Today the Paladins were making a prisoner exchange with Zarkon; Lotor for Sam Holt. You were glad that Lotor was finally leaving. You, Thace, Ulaz, Coran, Lance, Allura and Hunk were gathered together around a screen in the observation deck.

"Everything's going according to plan." Hunk said when a hologram of Zarkon's ship appeared on the screen.

"I still don't like it. This whole thing is like making a deal with the devil." Lance said.

"I know. I just hope that they come back with Sam." You said, resisting the urge to bite your fingernails.

"I hate being so far out of range!" Coran said, banging his fist on a console.

"Zarkon's fleet is also out of range. These are the terms we agreed on." Allura told Coran.

Coran looked at her, then turned his attention back to the screen. Ulaz gently rubbed your shoulders in an attempt to calm your nerves. You sighed, leaning into his touch. Everyone was quiet as the exchange began. However, things soon took a turn for the worst.

"Lotor was right. Zarkon double crossed us." Hunk said, turning to face everyone.

"Everyone, get to your lions. We're going in." Lance said as he turned around and began walking to his zip line.

"Lance, we can't. Zarkon still has Sam. If we go in we put his life in jeopardy." Allura said, stopping Lance.

"Allura is right. If we move in, Zarkon's fleet moves in as well." Coran said.

"Yeah, but without Lotor as our prisoner we don't hold any cards. We're powerless, what do we do?" Hunk asked, panicking a little.

"We hold our positions." Allura said, making everyone look at her.

You couldn't help but stare at the screen. You could see everyone's signal, but you wished you knew what was going on and what they were saying. Suddenly, their signals started going crazy.

"Pidge, Shiro and Matt are moving in!" Hunk said loudly.

"Zarkon's fleet is moving in as well!" Coran added.

"Everyone, get to your lions! We need to protect our team and get Sam." Lance said as he, Allura and Hunk went to their lions.

You just stared at the screen as things got crazy. You didn't say anything as you watched the signals on the screen. All you could do was hope that everyone made it out alive.

              __________________________

"Send us Commander Holt." Shiro said loud enough to Zarkon to hear.

Zarkon's eyes narrowed as he looked at Shiro. As expected, he had something up his sleeve. But he wasn't going to let anyone know that yet.

"Release him." Zarkon told Acxa and Ezor.

"Move." Ezor told Sam, sounding bored.

The hologram of Sam began walking out of Zarkon's ship. Lotor began walking when Shiro nodded his head. Matt and Pidge glared at Zarkon.

"Stay alert, if Zarkon's going to try something now would be the time." Shiro said lowly.

Lotor knew that his father was going to try something. When he walked past Sam he tried making eye contact with the human, but it didn't happen. He now knew what was going on.

"Pidge!" Shiro shouted when Pidge ran towards her father.

"Dad!" Pidge said happily as she ran to her father, trying to tackle him in a hug but realizing that he was a hologram when it was too late.

Zarkon smirked behind his armor. Shiro and Matt's eyes widened when they saw what was going on.

"No!" Pidge shouted, tears threatening to spill from her eyes.

Right after Pidge shouted Zethrid brought the real Sam out from hiding. He was incredibly skinny and he looked older.

"Katie." Sam said when he saw his daughter.

"No! No! We had a deal! We had a deal!" Give me my father!" Pidge screamed angrily.

"If you want this Earthling returned alive you will forfeit Voltron to me immediately." Zarkon said, growling a little.

"No. No! We have to get dad!" Pidge yelled as Matt held her back.

"Shiro?" Matt asked Shiro.

"Hold your positions until the time is right." Shiro said lowly, not wanting Zarkon to hear.

"Bring the lions, now!" Zarkon demanded.

Lotor looked at Acxa, seeing that she wasn't paying attention to him. She yelped when Lotor attacked her. Lotor then attacked his father, beginning Zarkon's last battle.

"We need to get Sam!" Shiro said as he, Matt and Pidge used their jetpacks to fly to Zarkon's ship.

As Lotor and Zarkon started fighting Shiro, Pidge and Matt began trying to save Matt. This would be a fight and a day to be remembered.

       _________________________________

After the big fight the Paladins brought Sam to the castle. You couldn't believe that Lotor finally killed Zarkon. However, you weren't happy that Lotor was back. You still had a feeling that he was up to something. Thankfully, he wasn't at dinner.

"Y/n it's nice to see you again." Sam said as you, Thace and Ulaz sat at the table.

"It's great to see you too. Pidge and Matt never stopped looking for you." You said, a smile making its way onto your face.

"I wouldn't doubt it. They can be very persistent." Sam said, smiling at his kids.

"We couldn't just leave you." Pidge said, smiling at her father.

You were happy that Sam was back. During dinner everyone told him what had been going on. Sam told everyone what he had been doing since he was taken from Galra Central Command.

"So, now that Zarkon's dead, where are we going?" You asked Allura.

"We're going to Olkarion. We need to help Ryner and her people upgrade their defense systems. Now that Olkarion is the hub for refugees they'll need it in case the Empire tries attacking. Zarkon might be dead, but the war is far from over." Allura said.

"Then we're going to need to get some rest. Tomorrow is a big day." Shiro said, switching to space dad mode.

Everyone agreed, especially since they were already tired. After dinner and everyone went to their rooms you, Thace and Ulaz did the dishes. Today was stressful and you couldn't wait to go to Olkarion so that you could get some fresh air.