Reunion

by jalpari

The team finds more than they bargain for during the visit to the swap moon.

A/N:

Moving back into high gear, I'm going to dive deeper into the plot once more.

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts and comments!

"Something's on your mind, isn't it?" Hunk glanced at Noor who was sitting on the kitchen counter as he cooked.

"It's just that...ever since Sepi, I've been feeling...my mood's just...swinging up and down between two extremes..I'm either extremely happy or super irritated and it's making me so…."

"Angry?" Hunk grinned. "I haven't noticed", he smirked.

"Arrghh", Noor groaned, "Relaxing at Clear day helped for a while but...I'm so sick of feeling this way."

"Do you know why…"

"NO IDEA!" Noor's temper flared up.

"Woah, calm down", Hunk lifted his hands in front of him. "It's like your anger is making this room hotter."

"Maybe that's because your sauce is burning", Noor pointed at the stove.

"What?" Hunk looked down, "Wait...how!"

"It's okay, it happens", Noor shrugged. "You were distracted."

"It does NOT happen to Hunk!" he grunted. "I had this on low flame! Anyway...", he took a deep breath and calmed himself, "I shall not get flustered...it's all going to be okay."

He opened one eye and looked at Noor, "See? That giving you any ideas?"

Noor looked at him questioningly.

"Do some deep breathing exercises, calm your mind. Go do some…"

"If you say meditation, I swear I will…", Noor gritted her teeth.

"I was just gonna say go do some...thought...exercises...and…"

Hunk was interrupted, much to his relief, when Bani spoke over the comm.

"We're approaching the swap moon."

"Come on!" an excited Hunk grabbed her hand and dragged her out with him.

Noor sighed and let him lead her, "Fine!"

Noor stared at all the stores. Games, clothes, 'terra' aka earth stuff, gadgets and gizmos, weird trinkets, pet stores.

"Why would terrorists come to such a place? It's just a mall. I don't see any we-have-ship-parts-and-weapons store."

"That's because those are in a hidden part of this place", Pidge whispered, "...the black market."

"You mean like...stolen goods?" Noor looked at her in surprise.

"Yep."

Is that where we are going now?"

"Not all of us. That would be too suspicious. Shiro and me are headed there now, with Bani."

"The rest of us", Hunk interrupted, "can have some fun...and shop!"

"Yay", Keith rolled his eyes and said sarcastically.

"I need to find a food store. We need to restock our herbs and kitchen supplies!"

"I'm going see if they have any medical supplies and...batteries", Luten looked at his watch and frowned.

"Why do you wear a wrist watch?" Noor gave him a perplexed expression. "There's literally no use for it here."

"It's...it's a family heirloom...passed down by my father", he smiled sheepishly.

"Let's meet here at the fountain in an hour", Keith sighed.

"What are you gonna do?" Hunk asked him.

"Just look around to see if anyone has seen anything useful."

"I'll come with you", Noor shrugged and walked behind him.

"There's a crowd assembling up ahead", Noor pointed after several minutes of walking. "Let's check it out."

"Wait", Keith grabbed her hand as she began strutting ahead. "We should approach with caution."

"Really?" Noor grunted and rolled her eyes. "We're in a mall. You don't always have to behave like a soldier."

Keith was taken aback by the sharpness of her tone. She freed her hand and walked ahead.

"I'm not...I don't behave like a soldier...always", he muttered to himself in confusion. "Do I?"

When they got closer to the gathered crowd, they heard chants and jeers. It seemed like everyone's attention was focussed on a man and woman at the center of the group. Noor pushed through to get a better look and when Keith caught up, he couldn't find her. He groaned and tried to get through to the front, looking for her.

Noor emerged from under a tall giant's waving arm. She saw the man and woman arguing. They were pulling an item back and forth between them. The dealer looked at both of them in delight as they raised their bid for it with every tug. She noticed the man sneakily pull out a small knife from his robe, ready to attack the unsuspecting woman.

"Wait!" Noor jumped ahead, astonishing the crowd and herself. "He's got a knife!"

Everyone turned to look at her. The woman looked at the man's arm and noticed the weapon. She growled and pulled out her own weapon and they lunged at each other. The pair dropped the object as they continued fighting. Within seconds, chaos broke out and the crowd turned into a mob. Noor felt a hand on her shoulder and turned around ready to attack.

"It's me!" Keith pulled her away from the crowd.

"Wait", she grinned and disappeared for a second.

When she returned, Keith saw an object in her hand.

"What's that?"

"It's what they were fighting over! Just wanted to see what all the fuss was about!" Noor smirked.

"There! She's got it", they heard a voice yell.

They turned to see the man, the woman, and the Unilu dealer run towards them.

"Oh, great!" Keith groaned.

"Run now, lecture later!" Noor dashed through the crowd.

Keith took a long inhale and chased after her. They dodged in and out of the crowd and made their way to a narrow corridor between two stores.

"Follow me!" Noor called out as she went further down the corridor, at the end of which, was an empty store room.

"Let's just wait here for a while", Keith said.

"It's just a whistle?" Noor looked at the object in disappointment.

She took a deep breath and blew into the whistle. It made no sound.

"It doesn't even work. All this nonsense for nothing", he glared at Noor.

"Sorry...I thought it would be something amazing given how much they were arguing for it."

Keith sighed and peeked outside after a few more minutes, "They seemed to have cleared up the place."

They walked out alert and cautious. To their relief, the crowd had dispersed and they resumed their search. As they turned another corner, Keith pulled Noor into a store.

"What are you doing?"

"I think someone is following us", Keith whispered."Don't look back, just keep walking."

Noor followed him as they made their way in and out of aisles. They walked out the exit on the other side and towards an empty lounge. Noor heard faint footsteps behind them. She steadied her fingers, readying the daggers to jump at a moment's notice. The footsteps grew closer as they walked towards the wide column that separated the lounge from the stores.

As soon as they stepped behind it, Keith stayed at one corner and Noor walked to the other. They waited for the person to get closer and looked at each other. With a nod, they emerged from either side of the column, prepared to accost their stalker. Keith caught the person by his neck and held him firmly as Noor leaped forward and aimed her daggers at his chest.

"Why are you following..." Keith began but stopped when he saw Noor's face.

Noor was frozen. She looked as if she had seen a ghost. He could see her shiver and step back.

"Noor...what happ…"

"Noor?" The person gasped and stopped fighting Keith's hold.

"O...Owaiz?" Noor covered her mouth in disbelief.

"Noor! I knew it was you!"

Keith was caught off guard as the man pushed him away and lunged at her. Keith reached out to pull him back when he heard Noor cry.

"Owaiz! I thought...I thought you were dead...I saw the...I saw the base explode….", she ran forward and clung to the man.

Keith paused and watched in astonishment. He noticed the man had only one arm. The other gripped Noor tight and pulled her close.

"I managed to escape..."

"You...you escaped? How?" Noor stepped back finally releasing him.

"What happened to your eyes!" he gasped. "They're...they're grey!"

"Noor…are you...are you okay…", Keith interrupted and positioned himself in between them, "who is this?"

"Who are you?" the man asked trying to shove Keith aside.

"Wait...wait...it's alright", Noor pulled Keith to her side and smiled shakily. "Keith, this is Owaiz. He was one of the prisoners who was left behind at the first base…"

Her voice trailed off as fresh tears slid down her cheek.

"Owaiz...Keith and his team saved me from them...and they tried saving the others but by the time we got to you, it was too late. They had blown the base...and we thought...everyone died."

"I managed to escape!" Owaiz exclaimed and held her hand. "I snuck into one of their ships before they left. I heard them talking...they were going to blow up the entire base. They didn't want to leave behind any...loose ends."

"Did any other prisoners escape?" Noor asked hopefully.

"No, I snuck out as soon as I found the opportunity. I don't know if anyone else…"

"You weren't able to get anyone else out with you?"

"I...I didn't have time to...think", he looked at her with a sad smile. "I just wanted to get to you. I thought they would head to where you were being taken but the ship I was on, came here..."

"You…you didn't try to…"

Suddenly their comms crackled to life.

"Keith...Noor...you there?"

"Yes...", Keith replied. "We're here."

"We need to leave. Meet us at the fountain."

Noor snapped out of her thoughts and looked at Keith.

"We need to head back...that was Shiro", Keith frowned.

"Oh...uhh...yeah…"

"Where are you going, Noor?" Owaiz eyed Keith suspiciously.

"There's no time for all this", Keith muttered impatiently. "Noor...do you trust him?"

Noor nodded but said nothing more.

"Alright. Come with us", he gestured to the man.

"So what did you guys find?"

"We found the place where the creature went for ship parts, weapons, navigation systems, and even a lot of his lab equipments", Shiro replied.

"The Unilu told you all that for free?" Keith asked in disbelief.

"Not exactly", Pidge grinned. "We had to...swap for it."

"And what did you swap?" Luten asked.

"After a LOT of bargaining, we got him to agree to give us the information in exchange for one of the Olkari cubes, a box of Hunk's universe famous dishes, and Shiro's...I mean Luten's champion badge."

"You forgot one thing", Bani smirked at Pidge.

"Oh yeah", Pidge pouted, "he also took everything I won at Clear day. And one of my video games."

"Doesn't sound too bad…", Luten shrugged.

"It was a VINTAGE Mercury Gameflux One! With the original power helmet that gives you infinite ammo if you stay upside down until all its gems light up!"

"Oh…", Luten gulped and sat down.

"Anyway", Shiro intervened, "The creature came here about five to six months back for the first time. The Unilu saw the vials and was desperate to exchange for them. But the creature said that it had obtained them from a faraway place a few weeks before it got here. It said that even if the Unilu found the place now, they wouldn't be able to find the contents of the vial anymore."

"So the creature stole them."

"Sounds like it", Shiro nodded.

"Wait...it found the vials six months back?" Noor walked over to Shiro.

"Yes. Why?"

"It may be nothing...but...that's around the time I began having the strange dreams and visions back on earth. But that could be a coincidence."

"It's most likely not", Shiro frowned, "When the creature asked for a navig system, it also asked the Unilu about specific planets. Six planets, to be precise."

"Let me guess", Luten pursed his lips, "the same six that the prisoners were from."

"Yep", Pidge nodded. "'The Unilu also provided him with information on uninhabited planets. The ones we found bases on were on that list."

"We should try our luck at some of the others on that list. We can start with the one closest to us. They would likely want to stop somewhere soon to finish their repairs."

Noor was fiddling with her daggers as she sat in her room. Something in Owaiz's words had bothered her but she didn't want it to. She kept shaking the thoughts off, reasoning with herself.

It's not as simple as it sounds. Give him another chance to explain.

Did he not care about the others? Did he just leave them without even trying?

No, he would never do that. If he could have done something, he would have.

But he said he had no time to think. He just wanted to get to me so he ran.

He must have at least warned the other prisoners.

Maybe he opened the other cells when he escaped.

But when Shiro and the others went in, all the prisoners were still locked in.

Stop thinking! You haven't had a chance to speak with him. He'll explain everything.

"Busy?" A voice startled her and she sent her daggers flying towards it.

"Woah!" Owaiz jumped back as the blades hovered in front of him threateningly.

"Oh...Owaiz...I'm sorry", Noor called them back and tucked the daggers in their strap.

"How did you learn to use those!?"

"I've been...training. How are you feeling?"

"The alien did a routine checkup...everything is A-okay", he grinned.

"Bani…", Noor corrected him. "Her name is Bani. She's an Olkari."

"Oh yeah, sorry. Too many names."

Noor relaxed and smiled. Owaiz walked over and sat by her. He tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear.

"I can't believe you're here...safe", he said. "I thought I'd never see you again...and now that you're in front of me, it's almost like you're a different...your eyes..."

"Uh...Owaiz…", she interrupted him, "I want to know everything. I mean...tell me everything that happened after they took me."

"Well...not much really...I heard two guards talking. They said they were going to blow up the base. I had been fiddling with the cell door for days, remember? I managed to sneak out as they were loading equipment to a ship and got on to the other emptier ship."

"What...what about the other prisoners?"

"Most of them were barely conscious", he sighed.

"Did you...did you see the team coming in?"

"The team?"

"Keith and the others...they were attacking the base at the same time."

"Hmm", he frowned, "I did hear some sounds but I hid...I saw some people take down two guards and run ahead...I didn't wait around...I wanted to get on that ship", he turned to her and held her hand, "I wanted to get to you."

"Were they the same guards who kept watch over us?"

"I think so...I saw the keys on one of them."

"The prison keys?" Noor's eyes opened wide.

"Yeah", he chuckled, "What I would have given to get my hands on those keys before!"

"You could have", Noor hesitated, "You could have gone back and opened the other cells."

Owaiz looked at her and remained silent for a few seconds.

"I didn't know how much time I had Noor. Most of them were not in any condition to escape anyway."

Noor stood up and began pacing. Her mind was racing again.

"Noor, what's the matter?"

"You should have tried", was all she could mutter.

"Noor...are you...why…", he exhaled and stood up, "I was thinking of you. That was my ONLY goal."

Noor felt something in her explode.

"How could you turn your back on people that needed help!?" She yelled. "They could have gotten out in time!"

"I...I…", Owaiz was taken aback by her outburst. "...Noor they were in no condition to be..."

"Neither was I, Owaiz! If these people thought like you, I would not be here today! I would be dead."

Owaiz was at a loss for words. He stepped towards her and held her shoulders.

"Noor...I'm sorry...I wasn't thinking..."

Noor tried to calm herself down. She tried to remind herself that the only reason he had done this was because he wanted to find her. She reasoned that Owaiz was not a soldier or Blade or Paladin. He was just a normal human, trying to survive. But a tiny voice inside her, was saying something else.

"We...all of us are capable of doing something...however small...to help", she whispered more to herself than to him, "If you had just tried...you could have helped them."

"But Noor", Owaiz snapped and gripped her tighter, "...why does it even matter!?"

"Because they were people too, Owaiz!" She pushed his hands off. "They had families. They had a home. They were still ALIVE."

"Those aliens were…"

"Aliens?! What do you mean aliens!?"

"Noor, calm down…", Owaiz spoke softly. "I'm sorry...I know I could have done more. You're right."

"I think...I need to be alone for sometime."

Keith heard the door open and shut. Angry footsteps walked down the corridor and he knew that Noor was livid. He had heard something like yelling coming from her room and felt like he was intruding on something private. He stood up and sat down several times. Hesitant. He looked at Kosmo and raised an eyebrow questioningly.

"What do you say?"

Kosmo walked to his side and wagged his tail. Keith reached out to pet him and the next thing he knew, he was in another room. Bewildered, he looked around and saw shelves of tools and supplies. He turned around to leave the storage room, when he heard soft sobs.

He walked past a shelf and saw Noor, in one corner. Once again, he felt like he was intruding on a private moment and he glared at Kosmo. The telepup just walked over to the girl and licked her arm. Noor looked up and smiled at the familiar loving face but then startled as she saw Keith standing behind him.

"Oh…", she hurriedly wiped her cheeks and stood up. "I…"

"Sorry!" Keith froze and mumbled awkwardly. "Kosmo...teleported me here."

Noor remained silent and stared at her feet. Her mind was jumping between trying to find the right thing to say and keeping her composure so as to not burst into tears again.

"Are you okay?" Keith finally spoke.

Noor shook her head.

"Look...I'm not really good at the whole talking thing...but if you need to...you know...talk about stuff...I'm here...we all are here", he added hastily.

"Keith…", she began, "I wanted to ask...when you found me...what was I like...I mean I know I was unconscious...but…was I almost dead?"

"I'm not really sure. I just saw you….and then Shiro came in and we began untying you."

"And then?"

"Uhh...then we brought you back."

"Was I breathing? Did I move when you freed me?"

"Well...you're body kinda fell on top of me", he grinned. "And I didn't fall that time, just for the record."

"Oh…", she smiled sheepishly, "sorry."

"And we didn't really have time to check your vitals", he shrugged. "So I just picked you up while Luten and Shiro lead the other prisoners out."

"How were the others?"

"They were pretty out of it too, but not as bad as you."

"Hmmm…"

"What is it?"

"I just…", Noor paused and then exhaled, "I just wanted to thank you for not leaving me behind."