Survival of the Innocent (A Voltron fanfic) (Book 1 of Fates Entwined)

Eventually Part 3

In the core of the Balmera, Lance looks dejected.

"This is it! We're going to die in here. I can say bye-bye to that parade," Lance cries dramatically.

No one is impressed.

"Get it together, guys. Allura, we'll get there as soon as we can," Shiro informs her.

"Perhaps my people can help us get out," Shay places her hand on the Balmera's core, "This is how we communicate. The Balmera senses our vibrations and sends a message to those in the tunnels."

"Are you sure someone will be able to hear your... hand from all the way down here?" Keith asks.

"The Balmera will deliver the message," Shay focuses and the area around her hand glows.

The Balmera groans as it sends the message to Rax and their family.

Rax places his hand on the ground and it glows, "It's a message from Shay."

"She's alive!" Shay's father cheers.

"The Paladins of Voltron went to the core of the Balmera to save Shay... and now they are all trapped," Rax continues.

"Then we are all doomed," Shay's father slouches.

"This is all my fault. I conspired against them, and because of my actions, Shay was imprisoned. The big yellow one was right. If we ever hope to be free, we must take action," Rax decides.

"But how can we rise up against our Galra overlords?" Shay's father questions.

"What choice do we have? They have stolen all of the Crystals from our Balmera. Our lives are worthless to them now," Rax tries.

"But Balmerans have never fought," Shay's father replies.

"You taught me that without family, we have nothing. The Galra have taken Shay. How can we do nothing while the Paladins sacrifice everything to save us? We must do our part!" Rax declares.

Meanwhile, a Galra kneels before Zarkon on the Emperor's Command Ship, "Lord Zarkon, I have news to report. News that will likely please you, my Emperor."

"Proceed."

"I have the Voltron Paladins trapped on a Balmera in the Javeeno star system. I've ordered a fleet to capture the Lions and destroy the Altean Castle."

"You fool! You dare make plans without informing me?"

"Forgive me, Emperor... but I saw an opportunity and I took it for the glory of the Galra Empire."

"I suspect that you are seeking your own glory, Prorok. But you do not realize Voltron's power."

At the Balmera, a fleet of Galra fighter jets splits off from the ones attacking the Castle of Lions.

"They're heading down into the tunnels! They're going to steal the Lions!" Coran reports.

"Paladins, the Lions are in danger! You must get back to them immediately!" Allura commands.

"Princess, something's locked onto us."

A Galra warship suddenly appears.

"Paladins, do you copy? There's a battle cruiser locked onto us. If it fires with its ion cannon, I don't know if we can survive," Allura reports.

"We're trying, Allura. Shay's pressing her hand against the 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,'" Lance rants.

"Shay, are you sure the Balmera is sending your message?" Shiro asks.

Shay focuses harder. Her family stands outside a doorway to the core and uses their hands to instruct the Balmera into crushing the doorway open. Rax and his family enter the core of the Balmera.

"Rax!" Shay yells.

"We must make haste. We know a shortcut through the tunnels," Ray instructs.

"Allura, stand by. We're on our way up," Shiro reports.

Meanwhile, two fighter jets are using tractor beams to raise the Black Lion.

Allura speaks over the communication channel, "Paladins, hurry! They're taking off with the Lions!"

Shiro launches his speeder towards the Black Lion, slipping through a hole in its force field to take control and free the Lion from the Galra, "Guys, did everyone make it to the Lions in time?"

"Come on, Shiro. Who you think you're dealing with, a bunch of amateurs—" Lance is not paying attention so the Blue Lion runs into a mining structure.

"Do you really want me to answer that?"

"No."

"Let's go!" Shiro orders.

The Paladins fly their Lions at the large fleet of Galra fighter jets and engage in battle.

"Hunk, watch out!" Pidge shields the Yellow Lion from laser fire with the Green Lion's back shield.

"Got you covered!" Shiro uses the Black Lion's jaw blade to destroy the fighter jets.

"Phew! Thanks, guys!" Hunk thanks.

Up above, the Galra warship prepares to fire.

"It's charging its ion cannon!" Coran reports.

"Divert all shields to the bow," Allura instructs.

The Castle of Lions focuses its particle barrier to take the brunt of the assault and struggles to survive the blast from the ion cannon.

"Paladins, I need you immediately! Five more ticks and we're finished!" Allura informs them.

"Okay, team, let's form Voltron!" Shiro directs the Paladins.

"Yeah!" the Paladins cheer and form Voltron and slam into the Galra warship, diverting its cannon away from the Castle of Lions.

"Right now is our chance, Princess!" Coran tells Allura.

"Full power on the blasters! Locked onto target. Fire!"

The Castle of Lions blasts the Galra warship through, causing it to explode and destroy all surrounding fighter jets.

"Yeah!" Keith and Hunk cheer, the Lions cheering with them.

"Nice shot, Princess!" Pidge complements.

"Yeah! The parade's back on," Lance whoops.

Meanwhile, Prorok still kneels before Zarkon in the throne room of the Emperor's Command Ship.

A Galra soldier speaks over the intercomm, "The Galra fleet and all Sentries on the Balmera have been defeated!"

"No! How could this be? Lord Zarkon, I will do all that I can to recapture Voltron for the Galra!" Prorok defends himself.

"Silence, Prorok. I have plans that you cannot comprehend," Zarkon orders.

Meanwhile, Voltron lands on the Balmera. The Castle of Lions descends towards the surface.

"Mission accomplished," Keith reports, grinning at the congratulations from the Lions.

"And just in the tick of time. The Castle's defenses are battered and will need to fully recharge," Allura replies.

The Castle alarms start blaring.

"There's an unknown object incoming! It's about to crash into the Balmera!" Coran yells.

A transport ship carrying the Robeast Drazil crashes into the Balmera.

"What the heck is that?" Lance screams as the Lions growl.

"... Trouble," Shiro answers.