Constructed Cold

Lance ran to Allura who had exited the platform towards the war room. She turned to look when he called to her. She stopped in her tracks, taking in the new Paladin armor. She gasped. She knew the armor would be red. Yet given the briefing... she breathed in deeply. “You look great, but I don’t think Shiro should see you in that right now.”

Lance looked down at the armor. It was slightly more stealth with charcoal colored kevlar microchain fiber with black insets and red anodized magnesium alloy panels. *but not too stealth, yeah?* he reached for Allura’s hand. She smiled a little as they walked hand in hand towards The embarkation chamber. “Look,” Lance flashed a glinting grin at her, “I know he’s going to be taking the news badly.” He swung their hands forward and backward playfully as he talked. “He wasn’t convinced Keith should even go, and...”

“And what?” Allura looked surprised as lance raised his eyebrows knowingly. “He told you?” She was mildly annoyed that she wasn’t told sooner.

“He didn’t have to *tell* me.” He shrugged. I just kinda know. Ya know?”

“You are full of surprises, Commander McClain! Remember when we first found out Pidge was Katie? I wasn’t sure you’d ever fully believe it. Your intuitiveness has grown ten fold.”

“Don’t worry about Shiro seeing this yet. I’m going straight to a jumpsuit. Im first shift flight chief.”

Lance ran towards the briefing room. He noticed the activity all around him. He nearly collided with Pidge and Hunk at the front door.

“You two aren’t leaving are you?”

“We were looking for you, to find out what the Quiznack is going on.” Hunk replied slightly defensively.

“Yes so what exactly the hell IS going on?” Pidge demanded. We didn’t get any kind of notifications or anything.

“I wonder if Shiro was trying to give you an out to be with your families,” he paused a tick thinking about that. “but, this is a high alert. I don’t know what’s going on yet. Although, I can say for sure we need both of you.”

Was

The trio walked briskly towards the briefing hall and as they walked they were joined by other Garrison officers, MFE fighter pilots, and Voltron alliance partners. Slav bounded up and Hunk caught him.

“Did any of you have peanut butter today?” Slav looked at the Paladins and MFE Pilots specifically. “Well?” He insisted. “I believe this version of reality is influenced positively by peanut butter. I tried it today. It’s clearly the leading commodity of this little blue ball you live on.” Slav noticed the 4 MFE pilots and Lance’s uniforms. All were in brand new Paladin armor. He shrieked, jumped from Hunk’s arms and tried to stop him by hanging on his leg. He yelled. “You have it all wrong! You can’t change roles till the 9th Varga!”

Hunk picked him up and allowed him to curl up on his broad shoulders like a scarf. “That’s why we are still here, this is clearly only the 5th and they still need back up and training, I also had peanut butter at lunch.”

“Whew.” Slav was relieved. And snuggled in tightly to Hunk’s neck.

Lance squinted as he entered the briefing hall. “Shiro isn’t here?” Lance asked. More thinking aloud than actually expecting an answer.

“That’s odd.” Leifsdottir replied with a monotone that gave Hunk goosebumps.

“He’s probably making preflight rounds, right? Right?” Hunk unsurprisingly sounded freaked.

On the raised platform ahead, Allura stepped to the microphone. Veronica handed her a notebook from the table. Coran stood to her right and Sam Holt to her left. The room, which seconds before was a garbled muddle of sounds, grew silent. “At 1500 hours today,” Allura began, her voice tinkling off the rafters of the massive hall, “the young Altean woman who had been the power source for the mysterious robeast, awakened, a varga, um, hour? later she passed away. She said several indecipherable, incoherent words and 3 words which were very clear. Those words were Witch, Lotor, and of most pressing concern, Acxa.” The room collectively gasped. “We have no context. We don’t know anything now except that when we spoke with Keith one uh...” Veronica whispered something in her ear “Yes. Week ago, he was fine. Sick of the food but fine. He did tell Shir.. um, Captain Shirogane, that he mostly trusted Acxa despite not being clear on her motives for helping us. Since then communication has been dark. The Captain and part of the on-duty portion of the crew is aboard Altas, inspecting the ship, the Lions, and the Fighters. Please report immediately to a 1st shift posting. We embark absolutely as soon as possible. We will get to Keith, and make sure there is no immediate threat. You are dismissed.”

Lance turned to the crew who had followed him into the hall. “All MFE pilots are to report directly to sleeping quarters, understood?”

“Sir, yes sir!” The four original MFE pilots and the dozen new ones sounded off as they saluted. Lance turned to Hunk and Pidge.

“I’m going up there.” He pointed to Allura.

“Makes sense to me.” Pidge said, then added, “I’m going to sleeping quarters on Atlas. I was up tweaking MFEs before the sun came up. Hunk? You with me?” Hunk nodded.

Shiro felt sick. *I let him leave alone.* Allura could see his palor. She knew her news was horrible but she hadn’t expected such an intense reaction.

“Are you alright?” She scrunched her face up with concern.

“No, I...” He turned to the war room table to brace himself. Allura put her arm around him and helped him into a seat. He hugged her as his head plummeted into her shoulder and he sobbed. She held him tighter.

“Keith will be fine, we are going to him as quickly as we can get the Atlas re-staffed. Sam, Coran, and Veronica are on their way here now.”

She took his chin and looked him in the eyes. “You never stopped to grieve. Not for your parents. Not for your arm. Not for Adam. I’ll handle this briefing with Veronica, and you go rest. Cry... let it all out. I understand, although, I never knew before now.”

Veronica McClain left the officer’s lounge earlier than normal. She turned down the long row of officer quarters. She typically would see Nadia Rizavi here. Usually about halfway down the hall. Sometimes the hallway meet up led to coffee, or a movie. Often Veronica made sure she left her shift and waited a bit in the lounge talking to Shiro or calling her brother to be sure she saw Nadia. She expected to not see her today, not to be able to call her brother or to see Shiro, so she set out early. Surprisingly, today Nadia was waiting for her. She blushed a little to think Nadia might sometimes wait, stall or whatever to meet her in the hallway too.

“Oh good! You’re early. I want to tell you what happened!” Rizavi was beaming, grinning ear to ear.

“So she does know what time I get here.” The analyst smirked at the thought.

“Well, I already know, Nadia.” Veronica was referring to Lion training which she had championed for and helped set-up.

“You don’t know all of it! Are you free? Got time to talk?”

Veronica nodded and Nadia took her arm, they walked quickly, maybe fifty feet to a door on the left, Nadia’s room.

Veronica sat on the tall stool at the kitchenette counter. As she did she removed her glasses and set them to the side. This was her normal spot for “Nadia story time” as she called it. Nadia stood in front of her, she looked ready to burst with excitement, which wasn’t unusual but this was a notch or three up.

“So it was cool enough to be prepping to train with the lions,” she bounced a little then she paused slightly, and got slightly more solemn. “Black lion chose me.” She half whispered her eyes wide like saucers.

Veronica could feel the tears well up in the corners of her eyes. “Fantastic.” She smiled. “All the little girls will see you Pilot the Black Lion. Brilliant, bold and beautiful you! What a fantastic role model!” She cried joyous tears.

Nadia was taken slightly aback. Her head tilted slightly, quizzically. “Beautiful?”

Veronica reached for the back of Nadia’s neck brushing the hairs at the nape, and pulled her towards herself. She kissed her softly, gently. She brushed her chin with her hand as they pulled away slowly.

Lance and James Griffin stood in the center of the hangar, holding hands? No something else.

“1” lance gritted his teeth

“2” Griffin smirked

“3” lance raised an eyebrow

“4” Griffin bowed up.

“I declare thumb war.” The two pilots declared in unison.

Pidge and Hunk cheered. “THUMB WAR! THUMB WAR!” They chanted. Shiro groaned. Leifsdottir, Rizavi, and Kinkade all climbed back out of their lion cockpits to see the ruckus.

Lance has very long fingers. Like a pianist. (No not the other word that sounds similar.) he used this advantage to briefly grab Griffin’s thumb. But the hotshot pilot wasn’t going to go down that easily. His thumb was much stronger than Lance’s and broke the quick attack. From the direction of the lions a voice distracted Lance.

“5 6 7 8” Kinkade yelled. To which Griffin quickly replied.

“I use this hand to masturbate!” The room grew quiet. Lance pulled his hand away.

“That’s just wrong dude”

“You quit, I win.” Griffin danced like a (American) football player who’d just scored a touchdown. Lance just smiled.

“It’s cool man, I wanted you to pick a lion to try. Honestly I love both of them and could never chose one. Black lion was my hope of not getting a choice. But...” he cast a pout at Rizavi. “I guess that’s out now, Veronica warned me about you.” His tone was playful, and he topped it with a wink and shimmering smile. “So,” he returned his gaze to Griffin, “which kitty are you looking to pet, Sir Beatsalot?” Everyone grinned and Hunk couldn’t hold in his uproarious laughter which made everyone else laugh, even Shiro.

“Maybe experience dictates you continue to pilot the red lion. It is the fastest. Maybe when you get promoted or put on desk duty I can move up.” He winked. “Also if you get too bossy I can use some water power to put you out.”

Hunk was as sure of his successor as Pidge was. In fact he’d had a space dream about a hotshot young pilot taking his place. He felt confident that was Ina Leifsdottir, and definitely was not James Griffin. It made perfect sense to Hunk. Lance and James were with little doubt cocky, boastful, and courageous. He spoke to Ina.

“You build things, don’t you? In your free time.”

“Yes I...”

Griffin, Kinkade, Liefsdottir, McClain, and Rizavi stepped towards the lions. Red lit up, detecting Lance. Honestly, Lance wasn’t sure at all that black would respond to him, Red was a good fit. Both Rizavi and Griffin stepped towards Red.

“Oh, so you think you’re the better, pilot?” Griffin asked Rizavi playfully.

“Our scores matched on MFE training.” She reminded him. “And I edged you out on everything without wings, so yep, maybe.” Red Lion was stepping back from both of them as they approached, head barely missing a lighting fixture above.

“Easy, Red.” Lance called from behind the pilots. Red laid down and lowered its head all the way to the floor. Lance was sure red felt cornered. Rizavi stepped back and leaned on Black Lion’s paw.

“The Black one woke up.” Leifsdottir calmly stated. Rizavi jumped and turned to look. Before she could react further Black’s head lowered to the floor and opened a massive jaw. Lance and Griffin both stood looking, jaws agape as Nadia walked into her new lion.

Kinkade chuckled. Everyone’s gaze shifted to him surprised at his reaction. He shrugged and said nothing, instead he moved from the spot he was leaning against and walked towards the other three lions. He touched Blue. Nothing. And yellow. Also nothing. He turned and silently cocked his head in the direction of the green lion. “What was this one’s quirk, again?” He asked.

“Ah, that would be inquisitive.” Shiro answered.

“So I’m guessing there’s not a quiet, introspective one then?”

“Not really.” lance answered.

Then Leifsdottir replied. “That one must be mine.”

“Nah, wait a minute now.” Kinkade was pretty sure he wanted the green one. “Green’s my favorite color, and you’re gonna look better in the yellow one.” He winked. “But I can be inquisitive, and I love me some nature, what do ya say, Green?” Pidge took Ryan’s hand and walked with him to the green lion. The youngest Paladin touched Green with eyes closed. Kinkade closed his too. After a moment Pidge let go of Kinkade’s hand.

Nadia Rizavi stood in the massive Altas Hanger. She looked up at the Robotic Lions that towered over her. She’d not yet been this close to them. Close enough to touch. She reached out toward the black lion’s paw, as she did a noise startled her causing her to jump. It was only the door. James Griffin laughed heartily at her as he entered the room.

“Why so jumpy L-T?” He asked her, as she hastily turned to salute.

“I. I. “ she stammered for a second.

“At ease.” He said, lightening the mood. “In fact don’t salute unless people are looking. We’re a team that I just happen to be in charge of. “ Nadia smiled and relaxed.

“You too, huh?” She asked, clearly excited by what was happening and still kind of shocked by it all. “I really can’t believe we are about to train in these.” As she spoke the door slid open again revealing Captain Shirogane, the Paladins, Hunk, Pidge, and Lance, along with their team mates Leifsdottir, and Kinkade. Everyone saluted everyone.

“I told you all the first part of the story in our private meetings.” Shiro looked at each of his newly minted lieutenants as he spoke. “I wanted to make sure everyone that walked into this room today was committed to training as backup Paladins. I wasn’t disappointed, I knew I wouldn’t be. The whole story is that you have been selected to pick up the mantles from the Paladins that proceeded you. Pidge is needed in research and development. Hunk is repairing city superstructure across earth.”

“And I miss my family too much to be in space all the time.” Hunk added solemnly.

Shiro nodded in approval while wishing he had family to miss. “Keith is hopefully reuniting the Galra forces for them to join the coalition, that Allura is very busy creating an election system for counselors and representatives for. I am the only one at this point who can transform Atlas. So my priorities are set.” That leaves you four lieutenants and Lance. Voltron has to remain active at all costs.”

“Plus,” Pidge added, “I wasn’t even training to BE a pilot.” I was always slightly under the curve. Green lion was a good fit and I’ve learned enough to take you all out in a dogfight. But you have more raw potential and will out fly me one day. And honestly that day will come quickly.”

Rizavi, naturally, was the first to say what they were all thinking. She raised her hand. Which Lance acknowledged. “We are assuming of course the lions will even accept us.” She smirked, “obviously I’m up for the challenge but felt that needed saying up front.”

“I’m operating on the assumption that Black Lion will accept me.” Lance replied. “Any of us could be,” he paused. Mulling over the correct phrasing before continuing, “any of us could be the wrong person for the job, luckily I’m pretty safe here since I can already fly two of ‘em.” He grinned. His teeth sparkled. Griffin rolled his eyes.

“So if you can’t handle the Black one I get a shot, right?” Griffin spoke out of turn. Lance grimaced slightly. But it was Shiro who answered him.

Ina Leifsdottir looked down the long Galaxy Garrison hallway. She usually took her time walking this one. It was the only tiled hallway in the Garrison, and she didn’t step on cracks. Ever. Today was special. She had a one on one meeting with Captain Shirogane. She thought it was peculiar that no one mentioned that shiro means “white” and that’s what color his hair is now. As she ran down the corridor hopping skipping flipping and leaping over every crack, she recited Pi as far as she could go. *it’s 3/14 after all, she thought. Pi day. * “2 0 1 9 8 9!” she stopped at exactly 1000 spaces. As she reached up to the electronic door knocker she suddenly felt a twinge, wondering why she’d been summoned for a one on one. After a brief pause for her smart watch to tick over to 13:45 she pressed the knob. “Fifteen minutes early is on time, on time is late and...” the door slid open and the young pilot went silent.