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

Extraction Part 1

Allura is in the Memory Chamber with King Alfor's artificial intelligence and the Altean Mice. The Chamber is a hologram of Altea.

"I loved the smell of the mountain juniberries in the early morning breeze," Allura sighs.

"As did I, Allura."

"Remember the summer berry festival? People would come from all over Altea for the harvest."

"I remember how the berry juice stained your favorite dress. You were so upset."

Allura laughs, reminiscing, "It took forever for Mother to calm me," before she frowns, "I miss Altea so much. I miss you, Father. I wish it didn't have to be this way."

"I know, Allura, but, as leaders, we have to do what's right for our people, even if it means great sacrifice."

"I know, Father. That's what you always say."

Coran enters and starts chastising Allura, "Princess, there you are. What are you doing up and about? You should be resting."

"Oh, Coran, can't I stay?"

"The Balmera rejuvenation ceremony took a lot out of you. Come along, to your room," Coran says and helps Allura stand.

"Get your rest, darling. I will be here for you when you're well."

"I love you, Father. I'll see you soon."

Coran takes Allura away. When the Memory Chamber ends the hologram, King Alfor' display flickers before disappearing. Currently, Pidge is studying the Galra Crystal in the Green Lion's hangar.

Coran speaks over the intercom, "Pidge, please come down to the detainment room."

Pidge is frustrated from being interrupted by complies, but the Crystal glows ominously. Pidge meets Coran and the other Paladins in front of the pod where Sendak is held. Coran places devices on Sendak's pod.

"Okay, guys, Sendak's almost all hooked up. But, look, I have to warn you, this technology was used to keep Altean memories alive, not to interrogate prisoners."

"Coran, we understand this isn't what the technology was meant for, but if we can extract Sendak's memories, we may gain valuable intelligence on Zarkon's troop locations," Shiro says.

"Yeah, and then we can just be like, 'Knock-knock.' 'Who's there?' 'The avenging fury of Voltron, son!'" Lance jokes.

"Fascinating. So, how exactly does this work?" Pidge wonders aloud.

"As the memories are extracted, they're written bit by bit on individual molecules of the micro-storage strands," Coran explains.

"When I go, I want all the stuff in my brain stored in a giant ship," Lance replies.

"The amount of information in your brain could be stored in one of Allura's mice," Keith jokes.

"Oh, yeah? Well, the amount of information you have, Keith, could be..."

"... Yeah?"

"Uh... it's less than what I have!"

"Oh, good one, Lance!" Hunk backs up his friend.

"So this is how you incorporated King Alfor's memories into the Castle of Lions?" Pidge ignores the bickering.

"Precisely, but it's never been attempted before on an unwilling participant," Coran assists her in her endeavour and the memory storage device activates but nothing appears.

"Uh, is this what's supposed to be happening?" Hunk asks.

"Let's give it some time," Shiro suggests.

The Paladins and Coran wait for a very, very long time with no results.

"Well, I can't wait around anymore. I'm gonna to hit the training deck," Keith gives up first and leaves, not wanting to waste time on Sendak of all people.

...

More time passes with no results.

"Okay, if anyone needs me, I'll be in the lab. Maybe I can pull some information from Sendak's Galra Crystal," Pidge says and leaves.

...

More time passes with no results.

"Time to feed the beast. I'm going to go make some breakfast," Hunk leaves.

"Well, I'm afraid I can't wait here any longer, either. I have a million duties to attend to. Between that Galra Crystal infecting our system, and then fighting off those ships and performing the Balmeran rejuvenation ceremony, the old Castle of Lions has taken quite a beating. Every system needs to be recharged and repaired," Coran also says.

"I'll stay. Somewhere in Sendak's mind is the information about Zarkon that we need," Shiro replies.

"Okay, well, while you guys do that, I think I'm gonna get my chill on. Maybe kick back with a lemonade or space juice. Something," Lance tries to leave.

"Oh, hold on there, space juice. You're going to come and help me," Coran decides.

"What? Why? Why me?"

"Because you're the last one here and because your activity isn't very important."

"Wait, did I say 'chill with a good lemonade'? I meant I gotta do homework."

"No. Too late," Coran answers and starts leaving.

"Fine... Let us know if anything happens," Lance begins walking away and Shiro does not reply, "Shiro?"

"Y-You got it," Shiro answers and Lance leaves, but Shiro remains, staring at Sendak.

Meanwhile, Hunk is in the kitchen trying to get food, "Maybe today, we try a little crème goo-lée," but the food goo dispenser will not work, but when Hunk looks inside the tube and clicks the lever, goo explodes on his face, "Agh, my eye!"

The goo dispenser rapidly shoots goo everywhere. Pidge walks by and sees the chaos.

"What is going on in here?!"

Hunk is hiding behind a counter, "The goo has me pinned down!"

Hunk and Pidge hide behind the counter together. Pidge pulls out plates and hands one to Hunk.

"Okay, we're going to have to flank the goo to shut it down."

"Okay, wait. Wait! It's been a pleasure cooking with you," Hunk salutes Pidge, "Go!"

Hunk and Pidge rush the goo dispenser from either side using plates as shields. Pidge pins the goo dispenser tube down while Hunk ties the tube in a knot, stopping it and making it overflow.

"Probably a malfunction?"

"Yeah, yeah... Guess the kitchen system needs to be rebooted, too."

"Leave it for Coran?"

Hunk nods and both Hunk and Pidge leave the kitchen a mess. Meanwhile, Lance is cleaning pods in the sleep chamber with Coran.

"Ugh... Since when did 'Paladin sleeps in it, Paladin cleans it' become a Voltron rule? Also, how is it these pods have the ability to heal a human from near death, but don't have the ability to clean themselves?"

Coran laughs, "Oh, self-cleaning pods. Now, that's a good one! You know, this kind of reminds me of my time as a young cadet. I had just enlisted in the Altean space squad, aeronautics sub-tech nano-weaponry unit, and I was sent off to boot camp. Our sergeant had us cleaning cryo-pods day and night. I got so good at it, I earned my first set of stripes!"

Coran continues talking as Lance gets trapped in a pod.

Lance screams, "Oh—Coran! Hey! Hey! H-Hey!" Lance knocks on the pod from the inside, but Coran does not hear.

"—Oh, those were the days. Anyway, you keep up the good work and maybe someday you'll earn some cleaning stripes, too."

The pod holding Lance descends into the floor. Coran looks around.

"Lance? Lance! Ah, Paladins..." Coran believes Lance has left.