Chapter Text
Awaken, my Pride.
One by one, the Voltron Lions lit up - albeit, groggily.
What’s up, oh Fearless Leader?
Yeah, I was having a great dream about my Paladin, Black, I want to go back to Sleep Mode.
Images of Red’s Paladin flashed through the Lion Collective, the small hybrid was fighting side-by-side with Red against the Galra. When every enemy was dead, the Paladin turned around and patted Red’s nose. “Good kitty,” he praised.
Oh man, that is a good dream, Red.
The lions purred in agreement.
Yes. However, I feel we must do an Evaluation - our Paladins, Altea, and the Universe depend on our wellbeing. Green, Systems Report.
The lions waited for the familiar full-body scan, but it never came.
Uhhh… Ma’am? I can’t find my Data Collector…
A wave of panic flowed through the Lion Collective as Green showed Blue’s foreign Function Menu. The Lions assessed their cabins and Menus, looking for any familiar Weapons or Functions - apparently, only the pilot controls and the Comm System were consistent between Lions.
Hey, listen to me.
The Lions paused at Yellow’s strong voice, waiting for his stability.
Everything will be okay. Right, Blue?
Voltron’s other Leg jumped in - reassuring and supporting, it’s what Yellow and Blue did best.
Right! My Paladin says they have a plan to switch us back!
This is temporary. We’ll have our bodies back soon. Until then, we will have to learn basic maneuvers from each other.
That will have to do. Thank you, Yellow. I would still like a Systems Report. Green, your Function Menu is a tangled mess, how do I Evaluate?
Can you see the Leaflet labeled “Internal”? Follow that line until you reach “Lions”, and then select “Systems Evaluation” under each Lion’s personal Leaflet.
… Okay.
How do you think the Evaluations will feel? I think the Menu is attached to our bodies, but could we feel it in a different body?
I am not sure, Green. We will have to find out.
Black sent her affectionate Emotion of Green into the Lion Collective - the other Lions responded similarly, causing Green to express the Lion-equivalent of blushing.
Black decided to Evaluate Red first. She could sense the hum of an Evaluation, but could not tell where it originated.
I can’t feel anything.
Wait! I can - must be directly tied to our bodies, then.
Okay.
Black continued through all the Evaluations. Data poured into Black’s storage, but still appeared to be a mess of characters. She broadcasted the data into the Lion Collective, looking for an interpretation from Green.
Okay, so… Yellow. Black’s wings haven’t maintained full functionality - your Paladin repaired them, but some Quintessance Arteries have been broken and will take some time to reform, so don’t try to upgrade the wings in battle. Everyone else, we seem okay, nothing out of the ordinary. Besides the obvious mindswap.
Alright, cool. I’m tired, can I go back to Sleep Mode now?
There was an edge of irritation to her voice - what can you expect from a Lion who spent all last night teasing her Paladin with Blue? In the words of Blue’s Paladin, she needs her beauty sleep.
Wait. Learn the basics to Yellow’s Menu and explain yours to Blue first.
She sighed, and then opened up the Menu to see how much she needed to learn to properly operate Yellow. His Menu was very straightforward, everything was labeled, everything was organized, but everything was also passcode protected. She spoke directly to Yellow.
What is the passcode for all these Weapons?
It’s not just one passcode, you need to be more specific.
Why do you have a ton of passcodes?
You say that like you want the Galra to find all of our personal data.
This is ridiculous.
I’m guessing you want the Shoulder Cannon and the Plasma Blasts. The passcodes are “upupdownleftright” and “leftleftdowndownleft”, respectively.
Thanks, Yellow.
She closed the private link and her Menu, then opened another to speak with Blue.
Yeah, hey, Red, so, why are there only two options in your Menu?
That’s all I need.
Okay, but how do you make anything happen?? All I see are “Fight” and “Help” and those are way too ambiguous.
My Paladin knows what he needs, and as he thinks it I make it happen for him.
What he needs? Like what?
“Destruction” - I pick Fight and something fiery happens. “Melt ice” - I pick Help and something fiery happens. “Tear apart” - I pick Fight and form a blade. “Help” - I pick Help and go pick him up. What manifests depends on how angry we are.
That’s not gonna fly with my Paladin. He doesn’t get very angry - not like yours.
He can play defense then. I’ll just barrel through the enemies with Yellow’s armor. I can protect you both.
Red purred as she imagined taking the brunt of an attack to protect her Pride. Blue scoffed.
Please, even with Yellow’s armor I wouldn’t let you go alone. My Paladin and I will figure it out.
Blue sent Red an image of the two of them, fighting back to back against the Galra, a gorgeous whirlwind of fire and ice.
This is what best friends are for, you know.
What? I thought I was your best friend.
You’re like my brother, Yellow. It’s our Paladins that are best friends. How did you even get in here? This is a private comm with Red.
You guys should really use passcodes.
Goodnight, I’m leaving, sweet dreams. Yellow, quit hacking our conversations.
It wasn’t Yellow, it was me. He just asked me to.
I expected better from you, Green.
Can’t fathom why, Red. You know how I like to show off my skillz.
This is actually pretty impressive. I thought we had been discrete.
Not really. You guys have loud Emotions.
Like I said. Passcodes.
GOODNIGHT, LIONS.
Night, Red!
Goodnight, see ya tomorrow.
Sweet dreams, buddy. Enjoy your Sleep Mode!