They're winning. Finally.

"Welcome back to the fight, Paladins," Shiro grins.

"It's good to be back," Hunk replies, "You know, in our bodies."

The MFEs return to recharge.

Sendak attacks Voltron and the Atlas.

The Paladins fight better than ever. They have experience; they have new weapons; they have each other. It's a far cry from what they were back on Arus (looking back, they were bumbling idiots, but that's how everyone starts). Lance was second in command and he's led before, when things got tough, so leadership fits him like a glove (a slightly too big glove that weighs him down, but no one needs to know that, just act confident and no one will ever know). The team is more than a team now; they're a family and nothing is going to change that.

Being a different part of Voltron is easier than being in a different Lion. Lance won't mention how Black is so different, but Voltron is familiar.

Sam figures out that his technology from his enslavement is being used in the Zaiforge cannons to destroy Earth.

Lance decides they should take Sendak out so he can no longer control them.

A blast hits Voltron.

A second blast is dodged, but hits a satellite. Voltron cannot dodge.

It's a base.

Sendak had planned for this potential outcome.

Another attacks. Voltron forms the shield and it helps.

Cruisers fire.

They can't defend themselves from everything.

They can't move forward, but...

"We're too close to retreat!" Lance declares.

And he's right. They can't go back. Earth doesn't have time.

"Get in close to the cruisers," Lance says, confident they won't fire on their own ships.

He's wrong.

The explosion of the Cruiser is felt within Voltron, despite the distance. So many lives lost for no gain. Sendak is a madman.

Keith is glad that Voltron is helping block out the pain. He can't feel every life fade, not right now, not when he's got to focus on this fight, but Voltron can't protect him forever.

He doesn't want to feel another planet die.

But it is beginning to feel hopeless.

And when hope dies, they lose.

———

The MFEs are recharged and launched to attack the surface to air cannons.

Voltron is ordered to stand down. The Atlas will attack Sendak. Voltron needs to be prepared to stop the cannons directly.

They decide to use the reflective plates that were being used to direct beams to attack them. Use the enemy's weapons against them.

———

Keith and Allura grab the furthest plates (Black may be faster, but Lance is still adjusting to Black's controls. He still manages to give Allura a boost though. Maybe he can lead Voltron). Everyone has to go straight from their plate to their cannon. It's their only hope.

———

The MFEs neutralise one cannon, but the Atlas is having trouble with Sendak and the Cruisers.

The Paladins and Lions reach the plates.

Everyone pushes themselves to their limits.

The Atlas's shields are online.

The Lions make it in time. The plates won't last long. They need to reach Sendak.

Shiro is going for the Crystal. It's all they've got and he won't let his family die. The Atlas will be ready to block the beams. He's glad to have a trustworthy arm, even if the lack of Empire technology may be a problem.

The plates begin to crack. Coran is terrified. That's his family. Ulaz wants to tell the kids to move, get out of the way, but he does not. These kids would never accept that. They hope Shiro's plan works in time. They can't lose these kids.

The plates rupture. The Lions are blown away, protected from the beams by the explosion and debris. They get lucky.

Earth does not.

6 beams combine into 1.

It heads for Earth.

...

The Atlas stops it.

It's temporary. The enslaved humans watch from the surface, terrified, but in awe.

Coran tries to reach the Paladins, but they don't respond. The Atlas can't hold much longer.

———

It has torn the sentries apart. Shiro blinks at Coran's voice. He's by the Crystal chamber. Oh. He needs to get a better hold of himself.

"I'm about to use your brain as a computer node," Sam warns.

"Well, wouldn't be the first time," Shiro answers, no hesitation behind his movements.

It hurts.

Sam manages to destroy a cannon.

The Crystal explodes.

It's worth it, Shiro thinks, his family is safe.

Except they're not, so it isn't.

Sam can't reach Shiro.

They've bought time.

———

Lance wakes up first and tries attacking a cannon. Allura is next and comes to help, attacking another cannon, since Black has the most power. Keith helps her and Hunk and Pidge team up against a third cannon. They all begin attacking and attacking and attacking until, finally, only two remain.

And then none remain.

The MFEs have neutralised all targets.

They bought enough time.

It was worth it.

———

Sendak's ship is about to have a crash landing and Shiro is still there.

They've entered the atmosphere. Air is thin, but the ship has enough shielding to provide extra atmosphere for someone on the surface of the ship, like Shiro.

Shiro turns.

Sendak charges Shiro, throwing his arm at him, shooting a laser. Shiro falls and takes more hits.

Sendak wants to destroy Earth, more than anything.

Shiro can't allow that. They are both warriors, but Shiro is the Champion.

———

The Paladins guide the ship to an uninhabited part of Earth.

———

Shiro wakes up. Sendak is standing.

Red is there. She opens her mouth.

She doesn't shoot.

Keith jumps out.

Sendak is on the ground. Dead.

The Red Bayard has even more red on it.

Keith is at Shiro's side, "Dad! Dad!"

"I'm here," he reassures, using his old arm to wipe some blood off Keith's helmet and pull his kit in closer, so that the only thing stopping their foreheads touching is Keith's helmet, "Thank you."

They're alive. That's all that matters.

The other Paladins are there in their Lions, cheering, because Earth is safe.

Except it isn't.

Something is coming.