AN There is a song called fast car used in this chapter, I recommend looking it up because it sets a good tone for this chapter and the next few and it's just a good song all around. (link: url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=video&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiUkvbR_-bVAhUJVyYKHTShD0cQtwIILjAB&url=https%3A%2F% .com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DuTIB10eQnA0&usg=AFQjCNH18353YV2hkuWVS3-mCqWkXax2Ow)

Shiro was taken by the Galra; This fact became apparent as we searched for him. There was no sign of struggle, no scuff marks in the dirt or blood on the grass. He was just gone. Lance and Hunk wanted to keep looking but we knew it wouldn't be safe.

The closest building at this point was Keith's shack, so that's where we went. That last shining castle on a hill, the symbol of home. The constant in a tide of change. The impenetrable fortress.

"Shit," Keith exclaims as we lay eyes on the still smoldering wreckage of his shack. The galra sure knew how to clean up their messes.
He runs up and starts to dig for anything salvageable. I am the first to try helping and Lance follows me, we are both soaking wet and shivering. Hunk and Allura join after a moment, both of them seemed ashamed.

I grab what looks like the last of his bed and jump back, of course, fire is hot and things previously on fire tend to follow that pattern for a while. My hands burn a bit and my eyes water slightly.
Hunk notices me. Of course, he does. His mouth twists into a lopsided grimace and he gently leads me to the sand. I sit down. The others continue their search, finding the occasional item and dropping it next to me. Half a book, a pair of shoes, some bottles of possible water.
I cross my legs and hug myself, my wet clothes are freezing in the breeze. Someone draped a jacket over me. It was Keith's red one. I pull it on and savor the bit of warmth. The sleeves fell past my fingers and the bottom reached my hips. It was so comforting, I almost started to cry again.

I look around and notice Lance wearing Keith's old jacket, the one he always had on before going under cover. His most prized possession, covering the body of some one else. This calms me, knowing Keith is finally showing some trust to other people.

It takes maybe twenty minutes of searching for the group to quit. A few clothes and some water bottles were all that could be salvaged. We have no choice but to make the trek to Alluras condo on foot. The walk is quiet and heavy, no one seemed to want to talk about what had just happened.

"You got a fast car, I want a ticket to anywhere, Maybe we make a deal, Maybe together we can get somewhere, Anyplace is better," A voice hummed quietly. It was nice and soothing, "Starting from zero got nothing to lose, Maybe we'll make something, Me myself I got nothing to prove."

Lance was trying to pass the time, he gave me a small smile and continued, "You got a fast car I got a plan to get us out of here I been working at the convenience store, Managed to save just a little bit of money, Won't have to drive too far, Just 'cross the border and into the city, You and I can both get jobs, And finally see what it means to be living."

Keith decided to join, "You see my old man's got a problem, He live with the bottle that's the way it is, He says his body's too old for working, His body's too young to look like his, My mama went off and left him, She wanted more from life than he could give I said somebody's got to take care of him, So I quit school and that's what I did."

"You got a fast car, Is it fast enough so we can fly away, We gotta make a decision, Leave tonight or live and die this way ." Hunk and Allura sank together. How we all knew the same song was a miracle.

They all began singing. Lance's voice was soft and beautiful, Keiths was rough and unpolished but still nice, Hunks was warm it filled the soul, Allura's voice was graceful. The song was quiet and filling.

I can't say for sure what my voice sounded like to the others, maybe it was because I hadn't spoken since we buried my father, but they all stopped to stare at me when I sang out the last part of the song, "You got a fast car, But is it fast enough so you can fly away, You gotta make a decision, Leave tonight or live and die this way."

We let the final note fill us in silence, I didn't stop walking so they had to continue.

By the time we reached Allura's condo we were all dead on our feet. Corran didn't seem all too surprised by our state.

"I assume the mission was a failure like I told you it would be." He said, but he wasn't looking at Allura.

"I'm sorry," Keith replied.

Corrans expression softened, "You all look beat, why don't you rest." I shove my thoughts aside and let weariness control me.

We took that advice with gusto, each of us collapsed on the nearest piece of furniture. Lance took the recliner while Hunk and I took the couch. Allura and Keith shared the love seat.

I curled onto my side and faced the cushions while the others told Corran what happened. He once again didn't show any sign of surprise, his reactions more closely resembled that of horror. Everyone was feeling anxious, Lance and Hunk kept pushing to go look for Shiro; But it had been hours, he was at their base by now. Allura won't stop pacing.

"Allura can you please give it a rest, all this pacing will just make you more nervous." Hunk said ignoring how his hands fidgeted on the couch.

She shakes and her with a frustrated sigh while she talks her hands begin running through her hair roughly, barely catching at any tangles, "Something is missing, it was like everyone was prepared for the attack. I bet Nyma and Rolo set us up. We should have seen this sooner, we should-"

"Allura, breathe," Lance says walking up to the girl and gripping her arms in his hands, "Look there's nothing we can do to change what happened and beating yourself up won't fix anything."

She takes and few deep breathes and looks into Lance's eyes. A sort of understanding passes between them and they break apart smoothly; Both have small smiles on their faces.

"Whatever the case we can't just sit here, Shiro is missing. We have to make a plan." Hunk said after they sat back down.

I let the conversation dull into white noise. My mind is drifting down dark places while I try desperately not to let it. I don't notice any of the others until Keith bends over me. I turn my head a bit and he gives me a smile, I readjust myself until we are eye level.

"How did you know what I was up too?"

He snorts a bit," Katie, I may not have agreed with you but I would never leave you alone. Corran was the one to track me down and tell me what was going on. He found me because I was tipping the manager of your hotel to make sure you were safe."

I wasn't overly surprised but his words still touched me. "Why did you bring the blade of Marmora with you?"

"They were the ones to help me set up a new life here, I didn't think their rivalry would take over that much. I really am sorry."

"Keith, my father is dead." I say bluntly, " Matt is probably in that cave somewhere too. But I can't let them continue with this. They have a plan, they want to do something. If they get away with it I'm not sure what will happen but it won't be good."

He looks at me, the room is quiet. I hadn't realized that everyone had started listening. I expected to look around and see the apprehension in their faces. But everyone looked determined.
We were going to solve this mystery even if it kills us.
And by God would it.