Chapter Text
It’s been a couple of weeks since our fight on Naxzela, we have been on countless missions led by confidential information only acquired by the old emperor protem, Lotor. He has been our prisoner on the castle, since he saved us all.
We landed the castle on Naxzela for some current ground, it has been a while since we have been on ground for a long period of time, somewhere that is not Olkarion that is.
“Oh man! Going on missions is a lot easier when somebody gives you all the information you need before you get there.” Hunk sighs happily as we chill in the lounge.
“And yet you still manage to run your lion into a wall.” i say mockingly.
“Yeah, information is one thing. Ability is something completely different.” Hunk defends himself with no shame and i smile.
*
“It may be time to consider taking the next step.”
“I’m still not comfortable with this. It just doesn’t feel right.” Allura groans, her eyes narrowing and brows furrowing.
We know Shiro means negotiating with Lotor, but they don’t share anything with us. The only reason Allura can come along is because it's her ship, otherwise Shiro would have banned us all from being near the prisoner. Something about ‘I am the leader, I will negotiate with our prisoner.’
Which brings up a new suspension of Shiro that I don't believe is Shiro.
I don’t like being treated as a footsoldier, only knowing what is relevant for me to know.
Which i have complained about to Keith…numerous times.
***
“You intel checked out.” Shiro says as a salutation.
“You still feign surprise.” our prisoner says, smiling, his smile soon turning to a grin. “All of the information I've given, proven correct. Every target i have provided, easily dispatched and yet you still look at me–”
“As if you were the leader of the most bloodthirsty race of murderers this universe has ever known?” I tell him strongly feigning my statement as a rhetorical question.
“Can people not change?” he says lighter, and i have to hold in a snort. He must be joking.
He continues to try and explain his intention milking the friendship of our fathers for his own gain. I don’t loosen my glare. Even Though it isn’t the first time that I have assumed someone’s character by their parentage, Keith has shown he is much more than his Galra parentage. Why can’t I believe the same for Lotor? Because i don’t know him? Because his father is the worst of them all?
He tells us that his plan is simply to provide quintessence for the empire. With an endless supply of it, they would give up the war. The universe will find peace once more, at Lotor’s hand with the aid of Voltron I have no doubt.
“Since recovering the comet, I haven't been the least bit aggressive.”
“What about your generals?” I say, contradicting him.
“A simple misunderstanding. I had no idea our paths would cross. What would i gain by fighting you?” I hate him, i hate his smooth calculated words, i hate that he has managed to turn this interrogation to his favour. “My sole focus has been finding a way to enter the zone between realities.”
My brows furrow for a second. “Sounds like you are your father’s son.”
That gains a real reaction from him as he stands in outrage. “It was your father who led the scientific exploration that discovered quintessence. An exploration i might add that resulted in the creation of Voltron.”
*
“I saved your lives, and the lives of all your comrades. I have given you target after target in the Galra Empire, and all of them have been dismantled or destroyed at no cost of life to you.'' I know he is right… ever since saving us on Naxzela he has shown that he can be truthful, all of his intel has led to a dent to the Empire, he is helping us win the war, from the shadows.
“All i ask is to be judged by my actions rather than your preconceptions of my race.” I did that once, for Keith, it is not an unreasonable ask… so why is it so hard to do the same for Lotor? He narrows his golden eyes and blue irises at me… when did his eyes get descriptive?
“Clearly Princess, you are not ready to end this war.”
***
“Lura? The meeting is about to start.”
“Lura?'' She turns her head half to face me, a brow raised but a small smile tugging at her lips, betraying the glare she is trying to send me.
“Yeah, a nickname from Allura… no? I can just call you Allura then but i think we are past titles now so don’t expect me to call you Princess.'' I tell her, placing a hand on my hip in sass. She giggles from her spot.
“Lura works for me. Thank you, Lance.” I shrug, smiling and make my way towards her position.
“I’m almost ready. If I am expected to lead this, I need to know what I am talking about.”
“Yeah, but no one expects you to memorise everything, besides you know i can always help you out if you need to share the load.” she smiles at me gratefully.
“One of these days, I might actually take you up on the offer.”
Pidge’s face pops up on the screen. “Allura, everyone’s ready.”
*
“As of today, our rebel forces have taken control of one-third of the former Galra Empire. But we cannot grow complacent–” Lura starts, her voice confident yet I remember seeing her nerves. We all stand behind and beside one another as she talks to the leading forces of the coalition. We have grown a lot over the months, with a lot of members fighting against the Galra.
“The rebel coalition is winning because of you Princess, you and Voltron.” the leader speaking isn’t wrong, it was the reappearance of her and Voltron that brought hope to the oppressed.
As he talks on about the hope and freedom that Voltron has given him and his people, I quickly glance at Keith standing beside Kolivan. He looks so important standing there, so serious.
“Thank you, we will reconvene soon. Until then.” Lura ends the call, leaving only the line to Kolivan and Keith open.
“The information we have received from Lotor has consistently checked out.” He confirms.
“With all these successful missions taking place in such a short period of time. It won’t be long before the Galra realise we’re using an inside source.” Pidge remarks.
“That's true, we should expect the enemy to change protocols soon.” Kolivan confirms. I smile proudly before jumping in.
“Then we need to act fast and hit as many targets as possible.”
Shiro agrees and promises we will talk to Lotor to see what else he can give us.
“I can’t stop thinking that we might be an unwitting part of a much larger ulterior motive.” Lura glances at Shiro, for once her face lined with visible doubt. I can see Lotor gets under her skin, I just hope she is not being cautious due to her preconceptions of the Galra, she has been before. Daring my last glance at said half-Galra in question. His eye catches mine, a smile tugging at his lips, and my heart jumps in my ribcage.
***
We find the Galra prince splayed on his prison bed, staring up at the ceiling, mumbling at himself. I cough to announce our presence and he drags himself upright. “Hello to you too, Princess.” He enjoys this far too much.
***
“Thank you for helping us get the fleet back in order. They were pretty banged up after the invasion.” Nyma tells Matt and i after we have been helping out with technical and engineering aspects. It was our pleasure.
“We rebooted the entire targeting system in this one” Matt gestures to a shop behind us, explaining how we boost their accuracy as I did some bragging of my own for him gesturing to another ship and explaining how he boosted the thrusters.
After showing her our touches to Beezer, Rolo opens up the craft door.
“Pidge, you got a message incoming.”
When the message channel opens up, Shiro and Allura come into view. “We have a lead on commander Holt.”
“Our father?” i ask, my voice a bit gaspy.
“Because your father was considered a valuable scientific asset, he was moved to a remote prison with others like him.” Allura explains her eyes narrowing in judgement. “They’re being forced to work for the Galra Empire.”
“According to Lotor he’s still at the prison, but he could be transferred at any moment.” Shiro supplies and I feel the gears running in my mind as my heart speeds up. Shiro tries to reason that as soon as the teludav is ready they can come and meet us but I run out the craft before he can order me.
“Send us the coordinates.” I ask before launching out and running to my lion.
***
“What if something’s happened to him, Matt? What if–” Pidge starts and I stop them before they spiral, placing a hand on their shoulder.
“We’re gonna bring Dad back, I promise” I reassure them. I don’t know how I am going to explain to our father how we have found ourselves smack dab in the war. I hope we won’t be angry that I didn't try to keep Pidge out of it when i had the chance… not that they wouldn’t have listened.
*
“This place is going to have security. We’re going to go headfirst into that?” Rolo asks and a spark of pride lights when Pidge replies “That’s why we have cloaking.” coolest sibling ever.
We fly through a barrier of sorts and suddenly alarms start blaring.
“That doesn’t sound good.” Rolo comments and I bite back my reply.
Galra fighters find us fast, shooting at the green lion, making pidge dodge the shots and shaking us around in the cockpit.
“Change of plans, i’m going to have to drop you off!!” they scream. Flying higher up so that we are high enough to safely jetpack down without the fighters shooting at us.
“Everybody, fire jetpacks!” I yell over the sound of wind blaring in my ears. I hear everyone fire their jetpacks, and panic the moment mine malfunctions.
“Something’s wrong! My pack’s not working!” I start screaming in panic as the ground starts to look clearer.
My screaming interrupted as something pulls at me and shoots me towards Beezer. I don’t let go of him until we are on the ground, safe and sound. Even then, I am reluctant to let go.
“You know you can let go of him now.”
“I’d rather not.”
*
We are careful sneaking our way towards the prison, not wanting to alert any guards or sentries of our arrival. All we need to do is find my father and get him out safely.
“Uh, looks like everything is already shut down.” Nyma notices looking up from our hiding spot before the entrance. I peak out.
“What’s going on?”
We are still careful to check all the halls as we go through the prison, Rolo leading us into a big open space. We look down from the railing to see prisoners seated at desks, terrified and confused. Some hiding under desks in fear of getting hurt.
“Everyone relax.”
“Don’t hurt us.” One of the prisoners exclaims.
“No one’s here to hurt you.” Nyma reassures them.
“You’re not with the scary lady? She told us to stay inside, if we went out, we’d be hurt.” the same alien from before asks.
“We're here to rescue you. And no one is here now.” I explain. Noting a scary lady to ask Pidge later.
“Come on, we’re leaving.” Nyma tells them, ready to lead them out. But I am not ready to go yet, I don’t see my father among them.
“Is this everyone?” I ask desperately.
“No, there are others back in the cells.” the alien replies. A spite of hope springing back up as I run to the cells while Nyma and Rolo usher them all out.
I open the cell doors and am met with many confused prisoners. “Hello? Dad? Are you here?”
“Is- is there another human here?'' I ask the fleeing scientists. Not one answers me, instead I search all the cells, one by one. When the last one comes up I take a deep breath… nothing… he’s not here. We missed him… he’s not here, and now I have to tell Pidge we were too late.
Rolo updated me on the change of plans and i run to meet them at the escape pod bay. I climb on to the craft.
“Let’s go.” Nyma look at me confused “but where’s-”
“I said let’s go!” I look away before I can see her face turn to pity. I don’t need her pity. I needed to find my father.
We are on the craft as the thrusters start to die out, some scientists near us are mumbling out prayers to various gods, others on the verge of tears.
“Something’s wrong.” I note and Nyma shoots me a no shit glare.
“The thrusters are maxed out!” Rolo tells us from the cockpit. He radio’s Pidge about our situation and they promise a pick up.
They catch us right on time. When we are in the green lion I leave Nyma and Rolo with the scientists as they start to realise they are in a lion of Voltron.
“Matt! Matt! Did you find him?” my little siblings face lights up and it hurts knowing how it will drop in a moment's time.
“I’m sorry Pidge.” They run for the doors.
“No! Dad! Dad, where are you?” yelling in denial, I hold them in place
“He wasn’t there.” i hold on to them with both hands and they fall limp in my arms. “He was already gone.”
I hold them as they start to cry. “No… no…”
Hugging them as they fall to the ground on their knees. “Don’t give up Pidge. We know dad’s alive. We’ll find him.” I tell them as they continue to cry.
**
I can feel the team's eyes on Pidge and I. Pidge not having lifted their head from their hugged knees. The team ready to support them, but not knowing how yet. Comforting words not really having any effect.
Electronic beeping gets our attention, lifting us away from our grief.
Zarkons face shows up on the Castle screen. It’s a communication.
“Paladins of Voltron. I am making a one time offer. I have someone of value to you.” He moves to show us our father, in the hands of 3 women, wearing Lotor’s colours… his generals… they betrayed him to save their heads and now they are using our father as a bargaining ship for their safety.
Pidge stands up from their chair.
“Dad!”
“I will hand him over, and in exchange you give me my son Lotor.”