Chapter 2: Desolation and Determination
The light glared down , and the shining metal of the green lion returned that heat ten-fold. As a lion of the forest, Green was used to the dirt, but the parched soil of the planet wasn't even fit for cacti. Pidge hated this almost as much as their lion, but they had become used to similar weather at the Garrison.
They were checking out the damages on the outside of their lion, and had removed all armour except for the feet, as the traction on the armour was exceptional, especially for climbing on the sleek armour of the lions.
Pidge's lion had not been right on its landing, and had ruined both the joints and suspension in the Legs.
Pidge, after assessing damages, had went back into the pilot's seat. As if reading their mind, the Green lion had opened a rotating hologram of the planet. Pidge noted the Green cat-head representing their position, and a single, Dark-grey Galra symbol nearby.
"What does that mean?" When the rest of the paladins were on the Balmera, the Galra symbols were a pinkish-red.
There is a de-activated Galra location nearby- I feel some dark quintessence, but none of my sensors are picking up any Galra drones or ships. There might be some leftover tech, but that is a very low chance of happening…
Pidge leaned back and thought. It's not like I have much choice.
"Do you have any secondary vehicles inside your stomach or anything?"
Green let out an annoyed, telepathic huff.
"Then how long is it to walk? And do you have anything that I can use for transport the stuff needed to fix you? Did the previous paladin leave anything?"
The lion murmured in deep thought, and a large compartment in the back of the their cabin glowed, and a panel slid to the side. Pidge hopped out of their seat, inspecting the items in the previously hidden space.
Utensils of all kinds, Containers of stuff that had been preserved or had rotted for thousands of years. Some of the boxes had their own mini-habitats inside, while others still had the dried-out husks of some alien plants or meats inside.
"I guess the previous Green Paladin was a cook?"
He was also quite handy with throwing knives, swords, as well as quite good at disguises and diplomacy.
"Were all the paladins male?"
Both the Blue and Red paladins were female, in the last generation. The Generation before, most were female. It varies with each generation- The species was generally Altean when we were first made. It has never been so single-speiced as your group since then, though. Three and a half humans… It's quite a bit.
"Oh, oka- wait WHAT." Pidge whirled around. "3 and a half- not five?"
Zarkon has always been the Black Paladin- Shiro was just an aquedate replacement. Your halfling doesn't realize that he isn't entirley human.
"How did you find out, then?"
The Castle's Genetic scan when you first entered- We were connected when you gave me invisibility.
"But- who's half alien? What species? How-"
I beleive it was Keith who was half-Galra. What a conincidence that we are fighting them, no?
"Keith?! I mean… he's an orphan… so it's possible? But how?"
I don't know. How long will you be fine without water?
"I think maybe a couple hours? Will the Galra have some? How much of a resource is it for them?"
I don't think you'll find any, and I have none myself to offer you.
There was silence.
"I'll take that chance- is there a bag I can use?"
One fashionable fanny-pack-looking-thing stuffed with food later, Pidge sets off into the desert, determined to fix their lion, attempt to contact their friends, and, if they're lucky, get a proper drink before death by dehydration.
Rusty dust blew up with each step Pidge took.
How long have they been traveling?
How much longer would they stumble through these red-coated wastes?
Pidge's legs ached.
Their mouth felt dry, a parched throuat irritating them immensly.
Had their Lion sent them in the right direction?
Was it an hour's walk for the lion, or for them?
What would Green consider a "walk" anyway?
The desert streched on even further, not even a mountain or ravine in sight.
There was simply fields upon fields of dust, an empty silence in the air.
No wind, no noise, no life on this parched land.
Where was this this god-forsaken planet located?
Why was there not even a trace of life?
Was it simply bacterial?
What had happened?
Where were the rest?
I wonder if they are okay…
A bump in the distance caught Pidge's attention.
Was it a trick of their mind?
Pidge hoped not, they begged for what they saw to be real.
They started on a slow jog towards the ever-larger hill.