I breathe deeply and yawn. Not really awake enough yet to want to open my eyes, I stretch my arms over my head as I roll over and attempt to burrow deeper into my bed. My eyes pop open in alarm when instead of a soft, warm mattress, I feel cold, hard stone beneath my stomach. Unfortunately, wherever I am is not well lit and I can't make out my surroundings. Moving slowly, I push myself up until I can get my knees beneath me. The biting chill of the unyielding surface reminds me all too sharply that I am not in my uniform or even my flight suit. Memories come flooding back to me, Lance's faked injury, the bridge legend reenactment with Allura, falling asleep with her in my arms in Black Lion's cockpit… The heat of a blush burns across the exposed skin of my chest, neck, and face as the images race through my mind's eye. I shake my head roughly, forcing myself to concentrate on the here and now. I need to figure out where I am, how I got there, how to escape… Not to mention finding the princess. My mind drifts to her again and I purposefully bark my knee against the ground to regain my focus.

I manage to bring myself to a seated position and blink my eyes hoping to rid myself of the fog that still clouds my thinking. Scooting backwards along the floor, I don't stop until my back hits the wall. Reaching behind me, I search for some clue to my whereabouts, but all I can feel is smooth metal beneath my fingertips. My head suddenly feels heavy, my thoughts lethargic, and I have to struggle just to keep my eyes open. I lean back, supporting myself against the wall and attempt to push myself up to a standing position. Once I manage to get my legs underneath me, I simply stand there, propped up against the only thing that doesn't seem to be spinning. I let my eyes drift closed and swallow hard, waiting for the sensation to pass.

I must have passed out because I come to lying on the floor again. My left wrist throbs dully and I wonder if it's broken. This time, I don't move right away, but instead slowly open my eyes and notice that there is slightly more light than before. Not that it does me any good. All I can see is a blank featureless wall about two feet in front of me. My head is still foggy, my thoughts sluggish, but the feeling isn't as strong as the first time I woke up. Slowly, I flex my wrist, testing it. It moves through the full range of motion without hesitation so I chalk it up to a sprain or strain. Gritting my teeth, I try to stand again, but my movements are awkward and unbalanced as I favor my injury.

This time I am able to successfully assume an upright position, and cradling my left arm against my chest, I slowly turn to take in my surroundings. But there really isn't anything to make note of. The room stands empty, merely four featureless metal walls and a smooth stone floor. The entire ceiling seems to be a light source, glowing softly and gently illuminating the small space. Before long, my head no longer feels like it's stuffed with cotton, but the sensation has moved to my mouth and I decide that whatever drug was in my system must finally be wearing off. That's when I realize that not only are there no windows in this room, but there are no doors or furniture either. A quick personal search reveals that I no longer have any weapons, just the clothing I am wearing, what little of it there is. "Alright, Keith, think. There has to be a way to get out of this," I mumble to myself softly. Unfortunately, I have no idea what that way out is.

I sink to the floor and push myself back into a corner, casting about for any clue as to what to do next. I'm still deep in thought when a buzzing sound catches my attention. Suddenly one entire wall shimmers and fades away; the sparkling afterimage nearly blinding me before it too fades. I wait for a long moment, expecting my captor to make an appearance, but nothing happens. Cautiously, I rise to my feet again, pleased that there is no trace of weakness or dizziness this time, and take a hesitant step toward the missing wall. Fearing an electrified force field of some sort, I wish that I had anything with me that I could toss over the threshold, but unless I plan to make my escape sans clothing, I have nothing. I take one more step, expecting to feel the telltale electronic vibration in the atmosphere, but there is nothing but a slight breeze circulating the air. Closing my eyes, I take a deep steadying breath, opening them again and quickly thrusting my injured left hand through the opening before I can change my mind. When nothing happens, I take one quick glance back at my cell then move out into the corridor.

The passageway twists and turns, walls fading and appearing around me. I have no choice in my route as I follow the path being generated before me. As I walk, I search for any sign of the princess, but all I see are featureless walls like the ones in my cell. I get the feeling that I am being watched, but there is nothing I can do about it so I continue to go where I am being herded. Finally, I enter a large open room with no exits. I lean against one wall, my body tensed, my senses on edge.

I wait like that for a while, but without any frame of reference I have no idea how much time actually passes. Eventually, I sink to the floor, leaning my back and head against the wall, and close my eyes. Just as I feel like I am about to drift off to sleep, I hear the same electronic hum that preceded the appearance of an exit from my cell. I drag my eyes back open, fighting the lethargy that has grasped me again.

I can't focus, my vision remains blurred even after I attempt to blink and open my eyes wide. The room suddenly spins before me and the world goes black.