cubbieBlueMako - I think this chapter the A.I. should answer your biggest question about Pidge. But there is a lot more to this arc than I'm letting on.

animebookchic - #PidgeIsDead is the hashtag. Once you read this chapter, you'll understand it partly, but as I told cubbies above, there is more to this...

Author's Note - I thought long and hard about the way this arc is coming. As I said, there's more to it than you know. But let's focus on the recovery it brings...the calm before the storm, if you will.

Without my muse, I am nothing.

Theme Music : "Apocalyptic" by Halestorm

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 122 : "Defensive Counter"

"Pidge!" Hunk shouted. He ran to grab him, but dove right through him, falling to the floor. The hologram turned and smiled.

"I thought you might do something like that," it laughed.

"It's a hologram," Daniel said, carefully looking it over.

"Oh, I'm much more than a hologram," it replied. "I'm the Pervasivly Integrated Defensive Graphical Expert."

"Pidge," Vince said.

"Exactly!" he replied. "But while the creator was limited by the interface…" He turned and raised his hands, and all of the controls came to life before them. "…I made myself the interface. Pretty cool, huh?"

"Is it….you?" Lance asked, raising an eyebrow. Hunk got up and walked around it, looking it over cautiously.

"Not really," it replied. "I mean, I programmed it with my mannerisms, but no, my 'soul' is not trapped in a computer." It laughed. "You guys have been watching too much science fiction."

"Touche," Lance said.

"That said," it continued, turning to the main screen, "it appears the fleet that was attacking has retreated, and Lieutenant Ellington has finished treating the lake. The water appears safe again."

"Hey," Daniel said, turning to the others, "what about Blue? That power drain was kind of odd. Do you think the water might have affected it?"

"My gauges were all over the place the entire fight," Larmina said.

"I'll see about performing a systems diagnostic on the Blue Lion once it's secured in the reapair bay," Pidge replied.

"In the meantime, let's go to Med," Marina said nervously. "I'm worried about Keith."

"Me too," Allura said. "Let's go to Med and see if he's come around."

"Hope he isn't too mad about the black eye," Lance snickered as they left Defensive Control.

Haggar walked slowly into the throne and kneeled down at the foot of the stairs. A menacing figure looked down from on high at her.

"Your robeast failed to defeat the Voltron of Arus again," Lord Kanji said, his voice echoing through the throne room. She glanced up only for a moment to see the stoic look on his face…one of disapproval, yet hidden somewhat.

"I did not expect the space explorers to reunite so quickly or form the mighty robot," she replied. "Please, my lord, do not think that I have underestimated them."

"You already know what I think about your attack," he replied, standing up. She felt herself tremble in fear. Haggar always had power….was always in control of the situation, especially when it came to Zarkon. But this was different. Lord Kanji was in every way her superior….and she knew it. But more importantly….he knew it.

"The castle guard has been incapacitated," she said, not looking directly at him, but maintaining her gaze on the steps in front of her. "Their control room wrecked, and their access to their lions hindered. Perhaps it would be time to strike the lairs?"

"I already feel the shifting of power," he replied. "But as you know, Arus is the least of my concerns at the moment." He stared down at her, and she could feel his gaze penetrating her. "Proceed with your plans to attack the lairs. Perhaps your effort to do so will fair better than the Predator Robeast."

"Thank you, my lord," she replied, bowing lower to honor him.

"I cannot spare more than a few dozen fighters," he continued, "as I will need the bulk of my support fleet on Naraku." Haggar became intrigued. He is launching his assault this quickly? "The Drule High Council will meet, and will need to deal with the reality that it alone cannot face the threat of an Alliance attack, and that unification is the only way our people will overcome our enemies, and once again become the true conquerors of the universe our forefathers meant us to be."

"And if they refuse?" she asked, as if she didn't know the answer. He drew his blade and pointed it across the room, the blade itself catching fire as he stared at it intently.

"Have mercy on the King and General that does," he replied slowly.

Keith's eyes opened as everyone walked into the room he looked up at Allura, who was smiling at seeing her husband finally coming around. He held his head as a twinge of pain hit him.

"Ah….what happened?" he asked.

"You drank the water, oh Cranky One," Lance laughed.

"Remind me to stick to coffee," Keith replied, holding his head. "Are Alex and the baby alright?"

"They're fine," Allura replied. "But there is something you should know."

"Where's Pidge?" Keith asked. They all looked at one another. Lance looked down at the floor, then back into the eyes of his commanding officer.

"He didn't make it," Lance replied. Keith was in shock, not knowing what to say.

"He was dispensing chemicals to counteract the haggarium effects in the water," Daniel said. "Then the Drule fleet….they got to him before we could get to them. I'm sorry." Keith looked somber for a moment, then looked up at the Black Lion pilot and nodded.

"I'm sure the team did what it could," he said.

"Took out the command ship," Hunk said. "Haggar's gonna be limping from that defeat."

"Pidge did leave us with a new defense program," Vince said. "With some time, we can get things almost back to normal."

"Were there any more casualties?" Keith asked.

"No deaths," Lance said. "The injured are being tended to, and all those infected are being treated. Ginger should be returning shortly. She went to treat the lake and water supply."

"Good," Keith replied. "And what of our prisoner?"

"Kerza went to speak to her again," Daniel said. "She did clue us in about the water. She is so heavily infected, Keith. I'm not sure what, if anything, we can do for her."

Kerza stepped into the cell, the forcefield coming to life once again behind him. He crouched down where Malva laid, and she turned to look at him weakly.

"The….tainted water…." she eeked out.

"It's taken care of," he replied. "if it wasn't for you, I'm not sure if we'd had found out in time."

"The pain…" she said, "….it hurts." She looked into his eyes. "Why do you care what happens to me?"

"You have something of mine," he said. He gently grasped her hand and held it up to show her the ring adorning her finger.

"Yes…" she replied. "….I found it among the prison belongings…."

"The ring means a lot to me," he said.

"Then you should take it," she insisted.

"You don't understand," he replied. "I can't understand why the enchantment placed upon the ring is doing this, but it is keeping you from succumbing to the madness the haggarium is forcing you into. But without it…." He lowered his head. "…I will once again lose my memory." She looked closer at the ring.

"Was she….that special to you?" she asked. He was taken aback by her response.

"She is gone," he replied. "She is just a memory that will fade without the ring."

"I can't let a memory that good die," she said, preparing to remove the ring.

"I can't let someone's future die either," he replied, stopping her. Upon touching the ring, and her hand, memories began to flood between the two of them. Her eyes widened as she saw the visions…things she had seen when she had first adorned the ring.

"You must take it," she replied. "Nothing can save me from this madness….not even your memories."

"I'll find a way," he replied. "We'll find a way. I don't understand why this is all happening, but it must be for a reason!" She closed her eyes, cringing from intense pain, and when her eyes opened, the purple glow appeared in them, and a sinister look appeared across her face.

"She and I are one," a strange voice undertoned her own. "If you will not allow me to destroy the memory….then I will find her and kill her myself! Then all you will have left is a memory!" She pushed him, an unseen energy throwing him across the room into the wall. He fell unconscious. She too suddenly grew weak and fell to the floor.

It is just as I feared…the Old Ones awaken.

Blue Lion's eyes open, glowing a horribly bright purple….