Episode Two - Faith and Friendship

The Dark Voltron weaves around the last of the pitfalls of the Quantum Void. It pulls to a stop just outside the planet hidden at the center of the Void. Dark Voltron breaks back up into lions almost immediately.

"Here we are." Lotor says.

"Getting readings from some kind of structure down on the planet's surface." Sendak says.

"We shall see now if your alternate had anything of value to provide us." Zarkon replies.

"If my alter went to all this trouble, I'm fairly certain that it is valuable." Lotor says, his voice holding the slightest bit of offense.

"-If we are preparing to land, shall I cloak us from detection, sire?" Honvera cuts in.

"I doubt the planet has any threats worth my concern, but if you must." Zarkon says.

"Right away, my lord." Honvera closes her eyes, and begins to gesture with her hands. Purple quintessence crackles along her fingers, as glyphs appear outside above each of the dark lions. The glyphs pass through each lion, crackling along their surface, before disappearing.

"That should suffice." Honerva says.

"Begin approach." Zarkon orders, taking the lead.

The lions fly down towards the planet's surface. They fly through the atmosphere for a time, gliding above the surface.

"Sendak, where is this structure you spoke of?" Zarkon asks.

"It should be just ahead, my lord."

Sure enough, a large metal dome becomes visible just moments later.

"How would you like to organize the intrusion?" Lotor asks. "Raimon and myself could go in and-"

"Lotor, Raimon and I will go inside, to see what this dome contains." Zarkon says sharply. "Honvera and Sendak, you will stay here to provide support, in the unlikely event we require it."

"Yes my lord." All reply. Lotor's comes a half a moment later than the others, and with a hint of annoyance.

The Black, Red and Blue lions touchdown on the surface, behind a nearby rock formation, and their Paladins exit. Zarkon takes the lead on the approach, with Lotor and Raimon creeping along just behind him. They reach the sheer metal face of the dome.

"There should be an access hatch not far from your location." Sendak informs.

They find it shortly. Rather than try to breach it through vai subtler means, Zarkon opts to simply kick the door in. Lotor rolls his eyes as he follows Zarkon inside, with Raimon bringing up the rear.

"Communications cluster up ahead." Sendak supplies. "Hold on, there are some-"

A pair of Galra drones round the corner down the hall. A blur of motion, Zarkon shoots forward and brings a clenched fist down one drone so hard it's smashed into scrap against the floor. Before the other can even get it's weapon up, Zarkon throws out his other hand, that clutches his bayard, and a sword materializes in the middle of the drone's chest. He pulls the wickedly curved purple blade out and the drone collapses.

"Try to improve the speed of your warnings in the future, Sendak." Zarkon says, making it clear this is more than a suggestion.

"Y-yes sire. My apologies." Sendak stammers.

Zarkon and the other two continue onward. Finding another door at the end of the hall, Zarkon kicks that one in too. The room inside has a line of consoles set up beneath a long display screen, showing the inside of the dome. Forests, fields and hills, at the center of which is a cluster buildings can be seen at a distance.

Lotor walks over to one of the consoles and sets to work. After a quick scan on some of the readings on the console's smaller screen, he speaks:

"It seems that this place is some kind contained habitat for the species inside. That's curious, no direct mention of the species by name…"

"Find me something useful boy." Zarkon instructs.

Lotor continues to type, before looking back up at the large display. "Hold on, I'll get us a close up visual on that town over there, maybe that will give us some answers."

The display switches to close up view of a town, with dozens of humanoid figures moving about inside. Lotor zooms in closer, and as he does his eyes widen.

"Those look like-"

"Alteans." Zarkon says, stepping forward looking interested for the first time since entering the building.

Raimon jerks his head up at the mention of the word, and now stares at the display.

"Living alteans. Dozens of them." Lotor says, almost reverentially.

"Honerva are you getting this?" Zarkon asks.

"I am sire." She sounds surprised herself.

"You can use these." Zarkon says. It is more statement than question.

"Indeed I can." She confirms.

"Good." Zarkon smiles. "Very good. It seems you were right after all son."

Lotor blinks, forcing himself to tear his eyes from the display. "Father, may...I have some time to figure out what my alternate was doing here?" Lotor asks carefully.

"You have one quintent. After that, we will begin the process of rebuilding our army. Starting with these alteans."

Pidge stands next to her mother, Colleen Holt, looking bored. Collee, on the other hand, has a self satisfied look on her face. They stand inside a room with with a series of computer terminals giving readouts of data onto monitors. The back wall has a line of windows letting in streams of early-morning sunlight in.

Pidge sighs. She sighs again. On the third sigh, her mother speaks.

"Bored Katie?"

"Extremely." Pidge says.

"I thought you loved computers." her mother says, still smirking, without looking away from the monitor she's reading from.

"I love hacking into alien networks and taking down their defenses one by one. I love making a communications relay from scrap metal and whatever im carrying in my pockets. I love dismantling a new piece of technology and toying with it until I figure out how it works. I do not like doing basic analysis for the base's air conditioning."

"Well tough luck kiddo. Maybe if you hadn't run off to space, without telling your mother, I'd let you have fun with your father and brother. Besides, this is more than just the air conditioning. It also shows us the water usage."

"I'm a Paladin of Voltron mom!" Pidge exclaims. "I'm supposed to be out there helping to fight the Galra, not sitting around checking computer readouts!"

"Oh yeah? And here I thought all your other Voltron friends were taking time off to be with their families…?"

"Well technically…" She said, scratching the back of her neck "-but Hunk told me they've already started getting ready to rebuild the Castle of Lions, they're gonna need someone to set up the computer net-"

"And if they ask for you, specifically." Pidge's mother interjected. "I'll think about letting you go. If I think you've learned your lesson by then."

"Matt gets to work on the cool stuff." Pidge protests, halfheartedly.

"Matt got kidnapped by aliens on accident. He didn't go looking for trouble. Besides, he's spending time with your father, so I'm allowing it. In the meantime, I get some quality time, just me and my daughter." Colleen pulled Pidge into a side-armed hug, while Pidge grumbles, but does not resist.

"We could at least do something more interesting..."

"What a great idea! I'm almost done here, why don't we go check out my plants. I've become a bit of a gardener since they moved me onto base. I know how much you love the great outdoors and sunlight Katie."

Pidge only groans.

"Alright here's the plan." Lance says. "I drop by Ryner and get some of those pretty alien flowers, get all dressed up in some nice clothes I'm borrowing from my brother, maybe shower for good measure, then a solid ten minutes of psyching myself up, before I finally go and ask Allura outh on a date." Lance explains animatedly.

"Uh...huh. And...why are you telling me all of this?" Keith asks. The two of them are walking down a corridor within the Galaxy Garrison base.

"Hunk's busy and Pidge is grounded." Lance shrugs.

"I see…" Keith says, distractedly.

"What? No, 'I don't have time for this Lance,' or 'I've got to go brood instead of talk to people Lance?'"

"What?" Keith says, as if missing what Lance just said.

Lance eyes him oddly. "Yeah you're definitely acting weird."

Keith only sighs and rubs his eyes. "Sorry, just have a lot on my mind right now. What were you saying again? You wanna ask Allura out or something?"

"Yep." Lance says confidently.

"And you brought this up because…" Keith strains, as if trying to figure it out. "...you're worried it wont go well?"

"What? No! Have you seen me Keith? I'm irresistible…" Lance holds the confident look for another few moments, before relaxing his shoulders and twiddling his fingers nervously. "...well I mean...I guess I am a little worried." He finally admits.

Keith gives a half chuckle.

"She never takes me seriously," Lance goes on. "I...I just hope this goes well."

"Well dunno how much I can help you there. I guess just...be honest about how you feel?" Keith says it as if not entirely sure.

"Honest huh? That's good, I should write that down…"

Keith shakes his head. "Now if you'll excuse me, 'I've got to go brood instead of talk to people, Lance.'"

"Hey, there's the Keith we all know!"

Lotor studies the Altean colony from the display screen, entranced by the images of men and women working, while the children play.

Honerva walks in, breaking him from his trance.

"Mother." Lotor says, acknowledging her, before shifting his gaze back to the screen.

"What have you found, my son?" She asks.

"A great deal." Lotor says. "From listening on their conversation, and scanning the deep archives of this place, I've begun to piece together a narrative. The Lotor of this universe scoured the stars to find the alteans that survived the destruction of their planet. Then, he gathered them all here into this colony, where they've thrived for millenia." Lotor shakes his head and smiles slightly. "To think there were so many. I admit I'd thought of the same idea before but...he actually did it."

Honerva says nothing, scanning the screen a moment, dispassionately.

"Not excited to see your own people again?" Lotor asks.

"Most of my kind were always too short sighted. More concerned with a sense of 'morality' than they were with actual progress. There's a reason I married a galra. In the end, they didn't receive anything they did not earn."

"Hm." Lotor says, noncommittally. "Guess he feels differently." Lotor nods to the side of the room. There, in the shadows, Raimon leans against the wall, staring at the screen. Honerva's eyes narrow.

"How long has he been doing that?"

"Since we got here."

"Raimon." She says.

The maroon armored man doesn't respond.

"Raimon." She says a little more firmly.

The man finally tears his eyes away from the screen to face Honerva.

"Yes ma'am?" He asks in a gruff voice..

"Go to Sendak and see if he needs assistance."

The maroon paladin nods slightly and heads towards the door. It is not lost on Honerva or Lotor how he shoots the alteans one last, lingering look, before exiting the room.

Honerva turns back to Lotor. "Did you find anything else out?"

"Apparently my alter also started moving some of the alteans offsite, to this planet's moon for other research, though I haven't been able to look into that as of yet. Oh, and one other thing. They...well it seems that as a result of my alter's actions, I'm held in a certain position of...reverence to these people. Their chosen savior, if you will."

Honerva's eyes flicker to the statue of Lotor on the display. "I'd never have guessed…"

"So the only surviving alteans in this universe all worship my son. It would be humorous, were it not so pitiful." Zarkon says, from behind.

Both turn to see him stalk into the room.

"Pitiful or not, it's is useful. I'm quite certain they'll do anything I say." Lotor points out.

"Ruling through fear is better than through faith. Fear can be trusted. Faith can fail, but people never forget what they fear." Zarkon says dismissively.

"Their faith will make them work harder. People always work harder for something they believe in, than they will for fear of punishment." Lotor shoots back.

Zarkon's eyes narrow. "Your experience in leadership are limited boy, and colored by your own weakness. Rule comes through power."

Lotor meets his stare, and both gaze at each other. Honerva's eyes flicker between the two of them.

"Perhaps...you could allow him to try." Honerva suggests.

"To what end?" Zarkon asks, not breaking his stare.

"Lotor simply wants to please you by getting command of these people, just in his own way. It would do no harm to let him try. If it fails...it is never too late to instill fear."

The father and son continue to stare each other down. Finally, Lotor drops his gaze, shoulders slumping. "...it is as mother says. I only wish to serve, the best way I know."

Zarkon scoffs. "Very well, you may try this experiment. But, should it fail, it will also fall to you to be the one to crush them back into the dirt. Be ready to bloody your sword. Part of rule is knowing when to get your hands dirty."

"...yes father." Lotor says, looking back at the viewport, brow now creased with concern.

Zarkon turns away. "Make contact by end of day. I want those new weapons ready soon, for the coming war."

"Just...what sort of weapons are these to be? The alteans are not trained soldiers, by any measure."

Zarkon leaves without explanation. Lotor turns the quizzical look on Honerva. The woman smiles slightly.

"Alteans. There are a few things we are good for…"

Pidge and her mother stood in front of a wide garden stretching down a portion of the length of one of the Garrison base's outside walls.

"How long did you say you'd been growing this?" Pidge says noting just how far the garden goes.

"Oh just a few months. Kind of lose track of time here on the base." Pidge's mother hands her a trowel. "Now come on, some weeds got in and I want this place clear by lunchtime."

Pidge shrugs, and takes the trowel. Together, they get to work, carefully uprooting the bad while leaving the good undisturbed.

"...so tell me about these friends of yours." Pidge's mom asks with a raised eyebrow.

"Where's this coming from?" Pidge says, suspicious.

"What? I'm not allowed to wonder what the people my daughter's been spending all her time with are like?"

Pidge sighes. She's silent for several moments, as she gathers her thoughts.

"...I guess you knew Shiro a bit before. He's really been taking care of us through most of this. Keeps us focused, and makes sure we stay together as a team. He was a great leader, and always tried to help me look for Dad and Matt when he could."

"Sounds like him." Colleen notes.

Pidge nods. "Keith is...I dunno, kinda emo? He's always running off to do things himself. He's gotten better...I think. He's doing his best being the new leader, I just don't know how cut out for it he is." She shrugs. "Allura's a princess...from space."

Colleen gives Pidge and odd look, but she continues anyway. "She's tougher than she looks. All about duty and trying to figure out she can help us beat the Galra. Been kind distant lately, though, dunno what that's about."

"What about those other two boys? The ones you went to the Garrison with?"

"Lance and Hunk?" Pidge thinks again for a moment.

"Hunk is a big softie. But he also keeps everything in perspective. Reminds us there's more to life than just a big space war."

She hesitates before going on.

"Lance...is kind of an idiot."

"Oh?" Colleen says.

"Yeah, he's constantly misunderstanding basic science principles he should've learned in the Garrison, cracking jokes at really bad times, and if he's not doing either of those he's flirting with some girl he just met."

"And he's...your friend?"

Pidge chews on her lip. "...he's also caring, brave, and works a lot harder than he lets on. If you're feeling down you can always rely on him to be there with a wisecrack, or hand of support."

"Sounds like a reliable guy."

"He is." Pidge examines the leaves of a flower.

Colleen looks like she's about to say something when she is cut off.

"-I think these are over watered." Pidge says. "See the yellowing on the leaves here? You'll probably want to cut down on the water for theses guys in the future."

Colleen blinks in surprise. "Katie...since when do you know anything about plants?"

Pidge shrugs. "Ryner. From the coalition. Helped show me how connected everything is. Guess I just see things a little differently now. How it's all made of the same stuff in the end. There's a...beauty to it." Pidge looks embarrassed by her own words.

"You really have changed." Colleen says, wide eyed.

"That good?"

"I think so." Her mother smiles. "It's nice to hear about all your friends. Before, you didn't like hanging out with anyone that wasn't Matt or your computer. I'm glad you're connecting more."

Pidge doesn't say anything but she smiles too.

Hunk works on a large piece of machinery, on the table in front of him, dismantling it one piece at a time. He works inside a large warehouse, full of similarly busy Garrison and Coalition members. Lance saunters up and glances over Hunk's shoulder.

"Hey there, whatcha working on buddy?"

"Just some stuff for the new castle." Hunk shrugs

"What kind of stuff?"

"Eh, just engineer stuff. You probably wouldn't be that interested."

"Hey, don't forget I was in the Garrison too, I know all kinds of stuff about spaceships and all that."

"Alright. We're trying to figure out if the power capacitors inside these earth star engines with be enough to handle the increased load from the new castle, because if not then we'll either have to use the coalition's limited resources, or basically start from scratch to...okay where'd I lose you?"

Lance blinks several times. "Uh...capacitors?"

There is a silence between the two for several seconds. "So…" Hunk says.

"Yeah okay, forget the engineering stuff, I don't understand anything, what else is new? Have you seen Ryner?"

"A while ago. She left those flowers you asked for on a table over there." Hunk points a thumb over one shoulder.

"Great!"

Lance walks off while Hunk continues to work. There the clanging of metal objects moving around. Then there's a crashing noise, followed by muttered curses. Hunk winces at the sound. Lance walks back up, with a bouquet of alien flowers.

"Found 'em." Lance smiles.

"So, you're really gonna ask our Allura, huh?"

"Sure am!" Lance says.

"Huh. Good luck."

"Thanks, but don't need it."

"What are you gonna do if she says no?"

"You don't...think that's likely do you?" Lance swallows.

"Dunno man. I mean, she is a princess…"

Lance looks nervous. Hunk seems to notice, and quickly stammers to correct himself. "-but I'm sure she'll take you up, I mean why wouldn't she? Heh…" He laughs nervously.

"Yeah, whatever. I'm gonna finish getting ready." Lance walks away, significantly less enthusiastic than he walked in. Hunk sighes, then shrugs his shoulders and returns to work.

Pidge and her mother walk into the hangar. Pidge is noticeably excited.

"Now you've been good so far, so I'll let you have this much. You can look around and say hi, but no working on anything." Colleen explains.

"I know mom." Pidge replies, looking around at all the pieces of machinery the engineers and scientists are working on. Her eyes widen at once item a Coalition alien works on.

"Is that a Colaxium helix battery? I've only read about those…" A gasp as she turns to another table. "A Rethid power conductor!? I thought they stopped producing those." Another gasp at a glance to another table. "Woah a M'vran antigrav inducer! That'll be perfect for generating lift. And that over there is...oh just a regular old Garrison engine." Pidge looks slightly disappointed.

"Losing your respect for the classics Pidge?" Hunk asks, looking up from his work.

"Oh hey Hunk." she says, noticing him for the first time.

"Pidge, Mrs. Holt." Hunk says, nodding to each woman.

"Checking out the old capacitors to see if they can meet the new load?" Pidge asks.

"Sure am." Hunk confirms.

Pidge leans over to get a closer look and reaches a hand towards the engine. Colleen catches her hand before it makes contact. Pidge looks up to see her mother smile and clear her throat. Pidge sighs and pulls her hand back.

"Still grounded huh?" Hunk says.

"Yeah…" Pidge sighs.

"The way mom's dragging her around, Katie's gonna be attached at the hip by the time her hair turns grey." Says a new voice. All turn to see Matt along with Sam Holt and Shiro walking up.

Pidge narrows her eyes and smiles thinly. "Just wait 'til I get free Matt, I'm gonna show these guys what a real science officer looks like."

"You're a few years too early for that." Matt says confidently.

While the two siblings continue their stare down, Sam and Shiro move over to meet Colleen.

"How's our little girl doing?" Sam asks.

"Stubborn as always." Colleen smiles. "Shirogane, it's been a while." She offers a hand.

"Too long, Colleen." Shiro says, shaking her hand.

"I hear you've been taking care of Pidge, and the others."

"I did my best, but they're practically grown now."

"Not just yet, they aren't" Colleen says shooting her daughter a glance. "Sam, Matt, I know you're both working hard, but I hope I'll be seeing you both for dinner." She says it in such a manner that it seems more like an order than a request.

"Yes ma'am." Sam and Matt say in unison, giving mock salutes.

"How about you Shiro, can I twist your arm into coming?"

"Afraid not." Shiro sighs. "I'll be tied up in negotiations with the Garrison."

"Ol' Sanda's being a piece of work as usual." Matt pipes in.

"Matt…" Shiro says warningly.

Matt waves his hand dismissively. Pidge chuckles, as Shiro shoots her brother with a disapproving look.

"How about you Hunk?"

"Sorry but my own family's promised they'd cook a feast every night for a week after coming back home."

"Well I guess I can't fault you for wanting to go with that..." Colleen chuckles.

Pidge and her mother walk down a corridor inside the base sometime later. Pidge displays little of the boredom and discontentment from earlier, instead replaced with a slight smile on her face, and a skip in her step.

"Having fun yet?" Colleen asks.

"Day's improving. Still would have liked to be touch some of that tech though…" Pidge replies with a raised eyebrow.

"Maybe tomorrow. Maybe." Colleen emphasises the last work to make clear that it is no promise.

Pidge shrugs in apparent surrender.

"It was nice to meet your friend Hunk, but where are all these other friends I hear about?" Her mother asks next.

"I'm sure they're around...oh speak of the devil."

Pidge says this just as Lance slides around a corner, dressed in a suit jacket, button down shirt and slacks. He carries the alien flowers in one hand, and looks to be in a hurry. However, he skids to a stop upon seeing Pidge and her mother.

"Pidge!? What's going on? Thought you were still grounded." Lance says with confusion.

"Am. Sorta. Mom's got a tight leash on me." Pidge sighs, and gives a shrug.

Lance's eyes shifted to the older woman with curiosity.

"Mom, this is Lance. Lance, my mom." Pidge explains, gesturing back and forth.

"Nice to meet ya Missus Holt!" Lance says shaking Colleens hand.

"So this is the boy I heard all about." Colleen replies.

"Huh?" Lance looks back at Pidge. "You bad mouthing me to you mom already?"

"Something like that." Pidge says with a wry grin.

Lance returns the grin. "Oh, well in that case, Mrs. Holt I'm sure there are a few stories you'd love to hear about Pidge from out in space. Did you know that for a while we didn't even know she was a g-"

Pidge cuts him off with an elbow to the ribs.

"Ow!"

"Forgive Lance, mom." Pidge says, adjusting her glasses. "He's had a lot of head trauma out fighting in space. His memory isn't what it used to be."

Lance rolls his eyes, while Colleen only chuckles.

"So Lance, what are you all dressed up for?" Colleen asks.

Lance smiles again, and stands up straighter. "Well as it so happens I am on my way to go ask Princess Allura out on a date."

"Really…" Colleen's eyes flicker to Pidge. Her expression is unreadable.

"Yeah, I don't been to brag but I'm pretty popular with the ladies...kinda got turned around looking for her, though." Lance goes on. "Heard she was on the left quadrant with Coran, so I'm headed over now..." Lance's voice trails off as he notices how quiet Pidge has become.

"Hey you doing alright Pidge? Usually you're hitting me with some robot or something when I talk about chasing after some girl for this long. She's mean like that." Lance says the last to Pidge's mom.

Pidge, for her part, reaches up, and flicks Lance on the nose.

"Ow!"

"There. Happy?" Pidge sighs and turns to her mother. "We should head back to the apartment. Wouldn't wanna get in the way of Lance's big date."

"Hang on a second, there is something up with you." Lance accuses.

"Goodbye Lance." Pidge says, already walking past, waving behind her.

"It was nice meeting you." Colleen says, hurring off to join Pidge.

Lance looks back at the two retreating women, with a concerned look. They disappear around a corner in moments. Lance is left alone in the hallway. He turns back around, but hesitates. He looks down at the flowers in his hands. Then, he looks back one more time, and sighs.

He starts to run. He turns inside the door Pidge and Colleen just came from. He dashes out into the hangar. In moments he finds Hunk, who is cleaning his hands off with a rag.

"Hunk are you busy?" Lance says quickly.

"Just finished up, why?"

"I need a favor, asap…"

"Are you ready, son?" Honerva asks.

"When am I ever not?" Lotor replies.

The two of them sit inside a shuttle transport. The ship lands with a thump. Lotor takes a breath, and stands up.

"Stay in the ship, if you would, I don't want them getting spooked."

"Very well."

Lotor nods, perhaps more to himself than his mother. He walks over to the door, and clicks a button along the side. The door unseals with a hiss, and a ramp opens up, extending down to the ground below. Lotor takes a step outside.

He is met with the sight of hundreds of alteans gathered in a circle a short distance from the ship. There is a clamor of hushed conversation. All stare at Lotor. One red-haired woman among them steps forward.

"L-Lord...Lotor?" She says in an uneasy voice.

Lotor smiles. "Yes, it's is I, Lotor! Your savior has returned!"

There is an excited clamor among the alteans. He allows it to go on for a moment, before raising both hands, and gesturing for them to quite. He takes a breath before speaking further.

"...I have returned from a long journey. Out in the bounds of space, I fought many battles, and experienced both victories and failures. I come to you now, with a new sense of purpose. Because, my dear alteans, I now have the legendary Voltron on my side!"

This causes a full on cheer to erupt from the people, but again, Lotor motions for quiet.

"But, my enemies have grown strong as well. They possess their own, twisted imitation of voltron. Much of the universe has fallen to their control. I cannot defeat this foe alone..."

There is a hushed murmur in the crowd. Lotor allows it, building anticipation for his next words.

"...my people, you have hid here for so many years. Well the time has come for that to end! The time has come for alteans to stand proudly once again, and help guide this universe to what it should be. I now call upon every man woman and child altean here in this colony! I ask you to help me take up arms against the forced of this false Voltron!"

There is silence for a short moment. Then the crowd explodes into cheers. Lotor relaxes. He turns to the girl in front of him.

"You there. Are you in charge of these people?"

"Y...yes? Lord Lotor have you forgotten me?"

Lotor sighs, and rests a hand on his forehead. "Forgive me. Battles with my enemies have left me with many scars. Not all of them are physical. Certain memories have become distant to me. Please remind me, I'm sure it will come back in time."

"Of course, my lord." She says bowing her head. "I am called Luca."

"Luca. I will be entrusting you to prepare our people for the coming storm."

"Thank you for this honor, Lord Lotor." She bows further. "I will do my utmost to get them ready...but how exactly are we all to contribute?"

Lotor glances up to the sky briefly. "I will have more information shortly…until then, be ready for anything."

"Yes, lord Lotor."

Lotor nods and turns back around, to return to the ship.

"I think that went well." Honvera says.

"Undeniably. It is as I expected." Lotor allows himself a grin. "They'll do anything I ask…"

Pidge lies on a sofa, staring at the ceiling. She is inside an apartment with her mother. The sofa Pidge lies on is in the living room, while the connected kitchen is where Colleen has begun to prepare a meal.

"So, was following me around today the worst thing ever?" Colleen asks.

"No...I had fun." Pidge admits sitting up. "It's not that I didn't want to spend time with you, I'm just excited to get to work with Dad and Matt. Imagine what the three of us can do together."

"Well sometimes it's important to put the science aside for a bit, to remember the simpler things in life. Like watering the plants, or cooking a meal. Speaking of which, you could be helping over here."

"I wasn't in space that long mom, did you really forget what a disaster I am in the kitchen?"

"Point taken. But even so, it might be something you want to figure out sooner or later. Who knows? You might want to cook for your husband someday."

"Mom!" Pidge jerks upright.

"Look I want grandchildren, and Matt's dating an alien or robot or something, can't really tell which. Either way I don't think the genetics of that work out, so you'll have to-"

"MOM!" Pidge shouts, red in the cheeks.

Her mother only chuckles. "That tall one seemed nice, what was his name again?'

Pidge lays back down, with a frown.

"Who Lance? He's just an idiot."

"I thought you said he was reliable, despite that." Her mother replies.

"Forget that. He's just an idiot." Pidge says stubbornly.

Her mother sighs but nods. "Sometimes men are like that. When they are, you just gotta knock them on the head and make them see reason."

Pidge shrugs noncommittally. "Not really sure what you're talking about."

"Sure you don't." Colleen rolls her eyes.

Neither says anything, and for a moment the apartment is silent. Pidge closes her eyes, as if to sleep. There is a knock at the door. She sighs, and sits back up. Her mother shoots her a confused look. Pidge shrugs.

"I'll get it." Pidge hops off the couch and walks over to the door.

Pidge opens to door and gapes at the person standing here.

"Lance!?" She exclaimes, blinking as if she wasn't seeing right. Colleen leans out from the kitchen with an interested look.

"Betcha think you wouldn't see me again today." Lance says, flashing a grin. He holds a plastic bin in his hands.

"What are you even doing here?" Pidge asks, shaking away her shock. "I thought you were-"

"Off asking out Allura?" Lance sighes. "Fully planned on it, but then I noticed how down my good friend seemed after I last saw her. Thought maybe being grounded after seeing everyone else was running around doing stuff was bringing her down."

Pidge crosses her arms and shrugs. "Lots of assuming you're doing there. And I'm not in a bad mood, I'm doing just f-"

Lance pops open the plastic bin.

"-are those peanut butter cookies!?" Pidge goes wide-eyed and her mouth begins to water.

Lance chuckles. "Not my style to leave a friend in need Pidge, whether you're about to admit it or not.

Pidge stares at him for a long moment. "...you gave up on your date because you thought I wasn't doing well?"

"Allura's not going anywhere. I gotta look after my friends." He shrugs. "You still got that game we bought in the space mall?"

Pidge looks down and smiles slightly. When she looks back up the smile is more coy than anything else. She reaches up and hits Lance on the arm.

"Hey what's that for?" Lance asks, not really seeming to be hurt by the blow.

"Nothing." Pidge grins. "And yeah, course I still got Killbot Phantasm! I can have that baby hooked up to the TV in-"

Pidge's mother clears her throat. She has a vaguely stern expression that is undercut by a thinly veiled smile.

"I do hate to rain on the parade, but Katie is still grounded."

"Oh come on mom!" Pidge says clasping her hands, and going all puppy dog eyed.

"Yeah Missus Holt!" Lance says right behind Pidge, mirroring the girl's expression.

Colleen manages to keep up the facade for another few moments, before sighing. "Fine, but you're staying for dinner Lance."

"Alright!" he cheers.

"And let me have one of those cookies. Katie's not the only one that's weak to them."

As Colleen takes her cookie, Pidge and Lance scrambled to set up the video game console. Just minutes later they are on the couch intensely focused on the screen, while the TV emits sounds of of explosions and other video game noises.

"Get this guy Lance, he's weak to fire!" Pidge says, cramming a cookie into her mouth.

"Dang how do you attack with this glove? Who thought this was a good idea for a controller!?"

"Hey don't diss the power glove, that thing's limited edition!"

Colleen shakes her head, smiles, and turns away as the two continue to play their game.