Author's Note: Special Thanks to katiewinchester87, PersonaBailey, Sky Cat, Candyphone, Star-The-Writer, Guest, Triscribe, civilcollins, just fan things, chocolatechipwiz, JackieStarSister, KnightOwl247, Guest (A Faithful Reader), sayanite, avidbeader, Fluehatraya, rainbowrider1290, Strawberry r Kitty, ShatteredIce18, IcyPanther, Kinzichi, SailorNeptune17, migrane, CocoMint, Sage McGavin, Lightstormlynn, Justanangryfangirl, JapaneseMitsuye, Bookdancer, sadisticwriter42, Guest, FangirlShipper-45, C'est moi, SabreML, ereborbust, spot6600, 22velvetspoons, and Dragonsroses. Thank you all soooo much for your wonderful and kind reviews!
Welcome to all new favouriters and followers! :D
So. I know I've fallen off the writing wagon for this fic, but my muse was dumb, school was intense, etc., etc., etc., lame-o excuses. ANYWAY, I separated this next prompt into two sections. I haven't written Part II at all, but you all have been so patient and kind, that I'm just going to post Part I. You deserve it! :D
Also, this fic has reached 506 reviews (how? why? what did I do to deserve 506?) and so I give a virtual hug to and throw virtual confetti at C'est moi for being the 500th review! Merci beaucoup, mon ami(e)!
Heads up: I'm still ignoring Seasons 3 and 4 for now. Matt may or may not feature eventually. I haven't worked anything out yet.
And now, without further ado, Chapter 21!
For ThatOneBlondeNerd. (At last!)
Chapter 21: Birds of a Feather, Part I
The eggs had hatched a few weeks ago, four all-told. It was a good brood, all healthy and strong. In three months, they would be ready to fly, but for now, their wings were tiny and useless, and the hatchlings ate and slept, doing and being capable of little else. There was little to fear until one day when strange birds visited that strange nest on the other side of the mountain, and four became three.
-:-:-:-
"Pidge, for the millionth time, get out of there!"
Pidge gritted her teeth and willed the download faster. "We need this info, Hunk. You nagging me won't make this go faster."
"You have two doboshes, Pidge," Shiro cut in over the coms. "If it's not done, you cut and run. Do you understand?"
"Yeah, Shiro. Got it."
"Lance, you carry her out of there if you have to."
Pidge locked eyes with Lance who stood by the door, his rifle gleaming in the holoscreens' light. His gaze didn't leave hers as he said, "Copy that."
Pidge said nothing and turned back to the console, her eyes flicking up to monitor the download. Seventy-two percent… seventy-six…
Less than two minutes later, a not-too-far-away explosion rocked the outpost. Lance stumbled against the doorframe and Pidge gripped the console to keep balance.
"What was that?" she began to say but Keith cut her off.
"We got a fleet! They're bombarding the mountain!"
"Pidge, we need to go," Lance said, advancing towards her.
"I'm not leaving until this is finished, and I still have half a dobosh left." Ninety-three percent. Come on, come on…
A hand swept into view, snatching the downloading chip from its port.
"Lance!" Pidge protested as arms wrapped around her waist and jerked her upward, tossing her over a shoulder.
"I'm sorry, Pidge," Lance bit out as he ran out of the room and down the hall. "Your life is not worth this!"
"But the universe's is?" Pidge shot back. "Put me down!"
"Shiro, we're cutting and running!"
"Copy that. We'll try to keep them from bringing the mountain down on you, but hurry up and get to your Lions."
Klaxons blared and Pidge swore. "Put me down now! That's for the lockdown! They'll trap us in here! I can run just fine!"
Lance hesitated for a second before swinging her down mid-step. Pidge had done this multiple times in training, so it was second-nature to land smoothly and settle into a run.
Hunk suddenly shouted: "The outer doors just slammed shut!"
Then Coran butted in. "It's a systematic lockdown. The doors are closing from the outside in. Pidge, if you use your bayard, you might be able to overload the…"
"Overload the door locks and open them manually," Pidge finished. "Got it. How many doors between us and outside?"
"From the looks of it, I'd say about…eleven."
"Eleven?"
A great clang echoed in front of them and they slid to a halt at the abrupt dead-end. Pidge ripped her way into the panel and activated her bayard amongst the exposed wiring. Sparks burst and the doors slid apart a few centimeters. "Lance!" she called.
Lance lunged forward and pried them apart with a squeal. It wasn't more than a couple of feet, but it was enough, and Pidge slipped through with Lance behind her.
"Ten doors left," he announced.
"Good," said Shiro. "Coran, send their progress to us. I want a live feed."
Pidge and Lance never heard Coran's acquiescence; from down the adjacent hall on their left came a squad of Galra drones, blasters firing. They both ducked, their shields on-lining within the second, and scurried past the intersection just as another explosion rocked the small outpost.
They covered each other as they fled, Lance protecting Pidge from behind as they ran and as she worked on each panel, and she shielded him while he pried the doors open. It was times like this when she wished Coran would let her wear the Olkari gem in the field. Missions were forbidden ground for the headband, and while Pidge could understand why (it had only been five weeks since her first training session), it didn't stop her from wanting an extra weapon that could serve her in a long-range style. Plus, she could have just reduced the doors to molecules and made their escape that much easier.
But life was never that easy, not for a Defender of the Universe.
"Last door," Coran informed them.
Pidge and Lance ripped it open with prejudice, the gang of Galra drones behind them having been thinned substantially.
"You're coming out on the east side," said Shiro. "We'll cover you –"
"What the hell is that!?" screeched Keith, sending Pidge and Lance scurrying backwards towards the base's shelter. Words like bomb, missile, and druid dashed through her brain, and Lance stood in front of her, rifle at the ready for anything, while she guarded his back.
Hunk's voice was torn between awe and horror as he relayed, "Guys, we've got a bird! Like, an actual bird. It's freaking huge and just took out a fighter! Holy crap, there's another one!"
With a low, keening trill, the bird swept low over the base, and Pidge's jaw dropped. Freaking huge was right – it was bigger than Green was long from nose to rump, and had the wingspan to carry it. The creature was pure white, matching the snow that was on the mountaintops and blowing through the air, with deep violet markings on its head, breast, and wings. The backdraft from its wings as it flew over made them both stumble against the ruined door, snow flying against their visors. Rubbing at her visor, Pidge saw the second – this one marked in gold – follow its partner, and together they soared into the surrounding clouds and disappeared.
Pidge tore her gaze away and looked to Green across the icy landing pad. Three hundred metres separated them, but with the birds, the Galra fighters, and three of Voltron's Lions surging overhead, it might as well have been three hundred kilometers.
Green's worry, already filtering through her mind, spiked. My Paladin! she shouted just as Lance, too, yelled and yanked her to the side. Blaster fire struck the wall above their heads, and what was left of the doors blew down in a screech of torn and melted metal: more drones, and at their head was a squad of soldiers.
Friggin' perfect.
She brought her shield up just in time to avoid a volley of shots. "We need cover now!" she yelled. Twenty-five on two were horrible odds.
"I'm on my way! Hang on!"
"In the name of Emperor Zarkon, lay down your weapons or we'll open fire!" a commander ordered.
"Hold your ground, Pidge, and hold your shield." Lance's voice was surprisingly calm beside her. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him crouch around her legs and raise his rifle. Pidge angled her shield ever-so-slightly to allow him the shot, and he took it.
The commander dropped, falling on his face.
She stepped back, letting the creature fall on her face, and Pidge couldn't help but think of Ghovu, face-down in his own blood.
"Oh, no," she rasped. No, no, no. She was getting better. She was getting better. Why was this happening? Why was this happening now? Training with the gem had helped stem the nightmares and flashbacks – she hadn't had one of either in almost two weeks now. She was supposed to be getting better…
Somewhere nearby, Green roared.
"PIDGE!" An arm snagged her around the waist, yanking her down. Transparent turquoise seared through the images behind her eyes, and she blinked then blinked again.
Lance's shield was covering them both. While the lieutenants had faltered at the death of their commander, the drones, machines that they were, returned fire.
Lance was shouting into the coms: "…idge isn't responding! Where's that cover!?"
"Right here! Open fire on this!" The Yellow Lion plummeted and landed hard on all fours in the midst of the enemy troop. Pidge held perfectly still as Yellow's tail swung overhead, a scanty three feet off their skulls. The tell-tale sound of Lion cannon fire echoed off the mountain, and then Black and Red fell low, aiming for the base itself.
The Galra scattered, shouting in fear, while the drones continued to shoot.
"Lance." Pidge touched the hand around her midriff, ignoring how wispy her voice sounded. "I'm okay. I'm okay."
Lance met her gaze, and she saw the doubt in his face, but then Shiro was in their ears.
"If you guys can run, do it now!" he commanded. "Keith, watch for those birds in case they come back."
Lance's grip shifted, hauling at her, "Time to go! We have to run!" and they scrambled to their feet, racing for their Lions.
They were nearly there when Keith shouted a warning: the birds were back. One – the violet one – swooped down from the cloudy peaks above while the gold one reared up from below. They veered before they could collide, going left and right, and flew in tight circles around the platform. Green roared and lunged upward, defending her paladin. Blue, too, rumbled, lumbering to all fours. Pidge and Lance paused, caught between opposing forces.
"Can anyone get a clear shot at these things?" demanded Shiro.
"Lance and Pidge are out in the open. I can't get a clear shot. The birds are moving too fast!" Keith replied, and Hunk was busy with the drones still pouring out of the base.
"We're gonna have to run for it," said Lance. "Blue, baby, calm down! We need to get out of here!"
Blue obeyed but Green still snarled, not firing but about to.
Pidge lunged forward, calling. "Stop it, Green! Leave them alone! They're not doing anything! Quit freaking out!"
Green will protect my Paladin. My Paladin will not suffer again.
"I'm fine!" she shouted back, not bothering with the mental link; the blaster shots behind her didn't inspire comfort, and at the back of her mind, a crowd shouted for blood. She spotted Lance at Blue's ramp, hesitating as he glanced back at her.
"Pidge, what is Green doing? Get in and get out of there!"
"You try boarding a rampaging Lion, Shiro!" Her voice broke on his name, her terror piquing and leaking out. She was out in the open with only her bayard and shield. Her Lion was reacting to her emotions, she knew. There was no way to calm her until she calmed herself first.
Maybe it was good that she hadn't brought the headband.
A loud screech made everyone look up. Keen gold eyes were luminescent in the driving snow, and those eyes were fixed on Pidge.
Both Green and Blue snarled a warning (Lance tumbling into his Lion as she moved) but neither bird heeded. They both dived, talons outstretched.
"Pidge!" She couldn't tell who shouted her name.
My Paladin! Come to Green!
The order shattered Pidge's terror and she obeyed, lunging towards her Lion.
The birds were faster.
The white world went dark. Something massive landed on top of her, thick ropes wrapped around her, and then the world brightened once more as the ground fell away in a whoosh of wind and feathers.
"Green!" Pidge screamed, reaching over the scaly toes.
Green is coming, my Paladin!
"Paladins, you have incoming!" Coran warned at the same time.
Snow and feathers blurred together as a flock – or murder or committee or whatever – streamed past the gold-marked bird and Pidge. Screaming and shrieking, they fell among the pursuing Lions, gouging and tearing from every angle, grabbing tails, guns, and panelling.
"No!" Pain ripped through Pidge when three massive birds ganged up on Green and tore through her circuits. Shouts erupted from the coms as her friends felt their Lions' pain and tried to fight despite it, tried to get to her.
And the bird continued to carry Pidge higher and higher and farther and farther away from her Lion and her team and her home.
-:-:-:-
Green was in the worst condition, unable to get off the ground, let alone fly herself back to her hangar. While the shield on her back had protected her somewhat, the birds had been ruthless, going for the belly, sides, and neck. Her tail gun had nearly been ripped in half and the cockpit was open to the elements.
Manoeuvering Yellow (who was sparking and listing slightly to one side) through the confines of Green's hangar and disengaging the towing cable, Hunk watched Green slump – slump! – to the floor and keen.
Yellow landed without him doing so and lay down beside her fellow Lion. Hunk quickly exited and rested his hand on the massive, green paw.
"It's gonna be okay," he said. They would get Pidge back. They would get Green and Blue and Yellow all fixed up. It was all going to be okay.
Green's high-pitched keening trailed off into a low whine, and Yellow stutteringly purred down their bond.
Thank you, Paladin mine.
-:-:-:-
Pidge was holding back tears when they finally landed, the bird setting Pidge down on a wide ledge. Green was attempting to block their bond to keep her paladin from feeling her pain, but some leaked through anyway. Waves of agony rippled through Pidge's brain and heart, and she tried her best to ignore them and instead looked around.
She couldn't see the ground when she peered over the edge, but she did spot other ledges with large nests tucked against the cliff-face. She counted four nests, those she could see; the clouds obscured the rest, if there were any.
"Looks like a nice neighbourhood you have up here," she observed idly.
A beak nudged her chest, pushing her away from the edge and into a massive nest of twigs, branches, feathers, and lichen. Three chicks, pure white but for coloured markings on their fluffy bodies, chirped and chirruped at her.
The chicks were as tall as Pidge, maybe an inch or two bigger.
Pidge took one look at the green-splashed chicks and groaned. Of course. Of course this had to happen to her.
Her com wasn't working – too far or interference from the storm (she needed to fix that) – so she sat down in the nest, pulled her knees up, and rested her chin there. "Guess I'm going to be here for a while," she said to the chicks who continued to cheep and hop around her. "Oof! No. Get off. I'm not a jungle gym! I'm not your sibling!"
The gold-marked bird (Pidge was beginning to suspect it was female) hopped close and peered at Pidge, blinking a bright, golden eye. She trilled and nudge Pidge towards the centre of the nest.
"Okay, okay. I'm going. No need to push." She plopped herself down and glared. "Happy now?"
The bird made a 'prrrt' noise before straddling the nest on legs as thick as Shiro's waist.
"Oh, no…"
Pidge had to admit that, even though she was lying in a pitch-black nest and being sat on by a giant bird, she was quite comfortable.
Green, Pidge begged.
Far away though she was, in pain from torn panelling and circuits, Green purred at her. Pride Voltron comes for my Paladin, she promised. Be patient. Pride Voltron will come.
-:-
Thank you for reading! Please review! :)