Keith remembers. He remembers and recalls, tracks and plans. It's all he does- remembers and remembers and remembers.

Sometimes he wishes he could forget.

The day is very clear, then, when he's called to the principal's office at the Galaxy Garrison- he knows he hasn't done anything wrong, lately, and frantically racks his brain to make sure he hasn't pissed off any teacher.

Keith knocks. A quiet "enter" from inside has him opeing the door.

"Keith Kogane?" The man standing is an agent to the Kerberos mission-

The Kerberos mission. Shiro is on the Kerberos mission.

Shiro, Keith's best friend and legal guardian.

"Has something happened." He asks, and his stomach starts sinking. (Keith remembers all of it. All of that day.)

"-pilot error- all the crew members are presumed dead. I am so sorry for your loss."

Keith thinks, no.

He wants to punch someone.

"This is Takashi Shirogane's- His will says all his possessions go to you, including the house-"

Keith can't hear the man-that man- the one in the suit, talking about Shiro, talking about Shiro's will, Shiro is gone, My best friend is gone. He thinks he's in shock.

Keith can't hear.

Later, he thinks about what this means- Shiro. But, Pilot Error?

Shiro doesn't make mistakes like that.

Shiro- isn't infallible.

Shiro- is - was only human.

After dinner, all students are called to an assembly; Keith doesn't go. He already knows what they're discussing. He sneaks by the guards into the bathrooms, and waits until there are no more footsteps. Then he heads back to his room- he doesn't need the attention from his peers right now.

Shiro- is gone?

Loudly and suddenly, there are shouts from an office down the hall. Iverson-because it's always Iverson- yells, "You again? Get off my computer! How did you get past the guard?"

Keith creeps towards the steel doors, staying behind the trashcans at the corridor intersection. There's another voice that he doesn't recognize, shouting words that make his heart cold.

"You said the space craft went down due to pilot error. I saw the video feed from your probes, there's no evidence of a crash anywhere on Kerberos!" Keith's palms are sweaty. He can hear Iverson scowl.

"Those feeds are classified. I could charge you with treason for hacking into them!" The other person is pushed into the hallway- their face is familiar.

Keith remembers Matt Holt. Shiro had a huge, gay crush on his crew mate- he wouldn't shut up about it. It's not Matt. Matt is gone with Shiro and his huge gay crush.

The person looks ready to fight. "Where's my family?"

Iverson signals a guard and in the hallway he looks oddly gleeful. "Escort Ms. Holt off the premises; make sure every guard knows she's never allowed on Garrison property ever again."

The girl, presumably Matt's sister, is so thin the burly guard can wrap a hand completely around her bicep. Her face is tormented and haunted, completely defiant. She hasn't slept in days. Keith wants to reach out and hug her.

"YOU CAN'T KEEP ME OUT! I'LL FIND THE TRUTH, I'LL NEVER STOP!"

They drag her away, kicking and screaming.

Keith can't think.