"Log 13." Lance stated, not even looking at the camera as he fitted his newly repaired and darkened helmet overtop of his skull. "Lance McClain of Earth, Voltron Red Paladin." He twisted the helmet into it's spot, then locked it, taking a breath of the filtered air as he started putting on the rest of the armour.
"I'm on Creemin." He informed, locking the hip-bar into place, then sliding the forearm piece on. "And I am T-minus one varga to possibly, the fight of my life." The left side forearm went on, as Ascua hopped onto his shoulderpad. He pulled on the right and left thigh, wincing at the lack of lights on the left side.
The Creeminians couldn't fix everything.
"I did a scouting run with a few of my friends on the planet, and... Well, it's better defended than..." He blinked at the camera.
Did I tell them about Dirmon? He wondered. He had forgotten.
"Better defended than most bases I've seen. If this one stroke fails, the results, well..." He snapped the chestpiece tight.
"We won't fail."
Red stood tall and proud over the now-burning base, new paint glowing in the flames, as the arrowhead shaped ships of the Creeminians floated around him. The Galra ships could only do so much, when they were attacked on all sides by dense, sharp edged ships that cut through their own.
The Creeminian ships didn't have great cannons, so their ships were designed with a particular metal, that cut through other metals effortlessly.
Watching six of them in formation punch through the walls of the Galra tower like cookie cutters for thin diamonds was impressive, but more impressive was being able to fall the towers in moments.
The escape pods were flying high above them, even as Red's tail tracked, and fired shot after shot.
Every shot fired was another downed pod, the footwarriors quickly starting after the falling ships, Scalbers shrieking as they tracked down the surviving Galra.
Another arrow-ship fired into the sky, chasing down one of the escape pods and blowing off it's back end.
Red's head turned upright, mouth opening as she fired at one of the two remaining ships.
The last one was cut off by an arrow-ship that tore it's thrusters off.
"Paladin Lance, the Galra in the base need to be taken out." Commander Kalr's voice came through his helmet. "We're sending in a squad, but we were curious as to-"
"I'm going." Lance told him, standing up and putting his Bayard into the right side storage, before turning and heading out Red's mouth.
Ascua shrieked her displeasure at being left, following Lance with quick wingbeats.
"Ascua-"
She howled in his face, practically at point blank, like she was stating that he was in no way, shape or form allowed to leave her behind.
"...Fair enough." Lance shrugged at her, letting her land on his shoulder to keep her safe and close to him. "Let's go." He told her as he slid out of Red's mouth and hooked a foot onto her shoulder, sliding down her arm.
Shazir ran up on Clew, pale grey armour shining. "Get on." He said. "We're going to meet the crew."
Clambering onto the creature, Lance held to Shazir's armour as they ran down the crater's edge, meeting with about forty other various Creeminians in tough, skin-like black armour. "Paladin Lance, it's wonderful of you to join us." A pale blue one said, with almost a singing tone.
"I'm glad you've decided to come with us into the, hole of loss." Another one hissed.
Pit of despair! Lance wanted to call back. "Sorry for Ascua..." He sighed at the cat-fox on his shoulder. "She won't leave me."
"The Zeptrin? She may hunt however she likes." The blue one shrugged.
"Zeptrin are capable of taking down things many times larger than themselves." Shazir informed. Lance glanced to him, then blinked to Ascua. "Galra will be no problem."
Then he nodded, coming to terms with the murderous fox on his shoulder. "So, what's the plan?" He asked with a smile.
"My name is Altes." The blue one said, sliding forward. "And we're splitting into teams. Paladin, you are with me. We will give you instructions in your team."
Lance nodded, following Altes and Shazir as they headed to a corner with five other Creeminians.
Altes explained that they were taking the main halls, and that stealth was important.
"I can be sneaky." Lance reassured himself under his breath.
Shazir smirked at him, like he was agreeing with Lance. "You ready?"
"Born that way." Lance grinned to the lizard, one foot shuffling into position behind him.
"We move quick, we hit hard. They're expecting us." Altes confirmed grimly.
The team nodded, and with little more than a hiss, an orange Creeminian taking a hook blade and driving it through the roof. He tore it open and then stepped back, glancing at Altes.
She jumped through the hole, dropping silently down to the floor, tail lifting off the ground. Her tail flicked, and Shazir, the orange Creeminian, and several others hopped down, landing silently.
Lance dropped down, only slightly louder than the Creeminians, as Ascua dove through the hole and onto the flood, nose working to catch the scents of prey.
He snapped his fingers, and Ascua focused on him. There was a pause as Lance held up his hand, and Ascua remembered to hold.
Then Altes nodded, and led them all forward.
Ascua glid effortlessly forward, even as the Creeminians and Lance sprinted down the hall, guns prepped or weapons low, ready. Bayard in hand, Lance leaned on the wall, ready for whatever the Galra could throw at him.
Altes pointed at him and Shazir, snapping her fingers and pointing to direct them away, down the other hall. Immediately nodding, the pair turned from the main group and went down the hall, Ascua following them.
The Galra they did find were quietly taken care of. So far, no mass panic had infected the base.
A bit over a varga in there though, and they felt the explosion rock the base.
Lance spun instantly, blaster forming in his hand as a thick Galra rounded the corner, receiving a punching shot in the chest.
He got up a few ticks later, and Lance's eyes went wide, shocked...
Shazir's spear cut him down, blood spurting from his throat as the tip sliced apart his neck.
"...You need the power on that blaster tuned." He said.
Lance blinked. He had killed before, but... Normally it was in the middle of battle. Not when he could stare someone in the eyes.
"Y-yeah." He said slowly. He did need people dead. He looked at the blaster, then focused as the barrel lengthened into his sniper. That had enough punch.
Shazir smirked at the appearance of the sniper. "Fancy." He said with a grin.
"Yeah, well..." Lance hefted it slightly, gun warm and heavy in his palms. "It's got more punch."
With it lowered across his abdomen, Lance lunged forward, even as Shazir's feet rapidly tapped over the metal floor.
They sprinted forward, feet light and elegant as they spun around a corner.
"Lance, down!"
Lance dropped down, sliding just under a gun barrel as his rifle glowed, sword grip falling into his palm.
Instinct took over, bringing up the sword, tip slashing through the chest of the droid, just in time for Shazir to stab a hole in it's head.
"Keep going." Lance said with a grim look, starting only after Shazir twisted and continued down the hall.
With a growl, Ascua suddenly beat her wings faster, lunging in front of them and swerving around a corner to the left.
The subsequent shriek of pain and three shots of a blaster said a scuffle went down, but when the pair turned said corner, Ascua was sitting on top of a Galra, blood on her muzzle.
"...Ascua, heel." He ordered softly, and Ascua bounced back over to him, wings half-spread and growling.
"Let's go." Shazir nodded, and they once again sprinted down the hallway.
They spun around another corner, and Lance hit the deck, grabbing Shazir's shoulder and yanking him back.
Shots flew over their heads as they slid, scraping over the floor, and into an opposing hallway as the purple laser blasts left burn marks into the ground. "Fuck. Fuck." Lance snarled, sword morphing into his sniper as he darted back into the hallway.
The first Galra drone went down without a fuss, but once again Lance paused over the trigger on a real Galra.
It didn't matter, because Ascua swung around the corner, claws and teeth crackling and lit with blue. Her wings cut a sharp swerve as she slammed into the Galra at top speed.
The blue plasma that had formed on her paws blasted across his armour, Ascua's thin mouth finding her mark on his neck, his eyes going wide right before he screamed, energy lacing through his body as he was flash-cooked in his armour.
A body fell.
The others, pinned down though they were, hadn't expected Lance and Shazir's return, as the drones were mown down by Lance's quick, practiced shots.
He still missed a few, and almost growled at himself for it.
They had chased Galra through the base until well into the night. Several had surrendered, and Lance turned a blind eye as the Creeminians cut them down without hesitation.
This wasn't supposed to be a planet of warriors. They wanted their fine crafts and to be left in peace.
Not this.
Not the war.
"Nice place." Shazir said abruptly, causing Lance to spin and stare from where he was putting his armour away in Red's cockpit.
"Oh, uh, thanks." Lance said, sliding his Bayard into his pants, careful not to activate it.
"So..." Shazir leaned on the wall, eyes gliding over Lance. "...When were you... planning on leaving?" He asked.
Lance shivered slightly under the snake's assessing gaze, but it wasn't invasive, just... assessing. "...Soon." Lance sighed. "I gotta keep moving."
"I've got a better idea." Shazir said softly, walking over and putting a hand on Lance's ribs. "You're thin. And tired. And space hasn't been kind to you." The Paladin glanced away, hearing the truth of his words. "Stay." He said kindly. "Stay for just a few days. Learn some things with us. Rest. Eat."
When his brain hesitated at the offer, Lance almost kicked himself. He wanted to get back to Voltron, but burning himself into nothing wouldn't help his friends. Especially if they were in trouble when they next met.
"Plus, it gives me time to take a good, long look at Red." Acil walked over, hand on her hip. "I think I can do a lot for you, girl." She chuckled.
Red purred at that idea.
"...Alright." Lance finally sighed, slumping slightly as both of them let out whoops of excitement.
Shazir quickly grabbed Lance's arm and pulled him toward the exit. "Oh, Lance, I think I've got a class you need to join..."
"Class?"
"Fighter's class." Shazir explained. "Just some standard stuff, but it includes stuff about flexibility, combat strategies..."
"Sounds like fun." Lance smiled, following him. "When does that start?"
"In about half a varga." Tail flicking, he lead Lance through their city.
With a signature smirk, Lance nodded. "I'm in."
While they were waiting, Shazir led him around Kadir-Halm, explaining how the Creeminians had managed to carve the houses out of rocks brought from mountains elsewhere.
Long ago, it had been a huge trading port, but Galra soldiers came, talking of a 'Republic'. Many Creeminians liked the idea, that they'd get protection from an army outside of their own. Then, more of them could go about jobs they were good at.
Soon enough, the political leader at the time had agreed to join the Republic of the Galra, just temporarily, see if it was a right fit.
Which was when Galra fell upon the planet. By the time the queen had sunk her claws back into the political head, their cities had been ruined, thousands dead, and those who were fighting back weren't enough.
It took them a while to gather in Kadir-Halm, but that was where they had held.
Until now.
"Now that we can get off the ground again," Shazir said, quickly swallowing one of the sticks he had gotten for Lance. "We can get some of the materials we need for better weapons and trades! To keep the Galra out!"
Lance poked a stick. It was called a Mimish, and looked a little like a mozzarella stick, aside from the fact that the 'cheese' was pale pink.
He picked one up finally, and bit into it. It tasted a lot like mozzarella and pork. It was really good. Stupid good. "Mmh. Fuck." He muttered as he chewed it. He felt like he missed Hunk more in that moment. Then he really wanted a hug his friend. "...That sounds, like a great idea actually." He nodded, taking another bite of the Mimish.
"You know, those are really easy to make." Shazir chuckled at Lance's urgency.
"Are they now." Lance muttered, almost disbelieving.
"Yeah. Cut a block of Chorzoni meat into strips, then put them on sticks, close to a pulse engine." Shazir explained, pointing at an animal that seemed... vaguely like a boar, with stubby wings, and an elephant trunk. "We made them on... space travels." He sighed.
"I'm sure you'll get to make more soon, out in space." Lance smiled.
"Yeah. That'd be nice." Shazir sighed with a soft, reminiscent grin.
"Paladin, it is wonderful of you to join us." A pale violet Creeminian purred with a light grin. Her body was draped in white, thin cloth. "I'm glad you can attend this lesson."
"I'm glad as well." Lance replied. "Thanks for letting me."
She purred, and nodded to a space on the dirt. Both him and Shazir slid to sitting poses between a half-dozen other young Creeminians.
"Hello everyone. My name is Tallis." She slid upright effortlessly, not even appearing to shift her upper body. "Today, we will be reviewing or learning several basic forms..." She dropped into a neat set of splits. "Of stretches and movements. Did you all bring your weapons?"
Shazir brought up his small knife, and squeezed the handle of it, causing it to snap out, extending into his spear.
Lance brought out his Bayard, and lay his arm over his legs, the Bayard comfortably slack in his hands.
"Alright." Tallis' head turned toward Shazir and Lance, and suddenly he realized that her eyes weren't focusing, clouded over and shifting only with her motions.
Tallis was blind.
"On your feet." She ordered, the smooth, sensuous snake lady suddenly sharp and hard. "Turn around."
Behind them, targets, like approximations of a Creeminian's torso.
"Weapons!"
Lance's sword swung out, and he got into stance.
"...Paladin..." Tallis said slowly. "...That is a sword, yes?" She asked.
Glancing behind him, Lance considered Tallis. "...Uh, yes."
"Good. Go over to the leaders, and ask for Weneq. He'll teach you more than I can." Tallis instructed, and turned to the others.
Just like that, he was dismissed, from class and from their conversation. Unsure of what else to do, he nodded, and marched over to a group of warrior Creeminians in a loose circle.
Warily, he raised his voice. "Uh... I was... Instructed to find, Weneq?"
"Hi."
The Creeminian who stepped toward him was huge, bigger than all of the older ones he had seen. He was deep orange, with sections and marks of brown on his back. His smile was wide, green eyes flashing. "I'm Weneq. What can I help you with?" He said, the motion revealing multiple scars on his muzzle.
Lance only blinked in surprise for a second. "Uh, Tallis sent me... Because I have a sword?"
Weneq beamed. He seemed excited. "Finally!" He cheered, quickly bringing Lance to a small circle of dusty ground. "You're one of few swordsmen on this planet."
"Well, I think I'm the alien..." The Paladin drew his broadsword, spinning it around his wrist.
Tail flicking, Weneq drew closer, growling slightly. "You've got a good handle on that blade." He commented with a soft smile. "...Can you fight with it?"
Instinct brought Lance's blade up to cross with Weneq's odd, blueish blade.
"You can!" He purred, neck curling slightly, bringing his head higher. "Good!"
When he curved his blade, and pulled Lance to the side, abruptly shifting him out of stance and shooting the sword out of his hands, burying it's tip in the sand a good few feet away.
Lance paused when Weneq's knife-point came to his neck.
"...Can you adjust though?" Weneq asked with a smirk.
Well, Lance hadn't fought the Galra for two years without getting good.
One hand came up to guide the blade from his face without a pause, rolling in the same motion to land and snag his own blade. He spun on one foot, other one braced behind him, dust scuffed up in a short arc.
"Very good, Paladin!" Weneq's grin widened.
"Lance." He called in response. "...My name is Lance."
Fingers played over the grip of the blue-bladed sword, wrist elegantly circling so that the blade swung in a circle beside his leg. "Alright, Lance." Weneq said, almost like a hiss, almost like a threat. "Come and fight."
Lance smirked. He liked Weneq. "Done." He grinned, lunging forward.
Day three with Weneq, and Lance was wondering if the decision he made was an error. He never exactly stopped aching, not since he had started yesterday.
Weneq insisted they never use anything but their real swords, he learned very quickly.
They both earned their fair share of bruises, whenever a sword impacted the armour they wore. It never went through, they were careful, but a good hit could still break bone.
Twisting his sword so that Weneq's next blow was parried, Lance brought one foot over, slamming it down just on the claws of Weneq's foot, twisting the blade in an attempt to disarm him.
"Very good! Use close tactics!" Weneq encouraged.
Lance spun on one foot, planting it back down when he was separated from his older, snakelike opponent.
They launched together again, clashing in great showers of sparks.
Behind them, several small, dusty coloured Creeminians sat, but in miniature. They were so much smaller, so much less noticeable than the bigger ones.
Lance hadn't seen them until Weneq let him have a break.
"...Who are they?" He asked Weneq finally.
"Them?" Weneq inquired, glancing back to the giggling, small Creeminians. "Ignore them. They're just curious."
Then he seemed to register Lance's confused expression.
"...Oh! That is what... young Creeminians look like." He chuckled.
Lance blinked at them. They were so cute, and suddenly it made sense.
"...So, kids?"
Weneq laughed, but nodded. "We call young Scalbers 'kids', but yes, I suppose. Lings, is what they are called."
The Lings waved at Lance when he glanced over.
"Lance, eyes on your opponent, not the Lings!" Weneq ordered.
"Yessir!" Lance snapped, whirling back around with his sword at the ready.
Lance had never had an official mentor. Not counting Adam West.
Adam had been his tech teacher, and later, a friend. Someone he could speak Spanish with, gossip with... It was a piece of Cuba, right there in the Garrison.
Adam had taught him how to be as accurate as he was. He wasn't like some aliens, all quickshot and dead on, but he was a good sniper. Adam had taught him that.
Adam was Shiro's boyfriend. Partner. Fiancé. Everything. Eighty percent of what Adam talked about, was Shiro.
At least five percent was being mad at Keith, who lived with Shiro, and therefor Adam.
Sitting on a planet, millions of billions of miles from home, staring up at a pale blue moon, perfectly round and large, surrounded in hundreds of stars an constellations he didn't know, Lance wondered if Adam was ok.
His fiancé, adopted child and favourite student had vanished. Again.
Lance sighed, dropping his head to the grass under his feet.
"You know, practice early tomorrow will be awful if you stay up."
He swivelled around, staring at Weneq, who smiled at him.
Turning back so that his spine wasn't twisted, Lance relaxed, staring longingly out to the stars. "Yeah. Sorry."
There was silence for a few moments, before Weneq stepped forward and slowly, slid onto the grass beside him. "...Can you see your galaxy from in here?"
"No." Lance muttered. "Not at all."
Weneq nodded slowly, eyes remarkably calm. "...I wasn't born here." He admitted softly.
The Earthling glanced at him.
"No. I was born there." Weneq pointed to a star, pale red and surrounded with several other blue or whitish ones. "Glaow. It's a tiny cluster of stars, like the very beginnings of a galaxy."
Blinking up at the aforementioned star, Lance nodded. "...So, how did you come... here?"
"Well..." His black tipped tail flicked, which was the first time Lance noticed that it was actually missing a good three inches right off the end. "I lived on a planet called Brraxis. It was really peaceful there, though it was a death world." He grinned slightly. "Seventy percent water, more than ten tectonic plates..." There was a low chuckle. "Chaos."
Lance didn't want to say a word. He knew that Earth was 70% water from science class, and he knew that Earth had 17 tectonic plates from a Trivia game with Pidge.
"That's why I'm bigger than the other Atrox."
With an almost disbelieving chuckle, Lance shook his head. "So that's your species name. I'm a human."
"Atrox? Yeah." Weneq's neck bent slightly, like he was stretching. "Human. Interesting." The dip was quick, almost like a strike. "Atrox have been living on Brraxis for a while, and we started to... change." He pointed to his tail. "Markings, and I'm a lot darker coloured than your friend, Shazir there..."
"Yeah, no... On earth, I'm a subset of humans, called Cubans. We've got like..." Lance poked his arm. "Darker skin."
The green eyes flicked over him in a curious, assessing look. "...That's interesting. We have variation depending on what planet you go to, but not... on the planet, unless it's a death world."
"I guess Earth would be classified as one then." Lance chuckled. "What else qualifies a 'death world'?" He asked.
"Well, they're normally classified by tectonic activity and number of other species in the same genus." Weneq nodded. "On Creemin, they had one natural predator. The Scalbers. Out on Brraxis?" He chuckled. "Six or seven different species."
"Earth has like... a dozen predators for humans. If we count the ones in the water, then more." Lance explained. "Like a tiger."
"Tiger?" Weneq asked.
"Yeah. It's uh... Like, Ascua, but without wings, and with a thinner tail and flatter face." Lance explained. "And then, so, so much bigger. The colour of like, fire, but with black stripes."
Weneq hissed slightly, but the way he did it sounded almost like a whistle. "Tiger. Sounds adequately powerful."
"They can run really fast, not like a cheetah, but-"
"A... Trick?" Weneq's face tilted.
"Cheetah." Lance corrected. It didn't seem to translate, judging by Weneq's still confused face. "Chee. Tah."
"Oh! Chee-tah?" Weneq confirmed.
Grinning, Lance nodded. "Yeah! Chee-tah." He had to separate the word more, but that was fine. "It's the fastest land creature on earth."
"Fascinating." The orange Atrox nodded. "On Brraxis we had something known as a Khorrat." He said. "It's... Essentially, one of us, but limbless, and so much larger. Fangs as long as my forearm and venomous." He shuddered slightly. "With a huge hood, that it spread whenever it was about to strike."
"Sounds like a cobra." Lance commented. "We had something like that on earth, but a lot smaller."
"...Huh." Weneq chuckled. "I suppose death planets are fairly alike, then."
"I guess." Lance nodded, staring back up at the stars.
After a few more doboshes, Weneq stood up and offered a hand to Lance. "C'mon. No sense in sitting out here all night. Let's go get some Mimish."
"Can you get those this late?" Lance asked as he took Weneq's hand and boosted upright.
"Ling, we can get anything we want." Weneq chuckled.
"Today, we are learning to pick locks, and use a molding key!"
Tallis handed out a small, pale grey lump of something to everyone. It was hard, but when he touched it for a while, his finger started sinking into it, like modelling clay.
"Molding keys are made from specific minerals and metals, so that they are indestructible, except by themselves." She lectured as she walked past Lance. "You cannot break, snap, or pull apart your molding key."
Lance pressed it between his palms, amazed that it seemed to melt slightly, becoming almost jelly-like in consistency.
"However, you may have noticed that pressing it in your hands for a long time will melt it."
"Mine's melted." Lance said, grinning.
Tallis paused, turned around and walked back over to Lance. "...Paladin, I recommend that you take your molding key and go see Weneq."
With a sigh, and no further argument, Lance turned away and walked off, looking for his teacher.
"They kick you out for melting your key too fast?" Weneq asked with a smile, putting down the cup he had been drinking from.
Lance blinked, confused. "How did you-"
"I did too." Weneq laughed. "Out on Brraxis, we've got a lot less sunshine. So... in the end, my core temperature is different than most." He explained. "So, I can teach you how to do some of that stuff." Tail waving behind him, slightly excited, he seemed eager.
"Sure!" Lance grinned.
Reaching into his back pocket, Weneq pulled out a similar lump of small, grey stuff. "So, molding keys... Virtually indestructible, and extremely versatile." He nodded, sitting on the grass with Lance. "They can be knives, wedges, so on and so forth... but the one thing that most of us use them for, is lockpicks."
Lance cocked his head, poking at the grey lump.
Bringing out a pair of Galra handcuffs and setting them in front of Lance, Weneq continued. "Their doors might be based on biometric scanners, but their keys are still keys." He chuckled. "So, all you need to do, is this."
Skillfully, Weneq turned the key into a thin bar in his hand, and inserted it into the slot of the Galra cuffs. He waited for what felt like at least a handful of ticks, before turning it.
The cuffs popped apart.
Lance blinked as Weneq twisted the key back to level, and pulled it free. "And Yitra! You walk a free Ling."
The Paladin could only stare. "How did you-"
"So, these things can't be broken." Weneq interrupted, squeezing the key in his hand, re-melting it. "What you need to do is melt it, shape it to be thin enough to put in there, and hold it there for like, twenty ticks." He shrugged. "That allows it to harden, and you can use it like a key."
He clipped the cuffs back together, handing them to Lance. "Twenty ticks."
"Got it." Lance tightened his hand around the molding key. It took him a few tries to get it thin enough, but then he took it and pushed it into the keyhole.
"Hold it now." Weneq murmured.
Mentally, Lance counted to twenty-university, then turned the key.
The cuffs opened.
"...No fuckin' way." He murmured, pulling out the key. To his shock, the key was perfectly shaped to the lock. "...That's..."
"Well, glad you're impressed. Let's try this a few other ways..."
By the time the orange sun started setting, Lance could free himself from both wrist and ankle cuffs ("No tail to get in your way!"), make a wedge, knife, anything out of a small handful of material.
Lance placed the molding key on his sock, at the top of his foot, and pulled his boot on overtop. "So..." He began softly. It had been a movement since their talk, and Lance hated what he had to tell Weneq.
"When are you goin' back out there, Ling?" Weneq interrupted again. The student glanced over, but it didn't make Weneq's pained smile any less real. "Because, I know you need to."
Blue eyes turned down, to the grass under his hands. "...Tomorrow."
"...Well." Weneq chuckled. "Your Lion's all tuned up?"
"Faster than ever." Lance confirmed.
"Good." Weneq nodded with a soft look. "...Just do me one thing."
"What's that?" He glanced to the taller, larger being.
The huge muzzle parted in a fanged grin. "...Give 'em Hell."
That made it through the translator loud and clear.
The Creeminians were there, at the launching pad, when Red took off. Shazir was waving, along with Acil, and they seemed overjoyed, hollering at Red when she stood up and roared.
He could feel her pride at new power, new strength. Whatever Acil had done - and she had given him a list, Lance just didn't know how to read it - Red loved it. She felt stronger than she had since she had first used her Bayard.
As her thrusters tuned up, Ascua gripping to the inside of the carpet coated box that would provide her with safety during take off and landing, Lance looked down to the Creeminians again, fingers briefly stilling over the buttons and switches.
Near the back of the pack, stood Weneq.
He wasn't waving, but Lance could sense his smirk.
He saluted.
And the snake saluted back.
The cheers slowly dimmed as he headed up into the stratosphere, and fired Red's thrusters.
Faster than he had felt her move before, they were gone.
"Log, um..." Lance paused, looked around the cockpit. "...What is this, 15?" He turned to Ascua, licking clean a paw atop her box. "I recorded one like a movement ago right?"
Red reminded him that it was more like four quintants ago.
"Got it. Only four quintants, thanks Red." Lance chuckled, turning back to the screen. "We wound up in a nebula, scrambled a little bit. But it's ok, apparently whatever Acil put on the shields sure took it out. We're just getting straightened out." He smiled.
He got up, leaned a little on the pilot's seat, one foot crossed over the other. "So, we're movin' pretty fast now. I spent a few extra movements on Creemin, but y'know what? It's good. We're on track."
Padding back over to the computer, he smiled. "Signing off!"
Lance had decided not to bother landing until late that night.
Or, what the equivalent of night was.
He had been keeping an Earth clock running in Red, just to remind him of how long he had been out of there, and remind him how old his cousins and siblings were.
But that night, when the clock turned, it didn't turn to one of them.
The roar of the engines went silent as Lance brought them to rest on the asteroid. When they were still, Lance turned off the cockpit lights, head down and mind empty.
Ascua was asleep, Red was tired and took no time to lay down, going to the Lion equivalent of rest.
He walked to the front of her cockpit and sat down, knees laid on top of each other, resting on one hip. His arm went out to support his body, shoulder shrugged close to his neck.
For a while, he just stared out at the stars, at the ones he didn't recognize. At the ones he would never know the names of, because once he left, he might never see them again.
Like he might never see his family again.
When his tiny clock made a soft noise, like a chime, Lance turned so that his back was against the glass, knees pulled to his chest and arms hugged around them.
"...H-happy birthday to you." He began softly. "...Happy b-birthday t-to you... H-happy bir-rthday d-dear La~ance..." He whispered, feeling the lump in his throat through his singing. "...Ha-appy bir-rthday... to... you..."
He pressed his face into his knees, and cried until he was empty.
"There it is." Lance told Red. Their newest Pylon had brought them a new planet, in their direction of travel.
Warlain had very little information written about it, but seeing the planet, with a rift down to it's core, suddenly made the foreboding, 'Use caution, inhabitants dangerous' warning in the list a lot clearer.
"...Well..." Lance took a breath, smiled, and turned Red toward the planet. "Let's go."
