You're Gonna Go Far Kid, The Offspring.

I've drank so much tea today it's ridiculous, here's this chapter (tbh this was one of my favorite chapters to write so far).

Edit: It was pointed out to me that I made...a few errors in this chapter lol, so I've replaced the previous one with this one. Sorry for any confusion!

Galra Headquarters. June 7th, 2016. 9:20 pm.

Lance's knees stung where they hit the floor, his jaw grinding at the force of the shove, and he looked up through his lashes as Sendak paced in front of him, hands clasped behind his back. The cold steel of a gun rested lightly on the bare skin of Lance's neck. "Are we gonna do this or what?" he demanded, gritting his teeth as the gun pressed harder.

Sendak looked up in surprise, like he hadn't expected Lance to talk back, and a wry smile slid over his face. "Eager to get beaten, are we?"

Lance snorted, tossing his bangs out of his eyes. "Not a chance, Sandy."

Sendak's smile was gone, replaced by a scowl. "Sure he isn't Galra? He's about as insufferable as...no matter."

Lance lifted an eyebrow and glanced back at the guard with the gun. "Seriously, though, like...I'm cuffed? What's a gun gonna do?"

"Ensure you remain cuffed," Sendak said, turning to a computer monitor in the corner of the room. "Don't think we don't know about that key you palmed, Sanchez."

Lance sucked in a tight breath and lowered his eyes. He had only been caught pick-pocketing three times in his life: the first time he and Pidge had met Hunk, and twice by his sister Veronica, when he was still learning the art.

"Where you put that key though...I'm assuming you swallowed it, though how it would be of any use to you before at least two days had passed is beyond me."

"You're planning to keep us longer than that?"

Sendak smirked at him. "I never said I was letting you go, now did I?"

He turned away from Lance again and Lance took a moment to observe his surroundings, to see if he could find a way out.

The room was the literal definition of a box, perfectly square, the walls a dark gray color. There were no windows, and only two doors, both of which were guarded on either side by two guards. There was another guard by Sendak, their hand lightly resting on the butt of their gun, and the guard behind Lance still hadn't moved. The floor was concrete, drains spotting the area in the middle and by the doors.

The computer Sendak was using was in the corner to Lance's left, opposite the door they had come in. They were still in the prison wing, Lance knew that, about 50 feet down from where his cell was. He assumed the room was soundproofed.

On the wall behind him, which Lance had only gotten a brief glimpse of when he was first led in, were weapons. Guns, knives, some swords, but mostly knives. A lot of knives. In the right scenario, he'd be invincible.

In this scenario, he got the feeling he was about to be carved up like a Thanksgiving turkey.

He shivered and the metal of the gun ground into his skin, pressing into the base of his skull, a violent reminder that his head could be blown off at any given moment.

Sendak turned away from the computer and strode past him to the wall behind him. The guard who had been hovering over Sendak covered the computer with a plastic screen, and Lance swallowed, looking around the room again.

The dark gray probably hid the blood, if he were to guess. And still gave the room a neutral vibe. Aesthetics. Very important.

Sendak came back into view and the gun moved away from Lance's neck, allowing him to lift his chin, only to have Sendak press the flat of a very sharp, very chilled knife to the underside of the skin.

"Now," he rumbled, canine's glinting as he smiled. "Let's see if you're chatty enough to tell me where the Princess is."

Castellan Place. June 7th, 2016. 9:32 pm.

Coran found Shiro on the front porch, holding a cup of coffee and staring out over the city lights that blinked in the distance. He shut the door behind him and stepped out into the cool night air, cutting off the light from the inside.

"Everything all right, Shiro?" the older man asked, leaning against the railing next to him and settling on his elbows.

Shiro pursed his lips and looked down, setting his mug down on the railing and gripping onto the wood with his hands. "I can't help but feel like this is my fault."

"How so?"

"They didn't attack you guys like this until I escaped. It must be me. They must have seen me with Keith, or Pidge, or someone at the diner where I met Lance and Hunk...could they be tracking me? Through my arm?"

Coran hummed and shook his head. "Not a chance, my boy. Pidge did the scans on it, remember? She would have found something if there was. Besides, they would have attacked us if they did. And they attacked us before you returned to Voltron anyway. The other base..."

Shiro frowned and tapped his fingers on his mug, lifting it back up and taking another sip. "That's true, I guess. Are they making any headway in there?"

Coran tilted his chin down. "A bit. Pidge has pulled the best ways to infiltrate the base. The problem is that we do not know where they're being held, and running in recklessly could kill all of us. She can't get a trace on any of Lance's throwing stars, so we can only assume that something in the Galra base is blocking it's signal."

Shiro nodded and took another drink. "I might have an idea. Where they are, I mean. I might not remember much of my time there, but I do know where I was being held. Where Ulaz helped me get out."

Coran pressed his lips into a thin line, saying nothing, and Shiro shot him a side glance. "Are you okay, Coran?"

"How much of that do you know because of Ulaz and how much because of something else? Someone else?"

Shiro stiffened and Coran turned to him, lifting a brow. "Do you know how many times I've poured through Alfor's book, Shiro? It took Allura nearly eight years to open it after his death, and even then, she never got past the beginning."

"Coran-"

"But I did."

Shiro snapped his mouth shut and looked away, the slump of his shoulders letting Coran continue.

"So inform me, please, Shiro. Are we rescuing both of them?"

"Yes."

Coran nodded at the biting, firm tone, and looked back out at the city. "All right. In that case, it might be best to call Keith's mother. She is our best bet at the moment."

Shiro swallowed and nodded. "Yes, sir. I'll go get it from Pidge's phone."

"No need."

Coran held out a piece of paper and Shiro took it slowly, eyeing the number and then Coran. "How-?"

"I think you all forget that I am just as adept in technology as Pidge and Hunk are. I also refuse to let anyone hurt the people I care about, Shiro."

Here, Coran turned a deadly gaze on the man. "If Keith is not-"

"He is," Shiro said, his voice soft. Gentle. "Keith has told me...has told me things about you. About how he sees you as a father figure. Yesterday, when you interrupted us in his room...we were going through the book and he was telling me about how much he's found here with you all. And he needs that. I think...I think he even deserves that. And you know how he looks at Lance. He would never hurt him. This wasn't planned, Coran. It couldn't have been."

Coran's eyes had softened and he nodded. "All right. I know Krolia was deep. So deep that I was not sure if she had turned. Keith working in Galra territory, and then infiltrating our group...I've tried my best to stay optimistic about him, Shiro. And you will not tell him I know."

Shiro jolted, looking up from the phone number in his hands. "What?"

Coran frowned and looked down. "If all you say is true...you will not tell him I know. I want him to feel he can trust me, and if he thinks I see him any differently, he will not do that. I may not know Keith as well as...as well as I'd like to, but I know that much."

Shiro sighed. "Okay. I don't like it, but okay. Thank you, Coran."

"I know how to get in," Shiro announced as he walked back inside, Coran trailing after him.

Pidge looked up, her fingers stalling over her keyboard. "What?"

Shiro leaned over Hunk's shoulder and studied the map, his eyes flickering over the landmarks and halls dotted on the screen. "There," he said, pointing to a back entrance. "It leads out into an alley, it's how Ulaz got me out. It leads directly into the prison wing."

Allura frowned. "Even so, we don't know if that's where they're being held."

"It's the only place capable of holding them," Hunk said slowly, rubbing his chin. "Lance is amazing at picking locks, which means that they've got to be in a place that's heavily guarded and literally meant for holding prisoners. He wouldn't leave without Keith, either, so since we haven't seen them yet, it means that they either aren't being kept together or he physically can't escape."

"So we get in through this back entrance. What are the locks like?" Pidge asked.

"On the outer doors, a normal electronic gate," Shiro said. "Regular locks in case of power failure."

"I'm not as good as Lance, but he's taught me the bare minimum of picking," Hunk murmured. "His kit is in his room."

"That takes care of the manual lock, and I've got the electronic," Pidge decided, fingers flying over her keyboard once more. "Once inside?"

"There's some Galra friendly's in the prison," Shiro said softly. "There for fighting or for failing missions. They'll squeal. They're not in a separate wing, either, so there's no avoiding them."

"It means we need someone small, who can avoid their gaze," Allura said.

Everyone looked at Pidge and she nodded instantly. "Yes. Don't even ask or protest, I'm going."

"Pidge-" Allura started, her voice nervous.

"Don't," she snapped. "They're my family, Allura. I'm not leaving them. And...and if I find Matt or my dad then-"

Shiro shook his head. "The regular prison is different from the prison they use for...unruly prisoners. Matt didn't start fights, but he was always angrily vocal. He's in a separate section of the wing. A-And they kept Sam with him. We won't have time. Plus, they might have moved him since I got out. I just don't know."

Pidge slumped and then straightened almost as quickly, her chin jutting out. "Okay. Okay, just Lance and Keith then. Allura, Coran, will those clings on the suit let me climb walls?"

"You are light enough that you could hang upside down with them," Coran said, nodding his head. "So yes. But Keith and Lance..."

"Yeah, getting in won't be a problem," Allura realized. "It's getting back out."

"What if you tranq the other prisoners?"

Everyone turned to stare at Hunk, who shrugged. There was an angry glint in his eyes. "What? I'm not saying we kill them, just...Pidge tranqs them as she goes past, and then they're out cold by the time she gets Lance and Keith out."

"I'd need a lot of tranqs," Pidge said slowly, She pressed a hand to the side of her neck and then nodded slowly. "But that's our best bet, Hunk's right. Coran?"

"On it. I may even have a few bombs with tranquilizer in them. Work as smoke bombs, but instead of blowing up or creating fog, they just put everyone to sleep."

"I hate to do that to the innocents in there, but it's the safest way," Shiro said with a nod.

"All right," Allura declared. She stood up and clasped her hands together. "Pidge, suit up. The rest of us will be covering you from the van. Say the word, and we come in. Shiro, is there anywhere inconspicuous we can park ourselves that is still a fast getaway?"

Shiro's lips twitched into a smile. "I think I have just the spot."

Galra Headquarters. June 7th, 2016. 10:11 pm.

Keith looked up as the cell door creaked back open. Zethrid stood there, tall, foreboding, her lips pursed in a suspicious way that made Keith think she was hiding her laughter. "Runt," she grunted. "Here's your toy back."

She threw Lance in with one hand and Keith shouted. Lance hit the floor but didn't fall, his arms trembling with the effort of holding himself up. "He's a tough bastard," Zethrid noted. "Not a peep. Won't take much, though. Gonna pay a visit to a uh...Veronica, is it?"

Lance whined and Keith shot a glare at Zethrid as he moved to his side. "Don't you dare," he hissed.

"Zarkon writes my check, not you, runt."

The cell door slammed shut and Keith bent over Lance, rubbing his hand in circular motions between his shoulder blades. "What happened?" he asked, keeping his voice low.

Lance looked up and Keith sucked his lower lip in between his teeth. Bruises littered his skin, that Keith expected. But running down the right side of his face, grazed over his eye lid, was a long cut, still bleeding.

It was enough.

Keith was going to kill Zarkon with his bare hands. The way he killed Thace, the way he killed Keith's father, the way he forced Keith to kill Sam. He was going to drive his knife so deep into Zarkon's throat it would sprout from the back, and then he'd remove his head.

"Hey," Lance choked. "I'm okay. Keith."

Keith shook his head. His grip on Lance's hand was tight, and he honestly didn't even remember grabbing it. He clutched harder and helped Lance to sit up on his knees. "I'm going to kill him," he whispered.

"Not yet, you're not," Lance said, voice equally quiet. "I swear, I'm fine. Bruised and a little bloody, but fine. Nothing fatal, Keith. What did they do to you?"

Keith sighed and glanced away, lifting his shirt. HIs ribs were covered in bruises, but compared to Lance, he still got off clean. It was more for show than anything. Or at least, it was supposed to have been for show.

Still, Lance's jaw clenched and his fingers lifted, dancing cold across Keith's stomach. Keith's breath hitched and he shoved his shirt down fast, cheeks hot. "That hurts," he covered.

Lance winced. "Sorry. We need to be ready."

Keith shot him a raised eyebrow. "For?"

"They're going to come get us. I know them. And...and we need to get Rax out, too."

Keith frowned. "I'm sorry, who?"

Lance nodded at the cell across from them, where Keith could see a prisoner in the corner reading a worn copy of The Illiad. A well-behaved prisoner, then. Not easy to help escape, those ones. "Why?" he asked, eyes flicking back to Lance.

"He's Shay's brother."

Keith blinked twice, looked back to Rax, and then to Lance again. "Like...Hunk's Shay?"

Lance nodded, rubbing his jaw and wincing when he caught at the cut, pulling away blood with his fingers. Keith scowled and tore at the hem of his shirt, wadding up the fabric and gently blotting it against Lance's cheek. "I don't know much about him. Except that Shay was convinced he was taken by the Galra. Guess she was right. His parents thought he had just…left home."

"They must not be very close then," Keith murmured, dabbing at Lance's forehead and pressing his free hand gently to his jaw to hold his face steady. They were sitting cross-legged, knees touching. Keith could feel Lance's breath on his lips. "Is it even worth it to break him out? Is the risk worth it?"

"Is letting him die any better?"

Keith hesitated, fingers pausing, and Lance shook his head. "You know it's not. Even if they don't get along...it's one more person out of Zarkon's hands."

"Easier said than done," Keith murmured.

Lance lifted his hand and wrapped it around Keith's, preventing him from dabbing at the cut any further. Keith forced himself to meet his eyes. They were deep, anxious, scared. A dot of blood clung to his eyebrow. "Keith," Lance breathed, other hand coming up to cling to the one holding Lance's chin. "It's the right thing to do."

Keith's breathing hitched and his gaze flickered. Over midnight blue seas, to the scattered, faintest star-like freckles, upturned nose, soft, peach lips.

Scarlet, curling down his neck.

The lights flickered and they jerked apart, breath rushed, staring at the ceiling. They looked back at one another and something passed between them. "Pidge," they whispered in unison.

Keith swiped at the blood trickle on Lance's neck and then stuffed the rag in his pocket. No need for Zarkon to have any more of a sample of Lance's blood than he already did.

Lance stepped to the door, calling softly to Rax. The man stood, much taller than Keith had expected, and moved to the door. His dark brown eyes were nervous. "You know what that was?"

Lance tilted his head. "We can get you out, if you let us."

Rax pursed his lips and glanced down the hall. Something steely hardened in his eyes and Keith's shoulders drooped. They didn't have the time. They couldn't. There was no way they'd be able to bypass all those guards and Galra-loyal prisoners in time. Not without-

Smoke curled around the corner and Lance abruptly lifted his collar to cover his mouth. Keith followed suit, and Rax copied them.

What on Earth?

Thuds surrounded them, fog filling the corridor, and despite his makeshift mask, Keith could taste the sweetness. One of Coran's knock-out gases, then.

A distraction.

Their gate swung open and Keith barely had time to blink before Lance was darting to Rax's cell and picking that lock as well. He hadn't even seen him pull the kit from his shoe.

Sometimes it scared Keith how good Lance was.

"This is part of the plan," Lance said as Keith rushed out to join the two. "It has to be. We'll meet Pidge there, come on."

Keith nodded and took off, Lance just behind him and Rax bringing up the rear, corner of his vest pressed to his mouth. Every single person they passed on their way out was unconscious, slumped over in the cells. As they got closer to the door, the fog got thicker. Keith prayed Lance wouldn't ask how he knew the way.

"Oh thank god."

Pidge's voice, but...above them?

He tilted his head back and would have laughed if the gas wasn't making him so dizzy. She was clinging to the ceiling, a gas mask on her face, and she dropped to the floor next to them with ease and handed over two more.

Her eyes searched Rax as Keith pulled the mask on. "I would have brought a third if I had known," she said.

Rax waved a hand. "No matter. Let's move."

He and Lance each took one of Rax's arms as the man started to sway, following Pidge's mad dash to the entrance.

The route she took the moment the cement changed to brick and pavement was well mapped into Keith's head, and he realized that it was the route he and Shiro had prepared when they had tried to break Matt out.

The van doors were open in the back, Hunk and Shiro leaning out and each clinging to a door handle. Coran was in the back, monitoring vitals on the gas masks. Allura was the driver, then. "Let's go!" Hunk hissed.

Lance and Keith shoved Rax in before them, tumbling to the floor and pulling Pidge in just as the alarms started blaring in the prison wing. Hunk and Shiro slammed the doors. The van jolted to life before they even spoke, peeling out of the alley and down the road. The moment it turned off the main street, Allura slowed her driving, blending easily with the traffic. Keith and Lance pulled off their masks and took deep breaths.

Pidge and Hunk crushed Lance in a hug, and Shiro clapped Keith on the shoulder, a knowing twinkle in his eyes. Keith grunted as Pidge slammed into his chest, wrapping him in a tight hug. "Christ," he choked. He settled his hand on her head despite himself.

"You two all right?" Coran asked.

"We're okay," Lance assured him. "Check on Rax, though? He inhaled more of that smoke than we did."

Hunk's head whipped up and the blood spilled from his face. He looked like he had seen a ghost. "I'm sorry, Rax?"

"Ah," the man coughed, waving Coran off and accepting the bottle of water Pidge held out. "You must be Hunk, then. Lance said you were-"

"Dating your sister."

"Yes."

"That you haven't seen in months."

"Correct."

"Because she's convinced you're dead."

Rax pursed his lips and stared down at the water bottle. Keith held up his hands, swaying as the van turned a corner. "Wait, wait, hold on, what happened with the two of you?"

Hunk studied him, face wary, and Keith suddenly wasn't sure they should have rescued him. If Hunk was wary, that wasn't a good sign. "You were never close. You ignored Shay, disowned her activism. Look where that got you, man. When you disappeared, no one was worried about you except Shay."

Hunk's voice lifted, shrill. "Do you have ANY idea how upset she was when she figured out the Galra got you? She's been certain you were dead. The Galra told your parents you abandoned them."

"Well it's not as if I could have told her otherwise," Rax snapped, looking up. There was a growl of anger in his voice, passion in his eyes. "My time there allowed me to reflect. You do not get to judge me given that you do not even know me."

Hunk's jaw clicked audibly and Shiro held up his hands. "Okay. Okay, it's clear there's a little tension. Look, we'll drive for a bit, get suspicion off our tails, and then head back to the safe house. We can decide what to do in the morning."

Hunk's shoulders relaxed and Keith sighed, rubbing his eyes. Pidge studied them. "Did any of you gain any useful intel, at least? Rax especially?"

Rax shrugged. "I dug a lot of graves. I can tell you where many of them are. I can tell you some personal tidbits about guards who spoke liberally. That's about it."

Keith sighed again and shook his head. "Not much. Just that the guy who took us is named Sendak."

Lance looked up, finally showing his face, and Pidge shouted at the sight of the cut. Shiro instantly dove for the first-aid kit, and Keith cursed himself for not doing that as soon as they were safe. "Lance, what ha-?"

The flash drive he held up shut her up instantly. "Will this help? I swiped it off Sendak."

Keith's jaw fell. "You...while he tortured you?"

A wry smile slid over Lance's face. "Yeah."

He could kiss him. He could kiss him right now.

He refrained.

No one, aside from Thace, had ever gotten Galra intel out of headquarters without getting killed, not anything useful anyway. Nothing that could take Zarkon down. Nothing truly worth it, truly important.

But if Sendak had it, it was important.

Lance continues to be the best boi, and I'm very much enjoying playing with Coran and Rax's characters. Coran did not nearly live up to the potential he could have in the show, which is one of my only complaints about it. He's such a badass and no one acknowledges it, so I like to emphasize that in my writing.

Next update features a lot of Rax and Shay, actually. It's time for another flashback ;)