Epilogue: Legendary Defenders

Voltron: Year of Rebirth, Month 73/84

Paladins of Operation: Voltron

GALRA Strikes Again!

Birmingham. Lyon. Seattle. New Orleans.

Self-proclaimed terrorist group GALRA are almost expected to appear in some of the prime points of notice in recent months. To wreak havoc. To drag blood and sweat from the inhabitants of the some of the largest civilisations in the world. But no longer. GALRA have turned their sights elsewhere.

In the past weeks, attacks upon smaller, self-contained townships and villages have grown exponentially. The town of Culpit is one such victim. On Tuesday evening, threats from GALRA supporters reached military ears. Aid rose in immediate assistance.

"We have confidence in our forces," General Marcus Scott speaks, "but the rescue missions of our teams that were directed upon the scene remain of military concern and understanding."

It is not the first time that such rescue operations have passed almost beneath public awareness. General Scott remains silent upon the nature of his teams but admits that their operation was conducted "swiftly and effectively, as always", to which this reporter can only assume refers to similar missions undertaken in the past. Another mission, another victory.

The residents of Culpit, sent a precautionary warning on Monday evening, were encouraged to vacate the town by Tuesday morning. The completeness of this vacation was handicapped by the…

BlackLion007 has entered the chatroom.

BlackLion007: Well, congratulations, everyone. We made the papers.

BlackLion007: I think we should all be proud of our efforts that not only is reporter Michelle Sanders vaguely appreciative in her words but that it was deemed the success it truly was.

Butterfingers has entered the chatroom.

Butterfingers: Good morning! And yes, I did read the article, as I'm sure every paladin worth their name has by now.

Butterfingers: I must admit, I did feel kind of proud of myself, even before you said something. Now I just feel doubly chuffed.

BlackLion007: So you should. You were incredible.

Butterfingers: :)

Sharpshooter18 has entered the chatroom.

DiffWizard has entered the chatroom.

Sharpshooter18: I take it you've both read it, then?

DiffWizard: I can't believe it.

DiffWizard: Seriously?

Sharpshooter18: I know, right?

Butterfingers: ?

BlackLion007: What's wrong? Is there a problem?

PrincessOfAltea has entered the chatroom.

Wimbleton-Smythe has entered the chatroom.

PrincessOfAltea: Good morning, everyone! Such a wonderfully fine day, as ever.

DiffWizard: What's wrong, you say? What's wrong?

Red has entered the chatroom.

Red: Hi.

Sharpshooter18: I'll tell 'em, Diff. Let me handle this.

Red: Oh, it's already happening.

Butterfingers: What is?

Butterfingers: No, wait, I think I see. Do I see it?

PrincessOfAltea: Is this the same as last time?

BlackLion007: Now everyone, let's not make a fuss over this.

PrincessOfAltea: Wimbleton-Smythe says we should be respectful of the boundaries the privacy military has instilled for us.

DiffWizard: Dear Smythe-y, why don't you get your butt on here and say it for yourself?

PrincessOfAltea: Wimbleton-Smythe wishes to remain impartial.

Sharpshooter18: That impartiality is void, man. You've chosen your side.

Sharpshooter18: Traitor.

Sharpshooter18: How could you? To ME?

Butterfingers: I'm still a little confused. Are Sharpshooter and DiffWizard actually upset that we didn't get a specific mention again?

Red: Naturally.

Sharpshooter18: YES!

DiffWizard: Yes. The bastards.

DiffWizard: And I know, BlackLion, Smythe-y and Princess – you're all about protecting our identity and all that. But it's still depressing.

BlackLion007: The privacy precautions are in place for a reason.

PrincessOfAltea: How could we be a covert force if the world knew of us?

Sharpshooter18: I know.

Sharpshooter18: It would just be nice to receive a little actual appreciation every once in a while.

BlackLion007: General McHampton congratulated you personally.

DiffWizard: Ha. Yeah.

Sharpshooter18: She looked constipated when she was doing it.

Butterfingers: Too much fibre in the diet, man.

Red: I happen to think McHampton showed the appropriate degree of recognition. It's not her fault if you can't read the cues.

DiffWizard: Red, has anyone told you you're about as expressionless as a statue?

Sharpshooter18: Sometimes ;)

DiffWizard: I didn't need to hear that.

Red: Yes. As it happens, you have on several occasions, DiffWizard.

Red: Your point?

BlackLion007: Is this going to be offensive? I'll step in if I must, DiffWizard.

DiffWizard: Yes, Dad.

DiffWizard: I only meant you're probably more capable of reading other people who are similarly expressionless.

PrincessOfAltea: Is that how it works? How fascinating! Do you find it easier, Red?

Red: That's a ridiculous assumption.

Sharpshooter18: It really is. Red sucks at reading people.

Sharpshooter18: No offence, babe.

Red: None taken. It's the truth.

Butterfingers: *sniff* That right there. Character development.

PrincessOfAltea: I'm sorry?

DiffWizard: I'm rolling my eyes right now, Butterfingers.

BlackLion007: They have grown somewhat, haven't they?

Red: I would appreciate it if you didn't speak of me like I'm not in the room.

Sharpshooter18: Yeah. And we're getting off topic.

Sharpshooter18: What happened to my indignation?

DiffWizard: It was short and simple. Like your intelligence.

Butterfingers: Ouch.

Sharpshooter18: I resent that. Asshole.

DiffWizard: Thank you for your heartfelt compliment.

BlackLion007: Guys, keep it gentle, please.

PrincessOfAltea: Don't worry, Shiro. I think it's all on good humour.

PrincessOfAltea: And I think I can understand such indignation at least a little bit. It would be nice if the world knew they had us to rely upon.

Butterfingers: :O

Sharpshooter18: Are we

Sharpshooter18: Have we brainwashed the Princess?

Red: I think brainwashing is a bit of a leap.

DiffWizard: Princess, you do realise that was just BlackLion you back-chatted, right?

PrincessOfAltea: Back-chatted? I don't really see it as that.

BlackLion007: Perhaps you're right. It would be nice to have those around us know they were protected from the threat that is GALRA and that they could call upon a specific special force should they ever need it.

PrincessOfAltea: Exactly.

DiffWizard: Aaaaaaand, that wasn't even a fight.

DiffWizard: How disappointing.

Sharpshooter18: Told you they'd never fought.

Red: Actually, I was the one who told YOU that.

Sharpshooter18: You're my boyfriend. I can take credit for your ideas too.

Red: I don't think that's how it works.

Sharpshooter18: Sure it is. What's mine is yours and vice versa.

Butterfingers: So cute.

DiffWizard: Butterfingers, please.

DiffWizard: It's not cute, it's sickening. And I'm not done being indignant.

DiffWizard: I would have even appreciated a little more speculation. Michelle Sanders barely even seemed curious about us before she was changing the subject.

Sharpshooter18: True that. Asshole.

DiffWizard: I resent being associated with her.

Red: Because you're both assholes?

DiffWizard: Yes. I have standards too. You're tarnishing the good name of The Asshole.

PrincessOfAltea: DiffWizard.

DiffWizard: Yes?

BlackLion007: DiffWizard.

DiffWizard: Okay. Sorry.

DiffWizard: But blame Sharpshooter too. He started it.

Sharpshooter18: I did not! I'm allowed to be indignant.

Sharpshooter18: And why are you throwing me under the bus? I'm on your side.

DiffWizard: True. For once.

DiffWizard: The right side.

Sharpshooter18: I don't object to that. I'm on it too.

Butterfingers: They should come up with a name for us.

Red: If by 'they' you mean the world, then…

PrincessOfAltea: You mean the public? Or the reporters.

BlackLion007: I don't think Michelle Sanders would be particularly kind in her naming.

Butterfingers: No. I shudder to think.

Butterfingers: But don't people usually do that? When they don't know the real identity of people, they give them a hero name or something?

Red: You're referring to us as superheroes?

Butterfingers: Maybe.

Red: We're not superheroes.

BlackLion007: Maybe not, but we try.

Sharpshooter18: The Lion King has spoken, Red. We're heroes.

PrincessOfAltea: I believe he said 'we try'.

Sharpshooter18: Princess, I thought you were on my side today.

PrincessOfAltea: Unfortunately, I find myself fluctuating to the party that speaks with greater logic.

DiffWizard: Well, sorry, Sharpshooter. Guess she's never going to be on your side.

Sharpshooter18: You're on my side right now. You're just kicking yourself, now.

DiffWizard: Shut up.

Butterfingers: Maybe we could come up with a name for ourselves?

Red: We already have a name.

Butterfingers: VSF isn't a name. No one but us even knows what the V stands for.

PrincessOfAltea: I was still surprised that the general never asked. He must have a very soft spot for you, BlackLion.

BlackLion007: I believe we have at least an imbalanced mutual respect.

PrincessOfAltea: You short-change yourself if you think it's imbalanced.

BlackLion007: Thank you.

PrincessOfAltea: :)

Butterfingers: So cute.

DiffWizard: Butterfingers, restrain yourself.

Sharpshooter18: I've decided. I'm going to come up with a name.

Red: I could have anticipated that.

Sharpshooter18: Because I'm so good with nicknames?

Red: Yes. That's entirely why.

Sharpshooter18: I can hear that sarcasm in your voice.

Red: I wasn't trying to hide it.

PrincessOfAltea: What would you call us, then, Sharpshooter?

BlackLion007: Although, bear in mind that it won't be publicly known.

Butterfingers: Aw... that's upsetting.

Sharpshooter18: Tell me about it.

Sharpshooter18: But we'd still use it if I came up with one.

DiffWizard: Depends. Is it stupid? Boring? Irrelevant?

Red: Could it be any less boring that V-Special Forces?

Sharpshooter18: Thanks, babe.

Red: It's the truth.

PrincessOfAltea: It does leave a little to be desired, doesn't it? Rather unimaginative.

BlackLion007: But not inaccurate.

Butterfingers: I think accuracy is the only thing it's got going for it.

Butterfingers: Let's hear it, Sharpshooter.

Sharpshooter18: Okay.

Sharpshooter18: Alright.

Sharpshooter18: Are you ready to have your socks blown off?

DiffWizard: Just tell us already.

Sharpshooter18: I have given this much consideration, and I believe it's best to incorporate our foundational name. For posterity, you understand.

PrincessOfAltea: Have you been thinking about this for some time?

Sharpshooter18: Yes.

Red: All of the last ten minutes?

Sharpshooter18: Ten minutes is the longest I've ever taken to come up with a nickname.

Butterfingers: Except for Red's.

Sharpshooter18: Yes, except for Red's. Special circumstances.

DiffWizard: We're still waiting for that one.

Sharpshooter18: Stop distracting me.

Sharpshooter18: Okay.

Sharpshooter18: So.

BlackLion007: Sharpshooter, perhaps you should just tell us?

Sharpshooter18: Alright.

Sharpshooter18: How about this?

Sharpshooter18: Voltron: The Defenders of the Universe.

Sharpshooter18: Right?

Sharpshooter18: Guys?

Sharpshooter18: What do you think?

Sharpshooter18: …

Sharpshooter18: What's with the awkward pause?

PrincessOfAltea: Well, it does incorporate 'Voltron', which I like.

BlackLion007: And it does have a certain strength to it.

Red: The universe?

DiffWizard: Do you even realise how big the entire universe is?

DiffWizard: Honestly.

Hunk: I think it has a nice ring to it, but…

Red: It's maybe a bit excessive.

DiffWizard: A bit wordy, in my opinion.

Sharpshooter18: Fine.

Sharpshooter18: Assholes.

BlackLion007: We didn't mean to offend. It was a good attempt :)

PrincessOfAltea: Yes, but maybe as DiffWizard said, it's just a little wordy?

Sharpshooter18: Fine.

Sharpshooter18: Then how about this.

Sharpshooter18: Voltron: Legendary Defenders.

Sharpshooter18: Right?

Sharpshooter18: …

Sharpshooter18: I swear, I will beat the shit out of you all if I have to.

Red: It's better.

Sharpshooter18: And expanding on that means…?

DiffWizard: Better.

Sharpshooter18: Thank you, DiffWizard. Very helpful.

PrincessOfAltea: I actually kind of like it. It seems very grandiose.

PrincessOfAltea: And I think we deserve grandiose. We're wonderful.

BlackLion007: I do believe, Princess, that you are perhaps the only person in the world who could say such a thing without appearing arrogant.

PrincessOfAltea: Thank you.

Red: I appreciate the potential acronym.

Sharpshooter18: VLD?

Red: Yes. It's better than VSF.

Sharpshooter18: Sweet. It's done.

Butterfingers: Wait, what about my opinion?

Sharpshooter18: Butters, don't betray me on this one.

Butterfingers: I like it :)

Butterfingers: More than the first one.

Butterfingers: It makes us sound hardcore.

DiffWizard: Legendary.

BlackLion007: Well, maybe one day we could make the history books.

PrincessOfAltea: Seven sequential missions of maximum success? I'd say that's admirable.

Sharpshooter18: So that's it?

Sharpshooter18: That's us?

DiffWizard: Yeah, I think so. It sort of suits us.

DiffWizard: Defenders.

DiffWizard: Yeah.

Sharpshooter18: Ohmygod, I just received Diff's approval.

DiffWizard: Shut up.

Sharpshooter: That's it. That's us.

Red: VLD.

Butterfingers: Legends.

DiffWizard: Defenders.

PrincessOfAltea: We might be just that, I think.

BlackLion007: A good idea, Sharpshooter. Thank you.

Sharpshooter18: Yeah. I think that's it.

Sharpshooter18: That's us.

Sharpshooter18: Voltron: Legendary Defenders.

A/N: Final chapter! Was that a little sudden? It might have been a little sudden. But, well, I feel like it's come to a pretty natural close. And, in the nature of all things ending, we return to our roots.

Thank you to everyone who's taken the time to read this story - those who've stuck with me from the beginning of Picture Perfect People and those since. I can't thank you enough and I hope you enjoyed it even half as much as I loved writing it.

If you did, please take the time to leave a review. I'd love to hear from you!