cubbieBlueMako - It took not so much guts as it was genius. There's a lot going on, and it'll unfold from here, including after effects from the water on a certain water-based elemental mechanical lion. As for KA, they will have their ups and downs, but have moved on from Voltron's main focus. They are moving into Coran's position...mentoring and guiding the new team, especially Keith. Though you can't always gasp at things that may seem to prevent "HEA" for K and A. A lot has happened to them over the years, and tragedy can strike anyone in the universe. But preserving what they have together, especially if the tragedy resolves itself into its own HEA for the two...you gotta admit, it's something worth promoting when the writer is that heavily invested in this awesome pairing.

animebookchic - Yep, the team is in some trouble, but hopefully this will bring temporary resolution, at least for the battle at hand. As for our Baltan colleague...read on.

Author's Note - I thought long and hard about the way this arc is coming. I was surprised by the lack of reaction to one of the original five meeting their end in blazes. But if anyone would like to try and attempt to figure out where I'm going with all this, look no further than the title. There's probably a few fans out there that will see it hidden there.

Without my muse, I am nothing.

Theme Music : "Face Everything and Rise" by Papa Roach

Disclaimer - Voltron and all associated characters are the property of WEP. Space Marshall Lenora Hawkins and associated characters are the property of KathDMD. Admiral Lysette Fabrere and associated characters are the property of selena devargo.

Episode 121 : "The Impossible Baltan"

"PIDGE!" Vince shouted as they watched the shuttle explode and disintegrate.

"Oh my gosh," Larmina shouted. "Pidge!"

"Is there anything left?" Marina asked. "Any escape pod, any sign?"

"Nothing," Vince said, lowering his head. The Command ship began to fly off, the few ships accompanying it opening fire on Voltron.

"Oh no you don't," Daniel said through gritted teeth. Voltron brandished the Blazing Sword and took off into the air. Voltron sliced through the ships easily, effortlessly destroying them. He turned towards the command ship. Vince raised his head, his eyes glowing white.

"Not this time," he said silently. Daniel knew what he was about to do, and the Green Lion, sensing what had happened to Pidge, let out a mighty roar before its head detatched, soaring at top speed at the command ship.

"Your Excellency!" the officer shouted. "One of the lion's heads is coming right at us!"

"What?" Haggar shouted, looking at the viewscreen, watching Green approaching fast. "It's the boy! I'm getting out of here!" She ran from the bridge just as Green smashed through the command ship. The ship began exploding and falling apart before them. A single escape shuttle flew off out of sight. Green's head returned and attached. The team looked on as the ship continued to explode, Vince collapsing from exhaustion.

"Pidge…." Hunk said quietly, watching the destruction with a single tear coming down his cheek.

Lance and Ginger burst into the Control room to see Keith and several of the castle guards smashing consoles.

"We have to stop them," Lance said. "They're under Haggar's spell. We need to pin them down."

"You try to stop Keith," Ginger said. "I'll try to take care of the others." They ran in, and Ginger held up her arm. Her voltcom glowed, and a miniature jet formed, firing from her wrist with a cable attached. It wrapped around the few guards in the room and tightened, pulling them together and causing them to fall to the ground. Lance ran up to Keith. He pulled him off the console, and Keith went to swing at him. They locked up.

"Keith, it's me!" he shouted. "Lance!"

"Must….destroy….the Castle Control….for the empire!" Keith replied.

"Kogane…." Lance muttered as he struggled with him, "always gotta do things the hard way." He pushed Keith back, and as Keith came at him again, his fists lit up, hitting him with a right cross that sent Keith to the ground, unconscious. He turned to see Ginger finishing off the rest of the intruders. "I guess you got things all tied up here."

"Jealous?" she laughed. "First time in a while I've tied someone up that wasn't you."

"Touche," he replied with a nod. "Long as you're ok."

"I'm fine," she replied. Lance's Voltcom went off.

"McClain here," Lance said.

"Lance," Daniel said.

"We have the situation under control," Lance replied. "Castle Control is wrecked, but we managed to subdue everyone affected. Did Pidge arrive with the antidote?" There was a moment of silence. "Daniel, did Pidge get there in time?"

"Lance," Daniel replied, "Pidge's shuttle exploded. He didn't survive."

The team assembled in the Control Room, or what was left of it, with Lance and Coran.

"They really did a number on this place," Daniel said.

"That, Daniel, is an understatement," Lance replied, trying to break the somber mood.

"What about the antidote?" Larmina asked. "What about the tainted water in the lake?"

"There was still a supply of the antidote left in stores," Lance replied. "From what Vince says, the water didn't contain a high dosage of haggarium, and those affected didn't absorb much of it. The antidote should be able to get everyone back to normal soon. Ginger is flying one of the Academy shuttles over the lake to treat it now, and everyone affected is in Med right now being treated."

"That's great to hear," Daniel said, "but what do we do now? With Pidge gone…."

"We go on, Ensign," Lance replied. You could feel the tension in the room, and through Lance's stern response, you could tell the news had hit him just as hard. "Vince and Coran, I'll need your help getting things repaired. Hunk, I'll need you to salvage any parts we need to get this done."

"Alright," Hunk replied, not appearing as his usual happy self in light of the circumstances.

"If you would allow me, Headmaster," Coran said, "we found a data disk among Pidge's belongings in secured storage. There were instructions attached to load its contents in the event of a catastrophe."

"He actually planned for this?" Daniel asked. Larmina and Vince looked at him, and he looked back, all three confused.

"Very well," Lance said. "That console there looks like it still functions. Put it in there." Coran placed the disk into the slot. In moments, the contents began to play, and a holographic image of Pidge appeared in front of them.

"To whoever is watching this," he said, "something terrible has happened, and I'm not here. In that case, there are a few things I need to say. First, to the cadets, it's been great serving with you. I always knew Voltron was in capable hands. Daniel, I'm glad you've risen to Keith's expectations. I hope you continue to do that. Larmina, you really do remind me a lot of your aunt, in more ways than you know. You will always be an exceptional Blue Lion pilot, and will become an even more exceptional woman. Vince, I can't even begin to tell you how great it was to have someone as technically-minded as me. I know you will continue to grow in your role, and I wish you the best. Marina…I haven't known you as long as the others, but you've been a great Red Lion Pilot. Keep listening to Lance, and continue to work with the team. I know you'll do great. Coran, it has been an honor knowing you, and I hope you can guide both our team and the cadets in the right direction. Lance, you were, and still are, a great pilot and a great friend. Don't let sitting behind a desk allow you to lose your edge."

"I'll never lose my edge," Lance replied, a bit teary-eyed.

"Hunk," the image continued, "big guy, you were, are, and always will be my best friend. We've been through a lot together, me and you. I don't want this to be the end, and knowing you, you have a long road ahead of you, big guy. I need you to first of all not worry about me. Wherever I am, know I'm fine. Second…I want you to look after my brother. He may claim he's older by a minute, but I've made it a habit to look after him, sending him letters and such. Keep in touch with him and make sure he's ok, alright?" The doors to the Control room opened, and Allura carefully walked in. "Allura…" She gasped. "…from the Blue Lion Pilot to the Queen of Arus, me and the team have never been prouder of you. I want you to know that. And Keith…continue to lead these guys. You know how we were when we were going through the academy. To make it as far as you have….nothing short of amazing." The image grabbed something off camera and held it up.

"What's that?" Lance asked.

"This is a program I've been working on for quite a while now," the image continued. "I'm installing it into the main and backup computer systems in the castle. Once you're done listening to me babble on, you can activate it from the Defensive Control located on the lower level of the castle. Vince will know what I'm talking about." He paused for a moment. "I don't really want this to be goodbye. You've all been like a family to me. Just know I'm still looking out for you, and you'll understand. Until then…see ya." The image faded. They all stood there stunned for a moment.

"Defensive Control?" Daniel asked.

"It's a secondary hub for Castle Control," Vince said. "Pidge and I had been working on it since the castle's bout with the Predator Robeast. He felt we needed a plan should the shields fail and the castle was compromised. The secondary hub could be activated by any of our Voltcoms, identifying us in order to give us full control of the castle defenses from that location."

"Can you take us there?" Daniel saked.

"Yeah," Vince replied. He ran from the room, the others following. Within minutes, they arrived on the lower level. Vince walked up to the door and placed his hand on a panel. His voltcom glowed, and the door responded by opening. They walked into the room and saw a near replica of the Control Room.

"This is incredible!" Daniel said.

"He built another Control Room under the castle itself," Larmina said, looking around.

"Gotta admit," Hunk said, wiping away another tear, "Little Buddy knew this castle inside and out, and he knew what he was doing."

"Vince," Lance said, "what about that program he was talking about?"

"I don't know what it is," Vince replied, "but the button he mentioned is over here." Vince walked up to it and pressed it. A flash of light enveleoped the room, then a hologram wire frame appeared in front of them, looking humanoid. As the computer continued to draw more and more detailed features on the wire frame, everyone's eyes widened at what they saw.

"Hey guys!"