In loving memory of Eldhoron

Lotor strode powerfully onto the bridge. The alarm that still rang through the empty hallways was quieter now, but the noise stabbed into his head like a blade. His golden eyes immediately took in the surroundings.

It was almost a repeat picture of the first time during this mission when he had stepped into the massive room. Coran was at the helm staring intently outside. Allura stood beside him, her features painted with determination and fear. The other Paladins were just breaking out, presumably to head to their lions.

The last thing he noticed was the fleet of six Galran ships outside. His jaw slackened. "What happened?" He asked levelly.

Allura turned to look at him. He clearly noticed the concern flash through her gaze. He ignored it.

She answered uncertainly. "We are under attack by the Galra."

"No, not the Galra!" Coran interjected flabbergasted. "We are a receiving a hailing channel." The Altean man looked up at the massive screen that popped up at the fore of the bridge.

A grizzled navy-blue face appeared on the screen. It was a male humanoid. An eyepatch and a bright red eye stared out at them. His bushy, silver moustache bristled as a rough baritone voice spat, "You're in Stormclaw territory. Prepare to be boarded."

Pirates. Lotor would have never guessed. A dozen calculations went through his mind. How in the hells did they acquire a whole fleet…?! His eyes were forcibly drawn to the princess.

That flame of resistance ignited Allura's eyes. Her stance immediately changed from that of anxiety to a mixture of resolve and relief.

He found himself mirroring her, folding his arms defensively.

"Name yourself. We have done nothing," Allura stated flatly.

"This is Captain Xagor Yurn of the Stormclaws and ya did do something. This is our space. Enter here and we take your ship. It's the law around here." The humanoid took a deep huff from a pipe, shrouding the field of view.

"You have 60 ticks before I send my lads." The dark face disappeared from the screen.

Allura glanced to Coran. Rarely, had they encountered pirates. She hated to fight others who were not Galra… or allied with them. She debated divulging their own identity as the Paladins of Voltron.

"What's the plan?" Lance asked from the doorway.

Lotor's ear twitched. He had thought the others gone from the bridge. Now, he could sense the others. All of them waiting hesitantly by the entrance.

Shiro took charge. "Contact them. Tell them we will not back down. Warn them who they are dealing with."

Coran opened a channel to the main private frigate. Allura spoke, "We will not surrender our ship. I advise you leave us be. We are the Paladins of Voltron and do not wish to engage in violence. However," Her tone darkened with a lovely timbre which Lotor immediately lusted. "We will defend ourselves."

There was no vocal response, but the alarms began again. Lotor's gaze snapped outside just as a motley wave of fighters spilled from the main frigate.

"Looks like they want to fight. Everyone to your lions," Shiro ordered.

Allura's jaw set in what Lotor could only translate as grim resolution. He was painfully reminded of how good she really was. He couldn't meet her eyes as she swept out of the bridge with the others.

XxX

"The Castle's shields can take the fire from the smaller ships. Pidge, what are the armaments on the frigates?" Shiro's clipped voice stood out so starkly in chaos of battle.

"Outfitted with standard Galran defence systems and several illegal modifications. I am not scanning anything very large," Pidge replied.

"These are meant to take down way smaller ships, right?" Hunk sounded relieved somehow.

"They should be no problem for our offensive weaponry." An uncertain tone came to Pidge's voice. "Are we taking the offensive?"

"No," Allura's words cut through the channel clearly. "We will shoot down any fighters that come too close to the Castle, but we will not be attacking."

Shiro nodded inside his lion. He slowed his lion's pace. They hovered in a line ready to meet the oncoming force. As the seconds dwindled onward Shiro felt the familiar rush that came to him every time he geared himself for warfare. Time slowed, and he was able to comprehend the situation from afar.

The fighters were nearing, coming fast. The myriad essences sitting behind the machines were confident, even gleeful. They saw only their previous victories, plucking off stray freighters and small Galran patrols. He guessed as much by the classes of starfighters racing towards them.

Two seconds had gone by. He ground his teeth. They were so close now. Almost within calculated range.

A red streak of energy came blasting forth from one of the fighters. It was the beacon that lit the fight.

Suddenly, a rain of blasts fell like a wall on the Paladins. Shiro shot his lion upwards as the wave of enemies broke off of their prior courses and scattered on their own accord. Two decrepit Galran fighters followed him higher.

He felt a small smile touch his lips. "You want a chase?" The words were only a breath.

He rolled to port leading the pilots into a whirring maze of light as he zagged back and forth across the starscape. He kept his finger loosely hovering over the trigger. His goal was minimum carnage.

The two did an admirable job keeping on his tail. His lion flew faster. A peppering of blue energy narrowly missed Black's rear end. Shiro smirked, feeling the powerful sensation of the lion syncing with him. It was indelible. A roar bubbling in his chest. He was one with his lion. The majestic beast was enjoying this game of cat and mouse.

Another spray of fire burst out. This time, the pirates' aim was more precise. Shiro was aware of another pair of fighters flying swiftly form his starboard side. They meant to wedge him between four lines of fire.

Shiro's silver eyes hardened. They were coming too quickly. He flung his lion starboard instantly head on with the two newcomers. His thumb pressed the trigger. A sheet of blue energy decimated the pilots.

Black spun over the blossoming explosion. He pushed his lion downwards and to the left. The pirates had quick instincts and had immediately pulled off his tail. However, he was now the aggressor stalking them. With two shots, he put them out of commission as well.

His eyes quickly ran over his monitors. The chase had taken him out of the Castle's immediate vicinity. A dozen starfighters still buzzed around the other Paladins. These pirates were not giving up.

With a couple flicks on his dashboard, Shiro initiated an open channel. His tone was firm. "Stormclaws, this is the Black Paladin of Voltron. Call off your fighters. We will resort to lethal fire in 10 ticks."

Black wavered behind. Shiro pinpointed each of the others' positions. The seconds pounded in his head. 1…2…3…

Lance was tailing an ancient, heavily modified freighter.

4…5…6….

Pidge was deftly evading a trio of small, fast fighters.

7…8…

Hunk was being trailed by matte black Galran fighter. It weaved skilfully through every move Hunk put it through. Allura was fighting to get behind the matte fighter's tail.

9… 10

Black rushed forward into the fray. He immediately took down two fighters pestering the Castle.

A massive detonation flashed into his cockpit from Lance finishing the heavy freighter he had been shadowing. The ship had obviously been carrying explosives.

The battle only lasted three minutes after that. Shiro found himself taking a deep breath when Allura finally shot down the last fighter.

He was only allowed that second-long respite when space was lit up once again and the frigates opened fire.