Chapter 19: (The Prisoner's Dilemma)
Keith walks into the Base that they have currently taken over. Officer Griffin and Marinette have a Galra at their side. Standing a few feet away from them Officer Griffin comments, "This one says he is the leader."
The Hunk gets all excited, "Hey I remember you. Lieutenant Lahn right? We worked together!" When the Galran does not respond Hunk frowns, "Remember, Omega Shield, we saved you from Sendak…."
"I remember." hisses Lahn.
"Wait, you know this guy?" Keith asks, confused.
"Yeah it happened while you were on Earth."
"And apparently while I was away in space." comments Marinette.
"Back to the topic at hand. We're Voltron and we'd like you to join our Coliton…" Shiro begins.
"And why would I want to do that!" hisses Lahn, "So you can destroy more Galrans!"
"No," Marinette replies, "We MFEs tried to not to hurt anyone, same with Voltron and the Atlas along with our allies. We truly want to help and establish peace. Not cause more bloodshed."
"I don't believe you. You're a part of the people who left us vulnerable to more attacks from Voltron haters. Left us for decaphoebs. And now you show up to 'help' after the fact."
Shiro calmly replies, "Yes we disappeared due to some issues, but we are back and we will end this war."
The Galran only snorts in disbelief.
Suddenly a communication comes through, "exu…..vexus….exu…..vexus….exu… vexus…exu…vexus."
"What is that sound?" Shiro asks Lahn.
"That is the sound of the sentires distress signal. You didn't hurt them too, did you?"
"No of course not!" Marinette cries, appalled at the idea.
"Then where is it coming from, if we didn't destroy any sentries," Lance asks.
Lahn looks at the screen depicting the sound and he gasps, "That is from our ships sent out to get more supplies. We thought everyone was dead when we did not hear from them."
"Then we should see if there are any survivors," Shiro advises.
Allura adds, "Take Marinette and Adam with you. I can spare two people from the process of helping these Galrans. And also take Lahn with you. I doubt the Galrans will listen to Voltron…"
"I am not going anywhere with you deserters!" hisses Lahn.
"What if your Emperor ordered it?" says Lotor coming into the room.
"Emperor Lotor? But we thought you were…."
"Dead? There was a slight mishap and me and Voltron disappeared. But worry not, I have no intention of doing it again. I plan to unite the Empire with Voltrons help and establish peace. So please go with them."
"But why didn't you appear before us and instead take us down."
Lotor smiles, "Victory or Death is the Galra way. I knew you wouldn't give up your base even if the Emperor asked for it. Because it is simply not the Galran way to surrender especially not when you have become quite the conquer."
Lahn hangs his head in shame.
"Do not be ashamed of following the tradition that was set by our forefathers. Together you and I can change it and allow peace and prosperity to happen side by side. So go with Voltron and find out what happened to our fellow Galra."
"Yes your majesty." Lahn says, making his posture a respectful bow.
And so Lahn accompanies them to where the ship is located by riding in Shiro's lion. Once arriving at the ship, debris floats everywhere. Only one ship remains intact and when Shiro opens communication all they hear is the same code repeating.
"This is Shiro of the Black Lion of the Voltron Coalition, do you respond?"
But nothing comes from the other end of the communication except the same code repeating itself. Almost like a mantra, but not as motivational. Foreboding fills his whole body as the code still repeats itself.
Lahn tries, "This is Warlord Lahn, are you okay? What happened?"
Still nothing except the same code repeats.
"We need to go into the ship and see if there are any survivors and help them in any way." Shiro breaks the silence.
"Have you seen any alien horror movies? Something bad happened on that ship." Lance comments a little freaked out.
Marinette replies, "I agree with Lance. There could be no survivors and whatever hunted the crew could hunt us."
"But if there are people in there we have to help," Pidge says.
Keith nods, "Yeah we can't be sure until we go into the ship."
Going closer to the ship the sense of foreboding gets even stronger. It sends chills up his spine and he shudders.
Once inside the ship it's completely dark except for the flashlights on their suits making the ship visible.
"Alright Lance, Marinette and Hunk search the left side of the ship. Me, Pidge, Lahn and Adam will head to the bridge and Keith you search the right side of the ship. See if you can find anything."
Noting that he is alone, but he doesn't complain. Given his attitude to Voltron in the past it would make sense Shiro would send him alone. He's the lone wolf. Heading right he also notes that this ship doesn't look damaged in any way like the other ship debris floating outside.
Going further is when he sees the bodies of Galra and Sentries strewn about. Most of them are mangled and parts are ripped off. Seeing the bodies makes flashes of something he long since buried resurface. His breath becomes shortened and quicked, his heart hammers and sweat drips down his face. He closes his eyes but the memories keep flashing of when Hawkmoth has killed his teammates and almost had killed him if he hadn't been so angry and upset making him unpredictable.
He sees their bodies strewn on the ground around Hawkmoths lair and his villainous laughter ringing through the air. His voice gloating as he goes to take off Chat's ring. And then after he takes it revealing a dead Adrien but Hawkmoth doesn't care and instead detransforms and laughs that everything will be worth it because he will have the Ladybug miraculous and undo all this damage. He shudders as he remembers Ladytime speeding up the timeline and he sees the universe eventually collapse in on itself making this reality become nothing.
He remembers taking the time Miraculous she got him and transforming and going to the point where Hawkmoth is reveling in his victory.
His heart hammers even faster as he remembers the fight, how mad and upset he was, using all his strength and defeating Hawkmoth once and for all. Driven by his sadness and anger he didn't realize the damage he had done was fatal until he saw Hawkmoth's body not move, no chest heaving for breath. "You fight like a Galra soldier," rings in his mind as the memory flashes over and over again.
Until, "Keith, Lance and Hunk saw something be advised…"
Taking a shuddering breath and opening his eyes, he forces himself to go through the debris and past the dead floating on the ship. He's grateful no one saw him break down and that Pidge's voice was able to bring him out of the painful memories. Moving forward he breaths in repetition making his heart calm down as well as his mind.
He also reminds himself that Adrien, Chloe, Kagami and Zoe are all safe back at the base. But then he wonders why Pidge's voice cut off. It's strange to stay the least. His heart rate picks up and his mind but can't help flash back to the memory of Adrien and the others dead. Quickly he breathes in and out trying to steady his heart. After all, Pidge didn't scream.
Continuing down the corridor through the debris and floating bodies he sees a sentry.
"Who are you?" it says in a crackly voice.
"I'm Keith, paladin of the Red Lion…."
"You smell like Galra, where are the others?"
"Smell like…" Keith shakes his head, "The others are safe back at Lahn's base."
"Good." says the sentry and suddenly the sentry body is swiftly pushed away revealing a monster. It growls and lunges toward him. Heart racing he quickly uses his jetpack to avoid the lunge. And then he zooms down the corridor before the monster has a chance to reorient itself.
Racing through the corridors he eventually finds the bridge and goes in.
"Keith you okay?" Shiro asks in concern.
"Yeah," He says despite his mental state stating otherwise. His heart is still pounding and his mind is once again flashing to unpleasant memories.
"What did you see?" Pidge questions.
Straightening himself and regulating his breathing to be more calm, "I assume whatever it was that Lance, Hunk and Marinette saw."
"You mean the monster." Marinette confirms.
"Yeah."
"This is all my fault."
"How is it your fault?"
"Me and Krolia let that thing out in order to escape. I already informed everyone here, but it's basically a superweapon designed to kill Galra."
Keith shudders. No wonder it tried to attack him, he is part Galra while Lance, Marinette and Hunk escaped unscathed because they have none. He should have come to this conclusion a long time ago because the blades had a knife like his and that, he shudders again, comment from Zarkon and the blades made him fight for the knife in the Trials of Marmora.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Shiro asks.
Before he can respond something pounds at the door. He flinches, not noticing Shiro grow more concerned for him and his well being.
"Pidge initiate the self-destruct sequence! Shiro can you teleport us all out to safety before this thing…." Marinette yells.
"On it!" Shrio shouts, interrupting Marinette.
One by one all of them are transported out, leaving Keith by the time the monster thrusts open the doors. Quickly they teleport out of the and releases a breath of relief. The ship explodes seconds afterward engulfing the debris from the other ships.
A Few Moments Later:
Lahn announces, "Voltron helped me once before and I doubted their intentions and now they have helped me again escape the clutches of death. I now realize that though we have often warred on different sides, Voltron truly cares for us and stand by our Emperor. I will join the Voltron Coalition and I encourage you to do the same for stability and peace."
The crowd cheers but Keith still can't shake the trauma of the ship, however he smiles along with his fellow Paladins who are reveling in the victory of being closer to establishing peace.