Chapter 39: The New Defender
At the Castle, Coran noticed the purple lights changing to green as Babak and Honerva accompanied Cilia and Sapphire.
"It appears that all of the planets we've engaged have been pacified, if not totally liberated."
Just then, an alarm went off as it showed a symbol of the Drule which was that of the Galra only without the top spikes on it.
"Wait. There's another Drule battle cruiser approaching Naxzela."
Honerva began to get an uneasy feeling as to who it is.
"Kaecilius. They've got his attention. He must be planning to reclaim Naxzela."
Sapphire then spoke up to Honerva.
"But Voltron can beat him, right?"
"We'll see..."
Out in space, Matt fired at a Drule army as he gave the all-clear.
"Sector Zar Niomofor is clear. Let me see if I can get a line on that battle cruiser."
As he tried, however, the system shut down on itself before Matt checked on Keith.
"Zaiforge cannon Senfama, are you still operational?"
On Senfama, the same exact problem occurred as Keith and Lapis spoke.
"Negative."
"What's going on?"
Coran had a theory as he spoke.
"That incoming battle cruiser must have shut them down remotely."
"Sorry, Shiro. That's it for artillery support. What should we do about that cruiser?"
"That cruiser's gonna be too late. Naxzela's almost secure. We just need to take out the last of the heavy artillery."
Lapis felt different about it.
"Well, I'm not taking any chances. Kolivan, permission to go after the cruiser and destroy it?"
"Granted. But be swift."
"Got it, sir."
As Lapis and the Rogue Thrust boarded the Violet Lion and took off for the cruiser, the Voltron Team was preoccupied with Naxzela's forces as a cruiser aimed at the White Voltron and Shiro called out to its Paladins.
"On your left! Shield up!"
On cue, the White Voltron rapidly twirled its dual naginata, blocking the ion cannon before it scattered its beams toward the cruisers behind them and decimated them. For the final push, the White Voltron returned the beam to its sender before it was destroyed. Ayame then spoke to Shiro.
"Thanks, Takashi. That was close."
All the while, Jenny had a bad feeling.
"Anyone else feel this whole thing seems... too easy?"
Lance felt they were having good luck.
"Or maybe we're just that good?"
"Maybe, but the Drule Empire are still Galra. No matter what side, it's 'victory or death'. Unless... guys, I have a feeling there's going to be both."
On the cruiser, Varek, Vantiv, and Kaecilius watched as the attack continued with the first two speaking.
"I must admit, this is the most devastating attack on the empire in 10,000 years."
"Not to mention we left ourselves vulnerable. And now, we face overwhelming resistance. I trust this plan of yours is worth it?"
Kaecilius replied back with a smirk.
"You are correct to assume so, my love. I have been planning this moment since I've made the swap. At this point, nothing can stop us now."
Vantiv felt there was another concern to worry about.
"And what of Zarkon?"
"Leave him be. As long as he's focused on Lotor, there should be no foreseen threat to us. Stay on course for Naxzela."
Speaking of Lotor, he set his ship on auto pilot in the far corners of space as he took a breather for a moment before Ezor spoke up.
"Lotor, why can't you just face it?"
Lotor, having been interrupted from his rest, wasn't in the mood to talk.
"I'd rather not."
"Well, why? I mean, your father's no maniac anymore."
"I said I'd rather not. End of discussion. Now, please wake me only when we find Syn."
"But—"
Before Ezor could finish, Lotor cut her off and went back to rest as she grumbled before noticing another ship in front of them as Ezor spoke.
"Lotor. It's Syn."
As he heard this, he saw the ship in front of him before he spoke to her.
"Chart a course for that traitor and stay on him."
With that, Lotor and his men gave chase towards Syn, both of them unaware of a drone on an asteroid beeping rapidly.
Far away, Zarkon got the message from Zygmar.
"Sire, one of our deep space beacons just registered activity. It's not far from our position."
Zarkon knew what it meant.
"It's Lotor. All fleets head for that beacon."
As Lotor caught up with Syn, the latter grew angry before noticing the Galra fighters behind him and shot at them, catching Lotor by surprise as he seemed to be caught in a crossfire. When Lotor tried to evade the fighters, Syn took the opportunity to shoot the fighters down with his cannon before Lotor looked at his radar and saw Zarkon and his fleets headed for them as did Syn, who glared at the Galra symbols.
"You'll be burned alive before you ever get me."
With that, Syn took off in a speed of light before Lotor noticed this and growled as he gave chase. In the meantime, Zarkon's forces have determined their location with Zygmar speaking to his emperor.
"They're headed for Nah-veer Five. It's an unstable star."
Zarkon grew worried about what he's planning with that.
"What is he doing? Stay on him."
As Lotor and Syn appeared on Nah-Veer Five, Acxa spoke to him.
"Lotor, what are we doing here? That star is unstable."
"Syn thinks he can scare us off with a few solar flares. He's about to learn how wrong he is."
As the two ships descend near the star, countless Galra fighters explode while Zarkon's cruiser and the two ships giving chase remained intact, albeit with radiated pressure building up on them.
"The radiation is wreaking havoc on our navigation systems."
"We can navigate visually. Stay on him and get the traction beam ready."
As they did so, Syn, Lotor, and the Generals grunted as Zarkon's cruisers blew up from the pressure.
"Cruiser six is down. Squadron Erto is down. Sire, we're too close to the sun. This cruiser cannot handle gravitation this strong."
Fortunately, they didn't have to wait long as he spoke.
"Pull back and fire the tractor beam when I say."
As the cruiser went up, Lotor still gave chase towards Syn as they yelled out and pulled up from the star. However, just as the two went up, Zarkon's cruiser caught them in a tractor beam and pulled them up as his commander spoke.
"Our engines have overheated. We cannot pursue until they've stabilized. It will be at least twelve doboshes."
"Get to work on that and find out what the Drules are up to. I wish to have a talk with my son."
Meanwhile, Kaecilius found the right position to carry out his plan and spoke to Varek and Vantiv.
"Stop the ship. Hold this position and come with me. We're close enough to Naxzela now."
As he walked to the chamber, Varek and Vantiv went with him before they stood in a dark purple triangle as Varek spoke.
"Well? Now what?"
"Now... we begin."
As they raised their hands to the ceiling, a dark orb appeared above as dark purple lightning reached to it and fueled the apparition as Kaecilius spoke.
"Light of Omegus, awaken Naxzela now! A cowering god who appeases evil can never prevail!"
With that, the dark orb began pulsing by itself before the bottom section of the cruiser glowed purple as the core of Naxzela, which laid just beneath the planet, did the same.
Outside in space, Lapis and her team took notice of the event.
"Whoa. What's going on?"
"Beats me. Is it charging a cannon?"
Luzria grew annoyed with Atchiam.
"Not everything involves a weapon, Atchiam."
Then, Adea began to have a theory as she looked back to see Naxzela glowing a bit.
"Wait... maybe it is. What if...?"
As the thought crossed her mind, Adea gasped.
"Oh, no. What if the cruiser's charging a bomb?!"
Luzria felt annoyed with this as well.
"Not you too, Adea."
"No, I'm serious! What if Kaecilius knew ahead of time that we'd pull something like this? What if he had a plan to take all of us down from the start?!"
As Lapis thought more about this, it began to make more sense.
"Wait. You're saying Naxzela's... a bomb?!"
"Yes, that's what I'm saying!"
"If you're right— W-We have to warm them!"
With that, Lapis took off toward Naxzela, hoping to earn them in time just as the earthquake started on the planet as Lance and Pidge spoke.
"Whoa! Did we cause that earthquake?"
"I don't think so!"
As it shook, the planet activated an alarm somehow as Hunk noticed a generator rising while speaking.
"Guys, look over there!"
As the generator rose, countless others rose with it as Lance, Jenny, and Pidge grew worried.
"Uh... guys, what are those?"
"Yeah. They're growing like weeds. And I really hate weeds!"
"We've never seen anything like this from the Galra before."
"Are they weapons?"
"They look like some sort of generators."
Ayame felt they didn't need to stay around to find out.
"Well, either way, I don't think we need to stick around."
Lance can agree with her as he spoke.
"Me neither. I say we get outta here. Pidge, plot a course for our escape."
Shiro felt it wasn't the best idea.
"Hold up. We should find out what these things are."
As Naxzela glowed purple, Lapis tried to call out to the team.
"Guys! Watch out! Get out of here!"
Jenny looked to see Lapis' transmission before it started breaking up.
"Lapis? What's wrong?"
"You need... out of... It's a trap, you guys!"
As Jenny caught this, she gasped before the Altean spoke to the group.
"Guys, we need to go. It's a trap."
However, it was too late as a purple shield began forming from the generators before it covered the whole planet, blocking the Violet Lion from getting in as it shocked them and sent them back to the air as Lapis and her team grunted. Within the shield, Jenny and Allura felt a dark presence as well as dark laughter as Kaecilius' face seems to have appeared via hologram all over the shields, laughing darkly at them as Hunk spoke.
"This can't be safe."
Allura and Jenny are more concerned with the presence that seemed to have overtaken Naxzela and morphed it into his image as it showed Kaecilius' warped face.
"Do you feel that? That wave of darkness?"
"Yeah. I feel it, too. The whole planet is covered in it."
As Jenny got a closer look at the face, she recognized it with a gasp followed by a grunt.
"It's him."
Suddenly, the holograms' eyes began glowing an indigo color before they roared as a sudden pressure came over the Voltrons as the Paladins groaned with Ayame speaking about the situation.
"What's... going... on?!"
"White... can't move!"
"I can't move Red!"
"Yellow won't budge, either."
Suddenly, Voltron fell to its knees and placed its hands in the ground just as the White Voltron followed suit as Pidge spoke.
"This energy field is holding us down! Gravity levels are spiking!"
At the cruiser, the ritual halted itself with the orb still pulsating as Kaecilius spoke.
"And with that, no rebel will ever live to tell the tale..."
Shiro spoke to the team as both Voltrons struggled to stand up.
"We have to get out of here! If we stay here, we'll be crushed. Everyone, we have to focus. Give everything you've got, and maybe we can fight through this energy field. Ready?"
"Ready!"
With that, the Voltrons took off in the air only for the hologram to notice and charge a dark purple, ethereal beam from its mouth at them, knocking them back down to the surface on their backs before Hunk spoke.
"Is anyone else able to move around?"
"Barely, but the gravitational pull is worse on Voltron."
As Pidge grunted, Jenny spoke to her.
"What's the plan, Pidge?"
"Maybe if we go down to the surface, Hunk and I can figure out a way to interrupt this energy field."
Lance noticed one minor setback to this.
"That sounds good, except for the zillion robot dudes still lock-in' around down there."
Shiro had a plan to remedy that.
"We're gonna have to stay in tight formation. Watch each other's backs. Let's move!"
As the Paladins got out of their lions, they could only use their jet packs to make small leaps as they took off to the generator panel as the drones fired at them while blocking their fire with their shields as the Paladins huddled together as Shiro spoke.
"Pidge and Hunk, do your thing and do it fast."
As Pidge and Hunk used their gauntlets to unlock the door, Pidge spoke about a detail of the rod they're standing on.
"This rod seems to go all the way down into the planet's core. But I'm not detecting any kind of energy source in the planet that could be causing all of this."
Ayame then turned to her as she spoke.
"Then we'll have to go to the core ourselves to find out."
Suddenly, the door opened as Pidge spoke.
"It's open! Let's go!"
With that, they ran in the door and jumped all the way down into the core as they did a free fall.
Outside the planet, Lapis was trying to pierce the barrier as it shot an ion cannon from its mouth at the barrier, only for it to have no effect as the hologram still laughed darkly, frustrating her.
"Why won't you shut up?! Stop laughing!"
As Lapis shot at the barrier in evident anger, her team grew worried about the stress she's putting on herself as Adea looked at the emotionally broken Lapis as she shouted.
"I've already lost my home! My family! My mother! What more do you have to take from me before you stop?!"
Adea then suddenly hugged Lapis, catching her off guard before she spoke.
"Please stop hurting yourself like this. The only way we can help is if we stop whoever's doing this."
As Lapis looked at her team, she saw their horror before looking at herself to see her pupils dilated before blinking her eyes to see them back to normal as she sighed.
"Okay, Adea. Sorry I scared you guys."
Luzria felt sorry wasn't good enough.
"Well, you should be! Being that stressed out can't be good for you."
This made Lapis frown before she spoke.
"Okay, we get it. Now, let's head for that cruiser. But we're gonna need help."
At the core of Naxzela, the Paladins stumbled upon a purple glowing orb before Lance spoke.
"What is that?"
Jenny had a guess.
"Judging from the spooky faces in the sky and that energy we felt, this has Kaecilius written all over it."
"This must be the source."
As they looked around, Shiro noticed the detailing of the structure.
"Allura, this facility, it looks... Altean."
While Jenny grew surprised Allura spoke up.
"What?!"
"I'm afraid you're correct, Shiro. This is a decommissioned Altean terraforming planet. Somehow, Kaecilius has been able to activate it remotely."
"But how? He's not Altean, is he?"
"No. But Honerva was. He must've been taught how to interact with Altean technology before his corruption."
As they stepped closer to the orb, Jenny spoke to her softly.
"Do you think we can shut it down, Allura?"
"We can try."
With that, Jenny and Allura placed their hands near the core, each generating a blue light with the purple light getting close. However, the pulse turned into lightning as Allura and Jenny end up being electrocuted as they screamed with the group getting worried.
"Allura! Jenny!"
As the Paladins tried to pull them out of it, Jenny saw another vision in which Kaecilius' face is bearing a wicked grin within a white background before the scene changed to show Honerva as the empress of the Altean Empire and Jenny being forced to fight her as Honerva spoke with her body growing limp.
"Why did you leave me...?"
After which, the electrocution ended with Allura and Jenny tossed backward as they groaned with Lance helping them up.
"Are you okay?"
"I don't know. While I was being electrocuted, I got another vision."
"Seriously?"
"Yeah. Weird, right? Anyway, it's too powerful to try again without being shocked."
Just then, they heard Hunk groaning before they looked toward him as he held up a bit of dust.
"This soil is weird. It's so white and powdery, like ground-up rocks or earth."
As Hunk looked at it through his helmet, he found out the reason for its appearance.
"And heximite!"
Jenny knew all too well what it was.
"Heximite? Oh, no."
Ayame looked at Jenny in concern.
"What's wrong?"
"No wonder it's a trap. This whole planet is a ticking time bomb!"
Suddenly, Drule drones came in and started shooting at the Paladins as Hunk and Shiro spoke.
"It's under increasing pressure, and when the pressure reaches a certain point, it's going to explode."
"How long do we have?"
"About 20 minutes. Anyone within ten solar systems of us is going to get blown to pieces."
Ayame then realized what Kaecilius intended.
"He could take out Voltron, the rebels, and the Blade of Marmora in one fell swoop."
Lance didn't like that as he and Jenny spoke.
"We have to get off this planet and warn everyone!"
"Yeah? Tell them that!"
With that, the Paladins took off to the door and evaded the Drule as they shot at them.
On Senfama, Keith checked with Coran.
"Coran, are there any targets that need support?"
"I haven't heard of anyone needing help. And that Drule fleet heading towards Naxzela stopped."
"Stopped?"
"Yes. Quite a distance away, too."
Kolivan has an idea about this.
"Perhaps the Drule decided it's too well-fortified to attack."
"'Victory or death' is the Galra way. And the Drule are still Galra. They never stop attaching. Unless... Voltron."
At the mention of this, he got a transmission from the Violet Lion as Lapis spoke to Keith in desperation.
"Keith, this is Lapis. This is a dire situation! Both Voltrons are trapped on Naxzela! Repeat: both Voltrons are trapped on Naxzela! It's going to explode soon, and that cruiser is behind this! Please send help as soon as you can! Please!"
Hearing the panic in Lapis' voice, Cilia and Sapphire grew scared as Honerva and Babak comforted them while Alphus emerged from the hall into the bridge as she spoke.
"What's going on?"
Babak turned to her as he spoke.
"We're just informed that Naxzela's a bomb. And if we don't stop it, we won't survive."
As Alphus widened her eyes, she clenched her hand as she glared at the Drule symbol on the map.
"We won't let this happen."
Just as Alphus took action, Keith felt the urgency to do so himself.
"I'm gonna help them out. I need a ship."
As he looked out at the landing bay, he noticed a lone fighter by itself as he spoke.
"That'll work."
With that, Keith took off in a fighter as he spread the word.
"Matt, something's wrong. Lapis can't get Voltron out."
"We can fly to Naxzela to check on 'em."
Lapis voted against this strongly.
"No! You need to go as far away from it as you can and destroy that cruiser! You'll die if you don't!"
"What are you talking about?"
Keith explained the situation to Matt.
"Naxzela's a bomb, and if we don't take out that cruiser, it's gonna blow."
"We're with you."
"Copy that. Good to have you along."
Suddenly, Alphus spoke up.
"We're joining you, too. My powers should get us there ahead of you."
Keith, however, voted against this.
"No, stay in position. We might need you back there."
"What about the Coalition? We have to save them at least."
"You can save the ones that are nearby, but don't leave your post."
At the command center, Zarkon spoke with Lotor and his generals.
"So, those ships what what you were creating behind my back. I wasn't any better back then, but that doesn't make it any less inexcusable. Do you have any idea what Syn could be doing right now?! On another note, a war is going down there. A war that I could've helped in if you didn't go behind my back! Potential lives could be devastated from your actions today."
"You honestly think that was my intention, father? All I wanted was to bring peace to this universe!"
"Well, your own efforts to do so became your undoing!"
As Zarkon sighed, he spoke again.
"Lotor, I'm very well aware that you do not wish to be me, but you must pick your battles. Especially when you're trying to overtake the throne."
This made Lotor raise his eyes in shock as he spoke.
"How did you—"
"Clearly, I placed too much hope on you, Lotor. I won't make that same mistake again."
Suddenly, Zygmar ran in as he spoke.
"Emperor Zarkon!"
Upon noticing him, Zarkon grew flustered.
"What is it that warrants your interruption, Zygmar?!"
"I-It's the Violet Paladin. We received a distress call."
"Play it back."
Zygmar did just that as the distress transmission went in between Lotor and Zarkon.
"If anyone can hear me, I am Lapis, the Violet Paladin of Voltron and leader of Rogue Thrust. In the event you can hear me, a cruiser has trapped Voltron in Naxzela and turned the planet into a bomb. I need your help. Voltron needs your help! Please, help save him before it's too late!"
As the transmission finished with Lotor and his generals showing concern, Ezor, Acxa, and Zethrid most of all, Zygmar spoke to him.
"If it explodes, it'll take 10 solar systems and all of the rebellion with it."
"So, Naxzela's... an oversized bomb?"
"Yes, Ezor. And like he said, if it explodes..."
"Boom. That is the first time in a while that there's an explosion I don't want to see."
"How long do they have?"
"Sad to say, we only have 18 doboshes, sir."
This made Zarkon flustered as he yelled and slammed his fist on the throne.
"We don't have that kind of time! We must leave now!"
"But sir, the engines are still overheated. At this rate, we won't get to Voltron in time."
Then, Lotor spoke up, presenting a solution to the conundrum.
"I can get there, father."
"What?"
"My ship is capable of getting there in time to destroy that cruiser and disrupting the countdown."
"And how do I know if you won't escape after?"
"Even if I did, you found me once. Odds are, you'll find me again."
Zarkon couldn't trust Lotor after what he's pulled, but there wasn't any other choice.
"Fine. But please... keep them all safe."
On Naxzela, the Paladins went inside the Voltrons before Shiro spoke.
"Coran, Keith, Lapis, do you copy? Anyone? Hello!"
As he got no answer, he knew what it meant.
"We've lost communications. Pidge, can you boost our signal?"
"No, there's too much electrostatic repulsion!"
As the Paladins grew frustrated, Jenny and Allura grew desperate while Hunk gave out the time left.
"Seventeen minutes left!"
"Well, forget the communications for now. I say we book it!"
"We have to get out of this planet immediately!"
With that, both Voltrons stood up on their feet before the hologram took notice and fired another ethereal blast at them with a roar, knocking them further to the ground in a crater as Lance, Jenny, Hunk, and Pidge spoke.
"Oh, no! We've fallen even further down!"
"Seriously?! I hate that thing!"
"Fifteen minutes!"
"No. No! We can't die here. Not yet."
As Kaecilius witnessed it himself, he felt it fitting to deliver a message as he spoke.
"Vantiv, deliver my message to our citizens."
"Yes, sir."
With that, Kaecilius' face appeared over the same transmission that came from the rebel transponder as he spoke.
"Attention, mortal rebels of the universe. Thus far, you've clung to your deluded beliefs and dreams that divine justice shall be undercut from its place. But know this: it is in vain. Witness the fate that will befall you."
With that, the monitors showed both Voltrons trapped on Naxzela as he spoke with Coran, Babak, Alphus, Cilia, and Sapphire becoming worried, Lapis and her Rogue Thrust darting rowers the cruiser with the leader having a sad and desperate face with tears streaming as Adea comforted her, and Lotor and his generals darting towards Naxzela with fierce determination.
"Even now, your precious Defender of the Universe is realizing the gravity of the situation, so to speak. Like you, it is not infallible: for it is just as mortal and fragile as you are! To all of the simpletons who dare oppose me, your heroes are dead! Your hope is dead! And after today, only I shall live on! Divine justice shall win this day! For today, Voltron, your Defender of the Universe, dies with your hope! If you wish to be spared, you will kneel! FOR I AM YOUR TRUE GOD!"
Back on Naxzela, Shiro has one last ditch idea to escape.
"Listen. We've come through a lot as Voltron. We just have to think."
Then, Lance remembered what Jenny and Allura did before on the Balmera and other scenarios as his transmission cane on the White Voltron's monitor.
"Jenny..."
"Huh? Lance?"
"You and Allura felt the dark energy when it first started. You two have a connection to this magic. I know you can get us out of this somehow. We all saw what you guys did on the Balmera and how you power the Castle."
"I admit that's impressive what I did, but how are we supposed to help?"
"I've never been trained."
"And I haven't finished my training yet. I don't think I'll ever get the chance..."
"No one trained you to save the Balmera, but you guys did that. I know you can do it. There's a reason the White and Blue Lions chose you. Alongside Ayame, you're the one who brought everyone together. You can do this. Every moment we've had together, they've all led to this day. This is your destiny. You are the heart of Voltron. Well, outside the obvious."
This made Jenny gasp before she smiled with tears coming down her face as she spoke.
"Thank you, Lance. So much..."
With that, she wiped her tears away before she and Allura spoke.
"Let's do this."
"I'll try."
As the both of them closed their eyes, took their deep breaths, and clutched their levers, Allura and Jenny spoke as Ayame took her own breath to join in.
"Help me, father."
"I can't do this alone."
Just then, Ayame placed her hand on Jenny's as she spoke.
"You won't have to. We're in this together."
With that, the two Voltrons began glowing Quintessence all around them as Shiro spoke.
"It's working!"
As they went up in the skies, with Voltron having a light-blue color around it while the White Voltron had a color of white and purple on each half with light and shadow in harmony, the hologram noticed before firing an ethereal beam, only for the White Voltron to fire a blue-purple blast from its chest, countering it before it damaged the hologram with a crack before the Voltrons went and fired a blast at the barrier, breaking it before they got out of the hole. Having escaped, Jenny spoke to him.
"Thank you, Lance."
"That was all you."
Then, Hunk reminder everyone of the current issue.
"We still need to defuse that bomb!"
Ayame was concerned about something else.
"And we need to get everyone out of here!"
Jenny had an idea as her eyes glowed bright-blue, surprising Ayame.
"Leave that to me."
"Jenny, how are you glowing?"
Jenny noticed that herself and grew surprised.
"Wow. I guess I really focused my Quintessence. Now, we can put it to good use."
"What's the plan?"
"Voltron will go to that cruiser and smash it before Naxzela goes kablooey. We're gonna try to evacuate everyone off the system in case they can't."
"Alright. I'm in."
With that, the White Voltron extended its hand outward to create a wormhole before entering it just as the portal closed, leaving Lance to feel proud.
"That's my girl."
In the meantime, Shiro spoke to Keith.
"Keith, can you hear me?"
"Shiro! Where are you? Is everything okay?"
"Not for long if we don't stop Kaecilius. He must be aboard that battle cruiser."
"I'm way ahead of you. And I brought some backup."
Keith demonstrated this as he showed the Violet Lion beside the Coalition.
"Rogue Thrust is on the way."
"Rebel force is en route."
"Good to have Voltron back in the fight."
As they got to the cruiser, Kaecilius snarled before turning to Varek.
"Clearly, a pest control is required. Varek, will you attend do do duty?"
"Yes."
As Varek stepped outside and ended up on top of the extension, Olia and Matt grew surprised by the size of it and its attachment.
"What the ruggle is that?"
"It looks like some sort of weapon attached to the cruiser. And... Varek?"
Varek then got out his aura blade before plunging it into his hand with a chuckling groan before he yelled out with the blade extending itself before using his other hand to grip it and create a scythe, catching Olia and Matt by surprise.
"Did you just see that?!"
"Did he really create a scythe?"
"This is it, mortals. For the sake of our most glorious project..."
With that, he pulled the scythe back behind him before he shouted.
"YOU WILL DIE TODAY!"
Suddenly, with a shout, he performed a slash that extended itself as a blast at the same speed as the ion cannon before it tore at the ships in its path, triggering an explosion before Olia spoke.
"Evasive maneuvers!"
As they dodged, Atchiam glared at him.
"Oh, no. You're not getting off easy."
Then, Shiro spoke to Coran.
"Coran, you need to get as far away from Naxzela as you can immediately. Pick up any members of the coalition who are nearby, but go."
Coran knew the reason via distress transmission from Lapis as he spoke.
"Already on it. But what about you?"
Allura spoke to him next.
"We'll stop it if we can, but we need you to do this."
"Yes, Princess."
With that, Coran finished the transmission before Lance and Hunk spoke.
"Thrusters are at max power!"
"I sure hope we make it in time."
Meanwhile, Ayame and Jenny sent the last of the Coalition back to the Castle hall where Honerva accompanied them as the latter spoke.
"Well, looks like that's everyone. Let's join the others."
"Okay."
With that, the White Lion opened a portal and went inside it before Keith spoke to them.
"Follow my lead! We've got to break through that shield!"
Suddenly, Varek's scythe blast hit the wing before it disintegrated it, making the ship lean on one side before he got himself together as Ayame spoke from in the wormhole.
"Keith! Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. Just a little unbalanced."
With that, Naxzela prepared to detonate as Lance spoke.
"We're not gonna make it!"
As it prepared to explode, Babak saw the scan of it and held Sapphire right as she whimpered.
"Please hurry, Princess."
At the battle, Varek used his scythe slash to attack the other ships as Matt and Ayame spoke.
"We'll never penetrate those shields!"
"Just hang on, guys. We're on our way."
Keith felt there wasn't enough time. And with Varek slashing at the ships, he didn't want to risk Ayame and Jenny being hurt, or worse. He knew there was one thing he could do.
"Maybe not with our weapons."
With that, he darted toward the shield himself, making Matt and Ayame worried.
"Wait, Keith, what are you doing?! Keith, no!"
"Keith, stop! We can do this!"
"There isn't enough time! I'm sorry, but I have to do this! I can't let you get hurt!"
"No, don't! Jenny, can't you go any faster?!"
"I'm trying! But this is as fast as I can go, even with that boost!"
As she tried to boost the White Voltron, Ayame continued in vain to reach out to him.
"You can't do this to me, Keith! I've already lost so much! I can't lose you, too!"
"I can't lose you, either, Ayame. Goodbye."
With that, Keith shut off the transmission as she shouted with tears streaming down her desperate face.
"NO!"
Just as Keith prepared for the end, however, a blast from a certain ship pierced through the attachment, triggering an explosion and knocking Varek off of it as Keith pulled back before the former noticed the ship that did it and its pilot as he glared.
"You."
Seeing the face of the adversary, Varek teleported back inside the cruiser. As he arrived inside, the orb dissipated as Vantiv and Kaecilius witnessed this on the monitor as the former spoke.
"No. Lotor disabled the countdown."
This made Kaecilius widen his eyes as he gritted his teeth.
"I should have killed him when I had the chance... retreat!"
With Kaecilius and his army quickly vanishing from sight via hyperdrive just as the White Voltron arrived, Jenny's glow faded away before she sighed, just as she noticed that they had retreated already.
"Hey, where'd the bad guys go?"
At the Castle, Coran gave the good news.
"Naxzela is returning to normal! You did it!"
Shiro then congratulated Keith about the victory.
"Good work, Keith."
"It wasn't me. It was Lotor. The cannon on his ship was the blue thing powerful enough to take down that shield."
As Jenny got back in the White Voltron via teleportation, she got surprised.
"Lotor did that? But why?"
Ayame had an idea.
"Maybe my father found him and set him straight?"
"Nah. The last time we saw him officially, he stabbed us in the back and tried to take the comet for himself. I wouldn't be surprised if he had an ulterior motive."
Then, she realized something about Ayame that tied her to Lotor.
"Wait a tick. Lotor's... kinda your brother, isn't he?"
"Well, half-brother, but yes."
"Oh. Well, if you're willing to trust him, I'll try that, too."
"Thanks."
Then, Lotor sent up a transmission just as Ezor, Acxa, and Zethrid did the same with the Violet Lion, attracting Rogue Thrust's attention.
"Ezor! Oh, it's so good to see you! Did you miss me? Did you miss me?!"
Ezor could only reply sarcastically to Adea as she spoke.
"Yeah. I really... missed you."
Then, Ezor did a small smile to her just as Atchiam spoke up.
"Hey, Zeth."
"How's it hangin'?"
"Well, so far so good, since you guys just literally knocked Varek off of the extension."
"Yeah. That was my favorite part."
Then, Lapis spoke up.
"What are you guys doing here?"
"We picked up your distress transmission. And apparently, we got it just in time."
Then, Lotor spoke out to the remaining group.
"Attention, Paladins of Voltron, Blades of Marmora, and rebel fighters. I know we've had our differences in the past, but... I think it is time we had a discussion."
Jenny still wasn't quite convinced of his act.
"And how is this discussion gonna end this time?"
"With our unconditional surrender."
This made Jenny widen her eyes as he spoke.
"It's become painfully obvious I cannot run anymore. So, I've come to accept my fate, whatever it may be. What say you? What do you have in store for me?"
Jenny considered all the actions he took leading up to now for his goal before she answered.
"Well... everything that comes with being a rebel."