Chapter five: The Runaway

Keith flew in silence, his only goal was getting as far away from the Castle of Lions as he could. He'd surprised, even himself, at how well he'd held himself together back there. How well he'd resisted the urge to hurt them when they'd told him what they said. He was amazed that he possessed enough self-restraint to resist the urge to let loose on them. Just another reason why Shiro was held at such a high regard to him; as his ultimate hero. He felt deep down that Shiro was the one good thing that had ever happened to him. And that he didn't know where he'd be without him. The thought of the man laying in a coma, protected by nothing but a cryogenic shield in his cargo hold, made him all the more desire-full to escape. Afraid that if the team were to find him or catch up to him, they'd try to take Shiro away from him. His best friend; who had never once let him down. The fear of losing him constantly stared him in the face; eating away at him with every second that passed, which only made him press the Black Lion harder. Suddenly he heard a growl, and the view on the screen shot into a hyperdrive-like light, everything speeding into darkness...

XXXX

"My Lord, one of the Voltron Lions has been detected on our scanners." Axca reported from her control panel. Lotor remained seated at his own station; he sat in an awkward position, with both elbows braced on the arms of the chair. He held his fists up at his face, fingers interlocking together pressing against his lips. The Galra/Altean prince shifted his weight onto his left side, his corresponding arm remaining straight up from his elbow; and the other lowering to his side.

"Which one?" He asked finally. Axca looked down to tap a few things.

"Hard to tell from this distance." She returned a moment later.

"Take us in closer." Lotor ordered, resuming his previous position, in a more forward weight distributional way. "But be wary of our position. Do not draw any attention to our location, find out what Lion we're dealing with. We need to know what we're up against."

XXXX

Keith stood in another dark void; he stepped around in a circle where he stood, to survey his surroundings. Nothing but an eery dark blue light glowing in the distance separating the ground from the, would be, sky. He saw nothing; he heard nothing. He only felt a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach, a feeling he desired to rid himself of any way he possibly could. A wind whipped up and swirled around him, this wind, then, proceeding to blow a short distance from him; swirling up, and bringing a rising light with it. This light took a shape and Keith's face lit up as the light decimated to give way to..

"Shiro!" He gasped. Keith stood wide-eyed, and mouth agape at the sight.

"Keith, listen to me." Shiro began, an oddness to his voice. "I need your help. It's hard to explain, but I know you and the other Paladins can help."

"Woah..wait, Shiro-.. what's wrong? And how are you here?" Keith asked, seeing the uncharacteristic look of concern reflecting off his friend's eyes.

"Keith- I'm not- fully here." Shiro was saying. And as he did so, he would occasionally pixelate; like a faulty computer or tv. Another pixelated object would also appear; as though landing blows to him, making it hard to focus.

"Shiro. What's going on?" Keith was now becoming concerned; and a little panicked.

"Keith find the rest of the team! Go to them! You have get to them, you have find them so we can-" Shiro's gradual rambling was cut off by a cry of agonizing pain, and he held his abdomen and sank to one knee. The pixelation increased more as he did this. A fuzzy object like a foot materialized, kicking Shiro directly on the chest; knocking him onto his back. And then proceeded to stand right on him as if to crush him, and they both de-materialized before his eyes.

"Shiro!!" Keith called...

Keith came out of it with a gasp, falling forward over the handles. Beads of sweat dripped down his face and off his nose; his jet-black locks hung heavily down, dangling around his face. After sitting there like this for a few moments, he threw his head up and pulled his lion to a stop. He looked back over his shoulder; about to get up to check on Shiro. When... BLAM!! Keith was nearly tossed from the chair, and he grunted as he struggled to stay seated. Recovering from the blast, he looked up to search for the origin of the blow. The screen darted about, zeroing in on an invisible object a fair distance from him. The screen registering something he couldn't make out, but he knew all too well what it could be.

"Oh no." He breathed, then jerked the handles and the Black Lion whirled around and jetted off in a retreat.

"Stay on him. We can't lose him now." Lotor commanded. "He may know something of our cause."

Keith glanced back only long enough to see cloaking shield go down, exposing a ship that clarified one of his suspicions had been correct; and thrust the Black Lion faster. He quickly tapped a button on the panel to his right and quickly grabbed the handle once more.

"Team, come in!!" He cried.

XXXX

The castle bridge suddenly came alive, as noises and sensors went off bringing everyone to attention.

"Team come in!! Please!!" Keith's worried face popped up in to the screen.

"Keith! What going on?!" Allura asked, quickly, becoming instantly concerned; and surprised that he was calling them.

"I need a wormhole! Now!" Keith replied hurriedly. "I've got Lotor on my tail, and Shiro's in trouble!"

"Finding your location now." Allura called back, both The princess and Coran searching their assorted screens and panels; the Green Paladin plopping down in her chair to do the same. Keith grunted and flinched on the screen as another blast hit him.

"Need some help here guys." The Red Paladin reminded a bit impatiently.

"Almost there." Pidge breathed.

"Got it!" Allura cried. "Opening up a wormhole... now." Thankfully the wormhole appeared just when she said it would, and Keith pressed his lion faster toward it.

"Do not let him escape, launch projectile beta962!" Lotor barked.

"I'm gonna enjoy this." Zethrid smiled deviously; her seat then lowering her away.

A rocket-shaped object descended from the large ship's underside and launched toward the Black Lion as it entered the wormhole. Landing on its underbelly, the door of this pod-like vessel opened and clawed hands grabbed the metal. One of these hands took out a strange device, and jabbed it between the hanger doors of the cargo hold. Keith's screen lit up to his left signifying the breach.

"Someone's trying to get in." He said over the com. I'm going after them." And he got up to leave.

"Keith, wait!" Allura cried. "Let's us come help you, we need you to stay put. Keith!" But he had already gone and didn't stop.

Entering the cargo hold, he saw two fork-like prongs poking through the crack in the floor; and looked to what was just barely beyond it.

"Shiro!" He cried. Suddenly the door was jammed open. "No!!" Keith lunged toward the pod. Watching in horror as it dropped through the now open doors. The pod slammed into Zethrid, sending her flying back out of the wormhole just moments before it closed behind her. And Keith found himself being sucked out into the white tunnel of folding space and rushing energy. Somehow his chin hit the edge of the door on the way out and his helmet was knocked off was blown away into the abyss below. But yet he still managed to get a grip on the Black Lion's open hanger door with one hand, and Shiro's pod with the other; though it wasn't a very strong grip. Keith gasped for breath as he tried to grip harder, tension on both his upper limbs distracted him; feeling like strings being pulled in different directions. He looked ahead and saw the end of the wormhole nearly upon them, and for a moment felt relief. Feeling a slight jerk, he looked down to struggle for a stronger grip as it began to slip, which finally gave out and the pod flew away.

"NOO!!" Keith screamed, keeping his hand outstretched; eyes wide and pupils shrunk as small as they possibly could be. A beam of light decimated the pod from view; and suddenly it was dark, and all that could be seen for miles was open space. Keith hung there staring in horror; completely dazed by what had just happened, his other hand still gripping the Black Lion. Darkness fell even more upon him as a shadow was cast overhead, the Castle of Lions, being its owner, hovered in closer to pick up the Black Lion and its heartbroken Paladin.

XXXX

Keith emerged from the Lion's mouth, and dropped hard to his knees as soon as his feet hit the hanger floor; the team all racing up to meet him.

"Keith! What happened? Where have you been?" Allura questioned anxiously.

"This is all my fault." Keith murmured, almost as though talking to himself out loud. "I..I shouldn't have let this happen I-.. I'm sorry!!" He braced his hands to his knees. "I'm so sorry!" Crystal tears glistened in his deep blue eyes; his head remaining lowered and his mouth agape at what had happened. He, then, clenched his eyes closed and his jaw tightened, as he began to sob once more sinking even more; to now be face down to the ground bawling hysterically into his hands. The mere sound of it echoed around the entire room; as the Paladins, Allura, and Coran stood watching in both confusion and terror.

XXXX

"How did you let this happen?!" Lotor demanded, slamming a fist into his chair furiously.

"Forgive me, my lord." Zethrid apologized kneeling before her master in a respectful salute. She lifted her eyes to meet his. "But I believe there was something of value that was lost to them this day."

"Like what?" Lotor snapped, leaning back and narrowing his eyes down at her.

"I..it looked like a some kind of healing pod, I think." Zethrid responded, stammering thoughtfully, as she recalled what had come down at her just moments ago. Lotor's glare dropped into a thoughtful stare, pondering this fact; swiftly turning it over in his mind many times. His eyes suddenly lit up and he gazed back up at them.

"The lost Paladin." He breathed.

"Sir?" Axca questioned, turning to him.

"A Paladin has been missing for weeks since my father's last battle with Voltron." Lotor explained, still very much intrigued by this new piece of information. "And I believe we've just found it. We must track down that pod immediately... perhaps there is something of use to us in it."

Hey guys how's it going. Can't wait to hear your thoughts on this new chapter. Not entirely sure how many more chapters there is gonna be, but, I assure you, there is plenty more to come. Lots of cool and fun stuff that I am ecstatic about and I can't wait to see what you all think of it. But til then... enjoy!! Thx!!!