05x03 - Postmortem

[bunniefuu]

[engine whirring]

[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.

So much has changed so fast.

-For the better.
-Yeah, well, Zarkon may be dead,

but the w*r's not over yet.

[Ryner] That is why the Olkari
are grateful Voltron is here

until our defense systems
are fully operational.

I fear tumultuous times are upon us.

[Letch] Galra 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.

Set a course for Olkarion.

-They should be here any minute.
-Good. There is much to discuss.

Are you all right?

I'll be fine.

What you did was for the greater good.

And for many of us,
proof of your intentions for peace.

[keypad beeps]

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

Guess this is a thing that's happening.

I suppose
we'll have to get used to it--

like my Zarbloovian intestinal eel.

-[muffled screech]
-Easy, fella.

What's going on, 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 the Kral Zera

sometime in the next two days
to decide who will take the throne.

We must be there.

So, you want us to fly you
into the middle of a meeting

with all of the most powerful
Galra leaders?

Lotor, we appreciate
all that you've sacrificed,

but this sounds far too dangerous.

We've been in more dangerous situations
with much less to gain.

Putting Lotor on the Galra throne
is what we've been discussing.

Yeah, but no one told us
that would mean flying into a w*r zone.

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

We don't have a choice.

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

Lance, this is not your call.

Allura, the Coalition wouldn't be
where it is right now without Lotor.

We need to listen to him.

Well, I'm with Allura, too.

This is too dangerous
to pull off at the last minute.

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

Look, this isn't a vote.

I'm the leader of Voltron.
I'm making this decision.

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

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

You put the entire operation in jeopardy.

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

-Shiro, we're all on the same side here.
-I told you to stay out of this!

[Lotor] While you all
waste time 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.

-[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.

My son.

Aah! [grunts]

[cackling, echoing]

[gasps]

Hmm.

[yells]

[Sniv] Is it done?

With that witch out of the way,
I'll be one step closer to taking power.

[Haggar] Wrong, Commander Sniv.

Huh?

[sighs] What are they planning
to do to us?

We tried to help Emperor Zarkon,
wasn't our fault he got k*lled.

[Acxa] It doesn't matter.
We won't live to see the new regime.

Whoever comes through that door
will likely be our undertaker.

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

[door unlocks]

Are you here to k*ll us?

No. I'm here to recruit you.

Prepare the payload.

The Olkari scientists were good
for something after all.

[beeping]

[whirring]

[cannon blast]

By the time this day is over,

Galra High Command will realize
I am the only one worthy of the throne.

[sonic boom]

[whooshing]

[expl*si*n]

Ryner hailing Castle of Lions.

Ryner, what was that?

A meteor-like object
struck the forest outside the city.

We're detecting high levels
of an unknown toxin

emanating from the impact site.

I'll check it out.

[sands sliding]

[creaking and crackling]

[Haggar] Until a new leader steps in,
the Galra Empire weakens by the moment.

Are you planning to seize power?

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.

[laser fire]

[weapon c*ck]

[electricity crackling]

[grunting]

[groans]

[grunting]

[panting]

Huh?

[grunting]

Whoa.

I haven't seen that for 10,000 years.

[stammers] Allura?

It's an Altean broadsword.

My father used one just like it.

I have no idea how I did this.

I think your bayard has shown you
what we've all been noticing.

You have greatness within.

Huh. I don't think Shiro has noticed.

Shiro has been quite difficult lately.

I'm not sure what to do,
we seem to constantly be at odds.

You guys are under a lot of pressure.

Having Lotor around doesn't help.

Sometimes it feels like it was easier
to fight the Galra

rather than to try to work with them.

You both have
the coalition's best interests at heart.

Don't forget that. Shiro isn't your enemy.

You're right.
I need to stay focused on the big picture.

Thank you, Lance.

Speaking with you
has actually made me feel better.

What do you mean "actually"?

[both laughing]

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

-[Allura grunts]
-[Lance groans]

...you're going to need to work
on your stance.

[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.

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.

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.

Right. We need to stay,
until the Galra are defeated

and we can rest assured
Earth will always be safe.

What?

We can't go home with you, Dad.

[wind gusting, whistling]

-[beeping]
-[Shiro] I'm detecting movement up ahead.

Coran, I'm going in for a closer look.

[rumbling]

[beeping]

-Coran, we might have a big problem here.
- How big?

[birds squawking]

[Shiro] Coran! Send out the team!

[Letch] The virus has reached
the Olkarion City.

The Voltron Lions have been mobilized.

Shall we move in?

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

[yelling and clamoring]

[Matt] What's happening out there?

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

Where are the lions?

[Coran] I've already sent them
to assist Shiro.

He's battling something in the forest.

[grunting]

[photons blasting]

[expl*si*n]

[snarling]

Ryner, what are we looking at here?

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.

Hurry up, team. Let's form Voltron!

[roaring]

[snarls]

[photon cannon whirring, blasting]

[Shiro] Shield up!

[rustling]

[monster growling]

Let's finish him!

I can't move my leg,
I mean, my Voltron leg!

[Allura grunts] Neither can I!
These vines are restricting our movements!

-[Shiro] Pidge, can you get free?
-Negative. They're everywhere.

[paladins grunting]

[Lance] Red's stuck too!

[Allura] Separate into lions!

[Shiro] We can't!
We're seized up! Trapped.

-[loud bang]
-[rumbling]

[rumbling]

[Hunk] Wait. What's that sound?

It sounds like it's heading the other way.

And I think I know why.

Ryner, is that ion cannon of yours
operational?

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.

[cannon charge whirring]

-[beeping]
-[Ryner] Targeting.

Cannon charge at 30%.

-Power at 70%. Target acquired!
-[target lock beeps]

Power at 95%, prepare to fire!

[whirring slowing]

No! We're losing power! What's happening?

[rumbling, rustling]

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

[Pidge] Matt! Dad! These vines...

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 nature the way the Olkari do.

[Pidge] It's like a computer
and a virus rolled into one.

-[alert blares]
-Quiznak! Now Voltron is offline.

If the plasma mass
has the properties of a computer,

there must be some way
to hack into it and shut it down.

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

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

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!

The bayards!
They amplify each paladin's life force!

They might provide enough power
to drive out the virus!

It's worth a shot.

[grunts]

It's the Galra! This is all their doing.

I'm trying to interface with the vines
to stop their growth,

but I can't communicate
with the nano-cellulose.

We don't need to stop it.
We just need to reroute it.

Grab a headpiece, show me.

All right. Follow my lead.

[low hum]

[grunting]

Three, two, one!

[gasps, exhales]

Shiro!

Shiro!

[all] Shiro! Shiro! Shiro! Shiro!

[Shiro] Lance! Lance, listen to me!

What?

[growling]

Voltron's broken free of the tractor beam!

Fire all cannons!

-[Hunk] We're back!
-[Shiro] Attack the cruiser!

[Allura] What about that tree-beast?

-[Pidge] Guys, we've got incoming!
-[gasps]

-[rumbling]
-[low humming]

[gasps]

[yells]

[humming fading]

-Yes! We did it!
-Now, Voltron! You must stop that beast!

[Shiro] Let's finish this fight!

[rumbling]

[photon cannon whirring]

[all yelling]

-[metal creaking]
-Pidge, what's it doing?

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!

[yelling]

[Sam] Kids, I need to talk to you again
about returning to Earth.

Dad...

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.

Oh, Dad...

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

The Galaxy Garrison has to know
what's going on out here.

They need to get ready.
There's a w*r coming.

So this is goodbye?

[Sam] For now.

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

What do you mean?

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

I don't know.
Things went dark there for a second.

But good work today.
I'm sorry I yelled at you earlier.

-[keypad beeping]
-[door unlocks and opens]

Look who we found.