Finally! The long awaited sequel! I know it's been a while, sorry! But I finally got the first chapter finished and posted! This story is part three in a series so please read the others before this one, otherwise it may be a bit confusing. :) So without further ado…

Chapter 1: Yorak

The cheers of the crowd roared around them as they all exited their lions. They were all cheers of celebration and newfound freedom. The paladins of Voltron met with the leader of the planet just briefly before joining in on the festivities of the celebrating citizens. Lance, however, didn't bother celebrating. He spent his time, moving from person to person, holding out a picture on a small device.

"Was he part of the attack?"

"Did you see him amongst the Galra?"

"Was this Galra here?"

Lance didn't push them for an answer. He wasn't frantic when asking. He gave them their space and took what answers he could get. Voltron just stopped an attack on this planet as well as expunged any remaining Galran outposts and colonies. They liberated the planet and the people wanted to celebrate. Lance understood, but…

There was a small hand on his shoulder. He turned to find Pidge standing next to him.

"Don't worry." She had a soft smile on her face. "We will find him."

Lance couldn't help but smile back.

"I can help. Like I usually do." She drew a pointed look towards the downed battle cruisers they had taken down earlier during the fight. "I'll run a diagnostic on those ships, see what data I can pull from them. I can analyze the data back at the Castleship." She looked back at the other paladins and Alteans. "Shiro already agreed to help. He'll use his arm to activate the Galran computers. Hunk is also asking around with a picture." She gave the (now) red paladin a comforting look. A look that said, You aren't the only one looking. You've got help.

Lance let out a sigh. "Thanks, Pidge. It's just…" He looked down at his hands, seven fingers held out. "Seven months is a long time to be in Galra custody. I'm worried."

Pidge looked down too. "I know. We all are."

Lance let out a huff that could have been mistaken for a scoff. He looked up. "Not all of us."

Pidge followed his gaze. Allura…

*7 Months Ago*

"Allura! What the hell are you doing?!" Lance was yelling as the paladins were rushing behind Allura back to the main control room.

Haggar has just blown a hole in the ship where Keith was and said paladin is now missing.

As soon as they figured out what happened and noticed him gone, Allura immediately rushed off. "That should be obvious. I'm getting the Castle out of here!"

"No!" Pidge's voice came almost hysterical. "We have to get Keith back first!"

"We don't have time for that!" Allura was almost calm but authoritative. She was no longer acting as a friend in this moment, but as a princess. A commander. "The Castle of Lions is damaged and Haggar and her ship are still out there. We cannot afford to stay here!" She reached the castle controls, followed shortly after by everyone else. "I'm opening a wormhole!"

"Allura! Wait!" Shiro tried.

"Coran, I need you at the controls." If she had heard Shiro, she ignored him. "Prepare for wormhole jump."

"Princess…" The advisor sounded as though he wanted to protest.

"Coran." Allura's tone left no room for protest and Coran started up the controls. He began preparations for the wormhole.

"Allura, we can't just leave him behind. Keith is our teammate and a paladin." Hunk tried to reason.

Allura responded without looking at him. "You saw that holding cell, the security footage. There was no struggle. Kei- That Galra went with her willingly. He is not one of us anymore." With that, she opened the wormhole and sped through.

*Present*

'That Galra'

Lance couldn't get those words out of his head. Since then, he doesn't say much to the princess unless it is business. He still took orders from her, during missions, if only for the sake of the team. Usually acknowledging her orders with a short, sharp nod before proceeding to his Keith's lion. It still leaves a bad taste in his mouth every time he sees her in Blue. In his lion.

"Lance?"

At the sound of his name, Lance was harshly snapped from his angry thoughts. It was then that he realized he was balling his fists so tightly that he drew blood. He released his hands and his shoulders dropped. "Sorry."

Pidge wrapped her arms around him in a tight embrace. "We'll find him." She repeated.

Lance returned the hug before they both headed off towards the others.

Not too long later, the paladins, save for Allura, were in the Green Lion's hangar, Pidge's favorite place to work. Her fingers were flying at lightning speed across her keyboards. Of the five crashed Galra ships, she was able to get useable data pulled form three of them.

It took about twenty minutes. All three sets of data had been decoded, analyzed, overlapped and compared to fill any gaps in data in any one ship. Pidge finally stopped and sat back in her chair, eyes scanning through all the information she had pulled up.

"What have you found?" Hunk finally broke the silence.

"Anything important?" Shiro added.

"Anything on Keith?" Lance put in hastily.

Pidge pointed to each of them in turn. "A lot. Definitely. Not… entirely sure." She continued scanning the information on the screen. "Apparently there is a planned attack on a planet that has been recently liberated by the rebels. It's some kind of 'training mission' for a new Druid that has been quickly climbing ranks." She narrowed her eyes a bit, focusing on something. "Commander Yorak?" The others shrugged at her questioning tone. She continued. "This 'Yorak' is apparently an up and coming new Druid. He isn't ranked among the Druids themselves but is still listed as a commander. Other than that, there isn't much information."

"When and where is this attack supposed to happen?" Shiro was the first to act, as usual.

Pidge checked the screen again. "In roughly a quintant on planet Reiphod."

Hunk held up one finger. "That's not too far from here. We can definitely make that in time to defend the planet."

Shiro nodded his agreement is. "Whoever this Yorak is, he is new and most likely young. It's better to take him out early in the game. However, if he has reached the rank of commander so quickly then he is also most likely strong and smart. We also don't know the extent of his Druid capabilities so we mustn't underestimate him."

"So basically what you're saying is we need a plan, and a damn good one at that." Lance's shoulders slumped and he let out a sigh. Then he noticed Pidge. She looked deep in thought, staring at her screen. "What's up Pidge? Something wrong?"

Pidge hummed. "It's just… the information about the attack, when and where it's happening and why, was a little too easy to get. The information on this new Commander is labeled as unrestricted, public knowledge for the Galra, so it makes sense that it was easy to access. The attack information, however… that is all labeled 'high clearance'. For me to be able to access it so easily…"

"It's probably a trap." Shiro concluded in an obvious sort of tone. The others nodded. "Alright. We'll need Allura. I've got a plan."

The paladins and Alteans were all in the main control room, gathered and listening intently to Shiro's plan.

"Pidge, you will go in first, stealth mode. Do some reconnaissance and report back. Try and figure out how many ships are there waiting for us."

Pidge nodded. "I've only got about one and a half vargas before my cloaking shield gives out."

Shiro nodded in acknowledgement. "Allura, you will be Pidge's backup. If she can't get out before her cloaking shield ends, get in there and get her out quickly so we can regroup. Lance, you are the fastest one, so I want you to go in and check on the rebel bases. If any are still functioning, let them know our situation and recruit any that are able to help. I will stay behind and take out any ships that may be trying to leave the planet." He looked to Hunk and Coran last. "Hunk, Coran, you two will stay behind. Protect the Castle if need be. I know the castle has shields, but I don't want to take a chance. Hunk has the strongest defense so you will stay and help Coran."

Hunk shot two thumbs up.

"Sounds like a plan." Coran was twisting his mustache between his thumb and index ginger.

"Alright, let's suit up, get to your lions! As soon as we arrive, we'll head out!"

When they did arrive at the planet, the Galra ships were already there. There was a small fleet of ships hovering just above the planet. Too many to be considered and easy victory, but few enough to not be considered too difficult.

Shiro's voice came through the coms in their lions. "Alright. Pidge, Lance, you two head out first. Find out if any ships have entered the planed; find the rebel bases. Pidge, stay cloaked and Lance, try and stay out of sight from the Galra. Do not engage unless fired upon first."

"Come on!" Lance spoke, amused. "Who do you think we are? Keith?"

At that the team went quiet. Lance realized what he said and mumbled an apology. After that, Red and Green set off towards the planet. Green disappeared almost instantly and Red took off in the opposite direction of the fleet as to not be seen. For the rest of them, it was more of a waiting game until they heard back from the other two or until the Galra decided to make their move.

Pidge soared down to the planet, the time remaining for her cloaking displayed across her screen. She flew above the closest city. The streets were filled with aliens, blissfully unaware of the impending threat just out of sight. She kept flying, to the outskirts of the city, checking the perimeter. She continued this until her time ran out, checking city after city and finding no sign that any Galra had landed. She made it back to the Castle and the others just before her timer hit zero. She reappeared right in front of Black.

"Nothing," she began, a small hint of confusion to her voice, "there aren't any Galra to be found on the planet."

Lance returned just then as well. "The rebel bases are all aware of the Galra fleet hovering above them. They picked them up on their scanners less than a varga before we arrived. They have all agreed not to make the first move. They are waiting to see why they are here."

"Why would they plan an attack on the planet then not do anything." Allura spoke up. "What's their reason for coming here?"

"That reason is you."

Everyone jumped at the new, yet familiar, voice that rang through their coms. Pidge's blood ran cold as she realized that the voice hadn't come through her coms but from right behind her. She spun her head around so fast she'd have to check for whiplash. What she saw made her jump to her feet. A Galra soldier, short in stature but high in rank, stood at the back of her cockpit. His claws were glowing an eerie purple, electricity crackling around his hand and aimed right at her.

"Keith-" she breathed out.

Her quiet call seemed to get to him. The sparks disappeared and he seemed to hesitate for a moment. The soldier looked confused for only a second before moving his hand just slightly. Pidge barely had time to jump out of the way before a bold of purple lightning was shot at Green's control panel. All of the paladins heard Green let out a loud, painful roar before powering down, lifeless. Pidge heard her helmet coms fizzle out as well. She had no communication now.

When Pidge looked back up at the soldier, he was gone.

Lance and the others were all calling out to her, even though Green had no power at the moment.

"Guys, who was that?! How'd he get inside Green?!" Lance was almost panicking. None of them had any way of knowing if Pidge was okay.

"You may want to worry about yourself."

Lance whipped around and immediately jumped to his feet. "Keith!"

"That's not my name!" the soldier almost growled. "My name is Yorak! Commander Yorak!"

Lance knew the other three paladins were calling to him over the coms, they had heard him call Keith's name, but their voices sounded muffled. His mind was blank and he couldn't think. He was forced from his thoughts, however, when lightning was shot at Blue's control panel. The power forced the blue paladin off his feet and Yorak was gone.

Hunk: "Lance! What happened?!"

Shiro: "Was that Keith?!"

Allura: "Blue is out of commission! We are down to three lions!"

Hunk was already out of his pilot seat when Commander Yorak appeared. He came out of nowhere in a cloud of black smoke. Teleportation, Hunk thought, one of the Druids' powers. He immediately rushed the commander to try and knock him down before he did to Yellow what he did to the other lions. He ended up just hitting the wall of his cockpit through another cloud of smoke as Yorak appeared again behind him. He sent a jolt through the yellow lion before disappearing again.

"Traitor." Allura growled out as the same thing happened to Blue.

"Keith, please. You're my brother." If he'd blinked, Shiro might've missed it, but there was a slight hesitation in the soldier's movement. He took advantage of that and rushed him. He collided with the soldier and they both fell to the floor. However, Shiro found himself on the floor alone not a second later. He spun his head around to find Yorak's hand on Black's controls. Electricity crackled through Black as the commander disappeared.

The paladins remain in their lions, all unharmed and all reeling from shock, unsure what to think or do.

Zarkon's Throne Room

"You had no reason for the fleet of ships you took, none of them were even used. None of the soldiers or ships you brought ever even landed on the planet. You hesitated when attacking the paladins and failed to retrieve the black lion." Zarkon listed all the things he deemed as mistakes during the mission. One of his newest and youngest commanders kneeling before him, listening to his every word.

"My apologies, Emperor Zarkon." Yorak finally stood up, facing the emperor. "I took the small fleet as back up in case anything went wrong. While Voltron's moves were easily predicted, there are times when they defy our predictions. As for not attacking the planet… Planet Reiphod has already been recovered and taken under control of the Rebel forces. Them, on top of Voltron and their castle, wasn't worth the risk of attacking them. I do regretfully admit I wasn't able to retrieve the black lion but all lions will be out of commission for a good time."

Zarkon seemed to consider this for a moment. "You have failed to explain your hesitation on attacking the paladins." When Yorak stayed quiet at that, Zarkon continued. "I see." He looked to the guards standing by. "Take him to the Arena."

Yorak's eyes widened a moment then he seemed to resign himself. This was his punishment. The same punishment he'd suffered for the past seven months, fighting for his life in the gladiator arena.

There you have it! Chapter 1 down! It wasn't quite the ending I wanted but it is the point where I wanted to end it. :/ Oh well. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I'll say this now, updates will be a bit slow, but they will come eventually! Please review/comment, tell me what you think of this first chapter. I have sooooo much planned for this story and would love to hear your feedback as readers! Until next chapter,

NyteXade