All previous disclaimers apply.
-
Lance sat up, panting, his body drenched in a cold sweat. It took him a moment to get his bearings, then he quickly got to his feet, and turned on the lights.
"Hey!" Hunk moaned.
"What the hell?" Cliff added vehemently.
"Where's Keith?" Lance demanded, seeing his Captain's empty bed.
"Probably up on the Bridge. Where else?" Hunk replied, rolling back over.
"Lance, mate are you alright?" Cliff asked, seeing the expression on his friend's face. "What's wrong?"
Lance ignored them both, and threw on his clothes, not noticing his shirt was inside out, or bothering to put on shoes. He ran out the door, leaving his roommates behind, looking at each other in confusion.
"What do you think that was all about?" Hunk asked.
Cliff got out of bed. "I have no idea, but I'm going to find out." He and Hunk followed Lance out the door.
"He's heading for the Bridge. We'd better tell the Admiral and Keith." Hunk said.
Cliff nodded and punched a button on his Com-band. "Admiral, Lance just flew out of here like the devil himself was at his heels. He's upset about something, and headed for the bridge."
"I'll be right there." Harrison told them.
Cliff pressed another button. "Keith, Lance just—"
"I heard. I'm already there. Montgomery out."
Cliff looked askance at Hunk. "Well, he's still in a delightful mood."
"Let's go." Hunk replied. Together they ran to the bridge.
Lance burst on the bridge. Keith stepped in front of him. "Lance, what is it?"
"We need to contact Arus. Now. Please Keith!" Lance pleaded.
Keith looked at him carefully. Lance was pale, his green eyes bright. Cliff and Hunk arrived on the Bridge, with Admiral Harrison and Kim, close behind them.
Commander Hazar and Dorma came through another door. "What is going on?" Hazar demanded.
Lance whirled, startled at the sound of his voice. Keith placed a restraining hand on Lance. "Commander, is it possible for us to contact Arus?"
Hazar looked puzzled. "Arus? Whatever for?"
Keith glanced at Lance again, then turned back to Hazar. "We just need to contact them Sir."
Hazar looked at them closely. Then he nodded. "Very well. Scramble the signal." He ordered one of his officers.
The young man nodded, and shortly Coran appeared on the screen. "Keith!"
"Coran. Everything all right down there?" Keith asked.
Coran sighed. "I should have realized that you would already know." He said soberly.
"Know what?" Keith asked, his body going cold.
Lance stepped forward. "It's Jeff, isn't it?" He asked quietly, a catch in his voice.
Cliff moved forward, his heart in his throat, to stand next to Lance. Coran closed his eyes and sighed. "Captain Dunbar went into cardiac arrest a short while ago. The doctors did all they could." He looked up at them. "I'm sorry."
The room grew quiet. Lance closed his eyes, clenching his fists. Then he turned and stormed from the room. Cliff gave a strangled gasp and followed on his heels. Kim turned into her father's arms. Hunk moved forward, and placed his hand on Keith's shoulder. "Thank you Coran." Keith said hoarsely. Coran's image disappeared.
The bridge was deadly quiet. Hazar started towards Keith. "Captain, I am sorry. Jeff Dunbar was a good man. And a good friend." He said solemnly.
"Yes Commander, he was. If you'll excuse me." Keith shrugged Hunk's arm away, and left the bridge.
Dorma looked in the direction Lance had gone. After a moment, she followed. Hazar watched her go, a concerned look on his face, but did not try to stop her. Kim squeezed her father's hand, and walked over to Hunk. "Hunk? Is there anything I can do?" She asked him.
Hunk shook his head, blinking the tears from his eyes. "No Kim. Thanks. I think I'll go for a walk." He too left the bridge.
Hazar put his hand on her shoulder. "Go to your Team." He told Kim and the Admiral. "I will take care of things here. We are almost to the wormhole. We will be in range of Trasana by this time tomorrow."
"Thank you Commander." Harrison took Kim's hand, and together they followed the others.
Hazar turned back and looked out at the stars. His throat tightened with grief for Jeff. Lotor, you have much to answer for.
-
Keith made his way to the Cargo Deck, and climbed up into his Black Lion. He sat down and stared out the window. He leaned over and opened a small drawer. He pulled out some tattered photographs. He sat there, looking at them. The first picture was the one of him and his parents, taken when he was nine. Another showed Keith, Sven, Lance, Cliff, Jeff and Crick, all in their dress uniforms, graduating from the Academy. They were all smiling, arms draped over each others shoulders. Keith closed his eyes, and swallowed the lump in his throat.
Keith looked at the last photo. It showed Allura and the rest of the Team, all standing in front of the Castle, waving. Keith stared at the picture, then he put them back in the drawer. He reached into his pocket and took out his mother's necklace, the one he had given to Allura. He clutched it tightly in his hands, anger coursing through him. Damn Lotor. I should have killed him when I had the chance. It won't happen again. This I promise.
-
Lance walked blindly through the Druhle ship. Finally, he stopped to catch his breath, leaning against a wall. This area of the ship seemed deserted. Good. I don't want to be near anyone right about now. Lance closed his eyes, his whole body trembling. He heard some one walking towards him, and turned away. A small hand slipped into his.
"Lance?"
Lance turned and fell into Dorma's arms. She held him tightly for a moment. "Come. My quarters are near here." She led him down the hall, stopping in front of a large door. She pressed a few buttons on the keypad. The door opened and they went inside.
Lance didn't pause to look around, he headed straight for a couch in front of an enormous window. He sat down with his head in his hands. Dorma walked around quietly, turning on softly colored lights. When she finished, she sat down next to Lance, not quite touching him. He didn't move. She sat quietly for a few minutes. "Lance? How did you know?"
Lance jumped up as if he'd been shot, and walked over to stand in front of the window. He stood there, not really looking out. "Ever since I was a kid, I've had these…
feelings, I'd guess you'd call them. Sometimes they're really vague, just a gut reaction that something was going to happen." He sighed. "Other times, like tonight, it's crystal clear. Like I'm there, as what ever happens, happens." He started to shake. "I saw him die Dorma. I saw Jeff as clearly as I saw when Allura got kidnapped."
Dorma got up and walked over to Lance. She turned his head to look down at her. "The Druhles call it Kach'Ara Delindra, The Sight. It is a very special gift you have Lance Harrison." She told him.
Lance shook his head and turned away. "It's a curse."
Dorma pulled him back to her. "A curse? How can you say that!" She said angrily. "How many times has this been useful to you?" Lance looked at her in surprise. Dorma's face was flushed violet with anger. Her voice rose as she started towards him. Lance backed away, but she followed him. "Have you ever been able to use these…these feelings to prepare in advance? Have you been able to save lives with these visions? People die Lance, it is the way of life. Especially those of you who have pledged your lives for others. You and your friends go out every day, and protect what's yours, never knowing if today will be your last. Jeff didn't ask to die. But he did, and now you go to avenge him, and the Princess, knowing you may die as well. That is life. We all go on this mission, wanting to return victorious, but that may not happen. I, for one, would cherish this gift you have. But instead, you curse it." She turned away from him. "Deslava! Leave me. I have not the time to waste on a coward."
"Coward? Coward?" Lance advanced on Dorma, his green eyes flashing fire. "I'll tell you what a coward is. A coward is some one who denies what he sees. Someone who would rather keep his mouth shut rather than risk being ostracized for telling people what he knows. Someone who sits idly by watching as people get killed rather than speak up to save them." He stood over Dorma, who was now backed against the wall. "I'm no damned coward Dorma. Every time this happens, I bare my soul telling my friends. Do you think it's easy having this power! I know I risk everything every time I mention that something is about to happen, but does that stop me? NO." Lance turned away from her, and marched angrily towards the door. "Think about that for a while."
"Lance, wait." Lance stopped, his body quivering in anger. Dorma walked over to stand next to him. "I'm sorry. Please stay." She said quietly, refusing to meet his eyes.
That simple remark broke through Lance's anger. He turned to face her, watching as a tear fell from her cheek. Lance sighed and took her into his arms. "I'm sorry too."
They stood there for a few moments, before Lance led her back to the couch. He pulled her against him as they sat looking out at the stars. "It is hard, having something in you no one understands." Dorma finally said. "I know."
"Hmmm…Tell me about your healing gift." Lance responded, changing the subject.
Dorma sighed. "It is not common in the Druhle Empire. I have never known anyone else to have it. But I have read about it in books." She sat up and looked at him. "It is not what it seems. I cannot bring one back from death. I can only supplement what healing the body is doing on its own. Sometimes, if the emotion is strong enough, I can sense others thoughts." She sighed. "Mostly, I use it only in emergencies. I do not like to advertise that I have this kind of power. It is bad enough being Hazar's sister. Most people avoid me as it is."
Lance laughed. "Come on! A beautiful woman like you? I imagine guys fall all over themselves trying to get you."
Dorma punched him lightly on the chest. "They most certainly do not. Try having even a conversation with some one whose brother holds the power of life and death in his hands. If I grew angry with some one, I could order him put to death. That fact alone seems to turn back most suitors."
Lance grinned wickedly at her, his green eyes glowing with amusement. "You haven't scared me off yet."
Dorma narrowed her eyes at him, a matching expression on her face. "Oh really? All I have shared with you are a few kisses."
"I could change that." Lance told her, moving closer.
Dorma pretended to think a moment. "They were nice kisses. In fact—" The rest of what she was going to say was cut off as Lance kissed her ardently. When she got her breath back, she looked at him, her eyes a deep violet. "I can think of a much more comfortable place to continue this." She said huskily.
Without replying, Lance picked her up in his arms, and carried her towards the bedroom, shutting the door behind them.