"We'll be arriving at the Balmera soon." Started Allura, "Liberating these Balmerans from Zarkon's grasp will not be easy."
"So what's the plan? We go in there and just— pow, pow, pow!" Said Lance making finger guns, "And free the prisoners?"
"What was that noise?" Asked Keith a little amused.
"Laser guns." Responded Lance smirking.
Hunk laughed, "No, Lance, I think you mean bow, bow, bow!" He paused, "Bow!"
Lance rolled his eyes, "That sounds like fireworks."
"Technically," Started Pidge, "They're more like— ba-choo, ba-choo, ba-choo!"
I laughed, "I agree with Pidge on this one."
"Okay," Scolded Shiro, "Enough with the bad sound effects. Besides it's more like—" He got on his knees, "Blam, blam, blam!"
"What?" Asked Keith in disbelief.
"You're crazy." Said Pidge.
"Yeah, now way." Added Lance and I.
"Wrong." Agreed Hunk.
Allura shook her head, "Paladins, focus."
"Besides," Started Hunk, "We can't just shoot at the Galra. This Balmera, it's, like, alive. And from what we've seen, it doesn't look very good."
"Yes," Agreed Coran, "It's an atrocity what the Galra have been doing to this grand beast. Stealing its crystals, it's very life force, without ever performing the energy rejuvenation ceremonies to heal it."
"After seeing Shay's people enslaved, it made me realize how bad Zarkon really is. And we're the only ones who can stop him."
"Okay," Said Shiro, "So we can't go into the tunnels guns blazing. Plan B. We figure out how to draw the Galra up to the surface and battle them out there."
"Wait," Interrupted Hunk, "I know. If we attack all of this big mining stuff on the surface, the Galra troops will have to come out to defend it. Then we beat them up, head down to the tunnels, Voltron saves the day."
"How will we know how many are left down in the tunnels?" I asked.
Allura pursed her lips, "We can track the Galra and the Balmerans using Biothermal Life Indicator Point Technology."
"Oh!" Exclaimed Pidge fixing her glasses, "BLIP tech!" She paused, "It's an acronym."
"One of you will need to fly around the Balmera and drop sensors into the shafts on each side." Continued Allura, "Then we'll be able to see where the Galra and the Balmerans are. There are already sensors built into your suits."
"I can do it." Volunteered Pidge, "I just modified the Green Lion with the invisible maze's cloaking ability. I should be able to fly around unnoticed."
Coran pulled up a picture of a Galra structure on the Balmera, "That's there main power generator." He informed, "If you take that down, it will severely weaken their defenses."
"We'll stay in cloud cover and give tactical support." Said Allura, "With the Castle's defenses weakened from Sendak's crystal, we won't be of much help to you."
Shiro nodded, "I'll take out the power generator. Keith, Lance, Hunk, you take out these big mining rigs around the area."
"Yeah!" Shouted Hunk pumping his fist, "Okay, let's do this! Let's go kick some alien butt!"
"Y/N," Continued Shiro, "I want you to go with Keith in the Red Lion. I'm sorry there isn't some sort of seat for you to sit in, but we might need you out there."
I nodded my head and turned towards Keith, "You better hope that there's a handlebar in there. I'll sit in your lap if I have to, but I am not falling on the ground again."
~~In the Red Lion
"Seriously, Keith? No handle?"
"I'm sorry. I didn't think you'd be riding with me again."
"Well, here I am. Either scooch or get up and let me pilot."
"Red won't let you pilot."
"Then scooch."
He huffed and scooted over, making just enough room for me to sit. Suddenly, Lance popped up over the command console, "You think the Balmerans will have a parade for us after we've freed everybody?"
Keith rolled his eyes, "It's not about the glory, Lance. It's about freeing prisoners from Zarkon."
"No, I know, I know. But still. When they—"
Before he could finish, Keith ended the video transmission and we were flying towards the mining rigs.
"Does anything the Galra own not shoot lasers?" I asked gripping the sides of the seat.
Keith laughed, "It'll be the day when they do. Now, stop holding onto the seat so hard, your knuckles are turning white."
I let go of my grip and focused back outside, "...Sorry."
"Okay," Started Shiro, "This is it. Get your heads in the game. Remember, the Balmera is a living creature. Make sure you pinpoint only the Galra installations and not it's surface."
"Initiating cloak." Said Pidge, the Green Lion suddenly hidden from our eyes.
As she threw down the BLIP tech into the caves, the rest of us started destroying the Galra installations. Well, I was just a passenger enjoying the occasional laser being fired straight at me. Then, as if out of no where, Keith fired lava from his lion.
"Where did that come from?!" I asked in disbelief.
"Whoa!" He yelled shaking his head, "Did you guys just see that? I got fire power!"
"Hey!" Whined Lance, "I want that!"
Suddenly, one of the mining rigs started to fall and Hunk swooped down in the Yellow Lion to slow it down.
"Hey!" He yelled, "We can let this thing hurt the Balmera!"
"I think my lion knows what to do!" Exclaimed Lance.
He flew in front of the mining rig, and just like Keith fired lava, Lance fired ice, completely stopping the thing from moving.
"Aw, snap! These rays are super cool, just like me!" Yelled Lance.
I rolled my eyes, "That's a matter of opinion. Where are all the troops?"
Keith shrugged, "They're not coming to the surface."
Hunk popped up on a video transmission, "Yeah, I remember seeing a lot of Galra guys down in the mines."
Suddenly, Allura's voice was talking to us on the intercom, "We've located a hangar full of Galra fighters just below the surface. Someone has to take those out before they can launch."
Shiro grunted, "They're luring us down, but we have no choice. Keith, Lance, and Y/N, you guys hit the hangar. Hunk, head to the prison to rescue Shay and the other Balmerans. Pidge and I will track down the Galra soldiers."
"Yes, sir." Said Keith flying towards the Hangar.
~~In the hangar
We hopped out of the Red Lion and crouched behind a rock, Lance not much farther behind.
"The entire hangar's only being guarded by a few sentries." Informed Keith. He pulled out his bayard and it turned into a katar, "Let's go!"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Whispered Lance grabbing Keith by the neck of his suit, "Cool your jets, Keith! Don't you remember all that stuff about this Balmera thing being a sensitive animal?"
"Oh... right."
"Yeah, so we can't just blow things up like a psycho."
"You got a better idea?"
"He might not," I interrupted, "But I do. Why don't we sneak into the control room to shut down the bay doors? That'll trap the ships in."
"Hey," Said Lance, "I was gonna say that!"
"Guess I beat you to it, loverboy."
He stared at me, scowling, "I hated it when you called me that."
"Which gives me all the more reason to do it."
Keith muttered something under his breath and continued back to the conversation, "That... actually is a better idea, Y/N."
And with that, we started to sneak into the control room. We crawled through the vents and finally reached our destination.
Lance shook his head, "No, no. It's over here."
"I know what I'm doing." Shot back Keith. They had a small staring contest and finally Keith started to cut into the ceiling. Lance jumped down and smashed the sentry at the control panel.
"Keep an eye out for those guards," Started Lance watching Keith swing down from the vents, "I'll see if I can find a way to shut the hangar doors."
Keith nodded and put his hand on my shoulder, guiding us towards the window.
Suddenly Lance grunted, "I don't know what I'm doing here. It's all Galra gibberish."
Keith rolled his eyes and walked over, "Let me see."
He stared at the control panel, then focused on a symbol smack dab in the middle. He pressed it slowly and the hangar doors began to shut.
"Whoa!" Exclaimed Lance, "How'd you do that?"
Keith shrugged, "I just put my hand on the handprint."
Before they could continue their conversation, Allura started talking to us on the coms, "Paladins, are you there? The Galra troops are moving down the tunnels. It looks like they're going down toward the center."
"They must be headed to the core of the Balmera." Explained Hunk, "That's where they're holding Shay."
"They're drawing us into an ambush," Sighed Shiro, "But we don't have a choice if we want to save Shay. We have to follow. Lance, Y/N, and Keith, get to the core. I think we're gonna need everyone together to get through this firefight."
"Copy that." Said Lance, "We're on our way."
***
Sentries fired at us and I crouched next to Lance.
"Their shooting is destroying the Balmera," I grunted, "We gotta do something."
"Well," Started Lance, "We can't shoot back. It'll just make it worse."
Then, something dawned upon Lance and he gave Keith a series of hand signals that he was supposed to follow. Keith, being completely clueless to this kind of stuff, put his hands out as if to say, 'What?', looked out to where the sentries were shooting, and climbed the ladder behind him. Lance ran up to the opening, did a weird dance, and distracted the sentries. Suddenly out of nowhere, Keith jumped down and destroyed every last sentry.
"Thanks for your help, Y/N." Groaned Lance.
"Hey, don't get mad at me!" I shot back defensively, "No one communicated with me otherwise I would've. Plus, Keith seemed to have it under control."
***
"Where are the Galra?" Asked Shiro as we ran into the area of the core, "If this is an ambush, they should be here waiting for us."
Then, as if on cue, the exits started to close, locking us in.
"Not an ambush." Sighed Hunk, "More like a trap."
"Whatever it is, keep your guard up." Said Keith.
I looked over to see a Balmeran, my guess is Shay, standing close to Hunk.
"The Galra," She started, "They gained knowledge that you would return to the Balmera."
"How?" Asked Pidge.
"I know not. But they set this trap just for you. I was the bait."
Shiro shook his head, "Who could've possibly known that we were heading here to save Shay?"
"Rolo!" Cursed Hunk, "Those liars must've told Zarkon."
"We have to figure out how to get out of here." Continued Shiro.
"Wait!" Exclaimed Lance, "We have a giant castle ship hovering in the sky. Allura, can you please come get us?"
Keith crossed his arms, "How do you expect her to do that, genius?"
"I don't know, maybe they got teleporters or something."
"We're quite occupied at the moment." Started Allura over the coms, "We're completely surrounded by Galra ships and we're taking heavy fire!" She paused, "Paladins, you need to get out of there as soon as you can!"
"This is it!" Cried Lance, "We're gonna die in here. I can say bye-bye to that parade."
"Get it together guys." Scolded Shiro, "Allura, we'll get there as soon as we can."
"Perhaps," Interrupted Shay, "My people can help us get out."
She placed her hand on the core of the Balmera and closed her eyes, "This is how we communicate. The Balmera senses our vibrations and sends a message to those in the tunnel."
"Are you sure someone will be able to hear your..." I paused, "Hand... from all the way down here?"
"The Balmera will deliver the message."
The core started to glow and the Balmera began to make soft, graceful noises. We all stared at Shay, waiting for her to tell us if it worked.
"So?" I asked.
She turned to me, "We will only know in time, but the Balmera is not one to let us down."
I nodded my head, "Allura, how are you doing up there?"
She grunted through the intercoms, most likely taking another hit, "The lions are in danger! You must get back to them immediately! Paladins, do you copy? There's a battle cruiser locked onto us. If it fires its ion cannon, I don't know if we can survive."
"We're trying Allura." Said Lance, "Shay's pressing her hand against a wall, which apparently sends vibrations to the other rock people who... vibrate back or something? Hand talking? I guess the answer to your question is, 'Yes, we copy.'"
Shiro focused on Shay, "Shay, are you sure the Balmera is sending your message?"
No response. She was too focused. Suddenly, one of the doors broke open, and Shay's family walked through the doorway.
"Rax!" She exclaimed.
"We must make haste." Explained Rax, "We know a shortcut through the tunnels."
We all nodded and followed them out.
***
"Paladins hurry!" Yelled Allura, "They're taking off with the lions!"
I grunted and ran as fast as I could to the speeder. I hopped in just after Keith and we were off, finally making it to the Red Lion.
"Guys," Started Shiro, "Did everyone make it to the lions in time?"
Lance popped up on a video transmission just above the command console, "Come on, Shiro. Who do you think your dealing with, a bunch of amateurs?"
Before he could answer, Lance ran into one of the Galra installations.
"Do you really want me to answer that?" Asked Shiro.
"No." Groaned Lance.
We flew towards the Galra fighters and one by one took them out.
"God, how many of them are there?" I asked Keith.
"I don't know," He responded, "But hopefully only a few after this."
"Paladins!" Yelled Allura, "I need you immediately! Five more ticks and we're finished!"
I grunted, "We're working on it, Allura. Almost there."
Shiro sighed heavily, "Okay, team. Let's form Voltron!"
Seeing Voltron being formed is one thing, but being in one of the lions as Voltron is forming is something that'll never get old.
Voltron flew higher into the atmosphere, approaching the battle cruiser. We lifted it so it's accuracy was off, and it stopped firing the canon completely.
Then, Allura fired a laser from the Castle and the entire battle cruiser went up in flames.
"Nice shot, Princess!" Exclaimed Pidge.
"Yeah!" Shouted Lance, "The parade's back on!"
I smiled and put my hand on Keith's shoulder, "Nice job."
He gave me a faint smile back and sighed, "Mission accomplished."
"And just in the tick of time." Added Allura, "The Castle's defenses are battered and we'll need to fully recharge."
Suddenly, something entered the atmosphere, dangerously close to crashing into the Balmera.
I gripped Keith's shoulder harder without realizing and he winced.
I quickly let go and sighed, "Sorry... it's just... do you guys ever get a break?"
He shook his head, "Nope."
And with that, the object crashed into the Balmera.
"What the heck is that?" Asked Lance.
"Trouble." Answered Shiro gravely.