One Last Time

Part 1

It had been two weeks since Allura died. The first week after she died the team was a grieving mess of bleary eyes, sniffling noses, and tears. Lance and Coran were hit the hardest, having been the closest to Allura. The team had started going their separate ways, spending less time with each other but remaining close friends. 

Coran had convinced all of them to come back to the IGF Atlas for a few fun rounds of Monsters and Mana. No one admitted it but they all craved the feeling of closeness that the game brought. 

Coran greeted each of the Paladins enthusiastically and led them to a seemingly blank room with a round table in the center.

"Um, Coran?" Pidge asked. "How are we supposed to play Monsters and Mana? Last time there was the board but that was destroyed with the rest of the Castle."

Coran twisted the end of his ginger moustache. "Not to worry, Number Five! I made sure that the plans of the Castle that we gave your father included the game room. Like old Pop Pop Wimbledon would've said, no ship is complete without a Monsters and Mana board!"

Shiro smiled. "Alright then. Let's play!" They sat around a the table as holographic Monsters and Mana board popped up. Coran handed out the player cards, small electronic cards that they could use to design and adjust characters. 

"I'll be a mage," Hunk decided.

"Dwarf!" Pidge exclaimed with a grin.

Shiro frowned at the card. "A paladin."

Coran groaned. "You've already been a Paladin! Several times! In real life!"

"There's nothing more fulfilling than being a Paladin of Voltron."

"I guess a Paladin's cool and all," Lance shrugged. "But I'll be a sneaky ninja assassin!"

Pidge gave him a look. "Do you mean a thief?"

"No! I'm a ninja assassin. My victims never see me coming, so they let their guard down. And then I strike!" Lance laughed. 

"So . . . thief," Hunk confirmed. They looked at Keith, who had never played this game before because he was with the Blade of Marmora last time. 

He shrugged. "I don't understand this."

"It's. A. Game. Keith," Lance groaned. 

Keith sighed and rubbed Cosmos' head. He looked down at his card. "Um. I guess I'll be an assassin?"

Lance muttered something about copying him before shaking his head playfully. He leaned back and casually put an arm around Keith's shoulders before reaching to touch something on the player card.

Coran rubbed his hands together, "Alright"

Keith looked down at his card. "Lance, what the heck? Why is my character purple? And why do I have furry cat ears?"

Lance grinned and was about to reply when the door of the game room opened, revealing Pidge's father, Sam Holt.

"We need you. It's urgent," he looked mostly at Shiro when he spoke. Sam's face was slightly paler than usual and his eyes looked panicked. 

"Of course," Shiro replied steadily, attempting to portray strength on behalf of everyone. They got up and followed Sam to find Curtis sitting in front of a screen, studying something. Sam bent down next to him. 

He looked up at them and his cheeks tinged slightly pink when he made eye contact with Shiro. Curtis hastily looked back at the screen. "We've received a distress signal. It's on a loop."

"Play it," Sam told him. Curtis pressed something. 

"If you find this, please . . . send help." Whoever was speaking starting coughing and the signal was cut off. 

The Paladins exchanged thoughts on the signal in a low murmur, attempting to guess who was speaking.

Shiro stood, frozen. Keith placed a hand on his shoulder, attempting to comfort him. He looked at Shiro with just as much shock in his eyes. When he spoke, his voice cut through the quiet chaos of mumurs. 

"Shiro," Keith's voice faltered. "Adam, Adam didn't die." 

Shiro smiled for a split second and then his face fell. He looked down at his hands and covered his face in them, his breathing ragged and uneven while shaking slightly.

Keith understood. He was just as surprised. Adam had died. At least, that's what the Garrison said. Sendak's ship had attacked his team but he lasted the longest. But Sendak had destroyed his ship. It didn't make sense unless . . . no, Keith doubted it. Back the smug, nagging voice in the back of his mind knew he was right. He snapped out of it and focused on Shiro.

"He's alive," Keith comforted him.

He replied in a coarse whisper, "This is all my fault. Adam's in trouble. By himself. I shouldn't have gone on the Kerberos mission."

Keith recalled eavesdropping on Shiro and Adam several years ago at the Garrison. Adam was visibly upset with Shiro, who was going on another mission despite his disease. He didn't blame Shiro for feeling so guilty. Keith had gotten a glimpse of Adam's face and had heard the tone of his voice during the conversation, it was natural Shiro felt this way. The argument hadn't been pleasant.

"It's not your fault Shiro," He assured him, gently. "Don't worry. We'll get him back."

Keith turned slightly to look at the team. They were concerned and afraid but he recognized the battle hardened look on their faces. They weren't the same afraid, doubtful Paladins they had once been, stumbling into an alien castle after going through a wormhole in a flying blue lion. They were experienced veterans, willing to go back and face danger, possibly risking their lives along the way, all for the greater good. This was Team Voltron. 

The corners of his mouth lifted upwards, slightly. 

"Alright team. Let's have one last adventure."