A/N: It's time for a Pidge fanfic! As with my other ficlets, the length of time between chapters is affected by how much I can get done in my main work. If I can keep up with my chapters in that, then chapters for this should come fairly fast. Besides, this fic is shorter, so it should be done within a couple weeks.
As with the other Voltron ficlets, this takes place at some point in season one.
I don't own Voltron.
"Still no sign of Galra," Pidge reported to Shiro, who stood behind the pilot seat.
"Maybe it really is empty," Shiro murmured.
The Green Lion was currently hunched in the lush foliage of a planet the team had stumbled upon. They had picked up old radio signals signifying that some sort of communication devices was below. Further investigation had revealed a Galran outpost that was, to all appearances, abandoned. BLIP tech had found no signs of life, even natives, but the team had proceeded with caution. Pidge had gone to check out the tech, with Shiro's company since his hand could access it. They had taken Green in cloaking mode as an extra precaution, then hidden to observe.
"It's been a varga," Pidge finally said. "Do you think it is safe yet?"
Shiro narrowed his eyes at the grown-over brush around the post and the ivy growing half-way up the door. "Should be. We might be the first ones here in a long time."
"Hope the tech is still working," Pidge said as she stood.
Shiro chuckled fondly. "Whatever shape it might be in, I trust you would be able to fix it."
Pidge grinned and left Green with Shiro close behind. They slowly walked closer to the building, tense in case anything is ready to leap out at them, but saw nothing.
Pidge leaned down to inspect the door. "Pretty rusty. If the Galra are still here, they haven't bothered with maintaining the place."
"I'll open it up," Shiro said, reach out to press his Galra hand against the touch pad.
Crash!
Shiro jumps as the door falls inward to the floor with an echoing crash, revealing an empty hall coated in dust. He glanced at Pidge, who still has her hand out that she had pressed against the door.
"So much for the element of surprise," Shiro said.
Pidge shrugged sheepishly, then Allura's voice came over the coms.
"Shiro, Pidge, what was that sound?"
"Just the door," Shiro told her. "Pidge knocked it off its hinges."
A snort came from the coms. Shiro knew what Lance was going to say even before he said it.
"Don't know your own strength, huh?"
Pidge growled and stormed down the hallway, muttering dark promises.
"Uh, Pidge?" Lance said. "Pidge, are you there?"
Shiro cocked his head. "Pidge, did you turn off your coms?"
Pidge paused and turned. "No, why?"
Shiro hummed in thought. He took a couple of steps inside and said, "Lance? Allura?" No response, so he backed out of the building. There was a crackle, then Keith's voice.
"Shiro, answer us!"
"It's okay," Shiro said, and he heard multiple sighs of relief. "Something in the building must be blocking our transmissions."
"Strange," said Coran. "We still receive your signals, but we can't hear you?"
"And vice versa." Shiro shrugged. "Guess it's radio silence for now."
"That sounds like a bad idea," Keith said tersely.
"I agree with the mullet," Lance said, apparently ignoring the growl as he went on, "If something happens, you couldn't contact us."
"I'm pretty sure this place is empty," Shiro assured those back at the Castle. "And it's small, so we will be right back."
"Just be careful," Allura said.
"Of course, Princess," Shiro said before joining the impatient Pidge in the hallway.
"I already checked these rooms," Pidge said, pointing to the four open doors along the hall. "They are all empty. There's one more room at the end."
"Let's check it out, then," Shiro said, letting Pidge take the lead.
Pidge reached the last door and tugged on it, but it didn't budge. She frowned, then pulled harder. When she had the same results, she grunted and kicked the door.
"Need a hand?" Shiro offered, holding up his Galra hand.
"Okay, Lance."
Shiro chuckled and pressed his hand against the pad beside the door. There was a screech as the door slowly slid open, getting stuck halfway open.
However, that was enough for Pidge. She scampered through, then a happy cry came from inside. Shiro slid in, and found Pidge already seated on the floor with her laptop on her lap. She plugged in a few cords, then tipped her head back.
"I'm ready to go," Pidge said.
Shiro nodded and carefully made his way across the cords and broken tech to stand in front of the large computer monitor. He powered up his hand and laid it on the console. It lit up, then Pidge started clicking away on her computer.
"Okay, just a few more ticks… and, I'm good."
Shiro pulled back his hand and went to crouch at Pidge's side. Some sort of blueprints were scrolling across her screen. Pidge scanned through it, then gave a hum.
"I found the power source now. I wonder if this old place has any juice left." Pidge stood and went to tinker under a desk, where there was something similar to an Earth computer tower. "I'll have this place up and running in just a few minutes. Want to let the others know, and they can come join us?"
"Okay."
Shiro turned and started to make his way down the hall. Halfway, he heard a muffled exclamation from Pidge.
Shiro paused. "Pidge?"
There was a clattering, then Pidge yelled, "It's booby-trapped!"
Shiro broke into a sprint, back toward the room. "Get out of there, then!"
"Hold on, I think I-"
Shiro reached the doorway, just as there was a bright flash of light and a scream from inside.
