Last chapter May, this chapter June!

Just a year apart.

Chapter 5: An Alliance is Formed

Keith ran down the halls of the castle-ship. He wasn't wrong, no matter how much they looked at him like he was. How could they just blindly trust that other Voltron so easily?

You fight like a Galra.

The quintessence on his hand.

Keith slowed down and eventually stopped. He took out his knife and looked it over.

The constant battles had pushed aside the whys to the back of his mind, but the fake Voltron had dragged it back to light. Nagged at him, and he couldn't fully articulate why. Just, that he'd forgotten something. Something important. Something he didn't want to remember.

And that wasn't even the worst thought eating at his mind.

"Hey, Keith, got a minute?" Shiro called out to him.

"Yeah," Keith put his knife away, "what do you need?"

"Think I know what's got you all riled up."

Which? "And?"

Shiro smirked and put his arm around him. "Look man, I get it. You see another Voltron coming in without me at the helm, and taking the past into consideration…" he trailed off to let the implication play out.

He didn't want to lose Shiro. He didn't want to replace Shiro.

"For what it's worth, you'd make a good leader if you did take over."

"Don't say something like that."

"It's true, man."

I'm not gonna replace you.

"Look," Shiro got serious, "I'm not saying 'don't be suspicious', we've been bitten by blind trust before, but give'em the benefit of the doubt unless they try something."

"Fine," he said. "I'll play along."

"Good," Shiro removed his arm and that feeling of security that came with it. "Let's head back, Pidge has a report."

"Which Pidge?"

"Our Pidge. Their Pidge somehow circled back around you."

There was no way that Other Pidge could have looped back around without running into him. And the way their clothes just kept randomly changing… Or the Other Lance's ridiculous leap even in space. It was like the laws of physics and common sense didn't apply to them.

'Still worried?" Shiro asked.

"Yeah."

"It's why I waited to come get you. Didn't wanna 'leave the teams unbalanced' so to speak."

Who knows what they were planning. "I'm good now."

Shiro flashed a smile. "Glad to hear it. Come on."

The two of them headed back, right into an overeager Pidge.

"All right folks, strap in, we're about to get 'SCIENCE!' up in here." Pidge linked with the castle systems to display a holographic representation of the lion data she'd acquired. "So, in case it wasn't obvious enough, the two systems the lion pairs run on are similar. The, uh, Arus lions have a much more rudimentary set of code, like sixty years out-of-date."

"Whoa," Hunk gasped. "How do they, y'know, work?"

"I'm leaning heavily on Arus crystal power as a theory. More importantly, what I could discern was eerily similar to what's going on with our lions. So, it wouldn't be an outside chance for King Alfor to have a back-up AI installed in our lions.

"Which means it's up to Coran and I to investigate," said Allura.

Pidge smirked. "Not quite." She looked over at the other Allura. "If… Allura can get her father's AI to come out, we might be able to get him to communicate with our lions and see if our hopes hold any water."

"I don't think that's a good idea," Keith interrupted them. "Even discounting the chances of a virus, the differences you're stating between our tech levels might burn out the other lions." If they were on the level, they shouldn't damage them.

"I can handle any Galra-virus if it crops up, and if I throttle the transfer lines, I can make sure neither set of lions handles more than they're capable."

Shiro nodded. "So we're good on our end," he said. "It's up to you guys if you want to risk your lions helping us."

"We risk the lions with every engagement," that Other Keith said "This would be no different."

"My father would be thrilled to help anyone, no matter what," Other Allura said. The other members of the Force followed suit. "It's unanimous then."

"Thank you, truely," said Allura.

"That goes for all of us," Shiro added on.

"When do you want to get started?" the Other Keith asked.

"I'll leave Pidge to work out those details, but first, I think we could all use a good rest. Zarkon's forces have been relentless the past few days."

The Other Keith nodded. "I understand."

"So," the Other Lance piped up, "how's the quality of service in this tub?"

"Er, do-it-yourself?" said Shiro.

"So no platters of food carried in by a bevy of maids, huh?"

Some things never change it seems.

Allura shot him a glare but it was Coran who spoke up first. "Why see here you otherworldly ne'er-do-well!" he fumed. "Manners might not be standard in your universe but here we have a little thing called decorum and 'reading the mood'."

"Lance that was very inappropriate," the Other Allura chided him.

"Yeah!" Lance added on.

"Yeesh, you people here are way too serious. You need to lighten up," the Other Lance yucked.

"Hey, we're plenty light-hearted around here," said Hunk.

"We typically save our fun when our lives aren't in danger," said Shiro.

"Not that it stops Lance," said Keith.

"Hey!"

The Other Keith looked at his Lance. "I think you owe the princess an apology, Lance."

Part of Keith almost wanted to see him not try.

"Hey, I'm just joshing, no need to get so worked up."

"I'm certain you've never felt otherwise," Allura coldly rebuked him.

The Other Lance scratched the back of his head. "Makin' me out to be the bad guy here. Fine, I'm sorry, OK? Didn't mean anything by it."

That's a pretty lousy apology.

"In the interest of peace, I'll take it," said Allura.

"That's real swell of you."

Allura's eye roll was anything but subtle.

"Well, let's see if we can coax out that Alfor AI." Pidge was more than ready to dig deeper into the crystal systems.

"Much as I'd like to see my father again, you paladins need your rest. You've been fighting too much recently."

"I can work through it." Pidge and Hunk had pulled plenty of all-nighters before. As much as night existed on a spaceship, anyway.

"I know, but can you work on the lions, then head out to pilot should Zarkon attack?"

Pidge frowned with a look that only meant no. "Fine, you made your point."

"You want us to take up protecting the castle while you get some sleep?" the Other Keith offered.

"No," said Keith.

"I think it'd be better to have active duty divided between the Paladins and the Force," Shiro amended. "We need some downtime but we don't know how our universe will affect your team."

"Well, nothing's happened so far, but I understand your concern. Hunk, Lance, you two stay up."

"Gotcha, Chief," the two of them replied.

"Keith, you and I will stay up on our side."

"I'll join you," Coran added.

"Coran," said Allura, "would you show our newest guests to some furnished quarters?"

"You got a room big enough to fit all of us?" the Other Keith asked.

"All of you," Coran gave them a full look over, "in the same room?"

"We're used to it," said Other Pidge. "'Sides this way we're not bothering anyone knocking on doors in the middle of the night for shift changes."

"Really," said Allura, "we've the space to quarter you all separately." She eyed her counterpart.

"I wasn't included in their request," Other Allura replied. "It would be lovely to have a room for myself, thank you."

"You're welcome. Coran, if you would lead the men."

"Of course, Princess. Follow me lads! I'll have you set up with the finest storeroom-turned-bedroom the castle has ever seen! Also the only one, but we make do."

"After me, Princess," Allura said.

Everyone headed out to do their new tasks, leaving Shiro and Keith with the Other Hunk and Pidge.

Other Hunk broke the silence, "So, whaddya guys do for fun around here?"

"We fight robots," Shiro answered.

"Cool."

The rituals and manipulations of Haggar and her druids surged throughout the spacious chamber. Their focused intent: empowering their lord and master within the center platform of the room. Backlash rooted out weakness from the druids, leaving only the strongest of the order to further the cause of the Galra.

Each second brought him closer to his goal. Each second only served to reinforce the might he held. No other could handle such power. Power enough to crush a lion. None but he. Such power that would force him to his knees would destroy any other. And with that power came guided purpose. Black Lion called to him.

Alfor's replacements would be dealt with soon enough.

"Your Majesty."

Haggar's voice broke into his trance. "Set course for the Omnia System. Black Lion is waiting."

"There is another issue demanding your attention."

"You do not make demands of me."

"Of course not, Sire," she replied, low as her voice could get. "It is another."

"Deal with the fool." The Galra did not need so one arrogant enough to interrupt the search.

"We cannot. This transmission comes from across the dimensional walls."

The source! Or Alteans who escaped his justice. "Bring it to me."

"Of course, Sire." Her powers shrouded the room leaving but him in view. Alone. Powerful. A viewscreen formed, and with it an unsightly guise. Pallid purple and ridged nose, webbed ears and cracking, rock-like skin. A crown of gold, spiked upwards, and shoulders were covered in a bright red cloak.

"It seems underlings are incompetent no matter what dimension it is," the fool said.

"Speak your purpose before I destroy you."

"To the point it is. Good. I tire of the ring-around. I am King Zarkon of Planet Doom."

Blasphemy. Faker. Imitator. Inferior. Fool.

Words floated in the dark.

"You address Emperor Zarkon, Supreme Ruler of the Galra Empire." Your better.

"Ha! No matter the dimension Zarkon will always be victorious!"

"Do not compare yourself to your better."

"I'm not."

The moment it was possible he would slay this cretin.

"I've a little news on a big robot named Voltron that any Zarkon would be interested in having."

"I have no need of whatever outdated information you possess." If any.

"Not even, that you currently face TWO Voltrons?"

"Whatever ploy you speak of is irrelevant. There is only one Voltron." Mine.

The false king laughed at the very notion. "That isn't even true in my universe. But five robot lions forming one awesome robot is what I'm talking about."

The tale of Voltron inspired meaningless hope across even universes it would seem. "To the point."

"I'm certain a Zarkon of your stature is more than aware of the difficulties in crushing those pesky cats. I'm here to offer my assistance in solving our mutual problems."

"I've no need of your paltry assistance in handling Voltron."

"Obviously you do. If I cannot defeat Voltron than some cheap knock-off surely couldn't."

"Haggar," Zarkon whispered beyond the fake's hearing, "search for this imitator so that I can crush him."

"Yes, Sire."

The fake leaned back into his opulent throne, condescension sneering across his face. "But I come today with a proposal. I have a doom fleet, you probably have a doom fleet. Together we have two doom fleets if you can do the math."

Zarkon was going to enjoy strangling the life out of this lackwit.

"Two doom fleets might be enough to put an end to those pesky robot lions once and for all. Add a few Robeasts on top of that and maybe we can crush the Galaxy Alliance in the action."

Zarkon scoffed. "If you are so pathetic as to let your enemies rally against you I have no need of your 'fleet'."

"And yet your Voltron isn't a pile of scrap metal either or you wouldn't be listening."

The imposter had forgone his true calling as a jester. "If I wanted Voltron destroyed I would have done so ages ago."

"Ahhh, you want the robot's power for yourself is it? How wonderfully loathsome. But that'll be plenty difficult with two Voltrons flying around."

It would not. Alfor's replacements were of no consequence. But this did present an opportunity all its own. "Perhaps," he lied. "We should align our interests." No matter how fool he was, he'd implied he had the ability to cross dimensions. A power that should rightfully rest with the proper Zarkon.

King Zarkon cackled when the "negotiations" with that ugly Zarkon were concluded. "Once We dispose of the Voltrons that arrogant fool is next!" He loved being evil!