8. Roma
The Yalmor emerged from the purple wormhole over the station-ringed blue planet.
"It's beautiful," said Allura.
"Alfor-class vessel, this is Altea Control," said a bored operator. "Please provide identification."
"Emperor's Peace, Control," Pidge said uncertainly. "Transmitting identification."
"Received," said the operator. "Please hold."
The team looked at each other.
"Anyone else think this is taking too long?" said Hunk. "What if the codes don't work?"
"Kolivan's codes will work," said Keith. "Patience yields focus."
Patience yields focus, Lance mimed behind him.
"Sorry, folks," said the operator. "The ID isn't checking out, you'll need to come in for a manual check. Please proceed to Security Ring Exus."
"Do we abort?" said Hunk.
"Get to your lions," said Keith. "We'll have to engage sooner than we hoped."
"Belay that," said the operator, "you're cleared. Quiznaking system's been acting up all quintant. Please proceed to dock Ceedus-Nacto-Six."
"Copy that, Control," said Pidge. "Have a nice day."
"What's a day?" asked the operator.
Pidge quickly ended transmission.
The ship cruised past ring stations, space elevators and mile-high crystal spires.
"Ten thousand years of uninterrupted Altean development," said Pidge. "Amazing."
"Built on the blood and treasure of a conquered universe," Allura said angrily.
"We're going to fix that," said Lotor.
"Yeah," said Lance. "What he said."
They touched down on the docking bay.
"Wish Coran were here," said Lance, adjusting the Altean cloak over his armor. "Does this make my butt look fat?"
"Nah, it's probably the cheeks," said Pidge.
"What's wrong with my cheeks?" whined Lance, pulling at his face.
"Isn't Allura a superstar around here?" said Hunk. "Don't think the bucket hat's gonna cut it this time."
"Sunglasses and baseball cap?" said Lance.
Allura shapeshifted her face.
"Awesome," said Pidge.
"What about Lotor's skin?" said Hunk.
"What about it?" said Lotor.
"I'm sorry, that sounded awful, your skin is beautiful," said Hunk. "I just meant there aren't many purple Alteans."
"There hasn't been a living Galra in kilophoebs," said Lotor. "I'll be fine."
"Everyone happy with how they look?" sighed Keith.
"Does this cloak come in blue?" asked Lance.
"We're leaving," said Keith.
#
"Nearly frictionless acceleration," gushed Pidge as they rode the hyperloop. "The limiting factor must be biological."
"Meaning?" said Lance.
"Keeping the Gs from squishing the passengers," said Hunk.
"Meh, still a train," said Lance. "This one time I got a hoverbike to 100 mph."
"That's… still less than 1,000 mph," said Hunk.
"Sure," said Lance. "But chicks dig bikes."
"We should've gotten off at Oriande Station," said Allura, studying the transit map, "taken the maglev to Patrulian Junction."
"Rubbish," said Lotor, "the optimal route is clearly through Alfor Memorial."
"Does this icon mean closed for construction or operated only on business quintants?" asked Keith. "Didn't you grow up here?"
"Kilophoebs ago," said Allura. "This whole district was a forest!"
"Guys," whispered Lance, "could you keep it down? People are staring."
"Sorry," said Keith.
"That's it, we're getting off at the next stop and taking an Alber," said Allura.
"Can we afford it?" asked Keith.
"We'll cut back on rations," said Allura, checking their groggery balance.
"But…" said Hunk.
"And if I hear one more word I swear I will turn this hyperloop around!"
#
"And she says to me, cool as an orange-crested cat," said the Alber driver, swerving slightly, "at least he knows how to satisfy a woman! Taujeerians, am I right?"
Keith shifted uncomfortably in the passenger seat. "Yeah. That sounds… unfortunate."
"And with your own brother!" Hank said sympathetically, face squished between the front seats. "That must've been tough."
"Oh, I'm over her, of course," said the driver, lost in thought. "Just moving on with my life. Just moving right on…"
"What is this music?" Lotor said in the backseat.
"No idea," said Allura. "I listened mostly to classical."
"Pidge seems to like it," said Lance, watching Pidge bobbing her head.
She realized they were looking, tapped her ear. "What?"
"Where did you find human-sized earbuds?" cried Lance, outraged. "Galra sizes do not fit all."
"Um, alternate Earth?" said Pidge. "Downloaded some of Hunk's 20th century stuff. This Freddie Mercury guy really shines in Pink Floyd."
The hovercar stopped at the curb.
"Alzax," said Hunk, "you are a beautiful person, and some quintant you will find someone who appreciates that."
"Thanks, Hunk," the driver said tearfully. "You kids have a good time now. Remember to rate the trip!"
#
The team looked up at the massive Altean High Command complex.
"So," said Lance, "we meeting the Gamara agent at the giftshop?"
"Kolivan said they'd find us," said Allura.
"Quiznak," said Hunk. "Don't look now, but Hira's creepy science dude is coming this way."
"Play it cool," said Keith.
"What?" the officer shouted into his communicator as he passed. "On whose authority? I see. I'm on my way."
"We're clear," said Pidge.
The officer stopped and turned around. "Hey!"
"Run!" cried Keith.
The team bolted past angry pedestrians, honking hovercars and delivery drones. They stopped in an empty alley.
"I think we lost him," panted Lance.
"Hira will know we're here," said Lotor. "We need to be quick."
"Let's circle around back to the complex," said Keith.
Something massive landed in the alley, blocking their path. Moxilous stood up to his considerable height.
"It's that noncog!" shrieked Lance. "Muscilous?"
"Run!" cried Allura.
They turned around to find the officer blocking the other exit.
"Ready bayards," said Keith, manifesting the sword.
"Wait…" said the officer.
"There's nothing you can say to stop us," said Keith.
"Vrepit sa," he said, holding his Gamara blaster by the barrel.
"Okay, except that," said Lance.
"My name is Aldran," said the officer. "You already know my partner Moxy."
"Greetings," said Moxy.
"Wait," said Hunk. "If you were a Gun all along, why didn't you help us against Hira?"
"We did everything we could without blowing our cover," said Moxy. "It's the only reason you weren't captured with your lions. We've never had an agent this high in the hierarchy, Aldran must be protected."
"So must you, Moxy," said Aldran.
"I'm beginning to think you're not a noncog," said Lance.
"You'd be surprised what people say when they think no one's listening," said Moxy.
"I've done my best to delay the testing," said Aldran, "but we're running out of time. Hira's moved the lions to the Palace. We have to go."
#
Aldran flashed his ID at the Palace checkpoint.
"What about them?" huffed the duty officer, frowning at the paladins.
"They're with me," said Aldran, tone hardening. "Unless you care to explain to Commander Hira why her test pilots are being delayed?"
The officer's face soured. "That won't be necessary."
Aldran walked briskly through endless marble hallways.
"It's like someone hit the Castle with an enlarging ray," said Hunk.
"The original Castle of Wolves dates from before Allura the Conqueror," said Aldran. "Successive Emperors expanded it over the ages. But it should be swarming with staffers right now. Something's wrong."
"Why would Hira move the lions?" asked Pidge.
"Aldran may have been compromised," said Lotor.
"If he were, he'd already be dead," said Moxy. "Or worse, hokked."
"Could be a trap," said Keith.
"Do you know where the lions were taken?" asked Allura.
"Not yet," said Aldran. "I'll keep my mike open when I ask Hira."
"There may be a better way," said Keith. "Paladins, reach out to your lions."
The paladins stopped, closed their eyes.
"I think I feel something," said Lance.
"Yeah," said Hunk.
"Ditto," said Pidge.
"Let's go," said Allura.
The paladins sprinted in opposite directions.
"You're going the wrong way!" cried Lance.
"Or the lions are separated," said Pidge.
"Well, if you wanna be all logical about it…" grumbled Lance.
"We'll have to split up," said Keith.
"The rest of us will delay Hira," said Lotor.
#
Allura wandered through an old hallway littered with memories: a skinned knee with father, cleaning pods with Coran, a kiss with Alric…
"Welcome home, princess," Hira said behind her. "You'll find the hokking procedure is mostly painless."
"You haven't caught caught me yet," said Allura, manifesting her whip.
Hira laughed. "I'd love to bring down the Conqueror herself in single combat," she said, tapping her wrist. "But I'm a little busy."
She was surrounded by sentries.
"Take her to the medical facility," said Hira.
Allura surveyed the sentries, gripping her bayard. She might as well go down fighting.
"What's going on here?" asked a tall Altean in white armor.
"Your Majesty," said Hira, bowing.
Allura gasped. He was the spitting image of her father.
"What's all this about hokking, now?" asked the Emperor.
"Sir, this is the transreality invader I reported," said Hira.
"By the ancients," said the Emperor, bowing. "Alfor 52nd at your disposal, My Empress. Please feel free to return to your usual face."
Allura wasn't sure how to react.
"Would you join me for a tour of the grounds?" asked Alfor.
"Sir, she is a dangerous enemy of the Empire," said Hira.
"I'm sure the Empress's word not to harm me will suffice," said Alfor.
Allura nodded uncertainly.
"Splendid," said Alfor. "We shall start with the Juniberry Wing. It was added by your daughter, Allura II. Hira, I'm certain you have other places to be?"
"Yes, my lord," she growled.
#
Lotor, Moxy, and Aldran walked into the throne room, occupied by a white-cloaked Altean with unusually purple skin.
"Haggar?" said Lotor. "You're alive!"
She responded with a bolt of dark energy that clipped his hair.
"She's hokked!" cried Moxy, taking cover.
"Can't you un-hok her?" asked Lotor, awakening his gun.
"It's a very delicate procedure," said Aldran.
"Now I can finally feed," laughed Haggar, teleporting across the room.
"Run!" cried Lotor, opening fire.
#
Keith switched on his wrist light as he descended into what looked like the royal crypt. Crystal statues of Altean Emperors and Empresses gleamed in judgement as he passed. The catacomb ended at an ancient Emperor grasping a triangle, the inscription lost to time.
"Have we stooped to grave-robbing now?" challenged the Emperor's ghost, rising from the crystal.
Keith jumped back, sword ready. The hologram flickered impassively.
"I am only reclaiming what is mine," said Keith.
The hologram's hollow laugh was spine-tingling. "You would style yourself the Red Paladin? I knew your predecessors well. I assure you you are the lesser person."
"Alric?" said Keith.
"As you live and breathe," said Alric.
"I've had the honor of piloting Red," said Keith. "But I'm here for Black."
Alric's mirth was gone. "Everyone's always after Black. Every one of them has ability and ambition, but do you know what he really looks for in a pilot?"
"I'm sure you'll tell me," said Keith.
"People who wish to self-destruct," said Alric.
"Shiro wasn't like that," said Keith.
"I see I've struck a chord," said Alric. "I wonder, are the damaged drawn to him? Or does he feed that dark corner we all carry in our hearts?"
"He is a force for good," said Keith.
"The sweet certainty of moral superiority," said Alric. "Soon you'll be ready to incinerate planets."
"Don't unload your regrets on Black," said Keith.
"I don't deny my responsibility," said Alric, fading. "But when I gave the order, he was happy to comply."
"That ghost is so depressing," said Hira, blinding Keith with her wrist light.
"Shouldn't bring a flashlight to a sword fight," said Keith, manifesting his sword.
Hira smashed the statue and grabbed the triangular bayard. "I never do," she said, manifesting a black sword of her own. "My theory? Black needs to be earned by combat, as Alric did to Zarkon. As I don't have Lotor, you will have to suffice."
#
Allura followed Alfor into a round hall. A giant wolf statue watched sphynx-like over an obsidian coffin.
"The Conqueror's Mausoleum," said Alfor.
Allura brushed her hand against the statue. "It's real."
"The Red Wolf," nodded Alfor. "Something happened that day at Feyiv, Red rejected the Empress. They say even on her deathbed she called out to her. Her descendants also tried, eventually gave up. I believe it was out of shame - if they could not command Alfor the Builder's own mount, what claim had they to his throne?" Alfor touched the wolf. "As I child I often dreamed of being the one to reconnect."
"Alfor," said Allura, the name strange on her tongue. "You do not need Red to leave your mark. Hoktrils are wrong. Surely you can see that."
Alfor chuckled. "You could get hokked for saying that in public, but you are correct. The question is: what can be done about it? You might as well protest increasing entropy. The Empire is addicted to conquest and control. The fist may seem strong, but it rests on a delicate balance. Do we just free the noncogs and hope they'll be grateful? I've had the psycho-historians run the simulations: attempts at reform invariably end in civil war or military coup - sometimes both."
"Your models may be incomplete," said Allura.
"I believe we were missing a crucial variable, yes," said Alfor. "The Conqueror herself, returned to save the Empire once again. That is a powerful idea. We are your people, Allura. Help us end the Gamara threat, so the military have no further excuse. Help us thread the needle of slow, gradual and safe change."
Allura looked up at Red. This Altea was wrong, but with the right guidance it could be the foundation for something right. So what if the wolf sat in judgement? What did a mystical mech know about the necessary compromises of living in a messy world?
She sighed. "You ask for much in exchange for distant concessions. I will not help you entrench your power. The noncogs are non-negotiable, they must be released immediately."
"I see," said Alfor, opening a secret passage. "I'm sorry you couldn't be the hero your people needed."
Acxa walked into the mausoleum, triangle bayard morphing into a red blaster.
"I'm sorry neither could you," said Allura, manifesting her whip.
#
Lance, Hunk and Pidge arrived at a long mirrored banquet hall, ceiling-high windows opening into the gardens below.
"Imagine the feast you could throw here," said Hunk. "I bet they have tiny forks not even Coran knows how to use."
"Something moved!" cried Lance, aiming his rifle.
"It's just a cat," said Hunk.
"Wait," said Pidge, recognizing the orange crest. "Take cover!"
Zethrid's yellow mace smashed into the mirror behind them.
Narti's tail flung Pidge across the room.
Ezor appeared out of thin air and punched Lance over the table.
"Told you she was invisible!" cried Lance. "Wasn't the big one supposed to be dead?"
"Wasn't the lizard one supposed to be dead?" said Hunk, opening fire.
"Assume no one is dead!" cried Pidge, harpooning a crystal chandelier.
Narti's bayard morphed into a green tonfa stick, Ezor's into a blue chakram disk.
"Keith, do you copy?" said Lance, deflecting Ezor with his shield. "Good news is we found the wolf bayards."
"Bad news is they're being used against us!" cried Pidge, crashing the chandelier into Narti.
"That's a priceless historical artifact!" cried Hunk, dodging a table thrown by Zethrid. "I think."
"They have like twenty of them!" cried Pidge.
"Copy that," Keith grunted over coms. "I've run into a little trouble of my own."
"Same here," said Allura, blaster shots in the background.
"Wasn't the plan supposed to include back-up?" said Lance, looking desperately for Ezor.
"Haggar's been hokked," said Lotor.
Ezra reappeared behind him.
"Quiznak," said Lance.
#
"You can't hide forever," called Hira, sword scraping against mossy flagstones.
A crystal statue collapsed onto her. She smashed it with her sword, but lost her footing.
"It's over," said Keith, standing above her.
"Exactly," said Hira, tapping her wrist.
The forcefield cage sprung over Keith.
"Wrap it up, Lieutenants," said Hira. "We got the coordinates to the Gamara base."
"What?" cried Keith, slamming the forcefield. "How?"
"You should be more careful where you park," said Hira, walking away.
#
Allura swung from Red's snout and kicked Acxa's blaster across the tiles, but her follow-up slammed into a forcefield.
"On my way," Acxa spoke into her coms, picking up her blaster.
#
Dozens of fake Haggars cackled throughout the throne room. "Good night, sweet prince."
"We've fought together all my life," said Lotor, dashing through the copies. "I know how you move."
"And I," said the real one, grabbing his face from behind, "know how you think!"
"Now!" croaked Lotor, passing out.
Moxy and Aldran zapped her.
Haggar collapsed beside Lotor.
#
"Lance!" cried Pidge, throwing the seasoning pot into the air.
Lance's shot tore it apart, covering everything in hopefully non-poisonous blue powder - Kova was blinded, Ezor was visible.
Zethrid tackled Ezor and Narti out the window as the forcefield closed.
"Guys," said Lance, "there's some kind of…"
"Forcefield," Allura said over coms. "Me too. There has to be a way..."
"Allura, you're breaking up," said Lance. "Allura?"
"Hira's gonna hit Gamara," said Keith. "She took the coordinates from the ship. We walked right into her trap."
"Ugh," said Hunk, "Keith said it was a trap. Why did we walk into a trap?"
"Try to relax," said Keith. "Patience yields..."
"We lost Keith!" cried Lance.
"Something's coming," said Pidge.
The garden windows shattered as a giant red wolf looked inside.
"They've activated the Red Wolf," cried Lance, "we're all gonna die!"
The wolf opened massive mechanical jaws, baring its flame cannon. The paladins screamed.
"Less screaming, more running," Allura said over the mech's speakers.
"We need to get the others," added Keith.
"Stopping Hira is the priority," Moxy said over coms. "We'll manage."
#
Red blasted across the city to the spaceport.
"Wow," said Allura, "this wolf can move."
"I know, right?" said Lance.
"We need to warn Kolivan," said Keith.
"Can't do it from here," said Pidge. "We need to reach the Yalmor."
A shockwave hit them as an explosion rocked the spaceport.
"That was the Yalmor, wasn't it?" said Hunk.
Allura nodded.
"We need another transmitter," said Pidge.
"We might have more pressing issues," said Keith.
The Black Lion emerged from the rising plume of smoke.
"Incoming transmission," said Pidge.
"The Emperor will be furious you got that relic to work," said Hira. "Maybe we'll have that single combat after all."
"C'mon," said Lance, "Allura can take on Hira any day."
The other lions flew into formation behind Black.
"Then again," said Hira, "maybe I'll just go ahead and win."
"Hold on!" cried Allura, slamming her blue gauntlet into the dock.
Red dodged Zethrid's charge, burned down Narti's bio-ray, flew through Acxa's flame.
"Get ready, I'm dropping you off," said Allura.
"Into the fire?" cried Lance.
Allura swerved, causing Ezor's freeze ray to put out the flames. The paladins jetted to their smoldering wolves and flew into formation behind Allura.
"Five-on-five seems fair," said Lance. "Where did they go?"
The last of the lions dove into a wormhole which popped out of existence. The Altean Fleet opened fire.
"They're going after the Guns," said Keith.
"We need a ship," said Pidge.
"Follow me," said Allura.
#
"Um, Allura?" said Lance. "This is the way to the palace."
"Precisely," said Allura. "Lotor, do you copy?"
"Lotor's out," huffed Moxy. "That witch did something to him."
"Can you get him to the bridge chamber?" said Allura.
"Will do," said Aldran.
"Place him on the control dais," said Allura, "the crystal will help. We're on our way."
The wolves blasted over the city.
"Allura?" Lotor said weakly.
"Welcome back," said Allura. "I need you to open bay doors one through five."
"Okay..." said Lotor, frowning at the console. "I need you to break that down into smaller steps. Assume I've never piloted a castle before."
"It's like riding a plexis-cycle," said Allura. "Just meld your will with the castle."
"Right," said Lotor, grabbing the control pylons. "Just like a plexis-cycle…"
The wolves hovered over the Castle. Nothing happened.
"I don't want to rush anyone," said Hunk, "but the Fleet is catching up."
"Lotor…" said Allura.
The bay doors opened, the lions dived inside.
"Well done!" cried Allura, ziplining back to the bridge. "Now simply activate the interlock, connect the dynotherms, and ignite megathrusters."
"I... think I'll wait for you to get here," said Lotor.
Steel groaned and glass shattered as the Castle of Wolves ripped itself from the palace and lifted off.