Across the Universe

Part 6

[All standard disclaimers apply.]

Hunk breathed a sigh of relief as the Red Lion approached the Castle of Lions. He left his station on the bridge to wait by the doors. He caught Allura's amused smile but couldn't bring himself to care.

He was fighting the urge to bounce on his feet when Shiro and Lance finally appeared. He waited for Pidge to appear. But she wasn't behind the others.

"Where's Pidge?"

Lance flinched as Hunk felt his stomach drop. He grabbed Lance by the collar. "Where is she?"

"She sacrificed herself so we could escape," Shiro explained.

"You left her there!" Hunk roared, letting go of Lance to face their leader.

"We didn't have a choice," Lance said.

"And we're going to get her back," Shiro promised.

"Damn right we are," Hunk said. He ran back to his station and began furiously typing on his computer. "Come on, come on."

"Hunk, talk to me," Shiro ordered.

"Just a second," he muttered, continuing to type. Text was flying across his screens as he worked furiously.

"Hunk!"

"Fine!" He ran a hand through his hair before continuing to type. "Pidge has activated a program we've installed on our suits' computers. The program is supposed to wipe everything from the system except for a homing program."

"Why would you do such a thing?" Allura asked, her tone horrified.

"Pidge thought of it," he admitted. "She didn't want any information that we may have getting into enemy hands. In case of capture."

"You said something about a homing program?" Lance said.

Hunk made a swiping motion with his hand, enlarging one of the screens. "The homing beacon is active. Right now it's showing that Pidge's still on the supply hub."

"Not for long," Allura said, her voice sad.

They all looked up at the Castle's main screen. A Galra command ship was taking off from the supply hub. Hunk glanced at his screen and watched in horror as Pidge's position corresponded with the ship.

"How's good is the range on that thing?" Coran asked.

"We're about to find out," Hunk said as he watched the ship prepare for a hyperspace jump. He began typing again. "I'm going to try to boost the signal. Just in case."

The signal last through the first hyperspace jump. And the second. But it didn't make it through the third.

"Oh, God, we've lost her," Lance said as the signal disappeared.