x
As Color Fades Away
Chapter Twenty-One
Haggar screamed as burst of blue light exploded from the prone form in front of her, searing her hands and sending her tumbling head over heels from the structure and onto the blood-soaked beach.
What had happened?
She stumbled to her feet, cradling her blistered hands to herself and looking with wide eyes at the human boy, who was gently stirring as the blue light settled into his skin and causing him to glow softly.
She had underestimated him.
There should have been not one bit of fight left in him. She had felt his surrender, felt the last of his mental wall come shattering down.
And yet...
Yet he had fought back, ripped his quintessence back to himself just as she was beginning to harvest it, to bring that intoxicating power into herself. Haggar felt its loss already and her hands burned anew, a direct contrast to the soothing cool warmth, like liquid silk, that had pooled over her hands as she soaked them in her Lance's quintessence.
She could feel around her the walls being rebuilt, still fragile, but a barrier that was once more blocking her attempts to access his mind, to settle into the cracks she had so lovingly grown. Even the mindscape was reacting to this change, the blood rain having given way to actual water that was a mere drizzle rather than a torrent and the ocean had fallen back into itself, still churning but no longer lashing out.
He was repairing his mind.
He was stronger than she had ever imagined.
A smile crossed her face even as her hands pulsed with pain.
That power would be hers.
Obtaining it would be a more difficult feat than she had imagined, but that would make the reward all the sweeter. And she had all the time in the world. Lance was hers: body, mind and quintessence. She loved every bit of it, even if right now he had caused her pain.
Well...
She would just have to return the favor.
Lance meanwhile was groaning softly as aching limbs and wounds registered, back in his body once more and not... not in wherever that other place had been. His hand twitched in front of him, brushing against remnants of sand and harsher rock and he cracked open his eyes, taking in the bleary form of the craggy structure he had taken shelter beneath.
Haggar was nowhere to be seen.
Was...
Was she gone?
What exactly had happened? There had been that blue light and then...
Then he was back here.
And while he was still in pain he felt... lighter. Brighter. The darkness that had stolen over his vision was gone, replaced with a gentle warmth he felt emanating from his chest.
Hope.
He was feeling hope.
He allowed the feeling to push him to sitting, slumping against the rough rock once he was upright as his body protested the movement and his head was spinning.
His hands and wrists were still bleeding.
Lance closed his eyes, took a deep breath and willed them to heal. He felt the barest tingle on his palm and cast a hesitant look down. They were not fully healed but some of the flesh had knit itself back together and the worst of the pain had faded.
His wrists remained jagged cuts.
He swallowed thickly, averting his eyes, as just the sight of them had a darkness pressing back in.
He'd done that.
They pulsed anew and he let out a soft moan.
But he'd...
He'd done that to protect his family.
But at the same time...
Haggar was right.
The thought sent another stabbing ache through his heart. But it was true.
They would be so disappointed in him.
But even so...
He would still protect them. He would still do whatever it took to make sure they stayed safe.
Lance lifted his head then, casting his gaze from the ocean in front of him to the beach to his left.
And Haggar.
She met his gaze with her sharp yellow although even the narrowed gaze could not take away from the pinched look of her face.
She was hurt. His eyes widened as he took in her form, cloak and robe rumpled and a few pieces of flyaway hair poking out while her hands... oh Dios, they were burned. They were burned badly, purple flesh a harsh red and on her fingertips an almost charcoal black.
He'd somehow done that too.
The reminder had him lifting his chin with pride, remembering his promise in that dark void. "I will protect them," he promised as she lumbered closer. His words were soft in volume but strong and he felt the warmth flare in his chest again.
She let out a soft hum, a small smirk playing over her features.
"But my Lance... Who will protect you?"
She vanished from sight before Lance could even attempt to answer, reappearing directly in front of him and one of her burnt hands reached out, splaying it on his forehead and shoving his head back against the wall.
Haggar dipped her head down then, teeth nearly nipping his ear. "The answer?" she whispered. "No one."
And her hand lit up with black fire.
Lance screamed .
It felt like being burned alive, fire coating every inch of flesh and turning his vision pure black. He writhed and thrashed but his legs were pinned down by Haggar and his arms were still too heavy, too weak, to do much more than twitch at his sides.
He felt her fire consuming him, angling for a thin, cracking wall of ice.
No!
He pushed back with it, intercepting the fire and screaming again as it burst against the ice with a harsh hiss.
It disappeared.
He was left whimpering with pain, Haggar's hand still pressed against his forehead and her touch searing but no longer unbearable.
"You are alone, my Lance," she said softly, the hand shifting up into his hair, carding back sweat and blood soaked bangs. "You have no one to protect you... except for me. I can make all of this pain go away. All you must do..." her hand stilled. "Is surrender to me."
No.
Never.
He would protect them.
He felt his mental wall flare, a new layer of ice crystallizing atop the previous weakened version from Haggar's attack.
Haggar's grip tightened painfully in his hair.
"I see," she murmured. This location was not ideal. The mind was normally hers to command, to conquer, but this human boy thrived here as well. Any attempt she made now to send them to the Astral Plane to harvest his quintessence would merely be a repeat of what happened before.
And, she glanced at her hand, flaking away, she could not afford another hit like that. Her Lance's quintessence was unbelievably strong, if raw, and while he had no control to wield it he had still done her a significant blow.
He needed to be weakened further for her to have any success.
And this was not the battleground in which to wage her war.
"I will be waiting," she murmured, bending down and pressing a kiss to his forehead.
His wide blue eyes were the last thing she saw as she vanished in a crackle of black lightning.
Lance stared unblinkingly at where Haggar had just been, a phantom burn on his forehead where she'd left her kiss.
He shuddered.
That was all he had time for as fire filled his lungs, roiling and burning and choking and his hands went for his throat, trying to breathe, he was going to drown drown drown in fire—
—and he came back with a gasp to the real world as water, cold and frigid filled up his lungs instead.
He still could not breathe.
Panic seized him as it flooded his lungs and he couldn't move as something was holding his head down and he spasmed under the hold to no avail, more water and the copper taste of blood filling his mouth and he was going to drown, he was going to drown, drown, drown, drown—
His head was wrenched up, claws tight in his hair, and he hacked and coughed and desperately tried to suck in an inhale around it. He'd barely managed a breath before his head being forced back into the water and he inhaled another mouthful of water instead.
The hand held him there, grip unrelenting, as his struggles slowed and a familiar sense of despair, of hopelessness, closed over him. Even having drowned several times now didn't make it any less terrifying; the water filling his lungs with an icy coldness, the way his body seized as it gave up as air did not come.
He was pulled out just before the final piece of darkness clicked into place and something smashed against his back, sending lungs back into action and he wheezed and coughed, expelling water. It left him trembling, hanging limply by his dripping hair.
Tired eyes pried themselves open.
Darkness greeted him.
He didn't even have the energy to be scared this time, merely closing his eyes again.
He was so tired.
The exhaustion was as cutting as the pain, sinking deep into him.
He wished for his mindscape. As hurt as he was in there...
It was an escape.
He felt disconnected here, off, but everything hurt and that kept him tethered to this battered body.
A familiar hand rubbed against his cheek, hot breath that almost felt nice in the coldness of the room heating his cheek.
"Welcome back."
Lance had no answer for her.
He tried to summon up that warmth from before, the good warmth, not Haggar's version of it, but out here, in the real world, it did not come. His quintessence was not there to physically shroud him in its protection, its warmth, and all that was left was the gaping holes of despair and hurt that had been inflicted upon it.
He had to try though.
His family was coming.
They were coming and they were going to fall into Haggar's trap. This would be his last chance. The universe's last chance.
"Oh, my sweet Lance," Haggar's thumb brushed his cheek while he felt something else brush against his mind. He pushed back against the latter.
It was harder than before.
He was so tired.
"I told you there was no escape," she continued. "You have used up all that you had and it was not enough." Her lips moved to ghost across his ear. "Because you are not enough."
He flinched.
Even without the magic imbued behind them her words still hurt.
"You will live out the remainder of your life with me," she murmured. "And the universe shall crumble all around. And you, my Lance, can do so knowing that that all of the death and destruction is your fault because you failed."
She was right.
He hated that she was right but she was.
He had failed.
The only way to fix this was to break free, escape, warn the others of the trick.
But...
But he couldn't.
He was too tired. In too much pain.
And he was out of time.
She chuckled. "Better yet, you will be a part of it all. You will be our new weapon. Your power alongside mine will bring down the Paladins of Voltron and we will revel in their despair... and then their deaths."
No.
No.
Not that.
He had to stop her. He had to.
"Oh my Lance," her lips pressed against his cheek. "Your determination still is admirable. It is what I so love about you. But," her voice hardened. "I grow weary of it. Commander?"
A growl of acknowledgement sounded from behind him and Lance flinched again, even though he had known without having to see who was the one holding his head. There could be none other.
"Break him."
Lance could feel the fanged grin.
"It will be my pleasure."
Her hand touched his cheek again. "The commander will not kill you, my Lance. But you will wish it so. You will spend the rest of your days hovering between life and death in mortal agony and there will be no release. You will pray for the end but it will never come. You will never escape from me and you will forever live to regret and despair.
"The only choice you have is if you wish to spend eternity in darkness or if you wish to see the universe dismantle before your eyes." Her hand moved, pressing down on his closed eyelids. "That is my gift to you because I love you. Choose. You have the power to restore your sight. You know of what I speak and the word to unlock the spell; you have done so once before. However," her hand moved to smoothe back still wet bangs. "There is one other word you must speak. You know of it, I assure you, but it has yet to grace your lips. It is entirely your decision."
There was the shuffling sound of robes as she stood, her hand falling away. "I must go now to prepare for the Paladins arrival. Commander, you have your orders. Do not disappoint me."
And with a hiss of the door signaling her exit, Haggar left.
"Now, now," Theodek rumbled, fangs nearly nipping at Lance's ear from behind and the boy flinched away to deep laughter. "Where shall we begin?"
xxx
It did not take long for Allura to arrive at the Blue Lion's hangar, as her steps were hurried and her desire swift. Allura did not have the bond the Paladins shared with their Lions, but due to her connection with the castle and Altean lineage she could still feel more than any other would be able to do. And even now she could feel the deep sorrow and guilt emanating from the chamber where the Blue Lion rested.
The Lion was still placed exactly where she'd been left after Allura and Shiro had flown her, lying down with her head between her front paws and tail curled up to rest alongside her body. It was so unlike what Allura was used to; the Blue Lion tended to move about and could be found in all manner of positions when Lance was present about the castle. Allura had been most amused to one time find the giant cat lying on her back as if waiting for a tummy rub during one of her nightly strolls.
Now she just felt sad.
Allura crossed the room, footsteps echoing in the emptiness, and placed a gentle hand on the Blue Lion's front paw.
"Hello, Blue," she murmured, receiving a flicker at the back of her conscience that let her know the Lion was aware of her presence. She would admit she had never quite addressed a Lion so familiarly but it felt right. "I wish to speak with you if that is all right." The Lion gave the barest of hums and Allura settled herself on the giant paw, continuing to stroke it gently.
"We are to be embarking upon a mission shortly," she said quietly. "To rescue Lance."
At that she felt the Blue Lion rouse herself, the previous sadness being shot through with a flicker of hope. Allura smiled. The two were really quite alike. "I came to ask of your assistance once more in allowing me to be your pilot."
Anything the Lion rumbled, the word nearly jolting Allura off the paw in surprise as it filled the very air around her. Other than the single time in the cockpit when Blue had instructed them to turn on the recording, she had never heard any Lion physically speak and the awe was not dispersed in any way.
Guilt flowed fresh from the Lion, snippets of feelings of failure and despair, and Allura pressed her hand against the paw in an attempt to stop the spiral of dark thought.
Her smile turned sad then. The two really were alike.
"It is not your fault" she said quietly. "There was nothing you could have done. We were all fooled by the Galran's trap."
Failed my Paladin Blue intoned.
"No, you did not," Allura retorted sternly, although she felt her cheeks darken as she realized she had just scolded a giant metal Lion. She pushed onwards, speaking words she could not yet offer to Blue's paladin. "And Lance would not want you believing such." What could only be described as a groan emitted from the Lion, but she offered no further rebuttal.
"You have not failed Lance," she continued softly. "Failure is only the outcome when all hope is lost. We have not yet given up hope, Blue. We will get Lance back."
Wise Princess Blue rumbled and Allura felt her cheeks heat again at the compliment.
"I must go now," she said, sliding down from the paw and shaking out her dress. "I shall return when we are preparing to embark."
Miss my Paladin Blue near whimpered, loss striking Allura so hard that she stumbled.
When she regained her footing she looked towards the Lion's head, yellow eyes angled down towards her. "We all do," Allura said quietly, feeling her own sense of loss. She swallowed thickly. "Your Paladin is very special, Blue. But... you have always known that, haven't you?"
A deep purr sounded.
"You are the wise one, Blue," she murmured. "We all have been very foolish. But we will set things right. I promise."
Blue rumbled an acknowledgement and Allura took her leave, headed back for the bridge to relieve Coran of flying duties so he could return to his other projects.
She did not expect to run into her advisor nearly outside Blue's hangar.
"What is it?" she asked, dread already forming in her stomach. "What has happened?"
"The castle is fine, Princess, flying right on course. We're in a clear sector for about the next twenty dobashes and I am taking full advantage of it." He patted a hand on the large box he was holding, easily weighing near a hundred pounds although one would not know that by the casual air in which he held it. "Just delivering this preliminary cloaking model to the Blue Lion's hangar so Numbers Two and Five and work on it in a bit." He let out a chuckle. "Number Five's attempts to move it on her own were not going overly well."
Allura let out a soft laugh, picturing the small girl trying to heft the item that likely weighed nearly as much as her.
Her smile fell though as Coran's eyes did not crinkle in shared amusement and despite his assurances there was a weight upon his brow.
"There is something you are not telling me."
Coran let out a small sigh. "As observant as always, Princess." She raised an eyebrow as he stopped there. "It is about the half-jump."
Her stomach bottomed out. All of their plans relied on the half-jump being successful and while neither Shiro or Keith had ever even attempted to pilot something like the castle and at that speed no less, her faith in them was strong. She knew they could do it. And in any case they should still be sleeping for several more varga and should not have worried her advisor thus.
"Will it not work?" she asked quietly, hands clenching.
"Negative to that. But..." Coran's eyes shifted guiltily to the side. "We are going to deplete a large portion of the castle's energy to successfully half-jump for such an extended period. It's not like a normal wormhole jump; despite the fact we're moving at half the speed we're using two times the crystal power."
"Do we have enough?"
"To get there, yes."
Her eyes widened. "We cannot leave?"
To arrive in Galra territory and to then be dead in the water...
The entire rest of the team would be in danger.
Her nails bit into her palm.
No.
"Not quite," Coran said, and she felt her world right itself.
Thank Alaaran.
"Number Five has been working on the mapping algorithm that looks very promising and should allow us to complete several wormhole jumps to retreat," Coran explained. "It is quite brilliant, truly. She can use the data from our current path and copy it to areas where the quadrant is more stable. It will allow us to exit out of the Hodgkin quadrant in a mix of jumps and piloting and be out within the varga.
"That is excellent news," Allura exclaimed. She had feared their exit strategy would be a mix of the Lions returning cover fire and the castle speeding as quick as it could back through the quadrant, of which would still take nearly two days until she could reach out outskirts and then wormhole the castle to a safer location.
Coran did not smile and Allura's excitement dimmed.
"We will be on base power, Princess," Coran said. "I ran the calculations; the multiple wormhole jumps following the half-jump procedure will drain all our active crystals. We have replacements for them, but they will take a number of varga to charge and be usable."
"I do not understand the problem," Allura frowned. "We have operated on base power before and it sounds as though we have enough to make our escape without issue."
"The cyro-pods," Coran said quietly. "They too operate on the crystals and there will not be enough energy left to activate one."
Understanding dawned on her features.
"No," she shook her head. "There must be something else..."
Because Lance needed a pod. Even if he was not suffering any fatal wounds when they rescued him she knew he must be in so much pain and she did not wish for him to remain in that state for one dobash longer than necessary.
"There is not," Coran's voice sounded as drained as she felt. "It is imperative we keep the oxygen systems running and at least some form of shield and proximity alarm. Those will use up whatever remains."
"It is not fair," she whispered. "Coran, this is not fair."
Coran set the box down by his feet and opened his arms. Allura leaned into the embrace, wrapping her own arms tightly about Coran.
"I know," he agreed, drawing her in closer. "I know. We will do all we can in the interim to care for him. He is strong, Princess. He will... he will be all right. It will only be for a few varga."
He sounded like he was trying to reassure himself as much as he was her.
Allura sniffled, pressing her forehead against Coran's jacket. "I know," she echoed. "He is. I just... Coran, he has been through so much. I do not wish to see him continue to suffer."
Coran stroked her hair, closing his eyes. His own heart was aching at the thought. Lance had already been through so much, but there was nothing to be done for it. He was going to have to endure for just a little longer.
"We have much to do," he said after a moment, voice pitched low.
"You are right," Allura stepped out of the embrace, straightening to her full height. There was no time to fall into despair now. Lance was counting on them and she would not allow them to falter now. "I shall return to the bridge and continue our course."
"I will join you shortly," Coran said.
Allura inclined her head. "Until then."
"Until then," Coran echoed, watching as she hurried down the hall. He reached down and picked up the box of hardware and headed for the Blue Lion's hangar, his own steps heavy.
He was trying not to show it but he was scared too. He had no doubt they would rescue Lance as any other course of action was not acceptable. No, it was what came after. What he had seen of the Galran's cruelty, of the witch's poisonous words. And he could only pray that the boy that he had come to love as dearly as if he were his own would make it out of this with all parts of his soul still intact.
"We're almost there, my boy," he whispered, pressing his hand above his heart. "Hang on."
xxx
"Keith, buddy, time to get up," Shiro whispered.
Keith didn't so much as stir.
Shiro's expression softened. Keith was like him; a relatively light sleeper and the fact he was not responding at all only touched on how exhausted he must be. Shiro understood, he hadn't slept much these past few days either.
But he had managed to sleep nearly the whole ordered eight varga to his immense surprise, only waking up once to the sound of screaming that he'd realized upon powering up his arm was just in his head. He'd only managed to fall back asleep, chest heaving, by listening to Keith's steady breaths.
However, some things had not changed. Shiro's smile returned as he took in the way Keith had managed to dismantle his bed, pulling the blankets and sheets free from where they were tucked under the bed and had cuddled them to his chest. He half expected to see—
Ah, there it was. Keith's jacket. It was tangled up in the blankets as well and Shiro felt a sudden burst of nostalgia at the image, remembering a younger boy cuddled up to it with the promise he would one day grow into it.
He had, Shiro thought fondly. He had grown so much.
But he was still so young.
Shiro wished he could let him continue to sleep, to escape the horror of their current reality for even just a few more minutes. But time was something they did not have in luxury.
That, and Keith did not look to be sleeping peacefully any longer. His brow had furrowed over the course of the past minute, his right hand opening and closing against the blankets as though he was trying to grab hold of something that kept slipping out of reach.
"Keith," Shiro said, a bit louder, recognizing the signs of a nightmare. Keith had never been prone to them, which had been both worrisome and a relief considering where he'd come from, but when he had had them... they had been bad. Shiro had been treated once to a split lip when he'd tried to rouse the then fifteen year old as he was in the throes of some violent dream.
Keith had been horrified and mortified at the same time, apologizing over and over even as Shiro had hastened to tell him he was all right. When he'd tried to gently inquire about it Keith had clammed right up and Shiro had not pressed. There were some things that were hard to give voice to, even years later. He'd just assured Keith he was there if he ever did want to talk about it
He winced. He supposed he had been a bit of a hypocrite of late. It was just... hard to talk about memories that he did not want to actually remember. He felt a sudden wave of understanding, of solidarity, for what it all meant.
Keith didn't react except to squeeze his eyes shut even tighter.
Shiro frowned. That was enough. He reached down, gently reaching out to shake Keith's shoulder, prepared for a possible first flying at his face.
The knife was new.
The tip was pointed right between his eyes, unwavering, as its owner heaved out a loud breath that turned into a sort of hiccup a moment later.
"Sh-Shiro," Keith nearly squeaked, the blade lowered and slipped into a sheath so quickly Shiro almost wondered if he had imagined it.
But no.
Keith's face was a picture of bright red and ghostly pale, visible even in the dim lighting of the bedroom.
And he was shaking.
"Keith, hey," Shiro eased himself carefully onto the bed next to Keith. "It's okay. Deep breaths, buddy."
Keith sucked in a noisy inhale and exhale but kept his eyes lowered and his shoulders hunched in. Shiro placed his flesh hand on the small back and was relieved when Keith didn't try to pull away.
He didn't lean into the hold either.
"...want to talk about it?" Shiro offered, not surprised when he got a head shake.
He waited. Depending on the situation that was all Keith needed. Time. Patience.
But he remained quiet.
"Sorry," came a whisper a moment later. "I didn't... I thought..." Keith swallowed again. "Sorry."
Shiro gave Keith's shoulder a tender squeeze. "Nothing to apologize for. You okay?"
The dark head gave a bob.
Shiro knew this wasn't, shouldn't, be the end of it. But now was not the time and pressuring Keith to talk would only make things worse.
"Okay," Shiro said instead, fighting to keep his voice light. "Well, we're both up and I'm happy to report it's been the eight varga now. You feeling a little more rested?"
"Yeah," came the soft reply.
"Good," Shiro smiled. "Why don't you head to the bridge to meet with Allura and I'll go to the kitchen and grab us some food?"
"'m not hungry."
Shiro's stomach clenched. Not even a dig at his (admittedly awful) cooking skills, about how Shiro should not be allowed in the kitchen alone.
Keith was not okay.
But there was no time to get to the bottom of this. Lance didn't have time. Later, Shiro promised himself. They were going to have a talk later because this was not something that could be ignored. Whatever this was was dangerous, both to Keith and others.
"Tough luck, buddy. Allura said we needed to be at full strength and that means you will eat something."
Purple eyes lifted to meet his and there was a steadiness to them, the remnants of the trembling now stopped. In fact, there was a different sort of horror now but it was one Shiro was well familiar with and he let out an internal sigh of relief. "You're not cooking, are you?"
"Ha ha," Shiro deadpanned, giving Keith's shoulder one last squeeze.
"Shiro—"
"I'll go grab something pre-made, promise," Shiro said. "I'll meet you there."
"Shiro?" Keith's voice was soft and purple eyes softer as they met Shiro's gray. "...thank you."
Shiro's stomach unclenched and he ruffled the dark hair with a laugh.
Things would be okay.
Shiro took his time perusing the kitchen for something that looked edible. He was pretty pleased with himself when he managed to loate a loaf of bread studded with what looked like some type of raisin and a platter of fruit that resembled pears. He filled up a couple bowls of food goo and then, carefully balancing his haul along with a jug of water and cups, headed for the bridge.
Allura was there as expected, changed out of her dress and in her battle suit. Shiro glance down at his civilian clothes and wondered if he should have changed as well, but then shrugged. It was going to be a very long, very exhausting venture and he was pretty sure this way was more comfortable. Pidge was there as well, also in her regular clothes, and sitting in her chair, tablet propped up on her lap.
Hunk was stretched out on the floor off to the side, a thick blanket pulled over him and he was dozing lightly, not bothered at all by the noise around him with a green one folded next to him likely for Pidge. Shiro didn't even ask. A lot had apparently been happening while he and Keith had been sleeping.
Pidge seemed to have picked up on his train of thought and shot him a small grin over her tablet. "We've been working nonstop since Coran said it would be too dangerous to do so while we're in the half-jump. So we figured we'd get some shut eye while you two pilot the castle and then finish up when you're done."
"And you're sleeping... here?" Shiro raised an eyebrow. Not the comfiest or quietest place to sleep and judging by the bags beneath Pidge's eyes she could really use it.
"Well," her eyes lowered. "The rooms are so far away and if something were to happen..."
Ah. Shiro understood. He crossed the room and placed a hand on her shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. "We're going to be fine," he promised her. "Keith and I have got this."
Although...
Keith was not yet present.
"Pidge, have you seen—"
"I'm here," Keith's voice cut in and Shiro flicked his eyes over the entrance of the bridge. Keith's bangs were damp and his face looked freshly scrubbed. His eyes were a touch red-rimmed and Shiro quashed down the worry that boiled up at the sight.
Now was not the time.
But later would be. He would make sure of it.
"Then it's time to eat," Shiro mustered up a smile and pointed at the tray he'd set on Pidge's console. "Eat up, buddy." Keith made a face but dutifully grabbed one of the bowls of food goo and mechanically began to shovel it into his mouth. Shiro tried the bread himself and smiled. It was sweet, almost like a banaa bread.
Apparently his expression indicated safety as both Keith and Pidge reached for a piece and Shiro rolled his eyes. The only thing he'd done to that was cut it; seriously, it's like they expected everything he touched to be inedible.
As he took a bite of one of the pears Shiro realized they had a reason to worry. He spat it out, mouth tingling at the sour flavor. Pidge raised an eyebrow and slowly put back the one she had grabbed.
Neither told Keith.
"Paladins," Allura addressed, crossing the room towards them. Her nose wrinkled as she spotted the pears and she too reached for a piece of the bread. "We are ready to begin the half-jump once you a have eaten. As you do so I will go over what to expect."
Shiro sobered from his mirth over the pear and turned his full attention to Allura, Keith doing the same.
"We have paused in a relatively clear section," Allura said, pointing behind her at the displayed map, "which will allow you some time to practice without the chance of..." she trailed off.
"Of instant death," Pidge piped up.
"Yes, that," Allura winced. "Thank you, Pidge."
"No problem."
Keith barely muffled a snort and Shiro felt his own lips twitching up despite the situation. He sent a silent thank you to Pidge for the moment of levity.
Allura ignored them. "Since there are two of you piloting, the process for taking control of the ship is going to be similar to when form Voltron." Her jeweled gaze met each of theirs. "You will need to completely open your mind to your fellow Paladin to effectively pilot the castle. There can be no walls, no barriers, between you. I understand how... personal this may be, but to successfully pilot the castle there can be nothing that impedes your ability to communicate on such an intrinsic level. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Princess," Shiro managed, shooting a side eye to Keith whose hands had clenched at his sides.
He felt a new sort of twist in his stomach. To lay his mind bare... even in Voltron he kept up a steady barrier, filtering what thoughts and feelings he allowed the others to touch on.
It was terrifying.
"Keith?" Allura asked, looking at the silent Paladin.
"Got it," he said, voice low.
"I know such a thing may be difficult," she said softly, "but I believe—"
"I said I got it," Keith snapped, a hint of red highlighting his cheeks.
Allura did not respond to the tone, merely inclining her head.
"You will pilot the castle in this manner," Allura continued. "Once you are mind-melded with one another and the castle you will understand. I have set you up to work from the main console but have provided chairs," she inclined her head at the two seats that had been bolted to the floor, "as this will be a long, exhausting process. You will be piloting for five varga, Paladins," her gaze fixed on them. "That is no mere feat.
"That said, you may exit out of the half-jump whenever you must. Each time you must re-enter into the half-jump it will more quickly deplete the crystals' power, but it is more important that you rest as needed. Pushing through is folly and I know neither of you are fools." She kept the knowledge of the crystals' already shortened lifespan to herself as it was a worry they did not need to deal with now.
"Upon the five varga completion we will have about one varga at normal travel speed until we reach the possible perimeter of the Galra, in which we will make final preparations. I know we are asking much of you," Allura looked at them both, "for you will be going nearly immediately on the mission following the piloting but I have the utmost faith in your abilities."
"Me too," Pidge chimed in, swiveling on her chair to look at both Keith and Shiro while at the same time carefully pawning the plate of sour pears away before Keith attempted to eat one.
Shiro took a deep breath and looked at Keith. "Ready?"
The boy's countenance had hardened with determination and he gave a short nod. "Ready."
They made their way over to the console, perching on the high chairs. Allura reached across and grabbed Shiro's left hand and Keith's right, placing them atop the glowing orb that powered the castle. A jolt shot through them both and Keith's hair rose a bit as though static electricity had zapped him.
"Feel the castle," Allura instructed. "Open your minds. Meld."
Shiro closed his eyes, trying to find that sense of self he did when forming Voltron, that connection that allowed him to move without question with the others. He let out a short gasp as he felt it, but it was not the soft pulse of other presences but something stronger, more powerful.
He could feel all of the Lions, woven as they were into the castle.
"Breathe," Allura murmured and her hands descended atop theirs. "It is all right. Concentrate. Focus. Feel."
Shiro could sense more as he dove deeper into the connection; the Lions, the power, the... fear?
He traced that link, his own stomach churning.
Keith.
There was an image forming in his mind, a projection of thoughts like they had seen in the mindmeld. Shiro found he could not look away.
He was seeing the scene as though from the floor; an older man holding a familiar looking knife, yelling and shouting although all was silent. The image shifted to encompass two boys who were clearly brothers, smugly looking on before everything shook and there was a flinch and then a door slammed both in the scene and on it, cutting Shiro off with a suddenness that made his head spin.
The fear was still there but accompanying it was a dark shame mixed with a dread.
Shiro swallowed past his own fears that it had conjured and sent out what he hoped was comfort, a reassurance. No barriers could exist here. He would not look though, he would not pry, but they could not cut each other out.
He felt the barest touch of something he could only describe as red brush against his consciousness and then the sudden feeling of understanding, of focus.
They were both ready now.
Together they felt out the castle. If piloting the Lions were to be compared as driving a race car, than driving the castle was a equivalent to an armada of tanks, somehow all strapped together. And they were expected to pilot it. At barely comprehensible speeds. Shiro felt a wave of despair of his own.
A small hand placed itself on Shiro's back and Pidge's emerald-tinged light and spirit swirled into their mind link. Keith felt a heavy arm drape over his shoulders and soothe away the tension there as golden yellow warmed his soul. Their fellow Paladins did not say anything, dd not fully jump into the connection, but their presence was enough to bring the peace and clarity both pilots needed for this mission.
"Whenever you are ready," Allura said softly, her voice a hum. "See where the castle needs to go and activate the half-jump with the console."
Shiro reached out to the red color that was Keith and received an affirmation, a pulse of determination. A tick later the console glowed brighter and the ship jumped forward.
It was...
Exhilarating.
And terrifying.
Space rushed by outside, stars mere streaks of color in their peripheral and broken planets and debris rising out of the endless blackness with almost no warning.
They didn't hit one. Red and black moved in perfect tandem, guiding the castle with a grace and swiftness few could ever hope to achieve. They kept at it until a larger structure showed itself and Shiro mentally called out for a stop and Keith obliged.
Both Paladins took their hands off the console at the same time and just like that they were knocked back into their bodies, of which their hearts were thrumming and hands were displaying the barest tremble.
The two looked at each other, relief and awe and wonder and did they really just do that?
"You did it!" Allura cried, throwing her arms about Shiro from behind. Her cheeks pinkened as his turned red too at the rare exuberant display on her behalf and she coughed into her hand. "You did it," she said, more solemnly although still with a sparkle in her eye. It was not that she felt they would not, but...
But it was nice to not be dead and be proven correct.
"Tip top, my dear Paladins," Coran congratulated, having appeared on the bridge somewhere during their travel. "I'm happy to report the mapping software worked just as planned too. We should be able to wormhole in as series to the checkpoints we make whenever the Paladins emerge from their piloting."
"Excellent work, Coran, Paladins," Allura smiled to Hunk and Pidge. She turned back to Shiro and Keith. "For your reference you were piloting for just shy of ten dobashes. How do you feel regarding the five varga?"
Keith and Shiro exchanged another look.
"We're gonna need a few breaks," Shiro told her honestly. "Probably... every thirty minutes, max," and Keith nodded his agreement. Even now, a couple minutes after, he could still feel his heart beating quickly and there was a tightness, an ache, in his head.
This was going to be a long five hours.
"You've got this," Pidge said, punching their arms affectionately.
"You're going to do great," Hunk echoed, wrapping his arms about them from behind and giving them a tight squeeze. "For now, I'm going back to bed. Wake me when we get there."
Pidge also offered a cheerful good night and nearly stumbled over to Hunk, exhaustion catching up with her. She was out within the dobash, cuddled up against Hunk like a teddy bear.
"We all believe in you," Allura murmured, placing her hands atop their own again and offering them a smile. "Now go. Let us rescue Lance."
She stepped back, giving them the console.
"For Lance," Shiro whispered, dark eyes meeting Keith's amethyst.
Keith nodded. "For Lance."
And the Castle of Lions raced forward.
Author's Notes:
Is Icy actually starting a rescue? For reals? No way! Now the question remains: will everything go according to plan? After all... the best laid plans of (space)mice and men often go awry.
And while I know a few thousand is attributed to author's notes... this story has hit over 100k words! Damn do I write a lot xD We've still got a lot to go, but I'm so pleased with the milestone I had to shout it out.
Also, Happy Birthday Lance! (I recently learned about it too.) In honor of his birthday... I didn't really hurt him? And the rescue is en route, so that's a present for sure. Next chapter though I make no promises. Sorry, sweetie. Speaking of next chapter: as always, depending on the response to this chapter will determine if I update on Tuesday. HOWEVER; due to the fact that season three comes out next Friday (holybloodyhellI'msoexcited!) I will not be updating on August 4. Can't compete with that and we all need the proper amount of freak out time :p So we shall either get a chapter this coming Tuesday and then the Tuesday following, or we will not see a chapter till Tuesday, August 7. So if you want a quicker update, please do be sure to review and feed the author encouragement!
As always, thanks so much to the lovely reviewers, including: marvel1015, Guest, LishaChan, Guest, DoctorMerlinReid, wingedflower, Wolf of the Demise, Alexa, cookiebook322, Stargirl720, Eeveecat1248, dragoscilvio, Jadegem02, Purplehood, Jaime, Oliviadbell, Lasagna, Violinworld, dragonrush, sally3015, The-Angst-Chronicles, luminoslight1313, Rookblonkorules, Guest, SonoSvegliato, Merlin's Knight, Ambiguous Cake, galacticgallows, PaintedWings45, StrawberryFever3, Dame Keeps, Wolfwind97, Guest, JustADamFrenchFry and leximay!
Please do share your thoughts below! Favorite scene, line, character moment, thoughts for the future... Y'all know how much I adore them. Thanks so much!