We walk out of the Castle with a big, heavy box. Hunk is pulling, while I'm pushing. We're both struggling, but no one comes to help us. They're too busy asking Rolo questions. Thanks, guys.

"Well, I hope there are some parts in there that'll fit," Hunk groans.

He stops pulling, and I stop pushing. I look up, wiping my brow, and see Hunk looking at the others. Shiro, Allura and Keith are sitting around a fire, talking with Rolo.

"You want me to pull?" I pant.

"You know, to get your ship moving?" Hunk tells Rolo.

"Great! Thanks." Rolo doesn't budge.

Amazing. Keith turns to look at me. I shake my head and trace a finger across my throat. The universal sign for 'danger'. He looks at Rolo and then back at me and shakes his head. How can he trust them? I groan loudly.

"I'll pull, Hunk," I say.

I don't even give him time to reply. Hunk looks at me. "Are you okay?"
I bang my forehead against the thing we used to pull this sucker, hoping that if I hit it enough times, it'll kill me.

"They trust them," I say. "How? It's obvious they're hiding something."

Hunk walks over to them. "Sorry to interrupt," he says, not looking very sorry. Thank you, Hunk. "But I think you guys are kind of keeping Rolo from working. It's just that we're in a hurry. A hero named Shay saved my life, and I swore I would return to do the same for her and her people." I smile at that. How adorable. "You understand."

Rolo stand up. "Sure. Sorry."

He pats Hunk's shoulder, who glares at him. I walk to him, ready to calm him down.

"I'll check out their ship, 'kay?" I ask quietly, so the others can't hear. "I'm sure that you'll refrain from killing him without me?"

He nods and I walk discreetly to their ship. I take my helmet off and place it on one of the boxes and start poking around.

"Nova?" I hear Hunk's voice. I jump and turn around, ready to see him at the entrance hatch, but it comes from my helmet. I walk over and grab it.

"Yeah?" I ask. "Wassup, man?"

"Anything, yet?"

"Nope. I just started looking."

"It's crazy. Even Shiro trusts him."

"Well, I don't. And neither do you." I think for a second. "Hey, Hunk?"
"Yeah?"

"Where are Lance and Nyma?"

"Talking, away from the others, why?"

I sigh."Because I get the feeling that if we get jumped, it's because Lance did something."

"I'll try to keep and eye on them. And Rolo."

"Okay. I'll come down as soon as I can to help you."

I take my helmet off and put it back on the box. I twirl my long braid around my finger as I look around.

"Now, where do I start?" I say out loud.

I grin as I head towards the cockpit. That's always the best place to start an investigation.

A while later, while I'm looking around near the entrance hatch, I hear Hunk's voice from my helmet.

"What is it, Hunk?" I ask.

"Lance is parading around his lion with Nyma," he tells.

"Di immortales," I curse under my breath. "It's fine. Keep an eye on Rolo. I'm about halfway done, anyways."

"We're almost done. Please hurry up."

"Okay."

I take my helmet off again and put it down. Now, I need to look around the back of the ship, and then I'm done. Maybe I'll look in these boxes, try to find anything in there.

I look around when I hear footsteps running inside and hear Beezer chirping. I run and hide behind a stack of boxes. The doors clang shut and I freeze. Uh-oh. I peer around the corner and see Rolo and Beezer sitting in the pilot's seat in the cockpit.

"Come on, Beezer, time to get Nyma," Rolo says.

He turns the engines on and takes off.

I peer around the edge of the boxes as Rolo opens the docking bay, and sucks the Blue Lion in with a tractor beam.

Oh, no.

I look around and see my helmet. I pale when I see it. It's right there, in the open. They're bound to find it.

Nyma climbs in on a rope and Rolo shuts the doors and flies away as Nyma goes to take her seat.

They didn't see the helmet. Good. I tiptoe over as quietly as I can, and grab my helmet before tiptoeing back to where I was hiding.

I put my helmet back on. "Hello?" I whisper. "Hello? Guys, hey!"

"Nova!" I hear Shiro's voice. And he does not sound happy. Hunk must've told them.

"Shh!" I say. "I'm hiding behind a stack of boxes on their ship. Guys, Hunk and I were right. They just got the Blue Lion! I don't know where Lance—"

"Nova, we know. Lance just commed us. We're going to get our lions and then coming for you, okay?"
"Okay. Maybe Allura and Alien Weasley can track me from the Castle."

"Good idea."

"Yeah, hurry up guys—"

I hear a laser gun powering up and turn around. Rolo and Nyma are right there pointing their guns at me. Beezer is chirping angrily.

"Well, well, well," Rolo says. "Looks like we've got a stowaway on our ship."

"So what, you're gonna shoot me?" I ask fearlessly.

I don't even bother putting my hands up in the air.

"Nova, what's going on?" Keith asks.

I can't answer without Rolo and Nyma finding out that I have the other paladins on my com, but I have to answer. I try the next best thing.

"Or are you two gonna take me hostage?" I ask. "Seriously. Stop pointing those around at people. You could injure someone with those guns and besides, you're using them wrong."

"Did they find you?" Pidge asks.

I have to keep myself from rolling my eyes. No. I'm frolicking in the field with unicorns.

"Don't move!" Rolo says. "Nyma, tie her up."

"Ooh, you're gonna tie me up?" I ask. "I'm terrified. Seriously, I think my bunny slippers just ran for cover."

"Guys," Shiro interrupts the others. "They've found Nova. Nova, Allura and Coran are tracking you as we speak. We're gonna find you. Hold on."

I don't move as Nyma ties my hands behind my back and pushes me to the ground. I sit cross legged there calmly as Nyma returns to the controls.

"Beezer, watch her," Rolo says before joining Nyma at the controls.

"So, what are you gonna do with Blue?" I ask.

The others quiet down over the coms.

"Blue!" Lance yells.

I cringe at the loudness of it, but remain quiet.

"The Galra empire pays a hefty price for the lions of Voltron," Rolo says.

I frown. "Wait, wait, wait," I say. "Let me get this straight. You idiots are gonna sell Blue to the Galra for money? What is wrong with you? Savior of the universe, hello?"

Lance gasps. "Blue!" he screams again.

I want to snap at Lance to shut it, but I can't be found out just yet.

"Good job Nova," Shiro tells me. "Keep going."

"That's the plan," Rolo says.

"Why?" I ask.

"Because we need the money."

I roll my eyes. "Bloody brilliant. You nincompoops are gonna sell Blue because you need money and you don't care about freedom. You ought to get a medal."

I hear Keith snort over the coms and the faintest trace of a smile tugs at my lips.

"It's complicated," Nyma snaps.

Another eyeroll. "That's what they all say." We fly in silence for another minute.

Rolo hails a Galra ship and the furry face of a cat alien. "Commander Prorok, my name is Rolo," he starts. "I understand you're offering a reward to anyone helping capture the Voltron Lions."

"That's correct," Prorok says. "Do you know where they are?"

"I know where the blue one is. It's in my ship. And I have captured one of the paladins."

I glare from my position on the ground. What a monumental idiot.

"Excellent. Bring them to me and you'll have your reward immediately."

"Just a tick. My friends and I have a bit of a checkered past. Some stolen merchandise from the Galra Empire may have fallen into our possession without us knowing about it." I scoff. Cowardly freedom fighters. Amazing.

"Well, I'm sure that a full pardon can be arranged for the brave souls who bring Emperor Zarkon a Voltron Lion and a paladin. Is that all?"

"We'll take the reward, too," Nyma says.

"Of course."

"All right," Rolo says. "We're on our way."

He cuts the connection.

"Unbelievable," I say. "You guys actually believe that you'll get out of that deal safely."

"Stay quiet!" Rolo snaps.

I stay quiet for about a minute as the two talk. Enough for me to come up with a plan to get out. But I have to keep them talking. "And what are you gonna do with me? Just hand me over to them?"

Rolo shrugs. "I dunno," he says. "We weren't expecting a stowaway. Maybe we will for double the reward."

I wait until we hit a bit of turbulence. I take that time to activate my bayard and slash the rope bindings around my wrists. I then jump on Beezer and manage to shut him down before he can alert Rolo and Nyma.

"First of all," I say through clenched teeth. "I am not a stowaway. And second of all, you're really thinking about handing me to the Galra? Man, for freedom fighters, you guys aren't big on the thing you're fighting for."

"Nova, we're almost to your position," Shiro says. "Do you read?"

I approach the cockpit when an alarm almost makes me jump out of my skin and some turbulence throws me against Blue's force field.

"Sorry, buddy," I murmur, patting the field.

A screen appears with the four remaining lions flying to our position.

"No way," Rolo says.

"Are you sure you know what you're doing?" Nyma asks. "There's no way to outrun those lions."

"You two are screwed now," I say.

I'm still going to execute my plan, because I feel like I have to contribute, but I'm going to enjoy watching a bit, first.

"Not in the open," Rolo says, completely ignoring me and my comment. "Good thing the Zorlar asteroid belt is right up here. I know that like the back of my hand."

I hear the others over my coms.

"We'll never get through this asteroid field!" I hear Pidge say.

"Maybe I can just bust through!" Hunk says before I hear a faint crash. "Nope! That was wrong. That was a bad idea."

"Keith, you're the only one who could possibly fly through this," Shiro says. "We need you buddy. Get in there and flush him out."

"You got it," I hear Keith say. "See you on the other side."

I see Keith dodging asteroids and when when Rolo orders for him to be shot down, he still manages to catch up. Keith is amazing.

"This kid can flat out fly," Rolo says, impressed.

I know, I think with a smile.

"Go Keith!" I yell.

Nyma and Rolo turn around and see me standing behind them. I stand up straight.

"Nova, are you okay?" Shiro asks.

"I did not think this through," I say. "Hello." I wave my arm at them. "What a beautiful day, am I right?"
We stare at each other in stunned silence.

"Nova!" Shiro yells.

"Ah, whatever."

I roundhouse kick Rolo in the head, sending him flying against a wall and slumping down, unconscious, while Nyma stands up. We face each other down.

"Nova!" Shiro calls again with a worried edge.

"I'm peachy," I reply. "And how are you?"

"Who are you talking to?" Nyma asks.

"Father Christmas," I say. "He told me that you've been naughty and that you won't get presents this year."

Nyma shoots at me and I dodge, but not fast enough. She hits my helmet, and it flies off of my head. I jump at her and throw a side kick, catching her in the ribs. Then I kick her down and her head hit the ground and she's out cold, like the other nimrod. I sit down in the pilot's chair and crack my knuckles before flying expertly out of the asteroid belt and landing on a nearby moon. I check the atmosphere outside using the ship and note that there is indeed an atmosphere. Then, I grab my helmet and put it back on.

"Yo, guys," I say. "What's taking so long?"
"The others are almost to your position," Keith says. "I'm just landing."

While the others arrive, Keith coms Lance.

"Hey Lance, I got your lion back," I hear Keith say.

"Thank you Keith," Lance replies. "Now, can you come and unchain me?"

"What's that? I, uh... you're cutting out. I can't... I can't hear you."

I start laughing. I can just imagine Keith's smile and Lance's horrified expression, and it's glorious.

"Oh, come on! I thought we bonded. Keith? Buddy? My man?"

When I hear four other thumps, I rush out of the ship, my activated bayard in my hand. "Guys!" I holler. "You finally made it!"

Keith runs over with the others. He looks worried and angry as he looks me over.

"Did they hurt you?" he asks. "Are you okay?"

I stare at him, incredulous. "Dude, don't ask me that. Ask them." I point in the vague direction of the ship. "I roundhouse kicked them in the face! They got hurt, I got mad."

They stare at me with a mix of amazement and fear.

"You are amazing," Keith says.

I grin. "Why, thank you."

He blushes when he realizes that I heard him and stays quiet. I blush a bit. Shiro walks up to me.

"You did good, Nova," he tells me. "You kept your calm and you tried to give us some information." I grin. "And you and Hunk both followed your instincts, which turned out to be right. But I don't want you to go investigate a ship like that again." My grin drops.

"Well, you guys refused to believe us," I defend myself. "We wanted to prove that we were right."

We fly back to the Castle, with the four lions carrying the shuttle with me inside to make sure the three don't try any funny business.

When we make it back, we all get out and gather in front of the shuttle, with Nyma, Rolo and Beezer. I'm scowling at them with my arms crossed, and they're hanging their head in shame.

"Since your ship really doesn't work now, you'll have to wait here for a rescue," Keith tells them.

"Thanks for sparing our lives," Rolo says.

"Now that these guys are dealt with, let's get to the Balmera and save Shay and her family," Hunk says, his arms crossed over his big chest.

"You may not believe this, but I hope you do stop Zarkon," Rolo says. "In a lifetime of fighting the Galra that led me to where I am today."

I uncross my arms and glare at the ground. I believe him. Most of the people who fight this long against what seems to be an immortal empire either get killed, give up, or become anti-heroes. A bit like Han Solo in a way. I stay behind as the others start walking back. It's true that not all who fight against evil are necessarily good. But that can change.

"Thanks," I tell them honestly.

They look up with surprised faces. "Why?" Rolo asks. "We've only caused you trouble."

I smile. "Life always has troubles," I say. "But I'm thanking you for showing me that even people who go down the wrong path can really actually change. It's not too late for you guys to contribute. Peace, Rolo, Nyma."

I walk away back to the Castle. Maybe the next time we'll see them, they'll be on our side.