"I'm sorry."
"about What?"
they sat in the back of Iversons truck. He'd come to pick them up and take them to the Garrison hospital. hunk was layed out on their laps and Keith, after that morning fiasco, didn't know what to say.
"I didn't know your sister was sick," he said. Lance laughed.
"She's not sick," he said, "when we were kids we got into a little accident and hit our heads really hard. she was in front so she received most of the damage. She's still as smart as they come, but her behavior is a little…spazzy. This morning wasn't that bad."
"What would be considered 'bad'?" Keith asked but wasn't sure he wanted to know.
"You know the arch way leading to the kitchen?"
"Yeah…"
"There used to be a door there. then i got accepted into the garrison and she realized i'd be gone for most of the year."
"She really likes her brother, huh," keith thought about his own attachment to Shiro and what he'd do for the man.
"…yeah, let's go with that," Lance grinned.
"Still can't believe you didn't tell us you were a twin!"
"Topic never came up,"
"Neither did your face cream, but you talked non-stop about that!"
"That was to distract everyone from the crap heap we'd just gotten into. Ya know, lighten the mood a little."
Keith clicked his tongue and shook his head. This was a whole new side of the goofball they'd all come to know. It was like a curve ball to the face! But Keith had one more question that he just had to get answered.
"why Lancelot," he asked and couldn't help the snort afterwards. He covered his mouth, but he honestly couldn't help it.
"that's a secret," Lance said shrugging, "and its true that only she can call me that, k? My mom doesn't even call me that."
"So what, do you like, have a nickname for her?"
Lance shrugged again, "yeah. I call her Shalott."
"What's with the Arthurian theme?"
Lance clicked his tongue, "is this an interrogation? You mind backing off just a bit? I didn't jump down your throat when we realized about your heritage."
"I'm not jumping down-"
the truck came to a halt and Lance stood to open the tailgate. Men rushed out to gather Hunk and take him in. Two stayed behind to look Keith over.
When Keith looked around, he didn't see Lance anywhere.
()
"I can't locate them anywhere," Allura stamped her foot.
"You can't locate anything with only twenty minutes of sleep," Shiro said, "you need to go and get some rest. I'm sure they're fine. They're resourceful and they have their lions, right?"
"But its been so long! Surly we should have found SOMETHING!"
"And we will, the moment you get some rest so you can actually function properly, we'll find something."
It was a sad and rather pathetic argument, but he was going to push it until she complied. So Allura had no choice than to give in.
When she had completely left the room, Shiro looked back at the star map.
Just where did they go?
"Shiro?"
"Yeah, what do you need Pidge?"
Pidges bottom lip trembled slightly as she enlarged a section of the map. It was the location where they had fought their latest ro-beast. the thing that had caused them to become separated in the first place.
"I was doing some…I was looking into what could have happened to separate us like this…and i found this."
"…I don't see anything pidge," Shiro said.
"…that's because you're not supposed to. Black holes are theoretical because we only see the effect they have on the things around them. All the black holes you see in pictures are just an artists interpretation. There is no way of knowing if or when one is near until its too late."
"You think they were sucked in?"
She shook her head and brought up another screen, "I simulated our fight, and watch."
Pidge flew off and the robeast took that moment to fire with everything it had. Lance broke off and flew in the opposite direction, hitting the edge of where Pidge had pointed out the black distortion. It was like things were suddenly on fast forward as he was slung around and shot out further into space. The same thing happened to Hunk and Keith's lions.
"The gravity of the black hole acted more as a catalyst. the lions are strong and they already had enough momentum to keep them going in one direction for a while, but the force of the black hole would have not only damaged the lions, but changed their trajectory to stars know where!"
"Yes, but with this, we now have a general direction of where to search," shiro beamed at her, "way to go Pidge!"
()
"While the other two are getting looked at, do you mind telling us where you found them?"
"Yeah, I do mind," Lance said and Iversons face twitched.
"You were open with information last time."
"Last time i knew everyone in the room," Lance said glancing over at a man sitting in the corner. He was dark skinned in an equally dark suit. Lance was a sucker for dramatic effect, but he still didn't like not knowing who he was talking in front of.
"This is Professor Schmit. He's been called in to help with the garrison preparations in case of an impending attack."
"I am here to observe and only ask questions to clarify," Schmit said, not moving from his seat. Lance rolled his eyes. He may not know the difference between a green wire and a red wire, but he knew that "clarifying" questions was a big enough hole to jump through.
"Keith and Hunk were stranded out in space. They got close enough to where my com unit in my helmet picked up their signal. Realizing i didn't really know Earths coordinates and hearing that Hunk was hurt, i told them to stay put and got them myself."
"How?"
"I went back to my lion, got in, scratched this itch behind my ear-"
"Mcclain!"
"Look, they're here, they're hurt. We got separated after a fight with a giant monster! Shiro and the others are probably worried sick about us and-"
"Excuse me," Schmit cut in and Lance threw up his hands, "but where did you land your lion?"
"Where i landed it last time," Lance said.
"Which was where?"
"Where Alfor parked it the time before that," Lance said innocently.
"…Mcclain…" Iverson sighed. He was used to the boys antics and knew how to ask the pointed questions, but this government agent wouldn't.
"Who is Alfor."
"the former King of Kingdom Come," Lance replied and started to wax eloquent, "for he was a brave and daring man of wisdom. He cared for his friends and his people, but alas that-"
"Lance Mcclain," Schmit asked standing up, "What are you trying to hide? Do you think you are unsafe here?"
Lance laughed.
"You were the one that said we needed to prep ourslves," Iverson added, "we are taking you seriously."
"then take me seriously when i say that those are our lions and where i parked them, you don't need to know," Lance said, "They won't let you near them anyway."
"'They' meaning…"
"The lions," Lance said, "the lions only let us pilot them."
"You need a special code?"
"No," Lance said mimicking the soft way Schmit talked with, "you need a bond with it."
"What do you mean by 'bond'."
"I feel like Alice," Lance sighed, "All i'm missing are mushrooms and a smoking caterpillar."
"Then i suggest you be more specific, cadet," Schmit replied evenly, "then i won't have to ask my clarifying questions."
Lance looked over at Iverson who had both eyes shut and his lips pursed in a way that made Lance very happy he wasn't Schmit. Iverson was about to blow.
Lance chose his next words carefully. Iverson had all but told him that this was an interrogation, not a 'talk'.
"What are you trying to hide, Mr. Schmit? So you feel scared because I'm a child? think you can do what i've been doing better?"
Iverson covered his face with his hands. Schmits eyes narrowed.
"Because i'm sure a TON of people can do better than me," Lance continued, "Because everyone is so much more capable than i am. But you see. Blue, my lion, chose me. She and I like each other. We work well together. Red and Keith? Yelllow and Hunk? they really get along well. Like peas in a pod! Green and Pidge? Blackie and Shiro? There's no way you can separate them, ever. These lions do not care about regulations, education levels, or your opinion. Those are our lions, Blue is MY lion! If I don't want to tell you where she is, then i don't have to!"
"You are saying that these lions are ships…and alive?"
"Yeah, why not?"
"I don't believe what i don't see," Schmit replied, "especially from an unreliable source."
"You don't go to church, do you," Lance asked, "See, my mom is always dragging me to mass. I always hated it, but then i meet people like you and it really makes me thankful that my mom taught me faith."
"You're attitue-"
Schmit had leaned over the table, but in doing so had crossed a line. Iverson didn't like people in his space, and he REALLY didn't like people questioning his cadets. He may not have had a choice in who the government had sent, but he wasn't about to let his own authority be over shadowed.
He raised an arm and pushed Schmit back.
"Let the boy finish his initial report," Iverson tried to sound calm, but it came out as more of a growl.
"There's really not that much," Lance said, "I went out and grabbed them. I brought them back to my house since we have a doctor on call. I wanted to get grounded before i called you, Iverson, Sir, and make sure my facts were straight."
"Are they straight?"
"No, but once Hunk wakes up we'll be able to get some actual information and, Sir, if you could keep black slender man over there away from my teammate? Hunk doesn't respond well to pressure and strangers."
"What? Now look here-"
"Professor Schmit will not be allowed in the hospital area," Iverson said, "understood?"
"Understood Sir," Lance grinned, "If I talk to you alone i'll be more than happy to tell you, Sir, and only you. I'm a little superstitious and only voodoo witches wear that much black."
Schmit pounded the table but Iverson answered first,
"Deal." He said, "Good bye Schmit."
"Instructor Iverson, this child can not-"
"I see no child in this room, Professor," Iverson said, "I see a soldier that has returned from an unlisted assignment and you, i'm sure, do not the level of clearance allotted to this information since it is no longer a social issue, but a military one."
"Who says this is military?!"
"I am a paladin in a war against enemy forces," Lance said with a shrug, "an empire that enjoys leaching the life force of people and planets alike. So no, i don't think this has anything to do with your *cough* educational *cough* department."
Schmit looked from one to the other. he had done his research and had thought that he would have an ally in Iverson. All accounts said he'd not been pleased with this particular child.
"I see," Schmit said straightening his tie, "You will hear from your superiors before the day is out, Iverson."
"I'm sure,' Iverson said waving his hand, "And you will hear from yours. I know how the game is played."
When Schmit left the room Lance beamed at his old instructor. But before he could say anything Iverson slapped the table, making him jump.
"Don't get used to that, Cadet," he snapped, "now that the stick is out of my back, I can now lay out my own questions and no, this is not recorded and everything you tell me will not leave this room; so i want all the details …what did you call him…black slender man, asked, but more, k?."
"Yes Sir," Lance saluted.