Chapter 11: Inside Job

At the Castle, Babak, Coran, Zaltron, and Azix were waiting for the pod to arrive. When it did, Shiro, Allura, Belle, Keith, Lance, Hunk, and Ayame came through the door.

Shiro: "Pidge, scan the download from the ship. Find out where Zarkon's central command is."

Pidge: "On it!"

Coran: "What happened? Where's Jenny and Lapis?"

Allura: "Jenny was captured by Komar and Lapis sacrificed herself to ensure our escape."

Azix: "What about Sandra?"

Keith: "She stayed behind to help rescue them. I don't think she's been noticed yet."

Coran: "How is that possible?"

Shiro: "Coran, I'm sorry things didn't go as planned, but we can't focus on what went wrong. We've got to figure out how to make it right. Pidge, anything?"

Pidge pulled up the information and found an entry point.

Pidge: "Guys, look at this."

With that, she revealed a giant ship with five planets orbiting each other. Babak noticed one of the planets outlined around it and saw the very planet he thought was destroyed orbiting around it.

Babak: "No... Altea? But how is that possible?!"

Zaltron: "It is concerning to say the least. Why would Altea be held captive by Zarkon's command center?"

Pidge: "I don't know, but I think we should go in right away. Every minute we waste means a bigger risk of Sandra being noticed and Jenny and Lapis not breathing."

Lance: "I agree. We form Voltron, fly in, fly out, dust off our hands, and walk away."

Hunk: "Uh, do you guys not remember the Balmera? We could barely take out one fleet. But this... a base this size could have a thousand fleets!"

Then, Allura spoke up.

Allura: "Or maybe we shouldn't go on this mission at all. Think about it. We'll be delivering Voltron to Zarkon's hands, or worse."

Hunk felt it to be dark.

Hunk: "Wow, Allura, that's cold, especially for you. Jenny is back there. You wouldn't leave Jenny, would you? Would you?"

Allura: "I'm not saying I like the idea. I'm just thinking about the universe's safety."

Lance: "No, you're thinking of yourself, because you're too scared to do what's right!"

Pidge: "Okay, we're all upset because we lost Jenny and Lapis."

Then, Keith began to act vicious towards Allura.

Keith: "No! Allura lost Lapis!"

Ayame tried to calm Keith down to no avail.

Ayame: "Keith..."

Lapis: "You hated her since day one just because she was Galra! Do you have any idea how many times she risked her neck to help you?! YOU LEFT HER TO DIE!"

Then, Lance stepped up in her defense.

Lance: "Oh, yeah? Well, think about it this way. Jenny was with you, Keith. Why did you leave her?"

Keith, having it directed back at him, tried to explain.

Keith: "I-I didn't. I tried to save her."

Lance: "Exactly. You didn't see Allura trying to break out of that pod to save her. Maybe before you start judging other people, you should take a cold, hard look in the mirror."

Hunk: "Okay, okay! This isn't helping. We can't just sit here and bicker like this."

Zaltron: "I concur with Hunk. At present, we can't deliver either Voltron to Zarkon's hands. We'll have to trust that Jenny, Lapis, and Sandra will be able to pull through long enough for us to retrieve them."

Keith: "And if they don't?"

Zaltron: "They have to."

At Zarkon's central command, Jenny, now dressed in a similar outfit that Shiro had worn at his time in the prison, was sitting in a corner chucking a balled-up debris at a wall back and forth. On the other side of Jenny's corner, Lapis was leaning on her corner.

Jenny: "So this is what being a prisoner is like. It's kinda boring."

Lapis: "Well, get used to it. Who knows if we'll ever get out?"

Then, Jenny stopped chucking the ball and turned to Lapis in front of her.

Jenny: "Oh, yeah. I didn't ask you before. How did you escape the first time?"

Lapis: "I don't know. But I do know one thing: if it weren't for Shiro, it wouldn't have been possible."

Then, Haggar appeared with two Druids and a Galra that had short violet hair and a beard to boot. What's more, he now has a burn on over his right eye.

Witch Haggar: "Come with me."

Then, Jenny and Lapis were brought before Zarkon with two Druids, Haggar, Kaecilius, and the bearded Galra beside her as she was cuffed. Then, the Emperor of Dread spoke to her.

Zarkon: "Lapis."

Lapis and Jenny glared back at him.

Lapis: "Zarkon."

Jenny: "So you're the head honcho of the Galra Empire. I gotta say, you're as nasty as I pictured you."

Lapis: "What do you want?"

With that, Zarkon turned to her as he spoke.

Zarkon: "All I want for now... is to talk."

Then, Lapis walked toward Zarkon as she took light steps.

Lapis: "You know, I had the same plan."

Zarkon: "Really? I suppose great minds think alike, but I know for a fact it is an attempt for stalling."

Jenny: "Actually, it wouldn't matter if we did stall. Voltron's still gonna kick your butt all the way to Wozblay."

Zarkon: "No. It will only make me more powerful. Your predecessor, Alfor, knew that as well as I. That's why he led me to believe he destroyed it all those years ago. But now, your new Paladins will come for you. And they will bring Voltron to me, and with it, the key to unimaginable power."

Jenny: "Yeah, what's the deal with that?"

Lapis: "Maybe you're drunk with power, but why do you want the universe to yourself? You were a Paladin of Voltron, weren't you? What happened to that Zarkon?"

Jenny widened her eyes in surprise.

Jenny: "Wait, come again?! Zarkon's an original Paladin?!"

Zarkon widened his eyes from hearing this.

Zarkon: "So... you know of my story?"

Lapis: "Yeah, that's right, I do. And I can't understand why you'd do such a thing. You had a sacred duty and trust to defend the universe. Why would you turn your back on that?"

Kaecilius: "You'll never know. Because that Quintessence your friend possesses far exceeds our own. While we execute you, we mean to extract it from her very body and manufacture it to further Divine Justice. With any luck, we might not need Voltron, after all."

Jenny gasped while Lapis growled before Kaecilius turned to Xarnas and pointed to Lapis and Jenny.

Kaecilius: "Xarnas, take them to Altea and keep her there."

Jenny and Lapis heard this before they grew surprised.

Jenny/Lapis: "Altea?"

Then, they looked out to see Altea linked to the ring, still with white networks around it but the surface of the planet was dark grey. They widened their eyes as they beheld Altea.

Xarnas: "And what about Jennifer?"

Kaecilius: "She'll receive special treatment from our friend, Komar."

Xarnas: "Yes, Commander. Let's move it."

Then, Xarnas took Jenny and Lapis away from Zarkon as he pondered to himself whilst looking towards Altea.

Zarkon: "How did these events get to this point?"

Back at the Castle, Lance wasn't heaving any luck finding a workaround.

Shiro: "Anything?"

Lance: "There's just no way in. They'll have us tracked from every direction."

Shiro: "There's gotta be something. Keep looking."

Then, Allura looked toward Keith and walked up toward him.

Allura: "Listen, I never wanted to leave Jenny or Sandra, least of all, Lapis. It's just... I have faith that they'll make it. And besides, Lapis told me it was bigger than her. I fought just as hard as you would've to get her to stay."

Keith looked to Allura for a moment before speaking to him.

Keith: "Look. I'm not mad at you. It's just really impossible not to worry over Lapis. I love her too much for that."

Allura: "I know."

Then, Ayame spoke to Keith.

Ayame: "This Lapis. She really sounds like a great friend."

Keith: "Yeah. She is."

Meanwhile, Shiro walked toward Coran and Babak.

Shiro: "Hey. I know you're really worried about them. We all are. I'm sorry I let her slip away."

Babak: "We know it's not your fault."

Coran: "It's just... we thought we lost Altea. We can't lose Jenny, too."

Allura: "We'll find a way to get her back. If there was just a way to get close to Zarkon's ship unseen..."

Then, Coran had an idea pop in his head.

Coran: "Wait a tick. I think I've got a way."

Then, the monitor showed one of the orbiting planets around Zarkon's central command.

Meanwhile, after the ship landed on Altea, Sandra hid in the vents and made sure that she will be alone when she ambushes whoever captured Lapis.

Lapis: "You'll never get away with this. Voltron will destroy your Empire!"

Xarnas: "Personally, I hope he does."

Hearing this, Lapis blinked her eyes in confusion.

Lapis: "Huh? What are you—"

Just then, Sandra busted the grate open, fell through the vent, and pointed her rifle at Xarnas.

Sandra: "Let her go, now."

Xarnas calmly raised his hands as Lapis ran to her side.

Xarnas: "Stand down. I don't want to fight."

Then, Xarnas clapped his hands as Sandra grinned.

Sandra: "I figured it was you."

Xarnas: "Hmm. I'm impressed. For once, you're thinking a few moves ahead. However, I can't let you take too much credit. The capture of two of your Paladins is not my most clever ruse, but time was of the essence."

In confusion, Sandra lowered her rifle before her glare returned.

Sandra: "What do you want?"

Xarnas: "It appears Zarkon and Kaecilius have decided I am expendable. I was given false information regarding the location of the Dark Crystals, and they attempted to drop the Balmera on me. Luckily, I managed to escape."

Sandra: "And you expect us to believe you why?"

Xarnas: "Believe it or not, it is the absolute truth. Can you imagine the pain of betrayal, Sandra?"

Sandra had been trying to forget about Rax's betrayal and Xarnas had the nerve to bring it up again, infuriating her as she summoned her sword.

Sandra: "Shut up!"

She was about to swing at Xarnas when he countered her sword with his and noticed its features.

Sandra: "What? How did you—?"

Xarnas: "I liked your bayard so much, I made one of my own — with improvements of course."

Then, he shoved her back before speaking.

Xarnas: "I only want to talk."

Sandra: "There's nothing to talk about."

She swung once and missed him before he clashed his bayard with hers.

Xarnas: "Please. If you'd just..."

Then, Sandra thrust him back before mercilessly slamming it down on his sword, until Xarnas had had enough as he dodged the sword.

Xarnas: "Enough!"

Then, he slashed a purple energy blast at Sandra, knocking her back.

Xarnas: "This is pointless."

Then, he walked toward Lapis who grew angry at him as she growled.

Xarnas: "Easy, Lapis."

Then, he got his sword ready and struck the cuffs, breaking them apart. Then, Sandra got up on her feet as Lapis tended to her wrists.

Xarnas: "Please listen to me, Paladin. I need your help."

At the torture chamber, Jenny shrieked as she was struck by currents of lightning before the Druids ceased, giving her a moment to catch her breath before a voice spoke.

Komar: "That'll be all for now."

Druid 1: "Yes, Komar."

Then, Jenny tried to make out the face that walked into the light as she groaned. From what she could tell, it wasn't a Galra. Could it be an Altean? No. His ears were round, not pointed. That could only tell her so much as the figure walked closer. When Jenny wasn't seeing blurs, she saw a man with his right eye being blank while his raven hair was scattered and parted. The figure known as Komar joked with her.

Komar: "Comfortable?"

Jenny: "Very funny. What do you want?"

Komar: "Don't talk and don't think. Just listen. You've been keeping something that was once lost, Jennifer. Something that doesn't belong to you. Now you have to choose to give it back. What happens to you is of secondary concern. I only care about one thing."

Then, Komar darted toward Lapis as a purple aura grazed over him as he hoarsely shouted his demand.

Komar: "I want the divine power that courses through your veins. The Divine Quintessence."

Jenny widened her eyes in surprise at his knowledge of this.

At the lab, Xarnas walked with Sandra and Lapis to the lab as he explained.

Xarnas: "I won't spend the rest of my life waiting for Zarkon or Kaecilius to kill me. I must strike first."

Lapis didn't particularly trust him, having been at the receiving end of the prodding stick.

Lapis: "Well, tell you what? How about Voltron will defeat them, and you can watch from a cell in the detainment room? Sound fair?"

Xarnas laughed at this.

Xarnas: "Oh, Lapis, you have many admirable qualities, but ruthlessness is not one of them. You are too good, too pure, too innocent, which will get you or someone you love killed. Without that ruthlessness, you will fail against Zarkon."

Sandra: "Well, You've got plenty of it to boot. Why not do it yourself?"

Xarnas: "I would if I stood a chance. The truth is, I can't undercut Zarkon without you, or your Violet Lion."

Lapis: "And if we help you, then what?"

Xarnas: "Once Zarkon and Kaecilius are defeated, I will disappear. You have my word."

Sandra: "Yeah, exactly what good is your word? Your Empire enslaved countless worlds and hurt too many innocent lives. We will never help you if our lives depended on it."

Xarnas only gave a sigh.

Xarnas: "Hmm. That's a shame. And here I thought you were supposed to be the Defenders of the Universe."

Sandra knew what he meant and grew very angry.

Sandra: "You quiznaking son of a—"

When she was about to strike, Lapis stopped her before speaking to him.

Lapis: "We get the picture now. What's the plan?"

Xarnas: "We infiltrate Komar's base and steal Kaecilius' notes for Quintessence manufacturing, making him worthless to Zarkon, and they will destroy each other."

Lapis: "Wait, they could do that? I thought they were allies."

Xarnas: "Kaecilius doesn't actually work for Zarkon. He's been sent to work with him by a mysterious figure from the quantum abyss."

Sandra: "And who's that?"

Xarnas: "Hmm, Kaecilius would never tell me. Perhaps he thought if I knew, I'd eliminate him and take the opportunity to serve him myself— which, of course, I would."

Lapis replied sarcastically at him.

Lapis: "Boy, do you deserve a Medal of Honor."

Xarnas: "I am simply a soldier serving the most powerful."

Sandra: "Well, even if we agreed, his base will be under tight lock and key."

Xarnas: "Of course."

Sandra: "It'll be honeycombed with his drones."

Xarnas: "Undoubtedly."

Lapis: "So, how do you expect us to get past all of that?"

Xarnas: "With this."

Then, he pointed at a luxite blade that Sandra held before Lapis got her own blade out.

At the castle, Shiro laid out the plan.

Shiro: "Everyone, eyes front. We've got a plan to get Jenny, Lapis, and Sandra. We're going to jump to the heart of Altea, unseen and undetected."

Then, Coran opened the monitor to reveal the layout of Zarkon's central command.

Coran: "We'll hide the Castle here, inside one of these giant gas planets in Zarkon's command system. The gas is so dense, we'll be hidden."

Shiro: "From there, we'll use the Castle to scan for Jenny, Lapis, and Sandra and rescue them before Zarkon knows what hit him."

At the torture chamber, Jenny tried to figure him out.

Jenny: "Divine Quintessence? Why? So you can hand it over to Zarkon?"

Komar: "That's not the plan. Zarkon was never truly worthy of it to begin with."

Jenny: "Then why? I don't understand why you'd want it."

Komar: "Of course you don't. The fact is, you're careless. Far too many citizens of the universe are convinced that Alphus has returned from hiding."

Jenny scoffed at him.

Jenny: "So? What if she did?"

Komar: "Ah, but that was the point of that test on Arus. Now you've passed that test, we want it back. So I'll ask you this once. Will you give up the Divine Quintessence on your own free will?"

Jenny: "Why don't you just take it if you want it so bad?"

Komar: "If you truly understood the significance of Quintessence of this variety, you'd know there are rules. The host can only give it up by choice. I'm afraid I'll have to help you make that choice."

Jenny: "With what? Some kind of mind control device?"

Komar: "As... delightful as it sounds, it still won't work. Because, by all technical accounts, it's not really your choice. No. I'm going to put you through something much worse."

Jenny began to tense in fear as Komar's finger gently scraped her face.

Komar: "Snide. If you would be so kind..."

Then, Snide walked into the light with his knuckles cracking.

Snide: "It will be my pleasure."

Meanwhile, Sandra, Lapis, and Xarnas were walking through the halls as they initiated a dialogue.

Sandra: "Okay. So what good would that do?"

Xarnas: "Luxite blades are the only thing that can thin out the Druids for good due to a special magical property in particular. By the time we've concluded our business, your friend will be safe from Komar's hands."

Lapis rolled her eyes at Xarnas.

Lapis: "Business. Right."

Xarnas: "Oh, don't be like that, Lapis! What did I tell you about ruthlessness?"

Lapis: "Uh, you handed Jenny over to Komar in the first place. What'd you expect? You thought we were gonna be friends or something?"

Xarnas: "Jennifer will be fine. You have my word."

Then, they noticed a door on the rocky wall with the Galra symbol on it.

Xarnas: "Take a look in that cavern."

Then, they stepped forth into the cavern and saw a giant creature.

Lapis: "Uh, what are we doing here?"

Xarnas: "In ancient times, Alfor considered the Weblum a most fearful creature. However, there was one beast that when powered up with Quintessence, its powerful blast could neutralize an Ion Cannon."

Then, they heard a roar in the caves as a creature with yellow eyes and long legs walked toward them with Lapis and Sandra beholding the sight.

Xarnas: "Meet our accomplice, Paladins, the Weblum's only predator when bonded with Quintessence... the Xznly Squiwl, otherwise known as 'Cave Stomper.'"

Then, the Cave Stomper roared as Lapis pointed out what she learned about the creature from her time with Alfor.

Lapis: "Are you kidding me?! Do you have any idea how territorial the Cave Stomper is?!"

Then, the Cave Stomper roared as Xarnas turned to them.

Xarnas: "We don't have much time. Get—"

Sandra: "If you think we're gonna help you capture and torture this creature for this vendetta of yours, then you're not thinking at all!"

Xarnas: "You're in no position to bargain."

Then, the Stomper darted at them before they got out of the way and got their bayards ready, with the exception of Xarnas who advised against it.

Xarnas: "Don't aggravate it."

Lapis: "Hard not to when we're the ones aggravated!"

Then the Stomper roared at Lapis as Sandra prepared to shoot, only for Xarnas to stop her.

Xarnas: "Do not fire."

Then, Xarnas got out a pink flower and hovered it over the Cave Stomper's nose as it smelled it and grew acquainted with it.

Xarnas: "That's right. That's right. Alteans used Juniberry flowers to lure Cave Stompers away when they rampage. The beast is drawn to this due to its fragrance."

Then, the Stomper knelt down as Xarnas placed his hand on it.

Xarnas: "That's right. We are not enemies. There is no way I would torture this beast."

That caught Sandra and Lapis by surprise.

Sandra: "Whoa. I never thought I'd hear you say that."

Lapis: "Me neither. And it's my first time meeting you."

Then, Xarnas turned to them.

Xarnas: "You still have those bayards?"

Lapis and Sandra showed them as they smiled.

Lapis: "You know it."

Xarnas: "Good. Get the Paladins' attention."

At the gas planet, the Paladins and Allura arrived remained hidden as Coran picked up three life signals.

Shiro: "We're here."

Coran: "I'm detecting our Paladins' energy signatures. From this distance, their signals are weak, but they're somewhere on Altea."

Keith: "Gives us a starting point."

Coran: "Once we get closer, we'll be able to narrow down the location where Jenny is being held. But wait."

Coran noticed a signature of Jenny's declining faster with each second.

Coran: "Jenny's signature is getting weaker by the second!"

Ayame: "Then what are we doing just standing here?! We have to go get her!"

Shiro put his hand on his sister's shoulder to calm him down.

Shiro: "Take it easy, Ayame. They may have captured her, but not her spirit. She'll pull through."

Ayame didn't find it the least bit reassuring, but he's never steered her wrong before. Now would be no different. So she nodded in understanding before he spoke on.

Shiro: "Okay, guys. This is it. Voltron is coming in fast and without warning. We'll make our way to Altea and get our friends out of there. Before they know what hit them, we'll be with our friends and be on our way."

Just then, they saw a bright signal coming from Altea.

Allura: "Look!"

Pidge: "What is that?"

Coran: "That looks like a beacon. And it's from an Altean creature."

Shiro: "Maybe it's telling us where to look. Let's go, team!"

Meanwhile, Snide's shadow was shown pummeling Jenny's with its fists as her moans echoed throughout the room. Then, Komar snapped his fingers to order Snide to stop. When he backed away, Jenny was now shown to have tears streaming down her face as she coughed up a bit, making the pain even worse.

Komar: "You could end all this right away. You don't have to keep taking bullets for your team. Last chance. Will you give up the Divine Quintessence of your own free will?"

Jenny glared at her captor with tears blocking her otherwise clear view.

Jenny: "N-Never."

Komar didn't want to hear this as he growled before slapping her with a backhand, earning her pained yelp.

Komar: "Then not of your own free will! I'm trying to help you, but if you're too stupid to see it, I'll negotiate in a language even you can understand."

Jenny: "Help me? How is this helping me?!"

Then, Komar realized he'd left out details as to why it was necessary before he decided to speak softly.

Komar: "Ah, right. You don't know the whole story. Did you know your grandfather was obsessed with Divine Quintessence? He built his home on sacred ground, filled it with Altean relics. He meddled with things he didn't understand, his pathetic attempt to control what he could not."

Jenny began to speak weakly due to her getting dizzy from being clobbered for who knows how long.

Jenny: "What are you talking about?"

Komar: "He... he never told you, did he?"

Jenny: "He told me stories. Everything he knew, I have on my journal."

Komar spoke to her as he set up his mace and opened it up to reveal that it also acted as a jar.

Komar: "I don't doubt that, but did he ever tell you about Divine Quintessence? No. It drove him insane before you were even old enough to understand. He reached out to us many years ago. He'd heard of the Blue Lion and was desperate to find it in exchange for our special procedure. Your grandfather wanted a cure for his... 'little stardust.'"

Hearing this, Jenny gasped at how much he knew.

Komar: "Isn't that sweet?"

Jenny couldn't believe it. This all had to be lies from his mouth just to get her lifeblood.

Jenny: "LIES! Every word you've said are lies!"

Komar: "He promised us the Divine Quintessence once he gave us the Blue Lion, Jennifer. It took us 10,000 years, but we've found the Divine Quintessence. Now, Kaecilius shall be born anew, and this universe will burn and kneel before its true god!"

Then, Komar activated his mace, causing blue light to leave her and enter the mace before Jenny felt extreme pain as she moaned.

Komar: "Keep clinging to what little Divine Quintessence is left inside you, Jennifer. I dare you. I can sense it leaving you as I speak. Even if you survive this, I'll just have to wait until your batteries run out."

Jenny: "N-No...! It can't... end... this way..."

Komar: "I'm afraid it's not up to you. The siphon will drain the Divine Quintessence from you. And then we'll burn what's left of you alive. Such a shame, really. You were always my best student."

Suddenly, there was an explosion outside that shook the room.

Komar: "What now?"

Then, a soldier ran in.

Galra Soldier: "Commander, a Cave stomper is attacking the base. We have reason to believe it's sent a beacon to Voltron."

Komar: "Voltron? So soon?"

Galra Soldier: "We need to evacuate immediately."

Komar growled as he tensed his fist

Komar: "Great. Just what I need."

Then, he turned to Jenny before he closed the siphon and analyzed it to find that it was three quarters full.

Komar: "Looks like this will have to do. Snide, take care of my little friend here. When she's broken, bring her to me."

Snide: "Vrepit Sa."

As Komar left the building, none of those present noticed that Lapis was in an air vent.

Outside, Galra drones were lined up by the base and firing at the Cave Stomper with little to no success as it stomped, swiped, and even chewed them up. When the Paladins arrived, they were surprised to see it.

Keith: "What's going on down there?"

Pidge: "It looks like some kind of revolt!"

Then, Lance looked up at the sky and saw a hole in the clouds just below a certain base.

Lance: "No. It's a distraction. I'm going into the base. Think you guys can cover for me?"

Hunk: "We'll try. But I'm really not in the mood to become Altean creature chow."

Lance: "Then stay out of its way."

Keith: "I don't think it'll be that easy."

Lance: "You got a better idea."

Then, Lance received a voice transmission from Sandra.

Sandra: "You guys here yet?"

Lance: "Uh, yeah. Why?"

Sandra: "You have to hurry. Jenny might—"

Lance: "I know. Don't remind me."

Ayame, having heard the transmission as well, spoke up.

Ayame: "I'm going in, too. Jenny helped me find you guys. I owe this to her."

Keith: "How are you even gonna get to the base without a weapon?"

Lance: "I guess I can cover for her."

Ayame: "Then it's settled."

Then, the Red Lion landed while also ejecting Ayame from his mouth, causing her to somersault on the ground before stopping with her feet and fist planted on the ground. Ayame looked to the base and made a dash for it. Along the way, she had to fend off the drones with her powers as she ran while the Blue Lion took care of the ones on her left and right flanks. When she'd reached the end, the path was littered with pieces of countless Galra drones. Then, the Blue Lion landed in front of her.

Lance: "You go ahead. I'll keep an eye on things here."

Ayame: "Got it."

Before she took off, she stopped herself and turned to Lance.

Ayame: "And, Lance... thank you."

Then, she made a break for the base.

Inside the base, Snide continued his assault on her with punches, each blow more painful than the last. Lapis tried to will herself not to attack immediately as he spoke.

Snide: "Pretty ironic, isn't it? The very last Altean born in the Universe now gets to perish where her race began. How appropriate."

Then, just as he was about to land one more blow, Lapis dropped a small rock through the vent and onto the ground, catching Snide's attention, only for Sandra to point her shotgun at him.

Sandra: "Don't move."

Then, Lapis broke through the vent and cut through the ropes holding her. Then, Lapis took a look at Jenny and grew horrified as she now had the appearance of an elderly woman with blue hair, robbed of her youth. Even worse, she'd literally been beaten to the brink of her life.

Lapis: "No. What did he do to you?"

Jenny: "Lapis... how did you...?"

Lapis: "It's okay, Jenny. I'm here."

Sandra, having noticed her friend's grave condition, angrily pointed her shotgun closer to Snide.

Sandra: "What did you do to her?! If you don't tell me, I'll blast your head off!"

Snide only chuckled at her threat.

Snide: "Even if I told you, you'd do it anyway. If you're hoping for a solution, you're wasting your time."

Sandra snarled before she began charging her shotgun.

Sandra: "You asked for this."

However, before she could pull the trigger, a dark purple orb hit Snide in the back and electrocuted him before he passed out and fell to the floor.

Ayame: "That was for hurting my friend."

Then, Ayame saw Jenny's condition as Lapis held her. Immediately, she ran over to her and hugged her before emitting sobs of sadness.

Ayame: "No... no, Jenny. You can't do this to me! You don't get to die on me! It's not fair!"

Then, Jenny spoke softly to her.

Jenny: "Ayame..."

Ayame stopped her sobs for a moment before she spoke softly to him.

Jenny: "I ain't dead yet."

Ayame moved her face away before she smiled at him, letting her know she's alright and permitting her to hug her again.

Ayame: "Oh, thank goodness. I thought you died."

Jenny: "You worry too much, you know that?"

Then, he got back to the matter at hand.

Ayame: "Who did this to you?"

Jenny: "I-It was Komar. He was harvesting my Divine Quintessence."

Ayame, having heard this, tensed her fist and began walking out of the base.

Lapis: "What are you doing?"

Ayame: "I'm going after Komar, and then I'm going to make him pay."

Sandra: "Didn't you hear a word she said? Revenge won't help anybody."

Ayame: "You're wrong. It's what's best for everyone."

Lapis: "Best for everyone, or best for you?"

Ayame: "You don't know what I'm talking about."

Then, Xarnas spoke to her, catching Ayame's attention before she growled at him.

Xarnas: "I do. She said she'd make him pay. Surely, she never said anything about killing him."

Ayame: "Get out of my way."

Then, Sandra explained to Lance his purpose.

Sandra: "Easy. He's with us. For now."

Ayame: "And you believe that?"

Xarnas: "Perhaps my actions speak louder than words."

Then, Xarnas got out an injector with Altean Quintessence, earning Ayame's suspicions.

Ayame: "I knew it. You let this happen to her."

Xarnas: "No. But I can undo what Komar had done to her."

With that, Xarnas stepped toward Lapis, held Jenny's arm, and injected the Quintessence into her as she moaned for a moment before her youth returned. Then, Jenny drew a peaceful breath of relief as the injection was complete.

Xarnas: "That's right. Rest easy."

Then, Jenny nestled in Lapis' arms before turning to Sandra.

Xarnas: "I want to thank you for getting me this far."

Sandra: "What are you talking about?"

Then, Lance walked in to see Xarnas, Lapis, Sandra, Ayame, and Jenny.

Shiro: "The others went back to the Castle. We have to—"

Then, Xarnas immediately darted to Shiro, got out his Luxite blade before holding it at his neck, catching the others by surprise, just as Snide stirred awake and woke up to see Xarnas holding Shiro as hostage.

Xarnas: "One move, and your master dies."

Lapis: "How could you do this?"

Then, Xarnas answered her in a sort of whisper.

Xarnas: "I told you. You're too pure, Lapis. Too innocent. One day, it'll get you killed."

She grew angry at this before realizing what was going on. He may have helped them out, but Snide didn't know that. So, she merely used her anger to play along.

Lapis: "I knew you'd betray us, Xarnas. You didn't change. After all that flowery talk, you're nothing more than a murderer, just like Zarkon!"

Then, the Galra Soldier and Komar walked in to see Xarnas holding Shiro hostage.

Komar: "Xarnas?"

Then, he cleared his throat before speaking to him.

Komar: "It seems I owe you an apology. My soldiers back on the Balmera grew a bit overzealous."

Xarnas: "Were our roles reversed, I would've done the same. To prove there are no hard feelings, I brought you a gift."

Then, she shoved Shiro to Komar, much to his surprise.

Komar: "I don't believe it. You've actually captured the Black Paladin? This is too good to be—"

Then, it hit him. There must be some ulterior motive.

Komar: "Tell me. How did you manage to capture Project Kuron when so many others, including myself, have failed?"

Xarnas: "It was my greatest gambit. Simple, but effective. I convinced them that I wanted to betray you and I needed their help."

Komar: "Impressive. And how does that entail the Cave Stomper?"

Xarnas: "A necessary evil to get them to trust me."

Snide: "Let's just get this over with and kill the girl."

Snide stepped toward Jenny and Lapis before Xarnas stopped him.

Xarnas: "Need I remind you that Divine Quintessence is our number-one priority. We can't very well get any more if she's dead."

At this, Komar grew suspicious.

Komar: "I think this conversation would be better served privately."

Then, he, Snide, and Xarnas walked out before Komar spoke to the drone.

Komar: "Meanwhile, you will send them to Zarkon's Central Command, where they'll await his judgment."

Then, he walked out of the door as the drone pointed his weapon at them before switching its red mechanism to yellow and spoke in Pidge's voice.

Pidge: "Testing. Testing. 1, 2, 3. Okay. It works."

The group drew a relieved breath before Lapis spoke.

Lapis: "Okay. Xarnas bought us as much time as he could. We better get a move on. Do you know the way out?"

Pidge: "Don't worry. Just leave that to me."

Meanwhile, Snide was angry with Xarnas over slight misconduct.

Snide: "Now, the Paladins know what Jennifer is capable of. Your loose lips could bring us all down."

Xarnas: "As usual, Snide, you're missing the bigger picture. We've won. With Jennifer and Kuron captured, we can get anything we want out of the weak-willed denizens of the Universe."

Snide: "Have you forgotten about the Divine Quintessence, and our contact? This will only slow us down."

Xarnas: "I'm sorry. Who is the one who actually captured Jennifer Shaybon? Perhaps your employer would like to know about his star pupil's consistent failure."

Snide: "How dare you?"

Komar: "This bickering is pointless. Get rid of them both."

Then, Snide began walking out when Xarnas stopped him.

Xarnas: "Wait."

Snide: "Why do you want them alive? They scarred your face, stopped your mining, and decimated your squad."

Komar: "And in spite of that, you've sided with the Paladins of Voltron, a transgression punishable by DEATH!"

Then, Komar shoved Xarnas to the wall with his siphon.

Komar: "You think I wouldn't figure you out? I practically saw it coming a mile away. I didn't spend years on that wretched Earth to be destroyed by a common foot soldier!"

Then, Xarnas got out his sword and shoved Komar away before he slashed at a pipe, providing the smokescreen he needed to escape before Snide got out his weapon and fired at him, only managing to hit him in the back before he'd escaped. However, Komar was clearly angry with him to let him live.

Komar: "Hunt him down and bring him to me, now!"

Outside the base, Shiro, Ayame, Sandra, Lapis, and Jenny were headed to the Blue Lion, which opened up.

Lance: "That's everyone, right?"

Shiro: "Yeah, it is."

Then, Ayame stopped in her tracks before they saw Xarnas panting. Lance thought he was one of them and shouted.

Lance: "Guys, behind you!"

Ayame: "It's alright, Lance. He bought us enough time to escape."

Xarnas: "Actually, There's barely any time left. It seems Komar wasn't as easy to fool as I thought."

Lapis and Ayame walked up to Xarnas and tried to find out what he's doing this for.

Lapis: "You helped us get Jenny back, but why? What game are you playing?"

Xarnas only chuckled at her question.

Xarnas: "Oh, there isn't one."

Ayame/Lapis: "Huh?"

Xarnas: "You don't believe that some Galra could do good things simply because they're right? After I was trapped in the Balmera, I was rescued by its people. I spent most of my life looking down on our subjects, enslaving them. But after these events, I've done to respect them as equals. You and your fellow Paladins taught me that, Lapis. That's the final irony, I suppose."

Then, he groaned before collapsing and ended up being held by Ayame and Lapis, noticing the wound on his back.

Ayame: "You're hurt."

Xarnas: "Oh, this is it for me. The end of the game."

Lapis: "Xarnas."

Xarnas coughed a bit before Komar shouted.

Komar: "Find him and tear those Paladins apart!"

Xarnas: "Go. I'll hold them off while you're out."

Lapis: "No. I won't leave without you."

Xarnas: "Lapis, you're more ruthless than you realize. I know you will defeat Zarkon and Kaecilius."

Then, he turned to Ayame and spoke to her.

Xarnas: "And Ayame... Ulaz wanted me to give this to you."

Then, Xarnas handed his Luxite blade to Ayame, who stared at it in confusion.

Ayame: "But why?"

Xarnas: "There's a Blade named Ulaz. When you find him, tell him I've paid for my mistakes."

Ayame gasped at the name of Ulaz and nodded to him before she and Lapis took off into the Blue Lion. Then, Xarnas noticed the Cave Stomper and spoke to it.

Xarnas: "You too, Stomper. Get out of here."

The Cave Stomper roared in defiance before he reluctantly agreed.

Xarnas: "Suit yourself."

Then, Komar and Snide found the Cave Stomper with Xarnas in surprise before he charged at them as he grunted and the Cave Stomper roared before darting into the base and tearing it apart, much to Komar's horror as it went after the Divine Quintessence drained from Jenny.

Komar: "No!"

Then, he clutched onto Snide and vanished before the Cave Stomper could crush them.

Far away, the Cave Stomper could be seen practically dancing in and on the base as Sandra smiled.

Sandra: "Well, at least this guy's got something to do."

Lance: "Now, we head back."

With that, the Blue Lion went back in the Castle before it wormholed away from Zarkon's red planet.

At the Castle, Ayame was watching over Jenny before taking out a picture of herself, Jenny, and a girl with brown hair that had blonde at the end with glasses over her blue eyes as the three of them smiled in the photo. Ayame teared up over what had happened since that photo.

Ayame: "Jenny. Don't you die on me like Kumiko. I've lost her. Don't make me lose you, too."

Not long after, Lance stepped in, catching Ayame's notice as she put her sobs on hold.

Lance: "Hey."

Ayame could only wipe her tears away before talking to Lance.

Ayame: "Hello."

Lance: "How's Jenny?"

Ayame: "Babak said she should be fine due to whatever Xarnas injected her with. All we can do is wait. But... I don't want to."

Lance: "Yeah. Me neither."

Ayame: "I lost a friend once. Her name was Kumiko. She and I grew up together in Japan. When we got to be of age, we decided to go to the Garrison. When she was being picked on, Jenny was there for her. After that, we were inseparable. Or so we thought. No matter what Jenny and I did for her, she felt more and more worthless because of how everyone treated her in the Garrison. One day, she just decided to..."

Ayame could barely contain the hurt in her voice any less than she could her sobs.

Ayame: "She just... removed herself from our world... forever."

Then, Lance recalled that incident at the Garrison a long time ago.

Lance: "I remember hearing about that. That was your friend?"

Ayame nodded as she sobbed lightly on her hands. Lance felt bad about what had happened to her and placed his hand on her shoulder.

Lance: "I'm really sorry that this happened to you. And, by the way, I also remember you yelling at me for taking her... passing so lightly. You don't think I'm upset about that? Jenny lost a good friend, too. I was just trying to be so upbeat and positive for her, like she usually is. I didn't realize I was being a pain in your neck. I'm sorry for making you feel that way."

Then, Ayame hugged Lance much to his surprise.

Ayame: "No, Lance. I'm sorry. While I was grieving, I blamed people like you for what happened to her. That's all I've ever done. I even pushed my brother away. You were the only one who was willing to help her. And I pushed you away from her. I'm the one who should be on the bed, not her."

Then, Ayame let out her sobs onto Lance's shoulder as he patted her back. Then, Shiro walked in before Lance and Ayame noticed his shadow.

Lance/Ayame: "Shiro?"

Shiro: "I don't mean to put this on you, but you're needed at the main hangar."

Lance: "Actually, you guys can go ahead without me. I just need to be sure that Jenny's okay."

Ayame: "Me, too."

Shiro understood their standing as he sighed.

Shiro: "I understand."

Then, he walked out as Lance and Ayame placed their hands on Jenny's hand.

Lance: "You can make it, Jenny. You've got to."

At Kaecilius' Lab, Komar and Snide arrived before the former shoved the latter to the floor.

Komar: "This is all your fault!"

Kaecilius: "What happened?"

Komar: "Snide was too careless to pay attention to where that traitor went. If he'd gotten rid of him, we could've had more Divine Quintessence than we've managed to obtain this far."

Kaecilius analyzed the jar held by Komar before he spoke.

Kaecilius: "This is more than enough."

Komar/Snide: "What?"

Kaecilius: "You fools never understood its power to begin with. Thanks to your efforts, minuscule as they were, we shall now have an audience with the magistrate of Eternal Justice."

Then, Kaecilius fired his purple lightning at the Divine Quintessence, turning it into dark red Quintessence and spoke in a certain tongue.

Kaecilius: "Emoc Hitirof, Enivid Reaylis, Dina Etimis Ehit Dekiciw!"

That, in turn, caused a dark red and light violet veil to open and reveal two red eyes and a cold voice.

Unknown: "I awaken..."

A/N: Quite unexpected, isn't it? Well, there's more surprises where those came from. And before the attack on Zarkon, the team will get to know Ayame and her origins, but share her secrets with only a select few. Those who haven't been to deviantart, you'll just have to wait and see. Savor it. :)