Across the Universe
Part 4
[All standard disclaimers apply.]
"Almost there," Pidge murmured, watching the screen as she downloaded information from the mainframe of the supply hub. "Are you getting this, Hunk?"
"Oh, yeah. We're getting some good stuff here."
Their mission was pretty simple. Shiro wanted them to raid the hub's computer system for potential information about Galra bases, troop position, and supply lines. Once they got their information, they would blow up the hub. The loss of the supply hub would hurt the Galra's ability to maintain troops in this sector.
"Good job, Pidge," Shiro said. "How are we looking, Allura?"
"Still pretty quiet," she answered. "There hasn't been any change in activity around the hub that we have observed."
"Let me know if that changes," Shiro ordered. "Lance, start placing the charges."
"Aye, aye, captain." With a jaunty salute, he took the bag with the explosives and went to work.
"And we're done," Pidge announced. She made her computer screen disappear with a smile. "I may have left them a little surprise in their systems."
"Pidge," Shiro said with a hint of warning.
"Nothing that can be traced to us," she said quickly, "but it will definitely make their lives difficult for a while by crippling their computer systems."
Shiro studied the youngest Paladin for a moment. "That wasn't in the mission, Pidge. No more surprises."
"Okay, Shiro."
"Well, charges are all set," Lance stated as he rejoined the pair.
"Shiro, where are you?" Allura asked, concern evident in her voice.
"About to head out," he answered. "What's going on?"
"We're seeing a sudden increase in activity around the hub. I don't know if that means that the Galra know you're there but I wouldn't linger."
"Right. We're leaving now."
Pidge returned the Galra computer console back to its original screen. "Ready."
She followed Shiro and Lance as they made their way back out. Pidge kept an eye on the security feeds, allowing them to avoid the security patrols. She feared that Allura was right that the Galra knew they were they. There were definitely more guards than there were before.
"Wait," Pidge hissed. Shiro and Lance immediately froze. They barely breathed as the Galra sentries passed. "Okay, we can move."
They were almost out when the alarms suddenly began blaring. "Oh, quiznak," Pidge muttered as she worked to try to shut them off. "I guess Allura was right."
"Pidge, can you shut all the doors behind us?" Shiro asked.
"Yeah. Why?"
"I want you to shut the doors so we can blow the charges."
"Before we leave!" Lance exclaimed.
"It would provide a pretty big distraction," Pidge said, pondering, "and all the doors closed between us and the charges should provide adequate shielding."
"Should? We're going with should?" Lance protested.
"We don't have a lot of options right now," Shiro said. "Pidge, do it."
She typed furiously for a few moments. "Done."
"Alright, Lance, blow the charges," Shiro ordered.
"I hope you're right about those doors, Pidge," he said as he pressed the detonator.
A few seconds later they felt the floor underneath them shake with the force of the explosions. But the doors held. Lance grabbed Pidge in a one arm hug. "I'm so glad you were right."
"Me, too," she admitted with a shaky laugh.
"Let's get out of here," Shiro said.
They were almost to their exit when a large number of sentries came up behind them, pinning them down.
"Shiro? What's going on?" Allura asked.
"Yeah, what's taking you guys so long?" Hunk added.
"A little busy right now," Shiro said.
Lance, with his bayard as a sniper rifle, was taking out one target after another. "Man, they just keep coming."
"That's it! I'm getting in my Lion and coming there," Hunk stated.
"No, stay there!" Shiro ordered.
Pidge swept her bayard in an arc, slicing through another wave of sentries. She was one side of a door while Shiro and Lance were just on the other side. The seemingly endless tide of sentry robots kept them pinned in their current positions, preventing their escape.
"Anybody have any ideas?" Lance asked as his bayard transformed into a blaster.
Pidge felt her heart drop as another wave of robots approached. There was no way that they were going to be able to destroy enough robots to get the breathing room they needed for all of them to escape. But there was a way for most of them to escape.
She just hoped that Hunk and the rest of the team forgave her some day.
"Lance, get back," she ordered as she took out another group of robots.
"What? Why?"
"Just do it!"
"Fine!" He picked off a few more robots before falling back beside Shiro. "Okay. Now what?"
"Get you and Shiro to your Lion," she said as she plunged her bayard into the door's mechanism. She watched his and Shiro's horrified faces as the heavy metal doors slammed closed.