Nyle POV

The day after we left Ryker and had a talk about these robeasts, the team and I left in our lions to start our search. We had already been out here for days and it was getting tiring. 

"Okay, that's the third star system we've checked in the last 11 days, and we still haven't found a single clue about any robeasts," Hunk said.

"Actually, that was the 11th star system in the last three days," Pidge said.

"Was it really? Oh, my gosh," Hunk said. "Okay, see, I'm so worn out, I can't even...you know."

"Uh, count?" Lance questioned.

"No. Think," Hunk answered.

"I know this is not ideal, but the intel we received from the Galra cruiser in Lahn's fleet identified one of those robeasts within this quadrant," Allura spoke. "We must find it."

"Unfortunately, we just don't know how current that information is," Keith adds.

"And this celestial quadrant, by the way, is 230,000 light-years in diameter," I said.

"I can't even process what that means," Hunk said.

I rolled my eyes and sighed. "Okay, picture five fleas searching for another flea on a dog that's the size of the earth."

"Ugh, all this talk about fleas is making me itchy," Hunk said. "Are you guys feeling itchy?"

"Pidge, why can't you, Nyle, and Hunk just make a robeast tracker thingy, you know?" Lance questioned. "Do some math and science stuff. Then put some components together, and bam, it's done."

"Perhaps we should set our heading for the Altean colony," Allura said.

"We talked about this," Keith started. "To get to the colony, we would have to travel through the Quantum Abyss."

"Plus, Kolivan said the colony no longer exists," Pidge added.

"But there will be clues there, something to go off of," Allura argued.

"Travelling through that abyss was one of the most harrowing experiences of my life. A single misstep could turn a six-month journey into a ten-year journey. The creatures, the environment, everything in there wants you dead," Keith pauses. "Except you."

"I'm tired of hearing what we can't do and what we don't know," Allura said.

"Allura, we just want to make the best decisions--" Lance started before being interrupted.

"The Alteans were my people, and the last of them are being exploited as soldiers in someone else's war," Allura snapped. "You don't understand."

"I understand what it feels like to see someone I care about hurt so much," Lance said.

"I'm sorry, Lance," Allura apologizes. 

"Okay, maybe we head to Olkarion," Hunk suggested. "We're just a few galaxies away. They might have some information on any unusual sightings."

"Hunk's right. Olkarion is a great spot to regroup and reevaluate our situation," Keith says.

"And it'll be awesome to see everyone again," Pidge added. "I wonder what kind of technological advances they've made in the last few years. Oh, man! If they figured out a way to untangle the uncertainty principle, new precision calculations could open the doors to a flood of innovations!"

"I think I understood, like, three of those words," Lance said. "Allura, what do you think?"

"Perhaps a trip to Olkarion is best," Allura responded.

"All right! Let's do this!" Hunk exclaimed.

"Hailing Olkarion. Be advised the Paladins of Voltron are en route," Pidge said, not getting an answer. "This is Pidge, hailing Olkarion. Do you copy?"

"Are they not home?" Hunk asked.

"Probably too busy untangling calculations," Lance said with a snarky tone. "Am I using that right?"

"No Lance, not even a little bit," I said.

"I'm guessing there's a delay due to our distance," Pidge suggested. "We'll probably receive their reply on the way."

"Paladins, if we want to get to Olkarion quickly, there's only one way to do it," Keith said as the team went up to form Voltron.

I snickered to myself and kept going as they came back down. I used my lion to grab onto them as they formed their wings and we sped towards Olkarion. Once we slowed down I let go of them and flew on my own.

"Welcome to Olkarion's galactic neighborhood," Lance said. "Did we ever hear from them?"

"Actually, no, which is strange," Pidge started. "I'll try and contact them again. Whoa! We got incoming! Something big is headed our way at an incredible speed!"

"A Galra cruiser? Some kind of weapon?" Lance questioned.

"Is it a robeast?" Allura added.

"Shield up!" Keith shouted as Voltron formed the shield and I powered on my shield generator.

Voltron brought out the sword as well as a giant creature came toward us.

"What the heck is that thing?" Lance asked.

"It's a weblum!" Hunk exclaimed. "Keith, look! We've been inside one of those!"

"How could I forget?" Keith replied, unamused.

The weblum came closer to us as its mouth opened up and a bright light came from it. "Uh, Hunk what is it doing?" I asked.

"It's creating scaultrite," Hunk said. "Pidge, Nyle, you would love it. It's this amazing chemical process--"

"Science talk later! We're in its line of fire!" Lance interrupted, shouting. 

"Thrusters!" Keith exclaimed as Voltron flew out of the way and I went to the other side, getting out of the way as it shot a gigantic beam of light.

"Should we go on the offense?" Lance asked.

"No," Hunk replied. "They may be dangerous, but they're essential for the universe. Think of them like giant space bees. Keith and I learned about them from a video Coran made. There was some rule like, 'if you don't want to be killed, stay away from its gills'?"

"That wasn't the rhyme," Keith said. "It's 'if you don't want to be dead, stay away from its head'."

"We don't have time to listen to you rhyme," Allura interjected.

Hunk laughed. "You just--"

"Hunk!" Keith said, interrupting him.

"Where is it even going?" I asked.

"According to my calculations, it's headed towards," Pidge paused for a moment. "Olkarion."

"Then we better get there first," Keith said as I saw them charging their thrusters. I grabbed onto them as we zoomed past the weblum, getting to Olkarion. 

They separated back into lions as we headed down to Olkarion's surface. When we got through the clouds and saw the surface of Olkarion, it looked dead. The city was completely empty and run down. 

We got out of our lions once we landed them and stood on a ruined building. 

"They were our allies, our friends," Pidge said.

I went over to her and wrapped my arm around her shoulder, rubbing her arm. 

"Paladins, I know this is a difficult moment, but we need to get to work," Keith said. "That weblum is headed here right now, so time is short. Our top priority is search and rescue. If there are survivors, we need to find them, and we need to find out what happened here."

"There is only one thing capable of this," Allura said.

"Well, let's confirm it," Keith said, walking off. 

We separated and started searching. I went with Pidge and Allura as the boys split off.

Pidge went and touched a branch as it disintegrated in her hand.

"I think our worst fears have been realized," Keith said.

"What do you see?" Hunk asked.

"The physical wreckage and destruction patterns are just like those on Earth," Keith replied.

"Our findings are the same," Allura said. "It appears the quintessence was siphoned out of Olkarion as well."

"Lance and I took readings. We picked up traces of Psyferite. That's the same metal the creature on Earth was made from," Hunk said.

"Why would a robeast attack Olkarion? I mean, Olkarion of all places," I said.

"Maybe because it was a central part of the coalition," Lance replied.

"Maybe. I just get the feeling there's something more to it," Allura said.

"You might be right, but we don't have any way to confirm it," Keith said. "Right now we just need to focus on finding survivors."

We went back to our search, Allura and I fall a little bit behind as Pidge went forward and we lost sight of her after a while.

"Pidge, have you picked up anything?" Allura asked, not getting an answer. "Pidge, do you copy?"

I looked over to my left and saw her standing there. "Allura, over there." We used our jetpacks to get to her before standing on either side of her.

"Pidge?" Allura called.

"I know this place," Pidge replied. "This is where Ryner taught me how to bond with the forest. The Olkari people helped me make that connection. I learned more from them than I ever thought possible. Allura, Nyle, they had so much more to teach the universe. And now they're gone."

Pidge dropped down on her knees in tears as I went down with her, rubbing her back. Suddenly, Pidge looked up and looked around.

"Pidge? Pidge?" I called to her.

"Are you alright?" Allura asked.

"You didn't see it?" Pidge asked us.

"See what?" Allura asked.

"The forest, it was back to how it was before. There were girls playing," Pidge said.

"Maybe this place is trying to show you something," Allura said.

"What?" Pidge asked.

"The Olkari had a profound connection to the land, just like you do," Allura said. "Their history could be etched into the very sol for you to see. Concentrate. See if you can tap into its energy."

I placed my hand on her shoulder as she got up. "You can do this."

Pidge smiled at me before staying quiet, looking around before gasping as she looked at the sky. "We need to get to the city!"

We ran to the city, getting on top of a building overlooking the crash site. Pidge was quiet for a little longer before she whispered under her breath. "Ryner."

"Wait, you see Ryner?" I asked.

"What is she doing?" Allura asked.

Pidge didn't answer before she suddenly yelled. "The robeast! It's here! We need to get closer!"

We followed behind Pidge as she yelled Ryner's name again. We followed Pidge as she went down off the building.

"Ryner. It seemed like she was talking to me. Or it could have been to the soldiers. I don't know," Pidge said, turning to us.

"All the answers we're looking for could be here. We may be able to find out where this beast came from and where it's going next," Allura said. "There might be some clue here about the Alteans."

"If there is, I will find it," Pidge said.

"Guys, we have a, uh, we have a major problem here," Hunk's voice came through.

"Hunk? What's wrong? Is everything alright?" I asked.

"Hunk released some low-orbit trackers outside of Olkarion on the way in. The weblum just set them off," Lance said. "We have about ten minutes to evac!"

"Copy that. Everyone to their lions," Keith spoke. "Let's go now!"

"We can't leave yet," Allura said. "How long do you think you can hold it off?"

"Hold it off? It's a giant space worm! We can't hold it off! What are you talking about?" Lance asked.

"Pidge found a way to tap into Olkarion's history. She may be able to find out what we need to know," Allura said.

"And we need more time to figure it out," I added.

"All right, we'll buy you as much time as we can," Keith said.

"Copy that. Thank you," Allura spoke.

Pidge was sitting on the ground when we turned back to her and didn't move for a good bit. She suddenly got up and headed in a direction. Allura and I followed behind her.

Pidge ended up on top of the destroyed communications tower and we soon got up there as well. We saw her staring out in the distance and stayed behind to let her find out what happened.

"You think we'll get the info we need?" I asked Allura.

"I'm not sure, but I'm staying hopeful," She responded.

We turned back to see Pidge fall to her knees and we rushed over to her.

"It was a wormhole. That's how they travel!" Pidge exclaimed.

"Pidge, Allura, Nyle! I'm sorry but you've gotta get out of there immediately!" Hunk shouted.

"I need more time," Pidge said.

"I'm coming up to help!" Allura yelled, running off. "Nyle, stay with Pidge!"

She jumped off the tower as the Blue Lion flew off out of the planet.

"Pidge, I don't mean to rush you but we have to hurry," I said.

"I'll try and hurry," She replied.

She jumped off the building as I followed her. She stayed quiet before I heard her mumble. It came for the cubes. Why?"

"The cubes?" I questioned quietly.

"Ryner, can you hear me?" Pidge shouted. "Do you know why the beast wanted the cubes? Please, talk to me! Ryner, please! Ryner!"

She became silent and only stared before Allura's voice tapped her back in.

"Pidge, Nyle! Girls, are you there?" Allura questioned. "We can't hold this thing off any longer. You need to get out of there!"

Our lions came to us and stared down at us. "Pidge, it's time to go. I'm sorry but we can't stay any longer."

She said nothing as we boarded our lions and flew off of the planet.

"There they are! The planet is clear!" Hunk shouted.

"Everyone fall back away from the weblum!" Keith exclaimed.

We flew away from the weblum and watched as it completely destroyed Olkarion, eating its remnants.

"It's...It's all gone," Lance said.

"I'm sorry, Pidge," Allura said in a soft voice.

"I wish we could've done more," Keith added.

"Thanks, everyone," Pidge replied.

"If you think about it, this isn't really the end of Olkarion. Weblums eating dead planets is just the first step in a process that leads to the growth of new stars, planets, and galaxies," Hunk said.

"The old gives way to the new," Pidge said under her breath. "We need to contact the Atlas."

"Why?" Allura asked.

"Because it turns out the Olkari weren't done teaching us a few things," Pidge said. "They showed me a way to track the robeasts. Their information is going to save billions of lives."