, didn't you just see what happened?" Hunk questioned as they all shared wary glances.
"Voltron's compositional strength far exceeds anything else in the universe. We received an Altean distress call, which must mean someone's alive on that ship."
"Not necessarily, distress becons can be triggered all kinds of ways. Even if your primitive designs require someone to be there, there's no certainty they're hoping who you want them to be!" Jaz emphasized. "And last I checked, there was no, specific certainty that Voltron can survive going close to that thing. The universe is far bigger than you think. I know it's not the strongest thing out there. There are things far stronger and more powerful than Voltron, and you know it too Princess. I won't risk their lives based on a hope."
Allura seemed to shrink back for a moment before standing up straight, looking Jaz in the eye. "As Paladins of Voltron, it is our duty to help."
"I still think it could be a trap," Keith reluctantly remarked, not failing to notice that his best friend practically all but rubbed it in Allura's face that she was right.
"Even if it's not a trap, it's far too dangerous to go out there," Coran agreed and Keith could swear Jaz was preening.
"I'll do it myself if I have to," she said storming from the bridge.
-.-
"Daar los zomaar zaak [This is a terrible idea]," Jaz stated as she leaned over Keith's seat as Voltron flew towards the glowing vortex.
"Zu'u vust'ni rolur zos [I couldn't agree more]."
"Ruz druv los dreh daar [Then why are we doing this]?"
Keith shrugged, "Dahik mu nis vos Allura kos hinzaal naalein [Because we can't let Allura be stupid alone]."
Jaz scowled, looking like she was debating on blasting the ship just to keep them from entering it. "Niidro getiid med daar Zu'u irkbaan fuhilpiin kroson [It's moments like this I hate teamwork]."
Keith chuckled, "Hi ahrk zey ney [You and me both]."
/Are you two talking about me?/ Allura accused.
"Oops, had my hand on the comms," Jaz apologized jumping a bit.
/So you were talking about her?/ Hunk questioned.
"Hunk, didn't you take Awoken at the Garrison?" Jaz questioned raising an eyebrow.
/Yeah, but…I'm better at Eliksni ok?/
"Alright guys, that's enough chatter, we need to take this slow," Keith interrupted as Voltron came to a stop outside of the glowing vortex. "Pidge, any chance you could explain what we're looking at right now?"
/The Euclidian space around the ship is obviously some kind of anomaly. But the energy source doesn't originate from anything that registers with my understanding of how reality works/
Keith pressed his lips together at the answer. "I'm taking that as a 'no'."
/I'll scan the ship for biorhythums/ Hunk said going quiet for a moment. /I'm not picking up anything/
/Maybe not on this half, but there's more to this ship than we're seeing/ Allura replied. /We need to go through there/
"I'm sorry, WHAT?!" Jaz shrieked. "That's a terrible idea! In case you haven't noticed Allura, but we don't know what happened here. Half the ship is quiznaking gone! Grow up and accept reality: they're dead! Stop letting your petty hopes get in the way of our mission and potentially kill everyone here!"
/How dare you talk to me that way!/
"OH what way?" Jaz sneered.
"Jaz," Keith pressed glancing back at her.
She looked like she was about to continue arguing, but after a moment she took a breath and sighed. "Fine, I'll yield for now. But if we die, I'm going to kill her."
Keith nodded, "Alright, press forwards, but be prepared to abort should things get hairy. Pidge, keep a close eye on Voltron's vitals."
/Roger that, ready to abort immediately/
/Guys, my sensors are going crazy. Technically we should be torn apart the same way the probe was, but some how Voltron's completely unaffected by the stress of the spatial distortion/
/Hello? What're you seeing?/ Coran called. /I'm losing visual on all of you/
They flew into the light and came out on the other side, just above the bow of the ship. /We must've come through because that's the front of the ship/
/Wait/ Aluura said as Voltron turned looking over the edge of the anomaly, /the back half of the ship is gone! And so's the Castle! Coran! Coran! Are you there?!/
"Where'd he go?" Keith questioned looking over his scanners.
"Was that planet always there?"
Keith looked up and raised an eyebrow. "Uh…not that I recall."
/According to my sensors, we're still in the exact same place as we started/
"Obviously not."
/Guys, this is gonna sound strange, but now I'm picking up multiple biorhyhthums aboard the ship/
/Alteans/
"Or pirates!"
/Well, we've only got one clue that'll help us figure out what's going on here/ Lance grumbled. /And it's floating right over there/
"Yay," Keith and Jaz cheered.
-.-
"Gaomas mirros nūmāzma bisa vestragon gön naejot ao [Does anything about this seem familiar to you]?" Jaz questioned as she and Keith joined the others at one of the entrances into the ship.
Keith frowned, now that he was thinking about this situation, it was stricking a chord of familiarity. He just wasn't sure which one. He nodded, "Cylö [Yeah]."
Getting inside the ship was easy enough, but once they entered the dark halls, no one was really sure where to go. "Hello?" Allura called, her question echoing into the darkness, "Is anyone here?"
"We're going to die."
"Way to be positive," Lance remarked.
Jaz shrugged, "I try."
As the others started drifting down the hall, Keith couldn't help but look back. Something about this place wasn't right.
Jaz tapped his shoulder, adjusting her grip on the semi-automatic he loaned her. "Nika shumsaa [You ok]?"
Keith looked back down the other way. "Daor, nyke ȳdra daor pendagon īlon're mērī [No, I don't think we're alone]."
"Sȳz ñuhoso iā quba ñuhoso [Good way or bad way]?"
Keith scoffed, flying after the others, "Iksis konīr mirre iā sȳz ñuhoso [Is there ever a good way]?"
"Daor [No]."
The feeling just continued to grow the further they crept into the abandoned ship. At this point it wasn't a matter of what, it was a matter of when. When was whatever was stalking them through this place going to make its move?
As a door hissed open, Keith pulled out his sword and Jaz readied her gun, both aiming down the path as the others jumped, aiming their lights down the empty hall.
"Man this place is creepy," Hunk shivered. "Is anyone else getting the haunted ghost ship vibe? Anyone? Or is it just me?"
Ignoring the Yellow Paladin's worried mutterings, they drifted down the hall looking for any signs of life. They didn't find any, but they did find a lab. Allura went in first, not hesitating to place her hand on the pad, activating the ship's power and gravity.
"Did the crew abandon ship?" Keith questioned looking around confused. He so far agreed with Jaz that something happened, but maybe there was enough time for them to evacuate? If Allura's descriptions of Altean ships were right, then they should've been finding more bodies.
"I don't know," Lance said walking to a set of armor crumpled on the ground, "but they couldn't have gotten far without their space—AHHH!" He screamed, quickly scrambling backwards and dropping the helmet as he got away from the body. "THOSE AREN'T EMPTY!"
"Hey guys, look at this," Jaz said starting a video.
"We located the second comet based on King Alfor's information. We managed to get it aborad, but it seems to be causing some massive disturbances. We're heading back to Altea, but I don't know if we'll be able to make it that far. At this rate—" he was cut off with a scream as a bright light filled the screen and shut off.
"What happened here?"
"Something deadly."
Hunk pulled up a scanner, "It doesn't explain the biorhythums I picked up in this area?"
A vent cover was kicked down and two figures, one humanoid, one similar to Slav, jumped out brandishing guns. "LOOK OUT!" Lance exclaimed as he and Jaz both whirled on the newcomers, firing their weapons as Hunk tackled the Slav-like one.
Their opponent rolled out of the way, raising his own gun, before Keith swung down with his sword. Cutting it in half before kneeing him in the helmet. The man stumbled back, kicking Keith in the gut as he charged. Blaster fire rang out and the helmeted figure jumped out of the way, throwing his gun into Lance's head.
"HEY!" Jaz shouted. All heads turned to the Awoken woman who held her gun at the head of the other masked form. "Missing something?"
"Jaz…" Hunk began.
"Lower your weapons and take off your helmet," she ordered calmly ignoring the worried looks of the rest of the group. Albeit reluctantly, the humanoid removed his helmet, and they all froze as Shiro stood before them. His hair was longer, all black, and he had no scars, but it was him.
The shock was enough for Hunk and Jaz to stand down, letting their hostage slither over by his side. the black screen of his helmet deactivated and they saw Slav.
"No way…Shiro? Slav?"
"How…?"
"Stay back!" a Scottish accent snapped leveling a gun at them.
"If you've come for the comet, you'll never get it. I'll die before I let it fall into an Altean's hands!"
Keith deactivated his bayard, waving his hands calmingly. "Shiro, please."
"My name's not Shiro!"
"You sure about that?" Jaz questioned removing her helmet and the man across from them froze.
"L-Lyra? But…I—we…it can't be," he said lowering his gun, "you disappeared…"
"Whoa! What's happening right now?" Hunk cried out. "Did everyone get amnesia and then wake up with weird accents?!"
"You know us?" Slav demanded.
"How could we forget?" Jaz grumbled and Lance nodded in agreement.
"She's right. You're Shiro, our leader. Paladin of the Black Lion. And you're Slav. I helped rescue you from a space prison. You're also crazy."
"I may be crazy. But you've never rescued me from anything before. Unless…"
"Alternate reality!" Slav and Pidge realized simultaneously.
"Uh, what?" Hunk questioned as Keith and Jaz smacked their foreheads simultaneously, going off to each other in another language the translators absolutely refused to pick up no matter how many times they had fixed them.
The only thing Pidge could decipher was the word "Vex." And while it didn't hold any meaning to her, it obviously held meaning to alternate Shiro and Slav. Both of which glanced at each other, making a nod.
"I think when we passed through the glowy-explody area, we entered an alternate reality," Pidge explained.
"You mean like what Slav was always ranting about?" Lance questioned before looking to alternate Slav. "Well, not you, but a different you. One that talks about alternate realities a lot."
"Oh, that's him," alternate Shiro groaned.
"Why did you attack this Captain and his crew?!" Allura demanded stepping forwards.
"Allura, he's dust and bones," Jaz stated stepping between them, "the crew's been dead for a while."
"We found them this way, Altean," not-Shiro hissed. "Lyra, get away from her."
"My name isn't Lyra, it's Jaz," she corrected. "Jazmyne Venj."
"Right, alternate reality," Slav said smacking his forehead.
"Wait, what happened to Jaz's alternate, Lyra, right?" Hunk questioned.
"We don't know, she vanished in the Vex Labrynths trying to reach the Crystal Vaults."
Keith and Jaz shared a look Slav recognized. "I take it you two know what I'm talking about."
All heads turned to look at the duo. "Yeah," Keith confessed. "The Vault of Glass definitely rings a bell."
Jaz nodded in agreement, "Yeah, I remember our parents talking about that mission."
"Wait, wait, slow down," Lance interrupted. "But what is the Crystal Vault or whatever this place is called?"
"It's a place that exists outside of time and reality as we know it," Jaz informed, "used by the Vex to as a predictive engine to control space, time, and reality itself in order to ensure their victory. Didn't we have a team destroy it?"
Keith nodded, "But that was years ago."
"I'm sorry, I think I'm a little left out of the loop here," Lance interrupted, "but: who are the Vex?!"
"Well, first off they're—uh oh," Slav said. "More Alteans."
"Wait, more?"
"Their scanners must've picked up your arrival," Slav said. "Sven! Let's go!" Vaulting Sven up into the vents, Slav turned to look at them. "Jaz, if I were you, I'd take my friends and run." And with that Sven lifted him up into the vents and they left.
"What just happened?"
"Did he just say we were being boarded by Alteans?" Allura questioned.
Clangs echoed down the halls, and everyone (besides Allura) readied their weapons, aiming them at the doors. They slid open, revealing a horde of sentries that stormed in, weapons drawn. Surrounding them, the two Alteans plus…some alien strode in. "Put down your weapons," a woman with maroon hair and teal marks ordered.
"Make me!"
"Alteans," Allura breathed with wide eyes.
The woman blinked, "It can't be." Stepping forwards, she bowed at their feet, the sentries and others following her lead. "Empress Allura."
"Empress?"
"Uh, I'm confused. What's going on?" Hunk questioned.
"Are you Empress Allura?"
"I'm Princess Allura," the Pink Paladin corrected. "Please, stand."
"I'm Commander Hira, Empress. How can you be here? You put down the Galra Uprising and established the Altean Empire ten-thousand years ago."
"Where we're from, Altea was destroyed by Zarkon," Keith stated.
"Where did you come from?"
-.-
"Amazing," Pidge admired as they stood around examining the comet sample Green retrieved earlier. "It's Voltron."
"It's Vex," the scientist hissed at the same time.
"What?"
"I mean it's obviously not Voltron, but the readings from this comet were the same as what Zarkon was searching for. The same ones that led us to the Blue Lion," Pidge clearified looking at the fuming man.
"That's how you were able to pass through into this reality. Your vehicle was made of the same trans-reality material as this comet, and now as we know, the Vex. Which explains why they travel through various dimensions and reality so effectively."
"So that's why Voltron's so powerful."
"Indeed. With this material, Altean can create their own trans-reality travelling ships. We can spread our peace and stability to all realities and finally drive back the Vex Scourge," he grinned tapping his comm. "Mipiher Hira, o'ki xytw fotdukihif e newihoer wlew borr iptyhi Altea't hyri guh norrippoe wu duni [General Hira, I've just discovered a material that will ensure Altea's rule for millennia to come]."
Jaz's head snapped up and she shared a glance with Pidge. The small Green Paladin leaned over to her friend, whom had been helping her understand the Altean language, "Drey Zu'u nunon hon tol viilut [Did I just hear that right]?"
Jaz nodded, whispering back to her, "Fey nau dein ahrk naav vorey. Zu'u lost pruvos ko daar lein, Nust los volzah vachj [Stay on guard and warn the others. I have a feeling in this universe, they're the bad guys]."
-.-
Keith trailed after Allura and Hira as they made their way to the bridge. "So the Alteans of this reality, defeated the Galra?"
"Led by you, My Empress. Without your will to fight and avenge the loss of your father, Altean wouldn't have been able to spread peace and stability throughout the universe. Defeating Zarkon was merely the first step. We refuse to give up until all worlds know the true peace Altea's achieved."
"That's so wonderful," Allura smiled.
"Advancements have been made. Citizens that might've had to worry about being casualties of war in Empress Allura's day can now be rehabilitated. Entire races who warred for millenia can now know peace and help us further our new world."
"So they become apart of the Altean peace movement?"
-.-
"No struggle, no war. That doesn't even sound possible," Hunk smiled.
"Is it not? Look at Moxilous, for generations his people have been in constant battle with the other planets in their system. It was a barbaric futile existence, but look at him now."
"What changed?" Jaz questioned crossing her arms. "Because what I've learned being in the military, is that some races won't stop, no matter what your peaceful offers are."
The sleezy scientist chuckled, "Of course not. That's why we invented the hoktril." He motioned for Moxilous to turn around. "Our civilization's most advanced technological achievement."
Lance raised his hand, "What does it do?"
"It saps the fighting force from our enemies. Their will you might say."
"You mean…slave labor?"
"Oh, no, no! they're not slaves because they don't have will. Slaves always try to escape and revolt, non-cogs are content to do as they're told," he corrected, snapping his fingers and the alien turned around. "Preservation of life is the Altean Empire's highest priority." He bent down, admiring the sample once again. "And with this material, we can do even more than we thought possible."
"And I've heard enough," Jaz snarled raising her gun. "You're no peacekeeper."
A gunshot echoed down the halls.
-.-
"You're taking away their free will," Keith rebutted, practically bristling as Hira finished her explanation.
"The same will that would end your life with no remorse. Thanks to us, no innocent will lose its life to the free will of an evil being," Hira countered. "Empress Allura, let me show you something." Tapping her wrist, a hologram of a planet appeared and Allura gasped.
"Altea."
"Come with me. Allow me to show you the magnificence it has achieved."
"Returning to Altea…It seemed like such an impossible dream. I could never allow the thought."
"Allura, this might not be the Altea you remember," Keith pointed out.
"You're right, this Altea is home to a people who made sure the Galra were unable to spread across the universe," Hira snarled and Keith bristled.
"Yet you were unable to handle the Vex? Whom my people have successfully driven back from conquering my universe," he retorted, taking a bit of pride as she balked. "And we did it all without taking away people's free will."
"Keith!"
-.-
"Was that really necessary?" Lance questioned as they shot around the corner at the group of sentries standing between them and the way to the bridge.
"Yes," Jaz growled reloading. "They scrambled that man's mind, turning him into nothing but a zombie for them to use as they pleased. Trust me, nothing good comes from that." Trying to aim again, she yelped as a blast nearly hit her head. "Tolakniir nii!" Slinging the gun over her back, glowing orbs began materializing in her hands. She rushed out into the hall, barely avoiding being shot. Hurling the orbs down the hall, Jaz leapt back and took cover just as they exploded, frying the sentries.
"Wow," Lance remarked as they peered around the corner, "remind me never to get on your badside."
The vent cover popped off again, and they all jumped as Sven and Slav appeared. "Oh, hey, you guys," Hunk greeted, lowering his cannon. "How'd you find us?"
"We followed the sound of explosions," Sven supplied. "What happened?"
"Jaz killed the scientist dude and blew up the sentries."
Sven graoned, "You may be from another reality but you're definitely Lyra."
"We need to reach Keith and Allura and find a way to stop the Alteans from getting that quiznaking comet," Jaz snarled.
"Way ahead of you, we just need to do one or two more things. Wanna help?" Slav offered.
They all glanced at each other, wearing matching smirks. "What'cha got in mind?"
-.-
Hira leveled a glare at him before turning back to the Princess. "Empress, I assure you, we will do everything in our power to help. The comet in this ship holds the power to travel between realities. If you will activate this ancient ship's power, we can fly forwards and remove the comet from the tear. We can use it to travel to your universe and bring peace there. Even to the Galra."
Allura stepped towards the controls and Keith took a step after her. "Allura, think about this. It wasn't that long ago we thought all Galra were bad. Things are never as black and white as they seem to be."
"Keith. These are my people. They may be the strongest allies we have in this war."
"At the cost of people's free will!" he reminded. "Allura, they are stripping away the free wills of millions, maybe even billions. Races who may've always been peaceful, we don't know. What we do know, is that they come in, and strip it away. Leaving only Alteans as those with free will. They are turning these people into slaves." He met Hira's glare, challengingly. "Just because the method is different, doesn't mean the outcome isn't the same."
Allura ignored him, stepping up to the controls which glowed and rose up to meet her hands.
"DON'T DO IT!" Jaz screamed as she and the others rushed in, brandishing their weapons. "Allura, they aren't the Alteans you think they are. They're the Galra of this universe!" Grabbing the being that came with the Alteans, she pushed him forwards. "Here is your proof! He doesn't do anything he isn't told, hasn't spoken a word since we arrived, and has no free will. He is a slave!"
"For the last time, non-cogs are not slaves!" Hira snapped. "Where is Viziyr?! He will make sure you can no longer spread chaos and destruction!"
Jaz shrugged, tapping her gun. "A little here, a little there. It was hard to tell."
"Empress, command this unruly being into controlling herself."
"Hira," Allura said glancing between her friends and the commander, "we both want the same thing: peace."
"I'm not sure we do. Your weakness has brought nothing but suffering to your universe, where we have brought peace and order to ours. And with that comet, we'll bring peace to every reality. You're no empress of mine."
"And you're no Altean," Allura growled brandishing her bayard.
"Dogpile!" Sven called as he and Slav jumped out of the vents, landing on the two sentries in the room.
A sword came out of Hira's arm, and she swung it towards Allura. Her blade met Keith's and she blinked as all of her momentum stopped as the infuriating Red Paladin got in her way. "Don't start a fight you can't hope to win," he smirked. Ducking, Hira, gasped as a blue whip wrapped around her throat. Allura yanked on it, sending the commander flying into a wall.
"We better hurry, there's only a few minutes before the bombs go off," Slav said.
"Bombs?"
"You two take a pod, we'll go get the comet and take it out of this reality," Allura ordered.
"Good luck to ya," Sven nodded.
"To you as well," Jaz nodded as they split up, racing towards their respective locations.
Racing through the halls, they put on their helmets and shot out into space. They each got into their respective lion, powering it up.
"Alright everyone, first thing's first, we need to get that comet, and get outta here," Keith said. "Pidge scan for the comet."
/Already go its elemental signature/
"Are Slav and Sven clear?"
/We're leaving right now!/
Keith nodded. "Everyone, we're going back in to get it. Form Voltron!"
It wasn't long afterwards they were cutting through the hull with their sword. With a twist of the blade, the forced the opening wider, allowing Voltron to fly in.
"Wow, this is a lot bigger than I thought," Keith muttered.
"Keith, grab now, gawk later."
Grabbing the meteor, they flew out, watching as the ship split in half and the anomaly vanished. /We need to go through the exact spot the anomaly was or we're never going home/ Pidge warned.
"Good, we already know where it is," Keith smirked driving Voltron to where the broken ship was falling away. Voltron came to a crashing hault as the anomaly formed around them and they slowly continued to press through.
Something then blasted them from behind, and everything went dark.
-.-
Coran stood at the Castle's controls watching anxiously for the Paladins to return since they vanished. Looking up again, he nearly cried out in relief as he watched the glowing portal open up again, spitting Voltron and a glowing meteor out. "You're back! Thank the ancients!" he cheered. "Paladins? Can you hear me? Are you lot alright?"
His worry began to grow as Voltron just continued to float aimlessly, but before he could try again, an explosion rocked the starboard side as Lotor's cruiser approached taking the rock.
"Paladins? Can you hear me?! Are you ok?!"
/C…Coran?/
-.-
Keith approached Allura whom sat sulking on the bridge, looking out where the anomaly had once been. Comfort wasn't his strong suit, but someone had to do it. "Allura, you did the right thing. You couldn't let Hira get that ore."
"But now Lotor has it."
"You didn't know."
She turned, gazing up at him with disappointment. "That's the problem. We never know. And it's exactly why my father sent the lions away so many years ago. To avoid this reality. I finally understand."
"You don't know that for certain," he sighed. "But either way, we're going to get it back."
"What if we don't? Lotor's always one step ahead of us. He has a plan for that ore, and if he succeeds, the Galra will finally have a weapon as powerful as Voltron."
