So, it has been a while since I last posted...sorry about that. This chapter is paraphrased bits and pieces with one of the first episodes, just trying to help tie all this together...(Hey, I like neat packages!)...but, I tried to do it from mostly Lance's perspective. I hope you enjoy...
I make no claims to Voltron or any WEP characters.
Chapter Three - Earth – Two weeks before Keith returned with Black Lion
Two kids…two cadets…no… Two CUBS…one light, the other dark… You must find them soon and bring them home. Now, awake…an alarm… a familiar voice whispered into Lance's head. Lance groaned and rolled over, vaguely aware that something was beeping.
And promptly landed on the floor, wide awake.
He groaned, a disgusted look on his face as he looked around, gaining his bearings. He ran his hand over his face, realizing he had just fallen off his couch. "Great, just great. Is this how my day is going to go?" he muttered and grabbed the communicator that was beeping on the coffee table. "Yeah, what?" he barked.
"Sorry to wake you, Lance, but I think I've found something you might find interesting," came Pidge's voice over the small set.
Lance's eyes moved to the glowing clock on the other side of the living room. "Um, you do realize it is three in the morning?" he asked, keeping his voice low so as not to disturb the woman sleeping in his bedroom.
"I know, but this I don't think could wait until morning. I know you have the princess there and all, but do you think you could get down here for a few minutes?"
Lance sighed and his gut told him he was in for one hell of a long day. "Yeah, sure. I'll be there in a bit."
"Roger that," Pidge stated and signed off.
Lance groaned again, disentangled himself from the sheets and made his way to the bathroom to take a quick shower. Once he was dressed in his uniform, he quickly penned a note to Allura, letting her know something had come up and he had to go attend to the matter.
X x x x x x
Lance yawned loudly as he walked into The Den Resistance's space deep in the long forgotten spaces below the flight academy. "Pidge, this had better be worth…"
Pidge spun to look at him, a huge grin on his face. "Herbert Roswell Wade."
Lance stopped, midstride and blinked. "Come again?"
"Herbert Roswell Wade."
Lance spluttered before giving up trying to keep a straight face and outright laughed. "Are you kidding me?"
"I almost wish I was," Pidge answered and turned back to the computer before him and brought up the file he had found. "Herbert Roswell Wade of Roswell, New Mexico."
Lance laughed harder. "Oh, that is just wrong!" he stated as he walked up behind Pidge.
"I'm not sure exactly what you see as so wrong about it," Pidge murmured. "I mean, I get how his name sounds funny, but not why you think…"
"Roswell, New Mexico is the site back in the 1970's that people believed an alien craft crash landed," Lance answered. "They are all kinds of weird down there." He paused. "That might explain a lot about Wade and his mental capacity."
Pidge grinned up at him. "Well, that was the main thing I wanted you to see. Otherwise, got a call from Keith. He's got a good lead on the way. One of the smugglers that we've vetted has the location of the base."
Lance's eyebrows shot up. "Really?"
Pidge nodded.
Lance grinned. "Then it's time to get the keys. I'll see what I can do. You get the duplicate ready."
Pidge nodded again. "On it."
X x x x x x
As soon as Lance walked into the classroom, he felt something different. He'd told Allura that she needed to get back to Arus and that he, Hunk and Pidge would be joining her there within the month. She'd looked at him funny, but she had done as he had asked and left.
He could almost 'hear' Red Lion purring in his head again like he had heard it in his dream. Cubs. Two cubs. Keys. Come home with two cubs and keys…Set us free! He'd never been able to hear Red from such a long distance before and it was a bit unnerving.
He had stopped behind one of the cadets who had just answered a question and the cadet looked up at him in shock as the teacher announced his presence. Lance forced a smile onto his face and moved to the front of the room. "I realized I hadn't even met the newest cadets and it was almost the second term…" He glanced back and saw the cadet he had stopped behind had his hand in the air. "Yes, cadet?"
"Sir, with all due respect, why are you here teaching when you were a part of Voltron?"
"Daniel! You know any mention of Voltron is a punishable offence," the professor scolded. He faced Lance and gave him a sheepish smile. "Commander Lance, I'm so sorry…"
"No, it's all right. I talk about this once and only once," Lance stated. Two cubs…is this kid one of them, maybe? Lance mentally groaned as he launched into the speech he'd perfected after having to explain it to new cadets almost every year. Now, I'm thinking too much like Red…he's a kid, a child, not a freaking cub!
"But, what about Commander Keith, the Black Lion pilot?" Daniel demanded.
"Ex-Commander Keith is a wanted fugitive and nobody knows his whereabouts," Lance ground out. He narrowed his eyes. He might be one of the ones I need to bring back with me. I'll have to test him…
"How could you and the team turn your back on Commander Keith and Voltron?"
"That's enough. Up. You're coming with me," Lance snarled. He looked down to a young dark skinned man across the aisle from him and a sense of déjà vu came over him. Holy crap. Both of them in one class? He wasn't one to ignore his gut feelings, though. Allura says to always trust your instincts, especially when it comes to Voltron. "You, too."
The cadet looked up at him in shock. "Me? What did I do?"
"Guilt by association. Let's go," he snarled and escorted the two cadets out of the classroom.
X x x x x x
Lance stood back as Sky Marshal Wade ripped into the two cadets he had dragged in before him and gave them a two year sentence of latrine duty. Latrine, huh? I have got to get these two to trust me…they will be our ticket to getting them back… He couldn't help the snarky grin he had on his face, though. Herbert Roswell Wade from Roswell, New Mexico…
X x x x x x
Lance silently followed the two cadets from a distance where he couldn't be seen. He grinned as he watched the two go into the simulator room he had left unlocked. "Bingo," he murmured. He waited a few minutes, making sure that they had actually started up the simulators before joining them himself.
"Oh, looks like the simulator is asking for more hurt…"
"Easy pickin's."
Lance grinned. "What? Can't you boys keep up?"
"Commander Lance?"
"You boys just want to get expelled don't you? Since this is probably your last act as GA cadets, let's see what you're made of. Hope your straps are on tight."
"What? It's not like these simulators are gonna rocket…"
Lance grinned and pressed a button on his simulator's console, which made all three simulators rocket off down a hallway. He heard the surprised shouts of the two cadets and his grin got wider. "You two might want to pull your emergency chutes right…now," he stated as they all entered a large room and he pulled his chute. He climbed out of his simulator and moved over to one of the cadets and noticed a piece of paper on the ground that had fluttered out of the simulator as the cadet had unstrapped himself. "Voltron contraband to boot," he muttered. "Wade would throw you in a secret holding cell to rot. Lucky for you, I'm not Wade." He moved over to a door and it slid open. "Boys, welcome to…"
"The Den," came a voice from the darkness inside.
Lance grinned as the two cadets with him gasped in shock as they realized who had spoken. They shouted as they realized the other two members of the Voltron Force were in the room with them. Once they finally got settled down somewhat, he and Pidge explained to them the basics of The Den and why they had been singled out by Lance. Lance gave them their 'class project' and sent them on their way.
Pidge looked nervously to Lance. "Are you sure about them, Lance?"
Lance sighed. "Trust works two ways, Pidge. They think this will just be a prank. If they fail, it will be our word against theirs. We can play it off as them getting revenge on Wade for giving them latrine for two years."
Pidge nodded. "True, but I'm still nervous about this."
Lance nodded back, his expression somber. "Yeah, you're not the only one. Anything else from Keith?"
Pidge shook his head. "Not yet. I'm hoping soon, though."
Lance sighed. "Yeah. Me, too," he muttered and pushed himself to his feet, making his way to the door. "I'll see you later, Pidge."
X x x x x x
A couple of days later, Vince and Daniel found Lance in the hallway and handed him the four stripe pin that Wade loved.
"Well, you've done such a good job, I've decided to expel you from the Academy anyway," Lance stated with a grin. He almost burst out laughing at their astonished expressions. "Unless you want to stay and finish out your two years of latrine? You are showing remarkable progress in that field of study…" He nodded as the two boys shook their heads. "Then go pack your bags, boys. We're taking a road trip."
Once the two disappeared down the hall, Lance quickly went to The Den and let Pidge know the cadets had been successful.
Pidge nodded. "All right. Keith reported that he's found the Black Lion and is getting ready to head for Arus."
"Good timing," Lance murmured with a nod. "All right. I'm going to grab those two cadets and I'll meet you and Hunk there."
"Yeah, I've got a feeling we're going to need the tow ship for the Black Lion. Who knows what all Wade has done to it," Pidge murmured. "Five years without a proper charge… Why do I just know that I'm going to have a lot of work to do when I get there?"
"Because you're the smartest person I know, Pidge. Ok. I'll see you guys in a few days then," Lance stated and headed for the hangar where he had a ship standing by. Soon, Daniel and Vince joined him and they took off for Arus.
Once underway, Lance put the ship on auto pilot and turned to the cadets, showing them what they had actually pilfered from Wade.
"The keys to the Lions!" Daniel whispered in awe.
"Exactly," Lance agreed. "We'll be landing on Arus in a few days. Get some rest."
X x x x x x
Lance sat quietly in the cockpit as the ship finally entered Arus' star system. He felt the weight of the keys in the pocket of his leather jacket. He reached his hand in and ran his fingers over the keys. They felt charged, energized, like they knew they were going home where they belonged. "Not much longer," he whispered. "A few more hours and you'll be home." He touched the key that he knew was Red's. It was hotter than the others, a familiar heat, the heat of the volcano. He smiled and gently rolled the key through his fingers. It will be nice to see you again, my old friend.
Three hours later, Lance hit a button on the console. "Cadets, we're on final approach. You might want to come get strapped in."
"Roger that," came Vince's voice.
Lance keyed the radio. "Arus Control, this is Commander Lance McClain on final approach. Requesting permission to land."
"This is Arus Control. Permission granted, Commander. Welcome back to Arus, sir. The Princess has granted you permission to land at the main castle landing pad. She is eagerly awaiting your arrival and will be meeting your shuttle," came the answer.
"Roger that and thank you," Lance stated as the cadets walked into the cockpit. "Well, boys, there it is. Planet Arus."
"Wow," Vince whispered. "It's beautiful."
"Yeah," Daniel agreed.
"Well, get strapped in. We'll be landing within half an hour," Lance ordered. "And when we land, be on your best behavior. The princess will be meeting us after we land and I do not want the two of you to embarrass yourselves."
"Whoa! Four of the five Voltron pilots! This is so awesome!" Daniel exclaimed as he strapped himself in.
"Well, relax, kid. We've still got half an hour," Lance muttered as he carefully navigated through the atmosphere.
X x x x x x
"Your highness, Commander McClain will be landing in approximately thirty minutes," one of the castle guards told her.
She turned and smiled at the man. "Thank you, sergeant," she stated and quickly moved to her rooms to prepare herself. He's almost here. And if Pidge is right, Keith will be back soon, too. Oh, I can't wait! Arus will have Voltron back! She paused in her preparations. Keith…and Lance… She closed her eyes. I think I'm falling for Lance, but…I still have feelings for Keith. Oh, this is going to be such a difficult time. She took a deep breath, held it for a few moments longer than normal, then slowly released it. One step at a time. Get Voltron back in working order and then I can deal with my feelings. The threat of Doom is looming closer again. We have to have Voltron back. Arus comes first. She put down her hairbrush and quickly dabbed a bit of Fire Lilies perfume on her neck and wrists before leaving her room to wait for Lance's arrival.
Allura's eyes easily picked out the incoming shuttle once it came into range. She smiled. She could feel the excitement of the Lions. They knew what was on board that craft. The keys are home where they belong!
She shielded her eyes as the shuttle touched down and she moved closer to it once she heard the tone of the engines change, indicating they had been powered down.
The hatch flew open and she saw the expressions of two young men, who stared at her in shock.
She smiled seeing Lance behind them. He nodded to her and she nodded back. "Welcome to Arus," she stated regally to the two boys. "And welcome to the Castle of Lions…"