Forging Ties (Book 2 of Fates Entwined)

Forging

Hunk is snoring. He gasps, begins to snore again and tips over, waking himself up in the process.

"What? What'd I miss?"

"Oh, nothing important. We've just figured out a way to defeat Zarkon," Lance smirks, motioning to the Alteans, Blades and Keith hiding behind Shiro.

"Really? I dozed for ten minutes and you guys figured out how to defeat the forces of evil?"

"You've been asleep for three hours," Pidge deadpans, raising an eyebrow.

Hunk sweat drops, like a totally non-animated character, then looks over at the projection of Zarkon's command ship and the separate group with wide eyes.

"I think we've got something here. It's dangerous and there are a lot of moving parts, but if we can coordinate everything just right, then—" Shiro begins.

"Zarkon's reign will be at an end and the savagery that's poisoned our universe can finally be cleansed. You've done it, Shiro," Kolivan finishes.

"We did it together," Shiro smiles, offering his right, robotic arm.

Shiro and Kolivan clasp each other's arms. Keith smiles slightly, moving from behind Shiro to see the older Galra better.

"As long as we all stick to the plan, it should work," Allura says, venom lacing her tone.

Keith flinches and returns to hide behind Shiro. In turn, Shiro moves his left arm infront of Keith and positions his body, so his right arm is infront and ready to attack. Kolivan tenses a minuscule amount and Antok moves closer to his leader's side. Ulaz makes sure to block Keith from view from his position on Shiro's left side.

"It will work. Perhaps, then, you'll learn that not all Galra are as bad as Zarkon," Kolivan replies, voice neutral.

Allura's eyes focus on where Keith is hidden. The boy shifts, feeling her gaze, and tightens his hold on Shiro.

"I hope not," Allura mutters.

"Ulaz was right to trust you all," Antok says.

"He almost sacrificed everything to bring us together. Let's honor him and our fallen by taking down Zarkon," Shiro answers.

Ulaz resolutely ignores the heat in his cheeks.

"So, what's the plan?" Hunk asks, having missed the whole thing, but getting a giggle from Keith.

Hunk and Shiro give the boy soft smiles and Lance runs to the center of the group, movements exaggerated and telegraphed. He begins to explain the plan, using exaggerated movements and acting out various parts.

"The plan is amazing! First, we infect Zarkon's ship with a virus. Then, we make an extra-large wormhole and lure Zarkon inside of it, zapping him a bajillion light-years away. Then, when he pops out on the other side, all like," Lance decides to use a mocking tone of voice, "'Oh, why doesn't my ship work?'" before returning to his normal voice, "Voltron kicks his butt! Pew, pew, pew! Womp, womp, womp! Huh! Hi-yah!" Lance uses a deep voice, "'I'll form the head!'" before returning, once again to his normal voice, "That's what you say, Shiro. Yeah, yeah. Yeah! We won for all time!"

"Wow. So, this is it." Hunk breathes.

Everyone stands in silence for a moment, reflecting quietly.

"I guess the only question is, when do we strike?" Pidge asks.

Coran pulls up an interface and presses a few buttons, causing the projector to show the inner workings of a teludav, "As soon as we build a teludav big enough to wormhole Zarkon's ship."