They're on Earth again.
Keith has an appointment for his two month's check-up, and then they're to bring Kiree to the ship to begin their strategy meeting.
Keith kicks his legs, which are dangled over the side of the examination table. The nurse had checked his vitals. Everything turned out well, she had told him, so now he was just waiting for the doctor. The room made no pretense of being anything other than a government and military facility. Though someone had brought Keith a bouquet of flowers and a helium-inflated balloon that was bobbing underneath the moving air of the heater. A card was next to it that read, "Congratulations of the wedding." It was signed by Iverson "and crew".
His abdomen was beginning its graceful swell. Their child was growing inside him, hopefully healthy.
Keith gives his stomach a few gentle pats, and feels that a smile has worked at his lips.
"Mr. Shirogane, sorry I'm late." The doctor looks a bit frazzled. Her curly red hair is frizzy in its thick ponytail, and her clothes are rumpled underneath the labcoat.
They exchange pleasent conversation. She congratulates him on the marriage, making a comment that the ring is beautiful. They go down a checklist. He tells her about the early lactation, but explains that it's normal for Galra, and that this type of milk is different from the one that will set in to feed his baby. He explains in the hopes that the next pregnant Galra on Earth doesn't have to.
She conducts another ultrasound and everything looks good.
"Well, Mr. Shirogane," he doesn't correct her, despite knowing that it's a gesture of human formality, because it feels good to be called by his husband's name, "Your baby and body are looking healthy. The next appointment we're going to take a lot at the sex of the baby, which I can just note down on our charts, if you'd rather it be a surprise."
He asks why he would need to know that. The question stumps her, until she eventually just says that it's human culture. It's strange, but she hadn't made any faces or comments about him, being pregnant or lactating as a bonding mechanism, so he accepts the answer with grace.
She prints out copies of the ultrasound and Keith holds them tightly to his chest all the way down the hall and to the waiting room, where Shiro is smiling down at his phone.
He wishes the doctor a good day and chats excitedly with Shiro, whom places a hand at his lowerback as they walk out to the car.
The effort of Terran-Intergalactic diplomacy has slowed down since Allura and Hunk left. So Kiree and his pack are still at the shack. When Keith and Shiro arrive, the living room is full of looms, and it looks like Kiree is instructing them. Keith's own pack members are quick to notice his arrival, swiveling their heads his way. He feels bad for leaving as soon as they had bonded. Kiree has told him they would hyper-sensitive to his presence and scents. Keith hoped his absence wasn't weighing too heavy on them.
"The appointment went well." Keith smiles and holds the packet with the ultrasounds out. Kiree is slow to his feet, as he is slow to do everything, though, Keith would more describe it as being careful and at peace, and he accepts the packet.
"Oh, little one. These are lovely. Your little kit is growing." Kiree eases to one knee and presses his forehead to Keith's bump. "You bring us much joy already, kit."
Keith strokes the back of Kiree's head and hums.
"It is good to see you too, Shiro. Stars breathe life upon your bond." Kiree reaches for his left hand and taps gently against the wedding ring.
"Allura has informed me, so I am prepared to leave now. I was teaching weaving, but Temor can take the lead on this until I return."
A beautiful Galra with sharp bone structure and full lips nods her head.
"There is healing in weaving, little one. Your emotions are pulled from your fingertips and spun into the fabric. Some groups have a tradition to create a funeral tapestry-"
"I'm fine, Kiree. Really, thanks."
They're just at the bridge, on the other side of the doors is the meeting room.
"Alright, I trust you. But please keep it in mind. That is all I ask."
Kiree opens the door before Keith can speak.
Hunk, Pidge, and Lance are huddled around each other. Pidge snorts with laughter, and Lance wags his eyebrows. Hunk's head is between his hands, but his shoulder's shaking betrays it.
Allura greets them all as they find their seats. Keith sits between Coran and Shiro, Kiree between Shiro and Hunk. Coran lays a gentle hand on Keith's shoulder, and points to the yellow envelope Keith is cuddling against himself. He hands it to Coran, chuckling because he'd forgotten it was still in his hands. Coran's eyes mist over as he looks over the pictures. He replaced them carefully and nuzzled his nose against Keith's temple.
The chatter at the table abates slowly.
"Thank you for coming Kiree, your wisdom is invaluable in planning this." Allura clicks her tablet on, probably to type up notes. A second tablet is set out in the middle, projecting planet Sweden in hologram.
"It is no trouble. My planet has been at peace through all of the war. I would do anything to help it return to that."
There's a man next to Allura, his skin is lavendar. He types something into his tablet.
"As I have it understood, there was no warning to the invasion?" She has her full attention on Kiree.
"That is correct. One day, our skills filled with ships. At first I had believed that I had forgotten about a large group there for vacation. We're known as a paradise planet, and there are always tourists coming in and out. But, my pack and I live on the protected side of the planet, so the industries are required to warn us when large groups are headed in."
"It wouldn't be the first time they had "forgotten". We know what they say of those of us native to the planet. So, I made my way into the city to discuss it. I was met with Empire soldiers and carnage."
Keith turned toward Kiree. It must have been a barer thing, but he felt pain coming off Kiree in waves; it was intense and he hadn't experienced it quite like that before. His heart sped up. Kiree must have noticed because he looked at Keith, smile soft, and calm washed over Keith.
"They took me hostage until, eventually, my pack came out to find me. We were all placed into a cell. There was whispering of something called "quintessence". I played dumb, when they asked me where the supply was. I said it would take my whole pack to find it. While they were leading us, I sent a signal to the pack and we rolled down into the water."
"We know the waters, so we swam to an emergency hangar and left. That's where we contacted a Blade agent, who directed us here."
Keith cuts in. "Wait, quintessence? Isn't that what you said powers these things?" He pulls at the bullet on a chain around his neck.
"Yes, exactly. Though, quintessence is in everything. What powers that is a concentration of it, the very item specifically collects it. Whatever has brought this knowledge to us, has also brought it to the Empire. What the plan to do with it, we do not know." Allura looks at the projection, as if the soldiers will pop on the surface and show her what they're doing. "That is our second objective there. First, and most important, we need to liberate the planet. We can do that by destroying their base. Kiree, you will help us locate that and navigate there. While you're in, try and gather intel."
Pidge slaps her hands onto the table. "I can hack into their system and set up a transfer of incoming data to my laptop. While I'm doing that, I'll have it load a backup of all their files to a removable drive."
"Uh yeah, I'd like to go with Pidge. Never know when you'll need a mechanic."
"You just want the easier job, away from the action." She snorts.
Hunk raises his hands in surrender, as if he'd try and argue the point.
"Is Mullet in any condition to be going out?" Lance says with a snicker.
"It's Keith. Got something to say?"
"Oh no, no. Just. I mean. You're in a delicate way, so. I was just looking out for your safety."
"Delic- I am not- Worry about yourself."
"Whatever you say, preggo."
"Lance!" Shiro growls. "That's inappropriate. We'll talk about this later. For now we need to focus on the mission."
Matt stays in the castle-ship, where he'll be working on making sure the group avoids unneccessary contact with the soldiers. He'll have maps and live streams, hacked into from the cameras around the town, that he'll be monitoring, as well as Kiree's guidance, while the crew is out there. Lotor, whom Keith finds out is the name of the unidentified man, will assist Matt. Allura is in charge of communicating between the ground team and Matt and Lotor. Coran volunteers to be back up.
"Lance, Hunk, Pidge," Shiro addresses the three, "Keith was raised into a rebel group called the Blade of Marmora, and I was an... unwitting gladiator in a Galra fighting ring during my capture. The two of us are the most capable fighters of the group. I'm not sure what your backgrounds are, or what you're able to do. So, please, stick as close to us as possible until we split off. Either Keith or I will join Hunk and Pidge as a guard."
Keith sees a retort building up in Lance, but one look from Shiro and he withers. Keith can't blame him, either. Shiro is his equal when it comes to being able to disarm with a single glance.
Keith notes that they're all going to need training, not only to work together, but also to bring the other three up to a sufficient level of combat skill. He hopes they can manage the mission this time, at least.
"Hey, it'll be ok." Shiro's hand wraps around his. It's a bit awkward, he has to lean down until Keith raises his arm, and it's so goofy that it's comforting.
"Yeah, ok."
They walk into the hangar to get suited up with armor. Allura tells them that their armor will customize itself over time to its wearer. Until then, they're all wearing the same model, except each has a different color for the accents. Keith reluctantly lets go of Shiro's hand and steps into the chamber. Each piece he pulls on automatically stretches or contracts to his form as it's put on. The undersuit is tight, and black. The armor is white, and his has red accents. He's careful to keep his necklace with the bullet tucked into the chestplate.
He steps out to see Shiro with his armor (handsome) and the fan (ridiculous, but he makes it work).
Keith steps up beside Shiro. "You gonna blow me away? Knock me off my feet with a breeze?"
"Baby, you're gonna set my heart on fire."
They snicker and play shove each other all the way to the ship.
"We ready?" Shiro's behind the pilot's controls, and Keith is set up as his co-pilot.
"As we'll ever be." Hunk gulps. "But uh, I should mention that I.. have a sensitive stomach. So.. maybe take it slow, ya?"
This is gonna be a fun ride, Keith groans.