Coran enters the bridge of the castle, his attention on the snack in his hand. Didn't noticed what was out of place, even when he walked right by it. Taking a bite of what he held.
"Wait a tick?" It dawned on him, snapping his head, whips it around finding one of the cryo-pods out, opened, empty. He nearly spat his food out. This wasn't good. Not at all, when did they even wake up? Where did they go? How long where they gone? Who was it that woke? All these questions didn't solve anything.
He was sure they would still be resting for at least three more days, the others, they needed to be notified right away. Who knows what could be happening right now. How did he miss this? Thinking fast he blares the alarm. Alerting everyone.
"Everyone! There is not really a need to be alarmed, we aren't under attack or anything." He speaks throughout the ship. "It's just well, we have a slightly problem, one that can be handled I assure you, one of our guest has emerged sooner than thought from the pod and is currently unknown through out the castle. I am quite sure they are not dangerous, as Princess Allura did invite them on the castle."
What a way to shift the blame.
"If you could all stop what it is you are doing and lend some extra eyes that would just wonderful. I would greatly appreciate it. Coran out."
He ends. Wiping his brow. "Right then, I best be off myself." Taking three more bites finishes and hurries off, unaware another pod emerged from the floor. It was clear the panic in Coran's voice coursed the others to stop what they were doing and search.
Eyes everywhere through the castle, to find their guest. Searching every inch except for one part, they overlooked. Pitter patter feet run down the stretched hall, in the lower levels. Stop reaching a massive high ceiling room, with five large different colored looking lions. Each sitting with a energy shield around it of its respective color. Round yellow eyes expand in wonder, a huge smile showing their small canine teeth on their small round face. Gawk over what was before their eyes, burst like a volcano.
"Kitties!"
A door slides open Hunk peers inside. "Hello?" No answer. "Guess they're no in here."
He leaves and goes to the next room getting the same results here and with the next couple of rooms. "Whoa, broom closet. Not in here." He steps out. "Where could they be? Honestly, how hard is it to lost in here?" A question that made him retract it. Shrugging his shoulder broad. "This is taking away a considerable amount of time from my cooking. I was just about to execute a well-"
"Hunk."
His commlink went off. "Yeah? Oh, Shiro, yeah?"
"Have you found anything?"
"Nothing but air. I mean, no. I haven't. At least not yet, anyone else?"
Shiro shakes his head. "No, we haven't. Lance hasn't found them in the ballroom or the dinning room. Pidge found nothing on the east end. Allura is a no and so Keith. Who I think isn't really looking." He had a hunch, thinking about it.
"Well, umm, are we actually sure," Hunk throws out. "they actually are up? I mean it could just have been a glitch or something. So, maybe it just short circuit and rose on its ow-"
"Guys!" Allura's voice cuts through the castle, alarmed. "Another one of the pods is empty, I just checked the bridge and found it up. No one is inside. We now have two bodies that need to be found. They haven't full healed yet, they need to be brought back right away. Find them!"
She ends. Hunk throws up his screaming arms. Pulling on his hair. Slumps over. Great another body is one the lose. Where could they be? Opening one of the doors finds the room empty groaning. "Anyone...in here?"
Kitchen was clear, there was no one here, it was empty besides the dishes and ingredients Hunk had out for whatever he was making. Giving it another scan to make sure, Keith leaves. Just as a something slips out. His head whips back finding nothing. Narrows his eyes.
Popping his head in, Lance looks around the training deck. Nope. No one was here, it was all clear. Just like the last few places, not a single sign of anyone. He was starting to think Allura and Coran where wrong. But, the strain in Allura's voice made him reconsider. Not wanting that nipping feeling he hadn't looked and not wanting to Keith's mouth, walks in.
"Hello? Hello?" He said lazily. "Anyone in here? Anyone at all? If you are, I hope it's you my pink haired angel." Hope filled his voice with suave smirk. Rubbing chin. A twinkle in his eye. "If it is you, come now, don't be shy." He purrs. "I don't bite. I provide the smoothies set of lips you've ever seen and will feel." He puckers. Drowning himself in it, he didn't realize something drop behind him, with a quick whack, stun and knock him out.
"Well," Pidge pulls up a chair. "This is pointless really. Clearly we can't find them." Getting back to what she was working. Equations. What could be better.
A figure slips by her without her notice. "Pidge!" Coran pops in nearly scaring her half to death. "Have you seen anything?"
Catching her breath she answers. "No. I haven't looked everywhere, saw nothing. You sure you and Allura didn't make a mistake or something? I mea-"
"Guys!" Keith cuts in throughout the castle. "I found Lance, out cold in the training room. One of them must have done this," his voice tightens. They could nearly feel his flaring breathing. Even if he kept calm. "I don't care what Coran said, friendly or not. They're doing something. We've got to find them. Fast!"
He ends. Pidge and Coran look at one another for a minute. "Come on!" Pidge jumps up, running out the Altean behind.
Everyone reaches the training room. Keith standing over him and it was as he said, he was knocked out cold. Looking closer, Shiro was able to see where the strike was delivered. Right in-between his neck and head. A good spot, known for knocking out anyone. Stun them too, though it depend on how much pressure or force the blow delivered.
"Is he going to be alright?" Allura asked.
Putting two fingers to Lance's throat, Shiro gets a pulse. "Yeah, he is. Just stunned that's all. Whoever did this is skilled, very skilled." He stands now serious, assessing it all. "Military training is one way, that's what my mind is going on."
"But," Pidge adds. "they came in undetected. Snuck up behind Lance like it was nothing."
"For the record anyone can sneak up on Lance." Keith bluntly says. "What? It's true."
Focusing back on the matter at hand. Pidge continues. "Anyway, for them to do this, in one motion taking him out. I would agree with Shiro, they have some extensive training background. Which would make sense why we can't find them," she deduces. "they're able to avoid our security. Keeping to the shadows really."
Hunk gasp. "Like a ninja!?"
Eyes fall on him. "This isn't a movie." Keith shoots harshly. "Ninjas? Really?"
"Says the one who snuck in to rescue, Shiro." Pidge shoots back. Delivering a burn and earning a scowl from Keith.
"Alright," Shiro takes over. "well, if this person is like that then we need to be on our toes. They might want to take us out one by one an-" He suddenly hears echoing giggling. "What the? Do you guys here that?"
The others look at one another. "No. What is it?" Conan asked.
Shiro wasn't sure, but he was sure he heard a child's laughter. In his mind? No, not in his. Closing his eyes briefly finds himself high and looking down, there in the hanger jumping up and down clapping. Pointing gushing, a small child at least...six or maybe seven a huge smile on his face. His dark orange hair with dark streaks running through bouncing up and down with each jump he did. Laughter and giggling erupting in the hanger.
"Shiro. Are you alright?" Allura voice cuts through, bringing him back.
He finds himself with all eyes on him. "I think, I know were one of our guest is. The hanger."
"What?" Keith alarmed rushes off before Shiro could tell him the rest. "They're after the lions!"
"Keith wait!" Shiro tries to stop him, but he was gone before he could. "Come on." He goes after the teen.
Having a lead with the others, Keith speeds down the halls and to the hangers. In no time he was there, bust right, his knife drawn. "Who are you and what do you want do you want with the lions?!" He demands. Pointing his weapons at them. "What?" He hears a frightened whimper, lowers it seeing it was child. To surprise. "A kid?"
Lowering his guard, the child wails frighten, Keith clamps his ears from the shattering pain. "Ah! Stop!" He screams, only making it worse. "I said STOP!"
Something quick and fast rush from behind, leaps up and delivers a kick square in his back sending him a good distance. The child stops and runs to their savior. Tumbling on the floor a bit, Keith stops snarling. Shoots a glare at the one who attacked cheaply. They stepped before the child, glaring sharply at Keith. Ready to themselves when he stands to his feet. His eyes meet and lock with their hard ones. He was rather surprised someone of their size managed to deliver such a kick, especially on him. Gripping his dagger, it didn't matter to him their gender.
Female or not. They were nothing but an intruder in his eyes. This was why he didn't like strangers in the castle, because of stuff like this. Locked in an intense stare, their golden-yellow eyes reflect in Keith's dark eyes.
Growling Keith snaps. "You're going to wish you hadn't done that!" He charges, driving his dagger at them.
They sweep to the side taking the child with them protective. Keith maneuvers just quickly as them, to their surprise. He comes up with slash. The child yelps, jumping out the way. Keith's wrist locks with theirs. He felt their strength pushing him back, while he struggled a bit. What they had in strength he had in his nibble movements. Stepping to the side, they fall forward, he quickly upper cuts with an elbow. Under their chin, stunning them for a moment. Using this he drops down and sweeps their legs under. Knocking them on their back. He gets ready to pounce and pin them down, they roll to the side.
Shit!
Behind him he quickly, just barely managed to redirect their concreated punch. To their surprise. Twisting their body, bring their other arm around with an axe knife. Keith leans back watching it swipe over him. Coming up fast, their hand grabs him the collar and gives a mighty throw. Sending across the room. Correcting himself midway, Keith twist and lands. Charges back, they lock wrist again. Clashing. Neither wavering.
"Who are you?!" He demands, they remained silent. "Well?!"
There was no reason for you to answer this..boy. Pushing on him, he pushes back. He was good, you had to give him that, but you...you were better. Releasing your lock, a surprise to Keith, you both push back separating. Reaching behind you realize you didn't have the tanto, dang. That moment, right there, Keith uses and springs an attack.
Ramming you down hard. Like a prey to its predator. The force was there, you lost breath. Crashing to the floor of the hanger, both of you tumble and rumble together. Only separate when you wiggle a foot free and kick him back a bit. Your body hits one of the shields over the lion. A jolt shocked you.
The child covers their eyes scared, scream. "STOP!"
A force hits Keith sending him back, away from you. Hitting the ground stunned, it took Keith moment to recover. His eyes on the child. "What the...?"
Distracted you use this and tackle him. "Leave him alone!"
Shiro and the others finally make it to the hanger, rushing all of them shouting for Keith. Stop at the scene before them. "Well, this is um..."Conan blinks a few times. Tapping his chin. "I'm not really sure what to call this."
