Postmortem

[This episode begins on Olkarion, we can see the Olkari building advanced defense systems.]

[engine whirring]

[Transition to a control room, where Ryner, Matt, Pidge and Sam are standing.

RYNER: "Part of me misses my people's exile in the forest. But since Olkarion became the hub for refugees in this quadrant, it made sense that we should return to the city and transform it into the Coalition's capital."

[Sam puts his arms against the glass and looks through the window]

SAM: So much has changed so fast.

PIDGE: For the better.

MATT: Yeah, well, Zarkon might be dead, but the war's not over yet.

[The view goes back to the process of works on the planet.]

RYNER: "That is why the Olkari are grateful Voltron is here until our defense systems are fully operational."

[Again we can see Ryner's face that reveals a worried look.]

RYNER: "I fear tumultuos times are upon us."

[The scene ends, transition to a galra cruiser.]

LETCH: "Garla Central Command has confirmed the reports, General. Emperor Zarkon... is dead."

BRANKO: "And is the intel true that Voltron is on Olkarion?"

LETCH: "Multiple intelligence reports say so, sir."

[Branko smirks.]

BRANKO: "Set a course for Olkarion."

[Transition to the Castle of Lions where Allura and Lotor are sitting on the bridge.]

ALLURA: "They should be there any minute."

LOTOR: "Good. There is much to discuss."

[Allura turns her head to look at Lotor.]

ALLURA: "Are you alright?"

LOTOR: "I'll be fine."

ALLURA: "What you did was for the greater good. And for many of us, proof of your intensions of peace."

[Lotor doesn't answer and only looks at her. Keypad beeps as the doors open to reveal Lance, Pidge, Coran, Shiro, and Hunk. Lance gets startled by the sight.]

LANCE: "Look, it's Prince Lotor, just hangin' out on the bridge."

PIDGE: "Guess this is a thing that's happening."

CORAN: "I guess we'll have to get used to it - like my Zarbloovian intestinal eel."

[A muffled screech comes from Coran's stomatch as Shiro walks up to the two royals.]

CORAN; "Easy, fella."

SHIRO: "What's going on, Lotor?"

LOTOR: "The death of my father has created a power vacuum within the Galra Empire. The most formidable Galra leaders will gather for what is called Kral Zera sometime in the next two days to decide who will take the throne. We must be there."

LANCE: "So you want us to fly you into the middle of a meeting with all the most powerful Galra leaders?"

ALLURA: "Lotor, we appreciate all that you've sacrificed, but this sounds far too dangerous."

SHIRO: "We've been in more dangerous situations with much less to gain. Putting Lotor on the Galra throne is what we've been discussing."

PIDGE: "Yeah, but no one told us that would mean flying into a war zone."

ALLURA: "We can't plan an operation this important so quickly."

SHIRO: "We don't have a choice."

LANCE: "I'm with Allura. We need time to think this over."

SHIRO: "Lance, this is not your call."

[Lance gets shocked by Shiro's hostile tone.]

SHIRO: "Allura, this coalition wouldn't be where it is right now without Lotor. We need to listen to him."

[Allura looks at Lotor.]

PIDGE: "Well I'm with Allura, too. This is too dangerous to pull off at the last minute."

CORAN: "Agreed. So, it looks like it's four-to-two, in the Princess's favor."

SHIRO: "Look, this isn't a vote. I'm the leader of Voltron. I'm making this decision."

[Allura steps forwards]

ALLURA: "Like when you armed Lotor with your bayard without consulting the rest of us?"

SHIRO: "That's right. Making that decision resulted in the removal of Zarkon."

ALLURA: "You put the entire operation in jeopardy."

SHIRO: "I put an end to Zarkon's reign. Now is the time to finish the job."

[Lance walks up to them and looks at Shiro.]

LANCE: "Shiro, we're all on the same side here."

SHIRO: "I told you to stay out of this!"

LOTOR: "While you waste time here squabbling, sinister forces are conspiring to fill the Galra power void. If I do not return to claim the throne, there is no telling who will."

SHIRO: "Good, it's settled."

[The view moves to a galra cruiser where Haggar is listening to the conversation.]

PIDGE: "How's that settled?"

SHIRO: "Our hands are tied. The Kral Zera is happening. If we want to stop the Galra, we need to put Lotor on the throne immediately."

HAGGAR: "My son."

[Haggar reaches out towards the view of Lotor but is attacked by an unknown Galra. When she collects herself and is ready to fight two more attackers appear and all three charge at her. Before they can hurt her she dissolves and attacks them from above. Transition to a different cruiser where Haggar disguised as one of who ambushed her walks into the room.]

SNIV: "Is it done? With that witch out of the way, I'll be one step closer to taking power."

HAGGAR: "Wrong, Commander Sniv."

[Sniv's smile falls as he turns around.]

SNIV: "Huh?"

[Haggar attacks the Galran. Transition to three female generals locked in one of the cells.]

EZOR: [Sighs.] "What are they planning to do to us? We tried to help Emperor Zarkon, wasn't our fault he got killed."

ACXA: "It doesn't matter, we won't live to see the new regime. Whoever comes through that door will likely be our undertaker."

ZETHRID: "Whoever comes through that door next is gonna get a face full of fists!"

[Doors unlocks and the three generals stand up ready to defend themselves. The doors open to reveal Haggar.]

EZOR: "Are you here to kill us?"

HAGGAR: "No. I'm here to recruit you."

[Transition to Branko's cruiser.]

BRANKO: "Prepare the payload. The Olkari scientists were good for something after all."

[Letch clicks at the keypad and the cruiser shoots out a missile towards Olkarion.]

BRANKO: "By the time this day is over, Galra High Command will realize I'm the only one worthy of the throne."

[Transition to Olkari group taking a photo while the threat enters the atmosphere with a sonic boom. It hit the ground in a forest.]

RYNER: "Ryner hailing Castle of Lions."

CORAN: "Ryner, what was that?"

RYNER: "A meteor-like object struck the forest outside the city. We're detecting high levels of an unknown toxin emanating from the impact site."

SHIRO: "I'll check it out."

[Transition to the toxins spreading in the Olkarion forest, manipulating technology to take the weapon sent by Galra out of the ground. Another transition to galra cruiser where haggar freed Lotor's generals.]

HAGGAR: "Until a new leader steps in, the Galra Empire weakens by the moment."

ZETHRID: "Are you planning to seize power?"

HAGGAR: "No. The empire will only accept a ruler with Galra blood. It needs a natural-born leader, with an iron will to match his iron fist. Bring him to me, and I will pardon your past misdeeds."

[Transition to Lance practicing shooting at drones in the training area. He struggles to defeat the drones until his bayard changes from a rifle to a sword.]

ALLURA: "I haven't seen that in 10.000 years."

LANCE: "Allura?"

ALLURA: "It's an Altean broadsword. My father used one just like it."

LANCE: "I have no idea how I did this."

ALLURA: "I think your bayard has shown you what we've all been noticing. You have greatness within."

LANCE: "Huh. I don't think Shiro has noticed."

ALLURA: "Shiro has been quite difficult lately. Im not sure what to do, we seem to constantly be at odds."

LANCE: "You guys are under a lot of pressure. Having Lotor around doesn't help."

ALLURA: "Sometimes it feels like it was easier to fight the Galra rather to try and work with them."

LANCE: "You both have the coalition's best interest at heart. Don't forget that. Shiro isn't your enemy."

ALLURA: "You're right. I need to stay focused on the big picture. Thank you, Lance. Speaking with you actually made me feel better."

LANCE: "What do you mean "actually"?"

[They both laugh.]

ALLURA: "Oh, and, Lance, if you're going to try control a sword this powerful..."

[Allura put on hand on his shoulder and the other on his wrist to guide him into a fighting stance. After a second she kicked him in the ankle and made him fall onto the ground.]

ALLURA: "You're going to need to work on your stance."

[Transition to Matt, Sam, and Pidge in green lion's hangar.]

PIDGE: "I developed a cloaking device by reverse engineering technology from the invisible maze in the Castle and integrating it with the lion's shield system."

SAM: "It's just amazing. All this technology - it used to exist only in my dreams. I can't wait to tell your mother all about this. Wait till she sees you two. So grown up."

[The siblings looked at each other troubled.]

PIDGE: "Well, the thing is, between the rebels and Voltron, Matt and I have a lot of work to do before we can go back home."

MATT: "Right. We need to stay, until the Galra are defeated and we can rest assured Earth will always be safe."

SAM: "What?"

PIDGE: "We can't go home with you, dad."

[Transition to Olkarion where the toxins make their way to the city along with posioned plants. Beeping sounds in the Black lion that's currently flying over the forest.]

SHIRO: "I'm detecting movement up ahead. Coran, I'm going in for a closer look."

[The Black Lion flies forwards and detects something moving in the trees.]

SHIRO: "Coran, we might have a big problem here."

CORAN (over the comms): "How big?"

[The invasive machine armored with vines shot energy ball at the Lion. Voltron's head evaded and began dodging the attacks.]

SHIRO: "Coran! Send out the team!"

[Transition to Branko's cruiser where they're observing the toxins spreading.]

LETCH: "The virus has reacher the Olkarion City. The Voltron Lions have been mobilized. Shall we move in?"

BRANKO: "Slowly. So we can behold the dawn of a new age of warfare."

[The Galra ship starts heading towards the attacked planet where chaos ruled under the attack of poisoned and aggresive vines. The castle landed on the ground with a shield around it. Matt and Sam run on the bridge where Coran is putting up a visual of the problem.]

MATT: "What is happening out there?"

CORAN: "The forest appears to have come alive and is attacking the city."

SAM: "Where are the lions?"

CORAN: "I've already sent them to assist Shiro. He's battling something in the forest."

[Transition to Shiro struggling during the battle with the mutant. He evades the shots and once gets away he shots a laser at it, after a while of attacking the invader the rest of the lions arrived.]

PIDGE: "Ryner, what are we looking at here?"

RYNER: "I don't understand. That monster resembles one of our tree-mechs. It's as if the forest is being corrupted."

SHIRO: "Must have something to do with whatever is emanating from the impact site!"

PIDGE: "It looks like some sort of invasive plasma. Coran, have my dad and brother analyze the data I'm sending!"

CORAN: "On it!"

[Soon the corrupted tree-mech starts shooting at the lions again.]

SHIRO: "Hury up, team. Let's form Voltron."

[Voltron is formed and round 2 of the fight begins. Voltron puts up a shield and crashes into the shot that was powering up with the creature.]

SHIRO: "Let's finish him."

HUNK: "I can't move my leg, I mean, my Voltron leg!"

ALLURA: [Grunts] Neither can I! These vines are restricting our movements!

[The vines trap Voltron and tightly wrap around it.]

ALLURA: "Separate into lions!"

SHIRO: "We can't! We're seized up! Trapped."

[Voltron gets stuck in a vine-coccon and the mutant runs to the Olkarion City.]

HUNK: "Wait, what's that sound?"

SHIRO: "It sounds like it's heading the other way. And I think I know why. Ryner, is that ion cannon of yours operational?"

RYNER: "No, it's still not finished. At best it could manage perhaps one shot."

SHIRO: "Make it count, 'cause that thing's headed right for you."

[Olkarion's defensive ion cannon charging up.]

RYNER: "Targeting. Cannon charge at 30%"

[The shot charging up glowed a green light.]

RYNER: "Power at 70%. Target acquired."

[Target lock beeps.]

RYNER: "Power at 95%, prepare to fire!"

[Whirring slowing.]

RYNER: "No! We're losing power! What's happening?"

[Ryner looks ahead out of the window panicked and the corrupted vines break inside the control room.]

RYNER: "The ion cannon! All of our systems, they've been compromised."

[The windows sight gets covered by the plants invading the city.]

PIDGE: "Matt, Dad! These vines..."

MATT: "They're like a computer virus. From data you sent, it appears the plasma substance is self-replicating organic wetware. Which creates a single expanding system, giving it the ability to interface with the nature the way Olkari do."

PIDGE: "It's like a computer and a virus rolled into one."

[Alert blares.]

CORAN: "Quiznak, now Voltron is offline."

SAM: "If the plasma mass has the properties of a computer, there must be a way to hack into it and shut it down."

MATT: "Conceivably. If we could just figure out how to interface with it."

[Sam smiled at his son with new-found hope.]

[Transition to Voltron stuck inside a ball of vines.]

HUNK: "What are we gonna do? I can't move!"

PIDGE: "Listen, this virus is affecting Voltron on a sub-molecular level. To drive it out, we have to tap into the quantum energy that bonds us all to Voltron!"

ALLURA: "The bayards! They amplify each paladin's life force! They might provide enough power to drive out the virus!"

LANCE: "It's worth a shot."

[Branko's cruiser came into Olkarions atmposphere and uses a gravity beam to pull the vine's ball with Voltron inside to his ship.]

CORAN: "It's the Galra! It's all their doing."

[Sam and Matt run up to Ryner trying to turn the cannon back on,]

RYNER: "I'm trying to interface with the vines to stop their growth, but I can't communicate with the nano-cellulose."

MATT: "We don't need to stop it. We just need to reroute it."

RYNER: "Grab a headpiece, show me."

[Matt and Sam put on the headpieces.]

MATT: "Alright. Follow my lead."

[The pair of Holt's put their hands onto the vines that broke into the room before and communicate with them. The light on the plants turns from purple to green.]

[Transition back to the paladins still being pulled up into the air. All of them using their bayard in the same moment. Connected with the quantum energy they appeared in a parallel dimension. Everyone except Shiro.]

ALLURA: "Shiro!"

[All scream for him. After a few calls he flickers into the empty space between them. When he appears an energy manifests between the freedom fighters and each of them goes back to their bodies leaving Lance and Shiro alone.]

SHIRO: "Lance! Lance, listen to me!"

LANCE: "What?"

[Lance gets moved back into the red lion to his body. Voltron turns back on again and frees from the vines.]

GALRA SOLDIER: "Voltron's broken free of the tractor beam!"

BRANKO: "Fire all cannons!"

[Transition to Lance waking up disoriented in his lion.]

HUNK: "We're back!"

SHIRO: "Attack the cruiser!"

ALLURA: "What about the tree-beast?"

PIDGE: "Guys, we've got incoming!"

[Lance gets startled at a shot flying past them into the cruiser.]

MATT: "Yes, we did it!"

RYNER: "Now, Voltron! You must stop that beast!"

SHIRO: "Let's finish this fight!"

[The tree-beast whirrs as it shots at Olkarion's ion cannon, Before the defensive system can be damaged Voltron comes and shields it from any impact.]

[Metal creaking]

SHIRO: "Pidge, what's it doing?"

PIDGE: "The virus! It's trying to absorb Voltron!"

HUNK: "I can't see anything!"

SHIRO: "Any of the lions free?"

PIDGE: "It's got me!"

ALLURA: "Me, too! Lance!"

[Lance fires a shot at the tree-mech and defeats it with the final hit.]

[By the evening Voltron stands in a meadow facing sunset. Olkarion's machine's are cleaning up the remaining vines as the paladins, Matt, Sam, and Coran are watching the sun setting.]

SAM: "Kids, I need to talk to you again about returning to Earth."

MATT: "Dad..."

SAM: "No, listen. I understand now. And I couldn't be more proud. The whole universe is finding out what I've known all along. You two are something special."

PIDGE: "Oh, Dad..."

[Pidge went and hugged their father.]

SAM: "And they need you. But I'm needed back on Earth."

[The green lion's paladin takes a step back shocked.]

SAM; "The Galaxy Garrison has to know what's going on out here. They need to get ready. There's a war coming."

PIDGE: "So this is a goodbye?"

SAM: "For now."

[Both of the siblings hugged Sam now.]

LANCE: "Hey, Shiro. What were you trying to tell me in that void thing earlier?"

SHIRO: "What do you mean?"

LANCE: "You were shouting at me, but I couldn't hear you."

SHIRO: "I don't know. Things got dark there for a seconds. But good work today. I'm sorry I yelled at you earlier."

[Lance smiles in answer but his expression saddens as he analyzes Shiro.]

[Transition to Haggar standing in her chamber. Keypad beeps and the door to the room opens. In the doorway the recruited three is standing.]

EZOR: "Look who we found."

[She says and moves to the side to reveal Sendak.]