DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything from Voltron: Legendary Defender.
Got into Voltron a little while ago and thought I'd write a fic. I love Time Travel and Alternate Universe and thought I'd combine the two. I'll try to update this monthly. Please review and enjoy. I always love to here feedback.
Keith fucked up. Of course, Keith fucked up several times in his 17 years of existence, but this one took the cake.
Quiznak. Fucking quiznak.
I can't escape this, Keith thought.
The Red Lion was headed towards the ground at inhuman speed and not even space magic could save him.
His screen flickered in and out, unable to connect with the Lion. She (at least, he liked of the lion as a she. He wasn't exactly an expert on robot genders) tried to upright herself, but whatever usually kept her afloat was offline.
Keith pounded his fist against the arm of his chair. Damnit, he never should have been so impulsive. Letting his emotions rule him in his fight against Zarkon ruined everything. He could have tried harder, he knew. If only he was smarter, like Pidge, or stronger like Shiro. This never should have happened. He wasn't worthy of being the Red Lion's paladin.
A growl reached his ears. The Lion transmitted…sadness? Sad because of him? No, she was sad for him. She didn't want him to die. More images crossed his mind: his friends, his old shack back on earth, the people he'd saved as a paladin. Was the Lion trying to comfort him?
Heh.
At least someone cared in the end.
She transferred over more information, but the messages were unclear. It was an unusual sensation, a faint tickling at the back of his mind. Nothing made sense about them however. Frustrated rose within him.
"What the hell do you want? I can't speak magic space lion!"
The images slowed down. A glowing core appeared in his mind's eye. The second picture was this object inside the lion's head, beneath the command center. Was that…a heart? The Lion's heart? Or some sort of main battery? The structure was intricate, interlocking pieces all placed around the bright pulsing light caged beneath.
"Well? What do you want me to do with it?" Keith asked. "I'm not Pidge. Guide me."
She roared, just as desperate and angry at the situation as he was. Okay, okay, Keith reasoned with himself. Don't argue. Think.
Alright, he thought. She wants me to find this core. It's got to be somewhere beneath me. Maybe it's hidden in a secret compartment? Not like I have any tools to do much though.
"Please. You need to show me what to do. I'm not a mechanic." He said, grasping the armchair with one hand while searching blindly for an opening to the inside of the robot.
She sent the same images to him. Gee, thanks, he inwardly snarked. Because the first time was such a big help.
The lights in the Lion started to flicker. He glanced at the screen. 10 minutes to impact. They'd better get started.
He wasn't sure if the Lion was the one shaking or him. After what felt like forever his fingers caught on an unusual indention. Bending his fingers, he pushed open the latch.
"Gotcha!" Keith exclaimed.
She purred inside his mind, sending more of her own thoughts through their link. He paused; eyes widening in shock.
You want me to…destroy it? Keith asked through their mental link, but why?
Words began to formulate in his mind, though most moved too fast for him to catch. He struggled to understand.
New…World…Change…Future…Save…Voltron…?
A new world? Was the core supposed to do something? Altean technology could change the future? Keith groaned, shaking his head.
"You're not making any sense. You're saying…I need to go to the past? Is that it?"
She purred in approval. Finally, progress.
"Is this supposed to save us or only me?" He asked. Realization struck him. "Will this kill you?"
Silence. He gripped the core tightly against his chest, anger rising.
"No. No, I'm not doing it. You're my lion. We're partners. I can't let you do this."
The lion roared in response; Keith yelled back in turn.
"No! Hell no! This is ridiculous!" He screamed. "I can't lose you too. Isn't there another way?"
The lights shut off; the rocking intensified. They had minutes, maybe seconds before impact. A warm calming sensation wrapped around his mind, as if the lion were trying to hug him.
He squeezed the core until his knuckles turned white. He needed to destroy the core to save himself, but at the cost of his lion. Just like his entire existence. He thought he left that life when he met Shiro, leaving that unending cycle of broken foster homes behind. Never fitting in with the other children, picking fights with the parents; Keith had sacrificed others' happiness to escape his own pain. Perhaps this was karma. No matter what he did, Keith would always be alone.
A picture of the team floated through his mind, the lions standing in the background. Wherever the others were, he wouldn't be able to save them here. Not if he was dead. Despite his own misgivings about his place on the team he knew that the loss of both the Red Lion and its' paladin would spell doom for the present. Allura and the rest of the galaxy needed Voltron.
Keith couldn't die here; people depended on him. As crazy and cliche as it sounds, going to the past was the only viable option he had.
"Here goes nothing, you stupid lion." Keith said, raising the object above his head. "I hope this works."
He paused, lower lip quivering. "Promise me…promise me you'll find me again, okay?"
Finally, Keith chucked the core at the wall. It broke on contact.
Instant light filled the room. Hot, blinding pain enveloped his body. Every cell felt like it was tearing itself apart.
Then, as suddenly as it appeared, it stopped. Blackness.
A deep horrifying new thought came to him. None of his senses worked.
Is this death? Keith shuddered inwardly.
He tried to move, but his body was unresponsive.
Silently, he floated on, amidst the emptiness. He spent a lot of time thinking, wondering if the lion had failed and he was in some sort of limbo between the dead and the living. His thoughts traveled to his teammates. They were so close to escaping together. If only-
Soft murmurs echoed in the background. Keith's mind fell silent.
Someone was talking. He concentrated on the sound, straining to hear the voices.
"—Progress in the last few weeks. He could wake up at any moment. The quintessence—"
"—Destroyed everything on the ship. I'm surprised he survived. Has anyone contacted—"
"—Should be here soon. The cub's vitals are good, considering the damage done. Bring me—"
They faded out before he could learn more.
Slowly, the darkness began to recede.
He could hear his breathing, soft and steady. The thudding of his heart drummed in his ears.
Eyelids fluttered. His first images were blurry, shadows and shapes unfamiliar to him.
Grey and purple. Gloomy came to mind. Whoever designed the room didn't have much imagination. A thin blanket covered his legs.
He turned his head. A strange machine sat hooked up to him by a thin silver tube, beeping in rhythm to his heartbeat. It was thin and rod-like, with a crystal-like structure embedded at the top that glimmered faintly.
So, this definitely wasn't earth.
Which mean't this definitely wasn't his past.
Light fixtures floated overhead, softly glowing in and out like a candle.
An alien hospital? It was too sleek and futuristic than anything he has ever seen.
Aches grew as the numbness in his body faded. The explosion did a number on him. Great, just what I need, he thought, to be injured in unknown territory. As he brought a hand to wipe his eyes, he stopped midway.
The beeping of the machine intensified.
Frantically, he moved to get up, horror rising to the surface of his mind. What was once pale and smooth skin was now a soft purple. Slightly darker patches here and there made up what he presumed to be his fur.
He started to hyperventilate, which hurt his ears; making him instinctually move to cover them. Problem was, they weren't in the place they normally lay. In trepidation, his hands carried upwards, to the two mounds supported on the top of his head. They twitched, shivering and folding underneath his touch.
He didn't need a mirror to tell him what he was, what he became.
Galra.
Disgust filled his stomach; bile built in his throat.
He was one of them. The monsters that killed Allura's family, the monsters who were taking over the galaxy, the monsters who hunted them down at every turn; he was a monster.
How could this happen? Wasn't he supposed to go back in time, before everything went bad? This wasn't his this even his body? Did he end up in some random Galra's body while past Keith lived separately?
He desperately needed a mirror, something to identify himself with, and maybe, hopefully, find something of himself in this strange alien body he ended up with.
Pushing off the bed, Keith took a step forward, only to gasp in pain. It was as if he pulled every muscle in his body. Right, still injured. Taking a deep breath, he leaned onto the alien heart monitor, trying to gain some sort of balance on his legs. His purple alien legs.
Deep breathes, he told himself.
Like human hospitals, the clothes he wore were slit in the back, ending at his knees. The texture of the cloth was slightly scratchy, irritating what he begrudgingly guessed was his fur beneath. The tiny hairs were far more sensitive then his normal skin. Even the slightest brush of air produced a feeling akin to hundreds of ants crawling all over him.
Keith began to pull the machine along, using it as a crutch. Slowly, he stumbled forward. He cursed. The pain was ten times worse than anything Allura had thrown at him and the rest of the team. The thought saddened him. He would give anything to be back with them.
Eerily, the glowing lights above followed him, illuminating the dark room. They were too high for him to touch, but just low enough to light the area around him.
As he inspected the room, he made some interesting observations.
First, someone had recently been here. The chair in the corner had a few pairs of clothing hanging off it. Size-wise they were significantly bigger than Keith, or any human for that matter, so it was most likely Galra. Four empty mugs sat nestled around the furniture. The smell emitting from them was strong, like coffee, but not nearly as pleasant. This person must have been watching him for a long time.
Second, the door to the outside was locked, or at least it appeared to be. There was neither a handle nor anything remotely resembling a button for him to get out. So, someone either is trying to keep him here or not expecting him to leave.
Neither of these things sat well with him. There wasn't a mirror around either. He wasn't exactly vain but it would be nice to put a face to this new…horrifying new body. His legs labored underneath his weight. He leaned harder against his makeshift crutch.
How long have I been out? Thought Keith.
Light footsteps met his ears, making them twitch erratically. It nearly gave him a heart attack, because, honestly, who expects to wake up with giant, moving cat ears?
Shit! It was getting closer. Keith tried to scramble back to the bed but tripped on one of the wires connected to him. He fell forward, barely catching himself from slamming face first into the floor.
The door whooshed open. He squinted at the light from the other side. Brandishing the heart monitor as a sword, he glared at the intruder.
"Don't come any closer!" Keith exclaimed, swiping at the intruder. "Where am I?"
The Galra was big, at least two heads taller than Keith. He was dressed in black pants and a long-sleeved grey turtle neck, with dark purple adorning the arms. His face was familiar, but all Galra tended to look the same. He was one of the more cat-like ones though, with a unique stripe of grey fur on each ear.
"You're awake."
"No duh," Keith retorted, tightening his grip. "Come any closer and I'll shove this right up your—"
Alright, he didn't anticipate the Galra to move so fast. His makeshift weapon hit the floor several feet away, the larger alien holding his arms tightly together. The Galra pulled him into his chest, his grip firm, but not painful.
A nose met his head, sniffing between his two ears. While not unpleasant, the action confused him. A soft vibration met his ears. Was that the Galra?
"I-I was so worried. You've no idea how terrified I was." The Galra said, voice strained. "I can't believe I almost lost you."
Keith threw the alien an incredulous look. "And who are you?"
The Galra blinked, ears alert and forward. "You…you don't know? It's me."
"And me is…?"
He pulled Keith back from his chest; his eyebrows furrowed. Before the paladin could even react, the Galra picked him up and placed him back on the bed, as if he weighed nothing. The Galra sat down in the chair next to his bed, now staring intently at him.
Embarrassed to be put in the spotlight, Keith looked down, uncertain of what to do. He pulled up his legs and wrapped his arms around them.
This was an enemy wasn't it? Galra were the bad guys. But then, why was the Galra being so…caring?
This wasn't his area of expertise. No, no, no. Talking was not his strong suit. For a single terrible moment (one he would never admit outside of his private thoughts) he wished Lance was here.
"I'm sorry I scared you," the Alien began. "But I was so surprised. Of course, the Druids said you would wake up, but they've been saying that for months."
"Months?" Keith asked.
"Yes. Do you remember what happened?"
He shook his head.
The Galra sighed. "You were in a terrible accident. The transport ship you were on collided with a military combat vessel. Everyone on that ship died but you."
"How long have I been out?"
"About 4 cycles." The Galra's hand covered his own.
Keith looked down, his expression deeply puzzled. He had no idea if cycles meant months by his time or by Galran.
The other appeared to have caught on to his mood, and asked, "Do you know who I am?"
His eyes widened. Quiznak!
"Um, uh…no?" He stammered, shudders hunched.
The alien appeared to deflate, ears drooped low. "The Druids said you might have some memory problems, but I never dreamed it would be this bad. Do you remember anything at all before waking up? Do you even know your name?"
An idea emerged deep within the confines of Keith's mind. While not yet fully formed, it might prove beneficial in the long-run. "Ah, no. Everything's really blurry. I remember an explosion of light, but that's it."
"That's okay. Just know that everything is going to be fine. I want you to know that you're safe here." The Galra said. "My name is Thace zar Yarak. Does that sound in any way familiar to you?"
Keith nodded, eyebrows raised. It didn't ring any bells, but it was best to keep the Galra happy by pretending.
The Galra, Thace, sighed, one eyebrow lifted slightly higher than the other. "Don't pretend. You really don't remember me at all, do you?"
"I didn't say that…" Keith said defensively.
"While you may not remember me, I certainly remember all your mannerisms." Thace replied, "Don't give me that pout."
"Who said I was pouting?" Keith asked.
"Well, your personality is still the same at least. I was worried my little cub was going to be a completely different person."
"Your cub?" Keith said, shocked. "So you're my…"
He startled at the fingers brushing back his bangs. Keith wasn't used to this much physical touch. It wasn't bad per se, just different. He never had much physical affection from his foster families; Shiro was the first person who he ever trusted enough to hug him.
Thace retracted the hand, a bittersweet smile gracing his lips. "Yes. I'm sorry if this is all a bit overwhelming for you."
Keith nodded. "Yeah, I…I'm really confused. Everything's so strange and different."
Thace cocked an eyebrow. "Different from what?"
Quiznak, Keith mentally cursed, I forgot about the amnesia.
"Ah, I'm not really sure. Everything in my head is blurry. I remember hearing some people talking about Quintessence when I was asleep. Maybe that caused my amnesia?"
Thace frowned, not looking entirely convinced, but shrugged in acceptance. "I've never heard of Quintessence causing those kinds of side effects, but I'm not a Druid or a Scientist myself, so I can't say. I'll talk with the Druids. You get some sleep. Perhaps I can jug your memory with some things from our room. I'll probably need to clean the place too, before you come home." Thace sighed, "Now that I think about it I haven't been back home in weeks. Most of the time I'm at work or here, you see."
The Galra rose from his seat, now towering over the teen. He bent down smell Keith's hair again. Keith sat still, unsure of what action to take. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity in Keith's perceptive, (but was really only a minute, tops) Thace moved away, his long strides carrying him to the door easily.
"I'm going to go talk with the Druids. Get some sleep. You look exhausted." Thace smiled, then placed his hand on the door. It opened instantly.
The moment his father left Keith groaned, falling back against the bed with a thud.
He buried his face into his pillow, then let out a list of curses.
Of all the things that happened to him this was by far one of the worst. I'm not even the right race, Keith bemoaned silently, how am I ever going to convince the team to trust me?
Stupid Lion didn't even put me in the right dimension, Keith thought. How am I supposed to protect the universe when I'm a part of the race destroying it? How am I ever going to get my friends to trust me? I doubt Allura is going to trust the words of a Galra.
He sighed, his anger dimming to a low simmer. Keith shifted to his side and brought his hands upwards.
It was daunting. At least his hands were the same size and shape. The claws were disconcerting, but they could be trimmed.
He rubbed his digits over his face, trying to feel what might be different. The skin texture was unusual, almost poreless, and his eyebrows were more like the fur of a cat then the delicate hair of a human. Same nose at least. The dimensions all felt the familiar overall, which was a godsend. He would hate looking like one of the uglier Galra he'd seen. His teeth were a different story. They were a lot sharper; four long canines occupied his upper and lower jaw.
I'm stuck in alien territory. No hope of escape and no idea what I'm supposed to do, Keith contemplated with annoyance. I've got no one here who I can really trust. Thace might be someone I could perhaps, down the line, but he works for Zarkon! Who knows how indoctrinated he is. I can't chance putting trust in someone that might be helpful, even if he is family. Quiznak! I wish one of the other paladins was here.
Wait, he paused. Paladins! Lions! The Red Lion is in the custody of the Galra!
Ugh, but how do I get to her? It's not like I know anything about this place. But Thace does…
Keith clenched his fists. His other self had "amnesia". A so-called infiltration mission one could say. As long as he didn't arouse too much suspicion he could find out where the Red Lion was and hopefully convince her to help him find the other paladins. It wasn't full-proof, not by a long shot.
If he could pull it off though, then maybe all the bad things that happened in his original timeline might not occur. Shiro might not lose his arm. Pidge's father and brother won't be sent to work in the mines. Allura won't lose her father's data to corruption. Keith's knowledge of his own past could help fix this timeline's.
He smirked; Keith could do this.