Voltron: Legendary Defender Rewritten

by AIR_008

Summary:

I held so much love for Dreamwork's Voltron and, like many of my fellow fandom followers, was completely crushed by how the series progressed and ultimately ended. I had so many issues with many aspects of the unreasonable choices I felt were made writing wise and while I was completely disheartened for many years, I've come to realize that if the show had simply gone in a better direction then it's potential could've been realized.

So I am rewriting the series in it's entirety, episode by episode. While some episodes may be mostly unchanged there will be many writing choices that I will tweak because I feel they respect a character and their growth and help make the story more fluid.

I hope you enjoy what I write and kudos/comments of any kind will help keep my motivation to continue this project <3

Notes:

Episodes will show their title in parenthesis and may be split up into several chapters for easier reading and story flow :)

Chapter 1: (The Rise of Voltron) - Mission Failures & Aliens

Galaxy Garrison Mission Statement
Kerberos Lunar Expedition
Date: September 15, 2313

Mission Designation: KERBEROS-1
Vessel: *IGS Prometheus
Mission Duration: 17 Weeks (Launch Date: April 7, 2313)
Destination: Lunar Body "Kerberos" – Outer Plutonian Orbit, Sector 14-G

Crew Manifest:

• Pilot: Commander Takashi Shirogane  PRESUMED DEAD
  
  
• Communications Officer: Lieutenant Matthew Holt PRESUMED DEAD
  
  
• Senior Science Officer / Chief Engineer: Dr. Samuel Holt PRESUMED DEAD

Mission Overview:

The Intergalactic Spacecraft Prometheus, en route for over five months, was planned to arrive at Kerberos — an ice covered lunar body of Pluto — by June 13, 2313. The mission’s objective was to collect and analyze permafrost samples to investigate ancient organic compounds and cryogenic conditions. However the aforementioned vessel failed to return communications and has been presumably lost due to pilot and/or crew error, marking this mission as a failure.

 

 

---

 

 

 

The Galaxy Garrison had announced the Kerberos mission to be their most ambitious undertaking yet. Said to be completely uninhabitable and lacking in a breathable atmosphere, they had carefully trained the crew members for a journey that would take at least 2 months to simply arrive on the 3rd Plutonian moon. This same mission would’ve taken over 6 months just a century prior, but the Garrison prided itself with having the most brilliant minds in the world to continue advancing Earth’s space faring technology. It’s no wonder the strategically placed desert base had opened its doors decades prior to help cultivate the young and talented to become the next generation of space explorers…

 

Emotions had been so high and optimistic on those initial 8 weeks. Dr. Holt had even joked about getting used to eating frozen peas on their way to the icy moon. A stark difference to their regular dinner nights. Although this time was special, considering their impending launch and the celebration of Matt’s kid sister, Katie, who had just turned 14 years old. Of course a lovingly cooked meal by Colleen Holt was exactly what they needed to remind them of home. Shiro took it with stride as his usual demeanor remained hopeful. But Matt had groaned soundly wishing to be home in good old northeastern Nebraska. Shiro, internally, couldn't help but agree as the boredom quickly consumed their enthusiasm. 

 

However, just as quickly, they touched down the icy surface and excitedly took in their surroundings, not forgetting to get to work. The samples had been easy enough to take using their microgravity coring drill, specifically designed to anchor under little to no gravity conditions. A piece of equipment which Matt considerably enjoyed rambling about. Sam typed and logged away at their communications panel, ensuring the research was thoroughly documented to be further studied upon their return. As Shiro watched Matt collect their newest and possibly final ice sample he heard Sam chime in.

“Easy there, son. The ice may be frozen solid, but is still delicate.”

Too engrossed to feel much caution, Matt gushed to Shiro, “Amazing…Isn’t this exciting?!”

“You guys get a little more excited about ice samples than I do.” A chuckle left him but seeing his crew member's excitement tugged a smile to the corner of his lips.

Sam shook his head easily, “This is history in the making kiddo. Not only have we traveled farther than any human, but these samples could hold clues towards the existence of life outside Earth.”

Matt’s eyes gleamed wide with realization, “Think about it, Dad. We could be the first people to meet aliens!”

Sam nudged his son playfully with his shoulder, a sigh leaving his nose, “My life’s work would be complete.”

 

The younger men both watched the older scientist fondly as the slippery frost under their soles began to crack and rumble. Dr. Holt snapped away from his day dream wondering out loud if the increasing vibrations could be seismic activity. Shiro, however, sensed danger, natural or not.

“We should get back to the ship.” His tone left no room for questioning.

 

He turned back to notice Sam and Matt petrified at the sight of an impossibly massive space craft. Its dark metallic surface, evidently, anything but friendly.

“Wha-? What is that?! It can’t be…” Sam staggered back, slightly jostling his glasses under his helmet.

“Run! Come on, RUN!”

 

Although they had already felt the moon’s percentile gravity, suddenly their limbs began to drift higher and higher into the air. The deafening low pitch of a blindingly purple beam enveloped all three men as they were violently sucked into the threatening ship. They landed unceremoniously on the ground of cargo doors and forcefully placed into alien restraints. Although thrown about, Shiro quickly noticed the presence of several tall and domineering humanoids wearing red and black armored suits; dawning purplish complexions that range from fur-like to bald; and unnervingly piercing yellow eyes accompanied by pointed ears. A floating hologram emitted the only source of light in front of what Shiro assumed to be a commanding officer to this “race.” 

“Emperor Zarkon, we were scouting system X-9Y as ordered when we apprehended these primitive scientists. I don’t believe they have or know anything useful to us.”

“Take them back to the main fleet for interrogation. The Druids will be able to dissect what they know.” 

 

Shiro couldn’t suppress a shiver as he heard the deep baritone of the hologram voice, causing his skin to break out in goose bumps. He couldn’t even understand this alien language but a cold bead of sweat down the nape of his exposed neck warned him of their impending danger. He surged forward, knees bent solidly on the cold hard surface as his wrists ached, cuffed behind him.

“Please, we come from a peaceful planet! W-we mean you no harm!” He prayed his words would be understood, “We are unarmed-!”

 

A sudden strike to his head blindsided him as he fell unconscious to the cold floor. Distantly he felt his boots squeak as he was dragged backwards. He wasn’t sure how much time had passed and his thoughts jumbled about painfully in his throbbing head. Finally a cohesive thought landed in the forefront of his mind, “were Matt and Sam safe?” The ringing in his ears hinted at a potential concussion but he forced his bleary eyes open to see what could only be described as horrendous.

 

 

---

 

 

 

 

 Date: May 11, 2314

 

A year had passed since the initial supposed failure of the Kerberos mission. Now, a new crew flew unsteadily through the solar system to rescue a downed vessel on Kerberos. The Pilot, Lance McClain, jerked the controls struggling to keep the course straight. Just behind his commanding seat sat a larger occupant, Engineer Hunk Garrett, whose uneasy face crinkled his blocky eyebrows tightly on a perspiring forehead.

 

Lance’s gangly limbs easily reached the system landing console above as he confidently announced with a smile, “Galaxy Garrison flight log 05-11-14. Beginning descent to Kerberos for rescue mission.”

The ship fell an extra few kilometers and caused Hunk’s stomach to plunge and gurgle more persistently. 

“Augh-. Lance, can you keep this thing steady?” Hunk’s eyes were screwed shut to ward off the nausea.

“Tranqui buddy, I’m just getting a feel for the sticks.” The pilot’s eyes squinted mischievously, “I mean…It’s not like I did this!”

Lance yanked the left stick to the side causing the little ship to shake and free fall sideways for a second. Hunk groaned.

“Or this-!”

 

The motion sick engineer clutched his stomach and attempted to slow his breathing to ward off his greening pallor. He suddenly sits up and lurches his head angrily towards the pilot seat.

“Okay-...Unless you want to wipe beef stroganoff out of all the little nooks and crannies of this thing, you’d better KNOCK IT OFF, MAN!”

 

Off to the right side of the ship sat the shortest member of the group, who up until now, had just watched with growing annoyance as their Pilot continued to aggravate Hunk’s ill stomach. Communications Officer, Pidge Gunderson, nearly lost his glasses with how quickly he snapped his head back towards the monitor's newly lit signal.

“We’ve picked up a distress beacon!”

Lance’s face schooled into that of concentration, “Alright, look alive team! Pidge, track coordinates.”

“Copy-” Pidge quickly tried to type into the data pad but the tiny vessel rumbled unsteadily and alarms began to blare.

Hunk sobbed, “Knock it off, Lance, please-!”

“Oh this one is all you buddy. We’ve got a hydraulic stabilizer out.”

 

Hunk tried to pull up his system's monitor closer but felt the bile begin to rise in his throat.

“Oh no-...”

“Oh, no. Fix now, puke later dude!”

Pidge’s head ached dully with growing frustration, “I lost contact. The shaking is interfering with our sensors.”

Lance yelled back, “COME ON, HUNK!”

“It’s not responding.” Hunk grimaced as he unbuckled his seatbelt to fix the stabilizer on the far-right unit box.

 

Another hologram screen flashed in front of Lance’s eyes.

“Oh, nevermind, fellas. Thar she blows. Preparing for approach on visual.”

Pidge cringed at Lance and felt his cheeks color slightly with unease, “I don’t think that’s advisable with our current mechanical and…gastrointestinal issues.”

“Agreed.” Hunk trembled, holding back another shudder.

“Stop worrying. This baby can take it. Can’t ya, champ?” His affectionate patting on the controls earned him a violent tremble from the ship.

“Uh-see? She was-she nodding” He nodded along feigning poise, “She was nodding…”he says, mostly to himself, then cleared his throat, “Pidge, hail down to them and let them know their ride is here.”

 

Pidge visibly disagreed with Lance’s commanding decision yet struggled to reach the microphone while strapped tight to his seat. Protocol required all crew members to be buckled for safety but Pidge’s stature failed to accommodate.

He unbuckled his belt without second thought, “Attention lunar vessel-” 

 

The ship jerked hard causing Pidge to fall over with a surprised wail and collide with the metal floor.

Lance turned incredulously, “What are you doing?! Buckle your damn belt. And Hunk, stop that shaking!”

“I-I’m try-ah-ah o-oh NO-!” Hunk then barfed unceremoniously into the main gearbox as the rumbling, of course, stopped.

 

Pidge scrunched his nose against the offending smell and grabbed the microphone once more, this time buckling back in.

“Attention lunar vessel, this is Galaxy Garrison Rescue Craft One Viktor Six Three Tango. Coming in for landing and extraction-” He gave Lance an impetulous sidelong glare and whispered into the mic, “Against crew recommendations...”

Lance met the look with a side-eye of his own and rolled his eyes, “Uh, no time for your mutinous comments now, Pidge. They’re going under and we’re going in.”

 

As if their descent hadn’t been risky enough Lance dove steeper towards the icy surface of Kerberos. Completely disregarding a glacial bridge quickly approaching them.

“Look out for that overhang!”

“No worries!” Lance smirked presumptuously, pursing his lips as he spoke, “My first year in flight school, ya know what they called me? They called me “the tailor” because of how I thread the needle.”

 

Both Pidge and Hunk sighed in exasperation.

“Come around come around,” He wrestled to navigate the spacecraft properly, “Come on, come on-!”

 

A loud crunch could be heard from the right wing being ripped off having struck the icy formation. And then both the ship and their stomachs plummeted, at full speed, to the impending surface.

“We lost a wing!”

“Oh, man…”

The shuttle collided hard into the icy terrain and the front monitor cut out as a voice reported, “Simulation Failed.” 

Pidge huffed at Lance, “Nice work, Tailor…”

 

The simulator doors opened to reveal their instructor Commander Iverson who yelled for them to roll out and line up at the ready. Hands clenched behind his back, Iverson acknowledged the other cadets as if Pidge (15), Lance (17), and Hunk (17) weren’t even there.

“Well, let’s see if we can use this complete failure as a lesson for the rest of you students. Can anyone point out the mistakes these three so-called cadets made in the flight simulator.”

An eager cadet spoke up, “The engineer puked in the main gearbox!”

“Yes, as everyone knows-” He approached and closely leaned into Hunk’s face, “Vomit is NOT an approved lubricant for engine systems. What else?”

Another student raised their hand, “The Comm Spec removed his safety harness.”

Then another blurts, “The pilot crashed!”

Iverson’s disdain is palpable, causing the three to shrink self-consciously into their shoulders, “Correct. And worst of all, the whole jump, they’re arguing with each other! Heck-, if you’re going to be this bad individually, you’d better at least be able to work as a team! The Galaxy Garrison exists to turn young cadets, like you, into the next generation of elite Astro-explorers, but these kinds of mental mistakes are exactly what cost the lives of the men on the Kerberos Mission-.”

Pidge interjected rashly, “That’s NOT true, sir!”

Iverson’s eye snapped to the shortest member, “What did you say?”

 

Lance sucked in a breath and quickly covered Pidge’s mouth with his hand to silence whatever else he could say to make their situation worse.

“Sorry, sir! I-I-I think he may have hit his head,” Pidge mumbled angrily under Lance’s gloved hand as he tilted closer into Pidge holding a nervous smile, “W-when he fell out of his chair. But point taken.”

Far from done with his admonishing, Iverson continued, “I hope I don’t need to remind you that the only reason you're here, McClain, is that the best pilot in your class had a disciplinary issue and flunked out. Don’t follow in his footsteps.”

 

Lance deflated as his hand fell heavily away from Pidge’s face. 

 

“Next!”

 

 

---

 

 

 

Later that night Lance was dead set on hitting the small town of Spencer just outside of the Garrison’s campus, even as a reluctant Hunk follows behind.

“We shouldn’t be doing this dude…”

"You heard Commander Iverson. We need to bond as a team. We're going to grab Pidge, hit the town, loosen up, meet some nice girls, maybe—"

 

Although certainly not his first attempt, Lance continued to try and sneak off school grounds and bond with his team. It had been well into their 2nd semester and little to no progress had been made, especially with Pidge, who had been the mysterious new student at the beginning of the school year. Hunk didn’t count, considering he was used to his Cuban friend’s antics since their early academy years. 

“Ya know, Hunk, for someone in a space exploration program, you don’t have much of a sense of adventure.”

“That’s because all of your little “adventures” end up with me in the principal’s office…”

 

They continued through the long sprawl of hallways, past the instructor’s lounge where Lance did his stealthiest ninja impression and jumped into an empty trash can then motioned for Hunk to follow. A ground patrol officer passed outside the pony wall they hid behind, reporting that “L-5 North” was checked and cleared for curfew. Just as the guard stepped around the corner away from them, Lance gracefully leapt out the bin and rushed down the hall. Hunk tried to follow suit but got stuck on his bin’s tight lid and flopped to the ground loudly.

Hunk quickly stands, “I’m fine.” Luckily no one other than Lance heard.

 

Before the two could reach Pidge’s barracks they rounded the corner and saw the small cadet rush out of Iverson’s dark office holding a heavy backpack and quickly making his way to the only restricted exit that led to the roof. 

Lance peered over the corner as he observed Pidge exit suspiciously, “Where is he going?”

 

The young cadet sat quietly with his various monitors set up and headphones at their highest volume, listening to the communication interference. Lance quietly toed over as the larger Samoan teen crawled slowly behind. A little glimmer flickered in his blue eyes as an idea quickly hatched. He knelt down just a hair breaths away from Pidge's sitting form, a roguish smile stretching his lips. Pidge remained unaware even as long fingers gently lifted the right earbud and suddenly whispered a ticklish voice into his ear.

“You come out here to rock out?” The Latino boy held back a satisfied chuckle at the other’s startled and girlish scream.

 

Pidge grunted then registers that the intruders are just his teammates. Unsurprised, yet again, by Lance’s prankster tendencies.

“Oh, Lance, Hunk- uh no just…” He glanced briefly at his tech setup, "looking at stars.”

The lie fell flat as Lance observed the obviously home-made tech, “Hey where’d you get this stuff? This doesn’t look anything like Garrison tech.”

Pidge puffed up his chest, “I built it.”

Hunk makes the mistake of touching the small satellite dish Pidge made, “You built all this?”

“Stop that-!” 

 

Pidge retaliated with a swift smack to his offending fingers and continued to explain that with this tech he can scan all the way to the edges of their solar system. Lance immediately clocked Pidge’s true intentions, knowing that the youngest member became absolutely ballistic anytime the Kerberos Mission is so much as mentioned. He wondered curiously why Pidge would be so obsessed with that particular failed mission. Lance asked as much, with a knowing smile, leaving a mixture of surprised and frustrated dejection to hunch Pidge's shoulders. As Lance’s questioning continued Hunk attempted to slyly touch the homemade equipment again, earning him a deadly glare and warning from Pidge.

“Look Pidge, if we’re gonna bond as a team, we can’t have any secrets.”

Pidge relented with a sigh and the spring breeze slightly ruffled his chestnut hair, “Fine. But the world as you know it is about to change. The Kerberos Mission wasn’t lost because of some malfunction or crew error-”

Hunk had at some point reached for the dish one final time, snubbing out the last of Pidge’s patience, “-STOP TOUCHING MY EQUIPMENT!!!”

 

He whined pathetically and dramatically fell in defeat.

“...So, I’ve been scanning the system and picking up alien radio chatter.”

Hunk perked from the floor, “Whoa, what? Aliens?!”

Lance dropped his brows, unamused, “OK, so you’re insane. Got it.”

Pidge scoffed, offended, “I’m serious! They keep repeating the only word I can make out: “Voltron.” And tonight, it’s going crazier than I’ve ever heard it!”

Lance's face softened curiously, “How crazy-?”

The base's alarms blared wildly as Commander Iverson addressed the intercom, “Attention, students. This is not a drill. We are on complete lockdown! Security situation Zulu Niner. Repeat: All students are to remain in barracks until further notice.”

 

A blazing asteroid hurled through the atmosphere rapidly. Pidge quickly grabbed for his night vision binoculars noting it was a spaceship. But before he can observe further, Lance snatched the binoculars as Pidge dangled helplessly from under Lance’s stronger grip. The burning meteor quickly zooms past and crashes with a shuddering boom just a mile or so south of them.

“Holy shit! That’s not one of ours!” Lance’s initial disbelief quickly melts away to awe.

Pidge’s smile matched his, “No, it’s one of theirs!”

“So, what? There really are aliens out there?!” Hunk trembled a bit as the two others quickly packed up and hurried for the roof exit.

“We’ve got to see that ship!” Excitement radiated from Pidge’s small frame.

“Hunk, come on!”

 

Everything happened in a blur, the garrison vehicle bays opened as several land rovers made their way over to the impact sight. Hunk flicks between them and the gathering garrison crew.

“This is the worst team-building exercise ever…”

Notes:

"Tranqui" is Cuban slang for "Tranquillo" which translates to "Relax/Calm"
I am a Spanish speaker btw.

Next part coming soon!

Chapter 2: Risky Escape & the Color Blue

In hind sight, perhaps using a hover craft would’ve been quicker. But since the barracks were under lock down, the three teens had no choice but to make their way to the crash site by foot. It had only taken them 15 minutes, yet the Garrison had managed to fully encase the “asteroid” with a half dome tent, already receiving a constant flow of Field-Ready Officers coming in and out. Lance laid prone, his gray baseball shirt and open cargo jacket sweeping up dust from the rocky ground. He observed the secured entrances with Pidge’s binoculars while the other two set up the homemade tech once again. Luckily they had a vantage point from the edge of a short cliff overlooking the crater and, as if intrinsically attuned to the Garrison's security systems, Pidge speedily accessed the camera’s live feed without question, leaving Hunk to briefly raise his eyebrows in question. 

Lance strained his eyes to make out the shape of the space craft inside the enclosure, “Whoa…What the hell is that thing-?” But became distracted as a blond Lieutenant saluted a fellow officer. Noting how her refined posture accentuated her feminine curves, “...And who the heck is she?”

Pidge’s brow twitched in annoyance and swiftly sent an apprehensive smack towards Lance’s cowlick.

“Ow! Oh-Uh right, alien ship.” He lowered the binoculars, noticing that there were simply too many eyes to sneak in, “We’ll never get past those guards, look.”

Hunk peered through the binoculars, noting the sturdiness of the gadget and, to his relief, the lack of an easy escapade, “Aw man…Yep, well, I guess there’s nothing we can do but head back to the barracks-.”

“Wait. I bypassed their system and grabbed the camera feed, check it out!” Hunk cringed, having hoped Pidge would not bring it up.

 

Several scientists, specifically Garrison Medical Technicians, were gathered around a flailing body on a stretcher that appeared to be, well, human. A distinctly adult male voice could be heard fighting against the hold of the fully hazmatted technicians, questioning them. His dark hair was cropped short but with a distinct white tuft bleaching his bangs, and a faded pink scar sat across his nose framing his slender eyes nicely. This man was well built: muscles visible through the black skin-tight suit with a raggedy purple tunic that was frayed enough to reveal a metallic prosthetic arm. 

From somewhere outside of the frame, Commander Iverson interjected sternly, “Calm down, Shiro. You are to remain in quarantine as we run procedural tests on you.”

Shiro’s questioning turned desperate as he pleaded, “You have to listen to me! They destroy whole worlds! Aliens are coming!”

“Guess he isn’t dead in space?” Hunk attempted to lighten the mood.

Pidge seemed unfazed by this revelation and wondered aloud, “-where is the rest of the crew?”

Iverson finally stepped into frame, the eye facing them obscured by his worn leather eyepatch.

“Do you know how long you have been gone, soldier?”

“Months, years? Who fucking cares?! They’re coming! I barely escaped-No, look, they’re looking for a weapon…W-we need to find VOLTRON!”

“Voltron!” Pidge blurted out, his eyes obscured by the screen reflected on his large glasses, and the other two boys shared a look.

 

A technician stepped to the other side of the gurney holding up a digital note pad and interrupting the interrogation. She ignored Shiro’s nonsensical rambling and reported to the Commander that his right arm had been fully replaced with a cybernetic enhancement from the shoulder down, but their systems were unable to analyze and decipher the element this metal was derived from. The former Pilot’s shouts continued to echo unto deaf ears and a sedative was administered under Iverson’s command. Shiro pulled against his restraints and fought off the medication the best he could but within seconds became sluggish and let his eyes close heavily..

“What the hell are they doing? That guy is a legend! Can’t they at least hear him out?!” Lance pulled at his hair in exasperation, and Hunk’s nails suffered as he continued to worry away.

Pidge bit out a sour, “They didn’t even ask about the rest of the fucking crew,” before looking to Lance who leaned closely over his shoulder, “We have to get him out.”

Hunk stopped his nervous attack on his cuticles, “Ah, I hate to be the voice of reason here, always, but weren't we just watching on the little TV because there was no way to get past the guards?"

“That’s before we were properly motivated.” Lance and Pidge both rested their hands under their chins in deep thought, “Could we maybe tunnel in?”

Pidge shook his head then broke into an amused smile, “Oh-! Maybe we could steal some hazmat suits and sneak in like Med Techs.”

“Ooor, we could dress up like chefs, sneak over to the commissary…little late night snack and-”

Lance’s finger shushed Hunk at the lips, “No, what we need is a distraction.”

 

Several clicks southwest, a cluster of explosions could be seen going off into the night, causing the 3 cadets to stagger and scream. Especially Hunk, who covered his head in fear of how quickly the promised alien came. Pidge was the first to ward off his surprise.

“No, Hunk. Those explosions were a distraction,” He pointed off into the distance, “for him.”

 

A blur of red and white zoomed towards the crash site as most, if not all, garrison soldiers rushed their landrovers towards the newly detonated explosions. A young man, no older than 18, had his face half-concealed by a bandana; jet black hair whipped about behind him agitated by the wind. Lance immediately jumped to his feet and started down the steep hill, binoculars still in hand.

“"No freakin way...! Oh, he is not going to beat us in there! That dude is always trying to one-up me!"

“Who is it?”

“Keith!”

Hunk and Lance yelled back and forth, confusing the fallen behind Pidge, “Who?”

“Are you sure?”

“Oh, I’d recognize that damn mullet anywhere!”

“Who the hell is Keith?!”

 

 

 

---

 

 

 

Three unassuming technicians observed the, off the charts, electro magnetic readings Siro’s arm emanated from their tablets. Unfortunately, they were simultaneously struck with precise strikes from Keith, and awkwardly fell to the ground in an unconscious heap. Keith had been expecting a bigger alien ship or even an alien, but instead met face to face with a sedated Shiro.

“Shiro…?”

 

Keith hesitated only a moment to pull down his bandana, then proceeded to cut all the restraints free with a purple handled blade he had stashed under his cropped red jacket. But just as he was adjusting the weight of the larger man on his shoulder the three younger cadets bursted in.

 "Nope. No you—No, no, no, no, no, no, no you don't. I'm saving Shiro." The medical bed was loudly shoved aside as Lance grabbed and shouldered the other half of Shiro’s deadweight.

 

Keith’s face remained just as deadpan as it had been, but a certain questioning look and silence irked Lance.

“Uh, the name’s Lance.” Lance blinked unamused, as if the answer had been obvious. But Keith’s silence spoke of unfamiliarity.

“...We were in the same class at the Garrison.”

Remembering to speak Keith asked, “Oh really? Are you an engineer?"

Lance huffed with indignance, “No. I’m a pilot. We were, like, rivals. You know, Lance and Keith, neck-and-neck." Lance wiggled his long neck to emphasize his point.

A bulb finally lit in Keith’s head but his face revealed nothing more, “Oh wait, I remember you. You’re a Cargo Pilot.”

Lance bristled at Keith’s tone, “Not anymore, actually. I’m fighter class now, thanks to you washing out.”

Keith felt unsure of the  meaning behind other’s tone, “Congratulations, I guess?” 

 

They all trekked the short distance outside the quarantine zone, however loading Keith’s worn hoverbike turned into a challenge in itself. It was made to only be occupied by 2 max, and the propellers struggled to lift fully off the ground as it dragged the weight of 5 people along. Hunk had asked if they could ride with him, even though they were already clambered on top. This forced Pidge to hold Shiro’s slumped body as Lance could do little more than hold onto the edge of Pidge’s seat. Someone asked if the aircraft could even hold them.

“No.”

“Why am I holding this guy?” Pidge complained even as his arms wound tighter around Shiro’s middle, preventing him from slipping.

Lance noted the fast approaching convoy of Garrison troops, “Hey, can’t this thing go any faster?”

Keith’s knuckles whitened as he tightened an annoyed grip on the steering, “We could toss out some non-essential weight.”

"Oh, right!” Pidge bit back a chuckle as Lance looked to and fro before realizing, “... ... ... OK, so that was an insult. I get it." Lance pointedly avoided Pidge’s amused grin.

 

Hunk sat at the farthest back of the vehicle and thus acted as a heavy  counter weight. Keith yelled for him to tilt right and just narrowly threw 2 rovers off course, causing them to collide and bell roll to a stop.

“Aw shit! Mr. Harris just wiped out Professor Montgomery! ... Oh-, no, he's fine."

“Big Man, lean left!”

 

Hunk complied and as they hopped from one cliff to another, a Garrison rover slammed its breaks, causing a crash once again. The samoan teen was momentarily relieved but just as he looked forward again he choked at the sight of an approaching edge.

 "Guys? Is th-th-th-tha-tha—Is that a cliff up ahead?"

Lance blanched, “Ooooh no, no, no! No, no, no, no—!”

 

The trio screamed in horror for Keith to stop but his confident smirk only grew as he pinched his brows in concentration, bracing himself on the handle bars. This was his bike after all.

“Yup.”

“What’re you doing? You’re going to kill us!”

“Shut up and trust me!”

 

The hover bike dropped off the cliff.

 

 

---

 

 

 

 Date: May 12, 2314

Trust had been well placed it seemed, considering that as the hoverbike plummeted, its back propellers went to overdrive, safely hovering them above impact and flying them all to safety just as the sun began to rise. Shiro had stirred awake towards the last leg of their journey to the old run down shack Keith called his safehouse. The dessert breeze was still chilly, awaiting a higher sun to bring around any warmth. He stood on the small creaky deck, and rather than watch the horizon, observed his prosthetic metal arm. The fingers flexed like his own and he could feel things like pressure and temperature, but pain and small tactile feelings were muted. A fingerless gloved hand rested light on his left shoulder. Instinctively he crossed his arms, hiding it to make himself feel less vulnerable. 

 

“It’s good to have you back.” Keith’s indigo eyes searched Shiro’s dark brown irises. His hand itched to clench harder and he thought twice about wrapping Shiro into a reassuring hug. 

A sad smile formed on Shiro’s lips as he chuckled, “It’s good to be back.”

Deciding against it, Keith took a single step back out of Shiro’s space, “So, what happened out there? Where…were you?”

 

Those simple questions held such complicated answers. Shiro could barely remember his own name, or even the Kerberos Mission. He wished he could recall. Perhaps that was why he felt so shaken up, unable to trust his own mind. He recalled a massive alien ship and running away. Other than suddenly being in an escape pod, it was all a blur.

“How did you know to come and find me?”

Keith grimaced slightly but otherwise schooled his expression, “I didn’t, not exactly…You should come and see this.” 

 

The Garrison Trio sat on the worn dusty couch, observing the inner shabbiness of the shack and exchanging back and forth about the events of last night. Shiro followed behind Keith inside towards a cloth covered wall on the far left. Of the three only Pidge remained casually seated following Shiro’s sudden reappearance. Keith hesitated for only a second before yanking away the cloth to reveal a massive puzzled pieced together conspiracy board. At the center was a map of northeastern Nebraska, with various lines connecting to a center point somewhere in the canyon on the outskirts of this very same desert. 

Shiro’s eyes widened, surprised yet admittedly impressed, “What have you been working on?”

Keith wasn’t used to speaking so plainly to anyone other than Shiro and fought to find the right words,  “I can't explain it, really. After getting booted from the Garrison, I was kinda... lost and... felt myself drawn out to this place. It's like something...some energy, was telling me to search.”

 

All eyes watched him with disbelief, but after the events of today, perhaps this was not the hardest to grasp. And while Keith was a man of few words, he felt it necessary to continue.

“I didn't really know at the time what I was looking for...until I stumbled across this area.” He touched the circled center point of the map, where all the lines connected. “It's an outcropping of giant boulders with caves covered in these ancient markings. Each tells a slightly different story about a “blue lion”, but they all share clues leading to some event, some arrival happening last night. Then you showed up."

It all felt like too much for Shiro, having only just woken up. However, he felt responsible for the group of teams and chose to acknowledge the other three, “...I should…thank you all for getting me out.” He held his hand out to Lance who was closest amongst the three, “Lance, right?”

 

Lance couldn’t help but beam with excitement at his long-time hero’s acknowledgment, but paused as he reached towards the outstretched metal hand. Unease momentarily rose in him but he shoved it down to shake a legend’s hand. The hand was surprisingly warm. He does the same for the other two but went unnoticed by the nervously muttering Hunk.

Pidge grasped the foreign hand without hesitation, “The nervous guy’s Hunk. I’m Pidge.” The hands dropped and so did Pidge’s pleasantries, “So, did anyone else from your crew make it out?”

Shiro was slightly taken aback by the question, ashamed he hadn’t readily thought of his crewmates, “I’m not sure. I somewhat remember the mission and being captured…but after that it’s just bits and pieces.”

 

Pidge’s large honey eyes flicked between Shiro's eyes, searching, before dropping to the floor. Hunk finally broke out of his stupor.

“Yeah, sorry to interrupt, but back to the aliens.” He checked behind him and rapidly glanced at everyone else in the room, “Where are they now? Are they coming?”

“Are they coming for all of us?” he pointed around the room then to the ground with emphasis, “Like, where are they at this very moment?”

 

Shiro shook his head, attempting to hide his growing frustration and remain in control as the oldest of the group.

“I can't really put it together. I-I remember the word "Voltron". It's some kind of weapon they're looking for, but I don't know why. Whatever it is, I think we need to find it before they do.”

Pidge hit Lance with a self-satisfied look whose initial disbelief yesterday had not been forgotten.

“Well last night, I was rummaging through Pidge’s stuff, and I found this picture.” He chuckled heartily, “Look, it’s his girlfriend-.”

 

However before the group could fully observe the pair in the picture, Pidge ripped it out of Hunks larger hand. Lance, ever the ladies man, had instantly clocked how cute the petite girl was.

“Hey! Gimme that! What were you doing in my stuff?” 

Hunk rang his hands in shame, avoiding Pidge’s bewildered gaze, “I wa-I was looking for a candy bar…But then, I started reading his diary!” 

 

As if from thin air he produced a light green hard cover journal with small patterns of planets and stars. It was surprisingly cute actually, and this time the rest were able to notice the worn cover that had bent and softened from regular continual use. Funny, considering most would keep a digital journal rather than make an effort to write by hand.

“WHAT?!” Pidge flailed and jumped to snatch the diary back, holding it protectively to his chest.

 

The larger teen continued as if the short cadet hadn’t just burst several blood vessels and experienced a mini heart attack. Lance watched Pidge curiously from the corner of his eye. Hunk had apparently noticed that the repeating series of numbers the aliens were searching for, documented by Pidge from his radio listening device, looked a lot like Fraunhofer Lines. Pidge perked, then admonished himself internally for not having realized it earlier.

“Frown…who?” Keith fumbled to understand what Hunk was getting at.

“It’s a number describing the emission spectrum of an element, only this element doesn’t exist on Earth. I think it could be this “Voltron” thing, and I could maybe build a machine to look for it, kinda like a Voltron Geiger Counter hehe.”

Lance squeezed his arm around Hunk, “You big, gassy genius!”

“It’s pretty fascinating, really. Th-the wavelength looks like this-” he proceeded to produce a quick graph he had calculated last night.

 

Keith snatched it wordlessly before holding it up to a particular cluster of rock formations that perfectly fit the wavelength. While Shiro and Lance agreed with this connection, both Hunk and Pidge argued that wasn’t really how these things worked. Keith thought it evidence enough, impatiently commanding they set out to find the spot, but Pidge and Hunk adamantly refused unless they could build the makeshift Geiger, for scientific accuracy of course.

 

 

---

 

 

 

Pidge held the sensor dish while Hunk read the attached meter they built. The other three followed closely behind, nearly running into their backs as the tech geniuses came to a sudden stop. Ironically, the Geiger led them right to the wavelength looking rock formation Keith had insisted upon. A cave opening laid hidden within the ancient canyon formation, only slightly obscured by dried ivy and crumbled boulders. These canyons took thousands of years to form, so it came as an even bigger surprise to the rest of the group when cave paintings depicting a lion appeared faded on the cracked and red-steaked walls.

“I’m picking up a reading from deeper within.”

Shiro stared dumbfounded, “What are these?”

“I told you. They’re the lion carvings I was telling you about. They’re everywhere.”

“Okay…I admit. This is super freaky.” Pidge watched as Lance lightly brushed off dirt from along the symbols and they instantly began to glow a faint turquoise. 

Lance nearly tripped, startled, “Whoa..-Whoa!”

“They’ve never done that before,” Keith chuckled in fascination.

 

Inside the cavern the air was cool and dry, but the rumble of the earth beneath them cracked and crumbled  away to a glowing damp abyss beneath. Underneath fully gave way as Lance fell first with a shrill, followed by Keith and Shiro. A heavy flow of water flushed them deeper and Pidge screamed, eyes screwed shut as tight as the grip he had on Hunk’s hair. They all landed in a shallow pond as a sopping heap. Lance sluggishly sat up, rubbing at his head, then looked up taking in the massive cavern. At the center sat  a fully mechanically built blue lion. A complete juxtaposition to the ancient marking depicting it above. A massive glowing hexagonal forcefield surrounded it, emitting a quiet energetic hum.

Pidge spoke up speculatively, “Is this it? Is this Voltron?”

“It…must be?” Shiro couldn’t help but avoid approaching it.

Keith did not and stepped closer, “This is what’s been causing all this crazy energy out here…”

 

Keith figured the glowing blue dome must be a protective shield of some kind as the rest of the team followed slowly behind him towards the lion. Lance felt a strange chill crawl up his spine as if the lion’s soulless eyes were tracking his movements, even as he leaned side to side.

“Anyone else get the feeling this thing is watching them…?”

“Hmm…No.” Shiro deadpanned at Lance, tired of his dramatic antics.

Lance met the lion’s eyes straight on, confirming his suspicion, “Yeah, the eyes are totally following me.”

 

Keith jogged up to the forcefield first, placing a hand against the buzz of its electronic wavelength. He wondered aloud to himself how he could get through it when Lance strode up right beside him, knuckles raised. 

“Maybe you just have to knock?” 

 

Lance literally knocked against the field, a tiny ripple emitting with each touch. The dome dissipated completely and all 5 were sucked into a sudden vision. Five robotic lions soared through the sky, converging with precision. A Black Lion took the top center as the head; a Red and Green Lion snapped into positions as the arms; and a Blue and Yellow Lion formed as legs. With a final surge of energy, the transformation completed, forming Voltron. Sword in hand, the mighty defender stood united, forged from five into one.

“Uhh…Did anyone else see that?” Lance had to make sure he wasn’t going crazy.

Hunk burst out, “Voltron is a robot! A hue, badass freaking robot!”

Pidge couldn’t help but notice there were exactly five of them, like the 5 lions, “And this is only one part of it! I wonder where the rest of them are…?”

Shiro nodded and crossed his arms, “This is exactly what they’re looking for.”

Keith watched the lion bewildered, “Incredible…”

 

The Lion suddenly shifted its neck craning down to ground level, scaring Hunk and Pidge who were sure they would be eaten. The mouth opened,  revealing an entrance towards a cockpit. Lance doubted for a split-second before readily jumping inside first with a confident grin. He gleefully sat on the large leathered pilot seat. 

“Here we go~”

The rest of the group made their way inside right as the pilot seat surged forward, ripping a yelp from Lance and activating glowing control panels.

Lance recovered quickly, “Alright! Very nice!”

Hunk interrupted Lance before he could touch anything, “OK guys, I-I feel the need to point out, just so that we're all, y'know, aware: We are in some kind of futuristic alien cat head right now." He curled his lips, resembling a kitten’s snout.

A sliver of a foreign consciousness nudged the seated teen's mind. Images whispered to him like they were his own thoughts.

“Did you guys hear that?”

Keith quirked his shapely eyebrow, “Hear what?”

“I-I think it’s talking to me?” He stopped and observed his controls, recognizing the images that had previously flowed into  his mind’s eye, “Hmm…Uh, ok! Got it. Let’s try this!”

 

Seemingly, random buttons were tweaked and turned causing the lion to stand on all fours and roar. Lance grabbed hold of the controls and steered the now hovering lion, breaking through the hard rock cavern shooting high into the afternoon sky. He proceeded to enthusiastically pull the lion into tight somersaults and dives as the cockpit tossed everyone about other than Lance. 

Pidge gripped the Cuban’s brunette hair for leverage screaming bloody murder, while Keith’s usual composure rapidly dissipated, causing him to cry out, “YOU. ARE. THE. WORST. PILOT. EVER!”

Notes:

Re-uploaded with grammar corrections!