Comments and kudos are much appreciated.

—Blade Of Marmora base—

(Victor's perspective)

"You seem rather in a good mood." Victor noted as Roland strolled into the great hall of the base. The galra with wolf ears was just watched him suspiciously as Roland continued to smile. Through this kind of smile was the one he absolutely hated most.

Rolandstopped and turned to him. "Is it wrong for me to smile?" He asked.

"It irritates me when you have that look," Victor growled lowly. "It implies that you've found another woman to play with, possibly another woman to seduce."

"I'm still debating whether I should play with her, or stop my little love games with other women to make her mine."

"Oh?" Victor found that unusual, Roland would just move from one lady to the next, but to stick with one was just... "How is she like?"

"I would describe her a bold, deadly...perhaps stubborn-"

"She's not attractive?"

"If she'd grown her hair a little longer, then yes, she would be desirable in the eyes of most men." Roland sighed dreamily. "Her amethyst eyes are quite are like delicate bright jewels, shining away—"

Victor clearly had no intention of those kind of details. But Amethyst eyes? "Is she even galra?" He demanded

Roland smirked, raising a brow. "Why are you interested, Buttons? If I recall, you lost interest in women after Xia's passing."

He never really liked it when Roland called him by his real would often be teased by it. His mother really had terrible taste with names. "I'm curious because you and I both know personal affairs is only acceptable if its within the blade. This woman is an outsider, you ought to be careful."

Roland chuckled, brushing the idea off. "There's no need for you to worry. She's one of the paladins of voltron." a few heartbeats passed, letting that intel sink in. "Don't tell Kolivan."

Paladins of voltron? No, he couldn't…. amethyst eyes were— "...Ebony hair? Delicate pale skin? Smells like cherries?"

Roland eyes glinted, surprised. "You know her personally? That's quite shocking. You're not having an affair with her, are you? That would ruin my-"

Before he was done, Victor suddenly punched him at his jaw that made the galra lose balance. Roland hit the ground, hard. "My advice to you, Roland," Victor said in a dangerous and murderous tone, his canines bearing, "is that you dare not lay a finger on her."

Roland looked up to him and gave a half smile while touching his injured jaw. "So she is your woman."

"She's not. But I deeply care for her. And you better stay away. Any funny business and I'll deal with and it'll involve a dagger, a shovel, and an unmarked grave."

Roland frowned. "What value is she to you if you are not in love with her?"

"My uncle told me she would be a tremendous asset to win this war.. And.." He hesitated.

"And?"

"...she reminds me of Xia…"

It was then the galra realized how serious the conversation was. The topic of his sister… just bringing it up was too much for Victor, everyone in the blade knew that. "Come to think of it," Roland said contemplatively, "you threatened you'll slit my throat if i ever touched Xia...but.." He looked at him with pity. "But the red paladin isn't your sister."

Victor looked away. He kept reminding himself that. Kept telling himself that his sister isn't alive anymore..."I know...but they are exactly alike. I don't want to lose her, either."

Roland thought for a few heartbeats . "You've given her Xia's crystal, haven't you? I saw it hanging around her neck, but i was doubtful."

Silence...

"...you cannot tell Kolivan about this," Victor finally said.

The galra smiled while he got up and dusted himself. "Unfortunately for me, I have grown fond of her as well. I'm unlikely to tell him. Even if he wallops us."

—past, training room—

"I fail to see how making poems can help me feel better," Elena said in a grumpy way to Felix while she reloaded her gun.

"It is scientifically proven that making poems can help you express yourself better," Felix replied, helping Kate load her gun. "Makes you feel great letting all those words out, you know. Especially since we currently don't have a therapist to talk to about all the killings we've committed in such a young age."

"True," Glade agreed, punching the dummy.

This was completely normal for them. Talking about who or what they were forced to kill, training with guns and knives in this big trading room while they were watched by their escorts right outside the door.

It was totally normal for them.

Elena shot again, shooting twice on the dummy's head. "I feel better imagining about it than letting it all out."

Alex chuckled while bandaging his hand. "I'm guessing it's torturing that doctor and his lackeys for what he turned us into."

Elena smiled. "Oh it's better than that. I imagine I'm in a cabin in the middle of nowhere. Inside it's just me, and that stupid, slimy sadistic bastard. And I'm beating the hell out of him. I'm breaking the dining room table over his head, then I rip off his arms, and shove it where the sun don't shine. And I reach down his throat, and shake his hand."

They all gaped at her.

Elena rolled her eyes. "Oh, come on! Don't tell me you don't fantasize yourself getting revenge on that sadistic doctor."

Glade raised his hands. "I usually dream of the day I walk out of this facility alive with all of you and see that doc behind bars."

Elena gave him unamused look. "You're too soft, Glade."

Felix patted Kate's head and smiled at her weakly. "Just try not to be as violent like her," he pointed at Elena currently headlocking Alex and Glade, "Okay, Kate?"

The 6 year old girl unknowingly blushed. "Okay,"

But that was one promise she couldn't keep...

—present, castle—

(Pidge's perspective)

"Do I look any different to you?" Lance asked Hunk.

Hunk frowned. "No, why?"

"Just-I-i've been feeling so tingy all morning," He paused . "...something's wrong. Slaughter must have given me another parting gift without me realizing. I feel like I'm going to mutate like the Hulk. I might turn into a werewolf. O-or What will happen to my hair?"

Pidge rolled her eyes and looked in another direction.

It was clear that Kate was looking completely hollow.

While the boys were busy throwing spores at each other, Kate didn't join them. In fact, Pidge didn't think the raven haired was paying attention at all. She was completely spaced out, watching the black void before her, hardly saying a word. Letting Shiro go, moving on from him...must have been a huge step for her. Pidge floated to her direction and whispered . "Kate?"

The raven haired girl suddenly snapped her eyes at her. "Hey, sorry, I was remembering something. What's up?"

"Nothing, I just wanted to see if you were okay...you're okay, right?"

Kate smiled weakly. "Yeah, why wouldn't I be?"

Pidge forced a smile. She was so not okay. And she was terrible at lying. How the heck did she get away with a bunch of lies about her gender all these years?

Kate seemed to notice the containment she was holding. "What's that? Snow?"

"Pidge," Shiro called from the distance, "is everything alright?"

Pidge turned to him with a forced smile, one of her eyes were twitching. Great job you blind, ignorant, high leader. You shattered her soul! Pidge wanted scream those words to him, but she just grumbled, "it's nothing."

Kate cringed. "Your emotions were pretty negative," she whispered. "I get why you're mad at him."

"Are you going to strangle me for insulting him through my thoughts?"

Kate chuckled. "I moved on, remember? Besides, it's not me, it's his lover to decide." Kate ducked a spore from hitting her and it hit the smaller girl instead.

"Oh, sorry, Pidge," Lance said, "I was trying to hit Ke—"

Pidge stopped him by hitting the spore back to his face. Kate muffled a small laugh that escaped her lips, but said nothing as she floated back to the boys direction, Pidge sighed heavily.

She was so not okay...

—way later, at the forest—

"When the Galra attacked," Ryner said with sadness as they walked, "only a few of us escaped the cities. We were forced to flee into the forest."

"How long have you lived like this?" Shiro asked.

"Many decafeebs. But, as you can see," she smiled with pride, "our people are resilient. We never stopped evolving. Instead, we adapted our skills to the environment."

Kate watched with amazement. As she stood, she felt someone tap her leg. A little Olkari girl was near her. "Are you here to save us?"She asked innocently, Kate forgot she used be like that once before ...before that doctor…

She cleared her head. "Yeah," she knelt to her as her friends continued to talk with Ryner. "What's your name?"

"Emily," she replied politely.

Kate flinched by that name, she nearly jumped. But it took all her self control to stop herself looking uncomfortable or horrified. It's just mere coincidence this little looking six year old Olkarion girl had the same name as her best friend did...Kate never saw her again, though.

She left this hellish world 12 years ago...

"Do you think you can save my people," she asked, "my family? I haven't seen them for so long after my birth."

Kate smiled at her. "We will...I promise you that."

She never kept her promises that well, not even the one she had with Felix as she turned as violent as Elena did after she broke, but she swore to keep this one.

"Hey, tell me, guys,"Kate heard Lance say behind her, " do you think my hair is thinning?" He ran his fingers through his hair, while them.

She heard Pidge growl at him. "For the last time, Slaughter didn't do anything to you. And you're not losing your hair, Lance!"

"Okay, so if I wake up bald tomorrow, women will still be attracted to me?"

There was a pause.

"Ummm…"

Lance looked horrified. "Oh my god, they wouldn't!" He said in panic.

"I didn't say that!" Pidge said quickly.

"No, but you were thinking it! I can see it in your face!"

Kate frowned. Why was Lance worried about being bald now? He wasn't old yet.

—later, when they tried to rescue Lubos—

"Looks like someone came to rescue you, Lubos." The galra commander said after Lubos betrayed them. And that just pissed her off.

"You turned your back on your people to save your own skin?" Shiro turned that bastard king with disbelief.

"I'm doing this for my people!" Lubos spayed his arms. "They wanted to fight the Galra, but they are too powerful! The Galra could destroy us!"

"So, you helped enslave your people to build some super weapon?" Lance demanded, raising his bayard.

"Don't make me the bad guy! He forced me to do it!"

Kate clenched her jaw. He did all of this...he enslaved that little girl's family from her for so long. To think this bastard could sink so long despite being a king!

"You're no king," Kate growled. She made eye contact with the other Olkari and used her command ability to give Lubos to him. And that's exactly what he did. After her eyes turned yellow, he threw him towards Kate, having him being taken forcefully and her bayard turned into a sword, resting on the scoundrel's neck.

"Okay, we're walking out of here!" She snarled, baring her sharpened canines, "Anyone tries to stop us and Lubos gets it!" They were surrounded by soldiers, she had no choice but to fight fire with fire.

"Whoa, K-Keith!" shiro was dumbstruck.

"That came out of nowhere!" Lance exclaimed.

"La-sai," Lubos said, "What are you doing?"

"You betrayed our people." The Olkari said strongly, "I can't live this lie anymore."

Kate said aggressively, "You don't want me to hurt your genius engineer, right?"

"Oh, be my guest," The galra commander replied as he smiled wickedly. "His work is done. The cube is complete."

Tsk. Use and dispose was his game the whole time, huh?

"What?" Lubos stammered. "But-But I thought we had a deal!"

Kate threw Lubos at one of her friends and raised her shield. "What did you expect? Zarkon's lackeys always played dirty just like their emperor." The sentries began firing at them, but she firmly blocked every attack, "And they knew you were gullible enough to fall for it!"

Then pidge came with her lion and saved them.

—later—

Shiro threw Lubos at his knees before his people. The were strange whispers among the crowd, like an echo of words never heard before. Especially about their king.

Ryner walked towards them confused."Lubos, What's going on?"

"While your countrymen starved," Shiro said in a disapproving tone, "King Lubos was well taken care of by the Galra. He willingly helped them build that cube, willingly helped to enslave his own people."

A wave of gasps was heard from the crowd.

"Lubos, how could you?"

"I- I had to!" The king said, "Fighting against the galra is impossible. I've seen their defenses and weapons, we don't stand a chance!"

Kate's face darkened. She lowered her head to let her bangs cover her eyes as fury slowly grew in her chest.

Don't let the leash snap, she told herself. Don't let it snap!

"When we came in, you looked pretty comfortable," Lance pointed out, "care to explain that?"

"I-I was just asking them to bring me things to keep them busy. I was just trying to delay their plans."

That was a lie. Kate clenched her jaw and growled as silently as she could. That was a damn lie.

Don't let it snap. Don't—

Lubos went on, "I helped the galras to help you all. I couldn't stop their plans anyway. I'm no fighter."

The leash snapped...

(Shiro's perspective)

Something fast zipped past Lubos, narrowly missing his neck and embedded itself to a tree trunk behind the king. Shiro tham realized it was a dagger. Keith's bayard changed into a dagger.

All eyes were locked at the raven haired boy. Keith had his head down when he threw his weapon and Shiro knew all hell's going to break loose if he didn't stop the younger boy. "Keith—" he started.

"And you still call yourself a king to your people?" Keith's voice sounded so murderous and livid, that Shiro stopped himself. He lifted his head and the black paladin's eyes widened by the sight of his face. His violet eyes turned narrow and catlike as his teeth sharpened. "You pathetic jackass!"He bellowed.

Lubos and the rest of them flinched. Before Shiro could even move, Keith had already walked to him and grabbed a fistful of his front collar. "Do you have any idea the kind of things your people had been through?" he demanded. "They believed in you, they needed you! And you just sat there with your back turned letting them suffer more while you helped the enemy. You saw their defenses and weapons, so what? You didn't even try defying them! Don't tell me the Olkaris are important to you now, you just ran away!"

Ryner, like the rest of her people, stood there with astonishment and awe, watching the red paladin lash out at their treacherous king before them. Shiro didn't know how many heartbeats had passed, but he knew that cube the galras made shouldn't be ignored. "Keith," he said it as a warning.

Keith growled and pushed the king to the ground. Lubos landed on his back and groaned, but he was still shaking in fear as he looked at Keith. "Oh, I would love to swipe that stupid face of yours with my claws, but sadly, thanks to you, we have a death cube in our hands. You'll regret this for the rest of your life." He hissed the last sentence as he walked passed him to retrieve his weapon.

Shiro continued to stare at him. He always knew that the raven haired boy had trouble controlling his emotions and temper. But he usually bite people's heads off when he felt upset, annoyed or infuriated. But this was… it was like Lubos struck a nerve, because he had never seen Keith express himself in such an impassioned way.

"Shiro," He flinched and turned to Lance. "Uhh…death cube above us? We need plan?"

"R-right." He stammered. forget Keith for now, he needed to act as a leader. "I know you're devastated," He told the rest of them, "but it's time to be strong and use your Olkari spirit to fight alongside Voltron and take back your planet!"

—later, after they finished fighting and junk—

"I want to thank you all." Ryner said to the rest of them after their victory, "You helped us get our home back. And, for that, we will never be able to repay you."

Shiro offered his hand. "Just promise me that when it's time to take the fight to Zarkon, we can count on the Olkari for help."

Ryner gladly shook it. "Now and forever."

Kate watched from afar as the little Olkari girl, Emily, embraced her family. Tears were shed from them, and as she found Kate smiling at her, she smiled back and mouthed, thank you.

And that was more than enough for the raven haired.

Kate could have watched them go. At least this little girl was reunited with her family, and at least Kate kept her promise this time.

Unlike the other Emily she once knew. And that other promises that were broken, and nearly stayed forgotten for the past 12 years…

—later, castle bridge—

(Shiro's perspective)

Shiro praised,"Nice job, Pidge."

"You know, it's weird," the smaller girl said, "I've always been a tech junkie. That's how I connected with the world." She looked up to them. "But, for the first time, I feel connected to everything. I guess it's like Ryner said. We're all made up of the same cosmic dust."

Shiro noticed that Keith wasn't there with them, he turned back and found the raven haired sitting quietly at his station. He walked to him. "You okay, Keith? You hardly said anything today...maybe except when you flayed Lubos—"

"I don't regret it," Keith replied, not looking at him. "He deserved that lashing from me."

Shiro stared at him for a few heartbeats. "Why did you lash at him, exactly? Believe me, I was disgusted. But you seemed to have taken it too ...personally."

They heard Coran behind, saying "Well, that was a productive trip. Look at all these cubes they gave me! Coran, Coran, the gorgeous man!"

"Coran, Coran, the gorgeous man!" The cubes repeated.

"I did," Keith looked at him, meeting his dark eyes. "There was this little Olkarion girl named Emily...I once had a friend who had the same name as her."

"Ah," Coran sighed, "sounds pretty good."

"Ah, sounds pretty good." The cubes repeated again.

Had? Shiro brows furrowed. Past tense? "Really? Did something happen between the two of you?"

Keith face darkened as he got up from his seat. "She's dead, Shiro." Those words hit home. Keith's expression turned bitter. "And I witnessed her murder...and I did nothing about it. Nothing stop it." The younger boy dug his nails into his left arm harshly. "And the fact that...that king jackass was willing to watch his people die and be slaves for the galra to save himself was...I-I just lost it."

Hunk made a farting sound with his mouth which the cubes echoed.

The boy just walked away from shiro, towards the glass, shaking his head. "Backstabbing, adultery and betrayal." He said in a hushed voice, "That's what I hate about the world."

Shiro watched him, surprised.

Keith never once brought this up. Something about his past. Death of a friend...

Could it be that his childhood trauma was witnessing his friend die?

But how did his fear, his trauma, have any connection with hospitals?

Then the alarms blared, interrupting all of them.

Shiro gasped in horror when Zarkon's main ship suddenly appeared before them.