Author's Note: This is a plot bunny that has been in my head for the last month, as I have worked through Lance/Allura/Keith and their relationship. I briefly touched on Allura's feelings about Keith leaving in Chapter 2 of 'A Knight's Journey'. However, his actions set in motion a chain of events that could not have been foreseen at the time. Lance will be the voice of forewarning in this story, but of course it won't be heeded. I thought the Jackson Browne song was fitting for the story, and the chapter titles come from the song. I chose it because all the players are exhausted from war, and what Wade did to Voltron.

Running on Empty, Running on Blind

It is a week after the Lions went berserk at the victory ceremony to celebrate the defeat of the Drule Empire, and the end of the war. Guided by Sky Marshall Wade, and certain well paid allies, Voltron has been discredited to the Galaxy. The Galaxy Alliance bowed to the directive of the Sky Marshall, and agreed to have the lions imprisoned on Arus. Unknown to them, Wade diverted Black Lion to a secret research facility known only to him and a handpicked group of comrades.

Wade has planned an elaborate gala ball to celebrate the 'New Order' of the Galaxy Alliance. Everyone has been invited, and it is a command performance for all leaders of the Alliance, and planets who want to be invited back into the Alliance. More than one planet bowed to the Drule Empire, to save their people and way of life. These planets, including Pollux are viewed as collaborators to the enemy, and must prove themselves trustworthy again.

Arusian Embassy on Earth

"Your Royal Highness, you have no choice in this matter. If you do not attend the ball Arus will face sanctions for your actions. For the good of your people you must go, and you must be friends with the Sky Marshall." Coran was in the study that was given to the Crown Princess when she came to earth. He knew that she was in shock that everything that had happened, and wanted to go confront the Sky Marshall face to face. It was morning, the day before the ball, and Coran and Allura were having coffee together. They had been going over some issues regarding Arus before Coran brought up the subject of the gala.

"Coran, I am aware of that fact as we have already discussed it. I am going to the ball, and I will not confront Wade!" Allura rose up from the desk, and stormed across the room to the large window that overlooked the plaza of the Alliance Complex. She was almost at the end of her physical and mental strength. Three years of fighting the Drule Empire as a pilot, preceded by ten years of war that the Drules had wrecked on her planet had exhausted all reserves.

Her father and two brothers were dead, but just recently she had learned that the daughter of her second brother had survived the wreckage of the Western Dominion Garrison. Lady Larmina's nanny had hid for her over two years in caves, until it was safe to travel with a member of the royal house. The thirteen year old girl was now in residence in the castle, defensive, scared, and belligerent to the point of almost impossible to deal with.

"You were there when all the team discussed it, and the need to go along for now with what Wade is doing. If we can gain his trust maybe we can find out what happened with the lions." Allura sighed heavily, just wanting to go home to Arus and not deal with Wade. "Keith is escorting me to the ball, as you know." She added as she turned away from the window, not having seen the view at all, and walked back to her desk.

"Allura, have you talked to Keith?" Coran asked in a measured tone that caused her spine to tingle with wariness.

"Coran, what are you trying to tell me?" Allura demanded, her blue eyes flashing at time. He looked at her, and thought how unfair it was that someone so young and beautiful had had so much responsibility put on her shoulders. Coran really wished he didn't have to present her with this problem also.

"Allura, Keith let the Embassy know that he would not be available to escort you to the gala celebration." Coran looked her directly in the eye as he informed her of that fact.

"When did Keith do this? And do we know why?" Allura's voice had the cold, hard note in it that meant she was furious that her authority was being ignored.

"Just before I came to see you the Ambassador's social secretary let me know that Keith had left the message early this morning." Coran explained to the young woman sadly.

"What does he think he is doing? We all talked about it, and he knows how important it is! It isn't just Voltron, but Arus too! I need Arus to be in good standing with the Alliance." Allura was practically shaking now, as she thought about what Keith's action would mean.

"Let me see if I can get hold of Lance; maybe he can do something with Keith." Allura told Coran, as she brought up a holoscreen. Lance had been offered the position of Head Flight Instructor for New West Point by Wade. It was a great honor, and tribute to his skills as a pilot; he was the youngest person to ever hold the position. It turned out that Lance was on the flight deck, and couldn't be reached then. Allura decided against leaving message, and she shut down the holoscreen.

"Lance doesn't need to deal with this anyway, Coran. He is busy enough getting used to his new job. I will just go over to GA headquarters, and talk to Keith myself. Please have a hovercar brought around for me." Allura decided, thinking out loud. Coran called down to get the car ordered, while wondering what she was going to say to Keith.

"Should I let Keith know that you will be paying him a visit?" Coran inquired of the young woman with curiosity.

"Absolutely not! I don't want him trying to avoid me. I think surprise is the best plan at this point. Thank you Coran." Allura inclined her head, and he saw the tight look around her mouth that she got when she was very mad.

Galaxy Alliance Headquarters

Commander Keith Kogane was in a small office in the south wing of the large complex. It was a section that was set aside for visiting officers of lower ranks, or officers between assignments to work. A sergeant and two corporals provided assistance as needed, but it was utilitarian at best.

He was pacing the small room, with furrowed brows and a churning stomach. Keith wished he had a window to look out of, and then was sorry he had thought that. All he had to do was agree to what Wade had offered him, and he would have a large office in the main part of the building.

Wade had asked Keith to be one of his Aide-De-Camps, or ADCs as they were known in the GA hierarchy. He understood what the offer meant, in terms of his career. As an ADC to the Sky Marshall he would be on the fast track to promotion to Captain, which would mean his own fleet command. In ten years or less he would achieve the rank of Vice Admiral, and Fleet Admiral after that.

It was a significant honor to be asked to be an ADC, and Keith knew that he should not be hesitating about taking the job. He also knew that his teammates expected him to do it, because it would give him the best access to find out what had happened with the lions. The problem for Keith was that it felt like he was violating his principles by agreeing to work with Wade. There was also the issue of a new piece of information that he had just found out from one of his contacts.

Keith decided that pacing wasn't going to get him anyway, and he went back to his desk. He brought up a holoscreen and tried to review the information about his new job. All that he could see though was Black Lion, and the castle of Arus. It was those thoughts that were interrupted by the buzzing of the intercom "Her Royal Highness, the Crown Princess of Arus wishes to see you, Commander Kogane" the voice announced.

His heart sank when he heard that, and knew that he was going to have to talk to her. Keith had hoped that by dealing with the Embassy staff, he would side step the discussion he didn't want to have. Allura occupied a lot of his mind during day, and his entire mind at night. He had fallen in love the first time he saw her, and watching her these last three years and only intensified his feelings.

She had grown from the young fairy tale princess into a first class warrior, as well as a beautiful woman. Keith knew that she had a crush on him, and saw him as her knight in shining armor. He knew he should have nipped it in the bud, but there was that part of him that loved her intensely. So many times at night Keith imagined what it would be like to be able to take her in his arms and declare his feelings for her, and then kiss her passionately.

In the cold light of day though, he knew that it was not a feasible option. She was the crown princess, destined to be queen, while he was a GA pilot of uncertain heritage. His parents had been brutally murdered in front of him when he was eight years old, and after that he had lived in various foster homes. Keith's parents had not had any relatives, and around the time he was teenager he realized that he knew nothing at all about his parents. At first he was sad, but then he pushed it down, like he did with all his other emotions, having found out that otherwise it led to trouble.

Keith brought his mind back to the present and asked the desk clerk to send Her Royal Highness in. He took several deep breaths, and hoped that he could handle the situation. Allura was the one person who could get to him so easily, and it bothered him on a certain level. He watched her come into the small office, and shut the door behind her, his heart sinking even further as she did so.

Allura was wearing a navy blue suit, with a blouse that had cream colored ruffles down the front. Her shoes were black flats, while her gold hair was pulled back in the front, anchored by her coronet. The blue sapphires in the headpiece echoed the dark blue of her eyes. She looked every inch a crown princess, albeit a very beautiful, young, angry one.

"If I had done what you did, I would have sent a staff member to talk to you, instead of coming myself. However, I am not a coward and like to deal with things head on." Allura stated in a cold formal tone that belied the look in her eyes.

"Allura, I don't want a confrontation on this matter. Please take my word that this is for the best. I am not going to the ball." Keith stood up very straight, and tried to keep his voice calm as he told her of his decision.

"Excuse me, what Keith? How is Wade going to feel about his new ADC not coming to the gala celebration?" Allura seethed as she asked, and Keith saw the fury and the incredulous look she gave him, before she continued "Wade is expecting you, as his new ADC to escort me, the Crown Princess, to this affair. We, the whole team, all agreed that by doing this it would help to earn the bastard's trust."

"I don't think Coran would care for your language, and I know that I don't." Keith observed, surprised that she would use a word like that.

"Have I offended your sensibilities Commander? I don't care if you like it or not, but for your information I can tell you to go fuck yourself in six languages!" Allura glared at him, adding "And don't try to change the subject, Keith!"

Keith sighed, privately thinking that it had probably not been the best influence for a young girl to hang around with four seasoned pilots for all those years. He pondered how to tell her why he had decided what he had, in a way that she would accept and understand.

"Allura, I'm not going to the ball, and I'm not going to take the ADC job." Keith put it out there, and watched as her mind processed what he was telling her. He decided to share with her the piece of information that Pidge had given him.

"Wade didn't send Black to Arus with the other lions. Instead he sent him to some super secret research facility that no one knows where it is located." Keith felt a pain stab his heart, as he thought about Black Lion being gone. After he finished telling her what Pidge had said, she turned around to face the door for a minute.

"Is Pidge sure about this?" Allura whirled back around, staring at him. Pidge, along with Hunk had been offered 'Technical Sergeant' positions in the GA. It was a slap in the face, since both had graduated as officers from New West Point. However, Pidge had, several years back, played a very nasty practical joke on then Admiral Wade, and the man had never forgiven or forgotten. Hunk had helped with the joke, and so was guilty by association. The guys took it in stride though, because as Pidge pointed out they could work under the radar in those positions.

Once Keith assured her that it was true, Allura felt a cold chill go up her spine as she looked at Keith. "What exactly are you planning on doing about it Keith?" She queried him with a worried note in her voice. Keith's sense of right and wrong was black and white, she knew, also knowing how principled the man was.

"I don't know yet, but I will think of something." Keith temporized, not wanting her to know what he really had planned.

"Keith, you can do more to help Black Lion, Voltron, and Arus by taking Wade's job. It will give you high level access to everything he has going on. You will be in a position to find out what you need to know. Plus, I can't have Arus facing Alliance sanctions! My people have been through so much, I can't ask them to give more." Allura was panicked now at what he might do, and the trouble it would cause.

"I am supposed to swallow my pride, convictions, and honor so that I can spy on the Sky Marshall?" Keith spat out, wishing she would understand how that went against every fiber of his being. It went against his code as an officer and a gentleman. It didn't matter how bad of a person Wade was, he didn't want to sink to that level also.

"This is not about you, Keith! This is about Voltron and Arus, in case you have forgotten. The team is counting on you to do your part; we are all doing our part." Allura responded in shock, not believing he was going to let them all down. She stood up very straight, narrowed her eyes, and said in her best royal voice "Keith, I will expect you to pick me up tomorrow at 7:00pm for the ball, dressed in your ADC uniform. You can't turn your back on Voltron, Arus, and your duty to them. That is not the man I know."

Keith watched her open the door, walk out and close it behind her like it was movie in slow motion. He understood what she was saying, and why she was saying it. However, he didn't like how she threw the word duty in his face. In his mind, he was doing his duty, by doing the right thing and not going against his principles. There was also the fact that he knew that he was the only one who would be able to find his lion. He decided to talk to Lance tonight about what he was going to do.