AN: This is now the longest chapter. Hope it makes up for the wait. :) More angst (what's new?), some PTSD/survivor's guilt and some Garrison politics. But with the paladins involved it's not just paperwork. Also took liberties. What else is new? XD
SH
SH
SH
The brig was cold but fairly well lit.
There was a cot and blanket in the corner. On the other side was a toilet and sink. There was even a pillow. It made Sam Holt scoff when he saw it all.
Before the Galra realized they could use his brain they had put him in a manual labor work camp in one of their mines. Their 'living space' was very minimalistic and crowded. The bathrooms were just holes in the ground. Sentries guarded them so there was no bargaining. They'd be hosed down every month with some sort of anti-viral wash that was so sterile he had to hold his breath.
Five months in, there was a cave in.
He made a pulley system with whatever was lying around to dig out those trapped. The warden had been visiting that week and had witness Sam come up with that on the spot.
The conditions of the think tank were much better but the demands were worse. Break-throughs were expected every week. Those that did not perform were punished. Repeated offenders were taken away and never seen again. He didn't find out what happened to them but he had his guesses.
Compared to his time as a POW, this was a break.
He walked inside his cell with no protests. His sentence was only three days and he would be given water. His body could last without food. He could survive this. He'd gone through worse. The metal door shut behind him and bolted sharply. The sounds drew him into his mind instantly.
For a moment his heartrate sped up.
His initial assessment of the situation went to the wayside temporarily. He wasn't in the Garrison. He was back on a Galra base. He breathed in slowly, held it, and then let it out completely. I'm on Earth, he calmly recited the Garrison therapist's words, not in space.
"There are no sentries patrolling outside your door," the therapist said next to him as he sat on the edge of his bed. Colleen was nearby in her sleepwear with a hand to her chest. She had called the therapist when his breathing became too erratic. "The Galra are far away. They can't get you. You are safe."
...Except, the Galra were outside. They could potentially recapture him and Shiro. Katie and Colleen. Everyone -
"We'll fight this," he murmured out loud. "We won't lose."
Earth couldn't afford to.
Shortly after Shiro left, Coran came in.
Keith watched him fuss over Allura's unconscious form for a couple of seconds before he looked away to give them privacy. His eyes drifted to his wolf still on Pidge's bed then to the teen herself. The initial rush of relief the painkillers offered only lasted enough to do the hardest part of the generator repair. After that, her head started drooping. He had grabbed her before she fell forward. He laid her on Kosmo's back until he'd be able to look after her in her hospital room.
She had muttered something about a pony ride and then passed out completely.
Coran took over the repairs from there.
"Number Fo- ah."
Keith turned his head back. Coran was closer to him now but had halted as he caught what he was about to say. The older Altean shook his head and then smiled, continuing his approach.
"Black Paladin. Thank you for looking after the princess."
"You don't need to thank me." Keith took Coran's hand and then looked back up at him with a small smile. "We'll have to see where my new height ranks me."
"Yes indeed." Coran grinned. "I think Lance is going to be sore about it."
Keith allowed a faint smirk to appear. He was pretty sure he was taller than his so called rival even it was just an inch. 'That inch is all hair,' he could see Lance arguing. He was actually looking forward to that. Some good old arguing about something stupid was just the thing to take his mind off of the potential end of the world.
"How is she?"
Coran looked over at Allura. "Her shoulder is bruised and the cut along her temple should heal nicely. As for her internal brain injury, I'm not certain." He looked back to Keith. "Has she awaken at all?"
"No."
"That's not good." Sigh. "I wish Earth had cryopods."
...Him too. For both Pidge and Allura.
"Do you want to use your primitive facilities?" Coran offered.
Keith shifted in his seat. When Shiro was here they'd switch off to allow the other a chance to walk around, get water, or use the restroom. Lance and Hunk were looking into a new place to sleep. Coran was helping too but obviously took some time to check in on Allura. Everyone else was still in the bunker for the rest of the night.
"Just for a tick."
He made to grab his black blade but then left it by the chair. It didn't escape Coran's notice. The Altean sat down and patted the handle of the black blade. A moment later, there was a knock followed by the door opening.
Coran straightened in his seat and then relaxed.
The nurse went over to Pidge first and tutted about the wolf but said nothing. All hospital personnel were warned against moving the wild space animal. She didn't have to be told twice. Its claws looked like it could rip her face off. The wolf's ears flicked as the nurse worked, checking Pidge's vitals and changing out the hydration fluid chamber.
"How much longer do you think they'll be out?"
She wrote on her clipboard. "That's for the doctor to say."
Then the nurse turned around to Allura's bed, giving her back to Coran. He slumped in his chair in slight petulance as she closed off the conversation. She checked Allura's vitals as she did with Pidge along with switching out the fluid chamber.
Kosmo's nose twitched. The wolf opened an eye as he spied the nurse pulling something from her pocket out of Coran's view. He sharply barked. The syringe fell out of her hands in surprise.
"Ah!"
"Kosmo," Coran chided.
The nurse frowned as she was forced onto her knees to look for the fallen syringe. She tsked to herself as she saw it had rolled under the bed. She walked around to the cabinet, squatted down and pulled out the syringe. Coran wrinkled his nose upon seeing the dust on the needle end. The nurse saw his expression and sighed.
"I'll have to get another."
"What is it?"
"A painkiller."
Kosmo kept his eyes on the door well after she left.
When the Garrison alarms went off Romelle stayed close to Colleen Holt.
Veronica was called back into the control room but promised to find out what she could about Katie. Sam Holt had called briefly to reassure his wife that their daughter was stable. After that, however, they didn't hear anything else from Sam. Coran and the paladins were still away. Their guards stayed with them in the shelter.
Colleen was arguing with them in the corner.
Romelle watched her as Lance's nephew was tucked against her side in slumber. Nadia was dozing off on Rachel's lap. Lance's sister had different type of hair from him but more closely matched the thickness and waves of their mother's. If it had been longer than mid shoulders Romelle would have thought it similar to Allura's. The white Holt dog, Bae Bae, was resting on Romelle's other side.
"Silvio likes you," Rachel quietly laughed. "Back in our room he jumps up when someone walks by our room and then pouts when it's not you."
Romelle lightly stroked the boy's dark hair. "Is that right?"
Rachel carefully lifted her hand to point at Romelle's face.
"He thinks your tattoos are wicked."
"They're birthmarks." Romelle lightly touched her upper cheeks. "Not tattoos."
"If you ask me," she leaned in in secret, "I think it's your eyes he likes." She gave a grin before pulling back. "They're a very unique color."
Romelle hummed in answer but she wasn't paying much attention. Colleen's talk with the guards proved to be fruitless judging by the frustration on her face. Mrs. McClain came up to her with a friendly arm around her back. Romelle's brows knitted together as Mrs. McClain rubbed Colleen's shoulder in comfort.
Mrs. Holt turned her face away from Romelle's view.
"Children, we've been chosen for the New Colony," her father had said with a smile. "Romelle," he placed a hand on her shoulder, "Olpus and Jena have offered their home to stay in while you wait for your turn to the Colony."
Romelle's eyes drifted to her mother and brother embracing.
Bandor only reached to mother's waist as she engulfed her youngest in a hug. Her mother's violet eyes opened suddenly, as if sensing her daughter's gaze. There was the briefest flash of heartache before her mother gave her a strained smile. It didn't seem like their mother shared their father's surety that they would be reunited.
"Until we meet again my darlings."
...How could this be fine?
How is it Lotor's will that her family, and so many others, are to be left separated and estranged? To be so broken that there was no stitch that could mend the aching gap their absences were going to inevitably leave behind...?
"Romelle?" Rachel frowned as she saw her eyes water. "Hey, it's ok." She put a hand on her shoulder. "We'll be out of here soon. The MFEs and Paladins will take care of it."
"Yes," the Altean used the edge of her sleeve to wipe the corners of her eyes. "Of course."
She gave Rachel a small smile but said nothing else.
Nadia soon woke up, distracting Rachel. Romelle turned towards their guards. They tapped the sides of their helmets to speak. If she focused she could hear some words. She watched their mouths very carefully to try to catch more. Back in the Colony she had taken to reading lips.
Keith and Krolia had commended her for her cleverness.
In some ways, she felt the closest to them. They had been the first to listen and the first to help her investigate despite having been strangers. She was forever indebted to them for that despite the awful truth they discovered.
If there is anything to gleam, her eyes narrowed in focus, it would be from them.
This time she would not be too late.
Shiro walked behind the MFEs as they went through the halls.
Garrison personnel moved aside for them. Officers stopped to look. Some even gave them a salute. Shiro knew how tired they were. He had seen them take a moment to collect themselves before they walked out of the hangar. Standard protocol required them to report to their CO after a flight.
They held their heads up. Spines straight. Shoulders back and set.
"Stop slouching Takashi," a younger Adam muttered under his breath as they walked down the halls for their first debrief. "Posture's just as important as manner."
"I'm beat," Shiro half whined. "We're not in front of our CO yet so who cares?"
"Do it for them," Adam pointed to some newbies standing by. "Show them what to aspire to. Be the Garrison's pride."
He could see the admiration on every person's face. You'd be proud of them Adam. They walked down another hallway. He recognized it as Iverson's.
James waved back at him. He lifted a hand up in response.
They went in.
Shiro stood outside for a moment and then slowly walked down the way, passing other offices. He put his hand inside his pants' pocket and pulled out a key card Iverson had given him earlier on. He stopped right in front of the door, seeing the name on the plate. He swallowed the lump in his throat and then swiped the card before he chickened out.
The lights flickered on automatically.
There were two chairs in front of a desk, one behind it but with cushion. The surface of the desk had no personal effects to maximize the workspace of the surface area. He noted that there still were no pictures around. He and Adam were private about their personal lives but Shiro at least had a couple of photos in his office. Adam left personal effects to his sleeping quarters.
Shiro tilted his head. I probably don't have an office anymore.
The filing cabinets had labels written in clear penmanship rather than type. The bookcases were neatly arranged by subject and then by author. He personally just shoved books wherever there was room and then spent a dog's year trying to find anything.
Practical, meticulous, organized.
All of that made Adam an excellent teacher.
While Shiro enjoyed teaching he really hated the paperwork that came with it. He may or may not have slipped some of his work into Adam's bin on accident. On numerous occasions. Adam would just come into his office without saying a word and dump it back into his bin untouched.
But once in a while, it would be completed.
He sat down on the roller chair and hit the side of the desk. The left drawer opened up despite having been locked up. He let out a frustrated sound. He told Adam time and again to fix the damn thing if he wanted to keep the contents secured.
His annoyance was shortly lived.
He stared down at the off angle photo inside. They were senior cadets, having passed their flight test to be paired together. He had his arm slung around Adam's neck with the stupidest grin on his face. He had accidentally knocked Adam's glasses askew so his tired eyes could be seen unrestricted but with a glimmer of something special in those honey eyes.
"That photo never sees the light of day," Adam had flatly ordered.
"Sure partner."
The next day he printed it out and hung it up on the wall of their dorm room. It only lasted one afternoon before it mysteriously disappeared. Adam claimed ignorance. But they both knew he knew who took it down. Shiro didn't print another one out but he had it on his phone so it didn't make a difference to him.
He kept it.
Despite their breakup, him leaving for Kerberos, his disease that would have eventually claimed his life earlier than it should have...Adam had - Shiro let out a long, shaky breath as he let the photo flutter out of his hand and onto the desk.
Gods.
He bent his head down as he felt his insides getting ripped into. How many times would he crumble before he could make his peace with this? How often would he wonder about the path not taken, the road not journeyed as he continued to live and Adam stayed dead? How much further could he last before he reached the ultimate breaking point?
A point that would determine whether he can move on or just be buried in the shambles of Adam's wrecked fighter?
He shuddered out another exhale before sitting up. He looked at the photo, rubbed his eyes hard and then grabbed it to put in the drawer. He shoved it closed. Something rattled inside. He hit the side to open again but saw nothing else. He felt around inside, the top and then tapped the bottom of the drawer. He tapped it again with his ear next to the drawer. He looked at the cup filled with pens for the letter opener and then wedged the tip between the wall of the drawer and the bottom.
The fake bottom opened up.
He grabbed the usb inside and plugged it into the port along the left side of the desk. A panel on the desk opened and the screen whirred up into view. He wasted no time tapping on the screen's prompts. He frowned as he looked at the only file in the usb but it was rather large.
"It's a report?" he muttered to himself.
From Ina Leifsdottir addressed to Admiral Sanda.
Sam didn't know what time it was.
By his stomach, he'd say it was close to evening. He waited in the dark corner of his cell with his legs up on the cot and his eyes peering over his drawn knees. He didn't have to fight in the arena like Shiro had. He hadn't even seen it in person like Matt had.
But he did know the dread of time.
When they were first captured and taken away to holding cells he had been completely in shock. He stood in their dark cell in a disoriented manner, his eyes darting everywhere and yet seeing nothing but one purple light and metal walls.
The guards smelled his weakness and picked him first for interrogation.
Shiro and Matt tried to stop them but were only painfully subdued for the trouble. To this day, he could still remember the agonizing dark magic of the druids creeping inside his blood. It set a burning, electric pain up into his head as they attempted to probe his mind.
He lifted a hand up to the back of his neck. Just under his hair he could feel the short sliver of raised skin from one of the druid's claws. Not even a cryopod could completely heal druid wounds.
There was movement outside his cell.
His eyes narrowed. He could feel his heartrate increase automatically as his 'fight or flight' instincts activated. He bitterly scoffed to himself at the thought. I only have the flight instinct. He could only battle with words.
Someone came in to refill his water. He followed their movements from his corner. He didn't unclench his hands until ten minutes later.
I'm on Earth. Not in space.
...But he was a prisoner regardless of his location.
They were letting them out of the bunker.
Colleen was calm but Romelle could see the worry in her eyes. The Altean took a breath to gather her courage and then stepped up to their guards. Rachel called out her name in question but she did not take heed of it.
"I need to speak with the one eyed Garrison earthling."
They gave each other a look before one of them responded.
"Commander Iverson?"
"I do not recall his name. But he had escorted us inside when we first arrived."
"High command is busy. You'll have to wait."
"This is dire."
"If it's not a Galra attack it can wait."
Romelle's lips pursed. "Fine."
She pushed past them in a huff. They grunted but followed her as she went back to Colleen Holt. She felt her heart pounding as she curled her fingers into her cadet sleeve, slipping a Garrison phone out of their view.
She managed to pick the soldier's pocket.
But the device had been peeking out of his side pocket to begin with so it hadn't been much of a challenge. Even so, she knew Krolia would be proud. The Galran had shown Romelle a few tricks to pass the time as Keith flew them out of the Quantum Abyss.
"You have the advantage of a pretty face and appearing absentminded," Krolia had bluntly told her. "Therefore, the least suspicious."
The comment had ticked her off. Right now it just made her smile. Now she needed help. Perhaps Colleen - no. I only have suspicions. I do not want to worry her even further.
"Rachel," Romelle turned back to look past the guards. "I need help." When one of the guards opened his mouth, she quickly added, "female help."
The guard shut his mouth. Rachel blinked at the wording but easily pushed it aside. There was one place women went to fix things and talk, regardless what the problem was.
"There's a bathroom up ahead."
The moment Keith came back he sensed the tension.
Kosmo was still lying down on Pidge's bed with his eyes closed but his shoulders were tense. His paws were braced as if to attack in a moment's notice. Coran stayed seated by Pidge and Allura's beds.
"What happened?"
Coran snapped out of his thoughts. "A nurse came in. But she'll be returning."
Keith frowned and repeated his question. Coran opened his mouth and then closed it. Then he rubbed the end of his moustache as distress started to show in his facial features.
"The nurse had something in her hands but Kosmo barked and she dropped it."
The wolf did not bark for no reason. It was one of the many things Keith liked about the cosmic wolf. As if knowing he was being talked about Kosmo opened his amber eyes. Keith stared at the intelligence in them as well as the warning swimming inside.
"Was she near Pidge or Allura?"
"The princess."
Someone knocked and came in before Keith could say anything else.
"Commander Holt."
Sam stayed on his cot as two figures came in, the latter easily recognizable.
"Admiral."
Sanda walked in a little further and then stopped. She looked at the guard with the tray of water and food. Sam didn't tear his eyes away from her as she ordered the guard to leave it on the table. The metal door slid shut. It was just the two of them now.
"I thought," he slowly murmured with a frown, "I was only to be given water."
The Admiral kept her shoulders straight and her hands folded behind her back. It didn't escape her that Holt was positioned in that particular corner so he could see every inch of his cell. She highly doubted he would have thought to do that before his alien encounter. She let her eyes drift away from him to look at a wall.
"I was a foot soldier when World War Three occurred," she murmured in a low, even tone. "You didn't see battle for that war did you?"
"...No. I was in communications."
"That's right. A code breaker." Sanda slowly nodded her head as she mentally saw his file. "Your research helped set up the Global Network post war. Then you switched over to bio-life studies. Plants. Microscopic organisms in rocks on other planets."
"Matt was born," he quietly murmured. "It was a safer area of study."
The admiral's lips twitched. The irony was not lost on either of them. Sam clenched the fabric of his pant legs.
"Does this conversation lead somewhere?"
The Admiral looked over at him, seeing his huddled position on the cot. Being in this cell was slowly undoing his mandated therapy sessions. He felt like she was seeing all the cracks. His frown deepened fiercely, daring her to say aloud what she saw. She turned her focus to the tray of food and water.
"The last battle was the most devastating." She shifted her fingers behind her back as she relaxed out of the fist. "Afterwards I couldn't sleep. Anything I ate just tasted like copper for months. I remember thinking to myself, 'Why shed so much blood before negotiating peace terms?' The history of war always follows that pattern."
"...I didn't take you for a pacifist."
"Don't misunderstand." The admiral picked up the piece of bread from his tray. "I will not hesitate to pull a trigger." She dropped it disinterestedly. "But I will not cause senseless deaths when there's another option."
"Hah," Sam rasped out.
Sanda immediately knew what he was thinking. "The MFEs were only cadets. To send them out first-"
"Would have saved the others," Sam coldly intoned. "I showed you the reports. The numbers -"
"Were calculated by an inexperienced cadet," Sanda cut of, "using estimated data from four year old footage of the Galra."
"Ina Leifsdottir's becoming the most brilliant battle analyst to have ever come out of the Garrison. Even Officer Williams agreed and he was considered the best in that field."
"Senior Officer Williams' opinion was biased." The admiral's face was blank. "What mentor wouldn't stand by his pupil's calculations?"
Sam's eyes closed. "Not that that prevented him from leading his squadron out."
"He followed orders like any damn good soldier would," Sanda lowly rumbled.
Officer Takashi Shirogane was often seen as the better of the two. But in that regards Officer Adam Williams was the best. He even managed to curb Shirogane's impulsive piloting into the sharp precision it became. She let out a quiet breath.
"Every one of those pilots deserved better," she admitted.
"...Am I supposed to believe you feel remorse?"
"Believe whatever you wish. They followed their duty as I did mine." She walked up to him until she could crouch down to meet his eye level. "But know this: the longer you and your paladins withhold the Lions, the slimmer Earth's chances get."
"Giving up the Lions -"
"Could end this war. Save Earth."
"This is only one battle. The war is out there with the rest of the universe. We'd only doom them if Sendak takes the Lions."
"We did not start this fight with the Galra. It was those five paladins that went out and killed their emperor yet the citizens of Earth are paying the price."
Sam's head lifted up at that. "They've risked their lives countless times to keep the Galra away," he angrily spat out. "It's thanks to them that the Galra hadn't reached Earth until now."
"They hastened their arrival."
"The paladins bought us time."
The admiral straightened up suddenly. She let out a sigh and shook her head. "We are still at odds," she mused out loud.
"If you choose to stay blind then yes, we will continue to disagree."
"I was going to lessen your time in here." Sanda gave him a narrow look. "But it looks like you could use another day."
There was a knock on the metal door.
"Admiral, Officer Konson is here to report."
"I'm finished." She strode out without pausing.
Sam eyed the food but did not eat it.
As soon as Romelle was certain they were alone she locked the restroom door.
"Romelle, what-" Rachel started.
"I need you to find a name," she shoved the phone in Rachel's hands. "Iverson."
Rachel looked back at the door and then pulled her over by the sinks.
"Is this a guard's phone?"
"Rachel, please. You can lecture me at a later time."
"I'm impressed, not upset."
Romelle blinked at Rachel's grin before slowly mimicking it.
"Iverson you said?"
"Yes."
Romelle leaned over as Rachel searched.
"Got it."
Romelle pulled out Lance's phone to type in the number then she brought it up to her ear.
"Whoa, you're calling him?"
Romelle held a finger up to silence her. Rachel rolled her eyes but went over to turn on the sink so the water would cover up her pending conversation.
"Who is this?" came Iverson's brisk reply.
"This is Romelle. One of the Alteans that came with the paladins."
"Wha - Romelle? How in God's green earth did you get my numb-"
"I can explain later," she quickly cut in. "Do you know where Sam Holt is? It's been vargas -"
"Hours," Rachel added in.
"H-Hours," Romelle repeated, "yet he has not come. Neither have the paladins. Something's wrong. I saw the guards talking about the barrier, solitary confinement, the MFEs -" her free hand fluttered as she recalled a detail, "They were looking at Colleen when they mentioned the confinement and I do not like that."
"...Neither do I. Romelle, do me a favor. Get some rest and stay with Colleen. The paladins need to talk with the Admiral but after that they should return to you. As for Commander Holt, I'll look into it."
"I can help."
"You shouldn't dig any further." He sighed. "I won't lie, things are tense between the admiral and the paladins. And Sam. You'd only draw more unwanted attention to your group."
"...I do not want that."
"Then keep your head down. I'll let you know what I find, ok?"
"Please do."
She hung up. Then looked through Lance's contacts, finding a blurry photo of an angry Keith trying to shove the phone away. She couldn't read it but the contact had him labelled as 'Mullet.'
"We should go," Rachel warned.
"One more tick."
After Iverson took a call he came back in his office to talk.
James nodded like he was listening. It was taking all of his willpower just to stand. A couple of words filtered through. It sounded like a summation of the particle barrier fixture. Plans to maintenance the MFE fighters. Contingencies should the Galra attack during that time. His mind drifted after that.
"Yes sir," Leifsdottir began.
The others were only a split second after her. They were dismissed. They found Hunk and Lance waiting outside of Iverson's office instead of Shiro. James looked around, seeing that the hall was otherwise empty. He slouched against the wall.
"Leifs," he tiredly said.
"Eat. Rest. Sleep," she summarized.
"Those orders I'll gladly follow," Rizavi groaned as she tried stretching out her arms.
Kinkade grunted in agreement.
"Yeah, you guys look like crap," Lance grimaced.
"Why are you here?" James gave him a weak glare before turning back to his team. "Come on. Let's go to our rooms."
Lance and Hunk held out dog tags.
"Remember these?"
The respective owners took back their tags.
"Thanks for holding them."
"Yeah well," Lance looked away. "We're not doing that again." Then he fixed James with a steady look. "Because you're going to survive this."
James nor Kinkade had a response for that. Hunk sighed as he caught the silence.
"Oh..." Rizavi suddenly voiced out.
James lazily swiveled his head back to Rizavi. "What's wrong now?"
"Well, there were more refugees than expected so..." Riz winced a little, "I gave up our rooms."
Kinkade just stared at her. She fidgeted.
"There's kids Kink! I'm not letting them sleep out in the halls!"
"Stop calling me that Rizavi."
"Ryan, you would have given it up on your own. Thanks for offering Nadia." James rubbed his face. "I just don't know where we'll go."
Lance stepped up. "You can stay with us."
They all looked to Griffin. Turns out having a sleepover was the answer to getting closer to the paladins. Keith and Hunk's hairs were long enough to braid anyways. He tiredly rubbed his face at his thoughts.
"Sure. Why not? But I need to make a stop first." He turned to his team. "I'll meet you guys there."
Rivazi squinted and then relented in the staring contest once she realized what he needed to do. The refugees. James did this every time they had newcomers which wasn't often.
"Tomorrow Grif. You're barely standing on your feet."
Griffin merely gave her a flat look but was clearly too tired to argue.
"Fine."
The new 'nurse' must have been a field medic or clearly a soldier in disguise.
If the latter, Keith was seriously concerned about the future of the Garrison. No Galra soldier or sentry would ever not be suspicious of what was going on here. Or they just underestimated them that much. Either way, Keith didn't like it. Especially with the nurse's request for him and Coran to leave.
"I'm their leader." Keith kept the man's eyes. "Whatever you have to do will be done in my presence."
The nurse narrowed his eyes slightly. There was a lot of talk about the newcomers from space. A lot of confusion too. The Black Paladin was the leader so going by uniform colors that was Officer Shirogane. But this paladin in red was claiming to be the leader. He had even heard talk that the red one called the shots in regards to the paladins.
This paladin was at least ten years younger than him.
But his dark eyes spoke of a heaviness that was out of place for his age. The nurse looked at the pinked skin of a scar burned into his cheek and then back to his expression. He will not budge on this stance. The nurse came over to Allura then frowned at the wolf staring right at him.
"This animal shouldn't be in here."
"There's no operation underway," Keith easily countered.
"He's in the way."
Keith made a low whistle. Kosmo turned his head to look at him. He hopped off the bed but stayed standing next to the nurse.
"Further away."
Keith fixed him with a cool look. "That's where he'll stay."
The nurse pulled his hover tray over with a stern set of his brow.
Officer Konson stood straight and tall as the Admiral came down the hall.
"Leave us."
The escort guards filed out. They were alone in the brig's hallway just before going to the cells. He stayed silent, letting Admiral Sanda speak first as protocol dictated. Her eyes were shadowed like murky waters hiding a crocodile.
"You screwed up soldier."
"Admiral?"
"I thought my orders were quite clear in regards to the Altean Princess," she bit out. "Yet here I am, throwing Commander Holt in the brig for accusing me of almost killing his daughter." She leaned in with her infamous ice glare. "What part of 'a warning shot' includes lethal force?"
"Admiral, I regret not seeing the Green Paladin in the way," Konson carefully murmured. "But I was instructed to use lethal force."
"On whose orders?"
"Yours, ma'am." Pause. "The memo had your signature."
Keith's eyes stayed on the nurse for the entire time.
Until his phone rang.
He blinked in confusion and then realized that it was his. He muttered to himself as he pulled it out of his pack. The particle barrier had prevented him from making a call to the Garrison when they were trapped on the other side or else he would have called Mr. Holt or Iverson. Coran kept an eye on the tech as he answered.
"What Lance?"
"It's Romelle. Can Kosmo teleport to someone if I don't know where they are?"
Keith eyed the nurse and then turned around so he couldn't read his lips. "You could let him decide where to teleport," he quietly murmured, "as long as you share your intentions with him. If the person wasn't near you in the last varga you need something of theirs for him to sense the quintessence. Like a bloodhound with scent tracking."
"A blood what?"
"Not important. Who are you looking for?"
"...Sam Holt. No one has -"
Kosmo suddenly growled. Keith turned around immediately, hanging up on Romelle so he had both hands. There was a syringe in the nurse's hand. Kosmo hadn't growled the entire time the nurse was here until now. He eyed the syringe with a frown.
He made to lunge at him but Kosmo was on it already.
The nurse cried out as his wrist was in the space wolf's jaws. Kosmo's fangs didn't pierce through. Not yet. Keith came over to pick up the syringe. Coran had the black blade in his hands just in case.
He sniffed it. It was odorless.
"What's in this?"
The nurse angrily said, "It's just a sedative!"
The wolf bit down more in warning. Even if Kosmo hadn't smelled the lie Keith could tell by the man's face. He crouched down to put the point against the nurse's neck.
"Keith!" Coran voiced out.
Keith ignored him. He was only going to scare the nurse. But he didn't want the nurse to know he wasn't going to do him harm. Keith's eyes narrowed as a bit of the Galra leaked out. The nurse couldn't mask the fear that darted across his face before he schooled his features.
"Try that again."
"I-I'm a soldier. I - " he tensed as Keith pressed the needle. There was no way this was just a sedative. "I don't get to know that! I'm not that high up the chain!"
The Black Paladin kept the needle dangerously close to piercing before he relented.
"Get out."
Kosmo released the nurse once Keith stood up. The man scrambled on to his feet and out the door. Keith recapped the syringe and then picked up his phone. He redialed Lance's number. Romelle picked up in a huff.
"I'll send the wolf over once I take care of something." Then he hung up. He turned to the wolf. "Wanna hunt?" Kosmo's tail wagged a little too eagerly. Keith grinned. Just like old times. "I'll be back soon Coran. You can use the syringe as a bluff."
"But what will you -"
The two hunters already slipped out of the hospital room.
Admiral Sanda was confused.
But she didn't like to be confused so she switched to anger. She stormed the hallways going back to her office. Everyone knew to stay out of her way. Who would pretend to send a memo under my name? Better yet, who has the authority to access my memos and signature?
She'd suspect Holt or Iverson if it didn't involve the potential death of the alien princess. While she wanted the Lions she did have lines to stay within regardless of the situation. Rules were in place to maintain order. The chain of command was essential to hold up to prevent chaos.
The death of the princess would only disrupt that order.
Her door slid open. She frowned upon seeing Shirogane inside sitting on a chair. His posture was relaxed. She would have said calm if it weren't for the rumbling thunder in his eyes. The door closed behind her. The fearful person would stay by it so they could run at any time. She slowly walked over to her desk and sat down. Staying by the door was the wrong move to make.
This was a lion waiting for her neck.
"Officer Shirogane." She folded her hands on top of the desk. "Now is not the time."
"You'll make time," he calmly intoned. He looked at the wall of awards behind her with zero interest. "Before Kerberos, you tried to get me off the mission. Said my illness was a liability."
"You were."
"I was if you only looked at that." He nodded at that. "But my track record proved otherwise."
"You came here to rehash an old argument?" Sanda half huffed out.
"I wasn't finished."
It was such a short sentence but the cold threat hung in the air. The admiral pushed back in her chair, bringing her hands down. Slowly, she reached under the desk and pushed a button without looking away from him. He gave no indication of having noticed what she just did.
Her hands laid on her lap.
"If there's a liability, you take it out of the equation," Shiro summed up. "That's your rule. So tell me," his eyes drifted to her in what would have been a casual motion if it weren't for the fierce glint, "what about when you are the liability?"
Sanda reached for the firearm hidden in her desk drawer - Empty. She looked up to see Shiro holding it up in the air. He had already anticipated it. Damn good strategist. But she went for an attack and failed and now -
He tossed the gun aside and rushed her.
The 'nurse' was a highly trained field soldier.
But the encounter in the hospital room left him shook up. He barely bothered to make sure no one was following him as he reported back. He was only a soldier but he was no idiot. He knew exactly where his orders came from. It just didn't behoove him to tell a crazy eyed freak with a bloodthirsty alien pet.
That is how he came stumbling in the middle of a council meeting.
The members let out startled sounds. He composed himself and waiting to the side. Their meeting had ended anyways so the Garrison councilmembers were now filing out, shooting him looks of disapproval.
"Good god man what is the matter?"
The soldier looked around and then stepped forward to the speaker.
"They knew about the syringe."
"...I don't know anything about a syringe." The councilman pushed up his glasses. "But if I did, I would tell you that whoever ordered you to do that would be highly disappointed."
There was a sound outside the meeting room. The soldier lifted his hands up with his firearm. The councilman put a hand on his shoulder.
"Try another day."
"I-I can't try again. The red paladin -"
"The one wearing red or the one wearing blue? Their uniform colors do not match which Lion they fly."
"What does it matter?!"
"The one wearing blue is of no concern to me," the councilman murmured. "But the one wearing red is...different. He flies the Black Lion now."
"He could fly a hippo for all I care."
"The Black Lion is the Head, the Leader. It matters."
"It was the one wearing red."
The councilman and the soldier looked to each other. That hadn't been said by either of them. There was a low growl. Immediately the soldier lifted his gun. The space wolf was bearing his teeth in front of the red and white paladin. Said paladin was standing in the doorway with his black blade out.
The door slid closed behind him.
Admiral Sanda didn't make it past her desk.
The lion grabbed her by the throat and pinned her to the wall. The force of it made the awards shake. Some fell off the wall completely. Shirogane wasn't choking her. She knew he was choosing not to but he could easily apply more pressure.
"Long before the invasion, Ina Leifsdottir sent you a detailed report," he rumbled out, "she estimated that within the year, the Garrison's first line of fighters, our best defense," his teeth clenched as he tried to control his anger, "would no longer be up to par against the Galra empire."
He squeezed more, adding to her discomfort.
"Adam confirmed her findings. Yet the Garrison did not follow through with the recommended upgrades."
In normal circumstances Sanda wouldn't feel the need to explain herself. She was the Admiral. The highest rank in the Garrison. But in normal circumstances her windpipe wasn't narrowing dangerously.
"They were estimates," Sanda bit out breathily. "Based on old footage."
"The Galra are always evolving. Sam should have told you." His eyes narrowed suddenly. "He must have told you. There's no way he didn't."
"He chose to focus on the Atlas."
"Probably because you wouldn't upgrade the fighters!"
"We were low on supplies. We had to choose." The admiral glared at him. "You weren't here." The red anger brought color back to her face. "Don't you dare patronize me Shirogane."
"...I wasn't here," he quietly agreed. "I should have been. I would have, if I had chosen - But if I stayed, then I would have...and Allura and Coran would probably still be asleep or Arus destroyed with them on it. And then Voltron..."
Sanda could do nothing but watch the battle in his eyes. Fury clashed with grief and regret. Confusion and indecision sliced through like arrows.
"What do you want from me?"
Then his eyes were blank. It was like a bandaid patching up a leak in a dam. Anything she said could peel that flimsy patch and all of that hurt would just flood out of him and drown her along with him.
"Help me solve this," he murmured. "How do I stop you from hurting my team but still save Earth? And the whole universe?"
"...That's a tall order." Pause. "What if there's no solution for all of that?"
Something dark and wild entered his eyes. "There's one solution."
He lifted her up to dangle on her toes.
The sound of the door closing made the soldier press on the trigger.
Keith easily deflected it with his blade. The soldier shot again and again. The paladin maneuvered fluidly, twisting around the shots. The solider had the distinct feeling he could tell where the soldier was going to aim next but went there anyways just to prove he could dodge it. The paladin could have evaded his shots altogether. It was a mind game tactic. Hell, the soldier had done it before but not at this level.
He was out of his league.
Keith knocked the gun out of his hand with the pommel of his blade. The wolf snarled and got him by the throat this time. He yelled out at the pressure of the fangs. He stayed pinned down by the wolf's massive weight. The fangs were a warning to not move an inch or else. He wouldn't try to move even if he could. Keith turned his attention to the remaining person.
"You ordered the hit on Allura."
Councilman Sablan pushed his glasses so the lights overhead obstructed his eyes.
"I do not know what you mean."
"You Garrison folks suck at lying." Keith took a step forward. "The Lions were created by Alteans so you aimed for her, thinking we earthlings would just go along with the Garrison. But it doesn't work like that, councilman. We're bonded as a group." Keith stepped into a space with low lights. He purposely walked slower here. "If you mess with one wolf," his eyes lightly glowed, "you mess with the pack."
The councilman felt sweat but he did not budge.
Keith let out a throaty laugh at that. "You've got balls." Keith's humor was fleeting. "Call off your attack on Allura."
"Certainly."
Keith frowned. He was no diplomat. But he was sure it wasn't supposed to be that easy.
"Just like that?"
"It could be." Sablan folded his hands behind his back. "We essentially want the same things. I was simply going for the easier route."
"The deadlier."
"Perhaps. Though another alternative would be to have all of you taken care of rather than just one."
...This man. Something was off with him. He'd seen him in rallies as a cadet and around the Garrison talking with families. Compared to back then, right now he almost seems...corrupted. Calmly Keith walked towards a chair and then gestured for Sablan to sit down with him in the shadow.
"The problem is the Garrison." The councilman walked over and sat. "Which is who you've encountered roadblocks from as well."
"It is."
"But who's leading the Garrison? Now that is the true source problem."
Now that he was closer Keith could see his pupils. I've seen this before. He felt a chill ride down his spine. The purple light was so faint. He wasn't surprised that no one had noticed it before. There was no Haggar around for it to be mind control so something on the councilman had traces of druid magic.
But what could it be?
"Why would you want Admiral Sanda out of the way?"
"When a leader stops making the best decisions for your people new leadership is needed. Sanda isn't looking out for the paladins. She's not even looking out for the Garrison. She's trying to save her own skin. But if we work together and put someone new in charge..."
Keith closed his eyes, pretending to contemplate. He gripped the black blade as he concentrated. He opened his eyes. There. Around his neck. Without asking Keith leaned over and yanked the chain out. The councilman stammered. Keith kept his eyes on the dog tags, reading the nickname he easily recognized.
Wildcat.
A fighter pilot from Adam's squadron.
He yanked the chain right off. Now in his hand he could sense the corrupted quintessence on the dog tags. These tags had been fetched straight out of the wreckages. But they were hit with regular Galra lasers weren't they?
"Give that back! It's the last I have of my granddaughter!"
"No." Keith slipped it into a paladin compartment in his armor. "It's tainted with druid magic. It's been leaking into your body for months, corrupting your quintessence."
"What? I feel perfectly fine. What in the hell are you -"
Keith swung his bayard along the back of his head, knocking the councilman out. There were bigger things to worry about. He felt numb as he realized who else had a dog tag. There was a hum of a frequency from the soldier's walkie that interrupted his thoughts followed by the following orders.
'Backup requested in the Admiral's office. Repeat, back requested. Takashi Shirogane has the Admiral. Approach with extreme caution.'
"...Quiznak."
Admiral Sanda was choking now.
"I could put an end to this," Shiro darkly murmured. "You want the Lions. We won't give them up." He lifted her up higher. "You are the one that tried hurting Allura but hurt Pidge instead." His eyes were glassy as he bit out. "You sent Adam to his death."
"I...did not order -"
"I don't want to hear you anymore. We've been trying to respect you. Respect the Garrison. Respect our home. But no one respects what we've done." His pupils slitted sharply. "What we've lost." His eyes grew somber. "I'm not fully human. I'm not even a paladin anymore. Black saved me and then she abandoned me."
She was starting to lose consciousness. There were more footsteps now. More rifles. He didn't turn around to look.
"Officer Shirogane, put the Admiral down."
"Shirogane sir please."
"Shiro."
He turned around to see Keith holding Allura up. She was still in her hospital gown but a blanket around her shoulders to cover her backside. Her hair was floating more than usual. He lowered Sanda down on her feet but still with his hand around her neck.
"Allura, you're ok to be awake?"
"I was shocked awake," she wryly said in a tired voice. She took a second to weakly glare at Keith. The green bayard had been a hasty last option. "But hearing this situation would have woken me up too."
Keith walked them closer. Some guards were cautioning against it.
"What's wrong Shiro?"
"Everything." Shiro shrugged. "I'm alive but to do what? Council the paladins? Mentor the MFEs? Take up where Adam left off?"
"Whatever you would like," Allura murmured. "You are part of the Coalition."
"For how long? I don't have a lion. I can't maneuver a fighter with one arm. Earth is so behind. It doesn't have the arm I need. You guys will go out into space and I..."
Shiro's eyes prickled as all his insecurities and worries started flooding back. Why was this happening? It was like every negative thought and impulse was taking control.
"Adam was the only person I had on Earth. When the paladins go, I'll be alone. Keith," his voice cracked just enough to make the Black Paladin rush his steps. "I can't -"
Shiro let go of Sanda to cover his eyes. The Admiral collapsed right on the spot. People carefully walked around him and pulled Sanda away. Keith and Allura were by his side. Allura's eyes were streaming tears. Keith's were starting to sting.
"You won't lose any of us," Keith quietly murmured.
Allura brought a hand up along his neck to pet his hair and also subtly feel for Adam's dog tags. In this state of mind he will be reluctant to let them take it off. She was going to have to cleanse it while he wore it. She had been distracted by Adam's memories to have noticed the faint druid magic.
"You may not have a lion anymore," she softly said, "but we're still family."
"That will never change. More importantly," Keith fiercely gripped his shoulder, "you can't give up on yourself."
Shiro took a sharp breath in.
The glow from Allura's hand faded. Any lingering druid magic was subdued. For now. She eyed the right shoulder. Under the olive green sleeve there was still the remains of the druid arm. The magic had been from the dog tag but the Galran arm remains had amplified the effects.
That was a conversation for another day.
"Don't give up Shiro," she put her hand on his other shoulder, "and I'll promise not to either." She stuck out a hand. "Do we have a deal?"
He took her hand. "...I'll try."
He dropped his head down between Keith and Allura.
By the chill, Sam thought it was either the dead of night or dawn.
Not that it really mattered. Being in here just a couple of hours had done its damage. Something woke him up. He was disoriented but still shot up off his cot.
"The device will be ready in a varga," he rasped out. "Give me another varga."
Gentle hands took his. "Sam Holt, it's Romelle."
Kosmo sniffed into his free hand and then licked the palm. The lingering traces of his nightmare stayed in his eyes but he was self aware and ashamed.
"...Romelle. I'm sorry. I-"
"Don't. Please." She gripped his hand tighter. "Let's leave this place."
"Not to Colleen. Not like this."
"...Alright."
She knelt by Kosmo while keeping Sam's hand in hers. "Do you remember the one eyed human?" she stroked Kosmo's head. "He shook hands with Keith and then knelt down to pet you. Just like this." Kosmo's tail flicked. "Could you take us to him?"
The wolf nudged his snout upwards.
It was the awkward time between midnight and morning.
Iverson was sound asleep in his room when some 'poof!' sounded out and suddenly there was a lot of weight on him. There was a scramble of paws and limbs as the intruders attempted to get off of his sleeping form.
"What in Sam's Hill -?!"
"Iverson."
"Romelle? And Sam! Wha - the wolf actually can teleport?!"
SH
SH
SH
AN: A little humor to end the chapter. Goodness there's so much angst. ;_; There's not much to go off of Adam's character. I kind of saw him as the more responsible of the two. Maybe it's just the glasses though. XD
Sigh. I hope Shiro doesn't come across as weepy. I just think this really hit him hard especially after all that's happened already. He was so quiet up until his new arm and the Atlas. He's coming out of his grief but I want to respect the process and not rush it.
My mind really wanted Romelle to be the one to find Sam. Maybe it's because of what happened with her family. Maybe he reminds her of her father - I don't know. But that's what happened.
Not a lot of action but I tried to add some but given the topics covered it was a challenge. This took days to finish. I wrote, took out, cut out, moved, edited, added...this chapter was hard! I still want to edit it but I'm afraid of ruining the flow I finally achieved.
I'll go into the Galra's tech in the next chapter as well as what James wants to ask the refugees. I tried getting Hunk in here but it was just not working out with the flow. He'll be in the next chapter. Hopefully Pidge too. :) There's just so many characters to keep track of. :0
