A/N: For any of you who are curious about what the other paladins are doing at this time, check in on Wednesday. I will be posting a "side chapter" focusing on Pidge, and how they are dealing with Keith's disappearance.
The first thing Keith became aware of was the worn leather clenched in his right hand. He knew it as his knife, even before his thoughts fully formed.
Next, he realized that he was cold. Not enough to shiver, but cold nevertheless. He tried to lift his arms to wrap around himself, but they felt stiff at his side. The most he could manage was a twitch. That's when he noticed a muffled voice.
"...moved, see?"
Then, a second, quieter voice that was harder to make out. "...saw. It's… to let..."
For a moment, Keith didn't hear anything, then there was a hissing sound. Warm air rushed across his skin, and Keith let out an involuntary shudder.
Someone touched his shoulder. "Pup?"
"Give him a minute," said the quieter voice.
Keith forced his eyes open. He squinted in the dim light that was still too bright, before a furry, muzzled face blocked it out. A long something with a tufted end waved madly behind her.
"Olia," Keith's fuzzy brain supplied.
Olia was grinning down at him, bright relief in her face. "You're finally awake! How do you feel?"
The alien standing beside Olia -Keith vaguely remembered Olia calling him Mikkal at some point- shook his head at Olia.
"I feel… fine?" Keith said slowly, voice muffled by the clear breathing mask that was strapped to his face. His mind held memories of agony and dizziness, and he was hesitant to try stomach gave a hungry growl. "Hungry, too."
"That's a good sign," Mikkal said in a quiet, sage voice. "From what Olia has told me, you have had very little to eat for the last five quintants."
Quintants? Keith squinted at the lizard-like alien until some subconscious part of his brain translated the word as days. "How… how long was out?"
"Two quintants," Olia said, her eyes wide. "We almost thought you weren't going to make it. Especially when the pod about broke."
Keith blinked. "It broke."
"Only once!" Olia said with a crooked smile. "And we realized it in time, so no harm done."
Mikkal nudged Olia aside with a long-suffering smile. He said to Keith, "Olia said that you had amnesia. Have any of your memories returned?"
Keith frowned in thought, then shook his head after a few minutes. "My head feels fine, but its just… so empty." He stared blankly at the ceiling.
Olia leaned over the pod. "Are you okay?"
"Yes," Keith said slowly, than more strongly, "Yes, I feel fine now." To further his statement, he pushed up on his hands and sat up. He was relieved to find no dizziness or pain in the action, and gave a reassuring grin to Olia, who had been watching him anxiously.
Mikkal gave professional nod as he helped Keith slide to the end of the pod and stand. "Consider yourself lucky. Just a few doboshes more, and not even a pod could have helped you."
Olia's eyes widened in alarm. Her tail finally ceased its wagging as a serious expression crossed her face. "He was that bad?"
"The key word being 'was.' As you can see, the human…" Mikkal glanced at Keith, who only shrugged. Mikkal rushed on, "-is fully healed. Take him down to the mess hall and get him something to eat."
Olia nodded, her face lighting up once again. She snatched up Keith's hand and was about to pull him away when Mikkal interrupted.
"Forgetting something?" Mikkal asked, holding up a bundle of cloth.
Keith flushed as he looked down at himself. He was still only in his jumpsuit!
A short while later, clothed in a simple brown tunic and soft pants that were a bit baggy, Keith let himself be tugged along by Olia.
All around him, aliens he couldn't even begin to recognize -Keith wondered if he would know what they were even without the amnesia- bustled about with a busy air. Aside from the occasional few that would call a greeting to Olia or glance curiously at Keith, they all moved with intent and purpose.
Purpose that Keith found himself strangely jealous of.
"You don't have a clue about my name?" Keith asked abruptly.
Olia stopped, turning her head to face Keith. "No. Do you have any ideas?"
Keith shrugged helplessly. "The only hint I have is this." He held up his knife. "And I don't know what's so important about it."
Olia cocked her head. "It's a start. That marking has to mean something, right?"
"Probably just some decoration," Keith said, squinting at the handle.
"Well, based on the death grip you have kept on that thing since I gave it to you, that blade has to be important to you." Olia's face lit up. "That's it!"
"What?" Keith asked eagerly.
"That's what I will call you: Blade," Olia said, sounding proud of herself.
"Oh," Keith murmured, deflating a little. "I thought you had an idea of who I was."
Olia's ears flattened. "Sorry, no. I just wanted to call you something other than 'pup.'"
"It's alright. I like it," Keith said, though it was only partially for Olia's benefit. He liked the name "Blade" pretty good. It fit, his blade being the only hint of who he was. "Blade," he murmured. "Yeah, I like that."
Olia brought Keith to a large, bubble-like tent. They passed into a smaller tent with a door on either side. Something hissed, then Olia took off her breathing mask.
"It's fine now," Olia said, opening the door into the bigger tent. "We only have two places for oxygen breathers at this base, but we're lucky to have them. So few races depend solely on oxygen that the oxygen tents have a low demand."
Keith pulled off his mask and rubbed his face, feeling the indentations left by the mask straps. Olia's face fur was flattened and ruffled in a funny way, which she fixed by shaking her head when she saw Keith's smirk.
Keith glanced around, noticing some of the same types of aliens that he had seen outside the tent without breathing masks were wandering around, still without the masks. "So some can breathe both oxygen and whatever's outside?"
"Most can. A majority of planets have oxygen to a point, though some like Kraydah's moon has a high hydrogen content. Plenty of alien races are adaptable to the available air," Olia explained with a shrug. "Humans and Caneen… not so much."
"Oh. Too bad," Keith said.
"Could be worse. If it wasn't for breathing masks and tents like this, some races would be completely cut off." Olia's expression darkened. "And when it comes to the freedom fighters, we need all the help we can get."
Keith took a step back, startled by Olia's abrupt change. She must have noticed, because she immediately brightened and began walking again.
"Anyway, let's see if there's anything here fit for a human." Olia clapped a paw to her head. "Ugh, I should have asked Matt! Well, too late now. Te-Osh is big on radio silence."
Keith raised a hand. "Um?" He was prepared for Olia's start of surprise, and gave her a moment to collect herself before going on. "Who's Matt?"
"He is another human rescued by the freedom fighters. He's gone on a mission right now, but he'll be back within a movement. He didn't recognize you, but maybe if he reminded you of Earth things, it would help you remember."
Keith barely heard Olia's explanation as a vague memory of a voice rose. "... my brother, Matt…"
"Blade?"
Keith blinked, realizing Olia was talking to him. "What?"
Olia frowned, studying Keith's face. "You just zoned out on me. You okay?"
"Yeah, I just thought…" Keith shook his head. "It's nothing." He had to be imagining things, that was all."
"So, what now?" Keith asked after a hesitant meal of some sort of purplish noodle and something remarkably like garlic knots.
Olia glanced up from her bowl of brown pellets that she called kibble -a fact that Keith found hilarious- to answer, "Well, first off, check back at Bel-Rath."
"How am I supposed to do that?"
Olia snorted. "I'll take you."
"Really?" While they had been eating, some of the rebels had come to talk to Olia, and Keith had gotten the sense that Olia was a loner, and a wanderer, not one to allow amnesiac strangers to tag along.
"Sure, why not? I know where Bel-Rath is, and where I found you," Olia said. "We can head back and look for clues. Maybe that red lion is there."
Keith cocked his head. "Hey, how is it that you know what a lion is, but not a dog?"
"Who doesn't know what a lion is?" Olia asked. "Lions are known across the universe as symbols of power and strength. Wisdom, and the importance of working together."
"Have you ever seen one?"
"Only that giant robotic one. But I have seen plenty of carvings, and been told stories. In fact, many races call their tribes a 'pride.' I'm not sure where the legends came from, but the theme of prides and working together has resounded for as long as they have been around. Some of the rebels even want to make a lion the symbol for the freedom fighters."
"And you think the lion was my friend?" Keith asked.
"It seemed pretty worried for you. Or, you know, whoever was inside. I don't think they intended to leave without you, so they must be looking for you now."
"I hope so," Keith said. "I'm already tired of not knowing."
"Well, no time like the present," Olia said, standing.
"Wait, now?" Keith asked without moving.
"Better to go now," Olia said. "When Lt. Ozar catches up to me, he'll probably ground me for a deca-pheob!" She turned away, apparently not catching Keith's shocked expression. "So let's go!"
"Good!" Olia exclaimed when she and Keith were within sight of the Clunker. "Looks like we can get out of here without notice."
Olia and Keith reached the Clunker and were starting up the ramp, when a deep voice from behind made them freeze.
"And where are you going?"
Olia had a nervous smile on her face when she turned, though Keith saw her relax once she saw who was standing there.
Mikkal was standing beside a stocky, well-muscled alien Keith couldn't remember. Mikkal held a pouch in one hand, and the unfamiliar alien was carrying a large bundle.
"Mikkal, Eni…" Olia glanced behind them. "What are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same thing," Mikkal said with a knowing smile.
Olia slumped. "Humph. You know exactly what I am doing. And I suppose you're here to stop me, and give me a lecture on responsibility."
Keith raised an eyebrow. "Exactly how often does this happen?" He noticed that Mikkal and Eni were merely smiling at Olia, who was too much on a roll to see.
"...and then Lt. Ozar will take away my flying privileges again and I'll be stuck cleaning the garbage pits again and you know I can't get that smell out of my fur for movements!"
"Are you done?" Eni asked.
Olia took a dramatically deep breath and let it out, in equally dramatic form. "Yeah, I guess."
"Then take this already," Eni plopped his bundle into Olia's arms, causing her to gasp and stagger under its weight, "And go before Lt. Ozar spots you."
Olia gaped. "You mean you won't tell?"
"Not this time," Eni chuckled before walking away.
Olia turned her shocked gaze to Mikkal. "Are you two serious?"
"As a hungry Klan-muirl," Mikkal said, handing the pouch to Keith. "These are some medicines, as you seem to have run out. The other bundle is food and some more tools."
A smile lit up Olia's whole face. "Wow, thanks, Mikkal! I owe you two." She immediately turned and dashed up the ramp.
Shaking his head with a chuckle, Keith turned to follow, only to be stopped by Mikkal's hand on his arm.
"Take care of her." Mikkal said quietly.
"Huh?" If anything, Keith thought that it was Olia who was taking care of him.
"I think you and her will be seeing each other much more than you may think," Mikkal said. He leaned closer. "Olia needs someone steady in her life."
Keith shifted uncomfortably. "Okay?"
Mikkal blinked slowly, sadly. "Just as there are things you wish to remember, there are things Olia desperately wishes she could forget." Having delivered his odd message, Mikkal let go of Keith and backed away. "Watch out for her."
Still uncertain of Mikkal's meaning, Keith only nodded and followed Olia.
Inside, Olia had just finished stashing away the supplies and was settling into the pilot chair. She waved Keith to the cockpit.
"It'll be a three quintant trip there and back," Olia said. "Just in time to meet up with Matt again when he returns. Unless…" Olia cocked her head at Keith as he sat in the co-pilot seat. "Can you fly?"
Keith eyed the controls. "I'm not sure."
Olia chuckled. "One way to find out. I'll take us out, then you can try your hand at it, okay?"
Keith nodded. "Okay."
Keith was a natural. After a few rough starts and jerky turns that almost threw the pair from their seats, Keith got the hang of the Clunker's unsteady flight.
"Heh, wherever you came from, you really must have flown a lot," Olia commented after an hour of smooth flight. "Not very many can get the Clunker figured out so fast."
"It just feels… right," Keith said, silently relishing in the feel of piloting.
"With both of us flying, we'll be at Bel-Rath in half the time!" Olia said.
Keith grinned as he glanced at Olia. What was Mikkal talking about, Olia needing taken care of? She seemed pretty happy the way she was.
Although… Keith couldn't help but notice her shadowed eyes. He thought about how jumpy she was when she forgot Keith was there, yet was thrilled to talk to him for hours. Maybe she really did need someone to keep an eye on her?
"I'll take the first shift," Keith offered. "You should get some rest."
Olia snorted. "Rest? We've only just started."
Keith cocked an eyebrow. "You look tired. How much sleep did you get at the medical base?"
Olia blinked, then shrugged. "Okay, maybe not as much as I should've."
"Thought so. Bed." Keith pointed to further his point.
"Ah, don't be such a den mother," Olia said. But, she did get up and go to the bed. Before she laid down, she added, "Don't run into any stars."
Keith chuckled. "Don't plan on it."
Olia snorted, but didn't say anything else. After a few minutes, Keith heard her breathing even out as she slipped into sleep.
The day and a half journey passed surprisingly fast. Between shifts of sleeping and flying, Olia and Keith would talk. Well, Olia went on for hours at a time, sharing her expansive knowledge of space and planets' inhabitants with Keith, who had little knowledge of his own to share.
Keith was perfectly content to listen, though. Olia's face would light up as she excitedly explained about what she had found on what planets, or the times she had visited planets miraculously free from Galra reign.
The only time Olia's enthusiasm left was when Keith had asked her what her planet was like. She had become silent, staring out of the port with an intense mixture of sadness and anger in her gaze. She had then changed the subject, and Keith didn't try that topic anymore.
As they got closer to Bel-Rath, Keith's attention began to drift. What would they find on the planet? Would he have companions waiting for him there?
Regardless of Keith's lack of response, Olia went on. Keith tuned her out, until Olia shook his shoulder.
"Hello, Blade, are you listening?"
Keith jumped. "Huh? Sorry, I was distracted."
"Obviously," Olia said with a grin. "I was just trying to tell you that, we're here."
Keith looked up, clambering to his feet. They had approached from an angle that the planet's moon hid it from sight. As they rounded the moon, Keith's breath caught in anticipation.
Then, Bel-Rath came into view. A broken, strangled cry escaped Keith's lips.
It couldn't be. Surely, this wasn't Bel-Rath. He looked down at the navigator, and it only confirmed what he feared.
This black, lifeless planet with fragments spinning off into space really was Bel-Rath.
A/N: So, what do you think of Keith's nickname? I thought it up when Olia was shouting "Blades!" in Begin the Blitz, and just really wanted her to call him that. Sorry if the naming process was abrupt. This whole chapter was rather abrupt, as I was trying to get the action started.
Olia's antics are based a bit on Lance, so she is a bit goofier than I intended. I am trying to match her personality with the hares of Redwall, and later you will see a bit of NCIS Ziva, whenever she is puzzling over "Earth sayings."
TThe garlic knot-like food was inspired because (garlic knots are Italian, right?) Pidge is Italian and according to the Paladin Handbook, Lance's favorite food is garlic knots.
