Reflection.

(Previously)

Begone.

In less than a second, Multexus is destroyed by lasers, his body vanishing into nothing, just like Galvanus.

Quintessence level: 1%…

Diego floats in space, his Bayard floating next to him, Multexus is gone, Extermia is nowhere to be seen.

(The conclusion)

Uuuugh… where… am… I…? Why… can't… I… see…? Vol…tron…? I… feel… so… slug…gish… ugh… I… can't… feel… my… quin…tes…sence…

I hear something tink off metal, a second later feeling a small nudge against my head.

~~Aaaah… where…? So… tired….~~ My vision is blurry as I look around, seeing something white in front of my face. ~~What… is… that…?~~ I try to reach out and grab the object but my arms are dead numb. I can't move at all. ~~Vol…tron…? Where… are…?~~

Re-re-re-reboo-boo-boo… reeeboooootiiiinnng…

I faintly hear in my mind.

You… there…? Buddy…?

Reeboootiing… rebooting… reboot… success…ful. Sys…tems… run…ning… at… point… eight… per…cent… pow…er… Es…ti…ma…ted… re…cov…er…y… time…: …one… var…ga…

One… varga? That's… more th… then… an hour… Can… I… just… go to… sleep? I… feel… so tired…

…Act…iv…a…ting… REM… cy…cle… for… dura…tion… of… recover…y.

Hah. Thanks… buddy.

(Almost one varga later)

«¢×|°¶… ¢×|go… ®¥[ π¶÷ he¥• ]|. Di|^¶… an yo… ear ]|. Die°¶ ca[ πou he¥• me? Diego? Can you hear me, Diego?»

~~Huh? Wha…? Kolivan?~~ I say, a massive pain pounding in my head.

«Diego, can you hear me?» Kolivan asks.

~~Yeah, I hear you… argh…~~

«Diego, can you hear me? We are one dobosh away from your location. I ask again, can you hear me?»

~~Oh, right. Can't talk… through the communicator. Voltron? You there?~~

…

~~Doesn't seem like it. Can I move?~~ I try twitching my fingers and straightening my arms. Nothing moves.

~~Nada… I'm stuck.~~

«Diego, we have arrived at your body. We are not detecting much quintessence. We can see you and your Bayard floating in space. We are prepared to tractor beam you into our hull, do you copy?» Kolivan declares.

~~Reading you… loud and painful. Go right ahead.~~ I respond, even though they can't hear me.

«Activating tractor beam.» Kolivan says. «Whoa!»

Kolivan?

«It seems the tractor beam isn't affecting you. We're switching to plan B.»

Plan B?

«We're going to open our hull doors and move our ship till you are inside. Be ready.» Kolivan says.

~~Alright. Ready.~~ I say. A few ticks later, I hear something thumping along metal. ~~What was that?~~

Then I feel the collision.
Ow. You couldn't have gone a little slower?

A minute later, I hear footsteps.

"Diego, are you alright?" Kolivan asks me. Trying to get my eyes to work, I look around.

~~Well, I can't see anything.~~ I reply.

"You are lying facedown on the floor." Kolivan says.

~~Ah. Well, I can't move. My body isn't responding.~~

"I see. Men, prepare to move him. He is immobile at the moment." Kolivan orders as I hear footsteps around me.

"Commander, what is this?" I hear a deep female voice ask.

"That is his weapon. Bring it." Kolivan orders.

"Yes sir." The woman says. I then feel something settle on my back.
What is-

My back explodes with burning pain.

~~Ah!! That burns!~~ I shout as my body jerks.

"Drop him!" Kolivan suddenly shouts. I feel myself hit the ground, having been picked up by multiple people. An object clatters to the ground next to me.

"What happened?" I hear Yarak ask as my vision begins to return to me.

"He screamed about something burning. Did anyone see why?" Kolivan says.

"I put his weapon on his back just before he moved. I needed both hands." The woman from before says.

"His Bayard hurt him? Why?" Kolivan asks.

~~It felt like… I was being set on fire. I think I'm a little sensitive right now and my Bayard seems to be triggering me. I don't know why.~~

Recovery: Complete. Systems: recharging.

~~Voltron! What happened?~~

Response: Quintessence level dropped below 1%. Recharge period was required. Quintessence level is now at 12%. Recommendation: Grasp Bayard.

~~My Bayard just burned me.~~

Response: Correct. Solution: Voltron will manage quintessence flow. Repeat: Grasp Bayard.

~~Are you alright? You sound… off.~~

Response: Voltron mannerism functions are inactive, as a result of low quintessence level. Once quintessence level has risen, mannerism functions will be restored. Repeat: Grasp Bayard.

"Diego? Are you alright? You sound worried. Has Voltron been damaged?" Kolivan asks.

~~No, he's just… tired. He says I need to hold my Bayard in order for me to get my energy back.~~

"But you just said that your Bayard burned you." Kolivan responds.

~~Yes but Voltron says he can manage that. Can you give me my Bayard please?~~ I ask. Kolivan picks it up and holds it out to me. Sluggishly, I grab the weapon, stumbling my way upright as I do. I feel the Quintessence flowing through me as I stand straight. ~~Ah. Much better. Thanks.~~

"You're welcome."

Quintessence level: 25%. Status: Physical body: Unharmed. Quintessence levels: Recharging. Weapons systems: Becoming operational. Control systems: Operational. Quintessence engine: Undamaged. Division network: Incorporated and stable.
Wait, what was that last one-

Warning: Progression drive is dysfunctional. Current integrity: 29%. Engaging repair.

~~Wait, my Progression drive is damaged?~~

"What?" Kolivan asks.

Answer: Negative. Status: Progression drive is operating at partial efficiency.

~~So I won't be able to access it fully?~~

Response: Correct. Continuation: Progression drive will be dysfunctional until repairs are completed.

~~And how long will that take?~~ I ask.

Response: Unknown.
Well, that's reassuring.

"Diego? Is anything wrong?" Kolivan asks me.

~~My Progression drive is acting up but Voltron is fixing it. I should be fine.~~

"Good to know. Now, can you move?" Kolivan asks.

~~Yeah, I can.~~ I say, moving to stand next to Kolivan.

"Good. Now, let us get you back to Mystacor, the others are worried about you." Kolivan says, walking into the ship. I look around at it.

~~Are we on the Shadow?~~ I ask.

"Yes, we are." Kolivan answers.

~~Alright. Wait, how long was I gone?~~

"Almost two vargas. Why?"

~~Then why are you here? Two vargas isn't enough time to consider me absent.~~ I say, stepping closer to Kolivan.

"It is difficult to explain. I felt as though something was wrong. When the feeling didn't go away, I organized a search. When long range scanners couldn't detect your quintessence signature, I knew something had happened.

Eventually we detected you, near Galran space. We also detected a damaged part of a ro-beast. When we were in range, I tried contacting you through communications but you didn't respond." Kolivan explains.

~~I heard you. Sounded like static at first before it cleared up. Heard you tried to use a tractor beam.~~

"And fail. The tractor beam bounced off of you like a mirror." Kolivan says.

~~Mirror? Well, I'm just glad that fight is over.~~

"What happened? I didn't know you could run out of power."

~~It can happen. I've been growing stronger to stop that from happening.~~

"Why did it happen? Multexus is dangerous but I doubt he is powerful enough to fight you to such length. Was the other ro-beast dangerous?" Kolivan asks.

~~That's putting it lightly. Voltron panicked.~~ I say, to his surprise.

"What? What could make him panic?" Kolivan asks.

~~Extermia, the other ro-beast, has the power to mimic the material of anything she touched.~~

"What?" Kolivan asks, confused before suddenly realising. "Wait, mimic? Did she mimic you?"

~~Yes. When she did, Voltron panicked and took control. He tried to destroy her as quickly as possible but Multexus kept getting in the way. Eventually, Voltron activated my Progression drive to 100%.~~

~~I lit up like a star. Slashed Extermia in half before she even knew it but she was able to touch me again. Turned almost all her armour into mine. However, before she could finish, I adapted against it. I think that adaption is why your tractor beam didn't affect me. The same thing that bounced it off is what bounced her off.~~

~~I was about to destroy her when Multexus came in and made me lose my grip on her. Good news is, he's gone. Blew his head off then… then I don't remember anymore.~~ I explain.

"Well, we detected the remains of Extermia, I believe. We didn't detect anything else apart from you though. Do you know where the rest of Extermia and Multexus is?" Kolivan asks.

~~No. I'm sure I destroyed Multexus but I'm not sure about Extermia.~~

"We shall deal with that when the time arises. For now, let's go back to Mystacor." Kolivan says as we arrive at the bridge. "Helmsman. Take us to Mystacor."

"Yes commander."

Two vargas later, we arrive back at Mystacor. The princesses and captains weren't happy. Especially the captains. They were worried sick. After a long round of apologies, I decided to go have some rest. Even though I was recharging, I was mentally exhausted. Thankfully, as I was leaving, I heard an uplifting message. The landing platform was almost completed.

Author's Note

Some explanation for ya!