Paladins of the past.

Chapter 23:

Chapter 23: Space Pirates.

After composing themselves, Hunk started pacing as a serious expression laid on his face, Lance smiled to himself as watched Hunk pace, thinking to himself 'He never changes,' "Okay. So, when we get there, what do you think? Do we just roll up and like start blasting? Or do we land and some... kind of public address system, like, 'Attention, Galras. This is Voltron. Turn yourselves in!" Hunk ranted, facing Shiro, who just raised his hands in a mock surrender, the others coping Lance in grinning at Hunk.

"Hunk, calm down. And yes, blasting." Keith replied putting a hand on Hunk's shoulder, Shiro smiled at the two, while Pidge continued rocking on the balls of her feet.

"I think we should do the address system." Lance said in response.

"Why? Did the attack fail the first time so you're suggesting a different approach?" Hunk asked worriedly. Lance righted himself before replying.

"No nothing like that, it worked. But what if there are children in the base?" Lance questioned, gaining the attention of the Alteans.

"Well there are balmeran spawn on the planet," Coran explained, "But giving out our intentions right away would make any surprise attack fail,"

"No, not balmeran children, Galran." Lance faced Coran, whose face pinched at the reveal, which was considerably more tame compared to Allura's who looked aghast at the thought. "I mean surely–"

"You want to save Galran citizens?" Allura stated her voice sharp, which made the other Paladins tense looking between the two. "The Galra destroyed my home, and have taken over the majority of the universe,"

"Not all of them," Lance argued back, taking a step towards Allura who did the same thing, Coran moved towards the pair, looking like he was about to separate the two, Shiro doing the same as the rest of the paladins gathered as a loose circle around the pair.

"They are monsters!"

"They're Children!" Lance shouted in response making Allura flinch, "They are not born monsters, Shiro," Lance turned away from the Alien to face his leader face begging, "What if here was a child who is scared and alone down on that planet,"

"Like the balmera's are?" Allura butted in

"Y-yeah Lance, buddy. The Galra are the enemies," Hunk defended Allura, making Lance whip around to look at his friend.

"What is someone we knew was Galra?" Lance muttered but everyone still heard, Keith froze as the words 'half-breed' echoed in his head, the other humans paused to think about the possibility as did Coran, Allura wasn't taking it.

"Then they would not be a paladin of Voltron." Allura stated coldly, "So if you know if one of the paladins is even partly Galran, you tell me now." Everyone looked at Allura as if she just kicked a puppy, before turning to Lance who quickly turned white.

Lance's eyes widened as he looked at the others, hands shakily scrunching into fists at his sides, closing his eyes and turning towards the floor, "No," Lance paused, biting his lip which Pidge and Hunk noticed, "No one here is part Galra," Lance lied, Allura watched him warily as if she didn't believe him.

"We go in blasting, a surprise attack is our best option," Allura responded, turning back to the main screen, her hands hovering over the pillars, the others stayed where they were for a few more moments, only pausing at Lance's response.

"Then the blood of all those innocent children is on your hands, Princess." Lance replied coldly, turning to go sit on the stairs , where the others were stood, "And I will let it be known that Voltron will protect every innocent being throughout the universe," Lance continued, copying what Allura said to the Arusians, which the others apart from Shiro and Pidge recognised, "Unless you're Galran," Lance added, looking straight at Allura with his left eyebrow raised, making Allura tense at the feeling of eyes of her back. Coran shook his head at the princess and her attitude before going back to his station.