Welcome To The War 》 Voltron

Chapter 4

Kipper hopped out of the shower, quickly tossing his ruffian clothes back on despite his wet body.

He tied his wet hair back and smiled at his reflection in the mirror.

I haven't had a shower in forever.

Wow, that felt nice.

The hybrid went back to work while everyone else was at the birthday party.

Coran had lent him a screen, which Kipper was using to code.

Sitting down in one of the paladin's stations, Kipper sighed in anticipation and pulled out his screen.

Altean and Galra letterings instantly encrypted the entire screen. Deep, complicated code that he was developing.
The male twin was hard at work, concentrating on hacking into and temporarily shutting off Earth's satellites and astro defenses.

A little more difficult to hack than most, but still ridiculously easy to him.

Shutting down the defenses temporarily would allow the Castle of Lions to enter Earth's atmosphere virtually undetected.

The sound of footsteps drew Kipper's eyes upwards.

"Hey hot stuff", he teased jokingly.

Shiro rolled his eyes, allowing a little chuckle at Kipper's remark.

"How's it coming?", the Black Paladin asked the hybrid.

Kipper tapped his screen.
"All jokes aside", he said, "I'm almost finished. Earth won't know what landed."

He faced the Black Paladin.

"On an unrelated note: Azalea's stab wound is almost completely healed, and nearly every daisy has been extracted from Hunk's respiratory system. Lance has been resting and has overcome whatever injuries he may have had."

Shiro nodded in approval.
"Great job, DiNicolo."

Kipper returned to his work, but Shiro interrupted him once more.

"If Ferin is the strongest, then it will take the power of Voltron and the Hybrids. Which is why Coran designed special uniforms for you and your family. Every hybrid will be assigned to a Paladin. They'll work as-"

"Like assistants?"

"More like a recon squad."

Shiro walked to the front of the pilot's bay and opened a large holographic screen, with each hybrid's photo on it.

Kipper leaned forward, genuinely curious as to how the earthling's plan will unfold.

Shiro enlargened Azalea's picture.

"Because of her quick thinking, agility, and sensitive reflexes along with her compatability with Keith, Azalea will be assigned as the Hybrid of the Red Lion."

Starlin's picture next.

"Starlin's strong power and sense of leadership, along with her charismatic social skills  will place her as the Hybrid of the Blue Lion."

Skipper's picture next.

"Her quiet intelligence and protective nature matches Hunk's almost uncannily, leading Skipper to be assigned the Hybrid of the Yellow Lion."

Kipper ran his hand over his hair, raising his eyebrows in curiosity at his own enlarged portrait.

"You, Kipper, will be assigned as the Hybrid of the Green Lion. Your technical skills and sharp wit will coincide perfectly with Pidge's."

"Pidge? Is that the small one?"

"Yes."

Kipper sat back and chuckled.

Their own team. Just without the robot part.

This is more interesting than any job I've worked before.

Shiro minimized the screen and faced the boy again.

"Team training is tomorrow morning. Can your family make it?"

Kipper gave a goofy salute.
"Aye, aye, Captain!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Starlin drifted off into the astral plane of her mind.

Her cousin Kopheline.

When will he tell us?

Should I mention something?

Something told her to keep it quiet. It was his business after all.

I won't say anything.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Piflin tried to smile through his grief.

But it became harder and harder.

Why did I go with Voltron in the first place...?

Maybe...

If I had stayed with my mother...

I would've been with her.

Heart attack. That's what the advisors told him.

She died of a heart attack.

And when the young Prince ran through the castle doors....

His mother wasn't there to greet him.

She was out in the field.

Under a tombstone.

I have to stay strong.

For mother. For Brenan.