Chapter Seven- Finding the Lions

"Now Green Lion," Allura continued. "It has a curious personality and chooses someone of intellect and daring." Everyone looked at Pidge who nodded. "Fits me perfectly, huh?" Pidge asked.

"Blue Lion chooses a bold pilot as it has an adventurous spirit." Allura nodded at Lance. "That would describe you."

Lance flashed a ready grin. "Well, I am very bold."

"Yellow Lion, however, is caring and kind and chooses one who puts others' needs ahead of his own and has a mighty heart. It seems you fit that description." Allura looked at Hunk who looked down and rubbed the back of his neck.

"When these four lions stand before the castle hangar where Black Lion is hidden, she will emerge and, hopefully, bond with you Shiro as her previous paladin is still alive. It is imperative that you bond with Black as her last paladin is Zarkon."

"What!?" Shiro exclaimed.

"My father, King Alfor, and Zarkon were friends and they created the lions together before he betrayed Father and the other paladins. The identity scan says you are a born leader. You can be calm and in control."

"I can be and I hope Black accepts me when she emerges from her hiding place. Of course, we must first get the other three lions."

Allura nodded as she provided the coordinates of the lions. It was clear to her that Shiro was a leader and that she had misjudged her just because she was Galra, though inside she was not. She may be Galra in body, but her spirit is unchanged. Interesting that Black could be piloted by another Galra, but she is different from Zarkon. I don't know much about her, but I hope I do, not to mention the other new paladins.

Keith crouched by the seat in Shiro's ship as Shiro flew it toward the ship holding Red Lion. "Interesting that Allura can open wormholes to get us closer to our targets," Shiro commented.

"It is," Keith agreed. "Shiro? How did you know where my lion was before Allura said anything about a ship?"

"The group I'm part of has spies scattered about on the various ships and outposts of the empire. One of them may have reported to the leader about Red's location. It's clear that we do not have an operative on that ship or he would have stolen Red and brought her to headquarters."

Keith nodded. "So, how do we get in? I'm guessing your uniform doesn't fit with the guards that are on board."

Shiro nodded. "You're right. Fortunately, we prepare for every situation. We have spare uniforms, but I did not bring any as we did not anticipate that I would need to sneak onto a ship. We will have to board as quietly and discreetly as possible. I did escape from the emperor's ship and they're probably looking for me as well as Blue. Getting close should not be a problem as my ship has stealth capability and a cloaking shield."

"Cloaking shield? So, they won't see us coming?"

"That's right. We can fly close to where Red it, beam into the hangar, and I'll fight the guards while you try to connect with Red."

"Sounds good to me."

"Keith, what happened when the others and I were abducted?"

"Well, a search team was sent and they found the equipment and samples but that was it. The Garrison called it human error. I disagreed and I got kicked out for disciplinary issues."

"Kicked out? The best fighter pilot I know?"

"I took your disappearance real hard and couldn't stand letting people tarnish your reputation."

"Keith," Shiro said slowly. "I was ill with a disease that was causing my muscles and their tissues to deteriorate. I went on that mission as I knew it could be my last one before I died. However, before becoming a Galra, I was cured of that disease. Heh, they likely wanted to make sure their fighter would live."

Keith was surprised. "You were terminally ill and yet went on the mission? That's…"

"Selfish. It was selfish, Keith no matter what others think."

"Selfish? Shiro, no."

"It was. A leader should know him or herself or he or she shouldn't lead at all."

"Where did you hear that?"

"From my leader. He knows how to make the tough calls. I'm considered a junior member but my leader knew I was the best one to recover Blue Lion."

"Because you used to be human."

"And I knew the terrain." Shiro flipped a switch and the ship went invisible. "Coming up on the ship, switching to stealth mode," she said.

Shiro slashed at a blaster with her sword before kicking the legs out from under her opponent. Behind her, Keith was in front of Red's barrier, trying to connect with her. Temperamental is right, Shiro griped. It didn't take this long for Blue's barrier to come down when she chose Lance. She charged at another guard, not aware that Keith would glance back once in a while. He was interested in Shiro's sword. Its colors reminded him of the knife he's had his whole life. Indeed, her sword had grown from a knife. Is my knife of alien origin, maybe even Galra?

"Keith, connect with Red or we're going to end up overrun and possibly killed!" Shiro snapped as she kicked a guard in the crotch.

Keith promptly returned to the barrier and put his palms against it and closed his eyes. "Please Red," he murmured. "Please let me be your paladin so we can free planets from the rule of this evil empire." Keith heard a roar in his head and opened his eyes to see the barrier dissolve and Red's eyes flare before her head lunged down and swallowed Keith, sending him to the cockpit.

A beam of energy blasted past Shiro and struck the ground in front of the guards. She whirled around to see Red Lion active and no Keith. He did it! Red's accepted him as her paladin! She tapped the unit on her wrist and she was transported to her ship. She took the controls and angled her ship away before Red blasted her way out of the ship which ended up destroying it.

"Oh, very subtle Keith," she scolded as she activated the com link and dropped the cloak.

"It was Red's idea, not mine," he protested.

"Well, I guess I can't blame her. She's probably been held captive for a while. I know how that is." Shiro shut off the connection before a private channel lit up. She flipped it on, sure of who was calling.

"Shiro, this is headquarters," came Kolivan's voice. "Respond and report."

"Shiro here. Blue Lion bonded with a human I knew and she brought him, me, and three other humans to her home."

"She's safe, then?"

"Yes the castle is home to two Alteans who have been asleep for 10,000 years. One of them, Princess Allura, has declared the five of us to be the new paladins of Voltron."

"Voltron? You're going to help revive Voltron?"

"Yes, leader. It has been determined that hopefully Black Lion will accept me."

"Hopefully?"

Shiro sighed. "Black Lion's last paladin was Zarkon. The way Allura talks, a bond is forged between lion and paladin. Black may still have a bond with Zarkon even after all this time."

"I do hope that you become Black's paladin and if so, then your mission will be to free the galaxy from Zarkon's rule as a paladin of Voltron."

"I am honored, my mate. If I become a paladin, I promise to make you and the rest of the Blades proud."

"I know you will. Please report as soon as you're able. Headquarters out."

Shiro clicked off and she and Red flew into a wormhole that returned them to Arus, the castle's base planet.