The room felt empty. There was no other way to say it nor any other way to express the room in its entirety. Stark grey walls offered no warmth or sense of comfort to those within. Then again, comfort was not a top priority of the Blades. Though the room was hardly empty with the amount of Blades merely sitting around chattering with one another it held anything but the feel of camaraderie. Everyone in the room never expected to live the next day. In fact, they had all come to terms with their mortality. While they did exchange laughs and chatter it was never heartfelt. It had always felt formal as if it was expected of them to try and have a normal life while between missions.
That wasn't to say that the Blades didn't have feelings because they did. Just like everyone else they laughed, cried, grew angry and bleed. However, those feelings over time seemed to have hardened and were tightly locked inside as if they might disappear at a sudden blink. Though in truth it was meant to keep them from hardships and shattered hearts when another of their ranks fell to the Galra Empire. To be hard inside was their best coping mechanism. Not show emotion nor let it hold them down. After all, there motto was Knowledge or Death.
To Keith, this was a reality he wasn't fully prepared for no matter how many times he repeated their motto. No matter how many times he told himself he could handle it. If he tried hard enough, if he put his whole being into it, then he to could be like them. He could handle any load given to him. He would matter here with the Blades. He had a place here.
He told himself that every single day since he pulled away from the Paladins who he deemed to once be his family. Perhaps they still were that but things changed and the Paladins had moved on without him. His plan had worked far too well in straying from them in order for Shiro to reform his bond with the Black Lion. He had caused the others to resent him and while this result had been fixed he felt as if their bond was left irreparable. The anxiety had been building up for days and there was nothing he could do about it. He no longer could rely on Lance to pull the concerns out of him, Pidge wasn't hear to call him out on his shit. Hunk wasn't around to make him laugh and forget his problems just like Allura wasn't here to give him that knowing look. Most of all, Shiro wasn't here to offer him that shoulder to lean on. He was alone with in the Blades just like he should be after everything he pulled.
He didn't belong in the Castle of Lions and he was slowly starting to realize that he didn't belong here with the Blades either. While he was half Galra and a Blade, he didn't share their closed heart motto or their unsettling thought process of leaving their companions behind. But as Kolivan had said this wasn't Voltron. To live or die was up to each player in their Guerrilla War with the Empire. Everyone here knew the cost.
"Keith." The sudden sound of a voice forced the former red to lift his head. He hadn't realized his forehead had been resting over intertwined fingers. Blinking a few times he met the golden gaze of Kolivan who stared down at him from above. "What are you doing here? You should be getting ready for your mission." The massive Galra crossed his arms over his chest while looking curious but also not so impressed with Keith's mannerism. The boy looked like a lost pup searching for a sense of direction that he would have to find on his own. Kolivan wasn't here to spoon feed him or offer support. Everyone here had skeletons to deal with daily. Making Keith's dubbed behavior as normal.
"I was just looking for a place to think." Keith lowered his hands to his lap with his head bowed. The two remained that way for a long moment before the half-glara stood suddenly with a grunt and turned to leave Kolivan where he stood without so much as a single glance.
"Thinking is one thing but preparing is another. You are leading a ground unit for this mission. It would be best if you focused on that and nothing else." Short and to the heart of problem. Kolivan didn't need Keith distracted before going into battle. That was how people got killed and worse, how to get others killed. It didn't seem the young Blade was even listening to him as he just started walking away with blade in hand. "Keith." A stern voice would cause the teen to stop just for a moment to look over his shoulder, hood being drawn up.
"I know. I'll do what needs to be done and get my team out in time." His reply was calm in demeanor with determination intertwined within it. He would do what would be needed in this mission. He knew how important it was to cut off Galra supply lines.
A small sigh came from his new leader, "Good. I expect you to be ready in ten and at the bay. Do what you need to prepare yourself." As usual, the pair stared at one another for no more than a moment before splitting off towards their respective destination. Again, a small sigh escaped Kolivan as he stopped to peer over his shoulder, watching the young pup walk away at a slow pace. Shaking his head he started towards the bridge."You could be more gentle with that one."
Kolivan didn't bother to spare a look at one of his Blades who followed after him. "Gentle is not the way of the Blades of Marmora. This is not a babysitting company."
"No, but he is still a cub, Kolivan. One that thinks the universe is against him." His fellow Blade's pace slowed while Kolivan's remained steady.
"And in this case, Jak, it is. Head on down to the Bay and await your orders." Jak would merely bow his head slightly in reply and take his leave. Entering the bridge, Kolivan ran a hand through his mane. He hated to admit it but Jak was right. He could be a tad more gentle with the cub but not until this mission came to an end.
Folding his arms behind his back he addressed his crew with a cordial nod. No one needed to express themselves with words here. The Blades ship came to a sudden stop a great distance away from their point of interest. A small space station that was currently inhabiting on a floating planet. It didn't look like there was many Galra ships, good. This would be simple clean sweep. With a single two finger flick a small shuttle dispatched from their ship and disappeared under cloaking. Keith would be on his own in this mission. Kolivian sighed softly, "We will wait here until the ship returns. Monitor them and keep us ready to jump as soon as they finish."
Every single motion of the tiny shuttle made Keith nervous. He wasn't a fan of leading his small party of ten blades. Hell, he didn't even like leading Voltron and that was only handling four teenagers. Still, he had to do it as this was his his mission now, his life. Glancing at the masked soldiers he applied his own and braced himself for a fly by. This was gonna be a drop and pick up venture. He would lead the team, destroy the base and gather data. Then meet back at the pick up point and get the hell out. Simple enough yet it didn't stop him from holding the bar tightly above his head in concern. He was never leader material in his mind. He would much rather let Jak take the lead or anyone else for that matter. But alas, just like with the Paladins, someone was throwing him in the front seat without a license or a manual to review. Super. While he did like to work on the fly he wasn't sure if he liked it when it came to him taking the wheel.
"Landing in five." He heard Jak state aloud to the crew. Keith took that as his signal to speak, "We get in, destroy the supplies, and find the the next supply point. That is all we are here for and nothing more. In and out. Don't engage if possible." Don't engage, like that was ever simple. A light flicked on above and the ship's hold began to open. Revealing the rocky earth of the tiny planet. As soon as the opening was big enough each member jumped ship and rolled into a sprint. Keith hesitated for a mere moment before joining them below. Hitting the ground running sent an instant adrenaline rush throughout his system. It was like someone had just flipped the switch in his head from "anxious" to "business" mode. Every tiny bit of concern was left on the ship and all focus was on that task at hand.
The group of ten broke off into three sets of three. Each going their own designated location as planned to accomplish given goals. Group one broke out to the west to destroy the cargo. The second went north to do the same while last group went to the east towards the main control room to find the next supply route. Keith was part of the last group. While he wasn't as proficient with computers as Pidge he could certainly hack into them though not as quick as the Green Paladin.
By the time he caught up with his team they had succeeded in opening a side panel and slipped in silently. Keith, behind, closed the panel and slid down the tiny vent that must of been an air duct of some kind. One his feet touched the metal floor he hunkered down with a quick glance in both directions. Joining Jak behind a metal crate he nodded at him. The third member of their party was scouting ahead and strangely enough he motioned for an all clear for the other two to join. Strange, the hallways seemed empty as they traveled to the corridor. Not a single Galra insight. Perhaps they had timed this far too well and the group was loading cargo all ready? Who could tell but he wasn't about to look a gift horse in the mouth.
Their journey went unnoticed though they did stop every so often to double check a corridor or wide open spaces for Galra. Only twice had they noticed a soldier passing by but nothing came of it. Jak was the first to voice his concern as they stopped at the door that barred their way. "I don't like this, it's far too easy." His thin fingers went through the panel next to the door. It always surprised him on how dexterous his companion was with only two fingers and a thumb. His hands where much like Antok's and suddenly Keith found himself missing the large Blade. He had died a while back fighting Hagar. His attention was pulled from his thoughts when the sudden swishing of the door brought him back. "Yeah." Was his only reply as he and Jak slipped into the room with the third Blade following after. He stood off to the side by the door as a guard.
The room was barren minus the multitude of holographic monitors outlined in purple. Below was a control panel with so many flashing buttons that Keith believed he was over his head for a moment. Jak instantly went to the board and pulled four monitors away from the stack and arranged them in a square. A few clicks and he was on the camera's, scrolling through and removing any trace of their movements as well as keeping an eye for company. Giving the former paladin a look, Keith took it as a signal to get going. He didn't bother to rearrange the screens as his fingers instantly stroked the keys. Data went across all of the screens at such a insane rate that he wished Pidge was here. Pidge could decode these in an instant unlike Keith who took a bit of time. Especially with the screen only showed him a mixture of numbers and Galra symbols. He was sudden thankful that Kolivan had seen it fit to teach him the language if he was to remain a part of their ranks.
"I think I found it…" Or that was what he was wanting to say but with the whole room suddenly shaking violently the only words that came out was a startled cry. He took hold of the panel to keep himself up right while the other two of his party were sent to the ground. "What in the seven hells?" He exclaimed behind his mask and in that moment he received his answer through their shared communications. Static came from the channel of team one as he held for them. Team Two responded, "Ulta's team is dead. The cargo has been swapped with explosives. " It didn't take a rocket scientist to see where this was leading. Ulta had detonated the cargo as planned but with them loaded with explosives caused a chain reaction. Now an even bigger explosion was going on.
In pure frustration, Keith smashed his fist on the board. "Abort the mission! Return to the rendezvous point! I'll finish here and meet up with you." Hybrid hands flew across the keys and in seconds the download began. Jak returned to the cameras and did a sweep through them. The explosion was traveling and even now the very room they stood in shook violently. Pieces of the ceiling started to crumble. But it was Knowledge or Death here. Knowledge had to come first and in seconds they would have it. "Come on. Come on." He chanted under his breath with impatience and fear. He turned towards his partners who merely looked at him. They wouldn't leave even if he begged them too. Not without the intel. Now the floor was rumbling beneath them concerned, he turned towards the computer. There on the panel popped out a tiny stick and he snatched in in under a second as the panel sparked.
Without a word he bolted out the door and his companions followed. Jak was beside him in seconds. That was the thing about him, he was faster than any Galra he had ever known or seen for that matter. Heck, the guy could probably outrun anything if he put his mind to it. Keith was positive of that. He flipped the tiny stick to him. Capturing it in hand Jak took off with a two finger wave as another explosion sounded followed by three more. The ceiling above started to crumble with chucks of all sizes, slamming down around him.
The former paladin dodged, jumped, and dances around them as best he could with his companion beside him. The two of them looked like a strange but elegant dance partners as they maneuvered around their decaying environment. Jak was out of sight and was probably almost outside as Keith could see the entrance. But the task was getting there before they were flattened.
His companion looked over his shoulder and let out a harsh word that Keith had never heard before. It caused the hybrid to pause just enough to look over his shoulder in mid run. A huge cloud of dust was funneling its way to them at a rapid speed. There was no way they were going to get out of its way in time. Forcing his body to move faster he pushed himself even as the ground grew uneven.
A loud crackling that of someone dropping a carton of eggs caught his attention. The roof was falling and there wasn't a thing he could do about it. There was nowhere to run. His fellow blade took noticed and made a split decision. Diving at the other he sent both of them tumbling through a doorway to the right. The ceiling crashed behind them and the last thing Keith remembered was darkness all around before his head cracked against a hard surface and the sounds of something shattering in what appeared to be in the distance.
Outside, Jak stood in silence with hand on a lifting chord and a foot through a metal triangle. He waited and stared at the building opening. No one had exited from his party. Above, he could hear the talk of the second team as they all watched the base ease in its explosions. The building was finally settling as its crumbled with dust floating all around. Again, not a single person came forth from the ruins but what came next shocked him. Glara fighters appeared on the horizon. Clearly, they had been waiting for the survives to come climbing out. "Come on, Keith." Jak became edgy as the fighters grew near and he could her the other blades shouting down at him to get on board or he would be left behind.
Still, he stalled as he waited for the former paladin to arise but the longer he waited the close the fights came. Letting out a curse he was lifted up with a quick signal. There wasn't a signal pause as the ship lifted up off the ground and shot out as quick as possible and leaving the fighters behind. Jak slumped in his seat, miserable. A fist slammed into the carriers wall and though it echoed all of his misery not a single soul look at him. Their brothers had been lost and so too a paladin of Voltron. No, not just a paladin but a former blade member who was nothing more then a lost young pup. Looking down, he pulled the small data stick from his pouch and sighed. All this death would lead to a great cause but still what would he tell Kolivan? Better yet, how does one approach the Paladin's of Voltron with the matter of having left a member of their ranks behind and possibly dead. All Jak could do was watch as the planet grew smaller in the distance.